Johnny Depp It's Jack 'Spooky' Sparrow Season ... Costume Sales Spiking, Aarrgh!!
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Johnny Depp's post-trial high is rolling right into Halloween, and that means you should get ready for even more Captain Jack Sparrow costumes than usual while you're out partying.
There's a notable trend going on at the world's largest costume retailer -- honchos at Halloweencostumes.com tell us they're seeing a 90 percent sales spike in purchases related to Johnny's famous Disney character.
The retailer has a couple Jack Sparrow costumes -- a basic one for $85 to $95, and a higher quality one for $245 to $299 -- and we're told folks have already cleared out over 85% of the inventory.
The run on Jack Sparrow costumes is further evidence of Johnny's big comeback since his legal win over Amber Heard in court.
Since the defamation trial, Johnny's been swarmed by fans around the world during his music tour, appeared as MTV's Moonman and signed a lucrative deal to return as the face of Dior's Sauvage men's scent.
Johnny's last 'Pirates' movie was back in 2017, but we're told Jack Sparrow costumes are still more popular than those you'd consider more relevant -- like "Top Gun: Maverick," "Hocus Pocus 2" and 'Lightyear.'
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'Coco' 'Mama Coco' Inspiration ... Dead at 109
Maria Salud Ramirez Caballero -- the lady who supposedly inspired one the main characters in the movie, "Coco" -- has died.
Her death was confirmed by Roberto Monroy, the Secretary of Tourism for the Mexican state of Michoacan, who said she'd passed away in Santa Fe de la Laguna ... the same town where she was born more than a century ago.
A cause of death wasn't announced, but Monroy remembered her as a "tireless woman and life model."
She's come to be known as "Mama Coco" -- named after the Disney/Pixar character of the same name in the 2017 animated film, which is centered around Mexico's Day of the Dead traditions. Mama Coco was voiced by actress Ana Ofelia Murguia.
While the Mouse House hasn't officially acknowledged Caballero as the source material behind its titular character -- her family claims a team from Pixar visited their area, photographed Caballero extensively and lived with them for a while.
The family asserts a lot of the exact buildings and architecture Pixar/Disney documented while doing research for the movie showed up in the film ... and that "Mama Coco" likeness is uncannily similar to Caballero.
With that said, her family stopped seeking recognition/validation from the company some years ago -- even though she's a local legend.
Caballero was a clay craftswoman who made pots and other items ... which she'd sell to locals. She's survived by 3 children, lots of grandchildren and even more great-grandkids.
She was 109.
RIP
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Robbie Coltrane 'Harry Potter' Star Dead at 72 ... Played Rubeus Hagrid
11:00 AM PT -- 'Harry Potter' star Daniel Radcliffe just spoke on Robbie Coltrane's death, telling Deadline, “Robbie was one of the funniest people I’ve met and used to keep us laughing constantly as kids on the set. I’ve especially fond memories of him keeping our spirits up on Prisoner of Azkaban, when we were all hiding from the torrential rain for hours in Hagrid’s hut and he was telling stories and cracking jokes to keep morale up. I feel incredibly lucky that I got to meet and work with him and very sad that he’s passed. He was an incredible actor and a lovely man.”
Robbie Coltrane, the actor who gained world-renowned fame as Rubeus Hagrid in the 'Harry Potter' film franchise has died ... TMZ has confirmed.
Coltrane was sick for years, and passed away in a hospital near his home in Larbert, Scotland. It's unclear what he was battling.
Not only did Coltrane appear in each 'Harry Potter' film, his acting career started back in the '70s ... and included roles like Dr. Edward 'Fitz' Fitzgerald on the show "Cracker" from 1993-2006 as well as Valentin Zukovsky in "Goldeneye."
Coltrane struggled with osteoarthritis, a disease that destroys your joints, saying in an interview back in 2020 at his worst moments, he was in "constant pain." He also underwent a knee replacement.
Coltrane stood at 6'1", but his Hagrid character was portrayed to be 8'6".
Coltrane was married to Rhona Gemmell from 1999-2003, and they had two children together.
Coltrane was 72.
RIP
Originally Published -- 10:01 AM PT
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Brendan Fraser Triumph in London!!! Breaks Down as Audience Roars with Approval Over 'The Whale'
Brendan Fraser is a real-life story about how people can rebound to great achievements after pulling themselves out of a deep depression, and the success story can be told with a 5-minute, standing ovation.
Brendan dissolved into tears Tuesday at the London Film Festival, as the audience expressed their rousing approval of his movie, "The Whale."
The 53-year-old actor has had a rough go over the last 2 decades ... after claiming he had been sexually assaulted by a former President of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, Philip Berk, a claim which the 8-term president denied.
Up to that point, Brendan's career was on the upswing, with hits like "The Mummy," "Encino Man" and "George of the Jungle."
After the alleged assault, Brendan says he fell into a dark depression that was so bad, it essentially left him too damaged to work.
In his new film, a psychological thriller, Brendan plays a 600-pound, gay man confined to a wheelchair.
The audience roared with approval, and Brendan soaked in the love.
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Angela Bassett Hush On New 'Black Panther' Theory ... But Our Fans Are Smart!!!
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Angela Bassett simply won't crack -- and trust us, we tried -- on the new 'Black Panther' buzz surrounding Letitia Wright, but she is tipping her hat to Marvel's "smart" fans, and Disney ... for not recasting Chadwick Boseman's character.
We got Angela at Wally's in L.A. ... and she knows fans are excited to see the sequel, but she's sticking to an apparent code of silence about who's slipping into the super suit seen in the flick's new trailer.
She does admit the fans are smart, though -- saying Letitia's tech-savvy scientist character, Shuri, would be great to take the reins. Still, no confirmation from AB.
Our first look at the new #BlackPanther and the sleek new Black Panther suit. https://t.co/o3VBgCvjNP #BlackPantherWakandaForever pic.twitter.com/S8U0dlU2OH
— Variety (@Variety) October 3, 2022 @Variety
She gives us one interesting hint, saying the keen-eyed can "follow the signs and symbols."
Many have noted, for example, the white dot pattern on the mystery Panther's face to bear some serious resemblance to Shuri's.
Whether she's referring to metaphorical "signs and symbols" is unclear.
As for Chadwick's character, Angela got a little choked up telling us Marvel's decision to not recast the role was the right thing to do ... even though a solid percentage of fans were hoping a change would be made.
Fans will find out who's really behind that suit in less than a month ... 👀
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Lindsay Lohan I'm Game For 'Freaky Friday' Sequel ... Ball In Disney's Court?!?
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Lindsay Lohan is down to film a sequel to "Freaky Friday" with Jamie Lee Curtis ... which means both the OG stars are on board if Disney wants to make a second movie.
Sources close to Lindsay tell TMZ … she'd be interested in a 'FF' sequel, but she hasn't heard anything from the Mouse House, at least not yet.
Jamie's been vocal recently about potentially making a sequel to her 2003 film with Lindsay ... she's mentioned the possibility at least twice during her media blitz for her new 'Halloween' movie.
JLC was on "The View" Monday and she gave her pitch to Disney ... she wants to be a grandma who switches places with Lindsay's parent character.
Our sources say Lindsay hasn't spoken to Jamie about doing a sequel ... but we're told she's heard rumblings about another installment of not only "Freaky Friday," but also "Mean Girls."
The ideas are being kicked around ... and Lindsay's game.
Stay tuned ...
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Zoey Deutch Burglars Broke Into Home and Stole $300K in Cash, Jewelry
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"Not Okay" star Zoey Deutch is certainly not doing OK, after burglars hit her L.A. Area home.
LAPD sources tell TMZ ... Zoey arrived home earlier this month to discover a door smashed in and her home a mess. Our sources say the culprit(s) made off with over $300,000 in cash and jewelry.
It's not a situation we've seen recently, where a celeb leaves town and lets the world know. She was in L.A. and was just out for a few hours.
Zoey is not the only celebrity victim lately. TMZ broke the story ... Arsenio Hall's house was hit twice in a matter of weeks, both times while he was home, and Rapper Tee Grizzley was recently hit for over a million dollars in jewelry and cash.
As for Zoey's case -- cops are looking at video in Zoey's neighborhood in an effort to identify the crooks, but as of now ... no arrests have been made.
We reached out to Zoey's reps ... so far, no word back.
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Tom Cruise Bert Fields Was More Than A Lawyer ... He Was My Dear Friend
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Tom Cruise is remembering his late lawyer and friend, Bert Fields ... sharing an incredible story of how they first met.
The 'Top Gun' star recorded a video message for Bert's memorial service ... revealing how he first came across Bert -- at a dinner party with Dustin Hoffman.
Tom says he was seated next to Bert and they got to talking. It didn't take long for Tom to notice something different about Bert, remembering him as one of the most fascinating people he'd ever met.
The conversation was so compelling -- Tom says they talked history and swapped stories. Bert told Tom he was Dustin's lawyer, and Tom hired him on the spot.
Attorney Bert Fields, repped Beatles, Cruise, Jackson, Dead at 93
The video message is pretty emotional ... with Tom explaining what made Bert such a wonderful guy to have around. It's clear Bert made a big impact on Tom's life, and not just as his attorney.
TMZ broke the story ... Bert died in August after a legendary career representing the likes of Michael Jackson, James Cameron, Warren Beatty, Mike Nichols, Jeffrey Katzenberg, David Geffen, Jerry Bruckheimer, The Beatles and Madonna ... just to name a few.
Bert filed some huge lawsuits against media outlets on behalf of Tom, including a $100 million suit in 2001 after a magazine claimed Cruise was gay, falsely claiming it had an X-rated video as proof. The case settled, with the mag admitting, "Tom Cruise does not appear on the videotape ... [He] is not and never has been, homosexual and has never had a homosexual affair."
Tom's video was played at Bert's Oct. 2 memorial service at Broad Stage in Santa Monica, where Dustin and Katzenberg gave in-person remarks.
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'Rust' Actor Douglas Stewart Halyna's Family's Blessing Is Huge ... Let's Finish This Movie!!!
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An actor in Alec Baldwin's "Rust" movie is on board with resuming production after Halyna Hutchins' tragic death ... thanks to now having her family's blessing.
Douglas Stewart, who plays the town father in the western flick, tells TMZ ... the biggest hurdle in finishing the movie was knowing whether Halyna's family wanted it done, and having her widower involved is what the cast needed to hear to move forward.
As we reported, Matthew Hutchins announced this week he's dropping the wrongful death suit against Alec, the producers and others ... having reached a settlement.
Alec is now going to finish in his lead role, alongside the OG "Rust" cast, with Halyna's widower becoming an executive producer on the movie.
Douglas says he has mixed feelings about completing the flick because of the tragedy, but says as a working actor who has a family to care for ... he ultimately feels it's the right move given heightened safety precautions and Matthew's involvement.
The civil settlement is not affecting the criminal investigation -- authorities say some of the folks involved, including Alec, could be charged -- but Douglas says he doesn't think it will have an impact on finishing the film -- completing the film and any criminal case are separate issues.
One other related thing ... Douglas doesn't believe Alec is to blame, because it was the armorer, not Baldwin, who had the responsibility for ensuring safety.
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Michael J. Fox at NYCC Wait a Minute, Doc ... Give Me a Hug Man!!!
Marty McFly and Doc Brown are tearing up the space-time continuum again -- and it's just as emotional as ever ... especially all these years later.
Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd reunited Saturday in the Big Apple during a 'Back to the Future' panel at New York Comic Con ... and when the two former costars met onstage, they greeted each other with a big hug, which got thunderous applause from the fans.
#BackToTheFuture #michaeljfox #christopherlloyd
— Elena 👨👩👧 (@Elena09766) October 9, 2022 @Elena09766
Forever Doc & Marty 🫶♥️♥️#NYComicConpic.twitter.com/9Ht2TE1nMD
Check out the clip ... you see MJF out there by himself at first, taking a seat on the couch then he pops back up when Chris walks out, and wraps him up with open arms.
It's a super cool moment, and you can tell it meant a lot to both of them -- especially by the way Mike went in for the embrace. Afterward, they sat down and chopped it up ... reportedly going on to tell old stories about the trilogy, but particularly about Pt. 1 (the classic).
Michael reportedly said at one point ... "You guys have given me my whole life," adding a poignant nugget about his Parkinson's. Mike said, "The best thing that happened in my life was this thing. Parkinson's is a gift. I've said to people it's a gift and they say, 'You're nuts.' I say, 'Yeah, but it's the gift that keeps on taking.' But it's a gift and I wouldn't change it for anything ... It's not about what I have, it's about what I've been given."
BTW, there's a 'BTTF' musical that's coming to Broadway next year. Word is ... it's great.
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Tom Cruise Life's a Blast at 60!!! Plans to Shoot First Movie in Outer Space
Tom Cruise apparently thinks fighter jets are for chumps, because for his next flick he wants to go nose-up into space.
Cruise is in the process of making a deal with Universal Films Entertainment Group with an idea ... shoot a movie on the International Space Station. Of course, that would require Tom and others to be rocketed up there.
The idea's actually been talked about for years, but it was shelved during the pandemic.
Tom's got lots of power these days to make things happen ... 'Top Gun' receipts have gone north of $700M in the domestic box office, and $1.4B on planet earth.
Universal seems to be on board, with Chairman Donna Langley saying, "I think Tom Cruise is taking us to space, he’s taking the world to space," adding, "That’s the plan. We have a great project in development with Tom … Taking a rocket up to the Space Station and shooting."
I just really love Tom Cruise okay pic.twitter.com/DTDk5erIsR
— Stephen Ford (@StephenSeanFord) September 5, 2022 @StephenSeanFord
The general plot is predictable ... a dude on earth is going to space, as Langley says, "to save the day."
Now here's the deal ... not only would Tom be the first actor to shoot a movie in space, but the hope is that he'll also be the first to do a space walk!
As you know, Tom famously does his own stunts ... some of which are jaw-dropping. The question ... if the space thing happens, what on earth -- or outside thereof -- is next?!??!
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Jennifer Lawrence Done w/ Franchise Blockbusters ... Reflects on Loss of Control
Jennifer Lawrence is getting back to her indie roots -- not so much because she has to, but wants to ... as it appears going mainstream in Hollywood has taken its toll on her.
The A-lister is in London plugging her latest flick, "Causeway," which sees her taking on a very quiet, dramatic role ... playing a U.S. soldier with PTSD and getting acclimated to regular life again. It's drastically different than anything she's done in recent years.
Official Trailer - Causeway
— Apple TV+ (@AppleTVPlus) October 6, 2022 @AppleTVPlus
Two unlikely strangers find solace in newfound friendship as they navigate their journey from grief to healing.
Jennifer Lawrence and Brian Tyree Henry star in #Causeway, in theaters and streaming on Apple TV+ November 4.https://t.co/MmqiuUGmAJ pic.twitter.com/bRuDUlyScL
What we mean, of course, is that this isn't a major blockbuster by any stretch of the imagination -- it's an A24 film, with a way smaller budget and limited release via Apple.
Beyond just that, though, this is territory that JLaw hasn't ventured into in a while. Fact is, she's been one of the industry's highest-paid actresses for quite a while now ... which, of course, is due to her starring in major franchises like "X-Men" and "The Hunger Games."
Jennifer Lawrence: I Felt a Loss of Control After ‘The Hunger Games’ Came Out https://t.co/50JQc6W6Ao
— Variety (@Variety) October 8, 2022 @Variety
Her Academy Award for Best Actress -- for her lead role in "Silver Linings Playbook" -- also shot her into a new stratosphere ... making her one of the most desirable hires in the biz.
As it turns out ... Jen is actually looking back on all that with a fresh perspective -- this on the heels of giving birth to a baby, and getting hitched. During a staged sit-down Saturday, Jen was quoted as feeling a sense of instability after achieving the pinnacle of acting fame.
Jennifer Lawrence says she can't do franchises anymore:
— Film Updates (@FilmUpdates) October 8, 2022 @FilmUpdates
“I loved superhero movies. Franchise is art and they’re so fun; I could never do one now because I’m too old & brittle. I love them too. This generation understandably likes a world to escape to, and I can relate to that.” pic.twitter.com/6Ukaruzlso
Per Variety, she said ... "I think I lost a sense of control. Between "The Hunger Games" coming out and winning the Oscar, I became such a commodity that I felt like every decision was a big, big group decision. When I reflect now, I can’t think of those following years, [because there was] just a loss of control."
There's another quote floating around that's being attributed to JL -- and it touches on her future in movies ... which seems to swear off doing anymore big-time popcorn films.
#LFF #LFF2022 #JenniferLawrence pic.twitter.com/KcLifzOLLD
— Archie Wingate (@wingate_archie) October 8, 2022 @wingate_archie
Jen reportedly said during this same chat, "I loved superhero movies. Franchise is art and they’re so fun; I could never do one now because I’m too old and brittle. I love them too. This generation understandably likes a world to escape to, and I can relate to that."
That's pretty interesting. It sounds like she's going to be far more selective with the projects she signs onto going forward -- which could mean more Oscar-bait-y flicks like "Causeway."
The wild part ... JLaw is only 32 years old! At this young age, she's already been to the mountaintop and seems kinda over it. Jen says her next chapter will also include producing ... not to mention starting her own production company. Going the way of Brad Pitt, eh?
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Alec Baldwin 'Rust' to Resume Filming w/ OG Cast ... Halyna's Widower Settles
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Alec Baldwin is picking up where he left off in the movie that claimed a D.P.'s life -- 'cause her widower has settled his lawsuit against Baldwin and others ... and he'll now executive produce the movie side by side with AB.
Shocking news broke Wednesday morning in relation to the "Rust'" drama ... namely, Baldwin is going to reprise his lead role -- as is every other actor who was involved at first -- with the only difference now being who's running the show ... and that would be Matthew Hutchins.
Indeed ... the husband of Halyna Hutchins -- who was shot and killed by Baldwin last year -- has announced he's no longer pursuing a lawsuit against AB or the "Rust" producers, saying they've reached terms and agreed to drop his wrongful death lawsuit.
Not just that, but he's also reviving the flick ... plus, he's stepping in as the new executive producer and seeing this thing through -- a stunning development and a complete 180.
Matt says, "We have reached a settlement, subject to court approval, for our wrongful death case against the producers of Rust, including Alec Baldwin and Rust Movie Productions, LLC. As part of that settlement, our case will be dismissed."
He goes on to say, "The filming of Rust, which I will now executive produce, will resume with all the original principal players on board in January 2023. I have no interest in engaging in recriminations or attribution of blame (to the producers or Mr. Baldwin). All of us believe Halyna's death was a terrible accident. I am grateful that the producers and the entertainment community have come together to pay tribute to Halyna's final work."
Attorneys and a rep for Rust Movie Productions LLC said they were happy to have landed on the same page as Matt, and are also ecstatic they can complete their passion project.
Alec, for his part, says ... "Throughout this difficult process, everyone has maintained the specific desire to do what is best for Halyna's son. We are grateful to everyone who contributed to the resolution of this tragic and painful situation." Director Joel Souza also expressed his happiness with this turn of events -- so everyone's all good now apparently.
While things might be fine civilly, there's still a criminal investigation that's working its way through the system -- and based on recent revelations from the Santa Fe County D.A. ... Alec is not out of the woods, and very well might be prosecuted sooner than later.
So, their lead star might be in the spotlight on two different fronts ... how 'bout that?!
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'BP' Star Janeshia Adams-Ginyard Sequel Will Be Bigger Than Pt. 1 ... What New Female Hero???
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The new 'Black Panther' trailer seems to confirm there will be a woman filling out the suit -- but that's news to one of the stars of the flick ... who's staying as tight-lipped as possible.
Actress and stuntwoman Janeshia Adams-Ginyard -- who plays one of the Dora Milaje female warriors in the 2 films -- gave us her reaction to the 'Wakanda Forever' trailer Tuesday at LAX, but acted oblivious to what was actually shown ... especially at the end of the trailer.
Of course, we're referring to the fact Letitia Wright appears to be revealed as the new Black Panther, with her whole suit and everything shown in full view in the newly revealed scenes.
New 'Black Panther' Trailer Reveals Letitia Wright as Hero Post-Chadwick
It sounds like JAG is also aware of that spoiler, and even though it's out there for the world to see now ... she's not taking ANY chances, and played dumb on the topic.
So much so, we had to ask her -- just how serious does Marvel take its movie secrets??? Watch her response ... the Kevin Feige memes are real!
On a more serious note, our photog also asks Janeshia what she thinks this sequel will mean for little girls of color ... and if it'll have the same impact the OG had for boys.
She made a pretty bold prediction ... that this flick will culturally, and financially, surpass part 1 by leaps and bounds. That's saying a lot, as "Black Panther" is one of the highest-grossing movies domestically ever, sitting comfortably in the Top 10.
Oh, and Janeshia has a message for the haters too -- just buy your ticket already, 'cause ya know you're gonna see it!
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Velma Confirmed as Lesbian ... In New 'Scooby' Movie
Velma's into women -- the character's been confirmed as lesbian after years of fan theories -- in a new cartoon 'Scooby-Doo' movie ... and the LGBTQ+ crowd is all about it.
Velma's sexual orientation was revealed in a new clip from the animated flick "Trick or Treat Scooby-Doo!" which hit streaming services Tuesday. It shows Velma encountering a costume designer named Coco Diablo ... and she's instantly smitten.
You see Velma blush as she takes in the sight of Coco, with her glasses fogging up and romantic music playing. Velma is also shown as admiring other characteristics of Cocos beyond just her looks, including her fashion sensibilities and intelligence.
Interestingly enough, Velma has been depicted as straight in the past ... with a rebooted version of the series showing her as being in a relationship with Shaggy, although it's been suggested by showrunners he was actually just a beard for her.
this my fave scene of her !! pic.twitter.com/V07OfY1nsS
— Pia 🍃 (@soleildiddle) October 4, 2022 @soleildiddle
Of course, people are overjoyed ... including those in the gay and lesbian communities, who are praising the explicit depiction and the on-screen representation.
FWIW, it seems Coco's lesbian too -- and she also appears to be into Velma, calling her "cute" in another scene where they show a little affection and flirting.
Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media.
Velma being lesbian has long been suspected by the fan base -- and it's actually been stated as true by some creatives who've worked on 'Scooby' projects over the years ... including James Gunn, who helmed the live-action adaptations, and producer Tony Cervone.
Unclear if the OG writers and the folks over at Hanna-Barbera ever saw it that way when they created Velma way back in the '60s, but the people in charge of her now have spoken.
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'Black Panther 2' New Trailer Letitia Wright Shown as New Hero ... Post-Chadwick Boseman
Letitia Wright seems to be taking up the 'Black Panther' mantle post-Chadwick Boseman -- a revelation that just made itself clear in the latest trailer for the forthcoming sequel.
A new 'Wakanda Forever' trailer just dropped, and it appears to confirm a major fan theory that's been floated for months -- namely, that Shuri, T'Challa's sister in the film series, will become the costumed character going forward ... at least for now, anyway.
At the end of the trailer, you see a female 'Black Panther' standing tall -- and while it doesn't exactly spell out who's behind the mask ... all signs point to LW picking up the baton.
Right before we see the lady 'BP,' you see a shot of Letitia ... so it's not hard to piece this one together. Plus, this actually aligns with the comic series -- in one of the 'Black Panther' timelines, Shuri actually assumes the role for a while ... meaning her doing this is canon.
Of course, the reason this is even happening at all is because Chadwick passed away suddenly in 2020 -- succumbing to a cancer diagnosis that he kept private and hidden from public view. Marvel refused to recast the character ... so this is the route they've chosen.
The other reason this is noteworthy is because Letitia was embroiled in a controversy during COVID ... she was accused of spewing anti-vaxx rhetoric, and there were even some reports she took some of those sentiments on set with her during the filming of this movie.
We're sure 'BP' fans have long forgotten that though ... 'cause the reactions to Shuri's 'Black Panther' are through the roof right now.