At the CinemaCon confab in Las Vegas Wednesday, it was Disney’s time to shine. The studio is reportedly showing off some 70 minutes of footage from its forthcoming slate, unspooling some 20 minutes of Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness alone.
Disney is home to properties like Marvel Studios and Lucasfilm, and the former studio’s head. Kevin Feige. took the stage first. Whetting fans’ appetites, Feige noted that after the event, he’s off to a creative retreat where he and his team will chart out the next ten years of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
According to Fandango’s Erik Davis, who was in attendance, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever was also sneak-peeked for the crowd at the theater owners expo.
It’s anticipated that Avatar 2 will also be teased during the presentation, as will Lightyear from Disney/Pixar, and it wouldn’t be a stretch to think attendees will get their first peek at Lucasfilm’s upcoming fifth Indiana Jones film.
The critically acclaimed Apple TV+ series Pachinko wraps up this week. Based on the best-selling book, it tells the story of four generations of a Korean family who moves to Japan and lives through war, peace, and 80 years of joy and struggle.
Showrunner Soo Hugh tells ABC Audio that despite the theme, it’s a global show.
“I want the biggest audience for this show because I think it’s a story that’s worth telling,” she explains. “And hopefully one day, I truly hope that we can get rid of those terms, that we can get rid of terms like domestic, international, that we will just have one global marketplace, stories that speak to everyone and connect us together.”
“These are just basic human emotions that we’re investigating,” Hugh adds. “You know, a mother’s hopes and dreams, loss, homesickness. No one people own those feelings.”
The project was personal for Hugh, who shares, “You grow up with stories of how hard the war was, how hard the post war years are. But…I think no child wants to hear how difficult things are for his or her family, right? And it’s only through age and through experience that you understand just how hard it is to live. And I think that kind of empathy as you age just makes you understand these stories better.”
Hugh notes the series — set in South Korea, Japan, and the United States — wasn’t easy to make because of the “scope…ambitions, multiple countries, long shoots, long post process [and] very complicated structure, ” but it was definitely worth the struggle.
“And also, I talk about tears of being genuinely moved so many times by the actor’s performances, by the music, by so many things,” she continues.
(WASHINGTON) — House Republicans on Wednesday rallied behind Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy as he defended himself over audio recordings surfaced of him blaming former President Donald Trump for the Jan. 6 riot and suggesting that some GOP lawmakers were inciting violence and should be kicked off social media platforms.
In the first closed-door GOP meeting since the New York Times released recordings of a Jan. 10, 2021, leadership call in which McCarthy was sharply critical of Trump and some hard-right members of Congress, the California Republican argued that he was speaking hypothetically and walking through various “scenarios” following the attack on the Capitol as Congress met to certify the 2020 election results.
“He said that, you know, they were speculating on different scenarios,” Rep. Robert Aderholt, R-Ala., told ABC News. “He said they were laying out different things of what could be, and he said he never accused anyone of anything.”
“I think the majority of the conference understood,” one GOP member told ABC News, adding that McCarthy claimed the tapes were “taken out of context by the New York Times.“
McCarthy received a standing ovation and a round of applause after his remarks, multiple lawmakers told ABC News.
“We’re coming together as a team,” Rep. Ronny Jackson, R-Texas, told ABC News, adding that Republicans wouldn’t “let leaked audio tapes sent to the press pose a part we’ve got bigger things to do. We’re all on the same page.”
Still, his explanation did little to satisfy some of McCarthy’s persistent critics, including Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla.
Asked if he had confidence in McCarthy after the meeting, Gaetz replied, “No more or less than usual.”
Gaetz criticized Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., in the meeting over comments made on the recording obtained by the New York Times. The Louisiana Republican suggested Gaetz’s comments attacking Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., in television appearances after the Capitol riot were “potentially illegal.”
The discussion quickly turned “heated” between Gaetz and Scalise after Gaetz confronted him about the comments, sources told ABC News. Gaetz directly asked Scalise to explain his rationale for calling Gaetz’ comments “potentially illegal,” the sources said.
At one point, GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., even chimed in and demanded Scalise apologize to Gaetz. An apology was not offered, according to a source familiar with the exchange.
McCarthy was also critical of Gaetz on the recording, and discussed Greene as well as GOP Reps. Louie Gohmert of Texas and Mo Brooks of Alabama.
Of Trump, McCarthy said, “I’ve had it with this guy,” and told other GOP leaders on the recorded call that “what he did is unacceptable.”
He also suggested he would tell Trump “it would be my recommendation you should resign,” and that some Republicans who made inflammatory comments on and around the Capitol riot should be taken off Twitter.
“Can’t they take their Twitter accounts away, too?” he said, according to the audio.
McCarthy initially denied the New York Times reporting, calling it “false.” After the reporters published the audio recordings of the comments, McCarthy told GOP lawmakers that he had spoken with former President Trump and that he still supported McCarthy.
McCarthy later told Fox News he never told Trump to resign.
“He basically said we need to keep on track and keep pushing forward with what we’re doing,” Rep. Barry Loudermilk, R-Georgia, said after the meeting. “This is a distraction by the left trying to drive a wedge in a very unified Republican Party.”
“Kevin McCarthy is a great leader and he will be a great speaker,” said Rep. Buddy Carter, R-Ga.
While few Republicans publicly criticized McCarthy after the meeting, others suggested they still needed to digest the episode and McCarthy’s actions.
“I think I’m going to talk to him in private,” said Rep. Debbie Lesko, R-Ariz. “I’m glad he talked about what was said.”
Sam Hunt and Tim McGraw are leading the bill of a brand-new festival this fall, according to Billboard.
The event, called the GoldenSky Country Music Festival, will take place October 15-16 in Sacramento’s Discovery Park. Other country acts joining the lineup include Brothers Osborne, Midland, Carly Pearce, Parmalee, Michael Ray, Lindsay Ell, Brian Kelley — solo artist and one half of the now-defunct Florida Georgia Line — and Diamond Rio.
Sacramento’s local culture will be on full display, with an area of food options and souvenirs on offer, plus a beer festival component featuring over 100 regional craft beers, ciders and seltzers. Admission to the beer fest is free with purchase of entry to see the music, until May 6. After that, beer fest admission can be tacked on to a festival pass for an extra cost.
Festival-goers can also avail themselves of the Loud Lounge, which is geared towards the cannabis community, or catch NCAA and NFL games at the Fieldhouse sports bar. GoldenSky also features the River City Saloon and Dance Hall, which will provide daily line-dancing and partner two-stepping, plus lessons in both styles.
BLACKPINK‘s fans are disappointed to learn that the “How You Like That?” singers will not be making a comeback this summer.
After reports surfaced that the K-pop sensations were readying new music for a June release, their label, YG Entertainment, has stepped forward to deliver the bad news. According to Music-News, the label had to squash rumors claiming the singers were working on a new record.
“As for the comeback in June, many people are only speculating that way, but it has not been officially announced,” YG said in a statement. “However, it is true that we are preparing for a comeback. When a detailed schedule comes out next time, I will tell you the official data.”
The “Ice Cream” singers — comprised of members Lisa, Jennie, Rosé and Jisoo — last released their record The Album, which dropped in 2020.
Reports of a comeback first surfaced when Jennie appeared on The Game Caterer’s channel earlier this year and teased that a comeback was happening “soon.” She didn’t share a date and admitted she wasn’t sure if she was “allowed” to say anything.
Fans caught the livestream and shared the video on YouTube. As for how reports chose June as their comeback month, it was first suggested by the Korean platform Naver and fans ran with it.
“There’s nothing saccharine about unconditional love in a world that is coming apart at the seams,” says frontman Win Butler. “WE need each other, in all of our imperfection.”
“‘Lookout Kid’ is a reminder, a lullaby for the end times, sung to my son, but for everyone,” he continues. “Trust your heart, trust your mind, trust your body, trust your soul. S*** is going to get worse before it gets better, but it always gets better, and no one’s perfect. Let me say it again. No one’s perfect.”
You can listen “Unconditional I (Lookout Kid)” now via digital outlets.
WE, the follow-up to 2017’s Everything Now, arrives May 6. It also includes the previously released songs “The Lightning I” and “The Lightning II.”
Arcade Fire will celebrate the release of WE with a performance on Saturday Night Live on May 7.
Pete Davidson‘s staying with the Peacock. The Saturday Night Live star’s new TV project, the comedy Bupkis, has gotten a full-series order from the streaming service.
As reported, the show aims to be a Curb Your Enthusiasm-like concept centering around the King of Staten Island star. Pete will be playing a fictionalized version of himself, a la Larry David‘s “TV Larry” on Curb.
“The series will combine grounded storytelling with absurd elements from the unfiltered and completely original worldview for which Pete is well known,” Peacock teases in a statement.
Davidson is also writing and producing the series with Dave Sirus and Judah Miller; Pete’s SNL boss Lorne Michaels is one of the executive producers.
Calling Davidson “one of the most sought-after comedians today,” Susan Rovner, the chairman of entertainment content with NBC Universal Television and Streaming, says “Bupkis will showcase Pete’s funny, surprising and unfiltered brand of comedy audiences have come to love.”
(CONCORD, N.H.) — The FBI has joined the investigation into the fatal shootings of a retired couple whose bodies were found last week on a hiking trail near their New Hampshire home, leaving residents in their town fearful for their own safety, authorities said.
No suspects have yet been identified and police have released little information on the mysterious double homicide in Concord, New Hampshire, of retired international humanitarian worker Stephen Reid, 67, and Djeswende “Wendy” Reid, 66.
“We’ve been able to provide the information that we have, which is that we have no specific information that there’s any danger to the public in general at this point in time, but be vigilant, and those families are going to have to make those decisions for themselves as to what’s best for their family and what they’re most comfortable with,” Geoffrey Ward, a senior assistant state attorney general, said on Tuesday.
The attorney general’s office confirmed Tuesday that the FBI is assisting in the investigation.
Despite reassurances from the authorities that no imminent danger is lurking in Concord, the state’s capital, state Rep. Kris Schultz, D-Concord, said anxiety has permeated the city of nearly 44,000 people, where only seven murders have occurred in the past five years, according to the Concord Police Department’s annual crime statistics.
Schultz told ABC affiliate station WMUR in Manchester, New Hampshire, that the lack of answers has left many of her constituents on edge.
“Do we need to be worried on an everyday basis in our neighborhood? Are we safe?” Schultz said. “This has been a safe community, and I believe it will continue to be, but I’m eager to hear more.”
‘No. 1 priority’
Concord Police Chief Bradley Osgood said solving the slayings is his department’s “No. 1 priority.”
“We are dedicating resources to be more visible in the community to make people feel safer,” Osgood said.
The Reids were reported missing on April 20 when Stephen Reid failed to show up at a planned event, according to the state attorney general’s office. Their bodies were discovered a day later off a hiking trail in a wooded and marshy area within the city’s Broken Ground Trails system, officials said.
Autopsies determined they both died from multiple gunshot wounds.
The Reids were last seen alive on April 18, when they left their home in the Alton Woods apartment complex around 2:30 p.m. and went for a walk in the Broken Ground Trails area.
Homicide investigators and the couple’s children are asking the public to report any information that could possibly be helpful in cracking the case.
Couple shared ‘mutual love of adventure’
The couple’s family, including their children, Lindsay and Brian Reid, released a statement, describing Stephen and Wendy Reid as soulmates who traveled the world and shared a “mutual love of adventure and fitness.”
The Reids moved to Concord about three years ago when Stephen Reid, who grew up in Concord, retired from a more than a 30-year career as an international development specialist working on humanitarian projects around the world through USAID, their family said.
The couple met while Wendy Reid, who was from West Africa, was studying in Washington D.C. on an athletic scholarship, the family said.
After graduating from the University of Notre Dame, Stephen Reid served in the Peace Corps in West Africa for four years, according to relatives.
“Steve’s 30-plus year career as an international development specialist in service to the world’s most vulnerable through USAID humanitarian projects could not have been made possible without the love, care and support of Wendy, who also helped recently resettled refugees acclimate and thrive in the United States,” family members said in their statement.
(NEW YORK) — Federal prosecutors in New York on Wednesday announced criminal charges against the founder of a private investment firm and its chief financial officer for alleged “manipulative trading” and “deceptive conduct” that led to a multibillion-dollar fraud.
Bill Hwang, the founder of Archegos Capital Management, and Patrick Halligan, the CFO, were charged with racketeering conspiracy, securities fraud and wire fraud.
According to the indictment, Hwang and Halligan “corrupted the operations and activities of the family office known as Archegos” and used it “as an instrument of market manipulation and fraud.” Family offices serve high-net-worth individuals and families.
Lawrence Lustberg, an attorney who represents Hwang, said he was “extremely disappointed” with the charges.
“We are extremely disappointed that the U.S. Attorney’s Office has seen fit to indict a case that has absolutely no factual or legal basis; a prosecution of this type, for open-market transactions, is unprecedented and threatens all investors,” Lustberg said in a statement. “As you will see when the facts unfold, Bill Hwang is entirely innocent of any wrongdoing; there is no evidence whatsoever that he committed any kind of crime, let alone the overblown allegations that pervade this indictment.”
Mary Mulligan, a lawyer for Halligan, said in a statement that her client is “innocent and will be exonerated.”
The consequences were far-reaching, prosecutors said. The stock prices of a number of companies were manipulated, employees’ savings were gambled and different banks were left with billions of dollars in losses. UBS alone lost $861 million, according to the indictment.
The criminal charges followed the spectacular implosion, in March 2021, of Archegos, which lost billions in mere days. Prosecutors said Hwang traded in a way that hid the true size of his positions from the rest of the investing public.
The alleged criminal conduct pumped Archegos’ portfolio – Hwang’s personal fortune – from $1.5 billion to $35 billion in one year, according to prosecutors.
The Wanted hashonored their late band member Tom Parker, who lost his battle with brain cancer last month at age 33.
The “Glad You Came” hitmakers re-released their single “Gold Forever” in his memory after Parker’s family initially requested they play at his memorial. The band re-tooled the single specifically for the event, renaming it “Gold Forever (For Tom)” and shared it with their fans after the service.
The Wanted said the reaction was so strong and heartfelt from those who listened, so they decided to release it as a single. The British singers hope the track will help keep Tom’s memory alive while giving fans one last memory of him.
The band, in tandem with Island Records and the song’s writers and producers, will donate proceeds from the song to the U.K.-based initiative The Brain Tumour Charity. Its mission is to fund research and raise awareness on brain tumors while providing support to those struggling with the ailment.
As previously reported, Parker was diagnosed in October 2020 with an inoperable glioblastoma, a stage four brain tumor, after experiencing seizures. “We are all absolutely devastated but we are gonna fight this all the way,” he said on Instagram at the time. His wife, Kelsey, confirmed his passing on March 30.
Parker and The Wanted achieved fame in 2012 with their hits “Glad You Came” and “Chasing the Sun.” He leaves behind his wife as well as his two-year-old daughter, Aurelia, and one-year-old son, Bodhi.
