Cannes Kicks Off With Peter Jackson Tribute, a Political Jane Fonda, and James Franco Returning From Cancellation

The 79th Cannes Film Festival started on Tuesday night, but it didn't have many big Hollywood movies or famous stars from Hollywood. However, it did have someone from Middle Earth. Peter Jackson, the director of the "Lord of the Rings" series, came to Cannes to receive an honorary Palme d'Or before the opening film, "The Electric Kiss," a French romantic comedy set in the 1920s.

On a sunny and windy day, Jackson walked the red carpet with some celebrities, like Diego Luna and Lucas Bravo from "Emily in Paris," and Tyrese Gibson.

 The jury included Demi Moore, Chloé Zhao, Ruth Negga, Stellan Skarsgård, and Park Chan-wook. Without many big-name stars, the photographers outside the theater didn’t have much to shoot during the quiet opening ceremony.

The first night had less star power but a controversial moment.

 James Franco, whose career faced issues in 2018, was greeted by fans in the lobby between the ceremony and the opening screening. He took selfies and then went outside where Luna greeted him. Luna asked, "How are you, man?" and Franco, wearing sunglasses, nodded in response.

Jane Fonda added some glamour with a black dress and a necklace that looked like the Heart of the Ocean from "Titanic."

 Jackson, accompanied by "Lord of the Rings" actor Elijah Wood, gave a thumbs up to the paparazzi. The cast of "The Electric Kiss," led by French actors Pio Marmaï and Anaïs Demoustier, got some applause as they walked into the theater.

Wood presented Jackson with his award, talking about how his "Lord of the Rings" movies, filmed in New Zealand, changed cinema.

 "You showed the world something it had never seen before, and nothing was ever the same," Wood said, adding that Jackson helped create a new filmmaking culture far from the world's center.

Jackson accepted the honor and remembered his decision to shoot all of the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy at the same time.

 "It was a huge gamble," he admitted. Media called it a "folly" and thought it might fail if the first movie didn't do well. But after a great showing of footage from "The Fellowship of the Ring" at Cannes in 2001, people's opinions changed. "It changed the perception of the film," he said.

"The Electric Kiss," directed by Pierre Salvadori, is about a painter who falls in love with a psychic.

 The movie got mixed reviews but was well received by the crowd on opening night, getting a 5-minute standing ovation as the credits rolled.

This year is the 25th time Thierry Fremaux has been in charge of Cannes.

 During his time, the festival has dealt with streaming, a pandemic, and political changes, but it has kept its status as the top film event in the world.

The atmosphere on the Croisette feels more intense this year.

 Hollywood is changing, studios are spending less on festivals, AI is affecting creative jobs, and there are ongoing conflicts and fears over hantavirus. Economic uncertainty might be part of the reason, but this year's lineup doesn't have big blockbusters, unlike previous years when Tom Cruise and Harrison Ford had big premieres.

There were hopes that Christopher Nolan or Steven Spielberg would bring "The Odyssey" or "Disclosure Day" to Cannes, but they didn't come.

 Cannes is now relying on international directors like Pedro Almodóvar, Paweł Pawlikowski, and Cristian Mungiu to fill the gap.

The ceremony host, Eye Haïdara, made a political comment, welcoming everyone connected to the event and saying that people all over the world are trying to resist artificial intelligence and stay real.

Jane Fonda then opened the festival, saying, "I believe that cinema has always been an act of resistance because we tell stories.

 Stories are what make a civilization. Stories that bring empathy to the marginalized, stories that allow us to feel across differences. Stories that let us see that there is an alternative future that is possible."

‘Ahsoka’ Season 2 Will (Finally) Arrive in Early 2027

 After more than three years traveling through the galaxy, Ahsoka is coming back to Disney+ with a rough estimate of when it will return.

The second season of the Star Wars series is planned to start in early 2027, according to star Rosario Dawson, who shared the news on Tuesday during Disney's upfront event.

 She also showed a behind-the-scenes video of some of the work that went into making season two.

Ahsoka first came out in August 2023 and had strong viewership numbers on Disney+.

 It stayed in the top 10 of Nielsen's list of original streaming series every week it released new episodes. Development for a second season started in early 2024, but in the last few years, Lucasfilm has slowed down its live-action Star Wars projects. In the past 18 months, the only live-action shows from the Star Wars universe have been Skeleton Crew, which is aimed at kids, and the final season of Andor. Meanwhile, the animation side has been more active, most recently with Maul – Shadow Lord.

Hayden Christensen will return as Anakin Skywalker in season two.

 Rory McCann, who was on Game of Thrones, will take over the role of Baylan Skoll. Ray Stevenson, who played Baylan Skoll in season one, passed away in May 2023 after finishing filming.

The first season also included Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Natasha Liu Bordizzo, Ivanna Sakhno, Diana Lee Inosanto, Eman Esfandi, Evan Whitten, Genevieve O’Reilly, and Lars Mikkelsen.

 Dave Filoni, Jon Favreau, Kathleen Kennedy, Carrie Beck, and Colin Wilson were the executive producers of the first season.

Will 'Michael' Make a Billion at the Box Office?

 Hollywood wasn't sure how well Michael would do at the box office.

Michael, the pop star, has a big fan base, and those fans have helped make the music biopic a major hit this year.

 The movie is climbing up the worldwide box office chart. It's now in second place, pushing past Project Hail Mary. But will it reach the one billion dollar mark? And can it stay ahead of The Devil Wears Prada 2? That sequel is doing really well in international markets.

Experts who predict box office numbers think Michael might fall short of the billion dollar mark.

 They say the reason is that there’s a lot of competition for the best movie screens, especially as summer movie season starts. That’s when the most money is made, especially in places like IMAX, ScreenX, and Dolby Cinema. However, for people who track box office results every week, the math is looking good. Three movies—Michael, The Devil Wears Prada 2, and The Super Mario Galaxy Movie—are helping bring people back to theaters.

Speaking of Michael and music biopics: Do you think it’s in the top 10 of its category, which includes films about artists like NWA, Bob Dylan, and Elvis?

Euphoria’ Probably Needed Labrinth After All

Is Euphoria the same without Labrinth? That's a question fans are asking every week in the middle of season three.

One person posted on social media the day after episode three aired on April 26, saying, “It's literally a whole different show.”

It's rare for a show's composer to become as well-known as the show itself, but Labrinth became a big part of Euphoria's identity after the first season in 2019.

 The show became huge not just because of the acting, but also because of the music. Labrinth's unique style helped set the show's mood, making it feel intense and emotional.

He even won an Emmy for his song “All For Us” in season one and was nominated for many others.

Labrinth said in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter that it's rewarding for him to know his work connects with people.

But in early April, he shocked fans by saying he wouldn't be part of the new season of Euphoria.

 He posted on Instagram explaining his decision, saying, “People lie in this industry and still call themselves honest. So no cap, I decided to remove whatever music I had in it.” He mentioned that he talked to HBO and everything was fine, but he left because he didn't want to be treated poorly.

While the exact reasons for his exit aren't clear, he told GQ that he felt the team's family feel and creative energy were fading, and he realized, “I know this is done, for me.”

He wasn't replaced by just anyone.

 Hans Zimmer, a famous film composer, was originally supposed to work with Labrinth, but when Labrinth left before the season three premiere, Zimmer became the sole composer for the new season.

Everyone agrees Zimmer is talented, but when a show has a specific sound, like Labrinth's, a sudden change can be confusing for viewers.

 That's already been noticed in the first half of season three.

Kier Lehman, a music supervisor who's worked on many TV shows and films, said it's important for a show to have a consistent sound, especially in longer series.

 It helps the audience feel connected and grounded.

He also said if the music doesn't match what fans expect, it can be unsettling.

After each episode of Euphoria, fans rush to social media to talk about the music.

 After episode three, some criticized the choice of a playful marimba track during a scene with Maddy, Nate, and Cassie. The music didn't match the character's vibe, and some compared it to “Under the Sea” from The Little Mermaid.

Even before episode three, viewers noticed the absence of Labrinth's music.

One person wrote, “With each episode it becomes clearer that Labrinth's soundtrack did a lot of heavy lifting for Euphoria.

 It's part of the cinematography, but it's his music that truly gave every scene its emotional weight, which is really missing this season.” Another said, “#Euphoria has been good, but you can tell that Labrinth's music being missed takes away a lot of the pulling in during scenes.”

Labrinth also released his own song, “Shut Your Damn 95.7892,” the same day season three premiered.

 Fans used TikTok to replace the show's music with his song to make it feel more like the Euphoria they love.

When The Hollywood Reporter asked HBO about the online reactions, the network didn't respond.

The reaction to the music shows that what people see and hear on screen are both important.

 When you build a unique tone over two seasons, fans will notice the difference if that sound changes suddenly.

Lehman tells THR, "Part of what makes a show really special is having that unique sound that people only think of when they think of that show. When you hear the music or think about it, you immediately know which show it is because it has its own special sound. This kind of sound is possible when you have an artist who already has their own voice and creative style. You can use that as part of your show's overall feel and sound."

Euphoria’ Season 3 Episode 5: Did a Main Character Just Die a Horrible Death?

So far, the third season of HBO's "Euphoria" feels more like a mix of "Traffic" and a telenovela than the original idea by Sam Levinson. The music and fast-paced camera moves that were there before are gone. Now, they're using big, wide shots on 65mm film. The young actors are exploring a bleak world where there's no hope to be found.

Last time we saw the group of high school dropouts, Rue (Zendaya) was caught with a bunch of drugs and became an informant for the DEA.

 Kitty (Anna Van Patten), a new stripper at the Silver Slipper, got beaten up by some creepy middle-aged guys. Cassie (Sydney Sweeney) and Nate (Jacob Elordi) are officially over, as Cassie left because Nate owed a million dollars. Lexi (Maude Apatow) got Jules (Hunter Schafer) a job painting for her popular soap "LA Nights," but Jules made a painting of naked trans people, which landed her in trouble. At Maddy's (Alexa Demie) suggestion, Cassie seduced an influencer at a party to get attention for her OnlyFans. Meanwhile, Big Eddy (Kadeem Hardison) got shot in the stomach and had his safe stolen by masked men in Obama masks. The robbers were apparently working for Faye (Chloe Cherry), who was revengeful because Laurie's parrot, Paladin, was poisoned.

So, what happened this week?

Attack of the 50-Foot Cassie!

Cassie's stunt with mega-influencer Brondon Fontaine (Jeff Wahlberg, the nephew of Mark and Donnie) worked, and she hit 50,000 OnlyFans subscribers.

 Now, Maddy is getting her to do all sorts of adult content for her clients, from ASMR dirty talk to selling her underwear and doing silly things with big dildos. She's also on podcasts talking about sex positivity. There's a surreal scene where Cassie becomes a giant woman stomping through Downtown Los Angeles, and it ends with her big breasts breaking through a window.

Nate the Cuckold  

Nate is deep in debt and gets Cassie to send him money for his house payments.

 He also pushes Cassie to move in with Fontaine and do NSFW content with him. But he doesn't use the money to pay off his debts and ends up getting his pinky and a finger bitten off by a thug.

Maddy Pulls a Fast One  

Cassie finds out Maddy isn't a talent manager but a low-level Hollywood assistant.

 She cuts ties with her, moves into a TikTok house, and then gets convinced by Maddy to audition for "LA Nights" with star Dylan Reid (Homer Gere). There's no real audition, but Maddy tricks Lexi into getting her on the list. Cassie does a dramatic monologue from "Antony and Cleopatra" and gets the part.

Rue and Jules' Flirtation  

One thing "Euphoria" has lost is the romance between Rue and Jules.

 Here, they flirt in a sugar daddy's apartment while eating Chinese food. Jules says, "You want me? Make me yours." But the scene cuts to Jules having loud sex with the sugar daddy. We'll have to wait for Rue and Jules to get back on track. When the sugar daddy finds Rue's flannel in his apartment, he gets upset, thinking she's been cheating, and warns her not to put his family at risk.

Rue Is in Deep Doo-Doo  

Rue is still alive, but barely.

 She tried to frame Magick (Rosalía) by putting some cocaine in her locker. Magick gets revenge by convincing Alamo (Adewale Akinnouye-Agbaje) that Rue is a snitch. While Rue and Maddy are at a diner, Alamo sends her off with two tough guys. Meanwhile, Alamo starts working with Maddy on her OnlyFans business, signing up Magick and Kitty. Back to Rue, Alamo's men make her dig a ditch and bury her up to her neck. Then Alamo rides in on a horse, swinging a mace, but the scene cuts to black. Rue isn't in the next scene, so did she finally meet her fate?

SNL U.K.’ Weekend Update Takes Aim at Katy Perry’s Met Gala Mask, Which Symbolizes ‘What It’s Like To Live Life as a Stupid Moron’

"SNL U.K.'s Weekend Update targeted Met Gala attendees this week in Episode 7, with co-host Ania Magliano saying the event's theme was "people you'd like to see exploded."

She said, "Beyoncé looked amazing," and then joked about her silver headpiece: "Someone's made the most of the Claire's closing down sale" (a reference to the closure of all Claire's Accessories stores in the U.K.).
Magliano then talked about Katy Perry's outfit, calling it "an eerie mirrored mask covering her whole face, symbolizing what it's like to live life as a stupid moron."

Moving on from the Met Gala, Magliano read a headline about former "I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here" winner Scarlet Moffat, who said she "actually enjoyed eating camel penis" during her time on the show.
"And for those of you interested in showbiz jargon, in TV we call 'eating a penis' auditioning," the SNL U.K. cast member joked.

Meanwhile, co-host Paddy Young noted that famed natural history broadcaster David Attenborough turned 100 years old yesterday.
"In celebration of his milestone birthday, London Zoo have told him he's finally allowed to choose and make love to one animal to celebrate," Young said.

The Weekend Update hosts then welcomed fellow castmember Hammed Animashaun on.
Dressed as a rhino, Animashaun revealed he had beef with Attenborough after blaming the naturalist for his mother getting shot by poachers.

At which point Fouracres, reprising his role as Attenborough, ran onto the stage dressed in WWE-style spandex and began wrestling with Animashaun.
Quickly other castmates, also dressed as wild animals, joined in and Magliano and Young began commentating as though it were a wrestling match. "I've never seen anything like it on Weekend Update," the co-hosts marveled.

"Ted Lasso" star Hannah Waddingham hosted the seventh and penultimate episode of "SNL U.K.," which wraps for the season next week.
In her opening monologue, she jokingly compared her hit Apple TV show "Ted Lasso" to "SNL U.K., saying: "Rich Americans working together, team spirit, and communal showers, yes, that was surprising and excellent."

She added: "Brett Goldstein is a very hairy man.
"

Jonathan Bailey and Natalie Portman to Star in Thriller ‘Pumping Black’ for Anton

Hollywood's newest leading man, Jonathan Bailey, has signed on for a new movie.

After winning the title of 2025's biggest box office star thanks to "Jurassic World Rebirth" and "Wicked: For Good," the actor is now working with Oscar-winning actress Natalie Portman (from "May December" and "Black Swan") on a psychological thriller called "Pumping Black."

 This film is set in the high-pressure world of professional cycling.

Anton will be showing the movie internationally at Cannes, with CAA representing the U.S.  

 When Taylor becomes "The Bachelorette," and Jen and Whitney go to "Dancing with the Stars," the competition becomes chaotic, and traditions are challenged. Faced with crumbling marriages, personal issues, and family secrets, they must choose to support each other or face their futures alone. Will the women stay loyal to their sisterhood to save it, or will #MomTok fall apart? (Disney/Fred Hayes)  

LAYLA TAYLOR, TAYLOR FRANKIE PAUL, MIRANDA MCWHORTER  

"The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" resumes filming for Season 5 after a pause due to Taylor Frankie Paul's domestic violence investigation  

DisneyPlus Hulu Bundle Promo  

A Christian college dating show called "Ring by Spring Break" will be on Hulu  

The movie will be directed by Mimi Cave, known for directing the 2022 horror film "Fresh" and the 2025 comedy-mystery "Holland."

 Cave will be directing from a screenplay by Haley Hope Bartels.

"Pumping Black" follows cyclist Taylor Mace, who is 35 and finding it harder to stay competitive in the sport.

 He is taken under the wing of Andrea Lathe, a doctor who is driven by her desire to win and gain power. As the race to the Tour de France continues, Taylor is forced to do more and more dangerous things to protect his secret. The film is described as an "adrenaline-filled, dangerous thriller," similar to "Whiplash" and "Black Swan."

The movie is being produced by Stacey Sher at Shiny Penny ("The Hateful Eight," "Heretic"), Cave, Anton's Sébastien Raybaud ("Victorian Psycho"), and Natalie Portman and Sophie Mas from MountainA ("May December," "Arco").

 Anton is fully funding the project, and production is scheduled for the fall.

" Haley's script immediately pulled us into a vivid, psychological world that feels both thrilling and completely original," said Sher.

 "I'm excited to partner with Natalie and MountainA on this bold project, and to work with Jonathan, whose talent makes him a perfect fit for the role. I can't wait to collaborate with Anton and bring Mimi Cave's incredible vision to life."  

After breaking out in the Netflix hit "Bridgerton," Bailey has reached a wide audience thanks to the "Wicked" franchise and "Jurassic World Rebirth.

" The combined box office of "Rebirth" ($869 million globally) and "Wicked: For Good" ($540 million) made him the highest-grossing actor in 2025.

Meanwhile, Portman won an Oscar for "Black Swan" and is known for other acclaimed roles like "Jackie," "V for Vendetta," and parts in the "Star Wars" and "Thor" franchises.

 On TV, she starred in and executive produced Apple TV's "Lady in the Lake." Her upcoming projects with MountainA include "The Gallerist" by Cathy Yan and "Good Sex" by Lena Dunham.

Super-producer Sher has been involved in over two dozen major films that have grossed nearly $2.7 billion at the box office.

 She's worked with big-name directors like Quentin Tarantino ("Pulp Fiction," "Django Unchained," "The Hateful Eight") and Steven Soderbergh ("Erin Brockovich," "Out of Sight," "Contagion"), as well as films such as "Garden State," "Reality Bites," "Get Shorty," "Man on the Moon," "Gattaca," and "Respect." She is currently producing the Amazon/MGM erotic thriller "Verity," directed by Michael Showalter and starring Anne Hathaway, Dakota Johnson, and Josh Hartnett.

Anton's Cannes lineup includes "My Darling California," an all-star crime thriller with a cast that includes Jessica Chastain, Chris Evans, Chris Pine, Mikey Madison, Charles Melton, and Don Cheadle, and "In Love," a modern love story starring George Clooney and Annette Bening.

 Recently, he announced the alien invasion thriller "Soon You Will Be Gone and Possibly Eaten" starring Sophie Wilde and Dave Franco, "Doctor Caligari's Cabinet of Wonders" starring Michael Shannon, and "Starman," an emotional journey starring Brendan Fraser.

Jonathan Bailey is represented by CAA, Conway Van Gelder Grant, and Anonymous Content.

 His legal team is Hansen, Jacobson, Teller, Hoberman, Newman, Warren, Richman, Rush, Kaller, Gellman, Meigs & Fox LLP. Natalie Portman is represented by CAA and attorney George Sheanshang. Mimi Cave is represented by CAA and Jackoway Austen. Stacey Sher is represented by CAA and Gang, Tyre, Ramer.