Anne Hathaway said she studied Beyoncé closely to develop the pop-star persona at the center of A24’s psychological thriller Mother Mary. Speaking at a soundtrack listening event in New York on April 14, moderated by Variety’s Jem Aswad with director David Lowery and FKA twigs present, Hathaway said she listened repeatedly to Beyoncé’s 2024 track “American Requiem” to learn phrasing and a quieter vocal style. The 43-year-old, who trained in musical theatre, spent about two years retraining her voice to find a contemporary pop sound for the role. She also consulted singer Charli XCX about life as a pop star. Mother Mary premiered April 13 and opens in limited US release April 17, expanding nationwide April 24; the cast includes Michaela Coel, Kaia Gerber, Jessica Brown Findlay and FKA twigs. Lowery has said Taylor Swift’s Reputation concert film informed the movie’s stadium sequences and budgeting approach. A24 and Spotify presented the soundtrack event.

Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, filmed a surprise guest-judge appearance on MasterChef Australia in Melbourne on April 15, during a four-day visit to the country with Prince Harry. Channel 10 and the show’s producers confirmed the cameo, which will air as part of season 18 when the series premieres on April 19. Meghan joined regular judges Poh Ling Yeow, Sofia Levin and Jean‑Christophe Novelli to mentor amateur home cooks. The visit mixes private, commercial and philanthropic engagements: the couple arrived in Melbourne on April 14, visited the Royal Children’s Hospital, the Australian National Veterans’ Art Museum and a women’s refuge, while Harry separately attended the Australian War Memorial, met veteran groups and is due to give a keynote at the InterEdge psychosocial safety summit. Meghan’s appearance builds on her food and lifestyle work—her Netflix series With Love, Meghan and her As Ever branded food products—and Australian media and fashion outlets highlighted her support for local designers. Some Australian commentary before and during the trip debated security costs and the use of police resources for high-profile private visits.

Universal Pictures unveiled the first trailer for Focker In-Law at CinemaCon (April 15-16, 2026), the fourth installment in the Meet the Parents franchise. The clip reintroduces Ben Stiller’s Greg Focker and Robert De Niro’s Jack Byrnes and confirms Ariana Grande as Olivia Jones, a former FBI hostage negotiator who is romancing Greg and Pam’s son (Skyler Gisondo). Returning cast members include Blythe Danner, Teri Polo and Owen Wilson, with newcomers such as Beanie Feldstein and Eduardo Franco also attached. John Hamburg wrote and directed the project, which leans on franchise callbacks — notably Jack’s signature lie-detector scene — as Olivia quickly wins over Jack while Greg grows increasingly suspicious. The studio has slated the film for a Thanksgiving 2026 release (late November), positioning it as part of Universal’s holiday slate. Early reactions highlighted Grande’s comic chemistry with De Niro and Stiller, while some viewers noted minor trailer production quibbles. The trailer rollout follows teasers released on social platforms and a CinemaCon presentation aimed at exhibitors.

Steven Spielberg made his first CinemaCon appearance on April 15–16, 2026 in Las Vegas to present new footage from Disclosure Day, his return to extraterrestrial-themed filmmaking. Universal premiered extended scenes and a first glimpse of the film’s alien life form; the footage follows Emily Blunt as a meteorologist who suddenly speaks in unintelligible sounds, and Josh O’Connor’s character who can interpret them as mathematical messages. The trailer shows action set pieces — including a train jump and a farm-house escape — glimpses of small humanoid creatures and a non-human hand touching a child, and hints of a government cover-up. The film, directed from a story by Spielberg with a screenplay by David Koepp, stars Blunt, O’Connor, Colin Firth, Colman Domingo, Eve Hewson and Wyatt Russell and opens June 12 in the United States. On stage Spielberg accepted the Motion Picture Association’s America250 award and urged studios to expand theatrical exclusivity, praising Universal’s new 45-day window and asking rhetorically for 60 or even 120 days.

Braden Peters, the 20-year-old influencer known as Clavicular, was hospitalized on April 14 after a suspected overdose during a livestream in Miami that was viewed by hundreds of thousands before abruptly cutting off. Video circulated showing Peters slurring, losing motor control and being carried to a black SUV as emergency services arrived; Miami authorities say the individual was transported from the scene in a private vehicle and firefighters made no patient contact. Peters posted a selfie the following morning saying “that was brutal,” and later livestreamed after his release saying he would stop substances and that he “can’t IRL stream” going forward. The episode adds to a string of controversies: Peters faces a misdemeanor battery case, is under investigation by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission over a video of him shooting an alligator, and has openly promoted extreme “looksmaxxing” practices, including self-administered hormones and recreational drug use. Platforms and law enforcement have been monitoring but officials say they did not file a report because they made no patient contact.

Amazon MGM Studios told exhibitors at CinemaCon in Las Vegas on April 16 that the search for the next James Bond will take time and “care and deep respect,” offering no immediate casting announcements. Courtenay Valenti, the studio’s head of film, framed the casting as a weighty responsibility as the company prepares the next instalment under director Denis Villeneuve and screenwriter Steven Knight, with producers Amy Pascal, David Heyman and executive producer Tanya Lapointe attached. The studio, which assumed creative control of the franchise from long-time producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, reiterated that the film is in development and that more information will follow when the team is ready. The last film to star Daniel Craig, No Time to Die, was released in 2021, and widespread public speculation has produced numerous names as potential successors. Amazon paid heavily for MGM and views Bond 26 as a marquee asset; the studio says it will prioritize legacy, quality and the right fit before revealing who will inherit 007’s licence to kill.