The Guardian Culture

Minions & Monsters review – a smart premise descends into more of the same

The hugely successful, gibberish-heavy franchise travels back to old Hollywood for an adventure that swaps out nifty ideas for repetitive chaosThe yellow, cylindrical, overall-clad creatures known as the Minions first appeared as loyal henchmen to Steve Carell’s villainous Gru in Illumination’s Despicable Me, which chronicled Gru’s attempt to steal the moon with the help of three orphaned girls. Along the way, Gru learned affection, the girls grew up, and the Minions – well, the Minions always s

entertainment  Jun 30, 2026

Variety

Labubu Gets a World Cup Makeover With Pop Mart’s New FIFA Collection

Labubu has officially entered the World Cup frenzy. Pop Mart’s toothy, wide-eyed viral collectible has been given a soccer-inspired makeover in a new collaboration with FIFA, released in time for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The limited-edition collection, titled “The Monsters x FIFA Series,” includes a lineup of plush dolls, keychains, blind boxes and game-day […]

entertainment  Jun 30, 2026

Hollywood Reporter

Worldwide Rights to Armie Hammer Comeback Movie ‘Citizen Vigilante’ Land at Quiver

The distribution deal follows Elon Musk promoting the banned film with a brief free download on X.

entertainment  Jun 30, 2026

The Guardian Culture

Blake Lively files to receive $8m in legal fees from Justin Baldoni and his studio

Attorneys slam ‘scorched-earth tactics’ from Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios over $400m countersuit against the actorBlake Lively has filed for $8m in fees and costs that she says resulted from her battle against Justin Baldoni and his Wayfarer Studios.That figure is to cover the legal costs that Lively incurred from January to June 2025 in her fight against her director and co-star in the 2024 film It Ends With Us, as well as a petition for damages that was still pending when Lively v Baldoni was

entertainment  Jun 30, 2026

Variety

‘Not Alone’ Trailer: Timothée Chalamet and Selena Gomez Voice Rocket Scientists Encountering Alien Life in New Animated Film

Illumination, responsible for hits such as the “Minions” and “Sing” franchises, has released the trailer for “Not Alone,” a new alien-themed animated film starring Timothée Chalamet and Selena Gomez.  Chalamet makes his animation debut in the film, voicing Joe, an “introverted rocket mechanic who lives a quiet life alone,” while Gomez plays Fran, a “brilliant astro-botanist […]

entertainment  Jun 30, 2026

Variety

Chris Martin’s ‘Not Very Good’ Attempt to Write a James Bond Theme Song Goes on Auction

A lost 27-year-old demo recording that Chris Martin and Coldplay reportedly intended for a James Bond theme — and later admitted wasn’t good enough — is going up for auction. According to the lot details by Wax Poetics, the recording of “The World is Not Enough” was “written for but understood never to have been submitted” for […]

entertainment  Jun 30, 2026

Variety

Does California Attorney General Want to Force Paramount to Sell Off CNN? Rob Bonta Claims ‘I Have No Idea’ Where That Speculation ‘Comes From’

David Ellison’s Paramount Skydance is hoping to close its megamerger with Warner Bros. Discovery within the next several months — but there are still a few roadblocks remaining. One of those is a potential lawsuit from Democratic attorneys general, with California Attorney General Rob Bonta specifically having said his office is investigation the proposed Paramount-WBD […]

entertainment  Jun 30, 2026

Variety

‘Reacher’ Spinoff ‘Neagley’ Sets Amazon Release Date, Drops First-Look Images

The “Reacher” spinoff series “Neagley” officially has an premiere date on Amazon Prime Video. The series will debut all eight episodes of its first season on Sept. 16, the same day as the Season 4 finale of “Reacher.” Prime Video has also released first-look images from the new series, which can be seen above and […]

entertainment  Jun 30, 2026

The Guardian Culture

‘I’m not a quitter!’ Rubén Blades, the salsa supremo who acted with Jack Nicholson, inspired Bad Bunny – and served as Panama’s tourism minister

As he prepares to play the UK, the 25-Grammy-winning musician (and Harvard law graduate) looks back on his astonishing journey from the barrios of Panama City to global stardom“Well, I’ve been around,” says Rubén Blades, accurately. One of the most influential Latin musicians of the past half-century, the Panamanian singer-songwriter, 77, has been a defining force in salsa, collecting 25 Grammy awards – 13 Latin, 12 mainstream – and getting shout-outs from a new generation including Rosalía and

entertainment  Jun 30, 2026

Variety

Spymob Returns: How the Pop-Rock Group Went From Backing Pharrell Williams’ N.E.R.D. to Reuniting 20 Years After Their Debut

In 2005, Spymob decided to call it quits. The pop-rock quartet had spent the last few years expanding their global footprint as the opening and backing act for N.E.R.D., the alt-rock project of the Neptunes’ Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, after becoming the first rock group to sign to the duo’s Star Trak imprint in […]

entertainment  Jun 30, 2026

Variety

Care Bears, Beloved Children’s Property, Acquired by Authentic Brands Group (EXCLUSIVE)

Authentic Brands Group has signed a definitive agreement to acquire the intellectual property of Care Bears, the cuddly residents of Care-a-Lot that became a merchandising and retail juggernaut and beloved children’s property. Financial terms of the pact were not disclosed. The Care Bears were originally introduced in the early 1980s as a greeting card concept, […]

entertainment  Jun 30, 2026

Variety

Disney Store’s New Haunted Mansion Collection Includes Madame Leota Decor, Hatbox Ghost Apparel and a Limited-Edition Cat Lady Doll

Disney is inviting fans once again to bring home a piece of the Haunted Mansion this Halloween. A new collection inspired by the beloved Disney Parks attraction will launch on DisneyStore.com on Monday, July 6 at 12 a.m. PT, featuring apparel, home decor, accessories, toys and collectibles themed to some of the ride’s most iconic […]

entertainment  Jun 30, 2026

Variety

‘Paris & Pups’ Producer HappyNest Entertainment Expands Slate With New R.L. Stine Series, ‘Louie and Bear’ Adaptation and Space Camp Franchise (EXCLUSIVE)

HappyNest Entertainment, the producer behind Paris Hilton’s “Paris & Pups” YouTube show, is in early development on several new projects, including a series with “Goosebumps” author R.L. Stine, an adaptation of the graphic novel “Louie and Bear,” and a franchise based on a decades-old kids’ STEM program. Best known for “Paris & Pups” (developed in […]

entertainment  Jun 30, 2026

Variety

‘Nemesis’ Renewed for Season 2 at Netflix

Netflix has renewed the crime drama “Nemesis” for Season 2, Variety has learned. The series originally debuted on the streamer in May. It spent five weeks in the Netflix global top 10 English language TV charts, reaching the number one spot in its second week of availability. “Season two, we’re very grateful to have it… […]

entertainment  Jun 30, 2026

Hollywood Reporter

‘Nemesis’ Renewed for Second Season at Netflix

The drama from creators Courtney A. Kemp and Tani Marole spent five weeks on the streamer's worldwide top 10 charts.

entertainment  Jun 30, 2026

Variety

Blake Lively Seeks $8 Million in Attorney Fees From Justin Baldoni and Wayfarer Studios

Blake Lively has asked a judge to award her $8 million in attorneys’ fees and costs for having to defend against Justin Baldoni’s defamation suit against her. Lively accused Baldoni, her co-star and director, of sexually harassing her on the set of “It Ends With Us,” and of launching an online whisper campaign against her […]

entertainment  Jun 30, 2026

The Guardian Culture

Waldmüller: Landscapes review – the rule-breaking radical whose ‘delicate fingers’ drove bourgeois Austria wild

National Gallery, London He painted leaves, grass and even bark with the precision of a chef applying a micro-garnish with tweezers. The result? Looking at his work feels a lot like eating your greensFerdinand Georg Waldmüller (1793-1865) is regarded as one of the most important figures in 19th-century Austrian art; an influential and admired teacher, and a somewhat radical figure regarding the established Viennese Academy. He worked during the Biedermeier movement which spanned the end of the N

entertainment  Jun 30, 2026

Variety

‘Super Mario Galaxy Movie’ Sets Peacock Release Date

“The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” has made its final lap around the universe and will hit Peacock on July 30. Directed by Aaron Horvath, Michael Jelenic and Pierre Leduc, the film became the highest-grossing movies of the year so far and crossed $1 billion at the global box office earlier this month. The trio also […]

entertainment  Jun 30, 2026

Variety

Josh Peck Says He Only Took Home Around $500,000 for ‘Drake and Josh’ After Four Years and 60 Episodes

Josh Peck revealed on the “Financial Tea with Mrs. Dow Jones” podcast that he and his “Drake and Josh” castmates earned far less from the Nickelodeon series than fans might assume, with take-home pay landing around $125,000 a year over the show’s four-year run. Peck told the podcast’s host that the cast started out making […]

entertainment  Jun 30, 2026

Variety

Danish Esports Company Blast Opens NYC Headquarters, Plots Live Entertainment Biz Expansion Following Record $133 Million in Revenue (EXCLUSIVE)

On the heels of a record $133 million in revenue last year, global esports company Blast has opened a new headquarters in New York City and announced plans to further expand “beyond traditional esports into broader opportunities across gaming, creators, sports, live experiences and digital-first fandom.” Since its founding in Denmark in 2016, Blast has […]

entertainment  Jun 30, 2026