The Guardian Culture

LA Phil/Dudamel; Fantasia Orchestra / Fetherstonhaugh/Glennie reviews – high-contrast programming

Royal Albert Hall, LondonThe first of two evening proms began with the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s polished but polite Beethoven and intoxicating Adès. Later, the Fantasia orchestra’s bitty playlist-type programme only occasionally sparked into life.This evening was, in a sense, a tale of two orchestras. On one hand, the international heavyweight, returning to the Proms for the first time in more than 20 years. On the other, the rapidly ascendant homegrown outfit founded while its members were st

entertainment  Aug 12, 2026

Variety

Jeremy Strong Wrote to Mark Zuckerberg After Being Cast in ‘Social Reckoning’ Even Though ‘He’s a Reviled Person’; Actor Spent 7 Months Talking in Polish Accent for Next Role

Jeremy Strong graces the latest cover of GQ magazine (and the first issue published under new global editorial director Adam Baidawi), in which he speaks out for the first time on taking over the role of Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg. Jesse Eisenberg played the controversial tech titan in “The Social Network” and scored an Oscar […]

entertainment  Aug 12, 2026

Variety

‘The Best Mother in the World’ Standout Shirley Cruz to Star in Clara Ferrer and Tainá Bevilacqua’s Trans Coming-of-Age ‘The She-Devil’ (EXCLUSIVE)

Shirley Cruz, who delivered an acclaimed central performance in Anna Muylaert’s 2025 Berlinale drama “The Best Mother in the World,” is set to star in Clara Ferrer and Tainá Bevilacqua’s “The She-Devil.”  “The She-Devil” is currently in development, with a short film taking place in the same universe, titled “The Death of the She-Devil,” currently […]

entertainment  Aug 12, 2026

Variety

Beatrice Gibson Questions Motherhood and Womanhood in Her Debut Feature ‘At Night’

“I am a tone of voice, warming, shifting, pausing, changing, including, asserting, exulting, including, turning and including.” This quote by the poet Alice Notley opens “At Night,” British filmmaker Beatrice Gibson’s feature debut, which held its world premiere on Aug. 8 in Locarno’s Filmmakers of the Present program. Gibson, who was a friend of Notley’s, […]

entertainment  Aug 12, 2026

Variety

‘Wandering Trees’ Review: Iconoclastic Director Salvatore Mereu Tries a Newly Minted Fairyale, but Only Fitfully Finds Magic

In fairy tales, we never question why the beautiful princess is marrying a horrible prince: Part of the pact readers make with such stories is that we accept these situations at face value. In real life though, when presented with a woman joining herself to a nasty piece of work, we need to know why. […]

entertainment  Aug 12, 2026

The Guardian Culture

Rod Stewart cancels farewell tour dates after undergoing successful heart procedure

The singer said that he was ‘already feeling better’ but forthcoming dates on his mammoth farwell tour will not now go aheadRod Stewart has cancelled all coming dates on his farewell tour after undergoing a routine heart procedure.On 9 August, Stewart, 81, pulled a performance in Ohio at the last minute. After the successful insertion of a coronary stent, he announced that all dates would be cancelled. Continue reading...

entertainment  Aug 12, 2026

Variety

Alex Cooper and Matt Kaplan’s Unwell Media Company Valued at $500 Million After Investment From Patrick Whitesell’s WTSL

Unwell, the media company co-founded by married couple Alex Cooper and Matt Kaplan, has landed its first outside investor: Patrick Whitesell, co-founder of WME and former executive chairman of successor company Endeavor. Whitesell’s WTSL, an investment firm focused on media, entertainment and sports he launched after exiting Endeavor and WME last year, has invested an […]

entertainment  Aug 12, 2026

Hollywood Reporter

Alex Cooper’s Unwell Receives Investment From Patrick Whitesell’s Firm at $500 Million Valuation

This is the first outside investment taken by the company, which includes the breakout podcast 'Call Her Daddy.'

entertainment  Aug 12, 2026

Hollywood Reporter

‘Demons’ Explores the Russia-Ukraine Relationship via Borscht, Blood and Graves (Exclusive Trailer)

A drifter from Russia arrives in a remote village in central Ukraine and meets a strong and independent woman in Natalka Vorozhbyt's metaphorical film that is world-premiering at Locarno.

entertainment  Aug 12, 2026

The Guardian Culture

Steal This Story, Please! review – Amy Goodman, stalwart of the American left, shows her teeth

This comprehensive documentary about the Democracy Now! radio show host and seasoned investigative reporter takes in a massacre in East Timor, the actions of oil giants and a flustered Bill Clinton as it reflects her vital workBefore there was Michael Moore, there was campaigning journalist Amy Goodman … and even if Moore seems to have gone a little quiet, Goodman is still there, doggedly asking questions, an earnest gadfly buzzing around the flinching faces of Trump placemen, challenging and pr

entertainment  Aug 12, 2026

Variety

AI Music Generator Suno Strikes Licensing Deal With BMG as It Preps New Label-Backed Models

Suno, the AI music generator that’s managed to both rankle the music industry and lure some of its biggest talent to its side, has added music company BMG as its latest licensing partner as it prepares new models powered by licensed work. The partnership will see Suno pay for BMG’s repertoire of recordings from its […]

entertainment  Aug 12, 2026

Variety

‘SNL U.K.’ Season 2 Sets September Date

“Saturday Night Live U.K.” will launch its second season on Sky and Now starting Sept. 12, the broadcaster announced, kicking off a run of six new episodes following the show’s debut season earlier this year. A trailer for the new season has been released, and additional episodes are planned for early 2027 beyond the initial […]

entertainment  Aug 12, 2026

Hollywood Reporter

‘SNL UK’ Sets Season 2 Return on Sky

All 11 members of the inaugural cast will be returning for season two of the British sketch series, including breakout stars Jack Shep, George Fouracres, Ania Magliano and Paddy Young.

entertainment  Aug 12, 2026

Variety

‘In Flames’ Director Zarrar Kahn Returns to Toronto With Gym-Incel Rom-Com ‘The Lion Does Not Concern Himself,’ Trailer Unveiled (EXCLUSIVE)

Zarrar Kahn, whose debut feature “In Flames” premiered at Cannes and later played Toronto, is returning to the festival’s Short Cuts strand with romantic comedy “The Lion Does Not Concern Himself.” A trailer has been unveiled. The film follows a likeable gym coach who has convinced himself that his identity as a toxic podcaster is […]

entertainment  Aug 12, 2026

Variety

U.K.’s Largest Harry Potter Store Opening in London Ahead of HBO Series Launch

With Harry Potter excitement expected to reach fever pitch once more later this year with the launch of HBO’s new TV series, Warner Bros. is going big on the merch — and just in time for Christmas. The studio has announced that the U.K. largest Harry Potter shop will open in central London in November, weeks […]

entertainment  Aug 12, 2026

Variety

AI-Generated Turkish Series ‘Castle Walls’ Launches on Prime Video in What Is Being Touted as a Worldwide Streaming First – Trailer (EXCLUSIVE)

AI-generated historical drama “Castle Walls,” produced by Turkish TV powerhouse Ay Yapim, is launching Wednesday on Prime Video in what is being touted as the first show made end-to-end using artificial intelligence to premiere on a major global streaming platform worldwide. “Castle Walls” (“Surlar” in Turkish) spans three 15-minute episodes and focuses on the enigmatic […]

entertainment  Aug 12, 2026

The Guardian Culture

Mutants assemble: what does the future hold for the X-Men?

After the introduction of a key character in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Marvel is bringing back one of its most beloved franchises – but the return comes at a precarious timeLater-period Marvel movies have resorted to more fantastical plot devices such as parallel universes and time travel in an attempt to raise stakes in an increasingly complicated, superhero-populated cinematic universe. After Spider-Man: Brand New Day, a Marvel/Sony co-production that’s making a run at biggest-movie-of-all-ti

entertainment  Aug 12, 2026

The Guardian Culture

Carcass Clad: stifling tank combat promises tension, terror and surprising laughs

After the success of space horror Mouthwashing, Swedish developer Wrong Organ has created a Battlefield-inspired co-op with a supernatural twist‘Claustrophobic”, “oppressive”, “pretty depressing” – these are the words Jeffrey Tomec and Dave van Egdom volunteer when I ask them to reflect on their work as part of Swedish indie developer Wrong Organ. I’d add “nightmare-inducing”, too. Their last game, Mouthwashing, was an acclaimed work of horror storytelling set on a scuttled space freighter, in w

entertainment  Aug 12, 2026

The Guardian Culture

Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls review – an anime-style rumble that’s rooting for you

PlayStation 5, PC; Arc System Works/Sony Interactive EntertainmentWith tremendous visuals and accessible controls, this superhero-themed fighter has the chops to inspire a new generation of champsArriving at the turn of the millennium and the twilight of the video arcade, Marvel vs Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes has long been a high-water mark for fighting games, with no heir apparent; its massive, colourful roster and frenetic, spectacular combos have lured newcomers and elite competitors alike. D

entertainment  Aug 12, 2026

Hollywood Reporter

Lee Daniels, Nadine Labaki, Marina Abramovic Win Liberatum Pioneer Awards (Exclusive)

The artists will be honored at a ceremony at the Venice Film Festival marking the 25th anniversary of Pablo Ganguli's Liberatum cultural diplomacy organization.

entertainment  Aug 12, 2026