Sizzling Samachar: Marvel Stars Ruffalo and Hemsworth reunite for 2025 heist thriller ‘Crime 101’; Simon Kinberg to produce new ‘Star Trek’ film set decades before JJ Abrams' reboot

Welcome to your daily dose of entertainment news, I'm your host Nikhil. News first from Hollywood

Marvel Stars Ruffalo and Hemsworth reunite for 2025 heist thriller ‘Crime 101’

Marvel icons Mark Ruffalo and Chris Hemsworth are set to star in Crime 101, a jewel heist film directed by Bart Layton, known for The Tinder Swindler. The film, an adaptation of Don Winslow's novel, will see Hemsworth also producing alongside Elsa Pataky and Ben Grayson. Crime 101, compared to the classic heist thriller Heat, involves a series of jewel thefts linked to Colombian cartels. Although plot details remain secretive, the project promises to be a major draw for Marvel fans and is scheduled for a 2025 theatrical release.

Celia Imrie joins the star-studded cast of ‘The Thursday Murder Club’ film adaptation

Celia Imrie, known for her roles in Bridget Jones' Diary and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, has been cast as Joyce Meadowcroft in the film adaptation of Richard Osman's bestselling novel The Thursday Murder Club. She joins a high-profile cast that includes Helen Mirren as Elizabeth Best, Pierce Brosnan as Ron Ritchie, and Ben Kingsley as Ibrahim Arif. Directed by Chris Columbus, famous for Harry Potter and Home Alone, the film follows a group of pensioners at a luxurious retirement village who investigate a murder. The highly anticipated film will be released on Netflix, though the exact release date is yet to be announced.

Simon Kinberg to produce new ‘Star Trek’ film set decades before JJ Abrams' reboot

Paramount is in discussions with Simon Kinberg, producer of the X-Men series, to helm a new Star Trek film set decades before JJ Abrams' 2009 reboot, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The upcoming movie will explore the early development of Starfleet and humanity's first contact with alien species, bringing the narrative closer to contemporary times. Abrams, who established the successful Kelvin Timeline, will continue to be involved in the franchise. The last film in this timeline, Star Trek: Beyond, was released in 2016. The new film aims to offer a fresh perspective similar to previous explorations like Star Trek: First Contact and the second season of Star Trek: Picard. Production details and release dates remain under wraps..

Sun Network launches Sun Neo with three new Hindi TV shows

Sun Network, a major player in South Indian entertainment, has launched a Hindi channel, Sun Neo, introducing three new original shows: Chhathi Maiyya ki Bitiya, Ishq Jabariya, and Saajha Sindoor. The motion posters for these shows reveal a diverse range of content. Chhathi Maiyya ki Bitiya, featuring Devoleena Bhattacharjee, is a devotional series exploring traditional themes. Ishq Jabariya presents a fresh take on forced marriages and drama, while Saajha Sindoor delves into the complexities of relationships and marital life. The makers emphasize television's enduring popularity despite the rise of films and OTT platforms, aiming to captivate the Hindi-speaking audience with these new offerings.

Ayushmann Khurrana and Sara Ali Khan unite for new action-comedy by Dharma Productions and Sikhya Entertainment

Dharma Productions and Sikhya Entertainment have kicked off filming for their third collaboration, an untitled action-comedy featuring Ayushmann Khurrana and Sara Ali Khan. Directed by debutant Aakash Kaushik, known for his successful screenplay of Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2, the film promises a mix of thrilling action and comedy. This project marks the first collaboration between Khurrana, Dharma Productions, and Sara Ali Khan. Initial reports indicated a June start, but filming has already commenced, sparking excitement among fans eager for more details, including the movie’s official title and complete cast.

Sanjay Dutt exits 'Welcome 3' due to scheduling and script issues

Sanjay Dutt has exited the highly anticipated film Welcome To The Jungle (Welcome 3) due to scheduling conflicts and dissatisfaction with ongoing script changes. The comedic ensemble, directed by Ahmed Khan and featuring stars like Akshay Kumar, Paresh Rawal, and Suniel Shetty, faced disruptions in its shoot, leading Dutt to withdraw despite filming for 15 days. Communicating his concerns to Akshay Kumar, who understood and held no grudge, Dutt's departure has left the production team deciding whether to retain his scenes or reshoot. The film is slated for a Christmas 2024 release.

Mohanlal's comeback as Khureshi Abram in special birthday poster for L2: Empuraan

Actor-filmmaker Prithviraj Sukumaran treated fans with a surprise on Mohanlal's 64th birthday, unveiling a new poster for the eagerly anticipated Malayalam sequel, L2: Empuraan. This special glimpse features Mohanlal reprising his role as Stephen Nedumballi, also known as Khureshi Abram. Sporting a suave all-black look with matching sunglasses, Mohanlal shines amid a vibrant backdrop, captivating fans with his charismatic presence. The sequel, following the success of 2019's Lucifer, promises to be a multi-lingual treat for audiences, releasing in Malayalam, Tamil, Kannada, and Telugu.

Well that's all we got for today's episode, until the next time it's your host Nikhil signing out.

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• Written by Apurva Dutta

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