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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.)

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.)

By Marie-Louise Gumuchian 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. The critically-acclaimed movie 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". "Sinners", celebrating blues music and Black culture in the Segregation-era U.S. South, received 13 nods, including for actor Michael B. Jordan who plays twins returning to their hometown to set up a juke joint. Director Ryan Coogler was nominated in the directing and original screenplay categories while cast member Wunmi Mosaku is up for supporting actress. "Hamnet", which fictionalises the relationship between William Shakespeare and his wife Agnes and the death of their son, followed with 11 nods.  Jessie Buckley was nominated for leading actress for playing Shakespeare's wife, Agnes Hathaway, while Paul Mescal received a supporting actor nod for his portrayal of the bard. Chloe Zhao was the only woman in the best director category. Adapted from Maggie O'Farrell's bestselling 2020 novel of the same name, the film follows the highs and lows of their love story as well as the grief over the loss of their son Hamnet, which leads Shakespeare to write "Hamlet". COMPETITION FOR BEST DIRECTOR Alongside Anderson and Coogler, Zhao face competition from Josh Safdie for table tennis tale "Marty Supreme", Yorgos Lanthimos for "Bugonia" and Joachim Trier for Norwegian family drama "Sentimental Value" for the best director prize. "Marty Supreme" secured 11 nominations in total, including expected recognition for Timothee Chalamet in the title role. The leading actor category also includes Robert Aramayo for playing a Tourette syndrome campaigner in "I Swear", Ethan Hawke as lyricist Lorenz Hart in "Blue Moon" and Jesse Plemons for "Bugonia", in which his character kidnaps a female pharmaceuticals boss, played by Emma Stone, believing she is an alien. Stone was recognised in the leading actress category, alongside Rose Byrne for her portrayal of a mother whose life is unravelling in "If I Had Legs I'd Kick You", Kate Hudson for "Song Sung Blue", the story of a Neil Diamond tribute band, and Renate Reinsve for "Sentimental Value". Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande were snubbed in the acting categories for their performances in "Wicked: For Good". The musical sequel was only nominated for costume design and makeup & hair, although that was better than the Academy Awards, where it has scored zero nods. Its predecessor received seven BAFTA nominations. (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.)

By Marie-Louise Gumuchian 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. The critically-acclaimed movie 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". "Sinners", celebrating blues music and Black culture in the Segregation-era U.S. South, received 13 nods, including for actor Michael B. Jordan who plays twins returning to their hometown to set up a juke joint. Director Ryan Coogler was nominated in the directing and original screenplay categories while cast member Wunmi Mosaku is up for supporting actress. "Hamnet", which fictionalises the relationship between William Shakespeare and his wife Agnes and the death of their son, followed with 11 nods.  Jessie Buckley was nominated for leading actress for playing Shakespeare's wife, Agnes Hathaway, while Paul Mescal received a supporting actor nod for his portrayal of the bard. Chloe Zhao was the only woman in the best director category. Adapted from Maggie O'Farrell's bestselling 2020 novel of the same name, the film follows the highs and lows of their love story as well as the grief over the loss of their son Hamnet, which leads Shakespeare to write "Hamlet". COMPETITION FOR BEST DIRECTOR Alongside Anderson and Coogler, Zhao face competition from Josh Safdie for table tennis tale "Marty Supreme", Yorgos Lanthimos for "Bugonia" and Joachim Trier for Norwegian family drama "Sentimental Value" for the best director prize. "Marty Supreme" secured 11 nominations in total, including expected recognition for Timothee Chalamet in the title role. The leading actor category also includes Robert Aramayo for playing a Tourette syndrome campaigner in "I Swear", Ethan Hawke as lyricist Lorenz Hart in "Blue Moon" and Jesse Plemons for "Bugonia", in which his character kidnaps a female pharmaceuticals boss, played by Emma Stone, believing she is an alien. Stone was recognised in the leading actress category, alongside Rose Byrne for her portrayal of a mother whose life is unravelling in "If I Had Legs I'd Kick You", Kate Hudson for "Song Sung Blue", the story of a Neil Diamond tribute band, and Renate Reinsve for "Sentimental Value". Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande were snubbed in the acting categories for their performances in "Wicked: For Good". The musical sequel was only nominated for costume design and makeup & hair, although that was better than the Academy Awards, where it has scored zero nods. Its predecessor received seven BAFTA nominations. (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.)