A new trailer for Walt Disney Animation Studios’ upcoming animated adventure “Zootopia 2” has launched and features an all-new original song, “Zoo,” performed by Shakira who returns as the voice of Zootopia’s biggest pop star, Gazelle.

In the trailer, audiences get a first look at brand-new characters and a hidden reptile population when rookie cops Judy Hopps (voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin) and Nick Wilde (voiced by Jason Bateman) come face-to-face with a mysterious pit viper, Gary De’Snake (voice of Academy Award®-winner Ke Huy Quan). The film is directed by the Oscar®-winning team of Disney Animation chief creative officer Jared Bush and Byron Howard and produced by Yvett Merino.

“Zoo” music and lyrics are written by Ed Sheeran, Blake Slatkin and Shakira. The song is produced by Blake Slatkin, Alex (A.C.) Castillo, Shakira and Ed Sheeran. The single “Zoo” releases on Friday, October 10. The “Zootopia 2” score is composed by Academy Award®-winner Michael Giacchino and launches as a part of the full soundtrack on Friday, November 21, ahead of the film’s theatrical release on Thursday, November 27.

In addition to writing and producing the single “Zoo” with Shakira, Ed Sheeran and Blake Slatkin appear in “Zootopia 2” in special cameos as a pair of sheep named Ed Shearin and Baalake Lambkin.

“Zoo” will resonate with fans of the breakout anthem “Try Everything” featured in the original Oscar® winning film “Zootopia” released in 2016. “Try Everything” has been streamed 2.7 billion times worldwide to date.

The “Zootopia 2” voice cast is composed of an astounding pool of talent that also includes Andy Samberg (“Saturday Night Live”), David Strathairn (“Good Night, and Good Luck”), Macaulay Culkin (“American Horror Story”) and Brenda Song (“The Last Showgirl”) who appear as the Lynxleys, one of the most prominent families in Zootopia. Comedian Fortune Feimster (“Crushing It”) previously joined the cast as Nibbles Maplestick, an oddball beaver whose podcast explores reptile mysteries; Idris Elba (“Heads of State”) returns as Chief Bogo, the well-respected head of the Zootopia Police Department; Patrick Warburton (“The Emperor’s New Groove”) voices actor-turned-politician Mayor Brian Winddancer; Quinta Brunson (“Abbott Elementary”) stars as Dr. Fuzzby, an adorable quokka therapy animal; and Nate Torrence (“Get Smart”) reprises his role as Clawhauser, Zootopia Police Department’s charming cheetah receptionist.
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But it doesn’t take long for their partnership to be put to the ultimate test when they find themselves on the twisting trail of a mystery tied to the arrival of a venomous snake in the animal metropolis.

While “Zootopia 2” introduces Gary De’Snake (voice of Ke Huy Quan), Nibbles (voice of Fortune Feimster) and quokka therapist Dr. Fuzzby (voice of Quinta Brunson), the upcoming feature film also welcomes back a herd of characters who made their debut in the Oscar®-winning film “Zootopia.”

“It’s been an absolute joy to reteam with so many actors who made the first film so special, and so exciting to expand the world with our phenomenal new cast members,” said director/writer Jared Bush (chief creative officer for Walt Disney Animation Studios).

“I can’t wait for audiences to see what other surprises we have in store in this brand-new adventure.”

Bringing the returning characters to life are returning cast members who join Goodwin, Bateman and Shakira (voice of Gazelle):
Idris Elba (voice of Chief Bogo)
Bonnie Hunt (voice of Bonnie Hopps)
Don Lake (voice of Stu Hopps)
Nate Torrence (voice of Clawhauser)
Jenny Slate (voice of Bellwether)
Alan Tudyk (voice of Duke Weaselton)
Maurice LaMarche (voice of Mr. Big)
Leah Latham (voice of Fru Fru)
Josh Dallas (voice of Frantic Pig)
Tommy Chong (voice of Yax)
Mark Rhino Smith (voice of Officer McHorn)
Raymond Persi (voice of Flash)

From the Oscar®-winning team of Jared Bush and Byron Howard (directors) and Yvett Merino (producer), “Zootopia 2” marks Walt Disney Animation Studios’ 64th animated feature film and will be release November 27!
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This Valentine’s Day, Oscar® winner Ke Huy Quan (Everything Everywhere All at Once, Loki) rockets into his first major leading man role as an unlikely hero, a seemingly mild-mannered realtor with a dark secret that he is desperate to leave behind. Spoiler alert: He won’t.

From 87North—producers of the groundbreaking action films Nobody, Violent Night, Bullet Train, Atomic Blonde and The Fall Guy—comes a visceral, high-octane story of wrath and revenge.

Quan stars as Marvin Gable, a realtor working the Milwaukee suburbs, where ‘For Sale’ signs bloom. Gable receives a crimson envelope from Rose (Oscar® winner Ariana DeBose; West Side Story, Argylle), a former partner-in-crime that he had left for dead. She’s not happy.

Now, Marvin is thrust back into a world of ruthless hitmen, filled with double-crosses and open houses turned into deadly warzones. With his brother Knuckles (Daniel Wu; Tomb Raider, Warcraft), a volatile crime lord, hunting him, Marvin must confront the choices that haunt him and the history he never truly buried.

The film features a killer soundtrack and impressive and diverse cast that includes former NFL running back and Super Bowl champion Marshawn “Beast Mode” Lynch (Bottoms, 80 for Brady), Mustafa Shakir (Emancipation, Luke Cage), Lio Tipton (Crazy, Stupid, Love., Lucy), Rhys Darby (Jumanji: The Next Level, Yes Man), André Eriksen (Violent Night, The Trip) and Sean Astin (The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Perry Mason).

Produced by 87North’s Kelly McCormick and David Leitch, Love Hurts is written by Matthew Murray (Sheltered, CloudStreet: Soaring the American West) & Josh Stoddard (Warrior, Kaleidoscope) and Luke Passmore (Archenemy, Slaughterhouse Rulez). Guy Danella (Violent Night) is also producing. The executive producer is Ben Ormand.

Making his feature film directing debut on Love Hurts is acclaimed veteran stunt coordinator and fight coordinator JoJo Eusebio, whose credits include some of the greatest action films of the past decade including Black Panther, The Avengers, the John Wick films, The Matrix Resurrections, Violent Night, The Fall Guy and Deadpool 2. Eusebio also served as the second-unit director on Deadpool 2, Violent Night and Birds of Prey.
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This time the main subject is not being afraid of change and overcoming a comfortable existence to find your better self. Visually the film contains almost everything the ever-advancing craft is capable of with fantastic use of colour and wonderful set design. Being based in the East adds another element of the exotic and this is used to the fullest.

This is the most character-based outing of the series and relies heavily on the appeal of its two main voice actors Jack Black and Awkwafina. Black does tone down some of his more over-the-top tendencies but you still need to dig his shtick to get the most out of the film. Awkwafina also stays very much in her established persona. The rest of the cast features heavy hitters like Bryan Cranston, Ian McShane and Dustin Hoffman.

The term craft returns to mind as you experience Kung Fu Panda 4 and that is not meant as a slight. The amount of effort and the utilization of the many skill sets behind this project are very impressive indeed. As for the story, it’s consistent if not spectacular and finds a comfortable medium that will engage the adults as well as the younger ones. My favourite little one loved it.
Rob Hudson
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After three death-defying adventures defeating world-class villains with his unmatched courage and mad martial arts skills, Po, the Dragon Warrior (Golden Globe nominee Jack Black), is called upon by destiny to … give it a rest already. More specifically, he’s tapped to become the Spiritual Leader of the Valley of Peace.

That poses a couple of obvious problems. First, Po knows as much about spiritual leadership as he does about the paleo diet, and second, he needs to quickly find and train a new Dragon Warrior before he can assume his new lofty position.

Even worse, there’s been a recent sighting of a wicked, powerful sorceress, Chameleon (Oscar® winner Viola Davis), a tiny lizard who can shapeshift into any creature, large or small. And Chameleon has her greedy, beady little eyes on Po’s Staff of Wisdom, which would give her the power to re-summon all the master villains whom Po has vanquished to the spirit realm.

So, Po’s going to need some help. He finds it (kinda?) in the form of crafty, quick-witted thief Zhen (Golden Globe winner Awkwafina), a corsac fox who really gets under Po’s fur but whose skills will prove invaluable. In their quest to protect the Valley of Peace from Chameleon’s reptilian claws, this comedic odd-couple duo will have to work together. In the process, Po will discover that heroes can be found in the most unexpected places.

The film features the voice talent of returning stars Academy Award® winner Dustin Hoffman as Kung Fu master, Shifu; James Hong (Everything Everywhere All at Once) as Po’s adoptive father, Mr. Ping; Academy Award® nominee Bryan Cranston as Po’s birth father, Li, and Emmy Award nominee Ian McShane as Tai Lung, Shifu’s former student and arch-nemesis. Oscar® winner Ke Huy Quan (Everything Everywhere All at Once) joins the ensemble as a new character, Han, the leader of the Den of Thieves.

Kung Fu Panda 4 is directed by Mike Mitchell (DreamWorks Animation’s Trolls, Shrek Forever After) and produced by Rebecca Huntley (DreamWorks Animation’s The Bad Guys). The film’s co-director is Stephanie Ma Stine (She-Ra and the Princesses of Power). In 2008, the Academy Award®-nominated 2008 inaugural chapter, Kung Fu Panda, became DreamWorks Animation’s highest-grossing original animated film and launched a franchise that has earned more than $1.8 billion at the global box-office.
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After three death-defying adventures defeating world-class villains with his unmatched courage and mad martial arts skills, Po, the Dragon Warrior (Golden Globe nominee Jack Black), is called upon by destiny to … give it a rest already. More specifically, he’s tapped to become the Spiritual Leader of the Valley of Peace.

That poses a couple of obvious problems. First, Po knows as much about spiritual leadership as he does about the paleo diet, and second, he needs to quickly find and train a new Dragon Warrior before he can assume his new lofty position.

Even worse, there’s been a recent sighting of a wicked, powerful sorceress, Chameleon (Oscar® winner Viola Davis), a tiny lizard who can shapeshift into any creature, large or small. And Chameleon has her greedy, beady little eyes on Po’s Staff of Wisdom, which would give her the power to re-summon all the master villains whom Po has vanquished to the spirit realm.

So, Po’s going to need some help. He finds it (kinda?) in the form of crafty, quick-witted thief Zhen (Golden Globe winner Awkwafina), a corsac fox who really gets under Po’s fur but whose skills will prove invaluable. In their quest to protect the Valley of Peace from Chameleon’s reptilian claws, this comedic odd-couple duo will have to work together. In the process, Po will discover that heroes can be found in the most unexpected places.

The film features the voice talent of returning stars Academy Award® winner Dustin Hoffman as Kung Fu master, Shifu; James Hong (Everything Everywhere All at Once) as Po’s adoptive father, Mr. Ping; Academy Award® nominee Bryan Cranston as Po’s birth father, Li, and Emmy Award nominee Ian McShane as Tai Lung, Shifu’s former student and arch-nemesis. Oscar® winner Ke Huy Quan (Everything Everywhere All at Once) joins the ensemble as a new character, Han, the leader of the Den of Thieves.

Kung Fu Panda 4 is directed by Mike Mitchell (DreamWorks Animation’s Trolls, Shrek Forever After) and produced by Rebecca Huntley (DreamWorks Animation’s The Bad Guys). The film’s co-director is Stephanie Ma Stine (She-Ra and the Princesses of Power). In 2008, the Academy Award®-nominated 2008 inaugural chapter, Kung Fu Panda, became DreamWorks Animation’s highest-grossing original animated film and launched a franchise that has earned more than $1.8 billion at the global box-office.
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The series stars Tom Hiddleston, Sophia Di Martino, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Wunmi Mosaku, Eugene Cordero, Rafael Casal, Tara Strong, Kate Dickie, Liz Carr, Neil Ellice, with Jonathan Majors, Ke Huy Quan and Owen Wilson. Justin Benson & Aaron Moorhead, Dan Deleeuw and Kasra Farahani direct episodes.

The head writer is Eric Martin. Kevin Feige, Stephen Broussard, Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Brad Winderbaum, Kevin R. Wright, Tom Hiddleston, Justin Benson & Aaron Moorhead, Eric Martin and Michael Waldron are the executive producers, with Trevor Waterson serving as co-executive producer.

Marvel Studios’ “Loki” Season 2 begins streaming on October 6, exclusively on Disney+.
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The story is built around the life and times of Evelyn Wang played by Michelle Yeoh. She is carrying some scar tissue from an unaccepting father and a difficult life in a new country. She is also having trouble relating to her husband and daughter.

The well-played-out drama is used as a launching pad for an inventive dive through parallel universes. Evelyn’s travels help her secure the skills needed to keep the connection to her daughter and husband intact. This is done at a frantic pace and with visionary flair.

Some will find this accelerated pace exhilarating while others will have a different take. It’s a polarising work and you owe it to yourself to experience it firsthand and with the immersive effect of the cinema. Bombastic or generous? It does have a foot in both camps.

Rob Hudson
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Everything Everywhere All At Once stars Michael Yeoh, Stephanie Hsu, Ke Huy Quan, James Hong, Jenny Slate, Harry Shum Jr. and Jamie Lee Curtis.

Everything Everywhere All At Once is coming to Australian cinemas in 2022.
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