‘Karate Kid’ Adds Ming-Na Wen to Cast
Sony’s new installment of the hit franchise “Karate Kid” has added Ming-Na Wen to its cast.
Wen was most recently seen on the Disney+ series “The Book of Boba Fett,” as well as in the second season of HBO’s “Hacks.” In May 2023, she received a Hollywood Walk of Fame star and is most notably known for her work in “Mulan” and “The Joy Luck Club.”
The new “Karate Kid” film stars Ben Wang as its lead, alongside Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio, who are both set to reprise their roles from their respective “Karate Kid” films. Newly-announced additions to the cast also include Joshua Jackson and Sadie Stanley.
Much is under wraps, including the specifics of Wen’s role and the film’s plot. All that is known is the film’s leading team, which sees Jonathan Entwistle directing, Rob Lieber writing and Karen Rosenfelt producing.
The next generation of Karate Kids can expect to see Wen on the big screen come Dec. 13, 2024.
Tati Gabrielle is Nora in ‘The Last of Us’ Season 2
HBO’s “The Last of Us” is adding Tati Gabrielle to their post-apocalyptic world.
Announced alongside Danny Ramirez, Ariela Barer and Spencer Lord, Tati Gabrielle has been added to the season two cast and will play military medic Nora. She is known for her breakout roles in Netflix’s “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina” and The CW’s “The 100.” Most recently, she was Marienne Bellamy in the third and fourth seasons of the Netflix series “You.”
Written and executive produced by Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann, “The Last of Us” follows a post-apocalyptic world where lone survivor Joel (Pedro Pascal) finds himself in charge of smuggling Ellie (Bella Ramsey) out of a quarantine zone. Together, they travel across the U.S. and slowly learn to depend on one another.
Season two follows a wildly successful season one, which amassed 8.2 million viewers by its season finale. The series’ second season renewal was made early, as only two episodes had aired when the news was first announced.
With an already promising cast, “The Last of Us” fans can expect an equally successful season two.
Shuchi Talati’s ‘Girls Will be Girls’ Acquired by Juno Films
Juno Films announced Thursday its acquisition of the Sundance hit, “Girls Will Be Girls.”
Written and directed by Shuchi Talati as her debut feature, the film follows 16-year-old Mira (Preeti Panigrahi), who, after attending a boarding school in the Himalayas, falls in love with Sri (Kesav Binoy Kiron). As their relationship progresses, Mira’s bouts of teenage sexual rebellion are thwarted by her mother (Kani Kusruti).
The film premiered at Sundance in the World Dramatic Competition, winning the Audience Award: World Cinema Dramatic. It is set to screen next week at South By Southwest.
Juno Films’ recent slate includes Lasse Hallström’s “Hilma,” Rachel Moriarty and Peter Murphy’s “Róise & Frank” and the documentary short “What She Said: The Art of Pauline Kael.”
If you’re lucky enough to find yourself at SXSW this coming week, check out “Girls Will Be Girls.” Otherwise, the mother-daughter drama hits theaters this fall.
Sabrina Wu and Akshay Khanna Cast in Apple TV+’s ‘Murderbot’
“Murderbot” announced its leading cast: Sabrina Wu, Tattiawna Jones, Akshay Khanna, and Tamara Podemski. Wu will play Pin-Lee, and Khanna will play Ratthi.
The sci-fi series is based off of Martha Wells’ book series “The Murderbot Diaries” and will feature a 10-episode season about a free-will robot android who must leave its own wants behind to embark on a dangerous assignment.
The Weitz Brothers show-run, write, direct and produce the series, with Alexander Skarsgård, Noma Dumezweni and David Dastmalchian executive producing.
This is just the beginning for “Murderbot,” and for Khanna and Wu.
