Trigger warnings serve the purpose of letting audiences know that some material in the work – a film, TV show or stage production – may be offensive or outdated. But they are also seen as catering to “woke culture” and those who might be labeled “overly sensitive.” As such, many celebrities have spoken out against trigger warnings, with the latest being none other than Dame Judi Dench, who, on the cusp of turning 90, has no time for such nonsense.

As per Radio Times, Judi Dench seemed more concerned that trigger warnings robbed audiences of shock and surprise. “That’s why we go to the theatre, isn’t it? To be shocked, to be arrested out of ourselves, to recognise ourselves in front and with an audience…My God, it must be a pretty long trigger warning before King Lear or Titus Andronicus! Crikey, is that really what happens now?”

Dench went on to say that if you are somebody who needs trigger warnings prior to going into a play, maybe it’s just not for you. “I can see why they exist, and it is preparing people, I suppose, but if you’re that sensitive, don’t go to the theatre, because you could be very shocked. Where is the surprise of seeing and understanding it in your own way?…Why go to the theatre if you’re going to be warned about things that are in the play? Isn’t the whole business of going to the theatre about seeing something that you can be excited, surprised, or stimulated by? It’s like being told they’re all dead at the end of King Lear. I don’t want to be told.”

Studios and film institutions have been slapping trigger warnings to the beginning of everything from Disney movies to the James Bond franchise, normally related to outdated representations of race and sex. Sure, proper context should be given when necessary, but there is also the stance that tacking on such disclaimers is ultimately insulting to the viewer, as if there is no trust in them to determine if something was “of the time” or not.

This was part of the point that Cate Blanchett raised in her lashing of trigger warnings, adding that modern viewers are too afraid to have tough conversations related to such topics. Ralph Fiennes took an even closer stance to Judi Dench, saying that there is no reason for viewers to be prepared ahead of time for any content found within a play.

Do you agree with Judi Dench’s assessment on trigger warnings? Have they gone overboard or are they necessary in today’s society? Give us your thoughts in the comments section below.

The post Judi Dench gives her take on trigger warnings appeared first on JoBlo.

That might be what she said but he’s got a different story altogether. Steve Carell says he has no intention of turning up on the upcoming follow-up to The Office and has stored away his World’s Best Boss mug for good.

Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, Steve Carell said that even though this Office series is set within the same universe, his time as Michael Scott is over. “I will be watching but I will not be showing up. It’s just a new thing and there’s really no reason for my character [Michael Scott] to show up in something like that.” That said, he still has faith in the project, adding, “But I’m excited about it, it sounds like a great conceit. I love the idea — I guess it’s set in a failing newspaper company.”

Steve Carell has played coy about a previous return as Michael Scott before, insisting that he would not be reprising the Dundie Award-winning character for the series finale. But as we all figured — and had confirmed — he did make a “surprise” appearance for Dwight’s wedding. Overall, though, even though this Office addition will have a similar style and will most likely feature some of the other characters reprising their roles, if Greg Daniels and company want it to stand on its own, it might best never even consider bringing back Steve Carell, lest it remind viewers of just how funny the original show was (well, until he left…).

Here is the official plot of the upcoming Office series: “The documentary crew that immortalized Dunder Mifflin’s Scranton branch is in search of a new subject when they discover a dying historic Midwestern newspaper and the publisher trying to revive it with volunteer reporters.”

There have been a handful of mini Office reunions since the show went off the air in 2013, including Angela Kinsey and Jenna Fischer’s rewatch podcast. Steve Carell got his own when he was directed by John Krasinski for this month’s IF. On this project – in which Carell voices an old imaginary friend – Carell praised Krasinski’s directing, which he got experience with the season six episode of The Office “Sabre.”

Production on The Office follow-up is expected to begin this summer.

Do you think Steve Carell will be making a cameo as Michael Scott for the new Office series?

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Even though we’ve had set photos, teasers and a confirmed premiere date, it’s still awfully hard to believe that Francis Ford Coppola is finally unleashing Megalopolis to the world. Ahead of its debut at the Cannes Film Festival, we have another trailer that gives us a better look at the world Coppola has had in his head since the days of Apocalypse Now.

In the teaser, we hear a voiceover ponder, “When does an empire die? Does it collapse in one terrible moment? No, no. But there comes a time when people no longer believe in it…” From there, we have statues brought to life, a Roman chariot race, a lavish party, a protest, and oh so much more, all of which give us a better idea of just what Coppola has been up to with Megalopolis. He, too, noted in the description of the video, “Our new film MEGALOPOLIS is the best work I’ve ever had the privilege to preside over.” This coming from the guy behind The Godfather films, The Conversation and Apocalypse Now!

All of this looks and sounds so promising, but it should be noted that Francis Ford Coppola has yet to land a distributor for Megalopolis. This might seem to spell certain doom for the director and his passion project, but with its Cannes debut just a few days away, we’ll see just which studio wants to pick it up in France. We’ll also get more concrete reactions; while it did receive a standing ovation at a special screening in March, the Cannes audience can go either way. Sure, their own standing Os are legendary, but they are also more than happy to boo a renowned filmmaker or even walk out on their work.

Here is the official plot of Coppola’s Megalopolis: “Roman Epic fable set in an imagined Modern America. The City of New Rome must change, causing conflict between Cesar Catilina (Adam Driver), a genius artist who seeks to leap into a utopian, idealistic future, and his opposition, Mayor Franklyn Cicero (Giancarlo Esposito), who remains committed to a regressive status quo, perpetuating greed, special interests, and partisan warfare. Torn between them is socialite Julia Cicero (Nathalie Emmanuel), the mayor’s daughter, whose love for Cesar has divided her loyalties, forcing her to discover what she truly believes humanity deserves.”

What do you think of the latest teaser for Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis? Do you think it can rank alongside his greatest works?

The post Megalopolis gets another teaser ahead of Cannes debut appeared first on JoBlo.

It’s no secret that Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron did not mesh while making 2015’s Mad Max: Fury Road, with the actress saying she at times felt “scared sh*tless” by his behavior, which included everything from showing up whenever he pleased to coming off as downright aggressive in the way he spoke to her. And while sometimes a little tension on the set can lend to the movie, it can also be extremely toxic and uncomfortable to work around. Now, George Miller – who is on the promotional circuit for prequel Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga – is once more speaking about what went down on the set of Fury Road more than a decade ago.

Sitting down with The Telegraph, George Miller said that Hardy and Theron are polar opposites, which came through while making Fury Road. “They were just two very different performers. Tom has a damage to him but also a brilliance that comes with it, and whatever was going on with him at the time, he had to be coaxed out of his trailer. Whereas Charlize was incredibly disciplined – a dancer by training, which told in the precision of her performance – and always the first one on set.”

George Miller would make an attempt at defending their behavior while filming Fury Road but ultimately knows that none of it should have been occurring between the actors – especially if it interferes with production. “I’m an optimist, so I saw their behaviour as mirroring their characters, where they had to learn to co-operate in order to ensure mutual survival. There’s no excuse for it, and I think there’s a tendency in this business to use great performances as an excuse for other disruption that could be avoided.”

Like Fury Road, George Miller and his cast will be bringing Furiosa to the Cannes Film Festival, where it – like its predecessor – will screen out of competition. With first reactions hailing the movie as a remarkable follow-up, it only adds to our anticipation and all but promises it will be on many year-end best-of lists.

Will you be checking out Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga when it hits theaters later this month? How do you think it will compare to Fury Road?

The post George Miller: There’s “no excuse” for Theron / Hardy clash on Fury Road appeared first on JoBlo.

Lydia Deetz, her stepmother Delia and her daughter Astrid stand over a casket, the burial services in progress. We can barely make out who the funeral is for but there he is on the headstone: Charles Deetz. While Charles was once part of the Beetlejuice sequel when the ghost with the most was to “go Hawaiian”, he was written entirely out of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice…for reasons that will soon be obvious.

Despite the original’s and sequel’s dalliances with the afterlife, Jeffrey Jones will not be in the Beetlejuice sequel– or pretty much any other legitimate movie – following his disgraceful tumble from his small but reliable spotlight. Perfectly fitting into prestigious period pieces and goofball funny flicks. Jones is a Golden Globe nominee with consistent work – a mix of villain, comedic and at times patriarchal roles, Jeffrey Jones went from Ferris Bueller baddie to Who’s Your Caddy?

So let’s find out: WTF Happened to…JEFFREY JONES?

But to truly understand what happened to Jeffrey Jones, we go back to the beginning. The beginning began when he was born on September 28th, 1946 in Buffalo, New York. It was Jones’ mother who encouraged him to pursue acting; and while he focused on pre-med at Wisconsin’s Lawrence University, he did soon take to stage productions. Soon, he fell in with legendary theater director Tyrone Guthrie, studying under him at Minneapolis’ Guthrie School. He, too, would study at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.

Jeffrey Jones took to small theater, travelling the world and stepping into roles in prominent works like Trelawny of the Wells (1975) alongside John Lithgow and Meryl Streep and taking on various roles in The Elephant Man (1979-1981) with David Bowie as the lead.

Jones would move on to television, mostly in one-offs, miniseries and TV movies. His first notable credit would be in the Cold War actioner The Soldier (1982), next playing a sleazeball opposite Rodney Dangerfield in Easy Money (1983). But his true breakout came in the widely acclaimed Best Picture winner Amadeus (1984), playing Emperor Joseph II, who shows great support for Amadeus and Salieri. For his performance, he would earn his only Golden Globe nomination (Best Supporting Actor) to date, later missing out on an Oscar nod. More importantly to his career, it would land him his signature role: Dean Edward Mooney in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986). The ultimate authoritarian, ego-tripping prick – at least to the teenage mindset – Mooney was on the hunt for the titular schemer and skipper. Jones played it perfectly, exuding a sleazy weasel quality that hadn’t been taken to that level ever before in a high school movie, moulding one of the genre’s quintessential heels.

His Amadeus role would also land him Howard the Duck, also out one year after Transylvania 6-500, in which he played the mayor. Here he was Dr. Walter Jenning, but Jones really comes undone when he gets possessed by the Dark Overlord (also voiced by Jones); the movie is a notorious rotten egg, but Jones plays the character to great effect, giving an over-the-top and unhinged performance. That same year, Jones played Thomas Jefferson in a TV movie. Now that’s some diversity right there!

1987 would be a casual waste for Jones, playing an army officer in The Hanoi Hilton and Buffalo Bill in a Kenny Rogers vanity project for CBS. But he had made the mark he needed to, being recognized by Tim Burton as just the man to play patriarch Charles Deetz in Beetlejuice, showing a comedic timing that let him play the foil to hauntings and “Day-O.” Tim Burton would go on to cast Jeffrey Jones in two more movies in the ‘90s: Ed Wood (1994), in which he played real-life psychic personality The Amazing Criswell, and Sleepy Hollow (1999), playing the town reverend. He had become part of Burton’s growing fleet of frequent collaborators. Another friend and occasional face was that of Paul Reubens; but more important than Pee Wee or Batman Returns was his tie to Jeffrey Jones’ undoing.

Jones ended the ‘80s with Sherlock Holmes twist Without a Clue (1988), playing second billing to John Candy in Who’s Harry Crumb? (1989) and pairing again with Miloš Forman for Valmont (1989), an 18th-century period piece where in character desired to marry a 15-year-old girl…He, too, gave the sitcom scene a shot, playing a cartoonist who can bring his works to life in The People Next Door, which lasted all of 10 episodes (half of which never aired).

The ‘90s started off promising, playing a submarine commander in John McTiernan’s The Hunt for Red October (1990). Then came a trio of flops, all in 1992: Out on a Limb (reteaming with Ferris Bueller co-star Matthew Broderick), in which he played twin brothers; idiotic sci-fi family flick Mom and Dad Save The World; and Stay Tuned, another idiotic sci-fi family flick – but at least this time he got a chewy villain to play. After an uncredited turn in Oliver Stone’s Heaven & Earth (1993), he balanced out the rest of the decade with a mix of comedies and dramas. There was a small role in 1995’s Houseguest, then moved back to his stage roots playing Thomas Putnam in The Crucible (1996). Meanwhile, 1997 saw him playing a law firm partner whose big mouth gets him killed in The Devil’s Advocate, an over-the-top racist in The Pest and a part in indie Flypaper.

1999 was just as diverse for Jones, appearing in Stuart Little as Uncle Crenshaw (a role he reprised for a couple of episodes of the animated series) and horror flick Ravenous as a colonel who turns into a cannibal.

He, too, would spend a sizable portion of the 1980s and 1990s doing spots on shows like Amazing Stories, Tales from the Crypt and The Outer Limits, as well as lending his voice – one of his strong suits – to shows like Duckman and EEK! The Cat. As for movies before he got in trouble, there was a role as a senator in Company Men (2000), a hotel manager in Heartbreakers (2001), the primary antagonist in Dr. Dolittle 2 (2001), and even the vice president of the United States of America in How High.

In the early 2000s, Reubens was under a year-long investigation for lewd material. While no evidence was found and no charges brought, the search became a lead to Jones. And in 2002, he was arrested for possession of child porn, even supposedly hiring a 14-year-old boy to pose for explicit photographs. As such, Jones faced a felony count of using a minor in an explicit film and a misdemeanour of possession of child porn. Jones denied all accusations, saying, “All I want is for the truth to come out and for this matter to be resolved as quickly as possible.”

After pleading no contest, Jones received five years probation and had to register as a sex offender, also being made to undergo counselling. Following the sentencing, Jones stated, “This concludes a really painful chapter in my life. I am sorry that this incident was allowed to occur. Such an event has never happened before and it will never happen again.” But troubles would haunt him still, as in 2004 he failed to update his sex offender status in Florida and in 2010 failed to do the same in California, receiving 250 hours of community service as punishment.

And that was pretty much the end of Jeffrey Jones’ career…Pretty much. Before this, Jeffrey Jones had solidified himself as a familiar face among movies and television; he wasn’t quite a character actor but he was undoubtedly a character, a certified “Hey, it’s that guy!” kind of guy.

Despite his troubles, Jeffrey Jones still landed a vital role on a key show in the Golden Age of Television: that of newspaper editor A.W. Merrick on HBO’s Deadwood, tagging along to a cast SAG nomination and even being invited back for the 2019 movie. Outside of that, Jones appeared in junk like Who’s Your Caddy? (2007) – his first “major” movie since his arrest – and 2014 disaster flick 10.0 Earthquake.

And that’s just the sort of fare we would expect from Jeffrey Jones now…if he gets a role at all. Once a familiar face and recurring part of Tim Burton’s repertoire, he fell from his minor grace with a thud. To most of us he’ll always be Ed Rooney and Charles Deetz, and while his disgraceful behaviour doesn’t take anything away from the movies – they’re just too good to have one pervert ruin it. How appropriate that his acts buried his career and his Beetlejuice family closed the casket on his legacy.

The post What Happened to Jeffrey Jones? appeared first on JoBlo.

As Yellowstone trots towards its final episodes, there is still a ranch full of unanswered questions. Near the top of that list is, Will Kevin Costner be returning? In a (terrific) interview with Deadline in the lead-up to the premiere of his passion project, Horizon, at Cannes, Costner seemed to put a definitive answer to speculation. He says, “Well, I haven’t felt good about it the last year, what with the way they’ve talked about it. It wasn’t truthful. So now I’m talking about a little bit about what the real truth of it was. I made a contract for seasons five, six and seven. In February, after a two- or three-month negotiation, they made another contract. They wanted to redo that one, and instead of seasons six and seven, it was 5A and 5B, and maybe we’ll do six. They weren’t able to make those. Horizon was set in the middle, but Yellowstone was first position. I fit [Horizon] into the gaps. They just kept moving their gaps.”

Indeed, Costner, who typically doesn’t do a lot of press, opened up more in the interview about how he feels he’s been treated by the people behind the show:

“I don’t want to get down in the gutter with the Yellowstone thing but what I’m telling you is straight up. I have taken a beating from those f*cking guys and I know a lot of times where it’s coming from. I just elected not to get into that. But if you know me well enough, I made Yellowstone the first priority, and to insinuate anything else would be wrong. I did not initiate any of those things. They did. They were doing a tap dance and this poor guy was also having to write so much. And I don’t know why they didn’t stick up for me.”

Despite everything, in the interview Costner maintains he would in fact be open to coming back. “I’m very open to coming back. If they’ve got so many other things going on, maybe this circles back and it’s a really cool two seasons. Or end it, if the writing’s there and I’m happy with it. I’m open to that. But I took a beating over these guys not speaking up for me and allowing crazy stories to come out.”

Will Costner and Sheridan work together again?

Even if Costner has yet to have even a phone conversation with creator Taylor Sheridan over the future of John Dutton on Yellowstone. But that doesn’t quite rule out a role for him on the western series — or a spot in one of Sheridan’s future projects.

Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, Kevin Costner spoke positively of the work ethic of and his standing with Taylor Sheridan, saying, “He’s doing special work in a lot of different ways. He’s very prolific about the things he does, and if he sees me in something that he wants to do, I’ll look at it just the way I did Yellowstone and maybe we will end up doing something together.” Costner also noted that he and Sheridan have a lot of common interests and so “the idea of us working together is not out of the question for me. The subjects he chooses are very interesting to me. I like a lot of that stuff. Yellowstone stands as something that could continue. But that is a Taylor question. But other things that he’s doing I think are really, really good.”

These “other things” Sheridan has going include an ever-growing selection of Yellowstone spin-offs, none of which could work in Kevin Costner. And Costner himself is quite busy in the western genre, with the first part of his epic saga Horizon slated to premiere at this year’s Cannes Film Festival out of competition. This will mark the first time Costner has stepped behind the camera for a feature since 2003’s Open Range, which I personally think was one of the best westerns of its decade.

Costner and Sheridan seemed like a dream team and for a while it all worked out so well on Yellowstone. Ideally, everything gets ironed out and John Dutton can return for the final episodes. Sure, the show has enough storylines outside of the patriarch to wrap up the series – and, if he is written out, that will certainly create more – but it just wouldn’t feel right without the star.

Will John Dutton die?

Which begs the question, what will become of John Dutton? The common thinking is that he’ll be killed off, which is something the show has teased ever since the first season.

If you’re a Yellowstone fan, you’ll remember that in the first season, Costner’s John Dutton was diagnosed with colon cancer. Rumor has it, Costner was originally planning for his run on the show to be a short one, but the cancer plot line was quickly done away with. In the Season 2 premiere, Dutton had a major attack that he assumed was his cancer returning, only for a vet to perform emergency surgery on what turned out to be a ruptured ulcer. And so Dutton lived to fight another day.

Assassination

Now that Dutton is governor of Montana, it’s possible that he could be assasinated, potentially at the hands of his estranged son Jamie (Wes Bentley), but that seems out of sorts for that character, who was last seen planning to take him down with an impeachment. Remember, him and his paramour, Dawn Olivieri’s Sarah Atwood, were trying to take him down that way.

Some Random Dumb Accident

Life on the Dutton family ranch is rough. If Sheridan really wants to stick it to Costner, who always had an entry in his contract that guaranteed “a moral death” for the character, it’s possible he’ll just kill him off randomly. While that might strike some as a middle finger to fans, with Costner refusing to do any shooting at all, Taylor Sheridan might not have much of a choice.

Here’s everything else we know about Season 6:

When does season 6 of Yellowstone start?

Originally, the plan was to split the fifth season of Yellowstone into two parts, with Part 2 due to air in fall of 2023. That didn’t happen due to the strikes, so now Paramount is dubbing Yellowstone‘s final season number 6. It’s now due this fall, with episodes of Yellowstone season 6 airing sometime in November 2024. It can’t air any sooner because the show’s filming schedules in Montana are notoriously weather dependent, and it can’t be shot until winter is over.

How many episodes there be be?

Two of the biggest problems facing the final season of Yellowstone stem directly from the strikes, as creator Taylor Sheridan had yet to complete the scripts when the WGA strike was called. If took months for the strikes to end, and in that time the plan shifted, as originally there was supposed to be a Season 5 part 2 with 6 episodes, but this plan was scrapped in favor of a legit sixth and final season. However, the number of episodes needs to be clarified. In recent red carpet interviews with Entertainment Tonight, Josh Lucas, who plays the younger John Dutton, said they would be shooting ten episodes, but co-star Ian Bohen says six, plus a series finale. However many there are, Bohen says the final episodes will build up to “the best series finale in history.”

What Will Happen to Beth and Rip?

Here’s where it gets interesting. With the final season set to do away with John Dutton, the focus will likely fall to the romantic duo at the center of the show, Cole Hauser’s Rip and Kelly Reilly’s Beth. While they aren’t the only star-crossed lovers on the show, with Luke Grimes’s Kaycee and Kelsey Asbille’s Monica also seeing their shares of ups and downs, fans are obsessed with this couple. The show has often revolved around Beth’s deadly rivalry with her estranged (adopted) brother, Jamie (Wes Bentley), and it wouldn’t be a stretch to imagine that if John Dutton dies, the prodigal son is somehow behind it. If so, I expect Beth to go on the warpath and for the show to end with Jamie’s presumably violent death.

Will Rip Be In It?

While Rip is one half of Yellowstone’s biggest power couple, another behind-the-scenes Yellowstone battle has been brewing – this time between Hauser and creator Taylor Sheridan. Unlike with Costner, this has nothing to do with what’s happening on screen or with money. Rather, Sheridan is accusing Hauser’s new coffee brand, Free Range Coffee, of sporting a logo nearly identical to that of his coffee brand, Bosque Ranch Craft Coffee. Hopefully, this battle doesn’t lead to more behind-the-scenes strife, but these squabbles have a tendency to get out of hand.

What is Yellowstone 2024?

This seems to be the current title for the sequel series starring Matthew McConaughey and (potentially) other Yellowstone cast members. No word yet on what the series will involve, but you can be sure that John Dutton won’t be tipping his hat – both because of Costner and, come on, Dutton has to die in Yellowstone, right? If he does die, I imagine surviving cast members will make their way over to this show. If Beth and Rip survive the final season, I would expect them to be leads alongside McConaughey, which would make sense and give the show some legit crossover appeal. It’s been rumored that Michelle Pfeiffer is also set to play a big role, but apparently salary negotiations for Kelly Reilly, Cole Hauser and Luke Grimes have been complicated. In fact, a bombshell report suggests Reilly and Hauser want at least equal billing to any newer, big-named stars, and salaries that match. Notably, they are negotiating separately, meaning one may end up on the new show, and one may not.

What About the Prequels?

The well-received prequel 1923, starring Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren, is set to air one more season. It will likely premiere before Yellowstone Season 6, as Sheridan is thought to have completed the scripts. Paramount Network also announced another spin-off called 1944, which would presumably take the Dutton clan through WW2, and could (theoretically) include characters from 1923, including Brandon Sklenar’s Spencer. That said, the role could potentially be recast, as, if he’s supposed to be in his fifties, Sklenar would be a bit on the young side. Sheridan’s also got Lawmen: Bass Reeves on the air. Originally, this seemed to be set in the universe of Yellowstone spinoffs, but so far hasn’t been linked to shows like 1883, despite a similar style.

What is Horizon?

By this point, fans might be wondering just what exactly Horizon: An American Saga is, as it’s the project that seemingly kept Costner away from Yellowstone season 6. It’s a multi-part western saga that Costner both stars in and directs. The first two parts are due out this summer, with the first coming out on June 28th, and the sequel to follow on August 16th. Costner stars alongside Sienna Miller, Yellowstone vet Danny Huston, Jena Malone (his Hatfields and the McCoys co-star), Sam Worthington, and more.

What do you expect to see in the final season of Yellowstone? Which character(s) do you think won’t make it out alive? Let us know!

The post Yellowstone Season 6: Costner gives his side of the story & everything else we know appeared first on JoBlo.

You remind me of the babe? What babe? The babe with the massive cult following! Nearly 40 years since its release, Labyrinth has endured as one of the most beloved fantasy movies ever. While it was a flop at the box office, the movie would go on to embody so much of what makes the genre what it is, not to mention it being a charming – and sometimes frightening – representation of the brilliance of cinematic puppetry.

Like so many of our favorite movies, when it comes down to it, the box office numbers never mattered. That’s definitely the case with Labyrinth, which took in just under $13 million domestically on a budget reportedly around double that. Jennifer Connelly remembered “hearing rumblings” of it being poorly attended at the multiplex but that it eventually found its fandom. “People’s affection has grown over the years. People talk to me about it in a way that seems outsized to the response when it was first released.”

Connelly had already worked with iconic directors like Sergio Leone (Once Upon a Time in America) and Dario Argento (Phenomena) but collaborating with Jim Henson was a completely unique experience for her. “Jim was a genius. And we don’t really make movies like that anymore. All those practical, wonderful puppets working together on those beautifully crafted sets. It feels different than the way we make a lot of films now; it feels kind of special.”

Indeed, Labyrinth is special. In a time when practical effects and puppetry is few and far between, it’s films like Labyrinth – and any others that seek to honor the artistry – that stand out. Really, how fantastic are the designs of Hoggle, Ludo, the Fierys, and pretty much every other character inside of the titular maze?

Sequel discussion for Labyrinth has been around for several years now, with Brian Henson saying as recently as this winter that it was still a possibility. Although The Dark Crystal’s TV continuation didn’t stick, the fanbase for a similar approach to Labyrinth could prove successful.

What is your favorite scene from Labyrinth? Which character design and set stands out the most to you? Let us know in the comments section below!

The post Jennifer Connelly says movies like Labyrinth aren’t made anymore appeared first on JoBlo.

In a random and brutal moment, actor Steve Buscemi was attacked on the streets of New York City, with a man blindsiding him with a punch to the face. According to the New York Post, Buscemi was taken to the hospital and suffered bruisings. The assailant has yet to be caught.

According to his publicist (as per the New York Post), “Steve Buscemi was assaulted in Mid-Town Manhattan, another victim of a random act of violence in the city…He is ok and appreciates everyone’s well wishes, though incredibly sad for everyone that this has happened to while also walking the streets of New York.”

As you can imagine, fans of Steve Buscemi and those within the industry have come to the actor’s defense, saying it is an outrage that such an occurrence would even happen. Let’s also not forget that in addition to being a beloved presence on both the big and small screens, Steve Buscemi has been a pillar of the community, working as a firefighter for the New York City Fire Department in the ‘80s and volunteering in the aftermath of 9/11 for his former house.

There have also been calls on the New York Police Department to enforce change immediately, saying the city is out of control. While we won’t comment on that directly, it is truly unfortunate that Steve Buscemi is just the latest to be the victim of violence, whether he’s an actor or not. But Deadline has noted that the likes of Michael Stuhlbarg and Rick Moranis have also been targets. Just last month, Stuhlbarg was allegedly attacked by a homeless man with a rock. In 2020, Moranis – of all people! – was also assaulted, with that assailant eventually pleading guilty to various charges.

While we know that there isn’t some sort of dumb online trend where you attack a celebrity on the streets of NYC for internet clout, it’s still a disturbing trend and just another example of just how disruptive and dangerous people can be in public.

We here at JoBlo.com want to wish Steve Buscemi the best in any recovery he may need and are hoping the attacker is caught soon.

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Susan Backlinie, who made her debut as Chrissie Watkins, the first victim in 1975’s Jaws, has passed away at the age of 77.

Susan Backlinie’s role in Jaws cannot be understated, setting the tone for what might be dubbed the “first girl”, the initial victim that establishes the terror that will come throughout the rest of the film. Out for a late night swim in the nude, things turned dire fast for Chrissie Watkins, thrashing about the pitch black waters by a virtually unseen force. Backed by John Williams’s score – which Backlinie’s performance undoubtedly helped enhance (and vice versa) – the opening scene of Jaws remains at the peak of cinematic horror. Something that adds to this is also something many fans may not know: Susan Backlinie was an accomplished swimmer, a little backstory that would outline that indeed nobody is safe in the water.

Backlinie’s short but impactful performance in Jaws was also successful in part due to her having a passion for stunt work. She would later have credits as such on 1979’s The Villain and 1981’s Image of the Beast. She, too, had a one-off appearance on TV’s The Fall Guy, which centered around a stunt actor.

Outside of Jaws, Susan Backlinie’s onscreen accomplishments were few, although she did parody her iconic role later for Steven Spielberg in 1941. Other big screen credits include that same year’s The Grizzly and the Treasure and 1977 nature horror flick Day of the Animals, one in a huge wave of movies that tried to capitalize on vicious animals.

Despite her most memorable role, Susan Backlinie had a genuine love for animals, even working as a trainer. But no, Jaws did not make her afraid of sharks, once saying, “I was [once] in the water and turned around and a shark was just sitting there and looking at me. I went up to it and he just sat there and stared at me. I wasn’t scared.” Still, her big screen moment was tough to shoot, recalling, “They put a pair of cutoff jeans on me and hooked cables up to the side. At night I’d stop and think, “You know, that’s exactly what calls sharks to you: flailing, stopping, flailing.” I kind of felt like shark bait.”

What are your memories of the opening scene in Jaws? Leave your condolences for the late Susan Backlinie the comments section below.

The post Susan Backlinie, 1st Jaws victim Chrissie Watkins, dies appeared first on JoBlo.

You never really know which spin-offs will work, but That ‘70s Show sequel That ‘90s Show has proven to be a hit with viewers, who turned to the show for exactly the reason why the original worked: nostalgia. Not surprisingly, the sitcom has been renewed for more groovy (or would it be phat?) times.

As unveiled at the Netflix Is A Joke Fest – which our own Chris Bumbray attended, even visiting the set of the sitcom – That ‘90s Show will return this year. The second part will debut on June 27th, while the third will drop on October 24th.

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As per Netflix, the continuation of That ‘90s Show will pick up the following year. “It’s 1996 and Leia Forman is back in Point Place for another summer of fun with her friends and grandparents, Kitty and Red. Leia and Jay are excited to be together again after nine months of long distance. But she’s on edge since Jay still doesn’t know she almost kissed Nate. Nate is concerned that his girlfriend, Nikki, doesn’t know either. How long can they keep this secret? Turns out, not long at all. And when the truth finally comes out, relationships are threatened, friendships are at stake, and the summer is on the verge of ending before it even gets started.”

Adding to the announcement, the cast of That ‘90s Show faced off in a trivia contest of ‘90s-themed questions, with Debra Jo Rupp, Kurtwood Smith, Callie Haverda, and Don Stark taking on Maxwell Acee Donovan, Mace Coronel, Ashley Aufderheide, Sam Morelos, and Reyn Doi.

Having so many fresh faces and bringing back most of the key cast from That ‘70s Show has helped That ‘90s Show work. The upcoming season will add a wealth of appearances from familiar names, including ‘90s staples like Lisa Loeb, Carmen Electra, Wayne Knight, and Seth Green. There, too, will be Kevin Smith, Jason Mewes, Will Forte, and Matt Rife.

Are you a fan of That ‘90s Show? Do you think it is a strong enough follow-up to That ‘70s Show? Chime in with your thoughts in the comments section below.

The post That ’90s Show returns for 2-part continuation this summer appeared first on JoBlo.