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'Expats,' Starring Nicole Kidman, Was Filmed in Hong Kong, But You Can't Watch it There

This image released by Prime Video shows Brian Tee, foreground, and Nicole Kidman in a scene from "The Expats." (Prime Video via AP)
This image released by Prime Video shows Brian Tee, foreground, and Nicole Kidman in a scene from "The Expats." (Prime Video via AP)
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'Expats,' Starring Nicole Kidman, Was Filmed in Hong Kong, But You Can't Watch it There

This image released by Prime Video shows Brian Tee, foreground, and Nicole Kidman in a scene from "The Expats." (Prime Video via AP)
This image released by Prime Video shows Brian Tee, foreground, and Nicole Kidman in a scene from "The Expats." (Prime Video via AP)

Nicole Kidman's latest project is set in Hong Kong, but people who live there are blocked from seeing it, prompting speculation about censorship in a city where civil liberties are shrinking fast.
The first two episodes of “Expats,” a six-episode drama about expat women, were released on Amazon Prime on Jan. 26. But when viewers in Hong Kong try to watch it, they instead get a message saying that “this video is currently unavailable to watch in your location.”
The city has hardened its controls over political speech after 2019 anti-government protests rocked the city.
In 2020, China passed a National Security Law that criminalized political activities, such as protesting for independence. Since then, hundreds of activists have been arrested or driven into exile, while opposition-leaning media have been forced out of business.
The first episode of “Expats” includes a brief scene in which people at a rally chant in Cantonese “I want real general elections.” The trailer for the show also features a crowd holding umbrellas, a reference to the 2014 Umbrella Movement, when protesters demanded the right to choose the city's Chief Executive.
Previously, the Walt Disney Co. removed an episode of the cartoon series The Simpsons that included a reference to “forced labor camps” in China from its Disney Plus streaming service in Hong Kong. In both cases, it's not clear whether authorities were involved in the decision to pull the content or companies acted on their own.
In June 2021, the city's government changed the Film Censorship Ordinance to give them the power to remove films which include “portrayal, depiction or treatment of any act or activity which may amount to an offense endangering national security.”
A spokesperson at the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau said the government was not commenting on the issue, and directed questions to Amazon.
Representatives of Amazon did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Kidman's role in the series prompted controversy in 2021, during the height of the pandemic, when the government gave her permission to skip a mandatory quarantine when she came to Hong Kong to film the series, according to local media outlet HK01.
On Tuesday, the Hong Kong government announced plans to enact a local version of the 2020 National Security Law.

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Entertainment

Robert Carradine, ‘Revenge of the Nerds’ and ‘Lizzie McGuire’ Star, Dies at 71

Robert Carradine appears at the 24th Annual "A Night at Sardi's" in Beverly Hills, Calif., on March 9, 2016. (AP)
Robert Carradine appears at the 24th Annual "A Night at Sardi's" in Beverly Hills, Calif., on March 9, 2016. (AP)
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Robert Carradine, ‘Revenge of the Nerds’ and ‘Lizzie McGuire’ Star, Dies at 71

Robert Carradine appears at the 24th Annual "A Night at Sardi's" in Beverly Hills, Calif., on March 9, 2016. (AP)
Robert Carradine appears at the 24th Annual "A Night at Sardi's" in Beverly Hills, Calif., on March 9, 2016. (AP)

Robert Carradine, the youngest of his prolific Hollywood family and whose biggest hit was the 1984 comedy “Revenge of the Nerds,” has died at 71.

In a Tuesday statement to news outlets, his family said he lived with bipolar disorder for two decades and died by suicide.

“We want people to know it, and there is no shame in it,” his brother Keith Carradine told Deadline. “It is an illness that got the best of him, and I want to celebrate him for his struggle with it, and celebrate his beautiful soul. He was profoundly gifted, and we will miss him every day.”

Known for both his film and television work, Robert Carradine worked steadily in the industry for over 40 years. Though he collaborated with some of the most respected directors of the day, he never gained the worldwide recognition of his more famous siblings Keith Carradine (also the father of Martha Plimpton) and half-brother David Carradine, who died in 2009.

Robert Carradine, a Los Angeles native and son to character actor John Carradine, was introduced to audiences with roles on the television series “Bonanza” in 1971 and in the John Wayne Western “The Cowboys” in 1972.

Despite his family background, acting wasn't his first calling, though.

“I always had a passion to be a race car driver, and that’s what I thought I was going to do, and at some penultimate moment ... I think I was sitting with my brother David when ‘The Cowboys’ was being cast, and they were interested in David as the bad guy, and he didn’t want to be the guy that shot John Wayne in the back,” Carradine recalled in a 2013 interview with Popdose. “But he said, ‘You know, it is called The Cowboys, and they’re meeting all these young guys. Why don’t you go in?’”

In addition to starring in a short-lived television spinoff of “The Cowboys,” and appearing alongside David Carradine in his popular ABC series “Kung Fu,” he would go on to nab roles in Martin Scorsese’s “Mean Streets,” Hal Ashby’s Vietnam drama “Coming Home,” and Samuel Fuller’s World War II film “The Big Red One.”

The heights of his brother David's success eluded Robert Carradine, but the two could often be seen in the same projects, including in Walter Hill’s “The Long Riders” and Paul Bartel’s “Cannonball.”

Robert Carradine’s biggest hit would come in 1984 with the off-color comedy “Revenge of the Nerds,” in which where he played head nerd Lewis Skolnick, with his abrupt, infectious and guttural laugh. He reprised the role for the big-screen sequel and two made-for-television follow-ups, and continued to pay homage to the beloved character with a guest role on the series “Robot Chicken” and as a co-host (with “Revenge of the Nerds” co-star Curtis Armstrong) of the pop culture competition show “King of the Nerds,” which aired for three seasons.

In the 2000s, Carradine gained small-screen success in The Disney Channel’s “Lizzie McGuire” as the eponymous character’s father.

“It’s really hard to face this reality about an old friend,” Hilary Duff, who played Lizzie McGuire, wrote on Instagram. “There was so much warmth in the McGuire family and I always felt so cared for by my on-screen parents. I’ll be forever grateful for that. I’m deeply sad to learn Bobby was suffering.”

Work remained consistent even if the projects diminished in prestige and quality. Then Quentin Tarantino, ever the champion of fading character actors, cast Carradine in “Django Unchained” as one of the trackers in the 2012 film after seeing a “very furry” photograph, as Carradine told Popdose.

In 2015, Carradine was cited for a Colorado crash that injured him and his wife, Edith. They later divorced, after more than 25 years of marriage.

Carradine's survivors include his three children, actor Ever Carradine, Marika Reed Carradine and Ian Alexander Carradine.

“Whenever anyone asks me how I turned out so normal, I always tell them it’s because of my dad. I knew my dad loved me, I knew it deep in my bones, and I always knew he had my back,” Ever Carradine wrote on Instagram. “I think it’s partly because we basically grew up together. Twenty years age difference really isn’t that much, and while I never ever thought of him as a sibling, I did always think of him as my partner. We were in it together.”

Entertainment

UK to Regulate Netflix and Other Streamers in Line with Broadcasters 

The Netflix logo is displayed during an event in Mumbai, India, February 3, 2026. (Reuters)
The Netflix logo is displayed during an event in Mumbai, India, February 3, 2026. (Reuters)
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UK to Regulate Netflix and Other Streamers in Line with Broadcasters 

The Netflix logo is displayed during an event in Mumbai, India, February 3, 2026. (Reuters)
The Netflix logo is displayed during an event in Mumbai, India, February 3, 2026. (Reuters)

‌Britain said on Tuesday Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+ and other streamers would be required to follow the same rules on content and accessibility as traditional broadcasters like the BBC.

Two-thirds of households subscribe to at ‌least one ‌major streamer, with 85% ‌of ⁠people using an ⁠on-demand service each month, compared to 67% who watch live TV, the government said.

Bringing the services into the scope ⁠of regulator Ofcom's broadcasting ‌code would ‌protect audiences from harmful content, and ‌ensure the provision ‌of accessibility services like subtitles, it said.

Streaming services with more than 500,000 UK users will ‌have to adhere to the new standards, which ⁠include ⁠ensuring news is reported accurately and impartially and audiences are protected against harmful or offensive material.

Ofcom will have powers to investigate and take action where they consider there has been a breach of the code, it said.

Entertainment

‘One Battle’ Triumphs at BAFTAs That Honor British Talent 

Director Paul Thomas Anderson poses in the press room after winning the awards for Best Film, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Director for "One Battle After Another" during the EE BAFTA Film Awards 2026 at the Royal Festival Hall in London, Britain, 22 February 2026. (EPA)
Director Paul Thomas Anderson poses in the press room after winning the awards for Best Film, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Director for "One Battle After Another" during the EE BAFTA Film Awards 2026 at the Royal Festival Hall in London, Britain, 22 February 2026. (EPA)
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‘One Battle’ Triumphs at BAFTAs That Honor British Talent 

Director Paul Thomas Anderson poses in the press room after winning the awards for Best Film, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Director for "One Battle After Another" during the EE BAFTA Film Awards 2026 at the Royal Festival Hall in London, Britain, 22 February 2026. (EPA)
Director Paul Thomas Anderson poses in the press room after winning the awards for Best Film, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Director for "One Battle After Another" during the EE BAFTA Film Awards 2026 at the Royal Festival Hall in London, Britain, 22 February 2026. (EPA)

Paul Thomas Anderson's "One Battle After Another" continued its awards season streak by winning the top prize at the BAFTAs on Sunday, with the British awards also recognizing homegrown talent across categories.

Following in the footsteps of Hollywood ceremonies last month, the BAFTAs gave the best film award to the offbeat thriller "One Battle After Another".

Paul Thomas Anderson won the best director award for the political thriller, which has struck a chord with its portrayal of a deeply polarized United States -- and also won the most prizes of the night with a tally of six.

"Unfortunately, the title makes sense," Anderson told reporters after the ceremony. "It just does start to seem like one battle after another these days. But stay hopeful."

Chalamet's ping-pong drama "Marty Supreme" left the night with no awards -- having been nominated in 11 categories -- but Guillermo del Toro's "Frankenstein" walked off with three wins in the technical categories.

Vampire period film "Sinners" left the night with three awards, including for best score and best original screenplay.

The BAFTA ceremony, often seen as a weather vane for the Oscars in three weeks time, recognized British and Irish talent in some of the top categories.

- Aramayo, local hero -

Loud cheers erupted in London's Southbank Centre when British actor Robert Aramayo triumphed over established stars Timothee Chalamet and Leonardo DiCaprio to snag the best actor honor.

Aramayo, the underdog in the category, won for his portrayal of a man with Tourette syndrome in "I Swear", inspired by the real life story of Scot John Davidson whose life was irrevocably changed by the condition.

"I honestly cannot believe I won this award. I really, really cannot," said a tearful Aramayo, who had already won in the rising star category.

"I'm just really happy that 'I Swear' has shown a spotlight on something that is really, really misunderstood," he added.

Ireland's Jessie Buckley continued her winning streak for her heart-wrenching portrayal of Shakespeare's wife Agnes in "Hamnet", scooping the best actress award, beating off strong competition from stars including Kate Hudson and Emma Stone

"This really does belong to the women past, present and future that have taught me and continue to teach me how to do it differently," said Buckley, who made history as the first Irish actress to win a BAFTA in the category.

- Royals in attendance -

Unlike France's Cesar Awards or Spain's Goya Awards, which champion national cinema, the BAFTAs are open to all nationalities. As a consequence, the awards have previously faced some criticism for the American-dominated roster.

This year, however, local talent got wide recognition.

"Hamnet" won outstanding British film, and Nigerian-British actress Wunmi Mosaku won best supporting actress for her role in "Sinners".

Adapted from a novel by Maggie O'Farrell, "Hamnet" follows William Shakespeare and his wife Agnes as they navigate the loss of their son in plague-ravaged Elizabethan England.

"Sentimental Value" won in the foreign language film category, becoming the first Norwegian film to win at the BAFTAs, according to director Joachim Trier.

The intimate drama follows the relationship between two daughters and their estranged father, as he struggles to reconnect with them while making a film in their now hollowed-out family home.

"We felt ready to try to talk about family life, intergenerational trauma and all those things we don't know how to talk about," Danish-Norwegian filmmaker Trier told reporters.

Hollywood and British royalty were in attendance, including BAFTA president Prince William, his wife Princess Catherine, and A-listers DiCaprio, Chalamet and Cillian Murphy.

William, the eldest son of King Charles III, was the latest royal to go about business-as-usual at the end of a dramatic week that saw his uncle and ex-prince Andrew arrested.

The Prince of Wales said he was not calm "at the moment" when asked about whether he had watched "Hamnet", according to the PA news agency.

"I need to be in quite a calm state and I'm not at the moment," William told Elaine Bedell, chief executive of the Southbank Centre.

But even the heir-to-the-throne smiled wide as Paddington Bear came onto the stage to present the award for best children and family film.