Sizzling Samachar: ‘Dunki’ mania sweeps Chhattisgarh as Shah Rukh Khan's fan club books entire auditorium for Grand Premiere; ‘Salaar: Part 1 – Ceasefire’ generates massive anticipation with over Rs 1 Crore in advance bookings

Welcome to your daily dose of entertainment news, I'm your host Nikhil. News from Hollywood next.

Ray Romano nixes 'Everybody Loves Raymond' reboot due to key cast members' passing

Ray Romano has officially ruled out the possibility of a revival for the beloved sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond. Speaking on Real Time with Bill Maher, Romano attributed the decision to the unfortunate deaths of key cast members Peter Boyle and Doris Roberts, who played his overbearing parents on the show. Beyond the logistical challenges posed by their absence, Romano expressed a broader scepticism towards sitcom reboots, asserting that they never match the quality of the original and emphasising the importance of preserving the show's legacy. Despite initial ratings struggles, Everybody Loves Raymond became a top-ten show, concluding its nine-season run in 2004. While other classic sitcom revivals have faced mixed reviews and short-lived runs, the legacy of Everybody Loves Raymond endures through reruns and international adaptations. Romano, keeping busy with various projects, remains adamant about leaving the show untouched despite the current trend of TV reboots.

Marvel accelerates 'Echo' premiere on Disney+, unveils new spotlight banner for realistic storytelling

Marvel Studios has bumped up the premiere of Echo, with all five episodes set to release a day earlier on January 9. The series, delving into a gritty and violent narrative, will carry a TV-MA rating and marks the return of Vincent D'Onofrio as Wilson Fisk and Charlie Cox as Matt Murdock/Daredevil. Echo serves as the inaugural release under Marvel Studios' newly introduced Spotlight Banner, emphasising character-driven stories grounded in realism, similar to how the Daredevil TV series was released by Netflix before the rights reverted to Disney. This move signals a strategic shift, with Marvel aiming to offer a fresh perspective on storytelling, moving away from epic cosmic battles to explore more relatable and street-level narratives. The Spotlight Banner initiative draws inspiration from Marvel's comic book history, specifically the 1971 Spotlight series, heralding a return to character exploration and originality. The change in tone and approach is expected to combat superhero fatigue, setting a promising tone for Echo and future MCU-Lite projects.

Netflix charts new waters with ‘The One Piece’ anime, sets sail on East Blue Saga adventure

Netflix has unveiled plans for a fresh anime adaptation of the iconic One Piece series titled The One Piece, set to stream globally. Announced at Jump Festa 2024, the series is produced by WIT Studio, known for Spy x Family and early Attack on Titan seasons. The One Piece aims to revisit the origins of Monkey D. Luffy's adventures, specifically delving into the East Blue saga. Riding high on the success of the live-action adaptation, Netflix continues to expand the One Piece universe, offering a new perspective for both long-time fans and those intimidated by the extensive episode count of the original anime series, which exceeds 1100 episodes. Additionally, Netflix revealed another upcoming series, Monsters 103 Mercies Dragon Damnation, based on Eiichiro Oda's manga, set to premiere in January 2024, further enriching the platform's anime offerings.

‘Dunki’ mania sweeps Chhattisgarh as Shah Rukh Khan's fan club books entire auditorium for Grand Premiere

In the countdown to the highly anticipated release of Shah Rukh Khan's Dunki on December 21, 2023, fervent fans in Chhattisgarh are turning the event into a festival. Team Shah Rukh Khan from Chhattisgarh, one of the many ardent fan clubs of the Bollywood superstar, has orchestrated a grand celebration by booking an entire auditorium for the film's first-day show. A video shared by the fan club captures the enthusiasm as members approach the ticket counter, requesting the booking of every seat in the multiplex. The gesture is a testament to the unparalleled excitement surrounding the collaboration of SRK and Rajkumar Hirani on screen for the first time. The fan club marked the occasion with a joyous cake-cutting ceremony at the cinema venue, sharing the #DunkiAdvanceBooking celebration on social media. With the release just days away, Dunki fever is reaching new heights, setting the stage for a blockbuster premiere.

Kajol ventures into the horror genre with ‘Maa,’ Ajay Devgn to produce under Ajay Devgn Ffilms

Bollywood icon Kajol is set to tread uncharted waters with her inaugural foray into the horror genre in the upcoming film Maa. Produced by Ajay Devgn under his banner Ajay Devgn Ffilms and directed by Vishal Furia, renowned for his work on Chhorii, the project is currently in the pre-production phase and is scheduled to commence filming in January 2024. While the film's details are shrouded in mystery, it has been disclosed that the narrative will revolve around a mother, offering Kajol a novel and thrilling role. This venture into horror adds a new dimension to Kajol's diverse filmography, showcasing her versatility as an actor. Amidst this chilling endeavour, Kajol is simultaneously engaged in other projects, including Sarzameen with Malayalam superstar Prithviraj Sukumaran and debutant Ibrahim Ali Khan, as well as Netflix's mystery thriller Do Patti alongside Kriti Sanon.

Lokesh Kanagaraj eyes Shah Rukh Khan or Ranveer Singh for a special role in Rajinikanth's ‘Thalaivar 171’

Renowned Tamil director  Lokesh Kanagaraj, fresh from the success of Leo, is gearing up for his next project, the action-thriller tentatively titled Thalaivar 171, in collaboration with superstar Rajinikanth. To add a Hindi film star to the ensemble, Kanagaraj first approached Shah Rukh Khan, who, although impressed with the subject, politely declined the offer. Shah Rukh Khan, currently focusing on standalone feature films, expressed his desire for exclusivity after recent appearances in films like Brahmastra, Rocketry, and Tiger 3. Undeterred, Kanagaraj is reportedly in talks with Ranveer Singh, who has shown interest in the character but wishes to review the entire script before committing. The director envisions the potential for a spin-off if Thalaivar 171 proves successful. Produced by Sun Pictures, the film is set to commence filming in April 2024, targeting a 2025 release.

Shah Rukh Khan's upcoming film ‘Dunki’ is making historical strides even before its release, boasting over 1 Cr. in advance bookings for its opening day in India

The Rajkumar Hirani-directed movie, eagerly anticipated after the release of "Dunki Drop 4 The Trailer," has garnered immense attention for its heartwarming narrative exploring emotions and starring a stellar cast, including Boman Irani, Taapsee Pannu, Vicky Kaushal, Vikram Kochhar, and Anil Grover alongside SRK. The film, co-produced by Shah Rukh Khan's Red Chillies Entertainment and set to mark his first collaboration with director Rajkumar Hirani, is set to deliver a unique cinematic experience. With SRK charging Rs 28 crore for his role, Dunki is poised to meet high expectations, following the success of SRK's earlier blockbusters. Scheduled for release in December 2023, the film is expected to secure its place in the record books with a phenomenal opening.

‘Salaar: Part 1 – Ceasefire’ generates massive anticipation with over Rs 1 Crore in advance bookings

The much-anticipated release of Salaar: Part 1 – Ceasefire directed by Prashanth Neel, featuring the dynamic duo of Prabhas and Prithviraj Sukumaran, has already crossed the Rs 1 crore mark in advance bookings. The film is touted as an extraordinary tale of rebellion with power-packed action and impactful music by Hombale Films and has achieved impressive numbers in advance bookings. In the Telugu market, it sold 35,215 tickets for 174 shows, accumulating Rs 80.30 lakh, while in the Malayalam market, it garnered 13,988 tickets for 552 shows, resulting in a gross of Rs 21.03 lakh. With a stellar ensemble cast and credits to Anbarivu for stunt direction and Ravi Basrur for music, Salaar is set to hit screens across multiple languages on December 22, creating a buzz parallel to Shah Rukh Khan's Dunki.

Well that's all we got for this episode, until the next time it's your host Nikhil signing out.

Aaj kya dekhoge OTTplay se poocho

• Written by Apurva Dutta