All aboard Disney‘s magic carpet ride! For, the studio have finally confirmed the cast of its much anticipated ‘Aladdin’ live-action remake.

After reportedly “struggling” to secure stars for the flick, the media force have signed newcomer Mena Massoud for the lead role of Aladdin, while ‘Power Rangers’ actress Naomi Scott will play Jasmine.

Their recruitment brings an end what some sources claim was a mammoth search for the picture’s protagonists, with names such as Riz Ahmed and Dev Patel initially eyed.

In a major coup, Will Smith has been formally announced as Genie – confirming speculation that had been building for months.

Set to commence shooting in London next month, the picture is being directed by Guy Ritchie.

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Nostalgia and re-tellings are a tried and proven path to box office success in today’s climate, so we’re of the “why not” mindset. Especially if done correctly.

We just hope that for every big-budget revisiting of stories already told, studios will commit to the creation of new ones.

Your thoughts?

[Photo credit: Getty]

Welcome to Retro Rewind, the TGJ original feature carved out to give you easy access to some of TV and Film’s best and brightest moments.

Today, we honour the 90s and its incomparable delivery of riveting thrillers by revisiting the 1992 classic ‘The Hands that Rocks the Cradle.’

In it, a web of wickedness is woven when a doctor molests one of his patients and commits suicide when it emerges that he has done the same to several women within his affluent community.

It isn’t long before his widow, posing as a nanny, moves into one of the homes affected by her husband’s wicked deed with a plot to avenge him….and her dead baby.

Piqued your interest?

Watch below…

‘Cradle’ rocked its way to box office nirvana with $88 million prised out of the public’s pocket and was penned by Amanda Silver who is currently hard at work on Disney’s forthcoming ‘Mulan’ reboot.

Your thoughts?

Kandi Burruss is all sorts of busy these days.

The singing entrepreneur has been racking up praise as part of the reformed Xscape and is enjoying ample success with her new restaurant – ‘The Old Lady Gang.’

Perhaps most exciting for fans though is her role in the upcoming 10th season of ‘The Real Housewives Of Atlanta.’

During a visit to the TODAY show this week, Ms. Burruss opened up on what taping has been like thus far – as well as what it’s been like filming with the returning Nene Leakes.

Check out what she had to say below…

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With each passing episode it seems TNT’s breakout new series, ‘Claws,’ is leaving more and more of a mark on its legion of growing fans.  For that reason and more, the network has renewed the Niecy Nash-led dramedy for a season 2, set to kick off in 2018.

Currently just midway through its inaugural season, the critically acclaimed series – also starring Karrueche Tran, Carrie Preston, and more – follows the lives of manicurists at a Floridian nail salon who have become wrapped up in some serious illegal activity.

And, if the way Twitter is set alight when the show airs is any indication, fans are wrapped up right along with them.

Deadline reports:

Five episodes in, Claws — from producers Rashida Jones and Will McCormack, creator Eliot Laurence and showrunner Janine Sherman Barrois — has become the highest-rated TNT series launched since the cable network’s programming shift last year under the new regime.

It also is the youngest-skewing TNT drama series. Ranking as cable’s No. 4 new drama with adults 18-49 for 2017-to-date and No. 4 cable drama in social engagement, Claws is reaching a multiplatform audience of 6.3 million viewers per episode across TNT’s linear, digital, mobile and on-demand platforms and averaging 1.1 million adults 18-49 in linear Live + 7.

‘Claws’ airs Sundays at 9 PM, with the season finale set for August 13th.

Your thoughts?

Tyler Perry has achieved a wealth of success marching to the beat of his own drum; and now, as he gears up for the next chapter of his career, he’s teaming with Viacom for an unprecedented content partnership.

According to THR, the multi-year deal covers TV, film and short-form video projects, including producing approximately 90 episodes annually of original drama and comedy series for BET and other Viacom networks. The media juggernaut will have exclusive licensing rights on Perry programming and exclusive distribution rights to his short-form video content (sitcoms et al).

On the movie front, the Viacom owned Paramount will have exclusive “first look” rights on any and all new film concepts from Perry.

The film facet of the deal is effective immediately (and will include the ‘Madea‘ franchise), while the TV side of things goes into effect in May 2019, after the expiry of Perry’s exclusive agreement with Oprah Winfrey’s OWN – home of a number of his shows including ‘The Haves & Have Nots.’

Speaking on the deal, Perry said in a statement:

“Viacom has a rich tradition of reaching my audience through their TV, film and digital platforms and I am excited to partner with them. I am eager to have one home where I can leverage all of their assets to tell my stories to an even wider audience. I have been very blessed to have worked with the incredible people at Lionsgate and OWN over the last few years and I look forward to continuing my work with them on a non-exclusive basis.”

Congratulations!

This is a huge look and will see Perry harness the collective clout of Viacom film and TV divisions (which include BET, MTV, and Comedy Central) to broaden his reach.

Your thoughts?

The Trinidadian actor Lucien Laviscount continues to carve a healthy lane for himself in the competitive streets of Hollywood.

Still lauded for his role in the short-lived ‘Scream Queens’ and his contributions to the British series ‘Waterloo Road’, the thespian now finds himself soaring on the wings of cash collected by his latest picture ‘The Bye Bye Man.’

Good news below…

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The 2017 Primetime Emmy Awards air September 17th and will celebrate the titles and talents who’ve made the most marked impact.

As the top honor in television, all eyes are on which shows and stars have nabbed nominations.

Well, wonder no more. Because the full list of nominations for the main categories have been unveiled.

View below…

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Shia LaBeouf has issued an apology after telling an African-American police officer that he was going to “hell” after he was arrested in Savanah.

I am deeply ashamed of my behavior and make no excuses for it. My outright disrespect for authority is problematic to say the least, and completely destructive to say the worst. It is a new low. A low I hope is a bottom.

I have been struggling with addiction publicly for too long, and I am actively taking steps toward securing my sobriety and hope I can be forgiven for my mistakes

However, not everyone is convinced he meant any harm when he told the officer he was heading to Hades.

He said the black cop was going to hell cause he working for the white cops who don’t give a fuck about black people. I see no issue https://t.co/Vk6fY0X749

— J (@JayCassius_) July 13, 2017

Watch what happened here.

Do you agree?

This week, the beloved ‘Black Lives Matter’ activist Deray McKesson took to Twitter to reveal that he believed he had been slighted by the minds behind ‘Planet of the Apes.’

His tweets, which cited Hollywood’s undeniable efforts to endorse scientific racism as his cause for concern, saw him garner the support of those who felt he had been slighted by the movie.

Fortunately it wasn’t long before movie buffs took to social media to ease Deray’s fears by explaining that the character many believed had been based on his appearance was actually inspired by another set of characters in the franchise.

Where Whoopi Goldberg comes into play?

Hurt by her abrasiveness, Deray replied with…

.@WhoopiGoldberg, if you have something to say, I’m here.

— deray mckesson (@deray) July 12, 2017

After speaking with even more people about the history of the film, I deleted the tweets.

— deray mckesson (@deray) July 12, 2017

Things have now taken a turn for the worst. For, after teasing McKesson for not doing his research into the movie’s history before tweeting, social media has turned on Whoopi Goldberg for her supposed “eagerness” to tear him down.

Why? Her supposed habit of turning a blind-eye to veiled-racism in her industry.

Much as I love @WhoopiGoldberg she has had coon tendencies since forever. That was so out of line in my opinion. If he’s wrong, then educate

— ⚡Branden⚡ (@Beeyezzy) July 12, 2017

Whoopi Goldberg is a legend but she’s such a coon and it makes me sad.

— Dawn シ (@treasurxdawn) June 18, 2017

Whoopie is problematic as fuck. She was cool with her boyfriend Ted Danson in black face.

— Brian (@buzzbear1971) July 12, 2017

@karenhunter I have tuned Whoopi Goldberg out ever since she had Ted Dansen dress up in black face

— ✊ WiseGuyEddie (@WiseGuyEddie) July 12, 2017

Whoopi Goldberg let Ted Danson tell nigger jokes while wearing black face so I’m not even checking for her feelings on deray. #next

— Cuntess Vaughn (@jerzeegurl77) July 12, 2017

Didn’t Whoopi Goldberg defend Ted Danson after that blackface incident?

— NOT Jae Crowder (@el_budget) July 12, 2017

you had a global moment to educate the ENTIRE world about subtle racism in entertainment @WhoopiGoldberg and you took the payoff instead smh pic.twitter.com/4kfOU0pIZ1

— Sensible Azealia USA (@AzealiaRebelius) July 13, 2017

i think whoopi has something personal against you just by the way she reacted. u know she had to show out for white mommy and daddy smh

— curtis malone (@akronbred) July 12, 2017

Her unusual story colors her perception about the plight of racism. She seems to take the position good fortune gave her & hers for granted

— Confunkshun (@DEFStories) July 12, 2017

“You’re ignoring the history of the Planet of the Apes movies!!”

Me: You’re ignoring the history of Black people being called apes. pic.twitter.com/L4z5MHZNnL

— April (@ReignOfApril) July 11, 2017

Agreed. Correct him & debate in private. I hate when two intelligent, influential members of the community dispute minor issues in public

— Miss C (@UBUIBMissC) July 13, 2017

She’s also cool with cultural appropriation.

— Brian (@buzzbear1971) July 12, 2017

Do you agree?

Well damn!

That’s basically all we could say once we copped a gander at Ebony’s latest issue, featuring the ever-so sexy cast of OWN’s breakout hit, ‘Queen Sugar.’

Dominating TV ratings with their second season, the ‘Bordelons’ – “Ralph Angel” (Kofi Siriboe), “Charley” (Dawn-Lyen Gardner) and “Nova” (Rutina Wesley) – have turned Wednesday nights on its head with their OMG-worthy dramas, family feuds, address of social issues, and so much more.

Now, to build even more awareness, the show’s cast are showcasing their fiercest poses for the good folks at ‘Ebony.’  See the pics below:

Make sure you pick up the issue when it hits stands later this month.

Your thoughts?

For as much mileage as the “Real Housewives” franchise still has, it’s often a struggle for newer branches to successfully bloom.

However, for ‘The Real Housewives Of Potomac’ it’s proving a task they’re up to.

A ratings success, the Bravo show has proven increasingly popular during its second season.

Paired for much of its run with the ‘Atlanta’ arm, the series has maintained over 1 million viewers – even after the Spring climax of its older sister.

This Sunday sees the final part of the season 2 reunion special air, with the ladies addressing a number of pertinent issues.

Per the sneak peeks below, Robyn‘s odd relationship with Juan is dissected the more, as are the marriages of Karen, Ashley, and Charisse. What’s more, with newcomer Monique reading Gizelle (for filth) in part one, it’s anyone’s guess what firework’s she’ll be setting off for the closing instalment.

Peep the previews…

Your thoughts?

[Photo credit: Heidi Gutman/Bravo]

The world of film awaits the February 16th arrival of Marvel’s ‘Black Panther.’

Directed by Ryan Coogler, the movie’s all-star cast is led by Chadwick Boseman in the main role [T’Challa], and also features Lupita Nyong’o [Nakia], Michael B. Jordan [Kilmonger], Forrest Whittaker [Zuri], Daniel Kaluya [W’Kabi], and Angela Bassett [Ramonda].

Following the debut of the much discussed trailer, Entertainment Weekly have provided a closer look at the action in their special Comic-Con issue.

Expanding on the plot, EW wrote:

“T’Challa’s homeland is the site of massive natural deposits of Vibranium, the near-mystical metal that comprises Captain America’s shield, is woven into his Black Panther, and has allowed the people of Wakanda to make technological leaps nearly a century ahead of the rest of the world. But as T’Challa learns upon ascending the throne, the minute others know you have something valuable, someone will try to take it from you. In self-defense, Wakanda has closed itself off from the other nations of Earth, maintaining a false front that it’s a mere third-world nowhere – full of mines, farms, and jungle creatures. The truth is, its mines produce the rarest, most precious metal on earth, its fields grows the Heart-Shaped Herb, a Vibranium-enriched plant that grants its leaders superhuman strength, and its jungle creatures provide inspiration for one of the sleekest superheroes to ever leap from the page to the screen.”

Peep pics from the highly anticipated action-flick below…

Yes, yes, and yes! This looks stellar! We all sorts of ready. Roll on February!

Your thoughts?

[Photo credit: Matt Kennedy/ Marvel Studios]