Guy Ritchie‘s live action ‘Aladdin‘ remake is said to have ushered Will Smith into its casting fold before shooting kicks off in the United Kingdom this summer.

Today, fans of the stellar Pop force Little Mix will be elated to learn that the group’s Jade is in talks to portray its leading lady Princess Jasmine.

A reliable source told ‘The Sun’:

Jasmine is Jade’s perfect role, so she’s delighted to have got this far in the process. The talks have been going on for some time now.

And the longer they go on, the better her chances are looking. All of the girls have their fingers crossed for her, as they always support each other. But they also know that it would be a huge commitment.

Jade would need to film for months, and that’s before promotion for the movie began.

So this week they sat down in a break from their tour dance rehearsals and talked about what they might do if Disney did decide to cast her.

It was quite an emotional conversation. But they all agreed that they would try to make it work for her around Little Mix commitments.

“It wouldn’t be easy, but as far as it’s possible, that’s what they want.”

Here’s hoping she gets the part.

Your thoughts?

Vanity Fair and Chopyard welcomed Naomi Campbell, Kendall Jenner and Clint Eastwood to the party it threw to celebrate the Cannes Film Festival last night.

Leading the night’s festivities? The legends who are Will Smith, Mary J. Blige and the fashion designer Ozwald Boateng (pictured above).

The trio rubbed shoulders and enjoyed the company of Billy Zane and Viola Davis‘ husband Julius Tennon as Mary celebrates the release of her new album ‘The Strength of a Woman‘.

Your thoughts?

The actress Monique inspired thousands survivors of sexual abuse around the world when she revealed that her older brother had molested her when she was a child.

Shortly after, her good friend Oprah Winfrey invited her family onto her talkshow to quiz them on how the abuse started and how and why Monique’s parents had been able to maintain a relationship with their son even after hearing their daughter’s story.

This month, Monique took to the net to blast Winfrey and her ‘Precious’ collaborator Lee Daniels after learning of their supposed decision to blackball her.

Today, she has revealed that she feels Oprah manipulated a personal moment they shared for ratings.

A post shared by The Shade Room (@theshaderoom) on

Watch her full explanation below…

Your thoughts?

Set to be slammed is the documentary ‘Can I Be Me’, a project which seeks to expose the ugly truth behind the late vocalist’s career.

Showtime will serve as the project’s home and will join its producers to share what they say is an accurate, and occasionally uncomfortable, look into Whitney’s rise to fame, her peak and untimely decline.

That isn’t all.

For, it will also barge its way into murmurs that the performer was once in a same-sex love affair.

Ready to see its trailer?

Your thoughts?

Filled to the brim with fashion-forward creativity, Jamaica’s infamous venerable Dancehall Queens often stand uncredited for their impact on American Pop culture and couture.

So, in honour of the innovative dancers whose unique sense of style often finds itself inspiring many a world renowned fashion designer, today’s Retro Rewind revisits the cult classic of the same name.

The movie was released in 1997 and followed the colourful life of a young woman named Marcia who finds herself caught in a web of lies, deceit, murder and danger following the slaying of her friend.

With a family to protect, she does what she must to escape a lifestyle which threatens to destroy those she loves.

How she does it?

Press play below to find out…

Your thoughts?

Jennifer Lopez has found a new rival and potential foe in Catherine Zeta-Jones.

Why?

Well, after Lopez announced plans to portray the drug dealer Griselda Blanco in a HBO TV movie, Catherine has revealed that she intends to release exactly the same movie…playing exactly the same role.

Zeta’s version is named ‘Cocaine Godmother’ and will premiere in 2018 via Lifetime while Lopez’ story is yet to nab a release date.

Unfamiliar with Blanco’s story?

Living in Queens with her three sons, Blanco quickly became embroiled with local drug runners and masterminded the use of beautiful women, the elderly and children as drug mules and created false-bottom suitcases to smuggle cocaine from Colombia.

In the wake of her newfound wealth, her sons abandoned school and entered the family business instead. She then moved to Miami to expand her empire. However, the move also led to the death of her second husband, giving her the nickname, The Black Widow. Her willingness to use violence against her competition pushed her rivals to make repeated unsuccessful attempts to kill her.

Who do you think will soar higher in the role?

In 2015, Taylor Swift assembled a group of Pop culture’s brightest stars to take aim at Katy Perry by way of her brilliant ‘Bad Blood’ visual.

In 2017, no longer willing to keep mum on the matter, Katy responded with the cut ‘Swish Swish’ with help from her sister-in-song Nicki Minaj.

Today, Swift’s pal Ruby Rose has taken to social media to diss the cut.

Man she’s harsh.

Yet to hear the single?

Click here!

Your thoughts?

Rita Ora may be readying new single ‘Your Song’ for release later this month, but she’s not vacating the TV the arena. Quite the contrary, in fact.

For, the former ‘X Factor’ judge ‘Voice UK’ coach, and ‘America’s Next Top Model’ host has booked a new gig – this time at ABC.

The network may have just nabbed the rights to ‘American Idol,’ but before then they announced a summer singing competition named ‘Boy Band.’ 

Well, according to Variety, Ora has been tapped to host the show which aims to piece together America’s next big boyband from a pool of contestants.

Backstreet Boys star Nick Carter has signed on as a judge alongside Spice Girls singer Emma Bunton.

So how will the format differ to Idol and the plethora of shows in the same space?

First and foremost hopefuls will battle for spots in a band with a recording contract at Hollywood Records. Viewers voting live at home will influence the sway of affairs by picking their five favorite potential members.

As for the judges, they will be called “architects” and will serve as mentors too.

‘Boy Band’ airs this summer on ABC.

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On the surface, this is giving ‘Making The Band’ meets ‘The Voice’ with sprinkles of several other shows already on offer.

That said, it does sound interesting. What’s more, sometimes the best shows are amalgamations of many others rather than an outright new concept.

In any case, we’re willing to give this a chance. Are you?

Your thoughts?

After ample speculation, it is official – Katy Perry has signed on a judge on the revived ‘American Idol.’

Confirmation came moments ago at the ABC Upfronts, whereby the network outlined their plans for the 2017/2018 television season.

The acquisition of Perry’s services will stand as quite the coup for ABC who secured the rights to air the new incarnation of the talent show after a fierce bidding war with its original network FOX as well as NBC.

It marks the latest in a string of announcements pertaining to Perry, who this week alone has unveiled 4th album ‘Witness’ and an accompanying tour.

Do you think ‘Idol’ is a wise move on her part? Let us know below…

Your thoughts? 


Following weeks of speculation, it is finally confirmed – ’Scandal’ will be bowing out after its 7th season.

The news was broken at ahead of the ABC Upfronts moments ago by the network’s Entertainment President Channing Dungey.

Speaking to congregated press, he said:

“Shonda has decided the series needs to come to a close, and while this is definitely a bittersweet moment for all of us gladiators, I have no doubt what she has in store for the final season will be as powerful as what’s come before, and we will be sure to honor that every step of the way.”

Rhimes, creator and executive producer of the politic drama, chimed in adding:

“Deciding how to end a show is easy. Deciding when to finish is quite simple when the end date is years away. But actually going through with it? Actually standing up to say: ‘This is it?’ Not so much. So, next year we are going all out. Leaving nothing on the table. Creating this world in celebration. We are going to handle the end the way we like to handle the important things in our ‘Scandal’ family: all together, white hats on, gladiators running full speed over a cliff.” [Source]

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As a consistent ratings performer, confirmation of the show’s end will come as a blow to its millions of fans. And while we count ourselves among that mass, we do feel ’Scandal’ has reached a respectable ceiling as far as believability goes. Hence, it’s best for it to go out on a high rather than linger on and drag.

Kudos to Kerry Washington, the cast, crew, writers, and all involved. It’s been a hell of a ride.

Your thoughts?


Fifth Harmony
‘s Normani Kordei continues to crush the competition on the current season of ‘Dancing With The Stars.’

Competing alongside Val Chmerkovskiy, the 20-year-old has been amassing major momentum with her flaw-free showings.

And week 9 was no different.

Tackling the Viennese Waltz (to Rihanna’s ‘ANTI’ hit ‘Desperado’) and a 2nd Jazz number, Kordei earned high scores – the latter of which being the top score.

Watch ‘Mani werk it all the way out below…

She came, she slayed, she conquered.

Word on the curb is that new 5H material is due in a matter of weeks, so this is all lining up rather handsomely.

Your thoughts?

In 2010, the attorney Phaedra Parks waltzed into America’s homes by way of the hit series ‘The Real Housewives of Atlanta.’

Shortly after, the esteemed mother of two found herself in hot water when a former friend named Angela Stanton penned a book detailing what she claims was criminal activity engaged in by Parks, her husband Apollo Nida and Nida‘s brother.

Fortunately for Parks, it wasn’t long before the book and the interviews launched to support it were buried beneath Park’s rising star and on-camera storylines served up by she and her fellow ‘Housewives.’

Alas, her feuding with her co-star Kandi Burruss and the firestorm it has created has prompted viewers to take a fresh look into Stanton’s allegations.

What a new generation of ‘Housewives’ viewers has discovered?

 

Parks has always denied these allegations. Alas, despite blasting the show’s decision to overlook tall tales told by her nemesis Kenya Moore, fans of the series took to Twitter to share remarks like the ones below…

 

Your thoughts?

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