The epitome of fashion and an eclectic mix of glamor is Jennifer Aniston. The Friends actress has received widespread acclaim and fame for her unique fashion statements. While she does don the latest chapter of the ever-evolving ethos of fashion, the actress also keeps her health in strict check. It is no secret that the star always stays in great shape, however, how often has one wondered as to what she does to stay that healthy?
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
While yoga and cardio are definitely on the cards, Aniston has taken to a new, evolving sense of fitness that she wishes to see more takers.
Jennifer Aniston leads fitness reforms with Pvolve ad campaign
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
An avid fan of Friends would remember that scene of Jennifer Aniston’s character, Rachel Green, and Lisa Kudrow’s Phoebe, where they hit the park for a jog. While Rachel did seem concerned about the unconventional techniques of her friends, Aniston took a new challenge to embrace. The pursuit of recovering from a back injury back in 2021, saw the actress becoming familiar with Pvolve. Swayed over by the self-adjustable fitness reforms, Aniston is now about to star in a global ad campaign for the company.
In an interview with Health Club Management, Aniston revealed that after being recommended by a friend, she had “fallen in love with the method.” The 54-year-old actress took to the new technique with resistance-based equipment to sculpt, strengthen, and restore the body. Moreover, after working with the company’s head trainer for quite some time, the actress joined the company and became a supporter of founder Rachel Katzma. “I think people are going to love it,” she concluded, hopeful about her campaign.
Jennifer Aniston has always stayed in great shape and her fitness and fashion choices always go hand in hand.
How the Friends actress has always managed to stay in great shape
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
In the ten years that Friends aired, Jennifer Aniston remained flawless in every scene she starred in. Apart from her ever-evolving and flawless wardrobe, the actress was also keen on her fitness regimen. Following a strict diet, The Morning Show actress’ daily routine involves yoga, pilates, running, jumping ropes, and cardio. She is known to be a fan of the 15-15-15 technique, which involves fifteen minutes of running, cycling, and pilates.
In a further testament to her fitness, her trainer had also said sometimes back that the icon can easily perform a two to three-minute plank. Furthermore, to top it all up, she takes care of her diet with proteins and vegetables. Along with apple cider vinegar, coffee is her go-to drink. This is all packed with a healthy and luscious vegetable-protein lunch and dinner. Aniston closes her day to wake up to another round of fitness.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
What are your thoughts on Aniston’s fitness plans? Let us know in the comments below.
A new video from Parineeti Chopra and Raghav Chadha’s wedding surfaced online which shows the couple had a ball during the ceremony.
Parineeti Chopra and Raghav Chadha looked happy in love in what seems to be the first video from their wedding. The couple got married on Sunday, September 24, in an intimate wedding ceremony in Udaipur. The actress and the AAP leader invited only families and close friends for the wedding ceremony. While the couple shared photos on their social media handles, revealing that it was a dreamy wedding, a new video revealed that Parineeti and Raghav grooved on Kai Po Che’s Shubhaarambh after their jaimala ceremony.
Dressed in ivory outfits, Raghav and Parineeti were seen walking down the aisle together while the popular Bollywood song played in the background. The couple held on to a transparent umbrella as they grooved together. Raghav lovingly had his arms wrapped around Parineeti, seemingly protecting her in the video while she enjoyed the song. Watch the video below:
Another video showed the groom with the Baraatis. Raghav was seen enjoying the dhol music with Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann by his side.
Parineeti and Raghav had been friends for a while before they began dating. They got engaged this summer and Parineeti had revealed that their love story began over breakfast. “When you know, you know. One breakfast together and I knew – I had met the one. The most wonderful man whose quiet strength would be calming, peaceful and inspiring. His support, humour, wit and friendship are pure joy. He is my home,” she said at the time of her engagement. “As a little girl in awe of princess stories, I had imagined how my fairytale would begin. Now that it has, it is even better than I had imagined,” she added.
Sharing the wedding photos, Parineeti said, “From the very first chat at the breakfast table, our hearts knew. Been waiting for this day for a long time .. So blessed to finally be Mr and Mrs! Couldn’t have lived without each other .. Our forever begins now .. .”
Dishya Sharma, Chief Sub Editor, is part of the entertainment team at News18. She eats, sleeps, and drinks entertainment. While Indian films have fuel…Read More
SAG-AFTRA members voted overwhelmingly in favor of giving their leaders authority to strike against video game companies if they can’t reach a deal over a new contract, the union announced Monday.
The authorization, which does not trigger a strike but is intended to give leaders bargaining leverage, brings the union closer to a second potential work stoppage that would further disrupt the entertainment industry.
SAG-AFTRA’s film and television actors have been on strike since mid-July, when they joined Writers Guild of America members on picket lines for the first time in 63 years. (The writers and major Hollywood studios struck a tentative deal Sunday.)
The agreement, negotiated in 2017, expired in November and covers about 2,600 performers. That agreement did not address AI — a key concern in both the SAG-AFTRA film and TV actors’ strike and the WGA writers’ strike.
Game actors and performers argue that AI poses an equal or even greater threat to those in the video game industry than it does in film and TV, particularly because many do voice-over work.
The performers have said that they don’t expect companies to stop using AI. Instead, they argued, workers should have contracts that require their consent to reproduce their voice or likeness and compensate them when that does happen.
Sarah Elmaleh, chair of the interactive negotiating committee, said that some members are excited about the potential for new revenue streams with AI, while others are more wary.
“AI is being litigated literally and culturally and economically, all in real time right now,” she said. “The responsible thing to do is to say, ‘What you can’t do is cut us out of this conversation.’”
Audrey Cooling, spokesperson for the video game producers who are party to the Interactive Media Agreement, said recently that the companies “all want a fair contract.”
“We are negotiating in good faith and hope to reach a mutually beneficial deal as soon as possible,” Cooling said.
A State of the Game Industry survey released in January found that a majority of game developers — 53% — are in favor of unionization. About one-fifth say they or their colleagues have actively discussed unionizing, according to the survey published by the Game Developers Conference and Game Developer, a trade publication.
Video game performers under the interactive agreement are asking for the same increase in wages sought in the film and TV contracts to keep pace with inflation.
The negotiating committee has asked for an 11% increase retroactive to the expiration of the last contract, as well as a 4% increase in the second and third years of the agreement.
The union said in a post on its website that the game companies’ wage proposal offered a 5% increase effective upon ratification, a 4% increase in the second year and a 3% increase in the third year. The signatory game companies pulled in more than $19 billion in global revenue last year, according to union leadership.
The negotiating committee has also demanded greater worker protections, including a five-minutes-per-hour rest period for on-camera performers and the inclusion of a set medic for stunts and hazardous work.
“We’ve seen across the entertainment strikes, both the WGA and TV theatrical, that the companies that we’re bargaining with don’t really take us seriously. They don’t think that we have any leverage, and so they’re willing to just stand there, fold their arms and hold their breath and wait for us to go away,” said Zeke Alton, a member of the interactive negotiating committee.
If those under the interactive contract go on strike, it would mark the first time since October 2016.
During that strike, which lasted more than a year, SAG-AFTRA targeted 11 companies, including divisions of Activision Blizzard, Electronic Arts, Take Two, Insomniac Games, Warner Bros. and Walt Disney Co.
The union and video game companies reached a tentative deal in September 2017 that included a new bonus compensation structure for actors who perform voice and motion-capture work in the game industry.
Alton noted that there are “pockets of concern” among members who are fatigued from the last video game strike and this year’s entertainment industry strikes, but that workers generally feel that an authorization is “absolutely needed at this time.”
“We’re at an inflection point in the industry, where if we don’t at least get a bare minimum of protections, we are ceding the right to be replaced,” he said.
Any team with Thor on its roster is likely to win. Just ask the Asgardians, the Avengers, the Revengers, and Marvel’s accountants. But Taika Waititi’s next movie isn’t about a superhero team. And it definitely didn’t have anyone like the God of Thunder to lead it. Instead, the Love & Thunder director will tell the story of a very real squad that had a soccer coach who didn’t want to be its coach. That might not sound like a fun story, but Next Goal Wins looks like it will find success on the pitch with a classic underdog story. In the second trailer, Waititi talks a bit about what drew him to the film.
Next Goal Wins retells the true story (“that pretty much happened”) when a reluctant coach was sent to lead the American Samoa soccer team after a historic embarrassment. Seriously historic. Here’s the film’s official synopsis from Searchlight Pictures:
Directed by Academy Award Winner Taika Waititi (Jojo Rabbit, Thor: Ragnarok), Next Goal Wins follows the American Samoa soccer team, infamous for their brutal 31-0 FIFA loss in 2001. With the World Cup Qualifiers approaching, the team hires down-on-his-luck, maverick coach Thomas Rongen (Michael Fassbender) hoping he will turn the world’s worst soccer team around in this heartfelt underdog comedy.
Searchlight Pictures
Waititi appears in the film (did you spot him in the trailer?) and also co-wrote the script with Iain Morris (The Inbetweeners). It’s based on the 2014 award-winning British documentary of the same name. The film also features some very famous figures. Starring alongside Fassbender are Elisabeth Moss, Will Arnett, and Rhys Darby. Joining them are Oscar Kightley, Uli Latukefu, Rachel House, Kaimana, David Fane, Beulah Koale, and Chris Alosio.
If it feels like you first heard about this movie a hundred years ago, you basically did. It was first announced during the “before times” in 2019. Some “historic” things have happened since then. But they weren’t nearly as fun as this movie looks like it will be when it arrives in theaters on November 17.
Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty has several missions and side gigs for you to complete. One of these requires you to listen in on a conversation, where you’ll eventually hear of a password. Our guide discusses how to find Slider’s Stash in Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty so you can complete the Voodoo Treasure quest. Likewise, please be reminded that this article contains spoilers.
How to find Slider’s Stash for the Voodoo Treasure quest in Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty
To get Slider’s Stash in Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty, you’ll need to do the following:
During the I’ve Seen That Face Before mission, keep eavesdropping on the conversation between Aurore and Aymeric.
Later, when inspecting Aurore’s corpse, be sure to select the “Search file – Blind_n_Dead” option.
Once you’re able to explore Dogtown again, track the Voodoo Treasure side quest and go to the slums beneath the Needle in the center of the main street.
Find the container and input the code: 941229.
The twins will eventually talk about Slider.
Eavesdropping and getting the password from the twins
In the I’ve Seen That Face Before mission, V will hide inside the trunk of Aurore and Aymeric’s car. While Aymeric is driving, you’re prompted to override the controls. Don’t do this, since it will cause the mission to advance to the next step. Instead, keep selecting the eavesdrop options whenever they appear:
“Hold on, wanna eavesdrop…”
“It’s okay, chill.”
“Gimme a sec!”
Doing so will cause Aurore to divulge that Slider, an NPC that you met earlier in the campaign, has a little side racket. Once you’ve exhausted all eavesdropping options, you can override the car’s controls.
The twins will be driven to an abandoned garage, where they’ll meet their untimely demise. When you’re able to inspect Aurore’s corpse, select the “Search file – Blind_n_Dead” option before you download the access codes. This will start the Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty Voodoo Treasure quest. You’ll then need to complete the current mission, as well as the succeeding one, so you can freely explore Dogtown again.
Get the file when you interact with Aurore’s corpse.
Slider’s Stash location and reward
When you’re able to, head to the Needle, the obelisk in the district’s main street. Down below, you’ll see a slum area. Look for a blue signage that says “Aesculapius Inc.” and you’ll spot a metal container. You can then input the code–941229–to open it. Note that this was the password that we received during our playthrough, but we’re unable to confirm if it’s randomized for other players.
Look for the metal container under the Aesculapius Inc. sign.
Once you open the container, you’ll find 8,000 credits and the Second Installment data shard. It looks like Slider was skimming a bit of cash without Colonel Hansen’s knowledge. Yes, these are the only rewards–we were honestly hoping that we’d receive an iconic weapon, but that wasn’t the case. Anyway, that does it for Slider’s Stash and the Voodoo Treasure quest in Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty.
There’s more in store for V as you check out the district of Dogtown in Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty. For other tips and tactics, you can visit our guides hub.
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.
Shepard and Van Ness engaged in a light-hearted conversation about a range of topics before they began talking about The New York Times. When Van Ness said the publication should not be considered left-leaning, Shepard responded with, “It absolutely is.” Van Ness then said the publication shares anti-trans content.
After the two went back and forth on the topic, Shepard said, “Some people are very uncomfortable about teenagers transitioning. They’re challenging that. How do we know that the person’s not gonna change their mind?”
“To even question it makes you an enemy. I don’t think that’s the way forward,” Shepard continued before prompting Van Ness to offer a rebuttal.
Van Ness said it felt like they were talking to their dad. They then went on to discuss how transgender athletes do not have the competitive advantage that some — like J.K. Rowling, who Van Ness mentions — claim they do. Shepard responded by asking whether the inclusion of transgender athletes is safe or fair for cis-women in the sports. The two then discussed the topic for over 20 minutes. Van Ness said that as a non-binary person, it is “disappointing” when people claim to be fighting for women while excluding trans children from playing sports.
“I’m not calling you a transphobe. You can not be transphobic and still have thoughts that espouse trans misogyny and espouse transphobic ideologies or beliefs and not be transphobic,” Van Ness said.
Van Ness said they were hoping to come on Shepard’s show to chat about their podcast, to which Shepard responded that he did not intend to start a debate and then praised Van Ness for being an activist.
As they started to break down in tears, Van Ness said they “could just cry” because of how exhausted they are from having to fight for little kids who “just wanted to be included.”
“I wish that people were as passionate about little kids being able to be included or grow up as they were about fictitious women’s fairness in sports. I have to tell you I am very tired,” Van Ness said to Shepard, who apologized again.
Van Ness went on to say: “You can have racist beliefs and not know you’re racist, just like you can have transphobic beliefs and not realize you have transphobic beliefs. That doesn’t mean you’re a bad person.”
Shepard told Van Ness he was sure they were disappointed in him, but Van Ness said he was not disappointed — just “emotionally exhausted.” Adding that they still struggle with their gender expression, Van Ness said, “I’m scared of the vitriol that trans people face everyday.”
Shepard and his cohost Monica Padman told Van Ness they admired their braveness and apologized again before changing topics.
TV & Movies Newsletter: Get Recommendations On The Best TV Shows And Movies To Watch
Missed the latest episode of The Bachelor? Or trying to hopelessly catch-up on Love Is Blind? Our TV & Movies newsletter is here to help.
Three times a week, you’ll get the latest TV recaps, buzz about movies you should be watching, and the best pop culture moments! We’ll never miss an opportunity to celebrate this iconic scene…
…or new instant-classics, like Champagne-Gate.
What are you waiting for? Sign up for the free newsletter below!
SAG-AFTRA members have voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike against 10 of the major video game companies. The vote was 98.32% in favor. A total of 34,687 members cast ballots, representing a voting 27.47% of eligible voters. The guild’s last strike against the gaming companies, in 2016-17, lasted 183 days. The guild, meanwhile, has been on strike against the film and TV industry since July 14.
The guild’s board and negotiating committee had already voted unanimously to recommend the authorization vote, which required 75% approval of voting members to pass. Today’s vote, however, doesn’t necessarily mean that there will be a strike, but rather, gives the national board to authority to call a strike if negotiations fail to produce an acceptable agreement.
The guild and the companies will resume negotiations on Tuesday, and now that strike authorization has been approved, a strike could come any time after that.
It’s been nearly a year since the guild’s video game contract, known as the Interactive Media Agreement, was extended beyond its original expiration date. “Unfortunately, throughout the negotiations, the companies have failed to address those needs,” the guild said on Sept. 1 as it geared up for another strike.
Many of the issues involved in the ongoing film and TV strike are common to those in the video game contract, including wages and artificial intelligence.
“Here we go again,” SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher said on September1 as the guild was facing the prospect of dual strikes. “Now our Interactive Video Game Agreement is at a stalemate too. Once again, we are facing employer greed and disrespect. Once again artificial intelligence is putting our members in jeopardy of reducing their opportunity to work. And once again, SAG-AFTRA is standing up to tyranny on behalf of its members.”
The 10 companies facing a possible strike are:
Activision Productions Inc.,
Blindlight LLC,
Disney Character Voices Inc.,
Electronic Arts Productions Inc.,
Epic Games, Inc.,
Formosa Interactive LLC,
Insomniac Games Inc.,
Take 2 Productions Inc.,
VoiceWorks Productions Inc., and
WB Games Inc.
Audrey Cooling, a spokesperson for the video game companies said, “We all want a fair contract that reflects the important contributions of SAG-AFTRA-represented performers in an industry that delivers world-class entertainment to billions of players around the world. We are negotiating in good faith and hope to reach a mutually beneficial deal as soon as possible.”
Fall is finally here, and that means that Halloween is just a handful of weeks away. As the most spooky and spoopy time of year, we’ve compiled a full list of all the horror movies that will be available to stream on Netflix for Halloween 2023.
Editor’s note: This list will be updated throughout October 2023.
Featured Videos – Article Continues Below…
All of the movies listed below are either available globally (Netflix Originals) or are licensed to Netflix in the United States. Alternatively, we’ve got a list of category codes that lets you find Netflix’s hidden horror gems.
New Original Horror Movies on Netflix in 2023
Note: listed in release date order (newest first).
The prequel to the viral hit Veronica, Netflix will be hoping for another viral sensation from the Spanish horror.
“In post-war Spain, Narcisa, a young novice with supernatural powers, arrives at a former convent, now a school for girls, to become a teacher. As the days go by, the strange events and increasingly disturbing situations that torment her will eventually lead her to unravel the terrible skein of secrets that surround the convent and haunt its inhabitants.”
Flashback (2023)
Director: Jed Shepherd Sub-Genre: Thriller | Runtime: 16 minutes Cast: Jemma Moore, Haly Bishop, Amar Chadha-Patel, Scoobius Pip, Zakiy Jogi Netflix Release Date: October 20th, 2023
Picture: Flashback – Netflix
The horror short only clocks in at 16 minutes, and stars Lockwood & Co. star Jemma Moore.
“A yoga teacher’s life flashes before her eyes during a deadly home invasion, sending her on a desperate race through her past to save the man she loves.”
The Conference (2023)
Director: Patrik Eklund Sub-Genre: Comedy, Slasher | Runtime: 100 minutes Cast: Katia Winter, Eva Melander, Lola Zackow, Adam Lundgren, Margarette Pettersson Netflix Release Date: October 13th, 2023
Pictured: The Conference – SF Studios
The Swedish slasher comedy stars Katia Winter, who portrayed the character of Little Nina in the Amazon Original series The Boys.
“A team-building conference for municipal employees turns into a nightmare when accusations of corruption begin to circulate and plague the work environment. At the same time, a mysterious figure begins murdering the participants.”
El Conde (2023)
Director: Pablo Larrain Sub-Genre: Vampire | Runtime: 110 Minutes Cast: Jaime Vadell, Gloria Münchmeyer, Alfredo Castro, Paula Luchsinger, Stella Gonet Added to Netflix: September 15th (2023)
Pictured: El Conde – Fabula
Inspired by the former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet, El Conde is a fun black-comedy that definitely needs to be on your radar for Halloween.
“Centers on Augusto Pinochet who is not dead but an aged vampire. After living 250 years in this world, he has decided to die once and for all.”
Killer Book Club (2023)
Director: Carlos Alonso Ojea Sub-Genre: Slasher | Runtime: 89 Minutes Cast: Veki Velilla, Alvaro Mel, Priscilla Delgado, Ivan Pellicer, Hamza Zaidi Added to Netflix: August 25th, 2023
Pictured: Killer Book Club – Brutal Media
“After being complicit in a costume joke that ends in a fatal accident and a pact of silence, a group of young people will be threatened by an anonymous writer who wants to reveal his dark secret. Their stalker threatens to post a bloody horror novel based on them on social media. Each chapter one of them will die. While distrusting each other, the group will begin a fight for survival in the middle of the university campus. Any one of them could be the next victim, or the killer.”
Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead (2023)
Director: Yûsuke Ishida Sub-Genre: Comedy, Zombie | Runtime: 128 Minutes Cast: Eiji Akaso, Mai Shiraishi, Shuntarô Yanagi, Yui Ichikawa, Kazuki Kitamura Added to Netflix: August 3rd, 2023
Pictured: Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead – BOT VFX
Adapted from the manga of the same name, Zom 100 is more lighthearted and comedic compared to other zombie films. Once you’ve watched the film we’d also recommend watching the anime series, which is a fantastic adaptation of Haro Aso’s manga.
“Surviving a zombie apocalypse beats being a wage slave any day. After spending years slaving away for a soul-crushing company, Akira’s life has lost its luster. He lives in a trash-filled apartment, his pay is abysmal, and he can’t even muster up the nerve to confess his love to his beautiful co-worker. But when a zombie apocalypse ravages his town, it gives him the push he needs to live for himself. Now Akira’s on a mission to complete all 100 items on his bucket list before he…well, kicks the bucket.”
Bird Box Barcelona (2023)
Director: David Pastor, Alex Pastor Sub-Genre: Sci-Fi | Runtime: 112 Minutes Cast: Mario Casas, Georgina Campbell, Diego Calva, Naila Schuberth, Alejandra Howard Added to Netflix: July 14th, 2023
Taking into consideration that Bird Box first went viral on Netflix over four and a half years ago, it’s surprising it took the streaming service that long to capitalize upon one of its most successful horror franchises.
“After a mysterious force decimates the world’s population by causing all who see it to take their lives, Sebastian and his young daughter Anna must navigate their own journey of survival through the desolate streets of Barcelona. But as they form an uneasy alliance with other survivors and make their way toward a safe haven, a threat more sinister than the unseen creatures grows.”
We Have a Ghost (2023)
Director: Christopher Landon Sub-Genre: Comedy, Paranormal | Runtime: 126 Minutes Cast: Jahi Di’Allo Winston, David Harbour, Anthony Mackie, Erica Ash, Niles Fitch Added to Netflix: February 24th, 2023
Pictured: We Have a Ghost – Henry Halstead Productions
Anthony Mackie has become a regular for Netflix having starred in many projects for the streaming service. David Harbour, beloved for his role as Jim Hopper in Stranger Things, was given one of the most hilariously bad haircuts in Netflix movie history for his role as Ernest.
“Finding a ghost named Ernest haunting their new home turns Kevin’s family into overnight social media sensations. But when Kevin and Ernest investigate the mystery of Ernest’s past, they become a target of the CIA.”
New Exclusive Internationally Licensed Horror Movies on Netflix in 2023
Note: listed in release date order (newest first).
Run Rabbit Run (2023)
Director: Daina Reid Sub-Genre: Thriller | Runtime: 100 Minutes Cast: Sarah Snook, Lily LaTorre, Neil Melville, Katherine Slattery, Damon Herriman Added to Netflix: June 28th, 2023
Pictured: Run Rabbit Run – Carver Films
Sarah Snook is one of the most in-demand actresses in Hollywood thanks to her incredible performance as Shiv Roy in HBO’s Succession.
“As a fertility doctor, Sarah has a firm understanding of the cycle of life. However, when she is forced to make sense of the increasingly strange behavior of her young daughter, Sarah must challenge her own beliefs and confront a ghost from her past.”
Tin & Tina (2023)
Director: Rubin Stein Sub-Genre: Thriller | Runtime: 119 Minutes Cast: Milena Smit, Jaime Lorente, Carlos González Morollón, Anastasia Russo, Teresa Rabal Added to Netflix: May 26th, 2023
Pictured: Tin & Tina – Tin y Tina La Pelicula AEIE
“After a tragic abort, Lola and her husband Adolfo adopt Tin and Tina, two lovely brother and sister with an ultra-catholic education that makes them interpret the Holy Bible verbatim.”
Phenomena (2023)
Director: Carlos Therón Sub-Genre: Paranormal | Runtime: 94 Minutes Cast: Belén Rueda, Gracia Olayo, Toni Acosta, Emilio Gutiérrez Caba, Miren Ibarguren Added to Netflix: April 14th, 2023
Picture: Phenomena – Nadie es Perfecto
“Three middle-aged women who investigate paranormal events are put to the test when their leader Father Pilón disappears. Inspired by the real Hepta Group.”
Re/Member (2022)
Director: Eiichirô Hasumi Sub-Genre: Paranormal | Runtime: 102 Minutes Cast: Kanna Hashimoto, Gordon Maeda, Added to Netflix: February 15th, 2023
Picture: Re/Member- Darkness
2023 has been a quiet year for Japanese horror on Netflix, but if you’re looking for something special to creep you out then make sure to check out Re/Member this weekend.
“A high school student and her friends are trapped in a time loop by a ghost and the only way to escape is to find the corpse of the ghost’s previous victim.”
Viking Wolf (2022)
Director: Stig Svendsen Sub-Genre: Werewolf | Runtime: 97 Minutes Cast: Liv Mjönes, Elli Rhiannon Müller Osborne, Arthur Hakalahti, Marius Lien, Vidar Magnussen Added to Netflix: February 14th, 2023
Picture: Viking Wolf – Filmkameratene A/S
“Thale has just moved with her parents to a small town after her mother has a new job in the local police. After a student is killed brutally at a party Thale attends, she becomes a key witness. Was the killer an animal? A wolf?”
New Licensed Horror Movies on Netflix in 2023
Look Away (2018)
Director: Assaf Bernstein Sub-Genre: Psychological | Runtime: 103 Minutes Cast: India Eisley, Jason Isaacs, Mira Sorvino, Penelope Mitchell Added to Netflix: October 15th, 2023
Picture: Look Away – Ace in the Hole Films
“Maria, an alienated high-school student, has her life turned upside down when she switches places with her sinister mirror image.”
Deliver Us From Evil (2014)
Director: Scott Derrickson Sub-Genre: Supernatural | Runtime: 118 Minutes Cast: Eric Bana, Edgar Ramirez, Olivia Munn, Chris Coy, Dorian Missick Added to Netflix: October 12th, 2023
Picture: Deliver Us from Evil – Screen Gems
“New York police officer Ralph Sarchie investigates a series of crimes. He joins forces with an unconventional priest, schooled in the rites of exorcism, to combat the possessions that are terrorizing their city.”
Get Out (2017)
Director: Jordan Peele Sub-Genre: Thriller | Runtime: 104 Minutes Cast: Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams, Catherine Keener, Bradley Whitford, Caleb Landry Jones Added to Netflix:
Picture: Get Out – Universal Pictures
“A young African-American visits his White girlfriend’s parents for the weekend, where his simmering uneasiness about their reception of him eventually reaches a boiling point.”
Ma (2019)
Director: Tate Taylor Sub-Genre: Thriller | Runtime: 99 Minutes Cast: Added to Netflix:
Picture: Ma – Blumhouse Productions
“A lonely woman befriends a group of teenagers and decides to let them party at her house. Just when the kids think their luck couldn’t get any better, things start happening that make them question the intention of their host.”
Us (2019)
Director: Jordan Peele Sub-Genre: Thriller | Runtime: 116 Minutes Cast: Lupita Nyong’o, Winston Duke, Elisabeth Moss, Shahadi Wright Joseph, Tim Heidecker Added to Netflix: October 1st, 2023
Picture: Us – Universal Pictures
“A family’s serene beach vacation turns to chaos when their doppelgängers appear and begin to terrorize them.”
Jaws 2 (1978)
Director: Jeannot Szwarc Sub-Genre: Shark | Runtime: 116 Minutes Cast: Roy Scheider, Lorraine Gary, Murray Hamilton, Joseph Mascolo, Jeffrey Kramer Added to Netflix: September 1st, 2023
Picture: Jaws 2 – Universal Pictures
“Four years after the traumatic episodes at Amity Island that was terrorized by a 25-foot-long great white shark devouring beachgoers until it was destroyed, Amity Island is at peace and opened a hotel at the Holiday Inn. Days after the opening, beachgoers start to disappear, along with a beached, half-eaten killer whale. Brody becomes concerned about these incidents and fears that another Great White Shark is on the loose.”
Jaws 3 (1983)
Director: Joe Alves Sub-Genre: Shark | Runtime: 99 Minutes Cast: Dennis Quaid, Bess Armstrong, Simon MacCorkindale, Louis Gossett Jr., John Putch Added to Netflix: September 1st, 2023
Picture: Jaws 3 – Universal Pictures
“A giant thirty-five-foot shark becomes trapped in a SeaWorld theme park and it’s up to the sons of police chief Brody to rescue everyone.”
Jaws: The Revenge (1987)
Director: Joseph Sargent Sub-Genre: Shark | Runtime: 89 Minutes Cast: Lorraine Gary, Lance Guest, Mario Van Peebles, Karen Young, Michael Caine Added to Netflix: September 1st, 2023
Picture: Jaws: The Revenge – Universal Pictures
“Chief Brody’s widow believes that her family is deliberately being targeted by another shark in search of revenge.”
The Pope’s Exorcist (2023)
Director: Julius Avery Sub-Genre: Supernatural | Runtime: Cast: Russell Crowe, Daniel Zovatto, Alexandra Essoe, Franco Nero, Peter DeSouza-Feighoney Added to Netflix: August 16th, 2023
Picture: The Pope’s Exorcist – Screen Gems
“Follow Gabriele Amorth, the Vatican’s leading exorcist, as he investigates the possession of a child and uncovers a conspiracy the Vatican has tried to keep secret.”
“A group of Youtubers who accidentally unleash a 1500-year-old evil that crosses over from the realm of darkness to the human world.”
Prom Night (2008)
Director: Nelson McCormick Sub-Genre: Slasher | Runtime: 88 Minutes Cast: Brittany Snow, Scott Porter, Jessica Stroup, Dana Davis, Collins Pennie Added to Netflix: July 1st, 2023
Picture: Prom Night – Screen Gems
“Donna’s senior prom is supposed to be the best night of her life, though a sadistic killer from her past has different plans for her and her friends.”
Warm Bodies (2013)
Director: Jonathan Levine Sub-Genre: Zombie | Runtime: 98 Minutes Cast: Nicholas Hoult, Teresa Palmer, Lio Tipton, Rob Corddry, Dave Franco Added to Netflix: July 1st, 2023
Picture: Warm Bodies – Summit Entertainment
“After a highly unusual zombie saves a still-living girl from an attack, the two form a relationship that sets in motion events that might transform the entire lifeless world.”
Annihilation (2018)
Director: Alex Garland Sub-Genre: Body Horror | Runtime: 115 Minutes Cast: Natalie Portman, Benedict Wong, Sonoya Mizuno, David Gyasi, Oscar Isaac Added to Netflix: June 30th, 2023
Picture: Annihilation – Paramount Pictures
“A biologist signs up for a dangerous, secret expedition into a mysterious zone where the laws of nature don’t apply.”
Para Betina Pengikut Iblis (2023)
Director: Rako Prijanto Sub-Genre: Slasher | Runtime: 90 Minutes Cast: Adipati Dolken, Mawar Eva de Jongh, Hanggini, Sara Fajira, Hans de Kraker Added to Netflix: June 16th, 2023
Pictured: Para Betina Pengikut Iblis – Falcon Black Pictures
“Three women in a small village conceal dark secrets, including unholy alliances and a mysterious ingredient used in a popular curry restaurant.”
Doom (2005)
Director: Andrzej Bartkowiak Sub-Genre: Sci-Fi | Runtime: 105 Minutes Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Karl Urban, Rosamund Pike, Deobia Oparei, Ben Daniels Added to Netflix: June 1st, 2023
Picture: Doom – John Wells Production
“Space Marines are sent to investigate strange events at a research facility on Mars but find themselves at the mercy of genetically enhanced killing machines.”
Virupaksha (2023)
Director: Karthik Varma Dandu Sub-Genre: Supernatural | Runtime: 145 Minutes Cast: Sai Dharam Tej, Samyuktha Menon, Sunil, Rajeev Kanakala, Brahmaji Added to Netflix: June 1st, 2023
Picture: Virupaksha – Sri Venkateswara Cine Chitra
“Mysterious deaths occur in a village due to an unknown person’s occult practices. The whole town is afraid, and the problems continue as they search for the one responsible.”
Bayi Ajaib (2023)
Director: Rako Prijanto Genre: Supernatural | Runtime: 99 Minutes Cast: Vino G. Bastian, Adipati Dolken, Desy Ratnasari, T. Rifnu Wikana, Sara Fajira Added to Netflix: May 19th, 2023
Picture: Bayi Ajaib – Falcon Black Pictures
“A newly rich and recently married man’s comfortable life threatens to crumble when his infant child is possessed by an unholy spirit with a grudge.”
John Carpenter’s Vampires (1998)
Director: John Carpenter Sub-Genre: Vampire | Runtime: 108 Minutes Cast: James Woods, Daniel Baldwin, Sheryl Lee, Thomas Ian Griffith, Maximilian Schell Added to Netflix: May 1st, 2023
Picture: John Carpenter’s Vampires – Largo Entertainment
“Recovering from an ambush that killed his entire team, a vengeful vampire slayer must retrieve an ancient Catholic relic that, should it be acquired by vampires, will allow them to walk in sunlight.”
Qorin (2022)
Director: Ginanti Rona Genre: Supernatural | Runtime: 109 Minutes Cast: Zulfa Maharani, Omar Daniel, Aghniny Haque, Dea Annisa, Naimma Aljufri Added to Netflix: April 13th, 2023
Picture: Qorin – IDN Pictures
“Life at a boarding school descends into chaos when a teacher instructs his students to perform a forbidden ritual that summons their doppelgängers.”
Lights Out (2016)
Director: David F. Sandberg Genre: Supernatural | Runtime: 81 Minutes Cast: Teresa Palmer, Gabriel Bateman, Alexander DiPersia, Billy Burke, Maria Bello Added to Netflix: April 11th, 2023
Picture: Lights Out – New Line Cinema
“Rebecca must unlock the terror behind her little brother’s experiences that once tested her sanity, bringing her face to face with a supernatural spirit attached to their mother.”
Zombieland (2009)
Director: Ruben Fleischer Genre: Zombie | Runtime: 88 Minutes Cast: Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Emma Stone, Abigail Breslin, Bill Murray Added to Netflix: April 1st, 2023
Picture: Zombieland – Columbia Pictures
“A shy student trying to reach his family in Ohio, a gun-toting bruiser in search of the last Twinkie and a pair of sisters striving to get to an amusement park join forces in a trek across a zombie-filled America.”
I See You (2019)
Director: Adam Randall Genre: Mystery | Runtime: 98 Minutes Cast: Helen Hunt, Jon Tenney, Owen Teague, Judah Lewis, Libe Barer Added to Netflix: March 22nd, 2023
Picture: I See You – Head Gear Films
“A policeman and his doctor wife have some marriage problems and the son blames the mother. For his job, the policeman investigates a case of a missing boy. The possible kidnapping looks like some cases from a few years ago.”
Kaal (2005)
Director: Soham Shah Genre: Supernatural| Runtime: 126 Minutes Cast: Ajay Devgn, Vivek Oberoi, John Abraham, Lara Dutta, Esha Deol Added to Netflix: March 2nd, 2023
Picture: Kaal – Dharma Productions
“A tiger expert, his wife, two tourists and a village chief engage in a battle for survival against supernatural beasts within Jim Corbett National Wildlife Park.”
47 Meters Down: Uncaged (2019)
Director: Johannes Roberts Genre: Shark| Runtime: 90 Minutes Cast: Sophie Nélisse, Corinne Foxx, Brianne Tju, Sistine Rose Stallone, John Corbett Added to Netflix: February 16th, 2023
Picture: 47 Meters Down: Uncaged – Entertainment Studios Motion Pictures
“Two sisters diving in a ruined underwater city quickly learn they’ve entered the territory of the deadliest shark species in the claustrophobic labyrinth of submerged caves.”
Ouija (2014)
Director: Stiles White Genre: Supernatural | Runtime: 89 Minutes Cast: Olivia Cooke, Ana Coto, Daren Kagasoff, Bianca A. Santos, Douglas Smith Added to Netflix: February 16th, 2023
Picture: Ouija – Universal Pictures
“A group of friends must confront their most terrifying fears when they awaken the dark powers of an ancient spirit board.”
The Womb (2022)
Director: Fajar Nugros Genre: Supernatural | Runtime: 116 Minutes Cast: Naysila Mirdad, Dimas Anggara, Lydia Kandou, Rukman Rosadi, Rania Putri Sari Added to Netflix: February 16th, 2023
Picture: The Womb – IDN Pictures
“Grappling with an unplanned pregnancy, a woman turns in desperation to a mysterious older couple who promise to take care of her baby.”
Possessed (2022)
Director: James Lee Genre: Supernatural | Runtime: 94 Minutes Cast: Alif Satar, Ikmal Amry, Abbas Mahmood, Elisya Sandha, Alicia Amin Added to Netflix: February 15th, 2023
Picture: Possessed – Astro
“Nazmi, a teacher must put aside his personal traumas to rally his school in a fight for survival against a group of violent, possessed students.”
Bloodline (2020)
Director: Henry Jacobson Genre: Supernatural | Runtime: 97 Minutes Added to Netflix: January 10th, 2023
“Evan values family above all else, and anyone who gets between him, his wife, and newborn son learns that the hard way. But when it comes to violent tendencies, it seems the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”
What horror movies will you be watching on Netflix for Halloween? Let us know in the comments below!
EXCLUSIVE: Netflix is weighing a staggered release strategy for Squid Game: The Challenge as it attempts to build a buzz around the ambitious spin-off series.
The reality recreation of Korea’s blockbuster drama will premiere on November 22, but Netflix — which pioneered binge viewing — is giving serious consideration to holding back some episodes for a later release date. Netflix declined to comment.
The tactic has traditionally been the preserve of broadcast television, but streamers have experimented with different release strategies in recent years and Netflix insiders hope it can create appointment to view moments for Squid Game: The Challenge.
Billed as the biggest reality series ever created, Squid Game: The Challenge will feature 456 contestants competing for a colossal $4.56M prize pot. The show is made by UK producers Studio Lambert and The Garden. It was filmed at Cardington Studios, a former Royal Air Force base.
Production was subject to a safety inspection after contestants required medical attention during the filming of ‘Red Light, Green Light,’ in which players attempted to evade the attention of a menacing robotic doll during a cold snap in Britain.
Netflix released a teaser trailer for Squid Game: The Challenge last week.
What if I told you none of it was accidental? Yes, even Travis Kelce’s so-called Taylor Swift date outfit.
Swifties were giddy when Blondie’s rumored new boyfriend—who also happens to be a two-time Superbowl-winning NFL player—wore a light blue and white denim set the very same day their idol graced Arrowhead Stadium with her presence. They got even more excited when they found out the look was literally named the 1989 Bedroom Painting set by the brand, KidSuper Studios.
Light blue and white, of course, is the color combination largely associated with Swift’s 1989 album, named after Swift’s birth year. 1989 (Taylor’s Version) also happens to be Swift’s latest rerecorded album and is set to drop on October 27. Who else was born in 1989? Travis Kelce.
X content
This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from.
X content
This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from.
Aethereal. Luminescent. Illusory. Directors ETA and Shanhuan Manton’s Confluence: A Meditation in Documentary Form is a powerful and entrancing music documentary.
Mooring itself in the personal stories of Asian Americans and their multicultural identities, this short focuses on the introspective power of realizing who you are in the melting pot that is the United States. I found myself flowing along with the hypnotic essence of the electronica soundtrack that propels this meditation down the river of memory.
ETA and Manton have realized a wonderful digression on what it means to form and present an identity to the outside world. I could watch Confluence: A Meditation in Documentary Form for hours on end, just mesmerized by the fading and shifting imagery of the washed-out blue and purple-filtered light.
However briefly, Confluence: A Meditation in Documentary Form is a glorious acid-washed contemplation of indie Asian American rocker identity. Seek it out. It will blow your mind.
Ever since Kelce revealed he got shut down by Swift after one of her Eras Tour performances in July 2023 — he wanted to give her a friendship bracelet with his number on it, but she had “to save her voice for the 44 songs that she sings” and couldn’t meet with him, he later revealed — fans and stars alike have been clamoring for a Swift/Kelce romance.
Everyone’s wishes came true two months later when Swift accepted the Chiefs tight end’s invitation to see him play at Kansas City’s Arrowhead Stadium — the same venue where she had performed for Eras.
Thank You!
You have successfully subscribed.
As Swift cheered Travis on alongside his mom, Donna Kelce — even chest-bumping a friend in excitement — fan frenzy reached a fever pitch after the two were spotted leaving together and hopping into a convertible. The NFL — along with other stars — couldn’t wait to chime in on the whirlwind evening.
The experiment in December generated a whirlwind of accolades when it produced about three megajoules of energy — equivalent to about 1.5 pounds of TNT, or about 1.5 times the energy of the incoming lasers. It was the first time that a fusion reaction in a laboratory setting produced more energy than it took to start the reaction.
The July experiment was essentially identical to the December one. “We expected a similar yield,” Dr. Town said. “On the order of three megajoules.”
The actual output was 3.88 megajoules.
The better-than-predicted result indicates that with a few tweaks, laser fusion can become markedly more efficient. But minuscule variations could yield fusion duds as well.
A fusion experiment in June, just a month earlier, was also predicted to produce about three megajoules, but it generated only between 1.6 and 1.7 megajoules, Dr. Town said.
A more recent attempt this month, as part of efforts to maintain nuclear weapons without underground nuclear tests, yielded slightly more than two megajoules, breaking even with the laser energy.
“It was a little bit surprising that we did not achieve ignition on all of them,” Dr. Town said.
Why It Matters: Much more to learn.
Analyzing the results, the Livermore scientists now think they better understand what is going on.
For one, the 192 lasers are not perfect. “There are some variations every time you shoot the laser,” Dr. Town said.
Instead of laser energy arriving perfectly balanced to compress the hydrogen fuel capsule, a slight imbalance nudges the capsule off in one direction. Some of the energy is lost, and the inward implosion does not heat the hydrogen as much.
There are also slight variations in the fuel capsules that affect the fusion reactions. Computer simulations now indicate there can be a wide range in the output energy.
“It could fall as low as 1.4 megajoules,” Dr. Town said. “And if the stars align and everything works perfectly, it could get up to seven megajoules.”
What Happens Next: Upgrading and optimizing the experiment.
Siegfried Glenzer, a scientist at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory in Menlo Park, Calif., who led the initial fusion experiments at the Livermore facility years ago, said of the July advance, “The fact that the gain has gone up on the last shot is encouraging news and shows that the current implosions are not yet fully optimized.”
A new series of experiments is about to begin at the National Ignition Facility as it aims to generate higher fusion yields more consistently. The energy of the facility’s lasers is being upgraded to 2.2 megajoules from 2.05. The latest advances occurred after the last upgrade from 1.9 megajoules. Additional energy is expected to lead to further improvements.
“If you can couple effectively more energy to the hot spot, you should get more yield,” Dr. Town said. “You can do that by having a bigger hammer.”
Bill Maher and James Carville share one major concern about Donald J. Trump. They both worry that there is a good chance he will win the 2024 presidential election. Discussing politics on Maher’s casual podcast “Club Random,” Carville said that, as a betting man, he sees “even odds” of Trump getting elected again.
Carville, a long-time Democratic political consultant and television commentator, said people in his party need to better understand that Trump’s appeal to so many Americans is that he is an alternative to extreme “wokeness” on the far left of the Democratic Party.
“People don’t like preachy people judging them,” Carville said.
He said the “woke” movement from the left started out with good ideals of treating people of all races and genders fairly.
“Then educated white people got ahold of the word and they completely f–ked it up and turned everybody off,” Carville said.
Maher, who called himself “an old-school liberal,” agreed that “wokeness” is dragging down the party. He said Trump has “cult” followers who will stick with him no matter what he says or does (or is convicted of) because he is their savior.
“They think that Democrats or liberal thinkers are a bigger threat than Russia, or anything,” Maher said.
No matter what scandal Trump is caught in, Maher said “he is the guy with a messianic cult,” who appeals to the common “person who feels cheated” in this country.
Carville agreed that both parties have their extremists, but as a loyal Democrat, he said “that’s about 10 percent of the Democrats but about 65 percent of Republicans.”
They both called the recent Republican debate “good theater” but pointless since Trump was not there.
Carville also said he is very concerned that President Joe Biden is aging rapidly, and Democrats are not excited about his reelection. He said numerous polls recently show that around 75 percent of Dems do not even want Biden to run.
“That’s a big f–king number,” Carville said.
Maher said he backs Biden but wishes the Democrats could go with a more youthful leader, like California Gov. Gavin Newsom. He recalled meeting with Newsom awhile ago at a fundraiser at Sean Penn’s house and urging him to throw his hat into the ring.
“I told him, run for president while you still look like a movie star,” Maher said with a chuckle.
But while they both are concerned about Biden’s age, Maher and Carville agreed that Biden is plenty fit and youthful enough to handle meetings in the White House with his advisers, where most policy is set.
Carville and Maher expressed disappointment that Democrats and Republicans have moved further away from each other, with more hatred of the other side and less meeting in the middle to get things done.
Carville said it is wrong to villainize all Trump supporters, even fanatical ones. “Most of them, they are not evil. They’re just silly,” he said.
Still, as a native Louisianan, Carville grew up watching racism in the South and said he thinks Trump does attract some disturbing groups and people.
“Let me put it this way. Not all Trump people are racists, but all racists are Trump people,” Carville said.
He managed to find a temporary agreement on custody issues with his estranged wife Sophie Turner earlier in the day.
But Joe Jonas showed that he was still leaning on family members later on Monday when he was seen stepping out in New York City with his younger brother Nick Jonas, 31.
The 34-year-old Jonas Brothers singer was seen heading down a city sidewalk in a casual outfit while Nick hung slightly behind him in a darker ensemble.
Joe was dressed in a relaxed fashion on the chilly day with a thick cream-colored sweater featuring a red flag design embroidered over its single breast pocket.
Brotherly love: Joe Jonas, 34, was spotted stepping out in New York City with brother Nick Jonas (L) on Monday
On the town: Joe was spotted out after DailyMail.com obtained documents he and estranged wife Sophie Turner filed in which they agreed to keep their daughters in NYC for now
He contrasted his sweater with a baggy set of blue jeans that appeared to have dark stains on the thighs.
The pants had a gray patch stitched over one pocket, and both legs had blown-out, shredded sections.
The hitmaker completed his outfit with black boots, and despite being in the Big Apple, he represented Los Angeles with a blue Dodgers baseball cap.
Nick was dressed more anonymously in a black Western shirt with double breast pockets that he wore untucked.
He had on a white shirt underneath, and he wore dark pants that perfectly matched the shade of his outer shirt.
The Sucker singer stuck to his Western theme with a pair of rugged dark boots, and he carried his phone in his hand while walking just behind his brother.
Joe was previously seen enjoying his younger brother’s company and leaning on him when they went out for a night on the town in NYC last week, following news of his divorce filing from Sophie.
The 27-year-old Game Of Thrones actress has also turned to her fellow celebrity friends for support, including superstar singer Taylor Swift, who seemed to confirm her relationship with Kansas City Chiefs player Travis Kelce when she attended his game against the Chicago Bears on Sunday and then had an ‘affectionate’ late-night dinner with him.
Taylor threw a girls night party for Sophie at her NYC penthouse over the weekend, even as she and Joe sparred over where their daughters will live for the foreseeable future.
According to Joe’s newly signed agreement with Sophie, the couple will keep their daughters — three-year-old Willa and a one-year-old whose name has not been publicly revealed but starts with a ‘D’ — in New York City.
The agreement allows the children to be in New York’s Southern or Easter Districts, which also encompass the Hudson Valley and Long Island.
Although the agreement is roughly in line with Joe’s stated goals to prevent the children from disappearing to the UK permanently, where Sophie wanted to take them ahead of Willa starting school, the agreement states that it was settled one ‘without prejudice to either party’s claims and defenses,’ meaning that its existence should not imply that Joe will ultimately prevail in keeping his daughter in the US.
The draft copy of the order will still need to be signed by Judge Katherine Polk Failla, who has been handling the case.
Cozy: Joe was dressed in a relaxed fashion on the chilly day with a thick cream-colored sweater featuring a red flag design embroidered over its single breast pocket
Blue mood: He contrasted his sweater with a baggy set of blue jeans that appeared to have dark stains on the thighs
Bicoastal: The hitmaker completed his outfit with black boots, and despite being in the Big Apple, he represented Los Angeles with a blue Dodgers baseball cap
Low key: Nick was dressed more anonymously in a black Western shirt with double breast pockets that he wore untucked
Staying put: Joe and Sophie filed a draft order agreeing to keep their daughter Willa, three, and their other one-year-old daughter in New York City until their custody arrangement is decided
Feeling blue: Joe took to the streets of New York City on a Citi bike after leaning on Nick for support
No looking back: The beleaguered middle Jonas brother looked forlorn as he parted ways with his younger brother in New York City earlier today
Ready to run: Proving that he was no diva, Joe relied on himself to get to his next destination
Looking lonely: The father of two kept looking back during his solo bike ride
Bitter divorce: Last week, Sophie sued Joe, claiming he was withholding the kids’ passports and preventing them from taking an allegedly agreed-upon trip to the UK with her; seen in September 2022
The couple’s first hearing is scheduled for Monday, October 3, at a federal courthouse in Manhattan.
Sophie had claimed that Joe was withholding the children’s passports to prevent her from taking them to the UK.
But in a statement rebutting many of her claims, Joe said that he would not hand over the passports because it would allegedly ‘be in violation of the Florida Court order’ restricting the parents from relocating the children while the divorce process is underway.
Jonas filed for divorce in Florida, even though the couple sold their Miami home in August, and Sophie has claimed that her children have not lived in Florida for the required six months to establish residency.
Netflix has released the trailer for its upcoming Morgan Freeman-narrated series “Life on Our Planet,” which brings extinct species to the small screen in an exploration of the lives of Earth’s past inhabitants. The series is set to premiere on Oct. 25.
Per the series logline, “This is the story of life’s epic battle to conquer and survive on planet Earth. Today there are 20 million species on our planet, yet what we see is just a snapshot in time — 99% of earth’s inhabitants are lost to our deep past. The story of what happened to these dynasties — their rise and their fall – is truly remarkable.”
The series is executive produced by Steven Spielberg, Alastair Fothergill, Keith Scholey, Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey. Dan Tapster, Keith Scholey and Fothergill serve as series producers.
Watch the trailer below.
PROMOTIONS
Hungry? A food truck will be roaming the streets of Los Angeles to promote the premiere of Amazon Prime Video’s “Gen V,” a spin-off of “The Boys.”
The Vought-A-Burger food truck will be at the USC campus on Sept. 28 and at the UCLA campus on Sept. 29. Attendees will be able to step into the world of “The Boys” with themed packaging and menu items such as Liquid Death (sold as “Turbo Rush Energy Drink”). The event will also offer giveaways, including SheerGear handbags, custom t-shirts and Astroglide products. Prime Video will also team up with iHeart Radio to spread the news to listeners across Los Angeles.
“Gen V” will premiere on Sept. 29, following a set of characters at Godolkin University as they train to be the next generation of heroes. The cast features Jaz Sinclair, Chance Perdomo, Lizze Broadway, Shelley Conn, Maddie Phillips, London Thor, Derek Luh, Asa Germann, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Sean Patrick Thomas and Marco Pigossi. Guest stars include Clancy Brown and Jason Ritter, in addition to appearances from Jessie T. Usher, Colby Minifie, Claudia Doumit and P.J. Byrne, reprising their roles from “The Boys.”
Michele Fazekas and Tara Butters serve as the series’ showrunners. Additionally, Eric Kripke, Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, James Weaver, Neal H. Moritz, Ori Marmur, Pavun Shetty, Ken Levin, Jason Netter, Garth Ennis, Darick Robertson, Craig Rosenberg, Nelson Cragg, Zak Schwartz, Erica Rosbe and Michaela Starr also executive produce the show.
*
In celebration of ABC’s “The Golden Bachelor” premiere on Sept. 28, several businesses are turning themselves gold and offering special promotions.
The locations participating include Randy’s Donuts and Pink’s Hot Dogs in Los Angeles, offering special deals and treats during the last week of September. Additionally, Best Friends Animal Society, Popcornopolis and Pinot’s Palette will be holding promotions in honor of the premiere at their various locations.
Retirement communities across the country will also receive golden watch party kits in preparation for the premiere. Starting on Sept. 28, several brands will offer Golden Discounts, including Alfred, Joann’s, Uber Eats and Fandango.
Some already experienced the fun with promotions that took place last week. Food trucks popped up across Los Angeles and New York City, offering a variety of golden treats, such as golden turmeric lattes, gold-dusted macarons and gold-fashioned lemonade popsicles. John Legend’s concert at the Hollywood Bowl on Sept. 23 adorned its seats with golden cushions and showcased Gerry Turner, the leading man of “The Golden Bachelor,” on its 28 screens. Players and fans who attended USA Pickleball’s National Indoor Championship in Atlantic City, New Jersey, got to experience golden integrations, honoring Turner’s favorite pastime.
For a full list of participating brands, visit ABC’s website here.
A rough cut of this deleted scene is now online and shows Throg exclaiming, “You turned me into a frog!” before wielding a mini-Mjolnir at Loki in front of an Asgardian crowd.
The action ends with a freeze-frame of Throg grinning as Loki is electrocuted by lightning, all before zooming out to show this moment was being replayed in the TVA.
While Throg’s role was ultimately limited to a cameo in Episode 5, Loki Season 1 director Kate Herron confirmed that Chris Hemsworth voiced the Thor Variant, saying, “he recorded that:”
“Throg, obviously, getting him in [was great]. And we recorded Chris Hemsworth for that, by the way. We recorded him for that, that’s a new recording. That’s a whole new recording, not recycled, he recorded that!”
The deleted scene can be seen below:
More Throg in Loki Season 2?
From what Kate Herron has said in past interviews, this scene would’ve occurred during Season 1 when Mobius showed Loki moments from his life.
According to the director, she ultimately scrapped the exchange as “it just wasn’t quite right” in comparison with the goal of the episode. However, she noted Chris Hemsworth was “definitely up for it” and was even “laughing” during the recording session.
While Kate Herron’s decision was the right call for the episode’s story and the purpose of Loki revisiting his past, the online fan reaction would’ve been something to behold, especially since it would’ve occurred in Episode 1.
With Loki Season 2 set to debut in October, the question now is whether Throg will return.
Henry Cavill, Ben Affleck, and Gal Gadot are imagined as villains in James Gunn’s new DC Universe.
The new DC Universe will bring about a new era for DC Comics superheroes, signaling the end of the DCEU. The future of Batman and Wonder Woman is uncertain, although David Corenswet will replace Cavill as Superman.
The Justice League’s role in James Gunn’s DC Universe is unclear, with only Superman and Batman having solo films announced so far. The team’s formation may be delayed to avoid rushing it, considering the criticisms of the rushed Justice League in the DCEU.
Henry Cavill, Ben Affleck, and Gal Gadot trade in their superhero roles to become iconic villains in James Gunn’s DC Universe through new fan art. A new era is coming for the DC Comics superheroes through Gunn and Peter Safran’s DC Universe, which will be kicking off through Chapter 1, “Gods and Monsters.” But in order for a new continuity to be born, it means the end of the DCEU, which is finishing its run later this year with Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.
While David Corenswet will replace Cavill as Superman, it has yet to be decided who will take over as Batman and Wonder Woman for Affleck and Gadot. Even though other actors will portray the DC trinity, there are still other ways Cavill, Affleck, and Gadot could appear in the new DC Universe. Through artwork by House of Mat (shared via Marvel DC Geeks,) the former DCEU actors are depicted as the DC villains Ultraman, Owlman, and Superwoman, respectively.
In the comics, Ultraman, Owlman, and Superwoman are the Earth-3 doppelgangers of Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman, who are founding members of the Crime Syndicate of America, the evil incarnation of the Justice League. To this point, the Crime Syndicate has only appeared through animated DC projects, including the 2010 movie Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths.
What’s Going On With The Justice League In James Gunn’s DCU?
When it comes to the Justice League in Gunn’s DC Universe, it’s unclear what the actual plans are for the iconic superhero team. During the announcement for Chapter 1, “Gods and Monsters,” Gunn and Safran revealed only a select number of upcoming DC Universe movies and TV shows, stating that more will be announced at a later time. In terms of Justice League characters, only Superman and Batman have solo films in the works, while a Wonder Woman prequel show, Paradise Lost, is being developed for Max, with Diana Prince’s place in the franchise still yet to be determined.
Other Justice League members who have projects in the DC Universe Chapter 1 are Green Lantern and Supergirl, but there isn’t an actual team-up movie as of right now. To this point, Gunn has been very vague about where they are going with the Justice League in the DC Universe, and it might be that they are going to wait for quite some time until the team is actually created. One of the big DCEU criticisms was that the Justice League was rushed rather than built up to the formation of the team, similar to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Given how Gunn has talked about the DC Universe already having a lot of superheroes established, time will tell how they actually make the Justice League happen in this continuity. If they are taking their time with the Justice League, it’s not necessarily a bad thing, as the new DC Universe needs to avoid as many of the DCEU’s mistakes as possible. Hopefully, the Justice League will come to life in the DC Universe, and the wait will have been worth it.
While Payday 3 may feel like an excellent franchise evolution, it takes a step back in a few different ways over its predecessors. If you’ve tried playing Payday 3 over the past few days, you’ll quickly know what we’re talking about; the always online requirement is hampering players’ enjoyment of the game. During a recent developer livestream, the team at Starbreeze discussed what it’s evaluating moving forward and spoke a little bit about the potential of an offline mode for Payday 3.
During the stream, Brand Director Almir Listo and Lead Developer Andreas said the following about the addition of an Offline Mode for Payday 3;
“We have not yet confirmed an Offline Mode, but what we can say right now is that we’re evaluating every possibility going forward on how we can provide the best experience for you all. That’s as clear as we can be on that topic for now.”
Almir Listo during Live Update with Almir & Andreas!
Live Update With Almir & Andreas via Payday 3 YouTube Channel – Starting point 15:25
While this does not confirm the addition of an Offline Mode for the game, it seems that the team is at least working toward the possibility of one being added shortly. With all of the server-based issues the team has been working with over the weekend since its launch, it’s understandable why the subject may be a little tender at this point, but we can only continue to wish them luck in the ongoing development of these new features.
Alongside the Offline Mode, the development team and brand director mentioned more features they hope to add to the game in future patches, including the much beloved Safehouse from Payday 2, pre-game chat, skill lines, and more. It seems that the team is hoping to win back the trust of fans with these post-launch livestreams while offering insight and transparency regarding issues players are encountering.
With the sheer number of issues that players have been seeing, we can only hope that the team can continue striving toward a proper fix that will allow gamers to access their new favorite heist simulator. Until then, we can only wait to see what they’re cooking up in the background with continued support and streams detailing new information coming to the game.
About the Author
Shaun Cichacki
As a fan of RPGs, Action & Retro titles, Shaun has been gaming since he was a young boy. With an overwhelming obsession involving Metal Gear Solid and Pizza Tower, you know you’re in for a wild ride when it comes to things he’s writing about.
We all know what it’s like when we see a character whose story draws us in ultimately. When we sit down to write, even with that lofty goal in mind, it can be hard to figure out what makes a character and story great. The answer lies beyond the surface level, in something much deeper called internal conflict.
Writing conflict may seem like a challenge, but it’s the key to making your story leap off the page and live in the minds of audiences forever.
In this post, we’re going to cover the conflict from every angle, with tons of conflict examples, and the result will be that you’ll understand how to employ both types in a story.
Let’s dive into inner conflict and then go from there.
Internal Conflict VS External Conflict (Writing Advice)www.youtube.com
What is the Internal Conflict definition?
‘Split’
Fox
A writer can define this as the struggles going on within their characters.
A few classic examples could be depression, alcoholism, fear of commitment, or even the evolving personality like the James McAvoy character in Split.
What is an inner conflict if not having conflicting people inside yourself?
Internal Conflict Examples
‘The Lord of the Rings’
New Line Cinema
It’s hard to build a movie around only internal conflict ideas, but people try to do it all the time, and with the right ideas… it works perfectly!
Sometimes it’s an internal struggle like Indiana Jones coming to terms with his relationship with his father. Or other times the conflict is more central, like Frodo fighting against the ring’s power in Lord of the Rings.
External Conflict Definition
‘Return of the Jedi’
Disney
This one is going to be a bit easier to define.
Think of it as the physical struggle between your character and outside forces, even including other characters.
These are the outside pressures slowing crushing in on your character. Things like maybe being stuck in a trash compactor, or the impending attack of a star destroyer, or being hunted by the Sith.Also, non-Star Wars related things too.
But the fundamental difference between the internal and external conflict is that one happens inside the character, and one happens outside. Sounds obvious, sure. But to give your story layers, you want to have both, and you want to find ways for them to feed off one another.
External Conflict Examples
‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’
Disney
Sometimes the struggle on the outside is what causes the battle on the inside.
Because basically when you’re writing a movie or TV show, you need things to go wrong. No one wants to read a script or watch a tv show about the village of happy people.
When things go wrong, usually they become conflicts on every level of the characters life. This kicks a story into gear.
Nazis are chasing you to the ark. E.T. needs a way to go home. Aliens have invaded Earth.
And other non-Spielberg examples.
The great thing about the external variety is that they can come in all shapes and sizes. They can be the computers in The Matrix controlling the world, or they can be a nurse trying to catch Jinx, the cat in Meet the Parents.
The size of the conflict isn’t as important as the stakes, or the character facing the battle.
So what’s the key to writing this?
It’s putting a character with the right internal conflict in the right external conflict… Okay, that sounds a little messy, so let’s get another example.
If that ship in Titanic is sinking, Rose should examine whether or not she loves and believes Jack and wants to save him.
If Morpheus has been taken by Agents, Neo needs to look inside and see if he’s actually “The One.”
Another way to think about it is who is the worst person internally suited to face this external problem? Or vice versa.
Got it? Okay now, let’s dig even deeper.
If you’re planning to write a screenplay, for TV or movies, you need to know about the other types of conflict.
Internal and External Conflict
‘Toy Story’
Pixar
When I think about internal and external conflict, I think about the angel and devil on each shoulder. These conflicts should eat away at your characters’ insides and thus drive the story forward.
Think about every rom-com you love. From It Happened One Night to Set It Up, romantic comedies are stories of internal struggle.
The “will they or won’t they” can carry Jim and Pam, or Sam and Diane. You can define the conflict as wanting someone but also having reasons, like a workplace, that hold you back from it. Every scene between these characters is then charged with that struggle.
That’s how you use inner conflict in a story to make a scene where two people are talking as dynamic (or maybe even more dynamic) than a scene of two people fighting.
Or what about another tremendous and unexpected example?
Think of Buzz Lightyear in the original Toy Story. He is conflicted because he thinks he’s Buzz Lightyear and not just a toy.This clash between his internal state and his reality charges every single scene. It is the engine that drives the plot, created the timeless classic, and launched a franchise.
Writing conflict fundamental to your screenplay’s success and thinking about these examples should help get you on your way. Consider your character, and then consider the inner struggle that defines them.
Sometimes you need to compound the conflict though.
Time to define external conflict, and talk about internal vs. external conflict, which creates a conflict symphony within your story.
What are the Types of Conflict?
So in classical literature, and now film and television, there are six different types of conflict. While more seem to be classified as internal conflict or external conflict, we’ll take a look at each category and supply examples.
Man v. Self
‘The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’
Amazon
Okay, right from the get-go we’ll delve into something that seems like it could strictly be classified as being internal. In Man vs. Self, we traditionally follow what happens in the mind of a character. Whether it’s Don Draper trying to get over self-destruction, or the Marvelous Ms. Maisel conquering becoming an independent woman.
But some of the best writing takes a spin on this and creates external issues from the internal struggle.
Think about the movie Multiplicity. That’s legitimately inner struggle come to life. Or what about all the personalities in Orphan Black?
Sometimes our best writing comes from taking a traditional conflict and flipping it on its head.
2. Man v. Man
‘Good Will Hunting’Credit: Miramax
This is probably the most common external struggle. We see it in comic book movies, Star Wars, and even in sitcoms like The Good Place. This type of conflict is determined by protagonists and antagonists.
But how can Man vs. Man be internalized?
Truly, if you internalize it, you get Man vs. Self, but think about movies about the possessed when Voldermort takes over Harry’s body in Order of the Phoenix, or even the possessions in Get Out.
Those become inner conflicts as one person tries to take over another.
3. Man v. Society
‘Manchester by the Sea’
Amazon
Usually the topic of political thrillers, or tragic movies like The Elephant Man, this typically covers these types of outer conflicts
One of my guilty pleasure movies is Conspiracy Theory with Mel Gibson and Julia Roberts. That’s about a guy who everyone thinks is nuts, who happens to be right about one thing.
In television, you’ve got shows like Succession that show the inner workings of a family and the people trying to tear them down in hilarious ways.
But how can you make Man vs. Society internal?
What about a movie like Boys Don’t Cry? That story is about how society refuses to accept who Brandon Teena is on the inside.
Or what about Manchester By The Sea? A lot of the conflict in the movie comes from how Casey Affleck’s character is viewed in this town after the fire. And how he deals with it.
As you can see, it’s harder to peg some of these within the realm of television, because tv allows characters to evolve and grow over multiple seasons.
Think about Oscar on The Office. He was never conflicted about being gay, but it took multiple seasons for the other characters and Michael Scott to truly accept him.
4. Man v. Nature
‘Jaws’
Universal
I’m not sure there’s a better example here than The Revenant when it comes to Man vs. Nature. This type of conflict carries us on journeys like Homeward Bound and is about defeating external forces.
In television, Man vs. Nature usually comes up episode to episode. It feels like every sitcom has a camping episode. One of my favorites comes from New Girl, where they stare down the coyote.
But what’s the inner issue that arises with nature?
I’ll admit this is a stretch, but I like to think about characters like the Wolfman, or even Fiona in Shrek when I’m breaking this down.
These are people stricken with a change in nature, who have to balance their lives around said change. What’s more internally conflicting than that?
5. Man v. Machine
‘The Matrix’CREDIT: Warner Bros.
As we enter the robot era of real-life, Man vs. Machine seems less far-fetched and more plausible. This story has its roots in John Henry hammering spikes against a machine and has worked its way all the way up to iRobot.
I think the cooler parts of Man vs. Machine come from characters dealing with things internally. Like what about Terminator 2, where that machine has to learn to be better? It has to make an internal change to try to be more human.
Or even stuff like Artificial Intelligence, where the robot boy desperately wants to change to become real. But his programming will never allow that.
Again – these are reaches – but that tends to be where our most incredible stories lie. In the grey areas between accepted tropes.
6. Man v. Fate or the Supernatural
‘The Leftovers’ Credit: HBO
Lastly, we’ll cover a tricky one. Man vs. Fate/Supernatural is kind of a sticky subject. See, the problem is, these items aren’t always tangible.
I like to work my way into this section by going a little biblical. Think about the story of Job. There are great references to Job’s story across film and television.
It pops up in The Leftovers, Mission Impossible, and is the basis for the Coen masterpiece, A Serious Man.
Job’s predicament is that God and Satan keep messing with him. So he has to overcome all sorts of external nightmares. But the bet God and Satan make is whether or not they can control him internally.
That’s a double whammy.
How to Use The Types of Conflict in a Screenplay
‘Jurassic Park’
Paramount
When you sit down to write your screenplay, sometimes it helps to track how the various conflicts play off each other as the story moves forward.
I like to think about each level of conflict being the side of a car.
If you just have one sides’ wheels moving, your story goes in circles. But if both sides are rolling, your story will always push forward.
So how can you use the types of conflict to push your story forward?
As I mentioned prior, you want to get everything working in tandem.
So, in every scene, ask yourself, how does this work with the conflict I’m writing?
Let’s take a look at a few scenes and examine the fact.
In the final scene of The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly, we have a gunfight going on. But as the camera spins, so do the characters’ insides.
This whole movie is about trust and greed. Can you trust someone who is greedy? Is there honor among thieves? What does it mean to be a good person?
So here, you have the obvious external threat from the guns and internal issues from the hearts of the men who wield them.
What about a comedy?
For my money, the funniest scene in movie history is the “Frank and Beans” scene in There’s Something About Mary.
It’s pretty obvious to see that the external conflict has to do with what’s stuck in Ben Stiller’s zipper. And everyone coming inside the bathroom.
But the deeper inner issue at work is about love.
Ben Stiller has courted this girl, fallen for this girl, and now he’s dealing with the emotional weight of wrecking their perfect prom.
It’s kind of a sweet, emotional conflict if you think about it.
I know we chatted about those genres, but what about action movies?
Let’s talk Die Hard.
The standoff in the final scene is one of legend. We remember the badassery of John McLane, but this is a movie built on his internal conflict.
John loves his wife, but he hasn’t been great at supporting her. And there have been consequences to that…
We learn early on she’s gone back to her maiden name.
As Hans Gruber plummets to his death, we send him off with Holly’s watch with her maiden name on it.
It’s the perfect external symbol for their internal triumph.
John and his wife are going to get back together.
Merry Christmas!
Summing up the Keys to Writing Conflict in a Story
I think we can all agree that the best-written film and television takes characters on multiple journeys. We need to see what they’re going to physically surmount on the outside to know how it will reflect on the inside.
And vice-versa.
The best uses of conflict work in tandem to create gripping drama. Or gripping comedy.
Just make it gripping!
If you think about how these types of conflict work in everything you watch, and then start to apply those principles to your own work, suddenly you’ll unlock the ability to push your stories to more dynamic places.
So keep the forum going!
Do you have some amazing examples? Do you have some ideas about types of conflict we didn’t mention?
Searchlight Pictures releases new trailer for Next Goal Wins, Taika Waititi’s ultimate feel-good underdog movie.
Searchlight Pictures has released a new trailer for Next Goal Wins, the upcoming sports comedy directed by Taika Waititi.
Based on the 2014 documentary of the same name by Mike Brett and Steve Jamison, Next Goal Wins follows the “infamously terrible American Samoa soccer team, known for a brutal 2001 FIFA match they lost 31-0. With the 2014 World Cup Qualifiers approaching, the team hires down-on-his-luck, maverick coach Thomas Rongen hoping he will turn the world’s worst soccer team around in this humorous and heartfelt underdog story.“
Michael Fassbender stars in Next Goal Wins as coach Thomas Rongen, with Oscar Kightley, David Fane, Beulah Koale, Lehi Falepapalangi, Semu Filipo, Uli Latukefu, Rachel House, Kaimana, Will Arnett, and Elisabeth Moss rounding out the rest of the cast. In addition to directing, Taika Waititi also co-wrote the script with Ian Morris and made a cameo appearance as a priest.
Next Goal Wins recently premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival which our own Chris Bumbray attended. “Taika Waititi’s long-delayed film should put a smile on the face of anyone who likes a good underdog story a la Cool Runnings,” Bumbray wrote in his review. “What makes Next Goal Wins so effective is the cast, with Fassbender more likable than usual as the sarcastic Rongen. He plays the movie with a twinkle in his eye, with his sarcasm and cynicism never dialed up to the point that he becomes unpleasant to watch.“
Bumbray contined, “While Next Goal Wins doesn’t do anything fresh with the inspirational sports film genre, it’s still a well-made entry, with gorgeous location shooting and a fun soundtrack of eighties classics… Waititi is clearly playing the hits here, but mid-way through this year’s edition of TIFF, amid heavier fare, it played pretty well and left a smile on my face. It won’t rank as one of his best movies, but it’s a strong, pleasant effort.” You can check out the rest of Bumbray’s review right here.
What did you think of the new trailer for Next Goal Wins? Will you be watching when it hits theaters on November 17th?
Angus Cloud’s family and friends are remembering the spirit of the late “Euphoria” actor.
“I don’t think a spirit like his could be defined,” Zendaya told People in an interview over email. “He was one of the most unique and pure-hearted people I’ve ever met. I hope he knows how loved he is, how much we miss him and how much better the world is for having felt his glow.”
“It was predominantly the central nervous system depressants. It started to slow his heart and slow his breathing,” his mother Lisa said. “He got tired from lack of oxygen. Everything just slowed down, and eventually his heart stopped and he went to sleep. But he didn’t kill himself.”
Cloud quickly rose to fame after being handpicked to star as Fez, a lovable drug dealer, on HBO’s “Euphoria.” He starred alongside Zendaya as Rue, a young addict, on the first two seasons of the series.
“He felt like a little brother instantly; ironic because we played characters with the exact opposite dynamic,” Zendaya said. “I’m lucky because I got to experience the most beautiful parts of him. I got to watch him create and I got to watch him discover the fact that he was an actor.”
Sam Levinson, creator of “Euphoria,” revealed that “Angus was supposed to die at the end of the first season,” though he kept his character around because of how much he cared about him.
“The first thing I noticed about him was he had those Paul Newman eyes…and his audition tape where he said that his name was Angus Cloud and he’s ‘five foot 12.’ It killed me. He was perfect,” he said. “I was like, ‘Okay, I can’t kill him because then what is he to look forward to?’”
“The one thing that I knew is he loved making this show,” said Levinson. “He loved the crew. He loved the actors. He loved everything about it.”
Cloud’s mother said he was prescribed opioid pain medication after falling into a construction pit and suffering minor brain damage at 15 years old, his first introduction to substances. After another injury cracked the calcaneus of his heel, Lisa thinks “that’s really what started his drug-seeking behavior.” Continuing to battle with addiction issues, Levison suggested rehab and continued to check in with Cloud while he was shooting Season 2 of “Euphoria.”
“I could always feel that he didn’t want [sobriety] as much as we all wanted it for him,” said Levinson. “That’s where it gets tricky because the whole world can want it for you. But he didn’t want it…But you can’t give up on people. I wasn’t going to let anyone give up on him.”
“I always knew he was special and I’m so glad the world also found out he was special,” said Lisa. “My son will always shine bright.”
The 24th season of The Voice TV show is the first season without any of the long-running NBC show’s original coaches. As we all know, Nielsen ratings typically play a significant role in determining whether a TV show like The Voice is cancelled or renewed for season 25. Unfortunately, most of us do not live in Nielsen households. Because many viewers feel frustrated when their viewing habits and opinions aren’t considered, we invite you to rate all of the 24th season episodes of The Voice here.
An NBC singing competition series, The Voice TV show is hosted by Carson Daly and often airs on Monday and Tuesday nights. Reba McEntire takes one of the red chairs for the first time while past coaches Gwen Stefani, John Legend, and Niall Horan return for season 24. The competition has four stages: blind auditions, battle rounds, knockouts, and live performances. By the end of the blind auditions, 40 performers will have been chosen by the four coaches (10 for each team). They advance to the battles, knockouts, and live performances. Ultimately, only one will receive the $100,000 prize and a record deal with Universal Music Group.
What do you think? Which season 24 episodes of The Voice TV series do you rate as wonderful, terrible, or somewhere between? Are you glad that The Voice has been renewed for a 25th season on NBC?
Check out our NBC status sheet to track the peacock network’s new series pickups, renewals, and cancellations. You can find lists of cancelled shows here.
“I am humbled and honored that President Biden and the United States Senate have entrusted me with the privilege to serve the people of the United States as a Commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission. As the first Latina to serve in this position in over two decades, it is especially meaningful to be sworn in as we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. I look forward to working with Congress, Chairwoman Rosenworcel, my fellow Commissioners, and the talented and dedicated FCC staff to ensure that every person in every community, of every geography and income, has access to modern telecommunications services. I am eager to hear from all and to bring my experience in domestic and international telecommunications to serve the American people,” said Gomez in a statement.
Gomez holds over 30 years of public and private sector experience to her role. Prior to the position, she served as deputy assistant secretary for communications and information and deputy administrator for the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) in the U.S. Department of Commerce. She first joined NTIA in 2009.
In addition to being sworn in, Gomez also announced her staff which includes Deena Shetler, (acting chief of staff and legal advisor for media and international), Edyael Casaperalta (acting legal advisor for wireless, public safety and consumer protection), Hayley Steffen (acting legal advisor for wireline and space), Anna Holland (acting executive assistant).
Shetler joins Commissioner Gomez’s staff from the office of Chairwoman Rosenworcel, where she served as Deputy Chief of Staff for Administration. Before joining Gomez’s staff, Casaperalta worked as chief of staff for the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau. Steffen transitions from the Wireline Competition Bureau, where she served as legal advisor to the Bureau Chief. Holland moves to Gomez’s staff from her most recent role as staff assistant to two successive bureau chiefs of the Wireline Competition Bureau.
“I am elated that these dedicated talented public servants have agreed to join my office,” said Commissioner Gomez. “They bring extensive experience in communications policy, the Commission, and working with its broad range of stakeholders. I know they will provide outstanding advice and I look forward to getting to work with them to ensure the Commission’s actions meet the needs of all people.”
Stevie Nicks has announced a 2024 tour of the U.S. It follows dates from late September through December of this year, including co-headlining shows with Billy Joel. Find her itinerary and ticket information below.
All products featured on Pitchfork are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Stevie Nicks: Live in Concert
Stevie Nicks:
09-27 Pittsburgh, PA — PPG Paints Arena 10-01 New York, NY — Madison Square Garden 10-04 Buffalo, NY — KeyBank Center 10-07 Baltimore, MD — M&T Bank Stadium * 10-28 Memphis, TN — FedExForum 11-01 Savannah, GA — Enmarket Arena 11-04 Allentown, PA — PPL Center 11-07 Detroit, MI — Little Caesars Arena 11-10 Minneapolis, MN — U.S. Bank Stadium * 11-29 San Diego, CA — Viejas Arena 12-02 Inglewood, CA — The Kia Forum 12-05 Palm Desert, CA — Acrisure Arena 12-08 Phoenix, AZ — Chase Field * 12-12 Sacramento, CA – Golden 1 Center 12-15 San Francisco, CA – Chase Center 02-10 Atlantic City, NJ – Mark G Etess Arena 02-14 Belmont Park, NY – UBS Arena 02-21 Greenville, SC – Bon Secours Wellness Arena 02-24 Hollywood, FL — Hard Rock Live 02-28 New Orleans, LA – Smoothie King Center 03-03 Omaha, NE – CHI Health Center 03-06 North Little Rock, AR – Simmons Bank Arena 03-09 Arlington, TX – AT&T Stadium *
According to Bad Bunny’s cryptic WhatsApp channel (a new feature on the platform where he boasts over 12 million followers) messages, the Puerto Rican star has just shared his last solo single of the year.
The reggaeton track is titled “Un Preview,” because “it is a small preview of what is coming next year,” per Bad Bunny’s announcement, and came attached to a visualizer directed by Stillz with masked, denim-sporting cowboys and horses — both real and the mechanical toy horse featured on the single’s cover.
“Baby, I’m not scared to taste you and to fall in love all over again,” he sings in the track’s chorus line.
The Grammy-winning artist teased the single via WhatsApp on Sept. 20, telling fans that the song would be out before the month ended. With the arrival of the new single, and presumably a new era in his chart-topping catalog, Bad Bunny’s previous “Un Verano Sin Ti” album art was replaced with a still of him from the music video on YouTube and on DSPs like Spotify and Apple Music.
The single follows Bad Bunny’s appearance on “K-Pop,” the only single that came ahead of Travis Scott’s “Utopia.” And it’s his second solo single of the year behind the Jersey club-inspired “Where She Goes,” which was released shortly after his appearance as a headliner for Coachella.
In his latest in-depth interview, Vanity Fair writer Michelle Ruiz alludes to Bad Bunny’s new album coming later this fall, though the artist’s representatives did not confirm. What he did share, however, was that he was “playing around and enjoying myself, letting go,” when it came to crafting the follow-up to his record-shattering “Un Verano.”
“I’m being inspired a lot by the music of the ’70s’—across genres, in both Spanish and English—’ but I’m not sure if this is going to shape my music, generally or just one song,” he said.
According to RCMP, the young man was found suffering from a gunshot wound. He was transported to hospital.
“Preliminary information suggests this was a targeted event and Police do not feel public safety is at risk,” said Penticton RCMP Cst. Kelly Brett in a press release.
“Given the time of day and the location, it is fortunate no other people were injured during this incident.”
Charges laid against 25-year-old following shooting death of BC RCMP officer
On Monday, a damaged piece of concrete and a missing blue barrier post were the only visible reminders of the incident.
Story continues below advertisement
Gas station employees declined to comment; however, the damage is believed to be from the victim’s vehicle which almost collided with the propane storage tank at the gas station during the incident.
“The investigation is ongoing and there is no further information being released at this time,” read the Penticton RCMP release.
Penticton RCMP General Investigative Section has now taken over the investigation.
Police are seeking dash camera footage from anyone who may have been in the area of Green Mountain Road and the Super Save Gas Station between 9:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. on Saturday.
Anyone with information about the incident is being asked to contact Penticton RCMP or Crimestoppers. Anyone who provides information that leads to an arrest may be eligible for a cash reward.
One dead after shooting in Burnaby, car torched nearby: RCMP
Sophia Loren took a serious fall. On Sunday, the 89-year-old actress fractured her hip when she fell at her Geneva, Switzerland, home, and underwent surgery shortly thereafter.
The news was initially shared on Sophia Loren Restaurant’s Instagram page. She was set to open the eatery, her fourth, on Sept. 26, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Loren’s rep then confirmed her fall to People, noting that the actress suffered several fractures, including to her femur and hip. The rep additionally said that they are optimistic about Loren’s recovery.
“The surgery went very well, we just have to wait,” Loren’s agent, Andrea Giusti, told CNN.
THR also reported that the fall took place in Loren’s bathroom, noting that it was her femur injury that required surgery. Sources told the outlet, which reported that all of Loren’s engagements for the foreseeable future have been canceled, that there is cautious optimism about the outcome of the operation and the actress’ recovery.
That recovery is being aided by Loren’s adult sons, Carlo Ponti and Edoardo Ponti, who are by her side at the hospital, according to THR.
Loren was last photographed in public on Sept. 2, when she attended Armani’s One Night Only event with her son, Edoardo, and his wife, Sasha Alexander.
Mondadori Portfolio / Contributor
The Italian Oscar winner, who is considered one of the greatest stars of classical Hollywood cinema, is known for her roles in Two Women, Houseboat, It Started in Naples and The Pride and the Passion.
It’s time for your daily dose of Quordle hints, plus the answers for both the main game and the Daily Sequence spin off.
Quordle is the only one of the many Wordle clones that I’m still playing now, around 18 months after the daily-word-game craze hit the internet, and with good reason: it’s fun, but also difficult.
What’s more, its makers (now the online dictionary Merriam-Webster) are also keeping it fresh in the form of a variant called the Daily Sequence, which sees you complete four puzzles consecutively, rather than concurrently.
But Quordle is tough, so if you already find yourself searching for Wordle hints, you’ll probably need some for this game too.
I’m a Quordle and Wordle fanatic who’s been playing since December 2021, so I can definitely help you solve Quordle today and improve your game for tomorrow. Read on for my Quordle hints to game #610 and the answers to the main game and Daily Sequence.
SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don’t read on if you don’t want to know the answers.
Your Quordle expert
Your Quordle expert
Marc McLaren
Marc is TechRadar’s UK Editor in Chief and has been playing Wordle and Quordle for more than a year. He’s authored dozens of articles on the game for TechRadar and its sister site Tom’s Guide, including a detailed analysis of the most common letters in every position. His Wordle streak recently reached the 500 mark and he’ll be inconsolable if he loses it. Yes, he takes it all too seriously.
Quordle today (game #610) – hint #1 – Vowels
How many different vowels are in Quordle today?
• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 4*.
* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too).
Quordle today (game #610) – hint #2 – total vowels
What is the total number of vowels in Quordle today?
• The total number of vowels across today’s Quordle answers is 6.
Quordle today (game #610) – hint #3 – repeated letters
Do any of today’s Quordle answers contain repeated letters?
• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 0.
Quordle today (game #610) – hint #4 – total letters
How many different letters are used in Quordle today?
• The total number of different letters used in Quordle today is 14.
Quordle today (game #610) – hint #5 – uncommon letters
Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?
• No. None of Q, Z, X or J appear among today’s Quordle answers.
Where Wordle challenges you to guess a new five-letter word each day, Quordle presents you with four puzzles to solve. And rather than complete them in turn, you do so simultaneously. You get nine guesses, rather than the six for Wordle, but the rules are otherwise very similar.
As with Wordle, the answers are the same for every player each day, meaning that you’re competing against the rest of the world. And also as with Wordle, the puzzle resets at midnight so you have a fresh challenge each day.
The website also includes a practice mode – which I definitely recommend using before attempting the game proper! – and there are daily stats including a streak count. You also get Quordle Achievements – specific badges for winning a game in a certain number of turns, playing lots of times, or guessing particularly hard words.
Oh, and it’s difficult. Really difficult.
What are the Quordle rules?
The rules of Quordle are almost identical to those of Wordle.
1. Letters that are in the answer and in the right place turn green.
2. Letters that are in the answer but in the wrong place turn yellow.
3. Letters that are not in the answer turn gray…
4. …BUT the word you guess appears in all quadrants of the puzzle at the same time, so an A could turn green in one square, yellow in another and gray in the final two.
5. Answers are never plural.
6. Letters can appear more than once. So if your guess includes two of one letter, they may both turn yellow, both turn green, or one could be yellow and the other green.
7. Each guess must be a valid word in Quordle’s dictionary. You can’t guess ABCDE, for instance.
8. You do not have to include correct letters in subsequent guesses and there is no equivalent of Wordle’s Hard mode.
9. You have nine guesses to find the Quordle answers.
10. You must complete the daily Quordle before midnight in your timezone.
What is a good Quordle strategy?
Quordle needs to be approached in a different way to Wordle. With four puzzles to solve in nine guesses, you can’t blindly throw letters at it and expect to win – you’ll stand a far better chance if you think strategically.
That’s the case in Wordle too, of course, but it’s even more important in Quordle.
There are two key things to remember.
1. Use several starting words
Firstly, you won’t want just a single starting word, but almost certainly two or three starting words.
The first of these should probably be one of the best Wordle starting words, because the same things that make them work well will apply here too. But after that, you should select another word or possibly two that use up lots more of the most common consonants and that include any remaining vowels.
For instance, I currently use STARE > DOILY > PUNCH. Between them, these three words use 15 of the 26 letters in the alphabet including all five vowels, Y, and nine of the most common consonants (S, T, R, D, L, P, N, C and H). There are plenty of other options – you might want to get an M, B, F or G in there instead of the H, maybe – but something like that should do the trick.
If all goes well, that will give you a good lead on what one or sometimes two of the answers might be. If not, well good luck!
2. Narrow things down
Secondly, if you’re faced with a word where the answer might easily be one of several options – for instance -ATCH, where it could be MATCH, BATCH, LATCH, CATCH, WATCH, HATCH or PATCH – you’ll definitely want to guess a word that would narrow down those options.
In Wordle, you can instead try several of those in succession and hope one is right, assuming you have enough guesses left. It’s risky, but will sometimes work. Plus, it’s the only option in Hard mode. But in Quordle, this will almost certainly result in a failure – you simply don’t have enough guesses.
In the scenario above, CLAMP would be a great guess, as it could point the way to four of the seven words in one go.
“Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test” is back for its sophomore season with an enticing slate of celebrities — including Tom Sandoval, Blac Chyna, JoJo Siwa and Tyler Cameron to name a few — all of whom had distinct reasons for coming on the Fox reality competition show.
“Everyone has a different motivation — Tom Sandoval wanted to be punished in a way and also prove himself — a bit of a public punishment — for what had happened,” EP Sophie Leonard told TheWrap, referencing the “Vanderpump Rules” star’s cheating scandal. “You’ve also got people who are quite controversial characters, like Blac Chyna. [She] wanted to show the public who she really is … there’s two different sides to her.”
Many contestants who have signed up for treacherous 10-day challenge have “something to prove,” according to Leonard, pointing to Jack Osbourne, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2012. For others, putting themselves through the brutal tasks is a way to understand their veteran family members better, including NBA champion Robert Horry or “The Bachelorette” alum Tyler Cameron.
“Some people do it because they really want to know who they are — maybe they’re a bit lost,” Leonard said, adding that recently retired professional athletes like former NFL player Dez Bryant and Olympic gold medal-winning alpine skier Bode Miller might be searching for their next chapter. “There’s no better way to find out who you really are than when you’re in an extreme environment — your mask of who you project to the world is taken away — there’s no agents, there’s no hair and makeup — there’s no like green room where you can step out of it. This really is an immersive experience.”
Whereas casting for last season’s first try at the U.S. series started almost completely from scratch after adapting the U.K. format, this season representatives for figures across entertainment and sports reached out to the EP team to sign their client up. Additionally, the casting team reached out to potential contestants with the aim of securing a wide range of recruits, including varying ages, different types of careers, backgrounds, work and with all of the reality stars competing this season, did you think that you know, they were somehow able to embrace the situation as their reality more what was that dynamic? Likelived experiences.
“We knew the cast of Season 1 had really amazing experiences, and the best way to convince anybody is to talk to someone that’s done it, so we asked our cast of Season 1 to do testimonials,” Leonard said, adding that some previous cast members hailed the show as having a “massive impact” on their lives. “When you have somebody that’s gone through the experience explaining [their experience] firsthand to someone that’s thinking of signing up, it’s a really useful and informative thing for those new cast members to hear.”
In the below interview, Leonard previews what this season’s brutal New Zealand winter will bring, and why she thinks reality stars have a tougher time adjusting to the experience than their counterparts.
TheWrap: What are some new elements can viewers look forward to for Season 2?
Leonard: We have moved from the desert, which is extreme heat to the opposite end of the scale. We went to New Zealand, and we did winter warfare training, and it is freezing cold — it’s snow, it’s icy water. In the first season, people were literally like, ‘I’m so hot, I’m about to pass out,’ and in the second season, they’re freezing and shivering. We really went to the other end of the scale with the elements.
They’re incredibly brutal when you actually have to operate in those places, which is why special forces trains in those places, because it’s the most physically challenging environment and a really hostile environment and everything about the environment wants to kill you, which is quite fun to try.
With all of the reality stars competing this season, did you think they were somehow able to embrace the situation as their reality more than the others? What was that dynamic like?
I think, in a way, it’s harder for the reality stars, maybe because they have an expectation of what TV is, and they can’t do this show … You get the feeling that they’re like, ‘Oh, hang on a minute, when am I off camera?’ And it’s like, ‘no, you’re not ever off camera.’ We film 24 hours a day, so they don’t get a break.
That’s where that performance element that a lot of people have on reality TV just comes away, and it shows people who they really are. People that are in reality TV sometimes there is a level of performance involved — they’re themselves, but when we all go to work, we put on our best front, don’t we? When you’re doing a show like “Special Forces,” you might do that for the first few hours the first day, but believe me, when you’re freezing cold, starving, hungry, you’re haven’t had any sleep and you’re being dumped in a freezing cold frozen lake and being asked to remember mnemonics, you can’t pretend anymore.
How long do you think that it took most contestants to accept this was truly their new reality?
When they meet the DS [Directing Staff] for the first time because the DS are not acting — They’re not doing this for television, they’re doing it because this is what they’ve done for their jobs for however many years. As soon as the celebrities meet the DS, they realize, ‘oh, this is not a game’ — these guys really mean it, and they’re going to treat us like everybody’s equal. It’s an amazing leveler. [The DS] really want people to have a genuine experience and learn things about themselves.
Were there any challenges you had to adjust?
We try everything in advance. Our production team are the craziest, most hard working, extraordinary production team. When you see the celebrities running, you’ve got to remember the camera are ahead of them, running ahead and carrying a camera kit. When we’re doing all of our trial runs, and all of the tasks, our crew always volunteer to do the tasks, so we test it out.
All of our tasks, they can be run for longer or shorter. If someone’s being dunked under the water, they will bring themselves up when they’re ready to come up. And obviously, they will get judged by the DS about how long they were able to sustain the task for etcetera, etcetera, bu no, we would never make it easier for people. That would be against the “Special Forces” ethos.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
August 26, 2023: Jackson and Palmer go live on Instagram while celebrating her 30th birthday. “D, thank you for taking me out on my birthday as always,” Palmer said to Jackson in a clip shared by Pop Crave. “I mean, it’s not always my birthday but you always do take me out. But I just thank you for making it special for my birthday, that’s so sweet.”
During their live stream, Jackson refers to Palmer as his “partner in crime,” while Palmer seems to hint at a possible reconciliation. “Get into the Virgos and admit that Virgos are the one,” Palmer jokingly tells Jackson. “It’s already too late, your Virgo already has you hooked.”
September 4, 2023: Palmer and Jackson attend Beyoncé’s Renaissance tour together in Los Angeles.
September 25, 2023: Palmer tells Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager to “mind y’all’s business” when they ask about her relationship with Jackson.
“Not y’all trying to get into it! They trying it on the Today show,” Palmer joked when the subject was first brought up on Today With Hoda & Jenna. When the hosts say they just want to know if Palmer is “happy,” the singer replies in the affirmative. However, when she’s pressed on whether she’s grateful “for the relationship” she responds, “I’m not trying to be specific!”
Still, Hager attempts to get to the bottom of things by flat out asking whether the couple are together, to which Palmer responds, “I’m going to take a page out of my girl Beyoncé’s book: Mind y’all’s business.”
Vijay Varma recently starred in Jaane Jaan with Kareena Kapoor Khan.
Vijay Varma opens up on shooting the dancing sequence with Kareena Kapoor Khan in Jaane Jaan.
Vijay Varma is without a doubt Indian cinema’s most versatile actor, who never fails to astound his fans and viewers with his extraordinary performances. Having been receiving accolades for his role in the thriller drama, Vijay Varma garners notice for his first-ever on-screen dance performance from the film, in which he is seen dancing with Kareena Kapoor Khan.
The film directed by Sujoy Ghosh, Jaane Jaan features Vijay Varma dancing for the first time on-screen and sharing the story behind his dance performance. Vijay Varma took to his social media and shared a series of super adorable pictures from the film of himself with Kareena Kapoor Khan and captioned,
“I never danced on-screen before #JaaneJaan. I was always too shy.. I still am. It wasn’t even written in the script! I would have prepared myself in that case. @sujoyghoshofficial broke the news to me on the set and I protested.. But when @kareenakapoorkhan asks you to dance.. you dance. That’s the rule
@netflix_in”
Jaane Jaan presents the fresh side of the versatile actor and it also has him doing action sequences. From critics to the audiences, everyone is raving about his outstanding performance in the film.
News18 Showsha gave the film 3 stars and wrote, “Varma plays a character who is cool analytical type, though his ego allows him to miss key details. His turn as a quirky but sincere cop is understated and believable. It is also a welcome change from all the negative roles that the audience has seen in his last few releases. Kareena is perpetually nervous and obviously in way over her head. She is flawless as a feisty yet vulnerable woman with an intriguing backstory. As a woman tackling personal and professional upheavals and displaying conflicting ideals, Kareena is in top form as she sheds her otherwise diva image and stands tall against two top actors (Varma and Ahlawat) who could have easily overshadowed her.”
Meanwhile, Vijay Varma, who ruled the year 2023 with “Dahaad,” “Lust Stories Season 2,” “Kaalkoot,” and the recent release “Jaane Jaan,” will be next seen in Homi Adajania’s ‘Murder Mubarak’ and the much-awaited ‘Mirzapur 3’
Aditi Giri, Senior Sub-Editor at News18. She is a Bollywood and Biryani enthusiast. She loves talking to your favourite BTown celebrities, and brings …Read More
Despite this, much care went into the execution of Krasinski’s brief portrayal of the iconic character, ensuring it was done as well as possible.
Mr. Fantastic Detail in Doctor Strange 2
Marvel
In the book Doctor Strange in The Multiverse of Madness: The Art of The Movie, Marvel Studios’ Head of Visual Development, Ryan Meinerding, revealed that the design of John Krasinski’s Mr. Fantastic suit had a deeper meaning that reflected the hero’s powers.
Meinerding acknowledged how, when designing characters from early in Marvel’s comics canon, it’s critical that they “get it right” while also balancing the modern with something that will “feel like the character:”
“Any time we get back into the characters that are from the very beginning, it ends up feeling like a tremendous responsibility. You have to get it right. You have to modernize it to a degree, but you also have to get something that is going to resonate with the fans and feel like the character.”
He then emphasized how important that was for Mr. Fantastic as “he’s one of those characters that’s already been on the big screen,” so they also had to make him “distinct:”
“In the case of Mister Fantastic, he’s one of those characters that’s already been on the big screen. So you’re trying to come up with something that still feels classic and interesting, yet modern enough to exist in an MCU movie and distinct from what’s been done before.”
Meinerding explained that the extra stripes on Reed Richards’ suit were symbolic, with the black “add[ing] structure to the structure and to his body” while “the blue parts stretch:”
“The intent of putting those extra stripes in there was to say that the black parts add structure to the costume and to his body, and the blue parts stretch.”
Furthermore, according to Meinerding, the goal was for the Illuminati members “to look a little more put together.” So Reed’s costume “[took] the design challenge as seriously as possible” and was not intended “to feel nostalgic:”
“Aesthetically, they’re meant to look a little more put together than some of our other teams of heroes. That’s just the notion of being on The Illuminati. There’s almost a heaviness to that team. So for Reed, I was trying to lean into something that felt like it was taking the design challenge as seriously as possible. It wasn’t supposed to necessarily be a throwback. It wasn’t supposed to feel nostalgic.”
Overall, Meinerding said he appreciates the opportunity to bring any of these classic characters to life, referring to any of the characters in Marvel comics yet to be introduced as “ridiculously exciting:”
“Just hearing them talk about the potential of The Illuminati and who could possibly be on it was a huge treat. Having that council get filled out was really exciting. One of the fun things about working here is that there’s such a wealth of amazing characters left in the Marvel Comics universe that are still ridiculously exciting. At any given moment, if they decide to put somebody in a movie, it could turn into the coolest thing you’ve ever worked on.”
And, as the wait shortens for the upcoming Fantastic Four reboot, there are plenty of opportunities for more of these modernized costumes inspired by Marvel Comics, be it for heroes like the Human Torch or villains like Doctor Doom.
The Fantastic Four is known in the comics as Marvel’s First Family (bringing a double meaning to the FF acronym often used for the team or its related Future Foundation). As such, there’s an element of a golden-age, classic vibe inherent to the team.
Because of this, it wouldn’t be a stretch to expect similar classically modern costumes in the 2025 reboot, as it balances the comics with new stories that can exist within the established MCU.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is streaming on Disney+.
The first season of the hit Netflix series The Sandman is officially coming to home video on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD this November, so be sure to pick it up!
Check out the full details below!
ENTER THE DREAMING IN
THE SANDMAN: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON
AVAILABLE TO PURCHASE DIGITALLY SEPTEMBER 18, 2023
ON 4K ULTRA HDTM, BLU-RAYTM AND DVD NOVEMBER 28, 2023
BURBANK, CA (September 7, 2023) – Inspired by the iconic, award-winning DC comic book series, The Sandman: The Complete First Season comes to Digital on September 18, 2023 and to 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD on November 28, 2023.
The Sandman: The Complete First Season follows Morpheus, also known as Dream, who is captured in an occult ritual in 1916 by Roderick Burgess. Imprisoned for 106 years, Morpheus escapes only to return to his home, The Dreaming, to find his nightmares have also found their way out. Join the adventures of Morpheus as he sets out to stop the forces of evil destroying The Dreaming.
“Certified Fresh” on Rotten Tomatoes, and already renewed for a second season on Netflix, The Sandman: The Complete First Season features an all-star cast including Tom Sturridge (Sweetbitter) as Morpheus/Dream, Boyd Holbrook (Narcos) as the Corinthian, Patton Oswalt (The Goldbergs) as Matthew the Raven, Vivienne Acheampong as Lucienne, David Thewlis (Fargo) as John Dee, Jenna Coleman (Victoria) as Johanna Constantine, and Gwendoline Christie (Game of Thrones) as Lucifer Morningstar.
The series was developed by Neil Gaiman (American Gods), David S. Goyer (The Dark Knight trilogy) and Allan Heinberg (Wonder Woman). It was produced by Warner Bros. Television, based on the comic The Sandman by Neil Gaiman, Sam Kieth and Mike Dringenberg for DC Comics.
The Sandman: The Complete First Season will be available on September 18, 2023 to purchase Digitally from Amazon Prime Video, AppleTV, Google Play, Vudu and more. 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD will be available to purchase online and in-store at major retailers on November 28, 2023.
Synopsis
Based on the beloved award-winning DC comic series written by Neil Gaiman, The Sandman: The Complete First Season is a rich, character-driven blend of myth and dark fantasy woven together over the course of ten epic chapters following Dream’s many adventures (plus a bonus episode featuring two fan-favorite stories). When the Sandman, a.k.a. Dream (Tom Sturridge) — the powerful cosmic being who controls all our dreams — is unexpectedly captured and held prisoner for over a century, he must journey across different worlds and timelines to fix the chaos his absence has caused.
SPECIAL FEATURES INCLUDE:
The Sandman: Behind the Scenes Sneak Peek
The World of The Endless
PRICING AND SERIES INFORMATION
PRODUCT
Includes 11 episodes:
Sleep of the Just
Imperfect Hosts
Dream a Little Dream of Me
A Hope in Hell
24/7
The Sound of Her Wings
The Doll’s House
Playing House
Collectors
Lost Hearts
Dream of a Thousand Cats/Calliope
PRODUCTSRP
Digital UHD $24.99 SRP (US & Canada)
4K Ultra HD $44.98 SRP US ($54.99 SRP Canada)
Blu-ray $29.98 SRP US ($39.99 SRP Canada)
DVD $24.98 SRP US ($29.98 SRP Canada)
Audio: English (5.1) DD
Subtitles: English
Run Time: Approx. 544 minutes
About Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment
Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment (WBDHE) distributes the award-winning movies, television, animation, and digital content produced by Warner Bros. Discovery to the homes and screens of millions through physical Blu-ray Disc™ and DVD retail sales and digital transactions on major streaming, video-on-demand cable, satellite, digital, and mobile channels. WBDHE is part of Warner Bros. Discovery Content Sales, one of the world’s largest distributors of entertainment programming.
About DC
DC, part of Warner Bros. Discovery, creates iconic characters and enduring stories and is one of the world’s largest publishers of comics and graphic novels. DC’s creative work entertains audiences of every generation around the world with DC’s stories and characters integrated across Warner Bros. Discovery’s film, television, animation, consumer products, home entertainment, games, and themed experiences divisions, and on the DC Universe Infinite digital comic subscription service. Learn more at DC.com
Atari looks to be continuing the their impressive string. one of the world’s most iconic consumer brands and interactive entertainment producers — is delighted to reveal today the next entry in its lineup of original games: Days of Doom, a tactical turn-based roguelite set in an unorthodox post-apocalyptic world.
The tributes have begun to pour in for NCISveteran David McCallum, who died this morning at 90 in New York.
McCallum was the last remaining original cast member on CBS’ NCIS. He played Chief Medical Examiner Donald “Ducky” Mallard, an eccentric but highly efficient investigator with a knack for psychological profiling, for two decades.
In a statement provided to Deadline, longtime NCIS star Mark Harmon said, “David lived a great, full, long life. I was in awe when I first met him and all of us on the show were honored to have toed a mark opposite him. My condolences go out to Katherine and his family.”
Former NCIS colleague Michael Weatherly wrote on X that “David McCallum made every moment count, in life and on set. Let’s raise a jug and celebrate a funny fantastic authentic man. I’ve only got 3 autographs. Connery, Tony Bennett and McCallum. I felt the same way as Steve McQueen in this picture from The Great Escape: Wow! It’s David McCallum! No one did it better. We were lucky to have him bring us Ducky. Let’s send all the love in the world to his beautiful family. Rest In Peace David.”
Lauren Holly, who played Jenny Shepherd on NCIS from 2005 to 2015, weighed in by saying, “RIP David McCallum. You were the kindest man. Thank you for being you.”
Another Duckie remembered McCallum on X today: Jon Cryer.
“Devastating to hear as a fan. And worse as someone lucky enough to have worked with him,” said Cryer, who played Duckie in the 1986 film Pretty in Pink. “I’m so grateful I had the chance. A witty, joyful and wonderful actor. He was the guy Duckie called “Ducky” My sincerest condolences to his friends and family.”
McCallum’s extensive TV series credits also include The Man From U.N.C.L.E., The Invisible Man, The Education of Max Bickford, Sapphire and Steel, Colditz, Motherlove, Kidnapped, and episodes of The Outer Limits, Law & Order and Sex and the City.
While Hollywood writers are celebrating the (likely but not official yet) end of the WGA strike and the fact that they can get back to work soon, Starz has decided to get back to work a little quicker… by rolling out the guillotine and canceling some shows, with one cancellation in particular seeming explicitly cruel to one specific person, given the timing of this news and the assumption that it shouldn’t be too much longer before SAG-AFTRA gets a deal of its own.
Taylor Swift went on a date with an NFL player and is now both cheer captain and on the bleachers
Either way, Starz has canceled Blindspotting, Run The World, and Heels, all of which just recently aired their second seasons. The network has also killed The Venery Of Samantha Bird, a new series with Katherine Langford that had started filming before the start of the WGA strike and now will not be resumed—though Variety says that only two episodes hadn’t been shot yet, so the fact that it’s being canceled now suggests that the studios are still going to be spending some time cleaning up the messes they made by refusing to make deals with the unions for so long.
As for Heels, well, at a certain point, someone hypothetically could start to feel bad for star Stephen Amell. When the show’s second season premiered just a few weeks into the SAG-AFTRA strike, Amell openly rebelled against union rules preventing members from promoting struck work, first with cheeky social media posts and then by denouncing the very act of striking in general at a convention appearance. He later tried to walk back those comments, explaining that he was frustrated by the need to strike even though he understood why the strike was happening, and—to his credit—he did later show up on the picket lines in New York.
Now all of that was for a show that got canceled hours after the WGA announced that it had a tentative deal. If nothing else, this should all make it pretty clear just who you’re siding with when you choose management over your fellow workers—whether you’re in Hollywood or a regular job where nobody asks you for bad labor opinions at a comic book convention.
Nominations voting is from January 11-16, 2024, with official Oscar nominations announced January 23, 2024. Final voting is February 22-27, 2024. And finally, the 96th Oscars telecast will be broadcast on Sunday, March 10 and air live on ABC at 8:00 p.m. ET/ 5:00 p.m. PT. We update predictions through awards season, so keep checking IndieWire for all our 2024 Oscar picks.
With a fragile theatrical market for non-fiction features and a dwindling number of active documentary buyers, many Sundance 2023 films did not get picked up for distribution. As the top American film festival for docs, Sundance usually supplies as many as four out of the final five Oscar nominees each year.
And usually by late summer, Oscar promotion is well under way. Last year, three Sundance grads — eventual Oscar nominees “Fire of Love” (Neon), “All that Breathes” (HBO), and the winner, “Navalny” (CNN) — were actively campaigning.
Ordinarily, the Sundance Grand Jury Prize U.S. Documentary winner would be snapped up by a distributor. Not this year. Only recently did popular veteran documentarians Joe Brewster and Michèle Stephenson’s innovative portrait of feminist poetry and politics, “Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project” get acquired by HBO Documentary Films.
A popular Sundance film that could play well for Oscar voters is veteran Lisa Cortés’ well-reviewed music biodoc “Little Richard: I Am Everything” (Magnolia/Max). While CNN Films’ documentary unit has been trimmed, CNN has started a robust campaign for the film, starting with it being broadcast on CNN at the beginning of September before going to Max. CNN’s “Little Richard” has a chance to follow “Navalny” as another Oscar contender.
Another idiosyncratic film portrayal did announce a home: Nicole Newnham’s “The Disappearance of Shere Hite,” about the glamorous sex researcher and controversial feminist pioneer, finally sold to IFC Films and Sapan Studios. Another film that found a distributor was executive producer Lena Waithe’s transgender sex workers story “Kokomo City” (July 28, Magnolia), which won both jury and audience awards at Sundance NEXT and the Audience Award at the Berlinale Panorama.
“The Disappearance of Shere Hite”Sundance
Sundance World Cinema entries that could build followings include Pulitzer Prize winner Mstyslav Chernov’s timely war journalist story “20 Days in Mariupol” (August, Frontline/PBS), which won the Audience Award, along with Madeline Gavin’s North Korean exposé “Beyond Utopia” (October 23, Fathom Events/Roadside Attractions). If it lands a 2023 release, U.S. Documentary Director prize winner “A Still, Small Voice,” Luke Lorentzen’s follow-up to Oscar-shortlisted “Midnight Family,” could find a following.
Kino Lorber will push Berlin Golden Bear winner “On the Adamant,” about a floating psychiatric care center, from Nicolas Philibert. Paul B. Preciado’s “Orlando, My Political Biography” (Sideshow/Janus Films), the winner of four prizes at Berlin, also has played at many of the major fall festivals, along with Tatiana Huezo’s Berlin Best Documentary winner “The Echo” and Claire Simon’s “Our Body” (Cinema Guild).
The Academy confirmed that the international membership now represents more than 20 percent of the total voters.
Movies like “All that Breathes” and “Writing with Fire” from India, Oscar-winner “My Octopus Teacher,” from Australia, “Flee” from Denmark, “Honeyland” from Macedonia, and “The Mole Agent” from Chilean filmmaker Maite Alberdi all landed Oscar nods. Alberdi could return with “The Eternal Memory” (August, MTV Documentary Films), a Berlin entry and winner of the Sundance World Cinema documentary jury prize, a four-hankie romantic story about Alzheimer’s that could resonate with the senior Oscar voters that favored Michael Haneke’s “Amour.” Similarly, like “Writing with Fire,” TIFF 2022 debut “While We Watched” (July 14, BritDocs/POV) documents recent changes in Indian media, and has built such ardent supporters as John Oliver.
“The Eternal Memory”Courtesy of Sundance Institute
One-week Oscar-qualifying runs in six major cities demand resources, as does participating in major and regional festivals, International Documentary Association screenings, and other doc series with Q&As. However, a small distributor and marketing budget does not mean all is lost, as surprise documentary nominee “Writing with Fire” and international nominee “Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom” proved in 2021.
At Cannes, three-time documentary Oscar nominee Wim Wenders debuted 3D artist portrait “Anselm” (Sideshow/Janus Films) about Anselm Kiefer, which also played the fall fest circuit. Respected and admired, Wenders scored the lifetime achievement award at the Lumiere Fest, accepted a Telluride tribute silver medallion, and is head of the jury in October’s Tokyo International Film Festival. Cannes entry “The Mother of All Lies” won Best Directing in Un Certain Regard, and tied for the Best Documentary award with edgy Competition title “Four Daughters” (Kino Lorber). Jury chief Kirsten Johnson (Emmy-winning “Dick Johnson Is Dead”) will be talking up both titles stateside.
Tribeca premiered two slices of baseball history, Oscar nominee Sam Pollard’s “The League” (July 12, Magnolia), a chronicle of the long-defunct Negro leagues, and Oscar-winner Morgan Neville’s “The Saint of Second Chances” (fall, Netflix).
This summer, when the awards team behind AppleTV+’s “Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie” realized that the field of Oscar contenders was thinner than usual, they threw the title into both Emmy and Oscar contention. The Davis Guggenheim-directed doc about the hugely popular TV and film star fighting off the vicissitudes of Parkinson’s and reflecting on his past looks good for an Emmy win and Academy rules also make it possible to pick up an Oscar slot.
It doesn’t work the other way. Only a movie that doesn’t land an Oscar nomination can be submitted for Emmys, as Brett Morgen’s “Jane” did in 2017. With superb reviews for its innovative filmmaking that elevates “Still” beyond the hagiographic celebrity documentaries that are so popular these days, it has a chance at both the Emmy and the Oscar. One thing we can count on if that happens: The Oscars will change the rules again.
NatGeo is promoting International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam Audience Award winner “Bobi Wine: The People’s President” (July 28), featuring the former presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu aka Bobi Wine, as well as Telluride entry “The Mission,” from Amanda McBaine and Jesse Moss (“Boys State”).
Several films that did not make a big splash at earlier festivals have a chance to gain more ground at the fall festivals.
Paul Simon in Alex Gibney’s “In Restless Dreams” Courtesy Jigsaw Productions
Likely to have gained an enhanced profile during the WGA and SAG strikes at the fall film festivals are established filmmakers like Alex Gibney (sales title “In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon”), Roger Ross Williams (Netflix’s “Stamped from the Beginning”), Errol Morris (Apple TV+’s “The Pigeon Tunnel”), Matthew Heineman (“American Symphony,” picked up by Netflix), Lucy Walker (“Mountain Queen: The Summits of Lhakpa Sherpa,” picked up by Netflix), Raoul Peck (Amazon’s “Silver Dollar Road”) and Frederick Wiseman (four-hour “Menus-Plaisirs Les Troisgros,” Zipporah Films) in which the 93-year-old director embeds inside a French restaurant that’s held three Michelin stars for more than 50 years.
Laura Poitras won her first Oscar for “Citizenfour” (Radius TWC) after premiering at NYFF, while her second nomination for “All the Beauty and the Bloodshed” (Neon) arrived after winning the Golden Lion in Venice (and playing NYFF again). Raoul Peck’s Oscar-nominated “I Am Not Your Negro” (Magnolia) premiered in TIFF before playing New York. And Oscar-winner “Free Solo” (NatGeo) debuted in Telluride before playing Toronto.
Several European documentaries could enter the race later on, as did last year’s surprise Sundance nominee “A House Made of Splinters” — assuming they get some backing. This preliminary list is far from exhaustive. We will add more titles as the picture becomes clearer.
Contenders for the shortlist of 15 are listed in alphabetical order below. No documentary will be deemed a frontrunner until I have seen the film.
Contenders: “20 Days in Mariupol” “American Symphony” “Bobi Wine: The People’s President” “Beyond Utopia” “A Compassionate Spy” “The Echo” “Four Daughters” “It Ain’t Over” “Menus-Plaisirs Les Troisgros” “The Mission” “The Mother of All Lies” “Mountain Queen: The Summits of Lhakpa Sherpa” “Orlando, My Political Biography” “Our Body” “Pianoforte” “The Saint of Second Chances” “Silver Dollar Road” “A Still, Small Voice” “To Kill a Tiger” “While We Watched”
*NSYNC is back, and fans couldn’t be more excited for the boy band’s return. And according to Lance Bass, the members of the group were so excited to be back in the studio together, they all shed tears during their long-awaited reunion.
“It was pretty emotional, the first time we all got in the studio together,” Bass recalled of the recording session in a Sunday interview with Entertainment Tonight. “Back in March, we decided to, you know, get back together and have some fun and it was like no [time] had passed.
“But there was a lot of tears,” he added. “It was just tears of joy. And it was just a beautiful moment. Like, time does so much, and for us to finally be together, it just feels right.”
The boy band’s reunion comes amid the upcoming release of the third Trolls movie, Trolls Band Together. The group lent their collective talents for the soundtrack’s song “Better Place,” which will be the group’s first original song in over 20 years when it’s released on Friday. Justin Timberlake co-stars in the movie as the character Branch.
*NSYNC confirmed the reunion rumors with their appearance at the 2023 MTV VMAs on Sept. 12, where they presented Taylor Swift with the best pop award. In the time since, fans have been speculating if more new music or a tour is on the horizon, but Bass says they’ll need to sit tight for more news.
“I’ve been telling the fans, like, we don’t have solid plans right now. Because, you know, we’re waiting for the strike to end. We’ve got things to do,” Bass explained. “But [the fans are] definitely shaping our future.” (In the time since Bass’ interview, the Writers’ Guild and Hollywood studios reached a tentative agreement to end the writers’ strike, but the actors’ strike is still ongoing.)
NOW IN FESTIVALS! In Matthew Mishory’s latest documentary, Fioretta, he follows Randy Schoenberg and his son Joey on a journey that covers over 500 years of the Schoenberg family history. Randy is the grandson of composer Arnold Schoenberg and a top litigator based in Los Angeles, California, who specializes in legal cases related to the recovery of looted or stolen artworks, particularly those by the Nazi regime during the Holocaust. Schoenberg succeeded in recovering Gustav Klimt’s famous painting known as The Woman in Gold and other works of art after a nearly eight-year struggle against the Austrian government, which was portrayed in the film Woman in Gold, with Ryan Reynolds playing Schoenberg.
“…to connect to his past and learn how his ancestors survived…before, during, and after the Nazis.”
A passionate genealogist from his youth and focused on his family, Randy has spent decades tracking down family—primarily cousins—to connect to his past and learn how his ancestors survived in a world where Jewish immigrants had many obstacles to overcome before, during, and after the Nazis. Having constructed a family tree at a young age, he traveled to locate family members and explore the past. Set on a new quest, Randy brings along his son Joey, and the two embark from Malibu, California, to Prague, Czech Republic, Vienna, Austria, and Venice and Florence, Italy. Encountering living relatives and an enormous amount of ancestral history that is astonishing, bewildering, and quite beautiful, the past comes to life in unexpected ways.
As Randy and Joey meet with Jewish archivists, museum curators, and synagogue and cemetery custodians, Mishory brings us along to see living history that tells the stories of how kings, mystics, false messiahs, artists, and musicians all weave together the Schoenberg story. From describing neighborhood memorials in Vienna to visiting numerous Jewish cemeteries throughout Prague, Czech Republic, Austria, and Italy—some so old that the gravestones are almost too difficult to discern, yet too fascinating to ignore—this adventure of a lifetime proves to be a picturesque ride. Those who appreciate research and genealogy will geek out at the artifacts, tax ledgers, and ancient historical and archival items, which are irresistible to Randy. When coming upon his grandfather’s grave, he acknowledges that he is not buried with Mozart, Beethoven, or Schubert at the Vienna Central Cemetery but outside their memorial locations in the composer’s section. This, among many other observations, reveals how Jews have existed outside the mainstream at different times throughout history.
Ukraine’s military claimed on Monday that it had killed the commander of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet in a strike on Crimea — a blow that, if confirmed, would be among the most damaging suffered by the Russian Navy since the sinking of the fleet’s flagship last year.
Citing “new information about the losses of the enemy as a result of the special operation,” Ukraine’s special operations forces said in a statement that the strike on Friday killed 34 officers, including the fleet commander, and wounded 105 others. It did not name the naval leader, but the commander of the Black Sea Fleet is Adm. Viktor Sokolov, one of the most senior officers in Russia’s Navy.
The attack came during a meeting of Russian commanders, Ukraine’s military said, and badly damaged a headquarters of the Russian fleet in Sevastopol, Crimea. The chief of Ukrainian military intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, also told Voice of America on Saturday that the strike had badly wounded two senior Russian generals — Col. Gen. Aleksandr Romanchuk and Lieut. Gen. Oleg Tsekov. There has been no further word from either side on their condition.
There was no immediate comment from Russia’s Defense Ministry on the status of any of its commanders, and there was no independent verification of the claims.
In recent weeks, Ukraine has sharply increased the pace of strikes in Crimea, a strategically vital peninsula illegally annexed by Moscow nearly a decade ago. Kyiv has used missiles and aerial and maritime drones to attack warships, a naval port, bridges and military depots.
By going after Crimea, analysts say, Ukraine is making it harder for the Kremlin to use the region as a logistics hub for the territory it seized last year in southern Ukraine, where Russia is now battling a Ukrainian counteroffensive. It is also raising the price that Moscow must pay to maintain control of the peninsula and use it as the base for a fleet that regularly fires missiles into Ukraine, attacks and attempts to enforce a blockade on Ukrainian ports.
“Any target inside Crimea is essentially fair game to demonstrate to the Russians they do not have security, they do not control skies over Crimea, they are vulnerable to Ukrainian strikes, and Ukraine can get to them whenever it wants,” said Samuel Bendett, an analyst of Russia’s military at CNA, a think tank based near Washington.
Russia on Monday fired a barrage of drones and missiles at the Ukrainian port city of Odesa, a hub of the grain export trade that Ukraine has tried to maintain despite Russian efforts to cripple it. Ukraine’s military said it had shot down most of the weapons, but officials said one had hit a grain warehouse, killing two people, and others had damaged a marine terminal and an abandoned high-rise hotel.
The attack on Sevastopol on Friday used a combination of missiles and exploding drones to overwhelm Russian air defenses, according to Ukraine’s military. Video footage showed the headquarters building smoking as an airborne weapon plunged into it and detonated it, sending debris flying and engulfing it in a cloud of thick smoke and debris.
The Russian news agency TASS featured an image showing part of the building caved in, and an analysis of satellite images before and after the attack also showed that the building was heavily damaged.
If Ukraine’s claims are accurate — that it knew of the high-level Russian meeting, learned the identities of those hit and was able to obtain casualty counts — the statements would indicate an intelligence coup as well as a military one.
It was not clear what weapons were used on Friday, but Ukraine has recently deployed Storm Shadow cruise missiles given by Britain and nearly identical SCALP cruise missiles supplied by France that reportedly can travel more than 300 miles, far beyond the range of other Western weapons used by Ukraine.
The strikes have exposed flaws in Russia’s system of air defenses, according to Mr. Budanov, forcing Moscow to redeploy antimissile batteries from elsewhere on the battlefield to Crimea.
“We are depleting their air-defense missile stocks because those are not limitless,” he said. “And from the political standpoint, we’re also demonstrating the obvious inability of Russian air defense systems.”
The Ukrainian statement on Monday also asserted that an attack earlier this month on one of the Russian fleet’s landing ships, the Minsk, had killed 62 sailors — another claim that could not be independently verified. It did not specify a date, but on Sept. 12, a Ukrainian attack on Sevastopol damaged two navy ships, according to the Russian Defense Ministry. Pro-war Russian military bloggers and the Russian news outlet Baza identified them as the Minsk and an attack submarine.
Though it remains the paramount naval power in the Black Sea, the Russian fleet there has suffered multiple setbacks. In April, 2022, Ukraine sank the Moskva cruiser, the fleet’s flagship vessel, with a missile attack. In August 2023, it used naval drones to damage a Russian warship on the far side of the Black Sea.
Crimea is central to the expansive territorial vision that President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia has outlined, so Moscow’s inability to protect it from strikes is an embarrassment to the Kremlin, analysts said.
President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine insists that his country will retake all of the territory annexed by Russia, including Crimea, but for years Moscow had faced no military challenge to its occupation of the peninsula. The Kremlin promoted immigration from Russia to Crimea, and the region’s balmy climate and beaches attracted Russian vacationers, as it had for generations.
At the same time, a regional administration installed by the Kremlin after it seized Crimea in 2014 cracked down on dissent. International human rights groups and Crimean activists say that scores of people, mostly from the peninsula’s Tatar ethnic group, have been arrested and detained in brutal conditions.
When Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, its forces used Crimea as a jumping-off point to seize parts of southern Ukraine, establishing a land bridge that connects to Russian-occupied areas farther east.
In the longer term, Moscow aims to ride out the Ukrainian attacks, aware that Ukrainian ground forces are still far from reaching Crimea, much less retaking it, according to Dmitri Kuznets, an independent analyst of the war who writes for Meduza, a Russian news website.
Ukrainian stocks of longer-range missiles are finite, he said, adding that, while damaging, the campaign of strikes had not yet reached a critical point for Moscow.
“The goal is to disrupt Russian logistics and control in order to gain an advantage at the front,” he said. “To achieve this, strikes are carried out not only in Crimea, but also throughout the south of Ukraine. In this sense, progress has been limited so far.”
Reporting was contributed by Constant Méheut, Ivan Nechepurenko, Andrés R. Martínez, Arijeta Lajka and Neil MacFarquhar.
“Kitchen Nightmares” may be back to its same-old failing-business antics nine years after Season 7’s conclusion in 2014. But don’t expect the same Gordon Ramsay to return to the long-running Fox fan favorite.
“Since it hasn’t been done in nine years, you’ve just got a different Gordon Ramsay and more evolved Gordon,” executive producer David De Angelis told TheWrap.
De Angelis is a producer well aware of the many sides of this particular celebrity chef. He started working with Ramsay in 2013 on “Hell’s Kitchen,” the show that made Ramsay a reality star — and one known for his temper and blunt criticism. Over the years, De Angelis has also worked with Ramsay on “Next Level Chef,” a series De Angelis noted shows off Ramsay in a “mentor role.”
“There’s a little more kindness, a little more compassion and much more desire to help people get better,” De Angelis said. “I think you see that in ‘Kitchen Nightmares’ as well.”
Based on the British reality series “Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares,” the original U.S. version of “Kitchen Nightmares” followed Ramsay as he toured the country and spent a week at a time with failing restaurants as he tried to fix their businesses. Though there’s been some talk about bringing the reality series back over the last year, it’s Season 8’s focus on the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic that cemented this continuation for Ramsay and his team.
“[Ramsay] has a large organization that was able to weather the pandemic pretty well, but there were hundreds and hundreds of mom and pop restaurants that did not weather the pandemic very well. So if there was any time to come back, now was it,” De Angelis said. “Gordon really wants these restaurants to succeed more than anything. As much as we want him to go and find horrible things in the kitchen and disgusting refrigerators and freezers, more than anything he wants these restaurants to survive.”
“[Gordon Ramsay] is an important partner of ours and building Studio Ramsay global has been a priority,” Allison Wallach, president of unscripted programming at Fox Entertainment, told TheWrap. “The last time, he did the show close to a decade ago. He owned about 10 restaurants. The Gordon Ramsay who’s coming into your restaurant today owns over 100, and he’s a real businessman. The tone of it is bigger, and the intensity is greater.”
De Angelis noted that the series will see Ramsay at “his most intimate, at his most raw and at his most accessible.” Rather than the “yelling Gordon” most “Kitchen Nightmare” fans are used to, Season 8 will focus on Ramsay telling “deeper and richer stories” as he tries to help his subjects.
Proof of that shift is Ramsay’s interest in the mental health of the owners, staffs and chefs he helps.
“It’s a huge issue in the restaurant industry — in all industries, but specifically the restaurant industry,” De Angelis said. “It’s such a high pressure industry, and I think that stigma of mental health probably hung over this industry and still does.”
Ramsay isn’t the only one who’s changed over the course of nine years. “Kitchen Nightmares” is debuting in a completely different cultural and technological climate than used to exist. In 2013, when social media reactions to a Season 6 episode led to negative online reviews for Amy’s Baking Company, the idea a reality show could have such an instantaneous cultural impact was a novelty. Now that’s become the norm.
“The reactions on social media to this new series is going to be a whole other layer,” De Angelis said.
The EP also noted that social media itself has become a whole new quadrant the series has to worry about when it comes to its restaurant makeovers. In some episodes, social media experts are even brought in to improve or update a restaurant’s online presence.
“Gordon is very aware of the power of social media and how it works in restaurants,” De Angelis said. “Diners today won’t walk into a restaurant and they haven’t looked at their social media pages. I think millennial or Gen Z diners, for sure.”
But though its host and climate have changed, prepare for the broad strokes of “Kitchen Nightmares” to remain the same.
“Gordon said he’s amazed at how either people have forgotten the lessons that he taught them over the last decade or they just never really caught on,” De Angelis said. “A lot of the same things that he saw 10 years ago are still happening in restaurants today.”
New episodes of “Kitchen Nightmares” premiere on Fox Mondays at 8/7c p.m.
After YouTube spent two years piloting Premium Lite, a lower-cost subscription plan for ad-free video viewing in select countries, the platform is pulling the plug on the tier. In an email to customers, YouTube announced it will no longer offer Premium Lite after October 25th, 2023.
At €6.99 per month, YouTube’s Premium Lite plan first launched in select European countries in 2021, including Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden. It offers ad-free viewing across YouTube’s spectrum of apps and formats but doesn’t come with Premium’s other features like offline downloads, background playback, or any YouTube Music benefits.
But soon, existing Premium Lite subscribers will be left with two options: go back to watching YouTube with ads or subscribe to the pricier YouTube Premium that also includes YouTube Music. In an email notifying users of the change, YouTube says it will offer Lite subscribers a one-month free trial of YouTube Premium, regardless of whether they’ve had a trial before. It notes that subscribers will need to cancel their Lite subscription or wait for it to be canceled in order to redeem the offer. YouTube raised the price of its Premium and Music subscriptions in the US in July.
“We’re writing to let you know that after 25 October 2023, we will no longer be offering your version of Premium Lite,” YouTube writes in the email. “While we understand that this may be disappointing news, we continue to work on different versions of Premium Lite as we incorporate feedback from our users, creators and partners.”
The Verge has received several emails from Premium Lite subscribers to our tipline, informing us of their disappointment, while a ResetEra forum discussion is currently growing with other European users lamenting the loss of their service. Premium Lite may have been a relatively unknown service to many of us living in the US and other regions that never had access, but based on initial reactions to its discontinuation, it seems to be the Goldilocks “just right” level for those who want to skip ads but don’t have any interest in paying more for YouTube Music or downloading videos for offline viewing.
It took Mykki Blanco years to bloom into their current arc. After almost a decade of putting out raucous, multi-modal hip-hop collections, the artist’s sound softened and brightened for 2021’s Broken Hearts and Beauty Sleep. The LP that followed, 2022’s gorgeous, guest-spangled Stay Close to Music, deepened Blanco’s range even further. Joined by the likes of Saul Williams, Ah-Mer-Ah-Su, and Anohni, Blanco luxuriated in introspection, juxtaposing playful club romps like “Ketamine” with clear-eyed musings on queerness, Blackness, and femininity, like “Carry On” and “Your Feminism Is Not My Feminism.” Their latest release, Postcards From Italia, features six songs recorded in the same rush as their past two albums, continuing their prismatic collaboration with producer FaltyDL. Clocking in at just 16 minutes, Postcards is light, lush, and streaked with intermittent melancholy. It hits like a breeze on a top-down drive along the Mediterranean coast.
With bright, crisp guitars and shuffling beats, Postcards edges closer to classic rock’n’roll than Blanco’s ever taken us before, replete with the genre’s originating burst of sexual delight. Opener “Magic on My Back” layers multiple eras of rock’s historical resonance. A Bo Diddley guitar strum flowers over a wobbling bass line that immediately summons up Lou Reed’s tribute to the trans girls of 1970s New York, “Walk on the Wild Side,” itself a warm but muted rehash of 1950s rock’n’roll ingredients. And then, at the fore of the mix, a punchy kick-snare drum pattern calls in “Wild Side”’s 1990 reinvigoration as a sample in the hands of A Tribe Called Quest, “Can I Kick It?” All those decades coalesce to set the stage for one of Blanco’s most joyful, exuberant tracks to date, a song about sex so good the whole world floods with pleasure. “You do it slow/Can’t help but smile,” they sing on two simultaneous vocal tracks, playing both the smooth, sultry backup singer and the charismatic, off-the-cuff bandleader.
Darker, more ambivalent notes waft through the middle of the EP, though the production’s sheen never dulls. Across a handful of mostly bite-sized tracks, Blanco considers all the ways people can fall out of synch with each other, even while standing in the glow of real love. The twinkling R&B ballad “Love Fell Down Around Me” renders a breakup through precise, tactile details: “Your tears on blue jeans/My coffee on the living room floor.” On the hazy, psychedelic “Just a Fable,” Blanco sings about kissing a tearful white lover in the midst of the 2020 uprisings after the killing of George Floyd. “It was a fable of the city/It was a fable of the U.S.A.,” they sing over a bounding bass line. The vignette collapses and expands its scale from thousands of people in the streets to two people in a room and back again—intimacy huddled inside a world-historical movement, ballooning to the size of myth.
The EP’s closing bookend “Holidays in the Sun” spikes the BPM to a club pulse. William Eaves’ production calls back to the blunt abandon of flash-in-the-pan Eurodance acts like Haddaway and La Bouche, whose maximal sound ricocheted back to the United States with comic frisson during the mid-’90s. Blanco’s pitch-shifted voice swings across the song’s title in a repeatedly triggered sample; on the verses, they curl their consonants to affect a country drawl. Blanco has always approached their vocals with a generous sense of play, quick to don and shed exaggerated characters on a dime, and their Eurodance persona is no different. “I believe in love and I believe in going hard,” they proclaim over the dance floor in a hypnotic Sprechstimme. The beat throbs, incessant, leading all the loose threads and fractured hearts throughout the EP to sweet release.
‘Good Will Hunting’Credit: Miramax
‘The Matrix’CREDIT: Warner Bros.
‘The Leftovers’ Credit: HBO
