Paris Hilton, Adam Brody, Miles Teller Amongst Celebrities Losing Homes in LA Wildfires

Letterboxd Crowns Zendaya, Dafoe, “The Substance” and "Dune 2" as 2024 Favorites

In its annual year-end review, Letterboxd highlighted “Dune: Part Two” as the most popular, highest-rated, and most rewatched film of the year in 2024, based on user ratings and viewing habits. Director Denis Villeneuve was named Letterboxd’s most-watched director of the year. 

The film surpasses its predecessor, “Dune: Part One,” boasting an impressive average rating of 4.4 out of 5, compared to 3.9 for the first installment. Zendaya held her position as Letterboxd’s most-watched actress for the second year in a row, thanks to her roles in both “Dune: Part Two” and Luca Guadagnino’s “Challengers.” 

Willem Dafoe has taken the title of the most-watched actor from Timothée Chalamet, thanks to his standout performances in 2024 releases such as “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” and “Nosferatu.” Additionally, “The Substance” was recognized as the “Most Popular Film By a Woman Director,” following Demi Moore’s recent Golden Globe win.

Paris Hilton, Adam Brody Among Celebrities Losing Homes to California Wildfires

The devastating wildfires raging through Los Angeles have unleashed unprecedented destruction, obliterating more than 1,000 homes and compelling thousands of residents to evacuate, including well-known figures such as Paris Hilton, Miles Teller, Leighton Meester and Adam Brody.

The intense blazes, exacerbated by powerful winds, have quickly surged across the landscape, with the Pacific Palisades area suffering some of the heaviest damage. Once an idyllic neighborhood, famous for its luxurious hillside mansions and ocean vistas, has been ravaged by the flames, which have escalated from several hundred acres to an astonishing 15,000 acres in merely a few days. 

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In response to the ongoing catastrophe, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has decided to postpone the much-anticipated announcement of this year’s Oscar nominations by two days. Originally scheduled for Friday, January 17th, the reveal will now occur on Sunday, January 19th. 

To accommodate the challenges posed by the situation, the voting period for the nearly 10,000 Academy members has also been pushed back by two days, now concluding on Tuesday, January 14th. The extension is intended to ensure that all members can participate in the voting process and cast their ballots without undue stress from the ongoing crisis. 

Jennie Shines on Billboard Cover, Teases Solo Album and BLACKPINK Comeback

This month, Jennie graces the cover of Billboard magazine, showcasing a stunning photoshoot by Songyi Yoon in Seoul. In an accompanying interview by Lyndsey Havens, the BLACKPINK member delves into her solo career, her label ODDATELLIER, and the highly-anticipated group comeback tour.

Jennie describes her upcoming solo album as "a fight between me, myself and I," revealing a desire to fully embody her "Ruby-Jane" persona. She hints at an eclectic sound, stating, "I play with a lot of different genres and elements," and expresses gratitude for the support system that made this album possible.

Looking ahead, Jennie expresses excitement for the upcoming BLACKPINK reunion tour. "I've missed the girls, I've missed doing tours with them," she shares. "I'm excited to see what everyone brings. Everyone took their own journey, and I'm excited to share that with the girls. I want to say it's going to be the most powerful [versions] of ourselves that anyone has seen."

ICYMI

• Netflix have announced a stop-motion animation series called ‘MY MELODY & KUROMI’ - the first trailer for the series reveals that the release will be in July and features the much-loved Sanrio favourites, My Melody and Kuromi. 

• Sony has shared conceptual technology that would allow users to smell things in real life from their Playstation games. 

• RuPaul has shared a clip of her slapping Season 2 winner Tyra Sanchez for a skit on her show, ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ following Sanchez’s disrespectful comments towards The Vivienne - a recently deceased winner of the UK show. 

• Billboard has named 21 by Adele the biggest album of the 21st century so far by a female artist. They have also named Dangerous: The Double Album, by Morgan Wallen, the biggest overall album of the century. 

— Katie Macbeth

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