The long-awaited official trailer for Zoya Akhtar's The Archies was out today on the internet to great reviews. Now, superstar Shah Rukh Khan has praised the trailer on social media.
He took to X and wrote, "A contemporary subject with timeless characters #TheArchies... thrown into a world that is very fable-like. Zoya has created such an innocent and pristine quality to the film.... maybe just like our world could be with a more responsible outlook towards the environment. All the best to the entire team involved with this sweet and meaningful fun film!"
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The Netflix film marks the acting debut of Shah Rukh Khan's daughter Suhana Khan, producer Boney Kapoor's daughter Khushi Kapoor, and Amitabh Bachchan's grandson Agastya Nanda.
It is a coming-of-age musical that follows the lives of Archie, Betty, Veronica, Jughead, Reggie, Ethel, and Dilton who will take audiences to the fictional hilly town of Riverdale. The film explores friendship, freedom love, heartbreak, and rebellion.
Expressing excitement about the film, Zoya Akhtar said, "Having spent a lot of my childhood living in an Archie Comic, I'm thrilled to introduce Riverdale to this generation.
The characters are iconic, their teenage life innocent, the world simpler, a time when less was more. Archie Comics, Netflix, Tiger Baby and Graphic India were in complete sync and wanted the adaptation to be as wholesome as the original comic was. It's clean young adult content and was very fresh for Reema and me to work on. It's also very exciting that a global IP chose the Indian film industry to make its first feature. Excited to get it out there."
The Archies is scheduled to release on December 7 only on Netflix.
The Cannes Film Festival this year quietly handed over its most heartfelt moment to two women who once defined Indian cinema’s golden age. Sharmila Tagore and Simi Garewal, both in their late 70s, walked the red carpet for the restored screening of Aranyer Din Ratri, Satyajit Ray’s 1970 film, now brought back to life in 4K. The screening was introduced by Wes Anderson, whose affection for Ray’s storytelling is no secret.
Anderson called the film a “forgotten treasure,” and watching the two original cast members return to celebrate it decades later turned it into more than just a screening but a living memory. “We’re the only ones left,” Sharmila said on stage, gesturing towards Simi, a comment that landed like a quiet tribute to a time now passed.
Sharmila Tagore, Simi Garewal, Wes Anderson and guests attend the "Highest 2 Lowest" red carpet at the 78th annual Cannes Film FestivalGetty Images
Originally based on a novel by Sunil Gangopadhyay, Aranyer Din Ratri tells the story of four city men seeking escape in the forests of Palamau. In the film, Sharmila played Aparna, an intelligent and reserved woman; Simi, in stark contrast, portrayed Duli, a spirited tribal girl. The characters’ contrasts mirrored the wide social and emotional gaps Ray explored between urban and rural, class and identity, tradition and change.
The film’s revival was made possible through a six-year collaboration led by The Film Foundation, founded by Martin Scorsese, Film Heritage Foundation, Janus Films, and The Criterion Collection. Original film negatives were used, with cooperation from the family of producer Purnima Dutta.
Sharmila’s presence at Cannes also sparked renewed interest in her life beyond the spotlight. A 2021 video of her son Saif Ali Khan resurfaced, where he spoke of her habit of fixing and preserving everything, from old household items to the sprawling Pataudi Palace, which she helped restore. “She runs a home like a finishing school,” he said. “Even the staff trained under her get poached by neighbours.”
Her recent return to Bengali cinema in Puratawn with Rituparna Sengupta signals that her artistry isn’t a thing of the past. It’s ongoing, evolving, but always rooted in grace.
As the Cannes audience applauded the restored film, it wasn’t just nostalgia they were applauding. It was memory, legacy, and the quiet power of those who’ve never needed to shout to leave an impression.
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has once again touched down in France for the Cannes Film Festival, and this time, as always, her daughter Aaradhya is by her side. The duo was seen arriving at Nice Airport, where they were warmly received. A video of their arrival, now circulating widely online, captures Aishwarya chatting warmly with a greeter who hands a gift to Aaradhya before they head off.
Clad in a navy blue trench coat, Aishwarya kept it simple yet elegant. Aaradhya wore an all-black outfit and seemed at ease, exchanging smiles and laughter during the brief encounter at the airport. Despite recent speculation about whether Aishwarya would attend Cannes this year, especially after a video of her dancing with husband Abhishek Bachchan at a wedding in Mumbai, her airport appearance has laid all doubts to rest.
Fans quickly jumped into action online, sharing excitement over her return to Cannes. Comments ranged from “She is back!” to eager anticipation over her upcoming looks. However, not all responses were glowing, with some commenting on her choice of hairstyle.
Aishwarya is expected to walk the Cannes red carpet on 21 and 22 May, marking her 22nd year at the prestigious event. Her first appearance was in 2002 for the premiere of Devdas, where she made headlines arriving in a traditional gold saree, accompanied by Shah Rukh Khan and director Sanjay Leela Bhansali.
As for Aaradhya, her presence at Cannes is no surprise. Aishwarya has often said that her daughter enjoys the experience, not just for the glamour but for the atmosphere and the people she’s grown familiar with over the years. She once shared that Aaradhya understands the significance of the festival and appreciates the world of cinema.
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This year’s Cannes also sees other Indian names on the guest list, including Payal Kapadia on the competition jury, and stars like Janhvi Kapoor, Ishaan Khatter, and Vishal Jethwa promoting their film Homebound. Meanwhile, the restored version of Satyajit Ray’s Aranyer Din Ratri brings legends like Sharmila Tagore and Simi Garewal back to the spotlight.
With Aishwarya back on the red carpet, the countdown to her Cannes look has officially begun.
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Taylor Swift’s voice echoes through The Handmaid’s Tale in a surprise Reputation (Taylor’s Version) debut
Taylor Swift’s long-awaited Reputation (Taylor’s Version) finally made its presence known, but not through a press release or streaming platform. Instead, it emerged through the eerie silence of Gilead. The re-recorded version of “Look What You Made Me Do” debuted unexpectedly in the opening scene of the latest episode of The Handmaid’s Tale, catching fans and viewers completely off guard.
The episode begins with Elisabeth Moss’s character, June Osborne, orchestrating a quiet but fierce act of resistance against the regime. As handmaids march through a war-torn street, Swift’s voice cuts through the chaos. The updated track underscores the rebellion, syncing perfectly with the tension and defiance unfolding on screen.
The original 2017 version of the song was a turning point in Swift’s career, born out of public backlash and a media storm. Its reappearance now, in a show about fighting back against oppression, feels deeply personal. Swift’s battle to reclaim her music mirrors the episode’s themes: reclaiming agency, rewriting narratives, and refusing to be silenced.
Moss, also an executive producer of the show, shared how this moment had been years in the making. She revealed she had always wanted to feature a Taylor Swift track but waited for the right moment. “This was it,” she said. “The song, the scene, the story, it all just clicked.” Moss also attended Swift’s Eras Tour last year with castmate Bradley Whitford, making her admiration for the singer no secret.
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For Swifties, this is the clearest sign that Reputation (Taylor’s Version) is on the horizon. While fans have spotted hints in everything from merch updates to symbolic fashion choices, this full-length debut feels like the real beginning of the next chapter.
It also marks the latest move in Swift’s ongoing mission to re-record her early albums and reclaim ownership after the rights to her original masters were sold without her consent. So far, she’s re-released Fearless, Red, Speak Now, and *1989*, with Reputation and her debut album left.
Swift’s music has popped up in recent shows and documentaries, but this moment in The Handmaid’s Tale is her strongest re-entry into the Reputation era. It's less of a promo, more of a declaration. The gloves are off.
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Peppa Pig welcomes baby Evie in a royal-style announcement
After 20 years of being the star of the family, Peppa Pig is no longer the youngest girl in the house. A new face has joined the Pig family: a baby girl named Evie. Born early Tuesday morning at 5:34 AM at the Lindo Wing of St Mary’s Hospital in London (yes, the same one where the royal children were born), Evie marks the first major addition to the family since the show began in 2004.
The news was revealed in true British fashion with a town crier in a video posted on Peppa Pig’s official Instagram. The announcement, styled like a royal birth, sent fans and brands into a frenzy. Mummy Pig is said to have named the baby after her great-aunt, and while the birth was not easy, she shared that she is relieved and happy to have Evie here, safe and healthy.
Peppa’s younger brother George, who has somehow been two years old forever, now has a new sibling to share toys and tantrums with. And while Peppa seems thrilled in the official photos, it is hard not to wonder how she will really feel once the attention shifts away from her.
To mark the occasion and the show’s 20th anniversary, the creators are rolling out a cinema special called Peppa Meets The Baby. Hitting screens on 30 May, the one-hour film will follow Peppa and George as they prepare for Evie’s arrival, featuring 10 new episodes and six new songs. Evie will also become a regular on the main show, adding a new layer to the Pig family’s dynamic.
The show, which started on Channel 5 and Nick Jr. in 2004, has grown into a global phenomenon, airing in over 180 countries and more than 40 languages. In 2019, toy giant Hasbro took over the franchise, promising even more Peppa-centric content.
The buzz around baby Evie has been building for months. Mummy Pig’s pregnancy reveal in February was followed by a gender reveal in April, complete with a media rollout that rivalled any celebrity birth. Parenting tips, maternity photos, and interviews about balancing work and family were part of the package.
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Now, with baby Evie here, it feels like growing up just got real.
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The Harry Potter reboot becomes the most expensive TV show ever
The next time you think of a big-budget show, forget Game of Thrones or The Rings of Power. The new Harry Potter reboot is set to leave them all behind and not just in storytelling, but in cost. With a jaw-dropping budget of over $4.2 billion (₹33,600 crore), this upcoming series is on track to be the most expensive television production ever attempted.
Each of the 42 planned episodes, spread across seven seasons, will reportedly cost more than $100 million (₹837 crore). That’s more than many Marvel movies and nearly double the per-episode spend of Amazon’s The Rings of Power. But where is all that money going?
A massive part of the budget is being poured into something rarely attempted on this scale: a custom-built town. Nicknamed “Potterville,” this mini city is under construction at Warner Bros. Studios in Leavesden and will house life-size recreations of iconic locations like Hogwarts, King’s Cross Station, and Privet Drive. The price tag for this alone? Around £1 billion (₹10,700 crore). The idea is not just about visual realism but a long-term investment in the franchise’s future, with the possibility of spin-offs or other productions set in the same magical universe.
Unlike the original film series, which had to condense the books into blockbuster-length scripts, this version aims to give each book its own season, allowing for a deeper dive into the world J.K. Rowling created. The show is expected to go into the details that never made it to the big screen.
A fresh cast will step into some of the most recognisable roles in pop culture. John Lithgow will take on the role of Albus Dumbledore, joined by Janet McTeer as Professor McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu as Snape, and Nick Frost as Hagrid, among others. The trio of young leads Harry, Hermione, and Ron are yet to be announced.
Set to film on a sprawling 200-acre site, this reboot marks a major moment for HBO and Warner Bros. Whether it lives up to expectations or not, it’s already rewritten the rules of television production. And in the process, it’s raised a question: how much is too much to bring magic back to life?