After the world steadily got back to normalcy after the ending of coronavirus pandemic, Hollywood got things in full swing with theatrical releases, premieres, web series and award shows. However, despite ensuring that the fans have get their entertainment, there was no dearth of controversies and exciting news coming in from Hollywood.
Here are some of the most notable movers and shakers of 2022 that made the most noise.
Reprise, Cancelation, Comebacks and Conquer
2022 will be known for Tom Cruise’s perfect sequel Top Gun: Maverick. Cruise got into the cockpit after 36 years in Joseph Kosinski’s Top Gun: Maverick and gave a masterclass in how the perfect sequel is made. He reprised his role of Pete 'Maverick' Mitchell but this time as an instructor to train a bunch of new recruits. The actor managed to live up to the expectation and delivered a winner by doing nostalgia the right way.
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Henry Cavill made fans extremely happy when he announced this year that he will be returning as Superman after making a cameo in Dwayne Johnson’s Black Adam. Confirming his return, Cavill said in the video, “I wanted to make it official — I am back as Superman. Most of all, Thank you for your support and for your patience.” He added that what audiences saw in Black Adam was just a “very small taste” of things to come and its going to be bigger and better. he captioned the video as, "A very small taste of what’s to come, my friends. The dawn of hope renewed. Thank you for your patience, it will be rewarded. #Superman."
However, his dreams were quashed as Studios bosses James Gunn and Peter Safran are charting a new course for the Man of Steel in a movie to be written by Gunn, which will feature a younger actor in the lead role.
2022 will be remembered for getting Brendan Fraser back on the screen with The Whale. The actor plays the film’s 600-pound protagonist and received a six-minute standing ovation when the film premiered at the Venice Film Festival and is touted to be one of the frontrunners of the Oscar race this year. Brendan’s comeback is one of the most noteworthy films of the year and has brought well-deserved acclaim to the actor.
In a surprise move, Warner Bros. scrapped the release of Batgirl, the DC film headlined by Leslie Grace that already completed shooting and will not premiere on any platform at the studio-neither theatrically nor on HBO Max this year. The unusual move comes after a change in leadership at Warner Bros. with newly installed Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav looking to prioritize cost-cutting measures and pivoting the company’s focus back on creating theatrical films rather than projects for streaming, as has been a priority for former WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar. This left Batgirl without a proper home as well as Scoob!: Holiday Haunt, a sequel to the 2020 film Scoob!, after being shelved by the studio.
Taylor Swift makes history on Billboard; Beyonce ties with Jay Z for most Grammy nominations
Taylor Swift created history on October 31, 2022 when become the first artist to claim every spot on the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 after the release of her 10th album Midnights. The only artist to join her on the list was Lana Del Rey, who collaborated with Swift on the track Snow on the Beach.
On the other hand, Beyonce claimed a leading nine nominations, making her tie with her husband Jay-Z as the most nominated music act in the history of the Grammy Awards. Beyonce’s Break My Soul got nominated for record and song of the year nominations while Renaissance received the album of the year nod in Grammy Awards 2023 nominations list. Jay-Z also earned five nominations this year making each spouse the record holder of most-ever Grammy nominations at 88 apiece.
Chris Hemsworth, Bruce Willis, Justin Bieber - Health scare
This year a lot of celebs revealed their health predicaments and their decision to cut themselves some slack and take time out from their professional lives. Chris Hemsworth said that he will be taking some time out after he learned that he has a predisposition towards Alzheimer’s disease from both of his parents.
Bruce Willis is battling Aphasia and has stepped away from acting. Aphasia is a communication disorder that makes it hard to use words. It can affect your speech, writing, and ability to understand language. Bruce's family shared a post informing about the decision.
Justin Bieber was diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome that left the right side of his face paralysed. This prompted the singer to put his Justice World Tour on hold as he needed to sort out his health issues first.
BTS to serve mandatory military duty will reunite in 2025
The BTS members are gearing up to sign for military duty as per the rules of South Korean government. The group’s oldest member Jin will join the military service first followed by other members. On October 17, HYBE released a publicly disclosed statement to stock investors announcing, “BTS member Jin will request to cancel the delay of his military enlistment in late October and then follow the enlistment process of the Military Manpower Administration. The other members will then follow with their enlistments according to their individual plans.”
Military service for BTS members has long been subject to debate with fans and majority of South Koreans think that the group should be exempted from serving in the army. However, military service exemptions are controversial where inequality and privilege are sensitive subjects. The country’s rule requires all male citizens aged 18 to 28 to serve in the army for about two years to guard against North Korea. BTS’ oldest member Kim Seok-jin is required to join the army after he turns 30 on December followed by second-oldest member Min Yoon-ki who is due to be enlisted in 2024 under a revised law.
Queen Elizabeth II passes away at the age of 96
Queen Elizabeth II, the longest-serving monarch of the United Kingdom, passed away at the age of 96 at her estate in Balmoral, Scotland on September 8, 2022. She took the throne on February 6, 1952, and ruled the realm for 70 years and 127 days. She became the second-longest reigning monarch in world history after French King Louis XIV, who ruled for more than 72 years.
In a statement from Buckingham Palace, the spokesperson said, "The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon. The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow." Queen's eldest son, Charles, succeeded her on the throne as King Charles III. In a statement, he stated, "We mourn profoundly the passing of a cherished sovereign and a much-loved mother. I know her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country."
Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck marry
Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck got married on July 16, 2022 in a drive-through chapel in Las Vegas. They had first got engaged in 2002 but split up two years later in 2004 and called off their wedding just days before the date. Ben went on to marry Jennifer Garner with whom he shares two daughters- Violet, Seraphina and son Samuel. On the other hand, Jennifer got married to Marc Antony and had twin sons Emme and Max with him. After rekindling their romance in 2021, the two got married this year proving that true love definitely exists. Jennifer also changed her name to Affleck and got married for a second time in presence of family, friends and children in Georgia.
Taylor Swift, Selena Gomez, Halle Berry, Michelle Obama slam US Supreme Court’s ruling on abortion laws
After the US Supreme Court struck down the universal right to abortion in the country, several Hollywood actors, singers and celebs expressed their outrage and anguish at the ruling. They called it an extremely bad time to be a woman in America and said that ‘guns have more rights than women in the US’. They even said that this ruling has taken American society back by ages and called it extremely regressive. Michelle Obama, Selena Gomez, Taylor Swift, Halle Berry, Alyssa Milano, Padma Lakshmi, Phoebe Bridgers, Lilly Singh, Billie Eilish, Phoebe Dynevor, Viola Davis, Rosario Dawson and others criticized the Supreme Court’s decision saying that they have taken away the right of a woman over her own body and reproductive system. They called the ruling as not “pro-life” but against women’s lives. Priyanka Chopra Jonas also slammed the ruling.
Will Smith and Chris Rock slapgate at the Oscars 2022
Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars 2022 stage became one of the most controversial things of the year. Smith’s action was in retribution to an insensitive joke made by Chris on the former’s wife Jada Pinkett Smith’s medical condition known as alopecia. Although Smith apologized later on and even repeatedly after the fiasco, the Academy banned Smith from Oscars for 10 years.
Kanye West loses billionaire status after Adidas, GAP cut ties after anti-semitic comments
Kanye West aka Ye lost his billionaire status after several brands including Adidas, GAP and others revoked their partnership with the rapper over his anti-semitism comments. Adidas officially decided to end their partnership with West, releasing a statement saying it "does not tolerate antisemitism and any other sort of hate speech," calling West's recent comments "unacceptable, hateful and dangerous." Companies including Balenciaga and fashion magazine Vogue have cut ties with him and he has reportedly been dropped from Def Jam Records. CAA has also dropped Ye as a client.
Britney Spears gets married to Sam Asghari after conservatorship ends; suffers a miscarriage
After 13 long years, Britney Spears’ controversial conservatorship was brought to an end. Soon after, she announced her engagement to longtime boyfriend Sam Asghari. In June the pop singer tied the knot with Asghari and announced her pregnancy. However, her joy was short lived as she suffered a miscarriage.
Johnny Depp vs Amber Heard defamation trial
Johnny Depp and Amber Heard’s defamation trial was one of the most controversial news this year. Johnny slammed ex-wife Amber in the US court for defamation which brought their dirty linen in public. The case was eventually won by Johnny but it left a lot of questions unanswered since a lot of the evidence that was produced in the UK was not allowed to be presented in the US. Johnny’s fans rallied in his support and took potshots at Amber and it was not only a court trial but a media or a social media trial. However, now several celebs and netizens have come forward supporting Amber and the actress has appealed against the decision.
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