‘Emilia Pérez,’ ‘Wicked’ Lead 2025 Oscar Nominations
Nominations for the 97th Academy Awards were revealed Thursday and Emilia Pérez leads the pack with 13 nominations, followed by The Brutalist and Wicked with 10 apiece. There are 13 first-time honorees in the acting category, including Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande for Wicked, Kieran Culkin in A Real Pain, Demi Moore in The Substance, and Zoe Saldaña for her portrayal of Rita Mora Castro in Emilia Pérez. At 29, Timothée Chalamet is the youngest two-time Best Actor nominee since James Dean in 1956. Meanwhile, Colman Domingo became the first back-to-back Best Actor nominee since Denzel Washington did so in 2017 and 2018. The winners will be announced at this year’s ceremony on March 2 at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles.
SZA to Join Kendrick Lamar on Super Bowl LIX Halftime Stage
SZA is giving fans a preview of what they can expect when she hits the road with Kendrick Lamar later this year, with Apple Music confirming via Instagram Thursday that the R&B artist is set to join Kendrick during the halftime show at Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans next month. In the spot, the rapper is seen walking on a football field before SZA comes up from behind and dumps presumably blue Gatorade on him. The two have collaborated numerous times throughout their career, including on Lamar’s newest album, GNX, and are scheduled to hit the road on a nationwide stadium tour starting April 19.
Netflix Drops Trailer for Hoops Doc Following Team USA, Others at Paris Olympics
Netflix dropped the trailer on Thursday for Court of Gold, a documentary following the United States, France, Serbia, and Canada national men’s basketball teams in their pursuit of gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics. In addition to showdowns on the court, the nearly 2.5-minute-long video provides a behind-the-scenes look at the four federations and features interviews with players and coaches. The documentary drops on Feb. 18.
Kelley O’Hara Teams Up with Just Women’s Sports on New Podcast
Kelley O’Hara is following in the footsteps of many retired athletes and launching her own podcast. In partnership with Just Women’s Sports, Sports are Fun! premieres on Feb. 4 and the two-time World Cup champion will be joined by sports content creator Greydy Diaz as co-host. Per the announcement, the duo will discuss “anything and everything from the world of women’s sports with help from a rotating cast of co-hosts and guests.”
Chris Hemsworth, Chris Pratt Tapped by Meta for Super Bowl Ad Promoting Ray-Ban Glasses
Meta is calling on two Hollywood A-listers to help push its smart devices during next month’s Super Bowl. According to the Thursday notice, Chris Hemsworth and Chris Pratt of Marvel fame will appear in the spot, modeling the new Ray-Ban Meta Glasses. Meta didn’t specify when during the big game we’ll see the ad run, but it’s the most recent push for the tech firm to delve deeper into the AI space, providing a hands-free experience to any content creator looking to simplify their art.
Jannik Sinner, Aryna Sabalenka, Naomi Osaka Among Tennis Stars to Play in Las Vegas
Some of the best players in tennis have agreed to link up in Las Vegas in March. The No. 1 men’s and women’s players in the world, Janik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka, are set to compete in The MGM Rewards Slam on March 1-2 at the Michelob ULTRA Arena in Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. The first day in Sin City will see Sabalenka squaring off against four-time Grand Slam champ Naomi Osaka, while the second day will feature a four-man competition between Skinner, No. 2-ranked Alexander Zverev, Taylor Fritz, and Tommy Paul.
Anthony Mackie’s New ‘Captain America’ Movie On Pace for $90M-Plus Domestic Debut
The first major box office blockbuster of 2025 could be the highly anticipated Captain America: Brave New World, set to open in theaters on Feb. 14. Per The Hollywood Reporter, the flick is in early tracking to earn more than $90 million over the combined Valentine’s Day/Presidents Day weekend, which would be another record-breaking win for Marvel. With Anthony Mackie in the titular role, the movie also features Harrison Ford, Danny Ramirez, Liv Tyler, Tim Blake Nelson, and Rosa Salazar.
Cameron Brink Launches Digital Show with Wave Sports & Entertainment
Cameron Brink and her godsister Sydel Curry have linked up to launch a new digital series called Straight to Cam. Partnering with Wave Sports & Entertainment, The Hollywood Reporter exclusively confirms the premiere date is Jan. 28 with Brink describing the program as “just purely about being our authentic selves, just having a safe space where we can yap with each other and just show who we really are.” Straight to Cam will be streamed on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major audio streaming platforms.
Keke Palmer Teases Return to Broadway for Muhammad Ali Play
Keke Palmer could soon return to Broadway, teasing on The Kelly Clarkson Show that she could star in a production chronicling the life of legendary boxer Muhammad Ali. “It will be my first play because the first time I did Broadway was a musical,” Palmer, who previously starred in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, explained on the show. Directed by Debbie Allen, Playbill writes the show revolves around Ali’s relationship with entertainer Stepin Fetchit and that Palmer would portray Sonji, the late athlete’s first wife. Palmer didn’t disclose who is attached to the Ali-focused play or when it would debut.