Spotlight

Published April 6, 2019

Who is waiting for Hello Kitty?

New Line Cinema said it is working on an animated, English-language movie starring Hello Kitty.

This is the first time Japan’s Sanrio design and licensing company has granted a major film studio the rights to its 45-year-old characters Hello Kitty, Gudetama, My Melody and Little Twin Stars, which have inspired toy lines and appeared as images on apparel.

“I am extremely pleased that Hello Kitty and other popular Sanrio characters will be making their Hollywood debut. Hello Kitty has long been a symbol of friendship and we hope this film will only serve to grow that circle of friendship around the world,” Sanrio founder Shintaro Tsuji said in a statement.

No writers or cast members have been hired yet for the movie.

“It’s a rare privilege to have the opportunity to explore the possibilities of such timeless (intellectual property.) Hello Kitty and her friends have been part of our shared culture for decades, and we look forward to exploring where her newest adventure will take her,” said New Line’s Richard Brener and Carolyn Blackwood in a joint statement.


Who wouldn’t want to be Batman?

Armie Hammer addressed rumours that he is being considered for the role of Batman while appearing on The Tonight Show.

Hammer told host Jimmy Fallon that he is only linked to the Batman role through rumours and that he hasn’t had any conversations with Warner Bros.

“This is the thing about rumours. They’re all fine, they’re all well and good, but none of the people who start rumours are actually the people who can give you jobs,” Hammer said before stating that he is open to becoming the caped crusader.

“Who wouldn’t want to be Batman?” he said. “It’s a good gig.”

The role of Batman is open after previous star Ben Affleck stepped down from the part in January. Warner Bros. is set to release a new solo Batman film titled The Batman from writer and director Matt Reeves that will arrive in theatres on June 25, 2021.


Dora, the explorer, coming on big screen

Paramount has released the first trailer for its upcoming movie, Dora and the Lost City of Gold. James Bobin has directed the live-action and animated adventure, which is based on Nickelodeon’s popular, preschool cartoon series Dora the Explorer.

“Having spent most of her life exploring the jungle with her parents, nothing could prepare Dora for her most dangerous adventure ever — high school. Always the explorer, Dora quickly finds herself leading Boots, her best friend, a monkey, her cousin Diego, a mysterious jungle inhabitant and a rag-tag group of teens on a live-action adventure to save her parents and solve the impossible mystery behind a lost city of gold,” reads the synopsis.

The clip shows Dora’s parents sending her off to start high school in a city while they go on an expedition without her. While on a trip at a museum, Dora and her new classmates get kidnapped by men who want Dora to help them find her mum and dad and, hopefully, the treasure they are all seeking. They are then transported to the jungle, but rescued by someone else who says he works with Dora’s parents.

And the movie is set for theatrical release on August 2.

Published in Dawn, Young World, April 6th, 2019

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