Negromancer News Bits and Bites from February 1st to 11th, 2023 - Update #21

by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon:

ENTERTAINMENT AND CULTURE NEWS:

MOVIES - From THR:   Daniel Fajemisin-Duncan and Marlon Smith, who co-created the 2013 British crime drama "Run," has been tapped to write the action thriller, "Rainbow Six," that has Michael B. Jordan starring and Chad Stahelski directing.

MOVIES - From Deadline:  Writer-director David Twohy and star Vin Diesel are reunited for a fourth film in the "Riddick" series, entitled "Riddick: Furya."

From JoBlo:  On Instagram, Vin Diesel shares some concept art for the upcoming, "Riddick: Furya."

MOVIES - From Deadline:  Oscar-nominee Sacha Baron Cohen and Keke Palmer ("Nope") are teaming up with writer-director David O. Russell ("Amsterdam") for "Super Toys."

AMAZON - From Deadline:  Nicole Kidman and Jamie Lee Curtis will headline Amazon Studios' TV series adaptation of Patricia Cornwell's "Kay Scarpetta" novels.  Kidman will play the lead, and Curtis will play her sister, Dorothy.

TELEVISION - From EW:  British comedy legend, John Cleese, is reviving his beloved BBC sitcom, "Fawlty Towers," with his daughter, Camilla Cleese.  The series is being developed by Rob Reiner's Castle Rock Entertainment.  The original series ran for two series of six episodes each in 1975 and 1979.

MOVIES - From Deadline:  Sony Pictures is developing a direct sequel to its 1997 hit slasher film, "I Know What You Did Last Summer."  Jennifer Love Hewitt and Freddie Prinze, Jr. are in talks to reprise their respective roles from the original.

NETFLIX - From THR:   Matthew McConaughey has signed on to voice Elvis Presley in Netflix’s adult animated action comedy series "Agent Elvis."

MOVIES - From THR:  The AMC Theatres chain is going start basing movie ticket prices on where patrons want to sit in the auditorium.  This price will take place after 4 pm.

MUSIC - From Deadline:  At the 2023 / 65th annual Grammy Awards, "Harry's House," an album by recording artist Harry Styles, won the top honor "Album of the Year."  With her 32nd Grammy win, Beyonce became the all-time leaders in career Grammy wins.

MOVIES - From BloodyDisgusting:  Film producer-director, Sean S. Cunningham, is "working to get his own 'Friday the 13th' reboot off the ground.  Much depends on the setting the franchise's rights issues"

BOX OFFICE - BoxOfficePro:  The winner of the 2/3 to 2/5/2023 weekend box office is "Knock at the Cabin" with an estimated take of 14.2 million dollars.

From Here:  Negromancer's review of "Knock at the Cabin."

From Variety:  Actor Dave Bautista explains his most shocking scene in the new film, "Knock at the Cabin."

MOVIES - From Deadline:  Warner Bros has acquired the rights to Stephen King's novel, "Billy Summers.  JJ Abrams and Leonard DiCaprio's respective production companies are producing.

TELEVISION - From Deadline:  NBC has given its comedy revival, "Night Court," a renewal for a second season.

MUSIC - From Variety: Grammy-winning recording artist and music icon, Beyonce, has announced stadium tour dates for her "Renaissance" world tour.  The first U.S. date appears to be July 12th in Philladelphia.

MOVIES - From Deadline:  Jerry Bruckenheimer and director Guy Ritchie's World War II movie, "The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare," has added eight new names to a cast that already includes Henry Cavill and Eiza Gonzalez. New cast includes Alex Pettyfer and Cary Elwes.

AMAZON - From Deadline:  Amazon Prime's "The Terminal List," staring Chris Pratt, will continue with a second season and will become a franchise with a prequel executive produced and starring Taylor Kitsch.

MOVIES/MUSIC - From Variety:  Jaafar Jackson will portray his late uncle, Michael Jackson, in director Antoine Fuqua's biopic about the Grammy Award-winning legend and music icon, which is entitled "Michael."  Jaafar is the second youngest son of Michael Jackson's brother, Jermaine Jackson, songwriter, producer, recording artist, and member of the "Jackson 5."

*DC STUDIOS - From Deadline:   DC Studios co-CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran finally revealed their plans for an inter-connective universe of DC Comics character-based film and television.

*MOVIES - From Deadline:  Will Smith and Martin Lawrence announced that "Bad Boys 4" is in pre-production.  "Bad Boys for Life" directors El Arbi and Bilall Fallah are also returning.

OBITS:

From Deadline:  Songwriter, composer, and record producer, Burt Bacharach, has died at the age of 94, Wednesday, February 8, 2023.  Over a three decade career, he composed hundreds of pop songs that have been recorded by over 1000 recording artists.  He won the "Best Original Song" Oscar twice and "Best Original Score" once (for "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid").  He won six Grammy Awards, including for the 1987 "Song of the Year" award for "That's What Friends Are For" (1986, co-written with his then wife, Carole Bayer Sager).

From MarinIJ:  Author and activist, David Harris, has died at the age of 76, Monday, February 6, 2023.  He was a leader and an icon of the Vietnam War draft resistance movement.  He encouraged young men to resist the draft and to refuse to report for military service.  When he himself was drafted in 1968, he refused to report and was immediately indicted.  He spent 20 months of a three-year sentence in the federal prison system.  He would go on to write for "Rolling Stone" and "The New York Times Magazine."  He also published 10 non-fiction books on a range of topics, including the NFL, politics, and international events.

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AWARDS:

From Oscar:  The nominations for the 2023 / 95th Academy Awards have been announced.  The winners will be announced Sunday, March 12, 2023.

From Deadline:  "Top Gun: Maverick" wins "Best Picture" at the "AARP Movies for Grownups Awards" held Saturday night in Beverly Hills.

From Variety:  The nominations for the 2023 Writers Guild Awards have been announced.  Winners will be announced Sunday, March 5, 2023.

From Variety:  The nominations for the 2023 EE BAFTA Awards have been announced. The Netflix World War I drama, "All Quiet on the Western Front," leads with 14 nominations.  The winners will be announced Sunday, February 19, 2023.

From Deadline:  The winners were announced at the 2023 / 28th annual Critics Choice Awards.  "Everything Everywhere All at Once" was named "Best Picture."

From Deadline:  The nominees for the 2023 / 34th Producers Guild of America Awards have been announced in both film and TV categories.  The winners will be announced Sat. Feb. 25th, 2023.

From Deadline:  The nominations for the 2023 / 29th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards have been announced.  The winners will be announced Sun., Feb. 26th, 2023.

From Deadline:  The National Society of Film Critics has named "Tar" its "Best Picture" of 2023 and its star, Cate Blanchette, as "Best Actress."

From Deadline:  The nominations for the 2023 / 23rd Annual Black Reel Awards have been announced.  "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" and "The Woman King" have tied for the lead in nominations with 14 apiece.  The winners will be announced February 6, 2023.

From Deadline:  The Black Film Critics Circle named "The Woman King" the "Best Film" of 2022.

From Deadline:  The winners of the 2022 Los Angeles Film Critics Association (LAFCA) Awards have been announced.  "Everything Everywhere All at Once" and "Tar" tie for "Best Picture" award.

From Deadline:  The nominations for the 2023 / 80th annual Golden Globes Awards were announced today (Mon., Dec. 12th).  "The Banshees of Inisherin" led the film field with eight nominations. ABC's "Abbot Elementary" lead the TV side with five nominations.  The winners will be announced January 10, 2023.

From Deadline:  The American Film Institute (AFI) has named its "AFI Awards Film" list of "Top 10 Films of 2022."  The list includes "Avatar: The Way of Water," "Top Gun: Maverick," and "The Woman King."

From THR:  The African-American Film Critics Association name "The Woman King" the "Best Film of 2022."

From Deadline:  The nominations for the "2023 Critics Choice Awards" in the television categories have been announced.  ABC's sitcom, "Abbot Elementary" leads the nominations.  The winners will be announced Sunday, January 15, 2023 and broadcast on The CW.

From Variety:  The 2022 / 88th Annual New York Film Critics Circle (NYFCC) Awards have been announced.  Todd Field's "Tar" wins "Best Film" and "Best Actress" (Cate Blanchett).  Keke Palmer wins "Best Supporting Actress" for her performance in "Nope."

From Deadline:  "Everything Everywhere All at Once" wins the "Best Feature" award at the 2022 / 32nd Annual Gotham Awards, one of two wins for the film.

From IndieWire:  The nominations for the 2023 Film Independent Spirit Awards have been announced.   "Everything Everywhere All at Once" leads with eight nominations.  The winners will be announced March 4th, 2023.

From Variety:  The nominations for the 2022 / 32nd Annual Gotham Awards were announced a month ago.  Todd Field's "Tar" leads with five nominations.  The winners will be announced Monday, November 28th.

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TYRE NICHOLS:

From NBCNews:  Tyre Nichols' death: A summary and timeline of his encounter with Memphis police officers

From YahooNews:  In the 67 minutes of the Tyre Nichols video, brutality followed by nonchalance.

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BRITTNEY GRINER:

From CBSNews:  WNBA star Brittney Griner has been released from her Russian imprisonment in a one-for-one prisoner swap for notorious international arms dealer, Viktor Bout.

From NBCNews:   Brittney Griner will enter a system of isolation, grueling labor and psychological torment when she is transferred to a penal colony, the successor to the infamous Russian gulag, to fulfill a nine-year sentence handed down Tuesday in Moscow, former prisoners and advocates said.

From NBCNews:  A Russian court has rejected Brittney Griner's appeal of her nine-year prison sentence on (fake) drug charges.

From Reuters:  Russia says that it is ready to talk prisoner swamp for Brittney Griner and U.S. Marine veteran Paul Whelan, but also scolds the U.S. Embassy.

From TheDailyBeast:   Legendary NBA bad boy and champion (Detroit Pistons, Chicago Bulls), Dennis Rodman claims that he has been given permission to go to Russia and help free imprisoned hostage, WNBA star, Brittney Griner.

From Vox:  Vox's Jonathan Guyer talks the Brittney Griner case with Danielle Gilbert, a Dartmouth professor who is writing a book about states and rogue actors that take hostages.

From ESPN:   A Russian court sentenced WNBA star Brittney Griner to nine years in prison Thursday, Aug. 4th.  Griner was arrested Feb. 17 for bringing cannabis into the country and pleaded guilty July 7, though the case continued under Russian law.

From ESPN:  The Biden administration has offered a deal to Russia aimed at bringing home WNBA star Brittney Griner and another jailed American, Paul Whelan, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday.

From RSN:  "Will Support From LeBron James, Joe Rogan, Kim Kardashian, and Other Celebrities Help Free Brittney Griner From a Russian Prison?" by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar via Substack

From ESPN:  Detained WNBA star Brittney Griner pleaded guilty on Thursday to bringing hashish oil into Russia, telling a judge that she had done so "inadvertently" while asking the court for mercy.

From CBSSports:  The Brittney Griner situation explained.

From RSN:  According to The Washington Post Editorial Board: "Brittney Griner is a hostage, plain and simple."

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Negromancer News Bits and Bites from June 19th to 25th, 2022 - Update #21

by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon:

ENTERTAINMENT AND CULTURE NEWS:

ROE V. WADE - From NPR:  The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) has overturned "Roe v. Wade."  It's gone, boo.

From GoogleDocs:  "Roe v. Wade": What you can do.

From RSNNewYorker:  We're not going back to the time before Roe. We're going somewhere worse.

From RSNVanityFair:  Justices Elena Kagan, Sonia Sotomayor, and Stephen Breyer's wrote a withering dissent to the court's conservative majority. Their conclusion: this opinion is "the curtailment of women's rights, and of their status as free and equal citizens."

From Truthout:  Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass) led a group of 20 Black Congresswomen who urged President Biden to to take urgent action to protect abortion rights.

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MOVIES - From THR:  Emmy, Grammy and Tony Award-winning actor, Billy Porter, and Food Network star, Guy Fieri, are joining the road trip comedy, "80 for Brady," which is being produced by NFL star and Super Bowl champion, Tom Brady.

MUSIC/POLITICS - From YahooEntertainment:   Grammy-winning recording artist and rock music legend, John Mellencamp, slams politicians for not doing more to prevent gun violence.

MOVIES - From FilmBook:  Steven Spielberg‘s semi-autobiographical drama, The Fabelmans, is scheduled to open Nov. 23rd, 2022.  However, the star-studded film is now scheduled to open in New York and Los Angeles on November 11th, to help build buzz on the film, which is vying for Oscar consideration.

MOVIES - From Deadline:  At CineEurope in Barcelona, Spain, Universal Pictures shows off its upcoming film slate, including a glimpse of "Fast & Furious X."  James Bond producer, Barbara Broccoli, also introduced a behind scenes look at the, "Till," the MGM drama about lynching victim, Emmett Till, and his mother.

From Deadline:  At CineEuope, Warner Bros previewed its films and offered a behind the scenes look at "Meg 2: The Trench" and touted its DC Comics films, like "Black Adam" and "The Flash." 

SCANDAL - From Variety:  Oscar-winning screenwriter and producer, Paul Haggis ("Crash"), has been arrested in Italy on sexual assault charges.  Haggis is currently being sued over a rape allegation and has been accaused by three other women of sexual misconduct.

From Deadline:  A Santa Monica jury in a civil trial has decided that Bill Cosby sexually abused Judith Huth in the 1970s when she was a minor and awarded her $500,000 in damages.

CELEBRITY - From Variety:  Actor-producer-director, Bradley Cooper's success at nabbing Oscar "noms" is apparently a source of irritation for some people.

BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficePro:  The winner of the 6/17 to 6/19/2022 weekend box office is "Jurassic World: Dominion" with an estimated take of 58.6 million dollars.

From WeGotThisCovered:  "Top Gun: Maverick" sets a box office record only surpassed by "Avatar."

NETFLIX - From THR:  The sequel to "Knives Out" (2019) has a title.  It is "Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery" and it is due for release this holiday season.

From Deadline:  Netflix is suspending production on its series, "The Chosen One," after two actors were killed and six injured in an auto accident involving the cast and crew on June 16th in Mexico.

DISNEY - From Deadline:  Guy Ritchie will director a live-action version of Disney's 1997 animated hit, "Hercules."  The film will be produced by AGBO, the production company of brothers, Joe & Anthony Russo of "Avengers: Endgame."  Ritchie directed the billion-dollar live-action version of "Aladdin."

OBITS:

From ESPN:  Former NFL player, Anthony "Tony" Siragusa, has died at the age of 55, Wednesday, June 22, 2022.  Nicknamed "The Goose," Siragusa was a "defensive tackle."  In 1990, Siragusa was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Indianapolis Colt.  He came to fame with the Baltimore Ravens where he was a member of the team that won Super Bowl XXXV on January 28, 2001.  After he retired, Siragusa was an NFL sideline analyst for Fox Sports from 2003 to 2015.  Siragusa also appeared on four episodes of HBO's "The Sopranos."

From NPR:  Television political commentator, Mark Shields, died at the age of 85, Saturday, June 18, 2022.  Shields his best known for providing political analysis and commentary for "PBS NewsHour" from 1988 to 2020.

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UVALDE, TEXAS MASS SHOOTING:

From YahooAP:  An 18-year-old gunman slaughtered 19 children and two teachers on Tues., May 24th, 2022 in Uvalde, Texas.  All 21 victims were in the same 4th grade classroom at Robb Elementary.

From TheDailyBeast:  Texas's top law enforcement official, Department of Public Safety Director Steve McGraw, has said that the school shooter in Uvalde, Texas could have been taken down in three minutes.

From TheDailyBeast:  Police officers responding to last month’s mass shooting at an Uvalde, Texas, elementary school never even tried to open the door to the classroom where young children were trapped with the gunman, according to a new report. 

From Jacobin:  "The Uvalde Massacre has exposed the lies that once justified police militarization" by Branko Marcetic

From Truthout:  We don’t need more evidence that police can’t be trusted.

From Truthout:   44 percent of GOP voters view mass shootings as part of living in “Free Society”

From ABCNews:  Arnulfo Reyes, a teacher who survived the school massacre in Uvalde, Texas, calls the local police "cowards" because of slow response to an active shooter at his school, Robb Elementary.  All of 11 students in his class were killed.

From DallasNews:  Joe Garcia, the husband of Irma Garcia, one of the two teachers killed at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas, has died of a heart attack two days after the murder of his wife.  They had been married for 24 years and had been high school sweethearts.

From Axios:  Texas gubernatorial candidate, Beto O'Rourke, interrupted Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's gaslighting press conference on the Uvalde elementary school mass shooting.

From USAToday:  Beto O'Rourke's outburst at Gov. Greg Abbott's Uvalde news conference shows the spine Democrats need.

From BostonGlobe:  Steve Kerr, head coach of the NBA's Golden State Warriors, asks "When are we going to do something?"

From NBCNews:  A Robb Elementary teacher describes "the longest 35 minutes of my life" and the terror she now feels.

From NBCNews:  The Uvalde school district had an extensive safety plan, but 19 children were killed at Robb Elementary anyway.  Even security plans that appear to be up to the latest research-based standards may have gaps and fall short of preventing the worst-case scenario, experts said.

From MSN:  Angeli Rose Gomez, the mother who was handcuffed outside Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas, was able to get inside the school and rescue her two children.

From YahooNews:   Daniel Defense, the maker of the rifles used by the Uvalde massacre killer, has used "incendiary ads" in the past, including one in which a toddler holds one of its rifles.

From TheIntercept:  The police aren't obligated to protect anyone NOT in their custody, as the Supreme Court has ruled twice.

From RollingStone:  Right wing lies about the Second Amendment and why they tell them are killing America's childrne.

From Vice:  The law enforcement personnel in Texas that arrived at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas on Tues., May 24th did the opposite of what their own training documentary videos show.

From Vox:  Uvalde police keep changing their story.

From TheDailyBeast:  The families in Uvalde, Texas who lost loved one in the Robb Elementary massacre say that the cops there are "Nothing more than cowards" and that they need to pay for doing nothing while a gunman rampaged through the school last Tues, May 24th.

From TheNewYorker:  Thoughts and prayers, Uvalde, Texas. This is the America that Republicans and the right wing have being thinking about and praying for all these decades.

From ABC:  Sources say that Uvalde police and school district no longer cooperating with Texas probe of shooting of the May 24th massacre of 19 children and two teachers at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas.

From GuardianUK:  Canada plans to freeze all handgun ownership.

From RSNWashPost:  Is it time to show the true horror of mass shooting - in pictures?

From MSN:  Angeli Gomez, the Uvalde mother who rescued her two children from the Robb Elementary shooting massacre, says that a police officer threatened to arrest her if she did not stop telling her story.

From RSNTheAtlantic:  The Uvalde police chose dishonor. Where was there courage?

From RSNWashPost:  Brenda Bell:  I hid from the Texas Tower sniper (Charles Joseph Whitman) in 1966. His successors have found us all.

From RSNTheIntercept:  "AR-15s Were Made to Explode Human Bodies. In Uvalde, the Bodies Belonged to Children" by Murtaza Hussain

From RSNNPR:  The tragic history of police responding too late to active shooters.

From VICE:  There is likely bodycam footage of the school shooting in Uvalde, TX, but the public may never see it.

BLM-BUFFALO:

From ABCNews:  A 18-year-old white MAN shot 13 people, killing 10 at a Buffalo, New York Tops Friendly Markets supermarket on Saturday, May 14, 2021.

From RSNAP:  The white male suspect in the Buffalo Tops Supermarket shooting, Payton Gendron, was charged with federal hate crimes on Wed., June 15th and could face the death penalty if convicted.

From Truthout:  The racist attack in Buffalo at the Tops Friendly supermarket was crafted to terrorize us.  We can fight back, and here’s how we fight back.

From WGRZ:  Who are the victims of the Buffalo Tops Friendly Markets grocery store shooting. This comes from local station WGRZ Channel 2 and includes video and some victim photos.

From BuffaloNews:  One of the 10 Black murder victims of the Buffalo massacre was Katherine "Kat" Massey.  She was a leader in her community and civil rights activist and advocate for education.

From NewYorkPost:  One of the 10 Black murder victims of the Buffalo massacre was Andre Mackniel. He was at TOPS Supermaket to pick up a birthday cake for his son.

From Truthout:  The racist attack in Buffalo, NY at the Tops supermarket was crafted to terrorize us, so here is how we fight back.

From CNN:  What is known about the 18-year-old MAN, Payton Gendron.

From NPR:  198 mass shooting this year ... so far.

From Truthout:  White supremacist massacre of 10 people in Buffalo, NY shows that the “Alt-Right” ideology leads to murder.

From RollingStone:  Buffalo rampage killing is "Straight Up Racially Motivated Hate Crime."

From InformedComment:  Rene Binet, the originator the "great replacement" was a French Nazi, and he saw all American as "Negroes," an "impure mestizo 'race'."

From WashPost:  Only 22 people saw the live-stream of a white terrorist kill Black shoppers at the Buffalo Tops Friendly Markets supermarket, but millions have seen it since...

From GuardianUK:  Buffalo Tops Friendly Markets shooter may have been motivated by "eco-fascism," a focus on overpopulation and environmental degradation.

From RSN:  "What Lessons Have We Learned From the Buffalo Shooting?" by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

From Truthout:  “Innocent” White People Are Also Complicit in the Anti-Black Murders in Buffalo by George Yancy.

From Truthout:  "Black Lives Matter" cofounder discovered that Alicia Garza has learned that her name is mentioned in the Buffalo Tops supermarket killer's manifesto.

From GuardianUK:   Cornell West says, "Trump isn't out there with a gun, but he's enabled this war against Black people.

From Slate:  From the Tulsa Race Massacre to the Buffalo Tops Friendly Markets shootings: the legacy of anti-Black violence.

From Truthout:  After mass shootings, Republicans shield white supremacists from scrutiny

From MSN:  Angeli Gomez, the Uvalde mom who rescued her children from the school shooting at Robb Elementary, says that local police have threatened to have her arrested if she does not stop telling her story.

UKRAINE:

From TheDailyBeast:  Russian soldiers allegedly raped and killed a 1-year-old Ukrainian boy and have reportedly raped or sexually abused children as young as 9 months old.

HATE WATCH:

From NPR:  31 members of the white nationalist Patriot Front arrested near a "Pride Month" event in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.  They are believed to have been planning to riot held at a local before moving on to rioting downtown.  They were not the only haters trying to sour the "Pride in the Park" event, which included families with children.

From SpokesmanReview:  The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office released the names and photos of all 31 "Patriot Front" members who are suspects in a planned riot at the "Pride Month" event in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.

Negromancer News Bits and Bites from May 9th to 15th, 2021 - Update #24

by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon:

ENTERTAINMENT AND CULTURE NEWS: 

TELEVISION - From Deadline:   CBS dramas, "SEAL Team" and "Clarice" will be moving to the Paramount+ streaming service for the 2021-22 TV season.

TELEVISION - From Deadline:   ABC has renewed "Black-ish" for an eighth and final season.  The series is currently wrapping up its seventh season.

DISNEY - From Deadline:   Boyd Holbrook and Shaunette Renée Wilson ("The Resident") are set to co-star opposite Harrison Ford in the next installment in the Indiana Jones series at Disney and Lucasfilm.

ANIMATION - From BleedingCool:   There are new images from "Monsters at Work," the Disney+ sequel TV series to Pixar's "Monsters, Inc."

STREAMING - From Deadline:  Actress Kathryn Hahn ("WandaVision") has joined the cast of director Rian Johnson's "Knives Out 2"

TELEVISION - From Deadline:  The CW is expanding to primetime Saturday night with new programming, starring this Fall with the 2021-22 television season.

MOVIES - From Deadline:  Actor Robert De Niro has apparently suffered a leg injury while in Oklahoma to film "Killers of the Flower Moon."  The injury is apparently not related to the film's production, but the extent of the injury is not known.

MOVIES - From WeGotThisCovered:   In 1996, Michael Jordan starred in the live-action/animation hybrid, "Space Jam."  Now, comes word that Jordan will appear in the LeBron James-led sequel, "Space Jam: A New Legacy," which is due in August.

STREAMING - From Variety:  The "Friends" reunion special, which will reunite the leads of NBC's late sitcom, "Friends," will debut on HBO Max May 27th.  The special also has a teaser trailer.

MOVIES - From EW:  "Entertainment Weekly" has a first-look at Henry Golding in the upcoming "Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins."  The film is due in theaters July 23rd, 2021.

ANIMATION - From WeGotThisCovered:   The first photos from Netflix's upcoming animated series, "Masters of the Universe: Revelation," have emerged.  Although it is a reboot, "Revelation" will apparently follow the continuity of the 1983-85 "Masters of the Universe" animated series.

MUSIC - From RollingStone:   The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has officially announced this year’s inductees: Foo Fighters, The Go-Go’s, Jay-Z, Carole King, Todd Rundgren, and Tina Turner will join the class of 2021 in the Performers category.

CELEBRITY - From Variety:  HBCU Howard University is reestablishing its College of Fine Arts, and its new dean will be beloved actress Phylicia Rashad, most famously of NBC's former series, "The Cosby Show" (1984-92).  Rashad is an alumna of the Howard (1970).

TELEVISION - From Deadline:   "2020-21 TV Cancellations & Renewals For Broadcast, Cable & Streaming":  Here is Deadline’s list of renewals and cancellations for TV series on broadcast, cable and streaming services from August 2020 to present (excluding syndicated shows), with new series in bold.

STREAMING - From Deadline:  Oscar-nominated actor Edward Norton has been cast in the "Knives Out" sequel, which is due from writer-director Rian Johnson and Netflix.

TELEVISION - From Variety:   Fox has cancelled its crime drama series, "Prodigal Son," starring Tom Payne and Michael Sheen, after two seasons.  The May 18th season finale will now also be the series finale.

CELEBRITY - From PopSugar:  Are Bennifer (Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck) a thing again?

STREAMING - From Deadline:   Leonardo DiCaprio has revealed a first-look at his next film, "Killers of the Flower Moon," from Apple Original Films and directed by Martin Scorsese.  The film, which also stars Robert De Niro, has begun production.

BOX OFFICE - From Variety:  The winner of the 5/7 to 5/9/2021 weekend box office is Guy Ritchie's "Wrath of Man" (starring Jason Statham) with an estimated gross of 8.1 million dollars.

OSCARS - From YahooEntertainment:  When she did not win in the "Best Song" Oscar category at the recent 93rd Academy Awards, songwriter Diane Warren became the woman with the most nominations without a win in Oscar history.  Warren is 0-for-12, but she is taking that in stride.  And she might get a another nomination next year.

GOLDEN GLOBES - From Variety: "Black Widow" star and Oscar-nominated and Tony Award-winning actress Scarlett Johansson speaks out against the HFPA, the organization with hands out the Golden Globes awards.

From Deadline:  Netflix becomes the latest media organization to shun the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) over its attempts to ... change.

OBITS:

From Deadline:  The actor, director, and producer, Norman Lloyd, has died at the age of 106, Tuesday, May 11, 2021.  Lloyd worked in every facet of the entertainment industry, including theater, radio, television, and film.  He worked with such luminaries as Charlie Chaplin, Orson Welles, and Alfred Hitchcock.  He may be best known for his role on the former NBC television series, "St. Elsewhere (1982-88), as "Dr. Daniel Auschlander."  Lloyd was also a two-time Primetime Emmy Award nominee.

From YahooSports:  Former college and professional football player, Cole Brennan, has died at the age of 37, Tuesday, May 11, 2021.  Brennan was the record-setting quarterback at the University of Hawaii from 2005 to 2007.  He had a brief NFL career with the Washington Redskins and Oakland Raiders from 2008-2010.

From YahooLife:  The former White House dog, Bo, has died at the age of 12, Saturday, May 8, 2021.  A Portuguese water dog, Bo was the family dog of President Barack Obama and his family and was the White House dog from 2009-2017.  Bo joined the family and entered the White House in April 2009.

Review: Live-Action "Aladdin" is Quite Lively

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 11 (of 2019) by Leroy Douresseaux

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

Aladdin (2019)
Running time: 128 minutes (2 hours, 8 minutes)
MPAA – PG for some action/peril
DIRECTOR:  Guy Ritchie
WRITERS:  Guy Ritchie and John August (based the 1992 film, Aladdin, written by Ron Clements, John Musker, Ted Elliott, Terry Rossio; and on the folk tale, “Aladdin,” from One Thousand and One Nights)
PRODUCERS:  Jonathan Eirich and Dan Lin
CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Alan Stewart (D.o.P)
EDITOR:  James Herbert
COMPOSER: Alan Menken

FANTASY/MUSICAL/COMEDY and ADVENTURE/FAMILY

Starring:  Will Smith, Mena Massoud, Naomi Scott, Marwan Kenzari, Navid Negahban, Nasim Pedrad, Billy Magnussen, and Numan Acar with Alan Tudyk and Frank Welker

Aladdin is a 2019 fantasy adventure film directed by Guy Ritchie and produced by Walt Disney Pictures.  The film is a live-action remake of Disney's classic animated film, Aladdin (1992), and both films are based on the folktale, “Aladdin,” from the collection, One Thousand and One Nights.  Aladdin 2019 focuses on a kindhearted street urchin and a power-hungry courtier who both vie for a magic lamp that has the power to make their deepest wishes come true.

Aladdin opens in the desert kingdom of Agrabah.  In the capital city, Aladdin (Mena Massoud), a kindhearted young street urchin, makes his living as a thief, lifting food from various stalls in the city's market, often with the help of his pet monkey, Abu.  One day, Aladdin and Abu come to the rescue of a young woman who turns out to be Princess Jasmine of Agrabah (Naomi Scott), and they befriend her although Aladdin assumes that she is someone else.

It turns out that Jasmine is not happy with her station in life.  Her father is The Sultan of Agrabah (Navid Negahban), and Jasmine hopes to one day become the new Sultan.  However, the laws of Agrabah require her, as the daughter of the Sultan, to marry a prince, regardless of her feelings for him, so that he may become the next Sultan.

Meanwhile, the Grand Vizier, Jafar (Marwan Kenzari), has grown tired of being “second best” to the Sultan.  He and his parrot, Iago (Alan Tudyk), seek a “magic lamp” that is hidden within “the Cave of Wonders,” which Jafar believes will give him the power to become the new Sultan.  However, only someone is who worthy (“the diamond in the rough”) can enter the cave, and that turns out to be Aladdin.  So can Aladdin and the mysterious Genie (Will Smith), the jinn of the magic lamp, save Agrabah from Jafar's machinations?

While watching this thoroughly enjoyable live-action film adaptation of Aladdin, I found myself surprised at how well Will Smith performed in a role the late actor Robin Williams made into an all-time famous voice performance in animated film.  The more I thought about it, the more I came to realize that the original film has worked so well via sequels, spin-offs, and other adaptations because Aladdin 1992 is simply great material.

The characters, the setting, the story, the screenplay, the musical and song score, the sets, the costumes, etc. are all top-notch material.  The original film yielded a 2010 Broadway musical the was nominated for several Tony Awards, winning one.  An animated television series, “Aladdin,” ran for three seasons beginning in 1994 and won four of the seven Daytime Emmy nominations it received.  I imagine that even high school theater/drama departments that are not well funded could produce an interesting stage production of Aladdin.  The story and song material that makes up Disney's Aladdin is so good that people would have to go out of their way to mess up an update of Aladdin.

Director Guy Ritchie and his co-screenwriter, John August, do not mess up.  Aladdin 2019 is not a great film, but it is a hugely enjoyable film.  Will Smith, Mena Massoud, and Naomi Scott give good performances, each of them proves able to “hold a tune,” with Massoud and Scott turning out to be quite good at singing.  The costumes and sets are lavish and gorgeous.  The music of Alan Menken, the late Howard Ashman, and Tim Rice – old and new – and the new contributions from the songwriting duo of Pasek & Paul are singalong, toe-tapping delights.

Aladdin 2019 is the kind of broad humor, fantasy-tinged, all-ages entertainment that Disney does so well.  Often, these movies are not high-art, nor do they advance the cinematic arts, but they are fun to watch.  For some of us, they are fun to watch over and over again.  Aladdin 2019 has its awkward moments, and certain scenes fall flat.  Overall, Aladdin 2019 still finds a way to be a delightful time at the movies.  I wish more movies – even some arty ones – would do that more often.

7 of 10
B+

Sunday, May 26, 2019


The text is copyright © 2019 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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"Aladdin" Crosses the One Billion Dollar Mark in Global Box Office

"Aladdin" Flies to $1 Billion Worldwide

With $999 million through yesterday, Disney’s Aladdin will cross the $1 billion mark. It’s the fifth Disney-branded live-action release to do so alongside Beauty and the Beast, Alice in Wonderland, and the second and fourth Pirates of the Caribbean films. Aladdin is also The Walt Disney Studios’ third film of the year to reach this milestone.

Earning an A CinemaScore and a 94 percent verified audience score on RottenTomatoes, Aladdin has seen robust week-to-week performance throughout its run. It debuted over the four-day Memorial Day weekend with $117 million domestically and has remained in the top 7 over the course of its nine-week run, earning a total of $343 million to date. Internationally, the film has brought in $656 million and continues to draw audiences throughout the world. In Japan, the top international market, Aladdin is about to pass the $100 million mark following on from very strong holds since its opening on June 7. It has also performed strongly in Korea, where it is the No. 4 Western film of all time with $81 million, China with $53 million, the UK with $45 million, and in the Middle East, where it is the highest grossing release of all time in the region.

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Negromancer News Bits and Bites from May 7th to 13th, 2017 - Update #29

Support Leroy on Patreon.

TELEVISION - From YahooTV:  CBS has cancelled another of its series that is produced by Warner Bros, but that CBS does not own.  Last year, it was "Mike and Molly."  This season, CBS cancels "2 Broke Girls" after six seasons.

From YahooTV:  The stars of "2 Broke Girls" react to the cancellation of their series.

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TELEVISION - From TheWrap:  FOX and Warner Bros. are joining on a live musical version of the classic MGM film, "A Christmas Story."  The three-hour television event will air on the Fox tnetwork in December.

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MOVIES - From THR:  Daniel Radcliffe continues to expand his resume of genres with an action comedy, "Gun Akimbo."  This news about the "Harry Potter" star was announced at Cannes.

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COMICS-ANIMATION - From SideshowToys:  Donald Glover (actor and creator of FX's "Atlanta") and his brother Stephen are joining FXX to create a "Deadpool" animated series that will debut in 2018 with 10 episodes.

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TELEVISION - From Variety:  The major networks start announcing their TV series for the 2017-18 TV season at what are called "Upfronts."  Before these new "Upfronts," the networks have announced the cancellations of some current series, including Tim Allen's "Last Man Standing" at ABC and "Son of Zorn" and "Sleepy Hollow" at FOX.

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BOX OFFICE - From YahooMovies:  Apparently, Guy Ritchie's pricey "King Arthur: The Legend of the Sword" ($175 million production budget) is expected to be a box office disappointment or maybe even a flop.

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CELEBRITY - From YahooMovies:  The story of Johnny Depp and his money "woes."

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CULTURE - From YahooBeauty:  A dad, his daughter, and her half-naked doll.

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MUSIC - From YahooMusic:  According to Fortune magazines, Sean "Diddy" Comics still the richest hip hop star.

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MOVIES - From Variety:  John Ridley's L.A. Riots documentary, "Let It Fall," will try to capture Oscar interest.

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BLM - From ThinkProgress:  Madison County, Mississippi combines the best of Nazi Germany and the Jim Crow South.  Plan your vacation today!

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POLITICS - From TheNation:  Trumpism is really coming from the suburbs, not the trailer parks.

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AVATAR - From TheReelWord:  Cliff Curtis, who is more or less the lead actor in AMC's "Fear the Walking Dead," joins the cast of the "Avatar" sequels in a major role.

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COMICS-FILM - From TheReelWorld:  There apparently a reboot of the "Hellboy" film franchise without writer-director Guillermo del Toro and actor Ron Perlman, who guided two films to the screen.

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COMICS-FILM - From DenofGeek:  Who has what left on their Marvel Studios contract.

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MOVIES - From Variety:  Russell Mulcahy, best known for his mid-1980s film, "Highland," has begun production on a biopic of notorious Hollywood legend, Errol Flynn.

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BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficeMojo:  The winner of the 4/5 to 4/7/2017 weekend box office is Marvel Studios' "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2" with an estimated take of $145 million.

From Variety:  "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2" has a $145 million debut.

From Variety:  For the fifth year, a Marvel/Disney kicks off the box office in style.  This time, it's "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3."  This film's box office to date pushed the combined box office total of Marvel Studios films to over $11 billion dollars.

From Variety:  If Marvel has a sequel curse, "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2" breaks it.

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OBIT - From THR:  The actress Quinn O'Hara has died at the age of 76, Friday, May 5, 2017.  She was known for being a "sex kitten" in 1960s films like "The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini" and "A Swingin' Summer."

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TELEVISION - From Variety:  Netflix renews its controversial "13 Reasons Why" for a second season.

CRIME - From RSN:  Schools continue to ignore K-12 sexual assualts committed by K-12 students.

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FILM - From BET:  In this video, actor Tyrese Gibson confirms that there will be a sequel to John Singleton's 2001 film, "Baby Boy."

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POLITICS - From GuardianUK:  President Trump's Civil War statement regarding Andrew Jackson the latest in a long line of right wing Republicans trying to downplay slavery and how absolutely important it was to the southern states.

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POLITICS - From VanityFair: Confederate States of America Attorney General Jeff Session is prosecuting a woman who rightfully laughed at him.

TRAILERS:

From TheReelWord:  First teaser trailer for Spike TV's new series, "The Mist," based on the Stephen King story.

From YahooMovies:  See the first official trailer for "Blade Runners 2049."  And it's visually striking.

From YahooMovies:  Viewers of the 2017 MTV Movie Awards were treated to new footage from the new film adaptation of Stephen King's "It."  See the creepy 98 minutes at the link at the front of this line.

Warner Bros Brings the Full House to CinemaCon

Warner Bros. Pictures Goes All in at CinemaCon

The Studio’s 2017 Big Picture Presentation Featured the Stars and Filmmakers behind Its Upcoming Slate

BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Warner Bros. Pictures had a full house of talent at this year’s CinemaCon presentation in Las Vegas, showcasing the broad diversity of its upcoming slate. Generating excitement throughout the Caesars Palace Colosseum, the Studio’s 2017 Big Picture presentation was highlighted by footage from each movie—some never-before-seen—and appearances from some of the stars and filmmakers behind the films.

The show launched with a reel highlighting Warner Bros. Pictures’ legacy of entertaining the world for more than 90 years. Sue Kroll, President of Worldwide Marketing and Distribution, came to the stage to welcome the exhibitors and thank them for their great support in delivering the Studio’s films to a global audience.

Remarking on the Warner Bros. event, Kroll said, “In today’s dynamic marketplace, one thing holds true: the strength of our partnership with the exhibition community. It is always great to come to CinemaCon to share our slate with the people who connect our films with moviegoers the world over. We are grateful to all the actors and filmmakers who came in to support their films and the Studio and who added so much fun, excitement and star power to the day.”

Show host Maria Menounos then took the stage, and kicked off the film presentation by introducing one of today’s most acclaimed and successful filmmakers: Christopher Nolan, the director/writer/producer of “Dunkirk.” After sharing some insights about the much-anticipated epic action thriller, Nolan presented the film’s stunning prologue, which was met with enthusiastic cheers and applause.

Then, as darkness enveloped the stage, Menounos set the mood for a dual reel previewing two upcoming horror thrillers from New Line Cinema: “Annabelle: Creation,” marking the return of the demonically possessed doll from “The Conjuring”; and “It,” bringing Stephen King’s bestseller—and infamous villain Pennywise—to the big screen for the first time. The terrifying footage sent several jolts through the auditorium, producing screams and making some noticeably jump in their seats.

The scares continued with a chilling new trailer from the suspense thriller “Unforgettable,” which was introduced by first-time director Denise Di Novi, joined onstage by the stars of the film, Rosario Dawson and Katherine Heigl.

Switching gears, comedy took over as actor Ed Helms and director Lawrence Sher, who lensed the “Hangover” films, reminded the audience of the duo’s shared connection to Caesars Palace and then presented an early look at their new comedy “Bastards” (from Alcon Entertainment), in which Helms stars with Owen Wilson. Also apropos to the CinemaCon site, the casino-set comedy “The House” (from New Line Cinema and Village Roadshow Pictures) was hilariously set up on tape by stars Will Ferrell and Amy Poehler. Both pieces generated raucous laughter.

Menounos also introduced footage from the romantic drama “Everything, Everything” (from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures), based on the hugely popular YA bestseller of the same name; as well as a new trailer for the suspenseful action thriller “Geostorm,” starring Gerard Butler.

CinemaCon’s Male Star of the Year, Charlie Hunnam was greeted by loud applause when he took the stage to reveal an action-packed new trailer from Guy Ritchie’s epic reimagining of the Excalibur story, “King Arthur: Legend of the Sword” (from Warner Bros. and Village Roadshow). Hunnam stars in the action adventure’s title role, opposite Jude Law.

The presentation of “Blade Runner 2049,” the long-awaited sequel to the seminal science fiction classic “Blade Runner,” wowed the entire audience. Director Denis Villeneuve, and two of the film’s stars, Jared Leto and Ana de Armas, showed a special reel, featuring footage from the film interwoven with B-roll and interviews with the filmmakers and cast—including Ryan Gosling and Harrison Ford—talking about the lasting impact of Ridley Scott’s original 1982 feature and offering hints of where the new film (from Alcon, distributed domestically by Warner Bros.) will take today’s audiences.

Warner Bros. Pictures has built a globally successful animation franchise in the LEGO® universe, beginning with “The LEGO Movie,” followed most recently by “The LEGO Batman Movie.” A look at the latest film assembled by Warner Bros. and LEGO System A/S, “The LEGO NINJAGO® Movie,” delighted the audience. Immediately following, two of the film’s voice stars, Dave Franco and Justin Theroux, kept everyone laughing with a funny exchange about making the fun-filled action adventure.

The event’s thrilling finale showcased three hugely anticipated films from the DC cinematic franchise, which is a cornerstone of Warner Bros.’ slate. Diving in, Jason Momoa, who stars in the title role of “Aquaman,” took center stage to share a glimpse of what’s in store in the undersea Super Hero’s first standalone feature, starting production later this spring under the direction of James Wan.

A taped greeting from Wonder Woman herself, Gal Gadot, introduced director Patty Jenkins and actor Chris Pine, who stars opposite Gadot in the film. The two introduced extended sequences from “Wonder Woman,” which brings the iconic Super Hero to the screen in her first standalone film. The never-before-seen footage included several breathtaking action scenes, which generated tremendous buzz and left the attendees wanting more.

And they got it. Following a preview of the epic Super Hero ensemble action adventure “Justice League,” director Zack Snyder was joined onstage by Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Jason Momoa, Ezra Miller and Ray Fisher, who star, respectively, as Batman, Superman, Aquaman, The Flash and Cyborg.

Snyder and cast then closed the successful show, wishing everyone a great rest of the convention.

----------------------

Negromancer News Bits and Bites from October 9th to 15th, 2016 - Update #28

Support Leroy on Patreon.

MOVIES - From TheWrap:  91-year-old veteran actor defends Nate Parker and "Birth of a Nation."  Concerning rape allegatiosn - get over it, he says.

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MOVIES - From YahooMovies:  President Barack Obama lists his all-time favorite science fiction flicks and a few TV show.

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TELEVISION - From TheWrap:  Delroy Lindo joins the cast of "The Good Wife" spinoff series, which will air on CBS All Access - a streaming service.

----------
ECO - From Time:  Robert Redford - "Climate change affects every issue."

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OBIT - From BleedingCool:  Michiyo Yasuda, an animator, artist, and colorist for anime films, has died at the age of 77.  She worked for Studio Ghibli and worked on such Hayao Miyazaki films as the Oscar-winning "Spirited Away" and "Ponyo."

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MOVIES - From TheWrap:  J.K. Rowling's "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" film series will be five film long.

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MOVIES - From ThePlaylist:  Quentin Tarantino is researching the 1970s for his next project, although that project might not be a film...

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MUSIC - From Variety:  Bob Dylan wins the Nobel Prize in Literature.  He is the first American to win the award since Toni Morrison in 1993.

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ECO - From TheGuardian:  Climate change deniers should not hold elective office.

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COMICS - From TheVillageVoice:  "Ms. Marvel Will Save You Now"

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CELEBRITY - From THR:  Mel Gibson is back - hot and bankable.

----------
OBIT -  From TMZ:  The actor Tommy Ford has died at the age of 52, Wednesday, October 12, 2016.  He was best known for playing "Tommy" on the 1990s Fox television comedy, "Martin" (starring Martin Lawrence).

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ECO - From EcoWatch:  Shailene Woodley and 26 others are arrest protesting the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL).

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MOVIES - From CinemaBlend:  The original Freddy Krueger, Robert Englund, has a really good idea for the next installment of "A Nightmare on Elm Street."

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MUSIC - From YahooCelebrity:  Miley Cyrus is "pansexual."

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COMICS-FILM - From BleedingCool:  Marvel's "Captain Marvel" movie will be an origin story.

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MOVIES - From TheWrap:  Clint Eastwood has lined up his next film.

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MOVIES - From TheWrap:  "Chronicle" screenwriter Max Landis thinks "Mighty Morphing Power Rangers" looks like Chronicle.

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MOVIES - From Variety:  Uber-talented Michelle Williams in talks to star in a Janis Joplin biopic.

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MOVIES - From Variety:  Guy Ritchie is in talks to direct a live-action remake of Walt Disney's "Aladdin."

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BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficeMojo:  The winner of the 10/7 to 10/9/2016 weekend box office is "The Girl on the Train" with an estimated take of $24.7 million.

From Variety:  "Finding Dory" surpasses $1 billion in worldwide box office.  This is the third Disney film to do so this calendar year, following "Captain America: Civil War" and "Zootopia."

NEW YORK COMIC CON 2016:

From EW:  John Wick goes to NYCC '16 with Keanu Reeves vs. Common sizzle reel.

From ScreenRant:  At NYCC '16, Jeph Loeb talks about the FX and Marvel connections in the two studio's FX television series, "Legion."

From YahooTV:  At NYCC '16, Marvel introduces "The Defenders," who will appear on Netflix at some point.

From FlickeringMyth:  Marvel's animated "Avengers Assemble" became "Avengers: Ultron Revlutions" and will now become "Avengers: Secret Wars."  That is where Haley Atwell will reprise her role as "Peggy Carter" in voice form.

COMICS-FILM - From IGN:  2017 will see a new animated Spider-Man series from Disney, entitled "Marvel's Spider-Man."  The current series, "Ultimate Spider-Man" ends in January.

----------
TELEVISION - From DemocracyNow:  Rosario Dawson and Norman Lear among stars exploring "America Divided."

TRAILERS:

From YouTube:  Third official "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" trailer.

From TheVerge:  First full trailer for Marvel-Netflix's "Iron Fist" series.

Negromancer News Bits and Bites from July 10th to 16th, 2016 - Update #52

Support Leroy on Patreon. 

POLITICS - From TPM:  Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump announces Indiana Governor Mike Pence as his running mate.

From RollingStone:  Why Mike Pence is the absolute worse.

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TELEVISION - From MassLive:  Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart reunite to cover the 2016 Republican National Convention.

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COMICS - From IGN:  Do right by the X-Men comics franchise!

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COMICS - From YahooMovies:  New photos of Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman - one with Chris Pine.

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SPORTS - From NBA:  Oh, no!  Los Angeles Lakers young stallion, Larry Nance, Jr., suffers a probably hand fracture.

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SPORTS -  From YahooSports:   New England Patriots Super Bowl champion quaterback, Tom Brady, gives up on his "Deflage-gate" lawsuit.

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MOVIES - From TheGuardian:  Chiwetel Ejiofor in talks to join Rooney Mara and Joaquin Phoenix in the film "Mary Magdalene."  Ejiofor would play Peter the Apostle.

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RACE - From YahooTV:   D.L. Hughley rips into FOX News' Megyn Kelly.

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EMMYS - From YahooTV:  "Game of Thrones" leads the 2016 Emmy nominations with 23 nominations.

From YahooTV:  A complete list of 2016 Emmy Award nominations.

---------------
MOVIES - From EW:   First look at Jude Law and Charlie Hunnam in Guy Ritchie's "King Arthur."

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MOVIES - From EW:  See this first look at "Pennywise the Clown" as played by Bill Skarsgard in the latest adaptation of Stephen King's It - due in theaters Sept. 2017.

---------------
RACE - From TheGuardian:  Eve Ensler - It's time for white people to reckon with racism.

---------------
COMICS - From GMAYahooNews:  Marvel kills of Bruce Banner in comic book, "Civil War II #3."

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BLACK LIVES MATTER - From YahooNews:  Even U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-South Carolina), an African-America, has felt the sting of the long arm of the law - both Capitol Police and law enforcement.

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MOVIES - From MovieWeb:  "Saw 8" to beginning shooting in the Fall, likely in Canada.

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COMICS - From BleedingCool:  See Keiynan Lonsdale as "Kid Flash," appearing in the upcoming season of "Flash."

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GAMES - From Deadline:  Who is going to catch the rights to the hot franchise, "Pokemon."

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MOVIES - From EW:  Sigourney Weaver talks about the fate of "Ellen Ripley" in the stalled "Alien" sequel.

HARRY POTTER - From Gamespot:  J.K. Rowling reveals why Uncle Dursley hated Harry Potter.

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TELEVISION - From BuzzFlash:  The time David Letterman called Donald Trump a racist.

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COMICS - From Variety:  FOX, the broadcast network, is entering the Marvel Universe with an "X-Men" action-adventure television series.  It co-produced with Marvel, and FOX is committed to a producing a pilot.  Bryan Singer, Simon Kinberg, and Marvel's Jeph Loeb are among executive producers.  Matt Nix is writing.

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MOVIES - From TheWrap:  The new all-girl "Ghostbusters" has a post-credit scene.

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SPORTS - From YahooStyle:  Serena Williams breaks "tradition" and wears sandals to the Wimbledon champions dinner.

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MOVIES - From Variety:  Oscar-winner Javier Bardem to pick up a paycheck from Universal by appearing in its "Frankenstein" reboot.

---------------
MOVIES - From IndieWire:  Ubisoft chief says the movie based on his company's game, "Assassin's Creed," will not make money.

--------------
SPORTS - From YahooSports:  NBA legend, champion, and star, Tim Duncan, has announced his retirement.  He won five championships with the San Antonio Spurs, the only team he played for.

---------------
BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficeMojo:  "The Secret Life of Pets" won the 7/8 to 7/10/2016 weekend box office with a $103.17 million estimated opening.  This is the largest domestic opening weekend for an original animated property.

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OBITS - From the BBC:  American journalist Sydney Schanberg has died at the age of 82, Saturday, July 9, 2016.  His work in Cambodia inspired the Oscar-winning film, "The Killing Fields."

MOVIES - From Collider:  First set photo images of Sofia Boutella as the titular monster in the upcoming Tom Cruise reboot of "The Mummy."

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From BleedingCool:  "Child's Play" is returning to home video.

---------------
From IndieWire:  Goldie Hawn will return to movies for the first time since 2002 in an adventure movie with Amy Schumer.

---------------
MUSIC - From IndieWire:  Ray Parker, Jr., who wrote the song "Ghostbusters" for the original film has mixed feelings about the new "Ghostbusters" theme.

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SPORTS - From YahooSports:  Serena Williams wins the 2016 Wimbledon Women's Single title - her 7th Wimbledon singles' title.  This is her 22nd Grand Slam singles championship, which ties her with Steffi Graf for the most in professional tennis' "Open era" (which began in 1968).  The all-time women's Grand Slam singles champ is Margaret Court with 24.

From YahooSports:  Later, Serena joined her sister Venus Williams to win the 2016 Wimbledon Women's Doubles Championship - their sixth.

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The Killing of #AltonSterling and #PhilandoCastille and #Dallas:

From Newsone:  The NRA will not defend Black and brown gun owners because they are not the organization's constituency.

From Truthout:  The system that killed Alton Sterling and Philando Castille cannot be reformed.

From RSN:  Beyonce says "respect our lives."

From YahooNews:  Pa. police officer picks up tab of guy who refused to sit next to him and his fellow officers in a diner.

From Clevelanddotcom:  NFL running back, Isaiah Crowell (Cleveland Browns), posted this horrible and violent image against police officers.
From YahooSports:  Now, it will cost Crowell a game check.

From TheIntercept:  Baton Rouge police reponse to #AltonSterling protests is complete militarization.  The world is watching.

From ESPN:  Four cops who were working a WNBA Minnesota Lynx game leave over T-shirts the players wore.

From YahooNews:  This buzzed-about photo from the #AltonSterling protests in Baton Rouge is quite popular and maybe iconic and may one day be legendary.

From CSM:  First use of a robot to kill a suspect in U.S. history.

From RSN:  Marc Ash: I blame the police

From RiverFrontTimes:  A young police officer ambushed during a traffic stop.  There is a Go Fund Me page for him.

From Baton Rouge Advocate:  Baton Rouge police say out-of-towners (i.e. outside-agitators) are making Alton Sterling demonstrations more violent.

From RSN:  The President Is Wrong About Dallas, Wrong About Race

From TheGuardian:  NRA afraid to support some Black gun owners?

From Metro:  London stands with #BlackLivesMatter

From WashPost:  New information on NYPD road-rage killing.

From WashPost:  Let's agree that Rudy Giulani needs to shot dead.

From Truthout:  The problem is over-policing.

From telSUR:  Four Latinos killed by police this week, and America really didn't notice.

TRAILERS-VIDEOS:

From FoxMovies:  The new trailer for Warren Beatty's film, "Rules Don't Apply."

From Facebook:  Idris Elba adds a finishing touch to a "Star Trek Beyond" mural painted on the side of a building in London by artist Jim Vision.