sTKO! ’s Officially Back CREED’ In the Oscar Ring

Fa-La-La-La Face-off DEC. 11, 2015 • #1393 Your Ultimate List of the Meow 15 Best Holiday Movies, TV, Songs & Books

First Look!

THE BIGGEST MARVEL MOVIE YET INTRODUCES

HE’S TALL, POWERFUL— AND HAS CLAWS THAT AREAL HOUSEWIFE WOULD ENVY FROM LEFT: AS CAPTAIN AMERICA, AS BLACK PANTHER, AND ROBERT DOWNEY JR. AS IRON MAN YOU’RE NOT YOU WHEN YOU’RE HUNGRY.®

®/TM trademarks ©Mars, Incorporated 2015. Other trademarks are property of their respective owners. SATISFIES THE TOP 10 THINGS WE LOVE THIS WEEK

Gaby Hoffmann, Amy Landecker, , , and

TV • Thegroundbreakingseriesreturnsassharplyfunnyasever,with : STUDIOS (3); LIGHT AND TAMBOR: JENNIFER CLASEN/AMAZON JENNIFER TAMBOR: AND LIGHT (3); STUDIOS AMAZON : TRANSPARENT Maura (Emmy winner Jeffrey Tambor) and the dysfunctional Pfefferman family learning to navigate new life-changing deci-

TRANSPARENT 1 sions, including sex-reassignment surgery. (Amazon)

ILLUSTRATION BY JOHN RITTER DECEMBER 11, 2015 EW.COM 5 23

5 : KEVIN MAZUR/WIREIMAGE.COM; 6

4 WORST: THE YOU’RE BYRON COHEN/FX; BYRON

2 3 4 5 6 VAN: THE IN LADY THE

MUSIC TV BOOKS MOVIES MUSIC A HEAD FULL YOU’RE THE IMPROBA- THE LADY BLUE OF DREAMS, THE WORST BILITY OF IN THE VAN NEIGHBOUR- NICOLA DOVE; SIVAN • The raunchy yet LOVE, by Hannah • Revisiting her role from HOOD, Troye Sivan • After 2014’s melan- poignant sitcom about Rothschild Alan Bennett’s auto- • Hot 100 fans hungry choly Ghost Stories, the thirtysomethings trying • This wittily frothy first biographical play, Maggie for something more British rockers bounce to live and love has had a novel dives headfirst into Smith is crotchety, filling than the latest : back with some of their winning second season the outsize greed and cantankerous, and ulti- releases from Justin GROUP UNIVERSAL MUSIC most joyous music in (available now on Hulu) intrigue in today’s art mately charming as a Bieber or One Direction years, featuring an all-star thanks to nuanced story- world—and the havoc homeless woman who should pick up this group of collaborators telling that’s unafraid wreaked when a lost asked to park her van in Aussie’s moody full- including Beyoncé, to show characters masterpiece falls into Bennett’s driveway for length debut, brimming , , at their, well, worst. (FXX, the wrong (or maybe a few weeks and stayed with lush synth-pop and others. Wednesdays, 10:30 p.m.) exactly right) hands. for 15 years. (PG-13) symphonies.

6 EW.COM DECEMBER 11, 2015 Learn more at toyota.com/tacoma MOVIES CHI-RAQ • Spike Lee’s update of 7 Lysistrata—written largely 7 in rhyme—is his most sat- isfying joint in 10 years. (R)

BOOKS RULES FOR A KNIGHT, 8 by Ethan Hawke • Told from the perspec- tive of a 15th-century dad to his kids on the eve of battle, this collection of children’s parables sweetly ruminates on life lessons.

MOVIES HITCHCOCK/ TRUFFAUT 9 • Fifty years after François Truffaut published his Alfred Hitchcock inter- views, Martin Scorsese, Wes Anderson, and others dissect the influence of the auteurs’ work. (PG-13)

TV 89 GARBAGE TIME WITH 10 KATIE NOLAN • The former YouTuber’s comedic take on sports is witty, energetic, and, most of all, refreshing. (FS1, Wednesdays, 12 a.m.)

10 CHI-RAQ : PARRISH LEWIS (2); NOLAN: KEVIN LYNCH/FOX SPORTS LYNCH/FOX KEVIN NOLAN: (2); LEWIS : PARRISH

8 EW.COM DECEMBER 11, 2015 Saving People Money Since 1936

    

GEICO has been serving up great car insurance and (!2;!9ধ$$<9;31'89'8=-$'(38138';,!2Œ@'!89W ';! 7<3;'!2&9'',3>1<$,@3<$3<£&9!=';3&!@W

+'-$3W$31dˆf¥‡‡fŽ‹fd£3$!£3ă$'

31'&-9$3<2;9T$3='8!+'9T6!@1'2;6£!29!2&('!;<8'9!8'23;!=!-£!#£'-2!££9;!;'938!££ $316!2-'9W -9!8'+-9;'8'&9'8=-$'1!803( 3='821'2; 16£3@''9 29<8!2$'316!2@T!9,-2+;32TWW‰‡‡¤U!'809,-8' !;,!>!@ 2$W9<#9-&-!8@W}‰‡ˆŒ  THE WEEK’S BEST TWEET OF THE WEEK Do you think Cate Blanchett has ever eaten stuffing? I don’t. “Look, man, I get . My dad @billy “Would you stop acting like eichner Diahann Carroll, heifer? You killed your dad. But you ain’t been livin’ in the suburbs need to know something: with that white man all your life.” Your dad was an a--hole.” —Cookie (Taraji P. Henson), when sister —Carl (Chandler Riggs), showing little Candace (Vivica A. Fox) refuses to sympathy to Ron (Austin Abrams), go to a crack house to find on The Walking Dead Carol (Tasha Smith), on Empire

“Women weaken legs.” —Rocky (), giving training advice to Adonis (Michael B. Jordan), in Creed EICHNER: LAURA CAVANAUGH/FILMMAGIC.COM; HENSON: CHUCK HODES/FOX; STALLONE: BARRY WETCHER; RIGGS: GENE PAGE/AMC; TAYLOR: MYLES A TAYLOR: MYLES PAGE/AMC; GENE RIGGS: WETCHER; BARRY STALLONE: HODES/FOX; CHUCK HENSON: CAVANAUGH/FILMMAGIC.COM; LAURA EICHNER:

“She did the 30 Day Shred.

Jillian Michaels PARMELEE/CBS MICHAEL MARGULIES: MARKS/E!; JIM HURLEY: IMAGES; GETTY VIA BANK PHOTO GORENSTEIN/NBC/NBCU DOUGLAS FALLON: changed her life.” —Trish (Rachael Taylor), explaining Jessica’s (Krysten Ritter) superstrength to a bystander, on Marvel’s Jessica Jones

“I saw that Prince William and Kate recently made plans for their baby daughter, Princess Charlotte, to join the Girl Scouts when she turns 5. “Yes. I’ve That’s how good Girl Scout “I’m not kissing cookies are. Even royalty is her ring. gotten over like, ‘We need someone She should be words.” on the inside.’ ” kissing my ass.” —Alicia (Julianna Margulies), —Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show responding to Eli’s (Alan —Queen Helena (Elizabeth Hurley), Cumming) description of her complaining about the acting prime new love interest as a “man minister, on The Royals of few words,” on RONOWITZ/;

10 EW.COM DECEMBER 11, 2015 GB OF DATA 15 FOR THE PRICE OF 10 GB More reasons to smile and share the holiday.

1.866.MOBILITY | att.com/mobilesharevalue | Visit a Store

Mobile Share Value® 15 GB for Price of 10 GB: Ltd.-time offer. Must sign up for this promo plan. Compares the new 15 GB plan to our previous 10 GB plan. Plan is for svc. only & includes plan charge ($100/mo.) plus per- device access charge ($10 to $40/mo.). Data Overage: $15/GB. Devices: Purch. costs add’l. Device Limits: 10 per plan. GENERAL SERVICE TERMS: Subject to Wireless Customer Agmt. Services are not for resale. Credit approval req’d. Deposit: May apply per line. Activ./upgrade & other fees may apply per line. Other monthly charges, fees & restr’s apply & may result in svc. termination. Svc. not avail. everywhere. Pricing & offers subject to change & may be modified, discontinued, or terminated at any time w/out notice. See att.com/mobilesharevalue for plan details. ©2015 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. AT&T, the Globe logo, and other marks are registered trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property. EW

11 12 + 2015

Chris Evans picks up FEATURES the shield again for next summer’s Captain America: Civil War 22 The Best Holiday Entertainment Ever ’Tis the season to hunker down with these Christmas and Hanukkah classics. 24 How the Brits behind Cats and Downton Abbey ushered the comedy to Broadway. BY MARC SNETIKER 28 Captain America: Civil War With Ultron destroyed, the Avengers turn on one another in Marvel’s most explosive movie yet. BY ANTHONY BREZNICAN 34 What If Al Pacino Played Han Solo? And 19 other far-fetched, totally ridiculous but almost- really-happened tales from Hollywood’s casting archives.

NEWS AND COLUMNS 5 The Must List 10 Sound Bites 15 EW Unleashed 16 News & Notes 68 The Bullseye

REVIEWS 42 Movies ON THE COVER 46 Chris Evans as Streaming Captain America, Chadwick Boseman ROSENTHALZADE 49 as Black Panther, and TV Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man. Photograph 57 by Michael Muller. Music 62 Books An Epic Behind-the-Scenes Guide to the Galaxy’s Favorite Saga

PICK UP YOUR COPY IN STORES DEC. 11

AN ALL-NEW COLLECTOR’S EDITION From the Editors of

© 2015 Time Inc. Books. Entertainment Weekly is a registered trademark of Time Inc. All rights reserved. SPECIAL EDITION THE ULTIMATE INSIDER’S GUIDE Behind the scenes access to exclusive photos, interviews and much more!

ES TODA IN STOR Y! COPY PICK UP YOUR

©2015 Time Inc. PEOPLE is a trademark of Time Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Unleashed

FIND US ON THE WEB, TABLET, RADIO, AND IPHONE

EW.COM

MY JOURNEY Oscar winner Patricia Arquette, How to Get Away With Murder’s Matt McGorry, and other celebs reflect on their careers and paths to success—and who they have to thank along the way—on EW’s Web series (ew.com/myjourney).

RADIO

HOLLYWOOD INSIDER For the latest news in all things entertainment, listen to EW A Better, Faster, Morning Live with Dalton Ross and Jessica Shaw every weekday Stronger EW.com from 8 to 10 a.m. on SiriusXM 105.

EW.COM IS GOING out with a bang—and a make- TABLET over—in 2015. Our new homepage, launching Dec. 3, will allow readers to discover more of EW ON THE GO our exclusive content, easier and faster than ever before. You can always keep EW close by, thanks to our digital edition, That means instant access to our incredible stable of first available on your tablet and looks and photo galleries, as well as the videos we’re phone. Access is included making and watching on a daily basis. Our new navigation for print subscribers. To find it, download the Google Play bar will provide users with a way to keep connected with Newsstand app, or go to Apple top stories and exclusive offers. It’s just the beginning of News or ew.com/ewdigital. many exciting changes coming to the look and feel of the

site. Also this month on EW.com, Facebook, and , [email protected] look for our coverage of the Best and Worst of 2015. We’ll count down the pop culture highs and lows of the @EW past year with polls, memes, and more. You can join facebook.com/entertainmentweekly the conversation at ew.com/bestworst2015 and on Twitter

ARQUETTE: JOHN PARRA/GETTY IMAGES; MCGORRY: TONY BARSON/FILMMAGIC.COM with #BestandWorst2015. entertainmentweekly

DECEMBER 11, 2015 EW.COM 15 EW

12 11

2015

Behind Creed’s Box Office Knockout With Rocky in its corner, the film fought off skeptics to win over critics and moviegoers. Could awards-season gold be next? By Chris Lee @__ChrisLee

16 EW.COM DECEMBER 11, 2015 THE ROCKY FRANCHISE’S BOX OFFICE RECORD* Coogler, 29, with persuading 1976  Rocky ...... $ 117.2M Stallone to return to the series as a Rocky II 1979...... $ 85.2M Rocky III 1982 ...... $124.1M producer-writer-actor after the 1985 Rocky IV ...... $127.9M middling reception of 1990’s Rocky V 1990...... $40.9M 2006 ...... $70.3M and 2006’s Rocky Balboa. He wooed Stallone, in part, by his personal con- nection to the material: Coogler’s father is a major Rocky fan, and the CALL CREED Thanksgiv- filmmaker had recently watched his ing’s surprise champion. dad’s near-fatal battle with a degen- Over the five-day holiday erative neuromuscular disorder. The weekend, the Rocky spin-off punched struggle inspired one of the film’s above its weight, fighting off multi- plotlines and helped steer Creed in a plex competition from The Hunger direction that’s neither retro nor Games: Mockingjay—Part 2 and reboot. “Ryan was able to make a The Good Dinosaur to haul in a chest- OSCAR’S film that paid attention to what we thumping $42.1 million. What’s more, love about the franchise that was the reported $35 million sports COMEBACK also a forward-looking picture of a drama—starring Michael B. Jordan modern hero in ,” as Adonis Creed, upstart boxer KID? Glickman says. “It tells a contempo- BACK IN 1977, progeny of Rocky Balboa’s late ring in fitting under- rary story. But his reverence for the dog fashion, Rocky upset the rival —has rope-a- Oscar race with its Best Picture franchise allowed him to be respect- doped awards-season conversation win, defeating such prestige titles ful and give the fans of Rocky what (see sidebar). Costar and Rocky as Taxi Driver, All the President’s they needed in a Rocky film.” Men, and Network. It was a mastermind Sylvester Stallone’s per- stunning victory, and included For his part, Jordan entered into formance, which has already earned prizes for Best Director and Best portraying Adonis—an underdog a best-supporting-actor prize from Editing. With so much box office struggling to reconcile his father’s gold and critical love in Creed’s the National Board of Review, seems corner, could it happen again? legacy with his own self-worth inside particularly primed for attention. Odds of a nod are stacked the squared circle—with Stallone’s In the film, the Italian Stallion against it as the seventh film in explicit blessing. “He was like, ‘You an almost-40-year-old franchise, has basically put himself out to pas- but that story line could drive shouldn’t compare yourself to what ture; he must slug it out with his a passion-fueled vote from I did 40 years ago, because this is own mortality before helping mold Academy members—especially your movie,’” Jordan recalled during those charged by director Ryan the younger Creed into a champion. Coogler’s herculean efforts to a recent conversation on SiriusXM’s “I thought it would be interesting to get the movie made. And Entertainment Weekly Radio. “Just take a character like Rocky, who’s Sylvester Stallone? Says one hearing him say that took that consultant: “He has a terrific always been so physically tough, to shot if you can tell the comeback weight off my shoulders.… If he’s where he never throws a punch and narrative.” —Nicole Sperling cool with it, I’m cool with it.” is dealing with being an older guy,” In Hollywood, nothing succeeds says writer-director like success—except, perhaps, for (Fruitvale Station). “Sly’s been in sequels. And as Rocky himself is apt hit movies for 40 years. People have to point out, every champion was a tendency to take his talent for once a contender who refused to granted. Because he’s so good, he give up. So can audiences reason- makes you believe he is these ably expect a Creed 2 anytime soon? Michael B. Jordan characters—Rocky Balboa, . “I’m lying if I tell you I didn’t think and Sylvester He’s totally not. It’s all performance. about what would happen next for Stallone If people are handing out awards, these characters,” Coogler says. I think Sly definitely is deserving.” “But it’s still way too soon to talk Jonathan Glickman, president about it!” Just don’t count it out.

of the motion-picture group for (From left) Director John G. Avildsen,

: BARRY WETCHER; STALLONE AT STALLONE WETCHER; BARRY : Creed’s codistributor MGM, credits producer , Stallone, and Additional reporting by Kyle Anderson producer at the Academy OSCARS: EVERETT COLLECTION OSCARS: CREED Awards in 1977

*DOMESTIC BOX OFFICE TOTALS; SOURCE: BOX OFFICE MOJO FIRST LOOK Angels, by the Numbers The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show is an annual spectacle boasting thousands of precious gems and plenty of A-list guests. As we count down to the Dec. 8 airdate (10 p.m., CBS), we tally up the production’s heavenly stats. By Madison Vain 88M Combined $2 Million followers of all the Angels The value of Lily Aldridge’s Fantasy Bra 6,500 Precious gems coating the stunner

3 43M Powerhouse Instagram followers of first-time Angel

musicians— AND GOMEZ MEGANALDRIDGE, IMAGES FOR PULERI: DIMITRIOS KAMBOURIS/GETTY VICTORIA’S SECRET (2); THE WEEKND, PRINSLOO, JENNER: THO Kendall Jenner Selena Gomez, Ellie Goulding, and The Weeknd— ANGIE gracing the stage this year $2.1M TRIBECA Raised for charities, ’S including the American Cancer Society

GUEST- ROSALES RAMONA OAKLEY: GOLDEN/TBS; TYLER KUDROW: CLASEN/TBS; JENNIFER JONES: AND MURRAY EDELSON/NBC; DANA : STAR 700 lbs. 27 lbs. Of Swarovski Weight of the POWER crystals appearing heaviest wings, worn by on the runway Behati Prinsloo ••• You never know where or when you might be blessed with a sighting—except where/when you do. So after Netflix’s A Very Murray Christmas on Dec. 4 (see our review on page 49), mark your calendars The Record to Break All Records for Jan. 17, when the enigmatic Adele shattered *NSYNC’s single-week sales record, moving 3.38 million copies of 25 star pops up on , in seven days. But this is Adele—she’s hardly done making history. By Kyle Anderson ’ new TBS police- procedural parody created by Steve and Nancy Carell. Murray WHAT’S ANOTHER CRUISING PAST HAIL TO THE KING? guest-stars as a power-player MILLION? The Beat- OOPS? 25 could With bumps financier–turned–grocery-store les and are have the biggest from the holidays employee named Vic Deakins, the only artists to sell year for an by and Grammy season, who bonds (and flirts) with one million copies in a female artist if it 25 has an outside Jones’ hard-edged detective. a nondebut week, tops the 7.89 million chance of passing “Tribeca is at a crossroads and and no artist has sold copies Oops!...I Carole King’s she’s instructed to take a break,” more than one mil- Did It Again sold in Tapestry with the says Jones. “We hang out when

lion in back-to-back 2000—though most consecutive I’m trying to deal with my worka- MAS CONCORDIA (3); weeks. But Adele Britney Spears weeks—a huge holism.” What to expect? “It’s could see a 70 per- had eight months 15—at No. 1 for impossible for Bill Murray not to cent drop in week 2 to set her record, a female solo be charismatic and mysterious,” and still hit six figures. not six weeks. Odds: artist. Odds: Long as she notes. “We’re slightly not Odds: Hello, history! Brit’s sky could fall. the River Lea. sure what’s up with him.” TBS Tyler Oakley Is Snervous In the past year, the massively popular YouTube personality with nearly 8 million subscribers has expanded his media empire to include the Times best- selling book Binge and a documen- tary, Snervous (out Dec. 11), which follows him on a national stage tour. EW spoke with the 26-year-old about the film, his insane 2015, and what’s next. By Kevin P. Sullivan

EW TYLER OAKLEY

You’ve made a I was intimidated by the idea of handing over control. career documenting [Director] Amy Rice did an incredible job of finding angles your life online. Did that I wouldn’t have necessarily put out to the world. you have concerns For the first time in eight years, it’s me handing over the car going into this film? keys and saying, “I trust you.”

That’s tough when For any YouTuber, if you’re too nervous to have somebody else your brand is based document, it may be that what you’re putting out there isn’t entirely on your authentic. There were plenty of times I was like, “Do we have personality. to film this? I’m not in the mood.” I knew there’d be unflatter- ing moments, but I’m happy that the cameras kept going.

Other than video I’m trying to figure out what it means to take care of myself. I’m views, how do enjoying what I’m putting out there, but also making sure you measure your I’m at my healthiest so I can deliver my best self. When you success as you move have to put it all out there, if you’re not taking care of yourself beyond YouTube? it shows, and people can feel that.

What’s on tap Since the beginning of this year, I’ve had my year mapped for 2016? out. I knew what was coming between the tour and the book and the book tour and the doc. I don’t have plans for 2016, and that feels so good. [Shortly after we spoke to Oakley, it was announced that he will appear on season 28 of The Amazing Race.]

May we recommend A nap would be good. a nap? will debut all 10 of season 1’s  episodes in a Jan. 17–18 marathon, (From top) Bill Murray and in the premiere, viewers will and meet a curious character (Lisa Rashida Kudrow) who has ties to a mayor Jones; being blackmailed over his Lisa Kudrow tattoos. “She’s presenting her- self as the saucy mistress who knows a lot,” says Jones, “and then it turns out she’s kind of a crazy cat lady.” Angie Tribeca: where cool cats and cat ladies come to play. —Dan Snierson

DECEMBER 11, 2015 EW.COM 19 GADGET GIFT GUIDE

FOR EVERYONE FROM CUTTING-EDGE GAMING GEEKS TO FRIENDS WHO ARE ALWAYS ON THE MOVE, THE TECH WORLD'S MUST-HAVE ITEMS GUARANTEE GRINS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON. By STEPHANIE SCHOMER Photographs by KEVIN SWEENEY

A VIRTUAL- REALITY VIEW- MASTER!

Give their Throwback Thursday with an iPhone for a seamless 4 With a bigger screen, brighter a tree-shaped air freshener. $400 an offline update: Using the free experience, whether it’s listening colors, and higher contrast, Mattel’s View-Master gets a

Impossible Project app, the Instant to Adele on repeat or asking Siri for Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S2 is millennial makeover—and INC. EDWARD VANT/MARK KRISTY PROPS: Lab Universal printer transfers directions to the cinema. From $350 a welcome upgrade for the on-the- becomes an ideal toy for the tech- smartphone photos to Polaroid film It’s the jukebox/audiobook/ go binge watcher. From $400 savvy kid. Download any to create instant (nondigital) personal assistant they’ve dreamed Put the pedal to the metal with Google-supported virtual-reality memories. $250, momastore.org of. The voice-reactive Amazon Echo the Logitech G920 Driving Force app to a smartphone and slide Put the world in the palm of their delivers music, books, and calen- Racing Wheel for Xbox One and the device into the viewer to grant hand—or at least on the back of dars from the cloud and learns from PC, and feel every bump in the immersive access to worlds near their wrist. Apple Watch provides users’ habits to become the smart- road thanks to the powerful force and far, from the great outdoors easy access to apps and works est device in the house. $180 feedback. The only thing missing is to outer space. $30

20 EW.COM DECEMBER 11, 2015 ©2015 Samsung Electronics America, Inc. Samsung, Galaxy S, Galaxy Tab, Gear S and Galaxy Note are all trademarks of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Use only in accordance with law. Screen images are simulated; actual appearance of devices may vary. For a list of compatible smartphones, please visit: samsung.com. LOVE ACTUALLY LOVE : PETER MOUNTAIN; CAREY: JAMES DEVANEY/FILMMAGIC.COM; JAMES CAREY: MOUNTAIN; : PETER

(Clockwise from above) Love Actually; with Santa Claus; A Christmas Story  STORY A CHRISTMAS

THE BEST HOLIDAY : MGM/EVERETT COLLECTION; ENTERTAINMENT EVER ’Tis the season to hunker down with Christmas and Hanukkah classics. We’ve made our list and checked it twice—now it’s up to you to vote for your absolute holiday favorite on EW.com. By EW Staff IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE

LOVE ACTUALLY IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE A CHRISTMAS STORY 1 2 3 2003 1946 1983 : MPTV.NET; What other movie so perfectly It really says something that Sure, it’s an obvious choice, encapsulates the warm-and- a movie that hinges on one but little Ralphie’s yuletide RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER fuzzy-and-frazzled nature man’s suicidal despair has tribulations are as rewatchable of the holidays? Emma become a Christmas tradition. as fudge. Except I didn’t Thompson at her most heart- Frank Capra directs a flawless say fudge… breaking, Hugh Grant at his Jimmy Stewart in this expertly RUDOLPH THE 5 most charming, the best executed masterpiece. RED-NOSED REINDEER 1964 4 ”FELIZ NAVIDAD,” airport scenes since Casablanca, JOSÉ FELICIANO 1970 Beyond providing a creation and a fantastically uplifting Everything is better with a sprin- myth for America’s favorite cari- : CLASSIC MEDIA/PHOTOFEST finale featuring the other best kle of sazón, including Christ- bou, this special introduced an part about the holidays— mas. Bilingual, bicultural, and unforgettable coterie of stop- Mariah Carey’s magnum opus awfully catchy, this Caribbean- motion characters like Hermey “All I Want for Christmas flavored carol deserves a slot the elf dentist, Yukon Cornelius, Is You.” on any holiday playlist. and Burl Ives’ Sam the Snowman.

22 EW.COM DECEMBER 11, 2015  (Clockwise from top left) Die Hard; Elf; the Chipmunks’ hit album; The Best Man Holiday; How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

: 1965 UNITED FEATURE SYNDICATE 1965 UNITED FEATURE : ELF HOW THE GRINCH STOLE 6 “CHRISTMAS (BABY 9 11 PLEASE COME HOME),” 2003 CHRISTMAS! 1966 DARLENE LOVE 1963 Will Ferrell sleighs as Santa’s This TV special is both a wel- Yes, the season is about joy and six-foot-tall helper Buddy, come reminder that it’s okay togetherness, but some of the who heads from the North Pole to feel cranky and a touching, best holiday songs are blue—like to Manhattan to unite with nonpreachy tribute to what A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS this enduring soul-pop plea. his naughty-listed dad (James Christmas is really about. Caan) in Christmas’ most (Hint: not just roast beast.) celebrated with “eight days of DIE HARD quotable movie. presents, followed by one day 7 1988 THE BEST MAN of many presents.” : MICHAEL GIBSON; MICHAEL : 12 It’s a traditional Hollywood A CHARLIE BROWN HOLIDAY 2013 10 recipe for a holiday tale: CHRISTMAS 1965 The sequel to the 1999 A CHRISTMAS MEMORY 14 , an estranged family reunited, Nothing inspires more heart- comedy about a tight-knit BY TRUMAN CAPOTE 1956 carols, a grinchy villain, felt nostalgia than the opening group of friends (including Capote’s short story about THE BEST MAN HOLIDAY MAN BEST THE even climactic “snow.” The trills of the Vince Guaraldi Taye Diggs, Morris Chestnut, a 7-year-old boy and his bullets and explosions are Trio’s “Christmas Time Is and Nia Long) delivers a friendship with his elderly merely ornaments. Here.” Charlie and the gang’s surprising emotional punch female cousin will fill every search for the meaning of that will make you wanna call chamber of your heart. Christmas adds to the old- your loved ones. 8 “THE HANUKKAH SONG,” ADAM SANDLER 1994 : MGM/EVERETT COLLECTION; MGM/EVERETT : school delight. 15 “THE CHIPMUNK SONG,” Originally performed on SNL’s THE O.C. THE CHIPMUNKS 1958 13 ’S “THE BEST “Weekend Update,” this holiday CHRISMUKKAH EVER” 2003 Amid the deluge of similar- song that Jews and non-Jews In the show’s first season, sounding yuletide music, Alvin, alike never knew we needed Seth Cohen (Adam Brody) Simon, and Theodore’s vinyl comes complete with shout-outs merged his parents’ two faiths debut distinguished itself to David Lee Roth, the Fonz, and to create “the greatest super- by winning three Grammys and

HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS! , among others. holiday known to mankind,” hitting No. 1 on Billboard. X

DECEMBER 11, 2015 EW.COM 23 BEHIND THE MUSICAL HOW THE BRITS BEHIND DOWNTON CATS & ABBEY USHERED CULT COMEDY SCHOOL OF ROCK BROADWAY TO

BY MARC SNETIKER @MARCSNETIKER

Jack Black in 2003’s School of Rock Alex Brightman in Jack Black’s role on Broadway

EYEBROWS WERE RAISED last winter when Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, the composer responsible for some of Broad- way’s longest-running hits, like The Phantom of the Opera and Cats, announced he was bringing the 2003 film School of Rock to the stage. The comedy, which starred Jack Black as Dewey Finn, a schlubby musician who poses as a substitute teacher and transforms prep-school preteens into the rock band he never had, was a natural for musical adap- tation. But a British theater icon taking on a beloved slice of I’m- with-the-band cinema? Turns out he hit all the right notes. Lloyd Webber, for all his felines and Technicolor dreamcoats, is the maestro of the rock musi- cal, after all, beginning with his seminal rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar in 1971 and continuing with shows like 1984’s Starlight Express and 1986’s Phantom. “I remember [the Who’s] Pete Townshend saying to me that the playing in Phan- tom is as rock as anything he’d ever heard,” Lloyd Webber tells

DECEMBER 11, 2015 EW.COM 25 Flash-forward a couple of years: In a nationwide search for the production’s 13 child stars, Lloyd Webber & Co. were adamant that only 10-year-olds would play 10-year-olds (rather than, say, , which has passed off twentysomethings as tykes). “When you see an 11-year-old boy who is still able to believe in Santa Claus, and then he picks up a guitar and shows you this amazing skill, you can’t help but be totally impressed,” says Connor. In casting Dewey, vocal chops and frantic energy were key, but there was a secret ingredient. “The wonderful thing about Jack Black was you wouldn’t worry if you left your chil- EW during rehearsals for School of Rock— dren with this guy,” says The Musical, set to open on Dec. 6 at Lloyd Webber. “We looked Broadway’s . at a lot of well-known peo- “Sometimes people have a problem ple with good rock voices, with me because they like to compart- but you didn’t get that feel- mentalize, but I’ve got many sides and ing that they were over- love all different types of music. [In grown kids themselves.” writing School of Rock] I went back to Enter Alex Brightman, 28, a lot of my old roots, but I didn’t revisit a rising star on New York’s all my old Zeppelin —because underground cabaret circuit I’ve never not listened to them.” who’s had roles in (2) MURPHY MATTHEW PAGE) (THIS MURPHY; MATTHEW BRIGHTMAN: SCHWARTZ; ANDREW BLACK: SPREAD) (PREVIOUS Lloyd Webber and his wife and producing partner, Scenes and Matilda. Brightman had a small part in an early all-adult develop- from Madeleine, had been seeking the film rights from School of ment reading of School of Rock—and the director took notice. “There Rock on when serendipity linked them with Broadway was something about Alex’s twinkle and his energy that was totally young director Laurence Connor (Les Misérables, Miss enigmatic and juvenile,” says Connor. “This guy can call a child a Saigon), who had independently suggested the idea of complete douche bag on stage and you love him for it because he’s adapting School of Rock while working with Lloyd Webber on their level.” Lloyd Webber agrees: “He’s God’s gift to us.” on an arena tour of Jesus Christ Superstar in 2012. In the ensuing months Brightman, a self-trained singer shaped by In 2013, with rights and an experienced rock director Zeppelin, AC/DC, and Aerosmith, was cast as the lead. His relation to in hand, Lloyd Webber began to double the creative Black’s performance relies less on imitation and more on kindred team. Frequent Disney scribe Glenn Slater, who adapted kinetics. “I could never and will never do a Jack Black impression. If I movies into Broadway musicals with The Little Mermaid nail nuances here and there, it’s all coincidental,” says the actor, who and Sister Act, would handle lyrics. For the book, they gained 40 pounds for the role, and admits he sweats off two pounds sought a writer who could appeal to the sensibilities of every night. “But some of the lines—like ‘Chell-o!’—are just like, why wealthy children and their parents; to wit, Lloyd Webber would you do it any other way?” approached compatriot Julian Fellowes, best known to Lloyd Webber had the same philosophy for the music: Though American audiences as the creator of Downton Abbey. he wrote a new score, he kept some of the film’s iconic songs. And Fellowes said yes on the first phone call. “I was so superfan Brightman makes sure School’s pint-size costars know delighted, because I can’t think of anything further away their rock ABCs. “The kids come in wearing a Ramones T-shirt and from Downton if I tried,” said Fellowes, who also wrote I’ll say, ‘You aren’t allowed to wear that unless you tell me every the 2004 stage adaptation of Mary Poppins. “It’s fun to band member, which ones are alive, and your favorite song on that get out of your own straitjacket sometimes.” album,’” he says. “They have homework.” X

26 EW.COM DECEMBER 11, 2015

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

EDITION ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

No. 1393 FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2015 PAGE 28 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ WITH ULTRON DESTROYED, THE AVENGERS TURN ON ONE ANOTHER IN NEXT SUMMER’S CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR IRON MAN AND CAP BATTLE FOR THE FATE OF HUMANKIND, FORCING THEIR FELLOW SUPERHEROES— INCLUDING BLACK PANTHER—TO CHOOSE SIDES. ON THE SET OF THE MOST EXPLOSIVE MARVEL MOVIE YET.

By ANTHONY BREZNICAN

(From top) Chris Evans; Robert Downey Jr. and Sebastian Stan EW.COM FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2015 PAGE 30 (Clockwise from top) Evans; Downey and Evans; Emily VanCamp (Agent 13), Anthony Mackie, , and Evans

universe of good guys will unleash hell on Cap/Steve Rogers is on the side of freedom tarmac shift. Black Widow, for instance, one another in the most savage beatdown from government control. He has witnessed takes a long time deciding where her loyalty in Marvel history. too much corrupt authority in his (unnatu- lies. “She’s always a bit on the perimeter,” The crew of Captain America: Civil War rally) long life. His trust is broken. Johansson says. “So she can have a better refer to this scene as the “splash page.” Iron Man/Tony Stark is on the side of perspective of what’s really going on.” That’s the comic-book term for a full- safety above all else. He tries to legislate spread illustration that opens an issue or and enforce the great responsibility that WHAT’S REALLY GOING ON at the moment marks its climax. “The story is about family, comes with great power. “In most of the is that she’s thrashing the tar out of Ant- and what happens if they don’t agree,” says movies, there’s no question who we should Man. On the Georgia airport set, combat is Joe Russo, who directed Captain America: be siding with,” Evans says during a break in full force. While others are throwing The Winter Soldier with his brother. “We’ve between shots. “We all agree Nazis are bad, punches, Hawkeye and Scarlet Witch blast been comparing it to a fight at a wedding. aliens from space are bad. But this is the away at the sky. They’re trying to knock What happens when your cousin and your first time you really have two points of view. some unseen threat out of the air. (War brother go at it, and whose side are you on?” There’s no wrong answer here, so it Machine? The Vision?) But Cap and Iron Man aren’t squabbling over becomes a question of morality. That’s hard It’s definitely not Iron Man. For one who picks up the check at the shawarma for [Cap]. I don’t think he’s ever been so thing, he’s not actually on set at the place. They’re fighting about who has power uncertain with what right and wrong is.” moment. He’ll be added in digitally later. ON A BROILING JULY morning in Fayette- over the superpowered. That murky morality makes for tenuous But in the finished scene he’ll be flying low ville, Ga., Chris Evans is sweating through Based loosely on Marvel Comics’ 2006– alliances, and those teams on the airport and locked onto another target: Captain his Captain America mask. The true-blue 07 seven-part Civil War series, the movie Avenger is standing at the end of a flat (out May 6) explores the debate around expanse of asphalt ringed with two-story- freedom versus safety. As the film opens, high green tarps that will allow special-effects the new Avengers—glimpsed assembling at THE START OF CIVIL WAR The comic-book series behind next summer’s blockbuster artists to transform this Pinewood Studios the end of this summer’s Age of Ultron— parking lot into a tarmac at ’s take on an old enemy: Crossbones (Frank Brother against brother. In 2006 and 2007, Marvel gave this age-old Leipzig/Halle Airport. The Winter Soldier Grillo), last seen getting a building dropped story the superhero treatment with Civil War, writer Mark Millar’s cross- (Sebastian Stan), Cap’s long-lost friend and on his skull in The Winter Soldier. But…the over story line that had the entire world of characters choosing sides behind either Captain America or Iron Man. At the time, Marvel Studios principal foe last time we saw him, is on his takedown in Civil War goes wrong. A lot of president Kevin Feige was assembling the interlocked Marvel Cinematic left. On his right stand a phalanx of heroes— people die. A lot of innocent people. Universe that would launch in 2008. “Reading those comic books, it felt like, ‘Wouldn’t it be amazing to someday do something like this?’” Falcon (Anthony Mackie), Hawkeye (Jeremy Leaders from around the globe, includ- Feige says. “The fact that that day has come is very gratifying.” Renner), Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) ing the U.S. secretary of state (William In the comics Cap and Iron Man were divided over the Superhuman Registration Act, but in the film they are clashing over the Sokovia and Ant-Man (Paul Rudd)—who are about Hurt), gather to enact accords that would Accords, named after the city-state in Age of Ultron that was ripped out to face off against their most daunting clamp down on those with superhuman of the earth. Same fight, different specifics. “Both [regulations] say we need to keep better track of what superheroes are doing,” Feige says. opponents yet: Iron Man (Robert Downey skills. The argument that began bubbling up Cap is against the regulations, and Iron Man is for them. “They both Jr.), War Machine (), Black in Ultron between Cap and Iron Man over want the Avengers to be a successful force for good, but they believe there are different ways of doing it,” Feige says. “And that’s when you Widow (Scarlett Johansson) and...a new whether any one person has the right to get the best form of conflict.” Unfortunately, the best form of conflict ally. Moments from now, when directors make a decision—even the “best” one—for doesn’t mean good guys always stay at their best. —Anthony Breznican Joe and Anthony Russo yell “Action,” a the entire planet boils into a full-scale war.

(PREVIOUS SPREAD) MARVEL (2); (THIS PAGE) EVANS: MARVEL; BOOK: MARVEL ENTERTAINMENT; CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR: ZADE ROSENTHAL (2) EW.COM FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2015 PAGE 32

BEHIND THE

By ANTHONY BREZNICAN 4 1. METALLICAT Panther’s suit has a sheen that seems to The first black replicate the glistening fur of the jungle cat comic-book super- that gives him his name. But it’s actually the reflection of light off metal. His suit looks like hero will be getting 3 cloth, but it’s woven vibranium. “Vibranium his own movie in is dynamic—it can change how it’s used,” February 2018, but Boseman says. “It has the ability to change we’ll encounter Chadwick Bose- shape and form and still have its strength.” man’s clawed warrior this May in Captain America: Civil War. 2. ARMOR ALL The superhero, whose real name The vibranium cloth acts as a kind of armor. is T’Challa, is a prince from “It’s not just durable—it has the ability to the fictional African nation of absorb energy,” Boseman says. “It has the Wakanda, home to the world’s ability to absorb the attack of another person largest natural supply of vibra- and repel or respond to that attack. That’s part of the power.” nium—the indestructible metal that makes up Cap’s shield. Panther was first introduced 1 3. KITTY VISION in Fantastic Four #52 in July What’s it like looking through those lens- 1966, and in Civil War T’Challa covered eyes? “Your peripheral vision is is aligned with the consortium definitely skewed,” Boseman says. “It’s of rulers trying to hammer out gridded, so you’re seeing a tinted view of things. You could still see enough.” But accords that would control the they’d be an impediment in a real fight. actions of the superpowered. His secret identity comes into play 2 4. when the good guys aren’t able to CLAWS VS. SHIELD solve things by using their words. So if Panther’s claws are vibranium, and Here’s a look at how Marvel and so is Cap’s shield…who would win in a fight? Boseman transferred the feline “That’s a great question right there,” Bose- man says with a laugh. “If you’re talking to from page to screen. Mayweather about the Mayweather/Pacquiao fight, then Mayweather’s gonna say he’s gonna win. I have to back myself.” America. Evans raises his shield, slings an Civil War is the 13th film from the Marvel upper cut through the air, and gets in one Cinematic Universe, which began with Iron more hit against his invisible foe before Man in 2008, and it marks a major turning he’s almost taken out in real life. The main point. By the end of the movie, “things are camera is on a crane, and it swoops left in such a state that you might need new down—presumably following Iron Man’s heroes,” says screenwriter Christopher descent—until it’s right in Evans’ face. The Markus. And you’ll get them. Over the next actor has to dive out of the way at the last two years, and for the remainder of Marvel second to avoid being clobbered. Studios’ Phase Three, you won’t be seeing After a few more takes, Evans comes much of the original Avengers. There’ll be a over to the video screens to check out the Doctor Strange film with Benedict Cumber- shot, laughing at the fact that each one batch in November 2016; Guardians of the ends with an extreme close-up of his Galaxy Vol. 2 in May 2017; and then Chris panicked face dodging the camera. “I can’t Hemsworth’s hammer god, who’s not in keep throwing punches when that’s so Civil War, returning for his own part 3 in close,” he says. The Russos come up with a Thor: Ragnarok in November 2017. Black solution: Go ahead and drop back. The Panther will get his own movie in February shot will end with Iron Man knocking 2018, and only that May will the heroes Captain America to his knees. we already know and love (even if they Aiding Iron Man in that mission, at don’t love each other) return as a team in Captain America and Black Panther on the chase least initially, is T’Challa, a young prince Avengers: Infinity War Part 1, which the from the fictional African nation of Russos are also directing. Wakanda who has a secret identity— “We get to break this thing up and leave bother me at all,” Downey says. On set, Baron Zemo factor into the narrative?— Black Panther (see sidebar). Panther, them in a weird state,” says Stephen shooting a different scene, the star is sport- the biggest, and most central, is whether a played by Chadwick Boseman (42), has McFeely, who wrote Civil War with Markus ing a silk shirt and tie, stained with blood, certain agile superhero will be making been long awaited by fans, and he and who’s writing the two-part Infinity with and a black eye. Obviously someone got an appearance. You’ve seen this hero on becomes a key figure in the conflict. His him. “So when the s--- hits the fan, we’ve ahold of him when he didn’t have his metal screen before, but this would be his first allegiance is savagely fought for by both got to figure out a way to pick them all up suit handy. “In some ways Tony is the time in a Marvel Studios film. For all sorts Cap and Iron Man, and T’Challa is doing again.” Cap himself may need some serious antagonist to himself in his own story. This of complicated legal reasons involving a his best to remain neutral, at least with the picking up when Civil War is over. “Part of guy understands problems because he is license-sharing deal with Sony Pictures, mask off. “He’s torn between how things the fun was finding a way to put Captain a problem. And he tends to create them.” no one at Marvel, or Disney, can confirm were done in the past and how things need America in a situation where his answer Having unleashed Ultron on the world, that he’s in the movie. They can’t even to happen in this new world,” Boseman wasn’t ‘I sacrifice myself,’” says Anthony among other more venial indiscretions, talk about him. says. “And I think there’s perhaps a bit of Russo. “He has to make some other Stark is starting to appreciate boundaries. So it’s a surprise to see Downey on the a maverick there.” choice—a choice for himself.” Even while Downey himself is accidentally Pinewood backlot, strolling around with A peerless warrior, too. On set, Panther, crossing them off camera. his arm slung around the shoulders of a armed with claws of vibranium—the same ONE GUY WHO’S NEVER had trouble choos- Among the many mysteries to be young actor by the name of Tom Holland, Wakandan metal used in Cap’s shield— ing for himself is Tony Stark. Iron Man isn’t answered in Civil War—Whose funeral will who just happens to be wearing an iconic gallops forward on all fours like his name- necessarily the “bad guy” in Civil War, but finally bring closure to Steve Rogers’ past? red-and-blue bodysuit. You may have heard sake animal and full-on tackles his prey. he’s definitely the antagonist. “It didn’t Exactly how does Daniel Brühl’s enigmatic of him. He’s the new Spider-Man.

BOSEMAN: GREGG DEGUIRE/WIREIMAGE.COM; BLACK PANTHER: MICHAEL MULLER; CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR: MARVEL What If Al Pacino & 19 Other Far-Fetched, Totally Ridiculous but Almost-Re Played Han Solo? ally-Happened Tales From Hollywood’s Casting Archives

WOULD HAVE MADE A DECENT TONY SOPRANO? HOW ABOUT AS CLARICE STARLING? EW TAKES A LOOK BACK AT ACTORS WHO WERE ONCE CONSIDERED FOR NOW-ICONIC ROLES, AND ANALYZES WHETHER OR NOT THEY COULDA BEEN (GOOD) CONTENDERS.

PHOTO ILLUSTRATIONS BY RICHARD ROBERTS

 WHAT IF

Al Pacino had played Han Solo in ?

THE BACKSTORY Pacino in the mid-’70s is what all actors dream of. Fame from led to three straight Best Actor nominations from 1973 to 1975. At some point a screen- play landed in his lap for a movie that at the time was still known as The Star Wars. The filmmakers wanted Pacino to play a swaggery smuggler…with a giant teddy-bear co-pilot, or something? During “An Evening With Pacino” in London in 2013, he told the audience of the role that made Harrison Ford the world’s most successful ex-carpenter, “It was mine for the taking.” There was just one problem, he added: “I didn’t understand the script.” A few months after Star Wars arrived, Pacino’s hot streak ended with the flop Bobby Deerfield. In his long career, he’s had high highs and low lows, but with Disney making a couple dozen Star Wars movies, maybe there’s a new role in the franchise in his future? THE VERDICT Probably for the best. This was still the age of Subtle Pacino, and it’s hard to imagine his Method line readings chewing on George Lucas’ dialogue. (A more fun counter- factual: envisioning a Scarface-era Pacino shooting Greedo with a laser machine gun.) —DARREN FRANICH

DECEMBER 11, 2015 EW.COM 35 including Peter Coyote—before WHAT IF they decided on Tom Selleck, a relative unknown who had just Tom Selleck had shot a pilot for Magnum, P.I. played Indiana Jones THE VERDICT Selleck in his prime probably would have delighted as in RAIDERS the fearless explorer, and as he OF THE LOST ARK? told David Letterman, he absolutely wanted to play Indy—but his commitment to Magnum, P.I. got in THE BACKSTORY While many folks the way. He still made out okay: assume George Lucas wrote Raiders When the Hawaiian-shirt-and-short- of the Lost Ark with Harrison Ford shorts-sporting detective eventually in mind, the opposite is true. made it on air, Selleck became an Ford had already appeared in two instant icon, the series ran for eight Lucas-penned films (Star Wars seasons, and the actor won his first and American Graffiti), and the and only Emmy. —BILL KEITH screenwriter urged director Steven Spielberg to consider other actors— THE X-FILES (PREVIOUS SPREAD) (THIS SPREAD) : LARRY WATSON/FOX: ANDERSON, GELLAR: RON GALELLA, LTD./WIREIMAGE.COM (2); LTD./WIREIMAGE.COM GALELLA, RON GELLAR: ANDERSON, WATSON/FOX: : LARRY RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK LOST THE OF RAIDERS STAR WARS: EPISODE IV—A NEW HOPE NEW IV—A EPISODE STAR WARS: © & TM LUCASFILM LTD.; SELLECK:: UNIVERSAL TV/EVERETT COLLECTION; : © & TM LUCASFILM LTD.; PACINO: EVERETT COLLECTION; EVERETT LTD.; PACINO: LUCASFILM © & TM : CLUELESS : ELLIOTT MARKS : ELLIOTT

WHAT IF

Sarah Michelle Gellar had played Cher in CLUELESS?

THE BACKSTORY Could Buffy have pulled off an Alaïa so spectacularly? The then-little-known Sarah Michelle Gellar was reportedly offered the role of spoiled yet well-intentioned rich L.A. high schooler Cher Horowitz in Amy Heckerling’s teen classic, but scheduling conflicts with her All My Children gig meant she had to pass. The role instead went to another up-and-comer, Alicia Silverstone. THE VERDICT SMG was a way fabulous choice and totally could have pulled it off, but after rolling with the homies with Alicia Silverstone, can you imagine anyone else in the role? As if! Plus, SMG proceeded to star on the TV cult fave —and wound up with the more prolific career. —GILLIAN TELLING

36 EW.COM DECEMBER 11, 2015 WHAT IF

Rob Lowe had played Derek Shepherd on GREY’S ANATOMY? THE BACKSTORY Fact: Rob Lowe is freakishly handsome. So it’s not surprising he was considered for the role of Derek Shepherd, the most devastatingly attractive doctor in all of Seattle. “I had read it and loved it—the writing was crisp, real, and very entertaining,” Lowe wrote in his 2014 memoir, Love Life. Yet, because many of ABC’s new dramas at that time hadn’t caught fire, Lowe took a chance on a different pilot: Dr. Vegas, where he played an in-house physician at a casino. “The odds were just too stacked,” he said of turning it down. Instead, Patrick Dempsey charmed his way into viewers’ hearts as McDreamy— until his untimely demise earlier this year. THE VERDICT Considering that Grey’s guru Shonda Rhimes has said the nickname McDreamy was born from watching Dempsey (and his hair), he was always the right man for the job. —SAMANTHA HIGHFILL

WHAT IF

John Travolta had starred in FORREST GUMP? THE BACKSTORYJohn Travolta’s initial heyday ended when he passed on American Gigolo and An Officer and a Gentleman. (Richard Gere sends his regards.) Years later, in the midst of the Look Who’s Talking trilogy, he passed on another career-defining role: lovable low-IQ boomer-generation avatar Forrest (which he later said he regretted). Although  WHAT IF it’s hard to imagine anyone but in the part, Travolta wasn’t the craziest Pamela Anderson idea, as he later played another local- boy savant in Phenomenon. had played Dana THE VERDICT Good move: Hanks Scully on THE X-FILES? may have earned the Best Actor Oscar for Gump, but Travolta earned a nomination that same year as Vincent Vega in Pulp Fiction, THE BACKSTORY The truth is out a role that made him one of the great there: Not all Andersons are alike. Yet comeback stories of the ’90s. Leads in when producers were casting comedies, dramas, and hit action movies followed. Let’s just not mention the early-’90s sci-fi drama, it was Battlefield Earth. —DARREN FRANICH Baywatch’s Pamela Anderson who caught their eye, according to the other Anderson. “She was someone who was more familiar to them in WHAT IF terms of what was on TV at the time,” Gillian Anderson’s been reported as Ray Liotta had played Tony saying. “They were looking for some- Soprano on THE SOPRANOS? one bustier, taller, leggier than me.” THE BACKSTORY The star THE VERDICT Gillian was the was coming off a few years that ran the one—the onscreen magic between gamut from good (Cop Land) to bad her Scully and ’s (Operation Dumbo Drop). But after Liotta earned solid reviews as in HBO’s Mulder helped keep the show on TV movie The Rat Pack, the network thought the air for nine years, garnering a of him for the lead role on its new original total of 62 Emmy nominations and drama series. “It was for a two-year commit- 16 awards. Fans clamored for more ment,” Liotta later told the Today show, “and I didn’t really want to give up that time.” than a decade for the show to return: An X-Files miniseries is set to debut THE VERDICT As superb as James Gandolfini was in the part, the possibilities in January with its original cast. of Liotta as Tony are tantalizing. He would —SARA VILKOMERSON have squared off with his GoodFellas wife, Lorraine Bracco, and probably would have been less melancholic and more unhinged. Later, in : Vice City, Liotta voiced Tommy Vercetti, another gangster with problems—a small consolation prize for missing out on the best role of the new golden age of television. —DARREN FRANICH

DECEMBER 11, 2015 EW.COM 37 WHAT IF

Bruce Willis had played Sam Wheat in GHOST?

THE BACKSTORY It’s been reported that after his then wife was cast as Molly in 1990’s most memorable tearjerker, was approached by director Jerry Zucker to portray film history’s most famous pottery-fan- turned-poltergeist, Sam Wheat. Willis is said to have worried that playing a ghost might hurt his career; he chose to focus, presumably, on voicing Baby Mikey in the Look Who’s Talking movies. THE VERDICT Though Zucker was apparently reluctant to cast Swayze at first, his reading of the movie’s final scene brought the room to tears and it was a done deal. Ghost was one of the highest- grossing films of 1990, won two Oscars, and solidified Swayze’s spot as America’s most heart- felt heartthrob. He was named People’s Sexiest Man Alive in 1991, the same year he appeared in the cult classic Point Break. Oh, and Bruce Willis? He eventually did play a ghost in The Sixth Sense, and it didn’t hurt his career one bit. —BILL KEITH

WHAT IF

Matthew Broderick had played Walter White on BREAKING BAD?

THE BACKSTORY It’s quite under- standable that AMC didn’t immedi- ately see the potential for a terrifying villain in Bryan Cranston, known best at that point for playing a lovably doofy sitcom dad. “We all still had the image of Bryan shaving his body in Malcolm in the Middle,” one exec was quoted as saying. “We were like, ‘Really? Isn’t there anybody else?’ ” The anybody else they reached out to was Matthew Broderick, who could have subverted his boyish charm, going from Ferris Bueller to Pablo Escobar over the course of the series. But Broderick passed, as did John Cusack, and Cranston ended up with the role of a lifetime. THE VERDICT Millions of fans and four Emmys agree: No one else could have fit into those tighty-whities like Cranston. —KEITH STASKIEWICZ

38 EW.COM DECEMBER 11, 2015 WHAT IF

Leonardo DiCaprio had played Dirk Diggler in BOOGIE NIGHTS? THE BACKSTORY In 1997 Paul Thomas Anderson had yet to claim indie-auteur status. And his scant filmography—consisting of one middlingly reviewed feature, Hard Eight—wasn’t enough to persuade the Romeo + Juliet star, 23 at the time, to portray a busboy–turned–porn star in the ’70s-set drama Boogie Nights. DiCaprio passed and that year delivered a career-defining performance in Titanic. In his place, Mark Wahlberg donned a prosthetic penis to portray Diggler, and overhauled his public image from his underwear model/rapper past. THE VERDICT DiCaprio has called turn- ing down Boogie Nights his “biggest regret.” But it’s impossible to imagine him improving on the mixture of naïveté, fecklessness, and sex appeal brought by Wahlberg, who so thoroughly owns the part. —CHRIS LEE

WHAT IF

Drew Barrymore had played Nomi Malone in SHOWGIRLS? THE BACKSTORY Twenty years ago, Drew Barrymore was not the savvy actress- producer with a long Hollywood career she is now. Twenty years ago, Drew Barrymore was the proto-Lohan wild child: a teenage stint in rehab here, a Playboy magazine cover there. So of course the makers of Showgirls wanted to cast her as unclad American dreamer Nomi Malone, but she said no. (The filmmakers also wanted to cast as nemesis showgirl Cristal Connors.) It’s impossible to review unmade movies, but without hyperbole, the Drew/Madonna Showgirls may have been the single most important accomplishment in film history. THE VERDICT Barrymore instead opted for a cameo in Scream before segue- ing into rom-coms, opening the doors for Saved by the Bell’s Elizabeth Berkley to become Nomi Malone. For that, Drew Barry- : DOUG HYUN/AMC; BRODERICK: JEMAL COUNTESS/ JEMAL BRODERICK: HYUN/AMC; DOUG : more, we salute you. —DARREN FRANICH BREAKING BAD BREAKING

WHAT IF (with a CGI baby) into TV history. “I’m not kicking myself for having passed on Ally McBeal, even though had played it’s a huge hit,” Fonda told the Michael Corleone in WHAT IF Calgary Sun in 1999. “I’ve been act- THE GODFATHER? Bridget Fonda ing long enough to know it could THE BACKSTORY It might be hard to had have been a complete dud with me imagine Michael Corleone’s serious calm played Ally McBeal in it. It may work as well as it does being played with an arched eyebrow by because of Calista.” Nicholson, but the Easy Rider star was 0n ALLY MCBEAL? originally considered—along with Warren THE VERDICT Fonda could have Beatty and Robert Redford—for the role of been amazing as the outspoken the mobster. Nicholson eventually decided THE BACKSTORY The ’90s were a young lawyer, but considering not to pursue it, later claiming, “I knew The great time to be Bridget Fonda—the her then star power, it’s not Godfather was going to be a great film, but actress starred in some of the era’s at that time I believed Indians should play surprising she wanted to stick with : 20TH CENTURY FOX/EVERETT COLLECTION; FONDA: STEVE GRANITZ/WIREIMAGE.COM STEVE FONDA: FOX/EVERETT COLLECTION; CENTURY 20TH : roles written for Indians and Italians should most rewatchable classics, like film. She’s worked less of late, do the same.” Director Francis Ford Coppola Single White Female, Singles, and last appearing on screen in 2002, eventually went with Al Pacino, an actor who It Could Happen to You. But what the same year Ally McBeal went was both far less known and far more Italian. might have been? Fonda was

ALLY MCBEAL ALLY off the air. (Flockhart is back in THE VERDICT We can’t imagine anyone offered the title role on David E. prime time with CBS’ Supergirl.) playing Corleone with even a quarter of Kelley’s Ally McBeal but turned it —CHRISTOPHER ROSEN Pacino’s steely resolve. Plus, being down because she didn’t want to : PARAMOUNT/EVERETT COLLECTION; WILLIS: RON GALELLA, LTD./WIREIMAGE.COM; GALELLA, RON WILLIS: COLLECTION; PARAMOUNT/EVERETT : obligated for the sequel might have knocked Nicholson out of Chinatown, and we certainly do television. Calista Flockhart WIREIMAGE.COM; GHOST couldn’t have that. —KEITH STASKIEWICZ scored the part instead and danced

DECEMBER 11, 2015 EW.COM 39 WHAT IF

Matt Damon and had played Ennis and Jack in BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN?

THE BACKSTORY SMITH: MARK CUTHBERT/UK PRESS/GETTY IMAGES; PRESS/GETTY CUTHBERT/UK MARK SMITH:

Before Ang Lee BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN helmed the film that would win him his first directing Oscar, Broke- back Mountain was a Gus Van Sant project.

In this iteration, : KIMBERLY FRENCH: PHOENIX: JEFF KRAVITZ/FILMMAGIC/GETTY IMAGES; DAMON: J. VESPA/WIREIMAGE.COM; Damon and Phoenix (who’d worked with Van Sant previously on Good Will Hunting and To Die For, respectively) would play long-term clandestine lovers WOMAN PRETTY Ennis Del Mar and Jack Twist—the roles even- tually taken by Heath

Ledger and Jake : TOUCHSTONE/KOBAL COLLECTION; RINGWALD: THE LIFE PICTURE IMAGES COLLECTION/GETTY Gyllenhaal. Damon thought the job would have felt repetitive for him. “Gus, I did a gay movie [The Talented Mr. Ripley], then a cowboy movie [All the Pretty Horses],” Damon recalled telling the director. “I can’t follow it up with a gay- cowboy movie!” THE VERDICT Hard to tell. Van Sant is a top- tier director and Damon and Phoenix talented

actors, so who knows THE MATRIX if this version would have beaten Crash at

the Oscars? But it’s : JASIN BOLAND; hard to argue with the quietly heartrending film we actually got. —KEITH STASKIEWICZ

WHAT IF WHAT IF

Angela Bassett had played Leticia Musgrove in MONSTER’S BALL? Paul Giamatti had played Michael Scott on THE OFFICE? THE BACKSTORY When Monster’s Ball arrived in theaters in 2001, Halle Berry wowed THE BACKSTORY Coming off the success of 2004’s Sideways, Paul Giamatti was audiences with her gutsy performance as a struggling waitress, but Angela Bassett, who’d suggested for the starring role of bumbling boss Michael Scott on the American remake of turned down the role, had reservations about the character’s nude scenes. “I wasn’t going The Office—meaning no merlot at any work functions. (Fun fact! Bob Odenkirk also to be a prostitute on film,” said Bassett in a Newsweek interview. “I couldn’t do that because almost got the part.) Enter , who transformed Michael’s trademark off-color it’s such a stereotype about black women and sexuality. I mean, Meryl Streep won Oscars comment “That’s what she said” into a pop culture catchphrase even as he was moonlighting without all that.” (To be fair to Berry, she stripped down emotionally for the role, too!) as an increasingly high-profile movie star. THE VERDICT Berry became the first African-American to receive the Academy Award THE VERDICT There’s almost nothing Giamatti can’t do, so his take on Michael Scott for Best Actress, and Bassett has earned several Emmy nominations. Everyone’s a winner. would have been memorable. But Carell’s ability to deftly blend earnestness and idiocy —SAMANTHA HIGHFILL helped propel The Office to great comedic heights, and real longevity. —SAMANTHA HIGHFILL

40 EW.COM DECEMBER 11, 2015 effects (that wound up reshaping the industry), Smith passed up the part and instead went on to claim a WHAT IF starring role in Wild Wild West—one of the biggest flops of his career. Will Smith had played Keanu Reeves, of course, became the one to swallow the red pill. Neo in THE MATRIX? THE VERDICT The stoic role was made for the stoic Keanu Reeves, THE BACKSTORY With Smith hot and even Will Smith has to agree. In off his back-to-back blockbusters a recent interview with Wired, Smith Independence Day and Men in Black, admitted he would have “absolutely the Wachowskis dangled a role messed up The Matrix” had he unlike anything the actor had done accepted, saying, “I wasn’t smart before: a kung-fu-fighting cyber- enough of an actor to let the movie punk/would-be revolutionary in be, whereas Keanu was.” Like, whoa. 1999’s opening installment of the —CHRIS LEE sci-fi Matrix trilogy. But somewhat dubious about the filmmaking siblings (who were still untested as action-movie directors) and skeptical of the “bullet time” special

THE BACKSTORY The ’80s star were perfect in plenty of iconic WHAT IF and John Hughes muse admitted films. And kissing Jake Ryan? Huge. during a 2012 Reddit interview that THE VERDICT Ringwald is right: Molly she had read an early script for the Even though it’s rumored half of Ringwald romance, back when it was still Hollywood was offered and turned called $3,000 and had a superdark down the role of Vivian, now we had played story line—Vivian had a drug habit, also can’t see anyone but the then- Vivian Ward and she did not end up with her 21-year-old Roberts playing the wealthy john. “That script was okay, hooker with a heart of gold (and in PRETTY but I gotta say, is what sporting those thigh-high pleather WOMAN? makes that movie,” Ringwald said. boots). —GILLIAN TELLING “It was her part. Every actor hopes for a part that lets them shine like that.” Don’t worry, Molly, you

WHAT IF WHAT IF

Michelle Pfeiffer had played Clarice Starling in Jim Carrey had starred in EDWARD SCISSORHANDS? THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS? THE BACKSTORY In 1990, Jim Carrey was making a name for himself on the sketch- THE BACKSTORY It’s hard to believe wasn’t director ’s comedy show In Living Color and had been expanding his film résumé with small parts in first choice for the FBI trainee in the 1991 Oscar winner for Best Picture—that honor went to Peggy Sue Got Married, Finders Keepers, and Earth Girls Are Easy. He was at one point Michelle Pfeiffer, his leading lady from 1988’s Married to the Mob. “I went to Michelle because considered for the lead in Tim Burton’s dark romance, which ultimately went to Johnny we’d had such a great experience on Mob, and I felt she could do anything,” Demme has Depp, launching one of the greatest actor/director collaborations of all time. said. “But it was way, way too dark for her, so Michelle ran away from that part.” THE VERDICT Who knows what impact Edward might have had on Carrey’s career? THE VERDICT Foster fought for the part and won over audiences—and her director. (Would Dumb and Dumber ever have existed?) But just imagine Edward Scissorhands “I fell madly in love with her,” said Demme. “I named our production Strong Heart making exaggerated facial expressions, not to mention the number of people he would’ve Productions after Jodie’s sense of character.” —SARA VILKOMERSON injured with his aggressive gesturing. Depp was the right call. —SAMANTHA HIGHFILL

DECEMBER 11, 2015 EW.COM 41 REEL NEWS

Star Bucks Star Wars: The Force Awakens has amassed a

record $50 million-plus in advance ticket sales. Worth Every

Century John Malkovich and Robert Rodriguez have made vies a movie, 100 Years, that will be locked away until 2115. EDITED BY STEPHAN LEE @stephanmlee

 and

wire challenge of playing the Bard’s half- Macbeth mad Man Who Would Be King never goes out of style. Like Hamlet and Richard III, STARRING DIRECTED BY Macbeth beckons to each new generation’s Michael Fassbender, Marion Cotillard, Justin Kurzel David Thewlis, bravest and brightest lights like a carny barker’s come-on, urging them to step right RATING LENGTH REVIEW BY up and show us what they’ve got.

NR 1 hr., 50 mins. Chris Nashawaty @ChrisNashawaty SWORD: IMAGES/ISTOCKPHOTO; GETTY In the seven short years since he first grabbed moviegoers’ attention by playing IRA prisoner Bobby Sands in Steve THE ROLE OF MACBETH is a lot like one of those test- McQueen’s Hunger, Michael Fassbender your-strength contraptions at a carnival. It calls out to has proved himself to be a major talent who actors eager to assess their mettle as well as the ones won’t—or maybe can’t—shrink from a who just can’t pass up a juicy dare. Over the years, challenge. Just look at his résumé since the

leading men as varied as Orson Welles, Peter O’Toole, beginning 0f 2014, in which time he’s played MACBETH Toshiro Mifune, Liev Schreiber, Ethan Hawke, and an ambiguous Marvel villain, a rock star Alan Cumming have all picked up the Shakespearean with an enormous papier-mâché head, and : JONATHAN OLLEY sledgehammer and given the alluring part a mighty Steve Jobs. When you consider that schizo- swing. Some have managed to ring the bell; others have phrenic roll call, his decision to take on the narrowly avoided getting theirs rung. But the sheer high- Scottish play makes a perfect kind of sense.

42 EW.COM DECEMBER 11, 2015 She’s No Lady Macbeth’s power-mad queen has had many incarnations. Here are the best of Michael the worst. Caine and

1 Youth

STARRING , Harvey Keitel, Paul Dano, Rachel Weisz MRS. ISELIN The good news is he’s a soulful Macbeth— Angela Lansbury DIRECTED BY Paolo Sorrentino | RATING R | LENGTH 2 hrs., 4 mins. every bit as intense and electric as you’d The Manchurian Candidate expect. The not-so-good news is that the (1962) REVIEW BY Chris Nashawaty @ChrisNashawaty She pulls the rest of the movie isn’t nearly as interested puppet strings of a political WITH 2008’S IL DIVO in playing as many nuanced notes as its star. family. and 2013’s The Great Beauty, playful Directed by Australian Justin Kurzel Italian director Paolo Sorrentino made his ’s (2011’s The Snowtown Murders), the latest politics and passions dance to life by mixing pop big-screen Macbeth manages to be faithful 2 philosophy and louche sensuality. His latest film, ironically titled to Shakespeare’s gloriously evocative lan- Youth, is a meditation on aging set at a luxury spa in the Swiss Alps

guage while taking the play in a new visual LADY ASAJI (not too far, one suspects, from Wes Anderson’s Grand Budapest direction, toward deep-red fire, brimstone, Isuzu Yamada Hotel—or at least the latest Ricola commercial). The guests are a Throne of Blood and Grand Guignol gore and savagery. It (1957) menagerie of the superrich, the supremely washed-up, and the Akira Kurosawa looks like a Ronnie James Dio music video gave us a Lady spiritually questing, including Michael Caine’s retired British OX conceived by George R.R. Martin. Kurzel’s for the ages. composer and his old pal, a fading American movie director played -ification of Macbeth isn’t by Harvey Keitel. It’s hard to imagine a universe in which Caine necessarily the worst or most unnatural and Keitel are best friends, yet they have a frisky, undeniable creative impulse. After all, the play is a 3 chemistry. Their scenes are magic. But for every touching moment, witches’ brew of grief, intrigue, bloodlust, there’s another featuring some broad fringe character that seems : GIANNNI FIORITO GIANNNI : paranoia, and insatiable hunger for power. MISTRESS EPPS to waltz in from an entirely different movie (like Jane Fonda’s Sarah Paulson YOUTH And Fassbender conveys all of these bruise- 12 Years a Slave cameo, which lands with a campy thud). As it is, Youth is hit-and- (2013) B– black emotions with a seething ferocity, as She never miss, beautiful and frustrating. does his costar Marion Cotillard as his holds a whip, but all feel scheming and no-less-tragic wife, Lady her wrath. Macbeth. But the film’s raw performances get upstaged by Kurzel’s medieval shock- 4 CRITICAL MASS and-awe palette. The text has been stream- For 10 current releases, we compare EW’s grade with lined to make room for more brutal mud- scores averaged from IMDb, Metacritic, and

and-blood battle sequences, hauntingly SARAH Bridget Fonda shot by . David Thewlis as META - ROTTEN A Simple Plan EW IMDb CRITIC TOMATOES AVG. King Duncan, Paddy Considine as Banquo, (1998) This pregnant A SPOTLIGHT 83 93 97 91 and Sean Harris as the ripsnorting Macduff mama will kill to protect a $4 mil- all tap into the play’s visceral sound and lion windfall. A– CAROL 73 95 96 88 fury. But Kurzel’s epic pageant of art- B– ... 74 64 71 70 directed violence doesn’t signify as much as B THE DANISH GIRL 54 65 82 67 I suspect he thinks it does. B 5 B THE NIGHT BEFORE 76 58 67 67 THIS FILM CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING: ANNABETH B– SPECTRE 72 60 63 65 MARKUM Laura Linney B LEGEND 74 56 59 63 Mystic River IPIAMBIC PENTAMETER MS MIDCOITUS SOLILOQUY (2003) She uses trag- B– THE 33 71 55 42 56 edy to push WSWEIRD SISTERS DS DAMNED SPOTS her hubby back B– SECRET IN THEIR EYES 59 45 40 48 LANSBURY: M.C. PRODS/UA/PHOTOFEST; YAMADA: MARY EVANS/TOHO COMPANY/RONALD GRANT/EVERETT COLLECTION; PAULSON: FRANCOIS DUHAMEL/F PAULSON: GRANT/EVERETT COLLECTION; COMPANY/RONALD EVANS/TOHO MARY YAMADA: PRODS/UA/PHOTOFEST; M.C. LANSBURY: SEARCHLIGHT PICTURES/EVERETT COLLECTION; FONDA: PARAMOUNT/EVERETT COLLECTION; LINNEY: MERIE W. WALLACE; W. MERIE LINNEY: COLLECTION; PARAMOUNT/EVERETT FONDA: SEARCHLIGHT COLLECTION; PICTURES/EVERETT into crime. C+ BY THE SEA 55 44 29 43

DECEMBER 11, 2015 EW.COM 43 Movies

NEW VOICES SA TTET:OCR®SAUTE©APS®; KEATON: HARDY: JB LACROIX/WIREIMAGE.COM; © JEREMYCHANPHOTOGRAPHY/WIREIMAGE.COM; AMPAS RUFFAL ® STATUETTE OSCAR STATUETTE: OSCAR VS. OLD FACES WIREIMAGE.COM; ELBA: JOHN LAMPARSKI/WIREIMAGE.COM; RYLANCE: VERA ANDERSON/WIREIMAGE.COM; RUSSELL: STEVE GRANITZ/WIREIMAGE.COM; More than any other category this THE CONTENDERS year, the Best Supporting Actor race is wide open. By Nicole Sperling HOW THE BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR RACE LOOKS RIGHT NOW ••• THIS TIME LAST year, one of the few things we MICHAEL Missing out last year for Birdman puts Keaton out front for his could count on was J.K. Simmons winning an 1 KEATON rock-solid turn as a journalist Oscar for his turn as the maniacal jazz-band con- Spotlight on the hunt. ductor in the beloved indie Whiplash. Neither

Robert Duvall’s gravitas in The Judge nor Ethan Sure Things TOM HARDY Hardy’s always good. Now, as wild 2 fur trapper John Fitzgerald, he’s in a Hawke’s humanity in Boyhood could lure voters The Revenant film that’s good enough to reward. away from Simmons’ irresistible narrative of a long-working character actor getting his due. But turn to this year’s race and anything can MARK In a film with so many eligible candidates for Supporting happen: Actors as disparate as 9-year-old Jacob 3 RUFFALO Actor, Ruffalo stands out as a Tremblay (Room) and 69-year-old Sylvester Spotlight principled, unrelenting reporter. Stallone (Creed) could be vying for the same ’s tour de force perfor- prize. Add Kurt Russell (The Hateful Eight) and mance is undeniable. The challenge 4 DEL TORO will be to get voters to remember Idris Elba (Beasts of No Nation) to the mix, and Sicario this September movie. the race is anyone’s to win.

One thing we do know to be true: Michael IDRIS ELBA At once monstrous and charismatic, Keaton should score his second Oscar nomina- 5 Beasts of Elba supercharges this horrifying Serious Threats epic about child soldiers. tion in two consecutive years for his role as the No Nation head of the investigative team in Spotlight—a The enigmatic Rylance seemed fact that won’t be lost on voters who last year to come from nowhere—yet 6 Bridge of Spies holds his own amid the swirl of the opted for Eddie Redmayne in The Theory of Spielberg/Hanks machine. Everything over Keaton’s career-revitalizing TREMBLAY: TAYLOR IMAGES; BALE: HILL/GETTY JASON MERRITT/GETTY IMAGES turn in Birdman. Also destined to make the cut DIAZ/ ARAYA TORO: DEL (2); IMAGES WILLIAMSON/GETTY TODD O, STALLONE: is Tom Hardy for his fierce and feral turn in The SYLVESTER In fighting form as Rocky Balboa, Stallone poignantly reprises the Revenant. Bigger questions abound over whether 7 STALLONE iconic role and passes the boxing Mark Ruffalo finds himself in the running, join- Creed gloves to a new generation. ing Keaton as another entry from Spotlight, which boasts a crop of worthy supporting per- KURT RUSSELL It’s hard to highlight just one actor 8 in this bloody ensemble piece, formances. And does Sicario have enough The Hateful Eight but Russell is at his grizzled best. momentum to carry Benicio Del Toro into the winner’s circle? In the end, maybe it does come JACOB How a then 7-year-old could balance wit, courage, down to new blood vs. veterans. Tremblay is 9 TREMBLAY

Potential Spoilers Potential and terror is mind-boggling. astonishing in Room and gives the movie its Room Tremblay makes the film sing. soul. But then there is Stallone, revisiting Glassy-eyed and shoeless, Bale is the character that made him famous close to 10 unrecognizable as the genius 40 years ago and doing it better than he ever The Big Short doctor who bet against the housing market just before the crash. has. That’s almost impossible to resist.

44 EW.COM DECEMBER 11, 2015 SNEAK PEEK Janis: Little Girl Blue

STARRING Janis Joplin, Clive Davis, Dick Cavett, D.A. Pennebaker, Kris Kristofferson

DIRECTED BY Amy Berg

RATING NR | LENGTH 1 hr., 45 mins.

REVIEW BY Leah Greenblatt @Leahbats

DEATH IS EXCELLENT at turning artists into icons, but it tends to calcify them, too—recasting messy, complicated humans as the familiar demigods of dorm-room posters and greatest- hits collections. Janis: Little Girl Blue is the latest documentary this year, after memora- ble takes on Kurt Cobain, Amy Winehouse, and Nina Simone, to restore some of what ICE CUBE GETS COMMON gets lost in the process of mythmaking. BARBERSHOP Of course, even a life as brief as Joplin’s IN NEW (like Cobain and Winehouse, she was gone at 27) can’t be fully explored in just over When nearly Cube) has to step 100 minutes. Instead, writer-director Amy 12 years transpire up when gangs on between franchise ’s South Berg aims to tell the most personal story she installments, even Side try to recruit can by giving the narrative over to the family, the stars begin to his son. friends, and bandmates who knew her best. wonder whether a Along with the sequel is worth updated story line, (She’s also lucky to have access to a trove of making. “When I got The Next Cut will letters, voiced here by singer and kindred the initial call, I was feature new cast spirit Chan Marshall, a.k.a. Cat Power.) The like, ‘Really? Barber- members Common shop 3?’ ” says and Nicki Minaj, portrait that emerges is one of a brash, actress-rapper Eve. in addition to talented girl who grew up an outcast in her “Do we need this?” returning actors according to director  (From top) small Texas town—fraternities at a nearby Luckily, although such as Cedric the Malcolm D. Lee, all Ice Cube Barbershop: The Entertainer and of that is in the past. and college cruelly dubbed her Ugliest Man in Next Cut (out Anthony Anderson. “There was a lot of Common; an annual poll—and developed her gale- Common’s role mutual respect Cedric the April 15, 2016) could Entertainer force voice and gypsy-queen mien as armor seem like a memory will hold special between Cube and and Nicki : CHUCK ZLOTNICK (2) ZLOTNICK CHUCK : of the early 2000s, significance for Common,” Lee says. Minaj against a world that would have dismissed this third movie hip-hop fans who “I know there was a her otherwise. Her romances, studio about the crew at remember his public rap-battle beef, but sessions, and struggles with addiction are Calvin’s Barbershop dis-track exchange you would never will be straight outta with Ice Cube in the know that on set.” portrayed in a style that can best be 2015: Calvin (Ice mid-’90s. But —Kevin P. Sullivan described as Behind the Music deluxe, but

BARBERSHOP: THE NEXT THE CUT BARBERSHOP: the true draw here is really just Janis: Sweet and wild and vividly alive, she takes a little piece of your heart when she goes. A–

 Janis Joplin JOPLIN: MICHAEL OCHS ARCHIVES/GETTY IMAGES; 7

Streaming 3 THE STANDOUT TITLES COMING (AND GOING) IN DECEMBER. BY SHIRLEY LI @shirklesxp DEUTSCHLAND 83 : NIK KONIETZNY; NURSE JACKIE : MARK SCHAFER/SHOWTIME;

WE GAVE IT AN 2 A SELMA : ATSUSHI NISHIJIMA;

4

1 BLACK MIRROR: WHITE CHRISTMAS

1 NETFLIX seasons of the dramedy 5 NETFLIX Bravermans face their BLACK MIRROR: featuring ’s BROADCHURCH toughest decisions WHITE CHRISTMAS Emmy-winning turn SEASON 2 yet—including a heart- Celebrate the holidays as a nurse struggling In the acclaimed crime breaking goodbye. with Jon Hamm, who stars with addiction. series’ second season, TV | DEC. 30 in the paranoid drama’s BEST EPISODE > “Sidecars the close-knit community riveting Christmas and Spermicide” (SEASON 6, must deal with the fallout HULU 7 : HAL SHINNIE; special, which is more EP. 10) Jackie goes too far to of the child-murder case DEUTSCHLAND 83 menacing than merry. cover up her behavior when that stunned in season 1. The subtitles are worth it TV | DEC. 25 she betrays her sponsor. TV | AVAILABLE NOW TV | DEC. 31 for this gripping German- language saga about a DRESSED FRESH 2 AMAZON 6 NETFLIX NETFLIX young East German SELMA 4 PARENTHOOD soldier (Jonas Nay) forced Ava DuVernay’s FRESH DRESSED SEASON 6 to spy on the West at the master ful and poignant This illuminating doc on Get those Kleenexes height of the Cold War. : JAMEL SHABAZZ; Martin Luther King Jr. hip-hop style not only ready: The farewell TV | DEC. 18 biopic traces the leader’s delves into the evolution season of the earnest historic, defiant march of risk-taking fashion family drama sees the CRACKLE but also features insights 8 from Selma to INSIDIOUS PARENTHOOD: Montgomery, Ala. from boldfaced The tale of a couple in a MOVIE | DEC. 19 names like Kanye West. MOVIE | DEC. 16 haunted house attempt-

ing to save the soul of COLLEEN HAYES/NBC 3 NETFLIX their comatose son was NURSE JACKIE a box office surprise in COMPLETE SERIES 2011 thanks to a creepily Visiting hours are open inventive, twisted plot. for all seven bracing MOVIE | AVAILABLE NOW

LAST CALL TO WATCH... The Hour, full series (Acorn TV) 12.6 | Rescue Me, full series (Netflix) 12.11 | Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (Netflix) 12.15

46 EW.COM DECEMBER 11, 2015

Pick up a copy in store today or subscribe at People.com LOGLINES

Supergirl Flies for a Full Season CBS ordered seven

more episodes of the Melissa Benoist-starring series.

Matthew Weiner Is the New Black The Mad Men creator

will direct a season 4 ep of Netflix’s prison dramedy OITNB.

EDITED BY AMY WILKINSON @amymwilk

 , Bill Murray, and

BILL MURRAY WELCOMES you to his Christmas special A Very Murray with the look of a sad misfit toy. He gazes into the cam- era with his weary eyes and naked sad-clown face, a Christmas deeply grooved relief map of age and history. Over the years the former Not Ready for Prime Time Player has DATE TIME used that ragged deadpan mug for hard laughs in clas- Dec. 4 Streaming sics like Stripes and Ghostbusters, or to generate pathos NETWORK REVIEW BY for the offbeat, emotionally reserved directors he Netflix Jeff Jensen @EWDocJensen favors, including Jim Jarmusch and Wes Anderson. So

ALI GOLDSTEIN/NETFLIXALI we’re not sure whether to laugh or sigh (or both) at

DECEMBER 11, 2015 EW.COM 49 TV

Murray’s quiet hangdog hello—and we’re that the irony thaws and a warm, lovely even less sure when he starts to croon spirit takes hold. Rashida Jones and Jason A VERY MURRAY CHRISTMAS IS NO “The Christmas .” You get a glimmer INSTANT CLASSIC, BUT IT CAPTURES Schwartzman play a bride and groom of Nick the Lounge Singer, his exuberantly THE BLUE-CHRISTMAS ZEITGEIST rocked by a ruined wedding. They are a warbly creation, but WITH QUIRKY, HONEST GOOD CHEER.” problem for Murray to solve. Songs are mostly we get the sincere if strained soul- sung; many drinks get drunk. Miley Cyrus fulness of a Blues Brother. Dammit, Bill, pops in. But will George Clooney? O, brother, this is Christmas! Get with the merry and Christmas variety show—carols, guest stars, where art thou? Helmed by Murray’s Lost bright already! a loose plot—with spins on Christmas- in Translation director, Sofia Coppola, with The funniest thing about A Very Murray movie clichés. Murray also winks at what we an eye toward gorgeously lit casualness, Christmas is the very idea of it. The acerbic know about Murray, a famously prickly the special eschews cheesy chortles and star of Groundhog Day hosting a Christmas personality with a tortured relationship to earnest cheer and chases something more special? This is wildly unexpected, even from fame and a heart for ordinary folks. He plays honest. There are no miracles in this the guy who brought you Scrooged. His latest himself, in a spoof of grandiose ego. The holiday inn, but there is a credible, melan- seasonal opus runs far in the opposite direc- wannabe Bing Crosby is putting on a live, choly parable about nurturing love in the tion of that bloated, hollow comedy. It’s a nationally televised, celeb-studded holiday face of darkness—a small, precious gift for bittersweet Charlie Brown Christmas for special from the Carlyle in New York. It’s a a blue Christmas season. B micro-feeling, irony-wired hipsters. And yet, pure vanity project: Murray actually expects Murray has surprising resonance. It may not the Pope to attend. THIS SPECIAL CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING: be the yuletide cheer you want in a season Frightful weather scares everyone away, darkened by terrorism and fear, but it does and the power goes out, pulling the plug on FAFELT ANTLERS GM GROOVY MELODICA have a message that meets the moment. the show. Murray decides to improvise a The hour-long Netflix offering blends boozy party for stranded hotel guests and AP SCW SINGING CATER- the conventions of the celebrity-hosted workers. It’s here, after a sputtery start, WAITERS

Sofia Coppola

The Very Murray Christmas director on the return of the holiday special and working with her hard-to-find friend. By Gillian Telling

It’s been more than 12 [executive producer] town doing a movie, so years since you and Bill Mitch [Glazer] and me he came by. We shot Murray teamed up for talking about how people over four or five days at Lost in Translation—what don’t do those traditional the Carlyle, and it was was it like reuniting? specials anymore. actually snowing while It’s funny, because I never we were filming. wanted to do a movie How did you land all of with him again. I thought those celebrity cameos? The big snowstorm it was too much pressure. It was because of Bill. was real? But I felt like this was its We were putting it all It was! It was just a coinci- own thing—not really a together, and I was talk- dence, though—the idea TV show, not really a ing about —Bill came before that. movie. But I love working knows I love him—and so with him. It’s always he just called him up and Do you have Bill on inspiring to see what he said, “Hey, I’m doing this speed dial now? comes up with. show!” and Chris said, I don’t want to brag, “I’ll be there.” but…I went through Why a holiday special? such lengths to track him

I love hearing Bill sing. I Any last-minute adds? down for Lost in Transla- ALI GOLDSTEIN/NETFLIX remember him [when Miley came very last- tion, so it’s very fun to I was] a kid, singing minute. She was a great have him as a friend now. on SNL, so any excuse sport, very gung ho. And He’s still elusive, but I to watch him sing. George Clooney is a know he’s there when Murray and But it really came from buddy of Bill’s and was in I need him.

50 EW.COM DECEMBER 11, 2015 LUTHERREPORTS FORDUTY The grizzled investigator played by Idris Elba returns in a BBC America special (Dec. 17, 9 p.m.). Creator Neil Cross takes us behind tape. By Amy Wilkinson

It’s a new chapter Enter a slew of new The special picks players, including up a year after the Game of Thrones’ season 3 — Rose Leslie in which Luther as a detective. tossed his signature tweed coat into The big bad is the Thames and among the series’ walked away with scariest sociopathic sweet- He’s a cannibal who heart Alice (Ruth strikes fear in the Wilson)—and finds heart (and hearth). our hero “outside “The idea that your his natural environ- home is not a ment.” And sans safe place is pretty Mark Gatiss Wilson, who isn’t much the most and Benedict returning, though terrifying thing Cumberbatch her presence will there is,” Cross on Sherlock TV MVP be felt. “[Alice] will says, alluding to the always be impor- murderer’s MO. tant,” says Cross. This is just the Mark Gatiss: Fresh faces beginning abound Cross wants many “The world of Luther more installments: Man of Many Secrets has been some- “I would [write] what depopulated Luther until Idris The multitasking Brit cautiously previews Sherlock’s upcoming stand- by violent deaths,” is a stooped, gray- alone episode (PBS, Jan. 1, 9 p.m.). But don’t expect him to spill anything about Cross concedes. haired old man.” Game of Thrones—much like Jon Snow, he knows nothing. By Clark Collis

MARK GATISS ISa co-creator of declines to elaborate. He does, however, Sherlock, a writer on Doctor Who, and let on that he has just finished the first an actor on Game of Thrones. So the script for season 4 of Sherlock, which 49-year-old has learned to be careful will shoot next year. What happens in about what he says for fear of spoiling that? (We promise not to turn your these secrets-heavy series. But Gatiss answer into more than five different also recently discovered the perils of bits of clickbait.) “This is a life-changing staying mum. “I did an interview and they series for the regulars,” teases Gatiss. said, ‘We’ve got to ask you about Sher- “The repercussions of Moriarty’s appar- lock,’ ” he says. “I told them nothing, and ent return are far-reaching.” it became six different bits of clickbait.” Something else Gatiss has learned?  On Jan. 1, PBS will air a one-off episode On occasion, He Who Keeps the Secrets Idris of Sherlock that finds Benedict Cumber- becomes He From Whom Secrets Are Elba batch’s titular sleuth and Martin Freeman’s Kept. In the past two Game of Thrones Dr. Watson transplanted to a Victorian seasons, Gatiss played Tycho Nestoris, STEFAN HILL/BBC STEFAN setting familiar to fans of Sir Arthur a representative of the Iron Bank of Conan Doyle’s tales. Titled “The Abomi- Braavos. But he does not appear in the LUTHER: nable Bride,” it’s the first new Sherlock forthcoming season and has no idea adventure since early 2014, when season what plans, if any, EPs David Benioff and 3 ended with Andrew Scott’s villainous D.B. Weiss have for his character. “I had Moriarty seemingly back from the dead. dinner with Dan and David, and I made a Gatiss, who also plays Sherlock’s brother, very cogent pitch to be the last character

:© HARTSWOOD FILMS; HARTSWOOD :© Mycroft, describes the special as “a alive in the whole saga,” he says. “They Christmas ghost story” that’s also “about smiled knowingly and probably made

SHERLOCK how Victorian society treats women,” but a note to organize my imminent death.”

DECEMBER 11, 2015 EW.COM 51 TV

ROLE CALL Judith Light When it comes to juggling the worlds of TV and theater, Judith Light is the boss. Busier than ever with roles on Amazon’s Transparent (season 2 premieres Dec. 11) and in a revival of Thérèse Raquin with Keira Knightley (now on Broadway), Light slowed down just long enough to share the memories behind some of her favorite career moments. By Nina Terrero

Kojak The Ryan White 1 3 1977 Story 1989 After graduating from Carnegie In the made-for-TV biopic, Light Mellon University with a drama played the mother of teenage degree, Light began her career AIDS patient Ryan White in regional theater—and the (Lukas Haas). White’s visit to intimate stage experience set would prove life-changing couldn’t have been more differ- for Light. “I heard him say to ent from the glaring scrutiny this interviewer, ‘People would she would face during an audi- spit at me and call me a fag,’ ” tion for her first TV role. “I was Light says. “I just stopped in terrified,” the actress confesses. my tracks and I thought, ‘My Though she had only a small gay friends are dying and part in a single episode of the they are not being helped or CBS procedural, star Telly supported. I have got to do Savalas set her at ease. “He was something.’ ” Light has been an Who’s so kind and sweet to me,” says LGBTQ advocate ever since. the Boss? Light. “I remember thinking, ‘If I ever get into a position like Who’s the Boss? 4 he is, I want to be like that too.” 1984–92 “It was very cutting-edge for One Life to Live that time,” Light says of playing 2 1977–83 a razor-sharp breadwinner Despite a dry spell between on the popular ABC sitcom. acting jobs, Light was hesitant “I have young women come up to take on the sudsy trappings to me saying, ‘Angela Bower of a daytime drama. “The two was my role model.’ ” As it turns things I swore I’d never do were out, the show provided her a sitcom and a ,” with a role model of her own: she says. “I had a real prejudice.” costar Tony Danza. “Tony taught But the promise of a $350 me so much about comedy, check for a day’s work playing more than I had learned even in all my years in repertory theater The duplicitous diva Karen Wolek Ryan changed her mind—and even- doing comedies.” White tually, the course of her career. Story “My life and who I was as a Lombardi 5 human being needed to trans- 2010–11 form,” says Light, who earned About 35 years after she two Daytime Emmys for the made her Broadway debut in role. “All of that reframing the Henrik Ibsen drama A Doll’s definitely colored my choices House, Light returned to the and has actually made for a Great White Way as Marie One Life to Live much fuller, richer life.” Lombardi, the witty, complex

52 EW.COM DECEMBER 11, 2015 wife of legendary football coach Ugly Betty Vince Lombardi. “Talk about generosity,” says Light of Lombardi director Thomas Kail. “He really took the chance and brought me back to Broadway.” The result? Her very first Tony nomination. (She would go on to win Tonys for Other Desert Cities and The Assembled Parties.) : Ugly Betty 6 2006–10 Series creator Silvio Horta wrote TRANSPARENT the role of alcoholic alpha mom Claire Meade specifically for Light. “I had done a pilot for him that didn’t get picked up, and he said, Law & Order: ‘Someday I’m going to write Special another part for you,’ ” Light says. CO./EVERETT; LANDBURG : Victims Unit The actress still fondly remembers the cast and crew of the Emmy- winning series. “We were such a family,” shares Light. “But we’re all

still very connected.” THE WHITE RYAN STORY

Law & Order: 7 Special Victims Unit : ABC/EVERETT; 2002–10 SVU executive producers Neal Baer and Ted Kotcheff were among the fans awed by Light’s ONE LIFE TO LIVE performance as a cancer patient in an Off Broadway production of Wit. And for Light, the opportu-

nity to play another girl boss : NBC/PHOTOFEST; proved irresistible. “I went from being the head of the Special Victims Unit to becoming a judge,” Light says of her role as steely lawyer-turned-magistrate Elizabeth Donnelly. “They gave me really terrific stuff to do.” LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT Transparent 8 2014–PRESENT A 45-minute Skype call with creator Jill Soloway about their mutual : ABC/PHOTOFEST (2); ABC/PHOTOFEST : “devotion and appreciation” for the transgender community stoked Light’s interest in the role of sar- castic matriarch Shelly Pfefferman. WHO’S THE BOSS? “The excitement of it, the desire , of it, and the combination with my advocacy for so many years UGLY BETTY UGLY just seemed like the most perfect fit,” Light explains. Reuniting with Jeffrey Tambor—both former members of the Milwaukee Repertory Theater—was an added bonus. Says Light, “I couldn’t wait Transparent

to work with my friend again.” PUGLIESE/AUGUST; JOE LIGHT: MONDAY DECEMBER 7

A DAY-TO-DAY GUIDE TO NOTABLE PROGRAMS* BY RAY RAHMAN @RayRahman

Series Debut Telenovela

10–11PM NBC This new sitcom starring Eva Longoria officially starts Jan. 4, but the series has a two-episode sneak peek tonight. Consider it an early Christ- mas present: Judging by these eps, Telenovela might be the Peacock’s funniest new show in a while. No, it’s not an actual telenovela—it’s a showbiz workplace comedy that unfolds on a soap opera set. (Think a less nerdy 30 Rock.) The charming pilot kicks off with soap star Ana Sofia Calderon (Longoria) threatened by a new costar—her ex-husband—while the second half hour hilariously sends up the genre’s evil-twin tropes (as well as showmances and stunt dou-

bles). With fast and witty lines, strong physical INVH1 BIG 2015 ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY WITH comedy, and old-fashioned fun, Telenovela could be NBC’s guiding light. B+

MUST TUESDAY DECEMBER 8 WATCH OF THE WEEK Midseason Finale Victoria’s Secret The Flash Fashion Show VH1 BIG IN 2015 WITH : VH1/PICTUREGROUP; 8–9PM THE CW 10–11PM CBS ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY It’s the Flash versus Ellie Goulding, the the Force: Guest Weeknd, and Selena MONDAY, DEC. 7 9–11PM VH1 star Mark Hamill Gomez are all

returns as villain performing—and if TELENOVELA You simply can’t talk about the past year without mentioning James Jesse, a.k.a. anyone asks, that’s the Trickster. why I’m DVR’ing this.

certain standout names, many of whom are recognized in EW’s Big FELD/NBC; : DANNY in 2015 special. The event, hosted by T.I. at L.A.’s Pacific Design Chopped Junior Center, celebrated the talented artists who made our annual 8–9PM FOOD Entertainers of the Year list, including , Elizabeth Banks, The children must prepare a leg of VICTORIA’S SECRET FASHION SHOW Taraji P. Henson, Nicki Minaj, (above right, with lamb, forever taint- Amber Rose), the cast of Straight Outta Compton, and more. The ing the “Mary Had a Little Lamb” song show is full of candid, memorable honoree speeches—including for them. Henson’s, in which she speaks to the progress her Fox series has Season Finale made within the industry. “I’m so proud that [Empire] is breaking Scream Queens

down color lines,” she says. “The more I do press, the less I’m 8–10PM FOX : JEFFREY R. STAAB/CBS hearing ‘It’s black’ or ‘It’s a black family.’ People are seeing material The Red Devil will worthy of watching.” Another highlight: seeing Banks and be unmasked, and the killer finally presenter Miss Piggy share an intimate kiss. Who doesn’t like some revealed, so call holiday ham? —C. Molly Smith your bookie now!

54 EW.COM DECEMBER 11, 2015 *TIMES ARE EASTERN STANDARD AND SUBJECT TO CHANGE WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 9 THURSDAY DECEMBER 10

Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors

9–11PM NBC Every superhero needs an origin story, and now Dolly Parton is getting hers in this TV-movie musical based on her famous autobiographical song. “It tells such an important tale at such a pivotal time in her life,” says executive producer Sam Haskell. “Dolly was 9 years old in 1955 when this movie takes place. The very next year, she was discovered.” Parton herself provides narration for the movie, and on one song even duets via voice-over with 8-year-old Alyvia Alyn Lind (playing Parton’s younger self). “You feel Dolly’s presence from start to finish,” says Haskell, “and I think that’s what her audience is going to The Goldbergs really respond to.” —Christian Holub 8:30–9PM ABC You could probably count on one hand the number of major TV Hanukkah episodes, but The Goldbergs is helping get that number closer to a full menorah with the introduction of Beverly Goldberg’s (Wendi McLendon-Covey) newest creation, Super Hanukkah. “My mom was always trying to figure out ways to make Hanukkah : BRAVO exciting and compete with [our neighbors] the Kremps, who always had these amazing blowout Christmas parties,” creator Adam F. Goldberg says of the autobiographical episode. But stranger than Beverly’s attempts to outcheer her neighbors is the episode’s other, not-quite-Hanukkah-y through-line. “I’ve talked about how The Wonder Years defined the show, but the truth is that A Christmas Story was first,” says Goldberg, citing the classic 1983 holiday film. “We’re doing a really nice A Christmas Story homage: Adam dares —Marc Snetiker

THEN AND NOW WITH ANDY COHEN Barry to stick his tongue to the flagpole.”

FRIDAY DEC11 SAT DEC 12 SUNDAY DECEMBER 13

Becoming Santa The Simpsons Miniseries Debut

: JENNIFER CLASEN/AMAZON STUDIOS; CLASEN/AMAZON JENNIFER : Then and Now With Andy Cohen 8–10PM LIFETIME 8–8:30PM FOX 10–11PM BRAVO A man is surprised In an episode titled Bravo maven Andy Cohen is taking a break TRANSPARENT to learn that his girl- “Barthood,” we see friend is actually Bart’s adolescence from herding Housewives to produce this Santa Claus’ daugh- unfold in the style of newsy three-part series examining major ter. So that’s why the movie Boyhood. moments in history and pop culture from three she never wants to Aww, can’t wait to specific years: 1989, 1994, and 2000. “We

: JEFF LIPSKY/NBC; JEFF : Season Premiere go to the mall. see him go through wanted to pick three different years that had Transparent his emo phase! a lot of juicy stuff,” says Cohen, a former CBS Tiny House World producer. Exploring topics like Y2K and the STREAMING AMAZON Flesh and Bone O.J. Simpson trial, he’ll interview guests such Things kick off with 10–11PM FYI as former White House social secretary Jeremy 8–9PM STARZ Sarah and Tammy’s Couples look for Bernard and journalist Connie Chung. But wedding. I guess it’s small living spaces Paul’s neuroses Cohen promises this isn’t just some stuffy safe to assume the in international have the dancers docuseries. “Bethenny Frankel, Heather brides are regis- locales. They should struggling to stay Dubrow, and Kyle Richards are in the mix tered at Amazon? start their search in on pointe. too,” he says. “Yeah, there are a couple of

DOLLY PARTON’S COAT OF MANY COLORS MANY OF COAT PARTON’S DOLLY —Nina Terrero Little . Ballet humor! Housewives. It is a Bravo show.” Truth Be Told Saturday Night Series Debut 8:30–9PM NBC Live Married by Mom Sadie is kept up at and Dad 11:30PM–1AM night by the new NBC 9:30–11PM TLC

: ERIC MCCANDLESS/ABC; ERIC : neighbors’ barking Hosted by what’s left dog. Either that or of Chris Hemsworth, Four singles let their the new neighbors the suddenly svelte parents select their are into some really star of In the Heart mates. They all pick

THE GOLDBERGSTHE weird sex stuff. of the Sea. “not Shia LaBeouf.”

DECEMBER 11, 2015 EW.COM 55 Essential Emeril Thinking back on all of the wonderful people I have learned from and the dishes I have made over the years, I knew that I had to get them all down in one place. This book is it.” — Emeril Lagasse

AVAILABLE NOW Wherever Great Books Are Sold

Impress your holiday guests with this classic recipe from Essential Emeril.

blueberry This is basically a sweet fritter batter. You can substitute raspberries or cut-up strawberries, but there is something beignets about blueberries that makes these awesome. Yield: about 18 1 cup fresh blueberries, picked 2. In a large bowl, combine the fl our, if they’re sticking. Cook the beignets over for stems baking powder, and salt. Make a well until golden, about 6 minutes. If

1⁄4 cup granulated sugar in the center, pour in the blueberry you’re frying them in a pot, the mixture, and whisk until combined. beignets will sink to the bottom, then 2 large eggs, lightly beaten Allow the mixture to rest 10 minutes fl oat up to the top, where you can 1 cup half-and-half before frying. turn them for even coloring.

13⁄4 cups bleached all-purpose fl our 3. Pour enough oil to come to the 5. Using a slotted spoon, tongs, or 1 teaspoon baking powder maximum line in an electric fryer or a spider, transfer the fried beignets

1⁄2 teaspoon salt halfway up the side of a deep, large, to paper towels to drain briefl y, then Vegetable oil for frying heavy-bottomed pot. Heat the oil to add to a large bowl along with the 360° F. confectioners‘ sugar, and toss to 1 1 ⁄2 cups confectioners’ sugar, coat. Set the beignets on a serving 4. Using a 2-tablespoon scoop, plus more for dusting as needed platter. Repeat the process with the carefully drop the batter into the remaining batter. 1. In a medium bowl, combine the hot oil, cooking 4 to 6 beignets at blueberries and granulated sugar a time; don’t crowd them. If using 6. To serve, dust the beignets a fi nal and lightly mash together with a fork. a deep fryer, shake the basket to time with confectioners’ sugar, and Stir in the eggs and half-and-half. loosen the beignets from the bottom serve hot.

Excerpted from Essential Emeril: Favorite Recipes and Hard-Won Wisdom From My Life in the Kitchen by Emeril Lagasse. Copyright © 2015 Emeril Lagasse dba MSLO Acquisition sub, LLC. NOTEWORTHY

Rihanna will launch the Anti world tour, with more than

70 dates, next February in San Diego. The Avett

Brothers will release the concert album Live, Vol. Four, Music featuring two previously unreleased tracks, on Dec. 18. EDITED BY KEVIN O’DONNELL @ODtron

 , Chris Martin, , and

It’s been just one year since Coldplay’s last album. How does it feel to share a Coldplay’s new record so soon? Normally I would get more panicked Final Frontier [about a release], but for this album and the last album we were so clear After releasing 2014’s understated Ghost Stories, the British group is back with what we were being guided to do. with A Head Full of Dreams—their most uplifting collection of songs in I think this time we followed our hearts years. Frontman Chris Martin, 38, opens up about working with pop hit- so closely, if you know what I mean. I’ve makers Stargate, collaborating with everyone from Beyoncé to Gwyneth decided to enjoy the ride rather than

JAMES MARCUS HANEY MARCUS JAMES to Blue Ivy, and why this album is “a bit like a finale.” By Kevin O’Donnell stress about it.

DECEMBER 11, 2015 EW.COM 57 Music

This record is way more What’s it like to hear it now? jubilant than Ghost Stories. It makes me feel at peace with When we decided to go down our albums. X&Y, I’d love to edit that road of making a really that a bit. But it feels like, what a small, intimate album like Ghost great journey we’ve been on. Stories, the idea for A Head Full of Dreams came at the same How does this album stand time. We thought: “After making against Coldplay’s other LPs? this restrained, intimate album, It’s a bit like a finale, or a final maybe we’ll feel like playing with scene. Not that we’re splitting a bit more jubilation.” It was up. We’ve been trying to get really fun to make, which is not here for a long time. I don’t know what we’ve felt before. if it’s commercial, but I’m so Chris Martin grateful that we got to make it. You teamed up with I understand Coldplay isn’t and producers for everybody, but once I under- Stargate. Why them? one of your most epic songs. but I didn’t want to be imprudent. stood that, it was liberating. BR M. FREDERICK CLAYTON: USA; DAHL/TT/SIPA OLIN FANNI LO: ATLASMAN/CORBIS; ANNIE BEYONCE: IMAGES; HARRISON/GETTY FRAZER MARTIN: I met them because I was trying It’s my favorite Coldplay song And she said, “I’ll do it.” to write songs for Rihanna—it’s ever. It’s what I always dreamed Where do you go from here? my favorite hobby, even though of singing. Is it intimidating to sing Right now we want to live in this she never really likes them. with her? world for a while, this musical [Laughs] And we were supposed “Up&Up”—featuring a chorus She’s all goodness. And when world. We’re really excited to go to do a song for Angelina of your children, Beyoncé, she sings, she really puts you into on tour; we’ve been locked away Jolie’s movie Unbroken. Then her daughter Blue Ivy, and her place. for three years. I wondered if it would ever others—is also pretty uplifting. work bringing these two worlds With what’s going on in the You duet with your ex Gwyneth Any thoughts about doing together: Coldplay and these world, I feel very grateful to be Paltrow on “Everglow.” How’d a solo record? guys who make . alive and in a band with my best that song happen? If I ever do that, text me and say, friends. There’s also a track that A long time ago she had “Chris, you’ve officially lost it.” That They asked you to prepare contains Rumi’s “The Guest said, “Isn’t it strange that when would just be awful. [Laughs] demos for each song. Were House.” It’s about appreciating someone dies the world keeps you insulted by that? every day and not getting too on moving?” She made me Is going on the road still fun Not at all! It’s already hard enough overwhelmed by some of the think about that idea. after all these years? to get a song through the rest heavier things in life. Taking a break from touring was of the band. Having Tor [Herman- You two are still very much in an amazing move. I mean, look at sen] and Mikkel [Eriksen]—it What’s the story behind your each other’s lives, right? what One Direction is doing. I bet means [each song] survived a collaboration with Beyoncé I’m not entirely comfortable for them taking a break and lot of tests. I’m sure some people on “”? speaking about this, but every- going away for a bit means that will not be into it, but for people This album is about celebrating. thing you read is basically true. when they come back, they’ll be that like what we do, the quality And this angel figure kept We’re great friends, and that’s so hungry for it. It’s the same in control has been set really high. popping up. I thought, “Beyoncé kind of it. life, I think. If you take something would be perfect, but she’d never for granted, and then you don’t The album opener, “A Head do it.” One day we were talking It’s the 15th anniversary of have it, you suddenly remember, Full of Dreams,” might be and I was trying to drop the hint, your debut album, Parachutes. “Oh, yeah, I love this!”

ANALBUMFULLOFSTARS A Head Full of Dreams features everyone from Martin’s ex-wife to the President of the IMAGES;OWN/GETTY PALTROW: MARIO ANZUONI/REUTERS/LANDOV United States. Here’s a guide to the guest appearances.

MERRY CLAYTON sing in a choir on for the Weekend” the president singing The legendary backup “Up&Up.” Martin jokes and “Up&Up,” is “all “Amazing Grace,” from singer, who belted on that one tasty treat in goodness.” his eulogy for Rev. ’ particular got them to Clementa Pinckney, 1969 classic “Gimme focus: “Pizza with chil- TOVE LO who was killed in the Shelter,” had her legs dren is the equivalent of The Swedish pop singer Charleston, S.C., church amputated after a car cocaine in the ’70s.” teams with Martin shootings in June. accident in 2014. Martin Oasis’ on the atmospheric says, “It was such a joy and Martin’s actress girl- ballad “Fun.” Martin’s ex-wife to be around her. She friend inspired their gorgeous had such life!” are also on the track. For “Kaleidoscope,” duet “Everglow.” A CHILDREN’S CHOIR BEYONCÉ a spoken-word track by “[It’s] about the joy The band members’ kids Martin says Queen B, poet Coleman Barks, someone leaves you (and ) who duets on “Hymn the band also sampled with after they’ve gone.”

 (Clockwise from top left) Beyoncé, Tove Lo, Merry Clayton, and Gwyneth Paltrow Play my “Friday Night” playlist.

What album is this?

Tell me the news.

Dim the lights.

Connected to your life. Controlled by your voice.

Hands-free and always on to read the news, answer questions, play music, check traffi c, weather and much more. Just ask.

INTRODUCING Music

Elle King: Rock’s New Badass The fearless heartbreaker turned the throwaway tune “Ex’s & Oh’s” into the year’s sleeper hit—and brought rock & roll edge back to the charts. By Madison Vain

TWO AND A HALF years ago, and her songwriting partner Dave Bassett were deep into the creative process for the tracks that would make up her debut, Love Stuff. But the song that would eventually become her breakout—the hot, rockabilly-inflected KING’S KEY INFLUENCES “Ex’s & Oh’s”—happened as a I feel sorry for people who father is comedian Rob lark. “We wrote it as kind of a can’t say the same. They get Elvis Presley Schneider—with inspiring her “He was the first joke,” says the 26-year-old. inside their head or they over- love of my life. to follow her creative impulses. (2) IMAGES ARCHIVES/GETTY OCHS MICHAEL JACKSON: REDDING, IMAGES; ARCHIVE/GETTY HULTON PRESLEY: “He was like, ‘Hey, Elle, who you think things. It’s like, ‘Chill out! I blame him for “I watched all three of them my love of been dating?’ And I was like, Oh my God! Please, please sequins and work really hard to get where ‘Well, this guy’s mad at me, have fun!’” glitter.” they are now,” she says. “That and I was really mean to this Having a blast has always was a big driving force for guy, and this guy’s a loser but been one of King’s guiding me as a young girl to want to he still calls me.’ And we just principles—and she’s proud do it on my own. Nothing to admit it. As a teen, the was handed to [my parents], started laughing and writing Otis Redding this song.” King’s label, RCA, L.A.-born, Ohio-raised singer- “The first record that was really important however, took the tune seri- songwriter got her start I bought was to me. And I know that I can Otis Redding’s ously right away and selected playing in clubs, Greatest Hits, come off like a big, dumb idiot, it as the album’s single, which where the biggest perk wasn’t and I used to but I busted my ass.” listen to it slowly snowballed into a hit. a paycheck. “I learned at a on repeat. His With “Ex’s & Oh’s” showing Despite releasing the track pretty young age that you got voice!” no signs of slowing (and in 2014, King has become a free beer if you were on stage,” earning Grammy buzz), King is sleeper star this year. In King recalls. “So I started play- ready to hit the road in Febru- November, the platinum- ing at clubs in New York and Wanda Jackson ary, opening for Vance Joy. But certified tune finally cracked I was like, ‘Oh, they won’t card “I sang with one of the best parts is hearing Wanda recently, the top 10 of Billboard’s Hot me if I’m playing? Awesome!’” and I’ve never from the dudes who inspired 100, where she’s bringing a But that’s not to say King lacks been more her smash. “The song is about f---ing terrified bad-girl, ‘50s-style rock & roll a work ethic. She credits her in my life. I four guys, and I’ve spoken to flair to a field dominated by parents—her mother is a messed up when three—and everyone is mad at model-turned-doula, her step- we were singing me,” she says with a laugh. “But Drake, Justin Bieber, and Taylor and she was so Swift. “I am literally having the father is a musician and cool.” I don’t care! I’m not a terrible time of my life,” King says. “And painter, and her biological person, but it went platinum!”

60 EW.COM DECEMBER 11, 2015 Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds has THE STORIES BEHIND THE SONGS been crafting hits for himself and others for nearly 30 years. With the release of his new solo album, Return of the Tender Lover—his first since 2007 and a throw- back to his breakout 1989 release, Tender Babyface Lover—the artist, 57, tells the tales of tunes both old and new. By Kyle Anderson

“Whip Appeal” 1989 but it was just what •I heard that phrase the song required. and I said, “Oh, I Fortunately it need to write that!” worked. I wrote it on Sometimes you can the guitar, and I just hear words but wanted it to stay there’s no way you simple. It felt more can sing it or make it heartfelt that way. feel good. People were like, “What is “Another Sad ‘whip appeal’?” For- Love Song” tunately the song Toni Braxton, 1993 explained it. I didn’t Love, Marriage & know it was going to Divorce turn into what it Toni Braxton and turned into. It feels Babyface, 2014 like an even more •Toni was like a little special record now. me when she walked in. She knew “When Can I See what she wanted, You” 1993 and I knew exactly •That song was what to give her to essentially a beat sound great. I could and an acoustic gui- hang with her then. tar. There were very In making the Love, few R&B artists who Marriage & Divorce would use acoustic album, I sung and I remember and for some reason hearts because I’m guitar in that way. It around her. I couldn’t never being as ner- “Shoop Shoop” really good at that. wasn’t like I had this do it because it was vous in my life. I had seemed to be able [MADONNA That’s not the space cool idea where I too high. But that on some wide pants, to do that. Some- AND I] DID THE I’m in, and I don’t thought I would didn’t matter, so you couldn’t tell, times you can’t read AMERICAN think anybody wants change the game, because the album but my leg was the words, you just MUSIC AWARDS to be sad right now. was for Toni. shaking like crazy. have to sing it. She TOGETHER, AND And then after I told was in question I REMEMBER “Solid” “Take a Bow” her, she said she initially about the NEVER BEING AS Ty Dolla $ign, 2015 Madonna, 1994 was so nervous too, “Shoop Shoop” part, NERVOUS IN •That’s a fun record. •She was a big fan which was amazing and I said, “Just trust MY LIFE.… MY I think it was of “When Can I See to me because it’s me. Wait and see because of “When You.” I had these Madonna. what happens.” LEG WAS Can I See You” that ideas that I had SHAKING LIKE he came to me and already started put- “Exhale “We’ve Got Love” CRAZY.” said, “Can we write ting down—which (Shoop Shoop)” 2015 —BABYFACE something? Pull out was “Take a Bow”— , • The groove is a your acoustic gui- and that’s the first 1995 really important tar!” It is true that the one we started to do. •Whitney was like a thing. Just being things you’ve done I was singing behind sister to me. It’s able to get into a in your past bring her on the demo, funny to see those song that you don’t new artists to you. and she said, “I want words “Shoop even have to sing, They get inspired. you to sing on the Shoop” written you can just groove That’s the trick: background, too.” down. Honestly, I with it for a while. I doing something We did the Ameri- couldn’t think of any didn’t want to make that feels like it’s can Music Awards words to say. It just a sad album of love today—but it’s as

BABYFACE AND MADONNA: VINCE BUCCIA/AFP/GETTY IMAGES together [in 1995], needed a release, songs and broken good as yesterday.

DECEMBER 11, 2015 EW.COM 61 2 Books EDITED BY TINA JORDAN @EWTinaJordan

1

ART AND PHOTO

Season’s Readings We’ve rounded up the year’s most luscious reads— stunning art books, whimsical kids’ tales, and 1 2 3 BELOVED DOG NEXTINCTION FLORENCE: engrossing paeans THE PAINTINGS Maira Kalman Ralph Steadman & FRESCOES to pop culture. For the artistically The brilliantly bizarre There’s bound inclined dog lover, cartoonist follows Ross King, Kalman’s quirky up 2012’s Extinct Anja Grebe to be something paintings of canines Boids with this Spanning nearly 500 that have touched compendium of the years and 2,000 art- for everyone. her heart will surely world’s critically works, this hefty book is a 2-D trip to Italy. By Isabella Biedenharn warm yours. endangered birds.

62 EW.COM DECEMBER 11, 2015 PHOTOGRAPHS BY BRIAN HENN 3

12

4

MYSTERIES

1 WOMEN 3 CRIME WRITERS 5 Ed. Sarah Weinman This compilation celebrates female midcentury crime writers like .

2 INSPECTOR MAIGRET OMNIBUS: VOL. 1

Georges Simenon Not only is this hard- cover a shelf stunner, it also features four of the Belgian writer’s famous stories. 3 4 5 NANCY DREW PAINTING BEATON THE MODERN PHOTOGRAPHS Carolyn Keene GARDEN: MONET Our favorite blue- Mark Holborn, TO MATISSE roadster-driving Annie Leibovitz teenage sleuth gets Monty Don In this study of the a modern makeover, A lush, gorgeous legendary lensman’s perfect for a new collection of portraits, you’ll find generation of the Impressionists’ the likes of Picasso, precocious detective flower-focused work. Garbo, and Jagger. wannabes.

DECEMBER 11, 2015 EW.COM 63 2 FOR KIDS 1 WILD WORLD

Lonely Planet These majestic 1 photos and creatures are the stuff of globe- trotters’ dreams.

3 2 ATLAS OF CURSED PLACES

Olivier Le Carrer Intrigued by danger but don’t have a death wish? Explore scary locales here. 3 RARELY SEEN: PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE EXTRAORDINARY

5 4 National Geographic The legendary society assembles a collection of once- in-a-lifetime shots.

SCIENCE

1 THE JOURNEY OF THE PENGUIN

Emiliano Ponzi Join a penguin on his globe-spanning quest to become a publisher’s mascot.

2 3 4 5 PAPER ZOO THE DOG THE FOX AND LEGO AWESOME THAT NINO THE STAR IDEAS Oscar Sabini DIDN’T HAVE This book is begging Coralie Daniel Lipkowitz to be folded and Edward van Bickford-Smith For the builder in ripped—in fact, de Vendel, Anton In this beautifully your life, photos and that’s the whole Van Hertbruggen designed book, a step-by-step guides point! Tear out the Vintage-looking fox searches for the to cool LEGO critters, play with drawings illustrate missing star that creations, from them, and tuck them this tale of a lonely used to light his way. cookies to space into pockets. boy and his plants, fill this book. imaginary pup.

64 EW.COM DECEMBER 11, 2015 PLACES 2 Books

1

3

132

1 2 3 THING EARTH + SPACE LIGHT EXPLAINER Nirmala Nataraj Kimberly Arcand, Randall Munroe Delve into the great Megan Watzke The creator of xkcd beyond with these Through photos and clarifies complex awe-inspiring photos essays, Arcand and stuff using only from NASA’s archive. Watzke explore light the 1,000 most Plus, Bill Nye wrote in all its forms, common words. the preface! including X-rays and radio waves.

DECEMBER 11, 2015 EW.COM 65 2 Books

1

POP CULTURE

1 2 THEY DREW AS BOND BY DESIGN THEY PLEASED DK 4 3 Didier Ghez From storyboards to Feast your eyes on gadget sketches, this the fantastic lost art behind-the-scenes of Disney’s 1930s look will satiate every concept artists. James Bond cinephile. 3 4 DUST & GROOVES PEANUTS: ART- IST’S EDITION Eilon Paz Pairing photographic Charles M. Schulz essays and inter- It’s like you’re sitting views, Paz takes us in Schulz’s studio: into the worlds of These larger-than- vinyl collectors, as we life images show learn what motivates textual notes and and inspires them. art corrections.

12HISTORY

1 REVOLUTION

Richard H. Brown, Paul E. Cohen Early U.S. history unfolds through a series of fascinating maps.

2 THE MAKING OF HOME

Judith Flanders 3 An exploration of the ways that houses changed from just shelters to homes.

3 THE GHOST ARMY OF WWII

Rick Beyer, Elizabeth Sayles How the U.S. used inflatable tanks and sound effects to fool the German army.

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY (ISSN 10490434) IS PUBLISHED WEEKLY EXCEPT FOR COMBINED ISSUES IN JANUARY, MARCH, APRIL, MAY, JULY, AUGUST, SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER, NOVEMBER, DECEMBER BY ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY INC., A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF TIME INC. PRINCIPAL OFFICE: 225 LIBERTY STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10281. ELLIE DUQUE, PUBLISHER; JEFF BAIRSTOW, TREASURER. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT NEW YORK, NY, AND ADDITIONAL MAILING OFFICES. U.S. SUBSCRIPTIONS: $49.92 FOR ONE YEAR. CANADA POST PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40110178. RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADA ADDRESSES TO: POSTAL STN. A, P.O. BOX 4327, TORONTO, ON M5W 3H5. GST 888381621RT0001. POSTMASTER: SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY, P.O. BOX 62120, TAMPA, FL 33662-2120, CALL 1-800-274-6800, OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.EW. COM/SUBSCRIBERSERVICES. ©2015 ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REPRODUCTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART WITHOUT PERMISSION IS PROHIBITED. ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY, EW, CRITICAL MASS, LISTEN TO THIS, THE MUST LIST, AND THE SHAW REPORT ARE REGISTERED TRADE- MARKS OF ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY INC. SUBSCRIBERS: IF THE POSTAL AUTHORITIES ALERT US THAT YOUR MAGAZINE IS UNDELIVERABLE, WE HAVE NO FURTHER OBLIGATION UNLESS WE RECEIVE A CORRECTED ADDRESS WITHIN TWO YEARS. YOUR BANK MAY PROVIDE UPDATES TO THE CARD INFORMATION WE HAVE ON FILE. YOU MAY OPT OUT OF THIS SERVICE AT ANY TIME. MAILING LIST: WE MAKE A PORTION OF OUR MAILING LIST AVAILABLE TO REPUTABLE FIRMS. IF YOU WOULD PREFER THAT WE NOT INCLUDE YOUR NAME, PLEASE CALL OR WRITE US. PRINTED IN THE USA. ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦

66 EW.COM DECEMBER 11, 2015 

Own a Piece of

$%shop.time.com%!)%!"&#$ (!# "# %'# %!#%!)$

©2015 Time Inc. TIME and LIFE are trademarks of Time Inc. The Bullseye in talks to reboot the Mummy franchise. Because Brendan Fraser wasn’t completely available…?

Chrissy Teigen Fatigue™ PHILLIPPE BOSSE/ABC;PHILLIPPE BACON: PHOTOFEST; Katy Perry releases holiday-themed music

video with dancing gingerbread men, KOVAC/WIREIMAGE MICHAEL PERETTI: CHELSEA AND PEELE JORDAN SYNDICATE; FEATURE UNITED 1965 BROWN: CHARLIE HAMSHERE; KEITH FRASER: sexy reindeer, and the sad, looming, notice- able void left by Left Shark.

Can someone get this kid a Lexapro?

C-3PO’s voice now available to navigate during drives on Waze; R2-D2’s now available to beep-boop during games of Taboo. TREMORS : THE KOBAL COLLECTION; SARKOZY AND OLSEN: KEVIN MAZUR/WIREIMAGE.COM; HATHAWAY: KARWAI TANG/WIREIMAGE.COM; BABY CHARLOTTE: PHOT CHARLOTTE: BABY TANG/WIREIMAGE.COM; HATHAWAY: KARWAI MAZUR/WIREIMAGE.COM; KEVIN OLSEN: AND SARKOZY COLLECTION; KOBAL : THE

Gods of Egypt director prematurely apologizes for Engaged! Our happiest whitewashing casting. congratulations to Now if only Scotland would C and Peele. apologize for Gerard Butler. GETTY IMAGES; ADELE: PACIFICCOASTNEWS; MICHAELS: PAUL DRINKWATER/NBC; WAZE CHARACTERS: WAZE; TEIGEN: BIRDIE THOMPSON/ADMEDIA/CO BIRDIE TEIGEN: WAZE; CHARACTERS: WAZE DRINKWATER/NBC; PAUL MICHAELS: PACIFICCOASTNEWS; ADELE: IMAGES; GETTY

E! schedules Creed Jillian Michaels is the docuseries, Time to remake The Bodyguard! reason to tentatively titled I Am get back to the Quantico’s Alex Parrish is Yelling. gym and the Kobe Bryant announces such a hot prisoner, retirement from the NBA, she could do shampoo movie theater. which Bullseye can ads from jail. exclusively reveal stands for “National Basketball

Association.” .COM; Anne Hathaway is pregnant, and we know who the Oscar host CREED in 2038 won’t be. Kevin Bacon to star in Tremors TV revival, a.k.a. the best industry news for Graboids since IMAGES: BLUMENFELD/GETTY LISA BRYANT: WETCHER; : BARRY British baby trends internationally, Star Wars held an open call for the Sarlacc. giggles at own feet.

That movie your mom keeps saying Eddie Redmayne looks beautiful in O BY HRH THE DUCHESS/CAMBRIDGE/ THE O BY HRH

Former child star Mary-

French president’s brother Olivier Sarkozy, in QUANTICO a mystery not even direct- to-video twin child Mariah Carey, 46, and Lacey Chabert, RBIS detectives can solve. 33, are playing former high school : rivals in Hallmark’s A Christmas Melody. Obviously, ages don’t matter in this alternate dimension. Place your phone here to cut your wireless bill in half ††

NOW WITH 5GB OF HIGHSPEED DATA Bring your own phone to Straight Talk and get unlimited talk, text and data with the first 5GB of high-speed data for just $45 a month. With a simple switch of a SIM card, almost any phone can be a Straight Talk Wireless phone. Keep your phone, network, and number for half the cost.†† Learn more at StraightTalkBYOP.com

NOCONTRACT 30DAY PLAN $ UNLIMITED TALK  TEXT  DATA 45 FIRST 5GB HIGH SPEED THEN 2G*

††“Cut Your Bill in Half” and “Half the cost” are based on a service comparison of two of the leading contract carriers’ monthly online prices for comparable individual post-paid contract service plans, including overage charges, and Straight Talk’s $45 service plan, excluding the cost of the phone and limited time promotions. Source: Contract carriers’ websites, August 2015. *At 2G speeds, the functionality of some data applications, such as streaming audio or video, may be affected. Straight Talk’s Bring Your Own Phone plan requires a compatible, unlocked phone, activation kit and Straight Talk service plan. User may need to change the phone’s Access Point Name settings. Please note: If you switch to Straight Talk, you may be subject to fees from your current provider. A month equals 30 days. Please refer always to the latest Terms and Conditions of Service at StraightTalk.com