News Analysis India

Tag: Avengers

  • Actor Jeremy Renner suffered ’30 plus broken bones’ in snow plow accident

    By AFP

    LOS ANGELES: Actor Jeremy Renner — perhaps best known as Hawkeye in the Marvel Universe films — said Saturday he broke more than 30 bones when he was run over by his own snow plow at his Nevada home on New Year’s Day.

    The “Avengers” star spent more than two weeks in the hospital after the giant 14,000-lb (six-ton) vehicle rolled onto him as he was clearing a driveway.

    “These 30 plus broken bones will mend, grow stronger, just like the love and bond with family and friends deepens,” the 52-year-old two-time Oscar nominee wrote on Instagram, thanking fans for their messages of support.

    I want to thank EVERYONE for their messages and thoughtfulness. Much love and appreciation to you all. These 30 plus broken bones will mend , grow stronger, just like the love and bond with family and friends deepens pic.twitter.com/kzj2CLYdXA
    — Jeremy Renner (@JeremyRenner) January 21, 2023
    He posted a photo of himself lying on a medical bed, hands clenched at the chest, while a man is holding up his leg, bent at the knee.

    “Morning workouts, resolutions all changed this particular new years,” Renner wrote. “Spawned from tragedy for my entire family, and quickly focused into uniting actionable love.”

    Renner sustained the injuries while attempting to climb into the snow plow to stop it. He was evacuated by helicopter and later posted a selfie from his hospital bed, showing heavy bruising on his face.

    Officials said shortly after the accident there was no indication that alcohol or drugs were involved.

    The PistenBully, or snowcat, operated by Renner is a large specialized snow-plowing vehicle with giant, raised caterpillar tracks on each side of an enclosed cab.

    Renner has been nominated for two Oscars for his roles in “The Hurt Locker” and “The Town.” He also stars in the Paramount+ series “Mayor of Kingstown.”

    LOS ANGELES: Actor Jeremy Renner — perhaps best known as Hawkeye in the Marvel Universe films — said Saturday he broke more than 30 bones when he was run over by his own snow plow at his Nevada home on New Year’s Day.

    The “Avengers” star spent more than two weeks in the hospital after the giant 14,000-lb (six-ton) vehicle rolled onto him as he was clearing a driveway.

    “These 30 plus broken bones will mend, grow stronger, just like the love and bond with family and friends deepens,” the 52-year-old two-time Oscar nominee wrote on Instagram, thanking fans for their messages of support.

    I want to thank EVERYONE for their messages and thoughtfulness. Much love and appreciation to you all. These 30 plus broken bones will mend , grow stronger, just like the love and bond with family and friends deepens pic.twitter.com/kzj2CLYdXA
    — Jeremy Renner (@JeremyRenner) January 21, 2023
    He posted a photo of himself lying on a medical bed, hands clenched at the chest, while a man is holding up his leg, bent at the knee.

    “Morning workouts, resolutions all changed this particular new years,” Renner wrote. “Spawned from tragedy for my entire family, and quickly focused into uniting actionable love.”

    Renner sustained the injuries while attempting to climb into the snow plow to stop it. He was evacuated by helicopter and later posted a selfie from his hospital bed, showing heavy bruising on his face.

    Officials said shortly after the accident there was no indication that alcohol or drugs were involved.

    The PistenBully, or snowcat, operated by Renner is a large specialized snow-plowing vehicle with giant, raised caterpillar tracks on each side of an enclosed cab.

    Renner has been nominated for two Oscars for his roles in “The Hurt Locker” and “The Town.” He also stars in the Paramount+ series “Mayor of Kingstown.”

  • Marvel taps Destin Daniel Cretton to direct ‘Avengers: The Kang Dynasty’ 

    By PTI

    LOS ANGELES: Destin Daniel Cretton, who helmed last year’s Marvel hit “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings”, has been roped in by the studio to direct “Avengers: The Kang Dynasty”.

    The announcement comes days after studio head Kevin Feige announced two new Avengers films, the other being “Secret Wars”, at the San Diego Comic-Con.

    According to Deadline, Marvel Studios will now look to add a writer to the project as meetings are currently underway.

    The film, a sequel to the 2019 blockbuster hit “Avengers: Endgame”, will focus on Kang, Marvel Cinematic Universe’s new main villain to be played by Jonathan Majors.

    Cretton, also known for films such as “Short Term 12” and “Just Mercy”, has an overall deal with Marvel that he signed post “Shang-Chi” success.

    He is also working on a sequel to “Shang-Chi”. “The Kang Dynasty” is slated to be released on May 2, 2025, with “Secret Wars” arriving on November 7, 2025.

    ALSO READ | ‘Fantastic Four’ to join Marvel Cinematic Universe, books November 2024 release

    The two Avenger movies will bring down the curtain on Phase 6 of the MCU. The November release of “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” will wrap up Phase 4.

    Marvel has also confirmed that Bassam Tariq is directing “Blade”, Julius Onah is directing “Captain America: New World Order” with Anthony Mackie in the title role, and Jake Schreier is directing “Thunderbolts”.

    LOS ANGELES: Destin Daniel Cretton, who helmed last year’s Marvel hit “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings”, has been roped in by the studio to direct “Avengers: The Kang Dynasty”.

    The announcement comes days after studio head Kevin Feige announced two new Avengers films, the other being “Secret Wars”, at the San Diego Comic-Con.

    According to Deadline, Marvel Studios will now look to add a writer to the project as meetings are currently underway.

    The film, a sequel to the 2019 blockbuster hit “Avengers: Endgame”, will focus on Kang, Marvel Cinematic Universe’s new main villain to be played by Jonathan Majors.

    Cretton, also known for films such as “Short Term 12” and “Just Mercy”, has an overall deal with Marvel that he signed post “Shang-Chi” success.

    He is also working on a sequel to “Shang-Chi”. “The Kang Dynasty” is slated to be released on May 2, 2025, with “Secret Wars” arriving on November 7, 2025.

    ALSO READ | ‘Fantastic Four’ to join Marvel Cinematic Universe, books November 2024 release

    The two Avenger movies will bring down the curtain on Phase 6 of the MCU. The November release of “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” will wrap up Phase 4.

    Marvel has also confirmed that Bassam Tariq is directing “Blade”, Julius Onah is directing “Captain America: New World Order” with Anthony Mackie in the title role, and Jake Schreier is directing “Thunderbolts”.

  • Disney announces two new Marvel ‘Avengers’ films at Comic-Con

    By AFP

    SAN DIEGO: Disney announced a slew of Marvel superhero movies including two new “Avengers” films Saturday at Comic-Con, as it offered screaming fans an emotional first glimpse at its upcoming “Black Panther” sequel.

    The record-breaking Marvel movies have dominated Hollywood and global box offices in recent years, with 2019’s “Avengers: Endgame” briefly becoming the highest-grossing film of all time at more than $2.79 billion.

    “I wonder if you guys wouldn’t mind looking ahead a little bit?” studio president Kevin Feige asked the wildly cheering hall of die-hard superhero fans toward the end of a raucous hour-plus presentation at a San Diego convention center.

    “Avengers: The Kang Dynasty” and “Avengers: Secret Wars” will hit theaters in 2025, he then announced.

    The films will aim to follow in the footsteps of “Avengers: Endgame,” which built unprecedented hype by rounding off storylines presented in all the preceding Marvel films.

    The two new “Avengers” titles will conclude the next “saga” of more than a dozen inter-connected films and television shows in the “Marvel Cinematic Universe,” said Feige.

    “That will complete the second saga of the MCU, which of course is ‘The Multiverse Saga,’” he said.

    The Marvel franchise in recent films and shows has explored the “multiverse” concept popularized by superhero comic books, in which infinite universes — and infinite versions of each hero and villain — exist in parallel realities

    ‘Black Panther’ returns

    The Marvel presentation capped off the biggest day at Comic-Con, and drew the week’s loudest and most frenzied cheers in the 6,000 capacity Hall H, where many had camped in line for days to gain access.

    It ended with the first trailer for “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” a sequel to the first comic book film to win a best picture Oscar nomination, set to premiere November 11.

    Returning director Ryan Coogler, taking to the San Diego stage with a colorful troupe of African drummers and dancers, paid an emotional tribute to the first film’s star, the “late, great Chadwick Boseman.”

    Boseman died from cancer in 2020, and his role is not being taken over by another actor in the new film. “I promise you, I can feel his hand on me right now,” said Coogler.

    “Chad is no longer with us physically, but his spirit, his passion, his genius, his pride in his culture, and the impact he made on this industry will be felt forever.”

    Coogler then presented new characters in the franchise being played by Michaela Coel and Tenoch Huerta.

    Coel, who won an Emmy for “I May Destroy You,” praised the unique “energy” of the first “Black Panther” film, which was widely seen as a breakthrough for Black representation in mainstream Hollywood movies.

    “I think it’s got something to do with a Black superhero, padded out a clan of Black superheroes and what that kind of does for Black people,” she said.

    Marvel A-listers 

    Other Marvel films announced Saturday by Disney at the world’s most famous pop culture gathering included “Thunderbolts” and “Fantastic Four,” both due in 2024.

    Feige also set out dates for “Blade” — in theaters November 2023 — and the newly titled “Captain America: New World Order” coming May 2024.

    Bill Murray and Olivia Colman join the ranks of Hollywood A-listers flocking to the Marvel franchise, appearing in first-look footage from movie “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” and Disney+ series “Secret Invasion” respectively.

    Chris Pratt, Paul Rudd, and Lupita Nyong’o also appeared on stage Saturday along with Jonathan Majors, whose “Kang the Conqueror” character appears poised to become a major new supervillain for the franchise.

    SAN DIEGO: Disney announced a slew of Marvel superhero movies including two new “Avengers” films Saturday at Comic-Con, as it offered screaming fans an emotional first glimpse at its upcoming “Black Panther” sequel.

    The record-breaking Marvel movies have dominated Hollywood and global box offices in recent years, with 2019’s “Avengers: Endgame” briefly becoming the highest-grossing film of all time at more than $2.79 billion.

    “I wonder if you guys wouldn’t mind looking ahead a little bit?” studio president Kevin Feige asked the wildly cheering hall of die-hard superhero fans toward the end of a raucous hour-plus presentation at a San Diego convention center.

    “Avengers: The Kang Dynasty” and “Avengers: Secret Wars” will hit theaters in 2025, he then announced.

    The films will aim to follow in the footsteps of “Avengers: Endgame,” which built unprecedented hype by rounding off storylines presented in all the preceding Marvel films.

    The two new “Avengers” titles will conclude the next “saga” of more than a dozen inter-connected films and television shows in the “Marvel Cinematic Universe,” said Feige.

    “That will complete the second saga of the MCU, which of course is ‘The Multiverse Saga,’” he said.

    The Marvel franchise in recent films and shows has explored the “multiverse” concept popularized by superhero comic books, in which infinite universes — and infinite versions of each hero and villain — exist in parallel realities

    ‘Black Panther’ returns

    The Marvel presentation capped off the biggest day at Comic-Con, and drew the week’s loudest and most frenzied cheers in the 6,000 capacity Hall H, where many had camped in line for days to gain access.

    It ended with the first trailer for “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” a sequel to the first comic book film to win a best picture Oscar nomination, set to premiere November 11.

    Returning director Ryan Coogler, taking to the San Diego stage with a colorful troupe of African drummers and dancers, paid an emotional tribute to the first film’s star, the “late, great Chadwick Boseman.”

    Boseman died from cancer in 2020, and his role is not being taken over by another actor in the new film. “I promise you, I can feel his hand on me right now,” said Coogler.

    “Chad is no longer with us physically, but his spirit, his passion, his genius, his pride in his culture, and the impact he made on this industry will be felt forever.”

    Coogler then presented new characters in the franchise being played by Michaela Coel and Tenoch Huerta.

    Coel, who won an Emmy for “I May Destroy You,” praised the unique “energy” of the first “Black Panther” film, which was widely seen as a breakthrough for Black representation in mainstream Hollywood movies.

    “I think it’s got something to do with a Black superhero, padded out a clan of Black superheroes and what that kind of does for Black people,” she said.

    Marvel A-listers 

    Other Marvel films announced Saturday by Disney at the world’s most famous pop culture gathering included “Thunderbolts” and “Fantastic Four,” both due in 2024.

    Feige also set out dates for “Blade” — in theaters November 2023 — and the newly titled “Captain America: New World Order” coming May 2024.

    Bill Murray and Olivia Colman join the ranks of Hollywood A-listers flocking to the Marvel franchise, appearing in first-look footage from movie “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” and Disney+ series “Secret Invasion” respectively.

    Chris Pratt, Paul Rudd, and Lupita Nyong’o also appeared on stage Saturday along with Jonathan Majors, whose “Kang the Conqueror” character appears poised to become a major new supervillain for the franchise.

  • ‘Fantastic Four’ to join Marvel Cinematic Universe, books November 2024 release

    By IANS

    LOS ANGELES: ‘Fantastic Four’ will soon join the Marvel Cinematic Universe. President of Marvel Studios – Kevin Feige confirmed at Comic-Con that ‘Fantastic Four’ movie will be included in the MCU Phase 6 and be released on November 8, 2024. No casting for the film was announced, reports Variety.Apart from ‘Fantastic Four’, the Marvel Phase 6 also announced two Multiverse Saga-ending ‘Avengers’ movies, ‘Avengers: The Kang Dynasty’ and ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’, both to be released in 2025.According to Variety, Fantastic Four has a long history in film, but getting them in the MCU has taken a bit longer than expected. Jon Watts, who directed Tom Holland’s ‘Spider-Man’ trilogy, was originally attached to helm the film, which was first revealed to be in development at the 2019 San Diego Comic-Con.

    ALSO READ | Marvel teases new Avengers movies, ‘Black Panther’ sequelVariety further states that at the 2020 Disney Investor Day, Marvel Studios’ Kevin Feige announced that Watts would direct the movie, putting it one step closer to reality. However, in spring 2022, Watts stepped down, needing to take a break from superhero movies after making three ‘Spider-Man’ films in a row.

    ALSO READ | Two new ‘Avengers’ films to end MCU phase 6 in 2025The first ‘Fantastic Four’ movie was released by 20th Century Fox and starred Ioan Gruffudd as Mister Fantastic, Jessica Alba as Invisible Woman, Michael Chiklis as the Thing and Chris Evans as Human Torch, years before he would go on to star as Captain America in the MCU. The movie was successful enough to spawn a sequel, ‘Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer’ in 2007. The follow-up wasn’t as big of a hit, though it introduced the cosmic villain Galactus, and a third movie was later scrapped.

    LOS ANGELES: ‘Fantastic Four’ will soon join the Marvel Cinematic Universe. President of Marvel Studios – Kevin Feige confirmed at Comic-Con that ‘Fantastic Four’ movie will be included in the MCU Phase 6 and be released on November 8, 2024. No casting for the film was announced, reports Variety.
    Apart from ‘Fantastic Four’, the Marvel Phase 6 also announced two Multiverse Saga-ending ‘Avengers’ movies, ‘Avengers: The Kang Dynasty’ and ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’, both to be released in 2025.
    According to Variety, Fantastic Four has a long history in film, but getting them in the MCU has taken a bit longer than expected. Jon Watts, who directed Tom Holland’s ‘Spider-Man’ trilogy, was originally attached to helm the film, which was first revealed to be in development at the 2019 San Diego Comic-Con.

    ALSO READ | Marvel teases new Avengers movies, ‘Black Panther’ sequel
    Variety further states that at the 2020 Disney Investor Day, Marvel Studios’ Kevin Feige announced that Watts would direct the movie, putting it one step closer to reality. However, in spring 2022, Watts stepped down, needing to take a break from superhero movies after making three ‘Spider-Man’ films in a row.

    ALSO READ | Two new ‘Avengers’ films to end MCU phase 6 in 2025
    The first ‘Fantastic Four’ movie was released by 20th Century Fox and starred Ioan Gruffudd as Mister Fantastic, Jessica Alba as Invisible Woman, Michael Chiklis as the Thing and Chris Evans as Human Torch, years before he would go on to star as Captain America in the MCU. The movie was successful enough to spawn a sequel, ‘Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer’ in 2007. The follow-up wasn’t as big of a hit, though it introduced the cosmic villain Galactus, and a third movie was later scrapped.

  • Two new ‘Avengers’ films to end MCU phase 6 in 2025

    By IANS

    LOS ANGELES: At the Comic-Con in San Diego, Marvel Studios’ chief Kevin Feige announced that two new ‘Avengers’ films will end Phase 6. The films include ‘Avengers: The Kang Dynasty’, which will be in theatres on May 2, 2025, and ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’ hitting the screens on November 7, 2025.

    The announcement makes clear that the multiversal shenanigans of ‘Loki’, ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ and ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ are leading the Marvel Cinematic Universe to a cataclysmic crossover event to end all crossover events — quite literally, it could reshape the fundamental fabric of the MCU from the ground up, reports ‘Variety’.

    It all revolves around a Marvel comics crossover miniseries from 2015 called Secret Wars, which evokes an earlier crossover miniseries from the mid-1980s also called Secret Wars. In the earlier iteration, every Marvel character imaginable is pitted against each other when a character called the Beyonder transports them all to a planet subtly called Battleworld.

    It was a more-or-less baldfaced ploy to juice toy sales and is not particularly well regarded among fans.

    According to ‘Variety’, the 2015 version took many of the same ideas but deployed them into a far more narratively complex storyline.

    This time, the catalyst is the incursion between the main Marvel universe (Earth-616) and the Ultimate Marvel universe (Earth-1610) that causes the destruction of both.

    In its wake, iterations of many Marvel characters find themselves living in a new, post-apocalyptic universe called Battleworld that is policed by every version of Thor in the multiverse called the Thor Corps and captained by Sheriff Strange.

    Getting to this storyline, however, requires at least a few critical characters to make their MCU debut, especially the ‘Fantastic Four’ and their main nemesis, Victor Von Doom, as well as a character known as Molecule Man.

    LOS ANGELES: At the Comic-Con in San Diego, Marvel Studios’ chief Kevin Feige announced that two new ‘Avengers’ films will end Phase 6. The films include ‘Avengers: The Kang Dynasty’, which will be in theatres on May 2, 2025, and ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’ hitting the screens on November 7, 2025.

    The announcement makes clear that the multiversal shenanigans of ‘Loki’, ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ and ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ are leading the Marvel Cinematic Universe to a cataclysmic crossover event to end all crossover events — quite literally, it could reshape the fundamental fabric of the MCU from the ground up, reports ‘Variety’.

    It all revolves around a Marvel comics crossover miniseries from 2015 called Secret Wars, which evokes an earlier crossover miniseries from the mid-1980s also called Secret Wars. In the earlier iteration, every Marvel character imaginable is pitted against each other when a character called the Beyonder transports them all to a planet subtly called Battleworld.

    It was a more-or-less baldfaced ploy to juice toy sales and is not particularly well regarded among fans.

    According to ‘Variety’, the 2015 version took many of the same ideas but deployed them into a far more narratively complex storyline.

    This time, the catalyst is the incursion between the main Marvel universe (Earth-616) and the Ultimate Marvel universe (Earth-1610) that causes the destruction of both.

    In its wake, iterations of many Marvel characters find themselves living in a new, post-apocalyptic universe called Battleworld that is policed by every version of Thor in the multiverse called the Thor Corps and captained by Sheriff Strange.

    Getting to this storyline, however, requires at least a few critical characters to make their MCU debut, especially the ‘Fantastic Four’ and their main nemesis, Victor Von Doom, as well as a character known as Molecule Man.

  • Chris Evans refutes rumours about return, backs Anthony Mackie as Captain America

    By IANS

    LOS ANGELES: Hollywood star Chris Evans who is famous for his portrayal of Steve Rodgers also known as the Cap in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, has shown his support for Anthony Mackie amid speculations about his return in the fourth ‘Captain America’ movie.

    The Hollywood Reporter tweeted about Julius Onah being tapped to direct ‘Captain America 4’.

    In one of its tweets, the site posed a question if Evans would reprise his role as the titular superhero in the upcoming movie.

    “It is unclear if Chris Evans would reprise his role as the first #CaptainAmerica (though if the question of who is entitled to carry the shield continues, all bets are off),” read the tweet, which prompted a response from Evans himself.

    “Sam Wilson is Captain America,” the 41-year-old star simply wrote.

    Sam Wilson is Captain America
    — Chris Evans (@ChrisEvans) July 9, 2022
    Evans made his first appearance as Steve Rogers a.k.a. Captain America in 2011’s ‘Captain America: The First Avenger’.

    He continued to portray the character in two other ‘Captain America’ movies and ‘The Avengers’ films.

    In ‘Avengers: Endgame’, Evans’ Steve Rogers appears to pass the torch to Sam Wilson or Falcon (Mackie) as he hands over his Captain America shield to the veteran United States Air Force Pararescueman.

    However, Sam didn’t immediately embrace his new alter ego on Disney+’s series “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier”, on which he starred alongside Sebastian Stan.

    After much self-doubt due to him questioning how “a black man (can) represent a country that does not represent him,” Sam finally takes up the shield and embraces his new alter ego in the last episode of the series.

    Plot details are still unknown, but Malcolm Spellman, the creator and head writer of “Winter Soldier”, has been tapped to pen the script of the upcoming film with Dalan Musson, a staff writer on the show. No start date has been revealed either.

  • ‘Doctor Strange 2’ becomes fourth biggest opening weekend for Hollywood film in India

    By IANS

    MUMBAI: British star Benedict Cumberbatch’s latest release ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ is the fourth biggest opening weekend for a Hollywood film in India as it has collected a whopping Rs 27.5 crore at the box office in the country.

    ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ is a little behind last year’s ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’. Overall, the opening is the fourth best among Hollywood films such as Marvel’s ‘Avengers: Endgame’, ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ and ‘Avengers: Infinity War’.

    #DoctorStrange is yet another triumph for #Marvel in #India, the much-awaited biggie posts massive numbers in Weekend 1… Non-holiday release… Should stay strong on Day 4 [Mon]… Fri 28.35 cr, Sat 25.75 cr, Sun 25.40 cr. Total: ₹ 79.50 cr. #India biz. All versions. pic.twitter.com/yV3eK98O2c
    — taran adarsh (@taran_adarsh) May 9, 2022
    Trade analyst Taran Adarsh shared the numbers on Twitter. He wrote: “”#DoctorStrange is MARVEL-ous on Day 1- 4TH BIGGEST HOLLYWOOD OPENER in #India *Day 1* biz [2019] #AvengersEndgame: Rs 53.10 cr [2021] #SpiderMan: Rs 32.67 cr [2018]#AvengersInfinityWar: Rs 31.30 cr, Rs [2022] #DoctorStrange: Rs 27.50 cr #India biz. All versions. Total – Rs. 95 crores”

    #DoctorStrange is MARVEL-ous on Day 1… 4TH BIGGEST HOLLYWOOD OPENER in #India… *Day 1* biz…[2019] #AvengersEndgame: ₹ 53.10 cr[2021] #SpiderMan: ₹ 32.67 cr[2018] #AvengersInfinityWar: ₹ 31.30 cr[2022] #DoctorStrange: ₹ 27.50 cr#India biz. All versions. pic.twitter.com/1VWKthczJw
    — taran adarsh (@taran_adarsh) May 7, 2022
    ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ is a superhero film based on Marvel Comics featuring the character Doctor Strange. It is the sequel to ‘Doctor Strange’ (2016) and the 28th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). It also stars Elizabeth Olsen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Benedict Wong, Xochitl Gomez, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Rachel McAdams.

  • Kelsea Ballerini, Anthony Mackie to host 2022 CMT Music Awards

    By ANI

    WASHINGTON: Singer-songwriter Kelsea Ballerini and actor Anthony Mackie have been tapped to lead the next country music awards ceremony.

    As per Variety, Ballerini and Mackie will host the 2022 CMT Music Awards live from Nashville April 11, CBS announced on Thursday.

    This year marks Ballerini’s second time as CMT host after hosting the 2021 awards show. Last year, the singer co-hosted with fellow country star Kane Brown, who was then in his second year in the role.

    Mackie, widely known for his roles in Marvel’s ‘Avengers’ franchise, is a surprise choice to host a country music awards show, although he did present an award on last year’s telecast.

    Apart from announcing Mackie and Ballerini as this year’s hosts, the networks said that nominations will be revealed on March 16, a little less than a month prior to the show’s air date.

    While the CMT Music Awards have mostly been hosted by country music figures in recent years, the show does have a long history of bringing in actors to share the gig.

    Sarah Hyland co-hosted with Brown and Ashley McBryde in 2020; prior to that, Brittany Snow, Kristen Bell, Pamela Anderson, and Kathy Najimy had been drafted at various points.

    Coming back to this year’s CMT Music Awards, it was originally announced for April 3, but then another CBS show, the Grammys, took over that slot after being delayed from January, and the CMTs were bumped back eight days.

    The telecast will be based at Nashville’s Municipal Auditorium, with remote performances from other locations, after long having the much larger Bridgestone Arena as its home turf. No performers have yet been announced. 

  • ‘Spider-Man’ perched at No. 3 spot among all Hollywood films released in India

    By IANS

    In just 18 days since its theatrical release, ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’, with Tom Holland and Zendaya playing the lead roles, has become the third highest grosser among Hollywood films in India, after ‘Avengers: Endgame’ (2019) and ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ (2018).

    Till date, the film, which has globally surpassed the $1-billion-mark, has grossed Rs 259.67 crore in India, netting Rs 202.34 crore after tax. That makes it No. 3 among all films released in India in 2021, after Allu Arjun’s ‘Pushpa: The Rise’ and the Akshay Kumar-led ‘Sooryavanshi’.

    Among Hollywood films in India, ‘Spider-Man’ is within leaping distance from the pickings of ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ (Rs 227.43 crore), but is still quite far from ‘Avengers: Endgame’ (Rs 373.22 crore).

    Analysts expect the global earnings of ‘Spider-Man’ to see a sharp spike after its release in China, the world’s largest cinema-going market.

    The film’s unexpected success would have been a cause for celebration, but for the shadow of the Omicron surge, which has made the Delhi government shut down cinema theatres and several state governments reverting to the 50 per cent occupancy rule.

    Two upcoming big-ticket releases — the Shahid Kapoor-led cricket drama ‘Jersey’ and Telugu director S.S. Rajamouli’s multi-lingual ‘RRR’ — have been put in the backburner because their makers wish to wait and watch how the Covid-19 surge pans out.

    Talking about the success of ‘Spider-Man’, independent film trade analyst Sumit Kadel said: “It was bound to do well because it is a Marvel Studios film. Films coming out of the Marvel universe are hugely popular in India. The coming together of all the actors who had previously essayed the title role, namely, Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield, also did the trick.”

  • Spider-Man nets third-best opening of all time with USD 253 million

    By Associated Press

    Never underestimate your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man, even with a mutating virus afoot. Despite rising concerns over the omicron variant, “Spider-Man: No Way Home” not only shattered pandemic-era box office records; it became the third best opening of all time behind “Avengers: Endgame” ($357.1 million) and “Avengers: Infinity War” ($257.7 million).

    The Sony and Marvel blockbuster grossed a stunning $253 million in ticket sales from 4,325 North American locations, according to studio estimates on Sunday, also setting a record for the month of December. The web-slinger’s success couldn’t have come sooner for a movie business that has had a rollercoaster 2021 and could be headed for a difficult start to 2022 as the omicron variant of the coronavirus forces more and more event cancellations.

    “This weekend’s historic ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ results, from all over the world and in the face of many challenges, reaffirm the unmatched cultural impact that exclusive theatrical films can have when they are made and marketed with vision and resolve,” said Tom Rothman, Sony Pictures Chairman and CEO, in a statement. “All of us at Sony Pictures are deeply grateful to the fabulous talent, both in front of and behind the camera, that produced such a landmark film.”

    In its five days playing in theaters internationally, it’s amassed $334.2 million in ticket sales, bringing its global total to $587.2 million against a $200 million production budget. The film has yet to open in markets like Thailand and Japan, and there is no release date set for China.

    Directed by Jon Watts, “No Way Home” picks up with Holland’s Peter Parker grappling with the world finding out about his superhero identity, and features Zendaya, Marisa Tomei and Benedict Cumberbatch as Doctor Strange. The promise of spoiler reveals only added to the feverish hype that led to lines and sell-out showings across the country.

    In the one-movie-takes-all environment, more often than not, that one movie has been a Marvel movie. Including “No Way Home,” Marvel releases will make up five of the top six films of the year, including “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,” “Venom: Let There Be Carnage,” “Black Widow” and “Eternals.”