celebrity extra
Q:Is Alison Sweeney going to be starring in anymore of those cookie mystery movies on Hallmark? I read all the books, so I know there’s a possibility of more movies. -- H.S.
A: Apparently, there are 30 Hannah Swensen Mystery novels written by Joanne Fluke, and Alison Sweeney (“Days of Our Lives”) has starred in nine adaptations of them for Hallmark. “One Bad Apple,” her most recent movie, holds a special place in Sweeney’s heart because she also adapted the screenplay from Fluke’s book “Apple Turnover Murder.” She told TVLine that she watched YouTube videos, read about how authors allocate their time and dedicated herself to writing 10 pages a day.
There was also the matter of replacing her frequent co-star Cameron Mathison (“All My Children”), who had recently inked a multipicture deal with Hallmark’s competitor, Great American Media. In comes Victor Webster -- with whom Sweeney has worked before on another Hallmark movie, “The Wedding Veil Journey” -- to play a new character, prosecutor Chad Norton. “One Bad Apple: A Hannah Swensen Mystery” premiered on the Hallmark Mystery channel on April 5.
Q:Is it true that they’re making a movie -- not a documentary -- about Michael Jackson? Who is playing him? -- K.K.
A:Yes, there is a movie in the works about the late King of Pop called “Michael,” which is being directed by Antoine Fuqua and stars recent Oscar nominee Colman Domingo as M.J.’s father, Joe Jackson. Jaafar Jackson, son of Jermaine Jackson, has been cast in the role of his late uncle. The all-star cast also includes Miles Teller as entertainment lawyer John Branca, Nia Long as matriarch Katherine Jackson, and Larenz Tate as Berry Gordy. According to Entertainment Weekly, the film will follow the life and career of Michael Jackson from his “early days as a member of family group the Jackson 5 through to his successes as a solo artist.” It will also trace his “triumphs and tragedies as it examines both his personal struggles and his most iconic performances.”
Fuqua said that he’s been “blown away” by Jaafar’s resemblance to his uncle: “Sounds like him, dances like him, sings. It’s really uncanny.” “Michael” has a projected release date of April 2025.
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(c) 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.* “The Zone of Interest” (PG-13) -- After taking home Best International Feature Film and Best Sound at this year’s Oscars, Jonathan Glazer’s historical drama is out now on streaming for viewers to watch at home. Taking place in 1943 during World War II, the film follows commandant Rudolf Hoss and his family, who live alongside the Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland. While the Hosses enjoy their tranquil life in their beautiful home, the sound of furnaces and gunshots can be heard just beyond their garden wall, and camp prisoners tend to their household chores. Christian Friedel (“Babylon Berlin”) and Sandra Huller (“Anatomy of a Fall”) lead this chilling film. (Max) “Sugar” (TV-MA) -- In this new mystery-drama series, Irish actor Colin Farrell (“The Banshees of Inisherin”) dons an American accent to become John Sugar, a private investigator in Los Angeles. Known for his razor-sharp instincts, great sense of style and blue Corvette, Sugar gets put on a case regarding the disappearance of Olivia Siegel, the granddaughter of a Hollywood producer. But when Sugar starts inching his way closer to the truth of Olivia’s disappearance, more and more people try to throw him off the case. The first two episodes are out now, with subsequent episodes releasing every Friday. (Apple TV+)
“Fallout” (TV-MA) -- Based on the role-playing video game of the same name, this apocalyptic drama series takes place 219 years after nuclear technology destroyed what we know as Earth. The war led humans to take shelter in underground bunkers known as “Vaults” in order to survive. But a Vault dweller named Lucy finally decides to leave her bunker to find out what the world has come to in the past two centuries. Finding herself in a post-apocalyptic version of Los Angeles, Lucy encounters mutants, bandits and all kinds of destructive technology in the remnants of our old world. Ella Purnell (“Star Trek: Prodigy”) and Walton Goggins (“Invincible”) lead this action-packed, eight-episode series premiering April 11. (Amazon Prime Video)