ICC member states decide Karim Khan’s future

Robert Pattinson appears set to hang up the Batman cape after completing the upcoming trilogy directed by Matt Reeves, bringing his journey as Gotham City’s iconic vigilante to an end. Pattinson first stepped into the role of Bruce Wayne in 2022 with The Batman, directed by Reeves. The film offered a darker and more grounded interpretation of the legendary DC character, focusing on a young Batman still finding his place as a crime fighter while confronting corruption across Gotham City. Following the success of the first installment, Pattinson is returning for The Batman Part II. The highly anticipated sequel is scheduled to arrive in 2028 and will continue the story of Bruce Wayne as he faces new challenges following the events of the first movie. A third film in Reeves’ planned trilogy has also been announced, setting the stage for the conclusion of Pattinson’s version of the character. According to recent reports, Pattinson has indicated that he intends to portray Batman one final time after completing Reeves’ trilogy. If the plan remains unchanged, the third installment would mark the actor’s last appearance as the Caped Crusader in this particular series. Pattinson’s debut Batman movie featured a star-studded cast, including Paul Dano as the Riddler and Colin Farrell as Oswald Cobblepot, better known as the Penguin. Jeffrey Wright portrayed Gotham police officer James Gordon, while Andy Serkis appeared as Alfred Pennyworth. The first film followed Batman as he investigated the murder of Gotham City’s mayor. His investigation gradually uncovered a larger conspiracy involving some of the city’s most influential figures. As Bruce dug deeper, he was forced to confront disturbing connections between Gotham’s criminal underworld, political corruption and his own family history. The movie ended with Batman defeating the Riddler’s plans and helping rescue Gotham’s citizens after the city was devastated by flooding. The Riddler was eventually taken to Arkham State Hospital, where he encountered another mysterious inmate. That brief scene fueled widespread speculation that the prisoner was the Joker, played by Barry Keoghan. Although the character’s appearance was limited, the moment opened the door for a possible larger role in future installments. The Joker is widely expected to become an important figure in the upcoming storyline, although many details surrounding his involvement remain under wraps. Pattinson’s Batman will also face the challenge of dealing with the consequences of the first film while continuing to protect Gotham. The Batman Part II is currently scheduled for release on February 18, 2028. Alongside Pattinson, the movie is expected to feature several returning cast members, while Scarlett Johansson and Sebastian Stan have also been linked to the project.

Pakistani actor Saif Ali Khan, who gained recognition after appearing in the reality show Tamasha 4, is gradually making his mark in the television industry. A software engineer by profession, Saif has successfully balanced his career with his passion for acting and singing. He has also built a strong fan following on social media, where more than 466,000 people follow his updates. After making his acting debut in Aap Ki Izzat, the emerging star is now preparing for two more television projects. In a recent television interview, Saif Ali Khan spoke about his experience of playing a vegetable vendor in Aap Ki Izzat and revealed interesting details about filming one of the drama’s most talked-about train sequences alongside Urwa Hocane. Although his character appears to be an ordinary vegetable seller at first glance, Saif explained that the role carries much greater importance within the storyline. He said that the drama mainly revolves around four central characters, including Beena, Tabish, the character played by Sania Saeed, and his own role. According to the actor, he immediately understood the significance of the character after reading the script and believed it was much more than what audiences would initially assume. Saif added that viewers will gradually discover the true impact of his character as the story unfolds. He expressed confidence that every appearance of his character serves a meaningful purpose and contributes directly to the development of the plot. The actor also discussed his on-screen chemistry with Urwa Hocane, whose character Beena shares an important connection with his role. While fans have been curious about the direction of their relationship in the drama, Saif chose not to reveal any major details. He said he wanted audiences to experience the story without spoilers, adding that revealing too much in advance would take away the excitement. According to Saif, the relationship between Beena and Behram has several unexpected twists, and viewers will have to continue watching the drama to see how their journey unfolds. Speaking about one of the drama’s visually striking moments, Saif shared behind-the-scenes details about the train sequence that has attracted viewers’ attention. He revealed that the sequence was filmed during January under extremely cold weather conditions, making it one of the more challenging shoots for the cast and crew. The actor explained that although a real train and an actual railway station were used for filming, the train itself was stationary during production. Some portions of the sequence were later enhanced using chroma technology to create the illusion of movement and make the scenes appear more realistic on screen. Saif also praised the production team for their professionalism and dedication throughout the filming process. He credited the crew for carefully executing the technically demanding sequence and ensuring that the final result looked convincing despite the challenges involved. With Aap Ki Izzat introducing him to television audiences and more projects already in the pipeline, Saif Ali Khan continues to establish himself as one of Pakistan’s promising emerging actors. His latest comments have given fans an interesting glimpse into the hard work that goes into bringing dramatic scenes to life while also increasing anticipation for the upcoming episodes of the drama.

Filmmaker Arfat Sheikh’s film Saffron Kingdom is now streaming worldwide. It has landed on the Palestinian-owned platform Watermelon+. The release comes after a strong run on the international festival circuit. Sheikh hails from India-Occupied Kashmir. He had earlier described the film as his attempt to reclaim his people’s stories from Bollywood. He said he wanted to take the pen back from an industry he views as a tool of oppression. The story follows Masrat, played by Diana Aras. She is a half-widow, a term used for Kashmiri women whose husbands have been forcibly disappeared by Indian forces. After her husband vanishes, Masrat flees the valley with her young son Rizwan, played by Alex Cheeks. The pair eventually settle in the United States. There, both mother and son must confront the trauma of their years spent living under occupation. Old memories resurface even as they try to build a new life. Sheikh said the film leans heavily on its female characters to carry the emotional core. He called the choice a deliberate allegory. According to him, the story centeres on two women rather than men. He explained that this reflects reality on the ground. Few men remain in India-Occupied Kashmir today, he said. The women who stay behind, he added, reveal what survival under occupation truly demands. Saffron Kingdom premiered at the Wake Forest Film Festival in the United States. It then travelled to six more countries. Screenings consistently drew full houses. The film found strong support from minority communities. Many viewers related to its themes of migration and inherited trauma. With its streaming debut, Saffron Kingdom now sits alongside other politically resonant titles on Watermelon+. These include Oscar nominee The Voice of Hind Rajab and Bafta-winning documentary Gaza: Doctors Under Attack. Pakistan’s 2025 Oscar submission The Glassworker is also part of the platform’s growing library. Together, these films reflect Watermelon+’s focus on stories of occupation, displacement, and resistance. The platform continues to build a catalogue centered on voices often left out of mainstream cinema.