Today is
Thursday June 04, 2026
It's been eight years since the last episode, but just like that — abracadabra — Sofia the First is back. Ariel Winter reprises her role as the voice of Sofia in Sofia the First: Royal Magic.
"There's so much that's exciting about being able to be Sofia again. ...She is just such an amazing little character. It was amazing in the first place to be able to influence young kids in such a positive way," she tells ABC Audio, noting she's grateful for the chance to return. "Sofia's just such a great character. She's so kind and empathetic and brave and welcoming to everyone. I feel like that's just something that we really could use these days."
This time round, "Sofia's in a whole new world now than she was before," as she's now enrolled in a school for royal magic.
"That comes with all sorts of new adventures. She has discovered that she is the most magical princess in the Ever Realm, which is so cool," Ariel reveals. "And we'll get to see more princesses this time. We actually have Moana this season, which is really exciting. There's just so much new stuff and a lot of new characters."
She hopes that young viewers watching the show learn "to be kind to everybody...go into every situation glass half full and try to do your best to be good to people and be your best self in as many situations as possible."
Ariel adds that adults watching with their kids can also enjoy in the series.
"As a grown person watching the show, it's fun, the world is so fun, the music is so great," she says, noting they can also learn from Sofia's top-tier conflict resolution skills.
The first episodes of Sofia the First: Royal Magic are now on Disney+.
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Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
Boots Riley follows up Sorry to Bother You with his new film I Love Boosters, now in theaters. Like his previous film, the movie blends surrealism, comedy and a star-studded cast, including LaKeith Stanfield, Taylour Paige, Naomi Ackie and Demi Moore.
“[I Love Boosters] takes place in the world of professional shoplifters,” he tells ABC Audio. “You could roughly say it’s a heist comedy, and then you just add the fact of the cast, and you don’t have to say more. If you want to know more than that, you want to know too much.”
While Sorry to Bother You used telemarketing to critique capitalism, this film focuses on boosters aka professional shoplifters. Boots says he had personal experience with that world during his years as a "broke rapper" trying to keep up with fashion.
He explains, “I’ve spent decades being a broke rapper ... and when you have no money and you’re trying to stay fly, you better call a booster."
The film follows a group of professional shoplifters who take aim at a cutthroat fashion maven by stealing her clothes and reselling them.
Boots says his interest in boosters comes from how often they are “villainized,” suggesting they play a role in working-class communities and communities of color.
“Boosters serve in a world in which style ... is generated from communities of color and other poorer communities that can’t afford the stuff that gets generated from those inspirations,” he argues. “And so boosters actually end up ... being something that holds the community together while people are trying to survive.”
The film also stars Keke Palmer, whom Boots says he wanted to challenge creatively.
“People think she’s inspiring on film, and on TV and on Instagram. She’s more so in person,” he says. “She’s such a bright, shining beacon and she is smart as hell.”
He adds that he believes the film is both of their best work.
Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
Chlöe's worlds of music and acting unite in the upcoming Peacock film Strung.
She plays Laila, "a talented violinist [who] takes a prestigious job as a music tutor for the gifted daughter of an influential and enigmatic family," according to a press release.
A recently released trailer for the film shows Laila considering the position after being approached by the family matriarch, played by Lynn Whitfield. "We need somebody, a full-time live-in music tutor for my granddaughter," Lynn's character says while giving Laila a tour of the home.
"The type of money they paying, it's the perfect opportunity," Laila says as decides whether she should take the job.
Things take a turn when she's introduced to the gifted Zuri, who emerges with a mask on her face and warns, "The Zulu believe if you die in your dreams, you die in real life. Be careful what you dream."
"As she becomes entangled in their opulent world, unsettling secrets begin to surface, forcing her to question her safety, her dreams, and even her sanity," the press release says of Laila.
"Something is wrong in that house," Chlöe says in the trailer.
Strung premieres June 26 and also stars Lucien Laviscount, Anna Diop, Coco Jones and Romy Woods.
"i’m fighting for my life!!!" Chlöe wrote on socials when announcing the film's trailer.
In a statement, director Malcolm D. Lee said he was drawn to "the script's twists and turns," adding that the film combines "lush visuals, captivating performances and a riveting soundtrack that captivates viewers" designed to keep viewers on edge.
He then concluded with a tease: "Prepare to be Strung…"
Chlöe's worlds of music and acting unite in the upcoming Peacock film Strung.
She plays Laila, "a talented violinist [who] takes a prestigious job as a music tutor for the gifted daughter of an influential and enigmatic family," according to a press release.
A recently released trailer for the film shows Laila considering the position after being approached by the family matriarch, played by Lynn Whitfield. "We need somebody, a full-time live-in music tutor for my granddaughter," Lynn's character says while giving Laila a tour of the home.
"The type of money they paying, it's the perfect opportunity," Laila says as decides whether she should take the job.
Things take a turn when she's introduced to the gifted Zuri, who emerges with a mask on her face and warns, "The Zulu believe if you die in your dreams, you die in real life. Be careful what you dream."
"As she becomes entangled in their opulent world, unsettling secrets begin to surface, forcing her to question her safety, her dreams, and even her sanity," the press release says of Laila.
"Something is wrong in that house," Chlöe says in the trailer.
Strung premieres June 26 and also stars Lucien Laviscount, Anna Diop, Coco Jones and Romy Woods.
"i’m fighting for my life!!!" Chlöe wrote on socials when announcing the film's trailer.
In a statement, director Malcolm D. Lee said he was drawn to "the script's twists and turns," adding that the film combines "lush visuals, captivating performances and a riveting soundtrack that captivates viewers" designed to keep viewers on edge.
He then concluded with a tease: "Prepare to be Strung…"
Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
Vivica A. Fox stars in the film Is God Is, a story about twin sisters, played Kara Young and Mallori Johnson, who have severe burn scars after surviving their father's attempt to murder them, along with their mother. Her character, Ruby, sets them on a revenge mission to kill their dad, shaping the film's central storyline — a role Vivica said she appreciated.
"Ruby was the catalyst of basically setting off the revenge mission for the girls. So I loved it," she said, noting she also enjoyed "working with the girls, Kara and Mallori."
"They were so, so phenomenally prepared, so phenomenally talented that it just really made the experience easy," she continued.
The challenge came when it was time to dress for the part of a fire survivor.
"The hardest part was the prosthetics," Vivica said, noting it took four hours to complete the look. "The funniest part, just to add a little bit of humor to it, was when people would come to set wanting to meet Vivica Fox, and I turned around and I was like, 'Hey,' and it was like, 'Oh my God.'"
She credited director Aleshea Harris for putting together a team that helped make it all possible.
"She hired the best people to work with us to make it believable," Vivica said, "and I appreciate that I've been blessed to have the opportunity to play Ruby a way that my audience has never seen me."
Through her character, Vivica hopes women can learn "to be strong, to know that you can be a survivor and a thriver, and to be honest."
Is God Is is now in theaters.
Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
Mallori Johnson and Kara Young star as twin sisters Anaia and Racine in the film adaptation of Aleshea Harris' play Is God Is. Although both actors are singletons, they put in the work to form a convincing twin dynamic.
"Aleshea brought us in two weeks before we shot," Mallori tells ABC Audio, describing how they worked with choreographer Raja Feather Kelly on different exercises, like trying to finish each other's sentences, to ensure they were moving in sync.
She adds that the process was intentional, but their connection also developed naturally.
“We just genuinely got close. We built a real kinship outside of set. We spent a lot of time together. We were living in the same hotel, and we would meet each other all the time," Mallori says. "And I think we have a very similar work ethic in that we just are very passionate about what we're doing. ... We were bonding off that."
Mallori and Kara also dedicated time to research so they'd portray their characters with care. In the film, Anaia and Racine embark on a revenge mission against their father, who attempted to murder them and their mother in an attack that left them with severe burn scars.
Kara says they studied burn victims and followed people on social media who were "scarred from being burned and or being in a fire."
"I wanted to approach it with true respect and regard for people with disabilities, especially visible disabilities, and understanding that to the best of my ability," Mallori says.
Kara adds they also leaned on Aleshea throughout the process, noting, "It is her baby, and the story is just incredibly profound."
Is God Is is now in theaters.
Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.