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Neal Street Productions, Elysian Film Group, and Ashland Hill Media Finance have today revealed further cast names for the highly anticipated film adaptation of Enid Blyton’s beloved children’s classic, The Magic Faraway Tree.

Based on the enchanting Faraway Tree series, The Magic Faraway Tree follows Polly and Tim Thompson and their children, Beth, Joe, and Fran, who relocate to the remote English countryside and discover a magical tree with extraordinary and eccentric inhabitants. These whimsical characters, capable of transporting visitors to fantastical lands, are brought to life by a star-studded cast.

Nicola Coughlan, known for her roles in Bridgerton and Derry Girls, will play the beloved woodland fairy Silky. Nonso Anozie (Sweet Tooth, Ted Lasso) takes on the role of Moonface, the self-appointed group leader. Jessica Gunning (Baby Reindeer, The Outlaws) is cast as Dame Washalot, and Dustin Demri-Burns (Slow Horses, The Great) will portray Saucepan Man. Additional magical denizens include Mark Heap (Friday Night Dinner, The School for Good and Evil) as Mr. Oom Boom Boom and Oliver Chris (Trying, My Lady Jane) as Mr. Watzisname.

British icons Sirs Lenny Henry, Michael Palin, and Simon Russell Beale have also joined the cast, playing a trio of mystical wise men from the Land of Know-Alls. They join the previously announced Claire Foy and Andrew Garfield in the ensemble.

Danny Perkins, CEO of Elysian Film Group, expressed enthusiasm about the casting: “Attracting such talented high-profile individuals to this project is testament to the power of Blyton’s enduring legacy and the continued commerciality of her storytelling. Her work continues to inspire and enchant audiences of all ages, across the world. The Magic Faraway Tree is one of her most timeless, cherished by generations, and we are honoured to be bringing her magical world to life with such a fantastic cast.”

Ashland Hill Media Finance Managing Partner Joe Simpson added, “We are thrilled to partner with Neal Street Productions and Elysian Film Group to realize Ben and Simon’s vision for The Magic Faraway Tree. This dynamic and talented cast are perfect to breathe life into the characters from Enid Blyton’s unfading and enduring classic children’s tale. I have no doubt they will fill the screen with wonder and magic in this elevated, high-concept family adventure.”

The film, adapted by BAFTA Award-winner Simon Farnaby (Wonka, Paddington 2), will be directed by Ben Gregor (Britannia, Cuckoo, Black Ops, Fatherhood). Production is set to commence later this month across the UK.

Enid Blyton’s books remain actively in print and have been translated into over 35 languages, selling over 500 million copies worldwide, making her the most translated children’s author in the world. In the UK alone, over 3.5 million copies of her books are sold annually. The Faraway Tree series remains one of her most popular, having sold over 30 million copies to date and continuing to sell over half a million copies each year to new readers.

The film is produced by Academy Award-nominee Pippa Harris (Empire of Light, 1917, Call the Midwife) and Nicolas Brown (Britannia, Informer, Penny Dreadful) of Neal Street Productions, along with Danny Perkins (Greatest Days) of Elysian Film Group, and Jane Hooks (Golda, Living). Executive Producers include Ashland Hill Media Finance’s Simon Williams, Joe Simpson, and Jonathan Bross, and Palisades Park Pictures’ Tamara Birkemoe.

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Kerry Washington knows how social media likes to gossip and she’s taking it all in stride. 

The actress poked fun at the constant chatter about her friendship with former co-star Tony Goldwyn with a “Black Wife Effect” Instagram post about their “Scandal” characters. The Black Wife Effect social media trend shows how romantic partners upgraded their lives, style, and/or career after marrying a Black woman. 

Washington shared a montage of photos of Goldwyn in his early years, before he appeared alongside her on “Scandal,” and photos of him when he starred on the hit show, where he played Olivia Pope’s love interest President Grant Fitzgerald. 

“Tony! I’ve upgraded your life in so many ways #BlackWifeEffect, and today I’m adding one more,” Washington captioned the video. 

“Go upgrade your voter registration status to REGISTERED 😜. Love you!!!!!! #RegisterAFriendDay #Olitz,” she added, encouraging her followers to register to vote for the upcoming 2024 election. 

Goldwyn responded to the post, writing, “I’d be lost without you kw…🤣 Registering NOW!🙌❤️.”

Washington and Goldyn have maintained a strong friendship since their Shondaland show ended in 2018. Premiering in 2012, “Scandal” broke the mold with its large fan base and weekly trending topics on X (formerly known as Twitter). Washington won the Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series in 2013 and 2014 for her role as Washington D.C. fixer Olivia Pope. 

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The actress was also nominated for an Emmy Award, Golden Globe Award, and SAG Award for her performance during the series’ seven-season run. “Scandal” fans were torn on how they felt about Olivia and Fitz’s relationship on the show, with some rooting for the couple and others hating the pairing. Washington told Entertainment Weekly at the time that she loved the fan debates.

“There are people who don’t really think Olivia and Fitz should be together,” Washington said during a 2015 interview. “Whether they’re Olake [Olivia and Jake] or whether they just don’t think it’s the healthiest relationship … there’s a lot of voices out there. But I really love that our fans are invested emotionally, and I’m excited to be on the roller coaster with them. There will be some people that are thrilled and some people that are sick to their stomachs — and I’m in for all of it!”

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Music fans are in for a treat as Latto, Megan Thee Stallion, and Flo Milli are set to drop their highly anticipated remix of “Sunday Service” tonight at midnight. The news was shared by Latto herself on Instagram, where she posted an exciting announcement to her followers. The post featured a string of car emojis and tagged her fellow collaborators, Flo Milli and Megan Thee Stallion.

“Midnight 🚙🚙🚙🚙🚙🚙🚙🚙🚙🚙🚙🚙🚙🚙🚙🚙🚙🚙🚙🚙 @flomillishit @theestallion,” Latto captioned the post, stirring up enthusiasm among her fans.

The anticipation for this remix has been building since Latto, Flo Milli, Glorilla, and Megan Thee Stallion went viral on social media earlier this week. Backstage footage from Megan’s Atlanta tour stop showed the artists interacting and enjoying each other’s company, sparking excitement about potential collaborations.

Fans can expect a dynamic and energetic track that showcases the unique talents of Latto, Megan Thee Stallion, and Flo Milli. Be sure to stay tuned and catch the release at midnight.

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The beef between Kendrick Lamar and Drake ended nearly a month ago, and fans on social media are still doing their best to keep it alive.

If you were unaware, during the peak of the beef, streamers and YouTubers played a big part in driving the narrative on which rapper was “winning.” YouTube channels posting reactions to the songs as they were being released were almost just as important as the songs themselves.

In the midst of that, many YouTubers were very vocal about Lamar lifting the copyright claims for the diss tracks, making it easy for the creators to profit from their videos.

No Life Shaq, who has nearly 4.5 million subscribers on YouTube, was among the creators who spoke positively about Lamar’s decision.

But this week, there have been claims that the reaction videos to those diss tracks have since been hit with copyright strikes and that the revenue creators made from them has been claimed.

This interaction between a fan and popular YouTuber Scru Face Jean has led people to believe this is true.

However, despite this interaction, other content creators have denied this. In response to the above interaction, content creator Zias wrote in a tweet on Tuesday, “Nobody videos got striked, just auto claimed. Label released the claims for 3wks during the height of it to allow ppl to make money from it in that period, before reclaiming it. You don’t lose any revenue you generated before a claim.”

In another YouTube video, No Life Shaq took a similar stance, saying that Kendrick is the one who decided to lift copyright claims on those reaction videos and that Universal Music Group (UMG) came in weeks later to hit content creators with copyright strikes.

In the meantime, it seems that Kendrick has been more important business to attend to: On Wednesday, the “Not Like Us” MC announced “The Pop Out – Ken & Friends Concert” at The Forum in Los Angeles on Juneteenth.

It seems that he wasn’t lying when he said, “Sometimes you gotta pop out and show n****s.”

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Billie Eilish has unveiled the official music video for “CHIHIRO,” a standout track from her third album, “HIT ME HARD AND SOFT,” which has been met with critical acclaim and record-breaking success. Directed by Eilish herself, the video presents a dream-like narrative that explores the depths of the human mind.

In the video, Eilish navigates long, dark hallways and faces the constant shutting of doors, symbolizing the various corners of the mind. Alongside her co-star, Nat Wolff, she delves into an inescapable connection that visually represents the internal push and pull of deep emotions such as fear, love, and desire. This evocative portrayal underscores the idea that no matter how hard we try to escape our deepest feelings, they inevitably catch up to us.

The release of “CHIHIRO” follows the monumental success of “HIT ME HARD AND SOFT,” which has amassed over 1 billion global streams and claimed the #1 spot in 25 countries. The album, released on May 17th, set new records by selling 339,000 units and 90,000 vinyl copies in its first week in the U.S., surpassing the sales of Eilish’s previous albums. This achievement makes Eilish one of only two artists, and the youngest, to have sold more than 300,000 units in the first week in the last eight years.

Additionally, Eilish is the first female solo artist to have an album with three songs—”LUNCH,” “CHIHIRO,” and “BIRDS OF A FEATHER”—garnering over 8 million streams daily on the Spotify Global Chart within its first week. “CHIHIRO” itself debuted in the Top 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 and has become the fastest non-single in history to reach 100 million streams on Spotify.

Fans can look forward to seeing Billie Eilish live as she embarks on the North American leg of her HIT ME HARD AND SOFT: THE TOUR this fall, with plans to extend the tour to Europe and Australia in 2025.

Watch the visual for “CHIHIRO” below!

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Becoming a new dad is a profound milestone that can be as exhilarating as it is overwhelming. With Father’s Day just around the corner, what better way to celebrate the new fathers in our lives than by giving them gifts that acknowledge this significant transition?

Whether they are navigating the sleepless nights, mastering the art of diaper changes or reveling in the tender moments of parenthood, new fathers deserve to feel appreciated and supported. Here is a curated selection of thoughtful, practical, stylish gifts from mostly Black-owned brands that cater to the diverse experiences and tastes of modern dads. From practical essentials to heartfelt sentiments, these gift ideas are designed to make their journey into fatherhood a little easier, a lot more fun and undeniably special.

For the fathers who need an emotional outlet

Fatherhood comes with a lot of responsibility, which can sometimes take a toll on men’s mental health. Multiple studies have found that journaling and writing down one’s thoughts and reflections can improve emotional awareness and mindfulness. 

“Think of journaling as your brain’s external hard drive – a place to store thoughts, fears, random ideas, and even those sneaky self-criticisms that wake you at 3 a.m,” therapist Jennifer Gray told Forbes. “This not only helps you see how far you’ve come but also proves that life can oscillate between different feelings and experiences and still be an overall upward trend.” 

Inside Then Out is a Black-owned wellness brand that believes the best way forward is inward. Through its various journals and prompts, the brand encourages users to create “intentional moments to slow down.”

Help the new dad in your life get better every day with the brand’s “Better Every Day Journal” ($39.95), which offers 365 days of prompts designed for self-love, reflection and growth. 

For the dad who deserves his own dad swag

While most dads settle for carrying whatever diaper bag the mother chooses,  this Father’s Day, consider gifting him a diaper bag that matches his style. In addition to offering gender-neutral colors, brands like Black Owned Baby Co. and Mina Baie offer backpack-style diaper bags that make it easy for both mom and dad to carry all of their baby’s needs. 

For the extra fashionable dads, consider gifting a Telfar x Eastpak backpack for use as a diaper bag. 

For the fathers who love practicality

When raising a baby, especially a newborn, the practicality of products becomes a priority. Baobab Clothing is a Black-owned brand offering stain-resistant T-shirts that allow fathers to look sharp, no matter what spills come their way. Similarly, The Dad Hoodie ($135) helps dads stay prepared and comfortable with an array of inner pockets equipped to carry all his baby’s needs while on the go. 

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For the dad who loves a good fragrance and beat 

If he’s a Drake fan and cologne aficionado, consider giving him a gift made by one of his favorite rappers. Better World Fragrance House offers a collection of candles and fragrance oil designed by the Toronto rapper. Explore the brand’s unique aromas at betterworldfragrancehouse.co or Ulta Beauty. 

For the dads who cherish every moment 

Help him never forget his first Father’s Day with a customized children’s book recounting the special role he plays in his child’s life. Wonderbly offers an array of customizable children’s books that allow shoppers to personalize names, characters and the cover plus include a special dedication within the book for just $44.99.  

For the dads who aren’t ready to give in to the ‘dad-bod’

Becoming a father is an adjustment, and oftentimes, physical health falls to the back burner as diaper changes and feedings take priority. This Father’s Day, help dad get back on track with his fitness with some at-home workout gear. JaxJox is a Black-owned, innovative fitness brand offering a range of at-home gym equipment. Among the offerings are an extensive (and expensive) at-home interactive studio and adjustable dumbbells and kettlebells. In addition to the equipment, JaxJox also offers free performance tracking and guided videos through its mobile app. Not into weightlifting? Consider gifting an at-home treadmill, allowing them to get their cardio anytime, anywhere. 

For the dads whose muscles need some care

Sometimes, hours of rocking a baby can leave muscles feeling just as sore as an intense workout. For the father whose back and shoulders could use some relief, a massage gun makes for the perfect gift. Total Massage Gun is a Black-owned brand that offers deep muscle treatments with its devices. Total Massage Gun is also available on Amazon.

For the dad who wants to stay fly 

Whether they’re lounging around the house or running to the store to get more diapers, every dad needs a good set of loungewear. Fear of God is an independent Black-owned fashion label that focuses on making timeless, quality, contemporary pieces. From sweatpants to hoodies to robes, Fear of God’s loungewear and essentials collections have something that caters to anyone’s style. Shop Fear of God pieces at Pacsun, Nordstrom and the brand’s official website.

Haniyah Philogene is a multimedia storyteller and Lifestyle writer for theGrio covering all things culture. With a passion for digital media, she goes above and beyond to find new ways to tell and share stories.