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Selena Gomez's First Animated Movie in Years Revealed: Joins Timothée Chalamet in 'Not Alone'

Ankita Banerjee — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 18:02:01 +0530

Selena Gomez is heading back to the world of animated films, and this time she is joining forces with Timothée Chalamet for Illumination's upcoming original feature, 'Not Alone.' The project, which was revealed on 22nd June, at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, is a significant animation return for Gomez, whose most well-known voice role was in the wildly popular 'Hotel Transylvania' franchise.

'Not Alone' marks her return to voice acting for the first time in a number of years, despite her recent concentration on critically praised live-action productions like 'Only Murders in the Building' and the Oscar-winning Emilia Pérez. The film also reunites Gomez with Chalamet nearly a decade after they worked together on 'A Rainy Day' in New York, making the collaboration one of the most talked-about animation announcements of the year.

What Is 'Not Alone' About?

'Not Alone,' a cosmic romance comedy with an alien twist, is produced by Illumination, the same studio that made 'Despicable Me,' 'Minions,' and 'The Super Mario Bros. Movie.' Joe, a peaceful, solitary rocket mechanic, is voiced by Chalamet. Gomez portrays Fran, a gifted astro-botanist creating the first plant-powered rocket in history.

According to the official synopsis, "When Joe and Fran are brought together to prepare for the inaugural launch of this revolutionary rocket, there are immediate sparks, but neither is particularly adept at romance."

Things quickly spiral into chaos when three tiny alien fugitives—Dunk, Welly, and Shirm—hide in Joe's home while fleeing an overzealous but incompetent law officer named Zandro. Believing Fran's rocket could be their ticket home, the aliens drag the pair into an unexpected adventure.

Cast, Characters and Release Date

In addition to Gomez and Chalamet, the mischievous extraterrestrial trio is voiced by Rob Brydon, Diane Morgan, and Jamie Demetriou; Officer Zandro is voiced by Brett Goldstein. The supporting cast is completed by award-winning actors Lamorne Morris and Allison Janney. The film is being co-directed by Eric Guillon, Claire Dodgson, and Jonathan Del Val, with Illumination founder Chris Meledandri producing. Notably, the movie represents Chalamet's first major animated voice role, adding another milestone to his rapidly expanding career.

After years of being dominated by franchise titles, industry analysts have noted that the movie is one of Illumination's few recent original stories. 'Not Alone' is scheduled to arrive exclusively in theaters on 16th April, 2027, positioning it as one of the studio's biggest family releases of the year.

Also Read: Olivia Rodrigo's 'You Seem Pretty Sad' Debuts at No. 1, Overtakes Drake's 2026 Record

Liam Payne's 9-Year-Old Son Bear Set to Inherit $28 Million Following Singer's Death

Ankita Banerjee — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 16:56:47 +0530

Almost two years after the shocking death of former One Direction star Liam Payne, a UK court has officially confirmed that his nine-year-old son, Bear Grey Payne, is the sole beneficiary of the singer's estate. Bear will inherit over $28 million (around ₹266 crore) from Payne, who passed away on 16th October, 2024, at the age of 31, without leaving a will, according to newly released probate paperwork. The ruling brings clarity to months of speculation surrounding the future of the singer's wealth and assets.

What Happened to Liam Payne's Estate?

Payne, who became well-known throughout the world as a member of One Direction, passed away following a fall from the CasaSur Palermo Hotel's third-floor balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina. A postmortem report concluded that he suffered multiple traumatic injuries and severe internal and external hemorrhaging.

Subsequently, authorities disclosed that narcotics and alcohol were in his system when he passed away. Two suspects accused of selling narcotics are still facing legal processes, however manslaughter allegations against three persons were later withdrawn despite the fact that several people were initially examined in relation to the tragedy.

Payne's estate was managed under UK intestacy laws since he did not leave a legally binding will. Under those rules, when an unmarried person dies without a will, their children become the primary heirs. Payne's estate was estimated at $33 million (approximately ₹285 crore) net in court documents, but more recent probate records changed that amount to about $30 million, or almost ₹257 crore.

Money, real estate, royalties, and other assets amassed throughout his musical career are all included in the estate.

How Will Bear Receive the Money?

Bear will inherit the entire estate. In March 2017, Payne welcomed Bear along with singer Cheryl Tweedy (previously Cheryl Cole). However, the majority of the wealth will stay in a trust until he turns eighteen because he is still a minor.

Richard Mark Bray, a music industry lawyer, and Cheryl, the court-appointed administrators, have been granted the power to oversee and protect the assets on his behalf. Recent High Court documents also allow portions of the estate to be used for Bear's benefit before adulthood.

The decision ensures that Payne's only child will ultimately receive the full benefit of the fortune he built throughout his career. The decision serves as a reminder of the significance of estate planning, even for some of the biggest artists in the world, even though the legal issues surrounding the estate have now mostly been resolved.

Also Read: Why Amazon Backed Out of Sam Altman Film 'Artificial' Despite Near-Completion

Olivia Rodrigo's 'You Seem Pretty Sad' Debuts at No. 1, Overtakes Drake's 2026 Record

Ankita Banerjee — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 18:45:05 +0530

Olivia Rodrigo has added another major milestone to her rapidly growing career. 'You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love,' the singer-songwriter's third studio album, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart dated 27th June, 2026, earning an astounding 315,000 equivalent album units in its first week of sales. Rodrigo had one of the best beginning weeks of the year overall, and the number is the biggest debut for a solo artist in 2026, exceeding Drake's prior record.

Streaming, digital sales, physical editions, and strong fan support all contributed to the album's success, proving her capacity to rule both charts and cultural discourse.

A Historic Three-Album Run Continues

Released on 12th June, the 13-track project arrived with massive momentum, earning 485,000 equivalent album units in its first week ending 18th June, according to Luminate.

The achievement is particularly significant because it extends a flawless streak that began with Rodrigo's breakthrough debut album 'SOUR' in 2021 and continued with 'GUTS' in 2023. She becomes one of the few artists of her generation to have her first three studio albums debut at the top of the Billboard 200 with 'You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love.'

On the singles list, the 23-year-old star has also had remarkable success. In January 2021, her first single, 'Drivers License,' debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. Subsequent releases, including 'Vampire,' also debuted at number one. Few artists have managed to launch both albums and singles with such consistency so early in their careers.

How Rodrigo Overtook Drake

Before Rodrigo's arrival, Drake held the biggest solo debut of 2026. However, 'You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love' comfortably moved ahead with its 315,000-unit opening week, highlighting Rodrigo's growing commercial power.

Industry observers attribute the record-breaking debut to her devoted fan base, well-timed physical releases, and impressive streaming numbers. Listeners all over the world have responded favorably to the album's pop-rock vibe and emotionally charged lyricism.

Reflecting on her evolving songcraft and thematic direction during her rollout, Rodrigo told British Vogue, "I just wanted to perfect a sad love song. All of my favorite love songs are so beautiful because there's an element of yearning or melancholy or fear."

What's Next for Olivia Rodrigo?

The success of 'You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love' signals that Rodrigo's momentum shows no signs of slowing down. She recently announced the massive 86-date 'Unraveled Tour,' which is scheduled to begin on 25th September, in support of her new album. Industry analysts predict that this tour would stretch her catalog consumption well into the following year. Having now achieved three consecutive No. 1 albums and multiple chart-topping singles before turning 25, Rodrigo continues to redefine what long-term success looks like for a modern pop artist.

Her latest chart triumph is not just another win—it is further proof that she remains one of the defining voices of her generation.

Also Read: Why Amazon Backed Out of Sam Altman Film 'Artificial' Despite Near-Completion

Why Amazon Backed Out of Sam Altman Film 'Artificial' Despite Near-Completion

Ankita Banerjee — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 18:14:18 +0530

Amazon MGM Studios has officially dropped 'Artificial,' director Luca Guadagnino's eagerly awaited biopic about OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, in one of Hollywood's most talked-about happenings this week. Just months after Amazon strengthened its ties with OpenAI through a purported $50 billion strategic collaboration centered on cloud infrastructure and artificial intelligence, the decision was made public on 19th June. Amazon confirmed that the film would no longer be released under its banner and said it is now working with the filmmakers to find a new distributor.

In a statement, the studio said, "We have the utmost respect and admiration for Luca Guadagnino…We believe that Artificial will be better served if it were released by a different studio."

What Is 'Artificial' About?

'Artificial,' which was written by Simon Rich and directed by the renowned director of 'Call Me by Your Name,' 'Challengers,' and 'Queer,' tells the story of one of the most dramatic moments in contemporary tech history: Sam Altman's abrupt termination from OpenAI on 17th November, 2023, and his reinstatement as CEO five days later. The film reportedly explores the internal power struggles, rivalries, and ethical debates that unfolded behind the scenes during that turbulent period.

Industry insiders have compared its ambition to 'The Social Network,' but for the age of artificial intelligence. Ike Barinholtz plays Elon Musk, Yura Borisov plays Ilya Sutskever, Monica Barbaro plays Mira Murati, and Andrew Garfield plays Sam Altman.

Supporting roles are played by Mark Rylance, Billie Lourd, Jason Schwartzman, Cooper Hoffman, and Cooper Koch.

Why Did Amazon Back Out?

While Amazon has not directly linked its decision to OpenAI, the timing has sparked widespread speculation. In February 2026, Amazon and OpenAI announced a major partnership worth up to $50 billion, expanding OpenAI's use of Amazon Web Services and strengthening collaboration on next-generation AI technologies.

According to reports from a number of sources, test-screening audiences allegedly found Altman and Musk to be among the least sympathetic characters in the movie, suggesting that Artificial depicts both of them in a noticeably negative light.

Industry experts think there may have been a conflict of interest in releasing such a film while still having a multibillion-dollar commercial connection with OpenAI.

What Happens Next?

'Artificial' is still very much alive even after losing its distributor. Reports suggests, the movie is in post-production and has already received excellent reviews from potential buyers. The project is reportedly being assessed by a number of studios and streaming services, and Amazon is actively helping the filmmakers find a new home. If a deal is finalized soon, 'Artificial' could still emerge as one of the most closely watched tech dramas of 2027.

For now, the controversy surrounding its exit from Amazon may have only increased interest in a film that was already set to address the complex personalities and power struggles behind the AI revolution.

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