Kid Cudi Joins Voice Cast of Trolls Threequel “Trolls Band Together”

Kid Cudi is on a t(roll)

The 39-year-old half-Mexican American rapper, singer, songwriter record producer and actor has joined the voice cast of Universal Pictures and DreamWorks Animation’s next Trolls film.

Kid Cudi The studios have unveiled the official title for the third film in their hit animated musical franchise, which opens in theaters nationwide on November 17.

Returning to lead the threequel, Trolls Band Together, as expected, are Justin Timberlake and Anna Kendrick.

In addition to Kid Cudi, others set for the film include Eric André, Daveed Diggs, Troye SivanCamila Cabello, Amy Schumer, Andrew Rannells, RuPaul Charles, Zosia Mamet, Zooey Deschanel, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Icona Pop collaborators Aino Jawo and Caroline Hjelt, Anderson .Paak, Ron Funches , Kunal Nayyar and Kenan Thompson.

Trolls is a jukebox musical franchise that has thus far grossed over $396M worldwide between 2016’s Trolls, which landed a Best Original Song Oscar nom for the Timberlake-voiced pop hit “Can’t Stop the Feeling,” and 2020’s somewhat pandemic-hampered Trolls World Tour.

The new film will pick up with trolls Poppy (Kendrick) and Branch (Timberlake) after two films of true friendship and relentless flirting, at a point when they’re now officially, finally, a couple (#broppy)! As they grow closer, Poppy discovers that Branch has a secret past. He was once part of her favorite boyband phenomenon, BroZone, with his four brothers: Floyd (Sivan), John Dory (André), Spruce (Diggs) and Clay (Cudi).

BroZone disbanded when Branch was still a baby, as did the family, and Branch hasn’t seen his brothers since. But when Branch’s bro Floyd is kidnapped for his musical talents by a pair of nefarious pop-star villains —Velvet (Schumer) and Veneer (Rannells) — Branch and Poppy embark on a harrowing and emotional journey to reunite the other brothers and rescue Floyd from a fate even worse than pop-culture obscurity.

Walt Dohrn returned to direct Trolls Band Together after helming both past installments, with Trolls World Tour’s head of story Tim Heitz coming aboard as co-director, and Gina Shay returning as producer.

Daniel Zovatto to Star Opposite Anna Kendrick in True Crime Thriller “The Dating Game”

Daniel Zovatto is joining the dating pool…

The 31-year-old Costa Rican American film and television actor will co-star opposite Anna Kendrick in the true crime thriller The Dating Game, which Kendrick will also directing.

Daniel ZovattoStuart Ford’s AGC Studios is behind the film with Kendrick also producing.

Production is currently under way in Vancouver.

The script is from a Black List script by Ian MacAllister McDonald and is based on the stranger-than-fiction true story of Cheryl Bradshaw, who was a bachelorette on the hit 70s TV matchmaking show The Dating Game and chose handsome and funny bachelor number one, Rodney Alcala. But behind Alcala’s charming façade was a deadly secret: he was a psychopathic serial killer.

Best known for his breakout role in It Follows, Zovatto is coming off a starring role in the Emmy-nominated HBO limited series Station 11 opposite Himesh Patel and Mackenzie Davis.

He recently wrapped production on The Pope’s Exorcist opposite Russell Crowe.

Joe Penna to Direct Endeavor Content’s Sci-Fi Thriller “Trespasser”

Joe Penna isn’t (tres)passing on a great opportunity…

The 35-year-old Brazilian musician and filmmaker will direct Endeavor Content’s sci-fi thriller Trespasser.

Joel Penna

The film is based on a Black List screenplay by Gabe Hobson and adapted from Justin M. Ryan’s 2017 Alterna Comics-published graphic novel.

The grounded genre story is set in the Alaskan wilderness, where a father and daughter living in isolation encounter a mysterious otherworldly creature and are thrust into a journey of peril, survival and redemption.

Trespasser was originally published in 2016 as a four-issue digital series available for download through Amazon’s Comixology portal. The following year, Ryan launched a successful Kickstarter campaign to fund a trade paperback version that collected all four of the original digital issues.

Jason FuchsBrad Fuller and Alixandra Fuchs will produce the project, with Alex Ginno serving as executive producer.

Penna broke onto the scene with the survival film Arctic starring Mads Mikkelsen, a 2018 Cannes official selection. He followed that up with Stowaway, which stars Anna Kendrick and Toni Collette, for Netflix.

Anthony Ramos to Star in “Trolls” Half-Hour Animated Musical Special “Trolls Holiday in Harmony”

Anthony Ramos is about to let it troll….

The 29-year-old Puerto Rican actor/singer has joined the voice cast of Trolls Holiday in Harmony, starring Trolls alums Anna KendrickJustin TimberlakeKenan Thompson and Rachel Bloom.

Anthony Ramos

The new half-hour animated musical special hails from the DreamWorks Animation franchise set on NBC.

Other Trolls alums joining the cast include Ron Funches, Kunal Nayyar, Anderson .Paak, Ester Dean, Walt Dohrn, Da’Vine Joy Randolph and Karan Soni.

The special will air on Friday, November 26 at 9:00 pm on NBC.

In the special, as the holidays near, Queen Poppy (Kendrick) plans the first annual Trolls Kingdom Secret Holiday Gift Swap. Things take an unexpected turn, however, when she and Branch (Timberlake) draw each other’s name. Meanwhile, Tiny Diamond (Thompson) comes down with a bad case of writers’ block trying to think of a special holiday rap for his dad.

The special, which includes four original songs, is written and directed by Sean Charmatz and Tim Heitz with Gina Shay and Walt Dohrn serving as the executive producers.

The Trolls DreamWorks Animation franchise includes the 2016 film Trolls and 2020’s Trolls World Tour starring Kendrick, Timberlake, among others, as well as two original TV series, digital content, videos games and more.

Following its premiere on NBC, Trolls Holiday in Harmony, will be available for purchase on digital and DVD November 30 from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. A digital soundtrack for the special will be released by RCA Records on November 26 to coincide with the special airing on NBC.

Roku Acquires Quibi’s Programming, Including Nicole Richie’s “Nikki Fre$h” Series

Nicole Richie is freshening up Roku

Roku has acquired the exclusive global distribution rights to the portfolio of Quibi’s programs, including the 39-year-old part-Mexican American actress & television personality’s series Nikki Fre$h.

Nicole Richie

In its biggest original programming foray to date, Roku’s acquisition covers most of the recently shuttered mobile-only streaming venture’s library, while some daily news shows aren’t part of the package.

A key draw for Roku is the talent, a roster including Richie, Idris Elba, Kevin Hart, Liam Hemsworth, Anna Kendrick, Chrissy Teigen and Lena Waithe.

The lineup includes titles like Most Dangerous Game, Dummy, Murder House Flip and the Reno 911 reboot, starring Carlos Alazraqui.

Financial terms weren’t disclosed, though the valuation is said to be less than $100 million, according to insiders. Roku shares rose 5% to $398.60 on the news. At one point early in the trading day, they reached $402.81, an all-time high.

The programming will be available for free starting later this year. Shows will have advertising, as they did on the $5-a-month Quibi service, and they’ll be housed on the Roku Channel. The hub for free and premium streaming channels, including 150-plus free live, linear offerings, has become a mainstay of the company’s strategy since Roku launched it in 2017. By the fourth quarter of 2020, it was being viewed by households representing an estimated 61.8 million people, the company said, double its reach at the end of 2019.

“The most creative and imaginative minds in Hollywood created groundbreaking content for Quibi that exceeded our expectations,” said Quibi Founder Jeffrey Katzenberg. “We are thrilled that these stories, from the surreal to the sublime, have found a new home on The Roku Channel.”

Chrissie Fit & Her “Pitch Perfect” Cast Mates Reunite for Charity A Capella Cover of Beyonce’s “Love On Top”

Chrissie Fit’s back on top

The 36-year-old Cuban American actress/singer has reunited with her Pitch Perfect cast mates for an a cappella rendition of Beyoncé‘s 2011 hit, “Love On Top.”

Chrissie Fit

The Barden Bellas reunion comes nearly years since the last installment of the franchise, Pitch Perfect 3, hit theaters, and they joined voices once again for a reason.

“We are here, again, making music with our mouths for two very important reasons: Beyoncé and a great cause,” Brittany Snow captioned the performance, featuring Fit, who portrayed Florencia “Flo” Fuentes, Hailee Steinfeld, Anna Kendrick, Anna Camp, Rebel Wilson and more delivering the song safely from home.

“There’s nothing perfect about the world we’re living in,” the video description reads. “Families around the globe are suffering from the impact of the #COVID19 pandemic, especially those in Lebanon who are facing crisis after crisis. But we can all pitch in and help.”

“The proceeds raised from the downloads & streams of our rendition of ‘Love on Top’ will go to UNICEF to help children in Lebanon and around the world who need our support right now,” the description continues.

The Bellas’ charitable “Love On Top” performance also includes a fun introduction from Pitch Perfect announcers, John Smith (John Michael Higgins) and Gail Abernathy-McKadden (Elizabeth Banks).

“I’m afraid I have some bad news. The Barden Bellas have gotten back together again,” Higgins says. “It seems like not even a quarantine can prevent them from harassing us with another musical performance.”

Click here to donate to the cause.

Lin-Manuel Miranda to Perform at This Year’s Tony Awards

Lin-Manuel Miranda is making his triumphant return to the Tony Awards

The 37-year-old Puerto Rican composer, playwright, actor and singer will perform on Sunday’s Tonycast, almost one year after his hit Broadway musical Hamilton swept the awards.

Lin-Manuel Miranda

The casts of Bandstand, Come From Away, Dear Evan Hansen, Falsettos, Groundhog Day The Musical, Hello, Dolly!, Miss Saigon, Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 and War Paint will perform during 71st Annual Tony Awards, which CBS will broadcast live from Radio City Music Hall from 8:00 to 11:00 PM.

There’s still no word on what Miranda will perform.

There will be additional performances by The Radio City Rockettes and Tony Award winners Cynthia Erivo (The Color Purple) and Leslie Odom Jr. (Hamilton).

There will be additional appearances by Scott Bakula, Sara Bareilles, Orlando Bloom, Rachel Bloom, Glenn Close, Stephen Colbert, Brian d’Arcy James, Cynthia Erivo, Tina Fey, Sutton Foster, Josh Gad, Whoopi Goldberg, Jonathan Groff, Mark Hamill, Taraji P. Henson, Christopher Jackson, Allison Janney, Scarlett Johansson, Anna Kendrick, Keegan-Michael Key, Nick Kroll, John Legend, John Lithgow, Patina Miller, John Mulaney, David Oyelowo, Chazz Palminteri, Sarah Paulson, Lea Salonga, Tom Sturridge, Tommy Tune, Olivia Wilde, and 2017 Tony nominees Sally Field, Josh Groban, Bette Midler and Ben Platt.

Although Midler will appear as a presenter in one of the acting categories, she is not scheduled to participate in the Hello, Dolly! segment, which will be led by co-star Hyde Pierce. The blockbuster production’s offer to present the title song, or another of Dolly’s show-stoppers, live via remote from the Shubert Theatre was declined by the Tony producers.

The ceremony will be hosted by Tony and Academy Award-winning actor Kevin Spacey.

The Tony Awards are presented by The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing.

Trejo to Participate in This Year’s Red Nose Day Special on NBC

It’s a Rudolph-like moment for Danny Trejo

The 72-year-old Mexican American actor, best known for portraying villains and anti-heroes, has signed on for NBC’s Red Nose Day Special.

Danny Trejo

The fundraiser, which aims to help lift kids out of poverty, will be broadcast live on May 26 from 9:00 – 11:oo pm ET on NBC.

The special, hosted by Craig Ferguson, features comedy, musical performances and short films that shed light on children in need here at home and around the world.

Also scheduled to make an appearance on the special are Chiwetel Ejiofor, Tony Hale, Iwan Rheon, Sterling K. Brown, Yvette Nicole Brown, Margot Robbie, Jane Lynch, Connie Britton, Jay Pharaoh, Mayim BialikEllen DeGeneres, Jack Black, Paul Rudd, Julianne Moore, Liam Neeson, Sarah Silverman, Tracy Morgan, Key & Peele, Anna Kendrick, Seth Rogen, Zac Efron and Ellie Kemper, along with Kristen Bell, Emma Watson, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Rose Byrne, Blake Griffin, Emma Thompson, Chloë Grace Moretz, Steve Buscemi, Adam Devine and Ron Funches. Additional talent will be announced at a later date.

Created by Oscar nominee and Emmy-winning writer-director Richard Curtis, the idea of Red Nose Day was built upon the foundation that mass media and celebrities can help raise money and awareness of poverty to save and change millions of lives.

Red Nose Day has raised more than $1 billion globally in the last 25 years, and in the UK has become a cultural phenomenon where people across the country come together to have fun, raise money and change lives.

Red Nose Day launched in the U.S. in 2015, and raised more than $23 million, with the money now at work in all 50 states and 15 countries internationally through programs to keep children and young people safe, healthy and educated.

Baccarin Earns First-Ever MTV Movie Awards Nominations

Morena Baccarin has a (Dead)pool of reasons to celebrate…

The 36-year-old Brazilian-American actress has earned her first ever MTV Movie Awards nominations for playing Ryan Reynolds’ love interest in Deadpool.

Morena Baccarin in Deadpool

The former Homeland star is nominated for Best Female Performance, where she’ll face stiff competition from Alicia Vikander (Ex Machina), Anna Kendrick (Pitch Perfect 2), Charlize Theron (Mad Max: Fury Road), Daisy Ridley (Star Wars: The Force Awakens) and Jennifer Lawrence (Joy).

Baccarin and Reynolds are also nominated in the Best Kiss category.

The awards show will be hosted by Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart on Sunday, April 10.

Here are this year’s MTV Movie Awards nominees:

MOVIE OF THE YEAR

  • Avengers: Age of Ultron
  • Creed
  • Deadpool
  • Jurassic World
  • Star Wars: The Force Awakens
  • Straight Outta Compton

TRUE STORY

  • Concussion
  • Joy
  • Steve Jobs
  • Straight Outta Compton
  • The Big Short
  • The Revenant

DOCUMENTARY

  • Amy
  • Cartel Land
  • He Named Me Malala
  • The Hunting Ground
  • The Wolfpack
  • What Happened, Miss Simone?

BEST FEMALE PERFORMANCE

  • Alicia Vikander – Ex Machina
  • Anna Kendrick – Pitch Perfect 2
  • Charlize Theron – Mad Max: Fury Road
  • Daisy Ridley – Star Wars: The Force Awakens
  • Jennifer Lawrence – Joy
  • Morena Baccarin – Deadpool

BEST MALE PERFORMANCE

  • Chris Pratt – Jurassic World
  • Leonardo DiCaprio – The Revenant
  • Matt Damon – The Martian
  • Michael B. Jordan – Creed
  • Ryan Reynolds – Deadpool
  • Will Smith – Concussion

BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMANCE

  • Amy Schumer – Trainwreck
  • Brie Larson – Room
  • Daisy Ridley – Star Wars: The Force Awakens
  • Dakota Johnson – Fifty Shades of Grey
  • John Boyega – Star Wars: The Force Awakens
  • O’Shea Jackson Jr. – Straight Outta Compton

BEST COMEDIC PERFORMANCE

  • Amy Schumer – Trainwreck
  • Kevin Hart – Ride Along 2
  • Melissa McCarthy – Spy
  • Rebel Wilson – Pitch Perfect 2
  • Ryan Reynolds – Deadpool
  • Will Ferrell – Get Hard

BEST ACTION PERFORMANCE

  • Chris Pratt – Jurassic World
  • Dwayne Johnson – San Andreas
  • Jennifer Lawrence – The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2
  • John Boyega – Star Wars: The Force Awakens
  • Ryan Reynolds – Deadpool
  • Vin Diesel – Furious 7

BEST HERO

  • Charlize Theron – Mad Max: Fury Road
  • Chris Evans – Avengers: Age of Ultron
  • Daisy Ridley – Star Wars: The Force Awakens
  • Dwayne Johnson – San Andreas
  • Jennifer Lawrence – The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2
  • Paul Rudd – Ant-Man

BEST VILLAIN

  • Adam Driver – Star Wars: The Force Awakens
  • Ed Skrein – Deadpool
  • Hugh Keays-Byrne – Mad Max: Fury Road
  • James Spader – Avengers: Age of Ultron
  • Samuel L. Jackson – Kingsman: The Secret Service
  • Tom Hardy – The Revenant

BEST VIRTUAL PERFORMANCE

  • Amy Poehler – Inside Out
  • Andy Serkis – Star Wars: The Force Awakens
  • Jack Black – Kung Fu Panda 3
  • James Spader – Avengers: Age of Ultron
  • Lupita Nyong’o – Star Wars: The Force Awakens
  • Seth MacFarlane – Ted 2

ENSEMBLE CAST

  • Avengers: Age of Ultron
  • Furious 7
  • Pitch Perfect 2
  • Star Wars: The Force Awakens
  • The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2
  • Trainwreck

BEST KISS

  • Amy Schumer & Bill Hader – Trainwreck
  • Dakota Johnson & Jamie Dornan – Fifty Shades of Grey
  • Leslie Mann & Chris Hemsworth – Vacation
  • Margot Robbie & Will Smith – Focus
  • Morena Baccarin & Ryan Reynolds – Deadpool
  • Rebel Wilson & Adam DeVine – Pitch Perfect 2

BEST FIGHT

  • Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) vs. Ajax (Ed Skrein) – Deadpool
  • Hugh Glass (Leonardo DiCaprio) vs. The Bear – The Revenant
  • Imperator Furiosa (Charlize Theron) vs. Max Rockatansky (Tom Hardy) – Mad Max: Fury Road
  • Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) vs. Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) – Avengers: Age of Ultron
  • Rey (Daisy Ridley) vs. Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) – Star Wars: The Force Awakens
  • Susan Cooper (Melissa McCarthy) vs. Lia (Nargis Fakhri) – Spy

Trailer Released for Plaza’s Comedy “Mike & Dave Need Wedding Dates”

Aubrey Plaza con’t lose…

The latest trailer has been released for Mike & Dave Need Wedding Dates, the comedy starring the 31-uear-old half-Puerto Rican actress, Adam Devine, Zac Efron and Anna Kendrick.

Mike & Dave Need Wedding Dates

The film centers on the Stangle brothers Mike (DeVine) and Dave (Efron), who frequently ruin family events with their dangerous antics. In order to prevent them from ruining their sister’s upcoming wedding in Hawaii, their parents mandate that they attend the wedding with dates. Their appearance on The Wendy Williams Show to advertise themselves catches the attention of Tatiana (Plaza) and Alice (Kendrick). After pretending to be civilized and respectable, Tatiana and Alice secure Mike and Dave as their respective dates. However, when they get to Hawaii, Mike and Dave find that their dates are much more wild and unhinged than they anticipated.

Jake Szymanski directs the film from a script by the Neighbors duo of Andrew Jay Cohen and Brendan O’Brien.

The film from 20th Century Fox opens in theaters on July 8.