Month: May 2023

CBS has reversed its decision to cancel the action-drama S.W.A.T, and has instead renewed the series for a seventh and final season.  The show’s Twitter feed announced: “We have listened to our viewers and their outpouring of passion for S.W.A.T.and we have reached an agreement to renew it for a final season of 13 episodes to air during the 2023-2024 broadcast year,” CBS Entertainment president Amy Reisenbach and Sony Pictures Television Studios president Katherine Pope said in a joint statement Monday. “S.W.A.T. has aired for six seasons on CBS and garnered a devoted following. We are pleased that we found a way to bring it back and give closure to the show’s storylines and characters, which audiences deserve.”

S.W.A.T., starring Shemar Moore, is set to have its Season 6 finale on May 19. Moore wrote on Instagram: “Ayyeee!!!!! We did it #SWATFAM!!! @swatcbs is coming back for a 7th and Final season with 13 Episodes!!! Thank you to all of you for the continued and amazing support!! Let’s go ”  The cast also includes Alex Russell, Kenny Johnson, Jay Harrington, David Lim and Rochelle Aytes.

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Soon after its premiere on April 20, Netflix announced that it has renewed ‘The Diplomat’ for Season 2. Created by Debora Cahn and starring Kerri Russell and Rufus Sewell, The Diplomat is described by Netflix as “a high-stakes, contemporary political drama about the transcendence and torture of long-term relationships, between countries and people.”

Season 1 follows a newly appointed U.S. Ambassador for the United Kingdom named Kate Wyler (Russell), who finds herself trying to diffuse an international crisis while also surviving her marriage to fellow diplomat and political star Hal Wyler (Sewell). The President (Michael McKean) is also considering Kate to replace the vice president when a looming scandal breaks.

Russell shared in a statement: “I am thrilled to be headed back for another round of this smart screwball show. Dare I say it’s fun? Thank you Netflix for giving us another shot.” Creator Cahn added, “We had such a great time making The Diplomat. And it’s a thrill to see how much people are enjoying it. We’re so glad we get to do it again!”

The cast of The Diplomat also includes Ato Essandoh as the deputy chief of mission evaluating Kate’s performance for the White House, Nana Mensah as the White House chief of staff and Rory Kinnear as the prime minister. Netflix hasn’t announced a start of production or release date, and additional details and information about Season 2 is to be determined.

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“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3,” the conclusion to Marvel’s trilogy, earned $114 million in its domestic box office debut.  The film ranks as the second-biggest opening weekend of 2023, behind “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” with $146 million.  “Guardians 3” debuted just behind its predecessor, 2017’s “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2,” which opened with $146 million in earnings – but ahead of the first “Guardians of the Galaxy,” which opened to $94 million in 2014.

‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ added $168 million at the international box office from 52 markets, bringing its global earnings to $282 million. Imax and Dolby accounted for 40% of the film’s opening weekend ticket sales, with Imax alone delivered $10.7 million in North America and $25 million globally.

“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” ended the four-week box office reign of “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” which fell to second place with $18.6 million from 3,909 theaters. “Evil Dead Rise” took third place with $5.7 million, and at No. 4 “Are You There God, it’s me Margaret?” added $3.38 million in its second weekend of release. Finally, the romantic comedy “Love Again” starring Priyanka Chopra Jonas landed in fifth place, earning just $2.4 million from 2,703 venues.

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Deadline reports that a sequel to the hit 2004 comedy Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story is officially in the works, with Vince Vaughn set to star in the project. Vaughn will star in and produce the sequel, which will be written by Jordan VanDina (‘The Binge’).

As of press time, it was not revealed if any of the other stars from the original film (Ben Stiller, Christine Taylor, Justin Long, Stephen Root, Alan Tudyk, Joel David Moore, Chris Williams, Missi Pyle, Gary Cole, Jason Bateman, and William Shatner), will return for the sequel.

2004’s Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story received positive reviews from critics and audiences alike, with the film grossing almost $170 million in its time. Talk of a ‘Dodgeball’ sequel has been rumored for years, with Vaughn telling The Hollywood Reporter in December 2022 that he and Ben Stiller were open to doing a sequel film.  Said Vaughn at the time: “You would just want to make sure going into Dodgeball that it feels like a nice continuation and a story that could stand on its own. I think for all of us if it feels right and it’s funny, it would be something to go back to, and if it’s not, it’s just another idea getting kicked around.”

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