DID U KNOW? Entertainment News: Week Ending Feb. 23, 2019
Did U Know?…Entertainment News for the week ending Feb. 23, 2019. Did you know that Spike Lee slammed Academy, Kendrick Lamar & SZA told Oscars NO!, Wendy Williams returning, Denzel Washington and Michael B. Jordan to work together, Ice Cube filming remake, and more…
Spike Lee Joins Film Industry In Open Letter Slamming The Academy’s Decision Not To Televise Important Awards
Spike Lee is among a group of directors and cinematographers who are putting the Academy on blast for its decision not to air the Academy Awards presentations of cinematography, live-action short, hair and makeup and editing. According to Variety, those who joined Lee in protesting the Academy’s decision include Quentin Tarantino, Ron Howard, Martin Scorsese and others in the directing and cinematography field. Actors who also signed include Kate Winslet, Holly Hunter, Paul Giamatti, Emma Stone, Jeff Bridges and Frances McDormand.
The Academy decided not to televise portions of the Academy Awards Monday. Instead, the Academy announced that the awards would be presented during commercial breaks to shorten the telecast to three hours from its current four. The decision immediately sparked outrage in the film industry, causing yet another PR fire for the Academy to quell.
“Since its inception, the Academy Awards telecast has been altered over time to keep the format fresh, but never by sacrificing the integrity of the Academy’s original mission,” states the group in a joint letter. “When the recognition of those responsible for the creation of outstanding cinema is being diminished by the very institution whose purpose it is to protect it, then we are no longer upholding the spirit of the Academy’s promise to celebrate film as a collaborative art form.”
This year has been one of the more tumultuous years for the Academy telecast. First, a decision to create a “Most Popular Film” category was scrapped after widespread criticism. Secondly, Kevin Hart stepped down from hosting this year’s telecast after he entered a firestorm surrounding past homophobic tweets.
Kendrick Lamar and SZA Will Not Perform at 2019 Oscars
According to Variety Kendrick Lamar and SZA will not perfom the Oscar-nominated song “All the Stars” from the Black Panther soundtrack at the Oscars. An academy source told Variety that “the song will not be performed by another act either.” The magazine also reports that a source close to the situation stated “the reason he will not be performing at the Oscars this year is “logistics and timing.”
Marvel Will No Longer be On Netflix
Netflix and Marvel Television’s partnership has come to an end, which means Netflix will no longer be producing the popular vigilante themed dramas such as Luke Cage, Iron Fist and Daredevil. In addition, Netflix will not be continuing a third season of The Punisher or a fourth season of Jessica Jones. “We are grateful to Marvel for five years of our fruitful partnership and thank the passionate fans who have followed these series from the beginning,” a Netflix representative told Deadline.
Wendy Williams Sets March 4 Return to Syndicated Talk Show
Morning talk show host Wendy Williams has been on leave from the Wendy Williams show since January 18th due to health issues such as Graves’ disease and a fractured shoulder. On Thursday (Feb. 21) The Wendy Williams show announced in an instagram postthat Wendy Williams will be returning to the purple chair on Monday, March 4th. The show’s Instagram included this in the caption: “We so appreciate all of the guest hosts and panelists who filled in for Wendy during this time,” the show shared in a press release. “These people are, and always will be, true family to the show. And we want to thank all of the loyal and supportive fans who have been with us for 10 years now.”
Ice Cube Confirms A New Friday Movie Is On The Way
Compton-based rapper and writer of the movie-series Friday Ice Cube has confirmed that there is indeed a new Friday movie in the making. Friday is 1995 comedy starring Ice Cube who also co-wrote the film along with DJ Pooh and Chris Tucker. The film was immediately followed by two sequels after its success: Next Friday (2000) and Friday After Next (2002). On Tuesday (Feb. 19) Cube took to Twitter to respond to a fan’s tweet. The fan tweeted: “Are the rumors true about the new Friday movie?”
Ice Cube responded: “yes.”
Lynn Whitfield To Guest Star As A Famed Surgeon On Upcoming Episode Of Fox’s ‘The Resident’
Lynn Whitfield is slaying everywhere now! The iconic actress, who currently stars in Greenleaf on OWN and just appeared in the Netflix feature Nappily Ever After, will also guest-star this season on Fox’s The Resident. Her episode airs Monday (Feb. 25). In this episode, rightfully titled “Queens,” Whitfield plays famed Nigerian surgeon Dr. Josephine Okeke, mother of Dr. Mina Okafor. We can tell from the clip that the women have the best relationship, and while everyone else anxiously awaits her arrival, Dr. Mina is dreading her mother’s visit. This is the first time viewers are introduced to Dr. Mina’s mom onscreen. Okafor is played by actress Shaunette Rene Wilson, who was one of the Dora Milaje in Marvel’s Black Panther.
‘Journal For Jordan’: Denzel Washington To Direct Michael B. Jordan In Upcoming Drama Film
Michael B. Jordan has been selected to star in Journal For Jordan, the upcoming drama film that Denzel Washington is set to direct at Sony. The film is written by Mudbound writer Virgil Williams. It is based on a true story, centering on “Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Dana Canedy’s love affair with First Sergeant Charles Monroe King. King kept a journal full of poignant life lessons for their newborn son, Jordan, while deployed overseas. He was killed in Iraq in 2006 when Jordan was just seven months old, but his spirit lives on in his messages of love to Dana and Jordan.” A book on the story, written by Canedy herself, was published in 2009. Jordan, Washington and Escape Artist’s Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal and Steve Tisch will produce.