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IANS News

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Indo-Asian News Service or IANS is a private Indian news agency. The IANS was founded by Indian American publisher Gopal Raju as the India Abroad News Service. It was later renamed the Indo-Asian News Service. The IANS has its main offices located in Noida.

Articles Written By IANS News

'Game Of Thrones' actor survives the COVID-19 battle
2248 days ago
Hollywood

'Game Of Thrones' actor survives the COVID-19 battle

London, April 14 (IANS) Actor Kristofer Hivju, who shot to global fame playing Tormund Giantsbane in the blockbuster series "Games Of Thrones", is "fully recovered and in good health" after battling COVID-19.## The actor took to Instagram to share the health update, saying he and his wife, Gry, who he believes was "most likely" infected too, are finally "free of all symptoms".## "Hi! We are fully recovered and in good health after I was infected by the coronavirus, and most likely my wife @grymolvaerhivju… After several weeks in quarantine, and also a couple more indoors after being free of all symptoms, we are finally safe and sound," he posted, along with an image with his wife.## The actor feels they were "lucky to only have mild symptoms of the COVID-19".## "We send our love and thoughts to all of the people where the virus has hit much harder, and to everyone who has lost their loved ones due to the coronavirus. Thank you for all of your support, and please remember to stay vigilant and keep your distance, wash your hands, and most of all; take care of each other in this strange time. Lots of love from us," he added.## Last month, he had shared that he tested positive for the novel coronavirus through a post on his Instagram account.## "Greetings from Norway! Sorry to say that I, today, have tested positive for COVID-19, coronavirus. My family and I are self-isolating at home for as long as it takes. We are in good health - I only have mild symptoms of a cold. There are people at higher risk for who this virus might be a devastating diagnosis," he said.## Stay tuned...

Pattinson's 'Batman' to be depicted as married man with kid in sequel
2248 days ago
Hollywood

Pattinson's 'Batman' to be depicted as married man with kid in sequel

Los Angeles, April 14 (IANS) Hollywood actor Robert Pattinson's "Batman" may get lucky in love and be depicted as a married man with a child in the future "The Batman" sequels.## The portal We Got This Covered, who first broke the news about Batman's reported love story in the upcoming movie, claimed to have got the news from a reliable source, reports aceshowbiz.com.## According to the source, the first film in the planned new trilogy will establish Batman's romance with Catwoman, played by Zoe Kravitz.## Apparently, the sequel to the Matt Reeves movie will feature its version of the Joker taking center stage, along with the beginnings of a full-on love story.## The portal also added that the future sequels will see the pair getting married and having a baby.## It also said that the plot will be familiar to readers of the comics, though it remains to be seen if this will adapt the storyline directly from the comics, in which their first rooftop wedding plans were ruined when Catwoman jilted Batman.## In the comic-book, Batman #85, which was released in 2019, the pair eventually tied the knot in a low-key ceremony.## In the 1992 film "Batman Returns", the caped crusader's romance ended with Catwoman apparently dying in order to get revenge on her former boss.## Meanwhile, filming on Reeves' "The Batman" has been halted due to the coronavirus outbreak.## For more and latest news about Hollywood, stay tuned with us.

Tom Cruise beat Dwayne Johnson to Jack Reacher role
2249 days ago
Hollywood

Tom Cruise beat Dwayne Johnson to Jack Reacher role

Los Angeles, April 13 (IANS) Hollywood star Dwayne Johnson says he had auditioned for the part of the popular character Jack Reacher, which he lost out to actor Tom Cruise.## He made the revelation during a Q&A session on Instagram. Through a seven-minute video, Johnson said he really wanted the role in the 2012 action movie, adding that losing it opened another door for him, reports dailymail.co.uk.## "Business is business and I'm happy (Cruise) got it," he said.## The action star said he was confident about getting the part as he believed his physical attributes were perfect for the character, which has been created by author Lee Child.## "In Hollywood, actors are kind of like in-a-box. There are actors that can vie for a particular role because it allows them to have a certain look, skin color, size, etc. Fortunately, for me, there aren't a lot of guys at all who look like me. So, all of my roles, from the beginning of my career, I've been a lucky son of a b***h that they've been created and designed for me -- except Jack Reacher," he said.## At that time, Johnson said that Cruise was the "biggest movie star in the world".## "I got the call saying 'Hey, you didn't get the role'. Look, I didn't even know if I had a shot for it, but the people around me at that time made me think that I did. I felt like I did, I felt like 'Why not me?'" he said.## "I'm positive that the role of Jack Reacher, because it was an established character, an IP that was well known and beloved around the world, that I wouldn't have had the creative space to do what I wanted with the character. I look back in gratitude that I didn't get Jack Reacher," he added.## Later, Johnson got a chance to essay the role of Luke Hobbs in the fifth installment of the "Fast & Furious" franchise.## "The universe works in funny ways though, as when that door shut on me, another door opened with the opportunity to create a character from scratch that was of my DNA," he said.## Today, Johnson is one of the highest-paid actors in Hollywood and has iconic films, including "The Mummy Returns", "Journey 2: The Mysterious Island", "Hercules", "Snitch", "Moana", revamped "Jumanji" franchise and "Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw", under his belt.## For more and latest news about Hollywood, stay tuned with us.

COVID-19: 'Guardians Of The Galaxy 3', 'The Suicide Squad' will not be delayed
2249 days ago
Hollywood

COVID-19: 'Guardians Of The Galaxy 3', 'The Suicide Squad' will not be delayed

Los Angeles, April 13 (IANS) Filmmaker James Gunn says his anticipated films "Guardians of the Galaxy 3" and "The Suicide Squad" won't be delayed due to the ongoing coronavirus crisis all over the world.## Gunn opened about the status of the films while answering fans' questions on his Twitter account, reports variety.com.## He said the new "Suicide Squad" film, for Warner Bros. and DC Comics, is scheduled to release as planned on August 6, 2021.## "Right now there's no reason for ‘The Suicide Squad' release date to move. We are on or ahead of schedule. We were extremely fortunate to wrap shooting and set up editing from our homes (due to a post-production team and studio with foresight) before quarantine," Gunn said.## He gave a similar update for "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3", which does not have a release date yet.## "Right now the plans with ‘Vol. 3' are also exactly the same as they were before coronavirus," he said.## Gunn is excited about his version of "The Suicide Squad", which stars Margot Robbie, Joel Kinnaman, Viola Davis, Taika Waititi, Peter Capaldi, Idris Elba, John Cena, Storm Reid, Pete Davidson, David Dastmalchian and Daniela Melchior.## "Guardians of the Galaxy" director Gunn wrote the second "Suicide Squad" installment, which tells the story of a group of super-villains forced by the government to work for good and save mankind. The first installment released in 2016, grossing $768 million worldwide despite dismal reviews.## For more and latest news about Hollywood, stay tuned with us.

Katy Perry says 'American Idol' episodes will get 'very creative' amid lockdown
2249 days ago
Hollywood

Katy Perry says 'American Idol' episodes will get 'very creative' amid lockdown

Los Angeles, April 13 (IANS) Singer Katy Perry addressed the future of her music-based show 'American Idol" while chatting with her fans online.## She spoke to her fans on Sunday, going live on Facebook minutes ahead of the new episode of "American Idol", reports etonline.com.## "What's going on with the show since we're all still in quarantine?" Perry said, reading a question from one viewer. "Well, I think that we're all gonna have to be very creative."## "I know that we're going to get really creative and you'll just have to be tuning into that creativity that we are probably going to create from our individual homes," Perry said, sounding somewhat unsure of how to answer. "We'll see how this goes."## When asked if she planned on performing on the show this season, Perry said: "I hope so! I'd love to."## Perry also spoke about how she has been doing staying at home and self-isolating amid the coronavirus outbreak. "It's up and down. I'm sure like everyone else," she said. "Just think of the things to be grateful for and that puts your mind in a good place."## "I love you. I miss you guys. It's a crazy time. This is a weird and wild time and I'm sure a lot of you are going through a lot of emotions," she added. "I'm in the same club I wish I had some answers."## After saying she has "hope for the near future," Perry told her fans, "I hope that we can all get our smile back again soon. You guys stay safe and stay healthy."## Perry ended just as Sunday's new episode of "American Idol" began. Though the show has suspended production, the new episode was a special one made up of already taped footage.## For more and latest news about Hollywood, stay tuned with us.

Tim Brooke-Taylor dies of coronavirus
2250 days ago
Hollywood

Tim Brooke-Taylor dies of coronavirus

London, April 12 (IANS) Comedian-actor Tim Brooke-Taylor has died after contracting coronavirus, his agent said. He was 79 years old.## Brooke-Taylor was a regular panelist on BBC Radio 4's "I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue" for over 40 years and became popular with "The Goodies" on TV in the 1970s.## Brooke-Taylor began his acting career at Cambridge University.## Brooke-Taylor was even part of the TV show "At Last The 1948 Show", where he starred alongside John Cleese and Graham Chapman.## "It has come as devastating news to hear that Tim has succumbed to this dreadful virus an" especially when we all thought he was recovering. Tim was a delightful man and never anything but great company," said comedian Jack Dee, who hosts "I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue", reports thesun.co.uk.## "It has always been one of the great joys of my career to work with someone who was part of the comedy landscape of my childhood.## "I can't bear the thought of introducing 'I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue' without being able to say 'And on my right, Tim Brooke-Taylor'.## Tim brought a unique quality to Clue. He was a proper team player, very generous as a performer, never egotistical and always more than delighted to set himself up as the b**t of the joke.## "For me, his great comedy gift was playing the injured innocent and he did it with brilliance and a characteristic lightness of touch.## "It's always heartbreaking to lose a loved one, but these times have created the cruelest of circumstances for that to happen in and my thoughts are with his wife Christine and all his family," Dee said.## Comedy writer Simon Blackwell tweeted: "Heartbreaking news about Tim Brooke-Taylor. Filled so many people's childhoods with massive laughs, and then kept doing so for decades afterward. Condolences to his family and friends."## For more and latest news about Hollywood, stay tuned with us.

Sophie Turner hopes to return to the 'X-Men' franchise
2250 days ago
Hollywood

Sophie Turner hopes to return to the 'X-Men' franchise

Los Angeles, April 12 (IANS) Actress Sophie Turner, who stars as Phoenix in the film series "X-Men", has said that she would relish the opportunity to reprise her role in the future.## "I don't even know what the deal is, whether Disney wants to continue on the 'X-Men' journey. I would always be down to go back to that character and that cast and that experience ... We had the best time in those movies. I would kill to go back," she said in a video chat seen on Twitter, reports femalefirst.co.uk.## Turner is currently starring in the TV series "Survive", where she plays a survivor of a plane crash who has to make it back to civilization.## She hopes the new show will make those suffering from mental illness feel "less alone".## Turner said: "What drew me to the script was the way that mental illness was written so accurately in my opinion. It felt real to me. I also loved the notion that this girl who wanted to die so badly ends up fighting for a life that she never wanted to live in the first place."## She also feels "Survive" will help to make people feel less alone. "I hope that the story of this girl finding something to live for helps others find the ability to do that, too," she said.## For more and latest news about Hollywood, stay tuned with us.

Rihanna too busy 'trying to save world'
2250 days ago
Hollywood

Rihanna too busy 'trying to save world'

Los Angeles, April 12 (IANS) Singer Rihanna seems to have a bigger goal in mind than thinking of her new album.## As part of the singer's "Fenty Social Club" party on Instagram Live, she told her fans and followers watching her at home to not bring up the album, reports eonline.com.## "If one of y'all ask me about the album one more time when I'm trying to save the world, unlike y'all president... on sight," the 32-year-old said during the live-stream, taking a jab at US President Donald Trump.## While the Grammy winner hasn't given fans a specific date for when she might release new music, she recently said in an interview that she is "aggressively working on music".## "I don't want my albums to feel like themes," she had told a magazine. "There are no rules. There's no format. There's just good music, and if I feel it, I'm putting it out."## Rihanna has also been busy donating to coronavirus relief efforts.## The Clara Lionel Foundation, which the singer formed in 2012 in honor of her grandparents, announced in March that it donated $5 million to COVID-19 rapid response efforts in the US and across the globe.## The money donated will be distributed to local food banks serving high-risk communities and the elderly in the US and will also be used to promote the acceleration of coronavirus testing and care in countries like Haiti and Malawi, as well as the mobilization of resources and additional capacity and support for native communities.## For more and latest news about Hollywood, stay tuned with us.

Tom Hanks hosts show at home after COVID-19 diagnosis in March
2250 days ago
Hollywood

Tom Hanks hosts show at home after COVID-19 diagnosis in March

Los Angeles, April 12 (IANS) Hollywood actor Tom Hanks returned to the small screen for the first time after he tested positive for the coronavirus in March. He said he and his wife are doing great.## The 63-year-old served as host for the first-ever "Saturday Night Live at Home" episode, reports people.com.## Hanks opened the show with a "Tiger King" reference, speaking to the camera from his Los Angeles home. "Hey all you cool cats and kittens," he said.## "It's me, your old pal. Don't be afraid, this shaved head was just for a movie. My hair is growing back very slowly," Hanks shared, referencing the Baz Luhrmann-directed film about Elvis Presley he was filming in Australia, where he was self-quarantining.## "Hey, it's good to be here, though it is also very weird to be here. Hosting Saturday Night Live from home. It is a strange time to try and be funny, but trying to be funny is SNLas whole thing. So we thought, what the heck? Let's give it a shot," Hanks said.## "But why me as host? Well, for one, I have been the celebrity canary of the coal mine for the coronavirus, and ever since being diagnosed, I have been more like America's dad than ever before since no one wants to be around me very long and I make people uncomfortable," he said.## His monologue was not one without a joke.## "Now I was diagnosed back in March with the coronavirus. I was first diagnosed down in Australia. Now the folks in Australia are fantastic in every way but they use Celsius instead of Fahrenheit when they take your temperature," he said.## "So, when they come in and they say, 'You're 36,' which seemed very bad to me. But turns out 36 is fine, turns out 38 is bad. So basically it's how Hollywood treats female actors."## Speaking about his quarantine attire as of late, Hanks said he had some help from his wife Rita Wilson. "But now my wife and I are doing fine, doing great. We're hunkered down like all of us should be. In fact, this suit, this is the first time I've worn anything other than sweatpants since March 11. My wife had to help me put it on," he said.## For more and latest news about Hollywood, stay tuned with us.

Joaquin Phoenix almost set himself on fire before entering rehab
2251 days ago
Hollywood

Joaquin Phoenix almost set himself on fire before entering rehab

Los Angeles, April 10 (IANS) Oscar-winning actor Joaquin Phoenix checked into a rehabilitation center after director Werner Herzog highlighted his reckless ways following a near-death car crash.## Phoenix said he was drinking heavily and partying, post the success of the biopic "Walk The Line" 15 years ago, reports aceshowbiz.com.## "I wasn't engaging with the world or myself in the way I wanted to. I was being an idiot, running around, drinking, trying to screw people, going to stupid clubs," the "Joker" star told GQ magazine.## Then, one night, after he crashed his car, he was about to light a cigarette. That was when German filmmaker Herzog intervened.## "A German voice said, 'Just relax'," Phoenix said, recalling how the director pointed out the car was leaking petrol and he was seconds away from potentially lighting himself on fire.## Phoenix entered a treatment facility days later. Today, the actor says, he has no urge or desire to drink like he used to.## "There are too many things I enjoy doing and I don't want to wake up feeling hungover. It's not a thing I fight against, it's just the way I live my life."## For more and latest news about Hollywood, stay tuned with us.

It's a difficult time in the world right now: Oscar-winning filmmaker
2251 days ago
Hollywood

It's a difficult time in the world right now: Oscar-winning filmmaker

New Delhi, April 11 (IANS) Oscar-winning filmmaker Marshall Curry feels the world is going through a difficult time, saying people "have been whipped up by demagogues who want us to demonize each other and discriminate against strangers who might have different religions or skin color".## This year, Curry won an Oscar for "The Neighbors' Window", a short narrative film that he wrote and directed. He was previously nominated three times for Academy Awards for his documentary films -- "Street Fight", "If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front" and "A Night at the Garden".## Asked if "The Neighbors' Window", which gives a message for having empathy towards neighbors, resonates with the political and social sentiments around the world, Curry told IANS: "It is a difficult time in America and in the world right now. People have been whipped up by demagogues who want us to demonize each other, to discriminate against strangers who might have different religions or skin color or lifestyles than we do."## "So I hoped that in a small way, the film would remind people to be gentle with each other and realize that everyone is struggling with something," he added.## "The Neighbors' Window", which is available to stream in India via ShortsTV, tells the story of a middle-aged woman with small children whose life is shaken up when two free-spirited twenty-something moves in across the street.## Talking about the movie, he said: "When I finished writing, I began to pull together a terrific team - cinematographer, producers, actors - and we shot the whole film in just four days in the apartment owned by very generous friends. I wanted to begin the film with a sense of light humor to draw the audience in, but over the course of the film, I tried to make the emotions deepen - and darken a bit - until the end. I think that life often has turns like this that happen suddenly, so we were all working together - the cinematographer, the actors, the musicians, etc. -- to try to trace those contours in a way that felt natural."## The short film runs high on voyeurism and nostalgia, and Curry says the themes were built into the very initial concept for the film.## "A few years ago I heard a story on a podcast called Love + Radio in which a middle-aged woman named Diane Weipert described seeing a young couple move in across the street. The story was beautifully told and really stayed with me, and a few years later it became the inspiration for my script," added Curry, who has also directed the award-winning documentaries "Racing Dreams" and "Point and Shoot".## Asked if the world is missing out on creative learning by not delving more into short film format, he said: "I love making short films, and I'm happy there are platforms such as ShortsTV and others that are sharing them!"## "The ability to stream short films on the Internet has made a big difference in the size of audiences. It's now possible to share short films with millions of people who would have had no way to see them just a few years ago. With platforms such as ShortsTV, our films can reach millions of households," he said.## He has been nominated for an Oscar several times and won an Oscar. But he doesn't let the award glory come in the middle of his creative thoughts while working on a project.## "I have been nominated three times before for documentaries, but winning was a new experience for me, and it was nice to be there with a fiction film. It was also a lot of fun to be able to celebrate with the team that made the film with me. I don't really think about the Oscars when I am making a film because I know that it is always a huge long-shot for any film to get recognized by the Academy, so I just try to make the best films I can," he said.## At the moment, he is working on "a few fiction projects and a few non-fiction projects that are in early stages. I really love to shoot and edit, so I'm looking forward to digging in again on a new film".## Stay tuned...

Celine Dion tweaks 'My heart will go on' for COVID-19 days
2252 days ago
Hollywood

Celine Dion tweaks 'My heart will go on' for COVID-19 days

Los Angeles, April 10 (IANS) Singer Celine Dion revisited her iconic song "My heart will go on", and tweaked it to encourage people to practice social distancing amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.## Dion posted a re-do of the lyrics of her 1997 hit on her Instagram feed on Thursday, reports dailymail.co.uk.## The 52-year-old French Canadian diva posted a brief video snippet of her music video from the hit, which was the love theme for the Oscar-winning film "Titanic", next to which she wrote the altered lyrics in both English and French.## "Near, far wherever you are... make sure you're practicing social distancing," the singer wrote, before repeating the same sentiment in French.## She signed off in the caption with "Team Céline" and included the hashtags #ThursdayWisdom #restezchezvous #StayAtHome and #throwbackThursday.## Dion's post comes as many celebrities remind fans and followers via their social media channels about the importance of staying home during the spreading pandemic.## Earlier in an episode of "Watch What Happens Live", she revealed that initially, she didn't even want to do "My heart will go on".## "There was one song that I didn't want to record, and I'm glad they didn't listen to me," Dion said in response to a question from a fan on the show.## It was her late husband Rene Angelil, who was her manager at the time, who convinced her otherwise.## "It didn't appeal to me. I was probably very tired that day -- very tired," Dion confessed, adding: "My husband said, ‘Let's hold on'. He talked to the writer and he said, 'Let's try to make it, like, a little demo'."## The song went on to win the Oscar for Best Original Song, as well as two Grammys for the superstar.## For more and latest news about Hollywood, stay tuned with us.

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