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Movies / TV

[Movie News] In Theaters This Week – August 6, 2021

by Tori Ann
written by Tori Ann

In Theaters 3.6.20

A trio of new movies are making their debut this weekend. First up, there is a musical drama about the young daughter of a stand-up comedian and an opera singer who develops a unique ability. There is also a thriller about a kid who holds his family hostage in a hold in the ground, as well as the follow-up to 2016’s Suicide Squad!

Annette (R)

A stand-up comedian and his opera singer wife have a 2 year old daughter with a surprising gift.

Directed by Leos Carax

Starring: Marion Cotillard, Adam Driver, Angèle, Anaïs Dahl, Rebecca Dyson-Smith

Release date: August 6 (Limited)

John and the Hole (R)

A coming-of-age psychological thriller that plays out the unsettling reality of a kid who holds his family captive in a hole in the ground.

Directed by Pascual Sisto

Starring: Charlie Shotwell, Michael C. Hall, Jennifer Ehle, Taissa Farmiga, Pamela Jayne Morgan

Release date: August 6

The Suicide Squad (R)

Supervillains Harley Quinn, Bloodsport, Peacemaker and a collection of nutty cons at Belle Reve prison join the super-secret, super-shady Task Force X as they are dropped off at the remote, enemy-infused island of Corto Maltese.

Directed by James Gunn

Starring: Margot Robbie, Idris Elba, John Cena, Joel Kinnaman, Michael Rooker

Release date: August 6 (Also on HBO Max)

What new movies are you looking forward to seeing?

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Pop Cult News

[Movie News] In Theaters This Week – October 9, 2020

by Tori Ann
written by Tori Ann
In Theaters 3.6.20

Many theaters are still not open in the US. Some have had to close again due to health restrictions being put back in place or simply due to a lack of people coming in. While many big-name movies are pushing their release dates back even further, or choosing to premiere overseas first, a number of movies are still determined to make their way to theaters.

This week sees quite a variety of movie offerings. There is a new Woody Allen film about a young couple who come to New York for a weekend and end up with quite an adventure, a Liam Neeson action film about a former thief who tries to go straight, a documentary about a woman fighting for her husband’s release from prison, a comedy about a grandson declaring war on his grandfather, and much more!

A Rainy Day in New York (PG-13)

A young couple arrives in New York for a weekend where they are met with bad weather and a series of adventures.

Directed by Woody Allen

Starring: Timothée Chalamet, Elle Fanning, Liev Schreiber, Suzanne Smith, Olivia Boreham-Wing

Release date: October 10 (International)

Honest Thief (PG-13)

Wanting to lead an honest life, a notorious bank robber turns himself in, only to be double-crossed by two ruthless FBI agents.

Directed by Mark Williams

Starring: Liam Neeson, Kate Walsh, Jai Courtney, Jeffrey Donovan, Anthony Ramos

Release date: October 9 (International)

The Doorman (R)

A woman returns from combat and befriends a family in NYC, a gang of thieves plot to take the family’s valuables, she is all that stands between them and their lives.

Directed by Ryûhei Kitamura

Starring: Ruby Rose, Jean Reno, Aksel Hennie, Rupert Evans, Julian Feder

Release date: October 9

Time (PG-13)

Fox Rich fights for the release of her husband, Rob, who is serving a 60-year sentence in prison.

Directed by Garrett Bradley

Starring: Paolo Ikonomi, Fox Rich

Release date: October 9 (Limited)

The War with Grandpa (PG-13)

Upset that he has to share the room he loves with his grandfather, Peter decides to declare war in an attempt to get it back.

Directed by Tim Hill

Starring: Robert De Niro, Uma Thurman, Rob Riggle, Oakes Fegley, Laura Marano

Release date: October 9

The Wolf of Snow Hollow (R)

Terror grips a small mountain town as bodies are discovered after each full moon. Losing sleep, raising a teenage daughter, and caring for his ailing father, officer Marshall struggles to remind himself there’s no such thing as werewolves.

Directed by Jim Cummings

Starring: Jim Cummings, Riki Lindhome, Robert Forster, Chloe East, Jimmy Tatro

Release date: October 9

What movies have you seen recently?

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Movies / TV

[Movie News] In Theaters This Week – April 5, 2019

by Tori Ann
written by Tori Ann

The big release this weekend is surely Shazam! starring Zachary Levi as the teenage boy who turns into a fully-grown superhero when he says the magic words. Also joining it is a documentary about singer Aretha Franklin, a new version of Stephen King’s book Pet Sematary, the story of civil rights activist Ann Atwater, the story of a sour note in British history in which a pro-democracy rally turned into a massacre, and much more.

Amazing Grace (G)

A documentary presenting Aretha Franklin with choir at the New Bethel Baptist Church in Watts, Los Angeles in January 1972.

Directed by Alan Elliot, Sydney Pollack

Starring: Aretha Franklin, Reverend James Cleveland, C.L. Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, Bernard Pretty Purdie

Release date: April 5

The Best of Enemies (PG-13)

Civil rights activist Ann Atwater faces off against C.P. Ellis, Exalted Cyclops of the Ku Klux Klan, in 1971 Durham, North Carolina over the issue of school integration.

Directed by Robin Bissell

Starring: Taraji P. Henson, Sam Rockwell, Babou Ceesay, Anne Heche, John Gallagher Jr.

Release date: April 5

Billboard

Times are tough, listener-ship is down and Casey needs to come up with a plan to save his radio station, WTYT 960, and fast! Casey’s grand plan is to host a billboard sitting contest, where four lucky contestants have the opportunity to win “nine-sixty thousand dollars and a mobile home”. All they have to do is be the last person to survive, living on a billboard.

Directed by Zeke Zelker

Starring: Eric Roberts, Heather Matarazzo, Leo Fitzpatrick, Darlene Cates, John Robinson

Release date: April 5

High Life (R)

Takes place beyond the solar system in a future that seems like the present. About a group of criminals who accept a mission in space to become the subjects of a human reproduction experiment. They find themselves in the most unimaginable situation after a storm of cosmic rays hit the ship.

Directed by Claire Denis

Starring: Robert Pattinson, Juliette Binoche, Andre Benjamin, Mia Goth, Lars Eidinger

Release date: April 5 (Limited)

Peterloo (PG-13)

An epic portrayal of the events surrounding the infamous 1819 Peterloo Massacre, where a peaceful pro-democracy rally at St Peter’s Field in Manchester turned into one of the bloodiest and most notorious episodes in British history. The massacre saw British government forces charge into a crowd of over 60,000 that had gathered to demand political reform and protest against rising levels of poverty. Many protesters were killed and hundreds more injured, sparking a nationwide outcry but also further government suppression. The Peterloo Massacre was a defining moment in British democracy which also played a significant role in the founding of The Guardian newspaper.

Directed by Mike Leigh

Starring: Rory Kinnear, Maxine Peake, Pearce Quigley, David Moorst, Rachel Finnegan

Release date: April 5

Pet Sematary (R)

Louis Creed, his wife Rachel, and their two children, Gage and Ellie, move to a rural home where they are welcomed and enlightened about the eerie ‘Pet Sematary’ located nearby. After the tragedy of their cat being killed by a truck, Louis resorts to burying it in the mysterious pet cemetery, which is definitely not as it seems, as it proves to the Creeds that sometimes, dead is better.

Directed by Kevin Kölsch, Dennis Widmyer

Starring: Jason Clarke, Amy Seimetz, John Lithgow, Jeté Laurence, Hugo, Lavoie

Release date: April 5

The Public (PG-13)

In “the public” an unusually bitter Arctic blast has made its way to downtown Cincinnati and the front doors of the public library where the action of the film takes place. The story revolves around the library patrons, many of whom are homeless, mentally ill and marginalized, as well as an exhausted and overwhelmed staff of librarians who often build emotional connections and a sense of obligation to care for those regular patrons. At odds with library officials over how to handle the extreme weather event, the Patrons turn the building into a homeless shelter for the night by staging an “Occupy” sit in. What begins as an act of civil disobedience becomes a stand off with police and a rush-to-judgment media constantly speculating about what’s really happening. This David versus Goliath story tackles some of our nation’s most challenging issues, homelessness and mental illness and sets the drama inside one of the last bastions of democracy-in-action: your public library.

Directed by Emilio Estevez

Starring: Jena Malone, Gabrielle Union, Emilio Estevez, Alec Baldwin, Christian Slater

Release date: April 5

Shazam! (PG-13)

We all have a superhero inside us, it just takes a bit of magic to bring it out. In Billy Batson’s case, by shouting out one word – SHAZAM! – this streetwise fourteen-year-old foster kid can turn into the adult superhero Shazam.

Directed by David F. Sandberg

Starring: Zachary Levi, Michele Borth, Djimon Hounsou, Jack Dylan Grazer, Asher Angel

Release date: April 5

Storm Boy (PG)

A beautiful and contemporary retelling of Colin Thiele’s classic Australian tale. ‘Storm Boy’ has grown up to be Michael Kingley, a successful retired businessman and grandfather. When Kingley starts to see images from his past that he can’t explain, he is forced to remember his long-forgotten childhood, growing up on an isolated coastline with his father. He recounts to his grand-daughter the story of how, as a boy, he rescued and raised an extraordinary orphaned pelican, Mr Percival. Their remarkable adventures and very special bond has a profound effect on all their lives. Based on the beloved book, Storm Boy is a timeless story of an unusual and unconditional friendship.

Directed by Shawn Seet

Starring: Jai Courtney, Geoffrey Rush, David Gulpill, Erik Thomson, Finn Little

Release date: April 5

Suburban Birds

Some ground subsidence has occurred in a suburban area and a team of engineers, including Hao, is dispatched to investigate the cause. After days of wandering around in the empty suburb looking for answers and carrying his heavy gear, Hao walks into a primary school where he finds a diary chronicling the story of a boy and the separation of what seems to be an intimate group. As the investigation keeps going, Hao discovers that this diary might contain prophecies about his own life.

Directed by Sheng Qiu

Starring: Zihan Gong, Lu Huang, Mason Lee

Release date: March 31

Teen Spirit (PG-13)

Violet is a shy teenager who dreams of escaping her small town and pursuing her passion to sing. With the help of an unlikely mentor, she enters a local singing competition that will test her integrity, talent and ambition. Driven by a pop-fueled soundtrack, Teen Spirit is a visceral and stylish spin on the Cinderella story.

Directed by Max Minghella

Starring: Elle Fanning, Agnieszka Grochowska, Archie Madekwe, Zlato Buric, Millie Brady

Release date: April 5 (Limited)

Will you be seeing any new movies at the theater this week?

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Movies / TV

Last Night on CONAN (12/1): Simon Helberg, Jai Courtney, Sebastian Maniscalco

by Jason Bennett
written by Jason Bennett

coco-banner-12-1

PopCultHQ brings you all the best clips from last night on Conan. On Thursday, December 1st, Conan welcomed Simon Helberg (The Big Bang Theory), Jai Courtney (Man Down), and comedian Sebastian Maniscalco.

CONAN Monologue 12/01/16: Conan jokes about Donald Trump, Starbucks, Anthony Weiner, and more…

Even More Leaked Phone Calls Between Donald Trump & Barack Obama: Listen in on the super-secret call where Trump learned that the Mexican border is actually really, REALLY long.

What Conan’s Watching: Celebrity Apprentice, Westworld Edition: Conan’s trusty INFO button reveals all of his shows’ deepest secrets.

Simon Helberg & Conan Do The High Pants Walk: Simon is wearing a wonderfully tactile suit that appears to be buckled at his nipples.

Simon Helberg On The End Of “The Big Bang Theory“: It’s been ten season of “The Big Bang Theory,” or as it was originally titled, “Lenny, Penny, & Kenny.”

Why Did Simon Helberg Get Booed At Comic-Con®?: Simon is not as nerdy as his “Big Bang Theory” character and the geeks in San Diego weren’t pleased.

Simon Helberg On Hugh Grant’s “Panic Sack”: Both Hugh and Simon were terrified about having to work with Meryl Streep, so they both decided to turn to natural remedies to calm their nerves.

Simon Helberg Idolized New Kids On The Block: He might not have had the singing talents of a Joey McIntyre, but his rat tail game was on point.

A Naked Jai Courtney Terrorized The Director Of “Suicide Squad“: Jai isn’t afraid to drop trou anytime, anywhere, even on the set of a big budget comic book movie.

Jai Courtney Lost A Tattoo Bet With Margot Robbie: If you see Jai sporting his Queensland tattoo, you can thank Margot and her hometown rugby team.

Jai Courtney’s Weird Roadtrip With Shia LaBeouf: Jai & Shia had to play best friends in a movie, so why not drive from Los Angeles to New Orleans together on the spur of the moment?

Sebastian Maniscalco Stand-Up 12/01/16: Sebastian has had it up to here with the Facebook baby announcements, and the Facebook wedding dances and the Facebook fundraisers.

Sebastian Maniscalco Comes From A Very Negative Family: “My dad is an Italian immigrant, so he always thinks he’s being robbed.”

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Interview

PopCultHQ Interview: ‘MAN DOWN’ Screenwriter – Adam G. Simon

by Jason Bennett
written by Jason Bennett
adam-simon-feature
Adam G. Simon, screenwriter for the upcoming film Man Down,  is a good friend of PopCultHQ. Our late founder, Manny Popoca, had the opportunity to meet and interview Adam in 2015 before his prior film’s debut (Synapse) and when Man Down hadn’t yet been opted for a film. When Manny passed this summer, it was then I first made contact with Adam. Upon hearing his death, he did something remarkable. He immediately stepped up and said, “I want to help.” It was because of Adam that a fundraiser was established to help our founder’s wife and children as they process, understand, and deal with this sudden tragedy.
 This wasn’t just a kind gesture to help out a family dealing with the loss. This was a gracious calling from a sympathetic man whose life had been impacted simply by Manny spending some time with him at a convention.
It was a sign of gratitude, of humility, and one of character.
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(l.-r.) PopCultHQ's founder Manny Popoca and Adam G. Simon (2015)

(l.-r.) PopCultHQ’s founder Manny Popoca and Adam G. Simon (2015)

About a week after Manny’s death, we published an article where we gave people a chance to say some words on how Manny impacted their lives. People from the comic book community, film, conventions and more took time out to remember PopCultHQ’s founder. The following is what Adam had to say upon hearing of his passing,

“I remember rubbing nickels together and hustling for anyone to listen to me. Manny Popoca was the first to do so. He gave me an outlet to speak about my projects when no one gave a shit. Kind and gracious, he was the first to show up at the booth and the last to leave. Genuinely interested in all things creative. We spoke last week about the future. His writing, all the things he wanted to accomplish, stories he wanted to tell, places he wanted to see. I’m glad I got to thank him for his generosity and energy. My heart goes out to his family.”
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With the upcoming release of Man Down, I reached out to Adam to see if he’d be up for an interview from us. With almost lightning response time and no hesitation, I received, “Done. Let’s do this.” So here is a look at actor/writer/producer/all-around awesome guy Adam G. Simon and his story coming to life on the big screen in under two weeks!

man-down-posterMan Down

Directed by: Dito Montiel

Starring: Shia LaBeouf, Kate Mara, Gary Oldman, and Jai Courtney

Release Date: December 2, 2016

Synopsis of MAN DOWN:

When U.S. Marine Gabriel Drummer (Shia LaBeouf) returns home from his tour in Afghanistan, he finds that the place he once called home is no better than the battlefields he fought on overseas. Accompanied by his best friend Devin Roberts (Jai Courtney), a hardnosed marine whose natural instinct is to shoot first and ask questions later, he searches desperately for the whereabouts of his estranged son, Jonathan (Charlie Shotwell) and wife, Natalie (Kate Mara). In their search, the two intercept Charles (Clifton Collins Jr.), a man carrying vital information about the whereabouts of Gabriel’s family. As we revisit the past, we are guided in unraveling the puzzle of Gabriel’s experience and what will eventually lead us to finding his family. The psychological suspense thriller MAN DOWN also stars Gary Oldman. #mandown

PopCultHQ’s Interview:
Adam G. Simon

Adam Simon in Synapse (2015)

Adam Simon in Synapse (2015)

PopCultHQ: Can you walk us through the process of taking your completed script and getting it to the point it gets picked up for a film? How long did you pitch it before an offer? Did you experience any frustrations or self-doubt when it wasn’t opted?

 

Adam Simon: It didn’t really go the traditional pitch, option route. I had shopped the concept around for a while with little to no interest. I met with quite a few producers over the period of a year who had some interest. A producer, Dawn Krantz, optioned the script, and set up a meeting with Steve McEveety, John Shepherd and Patrick Hibler at Mpower Pictures.

Quickly I realized the story had found its home. They spoke excitedly of their passion for the subject matter, and told me that MAN DOWN would get the treatment it deserved. Endless discussions, meetings and rewrites followed. I worked odd jobs to get by, and stayed with friends while Mpower sought out actors and directors for the project. At times the process felt like a rollercoaster, but we were all in agreement that it would take a special group of artists – talented, driven, crazy artists – to jump on this project.
You always doubt. I never put all eggs in one basket you know? The whole process to making a movie is frustrating, self doubt is always there but you have to just push forward. Persistence wins every time…unless you die in the process. 🙂

(l.-r.) Adam, Shia LaBeouf, Kate Mara, and director Dito Montiel

(l.-r.) Adam, Shia LaBeouf, Kate Mara, and director Dito Montiel

 

PopCultHQ: Man Down is finally getting its release in the U.S. on December 2nd. There are some great names in the industry taking attached to the project (Shia LaBeouf, Kate Mara, Gary Oldman, Jai Courtney). How involved are you, or have you been, with the cast/crew, filming, or production?

AS: Very limited. I met with some of the cast. Dito and I had long conversations but I was a resource. Everyone works differently, I am on a project now that I am heavily involved in. Meetings with the director, the cast, hammering out some of the intricacies of the characters in a really intimate way. You have to be flexible, there is no set way, or set position of a writer in the theatrical space, that is more seen in television. In film, any number of people can determine the depth of your involvement. It all depends.
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PopCultHQ: How has the reception been ahead of its release? I guess it’d be nice to hear from someone firsthand hearing rants and raves rather than what I may be able to find online (and its validity).
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AS: The people love it and that is what I care about. We have screened the film for veterans and veterans organizations. It’s affecting people in a very personal kind of way. I know what you are talking about though. Shia spoke about it at a screening we did last week. We were at the Venice Italy Film Festival, we screened the film and received a ten minute standing ovation. People were touched. We got back to the hotel and two articles were written just tearing the film apart. At closer inspection the critics were out on a personal vendetta you know, like against Shia. I took it personally. That’s my heart up there. That’s Dito’s, Shia’s, Jai’s, Kate’s, Gary’s, Clifton’s, Charlie’s, Tory’s, everyone’s heart.
 

(l.-r.) Kate Mara, Shia LaBeouf

(l.-r.) Kate Mara, Shia LaBeouf

Look, people will like it, people will hate it, but we are talking about something that no one is talking about in a way that no one is talking about it. Veterans have responded well to it, people have loved it. Critics? We’ll see. Let me just say though, I respect the critics who have actually worked in the industry, but many of them are like wine tasters you know? Never worked a day in the vineyard, never crushed grapes, never worked the field. I care about the people. I care about the story, what is being transmitted. I care about connection and being understood.

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PopCultHQ: I see you have a couple of writing credits for some upcoming projects. “The Pawn,” of which you’re listed as creative executive producer as well, to be directed by Clifton Collins, Jr., and “No Quarter” with Greg Francis at the helm. What can you tell us about each of these upcoming projects?
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adam-bird-flip
AS: Nothing. HAHA. Pawn is going through some revisions as well as some story rights hurdles but it’s getting there. Working on a ton of projects. No Quarter has been a passion project of mine for a while. I am a survivor of abuse. I was abused as a kid and wanted to tell that story in a compelling way. In a way that would have given me some clarity had I watched it as a kid. It’s been a hard process pitching it. Everyone wants pre packaged hot dogs right now in the feature space. Trilogies, properties, super heroes, spandex. Not a lot of people willing to cut checks to storytellers that are trying to hold a mirror up. So it took a while but I found them. Greg is just a kindred soul. He gets me. I get him.
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PopCultHQ: Which actor and/or director would you love the opportunity to either work with or write for?
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AS: You know I have it right now. I can not wait to talk about who we got on board. There really isn’t any one person I am singling out. I am pitching some ideas in television now. I want to have one foot in there but always one foot in the feature space. I have some incredible projects I am kicking around town so we will see.
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PopCultHQ: Anything you would like to add, include, or let people know?
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AS: Manny was a dear friend and a big supporter of mine. I am really grateful to you and your writers for everything you did to help out his family and continue his legacy. I miss the Con and I miss him.
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PopCultHQ, and I personally, would like to thank Adam not only for taking the time for this interview but for everything he has done for us and the Popoca family. God bless you Adam, and here’s to great success with Man Down!
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Pop Cult News

Warner Bros. Releases Two New TV Spots for ‘Suicide Squad’ + The Best Trailer So Far

by Jason Bennett
written by Jason Bennett

SSWarner Bros. has been very strategic in the promotion of their upcoming release ‘Suicide Squad.’ From them showing teaser photos from the set, to debuting the movie poster, and the releasing trailers and TV spots, they have done an excellent job at increasing the amount of footage fans get to see as we draw nearer to the summer premiere. Yesterday, the studio released two new TV spots showing a fair amount of new footage. The last video below is by far the most extensive and revealing trailer to date. All three videos feature heavy on Will Smith’s Deadshot, Jared Leto’s Joker, and of course Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn. Those three characters look to be the main characters in the film, with characters such as Enchantress, Killer Croc, Captain Boomerang, Katana playing in supporting roles. Rick Flag does get a bit more footage and El Diablo has been shown some more love. Surprisingly absent from these latest TV spots, and seen for about a second in the Blitz trailer, is Adam Beach’s Slipknot. From early reviews, however, it’s been said that Beach’s portrayal is fantastic.

Suicide Squad will feature Jared Leto (Joker), Will Smith (Deadshot), Margot Robbie (Harley Quinn), Joel Kinnaman (Rick Flag), Viola Davis (Amanda Waller), Jai Courtney (Boomerang), Jay Hernandez (El Diablo), Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje (Killer Croc), Cara Delevingne (Julie Moon / Enchantress) and Karen Fukuhara (Tatsu Yamashiro / Katana).

Here’s the newly released TV spots, followed by the 2-1/2 minute ‘Blitz’ trailer. Suicide Squad arrives in theaters on August 5th.

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Pop Cult News

A Young Girl’s Lemonade Stand Get Margot Robbie and Jai Courtney To Break From Suicide Squad Set

by Jason Bennett
written by Jason Bennett

Robbie.Courtney

Even superheroes have heroes.  This past weekend, after wrapping up principal filming for the Suicide Squad movie in Toronto, two of the cast members sought out a young hero in her own right.  Na’Ama Uzan, and 8-year old girl from Toronto, has been selling lemonade for a year and a half. But unlike other children just having fun with selling, Na’Ama’s intentions were altruistic. She created her lemonade business solely to help raise money for a charity dear to her heart.  Her older brother suffers from Angelman Syndrome, a severe neurological disorder characterized by profound developmental delays, problems with motor coordination and balance, and epilepsy. To date, the young entrepreneur has already raised $64K for the Foundation for Angelman Syndrome Therapeutics.  When Margot Robbie (The Wolf of Wall Street) and Jai Courtney (Divergent, Terminator Genisys) caught wind of this young girl’s efforts, they felt that they had to meet her.

The two actors made their way to Na’Ama’s stand, spent some time with the young fundraiser, and each purchased a glass of lemonade.  Here’s a video of the news footage covering the story:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5yDQcDqo5Y&w=560&h=315]

SS Cast SDCC

Suicide Squad, the film based on the DC Comics comic book and which is written and directed by David Ayer, features a stellar cast: Will Smith, Margot Robbie, Jared Leto, Jai Courtney, Joel Kinnaman, Cara Delevingne, Viola Davis, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Adam Beach, Jay Hernandez, Karen Fukahara, Common, and Ben Affleck.  The film hits theaters August 5th, 2016.

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