Celebrity Status: Stallone, Simu Liu, King Kong, Christmas Story Sequel
SYLVESTER STALLONE’S WIFE FILES FOR DIVORCE _ Sylvester Stallone and Jennifer Flavin, his wife of 25 years, are divorcing. The couple began dating in 1988 but broke up in March 1994. That one was a shock to her, as he infamously broke it off with a six-page letter delivered via FedEx. She later learned that he had been having an affair with another model. Flavin and Stallone reunited in 1995 and married in 1997. The two had three daughters.
… Stallone said in a statement Wednesday: “I love my family. We are amicably and privately addressing these personal issues.”
… Flavin had her own statement: “I’m sad to announce that after 25 years of marriage I have filed for divorce from my husband Sylvester Stallone. While we will no longer be married, I will always cherish the more than 30-year relationship that we shared, and I know we are both committed to our beautiful daughters.”
SHAZAM, AQUAMAN SEQUELS PUSHED BACK _ In a blow to the fall box office calendar, Warner Bros. announced that the DC blockbuster Shazam: Fury of the Gods will be pushed back from a December 2022 release to March 2023, taking a slot that once belonged to Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, which will be pushed back to Christmas Day 2023.
… With this new schedule change, the only remaining DC film on the Warner Bros. 2022 schedule is Black Adam, which is set for an October 23 release.
LAW & ORDER PREMIERES WITH HISTORIC THREE-WAY CROSSOVER EVENT _ For the first time in the history of the Law & Order Universe, all three dramas are uniting for a special premiere event on September 22. The historic Law & Order crossover, which will kick off NBC’s 2022-23 TV season, intertwines the storylines of Law & Order, Law & Order: SVU and Law & Order: Organized Crime.
… Following the murder of a mysterious young girl, Detective Frank Cosgrove (Jeffrey Donovan) and Detective Jalen Shaw (Mehcad Brooks) team up to track down her killer. Captain Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay), Detective Elliot Stabler (Christopher Meloni) and district attorney Jack McCoy (Sam Waterston) also join forces to help solve the homicide case.
VMAs: CHEECH AND CHONG TO AWARD TO RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS _ Cheech & Chong will be on hand at this Sunday’s MTV Video Music Awards. The iconic stoner comedy duo will present the Red Hot Chili Peppers with the Global Icon Award. The band is also scheduled to perform live at the VMAs.
SIMU LIU TO PLAY VILLAIN IN NEW PROJECT _ Actor Simu Liu is known for playing a Marvel hero. Now he’s signed on for his first-ever role as an antagonist in an upcoming Netflix film with Jennifer Lopez and Sterling K. Brown.
… Atlas follows a woman named Atlas fighting for humanity in a future in which an AI soldier has determined the only way to find peace is to exterminate all humans. Atlas then must work with another AI to stop the hostile one. The project does not have a release date yet.
KING KONG SERIES AT DISNEY+ _ King Kong‘s reign will continue on Disney+: The streamer is developing a live-action series centered on the monstrous movie ape. The drama will explore the origins of King Kong and the mysteries of his home, Skull Island.
A CHRISTMAS STORY SEQUEL GETS HBO MAX RELEASE DATE _ A Christmas Story Christmas, a sequel to the 1983 cult classic A Christmas Story, will be released November 17 on HBO Max.
… The ’70s-set movie sequel will see original child actor Peter Billingsley, now 51, return to his role as Ralphie Parker. He’ll be joined by fellow original film stars Ian Petrella (Randy), Zack Ward (Scut Farkus), Scott Schwartz (Flick) and R.D. Robb (Schwartz).
… In A Christmas Story Christmas, an adult Ralphie “returns to the house on Cleveland Street to deliver his kids a magical Christmas like the one he had growing up … Ralphie reconnects with childhood friends, reconciles the passing of his Old Man, and sows the seeds for the origins of the beloved holiday classic.”
CHRISTIAN SLATER IN SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES DISNEY+ SERIES _ Christian Slater will star in The Spiderwick Chronicles, Disney+’s live-action series adaptation of the popular fantasy books. Slater will play Mulgarath (alter ego Dr. Dorian Brauer).
