The lovers, the dreamers and him.
Kermit the Frog is set to deliver the commencement address at the University of Maryland this spring. The university just so happens to be Jim Henson's alma mater, where he graduated with a degree in home economics in 1960.
The University of Maryland released a video announcing the commencement speaker, where it listed out all of the green amphibian's accomplishments. The Muppet was described as an environmental advocate, bestselling author, Peabody Award winner, international superstar, "amphibitarian," friend to all creatures and champion of creativity, kindness and believing in the impossible.
Kermit made a quick appearance at the end of the video announcement. "Uh, I guess it's me," he said.
In a statement shared by Entertainment Weekly, Kermit also said nothing could make him happier than to speak at the University of Maryland.
"I just know the class of 2025 is going to leap into the world and make it a better place, so if a few encouraging words from a frog can help, then I’ll be there!” Kermit said.
The university's president, Darryll J. Pines, also shared a statement about Kermit coming to speak to the graduating class.
“I am thrilled that our graduates and their families will experience the optimism and insight of the world-renowned Kermit the Frog at such a meaningful time in their lives," Pines said. "Our pride in Jim Henson knows no bounds, and it is an honor to welcome Kermit the Frog to our campus, 65 years after Mr. Henson graduated from the University of Maryland."
This won't be the first time Kermit will be celebrated at the university. A bronze statue of the famous frog sitting next to Henson is located on its campus in the Arboretum and Botanical Garden.
Kermit's commencement speech will take place on May 21.
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The Legend of Zelda film now has a release date.
Sony Pictures and Nintendo have announced the upcoming live-action adaptation of the popular video game will arrive in movie theaters on March 26, 2027.
Wes Ball will direct the film, though no plot details or cast announcements have been shared. The project will be co-produced by Sony and Nintendo.
The film's release date was announced Friday via Nintendo's new Nintendo Today! app, which debuted during Nintendo Direct March 2025.
The Legend of Zelda franchise first launched in 1986. Its story centers on the characters Link and Princess Zelda, who set out to save the kingdom of Hyrule from the villainous Ganon.
A live-action film adaptation of the game was first announced in November 2023. The film's producer Shigeru Miyamoto posted at the time that he'd been working on the project for many years.
“We have now officially started the development of the film with Nintendo itself heavily involved in the production. It will take time until its completion, but I hope you look forward to seeing it,” Miyamoto wrote.
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Ready, set, binge! Here's a look at some of the new movies and TV shows coming to theaters and streaming services this weekend:
ABC
The Conners: After more than three decades on TV, the final chapter in the Conners' story debuts with the show's season 7 premiere.
Apple TV+
The Studio: Hollywood plays itself in the new Seth Rogen series.
Prime Video
Holland: Nicole Kidman stars in the new film about a homemaker whose picture-perfect life is flipped upside down.
Netflix
The Life List: A young woman conquers her grief as she works through her life's goals in the new film.
Movie theaters
Death of a Unicorn: Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega accidentally run over a unicorn in the A24 film.
The Woman in the Yard: A mysterious woman haunts a grief-stricken family in the horror movie.
That’s all for this week’s Weekend Watchlist – happy streaming!
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Martin Scorsese's next film is shaping up to be star-studded. Dwayne Johnson, Leonardo DiCaprio and Emily Blunt are set for the director's latest film, Deadline reports. The movie will follow a Hawaiian crime boss who battles rivals for control of all organized crime on the islands. The film has been picked up at 20th Century Studios ...
Oscar Isaac will executive produce and star in a new series for Apple TV+. The actor will play the conman Juan Carlos Guzmán in the show Stowaway, according to Variety. Steven Levenson will develop the series, which will have a pilot episode directed by Alfonso Gomez-Rejon ...
Billy Eichner is getting on board of the upcoming Will Ferrell and Zac Efron comedy film. The actor has joined the movie, which will be made for Amazon MGM Studios, according to Deadline. The untitled comedy is written and directed by Nicholas Stoller and also stars Regina Hall and Jimmy Tatro. It follows a young convict who takes a reality TV courtroom hostage after blaming the judge for a past ruling that destroyed his life ...
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A lottery winner reunites his favorite band in the new film The Ballad of Wallis Island.
Longtime collaborators Tim Key and Tom Basden star in the movie, which arrives in select theaters on Friday.
Key plays Charles, the world's biggest fan of the fictional former folk-rock duo McGwyer Mortimer. Basden is Herb McGwyer, a musician who is surprised to find out he's been brought out to a remote location to play a concert for an audience of one.
The feature is based on a short film Key and Basden made with this film's director, James Griffiths, 18 years ago. Basden told ABC Audio "it was a lovely thing to revisit and to come back to and to play these characters again and to kind of rediscover that sort of dynamic between Charles and Herb."
Both actors wrote this film's script, which Basden said was "a very easy and organic thing."
"The good thing about working with someone for such a long time as I have with Tim is that you kind of know exactly what the other person would do and what that character would say," Basden said.
After agreeing with Basden, Key made sure to add, "Just as a slight caveat. It did take us 18 years to write it."
The biggest change from the short film to this feature is the addition of the new character Nell Mortimer, who is played by Carey Mulligan.
"That kind of elevated our film and turned it into something very different," Key said. "Both the character, what that added to the story, and then obviously [we were] very, very lucky to have Carey Mulligan."
The Ballad of Wallis Island expands to even more theaters on April 18.
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The Little Mermaid is set to swoon over the Duke of Hastings in an upcoming romance film.
Halle Bailey will star alongside Regé-Jean Page in the new movie Italianna, ABC Audio has confirmed.
The Universal Pictures film will be directed by Kat Coiro. Ryan Engle wrote the screenplay based on an original idea from him and Kristin Engle.
While plot details are being kept under wraps, the project has been described as a romantic comedy.
Coiro also directed the 2022 Universal romantic comedy Marry Me starring Jennifer Lopez and Owen Wilson.
Bailey is known for being part of the music duo Chloe x Halle, as well as her breakout acting role as Ariel in the live-action The Little Mermaid adaptation. Page is known for his starring role in season 1 of the period romance drama series Bridgerton.
Deadline first reported the casting news about Italianna.
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Leonardo DiCaprio fights many battles in the trailer for Paul Thomas Anderson's latest film, One Battle After Another.
DiCaprio shared the film's trailer to his own brand-new YouTube channel on Thursday.
The new movie comes to theaters and IMAX screens on Sept. 26. It was filmed on 35mm film while using VistaVision cameras and marks the first collaboration between Anderson and DiCaprio.
While exact plot details for the film remain unknown, it's said to be partially inspired by the 1990 Thomas Pynchon novel Vineland.
DiCaprio plays Bob Ferguson, a revolutionary who is looking to save his daughter. In the trailer, DiCaprio's Bob cannot remember the answer to the question, "What time is it?"
He desperately says through the phone, "I cannot remember for the life of my only child the answer to your question."
“Maybe you should have studied the rebellion text a little harder,” the voice on the other side of the phone says back.
The trailer ends with Bob yelling "Viva la revolución" to Benicio del Toro's sensei character before escaping.
Anderson wrote and directed One Battle After Another for Warner Bros. Pictures.
Regina Hall, Teyana Taylor, Sean Penn, Alana Haim, Wood Harris, Shayna McHayle and Chase Infiniti also star in the upcoming film.
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