Babygirl director defends age-gap romance

 

Halina Reijn, the writer-director of the controversial new drama Babygirl, has shared her thoughts on portraying an age-gap romance in Nicole Kidman and Harris Dickinson’s new erotic thriller. In an interview with W Magazine, Reijn reflected on the increasing presence of films exploring such relationships, including May-December and The Idea of You.

“If a male actor is the same age as a female actor in a romance, we often find it unusual, which is absurd,” Reijn said. “We need to normalise age gaps in both directions and embrace the idea that women can have diverse relationships. Women are no longer confined to outdated boxes. However, we’ve internalised the male gaze and patriarchal norms, and freeing ourselves from that is a challenge.”

In Babygirl, Kidman stars as Romy, a high-powered CEO who jeopardises her career and family by engaging in a passionate affair with her younger intern, Samuel, played by Dickinson. Reijn emphasised that she wanted the film’s intimate scenes to feel authentic yet steamy. “Sexuality is stop-and-go,” she noted. “It’s not the polished, glamorous scenes we saw in ’90s Hollywood movies. Real intimacy is more nuanced.”

Kidman revealed why the role resonated with her in an interview with The Hllywood Reporter. “Women are often discarded as sexual beings at a certain stage in their careers,” she explained. “It was empowering to be seen this way. From the moment I read the script, I knew this was a unique and unexplored voice. Romy is powerful yet uncertain about her identity, desires, and what she truly wants, even though she appears to have it all. That’s incredibly relatable.”

• Babygirl is released in the UK on 10 January.

Wicked could be banned, says director

Director and producer Adam McKay has said he wouldn’t be surprised” if Wicked was banned in 3-5 years due to its “radical” storyline.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter) the man behind Anchorman and Don’t Look Up said he doesn’t think Jon M. Chu’s record-breaking musical adaptation will be received as well down the line because of the political climate in the US.

“On a pure storytelling level Wicked Part 1 is right up there as one of the most radical big studio Hollywood movies ever made,” he wrote in his first post, adding, “I know Part 2 swings back to the centre a bit but Part 1 is nakedly about radicalisation in the face of careerism, fascism, propaganda.”

He noted a few other movies that come to mind when he thinks of “radical” projects: Bridge on the River Kwai, The Sound of Music, the Searchers, It’s a Wonderful Life, The Hunger Games and Citizen Kane. He also mentioned The Best Years of Our Lives, Network, Dr. Strangelove and Serpico, despite not considering them “big studio movies.”

“What’s really striking about Wicked Part 1 is that it’s coming out NOW when America has never been more right-wing and propagandised. And yes, I know the theatrical production and the book are much older so part of the timing is a coincidence but still …

“I think you’ll be shocked. If America keeps going on the track it is I wouldn’t be surprised to see the movie banned in 3-5 years.”

Downton big screen tribute to Maggie Smith

The forthcoming Downton Abbey movie will feature a heartfelt tribute to the late Dame Maggie Smith. Executive producer Gareth Neame has revealed that the untitled sequel, set for release in September, will include a poignant homage to Smith’s character, Violet Crawley, the Dowager Countess of Grantham, who passed away in the previous film.

“The loss of the Dowager Countess already carried emotional weight,” Neame told to the US website TVLine.“But with Dame Maggie’s own passing, it feels even more significant to see the characters mourning the family matriarch. It brings a deeper poignancy to the story we had planned.”

Smith, celebrated for her roles in Downton Abbey, The prime of Miss Jean Brodie and Harry Potter, passed away peacefully in hospital on September 27, surrounded by family. She leaves behind two sons and five grandchildren.

“She was an actress of unparalleled talent, able to seamlessly navigate high comedy and profound tragedy,” he wrote. “It is deeply personal for me, as my late grandfather directed her Oscar-winning performance in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. Both Jean Brodie and Violet Crawley exemplify the extraordinary range of her decades-long career, which captivated audiences worldwide. There will never be another Maggie Smith, and she will be sorely missed.”

Squid Game gets even darker

When Squid Game premiered on Netflix in 2021, it became an unprecedented global sensation. The brutal yet brilliant South Korean satire, crafted by Hwang Dong-hyuk, explored class warfare through a Parasite-meets-Battle Royale concept, with deadly childhood games offering the lure of a life-changing cash prize. The show remains Netflix’s most-watched series to date. Now, as Lee Jung-jae’s Prisoner 456, Gi-hun, prepares to re-enter the deadly arena in Squid Game Season 2 on Boxing Day, one question looms large: How do you follow up the biggest show in Netflix history?

According to Hwang Dong-hyuk, crafting the sequel has been both a creative triumph and a gruelling challenge. Speaking to Empire magazine, Hwang admitted to feeling the immense pressure but believes he’s delivered something extraordinary. “Season 2 is a deeper, more advanced story,” he says, hinting it could surpass the first. However, the process took its toll. “Physically, mentally, it was not easy. Some sequences were the hardest of my career. It was... hell.”

The new season picks up where the first left off, with Gi-hun choosing not to board that plane. Hwang explains the show continues to reflect a worsening world: “Climate change, wars, more people dying. Our lives haven’t improved since 2021. Things are worse.” 

This darker reality informed the new season’s tone, which Hwang describes as even crueller and more terrifying. “I even wondered, ‘Is this too much for people to handle?’”

But fans are ready. With promises of heightened tension, scarier twists, and even more gruesome challenges, Squid Game Season 2 is poised to delve deeper into the despair of its dystopian universe. As Hwang says, “You ain’t seen nothing yet.” Let the games begin.

Wicked breaks box office record

Wicked: Part One has soared to a record-breaking $164 million global opening weekend. The film, which explores the origin story of the Wicked Witch of the West (Cynthia Erivo) and her college roommate Galinda (Ariana Grande) from The Wizard of Oz, has left its competitors “green” with envy.

Wicked earned an impressive $114 million in the US alone and £13.7 million in the UK, setting a new record for the largest opening both globally and in the US for a Broadway show adaptation. It surpassed the previous record held by Les Misérables ($103 million worldwide in 2012) and Into the Woods ($31 million in the US in 2014). As well as that, the film now ranks among the top five openings for any movie musical, trailing only a handful of Disney live-action remakes and the phenomenon Frozen II.

Meanwhile, Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II also made a triumphant debut, amassing $221 million worldwide during its opening weekend. The swords-and-sandals sequel continues the legacy of its Oscar-winning predecessor with a strong and honourable showing at the global box office.

Idris joins Masters of the Universe

Idris Elba is set to join Masters of the Universe, the upcoming live-action adaptation from Amazon MGM Studios, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Elba is in final talks to portray Duncan, aka Man-at-Arms, a key character in the iconic Mattel toy line. Directed by Travis Knight, the film stars Nicholas Galitzine as He-Man, with Camila Mendes as Teela and Alison Brie as Evil Lyn. The movie is slated for a June 2026 release.

Launched in 1982, Mattel’s Masters of the Universe franchise began with a popular line of action figures, followed by the animated series He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, which premiered in 1983. The franchise expanded into video games, comics, and other merchandise, maintaining its cultural significance for decades.

Elba, known for his versatile roles, will soon return as the voice of Knuckles in Sonic the Hedgehog 3, arriving in inemas next month. He also stars in the spin-off series Knuckles on Paramount+. Upcoming projects include the Amazon MGM Studios action-comedy Heads of State alongside John Cena and Priyanka Chopra Jonas. Elba’s notable credits include Luther, Hijack, Pacific Rim, Hobbs & Shaw, and Heimdall in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Cineworld staves off administration

Cineworld has confirmed five of its sites are to close - and one has been saved - after it staved off the threat of administration in a High Court appearance.

This morning, a judge approved restructuring plans for four of its companies - Cine-UK Ltd, Cineworld Cinemas Ltd, Cineworld Cinema Properties Ltd and Cineworld Estates Ltd - which make up the firm. The approval means that £16million of fresh equity from their indirect parent company will be injected to meet immediate financial needs, with an additional potential £35million in the pipeline.

However, despite the last minute reprieve, five of its cinemas are set to close. Glasgow Parkhead, Bedford, Loughborough, Yate and Swindon Regent Circus will all still close for good. The timeline for the closures are currently unknown. However, Cineworld Hinckley - which had previously been earmarked for closure - will now remain open.