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PUBLISHED : 15 Jan 2025 at 11:00
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Despite the (ongoing) drama surrounding “It Ends With Us” — and, in particular, its two stars Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, the latter of whom also directed the film — the adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s best-selling 2016 novel of the same name earned an abundance of cash at the box office when it came out in the summer of 2024. Why do I bring up the movie’s financial success amidst the apparent, alleged strife between Baldoni and Lively? Because studio executives very likely watched “It Ends With Us” crush the summer box office and thought, “What other Colleen Hoover books can we possibly adapt?”
As for Hoover herself, she worked closely with the team on “It Ends With Us” to create the film — she was quite present during the press tour — and told The Hollywood Reporter that she loved seeing her work adapted for the screen. “It’s very surreal,” Hoover said in August of 2024. “I think it’s all of the emotions. I’m able to separate it, in the sense that I see the book and the film as two completely separate things. But at the same time, I think they did such a good job condensing this book into a film that I’m very happy with this adaptation.”
Hoover is a pretty prolific writer, all things considered — so it’s not surprising at all that several of her other novels are also being turned into movies. (In fact, it’s surprising that, as of this writing, only a handful have even been optioned, since she has plenty to choose from.) Some of them even have Oscar winners and other huge names attached, so at this point, it seems like the Colleen Hoover Cinematic Universe is just about to truly take off. Here are all of the Hoover projects coming after the resounding success of “It Ends With Us.”
Verity
Amazon Studios
Before “It Ends With Us” even hit theaters — specifically, in May of 2024 — it was announced that one of Colleen Hoover’s other hit novels, “Verity,” was in development … and after “It Ends With Us” proved to be a box office smash, “Verity” was a go. In late November of that year, Deadline exclusively broke the news that Anne Hathaway would star in the film adaptation of “Verity,” reuniting her with director Michael Showalter after the two paired up for Hathaway’s romantic comedy “The Idea of You” in 2024. (Showalter is also known for “The Big Sick,” “The Eyes of Tammy Faye,” and “Wet Hot American Summer.”) A month later, Variety revealed that Josh Hartnett and Dakota Johnson were joining the Academy Award winner (meaning Hathaway, who won a supporting actress trophy for 2012’s “Les Misérables”) in the film. So what is “Verity” about, and who are these three powerhouse actors playing?
Hathaway is set to play the titular Verity Crawford, a bestselling author who becomes fully immobilized after an accident and needs someone to ghostwrite her work; Hartnett will portray Jeremy Crawford, Verity’s husband who seeks out said ghostwriter and finds struggling author Lowen Ashleigh (Johnson). The way Verity unfolds is, to be honest, on the predictable side, but with Showalter at the helm and a seriously talented trio at the forefront, “Verity” has at least a decent shot at being good. So when can we expect it? There’s no release date just yet, but it likely won’t be long.
Regretting You
Universal Pictures
At the end of August 2024, Deadline reported that Josh Boone — known for directing the weepy teen drama “The Fault in Our Stars,” which was released in 2014 — signed on to direct an adaptation of yet another Colleen Hoover hit, titled “Regretting You.” In a statement to the outlet, Boone said, “When I read ‘Regretting You’ I was captivated by the characters and knew we needed a partnership with an amazing cast to make it real,” said Boone. “I’m thrilled to be joined by old friends and new to bring Colleen Hoover’s novel to the screen.” By “old friends,” Boone is referring to some of his producing partners … but who are the “new” friends, and who are they playing in the movie?
“Regretting You” will be led by Allison Williams (“Girls,” “Get Out,” “M3GAN”) as Morgan Grant, who has her child Clara (Mckenna Grace, known for the modern “Ghostbusters” films) at a young age and struggles with motherhood as Clara becomes a teenager. When the mother and daughter are involved in a terrible accent, things get even harder for the two. Dave Franco and Mason Thames (“How to Train Your Dragon”) will also appear in the film as Jonah and Miller, respectively; according to Deadline’s previous reporting, principal photography will begin in March of 2025.
Reminders of Him
Montlake
Unlike the other Colleen Hoover projects in the works, there’s no casting information regarding the adaptation of her book “Reminders of Him” — but this one does have a release date. According to The Hollywood Reporter, which reported on the film in October of 2024, the “Reminders of Him” movie is slated for release on February 13, 2026 … just in time for Valentine’s Day. Hoover will write the script alongside her creative and producing partner Lauren Levine, and the movie will also be the first under the banner of Hoover’s production company Heartbones Entertainment.
“I am excited as ‘Reminders of Him’ holds a special place in my heart too,” Hoover told THR in a statement when the film was announced. “I feel confident Universal is the right partner to do this story justice. What better way to launch Heartbones Entertainment, my company with producing partner Lauren Levine? Our aim is to create something quite special for everyone.” So what’s the deal with “Reminders of Him?” The story focuses on Kenna Rowan, mother to a four-year-old daughter who tries to reunite with her child after spending five years in prison. When she returns to her small town, the only person she can connect with is Ledger Ward, her late husband’s best friend. The two keep their connection a secret as everyone assumes the worst of Kenna. The roles of Kenna and Ledger haven’t been cast yet, but if the casts of “Verity” and “Regretting You” are any indication, agents of various Hollywood A-listers are fighting over these roles right now.
This week, British Business Investments announced an initial £ 20 million funding facility to Sprk Capital. The facility will provide capital to smaller businesses in the UK engaged in innovation.
British Business Investments, a wholly-owned commercial subsidiary of the British Business Bank, aims to improve access to alternative finance for smaller businesses across the whole of the UK, while supporting the UK’s transition to a net zero economy. Since it was established in 2014, British Business Investments has committed more than £3.8 billion to providers of finance to UK smaller businesses.
Sprk is a specialty lender to companies engaged in the innovation sector. Through the provision of advanced funding of UK R&D and innovation grants, Sprk provides non-dilutive cashflow solutions to smaller businesses. R&D advance funding, also known as an R&D tax credit loan, is a simple way for businesses to access their R&D tax credits at any point in the financial year. Grant advance funding, also known as innovation grant funding, is a way for businesses to finance their grant awards ahead of incurring expenditures.
Currently, innovation incentives such as tax credits and grants account for £16 billion of funding to smaller businesses in the United Kingdom. Since it launched in 2021, Sprk has provided funding to innovation projects totalling north of £150 million. Although Sprk has a sector-agnostic lending strategy, 80% of its loans to date broadly represent the UK innovation market, with lending focused on the manufacturing, IT and communication, and the professional scientific and technical sectors.
Sprk is the first lender focused on the innovation lending sector to receive funding from British Business Investments.
In 2024, the British Business Bank and Innovate UK signed a memorandum of understanding to help create new pathways for business investment and promote growth through innovation. The collaboration will see the two organizations working more closely together to create new opportunities to promote investment and to support UK businesses through better-tailored offerings.
“This £20 million funding facility will enable Sprk to back UK smaller businesses in the innovation sector, providing them with cashflow solutions at critical points in their journey,” British Business Investments’ managing director Adam Kelly said. “We look forward to working with Sprk to help innovative smaller businesses across the UK to access the capital they need to scale up and become successful, high-growth companies.”
“Today’s announcement demonstrates the commitment of British Business Investments to provide funding to SMEs that are critical to advancing UK-led innovation,” added Sprk CEO Dominick Peasley. “The funding provided also enables us to work even closer with UK Research & Innovation through Innovate UK to provide additional capital to grant projects, accelerating UK-led innovation further.”
“We recognize the liquidity challenges that can face cutting-edge businesses bringing new technologies to market,” Innovate UK CIO Scott O’Brien said. “Together, the British Business Bank and Innovate UK support the end-to-end pathways through which innovative UK businesses start, scale and succeed. This new funding facility with Sprk supports those pathways alongside our world-class portfolio of products and services designed to support businesses in bringing the best ideas to market and driving economic growth.”
“The initial £20 million has the potential to help fund hundreds of SMEs to achieve their goals of advancing technology and research in the UK into some of the most complex issues that are faced around net zero, AI and sustainability.”
New Delhi : Priyanka Chopra is joining forces with her husband Nick Jonas and his brothers Joe and Kevin Jonas for a heartwarming holiday film set to premiere on Disney+ during the 2025 festive season. Filming began on January 13 in Toronto, capturing the magical winter backdrop. Fans are already buzzing about the star-studded cast, which also includes Frankie Jonas, the youngest Jonas sibling, and Chloe Bennet, known for her role in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
On set, Priyanka was spotted embracing the winter chill in a stylish black hoodie and a long black coat adorned with grey and white stripes. Nick Jonas, meanwhile, kept it cozy in a dark puffy jacket, braving the snowfall with his hood up. As filming progressed, the atmosphere transformed into a festive wonderland, with Priyanka transitioning into a holiday-inspired outfit—a cream-colored long-sleeve top paired with a vibrant red floor-length skirt. Joe Jonas added his flair with a teal cardigan and dark-wash jeans, complementing the cheerful vibe.
Nick Jonas expressed immense gratitude for Priyanka’s influence on his performance. Nick acknowledged her expertise, stating, “I’ve got a pretty good scene partner at home.” Praising Priyanka’s world-class talent, he highlighted their meaningful discussions about character development and creativity. “We just talk about, you know, characters,” Nick shared, adding, “It’s great to stay creative at home, and then you can bring that into the workspace.”
The film marks a significant milestone for both Priyanka and the Jonas Brothers, blending their professional and personal lives in a project that promises to resonate with audiences worldwide. Priyanka, renowned for her roles in Citadel, The White Tiger, and Quantico, brings her charismatic presence and acting prowess to the production. The Jonas Brothers, known for their chart-topping music and individual acting ventures, are set to add their signature charm to the movie.
With filming underway, the Toronto set has become a hub of excitement, showcasing the ensemble cast’s chemistry and the festive spirit that will define the film. Priyanka and Nick’s real-life partnership appears to be seamlessly translating into their on-screen collaboration, raising anticipation for what is shaping up to be a heartfelt holiday experience.
Daaku Maharaaj is Balakrishna’s new film, which hit the screens on January 12, 2025, in a record number of theaters. From the very first show, the action drama garnered positive talk and impressed Balakrishna’s fans. Directed by Bobby, the film has sustained its strong performance through its three-day run, with impressive collections even on day three.Daaku Maharaaj three-day collection detailsOn its third day, Daaku Maharaaj earned ₹12 crore net worldwide. This is a commendable number, especially considering that another big release, Sankranthiki Vasthunnam, hit the screens on January 14, 2025. The film collected ₹22 crore on day one and ₹12 crore on day two, nearing its total three-day collection to ₹50 crore.
A significant portion of the revenue came from the Ceded region, where Balakrishna enjoys immense popularity as both a star and an MLA. With the Sankranthi holidays in full swing, the film is expected to continue its strong performance and achieve break-even status in Telugu states within the week.Daaku Mahaaraj collectionsBalakrishna’s fans are overjoyed as the actor has now delivered four consecutive hits in recent years. Directed by Bobby, Daaku Maharaaj marks his second consecutive success after Chiranjeevi’s Waltair Veerayya. The film was produced by Naga Vamsi, who had predicted it would be a mass blockbuster—and his prediction has come true.The movie features Pragya Jaiswal, Urvashi Rautela, and Chandini Chowdary in key roles, with music composed by Thaman. Thaman’s powerful background score elevated the film’s impact, even causing a few theater speakers to malfunction due to the high intensity of the sound.Balakrishna in Daaku MaharaajDaaku Maharaaj to enter profit zone soonDespite expectations that Daaku Maharaaj might slow down on day three due to the release of Sankranthiki Vasthunnam, the film maintained its momentum and delivered strong numbers. Meanwhile, Sankranthiki Vasthunnam also opened record-breaking collections under the direction of Anil Ravipudi. It remains to be seen how both films will perform in the coming days. Stay tuned for further updates.
Game Changer is Ram Charan’s latest film, which opened to solid numbers on day one. The Shankar-directed film earned just over ₹50 crore on its opening day. However, things took a downturn as negative reviews flooded social media, leading to a massive drop in occupancy over the next four days across Telugu states.Game Changer five-day collection detailsOn day five, the scenario improved significantly, thanks to the Sankranthi holidays, which gave Game Changer a much-needed boost. As per the latest update, the film made ₹10 crore on day five, showing a rise in collections. Earlier, the movie had earned ₹21 crore on day two, ₹16 crore on day three, ₹8 crore on day four, and now ₹10 crore on day five. With this, the total collections stand at ₹105 crore.Ram Charan in Game Changer trailer.To break even for distributors, who invested a massive amount, Game Changer needs to cross the ₹130-crore mark in the Telugu states. Due to the underperformance of Shankar’s previous film, Indian 2, the pre-release business of Game Changer was handled cautiously.
Game Changer faces competition from Daaku Maharaaj and Sankranthiki VasthunnamThe Ram Charan action drama is facing stiff competition from other Sankranthi releases. Daaku Maharaaj has already crossed the ₹50 crore mark, and Sankranthiki Vasthunnam clocked ₹25 crore net on its opening day, setting record numbers. Despite this, the rise in collections for Game Changer is a positive sign.Game ChangerRam Charan penned an emotional note to his fans, appreciating their support and his performance in the film. This gesture, along with the holiday season, has resulted in an increase in occupancy. If the makers continue strategic promotions, the film’s performance is likely to improve further in the coming days.Director Shankar has presented Ram Charan in a never-before-seen avatar, with the star portraying a double role that has received critical acclaim. Thaman’s music has added value to the political thriller, which also stars Srikanth and SJ Suryah in key roles.Sj Suryah in Game ChangerIn the U.S., Game Changer has grossed over $2 million, adding to its international success. As the film progresses, it will be interesting to see how much more it earns. Stay tuned for further updates.
Rekhachithram box office collection Day 6: Asif Ali’s Rekhachithram continues to hold steady in the Kerala box office. The mystery thriller, which was released on January 9, minted Rs 2.10 crore in the India net collection on its sixth day at the box office, as per the data released by industry tracker Sacnilk. The total worldwide collection of the Jofin T Chacko directorial has now crossed Rs 30 crore, making it the first Malayalam movie from 2025 to achieve the milestone.Rekhachithram box office collection detailsAs Rekhachithram earned Rs 2.10 crore on day 6, the total box office collection (India net) stands at Rs 15.20 crore. The movie has crossed the Rs 30-crore mark in the worldwide box office, becoming the first superhit film of 2025 from Malayalam cinema. Tovino Thomas’ Identity, which released on January 2, is in the second spot at Rs 16.25 crore.
RekhachithramWhile Kochi registered the highest occupancy among Kerala centres, Hyderabad, Delhi, Chennai and Bengaluru also saw good occupancy for Rekhachithram.With positive word of mouth and hardly any competition from the other Malayalam movies currently in theatres, Rekhachithram is likely to continue its successful run at the box office. Rekhachithram, however, could face competition from Thursday when the Basil Joseph-starrer Pravinkoodu Shappu hits the theatres. Basil Joseph’s film, which is also touted to be a mystery thriller, could pose a challenge to the Asif Ali-starrer if it manages to impress the audience.Basil Joseph in a still from Pravinkoodu ShappuAsif Ali’s back-to-back hit filmsAsif Ali, who registered his biggest career hit with Kishkindha Kaandam, has continued his success streak with Rekhachithram. Notably, both films belong to the thriller genre. The slow-burn thriller, Kishkindha Kaandam, revolved around a father-son duo and a newly wedded woman who sets out to find the truth behind a missing gun and child. In Rekhachithram, Asif Ali plays a cop, who goes after a mysterious incident of a young girl going missing from a shooting location in the 1980s.
Rekhachithram also stars Manoj K Jayan, Jagadish, Sai Kumar, Harisree Ashokan, Siddique, and Indrans in key supporting roles.
TV actor Prabhakar needs no introduction, as he is often referred to as the megastar of the small screen. Now, his son, Chandrahass, has made his film debut with the movie Ram Nagar Bunny. The film gained attention due to the off-screen antics of the lead actor, which attracted massive trolling. Ram Nagar Bunny OTT release date
Film
OTT platform
OTT release date
Ram Nagar Bunny
Aha, OTTplay premium
January 17, 2025
Thanks to these trolls, Chandrahass earned the nickname “Attitude Star” and became meme material in Tollywood. This buzz contributed to the film’s decent hype before its release.Ram Nagar Bunny hit the screens on October 5, 2024, but ended up as a dud at the box office. Chandrahass was appreciated for his talent, especially his dance moves. However, the film is back in the news as it has now locked its OTT release date.
Ram Nagar Bunny OTT release dateAccording to the latest update, Aha has secured the digital rights to the film for a fancy price and will make it available for streaming starting January 17, 2025. An official poster of the film was also released by Aha.Backdrop of Ram Nagar Bunny and castDirected by Veligonda Srinivas, Ram Nagar Bunny tells the story of a youth, played by Chandrahass, who spends his father’s hard-earned money on his girlfriends and lands in major trouble. How he navigates this situation forms the core of the film.Ram Nagar Bunny OTT release dateThough the makers promoted the film aggressively, they struggled to find an OTT partner for three months. Finally, Aha stepped in and acquired the rights, providing some relief to the producers. While Chandrahass is a natural talent, it is widely believed that he needs to mature in public. His off-screen behaviour impacted the film’s reception, as audiences didn’t take him seriously during its release, leading to its swift failure.Ashwin Hemant scored the music, Ashkar Ali worked as the cinematographer, and Martand K. Venkatesh handled the editing duties. While the film achieved moderate success in theaters, it remains to be seen how well it will perform on OTT platforms. Chandrahass will next be seen in Barabar Premistha. Stay tuned for more updates on this project.
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We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.Your support makes all the difference.Read moreThe story of Brooke Shields is often told in terms of her age. She was 11 months old when she shot her first ad campaign for Ivory soap. She was 11 years old when she played a child prostitute in Louis Malle’s 1978 film Pretty Baby and 14 years old when she starred with an 18-year-old Christopher Atkins as shipwrecked cousins discovering their sexuality in The Blue Lagoon. She was 15 years old when she appeared as a teen in lust in the Franco Zeffirelli film Endless Love. She was also 15 when she appeared in her first Calvin Klein ad, uttering these words to camera: “You want to know what comes in between me and my Calvins? Nothing.”To present her story this way is to highlight just how young Shields was when all these milestones were happening, how young she was when she became a paragon of all American beauty. For many, Shields, now 59, will be indelibly associated with her teenage dimpled, bushy-browed ingenue self, frozen in time like a butterfly in epoxy. Her new book, then, is aptly titled: Brooke Shields Is Not Allowed to Get Old: Thoughts on Ageing as a Woman.Brooke Shields Is Not Allowed to Get Old is part of a current trend of books and films to examine the subject of women aging. Last week, The Substance– a body-horror film about an aging, fading star played by Demi Moore – was nominated for five Golden Globes. Next month, Naomi Watts will publish a memoir about her experience of menopause knowingly titled Dare I Say It: Everything I Wish I Knew About Menopause.There is no universal experience of aging. And certainly, the lived experience of a very famous, very rich celebrity everyone agrees is drop-dead gorgeous is not the default. On paper, Shields doesn’t have much in common with the average woman who might pick up this book. But in other ways, she is the perfect person for this job, someone whose value has been tied up with her youth since she first waddled on camera, the bouncing baby of Ivory soap: “For young looking skin like this…”Shields shares these thoughts across 14 light-hearted conversational chapters. “What the actual f***?” is a frequent refrain from the actor and model, who prefers the BFF-style second-person: her earlier memoirs There Was a Little Girl and Down Came The Rain and – about the death of her mother and postpartum depression – had the same tone. But unlike those subjects, she writes, aging isn’t something to endure or survive. It’s something to embrace.So what do we learn about Shields? Quite a bit about her medical history, for one thing. In one of the more illuminating chapters that reaches beyond the platitudes that plague the book, Shields speaks about learning medical self-advocacy. After an abnormal pap smear in her mid-thirties, Shields underwent a cone biopsy of her cervix. “No one had bothered to tell me, for example, that I’d been packed with gauze to stop the bleeding,” she writes. “When that gauze suddenly fell out… Well, I’m not exaggerating when I tell you I thought I was hemorrhaging and dying, or else giving birth to something I didn’t even know I was carrying. I felt like my entire uterus had fallen out onto the bathroom floor.”Not only that, but no one had told her that the biopsy could make it difficult to conceive – something Shields learnt only years later when she was trying to get pregnant. In the end, she underwent seven cycles of IVF before giving birth to her first daughter – a fact she caveats with one of the book’s perfunctory acknowledgements of her own privilege. Elsewhere, she recalls having to fight for a second X-Ray after a femur surgery resulted in excruciating pain that the doctors insisted was normal post-op discomfort. Turns out the surgeon had made a mistake.In one particularly shocking moment, another doctor, she writes, took it upon himself to “gift” Shields an “unsolicited vaginal rejuvenation” that left her uncomfortable and in pain for months afterwards (“I tightened you up!” he tells her giddily, expecting gratitude.) “It was not something I wanted. I felt numb. I got dressed, went to my car, and drove home in a stupor,” she wrote, later adding: “This man surgically altered my body without my consent. And he thought he had done me a favor by throwing in a ‘bonus procedure.’”Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields was 11 years old when she played a child prostitute in Louis Malle’s 1978 film