🎭 Culture & Entertainment
May 20th, 2026
Today's top 5 stories, curated by Daily Direct.
Variety
Warner Bros.’ Clockwork Closing In on Park Chan-Wook’s ‘The Brigands Of Rattlecreek,’ With Matthew McConaughey, Austin Butler, Pedro Pascal and Tang Wei
Warner Bros.' new specialty label Clockwork is closing in on a North American deal for Park Chan-wook's highly anticipated Western "The Brigands of Rattlecreek," one of the most talked-about packages at this year's Cannes. The film boasts a marquee cast including Matthew McConaughey, Austin Butler, Pedro Pascal, and Tang Wei. The acquisition would mark a significant early statement for Clockwork as it establishes itself as a home for prestige international talent.
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Variety
Pedro Almodóvar Says ‘Europe Must Never Be Subjected to Trump’ and Wears ‘Free Palestine’ Pin at Cannes Press Conference
Pedro Almodóvar used his Cannes press conference for "Bitter Christmas" to deliver a pointed political statement, declaring that "Europe must never be subjected to Trump" to a round of applause from international press. The Spanish director, who also wore a "Free Palestine" pin, was responding to questions about censorship concerns in the current political climate. The moment underscores how Cannes continues to serve as a stage for prominent filmmakers to weigh in on global politics.
Read article →Rolling Stone
Billy Joel Denounces Upcoming Biopic, Calls Film ‘Legally and Professionally Misguided’
Billy Joel is publicly distancing himself from an unauthorized biopic directed by John Ottoman, with his representative confirming he has neither authorized nor supported the project. The piano man's team is calling the film "legally and professionally misguided," signaling a potential legal battle on the horizon. Unauthorized biopics have faced mounting scrutiny in recent years, and Joel's swift public rebuke suggests he intends to fight this one.
Read article →Rolling Stone
TikTok Influencer Charged With Conspiracy to Murder Why Don’t We Singer Jack Avery
A TikTok influencer has been charged with conspiracy to commit murder after allegedly plotting to kill Why Don't We singer Jack Avery, appearing in court Tuesday without entering a plea. The case marks a disturbing escalation in celebrity stalking and online obsession. Avery's camp has not yet issued a public statement on the charges.
Read article →Hollywood Reporter
Andrey Zvyagintsev on Russian Corruption, War and Exile: “I Know What I Am Talking About.”
Andrey Zvyagintsev, the acclaimed Russian director behind "Leviathan" and "Loveless," premiered "Minotaur" at Cannes — his first film made in exile and his first shot outside Russia. The work arrives as Zvyagintsev continues to speak out against the war in Ukraine and the corruption corroding Russian society, drawing on decades of living under the system he now critiques from abroad. For a filmmaker whose work has long laid bare the machinery of state brutality, the distance of exile has done nothing to dull his authority on the subject.
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