• NYT a fascinating new interview with the always odd Nicolas Cage
• Cartoon Brew an indie animated short is getting a theatrical release! Hair Love will open for Angry Birds 2 in theaters. Should we watch out for it at the Oscars?
• Variety sad news for those who love Asian cinema and follow the Golden Horse Awards (which we've often covered here at TFE)... a political storm is brewing and mainland China and Hong Kong are looking to boycott the event given Chinese feeling that Taiwan (where the ceremony always takes place) is not an independent nation but part of China. Naturally Taiwan feels otherwise (as do the American Oscars which invite Taiwan to submit their own films and don't lump them in with China itself)
More after the jump including new showbiz books, odd news concerning The Little Mermaid, a Barbra Streisand and Ariane Grande duet and more...
• Shadow & Act YA fantasy Children of Blood & Bone is becoming a movie from Lucasfilm
• Variety looks like the Oscars have started a trend. The Emmys are going hostless this year, too
• Film School Rejects loves the new film book "The Making of Alien"
• Out Poor Unfortunate Souls (that's us). Disney has decided that we need two live action remakes of The Little Mermaid so there's going to be a live one for television (as well as the planned feature film) with Queen Latifah as Ursula
• MNPP first shot of Riz Ahmed in the rock n roll drama Sound of Metal
• IndieWire Fleabag, which was a stage show and then a series, is now going to be a book with the complete scripts to both seasons. Phoebe Waller-Bridge is not letting go of her breakthrough calling card quite yet
• Towleroad Barbra Streisand welcomed surprise guest Ariana Grande to duet on her 1970s duet hit "No More Tears (Enough is Enough)". Nice touch to have the late Donna Summer onscreen in the background.
• THR the money-losing fate of Fox under Disney. Dark Phoenix being largely responsible... but this makes us worried for Woman in the Window if they're looking for a title to cut titles completely from theatrical release. Also isn't it morbidly hilarious that Disney (DISNEY!) is worried about losing money in 2019 when they'll own practically the entire top ten titles by year's end.
• FCTRY There's a new Billie Jean King action figure for just $20 - too bad this wasn't created when the underrated Battle of the Sexes was struggling in theaters!
Today's Most Disturbing Video
Full House ... starring Nick Offerman (?!?)
Full House needed more mustaches @Nick_Offerman #nickofferman #ronswanson #fullhouse #ParksandRec pic.twitter.com/sY7lPcfaaO
— Dr. Fakenstein (@drfakenstein) August 6, 2019