News

Exclusive: Callan Farris and Arjun Shah have joined the CBS multi-cam comedy pilot Zarna, alongside lead Zarna Garg, who co-writes and co-executive produces with Darlene Hunt.

Zarna centers on the eponymous heroine Zarna (Garg), a proud immigrant woman raising her American-born kids on Indian values. But now that they’re getting older, it’s time to focus on her American dream.

The story reflects Garg’s own story as an immigrant from India who moves to the U.S. as a teenager. After getting BA and Jd degrees, she spent 16 years as a stay-at-home mom before her children encouraged her to try stand-up, launching her comedy career.

The project also stars Rizwan Manji as Kishore, a successful Wall Street investor and Zarna’s husband of more than 20 years and Chandni Shah as Asha, a freshman at Columbia University and...

Exclusive: Rizwan Manji (Schitt’s Creek) and Chandni Shah (Barbie) have joined the CBS multi-cam comedy pilot Zarna cast alongside lead Zarna Garg, who co-writes and co-executive produces with Darlene Hunt.

Zarna centers on the eponymous heroine Zarna (Garg), a proud immigrant woman raising her American-born kids on Indian values. But now that they’re getting older, it’s time to focus on her American dream.

The story reflects Garg’s own story as an immigrant from India who moves to the U.S. as a teenager. After getting BA and Jd degrees, she spent 16 years as a stay-at-home mom before her children encouraged her to try stand-up, launching her comedy career.

Manji has been cast as Kishore, a successful Wall Street investor and Zarna’s husband of more than 20 years. Shah joins as Asha, a freshman at Columbia University and the eldest daughter of Zarna and Kishore.

Hunt, who serves as showrunner,...

Exclusive: George Lopez is planning to move on from the stand-up stage.

Lopez revealed that he will be retiring from stand-up comedy after the release of his upcoming special on Amazon’s Prime Video.

Speaking to Tamron Hall on her syndicated talk show, Lopez said, “It is the last one. I’ve subjected the American people to enough of my crap. It seems like the right time; it’s been the one thing that has just never left me my whole life and it’s a wonderful place to leave it at this particular point.”

Lopez added that he wanted to spend more time with his daughter Mayan Lopez, who he stars alongside in NBC comedy Lopez vs Lopez, which is heading into its third season. “I love the show,” he added.

It comes after Deadline revealed that Lopez filmed a new one-hour special as part of his “Alllriiiighhttt! Comedy” tour.

Exclusive: Lopez vs Lopez is adding more Season 3 guest stars.

Vicki Lawrence, Francia Raisa, Rizwan Manji, Annie Gonzalez, and Adam Irigoyen will all appear in the upcoming third season of the NBC comedy, which premieres on October 8.

They join previously announced guest stars Rita Moreno, Jeff Ross, and Stephen Tobolowsky.

Lawrence is set to play Ruthie Van Bryan, the loving Midwestern mom of Quinten. When she and her husband, Sam (Stephen Tobolowsky) come to celebrate their son’s upcoming wedding to Mayan, tensions arise between families.

Raisa joins as Carina, an entitled social media influencer who proves to be a challenge for George’s moving company, Lop-ez Movers. Manji will appear as Crispin, an arrogant, pompous employee at a fancy, high-end hardware store who snubs George. Finally, Irigoyen will play Orlando, Rosie’s spoiled nephew who inspires the family to examine their gender biases.

In Season 2 of Lopez vs Lopez,...

The International South Asian Film Festival of Canada (iSAFF) just completed its fourteenth edition and hosted the North American premiere of Usman Riaz’s “The Glassworker.” Riaz’s film is the first hand-drawn animated feature from Pakistan and the country’s official Academy Award entry for 2025.

The festival honors filmmaking in various categories; short films (international and North America), documentary filmmaking, feature filmmaking, and the annual Sher Vancouver Award for Best LGBTQ+ Film. Jurors across categories were filmmakers, content creators, performers, and more, including “Ms. Marvel” star Iman Vellani and Shahani Goswami, star of the U.K.’s official Oscar entry, “Santosh.”

This year also introduced the Rbc Film Fund in partnership with Royal Bank of Canada, which will provide five thousand Canadian dollars to each of five different iSAFF films. A year from now, iSAFF plans to celebrate the first batch of recipients from this fund and the work they’ve achieved.

Exclusive: Actor-comedians Ramy Youssef (Ramy) and Hasan Minhaj (Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj) have boarded Mustache, the 2023 SXSW Audience Award winner from first-time feature filmmaker Imran J. Khan, as executive producers.

The pair join a stellar producing team, which also includes Academy Award winner Riz Ahmed and Allie Moore exec producing for Left-Handed Films (The Long Goodbye), Good Movies Inc., and producers Christina Won (Birdman) and Jessica Sittig, among others.

Minhaj is now involved in a dual capacity, as he also has a comedic supporting role in the film.

An homage to John Hughes coming-of-age films, ’90s nostalgia, and awkward teenage transitions, Mustache is a Northern California story revolving around 13-year-old Ilyas, a Pakistani American portrayed by new discovery Atharv Verma, whose world is turned upside down when his parents abruptly transfer him from his familiar Islamic private school to the challenges of public education.

Struggling with the mash-up of...

Unstable is a workplace comedy series created by Rob Lowe, John Owen Lowe, and Victor Fresco. Created by and starring the Lowe father-son duo, the Netflix series follows Jackson as he tries to save both his father and his father’s company after Ellis starts spiraling out because of his wife’s death. Unstable also stars Sian Clifford, Aaron Branch, Rachel Marsh, Emma Pilar Ferreira, Fred Armisen, Tom Allen, Jt Parr, Lamorne Morris, and Iris Apatow. So, if you loved the feel-good, workplace, and absurd comedy in Unstable here are some similar shows you could watch next.

The Grinder (Rent on Prime Video) Credit – Fox

The Grinder is a legal comedy series created by Jarrad Paul and Andrew Mogel. The Fox series follows the story of Dean Sanderson, a Hollywood star famous for playing a lawyer in a popular television series as he returns to his hometown to work as...

Exclusive: In recurring roles, Karen Rodriguez (Swarm), Michael Aaron Milligan (Outer Banks) and Hunter Emery (Orange is the New Black) have been cast in the upcoming Starz drama The Hunting Wives. Production is currently underway in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Written by Rebecca Cutter based on the novel of the same name by May Cobb, The Hunting Wives tells the story of Sophie O’Neil (Brittany Snow) and her family’s move from the East Coast to deep East Texas, where she succumbs to socialite Margo Bank’s (Malin Åkerman) irresistible charms – and finds her life consumed by obsession, seduction and murder.

Dermot Mulroney, Evan Jonigkeit, Chrissy Metz, Jaime Ray Newman, Katie Lowes and George Ferrier also star. Rodriguez will play Sheriff’s Deputy Wanda Salazar, Milligan will play Kyle and Emery will play Deputy Walter Flynn.

Showrunner Cutter executive produces with Cobb and 3 Arts’ Erwin Stoff. The series is produced by...

Antonio Banderas was drawn to Journey to Bethlehem for its humorous take on the classic biblical story of Mary and Joseph, offering a fresh and charming perspective. Banderas' musical movie debut allowed him to showcase his theatrical abilities, which he had previously demonstrated on stage, and he had a lot of fun recording the songs for the film. The movie emphasizes the theme of love and delivers a simple and heartfelt message that resonates with Banderas, who believes in non-violent and uncomplicated expressions of faith.

After bringing his genre talents to the stage, Antonio Banderas is making his musical movie debut in Journey to Bethlehem. The dramedy acts as a retelling of the story of Mary and Joseph, including their arranged marriage, the strain of learning of being the virgin mother to Jesus Christ, and the jealous king who feels his reign is being threatened.

Alongside Banderas, the ensemble Journey to Bethlehem...

Journey to Bethlehem is a fresh take on the biblical tale of Mary and Joseph, exploring their arranged marriage and Mary's revelation of mothering Jesus Christ. The movie features a talented ensemble cast, including Fiona Palomo and Milo Manheim, and is filled with heartwarming storytelling and energetic musical numbers. Palomo and Manheim discuss their excitement to be part of a project that communicates important values and emphasizes the power of belief, along with their experiences in bringing their characters to life.

A classic biblical tale is getting a fresh twist in Journey to Bethlehem. The movie explores the story of Mary and Joseph as they learn of their arranged marriage, while Mary also grapples with the revelation that she will be the mother to Jesus Christ and the two attempt to navigate their relationship despite skepticism from their families.

Fiona Palomo and Milo Manheim lead the Journey to Bethlehem ensemble cast alongside Antonio Banderas,...

Exclusive: Riz Ahmed and his Left Handed Films have come aboard the 2023 SXSW Audience Award winner Mustache, marking the feature directorial and screenwriting debut of Imran J. Khan, as executive producers.

In addition to Ahmed and Left-Handed’s Allie Moore, exec producers on the project include The Bear creator Christopher Storer, as well as Tyson Bidner and Josh Senior. Christina Won and Jessica Sittig produced, with Parker Mays co-producing alongside Cooper Wehde of American Light & Fixture. UTA Independent Film Group is handling worldwide sales.

Khan comes to the partnership with Ahmed and Left Handed a year after being named one of the inaugural participants of the Pillars Artist Fellowship, their filmmaker program created with Pillars, as a means of mentoring and championing rising Muslim talents.

An homage to coming-of-age films, ’90s nostalgia, and awkward teenage transitions, Mustache takes place in mid-’90s Northern California, where 13-year-old Pakistani American Ilyas...

Chicago – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Ben Thompson on Wbgr-fm on November 9th, 2023, reviewing “Journey to Bethlehem,” a re-telling of the Baby Jesus story as a musical! In theaters on November 10th, 2023.

Rating: 3.5/5.0

Three Kings discover the star they are to follow, while Mary (Fiona Palomo) becomes engaged to Joseph (Milo Manheim). The angel Gabriel (the rapper Lecrae) also appears, and tells Mary she’s going to be the Mother of Jesus. At first, Joseph runs away, but a vision comes to him, and he finds his fiancé and completes the nuptials. Meanwhile, Herod (Antonio Banderas) calls for a census, so Mary and Joseph are about to journey to Bethlehem …and their destiny.

”Journey to Bethlehem” is in theaters on November 9th. Featuring Fiona Palomo, Milo Manheim, Lecrae, Geno Segers, Rizwan Manji, Omi Djalili and Antonio Banderas. Written by Adam Anders and Peter Barsocchini.

Christmas comes early this year, as “Journey to Bethlehem” puts words (and music) in the mouths of all who bore witness to Jesus’ birth. Some of those tunes — like “Silent Night” and “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” — will sound familiar enough, though most of the songs — like most of the script — represents a fresh interpretation of believers’ original miracle, courtesy of Adam Anders, making a competent, if undistinguished directorial debut with the least edgy retelling of the nativity story around (which is essentially what the faith-based audience has been asking for).

One half of the duo behind the music for “Glee,” Swedish-born Anders comes to the project after more than two decades of penning and producing songs for boy bands and Disney Channel artists, including the Backstreet Boys (“More Than This”), Nick Lachey and the Jonas Brothers. He was instrumental in the soundtracks of big-screen musicals “Rock of Ages” and “The Prom,...

Sony Pictures’ faith-focused label Affirm Films and Monarch Media have launched a trailer for Christmas musical film “Journey to Bethlehem.”

The film marks the feature directorial debut of Adam Anders, who was a music producer on “Glee.” A retelling of the the story of Mary and Joseph and the birth of Jesus, the film is a live-action Christmas musical weaving classic Christmas melodies with humor, faith and new pop songs.

The cast includes Fiona Palomo (“Outer Banks”) as Mary, Milo Manheim (“Prom Pact”) as Joseph, Antonio Banderas (“Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny”) as Herod, Stephanie Gil (“Fatima”), Rizwan Manji (“Schitt’s Creek”), Geno Segers (“Perfect Harmony”), Omid Djalili (“Gladiator”), Joel Smallbone and Lecrae.

Anders penned the script along with Peter Barsocchini (“High School Musical”) and wrote the music with Nikki Anders (“Glee”) and Peer Astrom (“Rock of Ages”). The film is produced by Anders, Alan Powell and Steve Barnett through Monarch Media,...

Mustache is a movie that may seem small-scale at first glance, but its big heart won it the Audience Award in the Narrative Feature competition at the SXSW Film & TV Festival. Written and directed by Imran J. Khan in his feature film debut, Mustache follows Pakistani American teen Ilyas (Atharva Verma) as he leaves behind the comforts of his Islam-centered private school for an unfamiliar public school. What he can't leave behind, however, is the mustache that has grown faster than he's comfortable with at his young age.

Equal parts absurd comedy and heartwarming family drama, Mustache explores who Ilyas wants to be when set against the expectations of his parents (played by Meesha Shafi and Schitt's Creek star Rizwan Manji) and the pressures of fitting in for the outside world. Though it is set in the '90s, Mustache is a timeless tale that feels just as relevant to teens today.

Growing up is hard. Growing up with a mustache that started to grow out before hitting puberty is even harder. Add to the fact that Ilyas is a Pakistani American teen going to public school for the first time, and one can expect a few shenanigans to be had. Written and directed by Imran J. Khan, Mustache is a touching, sometimes humorous coming of age. The film isn’t shy about wearing its heart on its sleeve, and though it doesn’t delve too deep into certain aspects of Ilyas’ life, Khan handles the story and the main character’s feelings gently.

Ilyas’ (Atherma Verma) mustache started growing at the age of ten. He’s been stuck with it ever since and, despite being 14 years old, his parents (Rizwan Manji and Mojeane Sadr) won’t let him shave it. Due to his father’s flailing business, Ilyas is also faced with a big change,...

Warning: Contains Spoilers for Shazam! Fury of the Gods!There are plenty of references and DC Easter eggs in Shazam! Fury of the Gods that connect to the comics and DC Universe. The sequel to 2019's Shazam! brings Zachary Levi back as the titular superhero. Directed once again by David F. Sandberg, Shazam! Fury of the Gods picks up Billy Batson's (Asher Angel) story two years later as he and the Shazam Family encounter the Daughters of Atlas - Hespera (Helen Mirren), Kalypso (Lucy Liu), and Anthea (Rachel Zegler). The sequel revolves around a plot to depower Earth's Champions and use the Wizard's magic staff to find the Seed of Life.

Since Shazam 2 is based on characters and storylines that come from DC Comics, the superhero movie is filled with references for fans of the comics. Shazam! Fury of the Gods is also part of the DC Universe movie franchise,...

After the sudden collapse of Silicon Valley Bank last week, it’s perhaps worth noting that with the failure of tech-sector lenders and startups alike, an entire constellation of associated industries suffers as well. The pain trickles down throughout the community, impacting the likes of the Pakistani-American small business owner and his family at the center of Imran J. Khan’s 90s-set feature Mustache.

Although such a scenario might not appear to be entirely amusing, Khan finds the humor in hardship when his 13-year-old Muslim protagonist is forced to readjust his life after his parents make a difficult decision about his education. While not a typical teen comedy, Mustache approaches the genre from a perspective that’s gently humorous and refreshingly clever, even if it’s quite a bit tamer than mainstream fare.

Comfortably coasting through eighth grade at his private San Jose Muslim school, Ilyas (Atharva Verma) has a...

The feature debut of editor and short filmmaker Imran J. Khan, Mustache is a grounded coming-of-age story bursting with authenticity, even if the film feels at times like a retread of other awkward high school experiences captured in cinema. With a dry, competitive tone, Mustache accurately captures the emotion of being right in the middle of a problem that feels like an insurmountable, life-changing challenge for a child.

Atharva Verma stars as Ilyas, a Pakistani teen growing up in San Jose whose main issue is that he sprouted a mustache at age ten, leading to some awkward class photos at his Islamic grade school. He’s thrown out after 8th grade when he starts a fight and his scholarship is pulled. Thus his working-class parents, former artist mother (Meesha Shafi) and computer salesman father Hameed (Rizwan Manji), decide to send him to the local public high school to start his freshman year,...

Austin welcomes South Asian House, premiering for the first time ever at South By Southwest (SXSW) 2023.

South Asian House is an initiative that aims to connect a thriving community of thought leaders from various sectors in the business, tech, film, television, fashion, music and theater industries in seven different South Asian countries including Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Pakistan, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka.

Created in partnership with The Auntie Network, Tasveer, One Minute Saree, The Partnership Inc., URL Media, IndieMeme, and Sway with Pray, South Asian House will take place at Fourth & Co located at 208 West Fourth St. Unit D in Austin, Texas during the first weekend of SXSW on Saturday, March 11 from 11 a.m. – 2 a.m. and Sunday, March 12 from 11 a.m. – 2 a.m.

Featured speakers for the initiative include industry professionals from various sectors such as business, tech, film, TV, theater, music, and fashion. South Asian house will...

Eugene Levy starred in Schitt’s Creek for six seasons with the show wrapping up in 2020. After almost three years since the show’s finale, some fans have not lost hope of a possible revival.

Levy, who co-created the sitcom with his co-star son Dan Levy, recently said to “never say never” about revisiting the Rose family.

“I know my son Daniel has said this, we’d love to get together with these people again and take the show and the characters to yet another level,” Levy told Radio Times.

He continued, “There’s nothing in the works right now to be honest, but you know, we’ve never stopped thinking about what might happen down the line. We’re certainly open to anything, I think when the idea that is the right idea presents itself we’ll probably act on, I guess.”

Levy also said that he misses the cast and added,...

Exclusive: Fiona Palomo is Mary, Milo Manheim is Joseph and Oscar nominee Antonio Banderas is King Herod in Sony Affirm’s upcoming untitled holiday musical centered around the Nativity.

The movie is currently in production with Monarch Media on the coast of Spain for a Nov. 10 theatrical release.

Award-winning music producer Adam Anders is making his feature directorial debut and wrote the script along with Peter Barsocchini (High School Musical franchise) and wrote the music with Nikki Anders and Peer Astrom.

Logline: A young woman carrying an unimaginable responsibility. A young man torn between love and honor. A jealous king who will stop at nothing to keep his crown. This live-action Christmas musical celebration for the entire family, weaves classic Christmas melodies into new pop songs in a music-infused retelling...

A galaxy of A-list talent will participate in SXSW’s inaugural South Asian House initiative.

Panel discussion Creating South Asian Content for a Global Audience, will feature actor Rizwan Manji (“Schitt’s Creek”), Emmy-winning executive producer-writer-director, ViceTV, Falguni Adams (“Dateline NBC”), and Apoorva Bakshi, producer of International Emmy-winning series “Delhi Crime,” moderated by CEO of Jingo Media and producer of South Asian House Jitin Hingorani.

Another panel, Investing in the Future of Our South Asian Stories, will feature CEO and co-founder of URL Media S. Mitra Kalita and actor Kausar Mohammed (“The Flash”), moderated by co-founder of Box Office Guru Media Gitesh Pandya.

In addition, Women in Film and Television, Austin will present the Pilot reading hour, and The Partnership’s Leadership Program, an organization supporting leadership development for professionals of color, will be facilitating a program led by Anjali Worah, chief transformation officer, where participants include actor Pooja Kumar (“Never Have I Ever”), Milan Chakraborty,...

“I once thought that there were no second acts in American lives,” F. Scott Fitzgerald famously wrote, in his notes on The Last Tycoon. To which Cher Horowitz in Clueless would say: “Ugh, as if!”

Nearly 30 years after she spoke those iconic lines, we are witnessing the second act in the career of Alicia Silverstone.

Her Super Bowl ad for shopping platform Rakuten, where she slipped back into Cher’s yellow tartan skirt to recreate the Clueless debate scene, went viral (as did her first TikTok appearance, again as Cher, spoofing the “as if!” scene with her son Bear), returning Silverstone to the top of the pop culture conversation.

In the independent film world, Silverstone has never been hotter. With roles in The Lodge —the 2019 Sundance chiller from Goodnight Mommy directors Severin Fiala and Veronika Franz — and Jennifer Reeder’s new meta-horror film Perpetrator, which premiered in the Panorama section...

"You were supposed to find me nice guys, so I could have nice babies!" Vertical Entertainment has unveiled an official trailer for a sex comedy titled The Donor Party, opening this March in theaters and on VOD. This plays like a 90s Hollywood comedy like they don't make that often anymore. Recently divorced Jaclyn desperately wants to become a mom – by any means necessary. After a messy divorce, she decides to enlist the help of her best friends to help pull off the ultimate sperm heist on unsuspecting "donors" during her friend’s intimate birthday party! Who's ready for some awkward fun? The comedy stars Malin Akerman, with Rob Corddry, Erinn Hayes, Bria Henderson, Dan Ahdoot, Rizwan Manji, Ryan Hansen, and Jerry O'Connell. Yeah this looks super uncomfortable but also quite funny? Might be worth a watch. // Continue Reading ›...

When "Shazam!" hit theaters back in 2019, it was a breath of fresh air not only for the DC Extended Universe but for superhero media as well. While it obviously did have a big world-defining conflict that Billy Batson (Asher Angel and Zachary Levi) had to deal with, it was ultimately a coming-of-age tale all about becoming comfortable with yourself. You are able to create the best possible version of yourself, and that is perhaps best evidenced by the fact that Billy and his foster siblings can now fight crime as the Shazam Family.

So, where does that leave our heroes to go next? According to the latest trailer for "Shazam! Fury of the Gods," this puts them right in the path of the Daughters of Atlas, a sisterly duo consisting of Hespera (Helen Mirren) and Kalypso (Lucy Liu), who seek nothing but total power. Sure, that sounds pretty generic for a superhero movie,...

After already poking fun at Universal's Fast & Furious franchise, a new Shazam! Fury of the Gods TV spot reveals an epic dragon fight in the DC Universe sequel and the perfect Game of Thrones joke. Zachary Levi is returning to lead the cast for the upcoming film after making his Dcu debut in 2019's Shazam!, not only reuniting with much of the first film's cast as well as former horror director David F. Sandberg and screenwriter Henry Gayden. Following multiple delays due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, production on Shazam! Fury of the Gods kicked off in 2021 and anticipation continues to grow leading up to its arrival.

With just two months remaining until the film's release, a new Shazam! Fury of the Gods TV spot (via Comic Trailers & Clips) has arrived and can be seen below:

The new footage for the upcoming Dcu sequel features more looks at the Daughters of Atlas,...

SXSW has announced the first batch of titles in its 2023 film festival line-up, including opening night movie, Paramount’s big-budget adventure film Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves.

“We are thrilled to announce the first wave of our incredible lineup for SXSW 2023,” said Claudette Godfrey, vp film & tv. “It’s an amazing collection of films, TV series and Xr experiences that promise to inspire, entertain and challenge our audiences. We’re also proud to open with Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, a raucous and engaging fantasy adventure, and look forward to welcoming everyone to Austin in March for what promises to be an unforgettable event.”

The other 2023 headliners are the Julio Torres A24 movie Problemista, the latest film in the Evil Dead franchise, Evil Dead Rise, and Eva Longoria’s directorial debut Flamin’ Hot. Last year’s headliners included box office break out The Lost City and awards contender Everything Everywhere All At Once.

The 30th anniversary of the Disney animated feature “Beauty and the Beast", is showcased in the new two-hour animated/live-action special "Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration", directed by Hamish Hamilton, now streaming on Disney+:

H.E.R. and Josh Groban lead a cast including Rita Moreno as the narrator, Joshua Henry as 'Gaston', David Alan Grier as 'Cogsworth', Rizwan Manji as 'LeFou', Jon Jon Briones as 'Maurice', Leo Abelo Perry as 'Chip' and Shania Twain as 'Mrs. Potts'.

Click the images to enlarge...

ABC’s “Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration” — which stars the Grammy and Oscar-winning musician H.E.R. as Belle — has transported the network to a broadcast ratings win on Thursday night, per live plus same-day Nielsen figures.

The anniversary special captivated with 0.79 in the 18-49 demographic, averaging 4.3 million total viewers overall. Airing on Thursday at 8 p.m. Et with next-day viewing on Disney+ and Hulu, the show led the network to 0.66 in the demo and an average viewership of 3.5 million.

Presented by the anthology series The Wonderful World of Disney, the two-hour reimagining also starred Martin Short (“Lumière”), Josh Groban (“Beast”), Joshua Henry (“Gaston”), David Alan Grier (“Cogsworth”), Shania Twain (“Mrs. Potts”), Rizwan Manji (“LeFou”), Jon Jon Briones (Belle’s father “Maurice”) and Leo Abelo Perry (Mrs. Potts’ son “Chip”), along with narrator Rita Moreno. Jon M. Chu executive produced the hybrid animated/live-action special and Hamish Hamilton served as director,...

In honor of Disney’s beloved 1991 animated film “Beauty and the Beast,” ABC and Disney is mounting the live-action “Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration,” from “In the Heights” director Jon M. Chu.

Here’s all you need to know to watch the two-hour live-action and animated special (it’s a little bit of both!), featuring Oscar, Grammy and Emmy winner singer/songwriter H.E.R. as heroine Belle and singer Josh Groban as the Beast she grows to love.

What time does “Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration” start?

It airs Thursday, Dec. 15, at 8pm Et/Pt and 7 Central on ABC.

Also Read:

See H.E.R. as Belle in First Look at ABC’s ‘Beauty and the Beast’ Special (Exclusive Photos) Is the “Beauty and the Beast” live special streaming?

Yes, but not immediately. It will be available to stream on Friday, Dec. 16 on Disney+ and Hulu.

Who...

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Rolling Stone may receive an affiliate commission.

It’s been 30 years since Disney shared its love story of a tale as old as time, and now, the Mouse House is celebrating Beauty and the Beast with a brand new TV special.

Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration airs tonight, Thursday, December 15 on ABC with a star-studded cast that includes Grammy and Oscar-winner H.E.R. as Belle, Josh Groban as the Beast, Martin Short as Lumière and Shania Twain as Mrs.

This past summer, Disney and ABC announced that they would be celebrating the beloved animated film "Beauty and the Beast" with a TV special produced by "Crazy Rich Asians," "In the Heights," and "Wicked" filmmaker Jon M. Chu and directed by the 2012 London Olympic Games opening ceremony director Hamish Hamilton. Rather than commemorate the ground-breaking feature's 30th anniversary (which was last year), the two-hour hybrid animated/live-action special will celebrate the anniversary of the movie's Academy Award nomination for Best Picture. Regardless of the reason, the Disney renaissance favorite is definitely worth celebrating.

For the live-action portion of the event, Emmy, Grammy, and Tony-nominated performer Josh Groban will step into the role of the Beast alongside R&b artist H.E.R. as Belle. Rounding out the cast will be Rita Moreno as the narrator, Joshua Henry as Gaston, Shania Twain as Mrs. Potts, Martin Short as Lumiere, David Allen Grier as Cogsworth,...

Jon M. Chu, who directed “In the Heights” and is currently working on a two-part “Wicked” adaptation for Universal, is bringing his special sauce to another beloved musical property: Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast.”

“Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Anniversary,” combines original footage from the animated masterpiece (the first animated feature ever to be nominated for Best Picture) with new live-action performances and Chu, as producer, as assembled an all-star line-up. H.E.R. and Josh Groban star as Belle and the Beast, with Rita Moreno as the narrator, Joshua Henry as Gaston, Martin Short as Lumière, David Alan Grier as Cogsworth, Rizwan Manji as LeFou, Jon Jon Briones as Maurice, Leo Abelo Perry as Chip and Shania Twain as Mrs. Potts.

But what is this 30th anniversary celebration all about? And why was Chu so compelled to remake “Beauty and the Beast” yet again? Read on to find out.

The 30th anniversary of the Disney animated feature “Beauty and the Beast", is showcased in the new two-hour animated/live-action special "Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration", directed by Hamish Hamilton, airing December 15, 2022 on Disney+:

H.E.R. and Josh Groban lead a cast including Rita Moreno as the narrator, Joshua Henry as 'Gaston', David Alan Grier as 'Cogsworth', Rizwan Manji as 'LeFou', Jon Jon Briones as 'Maurice', Leo Abelo Perry as 'Chip' and Shania Twain as 'Mrs. Potts'.

Click the images to enlarge...

Just as a magical transformation takes place front-and-center in “Beauty and the Beast,” so do the costumes of ABC’s TV special of the classic animated film come to life, in these first exclusive sketches and character depictions that TheWrap can reveal. In the photos, which you can view below, see stars H.E.R. (who plays Belle) and Martin Short (who portrays Lumière) embody their sketched designs, as created by Marina Toybina.

Presented by the anthology series The Wonderful World of Disney, the two-hour reimagining of the beloved story of “Beauty and the Beast” will air Thursday, Dec. 15 at 8 p.m. Et on ABC, with next-day viewing on Disney+. In addition to Grammy and Oscar-winning H.E.R. and Short, the special stars Josh Groban (“Beast”), Joshua Henry (“Gaston”), David Alan Grier (“Cogsworth”), Shania Twain (“Mrs. Potts”), Rizwan Manji (“LeFou”), Jon Jon Briones (Belle’s father “Maurice”) and Leo Abelo Perry (Mrs.

The 30th anniversary of the Disney animated feature “Beauty and the Beast", is showcased in the new two-hour animated/live-action special "Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration", directed by Hamish Hamilton, airing December 15, 2022 on Disney+:

H.E.R. and Josh Groban lead a cast including Rita Moreno as the narrator, Joshua Henry as 'Gaston', David Alan Grier as 'Cogsworth', Rizwan Manji as 'LeFou', Jon Jon Briones as 'Maurice', Leo Abelo Perry as 'Chip' and Shania Twain as 'Mrs. Potts'.

Click the images to enlarge...

The 30th anniversary of the Disney animated feature |"Beauty and the Beast", is showcased in the new two-hour animated/live-action special "Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration", directed by Hamish Hamilton, airing December 15, 2022 on Disney+:

H.E.R. and Josh Groban lead a cast including Rita Moreno as the narrator, Joshua Henry as 'Gaston', David Alan Grier as 'Cogsworth', Rizwan Manji as 'LeFou', Jon Jon Briones as 'Maurice', Leo Abelo Perry as 'Chip' and Shania Twain as 'Mrs. Potts'. 

Click the images to enlarge...

Exclusive: Rizwan Manji (Schitt’s Creek), Atharva Verma (Stargirl), Ayana Manji, Meesha Shafi (The Reluctant Fundamentalist), Alicia Silverstone (The Killing of a Sacred Deer) and Hasan Minhaj (The King’s Jester) have signed on to star in the Pakistani American coming-of-age film Mustache — the first feature from writer-director Imran J. Khan.

Largely autobiographical for its filmmaker, Mustache follows Ilyas (Verma), an eccentric 13-year-old boy who sets off to navigate the social hierarchy of his new California public school with a mustache his parents will not allow him to shave off. Manji will play Ilyas’ father Hameed, with Pakistani-Canadian singer Shafi playing his mother, and Manji’s daughter Ayana set to portray his school friend, Yasmeen.

Details as to the roles of Silverstone and Minhaj haven’t been disclosed. But Christina Won (Birdman) and Jessica Sittig of MakeSay are producing along with American Light and Fixture’s Christopher Storer...

Prime Video has released the official teaser trailer for the upcoming dark comedy-drama series “Mammals,” starring James Corden and Sally Hawkins. All six episodes will drop Nov. 11.

Directed by Stephanie Laing and written by Jez Butterworth, “Mammals” follows Jamie (Corden), a chef who discovers shocking secrets about his pregnant wife, Amandine (Melia Kreiling). Jamie searches for answers with the help of his brother-in-law Jeff (Colin Morgan), but stumbles upon cracks in Jeff’s marriage to Jamie’s sister Lue (Hawkins) along the way.

The series is produced by Street Hassle, in association with Vertigo Films and Fulwell 73. Watch the teaser below.

Also in today’s TV news:

Trailers

Apple TV+ has released the official trailer of the original preschool series “Slumberkins,” premiering globally on the streamer Nov. 4.

From The Jim Henson Company, the series follows the adventures of Bigfoot, Unicorn, Sloth, Yak and Fox as they empower the emotional...

Here is a wrap-up of all the news you need to know from Monday, October 17, 2022.

Fans of FBI will be getting a special Sunday episode on November 6.

TV Line reports that a fresh episode of FBI Season 5 will air at 8:30 pm Et / 8 pm Pt on the night.

FBI and the spinoffs FBI: International and FBI: Most Wanted will all be preempted on Tuesday, Nov. 8 by Election Night news coverage.

The original series has an extra episode in its inventory after airing the delayed Season 4 final earlier this month.

ABC's Beauty and the Beast anniversary special has added six people to its cast.

Martin Short will play the Lumiere, Shania Twain will play Mrs. Potts, David Alan Grier will play clock Cogsworth, Rizwan Manji will play Gaston’s sidekick LeFou, Jon Jon Briones will star as Belle’s father Maurice and Leo Abelo Perry as Mrs. Potts’ son Chip.

The...

ABC announces new ‘Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration’ cast

Five-time Grammy Award winner Shania Twain has signed on to play Mrs. Potts in ABC’s Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration, a live-action and animated blended special. The reimagining of the classic story has also just added Only Murders in the Building‘s Martin Short as Lumière and Tony Award winner David Alan Grier (A Soldier’s Play) as Cogsworth.

Rizwan Manji (Schitt’s Creek) has joined the cast as Gaston’s sidekick, LeFou. Jon Jon Briones (The Last Voyage of the Demeter) will take on the role of Maurice, Belle’s father. Leo Abelo Perry (The Big Leap) is set to play Mrs. Potts’ son, Chip.

The just-announced cast join previously announced stars Oscar winner H.E.R. (“Fight For You” from Judas and the Black Messiah) as Belle, Grammy nominee Josh Groban as the Beast, and Tony Award nominee Joshua Henry as Gaston.

Martin Short and Shania Twain are set to play the world’s most famous candelabra and teapot. The two stars have joined ABC’s upcoming December 15 “Beauty and the Beast” 30th-anniversary special, along with David Alan Grier, Rizwan Manji, Jon Jon Briones, and Leo Abelo Perry.

Short, the Emmy and Tony winner who currently stars in Hulu’s “Only Murders in the Building,” will portray the flirtatious French candelabra Lumière, voiced in the original 1991 Disney film by Jerry Orbach. Five-time Grammy-winning country singer Twain will play the teapot Mrs. Potts, whose original voice actor, Angela Lansbury, died last week. Perry, who made his film debut this year in the Disney+ remake of “Cheaper by the Dozen,” will play Potts’ son Chip. Grier, who won a Tony last year for his performance in “A Soldier’s Play,” will portray the majordomo clock Cogsworth, while Jon Jon Briones will play village inventor Maurice,...

ABC’s “Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration” has found its Lumière, Cogsworth and Mrs. Potts in Martin Short (“Only Murders in the Building”), David Alan Grier (“In Living Color”) and country music star Shania Twain, respectively.

Rounding out the ensemble cast are Rizwan Manji (“Schitt’s Creek”) as Gaston’s loyal sidekick, LeFou; Jon Jon Briones (“Ratched”) as Belle’s loving father, Maurice; and Leo Abelo Perry (2022’s “Cheaper by the Dozen”), playing Mrs. Potts’ son Chip.

Presented by the anthology series The Wonderful World of Disney, the two-hour reimagining of the beloved story of “Beauty and the Beast” will be taped in front of a live audience at Disney Studios and will air Thursday, Dec. 15 at 8 p.m. Et on ABC, with next-day viewing on Disney+.

Also Read:

‘Grey’s Anatomy': Harry Shum Jr. Teases How Blue Will Use Some Secret ‘Intel’ to Be Assigned More Surgeries in Episode 2

As previously announced,...

Click here to read the full article.

ABC is rounding out the cast of its live Beauty and the Beast special.

The Dec. 15 special, celebrating the 30th anniversary of the film’s best picture nomination — the first animated feature to earn that honor — has added Martin Short, David Alan Grier, Shania Twain, Rizwan Manji, Jon Jon Briones and Leo Abelo Perry to its cast. They join an ensemble led by Grammy winner H.E.R. as Belle and Josh Groban as the Beast; Joshua Henry also stars, and Rita Moreno will narrate the special.

Only Murders in the Building star Short will play Lumiere. Tony winner Grier (A Solider’s Play, The Patient) will play Cogsworth, while Grammy winner and country music star Twain will play Mrs. Potts and Perry her son, Chip. Manji (Schitt’s Creek) plays Gaston’s (Henry) sidekick, LeFou, and Briones (Ratched) will play Belle’s father, Maurice.

The special,...

Two iconic staples of Beauty and the Beast‘s dining room are coming to life at ABC.

Martin Short (Only Murders in the Building) and country music vet Shania Twain are among six cast additions to the network’s upcoming Beauty and the Beast anniversary special, TVLine has learned.

More from TVLineABC's Beauty and the Beast Special Casts Josh Groban as the Beast, Plus Rita Moreno and Joshua HenryBeauty and the Beast: H.E.R. to Star as Belle in ABC's Live-Action ProductionGrey's Anatomy: Jesse Williams Sets Next Encore -- Will April Join Jackson?

Short will play the French candlestick Lumière in the special,...

Martin Short, Shania Twain and David Alan Grier are confirmed for ABC’s upcoming special Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Anniversary, playing Lumière, Mrs. Potts and Cogsworth, respectively. Rounding out the cast of the two-hour hybrid animated/live-action special are Rizwan Manji, Jon Jon Briones and Leo Abelo Perry.

They join previously announced H.E.R. as Belle, Josh Groban as the Beast, Joshua Henry as Gaston, and Rita Moreno as narrator.

Rizwan Manji, Jon Jon Briones, Leo Abelo Perry

Manji will play Gaston’s loyal sidekick Le Fou, Briones portrays Belle’s loving father, Maurice; and Perry is Mrs. Potts’ son Chip.

The special will include live never-before-seen musical performances, along with new sets and costumes inspired by the classic story. Each performance is created to pay homage while also adding to the iconic story for viewers. Songs from the original animated classic will be performed in front of a live audience at Disney Studios.

"I can think of a million ways to make this more fun." Creator+ has revealed an official trailer for an indie romantic comedy titled Diamond in the Rough, a perfectly cheesy name for a cheesy film. It's available for streaming now on their new Creator+ content service (first time we've even heard of it). Recent college grad Ariana Alvarez, played by Samantha Boscarino, is given a chance to turn her life around when she joins a stuffy country club complete with a hopelessly hot caddy. Drawing on her spunk, irreverence, and copious amounts of street-honed charm, Ariana battles prejudice, antiquated rules, and worst of all—mean girls—in order to shine through as a diamond in the rough. The rest of the film's cast includes Griffin M. Johnson, Caitlin Carver, Rizwan Manji, and David Koechner. This pretty much looks like Mean Girls set at a country club, nothing much else...

Exclusive: Vertical Entertainment has locked down worldwide rights to the comedy The Donor Party, toplined by Malin Åkerman (Chick Fight), Rob Corddry (The Unicorn), Erinn Hayes (Gaslit) and Jerry O’Connell (Billions). The company’s plans for the recently-wrapped pic’s release have not yet been disclosed.

The first feature from writer-director Thom Harp is a farce centered on the recently single Jaclyn (Åkerman), who desperately wants to become a mom — by any means necessary. Realizing she doesn’t need a husband to make her dream come true, she devises a plan and enlists her best friends (Hayes and Bria Samoné Henderson) to pull off the ultimate sperm heist from unsuspecting donors Tim (O’Connell), Mj (Dan Ahdoot), Mateo (Jeff Torres) and Armin (Ryan Hansen), all while celebrating an intimate birthday party for her oblivious friend, Geoff (Corddry).

Anthony J. Kraus cast the pic, which also stars Meadow Williams (Aileen Wuornos:...

The 2022 Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (Iffla) announced details of its Closing Gala presentation, the addition of a Master Class with celebrated filmmaker and Iffla alum, Anurag Kashyap, and the film festival’s annual One-on-One program to connect its filmmakers to industry executives and encourage further career development. This year’s jury members were also revealed.

The 20th annual edition of the internationally acclaimed film festival will wrap up with a first look at Iffla alum Kahlil Maskati’s feature screenplay, Alim Uncle, presented as a live table read featuring a dozen of top Los Angeles-based talent, and a preview of Nimisha Mukerji’s Warner Bros. Discovery 150 supported project, New Country. The evening, taking place at Regal LA Live (1000 W. Olympic Blvd.), will also include the Awards Ceremony and will be bookended by red carpet entrances and one of Iffla’s signature afterparties at The Continental Club (116 W 4th...