Can Play: Celebs Rumors

Zack Sharf Digital News Director Guy Pearce issued a lengthy apology statement on Twitter after he generated backlash for a controversial statement on transgender actors. In a since-deleted tweet, the “Memento” and “Mare of Easttown” actor mused about the roles trans actors can play. “A question — if the only people allowed to play trans characters are trans folk, then are we also suggesting the only people trans folk can play are trans characters?” Pearce wrote. “Surely that will limit your career as an actor? Isn’t the point of an actor to be able play anyone outside your own world?” While apologizing for “crassly focusing” on an “already-harassed minority,” Pearce also wrote: “I see that raising the question of gender identity within the casting process on a platform like Twitter was not a good idea. For that, I apologize, enormously. I acknowledge it has only stirred up and inflamed attitudes and made us all dig our heels in. I take responsibility for that and again, apologize for starting a fire.”

Lise Pedersen A panel composed of representatives from A-list festivals got together on Sunday for an online talk staged by documentary film festival Visions du Réel to discuss the place of documentary films at their events.The speakers were Giulia D’Agnolo Vallan, U.S. programmer and selection committee member of the Venice Film Festival, Cristina Nord, head of the Berlinale Forum, Eva Sangiorgi, director of the Viennale, and Frédéric Boyer, artistic director of the Tribeca Film Festival.Asked to outline their selection criteria, most panelists agreed theirs was a director-driven approach based on individual submissions.

When it was announced that Robert Pattinson was chosen to play Bruce Wayne, aka Batman, in Matt Reeves’ upcoming superhero film, “The Batman,” most people were confused. People who only knew Pattinson from “Twilight” couldn’t imagine the sparkly vampire kid in the role.