A YouTuber whose viral deepfake fix to a digitally de-aged Luke Skywalker in The Mandalorian was given, as Darth Vader might say, a “substantial reward” for his efforts. He now works for Industrial Light and Magic, George Lucas‘ effects company, which has brought Star Wars‘ effects to life since the original 1977 film.
The content creator who calls himself Shamook had more than 2.4 million views of his handiwork, which compared his work to ILM’s. Iinstead of more common digital de-aging tricks, he used so-called deepfake technology to more realistically replicate how the now-69-year-old actor appeared in 1983’s Return of the Jedi, which is set about five years before The Mandalorian.
In a message to his more than 80 thousand followers in his most recent video two weeks ago, Shamook revealed, “As some of you may already know, I joined ILM/Lucasfilms [sic] a few months ago and haven’t had the time to work on any new YouTube content.”
A representative for ILM confirmed to Entertainment Weekly that they’d hired Shamook, adding the company is “always on the lookout for talented artists.”
Deepfake technology uses machine learning to shuffle through tens of thousands of images to create a new one — sometimes replacing one person’s image for another.
Among many others, Shamook has previously swapped faces of Alden Ehrenreich, who played a young Han Solo in Solo: A Star Wars Story, with that of original star Harrison Ford, and swapped previous Spider-Man Tobey Maguire for Tom Holland‘s face in various Marvel movies.
Shamook also famously fixed Warner Bros. much-maligned mustache-removal CG on Henry Cavill‘s face as Superman in Joss Whedon‘s reshoots for Justice League.
Lucasfilm is owned by Disney, the parent company of ABC News.
Lisa Loeb, the artist behind the hit ‘90s song “Stay (I Missed You),” has a new project in the works.
She’s put together a new show called Together Apart, a collection of 10 mini-musicals from Brown University alumni that will be available on Broadway on Demand starting August 6.
Lisa was inspired to create the production after a Brown Musical Theatre class reunion held via Zoom during the COVID-19 pandemic. The show will encourage donations to benefit The Actors Fund, which helps support performers and behind-the-scenes workers in the entertainment industry.
“As I sat in the Zoom reunion, listening to everyone talk about their current lives, connecting with friends, and reflecting on all of our vivid musical theatre memories from Brown, I realized that we shouldn’t just talk about what happened in the past, but we should write a Zoom musical about what’s going on, and it should happen all in the world of Zoom,” Lisa says in a statement.
She adds, “And by sharing our storytelling and our passion and love for theatre, we can work together to provide an outlet for our shared creativity while giving back to this incredible cause.”
Together Apart features Modern Family actress Julie Bowen, 13 Reasons Why actor Josh Hamilton, Poltergeist actress JoBeth Williams and more.
Dolly Parton is “Sent from Above” in her pop-infused new song.
Released in conjunction with her new fragrance, Dolly – Scent from Above, the song is just as bubbly as the singer herself and serves as a musical love letter to the person she professes has been sent to her from above.
“I know you must/Be heaven sent/And I love you ever so much/Sent from above,” Dolly sings over an EDM-infused melody.
The song is a companion piece to the icon’s new perfume, created in partnership with ScentBeauty, which boasts notes of jasmine, vanilla, peony blossoms and other scents.
“Just like the fragrance that inspired it, #SentFromAbove transports you to a heavenly place!” Dolly writes on Twitter.
The punk rockers have announced the launch of Cockpit Karaoke, a parody of The Late Late Show‘s viral Carpool Karaoke segments. Instead of driving around with a British TV host, Cockpit Karaoke finds frontman — and licensed pilot — Dexter Holland singing along with guitarist Noodles while flying an airplane.
The first episode, featuring an airborne version of “Come Out and Play,” is streaming now via SPIN.com.
“We know everyone’s heard of Carpool Karaoke, but Cockpit Karaoke??? No one’s done that!!” Holland tells SPIN. “Since I’m a pilot, we thought it would be great if Noodles and I had some fun and got to sing along to some of our many hits.”
Meanwhile, The Offspring released their new album, Let the Bad Times Roll, this past April. It’s the band’s first record in nine years.
(KANSAS CITY) — Kansas City Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes has bought a stake in MLS club Sporting Kansas City.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to join Sporting Kansas City’s ownership team and strengthen my connection to the fans and the city I love,” said Mahomes in a statement. “Sporting is a community-oriented club and I am excited to continue supporting the growth of soccer in Kansas City.”
Mahomes is also a minority-owner of the Kansas City Royals. His fiancee is a part-owner of the Kansas City NWSL team.
“Patrick is a tremendous ambassador for Kansas City and we are delighted to welcome him to the Sporting Club ownership group,” said Cliff Illig, principal owner of Sporting KC, in a statement. “In addition to achieving excellence on the field, he is deeply committed to giving back to the community and elevating the sport of soccer. Patrick is also accustomed to cultivating a winning culture, and we look forward to contending for championships at Children’s Mercy Park well into the future.”
Mahomes has led the Chiefs to back-to-back Super Bowl appearances and beat San Francisco 31-20 in Super Bowl LIV in 2020.
(WASHINGTON) — The Department of Justice has sent letters to six former Trump DOJ officials telling them that they can participate in Congress’ investigation into the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, according to sources and communications reviewed by ABC News.
The move is likely to remove a significant barrier that Democrats faced during Trump’s presidency, when the Justice Department backed the White House’s efforts to prevent any DOJ officials from testifying before their Democratic congressional committees.
At this time, no Trump-era DOJ official has indicated that they have agreed to testify in the congressional probe.
The first hearing of the House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the U.S. Capitol, featuring law enforcement officers who defended the Capitol on Jan. 6, got underway Tuesday.
Earlier, those attorneys who had been asked to testify had said they would need authorization from the Justice Department, sources told ABC News.
“Department attorneys, including those who have left the Department, are obligated to protect non-public information they learned in the course of their work,” reads the DOJ’s letter, which was sent Monday and reviewed by ABC News. “For decades and across administrations, however, the Department has sought to balance the Executive Branch’s confidentiality interests with Congress’s legitimate need to gather information. The extraordinary events in this matter constitute exceptional circumstances warranting an accommodation to Congress in this case.”
The letter was sent to former Acting Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen, former Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General Richard Donoghue, former Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey Clark, former U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia B.J. Pak, former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia Bobby Christine and former Associate Deputy Attorney General Patrick Hovakimian, all of whom were requested as witnesses by House Oversight Committee.
“The extraordinary events in this matter constitute exceptional circumstances warranting an accommodation to Congress in this case,” the letter said. “Congress has articulated compelling legislative interests in the matters being investigated, and the information the Committees have requested from you bears directly on Congress’s interest in understanding these extraordinary events: namely, the question whether former President Trump sought to cause the Department to use its law enforcement and litigation authorities to advance his personal political interests with respect to the results of the 2020 presidential election.”
(NEW YORK) — The United States is facing a COVID-19 summer surge as the delta variant spreads.
More than 611,000 Americans have died from COVID-19, according to real-time data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University.
Just 57% of Americans ages 12 and up are fully vaccinated, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
COVID-19 has infected more than 194 million people worldwide and killed over 4.1 million.
Latest headlines:
-US moved into ‘high’ community transmission category per CDC
-Dept. of Veterans Affairs mandates vaccine
-Savannah reinstates mask mandate indoors
-Orlando area in ‘crisis mode’ as cases skyrocket
Here’s how the news is developing today. All times Eastern.
Jul 27, 4:10 pm
CDC reverses guidance on masks for vaccinated people
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday reversed its mask guidance for vaccinated people due to the delta variant surge.
Vaccinated Americans should now wear masks inside if they’re in places with substantial or high transmission, the CDC said.
CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said data show that on “rare occasions, some vaccinated people with the delta variant … may be contagious and spread the virus to others. This new science is worrisome and unfortunately warrants an update to our recommendations.”
Walensky added, “This moment — and most importantly — the associated illness, suffering and death, could have been avoided with higher vaccination coverage in this country.”
In May, the CDC said vaccinated Americans could stop wearing masks indoors.
The CDC also said Tuesday that masks should be worn in schools by all students, teachers, staff and visitors, even for those who are vaccinated. The CDC said students should return to full-time in-person learning this year with prevention strategies in place.
President Joe Biden in a statement called the CDC’s new rules “another step on our journey to defeating this virus.”
“While we have seen an increase in vaccinations in recent days, we still need to do better,” he added.
Jul 27, 3:42 pm
NYC hospital mandating vaccines for staff
New York City’s Hospital for Special Surgery is requiring its staff be vaccinated as of Sept. 15.
Only staff with a medical or religious reason will be exempt, the hospital said Tuesday.
Jul 27, 3:00 pm
CDC reverses guidance on masks for vaccinated people
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday reversed its mask guidance for vaccinated people due to the delta variant surge.
Vaccinated Americans should now wear masks inside if they’re in places with substantial or high transmission, the CDC said.
“In rare occasions, some vaccinated people can get delta in a breakthrough infection and may be contagious,” the CDC said.
CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said data shows that on “rare occasions, some vaccinated people with the delta variant … may be contagious and spread the virus to others. This new science is worrisome and unfortunately warrants an update to our recommendations.”
In May, the CDC said vaccinated Americans could stop wearing masks indoors.
The CDC also said Tuesday that masks should be worn in schools by all students, teachers, staff and visitors, even for those who are vaccinated. The CDC said students should return to full-time in-person learning this year with prevention strategies in place.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki, calling this an “evolving pandemic,” said Tuesday, “Our responsibility here is to always lead with the science and always lead with the advice of health and medical experts.”
“We’re not saying that wearing a mask is convenient, or people feel like it, but we are telling you that that is the way to protect yourself, protect your loved ones and that’s why the CDC is issuing this guidance,” Psaki said.
-ABC News’ Anne Flaherty and Eric Strauss
Jul 27, 2:03 pm
Cal State requiring vaccinations
California State University, the nation’s largest university system that’s home to nearly 500,000 students, will require vaccinations for in-person students, staff and faculty.
“The current surge in COVID cases due to the spread of the highly infectious delta variant is an alarming new factor that we must consider as we look to maintain the health and well-being of students, employees and visitors to our campuses this fall,” CSU Chancellor Joseph Castro said in a statement Tuesday.
Jul 27, 1:10 pm
Louisiana reports 2nd highest daily case count since January
Louisiana is in a “continued surge,” logging 6,797 new daily cases on Tuesday, the second highest single-day case count since Jan. 6, the state’s Department of Health said.
The department said 99.56% of the cases are linked to community spread, not congregate settings like nursing homes.
New Orleans city officials said Monday that hospital capacity in the region and the state are being stretched to the limits due to a large uptick in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. New Orleans officials said 97% of the hospitalized COVID-19 patients in the state are unvaccinated.
Jul 26, 7:46 pm
Delta variant is ‘a whole new virus,’ St. Louis health official
St. Louis’ top health official talked with ABC News Monday about Missouri’s rising coronavirus cases and gave a stark warning to the rest of the country.
“The delta variant is a whole new virus,” Dr. Sam Page, the county executive for St. Louis County, Missouri, told ABC News.
Since June, Missouri’s daily case average has surged by 500%, with the state now reporting its highest number of new infections since mid-January. Hospital admissions have more than doubled in recent weeks. They are up by 125% in the last month, according to Page.
At the same time, vaccinations have seen a slight increase the county, Page said. However, he reiterated that it will be at least another month before the county sees full effect of the vaccines in those patients.
“We just wish that we could get people vaccinated sooner because the illness has an unfortunate loss of life associated with it. And that’s just a terrible thing to watch,” Page said.
Page said there was no “silver bullet” that will help increase vaccination rates across the state, or drive down cases immediately, but said that officials must work together fast.
“It’s going to be multifactorial, a lot of education, a lot of time, a lot of comforting,” he said.
ABC News’ Cheyenne Haslett and Arielle Mitropoulos
Jul 26, 3:45 pm
US moved into ‘high’ community transmission category per CDC
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is now categorizing the U.S. as having “high” community transmission, with nearly 62% of counties in the nation reporting high (43.79%) or substantial (18.17%) transmission.
New York County, which includes Manhattan, is among those now reporting substantial community transmission.
One month ago, only 8% of counties were reporting high transmission.
Louisiana, Florida, and Arkansas have the country’s highest case rate with over 300 new cases per 100,000 residents.
Missouri follows closely behind with 200 new cases per 100,000 residents.
Hospitalization numbers are also rising. More than 27,300 COVID-10 patients are in hospitals across the country — a 36.8% jump in the last week.
ABC News’ Arielle Mitropoulos
Jul 26, 2:44 pm
Dept. of Veterans Affairs mandates vaccine
Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough announced Monday that COVID-19 vaccines will be mandatory for the department’s health care personnel.
Four VA employees, all of whom were unvaccinated, died in recent weeks, the department said. At least three of those cases were linked to the delta variant.
VA employees will have eight weeks to be fully vaccinated.
McDonough said this mandate is “the best way to keep Veterans safe, especially as the Delta variant spreads across the country.”
ABC News’ Cindy Smith
Jul 26, 2:06 pm
Unvaccinated NYC municipal workers will have to get weekly testing
All unvaccinated New York City municipal workers will have to get weekly testing by the start of school in September, according to Mayor Bill de Blasio’s office.
The new requirement will apply to all city workers, including police officers, firefighters and teachers. The new rule will go into effect on Sept. 13, when students are expected to return to public schools.
The New York Police Department has a 43% vaccination rate while about 55% of New York City Fire Department employees are vaccinated.
Workers in publicly run residential or congregate care facilities, like nursing homes, must present proof of vaccination even earlier, on Aug. 16.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a similar mandate on Monday. Beginning on Aug. 9, state employees and health care workers must show proof of vaccination or get tested regularly.
In California, 75% of those eligible have received at least one dose.
“Everyone that can get vaccinated—should,” Newsom tweeted.
(WASHINGTON) — Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin has signed a new 5-year, $47.5 million contract, the team announced Tuesday.
“Alex is the face of our franchise and is committed to this organization and this city,” said general manager Brian MacLellan in a statement. “Alex embodies what our franchise is all about, and we’re thrilled that he will continue his career in the Caps uniform for the next five years.”
Ovechkin was drafted 1st overall by the team in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft and is the franchise leader in games played (1,197), goals (730), and points (1,320). In 2018. he captained the team to its first-ever Stanley Cup Championship.
Ovechkin sits in sixth place on the NHL’s all-time goal-scoring list with 730, 165 shy of Wayne Gretzky’s record of 894. Ovechkin would need to average 33 goals a season to pass Gretzky by the end of this contract.
“Alex is a world-class athlete who will forever be regarded not only for leading the team to achieve our ultimate goal of winning the Stanley Cup but also for inspiring the next generation of fans and youth players,” said Monumental Sports & Entertainment Founder and CEO Ted Leonsis in a statement.
Last season, Ovechkin scored 24 goals in 45 games and became the first player in NHL history to score at least 20 goals in each of his first 16 seasons in the league. His 30 goal streak to start a career ended last year. He is tied with Jaromir Jagr and Mike Gartner for the most all-time.
Top Boy breakout star Micheal Ward has been tapped to star in Sam Mendes‘ upcoming drama Empire of Light, Deadline has learned.
According to the report, Mendes and execs were “blown away” by the actor’s table read. While plot details have not been announced, the film is described as a “love story” set around an old cinema on the South Coast of England in the 1980s. Ward will star alongside Olivia Colman, who was previously announced. Empire of Light will be Mendes first film project since winning the Oscar for his World War I drama 1917. Production is expected to begin in fall of 2022.
In other news, a trailer for Tiffany Haddish‘s revenge thriller The Card Counter has been released. The film follows Oscar Isaac as William Tell, a military interrogator turned card player haunted by his past. To find “redemption,” William agrees to help a man “execute his plan for revenge on a military colonel,” played by Willem Dafoe. Haddish will play a “mysterious backer looking to add Tell to her stable of card sharks.” The Card Counter hits theaters on September 10.
Finally, Yasiin Bey, formally known as Mos Def, has decided to remove himself from the Thelonious Monk biopic, Thelonious, following the jazz great’s family’s disapproval of the project. In an Instagrampost, Bey said in part, “If the Monk Estate is not happy with it, if Mr. Monk III is not happy with it, then neither am I. Bey added that he was “given every indication by the production company that the family was on board.” As previously reported, the film, which was slated to begin production in 2022.
Dua Lipa is speaking out after her “Levitating” remix collaborator, DaBaby, made homophobic comments at the Rolling Loud Festival in Miami over the weekend.
“I’m surprised and horrified at DaBaby‘s comments,” she wrote on her Instagram Story Tuesday. “I really don’t recognize this as the person I worked with.”
She added, “I know my fans know where my heart lies and that I stand 100% with the LGBTQ community. We need to come together to fight the stigma and ignorance around HIV/AIDS.”
In DaBaby’s on-stage remarks, the rapper said, in part, “If you didn’t show up today with HIV, AIDS, any of them deadly sexually transmitted diseases that’ll make you die in two or three weeks, put your cellphone light in the air.”
He also made another not-safe-for-broadcast comment regarding gay men. DaBaby later defended his comments in a series of Instagram videos, saying that there were gay fans present who enjoyed his show.
Dua fans have been calling for the singer to remove DaBaby from the “Levitating” remix. One fan suggested she replace him with Lil Nas X.
