Jackie Chan gets honorary Oscar
Jackie Chan will receive an honorary Academy Award from the film academy’s Board of Governors this weekend. Chan will accept his Oscar statuette at the eighth annual Governors Awards. “I never imagined that I’d receive such an award,” Chan says. “I still remember my very first proudest moment was when I received an award for stunt choreography. At that time, I didn’t know much about directing, I just knew how to do action and fighting sequences and stunts. Receiving this honorary award has raised my feelings to another level.” The 62-year-old writer, director, producer and actor lives in Hong Kong and plans to be in Los Angeles to accept the award in person. Film editor Anne Coates, casting director Lynn Stalmaster and documentarian Frederick Wiseman are also receiving honorary Academy Awards, which recognise lifetime achievement and contributions to the film industry. - AP
Next Mission Impossible instalment to be released in July 2018
Paramount Studios have announced a release dates for the next installment of Tom Cruise's Mission: Impossible franchise, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Mission: Impossible 6 will hit theatres on July 27, 2018. In September, Cruise closed his deal to return to the action-thriller franchise after contentious dealmaking halted pre-production on the next movie, produced and financed by Paramount and partner Skydance Productions. Cruise is also a producer. Christopher McQuarrie, who directed the last installment, Mission: Impossible — Rogue Nation, wrote the script for M:I6 and will also direct it. - The National staff
Sara Ali Khan to make Bollywood debut in Gully Boy
Sara Ali Khan, the daughter of Saif Ali Khan (pictured) and Amrita Singh, will make her Bollywood debut in Zoya Akhtar's new film Gully Boy. The coming-of-age film was inspired by two real-life rappers from Mumbai - Rapper Divine and Rapper Naezy. The 23-year-old, who has been rumoured to be involved in many previous projects that have not come to light, looks certain to feature in this film. "Both the producers, Farhan (Akhtar) and Ritesh (Sidhwani), along with Zoya, have been in talks with Sara for a while now and they are almost in the final stages of discussion. Gully Boys could well be her launching pad," reports the Mumbai Mirror. The film will also star Ranveer Singh. - The National staff
