1. "Across the Spider-Verse" crew members allege unsustainable working conditions
"Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse" clearly wasn't as much fun to make as it was to watch. Four anonymous crew members spoke with Vulture about the allegedly hellish production of the animated hit, claiming they had to work "more than 11 hours a day, seven days a week, for more than a year" to finish. They blamed some of this on producer and writer Phil Lord, alleging he required major changes to fully rendered work because he seemingly couldn't make up his mind about what he wanted. "Over 100 people left the project because they couldn't take it anymore," one artist said, adding that "morale was incredibly low." Another source said it was hard for animators to put in so many hours, only to see their work "changed or thrown away." Producer Amy Pascal's response? "Welcome to making a movie." One of the sources also warned that although the sequel, "Beyond the Spider-Verse," is scheduled for March 2024, "there's no way that movie's coming out then."
Vulture
2. Dermot Mulroney "symbolically" walks off "The View" to support writers strike
Dermot Mulroney is standing up for Hollywood's writers by standing up and walking away. The "Secret Invasion" star was a guest on "The View" on Friday. But as the hosts were preparing to go to a break, Mulroney announced he wanted to "symbolically" take action "in solidarity" with Hollywood writers who have been on strike for nearly two months. "I'm gonna walk off your show," he said. As promised, the actor got up and walked off the set, drawing applause from the audience. "Thank you," Mulroney told the hosts on his way out. "I'll see you on the picket lines." This came at the end of an eight-minute interview, so it was more of a way to go above and beyond in demonstrating his support for the strike than a major disruption to the show. Mulroney, a SAG member, has also been spotted picketing in solidarity with the writers, telling Deadline in May, "We're striking because you can hardly make a living anymore."
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The View
3. Antonio Banderas, Olivia Colman and Rachel Zegler join "Paddington 3"
Break out the marmalade! Antonio Banderas, Olivia Colman and Rachel Zegler have joined the cast of the third "Paddington" film, "Paddington in Peru," according to Variety. Colman will reportedly play "the reverend mother, a blithe and sunny guitar-playing nun who runs the home for retired bears," while Banderas has been cast as a "dashing and intrepid riverboat captain" named Hunter Cabot, and Zegler will play Cabot's daughter. Meanwhile, Emily Mortimer has joined the film as Mrs. Brown, taking over the role from Sally Hawkins. "For me, it has felt the right time to hand the reins over to another," said Hawkins, who starred in the first two movies. But Hugh Bonneville is returning, as is Ben Whishaw as the voice of Paddington. The sequel will reportedly start filming in July, and the plot involves Paddington returning to Peru to visit his Aunt Lucy at the Home for Retired Bears. No word yet on whether there will be a role for the Cocaine Bear.
Variety
4. Could "Wheel of Fortune" eliminate Vanna White's role?
Those letters might soon have to start turning themselves. With Pat Sajak set to exit "Wheel of Fortune," some people at Sony have suggested eliminating Vanna White's role entirely when a new host takes over, Puck reported. "The thinking," the report stated, is that if a big name like Ryan Seacrest replaces Sajak, he "might not need an old-fashioned spokesmodel co-host." Still, Puck suggested this is unlikely to happen, and a source close to the show insisted to TVLine there's "no plan to eliminate Vanna's role." The detail came in a report focused largely on how White is negotiating for a new deal at the show that would extend beyond the upcoming 2023-2024 season, and she wants more money. According to Puck, she currently makes $3 million annually, about five times less than Sajak, and she hasn't had a raise in 18 years. At least pay the woman enough to buy a vowel.
Puck TVLine
5. Bryan Cranston reveals he's "going to do a musical"
He's the one who rocks. On the "Happy Sad Confused" podcast, Bryan Cranston revealed he's "going to do a musical" in 2025. "I'm going to be singing and dancing on a Broadway stage," he added. The "Breaking Bad" star recently told Vanity Fair he has something "surprising" in the works for that year, which he has "never done before" and will require "a lot of preparation," and he was apparently talking about this musical role. "I'm going to do it very badly," he joked on the podcast. Though Cranston said he's "not allowed to mention the name" of the show, he admitted that taking on the role is "dangerous" and "scares me," which he feels is a sign that he should do it. "Things that scare you aren't always something you should avoid," he said. Best of luck to Cranston on making it to the end of his Broadway run without being replaced with Lea Michele.
Happy Sad Confused
