LIGHT SPOT HO L LY W OOD JT Torbit

“The Little Mermaid”

The Little Mermaid is making waves in the film industry as fans eagerly anticipate Disney's latest live-action remake. This timeless classic, originally released as an animated movie in 1989, tells the story of Ariel, a mermaid princess who dreams of living on land and marrying a human prince. The ensemble cast features Halle Bailey, Awkwafina, Melissa McCarthy and Javier Bardem.

The first teaser– released lastSeptember–gave us a glimpse of the underwater world of Atlantica. Bailey's stunning portrayal of Ariel capturesher youthfulness and rebellious spirit. Additionally, the inclusion of Awkwafina and McCarthy in the cast suggests that the movie will be filled with humor and heart, making it per-

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fect for audiences of all ages.

The casting of a Black actress as Ariel has sparked an important conversation about inclusivity and representation in storytelling. Bailey's portrayal of Ariel is sure to inspire a new generation of children who will see themselves represented on the big screen.

The anticipation surrounding film is growing by the day, with fans

Rihanna to Star as Smurfette in Upcoming Movie

Grammy-winner Rihanna once sang about wanting to feel like the "only girl in the world”. Now, she will actually be that, or at least be the only one in the village — the Smurf Village that is. The "Work" singer has revealed that she will play Smurfette in the upcoming live adaptation of the Smurf's movie. Rihanna shared the news alongside Paramount Animation head Ramsey Naito at CinemaCon in Las Vegas. Aside from starring in the film, Rihanna will write and record original songs for the film and serve as a pro ducer. A release date for the film has been set for Feb. 14, 2025.

Oprah Previews 2023

Color Purple Musical at CinemaCon

It's "not your mama's Color Purple” is how media giant Oprah Win frey described the upcoming revival of the 1985 Oscarnominated movie while sharing the first trailer for the Warner Bros' re boot alongside its stars Fanta sia Barrino (Celie), Taraji P. Henson (Shug), and Danielle Brooks (Sophia). Winfrey, 69, says the project has "magical realism, wholesome family goodness, and an amazing cast.”

This will be the second silver screen adaptation of Alice Walker's award-winning novel. The first –released in 1985–starred Whoopi Goldberg, Margaret Avery, and Oprah Winfrey who earned an Oscar nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress. Steven Spielberg directed the original and will serve as a producer alongside Winfrey and famed-music icon Quincy Jones.

The official release date is Christmas Day 2023.

Court Date Nears for Jonathan Majors

The hearing for Creed III actor and rising star Jonathan Majors is set for May 8, but talk of more incidents and an exodus on the part of some of those representing him appear to indicate that the domestic abuse charges filed against the 33-year old actor may be a great deal more serious than first believed.

“Jonathan Majors is innocent and has not abused anyone. We have provided irrefutable evidence to the district attorney that the charges are false. We are confident that he will be fully exonerated,” his lawyer, Priya Chaudhry, has said. But in the weeks since his arrest, other women have reportedly come forward with allegations of abuse.

of the original animated movie eager to see how this live-action remake will bring their favorite characters to life. Moreover, new audiences are excited to be introduced to this timeless story. Despite some negative comments, it is clear that the movie–set to release on May 26–promises to be an emotionally resonant retelling of a beloved story, set to take audiences on a magical journey beneath the sea. Disney's live-action remakes have been successful in the past, and this latest installment is sure to be no exception. With stunning visuals, The Little Mermaid promises to be a must-watch movie of 2023, loved by generations to come, inspiring new audiences with its messages of love, perseverance, and following one's dreams.

Footnotes

YaraShahidi

Age: 23

Hometown: Minneapolis, Minnesota

First Break: Imagine That

Breakout Role: Blackish

Current: Peter Pan and Wendy

Yara Shahidi shines as an industry vet at 23 years old. At six weeks old, she was a print model. By nine, she starred alongside Eddie Murphy, in Imagine That, but the past decade has been her most exciting era yet. The Harvard alum who portrayed Zoey Johnson on Black-ish for eight seasons before leading the show’s spinoff, Grown-ish. Not to mention, she signed a “massive production” deal with ABC Signature in 2020. This year, she debuted in her most iconic role yet as Tinkerbell.

On the reimagining of Tinkerbell:

Charged with three counts of assault in the third degree and one count of aggravated harassment in the second degree, three counts of attempted assault in the third degree, and one count of harassment in the third degree, the Manhattan’s D.A.’s office alleges that Majors not only struck, shoved and kicked the 30-year old woman, but also caused injury to “a family and household member of such person.”

The incident has not been good for business as the actor has been dropped from the feature adaptation of Walter Mosley’s novel The Man in My Basement, a reported Otis Redding biopic as well as an ad campaign for the Texas Rangers. The U.S. Army has paused its recruiting ads featuring Majors, instead reworking its $117 million campaign to create new ads without the appearance of Majors.

In other entertainment news...

Yvonne Orji has signed a two year first look deal with Sony to develop scripted drama and comedy series for cable and streaming…Tyrese has been ordered by an Atlanta judge to pay a total of $237,944 in back child support to ex-wife Samantha Lee Gibson for their daughter and $399K for her attorney fees. While the actor has been paying child support, it has not been the $10K the judge ordered and the $237K represents the difference. Half of the money is due on May 15 (Ouch!)...Finally, Jada Pinkett’s “Red Table Talk” has been canceled by Facebook and is now in talks for a new home. Stay tuned.

“They wanted to bring some new fun to this classic but also give us the fairy tale we deserve. It’s evident they’re not just popping Black and Brown folks in the cast for the sake of updating the story. Instead, it’s about creating a story that so many more people can see themselves in after we’ve been left out for so long.”

On facing racially charged backlash for being casted as Tinkerbell:

“I think oftentimes people think of diversity and inclusion as threatening or jeopardizing the quality of the story, instead of seeing how beautifully they can be interwoven together to create something that impacts even more people, that lets even more people into stories that we love.”

On how she balanced work and play as a child actor:

“One thing my mother has always said is acting is something we do, but it's not who we are. I've always appreciated that distinction because it's meant I've always had a personal life with hobbies and friends. My acting career was never all-consuming. Before Black-ish, I was guest-starring on a lot of shows, but I would go to work and then go back to school or attend things like karate class."

On graduating from Harvard with a degree in African American Studies:

“It’s surreal to have finally hit this major milestone. I’ve known I wanted to go to college since I was four. By 17, I knew exactly what I wanted to study, so to see that come to fruition is a goal fulfilled.”

On being raised to be of service to the world:

"It’s something that I’m personally even conflicted about. In this moment, for example, I think a lot of the work that I’m hoping to do is about pointing people toward the organizers and the people on the front lines of this movement, because they have the most prescient, most real, most necessary voices. The greatest skill about having a platform, I think, is handing over the mic.”

On getting her own “Sheroes” Barbie Doll: “I’m honored to be repping all the young ones as a Barbie Role. Let’s continue to inspire the next generation and each other. We need your voices and are watching you all Blossom and shine!”