Gold Derby's top news stories for Feb. 27, 2025.
Zendaya to star in Shrek 5 as Shrek’s daughter
Zendaya will lend her voice to the latest Shrek movie, playing the green ogre's yet-to-named daughter, per The Hollywood Reporter. The Emmy-winning superstar will join Mikey Myers, Cameron Diaz, and Eddie Murphy, who are set to reprise their roles as Shrek, Fiona, and Donkey, respectively. Universal and DreamWorks Animation have set a release date for Dec. 23, 2026.
This is the fifth installment from the Shrek franchise. The original film became the first Oscar winner for Best Animated Feature in 2001 and grossed $488 million worldwide. Three sequels followed, along with two Puss in Boots spinoffs, propelling the franchise to global box office of more than $4 billion. It's the second-highest grossing animated franchise after Despicable Me.
Oscars will feature music of James Bond, honoring longtime producers
The 97th Academy Awards will toast to the music of James Bond, per Variety. A special tribute to the franchise's classic songs will honor longtime producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, who received Honorary Oscars at the past Governors Awards. Sources remain tight-lipped about which of the 26 tunes will be featured, but the performance will be comprised of "an assembly of surprising and immense talents." Six Bond themes have earned Oscar nominations with three winning -- “Skyfall” from Skyfall (2012) by Adele and Paul Epworth, “Writing’s on the Wall” from Spectre (2015) by Sam Smith and Jimmy Napes, and “No Time to Die” from No Time to Die (2021) by Billie Eilish and Finneas.
Saoirse Ronan and Austin Butler to star in Deep Cuts for A24 and Sean Durkin
Photo credit: Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images
Oscar nominees Saoirse Ronan and Austin Butler have been cast in Deep Cuts, a movie based on Holly Brickley's novel of the same name, per Deadline. Sean Durkin (The Iron Claw) will direct and adapt the story for A24. Ronan is also set to produce. Set in the 2000s, "Deep Cuts is a love story about two music-obsessed twentysomethings navigating the messy realities of ambition, belonging and adulthood over the course of an era-defining decade." Central’s Ronald Bronstein, Eli Bush and Josh Safdie will join Ronan as producers.
HBO begins production on Lanterns drama series
Production has commenced on the upcoming HBO drama series Lanterns — filming on the historic Warner Bros. lot in Burbank. The series, an HBO Original production in association with Warner Bros. Television and DC Studios, is based on the iconic DC title Green Lantern.
Aaron Pierre and Kyle Chandler in Lanterns (Photo credit: John P. Johnson/HBO)
The series follows new recruit John Stewart and Lantern legend Hal Jordan, two intergalactic cops drawn into a dark, earth-based mystery as they investigate a murder in the American heartland. It stars Aaron Pierre, Kyle Chandler, Kelly Macdonald, Garret Dillahunt, Poorna Jagannathan, and Ulrich Thomsen.
The Lanterns pilot is cowritten by Chris Mundy, Damon Lindelof, and Tom King. The first two episodes are directed by James Hawes, with Stephen Williams, Geeta Vasant Patel and Alik Sakharov also tapped to direct. The series is executive produced by Mundy, Lindelof, James Gunn, Peter Safran, King, Ron Schmidt, and Hawes.
The Hunger Games stage show to open in London in Fall 2025
The Hunger Games is making its way to stage this fall at the Troubadour Canary Wharf Theatre in London.
The adaptation, based on Suzanne Collins’ first book and the Lionsgate motion picture, is set to begin performances Oct. 20, 2025, per The Hollywood Reporter. There were previous plans to open the production in 2016, but nearly 10 years later tickets will officially go on sale March 27. Collins said, "I’m thrilled that The Hunger Games is in the hands of gifted playwright Conor McPherson and accomplished director Matthew Dunster. Connor has done a fantastic adaptation, which is quite unique from the screenplay. And Matthew’s immersive, dynamic staging gives the audience a brand-new way to experience the story.”
Producers of The Hunger Games play include Tristan Baker and Charlie Parsons for Runaway Entertainment, Oliver Royds for BOS Productions and Isobel David by arrangement with Lionsgate.
Michael Urie to host the 36TH GLAAD Media Awards
GLAAD, the world's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer media advocacy organization, today announced that actor, producer and director Michael Urie will host the 36th Annual GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles on March 27.
The GLAAD Media Awards honor media for fair, accurate, and inclusive representations of LGBTQ people and issues. Since 1990, the GLAAD Media Awards have grown to be the most visible annual LGBTQ awards show in the world, sending powerful messages of acceptance to audiences globally. Cynthia Erivo will be honored with the Stephen F. Kolzak Award for making a significant difference in raising visibility and promoting the acceptance of LGBTQ people and issues. See the complete list of 2025 GLAAD Media Awards nominees here.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power announces new cast members for Season 3
Jamie Campbell Bower/Eddie Marsan (Photo credit: Courtesy of Prime Video)
Prime Video has confirmed that Jamie Campbell Bower and Eddie Marsan have joined the cast of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power for the series’ upcoming third season, which is currently in pre-production and will begin filming this spring at the series’ new production home at Shepperton Studios in the U.K. Bower will be a series regular, while Marsan will appear in a recurring role. The series has attracted more than 170 million viewers worldwide.
Hulu drops trailer for Bill Burr: Drop Dead Years
Bill Burr: Drop Dead Years is the latest one-hour special from the stand-up comedian. In what might be his most personal and introspective hour yet, Bill offers hilarious takes on everything from male sadness to dating advice. The special premieres March 14.
Hulu's new stand-up brand, Hularious, features a new comedian every month. The stand-up specials will be available domestically on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ for bundle subscribers. The specials will stream on Disney+ internationally.
