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Monday, Oct 19th, 2026
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Summary

  • The ongoing strikes in Hollywood are causing delays in upcoming releases from Paramount Pictures, including Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part 2 and A Quiet Place: Day One.
  • Paramount Pictures is changing the release date of Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part 2 to May 23, 2025, in order to ensure its success following the underwhelming performance of Part 1.
  • The prequel to A Quiet Place, titled A Quiet Place: Day One, will now release on June 28, 2024, instead of its original release date of March 8. This film will explore the origin of the apocalypse depicted in the first movie.


The crisis in Hollywood is affecting all studios, and Paramount Pictures is no exception. In light of the continued strikes, Paramount is shaking up its schedule of upcoming releases, delaying Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part 2, A Quiet Place: Day One and more.

Although the writers of the film and television industry have reached an agreement with the major studios, the SAG-AFTRA strike continues, which is still affecting a large part of the most anticipated releases for the coming years from some of the most important companies and franchises. The eighth installment of Mission: Impossible and the long-awaited prequel to the A Quiet Place universe are the new victims of the conflict.

After the disappointing theatrical run of Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part 1, Paramount Pictures wants to make sure that the new adventure of Tom Cruise’s Ethan Hunt exceeds expectations. The Hollywood Reporter confirms that the film, which was scheduled to debut on June 28, 2024, will now premiere on May 23, 2025, and is also expected to drop its previous title of Dead Reckoning Part 2. This leaves Dead Reckoning Part 1 in a strange position, so expect an amendment to that title’s appearances in future.

For its part, A Quiet Place: Day One, which will explain the origin of the apocalypse that occurs before the events of the first movie in the saga, will take the original date of Mission: Impossible 8. Which means the prequel will now hit theaters on June 28, 2024, instead of March 8. The prequel stars Lupita Nyong’o, Joseph Quinn, Alex Wolff, Djimon Hounsou as the Man on the Island, and Denis O’Hare.

Ryan Reynolds’ led film If is moving up a week to May 17, 2024. While the upcoming Spongebob Squarepants movie that was being released on May 23, 2025, will be released on December 19 from that same year.

Related: A Quiet Place: Day One Plot Details & First Footage Revealed at CinemaCon


Will Mission: Impossible 8 Change Its Title?

Paramount Pictures

According to The Hollywood Reporter’s Aaron Couch, the next mission for Tom Cruise will look to abandon its name link to this summer’s box office disappointment. Couch does not reveal the new name of the film or explain the reason, but it is possible that the failure of the first part has something to do with it.

Originally, both movies were planned as two chapters of the same story. However, Death Reckoning Part 1 did not live up to the previous entries in the franchise, delivering one of the worst performances for a Mission: Impossible film. Something that also contrasted strongly with Cruise’s most recent movie before his return as Hunt, Top Gun: Maverick, which was an absolute box office hit.

Even if the title changes to have no apparent connection with Mission: Impossible 7 and its flaws, the eighth installment in the franchise will have to address the events of the previous entry, with Ethan and his team looking for a way to destroy The Entity, a super-developed artificial intelligence that threatens the future of humanity.

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Summary The ongoing strikes in

Awards

While many SAG-AFTRA members appreciate George Clooney’s $50 million suggestion that he and other A-listers cover the union dues of lower-earning actors as a way to resolve the actors’ strike, some felt it was irrelevant at best and, at worst, “a bit of union-busting.” They said he could make a much bigger impact by showing up at a picket line.

“I think that the idea of raising the caps for that level of entertainer is an incredible idea. I totally agree with it,” said “Two Broke Girls” actress Alexandra Ryan on the picket line at Paramount Studios on Monday.

However, she added, “I think that it’s a sidestep to what we’re trying to do right now. And I also think that there’s a bit of inadvertent union-busting to the proposal. I don’t agree with that piece of it.”


Critics of Clooney’s suggestion argue that it would take pressure off the studios to divvy up their streaming revenue and, as Ryan phrased it, “inadvertently” reduce the guild’s power to negotiate with the AMPTP.

“Yes, the cap would be amazing in support of our union and in support of our pension in-house,” Ryan said. Echoing SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher’s “apples and oranges” dismissal of the dues suggestion, she added, “but it doesn’t actually have anything to do with our residuals.”

“I love [the way that ] Fran really put it,” Brendan Bradley, video game voice actor and regular on “Wizards of Waverly Place,” said. “They are great proposals, but really what we could use is the solidarity of having those A-listers out here on the line turning up and turning out because we’re close to getting this deal done. And at the end of the day, it’s all about that rank and file, the people that want to be on set with you.”

Watch the video interview with “Criminal Minds” star Kirsten Vangsness and fellow actors Amir Talai, Yuri Lowenthal, Tara Platt and Brendan Bradley above.

Amir Talai, a voice actor on “American Dad!” and “Family Guy,” thanked Clooney and called the idea “fantastic” and “very necessary,” but said, “It doesn’t really have anything to do with the contract.”

“I’ll tell you what, George, I know you’re a busy guy and everything, but it’d be great to see you come down here sometime,” said Yuri Lowenthal, who voices Pater Parker in Marvel’s “Spider-Man 2” video game.

“Show up for a little bit,” Lowenthal added. “I think it would really do everybody a lot of good and give people a lot of strength and inspiration to see you all down here.”

SAG-AFTRA negotiators are meeting with AMPTP again on Tuesday after the studios walked away from talks nearly two weeks ago. SAG-AFTRA’s chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland told TheWrap that the studios’ rejection of a proposed 57¢ per streaming subscriber fee was “inexplicable.”

For all of TheWrap’s Hollywood strike coverage, click here.


Fran Drescher SAG-AFTRA Strike Speech

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October 23, 2023 @ 4:53 PM While many

Music

Kenya Grace’s “Strangers” (via FFRR) takes pole position in the race for the U.K. chart crown. But there’s not much in it.

The U.K.-raised, South Africa-born artist has reigned over the Official U.K. Singles Chart for the past two weeks with her breakthrough drum ‘n’ bass number. “Strangers” has a narrow lead heading into what could be a third consecutive win.

How narrow? According to the Official Charts Company, less than 300 chart units separate “Strangers” from its closest rival, Cassö, RAYE and D-Block Europe’s “Prada” (Ministry of Sound).

Explore

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

Meanwhile, Tate McRae’s “Greedy” (at No. 3 via Ministry of Sound) and Tyla’s “Water” (No. 4 via RCA) are close behind and in striking distance, the OCC reports.

The highest new entry on the Official U.K. Singles Chart is predicted to be “Too Much” (Columbia), the collaborative release from The Kid LAROI, BTS singer Jung Kook and Central Cee. It’s new at No. 7 on the Official Chart Update, for what should be LAROI and Jung Kook’s third top 10, and Central Cee’s seventh, including his 10-week reign with “Sprinter,” the smash collab with fellow British rapper Dave.

Taylor Swift’s “Cruel Summer” (EMI) is heating up. The resurgent Lover track looks set for a U.K. top 10 return at No. 8, following the release of a new live cut to coincide with the cinematic release of her box-office blockbuster The Eras Tour Film.

Just outside the top 10 is Billy Gillies and Hannah Boleyn’s “DNA (Loving You)” (via Atlantic) at No. 11, for what would be a new chart best, while Troye Sivan’s ”One of Your Girls” (Polydor) is forecast to rise 17-12. Lifted from his third and latest album, Something to Give Each Other, “Girls” is on track to land the Australian pop artist his highest-peaking U.K. single as a solo artist, the OCC reports.

All will be revealed when the Official U.K. Singles Chart is published late Friday (Oct. 27).

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Kenya Grace’s “Strangers” (via FFRR) takes pole

Docs

In an evening dedicated to celebrating the very best of Asian cinema, the 2023 Newport Beach Film Festival’s Pacific Rim Showcase Celebration witnessed a spectacular North America premiere. Vietnamese film, LIVE (Phát Trực Tiếp), took the spotlight, leaving an indelible mark on the sold-out audience, as it showcased the nuances of contemporary Vietnamese cinema.

Set in the cutthroat environment of Mukbang and Reviewer, the film introduces viewers to a world where live streamers are consumed by the feverish pursuit of online stardom. It’s a universe ruled by followers, fanfare, and view count metrics. Amidst this backdrop, the audience meets Truc, an emerging Mukbanger, who, after discovering a mysterious pill, finds her appetite becoming insatiable, propelling her swiftly to internet fame. Parallelly, the story unfolds around Hoang, a leading Reviewer, who finds himself ensnared in a deadly scandal, teaching him the harsh realities of online cancel culture, where fame can be fleeting.

Live (Phát Trực Tiếp) director Khuong Ngoc

Directed by the talented Khương Ngọc, and produced by the visionary executive producer Phạm Trần Bảo Quyên, LIVE (Phát Trực Tiếp) promises a thrilling narrative that probes the sacrifices individuals make in their pursuit of online celebrity. With gripping performances, the film poses haunting questions: What will Truc forgo on her meteoric rise? And what will the plummeting Hoang lose in his descent?

After the screening, an engaging Q&A session had both Ngọc and Quyên interact with the audience, reflecting their passion for the project and their appreciation for the palpable energy at the event. The evening further transitioned into an enthusiastic afterparty, celebrating the film’s success.

The continued support for independent filmmakers and the appreciation of international cinema truly makes a significant difference. For those who missed the premiere, there’s exciting news: LIVE (Phát Trực Tiếp) is set to release in select theaters across the U.S. starting Friday, November 17th.

To find a screening near you, please visit the film’s official website: www.3388Films.com/LIVEmovie.

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In an evening dedicated to celebrating the

Trending

James Blunt is looking back at his friendship with late actress Carrie Fisher.

The Who We Used To Be artist recently opened up about how he formed a lasting friendship with the Stars Wars icon in a profile interview with The Guardian.

His “wild rollercoaster” of a friendship with Fisher began in 2003, when he was invited by his girlfriend at the time to eat with her family at a restaurant in Notting Hill.

“I was going out with a girl whose parents were family friends of Carrie’s and I sat beside her at lunch,” Blunt recalled. “I had just got a record deal and was moving to LA.”

“Carrie’s first question was: ‘What do you do?’ I said, ‘I’ve left the army to go to make an album in LA.’ Question number two was: ‘Where are you going to live?’ I said I didn’t know,” Blunt shared. “Her reply — the third thing she ever said to me — was: ‘Well, you’re going to live with me.’ So I did just that.”

According to Blunt, he didn’t see Fisher at all for the first month that he lived at her house. But soon, between recording sessions, he would see her more and they soon became the closest of friends.

“I came home one night and sat on the end of her bed and we talked until morning. After that, whenever I got back from the studio I’d go into her room to talk, no matter if it was 11pm or 3am,” Blunt recalled. “She became my best, best friend.”

Years later, on Dec. 27, 2016, Fisher died from a heart attack at age 60. Her mother, screen legend Debbie Reynolds, died the following day after suffering from a severe stroke. She was 84.

“I’ve got a song on my new album called ‘Dark Thought,’ describing the moment when I went back to her house after she had died,” Blunt shared with the publication. “I put my hand on her gate and started crying.”

“Moments after, one of the open-top Star Map vans that drive tourists around LA turned up. Over the PA, the guide said: ‘On your left, you’ll find the late, great Carrie Fisher’s house … As you can see, some fans are still deeply moved by her passing,'” he continued. “That was me. I wanted to tell them to fuck off, but eventually found it funny.”

Fisher’s brother, Todd Fisher, spoke to ET in March 2017, and revealed that Blunt had written a “special” song for a memorial service for Fisher and Reynolds.

“It is quite special,” he shared, adding that Blunt became fast friends with Fisher, and wrote “You’re Beautiful” in her bathroom. “I actually think it is one of his best songs.”

Check out the video below for more on the connection between Fisher and Blunt.

RELATED CONTENT:

 

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James Blunt is looking back at his

Tech

Ahead of the release of Britney Spears’ memoir “The Woman in Me,” the 2001 road trip flick “Crossroads” is back on the big screen. To celebrate the global fan event, in which the film will play in theaters again exclusively on Oct. 23 and 25, director Tamra Davis & producer Ann Carli surprised an audience at The Grove AMC in Los Angeles with a Q&A following the screening.

While reflecting on their experience making the film, Carli recalled the challenges Spears faced in balancing her global music fame with the responsibilities of starring alongside Taryn Manning and Zoe Saldaña.

“She was super busy. One of the things that I thought was really important was that she had time to rehearse with the other actors,” Carli said. “The day before she was shooting, they had a giant Pepsi commercial. It was crazy.”

At another point during the shoot, Spears’ team “wanted her to be recording at night after she did a full day’s work on the set.” That’s when Carli put her foot down. “I just said, ‘Absolutely not. I’ll shut the movie down right now, because that’s not fair to her.’”

Later, Carli heard from Spears directly. “They had her come to me and say, ‘It’s okay. I don’t mind [having] to work an 18-hour day.’ And I said, ‘Guess what? You don’t have to.’”

During the Q&A, Davis also revealed that Spears herself was behind the film’s re-release. “I haven’t seen it in a really long time … It was not available. You can’t stream it. You couldn’t find it,” Davis said. “I tried everything. I kept trying: my lawyers, my agents all helped me.”

That is, until Spears stepped in. “It was one call from Britney. She wanted it re-released to promote her new book.”

As for Spears’ motivations, Davis speculates the pop icon also wanted the film back in the discourse so fans could “look back on her life and see how overprotected she was.”

Davis added: “Clearly, this means something to her because she wanted this to be released with her book. I think she wants people to look back at her work and see it in a different way.”

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Ahead of the release of Britney Spears’

Video

Roku City, the well-known, purple-hued screensaver for Roku, has recently featured ad campaigns like McDonald’s golden arches and Barbie’s dream house — an innovative marketing strategy that Alison Levin describes as an example of “baking the pie from scratch.”

Levin, head of global media revenue at Roku, and Carly Friedman, head of industry, entertainment, gaming, tech and Telco, sat down to discuss their work as part of Variety Studio presented by Canva at Advertising Week.

Levin shared, “For the first time ever, we actually allow brands to open their doors up in this whimsical, magical, digital city, and again, that a brand has never bought a building in a city before.”

The Barbie dream house campaign allowed users to buy tickets for Greta Gerwig’s summer blockbuster. Friedman explained, “So a completely immersive experience for our users and tying into things that they love.”

Similar initiatives included activations with Wendy’s and DoorDash in which users received a Wendy’s credit via the home screen.

Levin continued to explain how the company has benefitted from opening Roku City up to feature brand campaigns: “Consumers actually like Roku City better when advertisers were in it than when they weren’t. And so that idea that ads can actually make an experience better is something that streaming really can provide because it can be more creative.”

The team is also thinking of new ways to engage younger audiences. A recently launched Mr. Beast Fast Channel has caught the attention of young people, Levin noted.

Additionally, Friedman spoke about the collaborative process between Roku and their clients.

She said, “My favorite part about being at Roku is we’re consultative with our clients. So it’s educating them not only about what’s available within Roku, but about the CTV space where Roku fits and why it makes sense for their clients.”

Friedman spoke of the unique advantages Roku has as a streaming platform: “Roku is a TV with a digital brain. So we’re able to do things that you can’t really do on the linear TV space in the traditional space.”

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Roku City, the well-known, purple-hued screensaver for

Entertaintment

Happy Halloween! This year, the Classic Horrors Club Podcast is celebrating the season by dropping a new episode every Monday in October. But not just a regular episode…

We’re changing the format a bit and inviting guests to join us for discussions about the classic horror films of their choice.

This week in episode 88, we welcome our special guest Jonathan Angarola as he brings one of his favorites…The Changeling (1980)! Tune in to find out why he loves it and whether or not Jeff and I agree with him.

Tell us what you think… about the movies, about the podcast, about classic horror! Call us at (616) 649-2582 (CLUB), email or send a recording to classichorrors.club@gmail.com or join our Facebook group page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/classichorrors.club/!

We’d also appreciate if you’d give us an honest rating on Apple Podcasts or SoundCloud. Thank you!

We now have an Instagram account! Look for us at classichorrorsclubpodcast. It’s just launched, so we look forward to adding more content and connecting with all of you there!

You can also find Jeff at:

Classic Horrors Club
Codex Omniversa

Thank you Jonathan for joining us this week! It’s always a pleasure to have you on the show and we didn’t even talk kaiju this time!

Next week on episode 89, we welcome another special guest to the show as artist and classic monster movie fan Frederick Cooper joins us to talk about…House on Haunted Hill (1959) starring the legendary Vincent Price! It’s in the public domain and streaming just about everywhere, including Amazon Prime, Kanopy, Pluto TV, Tubi and The Film Detective. Unfortunately, The Vincent Price Collection II from Shout Factory is now out-of-print, so shop around for the best quality and price.

Visit other great blogs and websites participating in the 2023 Countdown to Halloween!

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Happy Halloween! This year, the Classic Horrors

Movies

14 Singers Who Turned Out To Be Great Actors Too

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14 Singers Who Turned Out To Be

DCU

Nicolas Cage is getting positive attention from the critics, which currently equates to a “Fresh” status on Rotten Tomatoes.

Summary

  • Nicolas Cage’s performance in Butcher’s Crossing is receiving praise, with critics noting his understated and impressive portrayal.
  • The film offers Cage a new challenge, providing him with the opportunity to showcase his acting skills at this stage in his career.
  • Cage’s role as the buffalo hunter Miller is garnering positive reviews, with his captivating and subdued performance being a standout aspect of the film.


Nearly 30 years ago, Nicolas Cage was “Leaving Las Vegas.” And the actor did so with the Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role. Today, Cage is starring in Butcher’s Crossing, which is finally turning the thespian’s luck around on Rotten Tomatoes. After four “rotten” ratings on RT for Renfield, The Old Way, Sympathy for the Devil and The Retirement Plan, Butcher’s Crossing has received a “fresh” 71% on the Tomatometer — at the time of this writing. Variety’s Joe Leydon wrote of Cage’s performance:

Cage is welcomely understated in a performance that is all the more impressive for his avoiding his trademark excess.

IGN’s Rafael Motamayor also praised Cage for his portrayal of the buffalo hunter known as Miller:

Butcher’s Crossing is not the freshest of Westerns, but it does offer some bleak and gnarly imagery, gorgeous vistas, and Nicolas Cage in a subtle but poignant performance.

Travis Hopson of Punch Drunk Critics said of Cage’s portrayal:

The film offers Cage a rarity for someone at this stage of his career: a new challenge in a new genre.

Related: 17 Best Nicolas Cage Films, Ranked


Nicolas Cage Returns in Butcher’s Crossing

Nicolas Cage Butcher's Crossing
Saban Films

The Oscar-winning Nicolas Cage hasn’t impressed critics much with his last four cinematic outings, but most of the fans did enjoy the actor’s performances in both 2023’s Renfield and The Old Way with 79% and 70% audience scores on Rotten Tomatoes respectively. But Butcher’s Crossing is garnering Cage the praise he deserves for his portrayal of Miller. Alistair Harkness of the Scotsman writes:

Bald and bearded, Cage is typically magnetic as the Ahab-like Miller, whose obsessive quest to slaughter a valley full of bison for their hides slowly drives everyone insane.

Cage’s latest big-screen venture is based on the 1960 novel of the same name, which was penned by author John Edward Williams. Christopher Cross of Tilt Magazine wasn’t particularly keen on Butcher’s Crossing as a whole, but the writer did single out Cage for his role as Miller. Cross says:

A sturdy and subdued Nicolas Cage leads the otherwise rocky adaptation of John Williams’ western novel.

Fiona Underhill of The Digital Fix added:

Nic Cage is unrecognizable, but this new western unfortunately fails to live up to its potential. It continues the strong streak Cage is having in his career at the moment, but would have benefited from some narrative restructuring.

Check out MovieWeb’s review of Butcher’s Crossing to find out more about Cage’s cinematic adventure as the buffalo hunter Miller. At the time of this writing, the film hasn’t been assigned a CinemaScore, but the movie’s audience score of 57% doesn’t bode well for a promising theatrical run. Watch the trailer for Butcher’s Crossing now. The Western is playing in theaters and is available to preorder on VOD.

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Comics

The sequel to 2020’s dystopian cyberpunk parkour platformer Ghostrunner is almost here, and critics have started to reveal their thoughts on Ghostrunner 2.

Reviews for the sequel look generally positive, with fans of the original game saying Ghostrunner 2 expands on and improves everything that made the original great, including vivid visuals, an exciting soundtrack, and amazing parkour-style traversal. Those who didn’t enjoy the game as much have criticized its pacing, saying the game felt far longer than it needed to be, with some sections feeling like unnecessary filler.

Now Playing: Ghostrunner 2 – Official Preorder Gameplay Trailer

The game has an aggregated score of 80 on Metacritic for both PS5 and PC versions, and a slightly lower score of 78 on Xbox Series X|S.

Check out select critic reviews for Ghostrunner 2 below, with opinions ranging from positive to mixed.

  • Game: Ghostrunner 2
  • Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X|S, PS5
  • Developer: One More Level
  • Release Date: October 26
  • Price: $40

Screen Rant — 4/5

“Despite the game’s pacing issues and ability to enrage its players, Ghostrunner 2 can be a challenging game to put down. The game’s exciting synth-wave tracks and well-written supporting cast pair well with its visuals and outstanding boss battles to keep players interested. Ghostrunner 2 improves on the first game in many ways, but if the sequel were an anime, a lot of it would feel like filler material between its more engaging, epic boss battles.” — Jason Hon [Full review]

PC Gamer — 65/100

“Ghostrunner 2 was an opportunity to trim the fat from what was already a good game in order to make something truly great. Instead, what we have here is a seven hour game wearing a fourteen hour jacket. Your playtime will vary depending on factors such as skill and your determination to seek out collectibles, but the point is, all that extra material keeps getting in the way.” — Luke Kemp [Full review]

IGN — 9/10

“The best sequels are the ones that can recapture what made the original so great, while also expanding those elements to make them feel bigger, grander, and more exciting than what came before. That’s exactly what Ghostrunner 2 manages to pull off. This is still a first person, one-hit-kill slasher where — to quote my review of the first one — you must run fast, slide fast, kill fast, and if you can’t do those things fast enough, you die fast. But now you get to do all of that while also occasionally riding an absolutely sick motorcycle, and with a wider variety ninja tricks to customize your playstyle. Couple that with a much more fleshed out world, excellent level variety, fantastic bosses, and a thumping soundtrack that enhances the action, and you’ve got one of the most exciting action games all year.” — Mitchell Saltzman [Full review]

VG247 — 4/5

“Sitting back and thinking about why I dig Ghostrunner 2 so much, I’ve landed firmly on the belief that it’s because OneMoreLevel’s dedication to building a game with the ‘rule of cool’ in mind has crossed over into my own personal tastes. For those who gain pleasure (guilty or otherwise) from an unashamed love of katanas and cybernetic augmentation, Ghostrunner 2 is pouring the gravy you love straight down your throat. If that sort of thing ain’t for you, then I’d wager even Ghostrunner 2’s rad action platforming won’t be able to win you over.” — Connor Makar [Full review]

PCGamesN — 9/10

“All of Ghostrunner 2 is a dream come true. One More Level takes what made the original so great, innovates upon it, and makes the whole experience better. It maintains its difficulty without being too punishing, and its build variety offers an impressive amount of customization, all wrapped up in gorgeous scenery with a soundtrack that’s just brilliant. I love being proven wrong, and Ghostrunner 2 has done that. The city awaits, my friends; go and save it — I promise you it’s worth it.” — Lauren Bergin [Full review]

Game Informer — 8.5/10

“Though Ghostrunner 2 falters in a few ways, like its more open-ended sections and superfluous wingsuit, what remains in the hours outside of those missteps is its best-in-class parkour action. And like its predecessor, it remains a damn treat.” — Wesley LeBlanc [Full review]

The products discussed here were independently chosen by our editors.
GameSpot may get a share of the revenue if you buy anything featured on our site.

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Festivals

Pete Holmes has lined up his next comedy special, dropping Tuesday on Netflix.

“I Am Not For Everyone” features stories ranging from Holmes’ religious upbringing to quips about his newfound perspective as a first-time father. You can watch a trailer above.

“I opened for Bill Burr in 2004 in Peoria, IL, in my third year of standup. I did very poorly,” he tells Deadline. “After the show, not one person bought my merch, a bumper sticker that read ‘Yippie Ki Yay, Melonfarmer.’ I was humiliated. So you can imagine what a thrill it was when, nineteen years later, Bill said he wanted to produce my first Netflix special, I Am Not For Everybody. Thankfully, it seems Bill has a bad memory.”

“I am not for everybody is the feeling I have coming home from most social gatherings, birthday parties, religious celebrations and haircuts and it’s very exciting to share the observations and stories that come from that strange place,” he continued. “With each special, I’m always trying to strike the right balance between silly, surprising, light, dark, dad stuff and deep stuff and I’m proud to say this is my favorite hour I’ve ever done. I sincerely hope you melonfarmers enjoy it. But if you don’t, trust me, I get it.”

In 2021, Holmes starred in the short-lived CBS comedy Smallwood. Before that, Holmes created, executive produced and headlined HBO’s comedy series Crashing, which ran for three seasons.

He also had a late-night talk show on TBS, headlined three standup specials, and authored the book Comedy Sex God, published by HarperCollins.

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Pete Holmes has lined up his next

Film

Paramount+ said Monday that it will roll out its Premium tier subscriptions in Australia, Canada, Brazil and Mexico on November 16, with more international markets to follow.

The streamer also said its advertising tier will roll out in select overseas markets including Australia and Canada starting in 2024. In Mexico and Brazil, Paramount+ will continue to offer its Mobile tier instead.

The moves come after Par+ rolled out its standard plan in 45 international markets last year. Parent company Paramount Global said in its most recent earnings call in August that the service has 61 million global subscribers, with Paramount+ growing revenue almost 50% over the year-earlier quarter.

Next month’s Premium rollout will include 4K UHD, HDR10 and Dolby Vision formats, and four concurrent streams instead of the standard plan’s two streams.

As for pricing, the Premium tier will launch in Australia for $13.99 AUD monthly and $124.99 AUD annually; in Brazil for $R 34.90 monthly and $R 309.90 annually; in Canada for $13.99 CAD monthly and $124.99 CAD annually; and in Mexico for $179 MXN monthly and $1609 MXN annually.

The plan will be available on the Paramount+ app on Apple iOS, Apple tvOS, Amazon Fire, Google, Roku and Samsung at launch, with LG, VIDAA/ Hisense, Xbox and Amazon Prime Video coming online in 2024.

“After expanding our footprint to more than 45 markets last year, we are focused on scaling our business and providing customer choice,” said Marco Nobili, EVP and International General Manager at Paramount+. “Following the launch of the Mobile plan in Mexico and Brazil, the introduction of the Premium and Ad-supported plans will give us the ability to better serve different consumer segments by providing multiple pricing options while also tapping into tremendous opportunities among our advertising and brand partners.”

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Paramount+ said Monday that it will roll

TV

Taylor Swift continues to defy the rules in the music industry alongside the Swifties as “Cruel Summer” from her Lover album hits the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

The song was originally released in 2019 alongside the rest of the Lover album. Although Swift had intended for the song to be a single in 2020, the pandemic forced plans to change. As Swift embarked on The Eras Tour, “Cruel Summer” picked up steam again and has now achieved several rare feats.

With “Cruel Summer” hitting No. 1, Swift became the first female artist to score ten No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 and ten No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200. “Cruel Summer” also gave Swift the longest run for a female soloist from a Hot 100 debut to No. 1, excluding holiday songs, climbing to the top spot after four years and two months.

Another accomplishment for the track is that it’s the longest climb for a non-holiday female track from its release date and the second longest climb for a non-holiday song in the Soundscan era from its release date.

“Cruel Summer” is also the first song from Swift’s Lover album to land at the top of the charts. Other singles from the Lover era like “You Need To Calm Down” and “ME!” peaked at No. 2.

To celebrate “Cruel Summer” hitting No. 1, Swift and co-producer and co-songwriter Jack Antonoff took to Instagram to share a special message.

“A song from five f***ing years ago … a song that we said was the best song but we thought, ‘Oh, you know what, this was our secret best song.’ That’s what we thought,” Antonoff said.

Swift took over and added, “We just wanted to say thank you so much for making ‘Cool Summer’ a Hot 100 No. 1 and it’s not even the summer anymore. It’s deep fall, I’m wearing a sweater. We love you guys.”

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Taylor Swift continues to defy the rules

What to Watch

Netflix subscription is required to watch on Netflix

 

Great news! “Princess Power” is available to watch on Netflix USA!

 

Date Added: 30th January 2023

Want to keep forever? Try looking for ‘Princess Power’ on Amazon (paid link)

 

History:

   01/30/2023: 14 Episodes (2023)

   10/23/2023: 2 Seasons (2024)

 

Watch Season 2 now

Description:

Princess friends from four different Fruitdoms — Blueberry, Kiwi, Pineapple and Raspberry — spring into action to make their worlds a better place.

 

Certificate: TV-Y
Designed to be appropriate for all children

 

Year: 2024

Duration: 2 Seasons

Available Seasons: Season 1 (14 Ep), Season 2 (20 Ep)

Audio: British English, English – Audio Description, English [Original], Spanish – Audio Description, Spanish, French, Mandarin (Guoyu)

Subtitles: British English, English, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese

Episode Length: 15min

– English Audio Description

 

Cast and Crew

Cast: Trinity Jo-Li Bliss, Dana Heath, Luna Bella Zamora, Madison Calderon, Andrew Rannells, Tan France, Rita Moreno, Alanna Ubach

 

Production & Season Details:

Status: Returning Series”Princess Power” is a TV show produced by Atomic Cartoons and Flower Films. The show was originally broadcast on Netflix and premiered on January 30th 2023. So far there have been 2 seasons (comprising of 34 episodes) of “Princess Power”. The most recent episode aired on January 30th 2023 and more seasons are expected in the future.

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Watch the trailer for “Princess Power”

 

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Awards

Another major sports docuseries is in the works, and this one has some major star power behind it.

Lakers star LeBron James and his SpringHill Company is in talks with Peyton Manning‘s Omaha Productions and Barack and Michelle Obama’s Higher Ground for a series that would follow professional basketball players, a source familiar with the discussions confirms to The Hollywood Reporter. The format would bring the same approach to the NBA that Omaha’s Quarterback brought to the NFL.

The NBA is also expected to be involved in the show, much as NFL Films is a partner on Quarterback. The Wall Street Journal, which first reported the news, says that the show will likely end on Netflix, where Higher Ground has a first-look deal, and where Quarterback emerged as a successful addition to the genre earlier this year.

It’s not immediately clear which players the series would follow, though other series have tried to follow a mix of superstars and lesser-known players.

SpringHill, founded by James and Maverick Carter, raised cash from RedBird, Nike, and Epic Games in 2021 at a $725 million valuation, and inked first-look deals with Disney and Universal for scripted TV and films, respectively. The company, which was behind the Space Jam reboot, among other media projects, has also served as a media incubator for other athletes, including tennis star Naomi Osaka.

Manning’s Omaha is behind the ESPN Manningcast Monday Night Football alternate telecast, and Peyton’s Places, in addition to Quarterback. The company raised money from Peter Chernin’s North Road Company earlier this year. The company is working on season two of Quarterback, though the QBs it will follow are yet to be revealed.

Higher Ground has a film and TV deal with Netflix, and a podcast deal with Audible. The company has found success with its documentaries, with its latest acquisition, American Symphony, seen as an Oscars contender.

The sports docuseries genre, while not a new format, has seen a resurgence in recent years thanks in part to Netflix, which has seen series following the lives of Formula 1 drivers (Drive to Survive) and PGA Tour golfers (Full Swing), not to mention stars like Patrick Mahomes (Quarterback) and David Beckham (Beckham) rise to the top of its streaming charts.

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Another major sports docuseries is in the

Music

Reba McEntire’s team is bringing the emotion in a big way during The Voice Battle Rounds!

On Monday, Reba paired up two of her younger team members, Alison Albrecht and Angelina Nazarian, for a Battle duet of “You Say” by Lauren Daigle — a song Reba told the singers is one that “touches my heart.”

That was evident throughout the rehearsal, as Reba teared up multiple times while instructing Alison and Angelina to bring the emotion to their performance.

“When you are singing this song, it’s very humbling,” she explained. “It’s baring your soul.”

Their second run-through hit the nail on the head for Reba, who broke down once again as she praised the singers.

“By the time they finished, I was bawling,” Reba said, through tears. “That’s the kind of reaction you want from an audience.”

“If you can can touch someone’s heart the way you just touched mine, you’ve done something terrific,” she praised.

However, when they took the stage, the performance was powerful, but, for Reba, it was missing some of the heart that they brought during rehearsal.

“Emotion, to me, means a lot,” she reiterated. “You did that in rehearsals. You were still, you were meaningful. You saw what it did to me, I was crying. Today, you went back to the way you did it the first time.”

However, Reba assured, “You’re both great vocalists, and I’m very proud of you.” 

With that said, Reba followed the recommendation of fellow coaches Niall Horan and Gwen Stefani, naming Alison the winner of the Battle.

ET spoke with Gwen ahead of this season’s Battles, where she opened up about how surreal it is to return to The Voice without hubby Blake Shelton by her side. The Cowboy departed the NBC singing competition earlier this year, after 23 seasons.

“It feels kind of like [my] first season, before I knew he existed,” she shared. “It’s kind of weird, but it’s also like, I’m having so much fun.”

“Like, I’m only here because it’s fun,” Gwen added. “The coaching and actually getting to know your team after the Blinds is my favorite thing, ’cause it’s like, the dream’s there.”

She admitted, however, that it is a little nerve-wracking to look to Blake’s chair and instead see The Voice‘s newest coach — the Queen of Country herself.

Of how Reba’s handled her first season so far, Gwen recalled the Blind Auditions with a laugh.

“She did great. She didn’t have to do anything,” she remembered. “She’d be like, ‘I think you were great. I’d love to have you on my team,’ and then they’d be like, ‘I pick you!'” 

The Voice airs Mondays at 8 p.m. PT and Tuesdays at 9 p.m. PT on NBC.

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Reba McEntire's team is bringing the emotion

Docs

NOW ON VOD! Sharon Stone’s Catherine Tramell and Christian Bale’s Patrick Bateman may have some competition in writer/director Andrés Farías Cintrón’s sex/crime thriller Candela. A broodingly atmospheric film that tracks the ripple effect of corruption and murder involving a sexy, drugged-up homicidal heiress, a corrupt cop, and a drag queen named Candela. Oh, and if you like neon lights, there are a ton of neon lights involved, too.

Set in the Dominican Republic, days before a looming hurricane, Sera Peñablanca (Sarah Jorge León) is preparing to marry Senator Daniel Beltrán (Frank Perozo). Sera is an heiress to a powerful company, and it is clear this is a politically arranged marriage that is out of her control. Her life is heavily medicated. During the day, she puts on the sedated, smiling senator’s fiancé act, and at night, she frequents a burlesque club where she has sex with any man of her choosing. This destructive cycle continues until she forces a stranger, Renato Castrate (Richarson Díaz), at gunpoint to return to her apartment and ultimately have sex with her. After a physical struggle, Renato is found dead in the street below her apartment. 

“…heiress to a powerful company, and it is clear this is a politically arranged marriage that is out of her control.”

Sera’s powerful allies frame Renato for attempting to rape Sera. The film then begins to follow the veteran lieutenant Perez (Félix Germán), tasked with investigating the incident. A tired cop who’s giving up trying to fight the corrupt system around him is ordered to halt any further investigation, given the powerful senator’s fiancé’s involvement. Ready to accept another coverup, Perez is unexpectedly contacted by his estranged daughter, Yajaira (Judith Rodriguez Perez). Her friend Lubrini (César Domínguez), who performs at the burlesque club under the drag name “Candela,” was dating Renato. 

Perez is now faced with a deadly existential decision. If he continues the investigation, he risks his life and career, but he has a chance to do the right thing and be a father to his daughter. The focus is shifted once more as we follow Lubrini, Aka Candela, who is now burdened by having to pay the debts of his now deceased boyfriend, owed to a local drug kingpin. In a truly corrupt world, can Sera, Perez, and Candela escape both the literal and figurative hurricane headed their way? 

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NOW ON VOD! Sharon Stone’s Catherine Tramell

Global

Most Canadians are regularly eating seafood despite high grocery prices, according to a new survey.

Fish and other seafood dishes are routinely included in their meals, 87 per cent of Canadians said in a recent poll conducted by the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University and the Angus Reid Institute.

The results published Tuesday showed that even though daily consumption of seafood is rare in the country, Canadians are eating seafood on a weekly and monthly basis.

The online poll was conducted in June and included some 1,000 Canadian adults.

Stefanie Colombo, associate professor and Canada research chair at Dalhousie University, said she was “surprised” to find that such a large proportion of Canadians eat seafood on a regular basis.

The results are however consistent with the global trends, she said, with the increased consumption of animal protein, including fish.

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Click to play video: 'Inflation drops to 3.8%, but Canadians still feeling squeezed'


Inflation drops to 3.8%, but Canadians still feeling squeezed


In British Columbia, 45.8 per cent of respondents said they have fish and seafood every week, followed by 39 per cent in Atlantic provinces saying the same.

Quebec has the lowest weekly consumption of seafood (27.2 per cent), the survey found.

Four in 10 across the country are also willing to pay more for certified sustainable seafood, the survey found.

Canadians are primarily buying fish, like finfish, trout or salmon, as opposed to other forms of seafood – such as crab, mussels, oysters, shellfish or crustacean, Colombo told Global News.

More people also eat seafood at home (60 per cent) rather than in a restaurant (31 per cent), she added. Most people also prefer seafood that is Canadians rather than imported.

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This comes as prices at the grocery store rose again last month, increasing 5.8 per cent year-over-year in September, according to Statistics Canada’s latest inflation report.

The overall price for fish, seafood and other marine products was up 4.3 per cent last month compared with September 2022, StatCan data showed.

The cost for fresh or frozen fish was up 3.8 per cent annually in September, while canned and other preserved fish saw a year-over-year price hike of 8.9 per cent last month.

Back in June when the survey was conducted, grocery prices were up 9.1 per cent year-over-year, although bakery items and dairy products were the biggest drivers.

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Nutrition was the main motivation to eat seafood for 64 per cent of Canadians in the poll.

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“Canadians want healthy food and I think, there’s probably some realization that they’re getting high value with regard to healthy food when they’re buying seafood,” Colombo said in an interview with Global News.

Environment and climate change are also important factors when making food choices, more than half said in the poll Tuesday. Nearly one in four (21 per cent) cited affordability as the reason for their seafood consumption.


Click to play video: 'UBC study finds climate change impacting restaurant seafood options'


UBC study finds climate change impacting restaurant seafood options


When it comes to the type of seafood, more Canadians prefer frozen over fresh, but there are some demographic differences.

Of the Gen Z respondents aged 18 to 29 years, 49 per cent said they prefer frozen seafood compared with 39 per cent of Gen X, aged 44 to 58 years.  That proportion dropped for fresh seafood, with 16.9 per cent of Gen Z going for this option and 31.5 per cent of Gen X choosing the same.

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Convenience is one of the reasons why frozen seafood is most popular, particular among the youngest generation, Colombo said.

Wild seafood was also the more popular choice compared to farmed products, with British Columbia (67.9 per cent) leading this preference among the provinces.

Canadians also care about the humane treatment of their seafood from sea to retail, with half the respondents saying they consider this an important factor.

— with files from Global News’ Craig Lord. 

&copy 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

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Most Canadians are regularly eating seafood despite

Tech

Mary Lou Retton is on the way to recovery.

In early October, the Olympic gymnast‘s daughter, McKenna Kelley, shared that her mother was checked into the intensive care unit. She was suffering from a very rare form of pneumonia that kept her from breathing on her own and resulted in her fighting for her life.

In an Oct. 14 update, Kelley, who is also a gymnast, said that her mother was making a lot of progress despite still being in the ICU. On Monday, she shared another update, noting that Retton was home and “in recovery mode.”

“We still have a long road of recovery ahead of us, but baby steps,” she wrote on Instagram. “We are overwhelmed with the love and support from everyone. Grateful doesn’t scrape the surface of the posture of our hearts. Thank you Jesus, thank you doctors & nurses, thank you to this loving community of support.”

When Kelley first announced Retton was in the hospital, she didn’t share too many details but did explain that her mother didn’t have any insurance, so she began a Spotfund page to collect funds for the medical bills. She asked for $50,000 and, as of Monday night, they have raised $459,304.

Retton began gymnastics at a young age and went on to compete in the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, where she made history. She became the first American to win an Olympic all-around gold medal, as well as two silver medals and two bronze. That year, she was also named Sports Illustrated‘s Sportswoman of the Year.

She retired from the sport in 1986 and was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 1997. Following her retirement, Retton worked in television and became a motivational speaker.

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Mary Lou Retton is on the way

Video

The Writers Guild of America East released a statement on Monday in which they condemned antisemitism and Islamophobia, explaining that they chose not to release a statement on the Israel-Hamas conflict to protect its many journalist members. The East Coast branch of the WGA represents a far higher number of journalists than the West Coast branch of the organization.

After the WGA West faced criticism from several quarters including the Screenwriters Guild of Israel for their lack of a public statement, the East Coast branch of the WGA shared this letter:

Dear members,

We hope you are holding up in these difficult times. A number of you have reached out to us in recent weeks about whether or not the WGA East would make a public statement about Israel and Gaza. We want to explain why we have not.


A little over a year ago, the WGA East went through a referendum to find a path forward as a Guild that was now 40% journalists. In doing so, we in leadership agreed to move away from public statements that did not directly involve our Guild, our industries or the labor movement. Such statements hindered journalist members’ work, and divided rather than united us. Since the referendum, we have made two such statements, both about the protection of reporters.

We realize this will strike some of you as inadequate. We also realize that our own personal sentiments about the atrocities in Israel committed by Hamas on October 7 and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza will not suffice. Representing a diversity of workers means our union is strong enough to hold many different views. However, we want to be clear: there is no place in this Guild — none at all — for antisemitism or Islamophobia.

The letter was signed by guild president Lisa Takeuchi Cullen, VP of streaming Erica Saleh, VP of online media Sara David, VP of broadcast and cable Kathy McGee and secretary-treasurer Chris Kyle.


Opinions were split on the picket lines outside of Paramount in Los Angeles on Monday as well, prior to the release of the WGAE statement.

Several WGA members opted not to comment, but “Reservation Dogs” writer Tommy Pico told TheWrap he didn’t think the guild needed to issue a statement on the Middle East conflict.

He obliquely referred to celebrities such as Sarah Silverman and CAA agent Maha Dakhil, who have had to walk back sentiments voiced on social media. “The people who I want to hear weigh in on those kinds of issues are ones who are well-versed in the most complicated geopolitical conflict on the planet right now. I don’t need SAG or celebrities [weighing in],” Pico said, adding that he is not on social media himself.

However, pre-WGA writer Jesse Pasternack told TheWrap he was in favor of the guild issuing a public message: “There’s been a massive loss of life in the Middle East and I feel like a lot of people are understandably upset about it.”


The aftermath of an attack in Israel with smoke billowing.

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The Writers Guild of America East released

Entertaintment

About The Author

Barry Walsh is editor-in-chief and content director for Realscreen, and has served as editor of the publication since 2009. With a career in entertainment media that spans two decades, prior to Realscreen, he held the associate editor post for now defunct sister publication Boards, which focused on the advertising and commercial production industries. Before Boards, he served as editor of Canadian Music Network, a weekly music industry trade, and as music editor for HMV.com. As content director, he also oversees the development of content for the brand’s market-leading events, the Realscreen Summit and Realscreen West, as well as new content initiatives.

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Movies

Curated By: Shrishti Negi

Last Updated: October 24, 2023, 09:56 IST

Anushka Sharma at Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone’s wedding reception in Mumbai. (Photo credit: Viral Bhayani)

Anushka Sharma has been one of the most loved celebrities in Bollywood. The actress had once reacted to rumours about her alleged cold war with Deepika Padukone.

Anushka Sharma and Deepika Padukone may not have been best of friends in Bollywood, but the two actresses have always spoken very highly of each other. While Deepika made her acting debut opposite Shah Rukh Khan in Om Shanti Om in 2007, Anushka entered Bollywood with SRK’s Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi in 2008. Since then, there’s been no looking back for both the actresses, who are now considered amongst the highest-paid stars in Bollywood.

However, there had been rumours about an alleged “cold war” between the two in the very beginning of their careers. In a 2013 interview with Hindustan Times, Anushka had put an end to all the speculations around her equation with Deepika.

“I have no problems with Deepika or anyone,” Anushka had told HT when asked about her alleged “cold war” with Deepika. “I am here to work and not indulge into fights. I am happy with what I am doing and she would happy with her life. And all reports around us are false. It’s all like a dominos effect; just to cook up a story… there will be a series of lies to gossip about me. So basically its wrong the way women are perceived in this industry.”

Anushka had also attended Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh’s wedding reception in Mumbai in 2018. In fact, she was one of the first Bollywood celebrities to wish Ranveer and Deepika on their wedding.

Ranveer had also thanked Anushka for making it to his wedding reception. In an old interview with Filmfare, Ranveer had said, “It was very warm. It was really lovely. But for me it was very significant and very special that Anushka came.”

Shrishti Negi

Shrishti Negi is a journalist with nearly eight years of experience in the media industry. She is currently heading the Entertainment team at News18.c…Read More

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Curated By: Shrishti NegiLast Updated: October

Latest News

Jay-Z wants you to take the money.

The viral online debate that asks, “Would you rather have one meal with Jay-Z and pick his brain, or get $500,000 cash?,” has finally been settled — and the “99 Problems” hitmaker says take the cash. Jay-Z, born Shawn Carter, addressed the philosophical question that has haunted social media since 2021 in an interview with CBS’ Gayle King.

“You gotta take the money,” he said. “What am I gonna say?”

Fans have argued that the wisdom a person could gain from picking Jay-Z’s brain over pizza and beer could be more valuable than the $500,000, because the lucky dinner date would walk away knowing how to earn more than a half-million bucks. But the rapper countered that stance, pointing out that he has been sharing his wisdom with the world for decades.

“You got all that in the music for $10.99,” he quipped. “So that’s a bad deal … I wouldn’t tell you to cut a bad deal, right?”

“Take the $500,000, go buy some albums and listen to the album,” he continued. “It’s all there. If you piece it together and really listen to the music for the words, for what it is, it’s all there. Everything that I said was gonna happen, happened. Everything that I said I wanted to do, I’ve done. It is the blueprint, literally to me, and my life and my journey. It’s there already.”

In Jay-Z’s song 2021 hit “U Don’t Know,” he raps, “That’s another difference that’s between me and them / Heh, I smarten up, open the market up / One million, two million, three million, four / In 18 months, 80 million more / Now add that number up with the one I said before”

“I sell ice in the winter, I sell fire in hell / I am a hustler baby, I’ll sell water to a well.”

And in the music mogul’s 2017 track “The Story of O.J.” he raps about investing in artwork and creating generational wealth: “Financial freedom my only hope / F— livin’ rich and dyin’ broke / I bought some artwork for one million / Two years later, that s— worth two million / Few years later, that s— worth eight million / I can’t wait to give this s— to my children / Y’all think it’s bougie, I’m like, it’s fine / But I’m tryin’ to give you a million dollars worth of game for $9.99.”

Jay-Z’s rare interview and exclusive tour of “The Book of HOV” exhibit at the Brooklyn Public Library, explores the rapper’s body of work, including his original master recordings, various business ventures and efforts to reform the criminal justice system. He also opens up about what it meant to him when his wife Beyoncé Knowles-Carter and their daughter Blue Ivy went on the Renaissance World Tour together this year.

The two-part interview with King airs later this week on “CBS Mornings.”

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Jay-Z wants you to take the

MCU

New information is finally coming out regarding Marvel’s next Spider-Man project, the animated series Spider-Man: Freshman Year, specifically about its cast of actors and their characters.

Freshman Year has been billed as an exploration of the character’s origins, which were largely skipped over in the MCU after being well-established in previous live-action adaptations. Of note is the show’s art style, which will be highly reminiscent of classic Spider-Man comics and cartoons.

Speculation has been rife in the years since the show’s announcement, but now fans have a chance to put names (and voices) to faces with a new reveal.

Six Freshman Year Castings Confirmed

A recent US copyright filing for Spider-Man: Freshman Year revealed six actors from the cast for the upcoming Disney+ series.

1.) Hudson Thames as Peter Parker/Spider-Man

Hudson Thames

Taking the role of the titular Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man is Hudson Thames, returning after his portrayal of the character in What If…?

This version of Peter is bound to be different than the ones seen previously in the MCU, as he’ll be just coming into his own rather than tussling with Thanos or surviving a zombie apocalypse.

2.) Eugene Byrd as Lonnie Lincoln/Tombstone

Eugene Byrd, Lonnie Lincoln from Spider-Man: Freshman Year
Eugene Byrd

Most known in the animated superhero world for playing Miles Morales’ father in Spidey and His Amazing Friends, Eugene Byrd will be stepping into the hulking shoes of the classic villain Tombstone.

Tombstone has appeared in Spider-Man comics since the late 80s and has routinely crossed paths with both the famed wallcrawler and lawyer-turned-blind-vigilante Daredevil, who has been reported to appear in the series as well. However, it seems that Freshman Year will be taking a different approach to Lonnie, at least at first, with the character appearing as one of Peter’s classmates.

3.) Grace Song as Nico Minoru

Grace Song, Nico Minoru from Spider-Man: Freshman Year
Grace Song

Actress and writer Grace Song will be playing the spell-slinging Nico Minoru, a fan-favorite character who last took to the screen in Marvel’s Runaways.

More recently, Nico was a starring character in the critically acclaimed game Marvel’s Midnight Suns. She’s not typically associated with Spider-Man, so her inclusion in the cast is an interesting one and could go many ways. Another deviation from comic counterparts, this Nico will be in the same class as Peter.

4.)  Hugh Dancy as Otto Octavius

Hugh Dancy, Otto Octavius from Spider-Man: Freshman Year
Hugh Dancy

Hugh Dancy (Hannibal) will be wielding the many arms of Otto Octavius.

Considering the show’s early place in the Spider-Man timeline, it’s up in the air as to whether Octavius will be a villain or a mentor to Peter. The character recently played both roles in Insomniac Games’ Spider-Man video game, and fans may see a similar path play out here.

5.)  Kari Wahlgren as Aunt May

Kari Wahlgren, Aunt May from Spider-Man: Freshman Year
Kari Wahlgren

No Spider-Man story is complete without Aunt May, and Freshman Year’s version of the character will be played by Kari Wahlgren (Rick and Morty).

Wahlgren’s casting likely indicates that the show’s Aunt May will stick closer to the recent Marisa Tomei portrayal seen in the MCU.

6.) Zeno Robinson as Harry Osborn

Zeno Robinson
Zeno Robinson

The Disney era of Spider-Man projects will receive its first Harry Osborn in the form of Zeno Robinson (My Hero Academia).

Harry Osborn is, of course, one of Peter’s closest friends and confidants, so it’s fair to say he should feature quite often in the series. Harry has yet to appear in the live-action films, so the direction for the character could really go anywhere. 

Spider-Man: Freshman Year is rumored to debut on November 2, 2024.

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DCU

What is canon and what is not to the MCU has been a topic of fervent fan debate for years. Is Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., which referenced the events of Avengers, actual MCU canon? What about the former Netflix shows like Daredevil, which also made mention of Avengers like Captain America and Thor? Well, we now have an answer to that question from the guy in charge, Kevin Feige. In his introduction to the book Marvel Studios: The Marvel Cinematic Universe—An Official Timeline, he wrote the following:

On the Multiverse note, we recognize that there are stories—movies and series—that are canonical to Marvel but that were created by different storytellers during different periods of Marvel’s history. The timeline presented in this book is specific to the MCU’s Sacred Timeline through Phase 4. But, as we move forward and dive deeper into the Multiverse Saga, you never know when timelines may crash or converge (hint, hint/spoiler alert).

FYI, our own Editor-in-Chief Amy Ratcliffe cowrote that book.

So, in short, everything utilizing Marvel characters, whether produced by Marvel Studios or not, is part of a branched timeline in the overall Marvel Multiverse. Some we already knew about. The original Sam Raimi Spider-Man films, and the Marc Webb Amazing Spider-Man films? No Way Home confirmed them as Multiverse canon. Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness confirmed Patrick Stewart’s Professor X, and Deadpool 3 is set to canonize Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine. Even if these are variants of the Fox X-Men films, it indicates all those movies are also Multiverse canon.

Marvel Studios/Sony Pictures/Twentieth Century Films

Also, with clips of Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield’s respective Peter Parkers in Across the Spider-Verse, not to mention the appearance of Donald Glover in his MCU role as the Prowler in that film, those animated films also exist in the overall MCU Multiverse tapestry. Will movies like Ang Lee’s Hulk, Sony’s Ghost Rider films, and others get included in Avengers: The Kang Dynasty or Secret Wars? Well, Jennifer Garner as Elektra in Deadpool 3 suggests it’s all on the table now. Heck, why not Howard the Duck? Stranger things have happened.

from L to R, Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man, Tobey Maguire as Spider-Man, Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, and Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool.
Marvel Studios/Sony Pictures/Twentieth Century Films

Right now, the MCU is the highest-grossing film franchise of all time. By a lot too, with $29 billion dollars total. By contrast, the #2 slot goes to the Star Wars franchise, which is a distant second at $10 billion. But if the MCU now includes pre-Marvel Studios films? Oh man, then does that number ever go up. The mutant franchise at Fox adds $10 billion to that sum. The non-MCU Spider-Man films? About $8 billion total. Even the Fantastic Four films have collectively made $800 million. Throw in a couple of Blade films, we’re talking about a franchise that has made some $50 billion dollars. Easily the biggest success story in Hollywood history. And a record we’re likely never going to see surpassed in our lifetimes. In the meantime, we’re just excited to see Hugh Jackman take on Tobey Maguire while Deadpool just laughs at them both.

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What is canon and what is not

Comics

Gamespot writes: “Konami has still put together a comprehensive bundle, collecting five highly influential games (and multiple variations) from a period spanning 24 years. There are other ways to play these games, but I think we often undersell the appeal of convenience. Being able to easily access them all on a modern console is a major selling point.”

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Gamespot writes: "Konami has still put together

Festivals

Can you feel it? The season of romantic comedies is coming. We can’t help but return to our favorite films like When Harry Met Sally… or The Proposal, but there is one rom-com that dominated the psyche of every romantic heart in the 2000s: The Notebook.

While the Nicholas Sparks adapted film gave us Ryan Gosling in his first leading film role as Noah Calhoun and a fantastic performance from Rachel McAdams as Allie Hamilton, we almost saw pop princess Britany Spears take on the role. However, Spears is happy she didn’t take on the role for a few reasons.

You can watch her audition posted by the Daily Mail below:

Britney Spears auditions with Ryan Gosling for The Notebook in 2002youtu.be

In her upcoming memoir, The Woman In Me, Spears talks about losing The Notebook role, saying, “Even though it would have been fun to reconnect with Ryan Gosling after our time on the Mickey Mouse Club, I’m glad I didn’t do it,” she said according to People.

“I imagine there are people in the acting field who have dealt with something like that, where they had trouble separating themselves from a character,” Spears said. “I hope I never get close to that occupational hazard again. Living that way, being half yourself and half a fictional character is messed up. After a while, you don’t know what’s real anymore.

The Notebook was based on Nicholas Sparks’ 1996 novel about a young couple who fall in love in the 1940s, while their romance is framed by the couple in their twilight years while one of them suffers from Alzheimer’s. The film was directed by Nick Cassavetes and grossed $115 million worldwide.

Spears had previously starred in 2002’s coming-of-age dramedy Crossroads, a film that was lambasted by critics. However, the film has been re-evaluated over the past few years and is getting a limited run at selected AMCs in the U.S.

While Spears is good in the role, it was for the best that the singer didn’t take on the role for her mental health, which had declined due to the endless publicity she received. While Adams’ performance is iconic in its own right, Spears’ delivers a Southern charm that is undeniably captivating. What could have been was a film that became the event of the year as people flocked to the theater to see a big A-list name on the silver screen, a tactic that studios do today to get audiences in the theater seats.

Spears not getting the role is kind of ironic to see from a 2023 perspective, yet the star knew that acting was not in her cards… not yet at least.

Let us know what you think of Spears’ audition for The Notebook in the comments below.

Source: YouTube

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Film

The Zootopia-themed land at Shanghai Disneyland is now confirmed to open in December. It will be the eighth land within the seven-year-old theme park.

Based on the Walt Disney Animation Studios animated film “Zootopia,” which released in 2016, the new land will include a new attraction, Zootopia: Hot Pursuit, where guests can hop on an all-terrain cruiser powered by a trackless ride system in an action-filled chase through Zootopia’s different districts.

Other themed entertainment experiences and character moments include the Zootopia Park Apartments, where a lineup of animal residents will interact with each other and guests throughout the day, appearing from time to time, in a show.

Guests will also get the chance to spend at Fashions by Fru Fru, a merchandise store owned by Fru Fru, a Zootopia fashionista. The land will also offer a range of casual walk-up dining options.

The official opening of the section has been set for Dec. 20. But before that, cast members have begun extensive preparations to test and fine-tune all of the experiences in Zootopia for operational readiness. In the weeks prior to its official opening, Disney cast members and other invited participants will test selected offerings on specific dates.

Park officials said that Zootopia is driven by Shanghai Disney Resort’s guiding principle of being “authentically Disney, distinctly Chinese.” They describe it as a “fully activated land [that] seamlessly blends Disney’s signature storytelling and creativity with groundbreaking, state-of-the-art technology.”

The original “Zootopia” film was directed by Byron Howard, Rich Moore and Jared Bush. In China, it earned more than $230 million, making it one of the most successful Disney titles in the Middle Kingdom.

Shanghai Disney Resort, which comprises two owner companies and a management company, is a joint venture between The Walt Disney Company and Shanghai Shendi Group. Shendi owns a 57% interest in the two owner companies, and The Walt Disney Company owns the remaining 43% interest. The management company is 70% owned by The Walt Disney Company.

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TV

Mission: Impossible—Dead Reckoning Part One
Photo: Paramount

The greed of the AMPTP studios and their refusal to make a deal with striking workers—specifically SAG-AFTRA members—has claimed another high-profile movie victim. Almost exactly two months after Warner Bros. Discovery decided to bump Dune: Part 2 into 2024, Paramount and Skydance have bumped Mission: Impossible—Dead Reckoning Part Two all the way from June of next year to May 23, 2025. On top of that, Variety says the movie will be retitled, meaning it won’t be called Dead Reckoning Part Two, which means there will have been a Dead Reckoning Part One and that’s it.

The best action scene from every “Mission: Impossible” movie

Variety says the plot will still directly follow the events of Part One, wherein a malevolent AI (as if there’s another kind) called The Entity tried to do bad AI stuff and Ethan Hunt had to collect two halves of a special key before the bad guys could, but it’ll just have a different name now. Paramount could (and probably should) retcon the title of Part One at some point, but luckily this wouldn’t be the first time that a Tom Cruise movie was retitled after it came out.

Or the studio could just go nuts with the formatting and call the next one Mission: Impossible—Some New Title (Dead Reckoning Part Two), which would be cool. Also, if Paramount is taking suggestions, we wouldn’t be opposed to more Lupin The Third references or some kind of miraculous return for Ilsa Faust.

Also, there is some quiet good news in here for any M:I fans who were disheartened by Paramount’s decision to send Dead Reckoning Part One off to die just one week before the Barbenheimer weekend, as the studio has secured a three-week exclusive Imax run for whatever Part Two ends up being called in 2025. That means it will be easier to see, even if two of the biggest movies of 2025 (Barbie Vs. Hot Wheels and Oppenheimer 2: Rise Of Teller) end up coming out a few days later.

Mission: Impossible isn’t the only movie getting delayed today because of strike-related delays, with Variety saying that Quiet Place prequel/spin-off Day One is moving from June of next year to March 8, 2024, and an untitled SpongeBob SquarePants movie is going from May of 2025 to December of 2025.

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What to Watch

 

Great news! “Princess Power” is available to watch on Netflix UK!

 

Date Added: 30th January 2023

Known expiry dates are shown above as well as on the Last Chance page.

Want to keep forever? Try looking for ‘Princess Power’ on Amazon (paid link)

History:

   30/01/2023: 14 Episodes (2023)

   23/10/2023: 2 Seasons (2024)

 

Watch Season 2 now

 

Description:

Princess friends from four different Fruitdoms — Blueberry, Kiwi, Pineapple and Raspberry — spring into action to make their worlds a better place.

 

Certificate: Suitable for all ages

Year: 2024

Duration: 2 Seasons

Available Seasons: Season 1 (14 Ep)

Audio: Arabic, British English, English – Audio Description, English [Original], Hindi, Polish, Ukrainian

Subtitles: Arabic, British English, English, French, Polish, Ukrainian

Episode Length: 15min

– English Audio Description

 

Cast and Crew

Cast: Trinity Jo-Li Bliss, Dana Heath, Luna Bella Zamora, Madison Calderon, Andrew Rannells, Tan France, Rita Moreno, Alanna Ubach

 

Production & Season Details:

Status: Returning Series”Princess Power” is a TV show produced by Atomic Cartoons and Flower Films. The show was originally broadcast on Netflix and premiered on January 30th 2023. So far there have been 2 seasons (comprising of 34 episodes) of “Princess Power”. The most recent episode aired on January 30th 2023 and more seasons are expected in the future.

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Awards

EXCLUSIVE: There’s change at The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

A.D. Miles, who was previously head writer on the NBC show and also worked with Fallon on Late Night, is returning to the show as head writer.

Mason Steinberg, who was hired in the role last year, is exiting.

Miles has a long history with Fallon; he was head writer of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, which aired between 2009-2014, and then moved with the former SNL star to The Tonight Show, where he was head writer between 2014-2017. In all, he has written on more than 750 episodes of late-night television with the host.

He is probably best known for appearing on the show itself; most notably as stepdad Gary in Fallon’s series of Ew! sketches, which have featured the likes of Emma Stone, Taylor Swift and Michelle Obama as well as Drew Barrymore earlier this year.

He has also performed as a member of The Ragtime Gals on The Tonight Show, which has also featured help from the likes of Justin Timberlake and Steve Carell.

After working on The Tonight Show, Miles moved back to Los Angeles to pursue other opportunities. He was head writer on ABC’s reboot of The Gong Show and he has acted in series such as Wet Hot American Summer, Sherman’s Showcase, Between Two Ferns: The Movie as well as on Netflix’s animated series Hoops.

However, Miles remained in Fallon’s orbit even after leaving the show, providing the voice for NBC’s Password, which is exec produced by Fallon, and bringing back The Ragtime Gals on Fallon’s That’s My Jam to perform covers of Outkast’s “Hey Ya!” And Kelis’ “Milkshake.”

Steinberg joined the show in 2022 as head writer, having written on a slew of awards shows including the CMT Music Awards, the MTV Movie & TV Awards and the E! People’s Choice Awards. He was also the head writer of NBC’s Bring the Funny, a comedy competition series starring Kenan Thompson, and TBS’ The Misery Index. He was also co-head writer on Chelsea, the Netflix late-night show starring Chelsea Handler; a staff writer on Lopez Tonight; and a writer on McEnroe, the short-lived talk show hosted by tennis legend John McEnroe.

The head writer move comes after Chris Miller became showrunner of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon last year, replacing Jamie Granet-Bederman.

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Music

The Queen of Rock and Roll is coming to Mattel. Stevie Nicks is celebrating her 2023 headlining tour with a series of Barbie dolls in her likeness. Between her solo career and as the lead singer of Fleetwood Mac, Stevie Nicks has become a leading member of the music industry and an inspiration to many.

Music is a universal language, and Barbie is happy to introduce kids to musical phenomenons that they may not have heard of before.

The doll can be a motivation for children to become excited about becoming musicians and performers. It can also allow them to find excitement in different musical groups and artists.

For young girls, Stevie Nicks can show them that rock and roll music can be fun and exciting for them. Encouraging girls to awaken their inner rockstar is an empowering tool to show them that they can be anything they put their minds to.

In a world where Barbie has become an everywoman, taking on various careers from journalist to doctor, construction worker, President, and even a musician creating a doll surrounding the iconic performer Stevie Nicks creates a doll in the likeness of an inspiring and real-life successful woman.

If a child is looking for a new toy or inspiration for their hopes for a future in rock music, a Stevie Nicks doll is a great option. If you are a parent looking to bond with your kid, this could also be a fantastic choice. While the adult may have a history of loving Stevie Nicks and Fleetwood Mac, it can give them insight into telling the child the backstory of the doll they are playing with, which would allow them to see it in a different light, and could offer stronger bonding opportunities.

The new Stevie Nicks Barbie doll will be available for purchase on Monday, October 2nd, at Mattel Shop for an SRP of $55.00.

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The Queen of Rock and Roll

Docs

In Alessandro Chillé’s odd short film, Father Figures, our protagonist Harold (Steven Hauck) makes money on the side as a “dad for hire.” The gig is pretty simple. You hire Harold for the hour, and he becomes your father for whatever paternal reason.

The film opens with a son telling his deceased father (insert Harold) about his fiancee. Cut to Harold at his client’s daughter’s birthday party, helping her blow out the candles, and lastly, he becomes the target of a son’s rage over his drunken father.

“You hire Harold for the hour, and he becomes your father for whatever paternal reason.”

Father Figures is a touching story of fathers and fatherhood. Fathers come in all forms…loving, imperfect… non-existent. The idea of a rent-a-dad is an intriguing one, and Father Figures takes this idea to its local conclusion.

Steven Hauck gives a stirring and empathetic portrayal of every dad with a hang-up of his own. Chillé’s script is equally stirring and may stir up your memories (or lack thereof) of your father and the father you may become.

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In Alessandro Chillé’s odd short film, Father

Trending

Peyton Manning, LeBron James and Michelle and Barack Obama are looking to team up with Netflix for an NBA docuseries modeled after Quarterback.

Manning’s Omaha Productions and James’s SpringHill Company are in talks to partner up with the Obamas’ Higher Ground Production and the NBA for the series, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal.

Omaha Productions already produces Quarterback for the streamer in partnership with NFL Films and 2PM Productions. The series follows football players Patrick Mahomes, Kirk Cousins and Marcus Mariota as they navigate the ups and downs of the NFL season.

Quarterback featured behind-the-scenes of the biggest moments of the 2022-2023 season, as Mahomes set an NFL record for total offense on his way to winning the league and Super Bowl MVP awards; Cousins engineered the greatest comeback in NFL history and led the Minnesota Vikings to an NFC North Division title; and Mariota took over as the starting quarterback with the Atlanta Falcons.

Omaha Productions is behind shows like Peyton’s Places and Eli’s Places for ESPN+. SpringHill Company has produced films like Space Jam: A New Legacy, Student Athlete and Hustle for Netflix.

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Peyton Manning, LeBron James and Michelle and

Tech

Concerns about children’s privacy have led PimEyes, the public face search engine, to ban searches of minors. The PimEyes chief executive, Giorgi Gobronidze, who is based in Tbilisi, Georgia, said that technical measures had been put in place to block such searches as part of a “no harm policy.”

PimEyes, a subscription-based service that uses facial recognition technology to find online photos of a person, has a database of nearly three billion faces and enables about 118,000 searches per day, according to Mr. Gobronidze. The service is advertised as a way for people to search for their own face to find any unknown photos on the internet, but there are no technical measures in place to ensure that users are searching only for themselves.

Parents have used PimEyes to find photos of their children on the internet that they had not known about. But the service could also be used nefariously by a stranger. It had previously banned more than 200 accounts for inappropriate searches of children’s faces, Mr. Gobronidze said.

“Images of children might be used by the individuals with twisted moral compass and values, such as pedophiles, child predators,” Mr. Gobronidze said. PimEyes will still allow searches of minors’ faces by human rights organizations that work on children’s rights issues, he added.

Mr. Gobronidze said that blocking searches of children’s faces had been on “the road map” since he acquired the site in 2021, but the protection was fully deployed only this month after the publication of a New York Times article on A.I.-based threats to children.

Still, the block isn’t airtight. PimEyes is using age detection A.I. to identify photos of minors. Mr. Gobronidze said that it worked well for children under the age of 14 but that it had “accuracy issues” with teenagers.

It also may be unable to identify children as such if they’re not photographed from a certain angle. To test the blocking system, The Times uploaded a photo of Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen from their days as child stars to PimEyes. It blocked the search for the twin who was looking straight at the camera, but the search went through for the other, who is photographed in profile. The search turned up dozens of other photos of the twin as a child, with links to where they appeared online.

Mr. Gobronidze said PimEyes was still perfecting its detection system.

Another public face search engine, FaceCheck.Id, does not appear to have any technical restrictions on searches of children’s faces. The site did not respond to a request for comment.

Daniel Solove, a law professor at George Washington University who specializes in privacy, said that there were larger problems with internet face search engines than searches of children. The services are creating mechanisms to “hoover up” people’s faces without their awareness or consent and making them searchable, Mr. Solove said, calling it a “massive privacy violation on a mammoth scale.”

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Concerns about children’s privacy have led PimEyes,

Video

EXCLUSIVE: From outward appearances, neighbors got along in Victoria, Texas – Muslim, Christian and nonbelievers alike living harmoniously in a community not far from the Gulf coast. Until the night of January 28, 2017. That’s when the local mosque went up in flames in what was later determined to be an act of arson.

A Town Called Victoria, a three-part documentary series premiering on PBS stations and VOD platforms next month, explores the disturbing incident in Victoria, the viral response to the mosque burning and the fissures opened by what authorities called a hate crime. We have your first look at the series in the trailer above.

“A Texas town is thrown into the national spotlight when the local mosque erupts in flames,” notes a synopsis of the series. “After decades of harmony, the small Muslim community of Victoria watches their cherished place of worship reduced to ash. With the fire ruled an arson and a local man arrested as the suspect, this small South Texas town must confront its own troubled history and its consequences in the present. From the trial of the suspect to the rebuilding of the mosque, A Town Called Victoria presents a nuanced portrait of a community confronting hate in its own midst, and grappling with deep-seated racial, religious, political, and economic rifts to find a collective way forward.”

Director Li Lu

PBS/Reel South/Independent Lens

Filmmaker Li Lu, who grew up in Sugar Land, Texas, directed the series. Episodes 1 and 2 drop debut November 13 on PBS stations, the PBS app, PBS YouTube channel, plus streaming on Amazon, iTunes and other VOD services. Episode 3 debuts the next day — Nov. 14. PBS Passport members (donors to local PBS stations who get special preview access to content) can view the series right now.

A Town Called Victoria held its world premiere Sunday, Oct. 8 at the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival in Arkansas. “After a mosque is burned to the ground in a small Texas town, residents rally to support the local Muslim community,” the Hot Springs festival wrote in its program. “But is this an inspiring news story or something far more nuanced and complicated? This intricately woven, fascinating 3-part docuseries tells the full story.”

Community members gather in 'A Town Called Victoria'

Community members gather in ‘A Town Called Victoria’

PBS/Reel South/Independent Lens

A Town Called Victoria is a “Reel South and Independent Lens Original Series, In Association with the Center for Asian American Media. A Time and Place and Film Exchange Production.” Li Lu directs; the series is produced by Anthony Pedone and Li Lu. Margaret Ebrahim is the executive in charge for PBS. Directors of Photography are Halyna Hutchins (episode 1) and Jason Gamble Harter (episodes 2 and 3); the editors are Mike Saenz, Marie Richardson, and Yasu Inoue. Fahd Ahmed is the story editor; original music is composed by Jimmy LaValle.

Watch the trailer for A Town Called Victoria above.

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EXCLUSIVE: From outward appearances, neighbors got along

Entertaintment

Tons of Hollywood stars are banding together to pressure Hamas to release all hostages taken by the terrorist group in Gaza … and they’re asking President Biden to help make it happen.

Tiffany Haddish, Bradley Cooper, Justin Timberlake, Chris Rock, and Gwyneth Paltrow are among the big names who signed an open letter to Biden, which calls on Hamas to set all prisoners free.

The open letter is part of a new campaign out of Hollywood, led by Jewish celebs and executives, called #NoHostageLeftBehind.

It’s a truly extraordinary number of Hollywood honchos who have signed on, and it’s clearly well-intentioned… but what’s clearly lacking is how the letter brings Hamas hostages home … not that we’re expected celebs to figure that out.

Seems Hollywood is looking to the White House for a hand here … the letter also thanks Biden for his leadership in bringing home two American hostages Friday … though the celebs say their “relief is tempered by our overwhelming concern that 220 innocent people, including 300 children, remain captive by terrorists, threatened with torture and death.”

Hamas also released two Israeli hostages on Monday, but their spouses still remain in captivity.

“We all want the same thing: Freedom for Israelis and Palestinians to live side by side in peace. Freedom from the brutal violence spread by Hamas. And most urgently, in this moment, freedom for the hostages,” the group said. “We urge everyone to not rest until all hostages are released. No hostage can be left behind.”

The letter concludes … “We all want the same thing: Freedom for Israelis and Palestinians to live side by side in peace. Freedom from the brutal violence spread by Hamas. And most urgently, in this moment, freedom for the hostages. We urge everyone to not rest until all hostages are released.”

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Movies

I struggled with two things. One was the balance of the comedy and the drama. Another was to have an epic tale that was so intimate. That was very important for me, not to get lost in the period detail but to know that this is a story of essentially three women and to really ground it. And to do that, I decided that each character would have a different genre that’s reflective of who they are: So that the daughter is more ’80s-’90s pop. The grandmother is a tall teller of tales, as all grandmothers are, so she gets a spaghetti western. And then the mother, who, even though she’s created a new identity, is still traumatized by an old past — what you typically think of Persian films, which is like [an Abbas] Kiarostami sort of film.

For me, it was important that all three women get to tell at least their version of the story. When I was writing it, I couldn’t crack the story until I realized my mother was the other writer. Because she came to this country to write her own future, rewrite her life. Once I got that, everything else fell into place. I realized all the men are just a chorus to our stories. And typically, it’s the other way around.

On that note, do you really have eight brothers?

In real life, I have seven brothers. In the story, I have eight. But I did grow up with one bathroom. I’m very traumatized to this day. I just have to have my own bathroom. [Laughs]

The chaos of many siblings adds levity for sure. The movie, despite tackling serious topics, is also largely a comedy packed with big food scenes, choreographed dance sequences and tons of music, including Wet Leg at the start, but also Cyndi Lauper and Gagoosh.

Certainly when I was a kid, Iran was synonymous with terrorist. And that was not my experience of Iran or Iranians. I’m like, “We’re so lazy. How can we be terrorists? We like to take long naps after lunch.” But honestly, it’s not the people I know; it’s not the culture and the celebration, the music, food. That’s a real political thing, too, what aspects of our culture are shown. I mean, if we can dehumanize people, it’s so much easier to invade them and to kill them and to take their oil and to create nameless wars, faceless wars. So I think the reason I went into cinema post-9/11 was to create a more nuanced view of our world. This film is in some ways a culmination of my entire career. I don’t believe in all this divisive rhetoric, and I feel like humor is a way that we can connect.

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MCU

Deadpool 3 director Shawn Levy responded to rumors that pop star Taylor Swift will join the MCU in next year’s mutant blockbuster.

Rumors have been flying that Swift may appear in Deadpool 3 as the sound-powered singer mutant Dazzler. These mumblings were only furthered after the pop sensation attended a Chiefs NFL game with Levy and the movie’s stars, Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman.

This isn’t the first time talk of Swift playing Dazzer surfaced, as she was once speculated to appear in 2016’s X-Men: Apocalypse after the singer appeared in a photo with the movie’s writer and leading cast.

Taylor Swift’s Possible Deadpool 3 Cameo Receives Update

Taylor Swift

During an interview with The Wrap, Deadpool 3 director Shawn Levy was asked about the potential for Taylor Swift to join the threequel as the mutant Dazzler.

Speaking on the Swifties calling for the singer to play the X-Men hero, the director explained how her fans “sure are loud.” But alas, Levy offered a “no comment” response to the rumors due to its link to two popular topics, Swift and the MCU:

“‘No comment’ because that’s a double whammy. That’s Taylor-related. And it’s MCU-related. I’m no dummy.”

Leaving off on a cryptic note, Levy added how fans are “going to have to wait and see” whether the singer will appear in the Ryan Reynolds-led blockbuster.

Deadpool 3 has been teased to include some major cameos, with several iconic Fox X-Men heroes expected to return and Jennifer Garner reportedly reprising her role as Elektra from Ben Affleck’s Daredevil (2003).

Will Taylor Swift Actually Appear in Deadpool 3?

Taylor Swift, Deadpool 3, Wolverine
Marvel Studios

Taylor Swift hanging out in public with the three most important men making Deadpool 3 may indicate her involvement in the production, but things might not be exactly as they seem on that front.

Swift has been friends with Reynolds’ wife, Blake Lively, who was also present at the Chiefs game since 2015, and the singer’s reported current boyfriend, tight end Travis Kelce, actually plays for the aforementioned NFL team.

There’s a chance Swift may simply have been attending the Chiefs game to support her boyfriend and just happened to find herself tagging along with the Deadpool 3 cast and director through her connection to Lively.

Although Shawn Levy’s refusal to confirm nor deny whether Swift will appear in Deadpool 3 with a cryptic “no comment” does add some fuel to the fire, suggesting the notion may well be on the table. 

Having the singer appear as Dazzler, even as a cameo, would certainly boost the box office for Deadpool 3, as the record-breaking success of her new Eras Tour concert movie proves how the Swifties will turn out to theaters to support her.

Perhaps Swift could even write an original song for Deadpool 3, one which she could even sing as Dazzler in the MCU blockbuster.

While the singing mutant may be a rather obscure one, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige is a big fan of the X-Men hero, and Swift has been a popular fan cast to deliver her live-action debut for many years now.

Deadpool 3 is currently set to hit theaters on May 3, 2024.

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DCU

This article covers a developing story. Continue to check back with us as we will be adding more information as it becomes available.

Summary

  • Aquaman director James Wan addresses reports of a toxic work environment and emphasizes the need to stay calm amidst the “noise” and false narratives.
  • Wan, known for being a private person who avoids social media fights, highlights the disparity between the reality and the exaggerated claims surrounding the movie.
  • He clarifies that the reshoots for Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom were limited to seven or eight days, a normal occurrence for a film of this scale, due to scheduling difficulties.


Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom director James Wan is speaking out about the chaotic DCEU reports that have been coming out about his upcoming superhero movie. The DCEU is wrapping up its decade-long run this December with Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, which will be the final DCEU movie for the franchise. However, the road to Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom has not been an easy one, with several release date delays, reported problems happening on set, reshoots, and supposed lackluster test screenings.

Following the reports that came out about Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom having a toxic work environment, Wan spoke to Empire Magazine (via Comicbook.com) about the claims. Wan is the first one to break his silence as Momoa and other Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom cast members have yet to speak out. Without referencing any specifics, Wan stressed that he has “had to learn to be more Zen in dealing with all the noise around me,” sharing the following:

I’ve had to learn to be more Zen in dealing with all the noise around me, for sure. I’m a pretty private person. I don’t get on social media and have fights, but it’s difficult because this narrative has emerged that is not the reality. The noise is fun to write about, and it gets clicks, but people don’t know the truth. We probably did seven or eight days of reshoots, which is nothing for a movie of this size. It was just spread out because it’s so hard to get your actors back once you’ve finished the initial shoot.

RELATED: Aquaman & The Lost Kingdom: Cast, Story, & Everything We Know


Aquaman 2’s Behind The Scenes Drama Explained

On October 10, 2023, a Variety report was released about Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, using documents from Amber Heard’s therapist, Dr. Dawn Hughes, where “raw notes” detailed some of the supposed behavior by Momoa and Wan towards Heard. With Momoa, he had allegedly harassed Heard by dressing up as Johnny Depp while also getting drunk as his Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom co-star was in the midst of her defamation lawsuit with her former ex-husband. Momoa had also allegedly tried to get Heard fired, but Warner Bros. never pulled the trigger as Elon Musk supposedly had his legal team send a “scorched-earth letter” to them if they tried to remove her as Mera.

In the case of Wan, Heard had claimed that he would raise his voice at her and not even let her post anything about Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, adding that “nobody could take selfies with me on set given blackout.” According to Heard, the Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom director was “unsupportive” and supposedly treated her “like a pariah.” Prior to Wan’s Empire Magazine quote, a DC spokesperson had stated that “James is known for treating members of his cast and crew with the utmost respect and for fostering a positive, collaborative environment on set — the ‘Aquaman’ films were no exception.”

With only two months left to go before Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom gets released, time will tell if all of the BTS-drama will have any effect on the movie’s box office results. Following Wan’s comments, it will be intriguing to see if Momoa or anyone else involved with production will actually make any statements on the reports. If the SAG-AFTRA strike is over by then, the Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom press tour – if there actually is one – will be interesting to follow as the cast and crew are bound to be asked about the initial accusations.

Source: Empire Magazine (via Comicbook.com)

Key Release Dates

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Comics

The release date for Amazon Prime Video’s Fallout TV show has been announced.

A tweet from the official ‘Fallout on Prime’ account shows a new teaser video which seemingly confirms the date the first episode will be made available.

The video shows a computer terminal, which shows various messages including one that says “Holotape found: 101_The_End”.

It then ends with 04.12.24, implying that the first episode, titled The End, will be released on April 12, 2024.

Bethesda and Amazon confirmed in August that the Fallout TV show would be released in 2024, and is set in Los Angeles.

A teaser trailer shown during Gamescom, but not publicly released, featured marching Brotherhood of Steel soldiers, a shootout in a western-inspired town, and a woman emerging from a vault for the first time.

The Fallout series, which will be shown on Amazon Prime Video, is being produced by Kilter Films, the production company behind HBO’s Westworld.

The debut episode will be directed by Westworld co-creator and executive producer Jonathan Nolan, while Captain Marvel and Tomb Raider 2018 film co-writer Geneva Robertson-Dworet, and Silicon Valley co-executive producer Graham Wagner, have also been appointed as showrunners.

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Fallout debuted in 1997 and the most recent game in the series was 2018’s online multiplayer title Fallout 76. Season 14 of the title, Fight for Freedom, launched on Tuesday.

The last mainline series entry, 2015’s Fallout 4, is also its best-selling one, having shipped 12 million copies worldwide for launch day alone, according to its publisher.

Last year Bethesda’s Todd Howard reiterated that Fallout 5 is behind Elder Scrolls 6 in the developer’s production queue.