Tom Hiddleston & Emma Watson Join Academy
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts have today announced the newest collection of Hollywood names to become members. After this year’s controversy surrounding the last Oscars ceremony in which no actors of colour were nominated for any major awards, the academy have made steps towards fixing it’s problem with 46% of the 683 new members women, and 41% people of colour.
Among the list of newcomers to the academy are Star Wars actors, John Boyega, and Oscar Isaac, Thor star Tom Hiddleston, Emma Watson, Idris Elba and director Nicolas Winding Refn.
The new additions have bumped up the Academy’s overall female membership from 25% to 27% and 8% to 11% for people of colour, should all the invited members accept. It’s not much but it seems that the Academy took note of February’s ceremony which many stars such as Will Smith and boycotted in protest over it’s lack of diversity. You can find the full list of invitees here: https://www.oscars.org/news/academy-invites-683-membership
Preacher Renewed for Second Season
AMC have announced that Preacher has been renewed for a second season. The show, which just this week passed the halfway mark on it’s 10 episode first season will return next year with an extended run of 13 episodes. AMC president Charlie Collier said ‘Preacher is a special television programme and we’re eager to share with fans the rest of this wild season and, now, an expanded second season… We look forward to more time with these unforgettable characters be it in Heaven, Hell, Texas or beyond.’
You can check out the first season so far on Amazon prime here in the UK, with new episodes released every Monday. While the first season hasn’t finished yet, we expect to see the return of stars Dominic Cooper, Joe Gilgun, and Ruth Negga in the second season next year.
Nicolas Winding Refn Wants to Direct Batgirl Movie
Writer/director Nicolas Winding Refn has discussed his interest in directing a Batgirl movie. Talking to Business Insider Refn spoke of interest in approaching the superhero genre, saying ‘God, I would love to make one, it would probably be great fun. I just don’t know when it’s going to happen. I very much enjoy my freedom creatively, but I also would love to make one of those big Hollywood films that costs a lot of money and has a lot of people running around with cell phones and all that insanity’ before revealing his Batgirl yearning, adding ‘you know the one I want to do? I want to make Batgirl. Let’s get Warner working on it’. With Refn’s ultra-violent style of filmmaking, he already feels like he could fit neatly into the dark tone of DC’s Extended Universe so we say make it happen already Warner Bros!
While we wait for the dream to become reality though, you can check out Refn’s latest offering, The Neon Demon in cinema’s from July 8th.
Suicide Squad Gets 130 Minute Runtime
With director David Ayer having announced via twitter this month that Suicide Squad is officially completed, reports are coming in with sources suggesting that the films total runtime will add up to 130 minutes including credits. We’ll know for sure soon enough when the inevitable 12A rating comes in from the BBFC but for now, it seems very likely that DC’s latest offering will be just over the 2 hour mark. Suicide Squad hits cinemas August 5th with Jared Leto, Margot Robbie and Will Smith among the cast.
Vinnie Jones Joins Kingsman Sequel Cast
Vinnie Jones is set to team up with director Matthew Vaughn for the upcoming sequel to Kingsman: The Secret Service. Jones made the announcement through his twitter account, tweeting selfies with Vaughn and co-star Julianne Moore as Vaughn continues to work on the next instalment entitled Kingsman: The Golden Circle. While Jones’ role in the film is as-yet unknown, he joins an already full cast of Taron Egerton, Channing Tatum, Mark Strong, Halle Berry, Sophie Cookson, Jeff Bridges and Elton John, with Moore serving as the villain of the piece.
More news as we get it, but expect to see Kingsman: The Golden Circle in cinemas June 16th next year.