Amitabh Bachchan's KBC premieres on 23 August; Adam Driver’s Annette on MUBI: Film and TV announcements

With the pandemic restrictions starting to ease at different parts of the country, the entertainment industry has started to roll out new films and TV shows.

Here are the updates

Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC) to premiere on Sony TV on 23 August

Amitabh Bachchan on Wednesday got nostalgic over 21 years of his popular game show Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC) and thanked fans for their constant love and support.

The 78-year-old actor took to Instagram and posted pictures from the sets of the Sony TV show.

"Back on that chair from 2000... That's 21 years. A lifetime! And gratitude to all that came along," Bachchan, who began filming for the show's 13th season on Tuesday, wrote.

The screen icon has hosted the show since its inception in 2000, except for the third season in 2007, which was hosted by superstar Shah Rukh Khan.

Sony TV on late Tuesday evening announced that the show will start airing on 23 August.

Leos Carax’s musical Annette, to premiere on MUBI from 26 November

Leos Carax (Holy Motors) makes a return with Annette, which sees him teaming up with Sparks, one of pop’s cult bands, to tell an audacious story of the pitfalls of love, fame and fortune.

Adam Driver (House of Gucci, Marriage Story, Paterson) and Oscar-winner Marion Cotillard (Inception, La Vie en Rose, Macbeth) star as a provocative stand-up comedian and internationally renowned opera singer living in contemporary Los Angeles: a seemingly perfect couple constantly in the good graces of the media spotlight.

However, when they welcome their daughter Annette into the world, they soon learn that her mysterious and ethereal gifts will change their lives forever.

Netflix’s High on the Hog Renewed for Second Season

High on Hog is based on the foundational book of the same name by food historian Jessica B Harris. “I am so thrilled to announce the second season of High on the Hog with Netflix and to be able to continue this incredible journey through Black food and culture," Variety quoted the show's director and executive producer Roger Ross Williams as saying.

The White Lotus Renewed by HBO for season 2

Mike White’s The White Lotus has been ordered for another season by HBO. Season 1 of The White Lotus is set at an exclusive tropical resort and follows the exploits of various guests and employees over the span of a week.

Idris Elba to voice Knuckles in Sonic the Hedgehog 2

The Suicide Squad star Idris Elba has boarded the cast of the upcoming animation film Sonic the Hedgehog 2 in which he will voice the fan-favourite character Knuckles.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Ben Schwartz will reprise his role as the title character with Jeff Fowler returning to direct.

James Marsden, Tika Sumpter, Natasha Rothwell, Adam Pally, Shemar Moore and Jim Carrey also voice star in the sequel to the 2020 film.

Knuckles first appeared as an antagonist in 1994's Sonic the Hedgehog 3 before befriending Sonic and his ally Tails and becoming a protagonist in his own right in 1995's Sonic & Knuckles.

Badshah, Aastha Gill collaborate with internet sensation Sahdev Dirdo on Bachpan Ka Pyaar

Young Sahdev Dirdo‘s video singing Kamlesh Barot’s Bachpan Ka Pyaar took the internet by storm. Now, Badshah has released a music video along with Aastha Gill and Dirdo called Bachpan Ka Pyaar.

AR Rahman, Mick Jagger, Ed Sheeran team up to raise funds on Independence Day for COVID-19 relief

Global artistes like Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger, singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran, music maestro AR Rahman, and Bollywood stars Saif Ali Khan and Vidya Balan will unite for a fundraiser on Independence Day to raise over Rs 25 crore for COVID-19 relief work.

The event titled We For India, which will be streamed on Facebook on 15 August, will raise funds for the COVID-19 relief missions of the philanthropic platform Give India.

John Lithgow boards Martin Scorsese's Killers of the Flower Moon

Two-time Oscar nominee John Lithgow has joined the cast of Martin Scorsese's Killers of the Flower Moon, based on David Grann''s 2017 bestseller.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the veteran star will play the role of a prosecutor in the Apple Studios project,

The film explores the serial murder of members of the oil-wealthy Osage Nation during the 1920s America. The previously announced members are Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, Jesse Plemons, Lily Gladstone and Brendan Fraser.

Margot Robbie joins Wes Anderson's next film

Oscar-nominated actor Margot Robbie is the latest addition to acclaimed auteur Wes Anderson's latest feature film.
While the nature of her role is unclear, sources told The Hollywood Reporter that it is a supporting character.

Robbie joins Anderson's favourites Adrien Brody, Bill Murray and Tilda Swinton, and another newcomer Tom Hanks in the project.

The film, written and directed by Anderson, will begin shooting in Spain later this month.

Jennifer Lawrence to play Hollywood talent agent Sue Mengers in biopic

Actor Jennifer Lawrence is set to play famous Hollywood talent agent Sue Mengers in a biopic that has The Great Beauty helmer Paolo Sorrentino attached as a director.

The biopic has sparked a bidding war between streamers Apple and Netflix, Collider reported quoting Puck's Matt Belloni, who first broke the story.

The film's script has been written by Lauren Schuker Blum, Rebecca Angelo and John Logan, the latter of whom previously turned Mengers'' colourful life into a stage play starring the great Bette Midler.

Sunny Deol, Dulquer Salmaan, Pooja Bhatt and Shreya Dhanwanthary to star in R Balki's thriller 

Writer and director R Balki announced his new film, a thriller starring Sunny Deol, Dulquer Salmaan, Pooja Bhatt and Shreya Dhanwanthary in lead roles.

"After months of waiting, for me, it is exciting to start shooting anything. And to make a film in a genre that I haven't attempted before is even more exciting. I have had the idea for a long time but never quite got around to writing it, and while it's fundamentally a thriller, it banks so much on these four stunning performers. I just can't wait to get into the edit room," said Balki in a statement.

The untitled film is expected to release in early 2022.

(With inputs from agencies)