Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)IMDB
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?
During the red carpet moments, Priyanka stood out not just for her look, but also for her gesture of gratitude. After posing for the photographers, she folded her hands in a traditional namaste, a simple thank-you that felt personal amidst all the glamour.
Stars at the Bvlgari event Getty Images
Inside the event, she was seen chatting with Bvlgari CEO Jean-Christophe Babin and later sharing a light-hearted moment with Lisa. A short clip from the evening shows Priyanka asking Lisa to switch spots while posing, leading to a burst of laughter between them.
Priyanka’s elegant beige look paired with Bvlgari jewellery turns heads on the red carpetGetty Images
This isn’t the first time Priyanka has represented the brand at their global events. She attended a similar gathering in Rome last year, wearing an off-shoulder cream and black dress and flaunting Bvlgari’s Serpenti Aeterna necklace alongside Anne Hathaway and Shu Qi.
Beyond red carpets, Priyanka is staying busy with a packed slate of projects. She’ll be seen in Heads of State, co-starring Idris Elba and John Cena, and in The Bluff, where she plays a pirate in the Caribbean. Back in Indian cinema, she’s confirmed to be part of SSMB29, a much-anticipated film by SS Rajamouli with Mahesh Babu. The project is expected to unfold in two parts, with releases slated for 2027 and 2029.
Also on the cards is the second season of Citadel, though fans will need to wait since the release has been pushed to spring 2026.
Spike Lee presents the Honorary Palme d’Or to his longtime collaborator Denzel Washington Twitter/Absoluto Cine
Washington, visibly moved, called the moment “completely unexpected.” “I’m emotional right now,” he told the crowd. “To be back here with Spike, to make another film together, I’m grateful. Truly grateful.”
The film they’re reuniting on, Highest 2 Lowest, is Lee’s take on Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 classic High and Low. Washington plays King David, a music mogul caught in a kidnapping mix-up involving his son and his driver’s child. The cast includes Aubrey Joseph, Elijah Wright, Jeffrey Wright, A$AP Rocky, Ice Spice, and Wendell Pierce. The film is being shown out of competition at Cannes and will release in cinemas on 22 August before streaming on Apple TV+ in September.
This is only Washington’s second time at Cannes. His first was over three decades ago, in 1993, for Much Ado About Nothing. The Honorary Palme d’Or is rarely given, only 22 recipients since 2002, and even fewer have received it without prior announcement. The last time this happened was in 2022, when Tom Cruise was surprised with the honour for Top Gun: Maverick.
Washington’s film legacy is already packed with milestones: two Oscars, a Tony Award, a Presidential Medal of Freedom, and multiple Oscar nominations including for Malcolm X, Flight, Fences, and The Tragedy of Macbeth. But this Cannes honour adds another rare jewel to his crown.
The award also landed on a symbolic date: 16 years to the day after Do the Right Thing, Lee’s breakthrough film, made its explosive Cannes debut. Monday night wasn’t just a celebration of Denzel Washington, but a nod to a creative partnership that continues to shape cinema even today.
