During a visit this week to “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (see the full interview video here), “Lord of the Rings” movie actors Dominic Monaghan and Billy Boyd touched upon the nudity controversy by revealing Peter Jackson’s film trilogy almost included nudity itself. Monaghan and Boyd starred as hobbits Meriadoc “Merry” Brandybuck and Peregrin “Pippin” Took, respectively, in each of Jackson’s three films. “Here’s the thing. There was almost nudity in the movies,” Boyd said....

While Cate Shortland’s film is rated PG-13 like the majority of its franchise brethren, “Black Widow” does push the envelope when it comes to its depiction of on-screen violence and fighting sequences in new ways. As Shortland told IndieWire during a recent interview, that level of realistic — at least for an MCU title — violence was always part of her pitch for the film, an element that goes hand in hand with her interest in bringing real truth to a superhero story....

Giuliani has claimed he was merely tucking in his shirt during a moment that finds him lying on his back in the hotel room in front of Bakalova, but Mazer still isn’t buying that excuse. “He seemed to really be enjoying tucking in his shirt is all I would say,” Mazer said. “He was very diligent to make sure it was absolutely tucked in, making sure that there was no chance of that shirt ever coming out....

While she’s “really excited for the phase of Marvel that’s coming,” specifically mentioning “Black Adam” and “Shazam! Fury of the Gods,” she’s ready to see a trans superhero join the MCU. “I would love to see us in power. I would love to see us as superheroes, but I definitely would love to see us as villains too. But good villains though, lovable villains.” With her undeniable charisma and a recent slate of featured acting roles, Madison may be the one to fulfill her own dreams....

The slew of supporting actor candidates in “Chicago 7” have agreed to compete together, including the cast’s arguable leads, Sacha Baron Cohen as Yippie leader Abbie Hoffman, who in the movie tussles with Oscar-winner Eddie Redmayne’s more moderate anti-war activist Tom Hayden. Now Baron Cohen will likely get the slot that might have otherwise gone to Jeremy Strong (Yippie Jerry Rubin), Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (Bobby Seale), Mark Rylance (defense lawyer William Kunstler), or Frank Langella (Judge Julius Hoffman)....

That enthusiasm has echoed throughout the country. Across China, from the far north of Beijing to the Southern city of Chengdu, movie theaters are seeing strong box office numbers, despite 30 percent capacity limitations. It’s not business as usual, but there has been business: In early August, “Dolittle” and a re-release of “Interstellar” topping the box office and contributing to an overall $17.5 million across the country. Related 15 Movies That Might Sell Big at TIFF 2022 China Censors ‘Minions: The Rise of Gru’: Now Gru Gets a Happily Ever After Related The 225 Best Horror Movies of All Time 17 HBO and HBO Max Original Series to Get Excited About in 2023People who have been holed up in their homes for months are eager to get out to cinemas, despite the awkwardness of social distancing with masks....

The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday that CNN’s plans for its still-unannounced streaming service are beginning to come together. The platform, which is internally known as CNN+, might feature new shows from some of CNN’s most well-known anchors, including Anderson Cooper and Don Lemon, according to the report. The WSJ also indicates that CNN’s upcoming streaming service, which has not been officially announced, has been a priority for the news organization with regard to its top talents....