मनोरंजन

(This story has been refiled to remove an incorrect picture of Dan Redfeld) Jan 27 (Reuters) – Decades after three Californian youth theatre students decided to write a musical based on Louisa May Alcott's coming-of-age classic "Little Women", they have achieved a sell-out world premiere at London's Theatre Royal. "We were the age of the kids when we wrote it," said composer Dan Redfeld, speaking before Sunday's concert performance. "Now we’re coming back to it at the age of the adults." "Jo – The Little Women Musical" began when Redfeld saw and loved the 1994 film of "Little Women", starring Winona Ryder as the young heroine Jo March and Susan Sarandon as her mother Marmee. "As you do in youth theatre," Redfeld said, he thought: "Let's write a musical." Together with lyricists Christina Harding and John Gabriel Koladziej, he did. That was the easy part. WORKSHOPPING WITH ELAINE STRITCH Years of false starts followed, including workshopping the project with Broadway star Elaine Stritch. The 9/11 attacks in 2000 led funding to disappear. After that, COVID slowed their attempt to revive it, but gave them time to revise. The show at last has funders and big stars. Following Sunday's one-night premiere, the team is working to arrange more performances, but said they could not yet disclose details. A selling point is the show's lush sound provided by a nearly 30-strong orchestra that harks back to the West End musicals of the late eighties and nineties that were the creators' influences when they began writing "Jo". Kerry Ellis, who sings Marmee, and has previously starred in dozens of major musicals, said such "luscious orchestras" have become rare. "This is very special because of that," she said. The West End premiere was preceded by an album, released last year, and recordings at London's Abbey Road Studios, where The Beatles and so many others have gone before. For everyone in the show, Abbey Road Studios is a setting they never take for granted. Working there was full of "pinch me moments," Koladziej said after a rehearsal session at the Studios late last week. (Reporting by Barbara Lewis; Editing by Andrew Heavens)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

(This story has been refiled to remove an incorrect picture of Dan Redfeld) Jan 27 (Reuters) – Decades after three Californian youth theatre students decided to write a musical based on Louisa May Alcott's coming-of-age classic "Little Women", they have achieved a sell-out world premiere at London's Theatre Royal. "We were the age of the kids when we wrote it," said composer Dan Redfeld, speaking before Sunday's concert performance. "Now we’re coming back to it at the age of the adults." "Jo – The Little Women Musical" began when Redfeld saw and loved the 1994 film of "Little Women", starring Winona Ryder as the young heroine Jo March and Susan Sarandon as her mother Marmee. "As you do in youth theatre," Redfeld said, he thought: "Let's write a musical." Together with lyricists Christina Harding and John Gabriel Koladziej, he did. That was the easy part. WORKSHOPPING WITH ELAINE STRITCH Years of false starts followed, including workshopping the project with Broadway star Elaine Stritch. The 9/11 attacks in 2000 led funding to disappear. After that, COVID slowed their attempt to revive it, but gave them time to revise. The show at last has funders and big stars. Following Sunday's one-night premiere, the team is working to arrange more performances, but said they could not yet disclose details. A selling point is the show's lush sound provided by a nearly 30-strong orchestra that harks back to the West End musicals of the late eighties and nineties that were the creators' influences when they began writing "Jo". Kerry Ellis, who sings Marmee, and has previously starred in dozens of major musicals, said such "luscious orchestras" have become rare. "This is very special because of that," she said. The West End premiere was preceded by an album, released last year, and recordings at London's Abbey Road Studios, where The Beatles and so many others have gone before. For everyone in the show, Abbey Road Studios is a setting they never take for granted. Working there was full of "pinch me moments," Koladziej said after a rehearsal session at the Studios late last week. (Reporting by Barbara Lewis; Editing by Andrew Heavens)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

By Louisa Off and Miranda Murray NUREMBERG, Germany, Jan 27 (Reuters) – Mattel teased fans of "KPop Demon Hunters" on Tuesday with a new line-up of dolls to be rolled out later this year after it failed to cash in on the success of the runaway Netflix hit over the holiday shopping season.  "KPop Demon Hunters" is Netflix's most popular film ever, hitting over 500 million views since its June release. Mattel, however, did not foresee its crossover appeal, a source told Reuters last year. The new toys will start rolling out this summer, roughly a year after the film's release, as Mattel hopes merchandise can stoke its continued popularity.  "We really believe that this brand and this franchise has evergreen potential," Roberto Stanichi, Mattel's chief global brand officer, told Reuters at the International Toy Fair in the southern German city of Nuremberg, where the toys were unveiled. "We're going to be staging different collections, different assortments throughout the year," he added. FROM TOYMAKER TO ENTERTAINMENT PLAYER Facing declining retail sales, the Barbie and Hot Wheels maker is repositioning itself as a global entertainment player, giving new life to its intellectual properties through Hollywood partnerships. With more than 14 films in the pipeline, Mattel hopes to repeat the success of 2023 blockbuster "Barbie" with a live-action version of "Masters of the Universe" in June and will release a new He-Man toy line soon to build buzz.  While no announcement has yet been made, industry publication Deadline reported that a "KPop Demon Hunters" sequel is in the works for a possible 2029 release. "We have ambitious plans for the franchise, but I'm not able to share them yet," Filippo Zuffada, senior director of consumer products at Netflix, told Reuters. "Merchandise is essential to extend the life of an IP like this." Netflix, which was already offering "KPop Demon Hunters" apparel, accessories and collectibles through its online shop, announced a licencing partnerships with Mattel as well as Hasbro in October. Mattel's Stanichi said the process of developing a product from an idea to commercial launch typically takes around 18 months, and, for the KPop Demon Hunters line, it worked with Netflix to speed that up without sacrificing details. SINGING DOLLS, POLLY POCKETS PLANNED The dolls inspired by Rumi, Zoey and Mira – the film's girl band members by day, demon hunters by night – will initially be available with two looks, including dolls who sing their Billboard No. 1 hit "Golden".  The HUNTR/X stars along with frenemy boy band Saja Boys members and other characters will be released across Mattel's Polly Pocket, UNO and Little People Collector brands.  The dolls will sell for around $40 to $45, while Polly Pocket tiny capsules, featuring the girl band's favourite ramen cups, will retail for about $8.  Some products will not be available until autumn.  (Reporting by Louisa Off in Nuremberg and Miranda Murray in Berlin; Editing by Joe Bavier)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

(This story has been refiled to remove an incorrect picture of Dan Redfeld) Jan 27 (Reuters) – Decades after three Californian youth theatre students decided to write a musical based on Louisa May Alcott's coming-of-age classic "Little Women", they have achieved a sell-out world premiere at London's Theatre Royal. "We were the age of the kids when we wrote it," said composer Dan Redfeld, speaking before Sunday's concert performance. "Now we’re coming back to it at the age of the adults." "Jo – The Little Women Musical" began when Redfeld saw and loved the 1994 film of "Little Women", starring Winona Ryder as the young heroine Jo March and Susan Sarandon as her mother Marmee. "As you do in youth theatre," Redfeld said, he thought: "Let's write a musical." Together with lyricists Christina Harding and John Gabriel Koladziej, he did. That was the easy part. WORKSHOPPING WITH ELAINE STRITCH Years of false starts followed, including workshopping the project with Broadway star Elaine Stritch. The 9/11 attacks in 2000 led funding to disappear. After that, COVID slowed their attempt to revive it, but gave them time to revise. The show at last has funders and big stars. Following Sunday's one-night premiere, the team is working to arrange more performances, but said they could not yet disclose details. A selling point is the show's lush sound provided by a nearly 30-strong orchestra that harks back to the West End musicals of the late eighties and nineties that were the creators' influences when they began writing "Jo". Kerry Ellis, who sings Marmee, and has previously starred in dozens of major musicals, said such "luscious orchestras" have become rare. "This is very special because of that," she said. The West End premiere was preceded by an album, released last year, and recordings at London's Abbey Road Studios, where The Beatles and so many others have gone before. For everyone in the show, Abbey Road Studios is a setting they never take for granted. Working there was full of "pinch me moments," Koladziej said after a rehearsal session at the Studios late last week. (Reporting by Barbara Lewis; Editing by Andrew Heavens)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

(This story has been refiled to remove an incorrect picture of Dan Redfeld) Jan 27 (Reuters) – Decades after three Californian youth theatre students decided to write a musical based on Louisa May Alcott's coming-of-age classic "Little Women", they have achieved a sell-out world premiere at London's Theatre Royal. "We were the age of the kids when we wrote it," said composer Dan Redfeld, speaking before Sunday's concert performance. "Now we’re coming back to it at the age of the adults." "Jo – The Little Women Musical" began when Redfeld saw and loved the 1994 film of "Little Women", starring Winona Ryder as the young heroine Jo March and Susan Sarandon as her mother Marmee. "As you do in youth theatre," Redfeld said, he thought: "Let's write a musical." Together with lyricists Christina Harding and John Gabriel Koladziej, he did. That was the easy part. WORKSHOPPING WITH ELAINE STRITCH Years of false starts followed, including workshopping the project with Broadway star Elaine Stritch. The 9/11 attacks in 2000 led funding to disappear. After that, COVID slowed their attempt to revive it, but gave them time to revise. The show at last has funders and big stars. Following Sunday's one-night premiere, the team is working to arrange more performances, but said they could not yet disclose details. A selling point is the show's lush sound provided by a nearly 30-strong orchestra that harks back to the West End musicals of the late eighties and nineties that were the creators' influences when they began writing "Jo". Kerry Ellis, who sings Marmee, and has previously starred in dozens of major musicals, said such "luscious orchestras" have become rare. "This is very special because of that," she said. The West End premiere was preceded by an album, released last year, and recordings at London's Abbey Road Studios, where The Beatles and so many others have gone before. For everyone in the show, Abbey Road Studios is a setting they never take for granted. Working there was full of "pinch me moments," Koladziej said after a rehearsal session at the Studios late last week. (Reporting by Barbara Lewis; Editing by Andrew Heavens)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

By Louisa Off and Miranda Murray NUREMBERG, Germany, Jan 27 (Reuters) – Mattel teased fans of "KPop Demon Hunters" on Tuesday with a new line-up of dolls to be rolled out later this year after it failed to cash in on the success of the runaway Netflix hit over the holiday shopping season.  "KPop Demon Hunters" is Netflix's most popular film ever, hitting over 500 million views since its June release. Mattel, however, did not foresee its crossover appeal, a source told Reuters last year. The new toys will start rolling out this summer, roughly a year after the film's release, as Mattel hopes merchandise can stoke its continued popularity.  "We really believe that this brand and this franchise has evergreen potential," Roberto Stanichi, Mattel's chief global brand officer, told Reuters at the International Toy Fair in the southern German city of Nuremberg, where the toys were unveiled. "We're going to be staging different collections, different assortments throughout the year," he added. FROM TOYMAKER TO ENTERTAINMENT PLAYER Facing declining retail sales, the Barbie and Hot Wheels maker is repositioning itself as a global entertainment player, giving new life to its intellectual properties through Hollywood partnerships. With more than 14 films in the pipeline, Mattel hopes to repeat the success of 2023 blockbuster "Barbie" with a live-action version of "Masters of the Universe" in June and will release a new He-Man toy line soon to build buzz.  While no announcement has yet been made, industry publication Deadline reported that a "KPop Demon Hunters" sequel is in the works for a possible 2029 release. "We have ambitious plans for the franchise, but I'm not able to share them yet," Filippo Zuffada, senior director of consumer products at Netflix, told Reuters. "Merchandise is essential to extend the life of an IP like this." Netflix announced a licencing partnership with Mattel and Hasbro in October, and Stanichi said Mattel worked closely with Netflix to develop the KPop Demon Hunters line faster than usual. SINGING DOLLS, POLLY POCKETS PLANNED The dolls inspired by Rumi, Zoey and Mira – the film's girl band members by day, demon hunters by night – will initially be available with two looks, including dolls who sing their Billboard No. 1 hit "Golden".  The HUNTR/X stars along with frenemy boy band Saja Boys members and other characters will be released across Mattel's Polly Pocket, UNO and Little People Collector brands.  The dolls will sell for around $40 to $45, while Polly Pocket tiny capsules, featuring the girl band's favourite ramen cups, will retail for about $8.  Some products will not be available until autumn.  (Reporting by Louisa Off in Nuremberg and Miranda Murray in Berlin; Editing by Joe Bavier)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

By Louisa Off and Miranda Murray NUREMBERG, Germany, Jan 27 (Reuters) – Mattel teased fans of "KPop Demon Hunters" on Tuesday with a new line-up of dolls to be rolled out later this year after it failed to cash in on the success of the runaway Netflix hit over the holiday shopping season.  "KPop Demon Hunters" is Netflix's most popular film ever, hitting over 500 million views since its June release. Mattel, however, did not foresee its crossover appeal, a source told Reuters last year. The new toys will start rolling out this summer, roughly a year after the film's release, as Mattel hopes merchandise can stoke its continued popularity.  "We really believe that this brand and this franchise has evergreen potential," Roberto Stanichi, Mattel's chief global brand officer, told Reuters at the International Toy Fair in the southern German city of Nuremberg, where the toys were unveiled. "We're going to be staging different collections, different assortments throughout the year," he added. FROM TOYMAKER TO ENTERTAINMENT PLAYER Facing declining retail sales, the Barbie and Hot Wheels maker is repositioning itself as a global entertainment player, giving new life to its intellectual properties through Hollywood partnerships. With more than 14 films in the pipeline, Mattel hopes to repeat the success of 2023 blockbuster "Barbie" with a live-action version of "Masters of the Universe" in June and will release a new He-Man toy line soon to build buzz.  While no announcement has yet been made, industry publication Deadline reported that a "KPop Demon Hunters" sequel is in the works for a possible 2029 release. "We have ambitious plans for the franchise, but I'm not able to share them yet," Filippo Zuffada, senior director of consumer products at Netflix, told Reuters. "Merchandise is essential to extend the life of an IP like this." Netflix announced a licencing partnership with Mattel and Hasbro in October, and Stanichi said Mattel worked closely with Netflix to develop the KPop Demon Hunters line faster than usual. SINGING DOLLS, POLLY POCKETS PLANNED The dolls inspired by Rumi, Zoey and Mira – the film's girl band members by day, demon hunters by night – will initially be available with two looks, including dolls who sing their Billboard No. 1 hit "Golden".  The HUNTR/X stars along with frenemy boy band Saja Boys members and other characters will be released across Mattel's Polly Pocket, UNO and Little People Collector brands.  The dolls will sell for around $40 to $45, while Polly Pocket tiny capsules, featuring the girl band's favourite ramen cups, will retail for about $8.  Some products will not be available until autumn.  (Reporting by Louisa Off in Nuremberg and Miranda Murray in Berlin; Editing by Joe Bavier)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

LONDON, Jan 27 (Reuters) – Action-packed dark comedy "One Battle After Another" led nominations for the BAFTA Film Awards on Tuesday, with 14 nods. Vampire thriller "Sinners" followed with 13 nominations for Britain's top movie honours. (Reporting by Marie-Louise Gumuchian; Editing by Alexandra Hudson)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

LONDON, Jan 27 (Reuters) – Action-packed dark comedy "One Battle After Another" led nominations for the BAFTA Film Awards on Tuesday, with vampire thriller and box office smash "Sinners" also widely recognised at Britain's top movie honours. "One Battle After Another", in which Leonardo DiCaprio plays a washed-up revolutionary whose daughter is kidnapped, secured 14 nods, of which five were for its cast including DiCaprio and Chase Infiniti, who plays his daughter, in the leading acting categories. Their co-stars Teyana Taylor, Sean Penn and Benicio del Toro were nominated in supporting acting categories. It also secured a best director nod for Paul Thomas Anderson and is up for the awards' top prize, best film, alongside "Sinners", "Hamnet", "Marty Supreme" and "Sentimental Value". (Reporting by Marie-Louise Gumuchian; Editing by Alexandra Hudson)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

LONDON, Jan 27 (Reuters) – The nominations for the 2026 BAFTA Film Awards were announced on Tuesday, with action-packed dark comedy "One Battle After Another" leading with  14 nods. The BAFTAs, Britain's top movie honours, will be handed out at a ceremony in London on February 22. Below is a list of the key categories. BEST FILM OUTSTANDING BRITISH FILM DIRECTOR LEADING ACTOR LEADING ACTRESS SUPPORTING ACTOR SUPPORTING ACTRESS ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY ADAPTED SCREENPLAY FILM NOT IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE ANIMATED FILM DOCUMENTARY ORIGINAL SCORE (Reporting by Marie-Louise Gumuchian; Editing by Alexandra Hudson)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)