What’s going on with Studio Ghibli? The iconic Japanese animation studio has announced that it will be taking a break from production for the first time in its 29 year history. It is speculated that the Studio Ghibli’s proposed restructuring comes as a result of financial problems — with the retirement of Hayao Miyazaki in 2013, the studio’s films have not been the incredible box office draw that previously allowed them to maintain a full-time production team. While the news has caused international panic among fans, it seems all is not yet lost. With their latest release, When Marnie was There, performing healthily at the Japanese box office and rumours of a new short film by Miyazaki, we’re sure we haven’t heard that last of Studio Ghibli.
Have you been eagerly awaiting another musical featuring the unique vocal stylings of Meryl Streep and Johnny Depp? No, neither have we but it seems we have no choice in the matter—the first trailer for Disney’s Into the Woods, directed by Rob Marshall (of Chicago fame) and based on the hit Stephen Sondheim musical has been released. The notoriously racy stage production is an alternative take on traditional fairy tales, a niche that’s proved very profitable in the past few years. Also starring Anna Kendrick, Chris Pine and Emily Blunt, we’re expecting lots of artful dishevelment, CGI and wildly varying degrees of musical competence.
Another open letter battle has broken out in Hollywood, this time over a legitimate political issue rather than as an excuse to police a woman’s sexuality. It all started at the end of last month when a group of Spanish film personalities, including Javier Bardem, Penélope Cruz and Pedro Almodóvar openly condemned what they describe as the genocide of the Palestinian civilian population and the apathy of the international community. In the letter, they called on the Spanish government to recall their ambassador for the duration of the conflict. Now actor Jon Voight, noted conservative and father of Angelina Jolie, has entered the fray with his own missive published in the Hollywood Reporter, which he accuses the Spanish signatories of ignorance and anti-semitism. In eminently more important news, the ceasefire has now expired and the conflict continues.
