Director Spike Lee has collaborated with Denzel Washington several times, the actor who recently impressed in Gladiator II. Following films like Malcolm X and Inside Man, we now have Highest 2 Lowest, which also features Jeffrey Wright. The reception has been strong!

The story unfolds in New York City, where the lives of various residents intersect against a backdrop of love, ambition, and social change. The film is described as a love letter to the city. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film currently holds a Tomatometer score of 86%.

Collaboration

Joey Magidson of Awards Radar calls the film "a love letter to New York City from Spike Lee that reunites him with Denzel Washington". He particularly appreciates how the story connects personal and urban themes.

Jeff Ewing from That Hashtag Show writes that "Highest 2 Lowest is another visionary twist from Spike Lee, with much to say, featuring strong performances from Denzel and Jeffrey Wright". He does note that the ending feels somewhat less focused.

Gloss And Grit

Robbie Collin of the Daily Telegraph views the fifth collaboration between Lee and Washington as "the kind of luxury gloss-and-grit thriller that was once a studio standard in the late 20th century".



Alison Willmore of New York Magazine/Vulture points out that "Lowest reminds us how the entertainment industry has changed, with references to the attention economy and the internet". She praises the message to do what you love.

Strong Yet Incomplete

David Fear from Rolling Stone mentions that "the impression is that you’ve seen a great New York film, with a strong lead performance, but there still seems to be something missing". For him, it’s primarily a chance to see Washington act in all his glory.

During the annual ONE PIECE Day event in Tokyo, Netflix released the first footage from the second season of its live-action series One Piece. Additionally, it was announced that the show, based on the popular manga series by Eiichiro Oda, has already been greenlit for a third season.

The second season is scheduled for 2026 and follows the Straw Hats as they navigate towards the legendary Grand Line. In the same announcement, it was revealed that Ian Stokes will join as co-showrunner alongside Joe Tracz, who is also a writer and executive producer.

New Storylines And Characters

According to the official synopsis, Luffy and his crew will face a series of dangerous challenges and meet new enemies. On their way to the One Piece, they will encounter bizarre islands and discover uncharted territories. A notable addition in season two is Tony Tony Chopper, the reindeer-boy hybrid voiced by Mikaela Hoover.

The main roles will be reprised by Iñaki Godoy as Monkey D. Luffy, Mackenyu as Roronoa Zoro, Emily Rudd as Nami, Jacob Romero as Usopp, and Taz Skylar as Sanji. Michael Dorman returns as Gold Roger.

Looking Ahead To Season 3

Production for the third season will begin this fall in Cape Town, South Africa. Besides Oda himself, other executive producers attached to the series include Marty Adelstein, Becky Clements, Tetsu Fujimura, Chris Symes, Christoph Schrewe, and Steven Maeda. The collaboration between Netflix and Shueisha is thus secured for several more years.

Noah Centineo is reportedly ready to step into Sylvester Stallone's shoes, yet the original John Rambo himself has not been involved in the prequel so far.

According to the latest news via Deadline, Stallone is aware of Centineo's casting in the leading role but has yet to comment on the upcoming John Rambo film, which is said to begin filming in Thailand this fall.

The Legendary Veteran

Details of the John Rambo plot remain a mystery for now, but the film will likely focus on the early military career of the legendary titular Vietnam War veteran.

The project is directed by Jalmari Helander, based on a script by Rory Haines and Sohrab Noshirvani. Producers include Kevin King-Templeton of Templeton Media, Les Weldon, Jonathan Yunger, and Avi Lerner.

Action Skills

Before we see Centineo as the action hero famously portrayed by Stallone, the actor will play Ken Masters in the upcoming Street Fighter film, directed by Kitao Sakurai.

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[i]Knives Out[/i] was a great success. The blockbuster had a large theatrical release, but when Netflix acquired the rights, some changes were made to the franchise. This is becoming clear once again.

The sequel, Glass Onion, was in theaters for just one week around Thanksgiving in 2022. Nevertheless, it had the widest release ever for a Netflix film at the time, with about 600 screens and a revenue of no less than 13.1 million dollars in the first five days.

Third Installment

Film enthusiasts had hoped that this would prompt the streaming giant to release the third installment, Wake Up Dead Man, in more theaters. Unfortunately, the opposite appears to be true. Reportedly, Netflix plans an even smaller theatrical release, and no box office figures will be announced.

This probably comes as a slap in the face to director Rian Johnson. He has previously stated: "I want my film to be shown in as many theaters as possible and for as long as possible. I think 'Wake Up Dead Man' comes into its own on the biggest screen".

Issues?

From the beginning, the director has clearly voiced his support for a wide theatrical release for the Knives Out films, but he is not getting his way. Johnson has not yet commented on this news, but the question is how he will react to it.

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After earlier reports suggesting their collaboration with Netflix might come to an end, it has now been revealed that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have indeed signed a new long-term contract with the streaming service. The couple will continue to develop exclusive content for the platform through their production company, Archewell Productions.

The initial agreement with Netflix dates back to 2020 and has resulted in productions such as Harry & Meghan, Heart of Invictus, Live to Lead, and Polo. Meghan recently also launched her lifestyle program With Love, Meghan, with its second season set to premiere later this month. Simultaneously, the accompanying brand As Ever has been introduced, which will be further developed in collaboration with Netflix.

From Termination To Extension

The new deal is remarkable, as it was previously suggested that Netflix would end its collaboration with the Duke and Duchess. Instead, the partnership is being expanded. Part of this is a special holiday episode of With Love, Meghan set to air in December, where Meghan will host guests in Montecito for a traditional festive gathering, complete with decorations, recipes, and DIY tips.

Additionally, Harry and Meghan are working on new projects, including the short documentary Masaka Kids, A Rhythm Within, which will be released later this year. The story takes place in the Ugandan region of Masaka and follows a group of orphans building a community and a future through music and dance. A film adaptation of Carley Fortune's novel Meet Me at the Lake is also in development.

Netflix Remains Confident In Archewell

According to Netflix content chief Bela Bajaria, the results indicate that Harry and Meghan's productions attract a global audience. The documentary Harry & Meghan was among the most viewed titles on the platform, and products from the As Ever line often sell out quickly. The couple claims to feel inspired to "create content that resonates globally and celebrates a shared vision."