Nia DaCosta calls it a “wonderful coincidence” that she’s getting to direct her Candyman star Teyonah Parris in the forthcoming superhero film The Marvels.
In fact, DaCosta tells ABC Audio that when she spoke to Parris about her superhero role as Monica Rambeau, she hadn’t yet signed on to direct the film.
“So I think I knew Teyonah was going to be Monica Rambeau, like when we were shooting,” DaCosta recalls. “Because there was a day we were shooting [and] she had to pretend something was there and be like scared. And she was like, ‘There’s nothing there. Like, I’ve never had to do this before.’ And I’m like, ‘You’re going to be in a superhero TV show. Like you’re going to have to look at like a tennis ball and stuff.’ And she was like, ‘Oh, I don’t know.'”
That early conversation, DaCosta notes, later became a foretelling of what the director now has to do on set of The Marvels, where Parrish reprises her role as Monica Rambeau, a superpowered captain at the agency S.W.O.R.D.
“And then it was just funny that it turned out that I would be directing her again [and] looking at things that don’t exist,” DaCosta laughs. “So, I was just so excited for her — just as a fan. I’m a huge Marvel fan and fan of Monica Rambeau [and] fan of Teyonah.”
The director calls the re-teaming of her and Parris a “perfect” union.
“[To end] up directing her next outing in that world…it’s such a wonderful coincidence,” she adds.
Candyman is in theaters. The Marvels is slated to hit theaters on November 11, 2022.
(LOS ANGELES) — Vaccines work to dramatically reduce the risk of developing COVID-19, but no vaccine is perfect. Now, with 174 million people already fully vaccinated, a small portion are experiencing a so-called “breakthrough” infection, meaning they test positive for COVID-19 after being vaccinated.
But doctors say this virus — which can be deadly for an unvaccinated person — most often leads to much milder symptoms those who already got their shots, with a recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention analysis finding vaccinated people are 29 times less likely to require hospitalization and four times less likely to be infected with COVID-19, even when the delta variant is predominant.
“We know vaccination is not 100%,” said Dr. Jay Bhatt, an internist and adjunct faculty at the UIC School of Public Health and an ABC News contributor. “That being said, we know that most people in the ICU are unvaccinated individuals.”
Still, breakthrough infections do happen.
The CDC has very specific guidance about what vaccinated people should do if they are exposed to someone with COVID-19, or if they test positive themselves.
If a vaccinated person is exposed to the virus — meaning a close contact has tested positive — they don’t need to quarantine, but they should get a COVID test three to five days after that exposure. And they should wear a mask in public indoor spaces, like the grocery store, while awaiting test results.
But if a vaccinated person receives a positive test result or has symptoms after exposure, they should isolate for 10 days. A repeat test is not needed at the end of the 10-day isolation period, though the person should be fever-free for at least 24 hours before ending quarantine.
Vaccination status does not change isolation recommendations for those who test positive because they can still be contagious, though the CDC reports that the contagious period may be shorter than in those who are unvaccinated and viral load lessens after five days.
Since those who are vaccinated and infected with COVID-19 are still able to transmit the virus, their close contacts should also be contacted and tested. A close contact is a person who has spent more than 15 minutes with a COVID-19 positive person while unmasked and less than 6 feet apart.
Fully vaccinated people who test positive may also be eligible for authorized COVID-19 treatments, if their doctor says it’s necessary. Therapies such as monoclonal antibodies can still be given to COVID-positive patients in a high-risk category, even if they are vaccinated. “Monoclonal antibodies are intended for those with COVID-19 who are high risk, which includes those over 65, and those who have chronic disease, cancer or are immunocompromised,” Bhatt said. “The chances of allergic reactions or adverse events are relatively low.”
Monoclonal antibodies, laboratory-made proteins which mimic the immune system’s antibodies, work best when given in the first few days after a positive test result or symptom onset. After receiving monoclonal antibodies, further COVID-19 vaccination, such as a booster, should be delayed by 90 days to optimize response to the vaccine.
Other treatments, such as steroids or antivirals like Remdesivir, are more commonly given for hospitalized and severe cases, which are less likely to occur in vaccinated individuals.
While breakthrough infections are likely to be mild, it’s important to follow recommended guidelines to reduce the spread of infection. Wearing masks in large crowds and staying home when not feeling well will help protect both vaccinated and unvaccinated people.
Priscilla Hanudel, M.D., is an emergency medicine physician in Los Angeles and a contributor to the ABC News Medical Unit.
(DETROIT) — People looking to buy a new car, might want to pump the brakes on their search for now. General Motors announced it will temporarily shut down eight of its 15 North American assembly plants due to a microchip shortage that automakers need to build vehicles.
The shutdown takes effect Tuesday, Sept. 7.
Watch the full report from ABC’s Good Morning America:
Is Enrique Iglesias thinking of retirement? According to comments made during a recent Instagram live, the “Hero” singer might be thinking of hanging up the microphone.
During a recent Q&A session, the 46-year-old singer dished about his upcoming 11th studio album, Final Vol. 1, and hinted its name is foreshadowing what’s to come.
“It might be my final album,” Enrique dished to Ricky Martin and Sebastián Yatra. “it’s not something that I have been thinking about for the past few months. It’s something that I have been thinking about for the past few years. There’s going to be Vol. 1 and Vol. 2, but they’re final.“
The singer continued, “I’m in that moment in my life, that chapter in my life, where I think it’s the right time to put it out and I’ve been thinking about this since 2015.”
The Grammy winner noted that he will never fully walk away from the music industry, and clarified, “I’m never going to stop writing songs because I love writing songs, but I’m going to do it in a different way — meaning they don’t necessarily have to be packaged as an album — so this project to me is important.”
The forthcoming album will be the follow-up to Iglesias’ 2014 release Sex and Love, which spawned the hits “Bailando,” “Loco” and “El Perdedor.”
Final Vol. 1 arrives September 17. After that, Enrique will hit the road with Ricky Martin on their first ever co-headlining North America arena tour, which kicks off September 25 in Las Vegas at MGM Grand Garden Arena.
Former Blink-182 guitarist Tom DeLonge shared some uplifting news about his former band mate Mark Hoppus, revealing that he’s finished with chemotherapy.
Hoppus, who was diagnosed with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma at age 49, had been undergoing treatment to combat the illness.
Taking to Instagram, DeLonge shared a screenshot from a text message conversation between him and Hoppus. When DeLonge asked if he has finished with treatment, the bassist replied that he has “no more planned.”
“Doctor said I can take my port out,” Hoppus wrote. “I think because he thinks the chemo did the trick and I’m done but also if the chemo didn’t work we do a different treatment entirely?”
The Angels & Airwaves vocalist was overjoyed by the update, telling Hoppus, “That’s great news. Time for LIVING.” He also texted over some cheeky ideas on how to celebrate being through with chemo.
“[You] need to [screw] as many things as possible. Shoes, gopher holes, golfers. Anything u can catch,” he cracked, which elicited a laugh from the rocker.
“I wanted to be a good friend to @markhoppus and just give some modest advice on what he should do next, now that his Chemo treatments have subsided,” DeLonge captioned the update, “and it looks like they may have worked wonderfully.”
Late last month, DeLonge revealed that Hoppus was “almost done with his treatment” and in the “last stretch.”
Around the same time, Hoppus shared that his hair was trying to grow back and remarked, “Trying to grow back some hair. Awww. Poor little head. Keep your chin up, fighter.”
The Kid LAROI is ready to heat up the 2021 MTV VMAs.
The Australian rapper is making his Video Music Awards debut, teaming up with Justin Bieber for a performance of their hit song, “Stay.” Kid’s also up for three of the night’s awards: Best New Artist and Push Performance of the Year for previous hit, “Without You,” while “Stay” is vying for Song of Summer.
Also joining the lineup is Jack Harlow, who is making his main stage debut alongside Lil Nas X for the first live performance of “Industry Baby,” while Latin rapper Ozuna will deliver “La Funka” and hit producer and songwriter Tainy joins forces with Shawn Mendes for “Summer Of Love.”
Last week, MTV announced that Lorde would no longer be performing at the VMAs “due to a change in production elements.”
Olivia Rodrigo, Camila Cabello and host Doja Cat are among the many other all-star performers who will take the stage when the MTV VMAs air Sunday at 8 p.m. ET.
(WASHINGTON) — Expanded pandemic unemployment benefits, put in place because of the COVID-19 pandemic, expired on Monday.
Impacting approximately 12 million Americans, the benefits had been in place for more than a year, providing an additional $300 per week in unemployment insurance as well as expanded benefits for gig workers and people who have been unemployed long term.
The White House said Friday there was no plan to reevaluate the end date of these benefits.
“As you know that was temporary, the emergency unemployment benefits,” Principal Deputy Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters.
“It’s important to take a step back to look at the national landscape here,” Jean-Pierre added. “In about half of all states, 24 governors have already made the decision to eliminate pandemic unemployment benefits, in the remaining 26 states, unemployment levels vary wildly from 3 to 7%.”
She also reiterated Biden’s calls for states that want to extend those benefits to use funding from the $1.9 trillion COVID relief package.
Last week, new data from the Department of Labor showed a steep decline in the number of jobs added in August. Employers added just 235,000 jobs last month, down from the approximately 1 million jobs added in both June and July. These numbers come as the spread of the more contagious delta variant has appeared to slow the pace of economic recovery.
As Taylor Swift‘s battle to regain control of her old masters rages on, she took a moment to congratulate Anita Baker, who’s emerged victorious in her own legal battle.
Baker reclaimed her masters over the weekend after a nasty years-long war with her record label, which culminated in her telling fans to stop streaming her music.
Taking to Twitter, the “Sweet Love” singer shared a cozy photo of her first five albums — The Songstress, Rapture,Giving You the Best That I Got, Compositions and Rhythm of Love — placed by a warm fire.
“All My Children Are Coming Home, Catalog,” Baker tweeted. “Impossible Things Happen… Every. Single. Day. Gratefully.” She also gave fans her blessing to stream her music now that she owns her masters.
Details of how she bested her record label are currently under wraps, but that hasn’t stopped the congratulatory remarks from pouring in — including well wishes from Taylor.
“What a beautiful moment, CONGRATULATIONS ANITA!!,” she exclaimed on Saturday, and included several applause and crying and smiling emojis.
The 63-year-old singer was touched by Swift’s words and wrote back, “Thank You, for Your *Fire & Support!! It Inspires us all, to move Mountains.”
Taylor’s music catalogue was sold to Scooter Braun in 2019 when the mega producer acquired her old label, Big Machine Records. A year later, it was revealed that Shamrock Capital purchased her masters from Braun for a cushy price of $300 million.
While she works on acquiring the master of every single track from her 2006 debut album to 2017’s Reputation, Taylor is currently re-recording her old hits. She’s so far released her version of Fearless and will release Red (Taylor’s Version) on November 19.
Halsey performed a hat trick on Monday when her album If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power claimed the number one spot on Billboard‘s Top Album Sales chart — her third consecutive chart-topper.
Prior to her latest effort, she previously wore the crown after releasing 2020’s Manic and 2017’s Hopeless Fountain Kingdom.
Some 70,500 physical copies of Halsey’s latest effort flew off the shelves, making it the best-selling album of the week and eclipsing Kanye West‘s Donda, which debuted at number two after selling 37,000 copies. However, it should be noted that Ye’s album is only being sold digitally at this time.
Further breaking down the album’s sale numbers, Halsey sold an impressive 25,300 If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power copies on vinyl and 27,200 on CD. Digital sales were comprised of 18,000 units.
It should be noted that the “Graveyard” singer also tops Billboard‘s Vinyl Albums chart this week, thanks to her robust sales numbers.
And while Halsey can boast about having this week’s best-selling album, If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power did not bow atop the Billboard 200, debuting instead at number two, behind Donda.
Streaming is where Halsey was unable to catch up with Ye. Her studio effort clocked 34.76 million on-demand streams, compared to Donda‘s historical 357.39 million listens.
Ha;sey’s Manic also peaked at number two when it was released last year, and also was bested by a surprise release when Eminemdropped Music to Be Murdered By with zero warning.
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Universal Music Group
Kanye West is 10 for 10 now that his latest album, Donda, bowed atop the Billboard200.
Donda, Ye’s 10th studio effort, is the biggest release of 2021 after moving a jaw-dropping 309,000 units in its first week. The previous record holder was Olivia Rodrigo‘s SOUR, with 295,000 units. Ye’s album also was streamed 357.39 million times, the largest number of any album this year, and sold 37,000 physical copies.
With the “Stronger” rapper celebrating his 10th number one, he’s now among an elite class of only seven artists who’ve accomplished the feat, tied with Elvis Presley and Eminem, both of whom have 10 number-one albums. Ahead of him are Barbra Streisand and Bruce Springsteen, with 11, Jay-Z with 14, and The Beatles, who have 19 chart-toppers.
Ye’s current rival, Drake, stands to tie with him should Certified Lover Boy bow atop the chart next week.
Also, Kanye ties with Eminem for having 10 consecutive number-one albums. Only the pair’s debut efforts, The College Dropout and The Slim Shady collection, missed the milestone after both peaked at #2 in 2004 and 1999, respectively.
Donda, which boasts 27 tracks, was released late last month after numerous delays. The album is named after Ye’s late mother, Donda West, who died in 2007.
