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Pope Leo surprises fans with Vatican meeting with Cate Blanchett, Chris Pine & more

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Pope Leo surprises fans with Vatican meeting with Cate Blanchett, Chris Pine & more


Pope Leo XIV meets with actor Cate Blanchett, during an audience with artists from the world of cinema in the Sala Clementina at the Vatican, November 15, 2025, in this handout image. Simone Risoluti/Vatican Media/­Handout via REUTERS 

Pope Leo told a group of leading Hollywood actors and filmmakers on Saturday that cinemas were struggling to survive and that more should be done to protect them and preserve the shared experience of watching movies.

Screen stars Cate Blanchett, Monica Bellucci, Chris Pine and Viggo Mortensen were among those invited to the private Vatican audience, along with award-winning directors Spike Lee, Gus Van Sant and Sally Potter.

Leo, the first U.S. pope, said cinema was a vital “workshop of hope” at a time of global uncertainty and digital overload.

“Cinemas are experiencing a troubling decline, with many being removed from cities and neighbourhoods,” he added.

“More than a few people are saying that the art of cinema and the cinematic experience are in danger. I urge institutions not to give up, but to cooperate in affirming the social and cultural value of this activity.”

Box office revenues in many countries remain well below the levels recorded before the COVID-19 pandemic, with multiplexes in the United States and Canada just suffering their worst summer since 1981, excluding the COVID shutdown.

POPE SAYS LOGIC OF ALGORITHMS MUST BE RESISTED

Leo said cinema, which marks its 130th anniversary this year, had grown from a play of light and shadow into a form capable of revealing humanity’s deepest questions.

“Cinema is not just moving pictures; it sets hope in motion,” he said, adding that entering a theatre was “like crossing a threshold” where the imagination widens and even pain can find new meaning.

A culture shaped by constant digital stimuli risks reducing stories to what algorithms predict will succeed, he said.

“The logic of algorithms tends to repeat what works, but art opens up what is possible,” he said, urging filmmakers to defend “slowness, silence and difference” when they serve the story.

The pope also encouraged artists to confront violence, war, poverty and loneliness with honesty, saying good cinema “does not exploit pain; it recognizes and explores it”.

Australia’s Cate Blanchett said his call carried weight.

“His Holiness’s words today were a real charge not to shy away from difficult, painful stories,” she told reporters. “He really urged us to go back into our day jobs and inspire people.”

The pope praised not only directors and actors but the vast array of behind-the-scenes workers whose craft makes movies possible, calling filmmaking “a collective endeavour in which no one is self-sufficient”.

At the end of his speech, the long list of invitees met the pope one-by-one, many offering him gifts, including Spike Lee, who gave him a New York Knicks basketball shirt emblazoned with “Pope Leo 14”.

“It was a surprise to me that I even got an invitation,” Lee told reporters. “I’ve been to Rome many, many times. But (this was) the first time in the Vatican City and the first time meeting the pope. So it was… a great day, a great day.”

Ahead of Saturday’s meeting, the Vatican shared four of the pope’s favourite films: Robert Wise’s family musical “The Sound of Music”, Frank Capra’s feel-good “It’s a Wonderful Life”, Robert Redford’s heart-wrenching “Ordinary People” and Roberto Benigni’s sentimental World War Two drama “Life Is Beautiful”.





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Chris Hemsworth’s Thor sets the tone serious for ‘Avengers: Doomsday’

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Chris Hemsworth’s Thor sets the tone serious for ‘Avengers: Doomsday’


Chris Hemsworth on Thor in ‘Avengers: Doomsday’

Chris Hemsworth is signaling a major tonal shift for Thor as Marvel Studios prepares audiences for Avengers: Doomsday, and the message is clear from the very first moments of the newly released teaser. 

Gone is the jokey, over-the-top version of the God of Thunder seen in Thor: Love and Thunder

In its place stands a quieter, heavier, and more emotionally grounded hero, one shaped by loss, responsibility, and reflection.

The teaser, which centers entirely on Thor, opens with the Asgardian god in a rare moment of stillness. 

Speaking in a somber voice, he offers a prayer before battle, asking for strength not to conquer, but to return home and protect a child. 

“Father, all my life I’ve answered every call, to honor, duty, to war,” Thor says. 

“Now fate has given me something I never sought. A child, a life untouched by the storm.” The tone alone signals a clear creative reset for the character.

This darker, more mature direction stands in sharp contrast to Thor: Love and Thunder, the 2022 release that divided audiences with its heavy humour and exaggerated style. 

While the film earned $760 million worldwide, even Hemsworth later admitted it pushed things too far. 

In a past interview, he openly reflected on the criticism, saying the film became “too silly” and that he may have leaned too far into the comedy.

He also shared that some of the most honest feedback came from his own kids and their friends, who weren’t shy about pointing out what didn’t work.

Hemsworth has since acknowledged that the experience forced him to rethink the character. 

In a later interview, he admitted, “I got caught up in the improv and the wackiness, and I became a parody of myself. I didn’t stick the landing.”

Still, he made it clear he wasn’t done with Thor, only that the character needed a fresh approach.

That reflection appears to have shaped Avengers: Doomsday

The teaser presents a Thor driven less by spectacle and more by purpose, hinting at a story focused on legacy, responsibility, and emotional depth. 

Hemsworth previously said he would only return to the role if it felt “unpredictable” and meaningful, and this new version suggests Marvel is answering that call.

With Avengers: Doomsday set to hit theaters on December 18, 2026, the early footage is already reassuring fans that the God of Thunder is entering a new era, one that embraces maturity, restraint, and a deeper emotional core.





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Gisele Bündchen reflects ‘as 2025 comes to an end’

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Gisele Bündchen reflects ‘as 2025 comes to an end’


Gisele Bündchen enters 2026 with heartfelt post 

Gisele Bündchen is closing out the year with gratitude and reflection as she opens up about life after welcoming her newest child. 

The supermodel, 45, shared an emotional message marking the end of 2025, offering a rare glimpse into her life as a mother once again and the personal growth she has experienced in recent months.

In a heartfelt social media post, Bündchen reflected on what she described as a deeply transformative year. 

“As 2025 comes to an end, my heart is full,” she wrote, alongside photos documenting her pregnancy and quiet moments with her baby boy. 

“This year brought deep lessons and profound growth. Becoming a mother again reshaped everything—my time, my priorities, my heart.” 

She added that the experience has been filled with “sacred moments” that changed her in ways words can hardly express.

The supermodel welcomed her son in February with husband Joaquim Valente. 

While the couple has chosen to keep their baby’s first name private, a source previously confirmed that his middle name is River, continuing a meaningful tradition in Bündchen’s family. 

She is also mom to daughter Vivian Lake, 12, and son Benjamin Rein, 15, whom she shares with ex-husband Tom Brady.

In her post, Bündchen expressed gratitude for the quieter rhythm of life motherhood has brought. 

“Thank you, 2025,” she wrote. “I step into this new year with gratitude, love, and trust for what’s next.”

She has previously spoken about how becoming a mother again reshaped her daily routine. 

In an earlier interview, Bündchen shared that once her baby began sleeping through the night, she felt a renewed sense of balance. 

“As any new mom knows, sleep changes everything,” she said, adding that being present with her children is what matters most.

As she enters a new chapter, Bündchen’s reflections highlight a year defined by growth, grounding, and deep appreciation for family.





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Miley Cyrus reveals inspiration behind ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ song

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Miley Cyrus reveals inspiration behind ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ song


Miley Cyrus on ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’

Miley Cyrus is opening up about the deeply personal inspiration behind her new song for Avatar: Fire and Ash, revealing how her own life experiences shaped the emotional core of the track.

The Grammy-winning singer, 33, wrote the song Dream as One for the third installment of James Cameron’s blockbuster franchise, and she says the message came directly from her own journey of loss, rebuilding, and resilience. 

Speaking about the project, Cyrus explained that the title of the film itself immediately resonated with her life story.

“In the title alone, Fire and Ash, I’ve had my own experience with rebuilding from the ground up,” she shared. 

Cyrus famously lost her Malibu home in the 2018 wildfires, an experience that deeply changed her perspective. That sense of starting over, she said, became the emotional foundation for the song.

The timing of the project also felt meaningful. 

Reflecting on the devastating wildfires that struck parts of Los Angeles in early 2025, Cyrus explained that the song naturally evolved into a message about unity and healing. 

“Lately we’ve all had this idea of being there for each other and stepping in when your people need it,” she said, adding that it’s about community, chosen family and finding strength together.

For Cyrus, that theme mirrors the heart of Avatar: Fire and Ash, which continues the story of Jake and Neytiri as they face new loss and challenges. 

She said the film’s message aligns closely with her own outlook on resilience. “The ability to rise again,” she noted, “is really what this story is about.”

Unlike her usual songwriting process, Cyrus worked differently this time.

She explained that she was able to see the film while it was still in progress, allowing her to shape the music around its emotional arc. 

“I got to feel like I was part of building it,” she said, adding that the experience helped her connect deeply with the story’s themes.

The singer also reflected on how her past has influenced her creativity, referencing the loss of her home as something that ultimately reshaped her outlook. 

She previously called that experience “the biggest blessing” of her life, saying it taught her that growth often comes from hardship.

With Avatar: Fire and Ash now in theaters, Cyrus says she’s proud to be part of a project that celebrates resilience, connection and hope, themes she believes resonate far beyond the screen.





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