Despite “Barbie’s” recent box office domination, the history of toy-to-film franchises has not always been easy. Often dismissed as a cash grab (“Battleship”) or popcorn fare, turning toys into critically and commercially successful content is no skate in the park.
For Mattel and co, there was another toy that had to walk before “Barbie” could fly: Lego. Written and directed by Lord and Miller, “The Lego Movie” proved that movies based on toys could be so much more than a 90-minute commercial when it was released ten years ago. Although snubbed at the Oscars (not even garnering a nomination for best animated film), the Warner Bros. pic — like its eventual successor “Barbie” — was a hit with both audiences and critics.
Buoyed by “The Lego Movie’s” success, a string of spin-offs and sequels quickly followed – “The Lego Batman Movie” and “The Lego Ninjago Movie” in 2017 and “The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part...
For Mattel and co, there was another toy that had to walk before “Barbie” could fly: Lego. Written and directed by Lord and Miller, “The Lego Movie” proved that movies based on toys could be so much more than a 90-minute commercial when it was released ten years ago. Although snubbed at the Oscars (not even garnering a nomination for best animated film), the Warner Bros. pic — like its eventual successor “Barbie” — was a hit with both audiences and critics.
Buoyed by “The Lego Movie’s” success, a string of spin-offs and sequels quickly followed – “The Lego Batman Movie” and “The Lego Ninjago Movie” in 2017 and “The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part...
- 3/29/2024
- by K.J. Yossman
- Variety Film + TV
Spoiler Alert: Do not read ahead if you have not watched the Season 9, episode 4 of “The Masked Singer,” which aired March 8 on Fox.
How are we supposed to live without Michael Bolton? The pop crooner was the latest celebrity to be revealed on “The Masked Singer,” as he was voted off the show as the Wolf.
It wasn’t much of a mystery this week, given how recognizable Bolton’s voice is. Even singing the Doors classic “Break on Through,” everyone (mostly) agreed it was him. For Wolf, Robin Thicke, Nicole Scherzinger and Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg all named Michael Bolton. Ken Jeong went rogue and picked Richard Marx.
It was DC Superheroes night, and the episode opened with Nicole Scherzinger (dressed as the Catwoman), singing Bonnie Tyler’s “Holding Out for a Hero.” Her fellow panelists were also in cosplay: Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg as Harley Quinn, Ken Jeong as the Riddler and Robin Thicke as,...
How are we supposed to live without Michael Bolton? The pop crooner was the latest celebrity to be revealed on “The Masked Singer,” as he was voted off the show as the Wolf.
It wasn’t much of a mystery this week, given how recognizable Bolton’s voice is. Even singing the Doors classic “Break on Through,” everyone (mostly) agreed it was him. For Wolf, Robin Thicke, Nicole Scherzinger and Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg all named Michael Bolton. Ken Jeong went rogue and picked Richard Marx.
It was DC Superheroes night, and the episode opened with Nicole Scherzinger (dressed as the Catwoman), singing Bonnie Tyler’s “Holding Out for a Hero.” Her fellow panelists were also in cosplay: Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg as Harley Quinn, Ken Jeong as the Riddler and Robin Thicke as,...
- 3/9/2023
- by Michael Schneider
- Variety Film + TV
The Masked Singer Season 9 Episode 4 Episode Description The Masked Singer Season 9 Episode 4 Photos DC Superheroes Night – Three new singers enter the game on DC Superheroes night. While the audience and panelists celebrate their favorite iconic DC Superheroes in costume, celebrities vie for their chance at the champion of The Masked Singer in three brand-new costumes! The Season Nine contestants boast a combined 28 Emmy Nominations, 6 Grammy Wins, 10 Gold Albums, 4 Golden Globe Nominations, 5 Medals, 26 Books, 2 Tony Award Nominations, 5 Lifetime Achievement Awards, 4 Stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and a combined 95,231,000 records sold. Play along with host Nick Cannon and celebrity panelists Ken Jeong, Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg, Nicole Scherzinger and Robin Thicke. Three new characters enter the competition and two will be unmasked in the all-new “DC Superheroes Night” episode of The Masked Singer airing Wednesday, March 8 (8:00-9:01 Pm Et/Pt) on Fox. (Ms-904) (TV-pg L) s09e04 9×04 9.04 s9e...
- 3/8/2023
- by Thomas Miller
- Seat42F
Holy DC synergy! “Shazam! Fury of the Gods” stars Dame Helen Mirren and Zachary Levi will pop up on tonight’s episode of “The Masked Singer,” which is being billed as “DC Superheroes Night.” Variety has a first look at their appearance; scroll down to watch.
Also appearing will be DC chief creative officer Jim Lee. All three will pop up to offer “superclues” about some of the night’s contestants.
Mirren and Levi, who appear remotely on screen and not in person, present clues for two of the night’s contestants, “Gargoyle” and “Wolf,” while Lee presents a clue for “Squirrel.”
“I would not miss DC Superhero night for the world unless of course, you know, I was saving it,” Levi says in the clip. Here’s the clue: “Now nothing is set in stone. But this clue is rock solid. You’re about to get some real concrete answers.
Also appearing will be DC chief creative officer Jim Lee. All three will pop up to offer “superclues” about some of the night’s contestants.
Mirren and Levi, who appear remotely on screen and not in person, present clues for two of the night’s contestants, “Gargoyle” and “Wolf,” while Lee presents a clue for “Squirrel.”
“I would not miss DC Superhero night for the world unless of course, you know, I was saving it,” Levi says in the clip. Here’s the clue: “Now nothing is set in stone. But this clue is rock solid. You’re about to get some real concrete answers.
- 3/8/2023
- by Michael Schneider
- Variety Film + TV
Spoiler Alert: Do not read ahead if you have not watched the Season 9, episode 3 of “The Masked Singer,” which aired March 1 on Fox.
“The Masked Singer” is like a jungle sometimes, it makes you wonder how you keep from going under. On Wednesday’s episode, rap legend Grandmaster Flash was trying not to be pushed, since he was so close to the edge. But despite trying not to, he lost his head.
Grandmaster Flash was the latest celebrity to be unmasked on Season 9 of “The Masked Singer,” revealed as the Polar Bear. The hip-hop pioneer sang “Rapture,” by Blondie. And there’s quite a connection there.
“That song was actually written for me,” he told Variety. “I remember Fab Five Freddy bringing [Blondie’s Debbie Harry] to one of my shows. This is way back in the day before I became famous. And she wrote this song of what she saw when...
“The Masked Singer” is like a jungle sometimes, it makes you wonder how you keep from going under. On Wednesday’s episode, rap legend Grandmaster Flash was trying not to be pushed, since he was so close to the edge. But despite trying not to, he lost his head.
Grandmaster Flash was the latest celebrity to be unmasked on Season 9 of “The Masked Singer,” revealed as the Polar Bear. The hip-hop pioneer sang “Rapture,” by Blondie. And there’s quite a connection there.
“That song was actually written for me,” he told Variety. “I remember Fab Five Freddy bringing [Blondie’s Debbie Harry] to one of my shows. This is way back in the day before I became famous. And she wrote this song of what she saw when...
- 3/2/2023
- by Michael Schneider
- Variety Film + TV
Spoiler Alert: Do not read ahead if you have not watched the Season 9 season premiere of “The Masked Singer,” which aired Feb. 22 on Fox.
The Winner Takes It All: “The Masked Singer” paid tribute to Swedish super group Abba on Wednesday — and unmasked two 1980s icons in the process. Pop ingenue Debbie Gibson, who first hit it big in 1987 as a 17-year-old sensation who wrote and sang her own songs, was unmasked as the Night Owl, while comedian and “America’s Got Talent” judge Howie Mandel — who rose to recognition on the 1980s medical drama “St. Elsewhere” — was revealed to be the Rock Lobster.
Gibson was a last-minute addition to the episode after the celebrity who was originally set to appear had to exit after testing positive for Covid. With less than 24 hours to taping, Gibson agreed to step in.
“I didn’t really have much time to decide to do it,...
The Winner Takes It All: “The Masked Singer” paid tribute to Swedish super group Abba on Wednesday — and unmasked two 1980s icons in the process. Pop ingenue Debbie Gibson, who first hit it big in 1987 as a 17-year-old sensation who wrote and sang her own songs, was unmasked as the Night Owl, while comedian and “America’s Got Talent” judge Howie Mandel — who rose to recognition on the 1980s medical drama “St. Elsewhere” — was revealed to be the Rock Lobster.
Gibson was a last-minute addition to the episode after the celebrity who was originally set to appear had to exit after testing positive for Covid. With less than 24 hours to taping, Gibson agreed to step in.
“I didn’t really have much time to decide to do it,...
- 2/23/2023
- by Michael Schneider
- Variety Film + TV
Spoiler Alert: Do not read ahead if you have not watched the Season 9 season premiere of “The Masked Singer,” which aired Feb. 15 on Fox.
“The Masked Singer” kicked off its Season 9 on Wednesday night with one of its biggest stars yet — and also its oldest. Entertainer icon Dick Van Dyke, 97, was the celebrity under the Gnome costume, and was the first reveal of the night. Later, country music artist Sara Evans was unmasked as the Mustang.
Van Dyke’s reveal reps the second season in a row where the first reveal came from a legend. In Season 8, “Monty Python” star Eric Idle and “Star Trek” mainstay William Shatner (who at 91 had previously been the oldest celebrity on the show) were revealed on night 1.
“It was the weirdest experience I think I’ve ever had,” Van Dyke said.
Van Dyke said he actually reached out to Idle when he first considered coming on “The Masked Singer.
“The Masked Singer” kicked off its Season 9 on Wednesday night with one of its biggest stars yet — and also its oldest. Entertainer icon Dick Van Dyke, 97, was the celebrity under the Gnome costume, and was the first reveal of the night. Later, country music artist Sara Evans was unmasked as the Mustang.
Van Dyke’s reveal reps the second season in a row where the first reveal came from a legend. In Season 8, “Monty Python” star Eric Idle and “Star Trek” mainstay William Shatner (who at 91 had previously been the oldest celebrity on the show) were revealed on night 1.
“It was the weirdest experience I think I’ve ever had,” Van Dyke said.
Van Dyke said he actually reached out to Idle when he first considered coming on “The Masked Singer.
- 2/16/2023
- by Michael Schneider
- Variety Film + TV
At Midnight Director Jonah Feingold Brings A Fairytale Vibe To His New Rom-Com [Exclusive Interview]
In the upcoming Paramount+ film "At Midnight," Monica Barbaro ("Top Gun: Maverick") plays Sophie, an actor starring in a superhero film with her boyfriend and fellow actor, Adam. When she finds him cheating on her with a crew member, she has to stay quiet about it because of her career. While in Mexico shooting the end of their movie, she meets ambitious junior hotel manager Alejandro, and finds herself continually meeting up with him at midnight.
"At Midnight" has a fairytale feel to it, complete with animated opening credits and camera work that pays homage to classic rom-coms of the past. I recently spoke to director Jonah Feingold ("Dating & New York") about his take on the film's style, Martin Scorsese's comments about superhero films, whether there was a plan to have Boneta (who has a musical background) sing, and what films inspired his work on "At Midnight."
Note:...
"At Midnight" has a fairytale feel to it, complete with animated opening credits and camera work that pays homage to classic rom-coms of the past. I recently spoke to director Jonah Feingold ("Dating & New York") about his take on the film's style, Martin Scorsese's comments about superhero films, whether there was a plan to have Boneta (who has a musical background) sing, and what films inspired his work on "At Midnight."
Note:...
- 2/9/2023
- by Jenna Busch
- Slash Film
David Tennant and Michael Sheen star in ‘Good Omens’ season 1 (Photo by Sophie Mutevelian / Amazon Prime Video)
The 2022 New York Comic Con is loaded with television panels, including a return appearance by Nycc favorite Outlander. Talent from Ghosts, Pennyworth, Chucky, One of Us is Lying, Good Omens (it’s about time we learn something new about season two!), and The Winchesters will all be participating in panels over the course of the four day convention.
The Walking Dead continues its farewell tour at Nycc, and The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power will be inviting Nycc attendees to learn more secrets about Middle-Earth. Panels will also be held for His Dark Materials, Titans, Solar Opposites, Wolf Pack, The Peripheral, Let the Right One In, and the long-awaited fourth season of Manifest.
Here’s a list of what’s in store for the 2022 in-person (and virtual) New York Comic Con taking place Thursday,...
The 2022 New York Comic Con is loaded with television panels, including a return appearance by Nycc favorite Outlander. Talent from Ghosts, Pennyworth, Chucky, One of Us is Lying, Good Omens (it’s about time we learn something new about season two!), and The Winchesters will all be participating in panels over the course of the four day convention.
The Walking Dead continues its farewell tour at Nycc, and The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power will be inviting Nycc attendees to learn more secrets about Middle-Earth. Panels will also be held for His Dark Materials, Titans, Solar Opposites, Wolf Pack, The Peripheral, Let the Right One In, and the long-awaited fourth season of Manifest.
Here’s a list of what’s in store for the 2022 in-person (and virtual) New York Comic Con taking place Thursday,...
- 9/19/2022
- by Rebecca Murray
- Showbiz Junkies
For co-writer and director Matt Smukler, “Wildflower” started life as a far cry from the narrative feature film that premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival this year.
“Really, this was inspired by my niece,” Smukler told TheWrap’s Executive Editor, Awards, Steve Pond, during a visit to TheWrap and Shutterstock’s Interview and Portrait Studio at TIFF. “I went out to Las Vegas to shoot a little, tiny, short companion piece for her to get into college. She had no idea how exceptional she was. She actually thought she was very ordinary and didn’t know what to write on a college essay. … And I very quickly realized how exceptional she really is, and how incredible the whole family is.”
Smukler resurfaced the idea while working with co-writer Jana Savage on a different project. The two came to the realization that the best way to serve this coming-of-age story...
“Really, this was inspired by my niece,” Smukler told TheWrap’s Executive Editor, Awards, Steve Pond, during a visit to TheWrap and Shutterstock’s Interview and Portrait Studio at TIFF. “I went out to Las Vegas to shoot a little, tiny, short companion piece for her to get into college. She had no idea how exceptional she was. She actually thought she was very ordinary and didn’t know what to write on a college essay. … And I very quickly realized how exceptional she really is, and how incredible the whole family is.”
Smukler resurfaced the idea while working with co-writer Jana Savage on a different project. The two came to the realization that the best way to serve this coming-of-age story...
- 9/16/2022
- by Libby Hill
- The Wrap
Three further Cannes titles also added to 2022 edition.
Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (July 1-9) has revealed it will open on Friday with Italian director Paolo Genovese’s romantic drama Superheroes and close with George Miller’s Three Thousand Years of Longing.
Superheroes explores the relationship between a physics teacher and cartoonist, played respectively by Alessandro Borghi and Jasmine Trinca, at the beginning of their courtship and 10 years later. It marks the latest feature of Genovese, who has since directed upcoming drama The First Day Of My Life, starring Toni Servillo. It was released in Italy in December 2021 via Medusa Film.
Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (July 1-9) has revealed it will open on Friday with Italian director Paolo Genovese’s romantic drama Superheroes and close with George Miller’s Three Thousand Years of Longing.
Superheroes explores the relationship between a physics teacher and cartoonist, played respectively by Alessandro Borghi and Jasmine Trinca, at the beginning of their courtship and 10 years later. It marks the latest feature of Genovese, who has since directed upcoming drama The First Day Of My Life, starring Toni Servillo. It was released in Italy in December 2021 via Medusa Film.
- 6/29/2022
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
HBO Max is enlisting a trio of our favorite women in Hollywood to fill out its programming slate.
The upcoming streamer — launching in May 2020 — has handed series orders to three new half-hour comedies, TVLine has learned: DC Super Hero High, executive-produced by Elizabeth Banks; College Girls, written by Mindy Kaling; and Rap Sh*t, with a pilot penned by Insecure star Issa Rae.
More from TVLineKevin Bacon to Headline Amazon Horror Series The BondsmanCancellation Shocker: The Other Two Ending With Season 3 - Read Showrunners' StatementElizabeth Banks Is Anxious to Give Out Press Your Luck's Biggest Prize - Plus, the Latest...
The upcoming streamer — launching in May 2020 — has handed series orders to three new half-hour comedies, TVLine has learned: DC Super Hero High, executive-produced by Elizabeth Banks; College Girls, written by Mindy Kaling; and Rap Sh*t, with a pilot penned by Insecure star Issa Rae.
More from TVLineKevin Bacon to Headline Amazon Horror Series The BondsmanCancellation Shocker: The Other Two Ending With Season 3 - Read Showrunners' StatementElizabeth Banks Is Anxious to Give Out Press Your Luck's Biggest Prize - Plus, the Latest...
- 10/29/2019
- by Dave Nemetz
- TVLine.com
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.