‘Steven Universe: Lars Of The Stars’ In Development For Prime Video; ‘Teen Titans Go!’ Gets 10th Season On Cartoon Network

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From the Studio Showcase presented by Warner Bros. Animation, Cartoon Network Studios and Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe at Annecy Festival today, two major announcements promised the return of fan-favorite toon titles to screens in the near future.

Cartoon Network Studios revealed it is currently developing Steven Universe: Lars of the Stars for Prime Video. The series is a follow-up to the Peabody Award-winning Cartoon Network series Steven Universe, created by Rebecca Sugar, who returns to this new project as executive producer, alongside Steven Universe writer/EP and creator of OK K.O.! Let’s Be Heroes, Ian Jones-Quartey.

Per the announcement: 

Steven Universe: Lars of the Stars explores the past, present and future of the Steven Universe universe. The sequel series follows Lars Barriga, eternal teenager and space outlaw, as he and his pirate crew smuggle contraband, evade the authorities, and uncover the darkest secrets of the fallen Gem Empire.

Additionally, it was announced that Teen Titans Go!, the longest running animated series in DC history, has been renewed for a 10th season on Cartoon Network. The show last Fall celebrated its epic 400th episode. Executive Producers are Luke Cormican, Peggy Regan and Sam Register.

Robin, Starfire, Cyborg, Beast Boy and Raven continue the fun with all-new comedic adventures, giving viewers a look at what life is really like as a teen super hero…once the cape comes off. Inspired by and featuring the principal voice cast of the original Teen Titans series, this character-driven comedy — based upon DC characters — focuses on the funny that happens in between saving the world and living together as teenagers without adult supervision.

NBA Signs New 11-Year Media Agreements With The Walt Disney Company, NBCUniversal And Amazon Prime Video

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The National Basketball Association (NBA) today announced the renewal of its partnership with The Walt Disney Company and new agreements with NBCUniversal (NBCU) and Amazon under which ABC/ESPN, NBC/Peacock and Prime Video will telecast NBA games beginning with the 2025-26 season and running through the 2035-36 season.

The NBA App will be a universal access point – seamlessly directing fans to every national game on Disney, NBCU and Amazon platforms.

The new media deals will expand the reach of NBA telecasts, with all national games available on broadly distributed streaming services – Prime Video, Peacock and ESPN’s forthcoming direct-to-consumer service – and with dramatically increased exposure on broadcast television.  Approximately 75 regular-season games will be on broadcast TV each season, up from the minimum of 15 games under the current agreement.

“Our new global media agreements with Disney, NBCUniversal and Amazon will maximize the reach and accessibility of NBA games for fans in the United States and around the world,” said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver.  “These partners will distribute our content across a wide range of platforms and help transform the fan experience over the next decade.”

“We look forward to building upon our incredible legacy of innovation and growth with our longstanding partners at the NBA,” said ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro.  “The NBA is a vibrant, ascendant league and through this premium collection of rights, including every NBA Finals on our platforms, we will continue to evolve together while successfully navigating the global digital transition and delivering the highest quality coverage for fans.”

“We are proud to once again partner with the NBA and WNBA, two iconic brands and the home of the best basketball in the world,” said Mike Cavanagh, President of Comcast Corporation.  “We look forward to presenting our best-in-class coverage of both leagues with our innovative programming and distribution plan across NBC and Peacock to entertain fans and help grow the game.”

“We are honored that the NBA has entrusted Prime Video to deliver its one-of-a-kind action and excitement to viewers around the world,” said Mike Hopkins, Head of Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios.  “We look forward to continuing to innovate and evolve live sports coverage for our customers, and are fully committed to building an incredible video experience for millions of NBA fans starting in 2025.”

Disney, NBCU and Amazon also secured the right to distribute an unprecedented number of WNBA live game telecasts, with a significant increase in the reach of WNBA games across broadcast, cable and streaming.  Full details regarding the WNBA’s media agreements will be issued in a separate press release.

The Walt Disney Company

Disney (ABC/ESPN) will distribute a total of 80 NBA regular-season games per season, including more than 20 games on ABC (generally on Saturday nights with NBA Saturday Primetime and on Sunday afternoons with NBA Sunday Showcase) and up to 60 games on ESPN (generally on Wednesday nights and, on occasion, Friday nights).  ABC/ESPN will continue to telecast all five NBA games on Christmas Day and provide exclusive national coverage of the final day of the regular season.

During the playoffs, ABC/ESPN will telecast approximately 18 games in the first two rounds each year and one of the two Conference Finals series in 10 of the 11 years of the agreement.  ABC will remain the exclusive home of the NBA Finals, which it has broadcast since 2003.

All NBA games and events on ABC/ESPN will be available on ESPN’s forthcoming direct-to-consumer service.  ABC/ESPN will continue to telecast the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, NBA Draft, NBA Draft Lottery and half of all NBA Summer League games.  ABC/ESPN platforms will also continue to distribute a package of WNBA and NBA G League regular-season and postseason games.

Disney will distribute NBA games on ESPN-branded assets in several international markets, including Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa, Oceania and the Netherlands, and via Disney+ in select markets in Asia and Europe.

By the end of this renewal, the NBA’s partnership with ABC/ESPN will reach 34 years.

NBCUniversal

NBCU (NBC/Peacock) will distribute up to 100 NBA regular-season games per season – with more than half of the games airing on NBC (on Sunday and Tuesday nights).  NBCU will telecast the league’s opening night doubleheader on NBC each year and at least two games on MLK Day on NBC and/or Peacock each season.

Peacock will stream a doubleheader each Monday night of the season.  Every Tuesday night, NBC will telecast two games across certain NBC affiliate broadcast stations in different regions of the country.  The first game will start at 8 p.m. ET and be available on NBC across affiliate stations in the Eastern and Central time zones.  The second game will start at 8 p.m. PT and be available on NBC affiliate stations across the Pacific and Mountain time zones.  All Tuesday games will be available on Peacock nationally and certain stations may choose to televise both games.

NBC will become the home of NBA All-Star, including Rising Stars, State Farm All-Star Saturday Night, featuring AT&T Slam Dunk, Starry 3-Point Contest and Kia Skills Challenge, and the All-Star Game.  In the playoffs, NBC and/or Peacock will telecast approximately 28 games in the first two rounds of the playoffs, with at least half of those games airing on NBC.  NBC will also telecast one of the two Conference Finals series in six of the 11 years on a rotating basis with Amazon, beginning with the 2025-26 season.

As part of the partnership, NBCU will distribute NBA games in several European markets through Sky Sports as well as in the Caribbean and Sub-Saharan Africa.  Additionally, NBCU will distribute WNBA games and be the home of all USA Basketball Senior Men’s and Women’s National Team games.

Xfinity will become the Official TV Service of the NBA, WNBA and USA Basketball.  The partnership includes collaboration on marketing and storytelling opportunities, virtual signage during game telecasts and activations at marquee NBA, WNBA and USA Basketball events.

Amazon

Amazon will distribute 66 NBA regular-season games on Prime Video each season, including Thursday night doubleheaders beginning in January, Friday evening doubleheaders, select Saturday afternoon games, at least one game on Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving), and the Quarterfinals and Semifinals in the Knockout Round of the Emirates NBA Cup.  In addition, Prime Video will stream the Championship Game of the Emirates NBA Cup.

Prime Video will also distribute all six SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament games.  In the playoffs, Prime Video will stream approximately one-third of the first and second rounds each year.  Additionally, Prime Video will stream one of the two Conference Finals series in six of the 11 years on a rotating basis with NBCU, beginning with the 2026-27 NBA season.

Amazon will distribute NBA games globally as part of Prime Video, with an expanded package of games in select territories, including Mexico, Brazil, France, Italy, Spain, Germany, the United Kingdom and Ireland.  This expanded package includes a minimum of 20 additional primetime regular season games each year, a Conference Finals series each year, and the NBA Finals in six of the 11 years.  Prime Video will also become the NBA’s strategic partner and third-party global destination of NBA League Pass – the league’s live NBA game subscription service, with expanded distribution rights for NBA League Pass in the U.S. and internationally.   Additionally, as part of the agreement, Prime Video will stream half of all NBA Summer League games as well as a package of WNBA and NBA G League regular-season and postseason games.

Kartoon Studios To Launch “Winnie-the-Pooh” Megabrand On Amazon Prime Video Alongside Nationwide Retail Program in Partnership with Alliance Entertainment

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Kartoon Studios today announced its most ambitious project in the history of the company, Kartoon Studios’ “Winnie-the-Pooh.” Plans include an animated holiday movie, five holiday specials, and a four year/104 episode series, to premiere on Amazon Prime Video, via Kartoon Channel!’s subscription service on the platform. Concurrently, Alliance Entertainment (NASDAQ:AENT), a leading distributor of physical entertainment that supports major nationwide retailers, including Walmart, Target, Amazon and Barnes & Noble, will debut new merchandise through a nationwide retail program, in conjunction with Kartoon Studios rollout of a global consumer products campaign.

Kartoon Studios’ “Winnie-the-Pooh” is based on the designs and stories of one of the most successful brands of all time, A.A. Milne’s “Winnie-the-Pooh,” a property that has generated over $80 billion in sales over the last four decades and is estimated to currently generate $3-$6 billion per year for The Walt Disney Company. The total lifetime revenues exceed those of “Barbie,” “Harry Potter,” “Star Wars,” “Mickey Mouse,” “Peanuts,” “Ninja Turtles,” “Power Rangers,” “Marvel,” and almost every major brand in the world.

“Disney created an iconic and tremendously successful global brand with ‘Winnie-the-Pooh’ that we have all admired so much over many decades.  When the property went into the public domain, we knew we could only undertake creating Pooh for a new generation if we could bring a completely new, different and unique look that was contemporary, protectable, and gave voice to the characters and stories created by A.A. Milne, as has never been done,” said Kartoon Studios’ Chairman & CEO Andy Heyward. “We are thrilled to launch with Amazon Prime Video and Alliance Entertainment to deliver unique and  exceptional content, as we build out a new iteration of this entertainment brand and ‘Winnie-the-Pooh’-branded consumer products to the global marketplace.”

Pre-production has already begun on the animated holiday movie, set to premiere December 24, 2025, on Amazon Prime Video, through Kartoon Channel!’s subscription distribution agreement with them. Concurrently, the global retail program will kick off with the debut of products featuring an array of special features, distributed through Alliance Entertainment Corporation.

Kartoon Studios’ “Winnie-the-Pooh” animated content is being developed with a unique ‘yarn- based’ design and palette for the characters and backgrounds, along with original modern stories inspired by Milne’s beloved classic books. The beautifully imagined yarn gives the characters a depth and warmth.  Additionally, the stories will be told in a ‘Seussian style’ rhyme to provide an enriched dimension to the stories.

“In designing Kartoon Studios’ ‘Winnie-The-Pooh,’ we combined the best of both AI and human creativity to arrive at the unique look of the characters and backgrounds that could not have been imaginable prior to the advent of AI in our industry,” commented Heyward.  “Our use of our AI platform will enable us to bring a level of efficiency, speed-to-market, and creativity, to the production heretofore not possible,” said Heyward. “At a time when our world can be confusing for children, Pooh is an oasis of goodness, grounded in family, friendship, kindness, and love.  Those are the exact values our version of Pooh will showcase as we focus on building Kartoon Studios’ “Winnie-The-Pooh” into a long-term global megabrand, through which the simple and comforting values A.A. Milne originally imagined, will endure forever.”

Heyward added: “We think this is a generational opportunity to capitalize on one of the greatest properties ever created, with a proven track record.  Audiences around the world are demanding healthy, positive, family-friendly stories that will inspire and entertain kids, alongside a new line of products, from toys to books, videos to apparel, and more, that are steeped in these enriching values.”

The series is being financed through Joint Venture Production financing of $30 million provided by WTP SPV 1, a subsidiary of Catalyst Venture Partners.  It is non-dilutive, production financing.

Steven A. Horowitz, Sr. Managing Director  of WTP SPV and its parent company, Catalyst Venture Partners, stated: “We have committed to provide $30 million to the Special Purpose Joint Venture for this exciting new version of A.A. Milne’s ‘Winnie the Pooh’ from Kartoon Studios, which is non-dilutive to any of TOON’s existing stakeholders.  Being able to participate in a timeless and proven children’s classic such as Milne’s ‘Winnie-The-Pooh,’ through the production of original animated content and the licensing of consumer products from those proprietary character designs and stories, is a unique opportunity we are very excited about.  Andy Heyward and the team at Kartoon Studios have a long history of producing hit properties for children.  An all-star array of award-winning talent across development, production, marketing, consumer products, and distribution has been assembled to manage the brand launch, and we are excited to be a part of what we are confident will be a hugely profitable and enduring business.”

“Capitalizing on the enormous equity inherent in A.A. Milne’s ‘Winnie-The-Pooh,’ the unique designs and storytelling, as well as the production efficiency by harnessing AI, Kartoon Studios’ new iteration of the timeless brand will have an exceptional array of attributes that we believe can lead to extraordinary profitability for the company,” stated Heyward.    

Totally Spies! Live-Action Series In The Works At Amazon

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A live-action TV series based on the cult classic French cartoon “Totally Spies!” is in development at Amazon with Will Ferrell as executive producer.

Described as a YA adaptation of the long-running Banijay Kids animated show of the same name, the new “Totally Spies!” will follow iconic best friends Clover, Alex and Sam as they navigate saving the world as international spies, while trying to survive the ups and downs of first year college life.

No writer or talent is currently attached to the potential “Totally Spies!” series, which is a collaboration between Amazon MGM Studios and Banijay Kids & Family, shepherded by Amazon’s head of Pan-English original series Rola Bauer.

Executive producing the project alongside Ferrell, under their Gloria Sanchez Productions banner, are Jessica Elbaum and Alix Taylor. Banijay Kids & Family CEO Benoît Di Sabatino is executive producer for the studio.

Created by Vincent Chalvon-Demersay and David Michel, the original “Totally Spies!” has aired nearly 200 episodes since debuting in 2001 and spawned a prequel film, “Totally Spies! The Movie,” and a spinoff series, “The Amazing Spiez!” The show recently premiered its seventh season in France and will air in the U.S. on Cartoon Network later this year. “Totally Spies!” is currently streaming on Amazon’s Prime Video.

“’Totally Spies!’ is a huge success for Banijay Kids & Family, having been translated in 60 languages and sold to more than 220 territories,” Di Sabatino said. “With a social media base of 3 million, the series continues to thrive in its animation form with the recently launched 7th season. Rola Bauer approached me for a live-action adaptation, and we were thrilled to partner with Amazon MGM Studios. With her, Ludovic Attal, and Punit Matoo’s support, we are honoured to join such a stronghold of female-focused producers in Gloria Sanchez Productions to produce for Prime Video.”

“Will, Alix and I are thrilled to be joining our partners at Amazon and Banijay to bring ‘Totally Spies!’ to life as a live-action show,” Gloria Sanchez president Elbaum said. “Gloria Sanchez was originally founded to tell stories about complicated characters and empower female voices and storytellers. As longtime fans of the animated show, we couldn’t think of a story more fitting to our ethos. The themes of girl-power, never sacrificing friendship, fun, or your true self to be successful resonated with us then, and feel ripe to revisit now.”

Paramount And Amazon Reportedly Enter Talks For New Streaming Bundle

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Recently Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery announced a deal that would see Max, Hulu, and Disney+ bundle. After that Comcast announced a bundle of Peacock, Netflix, and Apple TV+. Now Bloomberg is reporting that Amazon and Paramount are in talks about a possible streaming bundle.

According to the report, Paramount and Amazon are in early talks to offer a bundled version of their streaming service. Paramount already owns multiple streaming services, including Paramount+ and BET+. They could be bundled on their own through Amazon channels or possibly bundled with Amazon’s own streaming services like Amazon Prime Video or MGM+.

The talks are not a done deal, and Bloomberg says it is possible nothing may come from them. Paramount has also reportedly been in talks with Peacock about a bundle option, but no deal has been reached at this time.

Bundles have widely been seen as a quick way for services to gain subscribers. They are also seen as a way to lock in subscribers for longer. Increasingly streaming services are fighting a growing trend of cord cutters rotating streaming services in 2024. This impacts profit, and customers binge everything they want in a month or two instead of keeping a subscription long term. Bundles could tempt customers to be locked in for longer by offering more content.

Amazon Reportedly In Talks To Buy Minority Stake In ESPN From Disney

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Recently we learned that Disney was open to selling part of ESPN to a potential partner if the deal was right. This comes from a June interview with CNBC, where Disney CEO Bob Iger said he was open to partnering with other companies to make a new ESPN streaming service work including selling part of ESPN.

This comes as ESPN is working on launching a direct-to-consumer streaming service. This new service would let subscribers watch live ESPN without the need for cable TV.

Since that interview, reports have been flying about who Disney is talking to. Major sports leagues, including the NFL, and rivals like Comcast have all been suggested as potential ESPN Partners. Now, The Information is reporting that Amazon and Disney are in early talks to partner on ESPN’s streaming partnership.

According to the report, Amazon is in talks to possibly offer an ESPN streaming service, likely through its Amazon Channels service. This deal could also see Amazon take a minority stake in ESPN. Amazon has a lot to offer Disney with its ability to stream live events, and a customer base that Disney could use to promote ESPN’s new streaming service.

Amazon is not the only company Disney is reportedly talking to. A few weeks ago, the New York Post reported that Disney has been in talks with media companies such as Amazon, Apple, Google, Microsoft, Verizon, and T-Mobile, to name a few. The goal is reportedly to take advantage of their technology to help expand the reach of ESPN’s new direct-to-consumer streaming service.

Last week The Information reported that Verizon and Disney have started talks about a possible partnership with Verizon and ESPN. Verizon could be a great partner for its technology and a possible bundle deal similar to the Disney+ bundle Verizon recently offered to its wireless subscribers.

Disney owns 80% of ESPN, and the rest is owned by Hearst. Disney would likely want to keep as much ownership as possible, but if the right partner comes along it may be open to selling part of the storied sports network.

Prime Video Loads Up On Batman Toons

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Amazon’s streaming service picked up 2D-animated movie Merry Little Batman, which was among the kids projects canceled at HBO Max last year. Continuing efforts to age down the Batman franchise (starting with the launch of preschool-skewing Batwheels on Cartoonito in 2022) this action-comedy pic stars Damian Wayne—a young boy who turns himself into “Little Batman” during Christmas Eve to stop Gotham City’s supervillains from ruining the holidays. Mike Roth (Regular Show) is directing, with Morgan Evans (Teen Titans Go!) writing the screenplay. Roth will also executive produce alongside Sam Register.

Spinoff series Bat-Family is also headed to Prime. Exploring the unique capers of being part of a superhero family, the toon centers around Batman, Alfred and Damian, who has now taken on the mantle of Little Batman full-time.

Finally, Amazon has confirmed a previously reported two-season order for Batman: Caped Crusader—a darker, noir-inspired series that will be similar to Batman: The Animated Series, which aired on Fox Kids from 1992 to 1995. Bruce Timm, J.J. Abrams  and Matt Reeves are executive producing this series, which was another casualty of the HBO Max cancellations last year that has now landed at Prime.

All three projects will premiere exclusively on Prime Video worldwide. And they reflect the streamer’s growing investment in comic book IPs. Last year, Sony Pictures Television signed a multi-title deal to produce live-action series based on Marvel characters for Amazon, with a Silk: Spider Society series already underway.

Meanwhile, DC Studios is also prepping multiple projects based on the Batman IP for the big screen. In addition to DCU installment The Brave and the Bold and Matt Reeves’ sequel to last year’s The Batman, the studio is bringing two incarnations of the iconic character together on screen in The Flash, which hits theaters this June.

Roundups #119: Snoozefest Best & Bester FINALLY Making Its African Debut On Nicktoons, God Of War TV Series Ordered By Prime Video And Stephen Twitch Boss Famous DJ Dead At Age 40

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The long forgotten Nicktoon finally gets the time of day

Best & Bester (52x11) is a co-production between London-based studio Eye Present and Finnish studio Gigglebug Entertainment. Nickelodeon International acquired the pre-buy rights to the series in February 2020.

The series follows siblings and best friends obsessed with comparing the best things of all time while enjoying the power to transform themselves into anything they want, once a day – if only they can figure out what the best thing to be actually is!

Nickelodeon channels in various territories are currently airing Best & Bester with Nicktoons scheduled to air the short-lived comedy series by January 2023.

Regular Nick:
- Moonbug Kids gets a dedicated cameo account
- January on Disney Channel
- January on Disney Junior
- January on Da Vinci Kids
- Craig Of The Creek has been cancelled on Cartoon Network
- The concept of Cartoonito and Boomerang (review)

Another video game is being ordered to series

A live-action adaptation of PlayStation’s hit video game franchise “God of War” has been ordered to series at Amazon’s Prime Video, with “Wheel of Time” boss Rafe Judkins set as showrunner.

Based on the massively popular 2018 video game, the show follows Kratos, the God of War, who, after exiling himself from his blood-soaked past in ancient Greece, hangs up his weapons forever in the Norse realm of Midgard, per Amazon’s description. When his beloved wife dies, Kratos sets off on a dangerous journey with his estranged son Atreus to spread her ashes from the highest peak — his wife’s final wish. Kratos soon realizes the journey is an epic quest in disguise, one which will test the bonds between father and son, and force Kratos to battle new gods and monsters for the fate of the world.

“’God of War’ is a compelling, character-driven franchise that we believe will captivate our global customers as much with its expansive and immersive worlds as its rich storytelling,” Vernon Sanders, head of global television at Amazon Studios, said. “We are honored to share in the adventure of exploring the God of War mythology in such a momentous way with Sony Pictures Television, PlayStation Productions, and Santa Monica Studio.”

The world bids farewell to another artist

DJ, dancer and producer tWitch, whose real name is Stephen Boss, has died at the age of 40. His death was confirmed by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner's office and the Los Angeles Police Department.

At around 11:20 a.m. local time Tuesday, officers were dispatched to a motel in the Encino neighborhood on a call of an "ambulance death investigation," the LAPD said in a statement Wednesday. Investigators said Boss' death was a suicide.

Boss and his wife, Allison Holker, are both dancers who appeared on the competition series "So You Think You Can Dance?" and "Dancing with the Stars." The couple married in 2013 and marked their ninth wedding anniversary this week. They share three children.

Google:
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- Malverde: Legend or Myth, a look at other patron saints
- 7 things you didn't know about Tom's Diner
- Inside the enduring mysteries of Elvis Presley's tragic fate
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Roundups #114: Spider-Man Spin-Off Silk: Spider-Society Greenlit By MGM+ And Amazon Prime Video, Ultra Violet And Black Scorpion Cancelled On Disney Channel After One Season And Looney Tunes Cartoons Cancelled On Cartoon Network And HBO Max

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The Spiderverse continues its expansion

Superheros are taking the television world by storm, and Amazon Prime Video is taking this opportunity to get in on all the action. The first confirmed Spider-Man spinoff will be Silk: Spider Society, but it won't be the only one according to Sony.

For those who remember, Sony and Disney didn't see eye to eye when it came to the Tom Holland Spider-Man movies. After the second installment, Spider-Man: Far From Home, Sony and Disney had a hard time coming to a financial deal, leaving many to wonder if the third film, Spider-Man: No Way Home, was going to happen. However, the two companies came to terms with the fact that Sony will hold the screen rights to all of the Spider-Man films and characters, which is now allowing Sony to jump in on creating spin-offs of its own.

Amazon Studios and Sony will introduce audiences to Cindy Moon, a.k.a. Silk. While no one is sure how many shows fans are getting, one is Silk: Spider Society, which will be the first to kick off the new Spider-Man universe when it debuts on MGM Plus domestically before launching globally on Prime Video. There is no word on how exactly the series will portray Moon's backstory, but there should be some excitement around The Walking Dead showrunner Angela Kang, who will also be heading Silk: Spider Society. Kang will also serve as executive producer alongside Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse producers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, with whom she developed the series.

Ultra Violet And Black Scorpion Cancelled

Unfortunately, it’s not all confetti and cake. Villains of Valley View may live to fight another day, but its superhero block mate, Ultra Violet & Black Scorpion is heading to early retirement. Disney Channel decided to end the series after only 1 season. It’s a disappointing ending for yet another Latina superhero this year. First Leslie Grace’s Batgirl, now Scarlett Estevez’s Violet? This year has actually been marked by a concerning amount of Hispanic-led series cancelled too soon.

First announced way back in January 2020, it was intended to star professional wrestler Blue Demon Jr. and have a heavier luchadore / profesional wrestling influence. The pandemic and other behind the scenes issues resulted in a long road to get the show off the ground. The first major issue is that the pandemic left the series from receiving full greenlight until January 2021, one year later. At that time, Scarlett Estevez joined the series as Ultra Violet.

For reasons unknown, Blue Demon Jr. departed the series along with the original producer and it was retooled as Ultra Violet & Black Scorpion. In August 2021, J.R. Villarreal tagged in as Black Scorpion to replace Blue Demon and the series finally filmed. Disney could have aired a special sneak peek of the pilot during Hispanic Heritage month in 2021, but did not. When it finally premiered this past June, it seemed that they’d been holding it back for a few months already. Then, it felt like they were burning it off when they dropped the entire summer’s set of 10 episodes on Disney+ right away. The television ratings certainly suffered from this decision.

Looney Tunes Cartoons is officially on its way out, this is the version of the series that premiered on HBO Max

Developed by Pete Brown (Creator of Uncle Grandpa), he wanted Looney Tunes Cartoons to go back to the basics. These didn't go out of the way to reinvent Bugs Bunny and everyone else. Instead, it was more of an update to the 1940s Looney Tunes era which isn't a bad thing.

These characters are timeless, thrown in any time period and setting and maybe change a few things here and there it's still fun to watch.

While the reception of this show is positive, Pete revealed something on Instagram:

Today was a final mix of the 209 Looney Tunes Cartoons shorts we created. Congratulations to all involved. That's all folks.

The end of this version doesn't mean the end of the franchise as Looney Tunes has got a ton of upcoming projects such as Bugs Bunny Builders, Tiny Toons Looniversity, Tweety Mysteries and The Day The Earth Blew Up.

Poltergeist: A 1980s Classic Became Known As Hollywood's Most "Cursed" Film Following The Untimely Death Of A 12-Year-Old Actress

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Not only is Steven Spielberg's Poltergeist regarded as one of the most terrifying horror films of all time, it's also known as the most "cursed" film in Hollywood.

Shrouded in superstition following a handful of mysterious cast deaths, the 1982 film's grim history has followed it through decades – even casting fear over the critically reviled 2015 remake.

The "Poltergeist curse", as it's become known, came about after four of the cast members died of mysterious circumstances – the most shocking being that of Heather O'Rourke – the cherubic 12-year-old childstar who played protagonist Carol Anne in all three Poltergeist films, as well as Heather Pfister in Happy Days.

THE ORIGINAL TRILOGY

Set in a house built on an ancient Native American burial ground, the original Poltergeist trilogy told the terrifying story of the Freeling family and their encounters with the supernatural.

Gifted with a connection to the spiritual world, the youngest daughter, Carol Anne (O'Rourke), was haunted by the malicious spirits buried beneath her home, including that of a sadistic doomsday cult leader named Kane

It was released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer on June 4, 1982 and was a commercial success, grossing $1.13 million in the United States, making it the highest-grossing horror film of 1982 and eighth overall for the year.

The film's special effects – inventive for its era – makes it frequently ranked among the greatest horror films of all time.

BEGINNINGS OF "THE CURSE"

Many believe the "Poltergeist Curse" began the same year the first movie was released.

Actress Dominique Young, who made her film debut in Poltergeist as the elder sister of Carol Anne, died a violent death shortly after its release in 1983.

She was strangled to death by her boyfriend, John Thomas Sweeney.

According to a New York Times article, Young was put on life support after the attack but passed away five days later.

Sweeney was later found guilty of voluntary manslaughter, according to a 1983 article from The Freelance Star.

JULIAN BECK

It was the actor who played Carol Anne's most intimidating spirit, doomsday cult leader Kane, who died next.

Julian Beck, who played Kane in Poltergeist II sadly did not live to see the release of the sequel.
He was 60 when he lost a battle with stomach cancer on September 14, 1985, according to The New York Times.

WILL SAMPSON

The third in the spooky string of deaths associated with the film was of the man who portrayed a friendly ghost named Taylor in the second Polergeist film, Will Sampson.

Sampson died on June 3, 1987, aged 53, after of an illness caused by a chronic degenerative condition, according to The Herald Journal.

HEATHER O'ROURKE'S DEATH

It was the unexpected nature of Heather O'Rourke's death which led many to believe the "Poltergeist Curse" was real.

Known for adorable, blue-eyed angelic looks and her creepy delivery of the line; "They're here" in the first film of the series, it was largely O'Rourke's chilling performance that made the film iconic.
At 12 years old, she passed away suddenly.

The actress died in surgery when doctors were attempting to repair an acute bowel obstruction, caused by what was believed to be a long battle with Crohn's disease, the LA Times reported.

The young address was tragically pronounced dead after suffering septic shock, on February 1, 1988.

Malverde: The Legend Or A Myth, A Look At The Lives Of Former Patron Saints Heraclio Bernal And Felipe Bachomo

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Jesus Malverde was of Yoreme and Spanish heritage. He is a "Robin Hood " figure who was supposed to have stolen from the rich to give to the poor. He is celebrated as a folk saint by some in Mexico and the United States, particularly among drug traffickers. Historically, the existence of Malverde is not verified so we dwell into the world of other Patron Saints.

Heraclio Bernal

During the pre-Revolutionary period (1870-1910) while Porfirio Diaz was in power, the corrido was much less abundant than it would be in latter years. With national affairs controlled by the central government and a long period of peace, the corridista had little to work with. However, as soon as caudillos (military leaders), bandidos (bandits) and the pueblo began to take arms in revolutionary bands, the corrido had a new purpose. During this time period, some of Mexico's most important national figures like Francisco Madero, Venustiano Carranza, Emiliano Zapata, Pancho Villa, and Alvaro Obregon were swept from their high positions by rebellion and political assassination. As such, these figures often met with violent deaths giving the corridista subjects that were not only historical but dramatic. Through the tales that the corridista spun, these men became not only famous but legendary. Today we still hear these corridos in cantinas and plazas throughout Mexico and parts of the United States.

Most interesting are the corridos of the bandidos who were often striking personalities. These bandidos were usually close to the pueblo and often acted as modern day "Robin Hoods". Heraclio Bernal was a typical "Robin Hood" character, taking from the mines and the government and giving to the pueblo which included laid off mine workers. Although most of the corridos about Heraclio Bernal celebrate him as a larger than life character, it is important to remember that he was a real man....a very couragous and brave man.

Heraclio Bernal was born in 1855 in El Chaco in the municipality of San Ignacio, Sinaloa as the fourth child of a poor family. Bernal's first run-in with the law came in the town of Guadalupe de los Reyes where he worked in the local mine. Here he was wrongly accused (according to some) of stealing bars of iron and arrested. Although he was able to get away, he was later apprehended in a small town nearby. Bernal was sent to Mazatlan where he spent the rest of the year (1877) in jail.

Map of Sinaloa and environs

From 1879-1880 Bernal was involved with the uprising of General Jesus Ramirez Terron in Mazatlan and the southern part of Sinaloa against Porfirio Diaz. Bernal was given the rank of lieutenant but soon returned to attacking mines, businesses and government offices in the region of Guadalupe de los Reyes. For the most part, Bernal and his bandidos were interested in arms and ammunition. However, when they did seize money on a raid, Bernal was quick to share it with his comrades. Most of Bernal's bandidos were mine workers from the Sierra Madre Occidental of the states of Durango and Sinaloa. Over the years, historians have disagreed on how many men Bernal had with estimates ranging from 10 to 200. In any case, during this time, Bernal and his band were headquartered in the remote area of El Maguey in the municipality of Durango surrounded by inaccessible mountains.

Later in 1879, Bernal would help the rebellion of Jesus Ramires Terron once again. Terron had just launched the Plan de Copala which denounced the government of Porfirio Diaz and demanded a strict interpretation of the constitution of 1857. From 1880 on, Bernal took the city of Mazatlan and extended his raids from Nayarit to the Tarahumara mountain range. He continued to attack mines and other government offices as he controlled nearly the entire line of the Sierra Madre Occidental.

In 1885, Bernal signed and published the Plan en la Rastra that denounced the president of the republic and the local authorities of Sinaloa. However, it was in 1886 that Bernal gained national fame. During a presidential address, Porfirio Diaz mentioned the fight that his government was engaged in with Bernal and in 1887, a bounty of 10,000 pesos was placed on his head.. There are a number of versions as to the death of Bernal. One version states that he was hiding in a cave dying of illness with his friend Crispín García standing guard. According to this version, after Bernal had died of his illness, García shot him in the head several times so he could collect the bounty. However, according to Nicole Giron, Bernal was surrounded in the mountains near the mines of Nuestra Senora Sinola and was killed on the fifth day of January in 1888 (Avitia Hernández 309). No matter how Heraclio Bernal died, the fact is that his name lives on. Many versions of the corrido of Bernal's death still exist today as a tribute to the Rey de Sinaloa.

Credits: Jaime

Felipe Bachomo

Felipe Bachomo was born in 1883 in Jahuara; an indigenous neighborhood of Mochicahui on the banks of the Fuerte River in northern Sinaloa. From a very young age; Without knowing how to read or write, he was employed as a laborer in the hacienda of the rich landowner Don José María Cásarez, where it is said he fell in love with one of the boss's daughters named Elvira.

On May 1, 1911, Bachomo, in the company of other Mayo Indians, armed with bows and arrows and an old pistol or carbine, left Jahuara to join Ibarra's forces with whom they participated in military actions in Sinaloa until the triumph of the Maderista revolution with the taking of Mazatlan, thus ending the military campaign.

Once the military campaign was over, the soldiers were “licensed”, that is, to give them the freedom to return to work on their land. But the Mayo Indians knew that they had no land to work, so they returned to Mochicahui but in order to start their own struggle under the leadership of Bachomo, with their own flag and objectives: to recover the dispossessed lands.

Bachomo thus became an independent force in the Fuerte River basin, establishing its headquarters in Jahuara, commanding nearly 6,000 men with military supplies that it had accumulated during the Maderista campaign, as well as bows and arrows that they themselves had made. He didn't know anything about politics and he didn't support Carranza or Huerta, even, he had his own fight and that was to fight against the local caciques.

The caciques of the region reacted harshly to the Indians, carrying out a massacre in Ahome, taking those who remained alive prisoner. Maytorena encouraged Bachomo to stop the arbitrariness, and on April 18, 1914, he took the town to heart and blood, freeing the detainees and ordering the looting of the shops and houses of the "yoris", so called white people.

General Felipe Rivera; Chief of the Carrancista forces in Sinaloa, in recognition of his courage he extended the appointment of General, but Bachomo maintained his independence, his cause was not that of Carranza and his revolution was limited to persecuting and punishing the caciques executioners of his race. His was not a caste war, as evidenced by the fact that his second in command; Jesús Ruiz was a yori (white), in addition to the fact that many mestizos such as Lorenzo Robles were among his forces. In fact, one of his lieutenants; Armando Borboa, was a target of criminal and cruel instincts, who was the real author of the looting, fires and rapes, which Bachomo was later accused of in the process that followed to shoot him.

Credits: Héctor Lizarraga

Roundups #76: The Boys Spinoff Gets Official Title, The Little Mermaid Preschool Series Is Rumoured To Be In Development And Nintendo To Launch Animation Studio

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Gen Z is currently underway on Amazon Prime Video

Get your superhero suits ready and head on down to Vought International because Amazon’s college-based spinoff of “The Boys” has an official title: “Gen V.”

The title is a clever reference to today’s youthful Gen Z and the show’s super power-giving chemical known as compound V. Cast members announced the title in a new video shared on social media.

Set at America’s only college exclusively for young-adult superheroes (owned and operated by Vought International, of course), “Gen V” is “an irreverent, R-rated series that explores the lives of hormonal, competitive Supes as they put their physical, sexual and moral boundaries to the test, competing for the best contracts in the best cities,” per Prime Video. It’s part college show, part “Hunger Games” with the same raunchy satirical tone of “The Boys.”

 

The Little Mermaid is preschool

According to some new trademarks that have been listed, Disney Junior is also working on a new project, called “Ariel”, which is likely to be a new version of “The Little Mermaid” for pre-school ages.

There are a number of trademarks being applied for, including for entertainment services; education services; distribution services and production services.  In addition to trademarks for a large number of merchandise items, clothing, footwear and headwear.  In addition to paper products and non-medicated cosmetics.

Disney hasn’t officially announced that it is developing a new pre-school series, “Disney Junior Ariel”, but with the new live-action film and it being over 30 years since the original animated film was released, these trademark listings do indicate that Disney is planning a major new campaign of merchandise and entertainment services.

 

Nintendo becomes an animation studio

Nintendo has announced the acquisition of Dynamo Pictures, an animation studio in Tokyo that collaborated on several animated Pikmin shorts that premiered on the Nintendo 3DS. Renamed Nintendo Pictures, the studio will continue to work on the “development of visual content utilizing Nintendo IP,” according to the company’s press release.

“Nintendo has decided to acquire 100 percent of the outstanding shares (excluding treasury shares) of Dynamo Pictures and make it a wholly owned subsidiary to strengthen the planning and production structure of visual content in the Nintendo group.”

They have a working relationship with Illumination, the studio behind the popular Minions franchise. The animated Chris Pratt-led Super Mario Bros. movie spawned from that partnership will release in 2023, barring any future delays.

Roundups #65: Monster High: The Movie Coming This Fall To Nickelodeon And Paramount+, Idris Elba Reportedly In Talks For The Role Of James Bond And Lady Gaga Might Star In The Rumoured Jokers 2 Musical As Harley Quinn

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Paramount+ and Nickelodeon are about to get spooky

Monster High (working title) stars Miia Harris (Just Beyond) as Clawdeen Wolf; Ceci Balagot (Dispatches from Elsewhere) as Frankie Stein; Nayah Damasen (Grey's Anatomy) as Draculaura; Case Walker (The Other Two) as Deuce Gorgon; Kyle Selig (“Mean Girls” on Broadway) as Mr. Komos; Marci T. House (Day of the Dead) as Headmistress Bloodgood; Scotch Ellis Loring (Firehouse Dog) as Clawdeen’s dad, Apollo; Steve Valentine (Mom) as Draculaura’s dad, Dracula; Jy Prishkulnik (Just Beyond) as Cleo de Nile; Lina Lecompte (Death Pursuit) as Lagoona Blue; Justin Derickson (When the Streetlights Go On) as Heath Burns; Lilah Fitzgerald (Honey Girls) as Ghoulia; and Nasiv Sall (Descendants 2) as Abbey Bominable. Additional fan-favorite characters from the Monster High universe will also be seen throughout the TV movie.

Monster High follows Clawdeen Wolf, who was born half human and half werewolf, after she arrives at her new school, Monster High. She quickly makes friends with her classmates Frankie Stein and Draculaura, and for the first time in her life, Clawdeen feels like she has finally found a place where she fits in and can truly be herself, despite keeping her human half a secret. When a devious plan to destroy Monster High threatens to reveal her real identity, Clawdeen must learn to embrace her true monster heart and find a way to save the day.

In addition to the Monster High TV movie, an animated series based off the beloved franchise is slated to premiere on Nickelodeon next year. Both projects join other Mattel Television content in production, including series and specials based on Barbie, Masters of the Universe, Thomas & Friends, Polly Pocket and Fireman Sam, to name a few.

 

Could Idris Elba become the next James Bond?

According to new reports, actor Idris Elba is in talks to play none other than 007 himself, James Bond, in the next instalment in the long-running franchise..

An insider reportedly stated, "Idris has long been in talks to play a role in the next era of James Bond’s story and last year was being considered for a role as an antagonist. However, talks surrounding him playing the lead have started again as producers realized how popular he would be after carrying out secret market research. He ranked highly among the diverse group of movie buffs invited to participate in it. They didn’t want to see him as a nemesis, they want him as the hero."

Earlier this year, Bond producer Barbara Broccoli confirmed Idris Elba was being considered for the role, following Daniel Craig's exit with No Time to Die. At the time, Broccoli said, "Well, we know Idris, we're friends with him, and he's a magnificent actor... And, you know, it's been part of the conversation, but it's always difficult to have the conversation when you have someone in the seat."

 

She also suggested no further discussions about the next Bond would take place until Craig's time as 007 was well and truly done. "I think we have decided that until No Time to Die has had its run and Daniel has been able to -- well, we've all been able to savor, reap the benefits of Daniel's wonderful tenure, we're not gonna think about, or talk about anybody else."

Lady Gaga might bring a superhero musical to life

Lady Gaga is in talks to star opposite Joaquin Phoenix in the sequel to Joker, according to sources. A deal hasn't been finalized, but she'd reportedly be playing Harley Quinn, the Joker's love interest whom he falls for after she serves as his psychiatrist. 

Margot Robbie has been playing Harley Quinn in the DC film franchise, including in 2021's The Suicide Squad. But Gaga's take would be a separate version of the character in a different fictional universe. Robbie played Harley opposite Jared Leto as the Joker.

 

Director Todd Phillips announced last week this sequel is moving forward with the working title Joker: Folie à deux, a term that refers to "an identical or similar mental disorder affecting two or more individuals,".

It was also revealed that even though the original Joker was a dark character study, the sequel is said to be a musical. The first movie was inspired by Martin Scorsese's Taxi Driver, so might the sequel be inspired by Scorsese's musical New York, New York?

Roundups #65: First Look At Scooby-Doo Adult Spinoff Velma, Sebastían Carvajal And Laura Londoño Reportedly Star In New Telenovela Hombres And Shraddha Arya Departs Kundali Bhagya For The Time Being

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Jinkies! is the media's reaction to the new Velma series

At the Warner Bros Discovery Upfront presentation, Mindy Kaling took the stage to showcase the upcoming animated series, Velma, with one big change to the lead character.

In the first look at Kaling's adult animation comedy Velma, which is a spinoff of the popular Scooby-Doo cartoons, we got our first glimpse at the reimagined Velma Dinkley. “Hopefully you noticed my Velma is South Asian,” Kaling told the crowd. “If people freak out about that, I don’t care.”

While this is the first glimpse we’ve gotten at the upcoming series, it’s not the first we’ve heard of the reimaging for Velma. Last summer, it was announced Velma would be South Asian. Unfortunately, there was a lot of backlash for this from fans of the original cartoon.

The new animated series was announced in early 2021 for HBO Max with Mindy Kaling billed as both executive producer and the voice of the titular character. Velma is part of the streaming service’s push for more adult animation. Velma tells the origin story of Velma Dinkley, the bespeckled, brains of the Scooby Doo Mystery Inc. gang.

The Scent Of Passion and Nurses cross paths

Everything seems to indicate that Laura Londoño and Sebastian Carvajal would be the protagonists of the series 'Manes', which would prepare the RCN channel as producer, for the Amazon platform. so what revealed the presenter and expert in telenovelas

Supposedly Sebastián Carvajal is exclusive to the
channel and how his project of Señora Isabel
would have postponed for the second half of the year, managers gave him a short character in the
series by Leandro Díaz, as confirmed by the actor.

But now he would play Julian, a character he did
Nicolas Montero in the series Hombres de RCN, a
stock market man.

Kundali Bhagya loses an important character...for now

Kundali Bhagya is one of the most loved and long-running daily soaps on TV screens. The show has a massive fan following and people are fans of the lead couple Karan and Preeta. The roles are played by Shraddha Arya and Dheeraj Dhoopar. Amidst the recent rumours of Dheeraj Dhoopar leaving the show, Shraddha Arya shared a montage of pictures on social media, giving proof of their impeccable chemistry.

In the post shared by the actress, she is seen giving some romantic and adorable poses with her on-screen love Dheeraj Dhoopar. They are seen lost in each other’s eyes and in another picture they are seen hugging each other happily. Both of them are seen dressed in black outfits and present on the sets of Kundali Bhagya.

As several outlets reported, Dheeraj Dhoopar is all set to make his silver screen debut with a Punjabi film. The sources informed the portal that Dheeraj is not quitting Kundali Bhagya instead the actor will take a break and later will return to the show. Reportedly, Shakti's track in the show is going to be temporary and he will just add drama to the entire upcoming plot as the show with a leap of five years.

Roundups #41: WildEarth TV Now Available On Plex And Rad NFTV, Maya Erskine Joins Donald Glover In ‘Mr. And Mrs. Smith’ Series At Amazon And Botched Season 7B Launches On E! Africa

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Plex, Rad NFTV to carry WildEarth FAST channel

Natural history-focused FAST channel WildEarth TV has launched on Plex, the AVoD and live-streaming service, and Rad NFTV, which claims to be the first streamer powered by non-fungible tokens.

WildEarth TV offers wildlife content 24/7, featuring eight hours of live programming a day, including twice-daily live safaris direct from locations including South Africa’s Djuma Game Reserve. Other live experiences include broadcasts studying the African penguin colonies on the Cape Coast and the wildebeest migrations in Kenya’s Maasai Mara reserve.

 

Mr. and Mrs. Smith TV series adaptation is in the works

Maya Erskine will star opposite Donald Glover in the upcoming “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” series at Amazon.

Erskine takes over the co-starring role from Phoebe Waller-Bridge, who had originally been set to star alongside Glover but departed the project last year due to creative differences. Glover revealed the new casting in an interview.

The series is based on Doug Liman’s feature of the same name starring Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. The pair played rival spies that discover they have been contracted to assassinate each other. According to Glover, he is currently writing the finale for the series.

Erskine is best known for co-creating, starring in, executive producing and co-showrunning the Hulu comedy series “PEN15.” The show was nominated for multiple Emmys throughout its two-season run, including one for best comedy series and two for best writing for a comedy series for Erskine as well as Anna Konkle and Stacy Osei-Kuffour. Her other TV roles include “Man Seeking Woman” and “Casual,” with Erskine recently working on films such as “Scoob!” and “Wine Country.” She will next be seen in the “Obi-Wan Kenobi” series at Disney Plus.

 

Paul and Terry are back for more intensifying surgeries

In the quest for perfection, some people’s efforts to improve their appearance can leave them with surprising results. World-renowned plastic surgeons Terry Dubrow and Paul Nassif continue to fix the unfixable, as their seventh season of correcting plastic surgery nightmares continues this April on E!.

Season 7B premieres Sunday 24 April at 20:00

Roundups #12: Love, Victor Cancelled After Three Seasons By Hulu, Captain America Meets Black Adam In New Amazon Film RedOne, Possible Renewals At Nick Jr. And Popular 90's Animated Series SWAT Kats Is Back With New Series

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Love, Victor comes to an end on Hulu

In distressing proof that nothing pure lasts forever, Love, Victor is signing off for good. Hulu announced during this week’s Television Critics Association’s Winter Press Tour that the upcoming third season of beloved gay teen drama will be its last.

The series will conclude with the June 15 release of all eight episodes of season 3. The series, written by Isaac Aptaker and Elizabeth Berger, began as a spin-off of the 2018 Greg Berlanti-produced film Love, Simon, based on Becky Albertalli’s YA novel. Love, Simon was the first gay teen rom-com to be released by a major Hollywood studio.

Source: Them

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Chris Evans and Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson join forces for new Amazon film, RedOne

Chris Evans and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson will be starring together in the upcoming Amazon film Red One. Red One is set to be a globe-trotting holiday comedy film, leaning into a genre which Johnson has been finding success in between his
Jumanji films and the recent Netflix title Red Notice . Jake Kasdan, who directed the two new Jumanji films, will be directing Red One and it is a project being an original vision from Seven Bucks President of Production Hiram Garcia . Red One is written by well-known Fast & Furious scribe Chris Morgan.

Red One is expected to release for the holiday of 2023. Kasdan will also serve as a producer on the film with Morgan, as well as Seven Bucks' Hiram Garcia and Dany Garcia. Previously, Seven Bucks and Kasdan's partnership on Jumanji films lead to massive box office successes through a pair of films which will lead into a third effort together.

Source: ComicBook

List of possible renewals on Nick Jr.

According to Preschool Series News & Galore, the following will live for another day:

- Paw Patrol renewed for 10th season
- Blaze And The Monster Machines renewed for 7th season
- Bubble Guppies might get a 7th season or end with its current season
- Blue Clues & You might get a 4th season with new movie
- Paw Patrol might get a 10th season with a new movie coming out and spin-off
- Santiago Of The Seas might get a 3rd season
- The Adventures Of Paddington renewed for 3rd season

SWAT Kats reboot is in development

India’s Toonz Media Group is teaming up with Christian and Yvon Tremblay to produce a new show inspired by the brothers’ classic animated series SWAT-KATS. The reboot, entitled SWAT-KATS Revolution , will target kids ages five to 11 and feature a host of new characters battling evil alongside the brand’s beloved feline fighters.

Source: Kidscreen

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You can also find me through the other platforms by pressing this link in brackets and if you're struggling to share the article through certain platforms use this link (Lnk.Bio).

The Risks of Disney’s Quick Fix for Subscriber Growth

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Disney has figured out an ingenious way to jump-start its streaming subscriber growth—give people less of a choice! Since late December, Disney has automatically included Disney+ and ESPN+ in one of its Hulu offerings, at a slightly higher price than it previously charged, we learned today. Ingenious! It’s a reminder that the customer-unfriendly DNA of the television industry still lurks in the genes of companies like Disney.

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There’s only one reason you take this action, and it’s to juice subscriber numbers. The strategy is working so far. Disney executives said the bundling—which they called a “strategic decision,” whatever that means—accounted for half of the surprisingly strong North American subscriber additions for Disney+ in the quarter. And sure, it’s a good deal for consumers right now: Even after the price raise, the bundle implies a hefty discount on all three services. But it’s a slippery slope. Forcing people to take services they don’t necessarily want is how the cable TV became a cash-printing machine, before steady price rises eventually alienated so many customers it went into a decline that is still underway.

Still, TV executives across the industry will surely take heart from Disney’s move. There have been straws in the wind for a while that executives at companies like Discovery—which today said it got regulatory approval to buy HBO Max’s parent, WarnerMedia—would like to offer packages of different streaming services. The current arrangement, low-cost services with lots of programming, is a money-losing proposition. Done right, bundling could offer a solution to streaming’s poor economics. But if it is mishandled—and who would rule out that happening!—it may play into the hands of companies like Netflix and Amazon, which tend to follow a more consumer-friendly approach.

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You can also find me through the other platforms by pressing this link in brackets and if you're struggling to share the article through certain platforms use this link (Lnk.Bio).

Insidus Content Roundup #7: NCIS: Los Angeles Possibly Cancelled, New The Little Prince Series Debuts In 2023, Leon Schuster And Alfred "Shorty" Ntombela Returns For Mr. Bones 3 On April 15th, 2022

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NCIS: Los Angeles cancelled after 13 seasons???

One chapter of the NCIS franchise may be closing, with the LA team possibly set to suspend operation . Currently nearing the end of its 13th season, fans hoping for a Season 14 renewal for NCIS: Los Angeles may be left upset, as series star Eric Christian Olsen recently revealed on social media that the hit CBS series is in its "final season."

Olsen, who has starred as LAPD-NCIS Liaison Officer Martin "Marty" Deeks since 2010, shared the shocking revelation back on Dec. 31, just days ahead of the show's return from a brief holiday hiatus. Sharing a screenshot of his character in action, Olsen hyped up the episode, writing, "we about to get back into it." However, a closer look at the caption revealed potentially concerning news for NCIS: Los Angeles , the actor adding in a string of hashtags, "the final season," seemingly suggesting that NCIS: Los Angeles has been canceled and will not return for another season.

NCIS: Los Angeles premiered back in 2009 as the first spinoff in the NCIS franchise. The series follows the Los Angeles-based Office of Special Projects (OSP), an elite division of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service that specializes in undercover assignments.

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The Little Prince is back

Currently in production, The Little Prince and Friends will air on France Télévisions, WDR (Germany), RAI (Italy) and Gloob (Brazil) in 2023.

The 52 x 11-minute series is aimed at four- to seven-year-olds and will see the Little Prince set off on a spaceship with two kids from Earth to explore the universe and its inhabitants. The concept was created by Simon Nicholson (PJ Masks) , and Bidibul Productions is producing the series with ON. The Little Prince and Friends was announced as part of ON’s new slate earlier this year , and it’s one of the prodco’s first development projects since former WarnerMedia France head of kids channels Julien Borde joined as EVP, head of television and chief content officer.

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ON and the Saint-Exupéry-d’Agay Estate have worked together in the past on 3D-animated movie The Little Prince, which was released in French theaters in 2015. The novella by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry was first published in 1943, and has since sold 140 million copies worldwide in 301 languages, making it one of the bestselling and most translated books ever published.

Leon Schuster brings the bones back to the big screen

South Africans are laughing their heads off as the new trailer for blockbuster film Mr. Bones 3: Son of Bones, has just released. Featuring the beloved comedy pair Leon Schuster and Alfred “Shorty” Ntombela, the sidesplitting trailer shows the popular duo return, this time defending Kuvukiland from unscrupulous oil-diggers and treasure hunters. The film features a stellar cast including Tumi Morake, Sans Moonsammy, Daniel Janks, Sthandile Nkosi, Jay Anstey, and Jerry Mofokeng. Tobie Cronje and Bouwer Bosch feature in delightful cameo appearances.

Sixty years ago, in an obscure corner of Africa, the only survivor of a light aircraft crash was a baby boy. Perhaps it was the miracle of his survival that gave him the gift of “sight”, and he became a Sangoma, the seer of the Kuvuki tribe, interpreting the wishes of The Great One through the throwing of the bones. Hence his name, Bones (Schuster). Today, at an advanced age but still fit in mind and body, his mission is to pass on his wisdom to his son, Mathambo (Ntombela), and guide him into manhood, a mission doomed to fail because of both of their obsessive personalities.

The storyline of Mr. Bones 3: Son of Bones begins at the turn of the last century when we witness the burying of the Kruger millions by two Boer soldiers, who then kill each other through idiotic greed, leaving the Kruger millions hidden in a graveyard in Kuvukiland. Now, in the present, a scrawny businessman named Alvin (Moonsammy) and his Texan engineer partner named Jack (Janks), together with their beautiful guide, Gabrielle (Anstey) are plotting to mine for oil in the pristine land which would leave it an oily mess. Bones and Mathambo must devise a way to outsmart the opinionated Westerners. Of course, as their plan unfolds, so do many other unexpected twists and turns, with hilarious effect.

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- 2022 on HBO Max including Peacemaker and a Batman Christmas special

Mr. Bones 3: Son of Bones was produced in collaboration with M-Net and Film Chrome, with support from the Department of Trade, Industry, and Competition and the National Empowerment Fund. The film is locally distributed by Filmfinity Pty (Ltd.) and will be released in South African cinemas on April 15th, 2022.

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