Here’s Why Disney’s Live Action ‘Lilo and Stitch’ is A Remake Done Right

Calling all Netflix fans! Here’s one LIVE show you need to add to your watchlists this May!

Netflix Tudum 2025: The Live Event is happening on May 31, 2025, where the streaming platform’s biggest stars come together for a one-of-a-kind celebration of fandoms and culture-defining storytelling. 

The event will stream live at 8 PM (ET) / 5 PM (PT) / Jun. 1, 8 AM (UTC +8) from the KIA Forum in Los Angeles. Hosted by Netflix film fan-favorite actress Sofia Carson (“The Life List,” "Carry-On,” “Purple Hearts”), this program will not only feature your favorite actors but also exciting performances, exclusive sneak previews, and jaw-dropping reveals!

Other special guests making an appearance at the event include “Emily in Paris” star Lily Collins; “Stranger Things” and “Enola Holmes” actress Millie Bobby Brown; Jenna Ortega, who played the goth icon “Wednesday;” and the stars of “Squid Game,” Lee Jung-Jae, Lee Byung-Hun, Kang Ae-Sim, and Choi Seung-Hyun (T.O.P).

Additionally, Little Monsters will be pleased to know that Lady Gaga will be performing live at the event. The Grammy-winning artist recently released her new album “Mayhem,” which topped album charts in over 20 countries. She also headlined Coachella in April and held a free concert on Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana Beach, which was attended by over 2.5 million fans — the largest crowd for a concert by any female artist in history. 

Her documentary “Gaga: Five Foot Two” is currently streaming on the platform, which gives a behind-the-scenes look at the artist and documents the events around the production of her fifth studio album and preparations for her Super Bowl Halftime Show performance.

Tudum LIVE is Netflix’s signature fan event, named after the iconic sound that plays at the start of every Netflix show. This celebration first started in 2020 at the Bienal Pavilion of São Paulo, Brazil, and was a multi-title festival that celebrated Netflix’s young adult content. The festival drew more than 50,000 fans over four days. Since then, it has evolved into multiple formats from festivals to livestreams and digital almanacs, making it the ultimate global fan event. 

The 2025 broadcast is produced by Silent House Productions, with Emmy Award winners Baz Halpin, Mark Bracco, Linda Gierahn, and Elizabeth Kelly serving as executive producers. 

For more details and updates, visit Tudum.com or follow Netflix on Facebook, X (Formerly Twitter), and Instagram. 

Indie-rock outfit Frankie Cosmos is storming through the streaming charts, with 1.6 million monthly listeners on Spotify and a growing cult following in Asia. 

Led by Greta Kline’s signature dreamy, minimalist lyricism, the band crafts introspective songs that explore heartbreak, self-discovery and the passage of time.

Their recent hit ‘Vanity' was released in Apr. 2025 and quickly garnered nearly 200,000 streams on Spotify.

Frankie Cosmos is the stage name of Greta Kline, who first cut her musical teeth on the internet, sharing music independently on the quintessential DIY platform Bandcamp. She began to perform under the alias Frankie Cosmos in 2011. The band is made up of Greta Kline, Alex Bailey, Katie Von Schleicher, and Hugo Stanley.

Frankie Cosmos is set to release their latest album "Different Talking," on June 27, 2025 via Sub Pop. “Different Talking” is Frankie Cosmos' sixth studio album. Their most textured album to date; "Different Talking" is a luminous meditation on the quiet conflict of growing older and holding space for our past selves. This bittersweet collection of songs honors the wide-eyed courage and comfort of her early twenties, while charting the chanteuse's evolution into uncharted emotional terrain. 

"Different Talking" marks the first time Frankie Cosmos has self-produced and arranged tracks without external studio producers. The result is an album that feels more experimental and expansive, blending elements of country-fried noodling with delicate synth textures. 

Ahead of the album’s release, Frankie Cosmos released their lead single 'Vanity,' a track that embodies the tension between “adult and kid, government and governed, planet and blade of grass,” as Greta describes it.  

They have also followed up with their latest single, 'Bitch Heart,' released on May 7, 2025, alongside an official music video directed by Eliza Lu Doyle.

Ahead of the album’s release, The Beat Asia spoke with Greta from her apartment in New York about the challenges of self-producing "Different Talking" and the inspirations behind the new single 'Vanity.'

Congratulations on the upcoming release of your album "Different Talking." How are you feeling as it nears release, and what does it mean to you after six albums?

Thank you, I'm excited! There's a lot to do, which is fun. Every record feels special to me. When I’m in the world of the record, it always feels like the most exciting thing I've done, but this one is particularly meaningful because of the way that we recorded it.

I feel especially proud of what we were able to achieve without a producer, and the sound [of this album]. 

The title of the album "Different Talking" is very evocative. How did you come up with this name? Could you tell us about what sort of feelings or personal experiences inspired the songs on this album?

It came from something my three-year-old godson said. My band started using it as a slang term, and we just thought it was a cute phrase. But it started to mean that something is different based on the tone of how you're saying it, either [in a] good or bad [way]. We would use it when we were making the record to describe a guitar tone, or a take of a song, or the coffee that day. So when Alex said, 'Different Talking,' everyone in the band was like 'Yes,' because it became part of the way that all of us speak.

How do you think this album fits in with the broader scope of your work?

In the scope of all my records, I like to think that my songwriting follows my aging process and the way I reevaluate my feelings with distance and hopefully some more wisdom as I get older.

A huge difference is the personnel on the record, having two new bandmates from the previous albums. Katie and Hugo brought their own different styles and that changed the sound a lot. 

The fact that we recorded it ourselves had a big effect on the sonic textures we were making. We all felt close to the actual sounds, because there was nobody between us and the computer, and we gave ourselves a lot of time.

This album marks the first time Frankie Cosmos has arranged and recorded without an external producer. Can you share a bit about what your experience collaborating with the rest of the band was like?

It was exciting and scary, but not easy. We were developing our chemistry as a band, because we hadn't played that many shows the four of us, and arranging the songs while we were recording them.

I've never spent more than 10 days recording an album. We were recording ['Different Talking'] for 40 days, and it was the most time we've had to take breaks. That was a huge part of it — hanging out with each other and being able to explore and try stuff out, it was a really rewarding recording experience.

It got me back in touch with feeling naive and young about music, and it felt good, but also hard. There were times when I was losing my mind. I realized that so much of a producer's job is to tell the band when to stop and come back to something, so it was a test of strength.

Did you face any other challenges during this process?

A big challenge was trying to record to tape. We had started recording, and it kept cutting in and out. We realized the tape was defunct and had to get a new one.

Katie and I were like, it doesn't have to be tape, but Alex and Hugo really wanted to record to tape. We were just butting heads a little bit about how much the physical part of recording affects the process, and how much we all cared about that. So it all worked out, and we were able to do the basics to tape, which was really cool. Katie was working hard on the tape machine; it's a lot to maintain!

That’s an interesting way of recording music. Why did you decide to do this?

It's a cool way to record, because you don't have as much freedom, and you have to get it in a certain number of takes, you can't re-record over tape too many times or it starts to lose quality. 

I did my first two records to tape — 'Zentropy' and 'Next Thing' were both two reels of tape. It's part of why my records — up until the last two — are how the band sounds live. It’s like we're playing our live set and you're just hitting record and capturing everything at the same time. I'm glad that we ended up doing it [recording to tape], because it is a way more organic process. 

Given your experience self-producing this album, would you consider going down this route in the future?

I think I would. If you had asked me the day we finished, I would be like, 'I'm never doing that again.' But now that it’s been eight months since we finished recording, it feels amazing. 

It's really up to Katie, I would say, because she did the most physical labor, being the engineer. She was cleaning the inside of the tape machine every day with a Q tip and making sure it was in good shape. Also having to play her instruments near the machine so that she could hit record, because it was just the band, there was nobody hitting record for us. 

Is there a song on "Different Talking" that you feel particularly proud of?

I picked 'Vanity' as the first single because it was the one that I wanted to play for my friends first when we finished the record. But I don’t know if I have a favorite. I guess I was really proud of 'Margareta' because we played it live a couple of times, and it was hard to get the take when we were recording it because it felt like a live song. Maybe that’s the one I’m most proud of at the moment. 

Congratulations on your lead single Vanity’s recent release! What were your inspirations for this single?

I never know what the theme of a record is until I'm done. Time is a big one for me, just being a part of the universe and feeling small in the universe in a cozy way (or a scary way!)

I’m trying to find humor in some deep rage I have and turn it into something that’s fun, and see what comes out of it. That's part of songwriting for me, just following the song and not feeling so much ownership over where it's heading.

Can you walk us through the creative process behind 'Vanity?'

I was in a part of New York that was kind of empty, and passing this big cemetery called Green-Wood Cemetery. I had just walked five and a half miles and probably had another mile left in my walk, and I was singing to myself because I was alone. 

I have the audio recordings of me singing 'Vanity' to myself, the melody, and the words for the chorus. When I went home, I tried to figure out what chords to put behind it. There's a version where I put these minor chords behind it, and it sounds a bit spooky. The part about speaking to the planet 'oh Jupiter' just happened.

What does 'Vanity' personally mean to you, and how do you think it will connect to listeners who may be grappling with similar feelings?

It’s an angry song, but it's also fun and funny. It’s about getting older and finding outlets for your anger and laughing at it, and that being a path to forgiving yourself for having feelings. 

I'm obsessed with this old Liz Phair demo, which is about feeling like an ant in Alaska. Everyone has felt that, and the beauty of that, and feeling part of the universe is part of what 'Vanity' is about. 

I’m interested in time and that it's expanding forever in both directions. For me, 'Vanity' is about being 30, and [being] 16, and remembering being 16 when you're 30. Those are like the bookends of the song, but time makes them expand in both directions. It’s about forever being part of the line of time moving. 

Are you doing any upcoming tours to Asia?

We don't have any planned right now, but hopefully this is something that we will work on for next year or the coming years!

What’s next for Frankie Cosmos? Any upcoming projects or music?

Just this record. I'm really excited to get the whole thing out. Thank you for talking to me about it. I hope everyone likes the rest of the album!

Watch the Official Video for 'Vanity' on YouTube here, and the music video for 'Bitch Heart' here. 

Stay connected to Frankie Cosmos on their website, Facebook and Instagram. 

A new team of heroes has arrived, and who would’ve thought it’s an odd group of antiheroes who just coincidentally worked together to face a greater threat?

Marvel Studios released their second Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) theatrical release this year and despite the lukewarm reception to “Captain America: Brave New World,” this new adventure has received a wave of positive reviews from critics and moviegoers alike, earning an 88% rating from critics and 94% from verified audience on Rotten Tomatoes. 

Marvel’s “Thunderbolts*” brings together an unusual band of superhero rejects comprised of Florence Pugh's Yelena Belova, Sebastian Stan's Bucky Barnes, David Harbour's Red Guardian, Hannah John-Kamen's Ghost, and Wyatt Russell's John Walker. If you’re a fan of the MCU or have been keeping up with the films, you already probably know that these characters have been a thorn in the side of the Avengers one way or another and have done some pretty bad things. 

At first glance, this film might look like another “Suicide Squad,” DC’s popular movie about a group of criminals working together to fight off a greater villain, but after watching the film, we realize Marvel has much more in store in this action-packed adventure. With this film, the company was able to explore a darker kind of villain, one that resides in our minds. 

Redemption Arc at Its Finest

Warning: Spoilers ahead! 

"Thunderbolts*” is a redemption film at its core, a story that tells of an unconventional group of antiheroes working together to fight a greater evil. Although trauma has been an overused plot device in many movies, this film utilizes it in all the right ways as it plunges deeply into the state of mind of each character and explores their mental health issues, a theme that is both relevant and timely. 

Directed by Jake Schreier and written by Eric Pearson and Joanna Calo, “Thunderbolts*” gave us an original treatment of mental health issues told in a heartfelt way. We don’t think we’ve ever teared up over a Marvel film outside of character deaths, but here we are. 

Like most movies in the MCU, “Thunderbolts*” begins right into the action as we witness Yelena standing on the edge of a skyscraper. As she jumps and parachutes to a lower floor, we hear her voiceover saying, “There’s something wrong with me. An emptiness. I thought it started when my sister died, but now it feels like something bigger. Just a…void.”

She goes on a monologue about being bored and discontent with how her life has turned out as she fights her way into the building. From there, we see her wanting to leave her assassin life for a more “public-facing” role in the hopes of finding purpose in her life. Yelena explained, without ever saying the word, what depression is. 

Throughout the film, we are not only given impressive combat scenes and daredevil stunts, but also an emotional and deeper understanding of what goes on in these characters’ heads. Superhero films are mostly plot-driven, keeping audiences on the edge of their seats with back-to-back action sequences, but what makes “Thunderbolts*” unique is their treatment of emotions on a character level, the story unfolding through the choices they make, heavily influenced by their histories, and their mental and emotional states. 

Director Jake Schreier was quite clever with his shots from the start of the film, like how he ushered viewers into Yelena’s state of mind, which was mostly filled with darkness. This was shown in the hallway scene as she moved in to fight the guards. A single light source came from behind her at the end of the hall, and the Director intentionally placed the camera above to capture long shadows, making it look like Yelena was fighting shades — a representation of the demons she’s battling in her head. 

We suppose this also makes it the most (if not the first) artistic film in the MCU as it leans more into artistry and presentation rather than flashy stunts, which beautifully supports the theme and overall storyline.

But that doesn’t mean the movie lacked in the action department because there were plenty of explosions and hand-to-hand combat to go around, which is a signature in the franchise. CGI was also top-tier, and one of our favorite effects was how Bob, a.k.a. The Sentry, shrouded the city in darkness as he brought them into the darkest and deepest parts of their mind. 

We also loved the chemistry between the antiheroes. The concept of found family has been a recurring theme in the MCU, and we enjoyed their journey — how they found common ground to work together as a team. It was a bumpy ride where they endlessly fought and often clashed, understandable considering this band of misfits was like putting together a bunch of magnets that will inevitably repel each other, but that’s what made their teamwork rewarding in the end and why we think this group can indeed be named as — spoiler alert! — “The New Avengers.”

What made these characters an interesting group to watch was their relatability. The director had mentioned this in an interview with Disney, quoting, “I think they’re sort of your least anticipated group of Marvel heroes. *laughs* But in that way, they’re like us. There’s something that everyone can relate to in all of these characters. They’re people who have found themselves in a place they didn’t expect to be, or maybe things didn’t work out for them quite in the way that they thought. I think anyone can relate, certainly.”

It made the moral of its tale even more profound, which Yelena mentioned earlier in the film when Bob asked her about what she does when the loneliness or darkness gets too much. She advised him to shove it all down, to keep it in, but towards the end, she learned that the best way to get through it is to let go, find connection in others, and move forward. 

One thing we wished to have seen more, however, is the Ghost coming into play more. We thought she was overshadowed by the others, who all had interesting back stories. We’ve had a brush with this antihero in the “Antman” franchise, but considering this is her first film where we see her playing a role outside of being a villain, we hope Marvel develops her character more and gives her more substance. 

Final Verdict

“Thunderbolts*” may not be the strongest or flashiest film in the franchise, but it’s got a lot of heart and a strong message that makes a lasting impact, making it one of the more memorable Marvel movies out there. This is more than just a superhero film. It’s about being in one place and learning how to move forward from it. It’s about being human despite your power, strength, and capacity. 

More importantly, this film shows us that the “void” is an all-consuming force and can easily take over if you let it. After seeing the characters’ journey in the film, we hope people learn that staying in the void is also a choice and that the connections and relationships we build with others can lighten our load and help us step out of that darkness. Speaking of building connections, the film’s theme song, “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us” by Starship, is so on point! Marvel truly knows how to tickle our ears with classic 80s music that’s not only a jam, but encapsulates what the film is about. 

The film company has succeeded in ushering in a new era for its A-Team, one that is comprised of heroes that are superhuman but still undeniable human, which gives way to more realistic and grounded stories. Action-packed, hilarious, and heartfelt, it has all the ingredients that make up a blockbuster masterpiece. 

It also seems that we’ll be seeing more of these family-themed stories with the upcoming “Fantastic 4: Four Steps” later this year and “Avengers: Doomsday” in 2026, and we simply can’t wait to see more of these exciting storylines unfold on the big screen. 

Go see it if you haven’t yet!

Follow Marvel on Facebook, X (Formerly Twitter), and Instagram for updates on action-packed thrills within the MCU.

A free, multi-city music series will be touring around Asia this May. 

Future Asian Music (FAM) and innovative lifestyle brand Levi’s® present “Road to FAM,” a free, multi-city series set to tour Singapore, Jakarta, Manila, and Kuala Lumpur this May. 

The music series coincides with Levi’s® brand anniversary of its iconic 501® jeans, honoring the brand’s legacy of cultural innovation while amplifying FAM, a community and content-driven music distribution platform from global music collective 88rising, nurturing Asia’s next generation of musical artists.

“Road to FAM” kicks off with intimate hometown showcases featuring Manila’s Zack Tabudlo – the first Filipino male solo artist to hit 1 billion Spotify streams with his viral tracks like “Binibini." There's also Singapore’s FARIZ JABBA, the raw storyteller blending hip-hop with narratives of urban Southeast Asian life and known for his viral tracks like “Ape Sia,” Kuala Lumpur’s ZAMAERA, who became a pioneering force in Malaysia’s rap scene after releasing her viral track “Helly Kelly,” and Jakarta’s RAMENGVRL, a five-time Anugerah Musik Indonesia (AMI) winner, who gained fame after releasing “Cashmere.” 

This music series highlights these four rising artists from Asia, who will be joined by Thai global sensation MILLI in the tour’s finale show at the FAM Bangkok Festival. 

The tour and music series concludes at the Future Asian Music Festival, FAM Bangkok, this June 19, 2025, where these performers will unite for a collaborative showcase, bridging grassroots talent with global audiences. 

“Road to FAM” mirrors Levi’s® 150-year connection to music and self-expression, from the 501® jeans’ role in jazz and hip-hop revolutions to its enduring symbolism for artists. “For 150 years, Levi’s® and the 501® have been part of music and cultural movements around the world. Road to FAM continues that legacy by helping spotlight Asia’s next generation of creative pioneers,” said Levi’s® CMO Kenny Mitchell. “These artists are pushing boundaries and creating something entirely their own.” 

The Road to FAM artists will be featured in mini documentaries that trace their progress, creative roots, and cultural inspirations. This docuseries aims to further elevate the artists to a global audience through 88rising’s original content know-how and influence, and Levi’s® enduring commitment to originality and innovation. 

FAM Bangkok: A New Era of Creativity and Collaboration

FAM Bangkok is Future Asian Music (FAM)’s first event highlighting the future of Asian music, emerging artists, and bands. This festival is set to transform the city’s historic Hua Lamphong Train Station and the neighboring district into vibrant hubs for Asia’s independent music scene. Attendees will be the first to experience genre-spanning and curated performances by rising artists with FAM. 

FAM Bangkok’s City Showcases will highlight regional talents to allow music lovers to discover some of the industry’s next superstars. 

As 88rising’s new music distribution platform, Future Asian Music aims to provide resources to early-stage artists, including heartfelt experiences to acquire skills, collaborate, and build connections through artist-driven communities — bringing opportunities for them to connect to a new, global audience. 

Road to FAM Schedule Details and Line Up

May 14 – Manila 

Zack Tabudlo at Apotheka

May 16 – Singapore

Fariz Jabba at Hard Rock Café

May 21 – Kuala Lumpur

ZAMAERA at Over and Above

May 25 – Jakarta

RAMENGVRL at ZOO SCBD

June 19 – Bangkok

MILLI with Zack Tabudlo, Fariz Jabba, Zamaera, RAMENGVRL at Levi’s® Road to Fam Showcase

Free-entry RSVP is available now via SISTIC or through these portals: 

May 14 – Manila: Zack Tabudlo - Manila RSVP here 

May 16 – Singapore: FARIZ JABBA - Singapore RSVP here 

May 21 – Kuala Lumpur: ZAMAERA - Kuala Lumpur RSVP here 

May 25 – Jakarta: RAMENGVRL - Jakarta RSVP here

On-sale information for FAM Bangkok will be announced soon. 

For more information, follow Future Asian Music on their Instagram and TikTok pages. Visit their website here.