movies

Princess and the Frog: Colman Domingo in Talks to Write Tiana Movie

Published

7 hours ago

July 18, 2026

Colman Domingo is in talks to co-write an original live-action film spotlighting Princess Tiana from Disney‘s The Princess and the Frog, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.

Domingo will co-write the take alongside Tony-nominated director Robert O’Hara. Deals have not closed for the pair. It is not described as a live-action remake of The Princess and the Frog, but rather a story inspired by the original film.

The Princess and the Frog released in 2009, centers on Princess Tiana, an aspiring restaurant owner who tries to help a frog prince turn back into a human, when she herself also turns into a frog and they end up falling in love.

The news of a new live-action Disney flick comes after Moana just hit theaters last Friday, and got off to a rocky start at the box office. Disney has seen ups-and-downs in terms of reception to its live-action remakes.

Just last year, Lilo & Stitch earned a record-breaking $183 million four-day opening weekend domestically before surpassing $1 billion; however, Snow White, which also released in 2025 had a $42.2 million opening and was not received with open arms.

This year, Domingo has starred in a number of projects, including Michael, Disclosure Day, The Four Seasons and Euphoria. He recently earned double acting Emmy nominations, tied to his stints in the latter two projects.

The actor discussed his sprawling career in a cover story with The Hollywood Reporter in May. “Maybe it’s because I’m sort of leaning into the third act of my career,” he said. “For a long time, as artists, we’re in our ‘planting seeds’ phase. I feel like I’m in an incredible harvest period.”

movies

John Kirby Dead: Acting Coach Was 75

Published

3 hours ago

July 18, 2026

qasimgillani

John Kirby, the longtime acting coach and son to Bruce Kirby, has died. He was 75.

Kirby died Wednesday three years after being diagnosed with ALS. His associate, Nathan Besbitt, confirmed his death on Instagram.

“I am here to officially, with a broken heart, announce the passing of our beloved John on the early morning hours of Wednesday, July 15, and it has been devastating for all of us, and we’re trying to just find a way to cope,” Besbitt said.

Kirby lent his talents as an acting coach to a number of projects across his career, and was a frequent collaborator with Jim Caviezel.

The two worked together on films including Frequency (2000); Pay It Forward (2000); Angel Eyes (2001); The Count of Monte Cristo (2002); High Crimes (2002); I Am David (2003); The Final Cut (2004); Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius (2004); Unknown (2006); and Paul, Apostle of Christ (2018). Kirby also served as Caviezel’s acting coach for the 2009 miniseries The Prisoner.

His additional credits tied to coaching include 2003’s Peter Pan, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Outlander, Hotel California, Scream 4, Stick It and Prom.

Kirby’s family was connected within the entertainment industry, with The Muppet Movie actor Bruce Kirby being his father. His brother, Bruno Kirby, also pursued acting, appearing in City Slickers, Good Morning, Vietnam and When Harry Met Sally…, among others.

The acting coach was diagnosed with ALS on June 7, 2023, after experiencing symptoms a year prior. He suffered a hard fall that resulted in a hip fracture on June 1 of the same year which led to his diagnosis.

A celebration of life will be held on Aug. 15 at the Hall of Liberty Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills, and is open to the public.

movies

‘Varanasi’: First Look At Priyanka Chopra In ‘RRR’ Director’s New Film

Published

3 hours ago

July 18, 2026

qasimgillani

Director S.S. Rajamouli‘s Varanasi is getting a first look at Priyanka Chopra in her new role.

Two new stills from the upcoming film have been released, featuring Chopra as Mandakini. The new images were dropped as a celebration of Chopra’s birthday on Saturday, July 18.

Varanasi takes place over thousands of years and in locations around the world, from Antarctica to Africa to the titular city in India.

The action-adventure film stars Mahesh Babu, Priyanka Chopra and Prithviraj Sukumaran and is the follow-up to Rajamouli’s last feature, RRR, which won an Academy Award for Best Original Song for the acclaimed track “Naatu Naatu.” The composer of that song, MM Keeravani, is also returning to work on Varanasi.

Varanasi is set to open in theatres worldwide on April 7, 2027.

Last month, Chopra talked about working with the RRR filmmaker, saying at Cannes Lions, “He has complete and utter control on set. You just come as an actor in with the weight of your character, which is also really freeing as you’re not thinking about the things you would as a producer.”

In addition to Varanasi, Chopra is set to star in the survival thriller Reset, directed by Matt Smukler, which is reported to begin production in August.

Written by Jordan Rawlins, Reset follows a woman (Chopra) who wakes up in the middle of the wilderness days from civilization with no memory of how she got there, finding that her only chance at survival is to trust a charming stranger (Orlando Bloom) — who may not be who he says he is.

Priyanka Chopra

Sri Durga Arts/Showing Business

Watch a teaser for Varanasi in the video below.

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John Kirby Dies: Acting Coach, Bruno Kirby’s Brother & Bruce Kirby’s Son Was 75

Published

4 hours ago

July 18, 2026

qasimgillani

John Kirby, an acting coach, brother of City Slickers star Bruno Kirby, and the son of Bruce Kirby, has died. He was 75.

The actor and acting coach died the morning of Wednesday, July 15, three years after being diagnosed with ALS.

“I am here to officially, with a broken heart, announce the passing of our beloved John on the early morning hours of Wednesday, July 15, and it has been devastating for all of us. And we’re trying to just find a way to cope,” longtime associate Nathan Besbitt confirmed in a social media post shared on Kirby’s Instagram.

John Kirby was diagnosed with ALS on July 7, 2023, a year after he began to feel symptoms. It was following a fall and a fractured hip the previous month that he got the medical tests done that revealed the diagnosis.

John Kirby had a long-standing working relationship with Jim Caviezel as his acting coach in the 2000 film Frequency. Films where John Kirby served as Caviezel’s acting coach that followed were Pay It Forward (2000), Angel Eyes (2001), The Count of Monte Cristo (2002), High Crimes (2002), I Am David (2003), The Final Cut (2004), Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius (2004), and Unknown (2006).

Other films in which John Kirby lent his talents included Peter Pan (2003), The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005), Underdog (2007), Outlander (2008), Hotel California (2008), Scream 4 (2011), Prom (2011), and The Age of Adaline (2015), to name a few.

A memorial service for John Kirby has been set for Saturday, August 15 at 1 p.m. at Forest Lawn in Hollywood Hills. A GoFundMe page has been set up for those who wish to donate.