Scarlett Johansson tops Forbes best-paid actress list for 2nd year

LOS ANGELES, United States—Superhero Black Widow is a woman at the top of her game, and so is the actress who plays her—Scarlett Johansson is the world's highest paid actress for the second year in a row, according to Forbes' annual ranking published Friday.

Johansson, 34, earned $15.5 million more than she did in 2018, primarily due to the immense global success of "Avengers: Endgame"—the final chapter of the saga—for which she earned $35 million.

The actress will take up the Black Widow mantle again in 2020 for an eponymous spin-off film.

But even though Johansson and her cohorts on the list all earned more than $20 million, pay inequality is alive and well in Hollywood. Johansson earned $56 million total over the past year, but that amount lands her at only eighth place for the combined list of highest-paid actors and actresses.

For comparison, Robert Downey Jr., Johansson's "Avengers" costar, earned about $55 million for his turn as Iron Man in "Endgame."

According to the Forbes ranking of highest-paid actors in the world, published Wednesday, Downey Jr. comes in at third place with $66 million total, behind fellow Avenger Chris Hemsworth ($76.4 million) and Dwayne Johnson ($89.4 million).

For the women, second place goes to Sofia Vergara, an industry veteran but a newcomer to the list. The "Modern Family" sitcom star earned $44.1 million between June 1, 2018 and June 1, 2019.

She is followed by Reese Witherspoon ($35 million) and Nicole Kidman ($34 million), costars on the series "Big Little Lies."

Jennifer Aniston, who came in third in 2018 mainly due to advertising campaigns for major brands, has been relegated to fifth place with a mere $28 million for the year. The former "Friends" star—a show which also featured a guest appearance from Witherspoon—stars in a new series for Apple's on-demand web television service.

Other new list arrivals include Elisabeth Moss, boosted by the series "The Handmaid's Tale," and Australian actress Margot Robbie.

Angelina Jolie, who was number 2 on the list in 2018, did not make the cut this year, along with Julia Roberts, Cate Blanchett and Jennifer Lawrence.

The top 10:

1. Scarlett Johansson ($56 million)

2. Sofia Vergara ($44.1 million)

3. Reese Witherspoon ($35 million)

4. Nicole Kidman ($34 million)

5. Jennifer Aniston ($28 million)

6. Kaley Cuoco ($25 million)

7. Elisabeth Moss ($24 million)

8. Margot Robbie ($23.5 million)

9. Charlize Theron ($23 million)

10.Ellen Pompeo ($22 million)

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Scarlett Johansson leaps to top of Forbes' highest-paid actresses

LOS ANGELES - Scarlett Johansson’s role as Marvel superhero Black Widow catapulted her to the top of Forbes’ annual list of the world’s highest-paid actresses on Thursday, landing her ahead of Angelina Jolie.

Johansson, 33, took in $40.5 million in pre-tax earnings from June 1, 2017, to June 1, 2018, quadrupling her income from the previous year, according to Forbes’ calculations.

She played Black Widow in this year’s hit movie “Avengers: Infinity War” and will return to the role in the 2019 installment from Walt Disney Co’s (DIS.N) Marvel Studios.

Jolie, 43, earned $28 million, largely thanks to a payment for the film “Maleficent 2,” scheduled for 2020.

Jennifer Aniston, 49, who still earns residual income from the 1990s sitcom “Friends,” came in third with $19.5 million. She also received money from endorsements of products including Coca-Cola Co’s (KO.N) Smartwater brand and Johnson & Johnson’s (JNJ.N) Aveeno.

Jennifer Lawrence, 28, who starred in the underperforming films “Mother!” and “Red Sparrow,” was fourth on the Forbes list with continued earnings from her role in the “X-Men” series and an endorsement contract with fashion brand Christian Dior (DIOR.PA). Her $18 million income was $6 million less than the prior year.

In fifth place, Reese Witherspoon, 42, took in $16.5 million.

The rest of the top 10 were Mila Kunis, Cate Blanchett, Melissa McCarthy and Gal Gadot.

Last year’s highest-paid actress, Oscar-winning “La La Land” star Emma Stone, fell out of the top 10.

The 2018 Forbes list of highest-paid actors is scheduled to be released next week. Last year, Mark Wahlberg led the pack with $68 million thanks to his pay days for movies “Daddy’s Home 2” and “Transformers: The Last Knight.”

Forbes said the lack of roles for women means “there are fewer opportunities for stars to earn big bucks.” Only two women topped the $20 million mark, down from three in 2017 and four in 2016.

The magazine compiles its annual celebrity earnings lists from box office and Nielsen data, as well as from interviews with industry insiders.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Scarlett Johansson pulls out of film over trans casting furor

LOS ANGELES, United States - Scarlett Johansson has quit an upcoming movie role as a transgender criminal following an angry backlash against her casting, she revealed in an interview reported widely in US media on Friday.

The actress was to have taken the lead part in "Rub and Tug," the story of Dante "Tex" Gill, a massage parlor operator and pimp who became a major crime figure in the 1970s and 80s. Born Lois Jean Gill, he identified as male.

"In light of recent ethical questions raised surrounding my casting as Dante Tex Gill, I have decided to respectfully withdraw my participation in the project," the 33-year-old told Out Magazine. 

"Our cultural understanding of transgender people continues to advance, and I've learned a lot from the community since making my first statement about my casting and realize it was insensitive." 

When Johansson's casting was announced, she and the project were berated on social media for not handing someone from the community the opportunity, with trans actresses Trace Lysette and Jamie Clayton leading the charge.

Johansson's representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but have previously released a statement pointing out that Jeffrey Tambor, Jared Leto and Felicity Huffman have all made successes of transgender roles.

"While I would have loved the opportunity to bring Dante's story and transition to life, I understand why many feel he should be portrayed by a transgender person, and I am thankful that this casting debate, albeit controversial, has sparked a larger conversation about diversity and representation in film," Johansson added. 

The actress cited figures from GLAAD -- formerly the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation -- showing LGBTQ characters dropped 40 percent in 2017 from the previous year, with no trans characters in major studio releases.

There was no immediate word on the effect of Johansson's exit on the production schedule for "Rub and Tug."

Members of the online transgender community were largely supportive, praising the actress for making a stand but highlighting the long path to equality that must still be negotiated.

"Thank you Scarlett Johansson for pulling out of 'Rub and Tug'... Now the real work begins," tweeted civil rights activist and media personality Ashlee Marie Preston.

"This has been a long time coming Hollywood. But the trans community is ready if you are."

source: news.abs-cbn.com

WATCH: First 'Captain America: Civil War' trailer

The first official full-length trailer for the much anticipated Marvel Studios sequel “Captain America: Civil War” has been released on Wednesday.

Directed by Joe Russo and Anthony Russo, who helmed “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” the film, according to the official synopsis, picks up where “Avengers: Age of Ultron” left off, as Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) leads the new team of Avengers in their continued efforts to safeguard humanity.

After another international incident involving the Avengers results in collateral damage, political pressure mounts to install a system of accountability and a governing body to determine when to enlist the services of the team.

“Captain America: The Winter Soldier” also stars The Falcon (Anthony Mackie), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), and Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.).

The first of Marvel Studios’ Phase 3 films, it will also feature appearances from Chadwick Boseman as Black Panther, Jeremy Renner sa Hawkeye, Paul Rudd sa Ant Man, Elizabeth Olsen as Scarlett Witch, and Paul Bettany as The Vision.

The film will be released in May 2016.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Review: Scarlett returns to action in sci-fi 'Lucy'

Lucy (Scarlett Johansson) is a party-going American girl studying in Taipei, who meets a guy named Richard in a club. Richard tricks her into delivering a suitcase to a certain Mr. Jang (Choi Min-sik). Instead of a simple turnover, Richard is shot and Lucy is abducted. Jang turns out to be a maniacal sadistic Korean drug lord. The contents of the suitcase turns out to be a blue crystalline drug, and Lucy is to become its mule.

A bag of this powerful substance is surgically implanted into her abdomen, but it leaks and spreads throughout her body. The drug accelerates Lucy's usage of her brain to levels no one has yet experienced, giving her incredible superhuman abilities. Lucy eludes her abductors in order to reach eminent expert in brain physiology Professor Samuel Norman (Morgan Freeman) in Paris to offer herself for the benefit of science.

Scarlett Johansson finds herself again in another sci-fi feature -- her third in a row now. First she was the voice behind Samantha, the operating system Joaquin Phoenix falls in love with in "Her." Just last month we saw her as the mysterious alien seductress picking up and killing hapless men in "Under the Skin." This time, like her most popular film role as Black Widow in "The Avengers," she again gets to use her action star skills to good use as Lucy. Her performance is distinct in each of these recent films, and in "Lucy," she gets to display great range as her character undergoes the dizzying effects of the drug.

Director Luc Besson is back in the groove as he sells us this outlandish story of an unlikely super-genius in great style and flair. Besson is known for his over-the-top action scenes in films like "Taken" and "The Fifth Element," and he displays some of his work best here. There are those bloody violent fight scenes, so well-conceptualized and executed in brutal grace. There was that ridiculously awesome car chase scene in Paris had some of the wildest car stunts I have seen onscreen.

The sci-fi aspects of the film are very imaginatively presented, with surreal images ranging from microscopic cells dividing to vast galaxies of stars. Besson would intertwine images of nature to his narrative, like that of a cheetah going after a gazelle which added further tension to the scenes when Lucy was abducted. The authoritative voice of Morgan Freeman keeps the film grounded, lending credence to the science on which this story is based on.

Besson also keeps us updated on the percentage of Lucy's brain access as the film goes along. It was interesting to note their theory that the more realized human brain potential is, the less human we become. The extraordinary sequence of events that happen when Lucy reaches 100% was a cornucopia of bizarre images, highlighted by an incredible series of flashbacks of Times Square in New York City through history to prehistory to the beginning of time. Those dreamlike scenes need to be seen on the big screen for best effect.

Overall, "Lucy" is an exciting, fast-paced, action-packed sci-fi thriller, very entertaining to watch. It keeps you at the edge of your seats during the ride, and concludes the trip with awe and wonderment.

We may have seen this same scenario of drug-induced brain perfection recently with the film "Limitless" starring Bradley Cooper. But "Lucy" went further with the idea, taking it to a more philosophically ideal level. Lucy did not use her new-found genius to try to solve her own personal problems, but instead she aimed for something more altruistic. 8/10

This review was originally published in the author's blog, "Fred Said."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Jessica Alba Belly Nice Bikini

Jessica Alba let all her bronzed gorgeousness hang out in a sexy two-piece bikini while soaking up the sun in Italy on Tuesday.

Just like Scarlett Johansson, the 31-year-old mother of two can definitely stomach the European heat.

source: tmz.com

Scarlett Johansson gets Hollywood star

LOS ANGELES - Scarlett Johansson was honored with her own star on Hollywood's storied Walk of Fame on Wednesday, saying it proved she must have "made it to the big time."

The 27-year-old star, who reprises her role of the Black Widow in the latest Marvel Comics blockbuster "The Avengers," was joined by co-star Jeremy Renner at the ceremony.

"When I was told I was getting this star, I thought to myself, man, I really made it to the big time," said Johansson, dressed in a figure-hugging black and white ensemble with dizzying geometric patterns.

"You know, no matter what happens from here on out, I made my mark, I'm here to stay, and my family for generations to come will always be able to visit me right here, always. What a deeply, deeply touching gift," she added.

Johansson, star of "The Horse Whisperer," "Girl with a Pearl Earring," and "Lost in Translation," first played the Black Widow in 2010's "Iron Man 2" starring Robert Downey Jr.

Renner, who co-stars as Hawkeye in "The Avengers" -- due out in the United States on Friday -- paid teasing tribute to Johansson. "Working with her was tremendous...ly awful," he joked.

"For six months, she continuously threw me around, beat me, stepped on me and wiped the floor with my dignity and self-respect every day -- all with a smile on her face." — AFP

source: gmanetwork.com

Scarlett Johansson and Ryan Reynolds end marriage

Scarlett Johansson & Ryan Reynolds have decided to call it quits and end their relationship after two year marriage, they announced on Tuesday. The couple released an official statement through their rep

The split is very amicable with the joint statement released by the couple saying that they entered their relationship with love and it's with love and kindness that they leave it.


Releasing a statement to FOX 411, the couple said, "After long and careful consideration on both our parts, we've decided to end our marriage. We entered our relationship with love and it's with love and kindness we leave it. While privacy isn't expected, it's certainly appreciated".


According to sources Scarlett was sad and unhappy for quite some time because they don't spend much time together due to their busy schedules.

Scarlett said that being apart from Ryan was hard on their relationships.