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☆ Superhero Film ‘Black Adam’ Revives Weekend Box Office
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-24 | by ( Robbie Whelan | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

‘Black Adam’ represents the best opening weekend gross ever for a movie with Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson in a solo leading role, according to Warner Bros.“Black Adam,” the latest superhero movie from Warner Bros. Discovery DC Films studio, opened up to $67 million in domestic ticket sales, the studio said, leading the North American total box office take to its first over-$100 million weekend since July. The movie also represents the best opening weekend gross ever for a movie with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in a solo leading role, Warner Bros. said Sunday, surpassing past performances in the Jumanji films and “San Andreas.”

☆ The Great Netflix Debate: Do Its Movies Belong in Theaters?
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-19 | by ( Robbie Whelan | Sarah Krouse | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Inside Netflix movie studio, top executives lobbied Ted Sarandos , the company’s co-chief executive, for much of this year to experiment with releasing more Netflix original movies broadly in theaters. They outlined their case in a memo shared in June on the company network. Some argued that Netflix is leaving hundreds of millions in box-office receipts on the table with its current strategy of showing only select movies in a few hundred theaters for at most a few weeks before streaming them, according to people familiar with the matter. Other executives thought showing movies in more theaters would create valuable buzz for the streaming service.

☆ Australia's Star says regulator-named manager to run Sydney casino
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SummarySummary Companies Star's Sydney casino license to be suspended on Oct. 21Manager appointed for Sydney casino for 90 daysFine after Star failed to prevent money laundering, criminal activityStar fined $62 million as part of disciplinary actionSYDNEY, Oct 17 (Reuters) - Australia's Star Entertainment Group (SGR.AX) said on Monday a regulator-appointed manager would be stepping in to run its Sydney casino after an investigation by an independent commission found it had failed to prevent money laundering and criminal activity. The firm was fined A$100 million ($62 million) by the New South Wales Independent Casino Commission (NICC), which also suspended its license to operate the casino in Sydney, effective Oct. 21, Star said in a statement. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterThe suspension period will be crucial for Star to prove its merit to hold a casino license. Weeks' authority as a manager of Star's assets are limited to the operational needs of the casino. Australia's gambling industry has been in the spotlight in recent years, with public inquiries lashing its biggest casino operators due to lapses in money laundering protections.

☆ Australia casino firm Star to be fined $62 million following inquiry
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SYDNEY, Oct 17 (Reuters) - Australian casino firm Star Entertainment Group (SGR.AX) was fined A$100 million ($62 million) on Monday following an independent inquiry which found it failed to prevent money laundering and criminal activity in its Sydney casino. The New South Wales Independent Casino Commission (NICC) also cancelled Star's licence to operate the Sydney casino effective Friday, and will appoint a person to manage the casino pending the return of its licence. "The appointment of the manager means that the Star Casino will remain open and all staff will remain employed," NICC Chief Commissioner Philip Crawford said during a media conference. The decision to slap Star with the maximum fine possible comes on the first day on the job for Star's new chief executive, Robbie Cooke. Australia's gambling industry has been in the spotlight in recent years, with public inquiries lashing its biggest casino operators due to lapses in money laundering protections.

☆ The career rise of Nadine Macaluso, from modeling and marrying the 'Wolf of Wall Street' to divorcing him and becoming a family therapist
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-16 | by ( Britney Nguyen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Nadine Macaluso started her career as a model to support herself before she met her ex-husband. While married to Jordan Belfort, Macaluso gave up modeling and started a maternity company. After leaving Belfort, Macaluso found her path to therapy through meditation and earned her Ph.D.Get the latest tech news & scoops — delivered daily to your inbox. Macaluso, 54, was played by Margot Robbie in Martin Scorsese's 2013 film, "The Wolf of Wall Street," which was adapted from Belfort's autobiography of the same name. Later in their marriage, Macaluso started her own maternity company.

☆ Robbie Coltrane, Actor Who Played Hagrid in ‘Harry Potter’ Movies, Dies at 72
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-14 | by ( Joseph De Avila | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Robbie Coltrane, best known for playing Hagrid in the “Harry Potter” movie franchise, has died. He died Friday, a spokesman for his agency WME said.

Venerable Scottish actor Robbie Coltrane, best known as the dragon-loving half-giant Hagrid from the "Harry Potter" film franchise, died on Friday, his managers said. "We are hugely saddened to hear of the passing of the magnificent Robbie Coltrane who played Hagrid with such kindness, heart and humour in the Harry Potter films," the “Harry Potter” film franchise said in statement. Robbie Coltrane as Hagrid in the "Harry Potter" series. He was an incredible actor and a lovely man.”And fellow “Harry Potter” actor James Phelps, who played one of the Weasely twins, recalled being a fresh-faced 14-year-old, nervous on first day on the set in September 2020. Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said "Ftiz" was one her favorite TV characters and called Coltrane a "Scottish entertainment legend."

☆ Production Company Behind ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ Raises Capital
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-14 | by ( Robbie Whelan | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Fresh off the success of “Top Gun: Maverick,” David Ellison , one of Hollywood’s wealthiest heirs, has raised a new round of capital to expand deeper into animation, videogames and sports-related programming. Skydance Media, the production company founded by Mr. Ellison, who is the son of billionaire Oracle Corp. founder Larry Ellison , has raised $400 million in new capital, valuing Skydance at more than $4 billion, the company said Thursday.

☆ Robbie Coltrane, Hagrid in ‘Harry Potter’ films, dead at 72
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-14 | by ( Sandra Gonzalez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Robbie Coltrane, the actor who brought to life the lovable gamekeeper Hagrid in the Harry Potter film franchise, died on Friday, according to his agent, Scott Henderson. “I first met Robbie Coltrane almost exactly 40 years ago. Robbie Coltrane in "The World Is Not Enough" in 1999. Robbie Coltrane in "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone." Appearing in the HBO Max special “Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts,” Coltrane recalled his time on the films and Hagrid’s impact.

☆ 'Harry Potter' stars Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson pay tribute to Robbie Coltrane
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-14 | by ( Sandra Gonzalez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Stars from the “Harry Potter” universe are paying tribute to Hogwart’s resident gentle half-giant, Robbie Coltrane, who died on Friday. “I feel incredibly lucky that I got to meet and work with him and very sad that he’s passed. “Robbie was the most fun uncle I’ve ever had,” she wrote, underneath a photo of the pair. “His talent was so immense it made sense he played a giant – he could fill ANY space with his brilliance,” she later added. “I was always astonished at how fearless they were.”“Harry Potter” author J.K. Rowling wrote on Twitter: “I’ll never know anyone remotely like Robbie again.

☆ Harry Potter actor Robbie Coltrane dies aged 72
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Actor Robbie Coltrane talks during a media preview of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter-Diagon Alley at the Universal Orlando Resort in Orlando, Florida June 19, 2014. REUTERS/David Manning/FilesLONDON, Oct 14 (Reuters) - Robbie Coltrane, the larger-than-life Scottish actor who played Hagrid in the Harry Potter films, died on Friday at the age of 72, his agent said. Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling led the tributes on Twitter, writing: "I'll never know anyone remotely like Robbie again. "Robbie Coltrane, Scottish entertainment legend - you will be hugely missed," she wrote. British actor and broadcaster Stephen Fry - who narrated the British version of the Harry Potter audio books - wrote that he had met Coltrane almost exactly 40 years ago.

☆ Christian Bale and Margo Robbie's 'Amsterdam' is on pace to lose $100 million—these are the 10 biggest box office bombs in history
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-13 | by ( Nicolas Vega | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Not even Taylor Swift could rescue "Amsterdam" at the box office. In fact, the latest movie from the "Silver Linings Playbook" director "ultimately stands to lose anywhere from $80 million to $100 million," according to The Hollywood Reporter. The film had an $80 million production budget and cost $70-80 million to market, according to the report, but is on pace to earn just a fraction of that. The poor performance of "Amsterdam" adds it to the long list of big-budget movies that have bombed spectacularly, though it isn't anywhere near the top just yet. These are the biggest bombs in box office history, according to data from Statista.

The families claimed Jones profited off the lies while they were harassed and abused by those who believed him. This is the second trial related to his Sandy Hook conspiracy theories. In August, a Texas jury ordered Jones to pay nearly $50 million in damages to Scarlett Lewis and Neil Heslin, whose son Jesse was killed in the massacre. “Every single one of these families were drowning in grief, and Alex Jones put his foot right on top of them." A defiant Jones said he believed Sandy Hook was a hoax when he spread his lies.

REUTERS/Michelle McLoughlinOct 12 (Reuters) - A Connecticut jury on Wednesday ordered U.S. conspiracy theorist Alex Jones to pay $965 million for spreading falsehoods about the 2012 Sandy Hook mass shooting. December 2012 - A gunman kills 20 children and six staff members at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, using a Remington Bushmaster rifle. May 23, 2018 - Fourteen relatives of Sandy Hook victims sue Jones and four entities connected to Jones in Connecticut state court. Oct. 31, 2018 - Another Sandy Hook parent sues Jones and Free Speech Systems in Texas, where Jones' radio show and webcast are based. The case was dismissed in June after the Sandy Hook parents intervened, arguing it was a stall tactic.

☆ 'Amsterdam' review: Christian Bale, John David Washington and Margot Robbie head the star-studded cast in David O. Russell's historical satire
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-07 | by ( Review Brian Lowry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —“Amsterdam” certainly doesn’t suffer from a lack of ambition, and the star-studded cast merely adds to that sense of grandeur. Burt (Christian Bale), a part-Jewish Park Avenue doctor whose in-laws disapprove of him, and Harold (John David Washington) bonded while serving together during World War I, where they met up with a free-spirited nurse, Valerie (Margot Robbie) who fell for Harold, forging a seemingly inseparable trio. Recovering from their war injuries, they took refuge in Amsterdam, a place where the world’s concerns – including those involving race – appeared to shrink away. Christian Bale, Margot Robbie and John David Washington in 'Amsterdam.' “This is so strange,” Burt mutters at one point, which turns out to be an inadvertent commentary on the film itself.

☆ 'Jaw dropping' real-life drama inspired post-World War One movie 'Amsterdam'
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-05 | by ( Rollo Ross | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LOS ANGELES, Oct 5 (Reuters) - In the new movie "Amsterdam," Christian Bale, John David Washington and Margot Robbie play friends who are reunited years later and accused of murder. The film from Oscar-nominated director David O. Russell, which debuts in theaters on Friday, is inspired by the real-life story of a little-known plot to overthrow U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the 1930s. Bale and Washington play wounded World War One soldiers who celebrated their postwar life in Amsterdam with their nurse, played by Margot Robbie. Director David O. Russell with cast members Rami Malek, Andrea Riseborough, Margot Robbie and Christian Bale attend the European premiere of the film "Amsterdam", in London, Britain September 21, 2022. De Niro said he believed the film had resonance with the current U.S. political climate.

Canadian actor Robert Cormier, who appeared in the drama "Heartland" has died at the age of 33. The actor died Friday in Etobicoke, Ontario, according to his obituary. Cormier died in the hospital of injuries he sustained in a fall, his sister told his talent agent’s office. Thank you.”The show "Heartland" shared a tribute to Cormier on social media, calling him "a beloved member of the Heartland cast the last two seasons." “We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Robert Cormier,” the statement said.

☆ MLB roundup: Cardinals, Yankees clinch division titles
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +9 min

Yankees right-hander Jameson Taillon (14-5) allowed two runs and seven hits in 7 1/3 innings. Brian Anderson had three hits and scored two runs for the Marlins, and Jacob Stallings hit a two-run single. Casas, who finished 3-for-4, clobbered a two-run homer in the second inning. Hunter Dozier hit a two-run homer for the Royals, who got two hits from Michael A. Taylor. Altuve went 3-for-4 with four runs, and Hensley contributed an RBI single and a two-run homer.

People walk on a street affected by the passing of Hurricane Fiona in Penuelas, Puerto Rico September 19, 2022. Baxter, which makes small bags for intravenous medication, clinical nutrition products and inhaled anesthetics in Puerto Rico, said its facilities have "sustained little to no damage" from the storm. The company took a $70 million revenue hit after Hurricane Maria in 2017, spurring it to diversify manufacturing of key products. Drugmakers with plants in Puerto Rico said they have been able to keep up production and supplies as well. Johnson & Johnson (JNJ.N) said operations were restored at all its sites in Puerto Rico by Wednesday.

☆ Hong Kong will scrap COVID hotel quarantine from Sept. 26
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Travellers queue up for shuttle bus to quarantine hotels at the Hong Kong International Airport, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, in Hong Kong, China, August 1, 2022. REUTERS/Tyrone SiuHONG KONG, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Hong Kong will scrap its controversial COVID-19 hotel quarantine policy for all arrivals from Sept. 26, more than 2.5 years after it was first implemented, in a long-awaited move for many residents and businesses in the financial hub. The former British colony is a global outlier outside mainland China in imposing hotel quarantine for international arrivals, in line with the country's "dynamic zero" COVID strategy. Both events have been widely seen as a bid to show that Hong Kong can resume business as usual. Hong Kong has reported more than 1.7 million COVID infections and 9,934 deaths since the pandemic began.

☆ In angry outburst, Infowars host Alex Jones says ‘he’s done being sorry’ during second defamation trial
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-22 | by ( Safia Samee Ali | Safia Samee Ali Is A Reporter For Nbc News Digital | Based In Chicago. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

In an angry outburst, conspiracy theorist and Infowars host Alex Jones said “he’s done being sorry” as he took the stand Thursday during his second defamation trial for saying the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting was a hoax. A defiant Jones said he believed Sandy Hook was a hoax when he spread his lies. Twenty children and six educators were killed after a gunman entered Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown and opened fire on Dec. 14, 2012. Alex Jones defamation trials Alex Jones is facing a defamation trial in Connecticut after being found liable for spreading lies that the Sandy Hook school shooting was a hoax. This is the second such trial for Jones, who has already been ordered to pay at least $4.1 million to a Sandy Hook family.

☆ MLB roundup: Padres send Cards to third straight shutout loss
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +9 min

St. Louis took a third consecutive shutout loss for the first time since the final three games of the 2015 season. San Diego logged its fifth straight win -- and third shutout victory in four games. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterCardinals starter Miles Mikolas (11-13) gave up one unearned run on three hits in six innings. Kyle Farmer snapped an 0-for-18 skid with a bloop two-run single in Cincinnati's three-run fifth that made a winner of starter Chase Anderson (2-3). Leody Taveras provided some insurance with a two-run single in the eighth inning, and the Rangers bounced back after losing the series opener on Tuesday.

☆ Alex Jones' billion-dollar judgement: The conspiracy theorist has turned career-ending setbacks into profit windfalls, but this could be too much to overcome
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-22 | by ( Ashley Collman | Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +22 min

Robbie Parker was later falsely called a crisis actor, and the Parkers are among those who sued Alex Jones for defamation. Longtime informal adviser to Donald Trump, Roger Stone (right), and and Alex Jones (left) speak to reporters in December 2018. Picture showing a computer screen displaying the Twitter account of Far-right conspiracy theorist Alex Jones taken on August 15, 2018 in Washington DC. "Alex Jones is likely to continue being Alex Jones, which means he's likely to try all kinds of shenanigans to avoid accountability," said Holt. "The money awarded in damages does not repair what Alex Jones has done to those parents' lives, but it could be a step towards dismantling the toxic empire that Alex Jones has built around his brand."

☆ Planet prepares to launch another line of imagery satellites to expand data-gathering operations
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-21 | by ( Michael Sheetz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

PARIS — Planet is adding another type of imagery satellite to its product line, the latest expansion of the company's data-gathering operations. The company named the new satellites Tanager -- named after a bird family, like the existing lines of Dove and Pelican satellites that it manufactures. Tanager satellites will collect 420 bands of spectrum, Schingler said, noting that detecting methane requires detecting just four bands. The company is building the Tanager satellites with the same spacecraft bus – which is the main body of a satellite – as its Pelican line, to leverage Planet's vertical approach to manufacturing. The first two Tanager demonstration satellites are set to launch in 2023.

☆ Star-studded 'Amsterdam' merges facts, fiction and team work
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-21 | by ( Hanna Rantala | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Director David O. Russell with cast members Rami Malek, Andrea Riseborough, Margot Robbie and Christian Bale attend the European premiere of the film "Amsterdam", in London, Britain September 21, 2022. REUTERS/Tom NicholsonLONDON, Sept 21 (Reuters) - Director David O. Russell got his starry cast involved in the creation of his new crime drama "Amsterdam". Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterSimilarly, Bale's co-star Margot Robbie was invited to help bring her character to life. "I was talking to David about Valerie for years before we actually got around to making the film. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Hanna Rantala; Editing by Richard ChangOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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