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☆ 'Shrek 5:' Everything We Know Including Release Date, Cast
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-11 | by ( Ayomikun Adekaiyero | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A "Shrek" sequel has been rumored for years, but fans were beginning to lose hope after "Shrek Forever After" provided a neat finish to the story. Dohrn was a writer and artist on "Shrek 2" and "Shrek the Third," was the head of the story on "Shrek Forever After," and the voice of Rumpelstiltskin in the latter film. The movie's producers are Gina Shay, who produced "Shrek Forever After," and Illumination founder Chris Meledandri. There are no details yet on the plot or how it will follow "Shrek Forever After." Dreamwork Animation set "Shrek 5" to premiere on July 1, 2026, so we will likely hear more details about the plot soon.

Persons: —, Eddie Murphy, Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, Donkey, Fiona, pic.twitter.com, Antonio Banderas, Banderas, Puss, Banderas hasn't, Walt Dohrn, Brad Ableson, Dohrn, Gina Shay, Chris Meledandri, Dreamwork Organizations: Service, DreamWorks Animation, Business, Collider, DreamWorks

☆ ‘Shrek 5’ is coming in July 2026, and the big stars are onboard
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-10 | by ( Jack Guy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

Everyone’s favorite ogre is heading back to town, with the the latest movie in the “Shrek” franchise set for release in mid-2026. Movie studio Dreamworks Animation confirmed in a post on X that “Shrek 5” will hit the big screen on July 1, 2026 – 16 years after the previous episode was released. The first “Shrek” movie was a smash hit when it was released in 2001, spawning sequels “Shrek 2” in 2004, “Shrek the Third” in 2007 and “Shrek Forever After” in 2010. There was also a spinoff “Puss in Boots” movie featuring the outlaw cat voiced by Antonio Banderas, released in 2011, with a sequel – “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” – released in 2022. The franchise has become a cultural phenomenon, to the extent that shoe brand Crocs released a Shrek Croc in 2023 and a recreation of Shrek’s swamp home was listed for rent on Airbnb last September.

Persons: Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, Fiona, Eddie Murphy, Walt Dohrn, Brad Ableson, Michael McCullers, Christopher Meledandri, Antonio Banderas, Banderas, ” Murphy Organizations: CNN, Dreamworks, Collider

“The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes” topped the North American box office in its first weekend in theaters with $44 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday. “The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes” is an interesting case study for a franchise that’s been dormant for 8 years and is testing the waters for a new era. Its $44 million from 3,776 locations, including 1,610 premium screens, marks a low for films carrying “The Hunger Games” in the title. With an added $54.5 million from 87 international markets, the film has already earned $98.5 million out of the gates. “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes,” $44 million.

Persons: ”, Jennifer Lawrence, Katniss Everdeen, Tom Blyth, Rachel Zegler, Adam Fogelson, Suzanne Collins, Collins, Coriolanus Snow, Paul Dergarabedian, “, Anna Kendrick, Justin Timberlake, Eli Roth, Patrick Dempsey, Addison Rae, Michael Fassbender, Taika Waititi, Paul Giamatti, “ Priscilla, Sofia Coppola, Disney's, ” Ridley, Napoleon ”, ” Dergarabedian, Comscore, “ Taylor Swift Organizations: American, Lionsgate, Rotten, SAG, Universal, DreamWorks Animation, Marvel, TriStar Pictures, Spyglass Media, Walt Disney Co, Searchlight Pictures, Toronto Film Locations: Germany, Plymouth , Massachusetts

☆ Layoffs keep hitting Amazon, Netflix, Warner Bros. Discovery, and more entertainment companies — here's the list of those with recent cuts
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Lucia Moses | Alison Brower | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

"Netflix missed their numbers, and Wall Street woke up," said Paul Hardart, director of NYU Stern's entertainment, media and technology program. A wide range of companies and employees were impacted, from entertainment giants to independent production companies to Hollywood talent agencies. More consolidation among the legacy media companies and independent production companies is widely expected, which often entails job cuts. Entertainment companies will get back to staffing up, but the jobs will be in stronger growth areas like gaming, streaming, and advertising, more than in filmed entertainment programming. Here are the Hollywood companies, listed alphabetically, that have made layoffs since the summer.

Persons: Paul Hardart, Bob Iger, Joanna Sucherman, Fox, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Nadia Sinh, Companywide, Rami Malek, Mr, Dawn Olmstead, Heather McCauley, YANNIS DRAKOULIDIS, Oscar, Severance, Roku, Alison Levin, NBCUniversal, Curtis Brown, James, Jennifer Coolidge Organizations: Netflix, Disney, Business, US Bureau of Labor Statistics, NYU, Warner Bros, NBC, JLS Media, Entertainment, Hollywood, Amazon Studios, Studios, Talent, Variety, CAA, ICM Partners, DreamWorks Animation, Apple, NETFLIX, Nasdaq, TechCrunch, Starz, CNBC, Lionsgate, LIonsgate, UTA, Hollywood Reporter, Fletcher & Company, Co, HBO Locations: Hollywood, Australia

☆ Shrek’s ‘swamp’ now available to rent on Airbnb
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Francesca Street | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

But this new Airbnb listing in the Scottish Highlands is an exception to the rule. Shrek’s “swamp” is located on the grounds of Ardverikie Estate, a 19th-century Scottish mansion in the Scottish Highlands, some 60 miles south of the city of Inverness. One-off experienceShrek's home is located in the Scottish Highlands. While vacationers will need to organize their own travel to and from the Highlands location, their sojourn at Shrek’s house will be free. Alix McIntosh/AirbnbIf images provided by Airbnb are anything to go by, vacationers can expect a faithful recreation of Shrek’s humble, swampy abode.

Persons: it’s, Alix McIntosh, Airbnb, HopScotch, Baz Luhrmann, Barbie, ”, “ Outlander Organizations: CNN, Scottish Highlands, DreamWorks Locations: Scottish, Ardverikie, Inverness, Scotland, Moulin Rouge, Malibu , California, Balmoral, London, Bank

☆ You can book Shrek's Swamp on Airbnb. See inside the fictional ogre's residence — complete with an outhouse.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Jordan Hart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The swamp from DreamWorks Animation's "Shrek" has come to life, and it will be listed on Airbnb on October 13. The exterior of Shrek's Swamp looks just like the movie. DreamWorks/AirbnbOn the listing, Shrek's best friend and sidekick Donkey is listed as the host of the studio with two beds and one bathroom. DreamWorks/AirbnbAround the swamp, in Highland Council, Scotland, there are trails to explore and endless nature for picnics, according to the listing. AdvertisementAdvertisementIf you miss out on booking Shrek's Swamp, there are also unique stays like a seashell house, treehouses, and converted grain silos on the booking platform.

Persons: Airbnb, —, isn't, Shrek's, Donkey Organizations: DreamWorks, Service, Scottish Highlands Locations: Scotland, Airbnb, Highland Council

Universal’s “The Super Mario Bros.” movie and Sony’s “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,” both animated films, have racked up big ticket sales this year. The successes of "Super Mario Bros." and "Spider-Man" also reflect a new post-COVID-19 trend at box offices, Hollywood insiders say. In his book, “Creativity, Inc.,” Pixar co-founder Ed Catmull credited Pixar's brain trust with the studio’s early box-office triumphs. Catmull and other members of the original brain trust are gone, though Docter remains, now in the role of chief creative officer. During the pandemic's peak, when many cinemas were closed, Disney launched three Pixar films directly to Disney+_in the U.S., bypassing theaters.

Persons: ”, Universal’s, Mario, Tony Chambers, Disney's, don’t, Chambers, DreamWorks Animation’s, “ Ruby Gillman, Tom Sito, King, Sito, Jeff Bock, Ed Catmull, — John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton, Pete Docter, Lee Unkrich, Joe Ranft —, Docter, Domee Shi, Soul’s ’ Kemp Powers, Pixar’s, Brad Bird, Oscar, “, Darla K, Anderson, “ Coco ”, Bob Chapek, there’s, we’ve, ” Docter, it’ll, Dawn Chmielewski, Lisa Richwine, Kenneth Li, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Pixar, Inc, Walt Disney, Universal Studios, DreamWorks, University of Southern, Netflix, Disney, Apple, Relations, Thomson Locations: ANGELES, U.S, Canada, Disney, University of Southern California, ”

☆ 'The Flash,' 'Elemental' disappoint as 'Spider-Verse' continues box office domination
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-18 | by ( Sarah Whitten | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The mixed results saw disappointing debuts from "The Flash" and "Elemental," while "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse" continued to attract ticket buyers. It also fell short of the $67 million debut of fellow DC film "Black Adam" last October. "Audiences have shown in recent months and post-'Endgame' years that they are being more selective about which comic book films are going to earn their box office dollars," he said. Estimates peg the film's debut at $29.5 million, just higher than the $29.1 million "Toy Story," Pixar's first-ever theatrical release, which opened in 1995. Across Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the Father's Day weekend, the domestic box office is expected to tally just under $175 million in receipts.

Persons: Adam, Shawn Robbins, Robbins, Ezra Miller, Mario, Paul Dergarabedian Organizations: Warner Bros, BoxOffice.com, DC, Pixar, DreamWorks, Mario Bros, Comscore, Guardians, Galaxy, Comcast, CNBC Locations: NBCUniversal

☆ Disney looks to get out of animation rut with Pixar's 'Elemental'
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( Sarah Whitten | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The stakes are high as Pixar releases its 27th feature film in theaters this Friday. "Elemental," a romantic immigrant story told through anthropomorphic elements of nature, arrives as Disney is under pressure to prove it hasn't lost its golden touch in animation. The company, which operates both Pixar and Disney Animation, has struggled to drum up ticket sales for its animated fare in recent years. Disney's Pixar studio, in particular, is looking to rebound from the box-office letdown that was "Lightyear." "Animation certainly seems to be going through some winds of change," said Shawn Robbins, chief analyst at BoxOffice.com.

Persons: hasn't, Mario, Shawn Robbins Organizations: Pixar, Disney, Disney Animation, DreamWorks, Mario Bros, Alpha

☆ 'The Little Mermaid's' box office will say a lot about Disney's live-action remake strategy
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( Sarah Whitten | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

That opening is on par with the $91 million "Aladdin" secured in 2019 on its way to more than $1 billion at the global box office. Audience buzz has become an increasingly important factor in box office success in the wake of the pandemic. Those that skip out on seeing a film during its opening weekend can be enticed to cinemas by positive chatter, helping to bolster the film's overall box office. The studio, which is known for its animated content, saw two of its recent releases — "Lightyear" and "Strange World" — flounder at the box office. Although there were two live-action films based on "101 Dalmatians" in 1996 and 2000, Disney didn't start producing these remakes in earnest until 2010's "Alice in Wonderland."

Persons: Alice, Maleficent, Lilo, Shawn Robbins, it's Organizations: Disney, Universal Pictures, DreamWorks Animation, BoxOffice.com Locations: Wonderland

DreamWorks Animation has laid off 33 staffers, or around 2%, in recent days. DreamWorks' parent company, NBCUniversal, has been laying off staff across divisions in recent months. The cuts were confirmed by a spokesperson from DreamWorks Animation, whose parent company, Comcast's NBCUniversal, has eliminated roles across the organization over the past six months. DreamWorks Animation said in a statement that the layoffs were part of an overall cost reduction and that a majority of those affected were in support functions. This person said staffers laid off in this round learned the news several weeks ago, giving those affected some time to prepare.

☆ CNBC Anchor Complained NBCUniversal C.E.O. Pressured Her for Years
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( Benjamin Mullin | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A CNBC journalist accused Jeff Shell, the former chief executive of NBCUniversal, of pressuring her for sex over a period of years during her career at the business news network, according to a copy of her complaint reviewed by The New York Times. The complaint, lodged in late March by Hadley Gamble, an anchor and senior international correspondent, kicked off an investigation that led to Mr. Shell’s dismissal last week, sending shock waves across a far-flung media empire that includes NBC News, the Universal movie studio and DreamWorks Animation. Less than a page of Ms. Gamble’s complaint, which is more than a dozen pages, focused on allegations of sexual harassment by Mr. Much of the complaint raised accusations of bullying and discrimination at CNBC, saying women at the network’s international division were harassed by their male colleagues on several different occasions. Comcast, NBCUniversal’s parent company, hired the law firm Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher to investigate the complaint after it was sent to the company’s executives in New York and London.

☆ Why is Universal making a live-action 'How to Train Your Dragon'? These charts may explain
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-18 | by ( Sarah Whitten | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

In this article CMCSA Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNTStill from Universal and Dreamworks' "How to Train Your Dragon 2." For the last decade, the Walt Disney Company has been transforming its classic animated features into live-action theatrical and streaming features. Earlier this week, Universal said it would be doing the same for one of its own animated franchises: How to Train Your Dragon. What is, perhaps, most notable about Disney's live-action remakes is how much of the ticket sales were generated from international markets. This is something Universal is likely also keyed into when creating the live-action version of "How to Train Your Dragon."

☆ How the unlikely partnership between a VR startup cofounded by the former head of DreamWorks and Arizona State University has led to a mind-blowing student learning experience
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( Madeline Renbarger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Dreamscape Learn developed immersive, VR learning experiences for Arizona State University. Students learn STEM coursework using the VR experience, which has seen tremendous results. The company had been building immersive VR experiences, one of which was called the "Alien Zoo." Now, Dreamscape Learn has raised a $20 million in Series A funding to expand its curriculum offering and branch outside of ASU. An ASU student in the Dreamscape Learn pod interacts with the virtual lab.

☆ Google, YouTube content providers must face U.S. children's privacy lawsuit
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-28 | by ( Jonathan Stempel | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Circuit Court of Appeals in Seattle said Congress did not intend to pre-empt state law-based privacy claims by adopting the federal Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, or COPPA. In July 2021, U.S. District Judge Beth Labson Freeman in San Francisco dismissed the lawsuit, saying the federal privacy law pre-empted the plaintiffs' claims under California, Colorado, Indiana, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Tennessee law. The case was returned to Freeman to consider other grounds that Google and the content providers might have to dismiss it. Lawyers for Google and the content providers did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Their lawsuit sought damages for YouTube users age 16 and younger from July 2013 to April 2020.

☆ Netflix made huge bets on animation, hiring top talent, but insiders say the streamer neglected marketing and didn't deliver what kids want: 'Where are the farts?'
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-21 | by ( Lucia Moses | Elaine Low | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

The streamer didn't market its kids content enough and didn't pay attention to what children like, insiders said. Netflix hasn't been alone in dialing back on kids animation. "They had these grand plans to make a ton of animation and were going to throw a lot of money at it," said a former Netflix animation exec. But they didn't understand kids and they didn't understand animation," said a separate high-level animation programming executive. Animated series offshoot "The Boss Baby: Back in Business" is technically a Netflix original as it premiered on the streamer.

☆ Jeffrey Katzenberg's WndrCo is betting big on cybersecurity tech and consumer VPNs as 'concerns around privacy have exploded'
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-18 | by ( Claire Atkinson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Jeffrey Katzenberg and his WndrCo partner Sujay Jaswa are betting big on VPNs and other cybersecurity tech. WndrCo has $1.7 billion in net asset value and is looking for companies that can change the world. The company has acquired or invested in VPNs including Super Unlimited, a top app on Apple's App Store. Like everyone else in the global workforce, Jeffrey Katzenberg and Sujay Jaswa, his investing partner at venture firm WndrCo, use Zoom to connect. WndrCo made several other VPN acquisitions, ultimately merging them into a single cybersecurity venture called Aura, in which WndrCo is a significant stakeholder.

☆ "Форсаж 9" и "Босс-молокосос 2" вышли на первые места в прокате США
▼ + stars: | 2021-06-05 | by ( Mld Media Srl | ) noi.md time to read: +3 min

За период с пятницы по воскресенье фильм студии Universal освоил еще 24 млн долларов (еще около 8 млн долларов прогнозируют по итогам выходного понедельника). Первые выходные принесли этому проекту, ориентированному на детскую и семейную аудитории, 17,3 млн долларов. Правда, если бюджет оригинала составлял 125 млн долларов, то на сиквел Dreamworks Animation потратила уже около 80 млн долларов. Суммарно в США вторая часть киносерии освоила 145,8 млн долларов, первый фильм в общей сложности получил 188 млн долларов. Замыкает пятерку лидеров комедийный экшен "Телохранитель жены киллера", которому третьи выходные принесли 3 млн долларов.

Persons: Форсаж, Восход, Боссмолокосос, Судная, Тихое, Телохранитель Organizations: Dreamworks, Universal, NBC Universal, Paramount Locations: США, Тихое

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