American superstar reveals shock career change as he plots Hollywood blockbusters and teams up with Bollywood icon

JASON DERULO is reinventing himself as a filmmaker and has revealed plans to produce big-budget Hollywood blockbusters.

The US superstar has already sold 250million records, become one of the most followed people on TikTok and still had time to start a family.

He had a role in the celeb-studded but critically panned 2019 musical Cats and now wants to make sure he has control over future movies he is in, to make sure they are a success.

Jason flew to London this week and sat down with Bizarre for an exclusive chat, where he explained: “I think whatever I do acting-wise, I need to be at the forefront of the output.

“What I’ve done in the past, it never works quite as well if I’m allowing somebody else to take the creative reins for me.

“In 2025, I’m actively working on writing different films. I’ve written three already. Whichever one I decide to do first, it’s gonna be me pulling the strings.

“I’ve written one comedy, I’ve written a sort of Marvel-style movie, and a Christmas movie.”

Steamy scenes

His new focus on films isn’t to the detriment of his huge music career though, which has seen 15 Top Ten singles, including five No1s, over the past 15 years.

Today he is back with a new single called Snake, a collaboration with Bollywood megastar Nora Fatehi.

Born in Canada, she has become one of India’s biggest stars and now has 47million followers on Instagram — far more than Sabrina Carpenter or Madonna.

They were introduced on FaceTime by a mutual producer pal and hit it off, before working virtually on the Middle Eastern-inspired track.

Finally they got together in Morocco late last year to shoot the video — where they got very close very quickly, as they shot steamy dance scenes together.

Nora told me: “We did get right into it. And look, I bust a lot of jokes so I think it must have been the jokes that broke the ice. I’m just happy we’re here today and it’s releasing.”

Jason added: “I got some new moves under my belt. They were pushing me to do some different kinds of moves with my body that I haven’t done before — and I’ve done everything.”

But bringing them together into what they wanted to look like a “futuristic Morocco” for the video was no easy task.

Nora said with a laugh: “It was a nightmare. But I was so determined we have to do this, because I feel right now the music is going global.”

It has been a tumultuous few weeks for Jason, after wild fires ravaged Los Angeles, where he has lived for most of his professional life.

Discussing the impact for the first time, he said: “Thankfully my home is OK. I’ve been working on my house off and on for about eight years now.

‘Still a risk’

“I’m finally almost finished and I thought for a second that my house was not going to make it out. There’s still a risk. It was just like damn, if my house goes under, is this a sign?”

But he is not optimistic about the planned FireAid concert, raising money for those who have been affected.

He added: “What was a little sad about the situation is I feel like people are not as kind to people with money and the fact that it’s, you know, the homes of people that are famous.

“They don’t get the same amount of sympathy, which I think is pretty sad because I think a lot of people lost everything.

“A lot of people don’t have fire insurance. It’s so expensive to have fire insurance. So much so that I even thought about not getting it.

“I had to check to make sure, I was like, ‘Yo, did we get that?’ because I knew it was a conversation because it’s really, really expensive.”

The fires ravaging LA are not the only major change for his life right now.

Five years ago when Covid hit, Jason turned to TikTok and became one of its biggest stars.

Infamous photo

He still has no idea what will happen when the app is banned in the US on Sunday, due to a row over national security threats from the Chinese-based company.

He said: “I think a lot of my followers are in America, so even if I come to the UK and try to use my phone over here, it’s gonna be far less people.

“But I was just curious, is there some sort of protocol they’re gonna do for myself like, ‘Are y’all gonna give me a little extra love?’ I mean, I’ve really put a lot of work into that app but that puts a lot into perspective.

“Life is life. I put a lot of hours into that as you probably can imagine. But I made a lot of money.”

Despite the fame and fortune, they still have parents like the rest of us, who moan about what they say and do.

Nora said: “Every day my mum will be like, ‘Why did you say the f-word?’

“But my mum is so cute. She is always like, ‘Did you really have to wear that?’ and I’m like, ‘Yes mum, I did.’”

Although Jason’s mum has had a harder deal — being shown an infamous photo of his bulge and being outraged by the lyrics to his 2013 chart-topper Talk Dirty, which is packed with racy lyrics.

He added: “My mum is the same. She will be in the nail salon and people will show her pictures of me shirtless like, ‘This is so hot’.

“I remember when the infamous anaconda picture came out. You should look it up. I’m sure it’s still up — no pun intended.

“My mum was like, ‘They keep showing me this picture’. It’s so strange.

“And my mum, when I did Talk Dirty, she was like, ‘This is going to ruin your career. This is not you’. And I was like, ‘Mum, but it is!’.”

BLUE LADS ARE SOLEIL BILLIES

THE poor boys of Blue ended up looking like the real clowns when they attended the premiere of Cirque du Soleil’s new Corteo show.

Antony Costa looked very trim at London’s Royal Albert Hall on Wednesday.

But the unnecessary sunglasses he was wearing might have caused havoc, because he spilt his drink everywhere before it even started – and was seen dashing back to his seat with blue paper roll to soak it up.

But things didn’t improve for them.

His bandmate Dunacan James was also there and was too late getting back to his seat after the interval, meaning he was locked out of the auditorium until the first act of the second half had finished.

It was only about five minutes, but Duncan ploughed through two tubs of popcorn during the wait.

The spectacular show is on until March 2, so they have plenty of time for a repeat visit.

THERE IS GOONIE BE SEQUEL

I TOLD last September how plans were in motion for a sequel to 1985 movie The Goonies, which actor Corey Feldman denied shortly after.

But it sounds like I found out before the original cast member, as it has now been confirmed that it really is being arranged.

Entertainment news website Deadline said this week that Warner Bros have brought in Chris Columbus – who co-wrote the first one – to write the script.

And in even more good news for Eighties movies fans, he has been asked to work on another follow-up to 1984’s Gremlins.

THREE-RAYE BID FOR SUCCESS

A YEAR on from her huge six wins at the Brit Awards, our very own Raye is teaming up with Thai singer Lisa and American rapper Doja Cat for a new track, I can reveal.

I’m told the song will drop next month and possible performances at the Grammys next month and the Brit Awards on March 1 are being considered by bosses.

While it may seem like a total curveball to Raye’s fans, it is hoped that joining forces with Doja and Blackpink singer Lisa will open her up to new audiences in the States and Asia.

A source said: “It’s a huge deal for Raye. Last year was obviously massive for her and everyone is keen to build on that. The song will really surprise fans and has more of a pop sound than anything Raye has done recently, but it’s great.

“Hopefully with both Lisa and Doja’s fans behind it, the single will really make waves around the world.”

Raye is currently working on her second album, following up 2023’s My 21st Century Blues, which featured her No1 hit Escapism.

She also has a summer of live shows planned across Europe.

These include her own headline performance at All Points East festival in London in August.

But I’m hoping this won’t be the only song she puts out before then.

TIMOTHEE CHALAMET was saddled with a £65 fine after cycling to his film premiere.

He amused guests in London this week by arriving for the launch of Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown at the BFI Southbank on a Lime rental bike.

He only pedalled there after getting stuck in traffic, but was then penalised for leaving it at the venue.

Timothee said: “I actually wasn’t allowed to park there so I got a £65 fine. It’s horrible because it was actually kind of an advert for them.”