The popular Disney show Wizards of Waverly Place is where everything began for actor and singer Selena Gomez. She returned as her character Alex Russon in 2025 for the spin-off show Wizards Beyond Waverly Place. The show was centered around Alex's brother Justin Russo played by Davd Henrie. The events focus on Justin and his family including his wife and two kids. Alex brings in Billie, a powerful young wizard, into the equation, forcing Justin to revisit his past as a wizard. Now, the Russo family is gearing up for one final magical chapter as 'Wizards Beyond Waverly Place' prepares to conclude with a four-part special event this summer. Selena Gomez to make directorial debut Disney announced on Thursday that the sequel series will wrap its run across Disney+ and Disney Channel, with production set to begin next week, as per Deadline. In a major creative milestone, Selena Gomez will make her directorial debut with the premiere episode of the final installment. Gomez, who also serves as an executive producer on the series, is set to reprise her iconic role as Alex Russo in multiple episodes, continuing her longstanding association with the beloved franchise. About season finale plot The announcement follows a dramatic season 2 finale that left fans with significant unresolved storylines. The character Billie, played by Janice LeAnn Brown, regained her erased childhood memories, including the revelation that Alex Russo is her mother. The finale also introduced looming threats from the dark magic realm. Billie's lineage ties her to the former dark wizard Damian Pennwolf, whose presence has yet to be fully explored. Meanwhile, Lord Morsus, Damian's father, forced Billie to open a dangerous portal as part of a prophecy. In a heroic move, Alex jumped into the rift alongside Lord Morsus, sealing it from the other side to protect her family. According to Disney's official logline, the concluding episodes will follow Billie as she grapples with Alex's disappearance. Determined to rescue her mother, she realises that the only way forward is to reunite with her estranged father. As the Russo family unites, their combined strength becomes crucial in confronting the growing evil. The original 'Wizards of Waverly Place' was created by Todd Greenwald. The ensemble cast includes David Henrie as Justin Russo, alongside Alkaio Thiele, Max Matenko, Taylor Cora, and Mimi Gianopulos. Jed Elinoff and Scott Thomas serve as writers and executive producers, joined by Gary Marsh, Jonas Agin, Rick Williams, Gomez, and Henrie.
03 April,2026 03:59 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentActor John Travolta is set to unveil his long-gestating directorial debut, Propeller One-Way Night Coach, at the 79th edition of the Cannes Film Festival, reported Variety. It is an adaptation of Travolta's children's book published in 1997. The movie will bow in the non-competitive section, Cannes Premiere, at the Debussy Theatre, ahead of its global debut on Apple TV on May 29. His presence at the festival will bring some Hollywood star power in a quieter year for studios. Travolta's passion project will bring him back to the Croisette where he previously presented, as an actor, Pulp Fiction in 1994, She's So Lovely in 1997, and Primary Colors in 1998, reported Variety. The 72-year-old actor, whose eclectic filmography spans over 70 films, is believed to have had this project in mind for decades. Cannes pointed in its release announcing the movie that Travolta was a seasoned professional pilot who had always been passionate about aviation. "He began flying at just 15 years old, obtained his first pilot's license at 22, and has since earned numerous certifications: John Travolta is certified to fly Boeing 707s, 737s, and 747s, Bombardier's Global Express and was the first private pilot to fly an Airbus A380 With over 9,000 flight hours under his belt, the actor has also owned several aircraft for many years and even flew planes in two movies," stated the festival as quoted by Variety. Propeller One-Way Night Coach unfolds in the golden age of aviation as young airplane enthusiast Jeff (Clark Shotwell) and his mother (Kelly Eviston-Quinnett) set off on a one-way cross-country odyssey to Hollywood. "Between airline meals, charming flight attendants (Ella Bleu Travolta, Olga Hoffmann), unexpected stopovers, larger-than-life passengers, and a thrilling glimpse at first class, the journey unfolds in moments both magical and unexpected, charting the course for the boy's future," the movie's synopsis read as quoted by Variety. Propeller One-Way Night Coach is produced by John Travolta's JTP Films Inc, and Kids At Play. Travolta is producing with JTP Productions, in addition to Jason Berger and Amy Laslett of Kids at Play. 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
03 April,2026 11:17 AM IST | Washington DC | ANIActor Ananya Panday had been in Thailand for quite some time filming the second season of the popular show Call Me Bae, and on Thursday, the team finally wrapped up the shoot. Taking to Instagram Story, Ananya shared a picture from the final day of the shoot. She posted a photo of a cake on which CMB 2 Season Wrap was written. "See you very soon guys," Ananya captioned the post. Picture Courtesy/Ananya Panday's Instagram account The upcoming season will focus on Bae's (Ananya) journey as her own news show finally goes on air. While this brings her fame and attention, it also brings new challenges in both her personal and work life. In the second season, Bae's life becomes more complicated when her ex-husband returns. At the same time, she also finds herself getting distracted by her charming boss. This leaves her confused as she struggles to balance her feelings and her growing career. Her close group of friends will also face problems in the new season. The arrival of a "Nayi Behen" in their circle will start creating tension among the group. The show is produced by Karan Johar, Adar Poonawalla and Apoorva Mehta. The series will be directed by Collin D'Cunha and written by Ishita Moitra, Samina Motlekar and Rohit Nair. Apart from Ananya, several actors from the first season will return. The cast includes Vir Das, Shruti Haasan, Gurfateh Pirzada, Varun Sood, Vihaan Samat, Muskkaan Jaferi, Niharika Lyra Dutt and Lisa Mishra. Actor Mini Mathur will also join the cast in the new season. The first season of the show was released in September 2024. 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
03 April,2026 10:59 AM IST | Mumbai | ANIActress Kusha Kapila called the common critical notion of casting content creators in OTT series and movies due to their follower count "untrue", saying that the success for an actor in the entertainment industry comes through thoughtful planning and investment rather than their followers on social media. Kusha Kapila is a content creator turned actress who will be next seen in the upcoming second season of Maamla Legal Hai as a new entry to the cast. It also stars Ravi Kishan, Anant Joshi, Naila Grrewal and Nidhi Bisht in the lead roles. In an interview with ANI, Kusha Kapila reflected on the casting of content creators in movies and OTT dramas, saying that such a trend started three to four years ago, where such social media stars were hired to play "comic relief" or least impactful roles, which added no significance to the project. When asked about casting of content creators in OTT dramas for their followers count, Kusha said, "That's actually not true. I think this trend started 3-4 years ago when they used to play very small roles, and those were not even important roles. I think those were comic relief roles which had no impact on the story. I know that has become a perception, but if you sit and see what kind of roles were there, there has not been much success, I feel." She believes that success in acting comes from thoughtful planning and investment, not follower count. She supported her argument by highlighting the examples of successful content creators turned actors including Bhuvam Bam and Prajakta Koli. "Either you do a playbook like Bhuvan where you take a proper step back and you invest in the shows that you want to make. You invest in writing, you first make its version on YouTube and then you take it to a big channel and Bhuvan has just announced the season 2 of Dhindora for Netflix. So, either you show a proof of concept where you are able to get the audiences to watch you or you can see example of Mostly Sane (Prajakta Koli) on Netflix. Her Mismatched has been renewed for the 4th season and she has been able to silence her critics very well. I think Single Papa has also been renewed for season 2. So, I think you can count on your fingers the number of people who have been able to do this well. Not many people," said Kusha Kapila. The Mamla Legal Hai actor stressed the importance of gaining recognition as an actor for the content creators to receive good opportunities in the entertainment industry. She also urges the creators to learn to say "no to opportunities" that are purely marketing-driven. Kusha Kapila said, "It is possible that the creators, because their persona gets bigger and bigger, they might have to write and invest in themselves to be able to be seen as actors. But, I don't think you should hire someone for their follower count. It will not go on for a long time." She continued, "You will look the worst in that show. And it's not going to work. So, I feel it's best for creators to also recognize that where they are just plainly simply a marketing hire and they should probably say no to those opportunities. I think you should also know how to say no." The second instalment boasts news court cases which will be headed by Ravi Kishan who becomes the new judge of the Patparganj court. The trailer offers audiences a sneak peek into the matters to come, promising bigger battles, sharper wit, and even more delightful unpredictability. Maamla Legal Hai is set to return with its new season on Netflix on April 3. 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
03 April,2026 10:48 AM IST | Mumbai | ANIThe streaming giant Netflix has ordered the limited series The Corrections starring Meryl Streep, reported Variety. The show, based on the Jonathan Franzen novel of the same name, was first reported to be on the market in late 2024. Franzen will adapt his novel for the screen and executive produce, with Streep executive producing in addition to starring. Mark Roybal and Paul Lee executive produce for wiip, with Nicole Clemens executive producing as well. Cord Jefferson will executive produce and direct all episodes. Paramount Television Studios will produce. The official logline for the show describes it as "a sharply comic portrait of a Midwestern family whose three unmoored adult siblings desperately resist their mother's wish for one last Christmas together - each undone by the delusional ambitions that were supposed to save them from becoming their parents," reported Variety. Meanwhile, Meryl Streep will be next seen in the highly awaited sequel of The Devil Wears Prada alongside Anne Hathaway. Twenty years after The Devil Wears Prada became a cultural touchstone, 20th Century Studios has released the first full trailer for The Devil Wears Prada 2, confirming the return of its iconic characters and setting the stage for a high-fashion showdown in a changing media landscape. The film is slated for a theatrical release on May 1, 2026. The sequel brings back Meryl Streep as the formidable Miranda Priestly, editor-in-chief of Runway magazine, now navigating the decline of print journalism. The story positions Priestly at a critical moment, as she struggles to maintain relevance and financial stability in an industry facing rapid transformation. Adding tension to the narrative is Emily Blunt's return as Emily Charlton, Priestly's former assistant, who is now a powerful executive at a luxury conglomerate. Anne Hathaway also reprises her role as Andrea Sachs, the ambitious college graduate whose entry-level job at Runway defined the original film. While details about Sachs' current role remain limited in the trailer, her presence reconnects the sequel to the emotional core of the 2006 hit, which followed her struggle to balance career ambition with personal relationships. 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
03 April,2026 09:50 AM IST | Washington DC | ANIWe all know how Karan Johar likes his coffee — hot, with a dash of star quotient and gossip. And it looks like the filmmaker is ready for another cuppa. Industry insiders suggest that JioHotstar is in preliminary discussions with the host for the next season of his popular chat show, Koffee with Karan. If things fall in place, the ninth season could stream by the year-end. According to sources at the platform, the executives are keen on the chat show as it allows sustained engagement with viewers. “Koffee with Karan delivers repeat value across clips and social media,” noted a source. If the new season works out, viewers can expect their favourite stars on the couch again as they banter with Johar, spill secrets, and play rapid fire. But it might be repackaged. The source added, “Karan is aware that the audience has changed. So, he may shorten the segments and make them more current. The guest list too will change with cross-industry pairings, South stars, OTT actors, and creators showing up on the couch. However, things are at an early stage. It’s not a locked deal.” 2004When the show first aired on Star World EightSeasons of ‘Koffee with Karan’ so far
03 April,2026 07:27 AM IST | Mumbai | Mohar BasuActress Rinku Dhawan has expressed her desire to work in the OTT and web series space, after boasting of an elaborate career for over two decades in the GEC space. The actress took to the comment section of a casting post on social media to seek work in the digital space of the entertainment industry. The casting post, shared by a platform looking for fresh talent for a web series, caught the attention of several aspiring actors. Among them was the best established actress, Rinku Dhawan, who openly put forward her interest in being part of the digital entertainment industry. She wrote, ‘… I want to work in web series.’ Interestingly, Rinku’s public appeal for work echoes a move made by veteran actress Neena Gupta, a few years ago, who had also taken to social media to seek roles. Neena had taken to her social media account back then and written, ‘I live in Mumbai and am a good actor looking for good parts to play.’ A few months ago, actress Divyanka Tripathi had also shared a post expressing her interest in exploring opportunities in the voice industry. She wrote on her social media account, ‘Exploring voice work opportunities. Would love to collaborate and lend my voice to meaningful projects.’ Talking about Rinku, the actress has had a long and notable career in Indian television. She is best known for her role as Chhaya in the iconic show Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii and many more. She was last seen in the hit show Anupamaa, where she portrayed an antagonist. On the personal front, Rinku was married to actor Kiran Karmarkar, who essayed the role of Om Agarwal, her on-screen brother in the hit show Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii. The two reportedly fell in love during the shoot of the show and got married in 2001. After over 15 years of marriage, the couple parted ways and finalised their divorce in 2017. They have a son together. Rinku was also seen in the reality show Bigg Boss 17, where she was appreciated for her outspoken, bold and strong personality. 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
02 April,2026 09:36 AM IST | Mumbai | IANS"Expect the unexpected,” is Anant V Joshi’s message to the audience a day ahead of the release of Maamla Legal Hai’s second season. The actor, who plays the manager of Patparganj District Court in the Netflix comedy series, has been confident about the second part’s success since the day he read its script. “When I read it, it left me with the feeling that the audience will definitely like the second season because it has evolved so well,” he shared. Unfortunately, though, a show’s popularity is not the only criterion to greenlight its second instalment. Netflix India reportedly cancelled some of its popular series despite their acclaimed opening seasons. Netflix India reportedly cancelled the second season of ‘Class’ and ‘Kaala Paani’, despite their acclaimed opening seasons Maamla Legal Hai, thankfully, stands in contrast. Barring Ravi Kishan, the first season not only featured actors who had previously portrayed smaller parts, but also had a niche premise. Yet, these elements came together to make a hit offering. For Joshi, it’s a big deal that the streamer backed the niche show, particularly its actors, the second time around. He reasoned, “Since we got a lot of unexpected love for the first season, hopes were high that season two will be made. But things [around] are changing so fast. For [a series] to have a subsequent season and then for the platform to even invest more faith in the cast is a big deal. We aren’t among those actors, who do big-budget movies. Where we all meet collectively is that we [support] good writing.”
02 April,2026 07:28 AM IST | Mumbai | Priyanka SharmaThe recent web series, Chiraiya, headlined by Divya Dutta, Sanjay Mishra, and Prasanna Bisht, among others, has sparked some serious conversation regarding sexual harassment, marital rape, consent and victim blaming. Prasanna, who plays Pooja, a newly married woman who is a victim of marital rape in the series, got candid with mid-day regarding the darker aspects of the series. Prasanna Bisht recalls a sexual harassment incident on sets Given that the character was a vulnerable and emotionally intricate one, we asked the young actor how she got into the mindset of Pooja. To which she revealed, "Something happened with me before I got the show. I faced something during the shoot. I had invested so much of my emotions and my time in a project that I was emotionally connected to. And there was this person who crossed their limits. When I spoke about it in front of the team, I thought the team would back me up on that. But they started quoting me as a problem. They titled me as somebody who was creating problems on set, just because I spoke up for myself." View this post on Instagram A post shared by JioHotstar (@jiohotstar) She added, "So I think that experience really helped me. I think I was just portraying what I went through. That's how I could relate to the character more." Further explaining how she prepared for the darker scenes in Chiraiya mentally, she says, "It's the trauma that we all have seen. It's the experiences that we all have faced as women. And I have seen it happening around me, with me. So, of course, it was very dark, and it was very heavy." Living and reliving such trauma while filming a scene is no ordinary deal, but Prasanna says, "I feel like I'm an actor, and if somehow my five-minute trauma, if I live it again and it empowers people, then I'll do that again and again." Prasanna reveals the most emotionally draining scene Did the emotional scenes stay with her after the cut? "Yeah," she asserts, adding, "It happened when there's a scene where I go, and I try to speak to my mother and she tells me to go back. She doesn't help me, she doesn't listen to me. She was not ready to accept that something like this could even exist. And even if it does, then she just wants me to sacrifice myself, my body, so that my father-in-law can help my brother with his job and other things." The Farrey actress explains, "So, that kind of stayed with me because I think I come from a family where my mother and father have always taught me to be independent. They are very supportive. Even though there were times that I was not able to speak to them about sexual harassment because I think there's something with Indian families, they don't even talk about it. Like, there is no conversation about it." "When I did that scene, then I realised that there are so many parents out there who don't even support their daughters. And that completely shattered me. And then I started thinking about women who actually live in such houses." Talking about how she got out of that zone, she says, "I think everything takes time. You just live with it. You don't come out of it. You just live with it, and you just talk about it."
01 April,2026 01:13 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentNetflix has released a behind-the-scenes featurette for Avatar: The Last Airbender Season 2, adapted from the popular Nickelodeon cartoon. Along with this, the makers have also announced the release date of the series. After the show premiered in 2024, Netflix renewed the live-action series for two more seasons. It will conclude with Season 3, just like the original show did. Seasons 2 and 3 were made back-to-back, with Season 2 finishing production in May 2025 and the final season beginning production shortly after. Taking to their Instagram handle, the OTT platform announced the release date of the series. The show will stream from June 25. "Step back into the world of AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER. Season 2 premieres June 25, only on Netflix". View this post on Instagram A post shared by Netflix US (@netflix) The cast includes Gordon Cormier as Aang, Kiawentiio as Katara, Ian Ousley as Sokka, Dallas Liu as Prince Zuko, Paul Sun-Hyung Lee as Uncle Iroh, Elizabeth Yu as Princess Azula, Momona Tamada as Ty Lee and Daniel Dae Kim as Fire Lord Ozai. Season 2 will introduce the blind earthbender Toph, played by Miyako. The show follows the airbender Aang, who can control air, water, earth and fire, as the Avatar. After mastering waterbending in Season 1, Aang will turn to earthbending in Season 2, while evading the evil Fire Nation and Prince Zuko. Albert Kim, who developed the series and served as showrunner on Season 1, stepped down in April, with Christine Boylan and Jabbar Raisani set to lead the show as executive producers going forward. Kim remains an executive producer. Along with Kim, Boylan, Raisani, Dan Lin and Lindsey Liberatore executive produce on behalf of Rideback, with Michael Goi also executive producing. Goi directed the first two episodes of the series, while Raisiani directed episodes three and four. Roseanne Liang directed episodes five and six, with Jet Wilkinson directing the final two episodes of Season 1, reported Variety. 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
01 April,2026 09:38 AM IST | Washington DC | ANIWhat begins as a distant tragedy slowly unravels into an intimate and unsettling crisis in Next of Kin, the gripping British thriller premiering April 3 on Lionsgate Play. At its heart, the series explores a question that feels both deeply personal and universally relevant: how far would one go to protect their family when everything begins to fall apart? About Next of Kin The story opens with the death of a young British Pakistani doctor working overseas. The news reaches his family in London in fragments—through phone calls, quiet exchanges, and a lingering disbelief that refuses to fully settle. For a brief moment, life appears to move forward, albeit with grief quietly simmering beneath the surface. But in Next of Kin, distance is only an illusion. What starts as a contained loss soon spirals into something far more complex and unsettling. Created by Paul Rutman and Natasha Narayan, the series brings together a powerful ensemble cast including Shabana Azmi, Archie Panjabi, Jack Davenport, Viveik Kalra, and Navin Chowdhry. At the centre of the narrative is Mona Harcourt, played by Archie Panjabi, a successful doctor whose seemingly stable life is shattered when her brother is abducted and murdered abroad on the same day a bomb explodes in London. The crisis deepens when Mona’s nephew, Danny, goes missing and is soon linked to both incidents. What follows is a slow-burn descent into suspicion, conspiracy, and emotional turmoil. Relationships are tested, loyalties begin to shift, and the fragile threads that hold the family together start to fray. The series captures not just the external chaos of unfolding events, but also the internal fractures that emerge within a family under pressure. For Shabana Azmi, who plays a pivotal role in the series, the decision to come on board was almost instinctive. “I just happened to be in London at the time when my agent told me about the part. I met the director Justin Chadwick and before I knew it, I was part of the production,” she recalls. Having had a long-standing association with British cinema and television, she found the choice an easy one. “I took an immediate liking to Justin… knowing what the drama was about, it was a pretty easy decision for me to make,” she adds. Beyond its gripping narrative, Next of Kin resonates because of its emotional and social relevance. Azmi underscores the importance of telling such stories, noting, “This story is so close to home. I think it’s very important for cinema, television, theatre, literature, art to reflect that. You can’t push conflicts of this kind under the carpet. This drama shows what happens to human beings in these kinds of situations.” For Archie Panjabi, the script itself was the biggest draw. “My first reaction was, ‘I want to read episode two. I’m totally gripped by this script,’” she says. Calling it “intelligently written” and “timely,” she highlights how deeply she connected with Mona’s journey and the emotional weight the character carries. In a landscape often dominated by spectacle, Next of Kin stands out for its quiet intensity and psychological depth. It doesn’t just tell a story of crime or conspiracy- it holds up a mirror to the complexities of family, identity, and the choices we make when pushed to the edge.
31 March,2026 06:59 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
