Nicole Kidman recently shared a personal part of her creative process while speaking at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. The 57-year-old actress was in France on Sunday, May 18, for a conversation with Variety's Angelique Jackson before receiving the prestigious Women in Motion Award from Kering. During the chat, Kidman said she often wakes up in the middle of the night to write. "I do it at 3 a.m., writing sessions. I wake up and I'll write something, be it a dream or something circulating in my head and my life and my heart at that time," she shared, according to The Hollywood Reporter. "I think 2 and 3 a.m. is a very, very ripe time for things to happen because you're in that slightly removed state from reality, but your your dreams and your psyche are very, very there and very present," she added. Even though she writes regularly, Kidman said she does not have any plans to co-write a project right now. But she added, "I always say no and turn around and change my mind." Kidman chose an all-black outfit for the conversation, including low-rise jeans and a fitted leather jacket. Later, she changed into a custom red lace Balenciaga gown for the award ceremony. The Oscar-winning actress did not have a film showing at Cannes this year. She was last seen in the Prime Video movie Holland and recently returned to her role in Nine Perfect Strangers on Hulu. Up next, she will be seen alongside Sandra Bullock in Practical Magic 2, which is set to release in theaters on September 18, 2026. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
21 May,2025 01:53 PM IST | Cannes | ANIHollywood actress Scarlett Johansson had her moment at the ongoing edition of the Cannes Film Festival. The actress' feature directorial debut “Eleanor the Great" competing in the Un Certain Regard competition. The film stars June Squibb, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Erin Kellyman, and it earned Johansson and her cast a five-minute standing ovation, reports 'Variety'. Johansson was escorted by her all-powerful agent and CEO of CAA, Bryan Lourd. As per 'Variety', her husband, “Weekend Update” anchor Colin Jost, arrived solo and mingled with Sony Pictures Classics executives Tom Bernard and Michael Barker. Reigning best actor Oscar winner Adrien Brody and his partner Georgina Chapman also attended, chatting up Jost. Introducing the film, Johansson said premiering it at Cannes is “really a dream come true”. “When you make a film that’s an independent film like this, no one’s doing it for the money, surprise, surprise”, she continued. “Really, everyone that came together for this film came together because they loved the story, the script so much. It’s a film about many things, it’s about friendship, it’s about grief, it’s about forgiveness. And I think those are all themes that we can use a lot more of these days”. “Eleanor the Great” sees Squibb play the witty and proudly troublesome 94-year-old Eleanor Morgenstein, who after a devastating loss, tells a tale that takes on a dangerous life of its own. After the screening ended to rapturous applause, Johansson gave Squibb a tender hug that seemed to go on for several minutes. She later described her lead star as “truly inspiring”. She also called Kellyman an “absolute revelation” and said she was “so excited for the world to meet her”. “It’s a film that I feel is historic and also very timely now, and so I hope that you all carry it with you the way that I carry Eleanor with me”, Johansson said as the clapping came to a close. Johansson is on double duty this year in Cannes, as she’s also among the bumper star cast of Wes Anderson’s “The Phoenician Scheme”. She’s also something of a Cannes veteran, having previously attended for Anderson’s last film “Asteroid City” in 2023. Prior to that, she was in Cannes for two Woody Allen films, “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” in 2008 and for “Match Point” in 2005. Johansson produced “Eleanor the Great” with Jonathan Lia, and Keenan Flynn for These Pictures, Kara Durrett and Jessamine Burgum for Pinky Promise, and Celine Rattray and Trudie Styler of Maven Screen Media. Wayfarer Studios co-financed the film with Content Engineers, Pinky Promise and MacPac. Steve Sarowitz, Justin Baldoni, Jamey Heath and Andrew Calof are executive producing for Wayfarer Studios. Ezra Gabay and Raj Kishor Khaware are executive producing on behalf of Content Engineers. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
21 May,2025 11:50 AM IST | Mumbai | IANSThe second trailer of the upcoming Jurassic World: Rebirth has been unveiled. The film, starring Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey, and Mahershala Ali, is the seventh installment in the Jurassic franchise. It is directed by Gareth Edwards and written by David Koepp, who also wrote the screenplay for the original 1993 film Jurassic Park. About Jurassic World: Rebirth trailer The story is set five years after the events of Jurassic World: Dominion. Johansson plays Zora Bennett, who, along with her team, tries to extract the DNA of some of the largest and most dangerous dinosaur species to save millions of lives. The trailer shows Johansson and Ali arriving on the island, where they learn that the theme park employees' "experimental work" left only the most aggressive dinosaurs behind. This leads to terrifying encounters, including a family being chased on a raft and scientists being hunted down. During their expedition, the team encounters a civilian family whose boat capsized after encountering an aquatic dinosaur. Scarlett Johansson calls being a part of Jurassic film lifelong dream, “It has been a lifelong dream to be in a Jurassic movie for the last 15 years. Each time I heard they were making one, I’d reach out and say, ‘I’m available,’” said Johansson at CinemaCon earlier this year. The Jurassic World franchise is gearing up for its next blockbuster with Rebirth scheduled to hit theatres on July 2, 2025. Directed by Gareth Edwards, the film is based on a script by David Koepp, with characters originally created by Michael Crichton. Speaking about his involvement, director Gareth Edwards shared, “I suffered from a rare condition in childhood where I was compelled to watch Jurassic Park at least 10 times a year. I thought there was no cure—until last year, when I received this miraculous email with a screenplay attached,” he joked. Johansson praised the director for making the film feel "realistic and authentic" by shooting in isolated locations. Edwards added that he wanted the audience to experience the movie as a thrilling “roller coaster ride.” The film, set in a world that has become increasingly inhospitable to dinosaurs, continues to explore humanity’s complex relationship with these ancient creatures.
21 May,2025 11:47 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentVeteran Hollywood star Judi Dench feels fortunate that she has been able to do a job that she loves in the form of acting for so many years. Dench told My Weekly magazine: "I feel very lucky to be part of the two per cent of people who wanted to do something and were able to make a living at it. "I never cease to be grateful of the fact that I am able to do a job that I really love – I never got over that. I think the key to happiness is gratitude." The Oscar-winner’s ability to work has been limited by the macular degeneration that has badly affected her eyesight, although she remains "in love with life", reports femalefirst.co.uk. The former James Bond actress said: "Be thankful for what you have, and you'll find abundance in every aspect of your life. I'm in love with life even though it is a beautiful mess – but that's what makes it so incredible." The actress is widely seen as a national treasure in Britain but she quipped that she sees the title in another way. She said: "It's dusty and dreary. It's like I've been picked up and put inside a little glass-fronted cabinet. Then they've locked the door so I can't get out." Earlier this year, Dench said that she lost her voice for two days after being scared by a close encounter with a snake when she starred in a 1987 production of William Shakespeare's 'Antony and Cleopatra'. Dench, who was playing the female lead in the play, told the BBC Radio 4 documentary 'Roleplay': "One night, the boys taking me [carrying me] kept hissing. I was wondering what on earth was going on. "Then, back on stage at the very end of the play, the snake fell out of my wig as I did my bow. I was so scared I lost my voice for two days." Meanwhile, the actress previously hit out at the increasing trend for trigger warnings being read out before stage plays and suggested that those of a sensitive disposition should stay away from the theatre. She said: "My God, it must be a pretty long trigger warning before 'King Lear' or 'Titus Andronicus'. I can see why they exist, but if you're that sensitive, don't go to the theatre, because you could be very shocked. Where is the surprise of seeing and understanding it in your own way?" This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
21 May,2025 10:44 AM IST | Mumbai | IANSActor-filmmaker Justin Baldoni is staying close to his family and faith as he deals with a legal dispute involving his It Ends With Us co-star Blake Lively. A family friend of Baldoni told PEOPLE that he and his wife Emily are going through a tough time but are sticking together. Baldoni, known for Jane the Virgin and his recent film It Ends With Us, has been "leaning on a tight circle of loyal friends," said the friend. "The lawsuit drama is causing stress for both of them, but their marriage is solid, and they are actually closer than ever." The friend also revealed that Baldoni, despite all the pressure, is trying to stay positive and "believes things will work out for the best." According to PEOPLE, the legal fight began in December 2024 when Lively filed a sexual harassment complaint against Baldoni. In December, Lively filed a lawsuit against Baldoni and others, alleging sexual harassment and retaliation. Baldoni denied the claims and countersued Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds, and others, accusing them of extortion and defamation. The trial is currently set for March 2026. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
21 May,2025 10:30 AM IST | Mumbai | ANIActor Dakota Johnson is planning to direct her first feature, from a script written by Cha Cha Real Smooth actress Vanessa Burghardt. Speaking at the Kering Women in Motion conversation event alongside her TeaTime Pictures producing partner Ro Donnelly on Monday at Cannes, Johnson opened up about her plans to go behind the camera, as per Deadline. She said, "The girl that plays my daughter [in Cha Cha Real Smooth], Vanessa Burkhart, she is an autistic actress and musician and brilliant person, and we have been working with her on developing a script. She's written a script, and it's really special, and it's about a young woman with autism. I feel very protective of her and her story in her mind, she's just an unbelievable woman. I just don't think I could allow anyone else to direct it. So we'll see." US actress Dakota Johnson arrives for the screening of the film "Splitsville" at the 78th edition of the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, southern France. Pic/AFP Johnson directed her first short, Loser Baby, which premiered at TIFF last fall. She admitted to extreme disappointment when that "proof of concept" was not picked up as a television show, saying, "It's a short film about queer friends living in Los Angeles and their relationships and their complications and their friendships and their sexuality and their identity, and nobody wanted to f-king make it. And I was like, 'Why? That's such a global conversation, and it should be talked about all the time,' but whatever. So it was a proof of concept that just is sitting there, proofing." Johnson is at Cannes with the Michael Angelo Covino-directed Splitsville, which she co-produced and in which she stars as a woman in an open relationship who tries to help a male friend recover from a breakup. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
20 May,2025 01:06 PM IST | Cannes | ANIActor Denzel Washington received a big surprise after he was rewarded with the prestigious honorary Palme d'Or at the Cannes 2025. The actor was present at the film festival to attend the screening of his film Highest 2 Lowest. Before being rewarded with the honorary award, Washington walked the red carpet, where he encountered an unpleasant moment when a photographer tried to make unwanted physical contact with him. Denzel Washington confronted the photographer It was when Denzel was walking the red carpet with A$AP Rocky and Spike Lee. During their time on the carpet, when Denzel was speaking to Lee, a photographer tried to turn him around to click his pictures. This didn’t sit well with the star. Denzel then confronted the cameraperson for his behaviour and asked him to back off. While the photographer smiled and tried to re-engage, Washington created a clear boundary and asked him to stop it. Despite the tense moment on the red carpet, Washington appeared composed during the film premiere. The way Denzel Washington handled that situation at #cannes is how everyone in the film community should moving forward deal with ppl who come at us trashing our favorite movies and or actors. Telling us our opinions are wrong if we like a movie or not. Enough is enough! pic.twitter.com/6BSztZlabx — The Patric (@ThePatricIsReal) May 19, 2025 Internet reacts The clip of the exchange is now going viral, and fans are supporting Washington for his appropriate yet composed behaviour. One wrote, "The way Denzel Washington handled that situation at #Cannes is how everyone in the film community should, moving forward, deal with people who come at us trashing our favourite movies and/or actors. Enough is enough!" Another comment reads, "The paps are incredibly out of touch with real human emotions. They’ve got zero patience—too wild. Love Denzel Washington. He’s so real. Like, calm down. Especially at this stage of his career. He’s tired of their childish behaviour. The GOAT on and off screen." Meanwhile, one wrote, "Some media reports say he 'erupted'. If that’s what media thinks is an eruption, they are a little too soft." Denzel Washington honoured with Palme d'Or As per The Hollywood Reporter, Washington was honoured with the prestigious honorary Palme d'Or, a special award given to celebrate his long and successful career in cinema. The unexpected moment happened just before the screening of his latest film, Highest 2 Lowest, directed by Spike Lee. Cannes Festival director Thierry Frémaux presented the award. This makes Washington the 22nd person to ever receive the honour. The award came as a surprise, unlike the one given earlier this year to Robert De Niro, which was announced ahead of the festival. Since the honorary Palme d'Or was introduced in 2002, it has been given to some of the most respected names in the film world. Past recipients include Clint Eastwood, Jodie Foster, Michael Douglas, Meryl Streep, and George Lucas. In 2022, Tom Cruise was also surprised with the award.
20 May,2025 09:36 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentLegendary filmmaker Spike Lee's latest film 'Highest 2 Lowest' will be making its premiere in Out of Competition section at this year's Cannes Film Festival. The filmmaker arrived in a multi-coloured suit and matching hat for the premiere of his film along with his cast including actors Denzel Washington and A$AP Rocky. Walking on the red carpet, Spike Lee managed to stand out with his colourful ensemble as most men wore a black tuxedo for the occasion. Spike Lee was seen walking on the edges of the carpet greeting fans and photographers gathered there. The filmmaker also has some light-hearted moment with singer A$AP Rocky on the carpet which was heartwarming to witness. He could be seen imitating Rocky and learning to strike some cool poses like him. Denzel Washington, on the other hand, struck some serious poses in a black tux before joining the team of his film on the red carpet. Actress Dakota Johnson was also seen in attendance for the screening of the film in a pastel flowy gown. Spike Lee on casting A$AP Rocky in Highest 2 Lowest Acclaimed director Spike Lee has revealed that he cast A$AP Rocky in his upcoming film 'Highest 2 Lowest' after seeing a meme comparing the rapper to his co-star Denzel Washington. As per Deadline, in a recent interview, Lee shared that he stumbled upon the meme on Instagram four or five years ago, which sparked his interest in casting Rocky in the film. Lee recalled, "What's funny is that I was looking at Instagram four or five years ago and people were saying that A$AP looked like he's Denzel's son," as quoted by Deadline. He added that the meme comparison was actually used in the film, highlighting the interesting dynamic between the two leads. Rocky's role in 'Highest 2 Lowest' marks another significant project for the rapper, who made his on-screen debut in 2015's 'Dope' and most recently starred in A24's 'If I Had Legs I'd Kick You'. Lee praised Rocky during the interview and said, "A$AP, man, he fire... there's some scenes where him and D head to head - he ain't backing up. Like, 'I'm here too,'" as quoted by Deadline. About Highest 2 Lowest 'Highest 2 Lowest' is a reinterpretation of Akira Kurosawa's 1963 Japanese film 'High and Low'.The film stars Denzel Washington as a titan music mogul targeted with a life-or-death ransom plot.According to Lee, Rocky plays "the main role" in the film, which is set to premiere at Cannes next month.Lee expressed his satisfaction with the film, saying, "So very, very happy with the way the film turned out and looking forward to sharing it with the world."The collaboration between Lee and Rocky promises to bring a fresh perspective to the classic story, and fans are eagerly awaiting the film's release.
19 May,2025 11:26 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentFilmmaker Wes Anderson, who is known for his aesthetic frames, made a solid impact at the ongoing edition of the Cannes Film Festival with his latest directorial effort “The Phoenician Scheme”. The film played in competition two years after “Asteroid City” did the same at the 2023 festival, reports ‘Variety’. Wes Anderson thanks the cast of "The Phoenician Scheme" after the film's 6.5 minute standing ovation at #Cannes. https://t.co/uIeN8as1oX pic.twitter.com/qOks26P3yl — Variety (@Variety) May 18, 2025 “The Phoenician Scheme” earned Anderson and his sprawling cast a 6.5-minute standing ovation. Anderson’s leading lady Mia Threapleton, who has acting in her blood thanks to mother Kate Winslet, was overcome with emotion as the applause raged on, smiling as tears poured down her face. As per ‘Variety’, flanked by stars Michael Cera and Benicio del Toro, Anderson kept his comments brief, saying, “I can think of about 12 words to say that stand for everything in this movie, Richard Ayoade, Riz, Alexandre, Michael, Mia, Jeffrey, Rupert, Benedict, God and Benicio del Toro”. “The Phoenician Scheme” stars del Toro as business magnate Zsa-zsa Korda, who happens to be one of the richest men in Europe. Threapleton stars as his daughter, a nun named Sister Liesel, with Cera making his long-awaited Wes Anderson movie debut as her tutor Bjorn Lund. The film also features Tom Hanks, Bryan Cranston, Jeffrey Wright, Riz Ahmed, Scarlett Johansson, Richard Ayoade, Mathieu Amalric, Rupert Friend, Hope Davis and Benedict Cumberbatch, all of whom have starred in at least one previous Anderson feature. In addition to his star-studded cast, a number of celebrities who did not appear in the film were on hand, including Julianne Moore and Ed Norton. After hosting “SNL” on Saturday night, Johansson missed the premiere but will be on the ground on Tuesday to unveil her feature directing debut, “Eleanor the Great”. Anderson is a favorite of the French given that he has made Paris his adopted home. He is as precise with his on-the-ground logistics in Cannes as he is as a filmmaker, mandating that the film’s team all lodge together outside the city of Eze, about an hour away from the festival. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
19 May,2025 05:27 PM IST | Mumbai | IANSTom Cruise is revisiting two of his beloved roles, hinting at potential sequels for 'Top Gun: Maverick' and 'Days of Thunder'. According to Deadline, in a recent interview, Cruise shared that he is "working on" ideas for both projects. "Yeah, we are thinking and talking about many different stories and what could we do and what is possible," he said. Cruise reflected on the development process for 'Top Gun: Maverick', which took 35 years to come to fruition. "It took me 35 years to figure out Top Gun: Maverick, so all of these things we're working on, we're discussing Days of Thunder and Top Gun: Maverick," he explained, as quoted by Deadline. The sequel to the original 1986 film surpassed USD 1.4 billion worldwide and earned an Oscar nomination for Best Picture. Cruise emphasised his busy schedule, with multiple films in various stages of production. "There is numerous other films that we are actively working on right now. I'm always shooting a film, prepping a film, posting a film," he said. One of his recent projects is a film with Alejandro Inarritu, best known for directing 'The Revenant.' The untitled film, expected to premiere on October 2, 2026, follows the story of the most powerful man in the world embarking on a mission to prove he is humanity's savior. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
19 May,2025 04:46 PM IST | Mumbai | ANIOscar-winning actress Nicole Kidman provided an update on the highly anticipated sequel to the romantic comedy 'Practical Magic', which she will star in alongside Sandra Bullock. The film, directed by Susanne Bier, is set for release on September 18, 2026. "It's fun and witchy," Kidman described the project, adding that the collaboration with Bullock and Bier forms a "perfect triangle" due to their familiarity with each other, as quoted by The Hollywood Reporter. Kidman has made a commitment to work with female directors every 18 months, and she has exceeded her original goal by working with 27 female directors. "I was going to make it possible," Kidman said, emphasising her desire to experiment and push boundaries in her career. "For me, at this stage of my life, to have that purpose and to have that commitment is something that pulls me through as well. Because as much as I'm an actor and I'm looking for great roles, I'm also looking to experiment. I don't want to be contained and I don't want to be safe, so constantly looking for the boundaries is what I'm looking for. And I know that's what the younger filmmakers are looking for as well so they'll come and experiment with me," she added, as quoted by The Hollywood Reporter. Kidman will receive the top prize at the Kering Women in Motion Awards, honouring her contributions to women's voices in cinema. She also discussed her recent project 'Babygirl', directed by Halina Reijn, which gained viral attention on TikTok. Kidman expressed her excitement about the film's unexpected success and the power of social media in promoting movies. Kidman revealed that she is considering a new role that she described as "incredibly disturbing" and is eager to take on the challenge. She also shared her creative process, which involves writing down ideas late at night. "I do it at 3 am, writing sessions," Kidman said, adding, "I wake up and I'll write something, be it a dream or something circulating in my head and my life and my heart at that time."
19 May,2025 04:42 PM IST | Mumbai | ANIADVERTISEMENT
