Actor Terence Stamp, star of Superman films, dies aged 87
Actor Terence Stamp, star of Superman films, dies aged 87/node/2612120/entertainment
Actor Terence Stamp, star of Superman films, dies aged 87
Cast member Terence Stamp arrives at the premiere of "Valkyrie" in Los Angeles on Dec. 18, 2008. (AP)
Short Url
https://arab.news/9nz2d
Updated 26 min 33 sec ago
Reuters
Actor Terence Stamp, star of Superman films, dies aged 87
Born in London’s East End in 1938, Stamp left school to work in advertising, eventually winning a drama school scholarship
He landed his most high-profile role as General Zod, the megalomaniacal leader of the Kryptonians, in ‘Superman’ in 1978
Updated 26 min 33 sec ago
Reuters
LONDON: Terence Stamp, who made his name as an actor in 1960s London and went on to play the arch-villain General Zod in the Hollywood hits “Superman” and “Superman II,” has died aged 87, his family said on Sunday.
The Oscar-nominated actor starred in films ranging from Pier Paolo Pasolini’s “Theorem” in 1968 and “A Season in Hell” in 1971 to “The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert” in 1994 in which he played a transgender woman.
The family said in a statement to Reuters that Stamp died on Sunday morning.
“He leaves behind an extraordinary body of work, both as an actor and as a writer that will continue to touch and inspire people for years to come,” the family said. “We ask for privacy at this sad time.”
Born in London’s East End in 1938, the son of a tugboat stoker, he endured the bombing of the city during World War Two before leaving school to work initially in advertising, eventually winning a scholarship to go to drama school.
Famous for his good looks and impeccable dress sense, he formed one of Britain’s most glamorous couples with Julie Christie, with whom he starred in “Far From the Madding Crowd” in 1967. He also dated the model
Jean Shrimpton and was chosen as a muse by photographer David Bailey.
After failing to land the role of James Bond to succeed Sean Connery, he appeared in Italian films and worked with Federico Fellini in the late 1960s.
He dropped out of the limelight and studied yoga in India before landing his most high-profile role — as General Zod, the megalomaniacal leader of the Kryptonians, in “Superman” in 1978 and its sequel in 1980.
He went on to appear in a string of other films, including “Valkyrie” with Tom Cruise in 2008, “The Adjustment Bureau” with Matt Damon in 2011 and movies directed by Tim Burton.
‘Platonic’ season 2 — bigger laughs and deeper truths about friendship
Updated 15 August 2025
Shyama Krishna Kumar
DUBAI: Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne are back in “Platonic,” and the first three episodes of season two prove that their non-romantic chemistry remains the show’s not-so-secret weapon. The pair’s easy banter and instinctive comic timing once again anchor a series that takes the madcap energy of season one and parlays it into a more nuanced, heartfelt exploration of adult friendship.
The sophomore season of the Apple TV+ series opens with a major update in Will’s (Rogen) life — an engagement to a woman Sylvia (Byrne) doesn’t have a connection with. It’s an awkward adjustment for both, as their once effortless dynamic is suddenly subject to the gravitational pull of a third party. The early episodes mine this setup for all its comic potential — from misguided attempts at bonding to not-so-subtle turf wars over who knows Will best, and a bachelor party that goes sideways quick. The jokes are bigger, the hijinks just as outrageous, but there’s an added undercurrent of mature self-awareness that keeps the series from depending on laughs alone.
Byrne’s Sylvia continues to be one of TV’s most relatable depictions of mid-life contradictions. She’s a housewife and mother, but still clinging to the “cool girl” identity she once wore so easily. Her adventures with Will allow her to sidestep the mundanity of domestic life, even if they occasionally leave her with more to clean up — figuratively and literally. Byrne plays her with the perfect mix of warmth, femininity and clownery.
Rogen, meanwhile, tempers his trademark goofiness with shades of vulnerability. Will’s excitement over his engagement is genuine, but so is his anxiety over how it might change the friendship that’s been his emotional constant. His scenes with Byrne shimmer with an authenticity that makes their friendship feel lived-in, not manufactured for the camera.
Through it all, “Platonic” remains breezy, smart and devilishly funny. Season two doesn’t just retread the antics of its debut run — it builds on them, delivering sharper humor and a richer look at what it means to keep a friendship alive as life pulls you in different directions. If these first episodes are any indication, Rogen and Byrne’s love story — platonic though it is — might just be one of the best on TV.
After uproar, documentary on Hamas 2023 attack will screen at Toronto Film Festival
Earlier this week, TIFF withdrew its invitation to the film “The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue,” citing legal clearance for footage used in the documentary
The film chronicles the story of retired Israeli Gen. Noam Tibon, whose efforts to save his family and others during the Oct. 7, 2023 attack was profiled in a “60 Minutes” segment
Updated 15 August 2025
AP
NEW YORK: The Toronto International Film Festival will screen a documentary on the 2023 Hamas attack, after all, following an uproar over the film’s disinvitation from the upcoming festival.
Earlier this week, TIFF withdrew its invitation to the film “The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue.” The festival said the decision was based in part on legal clearance for footage used in the documentary. Deadline, which first reported the news, said a sticking point was the identification and legal clearance of Hamas militants’ own livestreaming of the attack.
On Thursday evening, TIFF chief executive Cameron Bailey and “The Road Between Us” filmmaker Barry Avrich issued a joint statement announcing the film’s selection.
“Both TIFF and the filmmakers have heard the pain and frustration expressed by the public and we want to address this together,” said Bailey and Avrich. “We have worked together to find a resolution to satisfy important safety, legal, and programming concerns.”
“In this case, TIFF’s communication around its requirements did not clearly articulate the concerns and roadblocks that arose and for that, we are sorry,” they continued.
The film chronicles the story of retired Israeli Gen. Noam Tibon, whose efforts to save his family and others during the Oct. 7, 2023 attack was profiled in a “60 Minutes” segment.
After being informed that the film wouldn’t screen at the festival, the “Road Between Us” filmmakers issued a statement claiming TIFF “censored its own programming by refusing the film.”
Bailey disputed that allegation, and pleaded that the situation demanded sensitivity.
“The events of October 7, 2023, and the ongoing suffering in Gaza weigh heavily on us, underscoring the urgent need for compassion amid rising antisemitism and Islamophobia,” Bailey said on Wednesday.
The Toronto International Film Festival, North America’s largest film festival, runs Sept. 4–14.
Some of the biggest movies coming your way over the next few months
Updated 14 August 2025
Arab News
‘Spinal Tap II: The End Continues’
Starring: Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer
Director: Rob Reiner
In cinemas: Sept. 12
The long-awaited sequel to one of the greatest comedy films of all time, and the original — if you will — mockumentary, sees Guest, McKean and Shearer reunited as the hapless heavy rockers who have decided to reunite after 15 years for one final show. There’s a hitch, naturally: they need a drummer — a tricky sell when so many who previously sat the stool for Tap have met untimely ends. Along for the ride, of course, is documentary maker Martin Di Bergi (Reiner) to ensure that the historic occasion is recorded for posterity.
‘The Roses’
Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Olivia Coleman, Andy Samberg, Kate McKinnon
Director: Jay Roach
In cinemas: Aug. 29
This star-studded remake of the 1989 black-comedy movie “The War of the Roses” (itself based on Warren Adler’s 1981 novel) sees Coleman and Cumberbatch play Ivy and Theo Rose, an apparently idyllically married couple — he an architect, she a chef. But when Theo’s career trajectory starts to plummet just as Ivy’s starts to soar, the underlying tensions and competitiveness in their relationships begin to surface, with devastating and hilarious results. With some A-list comedy talent on the cast list, and Roach (the “Austin Powers” movies, “Meet the Parents”) at the helm, this might be that rare thing — a comedy movie that actually gets audiences into the cinema.
‘One Battle After Another’
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Benicio del Toro, Regina Hall
Director: Paul Thomas Anderson
In cinemas: Sept. 25
The latest feature from one of the most acclaimed writer-directors of his generation (although not hugely successful at the box office) is an action-thriller with a touch of satirical black humor thrown in. DiCaprio plays Bob Ferguson, who was once a member of a revolutionary group called the French 75. Well over a decade since the group disbanded, their nemesis — white supremacist Colonel Steven J. Lockjaw (Penn) — resurfaces, and Ferguson must call on his former fellow activists to help him rescue his daughter Willa (Chase Infiniti), herself a budding revolutionary. Radiohead’s Johnny Greenwood is the film’s composer — his sixth collaboration with Anderson.
‘After The Hunt’
Starring: Julia Roberts, Andrew Garfield, Ayo Edebiri
Director: Luca Guadagnino
In cinemas: Oct. 10
Italian director Guadagnino’s films — which included “Call Me By Your Name,” “Suspiria,” and “Challengers” — are rarely a disappointment, and this one brings some serious cross-generational star power to the big screen. Roberts plays Alma Olsson, an Ivy League professor whose close friend and colleague Hank Gibson (Garfield) is accused of assault by Olsson’s protégée Maggie Price (Edebiri — winner of an Emmy and a Golden Globe for her role as Syd in “The Bear”). In trying to deal with that situation, Olsson must face up to some long-buried secrets from her past. Even if none of the cast manage to bag an Oscar, then composers Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross probably have a good shout.
‘Good Fortune’
Starring: Keanu Reeves, Seth Rogen, Aziz Ansari
Director: Aziz Ansari
In cinemas: Oct. 17
Ansari’s feature debut as director is a comedy about a low-ranking angel called Gabriel (Reeves) who comes down to Earth to try and show Arj (Ansari) that money can’t solve your problems by allowing him to swap places with his rich tech-bro employer Jeff (Rogen). It doesn’t quite go the way Gabriel expected, and he ends up having his wings taken off him and being banished to live among humans. Gabriel and the now-homeless Jeff move in together as all the work Gabriel did as an angel is undone. Keke Palmer and Sandra Oh also star.
‘A House of Dynamite’
Starring: Idris Elba, Rebecca Ferguson, Gabriel Basso
Director: Kathryn Bigelow
On Netflix: Oct. 24
Little has been revealed about Netflix’s upcoming thriller, but the stars and director alone are enough to build hype. Bigelow made history in 2009 when she became the first woman to win the Best Director Oscar (for “The Hurt Locker”) and “A House of Dynamite” will be her first feature since 2017’s “Detroit.” And with Elba and Ferguson heading the cast list, it’s a safe bet there’ll be some seriously strong performances in this tale told in real time about a group of White House officials frantically dealing with a missile attack on America.
‘Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere’
Starring: Jeremy Allen White, Stephen Graham, Jeremy Strong
Director: Scott Cooper
In cinemas: Oct. 24
Timothée Chalamet has already wowed critics with his portrayal of Bob Dylan this year in “A Complete Unknown,” and now “The Bear” star Jeremy Allen White takes on Dylan’s closest contender for the title of greatest living US songwriter: Bruce Springsteen. Cooper’s biopic isn’t the tale of how Springsteen became a star — at the time the film begins he’s already a hit. Instead, it’s the story of the making of his stripped-back 1982 masterpiece “Nebraska,” recorded on a four-track in his bedroom at a time when he was struggling with his fame and the demons of his past. White has already received praise from The Boss himself, as has Graham as Springsteen’s domineering father.
Maya Waked on music, identity, and her upcoming Dubai show
Updated 13 August 2025
Rahaf Jambi
RIYADH: Lebanese-Canadian singer, songwriter, and genre-defying performer Maya Waked is celebrated for her evocative reinterpretations of classic songs and emotionally rich originals, blending nostalgia with modernity in a voice shaped by her multicultural heritage. Ahead of her anticipated performance at Dubai’s Zabeel Theatre this November, she spoke to Arab News about her creative journey and cultural identity.
“I take pride in taking the road less travelled by. I’ve always taken an unconventional approach within my art and like to challenge social boundaries,” Waked said, noting that genre-defying music allows her to explore sounds and themes without limits.
Her songs capture the joie de vivre — the joy of life — even when tinged with nostalgia. “I express love, longing, and hope, especially from the perspective of someone living in a multicultural city like Dubai.” She envisions her upcoming show as “a warm, emotional celebration,” adding: “I hope the audience laughs, cries, sings, and dances, just like we do at any Lebanese gathering.”
Being trilingual shapes her music deeply. “Arabic adds depth and poetry, French lends romance, and English gives a modern edge.”
She began her career by reinterpreting 1980s Lebanese songs she loved, aiming to give them fresh life. “I’m also drawn to timeless melodies — anything that people hum as soon as the first note plays.”
Her audience is primarily aged 30 to 50, often Lebanese and Middle Eastern expats, although her music also resonates with non-Arabic speakers. “Despite the challenges of balancing my personal and artistic life, I’ve learned that adversity often fuels meaningful art.”
Looking ahead, Waked hopes to keep performing and producing, and dreams of singing in Beirut — the heart of her song “Helmi Ghanilak Bi Beirut.”
Saudi rapper Zeyad Al-Saadi wears a thobe not just to represent his roots but to challenge stereotypes. (Supplied)
Updated 12 August 2025
Rahaf Jambi
Wearing a thobe on stage, Saudi artist ZezO redefines what global rap can sound and look like
Ƶ has a voice, and we’re just getting started, says rap artist
Updated 12 August 2025
Rahaf Jambi
RIYADH: Zeyad Al-Saadi, better known as ZezO, is not just a name in the Saudi music scene. A molecular and cellular biologist by training, he is an artist whose work blends culture, creativity and determination.
“Music has always been my escape,” he told Arab News. “It’s a way to express what I can’t put into words.”
Born in Ƶ, Al-Saadi moved to Arizona at 15. “Living in America helped me see the world through a different lens, but my Saudi roots have always grounded me,” he said.
Saudi rapper Zeyad Al-Saadi wears a thobe not just to represent his roots but to challenge stereotypes. (Supplied)
Over the next 12 years, he immersed himself in American culture while holding tight to his heritage.
His life changed in 2005. After finishing a biology exam early, a classmate from Iraq invited him to a recording studio.
“That day changed everything for me,” Al-Saadi recalled. “I walked into a recording studio for the first time and felt a rush like never before.”
HIGHLIGHT
Zeyad Al-Saadi sees huge potential in the Kingdom’s emerging music scene.
By nightfall, he had recorded his first song, rushed to buy basic gear, and started teaching himself rap and audio engineering.
The spark had been there for years. “Since 1998, I’ve been captivated by the lyrical brilliance of legends like Rakim, Eminem and Nas,” he said. “They shaped my style and pushed me to find my voice.”
His sound now fuses traditional influences with modern beats.
Saudi rapper Zeyad Al-Saadi wears a thobe not just to represent his roots but to challenge stereotypes. (Supplied)
As a Saudi artist in a predominantly Western rap scene, he is sometimes underestimated: “When people hear ‘Saudi,’ they often put me in a box. They don’t expect someone from here to rap, let alone be good at it.”
This assumption— that if it’s not coming from the West, it can’t be real hip-hop— fuels his passion. He wears a thobe not just to represent his roots but to challenge stereotypes and prove that talent has no borders.
“Ƶ has a voice, and we’re just getting started.”
Ƶ has a voice, and we’re just getting started.
Zeyad Al-Saadi, Saudi rap artist
Al-Saadi sees huge potential in the Kingdom’s emerging music scene. “There’s a hunger and creativity everywhere. I’m always open to collaborating with artists who bring something fresh to the table,” he added.
For the rap artist, music is about learning from each other and growing the scene together. He actively seeks out new artists, keen to explore how their styles can complement his own.
Staying connected with his audience is crucial for Al-Saadi, especially given cultural differences.
“Music cuts through everything — language, background, nationality. When you’re honest in your lyrics, people connect,” he explained.
His commitment to staying true to his roots deepens that connection, allowing him to resonate with fans from diverse backgrounds. “I think my authenticity is what draws people in.”
Social media plays a significant role in promoting his music and message: “It’s changed the game for artists like me. I can drop a verse today, and someone in Brazil might hear it tomorrow.”
The global reach has led to unexpected moments, such as being recognized by American fans at Riyadh airport.
“They had been listening to my music and wanted to know more about my culture. We ended up having a meaningful conversation that turned into a lasting friendship,” he said.
It’s no surprise that for Al-Saadi, music isn’t just personal expression. It’s a bridge.
As he pushes forward, he is determined to open doors for the next generation of Saudi artists.
“Being Saudi is not a limitation; it’s a strength ... We have so much to share, and I’m excited to see where this journey takes us.”
