OHMYGOSSIP — Emily Blunt is “so ready” for an ‘Edge of Tomorrow’ sequel.
The 40-year-old actress admitted she would “love” to make a follow-up to the 2014 film – in which Tom Cruise played a PR executive who keeps reliving the same day over and over again as he battles against aliens – and has even had a script from director Doug Liman.
Speaking on the ‘Happy Sad Confused’ podcast, she told host Josh Horowitz: “There was one that Doug [Liman] kind of slithered over to me. I mean, I would love to make it a reality but I just don’t know when or how.”
The ‘Devil Wears Prada’ star insisted she is “so ready” for the sequel and clarified she is “not the impediment” to making the project happen.
Emily joked Tom needs to step away from the ‘Mission: Impossible’ franchise – of which the seventh installment, ‘Dead Reckoning Part 1’ has just been released – to work on something different.
She quipped: “And how many ‘Mission Impossibles’ does he need? Come back to the side where… wasn’t he brilliant as a cowardly hero? Incredible.”
Elsewhere in the interview, the ‘Oppenheimer’ actress insisted she doesn’t think of herself as a movie star.
Asked about the difference between being called an actor or a movie star, she said: “I think most people would want to consider themselves an actor [first].”
But asked if she could be both, she replied: “No, gross. I don’t.
“I just think, to me, a movie star sounds sort of too separate of what we kind of started out doing and why we love it and why I love it.”
But Emily admitted the two concepts can sometimes blend together.
She said in the interview, which was conducted before the current actors strike,: “Julia Roberts, who is, you know, was defined as a movie star. But you can’t forget her incalculable abilities as an actor and how incredible she was in ‘Pretty Woman’, that the reason she’s a movie star is because she kidnaps you and pulls you in to this movie because of her phenomenal talents and her charm and her charisma.
“When someone’s got that wattage to them, it’s like you can’t rip your eyes off them. Maybe that’s what the movie star thing is but I see it often as like a blend.”

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OHMYGOSSIP — Spike Lee and Pedro Almodóvar are the first honourees announced for this year’s TIFF Tribute Awards.
‘Do the Right Thing’ director Spike, 66, will receive the TIFF Ebert Director Award, which recognises filmmakers who have “exemplified greatness in their careers”.
‘Live Flesh’ filmmaker Pedro, 73 – who won the best original screenplay for his 2022 movie ‘Talk to Her’ – will receive the Jeff Skoll Award in Impact Media presented by Participant, which recognises “leadership in creating a union between social impact and cinema”.
Cameron Bailey, CEO of TIFF, said about Spike, who won the adapted screenplay Oscar for his ‘BlacKkKlansman’ film: “A foremost storyteller of our era… Spike has inspired audiences and made a lasting impact on the art of filmmaking.”
He added about Pedro – one of the most renowned international auteurs of his generation: “It’s a true thrill to acknowledge Pedro Almodóvar as the distinguished recipient of the Jeff Skoll Impact Media Award for 2023.
“His artistic vision, bold storytelling and unwavering commitment to pushing the boundaries of cinema have had a profound impact on cinema.
“He challenges societal norms, champions diversity and illuminates the human experience with sensitivity and grace.
“We applaud his contributions to cinema and celebrate his ability to inspire and provoke audiences worldwide.”
Past honourees at the TIFF Tribute Awards include Oscar winners Jessica Chastain, Roger Deakins, Brendan Fraser, Anthony Hopkins, Joaquin Phoenix, Taika Waititi, Michelle Yeoh and Chloé Zhao.
The awards night is TIFF’s largest annual fundraiser and collected $1.3 million in 2022.
Its 2023 Tribute Awards will take place on Sunday, 10 September, and will feature more than 60 films representing 70 countries, which will be shown from 7 to 17 of next month.

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OHMYGOSSIP — Paapa Essiedu is warning film fans not to bet on him becoming the next James Bond.
The ‘Murder on the Orient Express’ star, 33, currently has 8-1 odds with bookie Ladbrokes to step into Daniel Craig’s shoes as the super-spy.
But he told The Times newspaper about having no idea if he’s in the running: “I’ve got nothing for you. I know as much as you do. Ask (Bond producer) Barbara Broccoli.
“And I wouldn’t suggest you gamble in any setting, any more than I’d let my career choices be dictated by (bookie) William Hill.”
He added when asked if he’d play 007 if he were offered the role: “I wonder how many people have ever turned it down?”
Idris Elba was recently reported to have walked away from talks to be the next James Bond after being named favourite to replace Daniel Craig.
The ‘Luther’ actor, 50, is said to be instead pursuing “his own film franchise”, but apparently suggested other suitable 007s to producer Barbara Broccoli, 63.
A source told The Sun: “Fans and Barbara wanted Idris but he wants to create something for himself.
“However, he’s put forward names to play 007.
“He’s ‘informally’ in the decision-making process as he’s been in talks with producers for so long.”
Daniel Craig, 55, quit the 007 franchise after his fifth Bond outing in 2021’s ‘No Time To Die’, with Barbara later saying Idris was in her plans to take over as the spy, hailing him “a magnificent actor”.
With Idris out of the running, Henry Cavill, 40, and Rege-Jean Page, 35, are said to be among the favourites to take the part.
They are still front-runners despite a film insider saying the new James Bond must be aged under 40 and taller than 5ft 10 inches.
A source told the Daily Star 007 bosses were after a “fresh faced” replacement for Daniel.
They added bringing in an actor in their “late 30s” will allow him to stay in the role for at least a decade or potentially three films.
The source also claimed filming on the next movie may start in winter 2023, but Daniel’s successor will not be unveiled until next autumn at the earliest.
Richard Madden, 37, and James Norton, 38, have also been tipped to play the spy – while the alleged 5ft 10 height requirement would rule out former favourites Taron Egerton, 33, John Boyega, 31, and 36-year-old Kit Harington.

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OHMYGOSSIP — Ice Cube loved playing villainous Superfly in the ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem’ film as he felt there were “no rules”.
The 54-year-old rapper and actor added the human-sized fly character in the newly-released animation – who says his dad created the crime-fighting turtles by dumping toxic waste down a sewer – is a street-wise “king of New York”-style character.
He told Capital XTRA’s ‘Evenings with Omah Howard’ radio show: “Playing a villain is great – there are no rules playing a villain so it was just fun to be able to let loose.
“Superfly is the king of New York – everybody knows his name in the streets.
“Nothing happens in New York without going through Superfly or it’s gonna be a problem.”
Ice – real name O’Shea Jackson Sr – stars alongside Seth Rogen, 41, in the turtles movie, who plays the heroes in half-shells’ mutant warthog nemesis Bebop.
He said about the joy of working with the ‘Funny People’ star: “Oh he’s cool man. You know Seth – he’s just a fun guy, so easy to get along with, he laughs at everything so he’s just a dude who… you wanna make him laugh when you’re working, you know you’re on the right track, it’s just an honour to work with him.
“I’ve been watching his work for two decades. My son had a chance to work with him in ‘Longshot’ and now it’s my turn – I’m happy.”
Micah Abbey voices turtle Donatello in the new animation, while Shamon Brown Jr is Michelangelo, Nicolas Cantu plays Leonardo and Brady Noon is Raphael – with Jackie Chan voicing their wise rat mentor Splinter.
Cube added starring in the film about the characters created in 1984 took him back to his early days of loving hip-hop at house parties – which he said could end up in shooting.
He said: “It depends on which party you went to, house parties could get real wicked, but see, people don’t slow dance no more, we used to dim the lights, we all up on it – we ain’t trying to show our moves, we trying to get close so it was a different style and then you had the ’hood dudes that come through, they wasn’t invited so what do they wanna do, turn the party out, they were ready to send everybody home so you might hear a little bap-bap-bap outside and you gotta move on, it was crazy.”
Listen to Capital XTRA’s ‘Evenings with Omah Howard’ Monday to Thursday from 7pm to 10pm.

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OHMYGOSSIP — The actors’ and writers’ strike continuing to cripple Hollywood has led to Warner Bros Discovery saving in the “low $100 million range” in three months.
Executives reported their spending has plummeted during the second financial quarter of the year as they revealed their earnings on Thursday. (03.08.23)
Negotiations are still to resume between the unions and the studios, but WBD – whose stable includes its flagship Warner Bros film studio, as well as HBO and CNN Global – says it is currently projecting an “early September” end to the strikes and return to TV and film production.
Variety reported Gunnar Wiedenfels – chief financial officer of Warner Bros Discovery (WBD) – revealed on a call with financial analysts about the company’s results from 1 April to 30 June that “uncertainty” among studios as a result of the strikes “may have implications for the timing and performance of the remainder of the film slate, as well as our ability to produce and deliver content”.
He added: “While we are hoping for a fast resolution, our modelling assumes a return to work date in early September.
“Should the strikes run through the end of the year, I would expect several $100 million upside to our free cash flow guidance and some incremental downside for adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation.)”
Only Writers Guild of America (WGA) members were on strike during WBD’s second financial quarter, but TV and film productions were already severely impacted by their work stoppage.
Variety also reported WBD’s CEO David Zaslav said on the firm’s call with financial analysts about the strike’s impact on its second quarter: “We’re in the business of storytelling. Our goal is to tell great stories, stories with the power to entertain and, when we’re at our best, inspire with stories that come to life on screens big and small.
“We cannot do any of that without the entirety of the creative community, the great creative community. Without the writers, directors, editors, producers, actors, the whole below-the-line crew. Our job is to enable and empower them to do their best work.
“We’re hopeful that all sides will get back to the negotiating room soon and that these strikes get resolved in a way that the writers and actors feel they are fairly compensated and their efforts and contributions are fully valued.”
The WGA has been on strike since 2 May after failing to reach a new contract with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP.)
And the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) joined them on 14 July after also failing to ink a new agreement with the AMPTP.
Mr Zaslav added: “It’s critically important that everybody, the writers, the directors, the actors and producers… everyone needs to be fairly compensated and they need to feel valued and feel that they’re fairly compensated in order to do their best work.
“And we have to focus on getting that done. I’m hopeful that it’s going to happen soon. I think all of us in this business are very keen to figure out a solution as quickly as possible.
“We are in some uncharted waters, in terms of the world as it is today and measuring it all. And so I think, in good faith, we all got to fight to get this resolved. And it needs to be resolved in a way that the creative community feels fairly compensated and fully valued.”
Writers and actors are demanding studios raise pay rates and residuals for streaming content and develop guidelines around the use of AI in TV and film.

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OHMYGOSSIP — Randall Park’s directorial debut ‘Shortcomings’ was inspired by Noah Baumbach’s ‘Marriage Story’.
The 49-year-old actor is a big fan of both Baumbach and his partner – ‘Barbie’ director Greta Gerwig – and he revealed they both inspired his new movie.
He told Variety: “The big fight scene in the apartment [in ‘Shortcomings’] — a huge inspiration for that scene was the big argument scene in ‘Marriage Story’. There was a lot of inspiration from Noah Baumbach and Greta Gerwig and her work, but as far as ‘Barbie’, I don’t know. I don’t know if I would ever tackle a movie that big. For now I feel very comfortable in the very intimate spaces of people just walking and talking and hanging out in diners. To me, that’s my pocket.”
The movie co-stars Justin Min, Ally Maki and Sherry Cola and while Randall is proud of the film, he doesn’t feel a huge amount of pressure.
He said: “I don’t know what to expect. This is a very specific kind of movie. We’re a small indie, and we’re coming out in a very tenuous period and also in the shadow of these huge blockbusters. My hope is that people who do go and watch it and enjoy it, that they spread the word, and that eventually we find our audience, if not immediately, at least over time. That’s the reason why I’m so relaxed right now, because I’m not feeling this huge pressure to break the bank.”

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OHMYGOSSIP — Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson says a ‘Black Adam’ sequel was dropped because it got caught in a “web of new leadership” at DC Studios.
The 51-year-old actor had plans to make a whole franchise around the DC Comics character but after James Gunn and Peter Safran were brought in to take over DC Studios, more ‘Black Adam’ movies were axed.
Speaking on a recent episode of Kevin Hart’s ‘Hart to Heart’ show, Johnson said: “‘Black Adam’ got caught in a vortex of new leadership. And at that time, as we were creating ‘Black Adam’, developing it, shooting ‘Black Adam’ … it was so many changes in leadership. And as you know, anytime you have a company, but especially that size and magnitude that’s a publicly traded company, and you have all those changes in leadership, you have people coming in who, creatively and fiscally, are going to make decisions that you may not agree with.”
Johnson added that the decision to drop the sequels “will always be one of the biggest mysteries”.
He said: “You have the biggest opening of your career. Sure, no China, that could’ve been maybe 100, maybe 200 million more dollars. You’re establishing a new superhero and you want to grow out the franchise. You bring back Superman and Henry Cavill – the world went crazy. … We created a diverse superhero portfolio, where we have just men and women of colour in ‘Black Adam 2’ as well.
“As business-minded people who are always thinking audience first, yes we look at and respect the bottom line economically, but also when you think about opportunity and creating opportunity and creating things that are fresh and delivering for the audience, which is our number one boss, when that wasn’t looked at through that lens, it makes things a little bit more challenging.”

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OHMYGOSSIP — Sigourney Weaver has called for more women on screen to be portrayed “as interesting as women really are”.
The 73-year-old Hollywood legend feels “lucky” she got to play warrant officer Ellen Ripley in Sir Ridley Scott’s 1979 Oscar-winning sci-fi horror classic ‘Alien’ because she could play a strong female and didn’t have to “look a certain way” like a lot of female stars have to in film.
Speaking to Parade magazine about more women killing it on the screen, she said: “Well, I think we’ve always had heroines like that.
Even the movies of the 30s, 40s, and 50s had Bette Davis. No one was going to help her [so she helped herself].
I [feel| I was very lucky to get to play Ripley as a person: I didn’t have to worry about looking a certain way: I got to live that life as that character who was sort of an every-man character. She managed to survive because of her character. No one else was going to help her.
“So, I hope it was helpful, but I think it took a long time for the business to change so that normal women, not in space, could also be portrayed for the strength they have, the resilience they have, and the independence they have. There are so many different kinds of women and most are not portrayed on screen to be as interesting as women really are, as capable. as diverse, and as incredible.”
She added: “To me, women are the ones who are keeping the planet together. I just reflect what I see, but I’m really thrilled that I got to play a part like Ripley. I felt it was my ‘Henry V’, because there weren’t roles like that for women in theatre or in film. So, I was extremely lucky to work with Walter Hill, David Giler and Ridley Scott, and be able to just tell the truth about Ripley.”
The ‘Avatar’ star reprised her role in James Cameron’s 1986 ‘Aliens’ film, for which she received her first Academy Award nomination, and again in 1992’s ‘Alien 3’ and 1997’s ‘Alien Resurrection’.

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