TV/Film

21 Jun 2023

Avril Lavigne & Yungblud Let It All Hang Out Singing a Shania Twain Classic for ‘Carpool Karaoke’ Series

Avril Lavigne and Yungblud have the prerogative to have a little fun in a new episode of Carpool Karaoke: The Series on Apple TV+, and Billboard has an exclusive first look.

The pop-punk rockers take on Shania Twain’s 1999 hit “Man! I Feel Like a Woman” while in a black SUV, with the “Girlfriend” singer behind the wheel. The clip starts with the two easing into the beginning of the song, but as it progresses, the English artist gets more and more animated, dancing and singing enthusiastically in the front passenger seat.

By the time the chorus hits, the two are completely invested, with Lavigne singing at the top of her lungs to Yungblud, and the “I Think I’m OK” rocker at one point putting on his companion’s red heart-shaped sunglasses. “Oh oh oh!/ Get in the action/ Feel the attraction/ Color my hair, do what I dare,” they belt out as Lavigne flips her hair. “Oh oh oh!/ I wanna be free/ To feel the way I feel/ Man! I feel like a woman!”

Twain’s hit song peaked at No. 23 on the Billboard Hot 100 in November 1999, and spent a total of 28 weeks on the all-genre tally. It has since gone on to be named No. 1 on Billboard‘s Greatest Karaoke Song of All Time list. “I think @billboard just crowned me the Queen of Karaoke?!” the singer tweeted in response after the list was revealed in October 2022. “Seriously though, it’s really really cool to see the life that ‘Man! I Feel Like A Woman!’ has taken on and I’m just obsessed with you all…”

Duetting on “Man! I Feel Like a Woman” isn’t Lavigne and Yungblud’s first collab. Lavigne released “I’m a Mess” featuring the English artist in November. The song was written by the two, along with Travis Barker and John Feldmann.

The new episodes of Carpool Karaoke: The Series premiere Friday, June 23, on Apple TV+. This latest batch will also feature performances by Alanis Morissette with Cara Delevingne, Glee stars Lea Michele and Darren Criss, the cast of Girls5eva, the cast of Ghosts and more.

Watch Billboard‘s exclusive clip above, and check out the trailer for the new episodes below:

21 Jun 2023

Priscilla Presley’s Love Story With Elvis Takes Center Stage in ‘Priscilla’ Trailer: Watch

Priscilla Presley is getting her side of the story told. The actress’ life and love story with Elvis Presley is hitting the big screen in A24’s upcoming movie Priscilla, which dropped its first trailer on Wednesday (June 21).

The trailer for the movie — which stars Cailee Spaeny as the titular character and Euphoria‘s Jacob Elordi as The King — shows snippets of Priscilla’s early life before meeting the icon, first at a party as he plays the piano for a cheering crowd, then sharing intimate moments with the singer taking Polaroid images after visiting Graceland. Scenes then flash of Priscilla and Elvis getting married and her pregnancy with their daughter Lisa Marie after the musician’s career fully takes off.

The trailer concludes with Priscilla’s mother asking, “Priscilla, what about boys at school? Must be some handsome ones.” A younger Priscilla looks worriedly at her mother, and the trailer cuts to the actress and Elvis sharing a passionate kiss on their wedding day.

Priscilla is far from the first film about Elvis’ life. Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis was released in 2022 to critical acclaim. The movie secured eight nominations at the 2023 Academy Awards, including best picture and best actor for Austin Butler, but did not take home any awards, though Butler took the Golden Globe for best actor for his portrayal of the rock icon. (Olivia DeJonge played Priscilla in the movie.)

Priscilla, which is based on the book Elvis and Me by Priscilla Presley and Sandra Harmon, is directed by Sofia Coppola (Marie Antoinette, The Bling Ring, On the Rocks). There is no set release date for the film yet.

Watch the trailer above.

21 Jun 2023

Country Singer Dani Kerr Impresses With Two-Song Audition on ‘AGT’: Watch

Dani Kerr’s dream briefly became a nightmare when she auditioned on America’s Got Talent, before her stint on stage finishing like a fairytale.

During Tuesday night’s (June 20) episode, the 23-year-old from Statesville, North Carolina explained that she’d had a lifelong fascination with music, throwing herself into creating songs just six years ago.

When asked by judge Simon Cowell her thoughts on singer-songwriters’ place in the contemporary music industry, her answer was well-considered. “I feel like a lot of people have gotten away from being real humans in music and I’m just here to do that. And let people know we’re still human, we’re still us, plus it’s not all robots doing it.”

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Kerr is very much human, with all the frailties that bother many of us. Over the years, she’s faced several challenges, including homelessness during the last couple years of high school, and crippling stage fright.

Clearly displaying nerves before NBC’s cameras, she admitted she’d come a long way. “When I was little, I never thought I would have the courage to sing in front of one person,” she explained. “It’s so crazy to be here. It’s a dream come true.”

Not so fast.

Before reaching the chorus of her original number, the country hopeful was stopped by Cowell, his hand raised in the air. “Did you bring another song with you?”

As it turns out, yes. Yes she did. She hit another original, “November.” As she reached the end, the tears flowed, as the crowded roared its approval.

“You’re amazing,” Howie Mandel enthused. “You remind me of, like, a Stevie Nicks.”

“I hear a little Dolly (Parton), a little Miley (Cyrus),” Heidi Klum chimed in. “Thank-you so much for being here. You’re wonderful,” added Mandel.

“I love your songs,” remarked Cowell. “I think you’re a great writer. Authentic and importantly your voice is so distinctive. Not only distinctive but you have a beautiful voice. You have one of my favorite voices this year. I really like you.”

It was yeses all the way down the judges table.

Watch below.

20 Jun 2023

Los Angeles ‘Skid Row’ Singers Deliver ‘Special’ Audition on ‘AGT’: Watch

When Terry Crews is feeling it, you can bet everyone feels it.

That happened during Tuesday night’s (June 20) edition of America’s Got Talent, when a collective from Los Angeles, going by the name of Freedom Singers, told their story and shared their talents.

The singers have lived in the impoverished side of Los Angeles, known as “Skid Row,” rubbing shoulders with the homeless and destitute. Performing together is just one way to lift the spirits.

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Its eight core members came together in the Arts and Culture department at the Los Angeles Community Action Network (LA CAN), an organization that exists to help the needy.

“Skid Row is in the heart of downtown Los Angeles where five people per day die on the streets, houseless people,” explained one of the male singers. “So, for us, Freedom Singing brings us close together; it is that medium that we’ve always used to come together as America.

And with that as the background, the singers launched into a gospel rendition of Red Hot Chili Peppers’ early ’90s hit “Under The Bridge,” an apt song from the California act about sleeping rough.

The performance inspired the entire audience, and all four judges, to stand and applaud. There were tears in the room, and on stage.

“You have a powerful voice, powerful message, it was beautiful, it gave me goosebumps, it made me emotional,” Heidi Klum enthused. “This was a great audition.”

Homelessness, noted Howie Mandel, “you have given it a voice, you have given us a purpose, and it’s a message. This was more than just a song, more than an audition, it was needed. Thank you for informing, entertaining and blowing the roof off this place.”

Sofia Vergara noted, “I think you guys are going to go very far in this competition.”

The performance, concluded Simon Cowell, “was brilliant, it was raw, it was real, I loved the vocals, I loved your chemistry, your friendship. This was a really special audition, I loved it.”

So too did AGT host Crews who, as he thanked the singers backstage, shed some tears.

For the record, the performance earned four yeses.

Watch below.

20 Jun 2023

Zendaya’s ‘Challengers’ Trailer Features a Steamy Love Triangle & A Rihanna Classic

Zendaya is gearing up to star in her next feature film with Challengers, and fans now have a hint at what to expect thanks to the arrival of the film’s trailer on Tuesday (June 20).

The trailer sees Zendaya assuming the role of Tashi Duncan, a tennis superstar whose career comes to a halt after a serious injury. At the peak of her career, Duncan becomes the object of two tennis players’ affections — leading to a steamy musical moment in the form of Rihanna‘s “S&M,” as she kisses each of the guys (Josh O’Connor’s Patrick and Mike Faist’s Art) in a hotel room.

The official synopsis for the film further hints at the plot: Zendaya’s character retires from the sport following her injury to become a coach “to a champion on a losing streak (Mike Faist, West Side Story),” but her “husband’s redemption takes a surprising turn when he must face off against the washed-up Patrick (Josh O’Connor, The Crown) – his former best friend and Tashi’s former boyfriend.”

“S&M” was released as the fourth single from Rihanna’s fifth studio album, Loud. Written by Ester Dean in collaboration with producers Stargate and Sandy Vee, “S&M” peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in April 2011. (A remix of the track featuring Britney Spears was also released.)

Challengers will be released in theaters on Sept. 15 — just after the conclusion of the U.S. Open tennis tournament.

Watch the trailer in the video above.

20 Jun 2023

How to Watch ‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’ Before Netflix’s Live-Action Adaptation Drops

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Avatar: The Last Airbender first blessed our screens in 2005 as a Nickelodeon cartoon series for three action-packed seasons, and again in 2010 as a live-adaptation movie. Now, Netflix is sharing a first-look at their new live-action adaptation of the series (created by Sleepy Hollow‘s Albert Kim), which is set to air in 2024.

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The streamer shared a new teaser as well as first-look images for the new series on Friday (June 17). In the clip, we catch glimpses of the show’s symbols for water, earth, fire and air each being imbued with their respective elements, before the show’s title appears. Netflix also teased first-look photos of the main cast in costume, including Gordon Cormier as Aang, Kiawentiio Tarbell as Katara, Ian Ousley as Sokka and Dallas James Liu as Zuko. “Meet Aang, Katara, Sokka and Zuko in Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender, coming 2024,” the post’s caption reads.

For those unfamiliar with the world of Avatar, the original series takes place in a society split into four nations: the Water Tribes, the Earth Kingdom, the Fire Nation and the Air Nomads. Within this society are unique people labeled as “Benders” who have the ability to telekinetically control an element within their tribe. The Avatar has the ability to control all four elements and is the only person who is able to do so.

In preparation for the upcoming adaptation, you can grab the complete series on Amazon for 42% off. This set includes all three seasons of the show on Blu-ray or regular DVD. You’ll be able to enjoy uncut versions of episodes, go behind the scenes and experience all the show has to offer without commercial interruptions.

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Whether you’ve watched the series before or are new to the cartoon, dive into every episode and binge the entire series to catch up on all the lore and action before the live-action adaptation comes out.

Other Ways to Watch Avatar: The Last Airbender

Besides watching it on Blu-Ray or DVD, you can also stream the cartoon series through Netflix or Paramount+. You can also view it on Prime Video or Apple TV+ when you add Paramount+ as a channel.

Super fans can also stock up on Avatar: The Last Airbender merch (including exclusive Funko Pops!) to keep you satisfied until the new show comes out next year.

Check out the official teaser and first-look photos from the new Netflix series below:

20 Jun 2023

Jennifer Stone Says Selena Gomez Declined a ‘Wizards of Waverly Place’ Spinoff

What would a spinoff featuring Wizards of Waverly Place besties Alex Russo and Harper Finkle have looked like? According to Jennifer Stone, who played Harper in the popular Disney Channel series, it almost happened.

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In a new episode of Wizards of Waverly Pod, Stone told co-host David DeLuise that the idea was potentially pitched to Selena Gomez, who played Alex. “I don’t know how true this is, but I was told that it was pitched to Selena to do a Harper-Alex spinoff, and she said no because she had a lot of other things going on,” Stone explained.

When DeLuise (who played Jerry Russo in the series) asked when the idea was pitched, Stone said it was after Wizards of Waverly Place wrapped in 2012. “I get it, she had a million other things going on and she wanted to move forward,” the actress continued. “Honestly, at the time, I wanted to move forward too. Looking back, it would have been great, but the thing is, where we both were at the time — like, we just wanted to explore other things.”

Earlier this year, Gomez herself joined the podcast as a guest, where she reminisced on the good times with her former co-stars. “I can’t begin to tell you guys without making it such a little cry session, I felt like I was the happiest I’d been in my whole life,” she said of her years as Alex. “And I don’t want that to be a sad thought because I’m really grateful and happy. But it was definitely the happiest times for me, and I recognize that obviously I have this different attention on me that I just didn’t have then and that was a really pure time.”

Watch Stone and DeLuise discuss the spinoff that never happened via TikTok below.

16 Jun 2023

Michael Cera Reflects on Rihanna Slapping Him: ‘I Don’t Think It Took Much Convincing’

Acting, singing and getting slapped across the face by global superstar Rihanna — what can’t Michael Cera do? The Tony Award-nominated actor took some time to reflect on the filming process for his 2013 film This Is the End in a new interview with Rolling Stone.

“I thought it would look a lot better if she hit me. I don’t think it took much convincing to get her to do it,” the Barbie actor joked. “I just thought it would look a lot better than a fake slap would because you can really feel it. It just looks a lot funnier!”

In the scene, Cera’s character slaps the derrière of Rihanna’s character, who then slaps him across the face in return. Allegedly, Rihanna agreed to let Cera actually slap her backside on the condition that she could slap him in the face. “I definitely did not regret it! I was into it,” Cera said.

The Superbad star continued, “The take that is in the movie, she really did hit my ear, which was disorienting. But I have no regrets. I didn’t lose any hearing over it, fortunately!” This Is the End, a Seth Rogen-helmed apocalyptic black comedy that also starred Jonah Hill, Emma Watson, Kevin Hart, Backstreet Boys, Paul Rudd, Mindy Kaling and Channing Tatum, grossed $126 million at the worldwide box office.

In addition to his acting endeavors, Michael Cera also made his formal music debut in 2014. The indie folk album, titled True That, featured 21 tracks written, produced, engineered and mixed entirely by Cera himself. Rihanna, who, of course, needs no introduction, boasts 14 No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 and a pair of chart-topping albums on the Billboard 200.

15 Jun 2023

HBO Clarifies Rumors About ‘The Idol’ Not Returning for Second Season

Despite reports that The Weeknd‘s new HBO show The Idol wouldn’t be returning for a second season, HBO’s communications team took to Twitter on Thursday (June 15) to set the record straight.

“It is being misreported that a decision on a second season of The Idol has been determined,” the @HBOPR account tweeted. “It has not, and we look forward to sharing the next episode with you Sunday night.”

Reports of The Idol‘s lack of renewal started swirling earlier Thursday after Page Six published a story stating that the fate of the program was unclear, with a source telling the outlet that the program “was never meant to be a long-running show, it was always … a limited series.”

At a May 23 press conference at Cannes, The Weeknd — who co-created the series and stars as Tedros — said that he and co-creator Sam Levinson had a goal of stirring the pot and creating “something special, something fun, to make people laugh, piss some people off.”

Lily-Rose Depp, who stars as the show’s protagonist Jocelyn, added that working on the show — despite its backlash and rumors of tense set conditions — has largely been a positive experience. “It’s always a little sad and disheartening to see mean, false things said about someone you care about. It wasn’t reflective of my experience,” she said at Cannes.

See HBO’s tweet about The Idol‘s future below.

15 Jun 2023

Charlie Puth Makes ‘Fast & Furious’ Return on ‘Angel Pt. 2’ With Jimin, Jvke & Muni Long: Listen

Charlie Puth has made his official return to the Fast & Furious franchise. The “Light Switch” singer is the latest musician to feature on the Fast X single “Angel Pt. 2,” which was released on Thursday (June 15).

Following Jvke, Jimin and Muni Long’s verses on the track — which were also features on the previously released “Angels Pt. 1” with Kodak Black and NLE Choppa — Puth hops on the later half of the piano-led song, telling the listener to be safe on their journey, wherever it may lead.

“So be careful when you’re on your way, on your way out/ That you won’t find your way back in the dark, dark/ And now I’ll pray for signs you’re doin’ OK out there/ And that you’re happy wherever you are, you are/ We weren’t meant to last forever/ Someone else will love you better/ Baby, now it’s time to let me go,” he sings.

Puth previously featured on the Furious 7 soundtrack with his feature on “See You Again” by Wiz Khalifa. The track served as Puth’s first and only No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 when it was released in 2015, and charted on the all-genre tally for a total of 52 weeks.

“I owe so much to this franchise and have always been so proud to be a part of the Fast Family,” Puth said in a statement of being featured on the Fast X track. “I’m thrilled to come back and collaborate with all of these fantastic artists on ‘Angel Pt. 2.’”