Nick Jonas will aim to make moviegoers rock’n’roll all night when he stars as KISS vocalist/guitarist Paul Stanley in an authorized biopic about the face-painted rockers, Shout It Out Loud. Per Deadline, the project will be directed by McG and will go into production before the end of the year or in early 2026.
The report says Jonas will do his own singing in the film but will require training to mimic the style of Stanley, whose high-register yelps and attitudinal crowd banter set a template for generation of rock vocalists to come. Jonas is currently on Broadway in the musical The Last Five Years and has also acted in the FX TV series Kingdom and such films as Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle.
Shout It Out Loud will zero in on KISS’ 1973 formation in gritty downtown New York and their subsequent rise to global fame. Beyond Jonas as Stanley, no actors have yet been cast as fellow original members Gene Simmons, Ace Frehley and Peter Criss.
KISS retired from full-production live shows in December 2023 ahead of being reborn as digital avatars, but will play an “unmasked” electric set as part of the fan event KISS Army Storms Vegas at Virgin Hotels from Nov. 14-16.
As for Jonas, he’ll be quite busy on the road with his brothers as part of an extensive tour beginning Aug. 10 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.
Zara Larsson has indicated that she may have cancelled her December 3 appearance at the Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The singer initially confirmed that she would not attend, before removing the comment and sharing a more detailed explanation of why the performance no longer feels right for her.
The Swedish star was scheduled to take the stage at Etihad Live on Yas Island during the Yasalam After-Race Concerts. Zara and Lewis Capaldi were due to launch the weekend’s entertainment. However, supporters encouraged her to reconsider the booking because of concerns surrounding the United Arab Emirates’ reported connections to Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces, a paramilitary organisation accused of committing atrocities during the nation’s civil conflict.
A fan commented: “Please read about what UAE is doing to Sudan then cancel your Abu Dhabi show!” Zara responded: “I will not be going to Abu Dhabi.” Fans later realised that both comments had been removed.
She then shared that she had been considering what it means for her, as an artist, to perform in particular countries.
The Midnight Sun singer explained: “I think about that a lot in my life as an artist… I wanna perform and spread joy and music for people in every country, because no single person is their government.
“I’ve met so many wonderful people from every corner of the world and I know this to be true in my heart. I love people, and I love my fans soooo much.”
Zara acknowledged that her original comment “maybe came off as an impulsive response,” but explained that she had given the booking serious thought. She now believes withdrawing is the decision that “aligns with me the most right now, for many different personal reasons beyond politics.”
She continued: “Maybe I’ll delete both comments and do a better statement soon. I hope to sing with you in the beautiful future!”
