Below, everything else you need to know about this year’s ceremony:
Alexander Payne will chair the jury
American director Alexander Payne (Sideways, The Descendants, The Holdover) will take on the role of jury president at the 2025 Venice Film Festival, succeeding Isabelle Huppert. His appointment has proven controversial, however, given the filmmaker has faced allegations of sexual assault from actress Rose McGowan.
Kim Novak and Werner Herzog will receive honorary Golden Lions
Kim Novak made her final film appearance in 1991, in Mike Figgis’s Liebestraum, before retiring from Hollywood. This summer, however, Alfred Hitchcock’s iconic muse—best known for her role as Madeleine Elster in Vertigo—will return to the spotlight to receive a Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the 2025 Venice Film Festival.
According to artistic director Alberto Barbera, who shared the news on June 10, the decision to honor the actress was an obvious one, as she is “one of the most beloved icons of an entire era of Hollywood films, from her auspicious debut during the mid-1950s until her premature and voluntary exile from the gilded cage of Los Angeles a short while later.”
Earlier this year, it was announced that Werner Herzog would also receive the same honor. With more than 70 films to his name—spanning fiction and documentary works created across the globe—the German filmmaker has left an indelible mark on the history of cinema. According to Alberto Barbera, Herzog has done so by “testing our ability to see, challenging us to grasp what lies beyond the surface of reality, and pushing the limits of cinematic representation in a relentless quest for a higher, ecstatic truth and new sensory experiences.”
When will the full lineup be released?
The full slate of films headed to the 2025 Venice Film Fesitval is expected to be unveiled at the end of July.
From Lana Del Rey to Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar, the UK has already hosted a series of gigantic outdoor gigs this year. Having already played six Wembley Stadium shows on their Music of the Spheres tour in 2022, Coldplay are bringing it back for 10 more later this summer, plus two more in Hull. And now, here come Oasis, playing a total of 17 stadium concerts in Cardiff, Manchester, London and Edinburgh.
These are the kind of figures that get the music industry very excited. Last year, according to UK Music, 23.5m concertgoers spent a total of £10bn in the UK, supporting 72,000 jobs. “Artists are delivering spectacular performances, and there’s nothing like the feeling of being at a live show,” says Denis Desmond, UK and Ireland chair of the massive promoter Live Nation. “We’re seeing a real and sustained boom in outdoor shows, festivals and stadium concerts”.
Certainly, it looks that way. The Guardian has calculated that in London alone this summer, there are at least 100 single-day outdoor shows with a capacity of 15,000 or more, ranging from events in local parks to stadium shows. Festivals and arena shows have always been popular in the UK, but there have never been so many big outdoor gigs.
Industry insiders put the shift down to customer demand. That’s undoubtedly part of it – there are many people who enjoy standing in the sun with thousands of others listening to a selection of acts, but have no desire for it to involve camping in the middle of nowhere. One senior figure in the live industry says the changing nature of the music industry has driven the shift, too – social media and streaming mean many artists are popular enough to play to bigger audiences earlier in their careers, and outdoor shows provide the perfect opportunity.
Immense … Lana Del Rey performs at Hampden Park, Glasgow, June 2025. Photograph: Roberto Ricciuti/Getty Images
It’s not just consumer-led, though. Local councils have been actively courting promoters to put on shows in parks, to raise money for local services; stadium operators have been trying to attract more shows (the Rugby Football Union wants to put on more shows each year at Twickenham, up from the three it is currently allowed, to nine next year, 12 in 2027 and 15 in 2028).
Either way, this current glut of shows is so immense that there are those wondering if it can be sustained. All summer, there have been stories of cheap last-minute tickets available on secondary ticketing sites, and Facebook-disseminated offers to shift unsold seats. And while the demand for Oasis tickets might have been enormous, not everyone can be Oasis. At the time of writing, there are seated tickets available in all areas for Catfish and the Bottlemen’s show at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium at the start of August (and plenty for their Cardiff Principality Stadium concert, too). Nor will you have any trouble getting into Post Malone’s two shows at Tottenham. Even at shows billed as sold out, venues don’t appear full – there were many pockets of empty seats when Dua Lipa played the first of two shows at Wembley Stadium.
That’s not necessarily bad news for the artists, who are paid a guaranteed fee, but it is very bad news for promoters, because shows at this scale tend only to break even when 90% of tickets have been sold. And that is where some industry figures sound a note of caution. “I think we’re all surprised at the amount of large-scale events London can sustain,” one says. “Will it continue at this same growth and to the same scale? Only time will tell.” Another says brusquely: “There are certainly a lot this year, and they’re not all doing well.”
Artists, too, are uncertain: the Guardian knows of acts who turned down slots high on stadium show bills this summer, because they were concerned about the reputational damage of playing to a crowd sparse enough to be mocked on social media.
It’s perhaps a measure of industry uncertainty that so few people within live music were willing to talk on the record about this year’s boom, and certainly not to confront the issue of whether sellouts or sparsely attended washouts are likely to shape next summer’s bookings. Desmond, though, remains optimistic. To him, these shows are a chance to build memories: “We’re seeing generations come together – fans who saw the Beatles or the Rolling Stones in the 60s are now attending shows with their children and grandchildren. A connection that only live music can create.”
Nevertheless, whether those younger generations will need the older ones to pay for the incredible cost of a ticket, and whether the live music sector can continue to operate at the scale that it is, remain points of debate in the industry.
One of the best South Korean thrillers, Squid Game, finally wrapped up after three seasons on Netflix. It was first released in 2021, with director Hwang Dong-hyuk having no idea it would go on to become a global sensation.
So, the creator decided to continue the story of survival in a world consumed by greed beyond Season 1. Even though completing the series brought him peace, the weight of global expectations made the process challenging. Even with its massive success, the ending of Squid Game Season 3 has left fans split, with some praising its bold choices and others feeling let down.
One of the most debated aspects is the final twist: every single character who enters the game dies, and the only one left alive is a newborn baby. Interestingly, this wasn’t the original plan. Hwang said in an interview with The Korea Times:
“I initially vaguely considered a storyline where Gi-hun would survive with a few other contestants and eventually go to meet his daughter in the U.S.”
He continued:
“But I reconsidered what story I really wanted to tell with this project and felt that Gi-hun’s journey should end here.”
Hwang Dong-hyuk also mentioned that while the show brought him incredible fame and success, but also brought exhaustion and pressure. He even lost some teeth while making Squid Game, but didn’t give up.
Keep reading to explore more about the finale and Hwang Dong-hyuk’s insights.
Squid Game creator thought of Gi-hun’s survival, but changed his mind
Gi-hun with his daughter in Season 1 (Image via Netflix).
Since Squid Game Season 3 came out on Netflix, fans couldn’t stop discussing the shocking finale no one saw coming. While deaths were expected, many didn’t think of the main character, Gi-hun’s death.
As seen in the finale episode, the players participate in the Sky Squid Game, where they’re placed in huge towers, resembling the three iconic shapes of the survival thriller. The players were tasked with killing others to enter the final round, and Gi-hun, despite carrying the baby, managed to reach the last tower.
However, since only one player was meant to survive, Gi-hun chose to sacrifice himself, saying that they’re all human and that some people still choose humanity over greed. This was a heartwrenching part of Squid Game that Hwang Dong-hyuk created to reflect the harsh realities of the world today.
As mentioned earlier, this wasn’t the ending he originally had in mind. The creator first thought of Gi-hun’s survival and reunion with his daughter in America. But he eventually realized that worsening inequality, continuing wars, and the sense that society is failing to solve its biggest problems were more in line with the message he wanted to leave behind.
He said:
“Because ultimately, this project is about the world we live in. Economic inequality has worsened since I made Season 1, the lives of ordinary people have become more difficult, and wars show no signs of ending.”
Hwang sensed a much darker future coming, and that inspired him to create an ending that fits that emotional tone. He shared that many young people today feel hopeless about the future, and he sees the baby as “our future”. By placing the child in the game, he wanted to show that protecting the next generation, our conscience, and the future requires real struggle and sacrifice.
Also Read: Leonardo DiCaprio is the Squid Game showrunner’s choice to play the lead in the US rendition— Here’s what he said
Continue exploring Soap Central for regular updates on TV series, films, and more!
The pay-TV bundle is dying a long, slow death, and streaming is the prime suspect.
Media analysts sometimes blame content providers for cannibalizing the cable bundle and accelerating its collapse by building streaming services that give consumers direct access to once-exclusive content.
But for All Elite Wrestling, this hasn’t been the case.
AEW started simulcasting on HBO Max in January, just as rival WWE’s “Raw” event on Monday nights moved exclusively to Netflix.
The move has corresponded with a rebound in AEW’s cable ratings in that span from their lows late last year.
Through the second quarter, AEW’s audience on traditional TV has grown 25% for “Collision” on TNT on Saturdays and 6.5% for “Dynamite” on TBS on Wednesdays, compared to the fourth quarter of 2024, according to Nielsen data. And those figures don’t include viewership on HBO Max, which isn’t public.
Notably, AEW’s cable viewership rose even more this year in the 25- to 54-year-old cohort that advertisers love, even as a streaming alternative emerged. All of this growth came as pay TV continued to wither, which affected sports leagues like the NHL and NBA.
That has AEW founder and CEO Tony Khan especially fired up.
“We’ve been picking up traction in these key demos,” Khan told Business Insider. Still, he said that among 18- to 24-year-olds, “a lot of the growth is on streaming.”
While ratings are trending higher, AEW is still clawing its way back out of a slump. Viewership for “Collision” and “Dynamite” was down 9% and 12%, respectively, year over year.
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AEW has been locked in a battle with the category’s behemoth, WWE, which previously poached two of its biggest stars: Cody Rhodes and CM Punk.
Khan, a lifelong wrestling fan, spoke with BI about how streaming has jump-started AEW’s growth and why he’s not sweating the uncertainty surrounding the spinoff at Warner Bros. Discovery — his most valuable business partner.
AEW everywhere, all at once
In this cutthroat, crowded media landscape, Khan’s game plan is for AEW to be everywhere — from in-person events, to traditional TV, to streaming, to social media, to YouTube.
But from a monetization standpoint, not all platforms are equally valuable. AEW’s most lucrative businesses are in-person events and pay-per-view events, where it’s paid directly, though Khan said its backbone is its $185 million media deal with WBD across TBS, TNT, and HBO Max.
“The lifeblood of AEW, really, is the partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery,” Khan said.
Khan is betting that YouTube and social media will help hook younger generations on wrestling.
AEW
Social media and YouTube serve a different role: generating buzz and bringing in new viewers. AEW has to be where its fans are, though there’s a risk that showing highlights for free will train audiences to follow the action in short form, instead of watching full matches on TV or in person.
However, Khan thinks highlights on TikTok and YouTube drive higher demand for TV and events instead of eroding it — similar to how streaming matches coincided with a cable ratings bump.
“People want to watch the full event in its entirety, but also consume highlights on digital,” Khan said. “I think we found a great balance in that, and also offering access to a lot of the great classic matches in the AEW library to the fans has helped us drive a lot of viewership, as well.”
AEW must thread the needle between maximizing reach and ensuring that live matches and pay-per-view events “feel special,” as Khan put it. That means giving enough to lure casual fans and newcomers to TBS, TNT, and HBO Max, without giving so much that they don’t watch live.
AEW streams pre- and post-shows live on YouTube for big matches. But some of AEW’s rivals are going a step further by experimenting with livestreaming marquee events on YouTube, for free. WWE streamed its “Worlds Collide” event live on the platform in early June, and the NFL is hosting a regular-season game live on YouTube in September.
As of now, Khan isn’t following suit. The AEW CEO said he’s firmly committed to TBS, TNT, and HBO Max, no matter what’s happening at their parent company.
Not splitting hairs
WBD announced a long-awaited spinoff last month that will pull HBO Max away from TBS and TNT. Khan said the split shouldn’t affect AEW, which reached a media deal with WBD last fall.
“We have a great partnership with both sides,” Khan said, adding that AEW is “very well entrenched” across the forthcoming Streaming & Studios and Global Networks companies.
WBD’s media rights deal with AEW is unaffected by the split, so HBO Max will continue to stream matches that air live on TBS and TNT.
Regardless, a top media analyst thinks sports leagues like AEW should brainstorm alternatives for their next deals in light of the spinoff.
“Without a broadcast network or a streaming platform (we are not counting Discovery+), it is hard to imagine sports leagues being excited to work with GLN [Global Linear Networks] going forward, unless they have no choice,” Lightshed’s Rich Greenfield wrote in a mid-June note.
AEW has seen firsthand how HBO Max can effectively complement TBS and TNT. Once they belong to separate companies, that symbiosis could disappear. And while AEW could theoretically re-up with TNT Sports and find a separate streaming deal, Greenfield questioned that logic.
“GLN could license its sports streaming rights to third-parties (assuming contracts allow it)” Greenfield wrote. “But then why would a sports rights holder not just choose a vertically-integrated platform to begin with?”
Other analysts are less bearish, including Robert Fishman of MoffettNathanson. He wrote last month that “sports remains a key pillar to support affiliate fee stability in the years ahead” for the Global Networks business that will house TBS and TNT.
Instead of wondering what the future holds for WBD’s assets, Khan is focused on the present. The 100th episode of “Collision” airs Saturday night, and viewers can tune in on TNT — or Max.
Cars in a queue for the exits after Friday’s Justin Timberlake concert
Music fans have reported facing long delays as they tried to leave a Justin Timberlake concert.
The ten-time Grammy Award winner performed at Chelmsford City Racecourse, in Essex, on Friday evening as part of Chelmsford City Live.
But afterwards frustrated concert-goers said it had taken several hours to leave car parks as streams of vehicles queued for exits. One post claimed people were “stranded in a field”.
Chelmsford City Live’s promoters and the racecourse have been approached for comment.
CUFFE & TAYLOR
Timberlake last took to the stage in Essex during the V Festival, at Hylands Park, in 2014
Timberlake was the headliner on the first night of the three-day event, attracting a crowd of about 25,000.
Traffic issues had begun before the concert, when a car fire on the A131 caused jams.
After the event, as fans tried to head home, car parks became gridlocked as vehicles which had earlier been marshalled into rows tried to move off.
Another post said: “Justin Timberlake was brilliant but the whole evening has been overshadowed by the poorly managed traffic.”
Jodie Halford/BBC
Some fans started walking home after Justin Timberlake’s performance
Duran Duran, Nile Rodgers & Chic and JC Stewart take to the stage on Saturday.
Witham-born singer Olly Murs said performing on Sunday would be the biggest gig he had ever done in Essex.
Born in Essex, Munroe Bergdorf, 37, studied at the University of Brighton and worked in fashion PR. In 2022, she became the first trans model on the cover of UK Cosmopolitan and in 2023 she published her book Transitional. She hosts the podcast The Way We Are and presents MTV UK’s Queerpiphany. She is a UN Women UK Changemaker and a founding consultant of the UK Diversity and Inclusion Board of L’Oréal Paris. Her latest book is Talk to Me; her documentary, Love & Rage, launched in the UK last month and is available to stream from 14 July. She lives in London.
Describe yourself in three words Passionate, loving, driven.
What would your superpower be? Invisibility, so I can spy on people and get the gossip.
Which words or phrases do you most overuse? I say “scream” when I should just laugh, and it really annoys my friends.
Which book are you ashamed not to have read? The Great Gatsby.
What makes you unhappy? Being misunderstood by people I admire.
Aside from a property, what’s the most expensive thing you’ve bought? Gender-affirming surgery. Contrary to popular belief, it’s not widely available on the NHS and a lot of it you have to pay for yourself.
What is the worst thing anyone’s said to you? Apart from stuff on social media, an ex-partner telling me I’m unlovable.
What is your guiltiest pleasure? The Real Housewives franchise.
What do you owe your parents? As you get older you start to realise your parents are just people and they’re often just doing their best, so I owe them understanding and grace.
What is the closest you’ve come to death? Before transitioning, I had a severe eating disorder. The doctor said, “Your body’s shutting down and if you don’t improve your mental and physical wellbeing, you’ll die.” Shortly after that, I started transitioning medically and my eating disorder resolved.
To whom would you most like to say sorry, and why? Everybody I’ve lost to suicide. When someone dies in that tragic way, you always feel you could have done more.
Which living person do you most despise, and why? Every single world leader currently making the world less safe for us all.
Which living person do you most admire, and why? Victoria Rose, a British surgeon operating on children in Gaza.
What did you dream about last night? I have a lot of dreams that involve running and yelling. I’ve just had Botox in my jaw because I’m grinding my teeth in my sleep.
What is the worst job you’ve done? At university, I worked at a hotel in housekeeping. We saw so many weird things in people’s rooms. Guests would leave sex and party stuff behind!
If not yourself, who would you most like to be? Grace Jones or Madonna.
When did you last change your mind about something significant? Cancel culture: getting stuck on the discourse rather than looking at the system.
How often do you have sex? As often as I get to see my boyfriend.
Would you rather have more sex, money or fame? Money, because fame’s so transient and empty, and I’ve got enough sex.
Tell us a joke I was so surprised when the stationery store moved.
Katy Perry, Orlando Bloom’s diverging paths after breakup
Katy Perry is pouring her heart into her music, while Orlando Bloom is living it up on his “freedom tour.”
The couple recently confirmed their breakup after nearly a decade together, citing a desire to focus on co-parenting their four-year-old daughter, Daisy.
According to DailyMail, Perry is “sad and disappointed” about the split, especially given their young daughter. She was even brought to tears backstage during a recent show in Sydney.
“She wishes him well, but she’s not pretending this doesn’t hurt,” a friend revealed.
Meanwhile, Bloom has been partying hard in Europe, celebrating Jeff Bezos’ lavish wedding in Italy with A-listers like Naomi Campbell and Kendall Jenner. He was also spotted cozying up to model Vittoria Ceretti during a water taxi ride.
Perry’s friends are frustrated by Bloom’s public displays, with one source saying, “He’s acting like an overgrown adolescent… It’s frustrating for her to watch.”
While Bloom shares reflective quotes from Carl Jung and Buddha on Instagram, his party antics seem to contradict his philosophical musings. “Posting about loneliness while partying on yachts just feels tone-deaf,” an insider noted.
Despite the hurt, Perry is trying to move forward with grace. Friends say the breakup was “amicable,” and she’s focusing on her music and daughter. “Katy and Orlando have split but are amicable,” a source revealed.
“It’s not contentious at the moment. Katy is, of course, upset but is relieved to not have to go through another divorce.”
Princess Kate surprises onlookers with meaningful gesture
Kate Middleton let her hands get dirty during her latest royal engagement after skipping the Royal Ascot 2025 event.
On July 2, the Princess of Wales visited Colchester Hospital to see the centre’s Wellbeing Garden. She highlighted the importance of healing through nature, opened up about her cancer treatment and planted ‘Catherine’s Rose.’
As per Hello! Magazine, royal expert Rhiannon Mills recalled how the future Queen did not follow protocols while planting the special rose, named in her honour following her struggles with cancer.
She revealed that Princess Catherine was “offered gloves when she was bending down to plant some of those Catherine roses, which were especially commissioned by the Royal Horticultural Society.”
Rhiannon added, “She didn’t want gloves. She had filthy hands. My cameraman, who was there, kind of zoomed in on her filthy hands. He was like, ‘Oh, is that appropriate or not?’ And I was like, ‘yes, it’s her getting her hands dirty.’”
The royal commentator continued, “So while the palace keeps saying, ‘We’re going to have to all get used to that flexibility in terms of engagements she’s doing’, I think, when she’s there… they are fully in.”
For the unversed, on May 9, the Royal Horticultural Society announced a new Rose, “Catherine’s Rose”, grown by Harkness Roses.
Kensington Palace’s spokesperson at the time shared that the proceeds from the rose will support The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, “helping patients across the country live well with, and beyond, cancer.”
Shefali Jariwala’s sudden passing came as a huge shock to everyone, leaving her close friends and family heartbroken. A day after Shefali’s passing, her husband Parag Tyagi was seen walking their pet dog Simba in the compound, as shown in a video that surfaced online. The clip sparked strong backlash, with many criticizing him for his actions during such a tragic time.Addressing the criticism around the viral video, Shefali’s close friend and Bigg Boss 13 co-contestant Paras clarified the situation and shared the emotional truth behind the moment. In an exclusive conversation with IANS, Paras revealed that Shefali Jariwala and Parag Tyagi were extremely close to their pet dog, treating him as a family member. The trio lived together, and Shefali’s sudden passing left a deep emotional void in their home. Paras shared that in such a moment of grief, it’s only natural for Parag to hold on even more tightly to their pet, who now represents a part of Shefali’s presence.
Parag Tyagi Pens Heartbreaking Note for Late Wife Shefali Jariwala: ‘Love You Till Eternity’
He further shared, “Shefali and Parag were very close to their pet. He was a family member to them. Three members were living together in a house, and one of them is suddenly gone. In such a situation, you should understand Parag’s mental state. He would want to keep him even closer and very close to his heart. There is a sense of fear and longing at the same time. People might think it’s strange, but since I know them closely, I understood his psychology. Moreover, their pet has grown old and cannot see properly. So, Parag’s responsibility towards him increases even more.”The Vighnaharta Ganesh actor also mentioned that the pet seemed to sense Shefali’s absence. “Dogs are very sensitive—they can feel when something is wrong. The pet also knew that Shefali is no more. He was visibly sad and affected by her passing.”A video of Parag Tyagi taking his dog for a walk just hours after Shefali Jariwala’s passing rapidly spread across social media. The footage drew heavy criticism from netizens, who questioned his behavior during such an emotionally delicate moment.Shefali’s close friends Rashami, Paras and others came out in Parag’s defence. They slammed the trolls and people to show kindness and empathy during this difficult period.
PARAG TYAGI BREAKS DOWN AFTER SHEFALI JARIWALA’S DEATH | BEGS PAPS TO STOP
British thespian Bill Nighy and “Gavin & Stacey” star Mathew Horne have joined the cast of genre-bending fantasy feature “Welcome to Paradise,” alongside WWE superstar Jordynne Grace making her screen debut.
Richard Summers-Calvert (“Drive Me to the End”) is writing and directing the indie, which is currently in post-production. The surreal fantasy film blends psychological drama, dark comedy and mythic surrealism, centering on a mysterious carnival where winning may mean survival and losing could trap visitors in an alternate reality forever.
Rising stars Georgina Bennett and Kirk Patterson topline the ensemble, which also includes Togo Igawa (“Tetris,” “Johnny English”), Tracey Wilkinson (“Carnival Row”) and the late Simon Fisher-Becker (“Harry Potter,” “Doctor Who”). Nighy provides voice work for the project.
The story follows Lisa, who awakens on a mysterious beach with no memory. After meeting a creature who tells her she’s arrived at “The Carnival,” she discovers a vibrant venue populated by humans and magical beasts. There she meets Harvey, another lost soul, as they attempt to uncover the truth about their pasts and find redemption — though everything comes with a price.
“I watched this film going in blind, and I’m now convinced Richard Summers-Calvert is both a genre-bending genius and a deeply deranged soul — in the best way,” said actor-disability advocate Adam Pearson (“The Elephant Man”). “This film is a joy to behold.”
Summers-Calvert describes the project as “ambitious and unapologetically bold.”
“Some may doubt it could work, but that’s because they’ve never witnessed something like this in the flesh,” the helmer said. “This film has moments that people will have never seen, heard, or even dreamt before — and that’s what excites me most.”
Crucible Films and Silent D Pictures are producing, with the latter’s Djonny Chen overseeing. Silent D’s recent slate includes “High Wire” (starring Isabella Wei of “1899”), “Finding My Voice” (with Michelle Ryan of “Bionic Woman”), “Follow The Dark” (with James Cosmo of “Game of Thrones”) and Indonesian box office hit “Before Night Falls.”
The film is eyeing a late 2025 delivery with major festival berths in its sights.
