Actor/producer Gillian Anderson signs first-look deal with Netflix

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Actress and producer Gillian Anderson has signed a first-look deal with Netflix.  The 53-year-old Anderson will produce new TV shows for Netflix through her production company, Fiddlehead Productions. Netflix confirmed the news on Twitter, saying: “The endlessly brilliant Gillian Anderson has signed a first-look deal with Netflix, through which she will produce new TV shows!” 

Anderson said in a statement: “Netflix have been an inspiring and supportive home for much of my recent acting work so I am excited to partner with them for the television projects I am currently developing. We have a shared passion for progressive, compelling and engaging stories and I’m thrilled to announce our collaboration.”

Anderson played Margaret Thatcher in Season 4 of the Netflix series The Crown. She also plays Dr. Jean Milburn on the Netflix series Sex Education, which was renewed for a fourth season in September.  Anderson will also be portraying former first lady Eleanor Roosevelt in the upcoming Showtime series, The First Lady.

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Netflix announces “Oprah + Viola: A Netflix Special Event” featuring Oprah Winfrey and Viola Davis

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A new Netflix special with Oprah Winfrey and Viola Davis — “Oprah + Viola: A Netflix Special Event” — will debut on the streaming service on April 22.  Oprah + Viola: A Netflix Special Event will show Winfrey and Davis in conversation about Davis’s memoir, “Finding Me,” which will be released on April 26.

Netflix said in a press release: “For the first time, Viola shares memories of her childhood marked with unimaginable poverty, disturbing abuse and ‘all the things that cause you pain.’ Viola reveals how ‘giving up hope that the past could be different’ has brought her peace, forgiveness and a sense of self. Viola also explains how she manifested the loves in her life and what it took to become one of the most celebrated and talented actresses of our time.”

Davis is set to star in Showtime’s new series “The First Lady” as Michelle Obama; she is also executive producing the show with her company JuVee Productions. Joining her are Michelle Pfeiffer as Betty Ford and Gillian Anderson as Eleanor Roosevelt. “The First Lady” premieres on Showtime on April 17.

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The Weeknd drops the video for “Out of Time” featuring HoYeon Jung and Jim Carrey

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The Weeknd has dropped the official music video for “Out of Time,” co-starring Squid Game’s HoYeon Jung and actor Jim Carrey.

The Weeknd’s album Dawn FM, released in January of this year, opened at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 albums chart. The LP is the follow-up to 2020’s After Hours and includes 16 tracks, featuring guest appearances from Tyler, the Creator, Lil Wayne, Quincy Jones, Oneohtrix Point Never and Carrey.

Last month, The Weeknd announced the official dates for his North American After Hours Til Dawn Tour, which is set to kick off this summer featuring special guest Doja Cat.  His first-ever stadium tour will commence on July 8 with a hometown show at Toronto’s Rogers Centre before heading to 17 additional destinations including New York, Philadelphia, Miami, Boston, Las Vegas and San Francisco, with a final stop at Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium on September 2.

Watch The Weeknd’s “Out of Time” video featuring HoYeon Jung and Jim Carrey – here.

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Avril Lavigne announces engagement to Mod Sun after one year together

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Avril Lavigne announced she is engaged to fellow singer Mod Sun. Lavigne, 37, and Mod Sun, 35 (real name Derek Ryan Smith), met in 2020 while working on music together, and began dating that November. Mod Sun co-wrote and co-produced tracks for Avril’s new album, Love Sux, and she’s featured on his single “Flames”, as well as co-starring with him in its music video.

The couple confirmed the engagement news on social media, with Lavigne captioning her Instagram post: Oui! Je t’aime pour toujours 🤍💍🥂Dimanche. 27. Mars. 2022.” It appears the duo actually got engaged in late March during a trip to Paris.

Mod Sun wrote on his Instagram page, “The day we met I knew you were the one. Together forever til our days are done. I had a dream where I proposed in paris. I pulled out a ring + asked you to wear it. I was on one knee as I looked in your eyes. You’re too beautiful for my words to describe. I grabbed your hand + took one last breath…I said ‘will you marry me?’ + she said ‘yes’. I love you Avril.”

Prior to dating Mod Sun, Lavigne previously dated indie artist Pete Jonas, Brody Jenner and billionaire Phillip Sarofim, with whom she broke up in 2019 after more than a year. Lavigne was married to Sum 41’s Deryck Whibley and Nickelback singer Chad Kroeger.

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Marvel drops new teaser clip for the upcoming ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’

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Marvel has dropped a new teaser clip for the highly anticipated sequel film Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. 

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness picks up after the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home, which sees Dr. Strange open a rift in the multiverse while trying to help Tom Holland’s Peter Parker. The sequel also stars Benedict Wong as Wong, Chiwetel Ejiofor as Baron Mordo and Marvel newcomer Xochitl Gomez as America Chavez.

The sequel wrapped production in spring 2021, but in November it was announced that it would be undergoing more filming over the course of six weeks in Los Angeles, including both additional photography and reshoots.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness will debut in theaters on May 6.  Watch the teaser clip – here.

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The Weeknd and Swedish House Mafia set to replace Kanye West at 2022 Coachella

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The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival’s twitter page announced that The Weeknd and Swedish House Mafia will take the place of Kanye West as the Sunday night headliners at the 2022 Coachella Music Festival.
Coachella will be held the weekend of April 15-17, and the weekend of April 22-24.

The CEO of Goldenvoice, the festival organizer, said in a statement: “I’m so looking forward to this moment with Swedish House Mafia and The Weeknd finishing out the Sunday night slot this year. Coachella has a special relationship with Abel and I’m so thankful to have this upcoming performance with these iconic artists all on the same stage.”

The Weeknd and Swedish House Mafia will be taking the stage at the Empire Polo Ground in Indio, Calif. on April 17 and 24. Billie Eillish and Harry Styles are also headlining the event; Styles will headline both Fridays, while Eilish will perform both Saturdays.

Lil Baby, Daniel Caesar, Phoebe Bridgers, Big Sean, Flume, Megan Thee Stallion, Run the Jewels, and others are set to perform over both weekends.

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The Weeknd and Swedish House Mafia set to replace Kanye West at 2022 Coachella

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The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival’s twitter page announced that The Weeknd and Swedish House Mafia will take the place of Kanye West as the Sunday night headliners at the 2022 Coachella Music Festival.
Coachella will be held the weekend of April 15-17, and the weekend of April 22-24.

The CEO of Goldenvoice, the festival organizer, said in a statement: “I’m so looking forward to this moment with Swedish House Mafia and The Weeknd finishing out the Sunday night slot this year. Coachella has a special relationship with Abel and I’m so thankful to have this upcoming performance with these iconic artists all on the same stage.”

The Weeknd and Swedish House Mafia will be taking the stage at the Empire Polo Ground in Indio, Calif. on April 17 and 24. Billie Eillish and Harry Styles are also headlining the event; Styles will headline both Fridays, while Eilish will perform both Saturdays.

Lil Baby, Daniel Caesar, Phoebe Bridgers, Big Sean, Flume, Megan Thee Stallion, Run the Jewels, and others are set to perform over both weekends.

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Justin Bieber to provide free therapy to tour crew and fans

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Justin Bieber is offering free online therapy to his fans and those working on his world tour. Bieber announced his partnership with online therapy platform ‘BetterHelp,’ to provide free therapy for fans and his tour crew of over 250 people. Said Bieber in a statement: “The one thing I’ve learned over the years is that we all go through our ups and downs, and we all need help sometimes.”

BetterHelp, the world’s largest therapy service, said that the mental health services being offered are worth up to $3 million, and Bieber is not being compensated for this initiative. Fans will have access to one free month of online therapy which they can redeem for themselves or a friend or family member in need. Bieber is also offering 18 months of free therapy for his 250+ person touring crew.

BetterHelp’s website posted: “Whether you’re on the road or just going through it – your mental health matters. Justin is teaming up with BetterHelp to bring therapy to the crew on tour, and now you can get free access to a month of therapy too. Or, just send this to someone in need. Justin is doing it for his crew, do it for yours too.”

To redeem your free month of therapy, visit betterhelp.com/justinbieber. The offer is only available to users who have never received therapy with BetterHelp before.

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Jason Momoa to write, star and produce historical Hawaiian limited-series ‘Chief of War’ for Apple TV+

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Jason Momoa will write, executive produce and star in a new limited series at Apple TV+ titled ‘Chief of War.’
Chief of War will explore the unification of colonization of Hawaii from an indigenous point of view. Momoa was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, and is of Native Hawaiian ancestry.

Momoa will be marking the first time he has written for television, and will be penning the script along with Thomas Pa’a Sibbett.  Momoa and Sibbett are executive producing with Francis Lawrence, Peter Lawrence, Peter Chernin, Jenno Topping, Erik Holmberg and Doug Jung.  Jung will also serve as showrunner.

Momoa currently stars in post-apocalyptic drama series ‘See’ for Apple TV+, which has been renewed for a third season.

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Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker get married in surprise Las Vegas ceremony

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Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker were secretly married in Las Vegas at the One Love Wedding Chapel, shortly after they attended the 2022 Grammys Awards ceremony together. The ceremony took place at 1:45 a.m. on Monday and lasted about 30 minutes, according to Marty Frierson, the owner of the One Love Wedding Chapel. Kardashian and Barker came dressed in the same clothes they wore to the awards ceremony.

Kardashian, 42, and Barker, 46, were engaged in October 2021. The proposal occurred in Montecito, Calif., at Rosewood Miramar Beach hotel, which is said to be one of the couple’s “favorite” spots. The couple has also been open about their desire to have children together. Kardashian shares children Mason, 11, Penelope, 9, and Reign, 7 with ex Scott Disick. Barker shares son Landon, 18, and daughter Alabama, 15, with ex-wife Shanna Moakler, and has also remains close to 23-year-old stepdaughter Atiana, whom Moakler shares with boxer Oscar De La Hoya.

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