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'Wicked' Tops SAG Awards Nominations Where Many Big-Names Are Shut out

This image released by Universal Pictures shows Cynthia Erivo, left, and Ariana Grande in a scene from the film "Wicked." (Universal Pictures via AP)
This image released by Universal Pictures shows Cynthia Erivo, left, and Ariana Grande in a scene from the film "Wicked." (Universal Pictures via AP)
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'Wicked' Tops SAG Awards Nominations Where Many Big-Names Are Shut out

This image released by Universal Pictures shows Cynthia Erivo, left, and Ariana Grande in a scene from the film "Wicked." (Universal Pictures via AP)
This image released by Universal Pictures shows Cynthia Erivo, left, and Ariana Grande in a scene from the film "Wicked." (Universal Pictures via AP)

"Wicked" topped nominations to the 31st Screen Actors Guild Awards on Wednesday, landing a leading five nominations including best ensemble, and individual nods for Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande and Jonathan Bailey.

Out-of-control wildfires that swept across Los Angeles and Southern California on Tuesday night forced the Screen Actors Guild to cancel its plans to announce the nominations live Wednesday morning. The nominations were instead issued by press release by SAG, which last year began a multiyear deal with Netflix to stream the awards.

The smash hit musical "Wicked" saw its Oscar chances rise in the SAG nominations, which came the morning after the film was celebrated by the National Board of Review Awards in New York. "Wicked" even scored a nod for best stunt ensemble.

The other nominees for best ensemble are: "Anora,Conclave,Emilia Pérez" and "A Complete Unknown."

It was an especially strong showing for the Bob Dylan drama "A Complete Unknown." It came away with four nominations, including Timothée Chalamet for best male actor, and supporting nods for both Edward Norton and Monica Barbaro.

The best male lead nominees were largely as expected: Adrien Brody ("The Brutalist"), Daniel Craig ("Queer"), Colman Domingo ("Sing Sing"), Ralph Fiennes ("Conclave") and Chalamet.

Coming off her rousing victory at the Golden Globes, Demi Moore was among the nominees for best female actor in a leading role for "The Substance." She was joined by Erivo, "Emilia Perez" breakout Karla Sofía Gascón, Mikey Madison of "Anora" and Pamela Anderson for "The Last Showgirl."

That surprisingly left out some big names. Angelina Jolie ("Maria") missed out, as did Nicole Kidman ("Babygirl"). A few of the most acclaimed actresses of the year, Marianne Jean-Baptiste ("Hard Truths") and Globe-winner Fernanda Torres ("I’m Still Here"), also were overlooked.

"The Last Showgirl" had more to celebrate, too, with an unexpected nomination for Jamie Lee Curtis in supporting female actor. Her fellow nominees are: Barbaro, Grande, Danielle Deadwyler ("The Piano Lesson") and Zoe Saldana ("Emilia Perez").

Jeremy Strong was nominated for his supporting performance as Roy Cohn in the Donald Trump film "The Apprentice," but his co-star, Sebastian Stan, went unnominated for both "The Apprentice" and "A Different Man." The other nominees for best supporting male actor were: Bailey, Norton, Yura Borisov ("Anora") and the category frontrunner, Kieran Culkin ("A Real Pain").

A few widely forecast supporting performance were snubbed there, too, including Denzel Washington ("Gladiator II") and Guy Pearce ("The Brutalist").

The SAG Awards are among the most closely watched Oscar bellwethers. Their picks don’t always align exactly with those of the film academy, but they often do.

The last three best ensemble winners — "Oppenheimer,Everything Everywhere All at Once,CODA" — all went on to win best picture at the Academy Awards. All but one of the SAG acting winners of the last three years has also won at the Oscars. The sole exception was Lily Gladstone, who won SAG’s award for female actor last year for "Killers of the Flower Moon," but the Oscar trophy went to Emma Stone ("Poor Things") at the Oscars.

While some overlooked performances might still land an Oscar nomination, any eventual Academy Award winner, including the best picture recipient, is almost surely coming from those nominated Wednesday. That's bad news for "The Brutalist," which triumphed at the Globes but missed out on a SAG ensemble nomination.

The Screen Actors Guild Awards will be held Feb. 23 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. The ceremony, to be hosted by Kristen Bell. will be streamed live on Netflix. In addition to the competitive awards, Jane Fonda will be presented with the guild’s Life Achievement Award.

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Entertainment

Jackson Family Joins Fans in Berlin for Premiere of Michael Jackson Biopic

Family members including (L-R) US filmmaker and son of Michael Jackson Bigi Jackson, US singer and son of Michael Jackson Prince Jackson, US singer Jackie Jackson, US singer Jermaine Jackson, US singer Marlon Jackson pose for photographers as they arrive on the red carpet for the world premiere of the Michael Jackson biopic "Michael" at the Uber Eats Music Hall in Berlin on April 10, 2026. (AFP)
Family members including (L-R) US filmmaker and son of Michael Jackson Bigi Jackson, US singer and son of Michael Jackson Prince Jackson, US singer Jackie Jackson, US singer Jermaine Jackson, US singer Marlon Jackson pose for photographers as they arrive on the red carpet for the world premiere of the Michael Jackson biopic "Michael" at the Uber Eats Music Hall in Berlin on April 10, 2026. (AFP)
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Jackson Family Joins Fans in Berlin for Premiere of Michael Jackson Biopic

Family members including (L-R) US filmmaker and son of Michael Jackson Bigi Jackson, US singer and son of Michael Jackson Prince Jackson, US singer Jackie Jackson, US singer Jermaine Jackson, US singer Marlon Jackson pose for photographers as they arrive on the red carpet for the world premiere of the Michael Jackson biopic "Michael" at the Uber Eats Music Hall in Berlin on April 10, 2026. (AFP)
Family members including (L-R) US filmmaker and son of Michael Jackson Bigi Jackson, US singer and son of Michael Jackson Prince Jackson, US singer Jackie Jackson, US singer Jermaine Jackson, US singer Marlon Jackson pose for photographers as they arrive on the red carpet for the world premiere of the Michael Jackson biopic "Michael" at the Uber Eats Music Hall in Berlin on April 10, 2026. (AFP)

Thousands of Michael Jackson fans, many in military jackets or aviator sunglasses inspired by the pop icon's many famous looks, gathered in Berlin on Friday night for the international premiere of the biopic "Michael" starring the singer's nephew.

Jaafar Jackson, who was 12 when his uncle died in 2009, said he immersed himself in archives of footage to prepare for the role, while also drawing on his own memories.

"One of my favorites is when I ‌first saw him ‌on stage performing in New York for the first ‌time, ⁠which was the ⁠best experience for me," he told Reuters along the red carpet.

LIKE WATCHING MICHAEL ON SCREEN

Jackie Jackson, who performed with the young Michael Jackson in the Jackson 5 and also pursued his own music career, said the portrayal of his brother was so convincing that during the film, he would at times forget that he was actually watching Jaafar.

"He became Michael in the film," he ⁠said.

The film directed by Antoine Fuqua follows the rise ‌of the "King of Pop" from lead ‌singer of the Motown group Jackson 5, made up of him and his brothers, ‌to Michael striking out on a solo career with ubiquitous hits like "Thriller" and "Beat ‌It." The film highlights the iconic outfits that came along with them.

The biggest opening for a musical biopic is $60.2 million in the United States and Canada for 2015 film "Straight Outta Compton."

The Box Office Pro website projects that "Michael," which opens in theaters on April ‌24, will top that, with sales possibly exceeding $80 million.

CONTROVERSIAL ASPECTS

However, any mentions of the most controversial aspects of Jackson's story - ⁠child molestation ⁠allegations - were removed after attorneys for his estate realized that a legal settlement with an accuser barred discussion of the accusations in the movie, according to a source with knowledge of the production.

Jackson, who maintained his innocence, was acquitted in 2005 in a criminal trial.

After his death, further civil claims were brought by other accusers, but Jackson was never convicted of child sexual abuse in a criminal court or found liable in a civil case.

Asked about omitting the controversial parts of Jackson's life from the film, producer Graham King, whose credits include "Bohemian Rhapsody," said in Berlin on Friday that he "spent a lot of years digging into everything, part of Michael's life," and was happy to tell this "celebration story."

Entertainment

US Box Office Looking Good as Cinema Owners Gather, Says Industry Chief

Ryan Gosling attends the premiere of "Project Hail Mary" at Lincoln Center Plaza on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, in New York. (AP)
Ryan Gosling attends the premiere of "Project Hail Mary" at Lincoln Center Plaza on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, in New York. (AP)
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US Box Office Looking Good as Cinema Owners Gather, Says Industry Chief

Ryan Gosling attends the premiere of "Project Hail Mary" at Lincoln Center Plaza on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, in New York. (AP)
Ryan Gosling attends the premiere of "Project Hail Mary" at Lincoln Center Plaza on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, in New York. (AP)

The mustachioed brothers of "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie" and Ryan Gosling's unassuming teacher-turned-astronaut in "Project Hail Mary" are civilization-saving heroes in their own worlds. But cinema owners here on Earth also feel pretty grateful to them.

The two films have drawn stellar audience figures in the last few weeks, pushing the US box office to its best start to the year since the Covid-19 pandemic.

The North American movie industry, which is in a constant battle with booming streaming services, surpassed $2 billion in receipts by the first week of April for the first time this decade, according to Box Office Mojo.

Although the figures do not yet match pre-Covid totals, cinema owners are "very excited," said Michael O'Leary, CEO of Cinema United, the world's largest trade organization for movie theaters.

The positive results -- up 23 percent year-on-year -- come as theater owners prepare to gather in Las Vegas for their annual CinemaCon meeting, where studios offer a sneak peak of their upcoming slates.

Those present will be hoping the sector can extend this growth after a difficult few years that have seen audiences dwindle in the face of the pandemic, strikes by actors and writers, and competition from streamers that have changed audience habits.

O'Leary said that along with big-budget crowd-pleasing US films, a growing suite of international fare is helping to sustain cinemas.

"It's not just movies from Hollywood that people are interested in," O'Leary told AFP in an interview.

"I think a lot of it is that people are drawn to compelling stories. It doesn't really matter where you live or where you're from, or even what language you speak... you want to have a compelling and interesting story."

O'Leary said there is also a generational element in the optimistic audience numbers.

"You've seen the... industry reinvest in itself, focus on creating even more grand and exciting experiences at the theater, and you're starting to see audiences come back, particularly younger audiences," he said.

"Gen Z is kind of leading the way. It's the fastest growing demographic of habitual moviegoers."

- Studio merger -

A decade ago, filmgoers in the United States and Canada would frequently spend more than $11 billion annually at the cinema, but since the pandemic, the total take has not exceeded $9 billion.

This year's string of big releases has sparked hopes that there could be a return to such lofty numbers.

The opening weekend for Amazon MGM's "Project Hail Mary" logged a healthy $81 million, and was followed up by "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie" with $131 million.

Upcoming releases expected to do well include Michael Jackson biopic "Michael,The Devil Wears Prada 2,Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu,Spider-Man: Brand New Day,The Odyssey," and the third installment in the epic "Dune" series.

But there are clouds on the horizon for cinema owners, said O'Leary, with unease over Paramount's attempt to swallow Warner Bros.

"When you have consolidation of legacy studios, as we learned with Disney and Fox, the amount of movies produced goes down, prices go up, and we think that is bad for theaters," he said.

"It's bad for the industry, and it's certainly bad for movie fans."

O'Leary said his group had made representations to US regulators about the proposed mega-merger.

"We continue to oppose this transaction (and) encourage them to look closely at this merger, because the consequences of it are serious," he said.

CinemaCon will take place from April 13 to 16 in Las Vegas.

Entertainment

BTS Opens World Tour in South Korea After Hiatus for Military Service

BTS fans arrive at a stadium where K-pop boy band BTS will perform in Goyang on April 9, 2026. (AFP)
BTS fans arrive at a stadium where K-pop boy band BTS will perform in Goyang on April 9, 2026. (AFP)
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BTS Opens World Tour in South Korea After Hiatus for Military Service

BTS fans arrive at a stadium where K-pop boy band BTS will perform in Goyang on April 9, 2026. (AFP)
BTS fans arrive at a stadium where K-pop boy band BTS will perform in Goyang on April 9, 2026. (AFP)

Tens of thousands of BTS fans packed into a South Korean stadium Thursday to see the K-pop supergroup kick off their long-awaited world tour after a nearly four-year hiatus.

RM, Jin, Suga, j-hope, Jimin, V and Jung Kook were to perform a set drawing from both their catalog and new fifth album, “ARIRANG," their first since band members completed South Korea's mandatory military service.

Despite pouring rain, the band's fans — including some hailing from Russia, the United States and Brazil — packed a stadium with a capacity for over 40,000 for the show, which marks the group’s first headline tour performance since their 2021–22 Permission to Dance on Stage tour.

Over a hundred fans, including some who had failed to get tickets, stood outside the stadium with umbrellas to listen to the band perform.

Kim Eunhee, a South Korean fan who came with her 30-year-old daughter, said the hope of attending a live BTS concert helped her power through her battle with cancer.

“Even during my hardest times last year while fighting it, this was the one thing I kept waiting for,” she said. "Coming to an actual concert venue and seeing them in person for the first time — it was just so meaningful.”

The shows in South Korea through Sunday launch a tour spanning dozens of shows across the United States, Europe and Asia, which analysts say could generate hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue per quarter.

The concert comes less than a month after BTS marked their comeback with a free concert at Seoul’s Gwanghwamun Square.

All seven members of BTS completed their mandatory military service, with Suga being the last to be discharged in June 2025. He reportedly served at government-related facilities and organizations instead of military camps due to a shoulder injury.

In South Korea, all able-bodied men between 18 and 28 years old are required by law to perform up to 21 months of military service under a conscription system meant to deter aggression from rival North Korea.

“ARIRANG” — named after a centuries-old Korean folk song regarded as an unofficial anthem across the Korean peninsula — debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. The single “Swim” also made it to the top of the charts.

BTS — short for Bangtan Sonyeondan, or “Bulletproof Boy Scouts” in Korean — debuted in June 2013. The seven-member group launched in 2013 with the hip-hop heavy single album “2 Cool 4 Skool,” releasing three full-length projects before gaining momentum with their 2016 album “Wings.”

Their global breakthrough came in 2017 when “DNA” entered the Billboard Hot 100, making BTS the first Korean boy band to achieve such a feat. The song’s success was followed by a performance at the American Music Awards, further fueling their international fan base called “Army.”

The tour is scheduled to bring the group to Australia in early 2027, with a final stop in Manila, Philippines, next March.