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No matter how many times I write a spec script, I always try to stick to my schedule. 

As we delve into the world of the writers being on strike, many of us are taking the time to write a spec script. That’s the work we are allowed to do for ourselves. It’s also a bit of a breath of fresh air.

Specs allow you to dig into yourself and unpack your wants and needs. 

As someone who has been through the ups and downs of writing a spec script, I understand the importance of having a clear roadmap to make the writing process more manageable. The more you plan, the better you do.

Today, I’m going to focus on how you can make that planning work for you too. I’ll share my insights on how to take your spec script from idea to execution using a step-by-step approach, focusing on outlining your script, the basics of a screenplay outline, and tips for effective spec script writing.

So, buckle up and get ready to start your screenwriting journey!

‘Barton Fink’Credit: 20th Century Fox

Introduction to Spec Script Writing

A spec script, short for speculative screenplay, is a script written without a commitment from a producer or studio – you write it on your own, and then try to sell it later.

The purpose of writing a spec is to showcase your talent and unique voice as a writer. In the highly competitive world of screenwriting, a well-written spec script can open doors, get you noticed, and even land you a job.

You can prove you have a voice people need to listen to. 

Importance of Outlining Your Script

I cannot stress enough how important it has been for me to outline my screenplays. Starting your spec script without an outline is like going on a road trip without a map. An outline helps you organize your story and ensures that you have a clear path from beginning to end. It serves as a blueprint for your screenplay, allowing you to focus on the creative aspects of writing while ensuring that your story remains cohesive and engaging.

It also is a great way to stay on schedule. If you know where you’re going, you can get to the end much faster. 

Outlining your script also helps you identify and resolve potential problems in your story before you start writing. This can save you a significant amount of time and frustration, as it’s much easier to make changes to an outline than a full screenplay. Additionally, having a solid outline can help you maintain momentum and motivation throughout the writing process, as you’ll have a clear sense of where your story is heading.

‘The Goonies’Credit: Warner Bros.

The Basics of a Screenplay Outline

Here are the basics of outlining your screenplay:

  1. Unraveling the Map: Do you have an opening scene that defines the movie?

  2. The Launch Point: Where are we, and who are we with?

  3. The First Leg: What’s a normal day look like in this world?

  4. Change Course: What sets our characters off on their journey from normalcy?

  5. The Foot of the Mountain: Okay, we’re going on this journey together.

  6. Climbing The Side: It starts hard, but you get used to the problems as you go.

  7. Through the Cave: Do you have a B story? Set that story off on its own now too.

  8. Reassess the Problem: You’re in the middle. Is there another way to get it done?

  9. Try and Fail: Things begin to fall apart, can they handle it?

  10. The Fall: The worst thing happens, something so bad you don’t think you can get up.

  11. The Hidden Clue: What do your characters discover about themselves/the problem that they never saw before?

  12. Race to the Finish: They’re up and running no matter what.

  13. The Treasure Chest: Did they get what they came for?

  14. Where We Go From Here: Show us the world in a new light, hint what’s next.

How to Write a Screenplay Outline: Step-by-Step Guide

  1. Brainstorm your story ideas: Begin by brainstorming your story ideas and jotting down any interesting concepts, characters, or plot points that come to mind. This will help you to generate ideas and identify the most compelling aspects of your story.

  2. Develop your logline: Once you have a clear idea of your story, craft a compelling logline that succinctly captures its essence. This will serve as the foundation for your outline and help you to stay focused on the core elements of your story.

  3. Create a synopsis: Expand on your logline by writing a brief synopsis of your story. This should include the main characters, conflicts, and turning points in your story.

  4. Break your story into three acts: Divide your synopsis into three acts: setup, confrontation, and resolution. Each act should represent a distinct phase in your story, with a clear beginning, middle, and end.

  5. Outline your major plot points: Identify the key plot points and turning points in your story, and include them in your act breakdown. This will help you to maintain structure and pacing throughout your screenplay.

  6. Create a scene-by-scene breakdown: Finally, create a detailed scene-by-scene breakdown of your screenplay, including location, characters, and a brief description of the action. This will serve as a roadmap for your writing and help you to maintain focus and momentum throughout the process.

‘Ghostwriter’Credit: PBS

Screenplay Outline Example: Analyzing a Successful Spec Script

To better understand the process of creating a screenplay outline, let’s take a look at a successful spec script: Good Will Hunting by Matt Damon and Ben Affleck.

The film, which won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, tells the story of a young janitor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology who is a self-taught mathematics genius.

It’s a pretty great script to study when you want to learn the craft. 

The logline for Good Will Hunting might be: “A troubled young janitor at MIT, who possesses a hidden gift for mathematics, must confront his past and embrace his potential with the help of a compassionate therapist.”

The three-act structure for Good Will Hunting could be broken down as follows:

  1. Act One: We are introduced to Will Hunting (Matt Damon), a janitor at MIT with a troubled past and a hidden talent for mathematics. After solving a complex math problem, Will is discovered by Professor Lambeau (Stellan Skarsgård), who offers him a unique opportunity.
  2. Act Two: Will begins therapy with Sean Maguire (Robin Williams), who helps him confront his demons and embrace his potential. As Will grows and develops as a person, he faces challenges in his relationships with his friends and loves interest, Skylar (Minnie Driver).
  3. Act Three: After a breakthrough in therapy, Will makes peace with his past and decides to pursue a life beyond his hometown, leaving to find Skylar and explore his potential.

‘Good Will Hunting’Credit: Miramax Films

Tips for Effective Spec Script Writing

Everyone wants to write a spec that sells, but you have to get a grip on the important elements before you can ever dream of getting it into the right producer’s hands. 

  1. Focus on character development: Strong, relatable characters are the foundation of a successful spec script. Invest time in developing your characters’ backstories, motivations, and arcs to create engaging and memorable protagonists.

  2. Maintain a clear structure and pacing: A well-structured screenplay with a clear beginning, middle, and end will keep your audience engaged and invested in your story. Be mindful of pacing and ensure that each scene serves a purpose in advancing your plot.

  3. Show, don’t tell: In screenwriting, it’s essential to convey information through visuals and action rather than relying on dialogue. Use descriptive language and carefully crafted action lines to create vivid, engaging scenes.

  4. Write compelling dialogue: While it’s crucial to show rather than tell, the dialogue still plays a vital role in your screenplay. Strive to create natural, engaging dialogue that reveals character and advances your plot.

  5. Be mindful of format and presentation: Adhering to industry-standard formatting and presentation guidelines is crucial in creating a professional-looking screenplay. Ensure that your script is correctly formatted, free of typos, and easy to read.

Donnie Yen as Caine in ‘John Wick: Chapter 4’Credit: Lionsgate

Overcoming Common Challenges in Spec Script Writing

  1. Writer’s block: One of the most common challenges faced by screenwriters is writer’s block, the inability to come up with new ideas or move forward in the writing process. To overcome this challenge, take a break from writing, go for a walk, or engage in an activity that inspires you. Additionally, consider writing exercises or prompts to generate new ideas and get your creative juices flowing.

  2. Lack of motivation: Writing a spec script can be a long and challenging journey, and it’s not uncommon to experience a lack of motivation or enthusiasm along the way. To stay motivated, set achievable goals for yourself and reward yourself when you reach them. Surround yourself with supportive friends and peers who can offer encouragement and feedback on your work.

  3. Criticism and rejection: Screenwriting is a highly competitive industry, and it’s essential to be prepared for criticism and rejection. Rather than taking feedback personally, use it as an opportunity to learn and improve your writing. Seek out feedback from trusted sources, such as writing groups or professional script consultants, to get a fresh perspective on your work.

‘Synecdoche, New York’Credit: Sony Pictures Classics

Utilizing Feedback and Revisions in Your Scriptwriting Journey

All writing is rewriting. When you get feedback on your screenplay, don’t be a dick. Listen and then find a way to make your work better. 

Receiving feedback on your spec script can be both daunting and essential. It’s crucial to remember that feedback is not a personal attack, but rather an opportunity to improve your writing and make your screenplay the best it can be.

When receiving feedback, take the time to process it and consider how it can help you improve your script. Be open to constructive criticism and use it to identify areas of your script that need work. Remember that not all feedback is created equal, and it’s essential to seek out feedback from trusted sources who have experience in the industry.

Take a zen moment and then go from there. 

Once you’ve received feedback on your script, it’s time to revise. Approach the revision process with an open mind and a willingness to make necessary changes to improve your screenplay. Be mindful of pacing, character development, and structure, and ensure that every scene serves a purpose in advancing your plot.

‘Dune: Part One’Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

Summing It All Up 

Writing a spec script can be a challenging and rewarding journey. By outlining your story, creating a screenplay outline, and following the tips and advice in this guide, you can take your spec script from idea to execution.

When you finish. there’s no better feeling in the world. 

Remember to stay focused on your characters and their journeys, maintain a clear structure and pacing, and be open to feedback and revisions. With hard work, dedication, and a little bit of luck, your spec script could be the one that opens doors and launches your screenwriting career.

So, what are you waiting for?

Go get writing.      

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No matter how many times I

TV

Showrunners packed the WGA Theater on Saturday in Beverly Hills during an hours-long guild meeting designed to update the TV industry’s senior writer-producers on the state of the WGA’s strike against the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.

The meeting came after the first week of the strike and as studios including Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount, among others, sent letters last week demanding that showrunners continue non-writing producing duties, in some cases in ways that could potentially cross the picket line. Disney’s letter, for example, told showrunners that in this capacity they “may… be required” to perform so-called “(a) through (h) services,” the performance of which is banned by the WGA’s strike rules.

“Everyone is so aligned and united [across the board],” said one longtime showrunner attending the meeting who noted during the WGA strike of 2007-08, the question of returning to work as a producer generated a lot of conflict and arguments among guild members. “It’s very different from ’07.”

WGA negotiating committee co-chair Chris Keyser again took center stage Saturday, reiterating remarks from Wednesday’s rally that outlined how talks with the AMPTP broke down before turning to a larger discussion about why showrunners should not be performing non-writing producing services or promoting their shows during the strike.

“It’s as simple as we are at war with the studios,” one showrunner relayed of Keyser’s remarks. “We can’t be at war one day and be their partners the next. If we’re going to a For Your Consideration [Emmy] event, we’re being their partners. It’s kind of impossible to separate your producer brain from your writer brain. Everything really is writing, especially when you’re a showrunner.”

Ann Farriday, the WGA’s senior director of member organizing, sent an invite email to showrunners Friday calling for them to meet with guild leadership Saturday to discuss “where we are, how we got here, and where we go from here.” Sources described the scene as a packed house and “bigger than anything” similar from WGA’s last strike that lasted 100 days in 2007-08. According to the venue’s website, its seating capacity is slightly under 500 with those in attendance describing the turnout as at capacity if not beyond.

Those in attendance Saturday included Damon Lindelof (Peacock’s Mrs. Davis), David E. Kelley (ABC’s Big Sky, Max’s Love & Death, Netflix’s The Lincoln Lawyer), Bill Lawrence (Apple’s Ted Lasso, Shrinking), Alex Kurtzman (the Star Trek franchise at Paramount+) and Shawn Ryan (Netflix’s The Night Agent). Over breakfast burritos, several senior writers in attendance say they were encouraged by guild officials to share differing opinions on non-writing work.

“The fact that dissent was encouraged by Keyser and David Goodman [WGA negotiating committee co-chair] was a big shift,” said one of the attendees. “As someone who was one of the dissenters [during the guild’s battle with agencies over packaging fees], that wasn’t encouraged during the ATA campaign. It’s a different world without David Young in charge.”

Ryan, a five-time member of the WGA’s negotiating committee who is sitting this round out, spoke from the audience about why in 2007 he changed his mind and opted against performing producing services for the studios. He described the situation as a “never-ending series of ethical dilemmas that could never be resolved before stating that it was cleaner to step away from producing,” according to one member in attendance.

During the meeting, showrunners brought up the divergent guidance they were getting from reps and employers when it came to their producing duties. “Everybody has different representation and they’re working for different studios that are being different levels of hardcore about it. It’s hard when you get a ‘scary letter,’ which is what they were calling them,” said one attendee. The WGA was encouraging showrunners to reach out to address their personal situations not in the meeting’s group setting, but one on one.

On Friday the guild responded to reports on the studio letters by blasting Disney’s in particular. “The Rules prohibit hyphenates (members who are employed in dual capacities) from performing any writing services, including the ‘(a) through (h)’ functions,” the union stated of its strike rules, which puts showrunners and writer-producers in a quandary as they navigate the divergent demands of employer and union.

“(A) through (h) came up a lot,” says the same meeting attendee, a veteran showrunner who admitted he didn’t know what those duties included, as he had only heard about them recently. “They reminded us we couldn’t do [those duties]. The problem is it’s very hard to define where writing ends and another thing begins.”

Other WGA leaders onstage included Ellen Stutzman, the WGA’s lead negotiator who stepped into the role after western branch of the union’s executive director, David Young, went on medical leave in late February, negotiating committee co-chair David Goodman, union secretary-treasurer Betsy Thomas and president Meredith Stiehm. Stutzman reiterated her Wednesday comments about the WGA receiving support from other unions, singling out the Teamsters on Saturday. Stutzman noted that this strike is different from 2007-08 because several of the core issues are specific to writers, making it unlikely that the WGA would accept the same deal offered to the Directors Guild of America. During the last strike, the DGA struck a deal before the writers that provided a template for the WGA’s final compromise with studios.

“What Ellen didn’t say was don’t expect a repeat of 2007 where the DGA comes in and makes a deal and we take their deal — because even if they negotiate the best deal in the world, that deal wouldn’t address the problems of mini-rooms, span protection and writers working at minimum,” another observer said.

The WGA strike began May 2 after the WGA and AMPTP could not reach a deal and the guild’s current Minimum Basic Agreement expired. During rallies Wednesday in L.A. and New York, the WGA outlined solidarity with other guilds — including with the Directors Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA, whose own contracts with the studios expire June 30. Members of various guilds joined writers on the picket lines this week in a show of solidarity and support in the battle with the AMPTP over central issues including higher wage floors, data transparency from streamers, and the regulation of mini-rooms and the use of artificial intelligence. Negotiations between the DGA and the AMPTP begin next week.

Summed up another veteran showrunner: “Every question [Saturday] was about, how can I best further the cause? Everyone is doing the right things.”

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Showrunners packed the WGA Theater on Saturday

What to Watch

Michael B. Jordan in ‘Creed III.'

Michael B. Jordan in ‘Creed III.’ © 2023 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc. All Rights Reserved. Creed is a trademark of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Michael B. Jordan’s Adonis Creed faces off against Jonathan Majors’ Damian Anderson in ‘Creed III’. This movie also serves as Michael B. Jordan’s directorial debut who has been starring in the sports franchise since 2015.

Following the events of 2018’s ‘Creed II’, Adonis “Donnie” Creed is considering retirement as the undisputed Heavy Weight Champion of the World when his childhood friend and former boxing prodigy Damian “Dame” Anderson comes back into his life, throwing everything into disarray. The film puts the two former friends at odds and Donnie will have to fight in the most emotional match yet.

Creed III

‘Creed III’ stars Michael B. Jordan (‘Black Panther’) as Adonis “Donnie” Creed, Jonathan Majors (‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’) as Damian “Dame” Anderson, Tessa Thompson (‘Thor: Love And Thunder’) as Bianca Taylor, Wood Harris (‘Blade Runner 2049’), and Phylicia Rashad (‘tick, tick… BOOM!’).

The official synopsis for ‘Creed III’ is below:

“After dominating the boxing world, Adonis Creed has been thriving in both his career and family life. When a childhood friend and former boxing prodigy, Damien Anderson, resurfaces after serving a long sentence in prison, he is eager to prove that he deserves his shot in the ring. The face-off between former friends is more than just a fight. To settle the score, Adonis must put his future on the line to battle Damien – a fighter who has nothing to lose.”

‘Creed III’ opened to $58.3 million domestially, $22 million more than ‘Creed II’. It is certified Tomatoe-meter fresh with a 89% score from critics and 96% from audience. The third installment has grossed $272 million worldwide since it’s release.

Michael B. Jordan As A First-Time Director

Director Michael B. Jordan on the set of his film 'Creed III,' A Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures film.

(L to R) Director Michael B. Jordan on the set of his film ‘Creed III,’ A Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures film. Photo credit: Ser Baffo. © 2023 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc. All Rights Reserved. Creed is a trademark of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Helming a popular franchise such as ‘Creed’ is no easy task, yet Michael B. Jordan took on the challenge of being both the lead of the film and stepping behind the camera to direct. The star’s impressive resume and dedication shows as the film balances its action, heart, and humor extremely well.

Jordan kept the tone from the the previous ‘Creed’ films such as the action and redemption arc while adding his own flavor like utilizing slow-motion in the ring. This helped emphasis each punch and by using it sparingly, it didn’t make it feel like a gimmick. Jordan’s love of anime can also be seen in his directorial style. The actor has spoken about his love for animes such as ‘Naruto’, ‘Dragonball Z’, and ‘One Piece’, and using it as a visual reference for some of the fight scenes.

Cinematographer Kramer Morgenthau light the actors in such a unique and abstract way for the final match, using colors like red and green to emphasis what they’re feeling as they made their walk toward the ring. Morgenthau worked with Crafty Apes, the VFX team, to map out the final moments and by using a motion-control camera, the fight was immersive and distinctive.

With a stellar box office and reception, a “Creed-verse” may not be too far off. According to Deadline, Jordan has met with Amazon to explore other ‘Creed’ related projects. No details are confirmed but there are talks of spin-off projects such as an anime series, live-action TV series, and even a story centered on Donnie’s daughter Amara, played by deaf actress Mila Davis-Kent. A spin-off movie based on Rocky’s nemesis Ivan Drago and his son Viktor Drago has also been announced. The possibility is endless when it comes to the Creed/Rocky universe, which is quite exciting for fans of the franchise.

Where Is Rocky?

Sylvester Stallone and Michael B. Jordan in 'Creed II.'

(L to R) Sylvester Stallone and Michael B. Jordan in ‘Creed II.’

Director Michael B. Jordan and Jonathan Majors Talk Sequel ‘Creed III’

One thing that was mising from ‘Creed III’ was Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky Balboa. Although Rocky has constantly been in Donnie’s corner in each movie, this is the first film in the ‘Creed’ saga to not feature the character. They do mention his name once during the film but Rocky’s whereabouts was not clear, so what happened?

Although Stallone created the characters in the original ‘Rocky’, he sold the rights to producer Irwin Winkler and MGM in order to have the first film made, therefore he has no real say in the future of the franchise. Stallone did not agree with the direction Winkler wanted to take with the franchise, and felt it was too dark.

“That’s a regretful situation because I know what it could have been. It was taken in a direction that is quite different than I would’ve taken it. It’s a different philosophy — Irwin Winkler’s and Michael B. Jordan’s. I wish them well, but I’m much more of a sentimentalist. I like my heroes getting beat up, but I just don’t want them going into that dark space. I just feel people have enough darkness.”

We don’t know whether Stallone will return to the franchise, but his absence was definitely noticeable as someone who had been a mentor for Donnie since the first ‘Creed’ film.

Where Can I Watch ‘Creed III’?

Michael B. Jordan stars as Adonis Creed and Jonathan Majors as Damian Anderson in 'CREED III.'

(L to R) Michael B. Jordan stars as Adonis Creed and Jonathan Majors as Damian Anderson in ‘CREED III,’ a Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures film. Photo credit: Eli Ade. © 2022 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc. All Rights Reserved.

The film premiered in Mexico City on February 9, 2023 and released theatrically in the United States on March 3, 2023. It is the third film in the ‘Creed’ franchise and the 19th film in the ‘Rocky’ saga. ‘Creed III’ has a total runtime of 1 hour and 56 minutes. You can still experience the boxing action-drama in theaters. Be sure to check below for showtimes in your area.

Buy Tickets: ‘Creed III’ Movie Showtimes

Watch the official trailers for ‘Creed III’ below:

Prefer to watch experience the movie from your home? You’re in luck. ‘Creed III’ is now available to rent or purchase digitally on the Amazon streaming service, Prime Video as of April 1, 2023.

Where To Watch: ‘Creed III’ Online

It is also available to purchase digitally:

Michael B. Jordan stars as Adonis Creed in 'Creed III,' A Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures film.

Michael B. Jordan stars as Adonis Creed in ‘Creed III,’ A Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures film. Photo credit: Eli Ade. © 2023 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc. All Rights Reserved. Creed is a trademark of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Movies That Packs A Punch Like ‘Creed III:’

To watch our exclusive interviews with Michael B. Jordan and the cast of ‘Creed III,’ please click on the video player below.

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Michael B. Jordan in ‘Creed III.' © 2023

Awards

Last fall, five days before Italy announced its official Oscar submission, filmmakers Felix van Groeningen and Charlotte Vandermeersch were nervous. The Belgian couple, who co-directed the intimate Cannes winner “The Eight Mountains” in the Italian Alps and learned the language for the project, hoped that their commitment was enough to convince the committee tasked with selecting the submission that it fulfilled their requirements.

“We want to make the Italians proud of this film, so we pray that they will feel proud enough to send it,” Vandermeersch told IndieWire at the time. “If our nationality diminishes that pride or that sense of ownership, we can’t help that, but we do think that it’s less and less important in the world of today.”

The following week, the country snubbed “The Eight Mountains” in favor of another Cannes selection, Italian director Mario Matone’s crime drama “Nostalgia;” one month later, it didn’t make the official shortlist. Italy — which, with 14 trophies, holds the record for the most international Oscars won in the category’s nearly 70-year history — was out of the race.

Months later, as “The Eight Mountains” finally opens in New York with awards season behind it, van Groeningen said the experience led him to rethink the process. A previous nominee for his heartbreaking 2012 bluegrass saga “The Broken Circle Breakdown,” the filmmaker said he took the submission rules for granted until he made a movie that blended two nationalities in its production.

“I felt, in a way, that it was unfair,” he said. “We were in between. Because a big part of the creative team was Belgian, even though the rest of the team was Italian, we had no place.” They knew they couldn’t submit the movie as the Belgian entry; that country went with another Cannes prize-winner, Lukas Dhont’s “Close,” which did receive a nomination.

“If I could change [the Oscars], it’d be this idea to have the category be more open, so any movie could apply for it,” van Groeningen said. “Then it would be a process of natural selection.”

His comments come as the Academy prepares to meet this Friday to discuss potential rule changes heading into the 2023-24 Oscar season. Ahead of that session, there has been speculation that the requirements for the Best International Feature Film category could be in flux. Last year, the Academy hired former Sundance programmer Dilcia Barrera to oversee the international submission process and help countries navigate the requirements, but stakeholders across the industry tell IndieWire they would like to see the “one country, one film” rule give way to more expansive regulations.

As it happens, “The Eight Mountains” opens on the same week that IFC Films releases another movie snubbed by its home country during the submission process, Romanian auteur Cristian Mungiu’s “RMN.” Mungiu has been his country’s most prominent filmmaker ever since his abortion thriller “4 Months, 3 Weeks, and 2 Days” won the Palme d’Or in 2007 (it wasn’t shortlisted by the Academy, which created an outcry of its own). While Mungiu’s “R.M.N.” was well received at Cannes premiere, Romania chose to ignore the haunting immigration story about small-town xenophobia in favor of submitting “Immaculate” (also not shortlisted).

“R.M.N.
“R.M.N.”IFC Films

“To be honest, it was meaningful enough for me this year to be a bit sad,” Mungiu told IndieWire in an interview this week. “I don’t believe too much in awards, but there’s something coming with the promotion done for the awards. It’s important to have the attention, and releasing a film in the U.S. is so much connected with the awards season that I was sorry that the film was not chosen because I knew the attention for that film would have been bigger and earlier, and not now.”

Mungiu suggested a tweak to the Academy rules that has been whispered to IndieWire by others in the industry: Rather than solely relying on the varied processes through which individual countries choose their selections, the Academy should mandate that all contenders receive a U.S. theatrical release. “You need to have some distributor in the U.S. if you want to choose a film because if not, you’re just throwing a rock into a river and it won’t matter,” he said.

Of the Romanian Oscar committee, Mungiu said, “They don’t want the Academy to appreciate what [Romanian audiences] like. They want the Academy to appreciate what they think [the Academy] should like, which is very funny.” (“Immaculate” has yet to secure a U.S. distributor.)

The counterargument to this proposal: It risks putting lower-profile films at a disadvantage, since they may not be attractive to risk-averse U.S. buyers. Unexpected entries such as first-time Bhutan nominee “Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom” is often cited as a key example.

“If you’re from a big country it’s a disadvantage because of the competition, but there’s more money behind it,” van Groeningen said. “I always thought this was how it is. Every country sends one movie and that’s how it is. Because of our process with this last film and the conversations I was having about it, I started thinking differently.”

Academy rules have evolved many times over the years, including a decision in 2006 that no longer required a submitted film to be in the language of its own home country. These changes were reflected in a few of last year’s submissions, including the Danish entry “Holy Spider,” a Persian-language thriller shot in Jordan. However, current regulations still leave the process open to the whims of countries that are often averse to directors who don’t hold citizenship there.

For “The Eight Mountains,” van Groeningen and Vandermeersch immersed themselves in the remote mountain culture at the center of the story, which was adapted from the novel by Paolo Cognetti about two young men — one from the city and the other from the countryside — whose relationship grows more complicated as they age.

The project followed van Groeningen’s experience making his first non-Belgian film, the English-language “Beautiful Boy,” and he said the two experiences helped him embrace the idea of working beyond his country’s borders.

“Before I had always worked in Belgium with almost the exact same crew,” he said. “I realized I could get out of my comfort zone. I grew step by step in feeling comfortable with a crew I don’t know and with working in a different language. Every step in my trajectory has opened up my world and made me feel more comfortable and curious in pursuing that.”

Additional reporting by Ryan Lattanzio.

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Last fall, five days before Italy announced

Music

Opera Singer Pretty Yende Shares What It Was Like Performing at King Charles III’s Coronation (Exclusive) | Entertainment Tonight

































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Docs

Adam Sandler has certainly had his ups and downs throughout his film career. The comedies we’ve all seen and loved were also a kick start into stardom. His filmography has in later years turned from comedy classics such as Happy Gilmore and Grown Ups, rom coms in 50 First Dates to The Wedding Singer, to more serious and complex characters in Uncut Gems and Hustle, which elevated Adam into completely different light from what we’ve used to see him in. Let’s look at some of Adam Sandler´s greatest films, with some more questionable works.

Murder Mystery 2

In classic Adam Sandler fashion this movie is quite a fun and fast paced movie, together with Jennifer Aniston the full-time detectives get right into a murder scene with an old friend, which is then up to solve for the struggling private agency pair. This is a mediocre follow up to Murder Mystery which had its charm on the big screen. The movie is closely like the first edition, while being more current with the comedy. No box office numbers are in yet, but we can expect it not to be an outstandingly large figure.

Grown Ups

Another comedy which made a hit at the box office while still getting its fair share of critique was Grown Ups. The movie, which has almost no plot, is made up of a crew of old veteran comedians. The movie has its moments, and the numbers speak of it, coming in at $271,000,000 the movie is one of Adam Sandler’s hits and will be remembered in his repertoire of comedies.

Uncut Gems

Uncut Gems is a movie Adam will be remembered for. Following up the huge hit of The Meyerowitz Stories, which received a Palm Dog in 2017 and was selected to compete for the Palme d’Or. Uncut Gems won 27 awards with over 90 nominations in competitions. Here’s where Adam Sandler shines, working as a more complex character which he, for obvious reasons, pulled off well. The movie was one of the biggest hits of 2019 and the anxiety-inducing drama was critically acclaimed worldwide. The movie depicts a once successful gems dealer with a problematic gambling habit, waiting for the next big bet. It’s not a coincidence this has struck a chord in many people, since gambling is on the rise, not only through brick-and-mortar casinos, but also through online casinos. An article written by Casivo.ca shows how regulated and licensed casinos help players and the industry with safety going forward.

Hustle

The character Adam Sandler plays is a basketball coach, eyeing the next big player. He sees an opportunity with a street player in Spain which can grant him into the big room of NBA. Following up his success with Uncut Gems, Hustle also received good amounts of credit to Adam and the heartwarming story between the young basketball player and a scout with one last chance. The movie earned 7 nominations and was received extremely well with fans, earning a rate of 93% on rotten tomatoes, which is not any figures that Adam Sandler has come close by since The Meyerowitz Stories and Uncut Gems.

One of Hollywood’s top earners

It’s safe to say that the actor has had his ups and downs in cinema. Adam Sandler has however a skin in the game not only as an actor, but also as producer, screenwriter, and executive producer. This has made him one of the wealthiest actors in Hollywood. Despite what one might think of the many rom-coms and comedies, he has earned an enormous amount by doing all sorts of things around the movies. The top earners lies mainly within the hits with Transylvania, which have made above 1.3 billion worldwide.

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Adam Sandler has certainly had his ups

Global

It is a sure sign of spring when the Regina Farmers Market has Pat Fiacco Plaza buzzing with excitement.

Saturday marked the first day of the outdoor season for the market. The market will run every Saturday and Wednesday, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. until Oct. 7, 2023.

“We are ecstatic to be out here, and we are grateful to the city for their support and for helping us be out here again this year,” Holly Laird, the executive director of Regina Farmers Market said. “The plaza does feel like our home and we’re just really excited to be back at least for one more year.”

This will, however, be the final year the market will be in the plaza for the foreseeable future. The construction of downtown roads will force the market to find a new home from 2024 to 2026.

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The market has been held there for nearly 50 years.

The construction will take place on 11th avenue and will see the road completely dug up from Broad Street to Albert Street, meaning the only access to Cornwall Street will be from the Pat Fiacco Plaza.

On Saturday, Laird said 38 total vendors were in attendance, and it will continue to grow as roughly 70 vendors participate by July.

One of those vendors is Kathleen Larkin, and her stand “Nana K’s British Pies”. In honour of King Charles III coronation, a special deal was offered to celebrate.

“I made a coronation pie, which is a take on sandwich filling from the 1953 coronation,” Larkin explained. “It’s a creamy chicken, with a hint of curry…. And I also made a King Charles special which was a spinach quiche.”

Trending Now

2023 also marks the first ever Thursday market, which will be held at a separate location from June to August.

A ‘Satellite’ market will be held at the Horizon Station Park from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., offering vendors and consumers one more chance to come together.

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“The concept of these satellite markets is that they may have fewer vendors, but you still have all your farmers market staples there.”

The Thursday market opens on June 1.


Click to play video: 'Would Saskatchewan residents consume alcohol in public parks if it was legal?'


Would Saskatchewan residents consume alcohol in public parks if it was legal?


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It is a sure sign of spring

Trending

Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story takes viewers back to the origins and rise to power of Queen Charlotte. The Bridgerton prequel is a limited series but creator Shonda Rhimes leaves the door slightly open for a second season.

“There have been questions, but I’m not having conversations about it yet,” Rhimes told EW about a second season of the prequel. “I could live with Charlotte and George forever, but we told a very specific, closed-ended story that I think is a complete tale of this complicated, imperfect love. But I’m not ruling anything out because I never know.”

India Amarteifio plays the young Queen Charlotte and is joined by Corey Mylchreest as George) and Arsema Thomas as a young Agatha.

Thomas says she’s “obsessed” with her character and would be open to reprising the role if another season would be made.

“I never thought I could love like this until I had my own child. I feel like I gave birth, and Shonda Rhimes is her daddy. I am the mommy. It would be amazing to inhabit that space again,” Thomas said. “But also where we’ve left her off now, she’s a good space. If that’s the last time I get to be her, she’s empowered and she’s ready to walk on her own two feet. But if I do get a call for doing it again, I will take it.”

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Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story takes viewers

Tech

Newton Minow, the former chairman of the Federal Communications Commission in the 1960s who said network television was a “vast wasteland,” died Saturday in his Chicagoland, Illinois, home surrounded by loved ones. He was 97.

“He wanted to be at home,” Nell Minow, his daughter, told the Associated Press. “He had a good life.”

In 1961, President John F. Kennedy appointed Minow as FCC chief. Minow and Kennedy’s history dated back to the 1950s, when Minow was an aide to Illinois Gov. Adlai Stevenson, the Democrats’ presidential nominee in 1952 and 1956.

As the chief, Minow spoke to the National Association of Broadcasters and challenge them to watch television.

“[Watch] without a book, magazine, newspaper, profit-and-loss sheet or rating book to distract you,” Minow said. “I can assure you that you will observe a vast wasteland.”

Minow added, “You will see a procession of game shows, formula comedies about totally unbelievable families, blood and thunder, mayhem, violence, sadism, murder, Western bad men, Western good men, private eyes, gangsters, more violence and cartoons. And, endlessly, commercials — many screaming, cajoling and offending.”

When Minow gave his speech, there were only three networks for people who owned a television. His speech received a lot of criticism, like from CBS President Frank Stanton who called Minow’s comments a “sensationalized and oversimplified approach.”

Though Minow was the FCC chief for only a couple of years, under his leadership new laws kicked in, like the All-Channel Receiver Act of 1962, which required that TV sets pick up UHF as well as VHF broadcasts, which opened up TV channels numbered above 13 for widespread viewing. Additionally, Congress passed bills that funded educational television.

“My faith is in the belief that this country needs and can support many voices of television — and that the more voices we hear, the better, the richer, the freer we shall be,” Minow once said. “After all, the airways belong to the people.“

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Newton Minow, the former chairman of the

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Jonathan Majors was driving from New York to Park City a few weeks ago when he stopped at a gas station, got recognized, and realized he was a star. “The entertainment industry is a very personal industry,” Majors said in a recent interview for IndieWire’s Screen Talk podcast, “like it or not.”

Majors marks the first time an actor has joined Screen Talk hosts Eric Kohn and Anne Thompson for their weekly podcast, but his growing profile in the industry made him a natural fit for a show that often interrogates the relationship between art and commerce in Hollywood. (It also didn’t hurt that, by his own admission, Majors has been a Screen Talk listener since his days at Yale Drama School.)

While he was a major discovery out of Sundance hit “The Last Black Man in San Francisco” back in 2019, Majors’ big crossover moment is happening this month. With his role as the scheming antagonist Kang in “Ant-Man and Wasp: Quantumania,” he’s officially the new villain of the Marvel Cinematic Universe; simultaneously, he appears opposite Michael B. Jordan as the new foil to the boxing protagonist in “Creed III,” out this week.

Despite these huge blockbuster swings, however, Majors is also a poet, an aspiring producer, and an actor not averse to riskier low-budget maneuvers. One of those, his turn as a troubled bodybuilder in 2023 Sundance premiere “Magazine Dreams,” recently landed distribution with Searchlight and already has positioned him as a contender in next year’s Oscar race.

Needless to say, Majors has a lot going on, but he has more to discuss than new releases. In his extensive Screen Talk conversation, Majors explained how he discovered acting after getting arrested for shoplifting and eventually found his way to drama school. He also discussed his evolving perspective on celebrity and how he contends with reviews of his work.

Of course, it wouldn’t be Screen Talk at this time of the year if there weren’t some Oscar talk. As a recent Academy member, Majors had much to say about this year’s nominees, and didn’t mince words when it came to the controversy surrounding the snubs for Viola Davis and Danielle Deadwyler. “Spoiler alert: I am a young Black African American actor. I am quite sensitive to the political climate especially around the institutions I’m a part of,” he said. “We’ve got work to do.”

However, he did single out one bright spot among this year’s nominees, singling a fellow character from the MCU: “I love seeing Angela Bassett there,” he said. “Her name should be etched on the trailhead.”

On the subject of Marvel movies, Majors also confronted the negative reviews for “Ant-Man” and how he deals with criticism of his work (“If you’re a critic on the level, I probably know you”). He explained his rationale for taking on a blockbuster role and why he believes, in his words, that he works “in the service industry.”

Also in this week’s episode, Kohn and Thompson discuss the recent wins at the PGA and SAG awards as Oscar voting enters its final days. Stay tuned for final Oscar predictions next week.

Watch the full episode above or listen to it below.

Screen Talk is produced by Azwan Badruzaman and available on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and Spotify, and hosted by Megaphone. Browse previous installments here, subscribe here, and be sure to let us know if you’d like to hear the hosts address specific issues in upcoming editions of Screen Talk. 

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Jonathan Majors was driving from New York

Entertaintment

Production on the fifth and final season of Netflix’s Stranger Things has been delayed by the labor unrest between the Writers Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.

Creators Matt and Ross Duffer shared the news in a tweet Saturday from the official writers room Twitter account for the show. “Duffers here. Writing does not stop when filming begins. While we’re excited to start production with our amazing cast and crew, it is not possible during this strike. We hope a fair deal is reached soon so we can all get back to work. Until then — over and out. #wgastrong,” they wrote.

Sources at Netflix confirmed that production on the supersized fifth and final season of the series will be pushed to a time to be determined but declined to comment on the record.

The news comes after the first week of the writers strike, as the guild is seeking viewership transparency from streamers, increased wage floor, and protections against mini-rooms and the use of artificial intelligence.

A number of scripted productions have already been shut down, either by choice or by the disruption of either not having showrunners or writers on set or by picketers. Production on the Apple comedy Loot was disrupted on Friday by striking writers picketing the Bel-Air mega-mansion used for filming, for example.

Netflix confirmed in early 2022 that the fifth season of Stranger Things would be its last. The Duffer brothers have an overall deal with the streamer and, before the strike, were already working on a spinoff as well as an animated series set in the same world, in addition to other unrelated projects. The delayed production means there will again be a sizable gap between seasons. While season two aired a year after the first, there was a nearly three-year gap between seasons three and four with the latter season having been split into two parts.

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Production on the fifth and final season

Movies

Shah Rukh Khan’s Jawan will release in September now. Karan Deol will marry

Shah Rukh Khan announced the new release of Atlee film Jawan, Sunny Deol’s son is all set to tie the knots with
Drishya Acharya.

The biggest pan-Indian film of the year, Jawan is set to hit theatres soon. This highly anticipated movie, featuring Shah Rukh Khan and an impressive, star-studded cast, promises to keep audiences on the edge of their seats with its thrilling plot. And Shah Rukh Khan has finally broken the silence over it. Rumours were rife that the film, co-starring Nayanthara and Vijay Sethupathi, would release on June 2 but looks like that’s not it. Taking to social media, the Badshah of Bollywood revealed that one of his most-awaited films, have, indeed, been postponed.

Read More: SRK Confirms Jawan Postponed To September, Drops New Date; Reveals REAL Reason For Delay In Release

Just a few days ago, it was reported that Sunny Deol’s son and actor Karan Deol will be marrying his long-time boyfriend in June. While fans wondered who that lucky girl was, buzz is that she is none other than Bimal Roy’s great-granddaughter Drisha Acharya.

For More: Karan Deol To Marry Bimal Roy’s Great Grand Daughter Drisha Acharya: Report

Director Sudipto Sen released his ‘The Kerala Story’ amid a lot of controversy. The film has caused a stir about its subject. The film has also been accused of making another version of The Kashmir Files by a section of social media. The filmmaker finally reacted to the accusation, calling the comparisons ‘stupid’ and revealed that he has been working on The Kerala Story for seven years.

For More: The Kerala Story Director Dubs The Kashmir Files Comparison ‘Stupidity’, Says Working on It for 7 Years

Saif Ali Khan, Kriti Sanon and Prabhas’ Adipurush is eagerly anticipated by viewers not just in India but globally. Helmed by Om Raut, the film is finally getting ready for release. The trailer of the much-awaited mythological drama is all set to release on May 9, nearly seven months after the makers dropped the film’s teaser which received major backlash.

For More: Adipurush Trailer To Drop Months After Teaser Backlash, Prabhas is Powerful Lord Ram in New Poster

Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone finally shared her reaction to Alia Bhatt’s MET Gala debut. The actress was recently accused of being ‘insecure’ by a section of social media. The accusations were made after Deepika Padukone dropped a series of photos from her Oscars 2023 presentation just hours before Alia Bhatt made her debut at the MET Gala. While Deepika was seen liking Alia’s photos from the fashion gala, she has now turned cheerleader for her.

For More: Deepika Padukone Gets BRUTALLY Trolled For Her Reaction To Alia Bhatt’s Met Gala Debut

Read all the Latest Movies News and Entertainment News here

Yatamanyu Narain

Yatamanyu is a multi-disciplinary Journalist & Photographer who dabbles in Films, Poetry, Music, Politics, Pop-Culture and everything in between. …Read More

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Shah Rukh Khan's Jawan will release in

Latest News

Eight months after his reign began, King Charles III was officially coronated Saturday at Westminster Abbey in London, amid all the pomp, pageantry and miserable gray weather we’ve come to expect of the Brits.

As with all things royal, the day was tinged — though not entirely overshadowed — by ongoing Windsor family drama. Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, showed up at the coronation, making the first public appearance with his family since the release of the hit Netflix series “Harry & Meghan” and his bestselling memoir, “Spare.” The tell-all projects, released shortly after the death of Queen Elizabeth II, included dozens of bombshell allegations about backstabbing behavior by members of “The Firm” and painted a highly critical picture of the royal family’s relationship with the British press.

Despite Harry’s well-publicized estrangement from his family, the prince — currently fifth in line for the throne — attended without incident, which is more than can be said for his nephew, 5-year-old Prince Louis, who has established a reputation for adorably upstaging his older relatives at every turn.

Currently fourth in line for the throne, the youngest child of William and Catherine, the Prince and Princess of Wales, was seen yawning and staring up at the Abbey’s soaring ceiling during the ceremony and generally stole the show from the adults around him playing what must have seemed like an elaborate game of dress-up.

At one point, Louis was reportedly whisked away for a few minutes by a nanny, in a kid-wrangling contingency plan that surely involved many hours of planning, but returned in time to sing “God Save the King.” Later, Louis could be seen shouting and waving from inside a royal carriage as he rode with his family to Buckingham Palace. While Saturday was technically his grandfather’s big day, Louis became the undisputed king of social media, sparking a slew of tweets about his deeply relatable behavior in the middle of a rarefied — and, let’s be honest, rather slow-moving — celebration.

From left, first row, Britain’s Prince William, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis, Kate, Princess of Wales and Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, at the coronation ceremony of King Charles III in Westminster Abbey in London on Saturday.

(Yui Mok / Associated Press)

Last month, Buckingham Palace ended months of speculation by confirming that Harry would attend the coronation while Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, would remain in California.

On Saturday, Harry comported himself gracefully and gave the British tabloids, forever in search of more outrage fuel, little to complain about. While his brother William — the one who allegedly threw Harry into a dog bowl — and sister-in-law, Kate — the one who allegedly doesn’t like sharing her lip gloss — were seated front and center and wore elaborate robes, Harry had to settle for a perch in the third row and a relatively simple suit festooned with a half-dozen or so medals.

Harry entered the Abbey with his cousin, Princess Eugenie — who is close to Harry and earns repeated mentions in “Spare” — and was seated next to her husband, Jack Brooksbank, during the ceremony.

Though it was fleetingly possible to see Harry exchange pleasantries with other guests, those of us keeping a watchful eye on on his face, trying to discern what he might be thinking as Camilla — the archnemesis of his late mother, Princess Diana, and the ultimate wicked stepmother as portrayed in his memoir — was formally crowned queen, were out of luck: Harry’s visage was mostly blocked by the red feather on a hat worn by his aunt, Anne, the Princess Royal.

Whether or not this was intentional, we may never know. But it‘s worth noting that Anne was given the ceremonial role of “Gold Stick in Waiting,” meaning she was charged with protecting the monarch from harm — specifically physical harm, though in this case she may have been protecting him from damaging memes.

As she did at the Queen’s funeral in September, Anne wore military regalia and looked ready to compete in the Triwizard Tournament in a long, green velvet cape. She later rode on horseback behind Charles’ carriage, leading a procession of 6,000 military personnel to Buckingham Palace, proving once again that while she may not be the most famous or glamorous royal, she’s certainly the coolest.

Harry had no formal role in the ceremony. Neither did his uncle, Prince Andrew, who settled a lawsuit just last year with a woman who accused him of sexually abusing her as a teenager and arrived at the event in a black Rolls Royce. (He was reportedly booed by the crowds.)

Anyone hoping for a more permanent reconciliation between Harry and the rest of the Windsor clan are out of luck: According to the BBC, Harry left alone in a car shortly after the two-plus-hours-long ceremony concluded, and was not invited to appear on the balcony at Buckingham Palace.

It’s unclear when Harry will return to California, though it’s expected his visit to London will be brief: His son, Prince Archie, celebrates his 4th birthday this weekend with what has been billed a “low-key party at home.” And, hey, someone needs to get back to Montecito to help Meghan stuff the “Bluey” piñata. If there’s one thing Louis taught us on Saturday, it’s that you don’t want to bore a preschooler.

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Eight months after his reign began,

MCU

As the WGA strike continues to put all scripted television and films on pause, we are starting to get a better feel for how far along in development certain projects are.

For Marvel, the strike is not expected to affect upcoming finished releases like The Marvels, or Season 2 of Loki, however, that doesn’t mean the studio isn’t feeling the pressure.

Writers Strike

Photo: NBS News

Blade Paused Due To Strike

According to insiders, due to the ongoing writer’s strike, Marvel has shut down pre-production on Blade.

The superhero reboot is set to star Mahershala Ali as the titular vampire hunter. He will be joined by Aaron Pierre, Delroy Lindo, and Mia Goth.

Blade

While the film wasn’t set to be released until September 6, 2024, production was expected to begin within the next month in Atlanta.

Troubled Production

Although other projects throughout Hollywood have also been stalled, the news is especially troubling for Blade. The film was originally intended for a 2023 release, however, it was pushed back last October after the original director, Bassam Tariq, left the project.

Blade

In November of last year, Yann Demange took over directing duties with a script by Michael Starrbury. Then, in April, Nic Pixxolatto joined the production, re-writing Starrbury’s screenplay. The writer reportedly ran out of time before the strike began.

While Blade will resume production after the writer’s strike, other Marvel properties have reportedly been unaffected. Thunderbolts, for example, which was also scheduled for a 2024 release, is moving ahead in pre-production.

Blade Marvel

As always, continue to check back in with MickeyBlog. We will continue to bring you updates on all the happenings surrounding the MCU!

Thanks for visiting MickeyBlog.com! Want to go to Disney? For a FREE quote on your next Disney vacation, please fill out the form below and one of the agents from MickeyTravels, a Diamond level Authorized Disney Vacation Planner, will be in touch soon! Thanks for reading!

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As the WGA

DCU

Warning: The following contains SPOILERS for Titans season 4, episode 11, “Project Starfire.”Tim Drake’s first outing as Robin in Titans season 4 is a worse origin than in the comics. Tim Drake was introduced to the Titans cast during Titans season 3, helping the team restore order to a Gotham City in chaos. He was promised a chance to join the team afterward, but the show was slow in developing Tim into the costumed hero he was born to be.

Tim spent most of Titans season 4 in a supporting role, honing his combat skills while beginning a romance with STAR Labs scientist Bernard Fitzmartin. Tim was finally given a costume and permitted to go into the field alone in Titans season 4, episode 11, “Project Starfire.” Unfortunately, Tim’s first solo mission as a superhero in Titans did not live up to his legacy from the comics.


Tim Drake’s First Robin Mission Is Better In The Comics

Tim Drake Robin by Todd Nauck

While Tim Drake was originally established as Bruce Wayne’s neighbor, he did not don the Robin suit until Batman #442. Part of the serialized story A Lonely Place of Dying, the issue found Tim Drake taking to the field of battle with Alfred Pennyworth’s assistance after both Batman and Nightwing disappeared while hunting for the villain Two-Face. While Batman was initially reluctant to take on a new partner after the death of Jason Todd, he was forced to admit that he would have died without Tim Drake’s assistance and agreed to give him a chance.

A Lonely Place of Dying is widely regarded as a classic Batman story. Beyond its historical importance as the first story featuring the Tim Drake Robin, it is generally agreed to demonstrate precisely why Batman needs a Robin to keep him grounded and help him in his war on crime. The story also showed why Tim Drake was worthy of the Robin mantle, showcasing his drive and his detective skills.

Titans Left It Too Late To Make Tim Drake Robin

Titans Season 4 Tim Drake Opens Suitcase WIth Robin Costume

While Titans did a similarly fine job of demonstrating Tim Drake’s intelligence and how he figured out Batman’s secret identity, it also took far too long to develop him into a worthy Robin. Granting that Titans‘ take on Tim Drake was even more of a thinker than a fighter than in the comics, it still would have been better to have him take on the Robin mantle at the end of Titans season 3, pitting him against the fallen Red Hood. This would have been both a thematic passing of the torch and far more exciting than Tim being given a suitcase and being sent to question to an informant.

Titans’ series finale airs Thursday, May 11, on HBO Max.

Key Release Dates

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Warning: The following contains SPOILERS for Titans

Comics

For the last few years, you’ve been able to say “Stop” to tell Google Assistant to end an alarm early without the need to preface your command with “Hey Google.” It’s a handy feature Google first debuted on before later rolling it out to Pixel smartphones. And for the most part, it works like a charm, though one person recently discovered a fun quirk of the feature that involves the Pixies classic “Where Is My Mind?”

In a Reddit post spotted by , Pixel user “asevarte” recounts how their morning alarm would go off and sometimes turn off moments later for seemingly no reason. “Maybe once every other week or so, I would wake up 30 minutes later on my backup alarm, with no indication as to why the first shut itself off,” they told the Google Pixel subreddit.

Earlier this week, asevarte decided to wake up early to get to the bottom of the issue. Thankfully, it didn’t take long to find the culprit. Their alarm was set to play a Spotify playlist that features “Where Is My Mind?” If you’re a Pixies fan, you know exactly where this is going. The Surfer Rosa cut opens with bassist and vocalist Kim Deal singing “Ooh” before frontman Black Francis says, “Stop,” and the song, following a brief pause, then continues. The section caused Google Assistant to prematurely end asevarte’s alarm. They had the playlist set to shuffle, which is what made identifying the bug tricky.

 recorded a video of the oversight in action, and sure enough, playing “Where Is My Mind?” ends an alarm early. Interestingly, other songs that feature a prominent “stop,” such as “Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen, don’t appear to trigger Assistant’s Quick Phrases feature in the same way that “Where Is My Mind?” does. Android Police speculates the reason for that could be that in those other songs “stop” is backed by instrumentals. That lines up with complaints Assistant users have had over the years that the feature doesn’t work when they try to use it while their smart display, speaker or Pixel device is playing music.

If you’re curious about what the Pixies think of all this. The band’s official Twitter account caught the original Android Police story. “Sorry about that!” the account tweeted.

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For the last few years, you’ve been

Festivals

Here is another hot package set to hit the Cannes Market this month: Sebastian Lelio has set Voyagers as his next film at FilmNation Entertainment, with Andrew Garfield attached to play astronomer Carl Sagan and Daisy Edgar-Jones attached to play Cosmos filmmaker Ann Druyan.

The feature is produced by Ben Browning for FilmNation Entertainment, Lynda Obst, and Druyan. FilmNation Entertainment is set to launch global sales at the Cannes Market.

The film is set in 1977 as NASA prepared to launch humanity’s first interstellar probes and a team led by Sagan set out to create a message to accompany them — The Golden Record. But what starts out as a race-against-the-clock mission becomes an epic, unexpected love story between Sagan and his collaborator Druyan. FilmNation Entertianment paired Druyan with screenwriters Lelio and Jessica Goldberg, who wrote the original screenplay based on interviews with Druyan and many others who worked on the Golden Record project.

Lelio most recently co-wrote and directed The Wonder, starring Florence Pugh with House Productions and Element Pictures producing for Netflix. It was nominated for Outstanding British Film of the Year at last year’s BAFTA. Garfield is in production in the UK on John Crowley’s We Live In Time, in which he stars alongside Florence Pugh. He most recently starred opposite Edgar-Jones in FX’s Under the Banner of Heaven, which earned Garfield his first Emmy nomination and Edgar-Jones her second Golden Globe nom. She received rave reviews for her breakout performance in the Emmy-nominated series Normal People based on Sally Rooney’s best-selling novel.

Lelio is represented by Lark, Entertainment 360 and Granderson Des Rochers. Garfield is represented by CAA, Gordon & French, ID and Sloane Offer Weber & Dern; Edgar-Jones is repped by UTA, Hamilton Hodell, Relevant, Public Eye Communications and Sloane Offer; Goldberg is represented by United Talent Agency and attorney Jeff Franke; Obst is represented by Eric Suddleson at Felker Toczek Suddleson Abramson McGinnis Ryan LLP

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Here is another hot package set to

Film

We become the latest victims for Count Dracula to sink his teeth into as we review Renfield this week. The lads tackle a plethora of topics, including the length of adverts at cinemas (again), the new ‘all stars’ show of I’m a Celebrity… South Africa, The Hunt for Raoul Moat, Evil Dead Rise and The Son.

Music:

Intro – Back to the Beginning by Marco Beltrami

Outro – Dracula’s Gaze – Marco Beltrami


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We become the latest victims for Count

TV

Fans of Netflix’s Stranger Things will have to wait longer for the fifth and final season, whose start of production is being delayed by the writers strike. Faced with the prospect of filming without writers on set, creators, executive producers and showrunners the Duffer Brothers have opted to instead postpone production.

“Writing does not stop when filming begins,” they wrote on the official Twitter account for the Stranger Things writers. While we’re excited to start production with our amazing cast and crew, it is not possible during this strike. We hope a fair deal is reached soon so we can all get back to work. Until then — over and out. #wgastrong.”

Deadline has confirmed that production on Season 5 of the blockbuster hit, which was supposed to start soon, will be pushed. No new start date has been set.

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Fans of Netflix’s Stranger Things will have

What to Watch

Hulu is bringing the original series Love, Diana to its streaming platform, as announced today by leading kid and family-oriented content producer pocket.watch. The series is a blend of animation and live-action dedicated to focusing on friendship and creating a sense of empowerment for children ages three to five.

In a press release earlier today, pocket.watch Founder and CEO Chris M. Williams said, “We are thrilled to share our Love, Diana series with Hulu’s kids and family audience alongside our other 11 new shows. To be embraced by such an esteemed and trailblazing service as Hulu demonstrates that pocket.watch’s investments in curating and enriching creator-led content are highly valued by top-tier streamers, as well as parents and kids.”

The series stars Diana and her brother Roma, who are well known for their other comedic series Kids Diana Show which has a following of 290 million subscribers. Clocking in at 160 billion lifetime views, it is YouTube’s third most-view channel worldwide. The popularity of the show spawned its own Love, Diana mobile game that has already been downloaded by over 15 million users. The youngsters have also established a range of Love, Diana products, including toys and toothbrushes, that are available internationally.

Hulu is one of many entertainment platforms investing more into kid-friendly programming, of which pocket.watch has plenty to contribute. 

Pocket.watch has its own Hulu page hosting 11 of its other original series, ranging from educational shows to magicians to science experiments and even age-appropriate trending challenges. 

  • Love, Diana — Season 1 of Love, Diana is available to stream on Hulu now, transporting kids to the Land of Play, where Diana and her brother Roma must protect their cartoon friends from Boris the Bore’s attempts to spread gloom.
  • Kids Diana Show Ultimate Mishmash — A live-action series inspired by her YouTube channel, the third most-viewed channel in the world. Diana and her family create fanciful videos with songs, games, and plenty of pretend play.
  • Dan Rhodes Quick Tricks MiniMash — Starring Dan Rhodes, the most famous magician on YouTube, and a top 10 YouTube creator of 2022 with over 15 billion views on his content. His show on Hulu highlights some of his most popular magic tricks and teaches his audience how to do them.
  • Ryan’s World Specials — Starring Ryan from Ryan’s World with over 77 billion views on his content, the series features Ryan, Gus the Gummy Gator, Combo Panda, and the whole Ryan’s World gang. Enjoy adventures, as they explore the world through play, fun challenges, and perform kid-friendly science experiments.
  • Toys and Colors Ultimate Mishmash — Starring the largest kids ensemble on YouTube with over 1 billion monthly views, the series features a group of girls, boys, aunties, and uncles who solve problems, learn, and develop good habits together.
  • Dangie Bros Extreme Essentials (Streaming May 15th) — The Dangie Bros are three brothers based in Los Angeles, creating fun, family-friendly content for millions of people around the world.
  • Denis Ultimate Mishmash — Denis is a friendly and upbeat person who loves to laugh, mostly at himself. Through his misadventures with Sir Meows A Lot, viewers will see that it’s okay to be awkward, to make mistakes, and to try again.
  • Karina Garcia Ultimate Mishmash — The super crafty Queen of Slime is on the scene, and there’s nothing she loves more than slime time.
  • KidCity Ultimate Mishmash — Centered around the dynamic brother-sister duo who love playing games together as a family and participating in trending challenges.
  • LankyBox Ultimate Mishmash — Stars a high-energy group made up of Adam, Justin, and their pack of plushy friends, playing lots of games and bringing lots of laughter and fun.
  • Mackenzie Turner Ultimate Mishmash — Stars gamer phenom Mackenzie Turner, a fun, bubbly girl who loves to make others laugh through her stories and adventures in games and IRL.
  • Onyx Family Ultimate Mishmash — Follows the powerhouse Onyx household with talented and hilarious kids and their fun-loving parents.

Pocket.watch is dedicated to providing the best content young children love to watch and is available on 40+ platforms. Check out its full catalog of original videos currently available on Hulu.

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Hulu is bringing the original series Love,

Awards

A full 48-minute video of Donald Trump’s deposition during a defamation case brought on by author E. Jean Carroll was released Friday, revealing numerous peeks inside the former president’s way of thinking.

During the deposition, which took place in October 2022 at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club in Florida, Carroll’s attorney, Roberta Kaplan, questioned the former president not only about things he has said about Carroll since she accused him of defamation and rape, but also about the numerous other claims from women who have also accused him of sexual misconduct.

Included in the deposition were question about the infamous audio leak taken from the “Access Hollywood” bus Trump was on in 2005 with then-host Billy Bush. In the clip, released just prior to the 2016 election, Trump could be heard saying he can’t help but kiss women and that “when you’re a star, they let you do it. You can do anything. Grab them by the p—sy.” 

Around the 38:00 minute mark of the deposition video, Kaplan asked Trump if those were indeed his statements:

TRUMP: Well, historically, that’s true with stars.

KAPLAN: It’s true with stars that they can grab women by the p—sy?

TRUMP: Well, that’s what, if you look over the last million years I guess that’s been largely true. Not always, but largely true. Unfortunately or fortunately.

KAPLAN: And you consider yourself to be a star?

TRUMP: I think you can say that. Yeah.

KAPLAN: And now you said before, a couple of minutes ago, that this was just locker room talk.

TRUMP: It’s locker room talk.

KAPLAN: And so does that mean that you didn’t really mean it?

TRUMP: No, it’s locker room talk. I don’t know. It’s just the way people talk.

‘Access Hollywood’ Reaffirms That Trump’s ‘Grab ‘Em by the P–y’ Tape Is Real (Video)

Other highlights of the deposition include Trump mistaking a photo of Carroll for that of his ex-wife, Marla Maples. His own attorney Alina Habba, was forced to intervene (10:55):

KAPLAN: You have in front of you a black and white photograph that we’ve marked as DJT 23. And I’m going to ask you, is this the photo that you were just referring to?

TRUMP: I think so, yes.

KAPLAN: And do you recall when you first saw this photo?

TRUMP: At some point during the process, I saw it. That’s I guess her husband, John Johnson, who was an anchor for ABC, nice guy, I thought, I mean, I don’t know him but I thought he was pretty good at what he did. I don’t even know who the woman. Let’s see, I don’t know who – it’s Marla.

KAPLAN: You’re saying Marla’s in this photo?

HABBA: No, that’s Carroll.

TRUMP: That’s Marla, yeah. That’s, that’s my wife.

KAPLAN: Which woman are you pointing to?

TRUMP: Here.

TRUMP: [inaudible] Oh I see.

KAPLAN: The person you just pointed to is E. Jean Carroll.

TRUMP: Who’s that, who’s this?

HABBA: [inaudible] That’s your wife.

KAPLAN: And the person, the woman on the right is your then-wife –.

TRUMP: I don’t know, this was the picture. I assume that’s John Johnson. Is that –.

HABBA: That’s Carroll.

TRUMP: – Carroll, because it’s very blurry.

Donald Trump Confuses Rape Accuser E. Jean Carroll for Ex-Wife Marla Maples in Photo

Despite this confusion, Trump would later state that Carroll is not his “type” of woman (21:19):

TRUMP: I saw her in a picture. I didn’t know what she looked like. And I said it, and I say it with as much respect as I can, but she is not my type.

After more back and forth with Trump repeating the claim, Kaplan ended the exchange:

KAPLAN: I take it the three women you’ve married are all your type?

TRUMP: Yeah.

Trump also invoked the “not my type” defense while denying Carroll’s accusation that he raped her in the dressing room of a Bergdorf Goodman department store in Manhattan in the mid-1990s, deeming it “the worst charge” (31:52):

KAPLAN: Okay, then you go on to say in the statement, “And while I’m not supposed to say it, I will.” Why were you not supposed to say it?

TRUMP: Because it’s not politically correct to say – read the next, go ahead, that she’s not my type. Yeah, because it’s not politically correct to say it, and I know that, but I’ll say it anyway. She’s accusing me of rape. A woman that I have no idea who she is. It came out of the blue. She’s accusing me of rape, of raping her. The worst thing you can do, the worst charge. And, and you know, you know it’s not true too. You’re a political operative also. You’re, you’re a disgrace. But she’s accusing me, and so are you, of rape, and it never took place. And I will tell you, I made that statement. And I said, well, it’s politically incorrect. She’s not my type. And that’s 100% true. She’s not my type.

George Conway Slams Trump Lawyer’s ‘Outrageous’ Behavior in E. Jean Carroll Rape Case: ‘Backfired in Front of a Jury’ (Video)

Trump also referred to Carroll as a “whack job” and a “nut job” that he didn’t know (27:20):

TRUMP: I still don’t know this woman. I think she’s a whack job. I have no idea. I don’t know anything about this woman other than what I read in stories and what I hear. I know, I know nothing about her. She said that I did something to her that never took place. There was no anything. I know nothing about this nut job.

As he has when speaking of other accusations made against him in the past, Trump deemed Carroll’s charges of rape and defamation as a “hoax” (32:45):

KAPLAN: Now, in your Truth Social statement on October 12, you use the word hoax. Specifically, you say, “It is a hoax and a lie just like all the other hoaxes that have been played on me for the past seven years.” Do you see that?

TRUMP: Yeah.

KAPLAN: Recall making that statement? And I take it what you’re saying there is Ms. Carroll fabricated her claim that you sexually assaulted her, correct?

TRUMP: Yes, totally. 100%.

KAPLAN: Fair to say, you’d agree with me, would you not, that you use the term hoax quite a lot?

TRUMP: Yes, I do.

KAPLAN: CNN reported that you used it more than 250 times in 2020. Does that sound right?

TRUMP: Could be. I’ve had a lot of hoaxes played on me. This is one of them.

KAPLAN: And how would, how would you define the word hoax?

TRUMP: A fake story. A false story. A made up story.

KAPLAN: Something that’s not true.

TRUMP: Something that’s not true. Yes.

KAPLAN: Sitting here today can you recall what else you have referred to as a hoax?

TRUMP: Sure. The Russia Russia Russia hoax, it’s been proven to be a hoax. Ukraine Ukraine Ukraine hoax. The Mueller situation for two and a half years hoax – ended and no collusion. It was a whole big hoax. The lying to the FISA court hoax; the lying to Congress many times hoax by all these people, this scum that we have in our country; lying to Congress hoax; the spying on my campaign hoax. They spied on my campaign and now they admitted that was another hoax, and I could get a whole list of them. And this is a hoax too.

KAPLAN: This, when you say this and that –.

TRUMP: This ridiculous situation that we’re doing right now, it’s a big fat hoax. She’s a liar and she’s a sick person in my opinion, really sick. Something wrong with her.

Trump Admits He Calls Polls ‘Fake’ When They Don’t Favor Him (Video)

Also a hoax? Mail-in voting ballots, according to Trump (34:35):

KAPLAN: OK, in addition to the Russia Russia Russia hoax, the Ukraine Ukraine Ukraine hoax, the Mueller the Mueller or Mueller hoax, the lying to FISA hoax, the lying to Congress hoax, and the spying on your campaign hoax. Isn’t it true that you also referred to the use of mail in ballots as a hoax?

TRUMP: Yeah, I do. I do. I think they’re very dishonest, mail in ballots, very dishonest.

KAPLAN: And isn’t it true that you yourself have voted by mail?

TRUMP: I do. I do. Sometimes I do. But I don’t know what happens to it once you, once you give it, I have no idea.

Carroll’s representation rested their case at the trial on Thursday. Trump’s lawyers did not counter with a witness of their own. 

Trump has faced a firestorm of legal issues in the past month. He was indicted in New York for paying hush money to porn star Stormy Daniels, and his former Vice President Mike Pence testified before a grand jury that is investigating Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election. 

Chris Hayes Says Trump Is Running for President to ‘Finish the Job He Started on Jan. 6th’ (Video)

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A full 48-minute video of Donald Trump’s

Music

Evil
Photo: Elizabeth Fisher/Paramount+

As the Writer Guild Of America’s ongoing strike heads toward the end of its first week, the list of shows (and, in the case of the MCU’s Blade, one perpetually unlucky movie) that are being affected by the work stoppages are steadily continuing to accumulate. And not just because they don’t have anybody to write them right now—although that’s obviously become an immediate problems for the late-night shows and Saturday Night Live—but because of picketing by WGA supporters, which have already forced multiple series to lose days of shooting as participants are blocked (physically, or ethically) from crossing the picket line. Productions that are filming in Los Angeles and especially New York—i.e., some of the main places where the writers is—are obviously more susceptible to this tactic than others, something the WGA appeared to demonstrate yesterday, when a multi-hour picket line, comprised of as few as three people, managed to shut down production on Paramount+’s Evil for the day.

Ritu Arya and Priya Kansara on stunt training for “Polite Society,” working with Nida Manzoor and more

Besides being a demonstration of top-notch circle-walking stamina—with the picketers reportedly going until producers finally acknowledged they weren’t going to get anything done for the day at 1 a.m.—the successful picket was also a reminder of the forces of union solidarity at work in the current strike; according to TV writer Starlee Kine, crew members (who are largely members of the International Alliance Of Theatrical Stage Employees) refused to cross the picket line, instead waiting across the street from the show’s studio. Strike captain Warren Leight (whose day job has included showrunning duties on various Law And Order series) identified Search Party’s Kine, Daily Show writer Joseph Opio, and former Kimmel writer Jonathan Bines as the three picketers who reportedly marched for seven hours to keep the line going.

Meanwhile, and more grimly, news continues to break about other shows—often shows that film in distant locales, where signs are scarce and slogans in short supply—continuing to shoot through the strike. That includes Disney+’s Andor (which suggests that some of the people at Disney have not actually watched Andor), which, per our colleagues at io9, is continuing to film this week. Albeit, reportedly without the on-set presence of showrunner Tony Gilroy, one of several showrunners who are now in an awkward position of being, like, half on-strike from their writer-producer duties. Two days ago, THR got its hands on memos from both Warner Bros. and Disney to their showrunners, with the latter explicitly telling writer-producers they’re expected to perform certain duties “even if the WGA attempts to fine you for performing such services during the strike.” That includes certain writer-producer-blending jobs like making small alterations to lines or cutting dialogue for time, which the WGA’s strike provisions specifically prohibit.

Evil is currently shooting its fourth season.

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EvilPhoto: Elizabeth Fisher/Paramount+As the Writer Guild Of

Docs

Danish filmmaker Christian Einshøj’s “The Mountains” has won Hot Docs’ Best International Feature Documentary Award and a Cnd. $10,000 cash prize, it was announced this morning in Toronto at the festival’s awards ceremony, held at the TIFF Bell Lightbox.

Produced by Made In Copenhagen, the film is an autobiographical family portrait using 30 years of home video, 75,000 photos, and a superhero road trip to explore the tragedy that led to the emotional distance between the men in the family. “The Mountains,” which premiered earlier this year at CPH:DOX, now automatically qualifies for consideration in the Academy’s Best Documentary Feature category without the standard theatrical run, provided it complies with Academy rules. Cats and Docs is handling sales.

Einshøj also picked up the Emerging International Filmmaker Award, which includes a Cdn. $3,000 cash prize supported by the Donner Canadian Foundation. The jury said, “This unique, eloquent, and deeply honest look at a family told through various lenses was captivating. Christian Einshøj uses humor to tell a deeply personal story that anyone who is part of a family can relate to.”

Montreal-based filmmaker Denys Desjardins’ “I Lost My Mom,” about the filmmaker’s struggles to ensure his elderly mother can live with comfort and dignity in Quebec’s long-term care system, won Best Canadian Feature Documentary Award and a Cnd. $10,000 cash prize.

“I Lost My Mom”
Courtesy of Centaure Films-F3M

The Canadian feature documentary jury said that veteran filmmaker Desjardin—who shot the film over five years — “made something sublime out of limits. In a time of closures he made a handmade work of art that opens empathy. This is a work of difficult love. This is deeply heartbreaking work.”

“I Lost My Mom” is the most recent film in Desjardins’ series of projects exploring seniors and housing. The film is produced by Centaure Films and distributed in Canada by Les Films du 3 Mars.

The Canadian feature competition section also saw the DGC Special Jury Prize —Canadian Feature Documentary and a Cdn $5,000 cash prize, sponsored by the Directors’ Guild of Canada, go to Justine Harbonnier’s “Caiti Blues,” about an ex-New Yorker now living in New Mexico striving to revive her dream of singing on Broadway. The jury noted, “In a lonely universe, we travel through a world of imagination in search of identity. Music fractures and interweaves in a film about struggling to become the person you dream of and are in search of. This is deeply engaging filmmaking.”

The International feature competition section saw the Special Jury Prize and Cdn $5,000 cash award, sponsored by A&E, to Edward Lovelace’s “Name Me Lawand,” in which a deaf Kurdish boy thrives at a U.K. school after a treacherous journey from Iraq only to face deportation. The jury said it was “touched by this epic yet intimate story of a refugee family who had no choice but to leave their home to create a life for their deaf son.”

The International Feature jury also gave an honorable mention to Everardo González’s “A Wolfpack Named Ernesto.”

The Canadian feature-length competition saw two new awards introduced this year. The Bill Nemtin Award for Best Social Impact Documentary, which recognizes the producers of a Canadian Spectrum film that has the greatest potential to create social impact, went to Matt King and Andrew Ferguson of Zack Russell’s “Someone Lives Here.” The $10,000 cash prize supports the producer’s outreach and marketing activities for the film. The jury remarks, “Creating safe spaces against all odds, trying to fight humiliating circumstances, the carpenter constructs little safe heavens while authorities seem not to appreciate his efforts. This important and well-constructed film leaves us asking: how should we be living alongside each other?”

The John Kastner Award went to Jean-Philippe Marquis’ “Silvicola,” which explores the impact of forestry in Canada’s Pacific Northwest through visuals and the voices of workers. The award, which comes with a Cdn. $5,000 cash prize, is given to a feature in Canadian Spectrum that reflects “courage and compassion that embodies masterful and audacious storytelling, meticulous observation, and a profound trust between the director and the people who share their stories.” The jury stated, “Many films ask the question, how are we meant to exist upon a living being, our Earth. This is a masterwork of patience and complexity that doesn’t seek easy answers, and for that we lean in with humility and heartache. This is a film that holds questions we should all be asking ourselves.”

The Earl A. Glick Emerging Canadian Filmmaker Award and a $3,000 cash prize, courtesy of the Earl A. Glick Family, went to Dominique Chaumont for “Veranada,” set in the Argentinian plains. The jury noted, “Beautiful images and a mesmerizing soundtrack make ‘Veranada’ a truly authentic cinematographic experience, transporting you to a world you need to know.”

Luke Fowler’s “Being in a Place – A Portrait of Margaret Tait” won Best Mid-Length Documentary award and a $3,000 cash prize, sponsored by British Pathé. In the same category, the jury also acknowledged Ananta Thitanat’s “Scala” with an honorable mention.

Quebec filmmaker Gaëlle Graton won the Lindalee Tracey Award, which comes with a $5,000 cash prize courtesy of the Lindalee Tracey Fund, $5,000 award in post-production services provided by SIM, and a hand-blown glass sculpture. The annual award honors an emerging Canadian filmmaker with a “passionate point of view, a strong sense of social justice and a sense of humor.”

Marjan Khosravi’s “Mrs. Iran’s Husband,” an exploration of family and labor in Iran, won the Best International Short Documentary Award; Megan Durnford’s “Last Respects,” about a Montreal priest’s annual ceremony celebrating the lives of the unclaimed,” won the Betty Youson Award for Best Canadian Short Documentary. Both docs also won a $3,000 cash prize and now qualify for consideration in the Documentary Short Subject category of the Academy Awards. The short docs jury acknowledged Micah Levin’s “Dear Ani” with an honorable mention.

The Scotiabank Docs for Schools Student Choice Award went to Bethann Hardison and Frédéric Tcheng’s “Invisible Beauty.” The awards comes with a $5,000 cash prize, courtesy of Scotiabank.

Chinese American documentarian Christine Choy received the 2023 Outstanding Achievement Award, and her work was featured in this year’s Retrospective Program. Earlier in the festival, Canadian producer Bonnie Thompson, producer of Cam Christiansen’s “Echo of Everything,” was named as the recipient of this year’s Don Haig Award, which is given to an outstanding independent Canadian producer with a film in the Hot Docs in recognition of his/her creative vision, entrepreneurship and track record for nurturing emerging talent and comes with a $5,000 cash prize.

The Rogers Audience Award for Best Canadian documentary will be announced on Saturday, the last day of the festival. The top Canadian feature in the audience poll will win a $50,000 cash prize, courtesy of the Rogers Group of Funds. The overall Audience Award winner will be announced after the festival.

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King Charles III is crowned with St Edward's Crown by The Archbishop of Canterbury the Most Reverend Justin Welby during his coronation ceremony in Westminster AbbeyThe Coronation of King Charles III, London, UK - 06 May 2023


King Charles III and Queen Camilla on the balcony of Buckingham Palace The Coronation of King Charles III, London, UK - 06 May 2023


Prince William, Catherine Princess of Wales, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis on the balcony of Buckingham Palace The Coronation of King Charles III, London, UK - 06 May 2023

Image Credit: Zak Hussein/SIPA/Shutterstock

  • Andrew Parker Bowles is a retired British Army officer.
  • He used to be married to Queen Camilla.
  • He attended Camilla’s husband, King Charles’ coronation on Saturday.

Andrew Parker Bowles, 83, got a lot of attention when he unexpectedly showed up to King Charles III‘s coronation at Westminster Abbey in London, England on Saturday. The former husband of the King’s wife, Queen Camilla, was photographed all dressed up as he used a cane to help him walk, during the ceremony, and apparently attended to support his ex-wife. His appearance makes it clear that there’s no negative feelings toward his one-time spouse, despite the ending of their marriage 20 years ago.

Find out more about Andrew and his history with Queen Camilla below.

Andrew is a retired British Army officer.

Andrew Parker Bowles
Andrew at King Charles’ coronation. (Zak Hussein/SIPA/Shutterstock)

Andrew’s years of service in the army started in 1960 and ended in 1994. His rank was a Brigadier and his units included the Royal Horse Guards, Blues and Royals, and Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment. He was first commissioned into the Royal Horse Guards (The Blues) in 1960 and was aide-de-camp to the Governor-General of New Zealand, Sir Bernard Fergusson, in 1965. The battle he was involved in was Operation Motorman in 1972.

He’s been married twice.

Andrew’s first wife was Queen Camilla. He married her in 1973 and their marriage lasted until 1995. He then went on to marry Rosemary Pitman in 1996 and they were married until her death in 2010.

Andrew shares two children with Queen Camilla.

Andrew Parker Bowles, Camilla
Andrew and Queen Camilla when they were a couple. (David Fisher/Shutterstock)

During their marriage, Andrew and Queen Camilla welcomed two children, including son Tom Parker Bowles in 1974 and daughter Laura Lopes in 1978. Through their children, both Andrew and Queen Camilla also have five grandchildren. They include Thomas’ children, Lola Parker Bowles, who was born in 1997, and Freddy Parker Bowles, born in 2010, as well as Laura’s children, Eliza Lopes, born in 2008, and twins Louis Lopes and Gus Lopes, born in 2009.

He once dated Princess Anne.

Before he was romantically involved with Queen Camilla, Andrew dated King Charles’ sister Princess Anne. His father Derek, was also a good friend of Anne’s grandmother, the late Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, who was Queen of the United Kingdom from 1936 until 1952. Andrew’s relationship with the princess started in 1970 and lasted for several years. It’s unclear exactly when the relationship ended but it was before he started dating Queen Camilla and they remained friends.

Andrew was portrayed by actors in a film & television series.

Andrew was portrayed by Simon Wilson the 2005 film, Whatever Love Means, and by Andrew Buchan in the television series, The Crown in 2019.

The Coronation Service of Their Majesties The King Charles III and The Queen Camilla was attended by a congregation of more than 2,200 guests, including Members of the Royal Family, international representatives from over 200 countries, and approximately 100 Heads of State. The hand painted invitation, which was shared via the Royal’s Instagram, was sent to all guests. Notably absent among the guests were US President Joe Biden, though his wife, First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, attended, and Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, who stayed in America with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.

In the official announcement for the King’s coronation made back in October 2022, Buckingham Palace promised that the coronation would “reflect the monarch’s role today and look towards the future, while being rooted in longstanding traditions and pageantry.” The Archbishop of Canterbury performed the official crowning of Charles with St Edward’s Crown and the crowning of Camila with Queen Mary’s Crown at Westminster Abbey on Saturday, May 6.

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View gallery Image Credit: Zak Hussein/SIPA/Shutterstock Andrew Parker Bowles

Tech

Coulda, woulda, shoulda?

Ten years ago, Yahoo was looking for a “transformative” acquisition, former CEO Marissa Mayer said in a recent interview with Tech Brew. Among the targets the internet company was looking at: Netflix and Hulu. Yahoo ended up buying blogging site Tumblr for $1.1 billion in 2013 — which, to put it mildly, did not pan out as expected.

“We looked at a transformative acquisition, and we bought Tumblr,” Mayer said. “At the same time, we were also considering whether it was possible to buy Hulu or, ironically, Netflix. And I think Netflix was $4 billion and Hulu was at $1.3 billion at the time. And either of those, with hindsight being 20/20, would have been a better acquisition.” (Netflix’s market capitalization in May 2013 was $12.7 billion; as of Friday, it was about $143.5 billion.)

Yahoo did launch its own streaming-video play, including picking up a new season of Dan Harmon’s “Community” after it was axed by NBC. But it failed to gain traction and by 2016, the company had shut down Yahoo Screen, the video hub that aggregated its original and syndicated programming.

Meanwhile, Yahoo had hoped Tumblr would be its anchor entrée into social media. But it struggled to monetize Tumblr’s user base and, in 2015, took a $230 million goodwill-impairment charge. Verizon ended up buying Yahoo in 2017 for $4.5 billion. In 2019, Verizon sold Tumblr to Automattic, the company that owns and operates online-publishing platform WordPress, for a reported $3 million. Yahoo is now owned by private-equity firm Apollo Global Management.

In 2013, Yahoo had been among the bidders for Hulu when Hulu’s owners at the time — Disney, Comcast and 21st Century Fox — were conducting a private auction for the site. By July of that year, the triumvirate had called off the sale after they decided to retain their ownership of Hulu.

Today Hulu is majority-owned by Disney, but the streamer’s future is in flux. Disney CEO Bob Iger has said the company is examining whether it will seek to buy out Comcast’s 33% stake in Hulu or whether it will look to sell or spin off the streamer. “We are really studying the business very, very carefully,” Iger said in March. He called Hulu “a solid platform” with strong original programming and library content but added that “the environment is very, very tricky right now and before we make any big decisions about our level of investment, our commitment to that business, we want to understand where it could go.”

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Coulda, woulda, shoulda? Ten years ago, Yahoo was

Video

Dee Snider, lead singer and songwriter of the metal band Twisted Sister, released a statement on Facebook Friday defending himself as a longtime supporter of the trans community days after the San Francisco Pride organization dropped him from their upcoming celebration lineup. Snider responded, “So, I hear I’m transphobic, Really?”

Snider fell under fire earlier this week after he quote-tweeted KISS singer Paul Stanley’s statement regarding his own thoughts on the trans community and gender-affirming care for children. “You know what? There was a time where ‘I felt pretty’ too. Glad my parents didn’t jump to any rash conclusions,” he wrote.

Reaction to Snider’s comment reached the San Francisco Pride organization, which announced it would be parting ways with performer for an upcoming event. The organization said “We’re Not Gonna Take It” was set to be the unofficial rallying cry of the celebration before Snider tweeted his support of Stanley. But no longer.

“When we were notified about the tweet in which Dee expressed support for Kiss’s Paul Stanley’s transphobic statement, we were heartbroken and angry,” the organization wrote. “The message perpetuated by that tweet casts doubt on young trans people’s ability to self-identify their gender.”

SF Pride acknowledged that Snider “has always been a vocal supporter of LGBTQ+ rights,” and that the decision to part ways was mutual. 

“[We] appreciate Dee seeing this as a teachable moment and a reminder that even allies need to be educated to ensure that they are not casually promoting transphobia,” SF Pride said.

But the parting did surprise Snider. “So, I hear I’m transphobic, Really?” the musician, 68, titled the statement posted Friday on Facebook. He wrote that while he has spent his life defending the rights of the trans community, he doubled down that he does not “believe young children are ready to decide their gender allocation.”

“I do not think kids have the mental capabilities to make rational, logical decisions on things of a magnitude that will affect them for the rest of their lives,” he wrote. “I do not believe they are mentally developed enough.” 

Snider, who has identified as politically moderate, or “purple,” said in his statement that he will continue to support the trans community, and signed off as “your cisgender, cross-dressing ally.”

You can read Snider’s entire statement by clicking here.

Dylan Mulvaney Ends Social Media Silence After Transphobic Bud Light Backlash: ‘I Still Have My Faith’ (Video)

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Dee Snider, lead singer and songwriter of

Entertaintment

Jeremy Renner is getting stronger each day, as registered in the two Instagram videos he shared today.

The 52-year-old star of “Mayor of Kingstown,” “The Avengers” and “Hawkeye” continues to train in his comeback from a January 1 accident that saw a 14,000-pound snow plow fall on him, breaking more than 30 bones.

“UPDATE: I’ve decided to push through the pain of progress (this damn shattered tibia) and take the new parts for a tiny test drive,” Renner said in the post’s caption.

“The body is miraculous…. Even though I feel like the Tin Man, needing oil for all my new joints (hips, knees, ankles, tibia etc.),” Renner added. “Encouraged after this warm up to press on (don’t tell my PT). ?.”

Renner’s clip showed him using a pulley connected to a machine to work his leg muscles. He hopped sideways in a squat, then did a few sets of pull-ups with the pulley. He also ran and did a few more stretches before the video concluded.

In a separate post, he’s shown using a walker before cutting to himself striding smoothly along as he attempts his comeback to normal motion.

The videos drew cheers in the comments, including a message from Ryan Reynolds, who wrote , “That’s the stuff!!!❤️❤️❤️.”

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Jeremy Renner is getting stronger each day,

Movies

When director Sharon Lewis would meet queer Christians, she would ask, “How do you do it?” Church was an important part of her community growing up in a Caribbean family, but that changed when she came out in her 20s.

“I still enjoy the community of church, I still enjoy the essential principles of Christianity, but I personally did not find a way to integrate that into my life and be queer at the same time,” she said over the phone from New York, where she had just directed a scene with Mary J. Blige and Method Man for the crime drama “Power.”

That question, “Can you be Christian and queer?” propelled her to make the 2021 documentary “With Wonder.” She has just released two shorts on YouTube, “With Wonder: Untold Stories,” each profiling a Christian who struggled to reconcile their faith with their sexual identity.

One doc focuses on Justin Lee, who talks about his experience as a gay man in the Southern Baptist church, including attending a secret group called Homosexuals Anonymous that was filled with “the saddest middle-aged men.” The other follows Alex Barter, who left their church after being coerced into conversion therapy.

Lewis will join Lee, “With Wonder” producer Byron Wong and activist reverend Cheri DiNovo on Tuesday for a virtual panel about the short films.

Lewis had originally interviewed Lee and Barter for “With Wonder,” but as that project came together she tightened her focus to the experience of people of colour in the church, who might lean more heavily on their religious communities if they’re marginalized in other areas of their lives. But after it was released, she found the biggest critics of the film were white gay men.

“They said, ‘The church is homophobic. Why would you ever want to be a Christian?’” she said. “But there’s a huge community of white gay men who want to be Christian. I really wanted to expand the message of this film to say that it’s not just people of colour who struggle with this.”

Like many of the subjects featured in the original “With Wonder,” Lee and Barter ultimately left their church communities, with Lee continuing to practise with an LGBTQ-affirming denomination. It’s something that DiNovo often sees as minister at Trinity-St. Paul’s United Church in Toronto. “With the queer Christians I know, almost all of them have joined inclusive denominations,” she said.

Though many Christian churches denounce queer sexuality and gender expression, DiNovo doesn’t believe that view is supported by the scriptures. “The Bible is a really queer read,” she said.

She quotes Matthew 19:12. “Jesus, 2000 years before Lady Gaga, talks about eunuchs and says some are born that way,” she said. “That’s right out of Jesus’s mouth.”

When asked what she would suggest to queer Christians who feel unsupported by their congregations, her answer was simple. “Walk across the street into another church! Find a church that affirms you. Look for the Pride flags. There’s lots of us!”

But Carl O’Byrne and David Pereyra have a different perspective. As co-ordinators of the Roman Catholic LGBTQ community group All Inclusive Ministries in Toronto, they believe in creating their own space of belonging within the church despite the institution’s teachings.

“I’m not leaving,” O’Byrne said. “Perhaps it would be easier to go to (the Metropolitan Community Church) or other churches where it would be easier to fit in. And I just figured, hell no. I’m part of this community.”

Their parish, Our Lady of Lourdes, has hosted an LGBTQ-affirming mass for 40 years, now attracting an average of 50 to 60 worshippers on the fourth Saturday of every month. They also run a book club, host movie nights and plan group outings, such as art gallery tours.

“The Catholic Church doesn’t belong to the priest or the parish,” Pereyra said. “I am the Catholic Church. I know what is right and what is wrong, and what is true and what is not.”

DiNovo recognized that quiet steadfastness in a recently deceased friend, a nun who was married to her wife for 37 years. “Even the Catholic Church is shifting like most institutions shift,” she said. “Not from the top down, but from the bottom up.”

The “With Wonder” virtual Q&A will be held at 12:30 p.m. on May 7. See withwonderfilm.com for details.

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When director Sharon Lewis would meet queer

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SPOILER ALERT: This story discusses major plot developments and the post-credits scenes in “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3,” currently playing in theaters.

By this point, it’s no secret that Marvel Studios has lost some of its luster in its post-“Avengers: Endgame” era. Between the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s rapid expansion on Disney+ and the exits of stars like Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson and the late Chadwick Boseman, the Marvel saga has often felt at once too much and not enough: Sprawl without a center.

It’s a problem that “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” is particularly ill-equipped to address. For one, the film is wholly disconnected from everything else that’s happened in the Marvel Cinematic Universe post-“Endgame” — there’s not a whisper of Kang or the multiverse or incursions or Talokan or, hilariously, Thor, even though the Guardians made a special appearance in “Thor: Love and Thunder” last summer. For another, the Guardians themselves — at least, as audiences have grown to know and love them — are also leaving the Marvel Cinematic Universe, between stars Zoe Saldaña and Dave Bautista making clear they’re finished with their respective roles, and writer-director James Gunn departing Marvel to co-run DC Studios with Peter Safran. 

These are, to be clear, great assets for the movie itself, imbuing “Vol. 3” with a sense of creative freedom and melancholy that Marvel titles have rarely enjoyed. And in fairness, the film doesn’t snap the Guardians completely either. In the first post-credits scene, audiences see that Rocket Raccoon (voiced by Bradley Cooper) has stepped in as the new leader of a reconstituted Guardians: Groot (voiced by Vin Diesel), Adam Warlock (Will Poulter), Kraglin (Sean Gunn), Cosmo the Spacedog (Maria Bakalova) and the newest addition, Phyla (Kai Zen), one of the genetically enhanced children the Guardians save from the High Evolutionary (Chukwudi Iwuji). (Phyla is also the name of a Marvel comics character who was part of the Guardians, but her backstory is radically different from the character from the film.)

Even Peter Quill gets his own shaggy post-credits scene following his reunion with his human grandfather (Gregg Henry) back on Earth, in which they banter over cereal and why a neighbor’s adult son won’t mow her lawn for her, followed by the tag that “the Legendary Star-Lord will return.”

Charming as both of these scenes are, however, they actually only manage to contribute to a looming headache for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Over the past 21 months, Marvel has used its trademark post-credits scenes to tease as many as six — or more! — upcoming movies. They are:

• A sequel — or sequels! — to “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” that involves the titular hero (Simu Liu), the extraterrestrial origins of his titular rings and/or the remaking of the titular outlaw cabal the Ten Rings by Shang-Chi’s sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang).

• A sequel to “Eternals” that involves Starfox (Harry Styles) aiding Makkari (Lauren Ridloff), Druig (Barry Keoghan) and Thena (Angelina Jolie) to rescue their compatriots from judgement by the Celestial Arishem.

• A sequel to “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” that involves Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) partnering with the sorcerer Clea (Charlize Theron) to repair an incursion within the Dark Dimension.

• A sequel to “Thor: Love and Thunder” that involves Zeus (Russell Crowe) dispatching his son Hercules (Brett Goldstein) to kill Thor (Chris Hemsworth).

• A sequel to “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” that involves Shuri (Letitia Wright) and Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o) contending with the revelation that the late T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) had a son and rightful heir to the kingdom of Wakanda.

• And now, a sequel — or sequels! — to “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” that involves the newly reassembled titular Guardians and/or the exploits of Star-Lord after returning to his family on Earth.

None of these prospective feature films have been officially confirmed by Marvel Studios, nor have there been any solid reports of forward creative momentum for any of them. Nonetheless, Marvel has never been a studio to make an idle promise. Why go to all the trouble of secretly hiring Styles, Theron and Goldstein for only a 90-second cameo? For that matter, why foreshadow the mystery of Shang-Chi’s rings, or the potential of T’Challa’s noble lineage, if you’re never going to pay it off? Why end “Guardians Vol. 3” with the tag line “the Legendary Star-Lord will return” if, you know, he won’t?

Here’s where things get tricky: Marvel chief Kevin Feige has made clear that “Avengers: Secret Wars” will conclude the Multiverse Saga in much the same way “Avengers: Endgame” finished the Infinity Saga — and, to date, there are only three open release dates for Marvel properties before “Secret Wars” is set to premiere on May 1, 2026. (Those dates are July 25, 2025, Nov. 26, 2025 and Feb 13, 2026.)

Of course, some of the aforementioned “sequels” could end up being pulled into the events of “Secret Wars” and its antecedent, 2025’s “Avengers: The Kang Dynasty.” Others might become part of a Disney+ show, instead. But the overall effect remains too much too muchness, like a kid who keeps stacking up a tower of toy blocks without worrying whether they may, eventually, topple over. With “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” almost certain to lose money, and superhero fatigue hitting the box office in general, Marvel had better hope that, to borrow a lyric from the first “Guardians” soundtrack, things are gonna get easier — and soon.

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MCU

Following the conclusion of James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy with Vol. 3, here’s when Chris Pratt’s Star-Lord could show up in the MCU next.

Warning – The rest of this article contains spoilers for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.

After a close call with death, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3‘s ending set up more adventures with Chris Pratt’s Star-Lord after his return to Earth to reunite with his long-separated grandfather. This was followed by the jaw-dropping words “The Legendary Star-Lord will Return,” confirming Pratt isn’t quite done with Marvel.

This came despite words from the actor in the lead-up to Vol. 3 which appeared to tease his MCU retirement. And even since then, in recent weeks, Pratt told GamesRadar+ how it “would be strange to continue Star Lord’s story without James Gunn” and that he would only return “if something makes sense.”

Nonetheless, despite Pratt’s coy allusions to his seemingly imminent MCU exit, Vol. 3‘s post-credits scene appeared to tease more definitive plans for further appearances from Star-Lord. So, when will he return next?

The Marvels 

Marvel Studios

First up on the list of contenders comes this November’s The Marvels, the sequel to Captain Marvel which has been touted as an Avengers-esque crossover and even rumored to have major ties to The Kang Dynasty. This earns its place on this list largely due to being a cosmic movie with sizable crossover potential.

Although marketing for The Marvels is already underway after the release of the first trailer, it stands to reason Marvel Studios would be looking to keep any Guardians appearances secret until after Vol. 3 due to the secrecy surrounding who would survive the High Evolutionary confrontation.

Some evidence has already pointed toward Tessa Thompson’s Valkyrie appearing, so perhaps Captain Marvel 2 is hiding more than meets the eye. Then again, with the female-focussed cast already crammed with heroes for the cosmic adventure, Star-Lord may feel rather out of place, making this one quite unlikely. 

Avengers: The Kang Dynasty

Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, Jonathan Majors
Marvel Studios

Arguably the most exciting part of Chris Pratt’s Peter Quill having moved to Earth – beyond the satisfying end it brings to his Guardians character arc – comes with how he now has far more opportunity to interact with other heroes. After all, he has already met and fought with many of the Avengers in Infinity War and Endgame.

Perhaps the chief contender for Star-Lord’s MCU return comes with Avengers: The Kang Dynasty. After all, a Guardian of the Galaxy wouldn’t simply ignore the arrival of a massive threat on Earth, right? No, Peter Quill would immediately have his blasters back in hand and be off to join the Avengers on their Multiversal mission. 

Nova

Nova Marvel Studios
Marvel Studios

One project on the horizon that has still yet to receive a formal announcement is Nova, which will introduce the intergalactic space cop to the MCU. Of course, the Nova Corps itself has already appeared in the franchise before, with them playing a key role in the first Guardians of the Galaxy movie.

The planet Xandar, where the Nova Corps Headquarters was located, was destroyed by Thanos off-screen, as revealed in Avengers: Infinity War. So, it’s unclear the fates of Rhomann Dey and Nova Prime Irani Rael, both of whom Peter Quill interacted with quite a lot during Guardians of the Galaxy.

In Marvel Comics, Rhomann Dey, as the Nova Corps’ last surviving Centurion, is the one to give New Yorker Richard Rider his powers. If the MCU project were also to venture to Earth, given Quill’s established connection to Dey and other members of the Nova Corps, perhaps he could sneak his way into a supporting role.

The Legendary Star-Lord

Chris Pratt, Star Lord, Marvel Studios
Marvel Studios

After the post-credits scene ended and the screen wiped, the final frame of Vol. 3 simply read “The Legendary Star-Lord will Return.” While this will likely come across a number of projects, perhaps one of them could be a solo outing for Chris Pratt’s Peter Quill, this time taking him away from the Guardians.

Quill’s solo debut came in the Legendary Star-Lord comic series, which saw him dealing with his family history while developing a relationship with the X-Men’s Kitty Pryde. In the MCU, there are endless opportunities for Star-Lord to go solo, either by returning to the stars alone or getting involved in terrestrial problems on Earth.

During Secret Wars, Star-Lord found himself co-leading a mini-series called Star-Lord and Kitty Pryde, which took place in Battleworld. With the MCU expected to tell stories in Battleworld between Avengers movies, maybe a similar tie-in could take place on Disney+, but likely pairing him with a different character.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 4

Guardians of the Galaxy 4 James Gunn Marvel MCU
Marvel Studios

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3‘s mid-credits scene laid the groundwork for a whole new team of Guardians, led by Rocket, consisting of Groot, Kraglin, Phyla, Adam Warlock, and Cosmo. Meanwhile, the rest of the old team is still kicking about the galaxy, with Nebula and Drax leading Knowhere while Mantis forges her own path.

So, even though James Gunn is unlikely to resume directing duties, there does seem to be a future for at least some of the Guardians. Whether that takes to form of a fourth movie or Disney+ series is unclear, but perhaps Chris Pratt’s Peter Quill could still have a place in this puzzle, even with him now on Earth.

Maybe the Legendary Star-Lord could serve as a mentor to the next unit of Guardians and take on a reduced role in the fourth movie. Then again, it’s tough to see Pratt’s presence not overshadowing the new leads and simply leaving many fans pining to see the old Guardians unit back in action.

Chris Pratt’s MCU Future Explained

Chris Pratt Guardians of the Galaxy 3
Marvel Studios

Peter Quill’s return to Earth marks a fitting end to his character arc in the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy as it sees him move past his traumatic memories on the planet to reunite with his grandfather. But it also opens up a host of opportunities for the cosmic hero to begin a whole new era in the MCU.

Chris Pratt’s Star-Lord already got the chance to meet and fight with some of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes in Infinity War and Endgame. Although only Doctor Strange and Spider-Man remain from his Titan mission, one can only imagine he got to know more heroes off-screen at Tony Stark’s funeral.

With the former Guardian now residing on Earth, the doors are open for him to play in almost any hero’s story, or even to return to space for more cosmic adventures without his familiar misfits. To some extent, this could be the beginning of a whole new era for the Legendary Star-Lord in the MCU, maybe even as an Avenger.

It’s too soon to tell exactly how large Star-Lord’s MCU future will be, but the decision to confirm his return and not do the same for any other member of the Guardians appears to indicate more direct plans for him. And now he’s on Earth, there are far more opportunities for Quill to get involved across the board.

Pratt has even already teased the Multiverse possibilities for him in the MCU, potentially opening the door to a Star-Lord Variant appearing. Then again, the actor already seems to have some interest in jumping ship to DC, so maybe his MCU future isn’t quite as bright as Guardians 3‘s stinger implies.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is playing now in theaters worldwide.

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DCU

The world of DC has been alight this week so far since James Gunn made the big announcement on Twitter of the first chapter of new projects slated for the DCU’s revamped timeline. Officially titled “Chapter One: Gods and Monsters,” Gunn revealed a staggering lineup of new series and films that will all serve as the starting point for his vision and even noted that what’s announced so far is only a part of what Chapter One has in store. A select number of those projects will head straight to HBO Max, and one of those series in particular that is catching a lot of attention is Waller.


As the title suggests, DC comic character Amanda Waller is now confirmed to have her own spinoff series, with award-winning actress Viola Davis reprising her role as the iron-fisted, temperamental civil servant. The series will apparently take place in the same universe as fellow DC spinoff Peacemaker (2022), which saw Davis’ Waller make a surprise cameo. The events of Waller will fall right in between seasons one and two of Peacemaker, picking up from where she was exposed by none other than her daughter as the mastermind behind the agendas of both the Suicide Squad and Task Force X. With her secrets and subterfuge now public knowledge, Waller will no doubt have to find a way to pull herself out of the hole she’s falling into. Given her ruthless reputation, it’s likely that her daughter Leota won’t exactly be free of consequences.

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Viola Davis has previously expressed her enthusiasm about returning to the DC universe, given her love for comics, the fantasy behind them, and especially having the opportunity to play a strong character like Amanda Waller.

“I traded comic books as a kid so all of that appeals to me. When you dream about being an actor as a kid, that’s what you dream about. That’s like play acting: being the superhero, getting the gun; it plays into that fantasy.”

No release date has been set yet for the Waller series, but it will premiere on HBO Max alongside a few other of Gunn’s projects, as seen in the official, comic-style promo below. It will be helmed by Christal Henry (Watchmen) and Jeremy Carver (Doom Patrol), who both have ample experience adapting comics to screen.

dc-series-timeline

Related: Viola Davis’ Amanda Waller Returns to the DCEU in Black Adam


Who Exactly Is Amanda Waller?

superhero-amanda

The character of Amanda Waller made her first big-screen appearance in David Ayer’s initial rendition of Suicide Squad (2016), cast by none other than Viola Davis, who played the role immaculately, to the point that some fans felt she was the true villain of the film rather than the Joker or Enchantress. Davis would go on to reprise her role in James Gunn’s reboot of the same movie, The Suicide Squad (2021), and later makes a cameo appearance in both Black Adam (2022) and the spinoff series Peacemaker (2022). Now set to have her own series, Waller is about to make the fearsome impact in the DC universe that she rightfully deserves.

For those unfamiliar with her character before those films, Amanda Waller originated in DC Comics back in 1986. Described as both an antagonist and an ally, Waller is a ruthless, high-ranking government official who uses all manner of guile, intimidation, and her political connections to achieve her goals, no matter the cost. She oversees research into metahumans, which led to her forming semi-secret, government-led groups of jailed supervillains such as the Suicide Squad, Task Force X, and ARGUS to complete unique, dangerous missions in exchange for amnesty. She is a force to be reckoned with, and Viola Davis will undoubtedly continue to portray her character in a fantastically insidious fashion.

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The world of DC has been alight

Comics

Microsoft has reportedly hired a lawyer known for repeatedly defeating the EU regulator in competition cases, as it prepares to appeal the UK regulator’s decision to block its acquisition of Activision Blizzard.

Last month the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) prevented the deal from going ahead, citing concerns over its effect on competition in the cloud gaming market.

The Telegraph reports (via Yahoo Finance) that the company has now hired Daniel Beard KC and plans to lodge an appeal at the UK’s Competition Appeal Tribunal in a matter of days.

Beard, who is described in the article as a “leading competition barrister”, has a reputation for overturning large-scale decisions made by the EU regulator.

He represented Apple after the EU demanded the company pay €13 billion in taxes because it claimed Ireland had offered it illegal state aid. Apple went on to win the appeal.

He also represented Intel last year in a successful attempt to overturn a decade-old €1.1 billion fine after the EU claimed it was unfairly dominating the microchip market.

Microsoft now hopes Beard will be similarly successful in appealing the CMA’s decision to block the company’s $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard.

The EU is also investigating the acquisition, and is said to be expected to make its decision within the next two weeks (though the article cites sources “close to the invesitgation”, saying they expect the EU to approve the deal).

Microsoft also has a legal battle to deal with in the US, as the Federal Trade Commission stated in December that it would be suing the company in a bid to block the deal over competition concerns.

After months of investigation, the UK regulator published its final report on the deal last month and said it had prevented it over concerns it would “alter the future of the fast-growing cloud gaming market, leading to reduced innovation and less choice for UK gamers over the years to come”.

Microsoft’s president Brad Smith said the company was “disappointed” by the CMA’s decision and said it would appeal, claiming the decision “appears to reflect a flawed understanding of this market and the way the relevant cloud technology actually works”.