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Alcon Media Group acquires Village Roadshow Entertainment Group Film Library

After Village Roadshow’s bankruptcy, Alcon Entertainment won its bid to acquire Village Roadshow’s film library 

ByCeline Littlejohn|12 hours ago

Warner Bros. THE MATRIX RESURRECTIONS US Premiere | Eric Charbonneau/GettyImages

Alcon Media Group, an independent film and television production company, sought to purchase the film library of Village Roadshow Entertainment Group, which filed for bankruptcy protection this past March. 

Village Roadshow had been in the middle of a legal battle with Warner Bros., who was sued by Village Roadshow for breach of contract due to the studio releasing the 2021 sci-fi sequel, The Matrix Resurrections on Max the same day the film was released in theaters. 

In the end, Warner Bros. was successful in arbitration, winning a reported amount of $125 million. 

As a result, bidders made offers to purchase Village Roadshow's film library, with Alcon ultimately winning out in the bidding war. 

The library is a massive one. As Variety states, it spans 108 films, including numerous features that were, “co-produced and co-financed in association with Warner Brothers Pictures since 1997.”  

Some of the films included in this library include, Mad Max: Fury Road, the Ocean’s Eleven series, The Matrix trilogy, Joker, Ready Player One, Sherlock Holmes and Wonka.

On top of the newly acquired Village Roadshow library, Alcon has its own library of popular films, including the rebooted Garfield franchise, The Blind Side, Blade Runner 2049, Christopher Nolan’s Insomnia, and Denis Villanueve’s, Prisoners. 

The bid for the Village Roadshow library was a major one for Alcon, coming in at $417.5 million. 

Under this new acquisition, Alcon will not only have Village Roadshow’s entire library, but also cash flows and rights to distribution. Alcon will also get Village Roadshow’s films that were in development along with both scripted and unscripted television series that were in development. 

Broderick Johnson and Andrew Kosove, “co-CEOs of AMG and its production and financing group Alcon Entertainment,” released a joint statement about the acquisition touting that they were “pleased” with the result of the deal.

They added that, ultimately, it was, “accretive to Alcon’s existing film library." Alcon is now the copyright holder of one of the, “largest independent feature film libraries in the world.”

They hinted that this will not be the last time they look for an opportunity such as this, stating that they, “intend to continue to be opportunistic in the future as other attractive assets become available in the marketplace.”

Meanwhile, a source from Warner Bros. Discovery confirmed that of the films in the library, Warner Bros will keep the right to co-finance derivative works of the films and they will also continue to hold the distribution rights to the films. 

After a bankruptcy, situations like this make people wonder what becomes of the rights to the films afterwards. While legal issues are never an easy situation, Alcon ultimately made out with this purchase and it will be interesting to see how Alcon will handle these intellectual properties going forward compared to Village Roadshow.

Only time will tell how much different the films will be handled with a different group owning the rights, but this exemplifies how quick and massive changes can occur in the film industry. 

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Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey set to become the first movie entirely shot with IMAX film cameras

Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey" is set to make history as it will become the first movie to be entirely shot using IMAX cameras while shooting on film.

ByCeline Littlejohn|May 20, 2025

96th Annual Academy Awards - Press Room | Arturo Holmes/GettyImages

History is soon to be made as The Odyssey, a film adaptation of the epic ancient Greek poem slated to release in 2026, is set to become the first movie to be entirely shot using IMAX cameras while shooting on film.

In recent years, the popularity of IMAX films has increased, in particular among Genration Z.

As MotivatalMorgan states, IMAX movies in particular have been established, "as a go-to destination for Gen Z audiences, who value immersive, high-quality entertainment experiences.”

Unlike regular movie theaters, IMAX screenings are a unique experience themselves.

Massive screens and immersive visual and audio experiences make films shown in IMAX theaters stand out from the rest. It defines, "cinematic escapism."

There has also been an increase in films having even at least a few scenes shot, "with IMAX cameras or 'filmed for IMAX' using IMAX-approved cameras." Just this year, Sinners, Mission Impossible - The Final Reckoning, and Formula One have all had scenes shot using IMAX cameras.

With that type of knowledge, it’s especially exciting to know that acclaimed director Christopher Nolan is bringing his next big blockbuster to the big screen in a way that will particularly appeal to IMAX fans.

The Odyssey, the latest film that Christopher Nolan is directing, will be the first movie to be shot entirely with IMAX cameras on film.

It is important to note that this is not the first film to entirely use Imax hardware. That would be an honor earned by 2018's Avengers: Infinity War, as clarified by The Verge.

However, The Odyssey makes history in that it's the first movie to be shot entirely in Imax while, "shooting on film, rather than digital."

The film is currently in production, with Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Zendaya, and Anne Hathaway among the cast. 

This news broke at the Cannes Film Festival on May 15 when the CEO of IMAX, Rich Gelfond, made the announcement.

"During a press lunch as part of the Cannes Film Festival," Gelfond explained that, "Chris called me up and said, ‘If you can figure out how to solve the problems, I will make [Odyssey] 100 percent in IMAX.’ And that’s what we’re doing."

These problems included issues with, "scanning and processing the cameras’ 70 mm film stock."

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Gelfond explained that, "new film scanning and processing techniques will allow a faster turnaround for dailies."

Nolan has long been associated with bringing stories to life through the lens of an IMAX camera. He made history in 2008 when it became, “the first Hollywood movie to utilize IMAX cameras to shoot select action scenes,” with The Dark Knight.

He’s also no stranger to making history with the film-making process in general. As years passed on and he made more critically acclaimed films, Nolan used IMAX progressively in his scenes. 

In 2023, the Academy Award winning film for Best Picture, Oppenheimer, made history in the fact that it became the, “first movie to use IMAX black-and-white 65 mm film.” 

This is added to the fact that the cinematography of Nolan films are among the most breath taking, and as a result, a frequent Nolan collaborator is returning to work on The Odyssey. 

Hoyte van Hoytema is a cinematographer who has worked with Nolan on some of his other films, such as Interstellar, Dunkirk, Tenet, and Oppenheimer. 

Filming Oppenheimer on IMAX 65mm black-and-white helped award Hoytema an Academy Award for best cinematography. 

He is set to do the cinematography on The Odyssey.

With this type of background knowledge in filming a movie with IMAX cameras, it makes perfect sense that the duo of Nolan and Hoytema will reunite to film not only scenes or only using digital IMAX cameras, but an entire production using IMAX cameras on IMAX film.

This focus on the actual cameras came as a direct result of Oppenheimer's success in IMAX, earning over $190 million, 20% of the film's gross.

This looks to change the way films may be made in the future. While these new film cameras are only reserved for Nolan, after The Odyssey finishes filming, "IMAX will begin renting them out to other directors," as explained by The Hollywood Reporter.

As the LA Times reported in 2024, "films shown on IMAX are reaping bigger box office numbers, helped in part by higher ticket prices, and that’s a powerful allure for studios and filmmakers."

The report adds that IMAX as a company, "hopes its brand awareness eventually looms so large that viewers come to its screens first."

The story on which the film will be adapted from, Homer’s The Odyseey, is an epic poem from ancient Greek literature, and is not only powerful in story but in length. 

It will be a treat to see Nolan, known for his strong and powerful storytelling in his films, bring The Odyssey to the big screen and in an epic way by using only IMAX cameras while shooting on film.

Universal Studios will release the picture. The distribution chief of Universal Studios, Jim Orr, believes that The Odyssey will be, “a visionary, once-in-a-generation cinematic masterpiece that Homer himself would quite likely be proud of.

The Odyssey is currently expected to be released in theaters on July 27, 2026.

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Filming in LA declines in first quarter of 2025

Film production in Los Angeles falls by 22% in the first quarter of 2025

ByCeline Littlejohn|Apr 16, 2025

Hollywood Sign | Kirby Lee/GettyImages

Many people dream of a career in the world of film. Whether it’s working as an actor in front of the camera, a writer creating stories that will reach a wide range of audiences, a director who looks to bring their vision to life, or work in any other departments such as hair, makeup, costumes, or set design, working on set for a production is an experience unlike any other. 

Numerous people believe that this dream will come to life in the city where the film industry rose to prominence–Los Angeles, California.

Unfortunately, with productions moving to other American cities such as New York, Austin, and Atlanta, or moving to other countries, there has been a decrease in on-set production for the Los Angeles area. 

2024 ended with a higher note, with production in the region increasing by 6.2%. However, “production shoot days in the Greater Los Angeles area declined by 22.4% from January through March 2025, according to FilmLA‘s latest report.” 

Looking at the data, television production had, “ 1,670 shoot days, falling 30.5%, and feature film production dropped to 28.9% with 451 shoot days.” 

An event that affected Southern California in the first quarter of 2025 that did not happen at the end of 2024 was the devastation of the Altadena and Pacific Palisades fires.

While some may assume that the L.A. fires contributed to the decline in film production, Variety reported that an analysis from FilmLA determined that the two areas only accounted for 1.3% of all regional filming.

Only 545 film locations were actually located within the burn zones, which are still off-limits per City and County orders. 

With that being said, this data does not take back the devastating aftermath of the fires as a whole. 

When speaking about the fires, Phillip Sokoloski, the Vice President of Integrated Communications at FilmLA said that, “Loss of filming opportunity in no way compares to the cost of the Eaton and Palisades Fires in terms of loss of life, resident displacement and property damage."

He continued to explain that, “the fires sent many productions scrambling to reschedule shoots and displaced hundreds of industry workers from their homes. But their impact on local filming levels appears to have been temporary.”

Other factors in the decline of production look to be due to, “global production cutbacks and California’s ongoing loss of work to rival territories.” 

This isn’t the only challenge Hollywood has faced recently. Everything from the 2023 labor strikes to the COVID-19 pandemic and, “upheaval from the rise of streaming services,” have added to the decline as well.   

The peak of television production in recent years was in 2021, which featured 18,560 annual shoot days in the Greater Los Angeles area. 

This is a stark difference from 7,716 shoot days just 3 years later in 2024, a 58.4% decrease, showing the roller coaster ride film production has gone through this decade. 

In 2025’s first quarter, TV drama production decreased by 38.9% and TV comedy production declined by 29.9%. 

Shoots that aren’t as expensive, such as, “still photography, student films, documentaries, music and industrial videos and other projects, dropped 20.2% last quarter.” 

Reality TV also saw a decline, going down 26.4%. 

In 2023, reality TV saw an increase as a result of the entertainment industry strikes, but this changed in 2024, which was the, “second-slowest year for filming in Greater L.A.” 

There are efforts being made to solve this downturn and help increase production in the region. 

California’s governor, Gavin Newsom, is looking to expand the California Film & Television Tax Credit Program. 

This comes as there has been a push by labor unions, producers, and actors to increase tax incentives for the industry, as Reuters explained. 

FilmLA looks to support this initiative, which is an “expansion of California’s film incentive to $750 million or more per year, including proposed changes to make the program more internationally competitive.” 

Sokoloski of FilmLA shared the significance of doing whatever it takes to help LA’s film industry. 

He explained that the, “California Production Coalition estimates that the average location shoot adds $670,000 and 1,500 jobs a day to a local economy.”

With that number in mind, people can see how every production creates jobs. As a result, more jobs can boost the industry. 

He continued to explain that the, "County of Los Angeles and Beacon Economics report that there are 10,500 entertainment related businesses in the state… California can’t afford to surrender any more work to its competitors.”

Hopefully change will come to the Southern California area to help bolster the film industry and allow for more productions to be made in the area as opposed to opposing locations.

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Village Roadshow files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

Production company Village Roadshow has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in an effort to financially reorganize amid legal battle and financial issues.

ByCeline Littlejohn|Mar 19, 2025

Warner Bros. THE MATRIX RESURRECTIONS US Premiere | Eric Charbonneau/GettyImages

Village Roadshow Entertainment Group is a company known for being an acclaimed film producer and financier, with films such as The Lego Movie franchise, Ocean’s Eleven, Joker, and The Matrix falling under their umbrella of productions. 

Unfortunately, the company has had financial struggles in light of a, “long-drawn out and expensive legal battle with its long-standing partner Warner Bros. over The Matrix Resurrections a 2021 sequel to the sci-fi series.” 

The legal battle came as a result of Village Roadshow suing for breach of contract after Warner Bros. released The Matrix Resurrections on the streaming service Max the same day it was released in theaters. 

As a result, as stated in court documents, the Chapter 11 filing took place in Delaware, “with $223.8 million in asset-backed secured notes and $163.1 million of senior secured debt.” 

Village Roadshow has been around since 1997, and has both produced and released over 100 films.

Some other popular titles that have been produced and released by Village Roadshow include the 2018 Steven Speilberg dystopian sci-fi feature Ready Player One, Wonka, the 2023 adaptation of the musical fantasy following the chocolatier, and the Academy Award winning post-apocalyptic action film, 2015’s Mad Max: Fury Road. 

The company, which is based both in Australia and the United States, sold a controlling interest to Vine Media Opportunities and Falcon Strategic Partners in 2017. 

By 2018, the company was developing its own film and television projects, all, “without a major studio partner.” 

However, as court filings stated, this resulted, "in six movies and seven TV shows — none of which was profitable. In December, the Writers Guild of America put the company on its 'strike list,' after the company failed to pay its writers on several projects.” 

Things reached a new level when Warner Bros., “filed for arbitration in early 2022.” 

WB proclaimed in court filings that Village Roadshow, “failed to provide a payment exceeding $100 million under its co-financing deal on The Matrix Resurrections.”

This lead to a lawsuit from Village Roadshow a week later where they argued that, “the simultaneous release in theaters and on Max had cannibalized the film’s box office results.” 

They went on to explain that, “under the circumstances, the company could not logically make the payment, which amounted to a free subsidy to Max in exchange for nothing.”

WB’s rebuttal was that the deal only needed a wide theatrical release as opposed to exclusive. The dispute was, “governed by the arbitration clause.” 

Things began to snowball beyond the Matrix discussion as Variety explains Village Roadshow, “argued that Warner Bros. was shutting it out of its rights to co-finance as many as 15 projects.” 

By 2022, Village Roadshow request for an injunction was denied and the case was ordered to arbitration where it currently sits. 

Since the beginning of 2024, Village Roadshow has been exploring the possibility of a sale, and  as Variety reports, this came when leadership concluded, “its liquidity crisis was becoming insurmountable.” 

The staff has since been reduced from 45 to 11 employees as the shift has gone to completing this sale. 

CP Ventura LLC has agreed to, “pay $365 million for the company’s library,” with its representatives being Steven Kram and Steven Blume, the co-founders of Content Partners LLC, which is an investment firm that specializes in acquiring both television and film libraries. 

In court documents filed in relation to Village Roadshow filing for bankruptcy, the company explained that, “the WB arbitration has caused the company to incur more than $18,000,000 in legal fees, nearly all of which remain unpaid, and presents the threat of a potential arbitration award that could flatten the company’s balance sheet, but that is not the full extent of its impact.”

While the case is still in arbitration with Warner Bros., a hearing is scheduled for April 25. The bankruptcy filing shows just how quick and serious things can change in the film industry. 

The industry has been rocked by production slumps after everything from the pandemic to the Hollywood strikes, which both caused delays in production. 

In the bankruptcy court documents, Village Roadshow explains that, “The company historically enjoyed a prolific co-production, co-financing and co-ownership relationship with WB."

The documents further share that, "Even if the WB arbitration is resolved, the company believes that it has irreparably decimated the working relationship between WB and the company, which has been the most lucrative nexus for the company’s historic success in the entertainment industry.”

While both sides have stated their points, it will be up to legal representatives to see what will happen financially as a result of such cases for both companies. 

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Night of Too Many Stars Comedy Benefit to come back with Jon Stewart returning as host

The Night of Too Many Stars, a comedy benefit where proceeds support the non-profit organization, NEXT for Autism, is set to return with Jon Stewart coming back to host.

ByCeline Littlejohn|Feb 13, 2025

Night Of Too Many Stars Live Telethon 2015 | Stephen Lovekin/GettyImages

The fundraising telethon for autism, Night of Too Many Stars, has been around since 2003, and occurs every few years. The event marks its return on March 31 in New York City at the Beacon Theater where comedian Jon Stewart is confirmed to be a host again. 

The event is not only a live auction fundraiser, but it is also a comedy concert that is looking to raise money for NEXT for Autism, a non-profit organization.

Funds raised from the event will support the organization’s, “national grants program, focused on initiatives that support autistic adults in the areas of work, home, and social well-being. “ 

According to The Hollywood Reporter, this year’s event features a roster of comedians that will include, “Ronny Chieng, Alex Edelman, Susie Essman, Jim Gaffigan, Jeff Garlin, James Austin Johnson, Sam Morril, Please Don’t Destroy, Chris Rock, Adam Sandler, Amy Schumer, Sarah Sherman, [and] Max Weinberg‘s Jukebox,” among others that have yet to be announced. 

NEXT for Autism has been around for over 20 years as a result of families and parents who have autistic individuals in their lives and struggled to find proper support. This is when Night of Too Many Stars came into play. 

Robert Smigel, known for his comedic work as a writer and producer for shows such as Saturday Night Live and Conan O’Brien’s late night shows, helped create the Night of Too Many Stars with his wife, Michelle Smigel, a board co-chair for NEXT for autism. 

The Smigels had, “struggled to find effective education for their autistic son, Daniel.”

What better way to bring awareness for such a positive cause than to have a night full of laughs with a telethon and comedy concert to raise funds and awareness for the organization. The main focus of the funds will be on, “initiatives that target work, home and social well-being programs for autistic adults.”  

The Smigels know how important an event like this is, especially when they can relate to the struggles that many families face when looking for support for autistic individuals in their families. 

In a statement, they shared that, “We created Night of Too Many Stars with our friends in the comedy world at a time when most organizations focused only on research for a cure. Seeing so many parents struggle to find appropriate services and schools for their children inspired us to create an event to support the vital programs and services that individuals with autism need right now.”

Jon Stewart has hosted the event previously, and also serves as a NEXT board member. Other event committee members along with Stewart (with his wife Tracey), and the Smigels include, "Dee and Tommy Hilfiger, Laura and Harry Slatkin, Mitch and Bellanca Smigel Rutter, Lucia Smigel, and  Jackie and Adam Sandler."  

This is the first time the event has returned since 2017 so it looks to have another night full of top comedians, actors, singers, and other celebrities looking to entertain audiences all while raising funds and awareness towards a positive cause. 

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Beyond the Gates to make history as new soap opera focuses on Black characters

For the first time since Generations, a new soap opera will premiere that will have its central focus be on an African American family.

ByCeline Littlejohn|Jan 9, 2025

NAACP International Entertainment Summit with Sheila Ducksworth. Ducksworth is the executive producer of "Beyond the Gates" | Leon Bennett/GettyImages

History is set to be made as Beyond the Gates looks to be the first soap opera to premiere since the late 1980s that will focus on an African American family. It also will make history as the first new soap opera to debut since the late 1990s.

Michele Val Jean has created Beyond the Gates, a brand new soap opera that will center around African American characters. This is the first time that this has been explored since Generations, which aired on NBC from 1989 to 1991. Sheila Ducksworth is serving as the executive producer of Beyond the Gates. 

According to the show’s logline and a report from Entertainment Weekly, the series follows an affluent African American county in a Maryland suburb just outside of Washington D.C. 

As EW reports and logline states, the show focuses on the Duprees, “led by genteel patriarch Vernon (played by Clifton Davis), a retired senator, and fierce matriarch Anita (Tamara Tunie), a former singer. Alongside daughters Nicole (Daphnee Duplaix), a high-achieving philanthropist and psychiatrist, and Dani (Karla Mosley), a free-spirited former model-turned-momager, the multi-generational Duprees are considered a powerful and prestigious family and the 'very definition of Black royalty,' per the show's logline — but beneath the opulence reside juicy secrets.”

Not only is it the first new soap opera to feature Black characters in decades, but it is also the first new soap opera at all since Passions came out in 1999. 

Val Jean, the creator of the series, is not a novice to the world of soap operas, having lengthy credits that include work as a writer on The Bold and the Beautiful and General Hospital. Val Jean herself began her career as a writer on the aforementioned, Generations. 

It was her first staff job and she shows pride in her work. 

In an interview featuring Ducksworth and Val Jean over Zoom with Entertainment Weekly, Val Jean said, “Sally Sussman created not only a wonderful show but a wonderful atmosphere,” she recalls of that period. “We were the little soap that couldn't, really, because we were opposite the last half hour of Young and the Restless...Generations was very much ahead of its time.”

It hurt when the show got canceled, with Val Jean saying, “To me personally, it felt like a death because I was so happy there.”

It’s not often that life gives you a second chance at something so groundbreaking with the ability to make history and perhaps aid in helming the beginning of a new standard in daytime television. 

Val Jean initially had her doubts about the show getting off on its feet, explaining that, “Networks weren’t greenlighting soaps, they were canceling them…when I started Generations there were 13 soaps on the air, now there are three and one on Peacock.”

Not only is Beyond the Gates groundbreaking in being the first soap opera to feature a Black family since the early 1990s, but it’s also revolutionary in that it’s a new soap opera being made at all when the genre hasn't been a part of new productions since the late 1990s.

Ducksworth expresses pride in making history in more ways than one. She explained that, “Nobody is making soaps anymore. The courage and belief that there could be something new that hasn't been done in over a quarter of a century, it feels great that the people behind us recognized the need and wanted to make this happen.” 

When speaking about Beyond the Gates, Val Jean continued, “We wanted to have a show on the air that spoke to a different side of the Black experience…Not the downtrodden, not the ghettoized. We wanted to show rich, Black people doing messy things.”

What helped get Beyond the Gates rolling was the determination of Sheila Ducksworth, who is an executive producer on the show and is, “the president of CBS’ production partnership with the NAACP.”

As Entertainment Weekly reports, this is a part of a, “ four-year effort to break new ground in the genre.”

In the same Zoom interview, Ducksworth said, “I've long been fascinated with showing the side that we haven't seen a lot of…In these Maryland suburbs, there were some of the most affluent African American counties in all of America. So looking at that and the wealth of everything at Howard University, I felt that this was an area that was ripe for the picking. You get the upstairs, the downstairs of it all. It's true to life."

She continues by saying, “The Duprees, they don't always agree. But when push comes to shove, that family will stick together, right, wrong or indifferent. That is basically the foundation of the show. There’s dysfunction, but at the end of the day, they love each other.” 

Beyond the Gates will still feature everything that makes a good soap opera, including, as Val Jean puts it, “secrets and lies and betrayals and love and friendship.” 

Ducksworth adds on that, “It's a really complex web of people and places and things that all intersect in a way that you would never believe. It’s incredibly unpredictable and really fresh and new.” 

Val Jean continues to praise how Beyond the Gates is something different that hasn’t been on television in years. “This is a different kind of world,” says Val Jean of Gates. “The characters are different from anything that I've seen in daytime. That's what I'm excited about. We're presenting something that hasn't been done before."

Beyond the Gates will have its premiere on February 24 at 2 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT on CBS and will be available to stream for people who can’t catch it anytime on Paramount+.

From featuring an African American family in a soap opera to being a new soap opera in general, Beyond the Gates is already set to make history. 

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Nominations announced for the 2024 Billboard Music Awards including Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter and more

The 2024 Billboard Music Awards are scheduled for December 12 and look to honor some of the top artists of the past year as the show will be broadcast over an array of platforms.

ByCeline Littlejohn|Nov 26, 2024

Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour - New Orleans, LA - Night Two | TAS2024/GettyImages

As the year comes to a close, it's a time of reflection as many look back on the year that was 2024. This is also the time of the year when the coveted Billboard Music Awards take place.

The show, which has been around since 1990, highlights recording artists of all genres and celebrates their achievements, with winners being selected due to, "album and digital songs sales, streaming, radio airplay, touring and social engagement—all of which are tracked year-round by Billboard."

Unlike other shows that rely on a voting system, the Billboard Music Awards focuses more on the data from, "year-end performance metrics on the Billboard charts."

The period for eligibility for the 2024 show is based on, "Billboard’s Year-End Charts tracking period, which measures music consumption from the charts dated Oct. 28, 2023 through Oct. 19, 2024."

If your favorite album came out anytime after October 19, it won't be eligible for receiving an award for the 2024 showcase but will be considered, if it does well and the sales and data back it, for the 2025 show next year.

This year, the Billboard Music Awards will return to Fox, its home channel where it aired from 1990 through 2006.

In addition to being broadcast on Fox, it will also be available on multiple platforms such as Paramount+, which, "will provide on-demand streaming of the show," and the free Fire TV Channels app, which will, "provide one-click access to fans using Amazon devices (Fire TV smart TVs and streaming media players and Fire Tablets)," as Billboard explains.

An explanation for this big upgrade comes from Jay Penske, who is the chairman and CEO of PMC and CEO of Dick Clark Productions, which produces the show.

Penske explained that with multiple platforms and options for fans to have access to the show, they are, "ensuring fans have more options to watch the very artists they helped propel to the top of the charts."

He continued to say, "By partnering with Fox, Paramount+ and Fire TV Channels, we are able to reach music enthusiasts where they are, whether they’re tuning in on TV, streaming on-demand, or watching from their mobile devices.”

When it gets to the nominations, Zach Bryan is in the lead, being up for 18 awards and 21 entries in total.

Taylor Swift is next, being a finalist in 16 categories and 17 entries, followed by Morgan Wallen's 15 finalist entries in 13 categories, and Sabrina Carpenter with nine entries. While they're the top nominees, they're far from the only artists in the running for awards.

There are numerous artists who are finalists five or more times, including, "Drake, Kendrick Lamar, Post Malone, Teddy Swims and Tyla (eight each); Bad Bunny, Benson Boone, Chandler Moore, Jung Kook, Naomi Raine, Shaboozey and SZA (six each); and KAROL G, Linkin Park and Maverick City Music, five each." Swims, Boone, Shaboozey, and Tyla are all first-time finalists for the Billboard Music Awards.

In addition, other first-time nominees that received multiple nominations include, "Tommy Richman (four), Falling in Reverse (three), Forest Frank (three), Junior H (three), Chappell Roan (two), ENHYPEN, (two), Muni Long (two), and The Red Clay Strays (two)."

It's a big deal to earn a recording contract and enter the music industry, but even more extraordinary to be nominated for a Billboard Music Award, and even more amazing to be a finalist for multiple awards so early in their careers.

There are new awards this year, including Top Hard Rock Album, Top Hard Rock Artist, and Top Hard Rock Song, with HARDY, Falling in Reverse, and Linkin Park well represented in these categories.

2024 was also a year of crossover hits, with recognition being given to Post Malone, Beyoncé, and Dolly Parton based on their cross-genre work during the year.

Shaboozey is set to perform a special show from the W Hollywood, with the announcement of additional performers and special guests to be announced in the coming days and weeks.

The Billboard Music Awards aim to continue the over 30-year tradition of celebrating, "music’s greatest achievements with exclusive original performances."

In addition, there will also be, "artist interviews, and award celebrations taking place from global locations and in the midst of sold-out tours."

The Awards will be hosted by comedian Michelle Buteau and is scheduled for Thursday, December 12 at 8:00 pm ET/PT on Fox and Fire TV Channels, and on-demand on Paramount+, with performances also rolling out across Billboard.com, and via BBMAs and Billboard social channels."

Especially in this day in age with the way people consume content on multiple platforms, be it streaming, on TV, on the internet with official websites, or via social media, this year's Billboard Music Awards looks to hit all potential audiences with such high accessibility.

The full list of nominees can be found on Billboard's official website, and with such an array of talented artists, it's always a plus to give recognition to such a diverse group, where every finalist is a spectacular and unique talent.

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Jimmy Fallon’s “Holiday Seasoning Spectacular” special to feature an array of top music artists 

Jimmy Fallon's "Holiday Seasonings Spectacular" special will air on NBC as it accompanies his new holiday comedy album, "Holiday Seasoning"

ByCeline Littlejohn|Oct 27, 2024

Jimmy Fallon Lights the Empire State Building to Kick Off the 2023 Holiday Music-To-Light Show | Eugene Gologursky/GettyImages

As October is coming to a close and Halloween is right around the corner, the dawn of November 1st brings with what some consider the beginning of the holiday season with Thanksgiving and the winter holidays fast approaching. 

November 1st is also the day that The Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon will release his new holiday comedy album, Holiday Seasoning to help ring in the most wonderful time of the year.

The album is an original project consisting of 16 tracks. It will feature “previously released singles” such as “It Was A… (Masked Christmas)” featuring Ariana Grande and Megan Thee Stallion, “Almost Too Early for Christmas” featuring Dolly Parton, and “Wrap Me Up” with Meghan Trainor. 

Other collaborators on the album with Fallon include "Will Ferrell, Justin Timberlake, and the Jonas Brothers.” 

December will usher in a variety of holiday shows, specials, and movies, with NBC showcasing a holiday special accompanying Fallon's album set to air on December 4th.

Jimmy Fallon’s Holiday Seasoning Spectacular a month after the release of his holiday album, Holiday Seasoning. 

The special will also feature many celebrities including, as revealed by Billboard, “Cara Delevinge, Dolly Parton, J.B. Smoove, Jonas Brothers, Justin Timberlake, LL Cool J, Meghan Trainor, The Roots, “Weird Al” Yankovic and more.” 

Jen Neal, who works at NBCUniversal Entertainment as the executive vice president of live events and specials, shared enthusiasm for Fallon’s special and album. 

Neal stated that, “We’re so excited to bring Jimmy Fallon’s Holiday Seasoning Spectacular to our audience as part of our incredible lineup of holiday specials. Bringing his new album Holiday Seasoning to life in such a unique way is sure to bring joy to millions all across the country.”

It will air on NBC Wednesday, December 4 at 10 pm ET followed by the annual tradition of Christmas in Rockefeller Center. As is the case for many shows and events broadcast on NBC, the special will be able to stream the next day on Peacock for those who were unable to see it live or record it on their DVR. 

With so many stars and such a variety of talent, both the album and the special look to bring joy to many during the upcoming festive holiday season. 

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First trailer for "Wizards Beyond Waverly Place" released

The first trailer for Disney’s latest series, "Wizards Beyond Waverly Place" has been revealed, highlighting what this magical show will be about. 

ByCeline Littlejohn|Sep 28, 2024

WIZARDS BEYOND WAVERLY PLACE on Disney+

In 2007, Disney Channel debuted the fantasy teen sitcom series, Wizards of Waverly Place, where the world was introduced to the Russos, a family of wizards. As Apple TV explains in the official synopsis of the original series, "Alex Russo and her brothers Justin and Max come from a long line of wizards and now must master their newly learned powers or lose them forever."

 The show was a massive success, winning the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Children’s Program in 2010 and garnering positive ratings and reviews. 

It also introduced the world to actress and singer, Selena Gomez. The original series ended in early 2012 but the world of wizards returns to Disney Channel with a new spin-off and sequel called Wizards Beyond Waverly Place. 

The new series, as the official synopsis says, “follows an adult Justin Russo, who has chosen to lead a normal, mortal life with his family, Giada, Roman and Milo. When Justin’s sister Alex brings Billie to his home seeking help, Justin realizes he must dust off his magical skills to mentor the wizard-in-training while also juggling his everyday responsibilities — and safeguarding the future of the Wizard World.”

David Hernie reprises his role from the original series, once again playing Justin Russo, only now as an adult. Selena Gomez will return as well as a guest star in the first episode, once again playing Alex Russo. 

As Variety lists, the cast includes, “Janice LeAnn Brown (as Billie), Alkaio Thiele (as Roman Russo), Max Matenko (as Milo Russo), Taylor Cora (as Winter) and Mimi Gianopulos (as Giada Russo)."

The series follows the ups and downs of Justin training the young wizard in Billie, which isn't as easy as it seems. As Alex Russo says in the trailer, "Billie is a powerful wizard, but she's rebellious," to which the scene changes to Billie retorting, " I know you didn't just say that."

She has a tendency to, "cast first and ask questions later," to which even in the face of the struggle of teaching a new young wizard, Justin tells her in the trailer, "You’re a powerful wizard. Some people see that as a threat...But I promise, I’m not gonna let anything happen to you.”

Billie is seen casting spells and attending school, similar to how Wizards of Wavery Place played out.

 With that being said, this is not the first time that Disney has explored the idea of diving into past successful series and creating a spin off. 

That’s So Raven, the popular fantasy teen sitcom that followed Raven-Symoné’s character of Raven Baxter who has hidden psychic abilities was a hit for Disney, receiving high ratings, Emmy nominations, and critical acclaim. 

The original series aired on Disney Channel from 2003-2007 and generated two spin-offs: Cory in the House from 2007-2008 featuring the character of Kyle Massey’s Cory Baxter, Raven’s brother from the original series, and Raven’s Home that aired from 2017 to 2023, which follows Raven’s life as an an adult with her preteen twins. 

The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, which aired from 2005-2008 and featured Dylan and Cole Sprouse as the Martin twins who live in a hotel suite, generated the creation of the spin-off The Suite Life on Deck, which aired from 2008-2011, where the twins study abroad on a ship at sea. 

Disney also continued the Boy Meets World franchise from the 1990s with Girl Meets World, a series that followed Riley Matthews (Rory Blanchard), daughter of Cory (Ben Savage) and Topanga (Danielle Fishel) from the original series and her friends, one of which was played by Sabrina Carpenter as Maya. It was on the air from 2014-2017. 

It looks to be an overall winning formula to produce a spin-off or sequel series based on a popular Disney Channel franchise. Having actors from the original series return is also a huge plus. Here’s to a successful run for Wizards Beyond Waverly Place, the latest in Disney Channel sequels and spin-offs. 

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Olympic pommel horse medalist Stephen Nedoroscik announced as competitor for "Dancing With The Stars"

ByCeline Littlejohn|Aug 24, 2024

The Olympic Games-Paris 2024 | Tim Clayton - Corbis/GettyImages

Every four years, the Olympics showcase a variety of talented athletes as they show that they are among the best competitors in the world, representing their countries as they strive to win Olympic medals. Making the podium is a true honor, and whether it’s bronze for third, silver for second, or gold for first, being an Olympic medalist is a true honor. 

This summer at the Olympic games in Paris, France, gymnast Stephen Nedoroscik became a viral sensation with his incredible talent on the pommel horse aparatus.

He helped lead the men’s US gymnastics team to the bronze medal, the first medal in the men's team events for the US since 2008. He also won the bronze medal as an individual for his fantastic abilities on the pommel horse. 

Nicknamed, “Pommel Horse Guy”, Nedoroscik captured the hearts of the nation with his talent and now the 25-year old athlete looks to win another prize. 

He has been the first contestant announced for the 33rd season of the popular ABC show, Dancing with the Stars, a competition program that features professional dancers pairing up with celebrities as they perform different routines.

The pair with the least amount of votes from fans are eliminated from the competition every week. The last pair standing wins the Dancing with the Stars crown. 

While the rest of the cast won’t be revealed until a later date, Variety has shared that “Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough will return as co-hosts for the upcoming seasons as Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli, and Derek Hough will return to the judges’ table.” 

The season will air on September 17 at 8pm, “simulcasting on ABC and Disney+, with next-day viewing on Hulu.” 

Nedoroscik’s ability to remove his glasses and perform such a marvelous pommel horse routine earned him the nickname of, “the Clark Kent of pommel horse,” as proclaimed from an official Olympics social media account.

With the attention he’s gotten, he uses his platform in a positive way, supporting those with low vision, as Nedoroscik himself lives with strabismus, something that he has previously revealed on his TikTok.

When he’s competing and is not in his glasses, Nedoroscik explained what he sees when he is on the pommel horse.

In an interview with Today, as reported by Variety, Nedoroscik said, “It’s not necessarily clear, but the thing about pommel horse is if I keep them on, they’re gonna fly somewhere,” he said. “When I go up on the pommel horse, it’s all about feeling the equipment. I don’t even really see when I’m doing my gymnastics. It’s all in the hands — I can feel everything.”

This won’t be the first time an Olympic medalist competed on Dancing with the Stars, and not the first time for a gymnast either. Previously, gymnast Shawn Johnson won in 2009, becoming the first Olympic gymnast to appear on the program, and came in second place on an all-star edition of the show in 2012. 

Other gymnasts who competed in Dancing with the Stars include Aly Raisman, who finished in 4th place in 2013, Nastia Liukin, who finished 4th in 2015, Laurie Hernandez won in 2016, and Simone Biles finished in 4th in 2017. 

Olympic ice skaters and dancers have also had an impact on Dancing with the Stars, with Kristi Yamagucuchi winning the competion in 2008, followed by Evan Lysacek finishing in second place in 2010, Charlie White finishing in 5th place in 2014, and Meryl Davis, White's ice dance partner, winning that 2014 season.

In addition, Nancy Kerrigan finished in 6th place in 2017, and Johnny Weir finished 6th in 2020.  

Here's wishing the best to Nedoroscik as he competes for another prize--the title of winner of Dancing with the Stars.

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"The Night Before Christmas in Wonderland" finds voice cast with Emilia Clarke, Gerard Butler, and Simone Ashley

"The Night Before Christmas in Wonderland" finds its voice cast with Emilia Clarke, Gerard Butler, and Simone Ashley bringing the animated musical adaptation of the popular book to life.

ByCeline Littlejohn|Jul 19, 2024

Opening Ceremony - 63rd Monte-Carlo Television Festival | Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/GettyImages

The Night Before Christmas in Wonderland is an upcoming animated musical produced by Universal Pictures Content Group and Lupus Films based on the bestselling book. Variety announced the voice cast for the project, featuring the likes of Emilia Clarke, Gerard Butler, and Simone Ashley. 

The movie will be based on the bestselling 2019 book written by Carys Bexington, “which mashed up two classic stories: Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland and Clement Clarke Moore’s poem Twas the Night Before Christmas (also known as A Visit From St Nicholas.)

While the book was written by Bexington, it features illustrations from Kate Hindley and was published by Macmillan. Gerard Butler, star of such projects as the Has Fallen film series and Greenland, will portray St. Nick. The Queen of Hearts will be played by Emilia Clarke, an actress notable for her leading television role on the hit series, Game of Thrones. Alice will be voiced by Simone Ashley, one of the stars of the acclaimed series, Bridgerton. 

The writing and directing team has also been put together, with Peter Baynton set to direct. He previously directed the 2022 short film, The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse, which won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film. Sara Daddy is set to write the script, with the unique feature of having the entire screenplay written in “rhyming couplets.”

Original music and songs will be provided by Guy Chambers and lyricist Amy Wadge, as Variety reported. The synopsis for the film has been released, with Variety reporting that, "The Night Before Christmas in Wonderland is full of fun and festive twists…This time, it’s St Nick’s turn for an adventure down the rabbit hole. There he meets the Mad Hatter, recast as a high-fashion, reindeer-loving tea party host; the White Rabbit, an endearingly scatty and forgetful character; the Queen of Hearts, a Scrooge-esque tinsel-hater, her antagonistic sidekick, the Cheshire Cat and Alice herself, whose kindness helps St. Nick save Christmas.”

This won’t be the first time that both Lupus Films and Universal Pictures Content Group have worked together, as the two have previously created other film adaptations of popular books including Mog’s Christmas, a 2017 TV film that follows young Mog who feels ignored during the holidays by her family and refuses to leave her hiding place on a roof. 

Another adaptation of a book the two companies worked on includes, The Tiger Who Came to Tea, a 2019 TV movie that follows a young girl who, “befriends a tiger and invites him over for tea.” 

The production earned nominations for best voice performance (Clara Ross) and Long Form at the 2020 British Animation Awards, along with nominations from the 2021 Annie Awards for Outstanding Achievement for Music in an Animated Television/Media Production and a nomination for Best Animated Short at the 2020 British Animation Film Festival. 

It won the 2020 Jury Prize for Best 2D short film at Animayo: The International Film Festival of Animation, Visual Effects, and Video Games, and was the 2020 Winner - Animated Encounters Grand Prix for Best Animated Short at the Encounters International Film Festival. 

Ruth Fielding and Camilla Deakin are the two producers of Lupus Films, and Fielding is excited about this latest project with The Night Before Christmas in Wonderland.

As reported by Variety, Fielding explained that  “It has been a joy to bring together this incredibly creative team and sprinkle some of Lupus Films’ animated magic into the mix…the wonderfully wacky characters, starry voice cast and toe-tapping tunes all come together in a fantastic festive fairy-tale for the whole family to enjoy.” 

With more on the production side, it’s noted that “Universal Pictures Content Group EVP Helen Parker exec produces alongside Butler and Alan Siegel for G-BASE and Clarke for Magical Thinking Pictures.”  

Parker also shares Fielding’s enthusiasm, adding that, “Bringing this original, festive story to life has been a beautiful journey. From the creation of the worlds of Alice in Wonderland and ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas to bringing in our fantastic cast to voice these beloved storybook icons, it has been a truly creative and heartwarming experience.” 

With previous projects under Lupus Films and Universal Pictures Content Group garnering acclaim and multiple awards and nominations, it looks as if the two companies are destined to follow in those footsteps and bring a new positive cinematic treat for the whole family and audiences worldwide.

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The CW is looking ahead with its Fall 2024 TV lineup

The CW has announced its Fall 2024 schedule, featuring returning favorites, final seasons, and newcomers.

ByCeline Littlejohn|Jun 21, 2024

Superman & Lois -- “Too Close To Home” -- Image Number: SML304b_0131r -- Pictured: Tyler Hoechlin as Superman -- Photo: Shane Harvey/The CW -- © 2023 The CW Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

During the summer, TV networks announce their lineup for their upcoming fall schedule, and various genres are represented across the airwaves. The CW has announced its Fall 2024 schedule, featuring returning favorites, final seasons, and newcomers.

The premieres will begin on Friday, August 30 when the second season of Inside the NFL on The CW premieres at 9 pm. Previously on both HBO and Showtime, the famed NFL football show covers highlights of the previous weeks’ games, analysis, commentary, and interviews with coaches and players. 

Pac-12 Football, the college athletics conference featuring teams in the Western United States, kicks off on the network with two games on Saturday, August 31 featuring Portland State at Washington State followed by Idaho State at Oregon State. 

Sunday, September 1 will feature the 4th season premiere of The Chosen.  “As previously reported, the fourth run of episodes,” of The Chosen, “the Jesus-centric” series will make its broadcast-TV debut. 

Friday, September 6 will focus on the 13th season premiere of Whose Line is it Anyway?, the short form improv comedy show, at 8pm followed by another episode at 8:30 pm. 

On Friday, September 20, the NASCAR XFinity Series races on to the CW with coverage of the race at Bristol Motor Speedway.

The next Tuesday, October 1, will feature the network premiere of WWE NXT at 8 pm, the weekly professional wrestling program that features talent that compete under WWE’s NXT brand. The show previously aired on USA prior to its move to the CW.

Sullivan’s Crossing debuts its second season at 8 pm on Wednesday, October 2. The show follows, "neurosurgeon Maggie Sullivan who finds herself in legal trouble and returns to her hometown in rural Nova Scotia to reconnect with her estranged father, Sully.” The series is an import from Canada.

Joan is a new series premiering on the CW on Wednesday, October 2 at 9 pm. Joan is "a 1980s-set drama in which Game of Thrones alum Sophie Turner plays jewel thief Joan Hannington."

On Monday, October 7, two classic board games will get the series treatment with the series premieres of Scrabble and Trivial Pursuit at 8 pm and 9 pm respectively.

Thursday, October 17 will showcase the final season of the superhero series Superman & Lois with a 2-hour premiere at 8 pm. The series will end after its fourth season.

On Thursday, October 24th, a new series will premiere at 9 pm called The Librarians: The Next Chapter, a sequel to the series, The Librarians.

The Librarians was a series that focused on, "four ordinary people from around the world [who] are selected to work for the Library, an ancient order dedicated to solving supernatural mysteries and protecting the innocent from the secret magical world all around us."

Its sequel will continue these adventures, focusing on, "a time-traveling librarian from the past that unfortunately finds himself trapped in the present. Now he will be given a team of new librarians to clean up the mess he made, releasing magic across the continent."

Sullivan's Crossing will continue to air at 8 pm on Wednesday nights, followed by the 4th season premiere of Children Ruin Everything at 9 pm and another episode following it at 9:30 pm on Wednesday, November 13.

A Canadian import, "the half-hour comedy series follows Astrid and James as they struggle to hold onto their identities while raising their young children in the city."

Creator Kurt Smeaton explained that the show discussed his understanding that while parenting for some can be, "time-consuming and expensive and frustrating", he wanted to create a show that not only acknowledged that, but more importantly, "also showed the other side, which is having a family is worth it."

Shows that will premiere mid-season, which is usually in January, include the 7th season of All American, the sports drama following a high school football player's transition from playing in South Los Angeles to Beverly Hills, and the series premiere of the comedy Good Cop/Bad Cop, which focuses on detectives who are siblings solving cases in a small town where their dad is the police chief.

Other mid-season premieres are set for more shows, including Sherlock& Daughter, following the famed detective and his daughter who joins him in his adventures after her mother is mysteriously murdered, Penn & Teller: Fool Us, a magic competition series where contestants must perform tricks to "fool" the legendary magician duo, and Wild Cards, a police procedural comedy-drama that follows the two main characters' path to redemption on gaining back a badge and staying out of jail.

Other series with their fate to be determined, as explained by TV Line include, "Family Law (acquired), FBoy Island, Lovers & Liars, Masters of Illusion, Patti Stanger: The Matchmaker, Sight Unseen (co-pro renewed in Canada thus far), [and] Son of a Critch (acquired)."

Shows that are ending and will air their final seasons include the All American spin-off, the sports drama All American: Homecoming, with its final season premiering July 8, Superman & Lois ending in the fall, and Walker, the reboot of the classic 90s western drama Walker: Texas Ranger, which will end on June 27. With so many different genres of series set to air in the coming months on The CW, there looks to be a show for everyone.

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Gymnast Simone Biles shines at Core Hydration Classic on road to Paris Olympics

As gymnasts prepare for the Olympics, returning stars shine at the Core Hydration Classic

ByCeline Littlejohn|May 22, 2024

Gymnastics - 2024 Core Hydration Classic | Tim Clayton - Corbis/GettyImages

2024 is an important year for many athletes as it marks the next chapter in the history of the Olympic Games as the Summer Olympics will take place in Paris, France this July.

Every four years, athletes worldwide compete in various athletic events, representing their country as they battle to see who is the best performer in their respective field. From swimming and volleyball to track and field and wrestling, there’s an event for all types of athletes and all walks of life.

One of the most popular events in the Summer Olympics is gymnastics, physical exercises that highlight artistry, flexibility, coordination, and balance. 

Simone Biles is easily one of the most recognizable names in the sport of gymnastics, being the most decorated gymnast in history with 37 Olympic and World Championship medals.

At the Core Hydration Classic event on Saturday, May 18, she won the gold medal in the all-around event, an event where she has won gold at the Olympics with an all-around gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics, demonstrating her mastery in multiple gymnastics events.

The silver medal went to Shilese Jones and the bronze medal went to Jordan Chiles.

Biles also, "took the gold medal on floor exercise, as well as silver medals in the uneven bars and balance beam.”

Biles wasn’t the only former all-around champion to compete in the events, as Gabby Douglas and Sunisa Lee also competed in the Core Hydration Classic. Douglas and Lee won gold medals for the all-around gymnastic events at the 2012 London Olympics and 2020 (taking place in 2021 due to the COVID pandemic) Tokyo Olympics, respectively.

This was the first time the three women competed against each other in over eight years, with their last competition taking place, "at the national championships, [where] Biles came out on top, Douglas finished fourth and Lee finished 10th in the juniors."

All three have since had success but they also have faced challenges working on the road to get to the top. 

Biles made headlines after suffering from the “twisties”, "a mental block causing a gymnast to lose track of their positions midair” at the Tokyo Games, causing her to withdraw from various events.

Although she won a bronze in the balance beam, she took a break from the sport. She returned and, "won four gold medals, as well as a silver, at the world championships and became the most decorated male or female gymnast ever, surpassing Belarusian Vitaly Scherbo’s record of 33 overall medals across both the Olympics and the world championships.”

At the event, Biles competed against all ranges of talent including 13 other medalists, "from the Olympics, World Championships and/or Pan American Games…including Tokyo Olympic floor champion Jade Carey and six-time world championship medalist Shilese Jones.”

Gabby Douglas, who has three Olympic gold medals to her name, made only her second competitive event appearance since the 2016 Rio Olympics at the Core Hydration Classic.

Ten months ago, Douglas returned to the sport and looks to continue in her gymnastics journey.

Sunisa Lee has dealt with personal obstacles as well, such as the effects kidney disease. Thankfully, treatment has allowed her to manage the condition as she looks to make a triumphant return to the Olympics by competing in the Paris games.

According to Reuters, Lee shared that Biles helped her be more open about her mental health.

In addition, during a warm-up floor exercise, 2022 US national champion Konnor McClain, unfortunately, suffered an injury that required her to be taken in a wheelchair, reminding fans of the risks that come with being a world-class gymnast.

For the gymnasts, the next major events before the Olympics will be the, “ US Championships in Fort Worth, Texas, beginning on May 30 followed by the US Olympic Trials starting June 27 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.”

Those who are among the top performers at the Olympic trials will advance to represent Team USA in Paris at the Olympic games. Here's wishing the best to all of the competitors.

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Trailer for origin story, "Transformers One" debuts

The "Transformers" franchise is back with "Transformers One", an animated prequel film focusing on the origins of Optimus Prime and Megatron.

ByCeline Littlejohn|Apr 21, 2024

CinemaCon 2023 - Paramount Pictures Presentation featuring original release date of July 2024. The movie has since moved to September 2024. | Gabe Ginsberg/GettyImages

The eighth installment in the Transformers film franchise, which follows robots that can transform into other objects and battle each other to defend the world, follows the beginnings of the characters of Optimus Prime and Megatron on the planet, Cybertron, where the film will explain what events led to the rivalry between the main two types of Transformers robots: the Autobots and the Decepticons.

The film has been in development since the release of 2014’s Transformers: Age of Extinction. There had been ideas to develop future films that became a reality, with Transformers: The Last Knight, Bumblebee, and Transformers: Rise of the Beasts all being released in 2017, 2018, and 2023 respectively.  

Transformers One marks the first film in the modern franchise to be animated.

As the years went by, the film changed in stages from a concept to a reality, with Josh Cooley of Toy Story 4 fame being revealed as the movie’s director in April 2020 and the voice cast comprised of Chris Hemsworth and Brian Tyree Henry as the younger versions of Optimus Prime and Megatron respectively being unveiled at CinemaCon in April 2023. 

As an origin story, the movie follows young Optimus Prime and Megatron from their beginnings, when they were known only as Orion Pax and D-16, respectively. The movie will focus on the relationship between the two characters and what led to the two becoming archenemies.

The trailer for the film was released in April 2024, and Variety explains, it shows how the two characters were merely just worker bots who could not yet transform into anything, and soon develop the ability to, “change into vehicles and gain weapons, as a battle against a mysterious, plant-like villain unfolds on the Transformers’ home planet of Cybertron.”

Paramount describes it as, “the long-awaited origin story of how the most iconic characters in the Transformers universe, Orion Pax and D-16, went from brothers-in-arms to become sworn enemies, Optimus Prime and Megatron.” 

In addition to Hemsworth and Henry, the cast also includes other famous actors and actresses such as Scarlett Johansson,  Keegan-Michael Key, Jon Hamm, Steve Buscemi, and Laurence Fishburne.

While Transformers first appeared as a feature film in a 1986 animated movie, it was the Michael Bay directed 2007 film, Transformers, starring Shia LaBeouf and Megan Fox, that launched the modern franchise.

The original film grossed, “$700 million at the box office and spawned five sequels and a spinoff. Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, the most recent entry, debuted last summer and grossed $439 million at the global box office.” 

At CinemaCon at the Caesars Palace Colosseum in Las Vegas on April 18, Hemsworth and Henry promoted the film, giving audiences a sneak peek of the first scene of the movie in 3D.

Johansson was able to be a part of the presentation via a recorded message while she was away working on Eleanor the Great, which will be her directorial debut, saying, “I’m so incredibly proud of the work that we’ve all done.. [it is].. unlike anything you’ve ever seen onscreen.”

Hemsworth told exhibitors that Transformers One audiences, “will experience something truly spectacular.”

Henry added that, “This origin story is how they transformed from brothers in arms to sworn enemies.

”https://www.youtube.com/embed/5a09yJU-mCI?feature=oembed

Audiences can see Transformers One in theaters this September. 

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Cast of the MCU's 2025 film, "The Fantastic Four", revealed

The cast for the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s version of The Fantastic Four has been announced, with a release date slated for 2025. 

ByCeline Littlejohn|Feb 17, 2024

Disney Acquires Marvel Comics For $4 Billion | Mario Tama/GettyImages

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has revealed the cast for its version of The Fantastic Four, with a release date slated for 2025. 

The superhero quartet known as the Fantastic Four were, “the first characters created for Marvel Comics by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.”

The superhero quartet is composed of four scientists who after being exposed to cosmic rays during a scientific mission in space, gained unique superpowers. 

Reed Richards, also known as Mr. Fantastic, is the leader of the group and can stretch and morph his body into incredible strengths and shapes.

His girlfriend (then wife) Sue Storm becomes the Invisible Woman, being able to turn invisible and project force fields.

Sue’s younger brother is Johnny Storm, who becomes known as the Human Torch, being given the ability to create flames, surround himself with fire, and fly.

Finally, there’s Ben Grimm, a monstrous rock-looking character who may be grumpy but has a big heart. 

While the Marvel Cinematic Universe has featured films that have storylines that connect, featuring such heroes as Iron Man, Captain America, Spider-Man, and Black Panther, the Fantastic Four has been one of the biggest omissions from the MCU. 

This is because the movie rights to the quartet belonged to 20th Century Fox as opposed to Disney and Marvel Studios. Under 20th Century Fox, two films were made in 2005 and 2007, with Fantastic Four and Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, respectively. 

The films starred Ioan Gruffud as Reed Richards, Jessica Alba as Sue Storm, Chris Evans as Johnny Storm (a Marvel character he portrayed before donning the shield as the MCU’s Captain America), and Michael Chiklis as Ben Grimm. 

20th Century Fox looked to do a reboot of the franchise in 2015, with a new Fantastic Four starring Miles Teller, Kata Mara, Michael B. Jordan, and Jamie Bell as Reed, Sue, Johnny, and Ben respectively. 

In 2019, Disney acquired the now-named 21st Century Fox, allowing for more Marvel characters to join the MCU, including the X-Men, and Wolverine and Deadpool, as seen in the upcoming Deadpool & Wolverine slated to be released this summer. 

Along with those characters, one of the biggest ones fans looked forward to seeing was the Fantastic Four after the acquisition of their rights under the Disney banner.

While there was a tease to how the Fantastic Four would look in the MCU, with John Krasinski playing a cameo role as a multiverse variant of Mr. Fantastic in 2022’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, "a nod to an online fan campaign to cast him in the role," the official cast announcement for the feature-length film following the quartet was announced on February 14.

In a Valentine’s Day post on social media, Disney announced the cast for the new MCU Fantastic Four film featuring the four actors in a drawing dressed in costume in their respective roles celebrating Valentine’s Day. 

Pedro Pascal will portray Reed Richards, likely after shooting the second season of HBO’s The Last of Us. From Game of Thrones to The Mandalorian, Pascal is, "one of the most in-demand actors in Hollywood.“ 

Vanessa Kirby who rose to prominence with her portrayal of Princess Margarett in The Crown, is an Academy Award-nominated actress for Pieces of a Woman and will make her wish a reality by playing Sue Storm. At the premiere of Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One in 2023, Kirby told Variety, “It would be an honor to play Sue Storm…she’s amazing."

Joseph Quinn caught many eyes after his incredible performance as Eddie Munson in the 4th season of Stranger Things, and Quinn’s next journey will take him to the role of Johnny Storm in The Fantastic Four.

Finally, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, who recently won an Emmy for his performance as Richard “Richie” Jerimovich on the FX series, The Bear, will play Ben Grimm.

According to Variety, filming is expected to begin this summer. 

After Marvel’s sole 2024 release of Deadpool & Wolverine this summer, 2025 and 2026 look to be even bigger years for Marvel, with Captain America: Brave New World scheduled for a February 2025 release, Thunderbolts coming out May 2, 2025, The Fantastic Four on July 25, 2025, and Blade in November. 

2026 looks to feature the releases of four films for Marvel, including Avengers: The Kang Dynasty. 

With Fantastic Four films featuring new actors bringing the team to life coming out every 10 years, with one being released in 2005 and another in 2015, 2025 can’t come soon enough for those who have been anxiously awaiting the next era in film for the famed superhero quartet. 

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Roblox to feature "Spongebob Squarepants" game for series' 25th anniversary

For its 25th anniversary, Paramount and Gamefan are partnering up to bring a new "Spongebob Squarepants" game to Roblox

ByCeline Littlejohn|Jan 21, 2024

SOPA Images/GettyImages

Twenty-five years ago, Spongebob Squarepants first entered homes on Nickelodeon. Ever since, it has been considered one of the most popular cartoon series, generating a media franchise, becoming the highest-rated Nickelodeon series, and is considered, "the most profitable property for Paramount Consumer Products.

As of 2019, it was able to generate over $13 billion in merchandising revenue. The series has inspired three feature films, two spin-off series, with additional films and spin-offs planned. 

During those 25 years, another franchise has become popular in the world of gaming. Roblox, which came out in 2006, has become one of the most popular “virtual playgrounds” out there.

Roblox, the gaming platform that allows users to, “play dozens of user-created games or create games through Roblox Studio,” is crossing paths with the famed yellow sponge that lives in a pineapple under the sea. 

Paramount Games Studio has united with Gamefan in a partnership that will celebrate the 25th anniversary of Spongebob Squarepants with a new “Spongebob Simulator” game that will be available to the over 70 million users on Roblox, beginning January 26. 

The Senior Vice President of games and emerging media at Paramount, Doug Rosen, spoke highly of the partnership. Rosen explained that this partnership focuses on, “Deepening the connection with fans of our hit franchises through interactive and immersive experiences [which is a] key facet of our long-term gaming strategy.” 

In the game, players will be able to both unlock and collect “mini buddies” in the Bikini Bottom universe. These buddies are based on some of the supporting characters on the show, including snails, jellyfish, and miniature clone versions of the main characters. 

In addition, users will be able to transform into main characters including Squidward, Patrick, Sandy, Mr. Krabs, and of course, Spongebob himself. 

Areas to explore include lands from the series, such as Kelp Forest, Conch Street, and Goo Lagoon. 

“We’re excited to let fans step into Bikini Bottom and participate in the universe in a completely new way, and Gamefam’s expertise in creating and managing high-quality and engaging Roblox worlds makes them the ideal partner for us to expand into new horizons,” Rosen continued to explain. 

While Spongebob is no stranger to the world of gaming, with the franchise having previously starred in games available for platforms such Windows and MacOS, PlayStation, Nintendo, Xbox, Android, and iOS, this is the first time Spongebob has officially crossed over with the world of Roblox. 

The Chief Business Officer at Gamefam, Ricardo Briceno, stated that, "Gamefam’s ultimate goal is to bring joy to players, and through this amazing partnership with the Paramount team, we turned one of the most beloved animated franchises into one of the most visually stunning games ever released on Roblox."

"Millions of existing and new SpongeBob SquarePants fans will be able to actively immerse themselves in Bikini Bottom like never before.”

Paramount previously worked with GameFam on a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles game on Roblox, titled “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Battle Tycoon” in support of the 2023 film, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem.

The game will be available free of charge on most devices and platforms.

With a franchise as popular as Spongebob and a world of gaming as popular as Roblox, it is definitely a winning combination to see the two in a partnership that can appeal to mass audiences of all ages. 

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Entertainment Weekly announces Entertainers of the Year for 2023

ByCeline Littlejohn|Dec 17, 2023

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - OCTOBER 01: (Editorial Use Only) (Exclusive Coverage) Beyoncé performs onstage during the "RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR" at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on October 01, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage for Parkwood)

As 2023 comes to a close, Entertainment Weekly’s list of Entertainers of the year includes Barbenheimer, Taylor Swift, and Beyonce among others.

It’s that time of year again. As the holidays are approaching, another year is coming to a close as 2023 is about to transform into 2024. With that comes the annual rundown in various publications and media of some of the biggest events of the year and individuals who made an impact. Entertainment Weekly shared its list of Entertainers of the Year for 2023 and it proved that there were many highlights.

One highlight was the Barbenheimer phenomenon when the films Barbie and Oppenheimer were released on the same July day. Both became incredibly successful at the box office, exceeding expectations and were popular among fans for being two movies with completely different tones but able to both thrive, proving audiences are appealed by all types of films.

In December, Variety paired Margot Robbie and Cillian Murphy, the respective leads of Barbie and Oppenheimer, in an Actors-on-Actors conversation, further showing the popularity and intrigue of two completely different films thriving together.

Swifties tuned into the NFL more when the news of her relationship with Kansas City Chiefs star tight end Travis Kelce became known, uniting two totally different fandoms. This is not to mention the success of her latest re-recorded album, 1989 (Taylor’s Version), being her 13th number-one album on the Billboard 200. All that plus being selected as TIME’s Person of the Year shows Taylor was definitely a stand out in the world of entertainment for 2023.

However, Taylor isn’t the only singer who had a superstar year in 2023. Beyonce has embarked on her record-breaking Renaissance World Tour, which became the, “highest-grossing tour for not only an R&B artist but a Black artist.”

If that wasn’t enough, it became the second highest-grossing tour every by a female artist, only behind Swift’s Eras Tour. The tour was critically acclaimed and even showcased choreography from Beyonce’s daughter, 11-year old Blue Ivy.

The tour received a documentary, titled Renaissance: A Film by Beyonce, through Beyonce’s distribution agreement with AMC Theaters. The film has also received critical acclaim, further demonstrating how much of a force Beyonce is.

Country pop singer Kelsea Ballerini was also selected as an Entertainer of the Year by Entertainment Weekly. With the success of her fourth studio album, Subject to Change, which released in the fall of 2022, Ballerini continued to ride the wave of popularity with her short film and “highly personal” EP, Rolling Up the Welcome Mat in February 2023, promoting it through such avenues as Saturday Night Live. In August, she released an extended version of the EP, now titled Rolling Up the Welcome Mat (For Good).

Returning to the world of acting and film, Pedro Pascal definitely has a lot to celebrate from 2023. After receiving acclaim for his roles in Game of Thrones and Narcos, his starring part in The Mandalorian helped make Pascal a household name.

In 2023, he had a string of successful performances, including the lead role as Joel in the critically acclaimed television adaptation of the popular video game, The Last of Us and hosting gig on Saturday Night Live, both which earned him Primetime Emmy nominations. He even had a starring role in a Pedro Almodovar short film, Strange Way of Life.  There was never too much of Pascal and many loved seeing him in such a variety of roles.

Actress Ayo Edebiri had her breakout moment for her performance in the first season of The Bear in 2022, and she continued her momentum into 2023. She continued to play as young chef Sydney Adamu in The Bear‘s second season, and she appeared in various hit shows such as Abbott Elementary and Black Mirror, along with providing voice work in Big Mouth and on the big screen in both Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem and the critically acclaimed Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.

Sasha Colby won the 15th season of RuPaul’s Drag Race and has received praise for her activism against anti-transgender legislation and was able to speak at Vice President Kamala Harris’ annual Pride Month celebration at the White House. She is the first Drag Race winner of Native Hawaiian and Polynesian descent, continuing to make history.

Jury Duty is a new sitcom that received Primetime Emmy nominations including Outstanding Comedy Series, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for James Mardsen, and two Golden Globe nominations.

The show is unique in that Amazon Freevee took a chance in showcasing a show where, “the trial is fake and everyone is an improv actor playing a role except for the ‘hero,’ Ronald Gladden, a normal guy who has no idea this was not an official jury duty summons.” It’s not often you see a new type of series, and Jury Duty stood out by taking those risks with successful results.

Vanderpump Rules, the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills spinoff that focuses on Lisa Vanderpump and the staff at her various bars and restaurants in West Hollywood, California, brought more interest in reality TV amidst a cheating scandal among some of the cast members, and lead to guilty pleasure television.

Finally, M3gan, the character from the film M3gan about an artificially intelligent doll who soon becomes hostile towards anyone who comes between her and her child companion, was a hit in 2023, with her dances going viral, along with a cover of Sia’s “Titanium”, and many social media posts absolutely loving the character.

From Barbenheimer, Beyonce, and Taylor Swift to Pedro Pascal and M3gan, 2023 brought many pop culture moments and makes audiences wonder what new sensational moments, breakout stars, and unforgettable years for familiar favorites will come from the world of television, music, and film in 2024.