The Box: Disney+ Series 'A shop for killers' to return for season 2, cast for 'the remarried princess' announced
Vincent Blennies
Africa: South Africa's National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) has named Vincent Blennies as its new CEO following former head Thobela Mayinje's sudden resignation during a misconduct scandal. Blennies, a former banking executive with no film industry background, also sits on Boxing South Africa's board after being appointed by Arts Minister Gayton McKenzie. The NFVF, which supports South Africa’s local film development and funding, now faces leadership under someone unfamiliar with the struggling sector. Blennie’s resume includes corporate roles at Absa, African Bank, and Cell C alongside his pastoral work. His unexpected dual appointment raises questions about the government's direction for South Africa's troubled creative industries.
The SABC missed its 2023/24 viewership targets, with SABC1 at 18.8%, SABC2 at 4.1%, and SABC3 at just 1.5%, despite a R3.2 billion government bailout in 2019. The broadcaster’s debt to Sentech has grown to nearly R1 billion while accruing interest, as declining ad revenue has reflected competition from streaming platforms and rival networks. A recent parliamentary briefing revealed that the SABC also failed to meet key operational goals, including news system upgrades and digital expansion. Additionally, its outdated TV license model struggles to adapt to industry shifts.
The upcoming tvN drama Please Quit Drinking, set to premiere Monday, May 12, at 8:50 PM KST, follows a self-proclaimed responsible drinker who reconnects with her teetotaler first love. Determined to change, she attempts sobriety for the first time. Written by Myung Soo-hyun and Jun Ji-hyun, with Jang Yoo-jung directing, the production team states that the series shows "The flow of the relationship between the two people, which follows the gentle but certain amplitude of emotions, is a story that anyone can deeply sympathize with.”
Disney+’s hit Korean series A Shop For Killers will return for Season 2. Season one followed Jian, a college student forced to use survival skills taught by her late uncle Jinman when targeted by elite assassins. Lee Dongwook plays Jinman, a former mercenary, while Kim Hyejun stars as Jian. The new season adds Japanese actor Masaki Okada and Hyunri to the cast. The renewal reflects the growing global popularity of Korean content, which ranks just behind U.S. productions in Netflix viewership.
Philippine production houses GMA Network and CreaZion Studios have partnered with Viu for Beauty Empire, a drama featuring Barbie Forteza, Kyline Alcantara, Ruffa Gutierrez, and Gloria Diaz. The series, directed by Mark Sicat Dela Cruz and written by Real Florido and Rona Co, explores the cutthroat world of the Philippine beauty industry. Former beauty queens Gutierrez and Diaz join a cast featuring Sam Concepcion, Sid Lucero, and K-pop star Choi Bo Min. The plot centers on Noreen Alfonso (Forteza), a self-made CEO seeking revenge, as she battles social media-savvy rival Shari de Jesus (Alcantara) and industry veteran Velma Imperial (Gutierrez). As their feud escalates, a hidden force manipulates their rivalry, escalating the chaos.
Shin Min-ah, Lee Jong-suk, Joo Ji-hoon, and Lee Se-young will lead the upcoming drama The Remarried Empress, adapted from a popular web novel of the same. The story follows an Eastern Empress Joo Ji Hoon who divorces Emperor Joo Ji Hoon and seeks power in the Western kingdom after discovering her husband plans to replace her with his mistress. Shin Min-ah plays the determined empress, while Joo Ji-hoon takes on the role of her scheming ex-husband. Lee Jong-suk stars as the Western emperor, and Lee Se-young portrays the mistress caught in the conflict.
