Entertainment News Roundup: Tencent, Sony to Take Stake in “Elden Ring” Publisher FromSoftware; Adam Driver Likes What He Sees As He Gets Plump For Venice Movie & More
Below is a summary of the entertainment news briefs.
Tencent and Sony to take stake in ‘Elden Ring’ publisher FromSoftware
Units of Tencent and Sony will take minority stakes in FromSoftware Inc, Japan’s publisher of the hit action role-playing game title “Elden Ring,” via a third-party allotment of new shares, the parent company said on Wednesday. FromSoftware, Kadokawa Corp. Following the transaction, which will raise 36.4 billion yen ($263 million), units of Tencent Holdings Ltd and Sony Group Corp will own 16.25% and 14.09% respectively, with publishing giant Kadokawa retaining 69.66%.
Adam Driver Likes What He Sees As He Gets Plump For Venice Film
American actor Adam Driver strings together the years in his latest film, ‘White Noise’, which premiered in Venice on Wednesday, but said he liked what he saw as his hairline receded and his waist swelled. A former Marine who appeared muscular in previous films, Driver was asked if he was “freaked out” at having to become a middle-aged father with a belly in the new Netflix movie directed by Noah Baumbach.
Young stars, fragile families in the spotlight in Venice without a mask
The Venice Film Festival opens on Wednesday with all health limitations lifted, but with the emotional fallout of the pandemic found in the many films exploring families coping with trauma, which spotlight a new generation of talent. For moviegoers, it will be a welcome return to normalcy at the world’s oldest film festival, as they can once again greet the stars arriving on the Lido red carpet for the 11-day festival.
Bollywood broken? The spell of movie moguls on India is fading
Bollywood can be broken, and it has itself to blame. This is the verdict of one of its biggest and brightest stars after the latest flop of a Hindi-language film industry that has long fascinated Indians and the world, with its dazzling brand of escapism on big screen that sings and dances.
New ‘Lord of the Rings’ series brings a female story to the fore
Morfydd Clark stars in the new series “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” as Galadriel, an elven warrior who wishes to prevent evil from returning to the fantasy world of Middle-earth. The series, one of the most expensive ever made, will arrive on Prime Video from Amazon.com Inc on Friday, with new episodes based on appendixes to JRR Tolkien’s original novels airing weekly.
Venice Film Jury Leader Julianne Moore Says Put Art Before Business
Art should trump business in any debate over the future of cinema, American actress Julianne Moore said on Wednesday as she took charge of the Venice Film Festival jury. The 11-day event brings together filmmakers from around the world, providing invaluable exposure to small, experimental production houses alongside some of the industry’s behemoths, including streaming giant Netflix.
Comedy ‘Honk for Jesus’ takes on the Christian culture of mega-churches
Actors Sterling K. Brown and Regina Hall play a disgraced pastor and his wife in “Honk for Jesus. Save your Soul,” a new comedy about a once-high-flying couple trying to win back followers after a scandal. Writer and director Adamma Ebo said the film was inspired by her own experience of living and growing up in the culture of Southern Baptist megachurches.
(With agency contributions.)
