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☆ I went to SXSW and saw Netflix and Amazon competing with splashy sci-fi, while Paramount+ pitched its whole line-up
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-12 | by ( Nathan Mcalone | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Netflix, Amazon, Paramount+, and Disney competed for attention with premieres and eye-catching installations. While there, I got to witness South by Southwest's opening weekend, which was dominated by the streaming heavyweights Netflix, Amazon, and Paramount+, with a cameo from Disney. Netflix held a premiere for "3 Body Problem," and Amazon built an interactive postapocalyptic world to promote "Fallout." AdvertisementNetflix's 3D projection for "3 Body Problem" stopped people in their tracks. Nathan McAloneLater, as the "3 Body Problem" premiere began, I heard "Game of Thrones" alum John Bradley (of Samwell Tarly fame) mutter an anxious "Oh God."

Persons: —, Max, Nathan McAlone Netflix, David Benioff, Weiss, Alexander Woo —, Doug Liman, Nathan McAlone, John Bradley, mutter, Bradley shouldn't, Palmer Haasch, Bradley, Blake Griffin, Nathan McAlone Amazon, Bass Reeves, Alex Garland's Organizations: Southwest, Netflix, Paramount, Disney, Service, HBO, Hollywood, Amazon, Paramount Theatre, Rotten, Mortal Media, Apple, Studios, Austin Convention Locations: Austin, Hollywood, United States

☆ Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo may be gearing up for an epic ‘method dressing’ press tour of ‘Wicked’
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-11 | by ( Christy Choi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The stars of the new “Wicked” movie appear to be gearing up for an epic “method dressing” press tour, having opted for color-coded looks on the Oscars red carpet Sunday night in Los Angeles. Cynthia Erivo wore a bewitching emerald-green custom leather Louis Vuitton gown with structured ruffle sleeves and train, as a nod to her, well, “wicked” character Elphaba. Cynthia Erivo arrives at the Oscars channeling her character Elphaba, Wicked Witch of the West in the fictional world of Oz. Erivo and Grande even attended the 2024 Super Bowl in custom Louis Vuitton jerseys. “There’s always that incredible pressure because it’s so beloved,” Grande told Oscars pre-show co-host Vanessa Hudgens on the red carpet.

Persons: Cynthia Erivo, Louis Vuitton, Elphaba, Ariana Grande, Giambattista Valli —, Glinda, Oz, Jordan Strauss, Laverne Cox, Erivo, Michelle Yeoh, Madame Morrible, Galinda, ”, Oz ”, Gregory Maguire’s, Dorothy Gale, Tony, Jon M, Chu, Elphaba Thropp, Glinda Upland, Timothée Chalamet, Florence Pugh, “ Barbie, Margot Robbie, movie’s, “ There’s, ” Grande, Vanessa Hudgens, we’ve, ” Idina Menzel, Kristin Chenoweth, “ Congrats, ” Menzel, Instagram Organizations: CNN, Broadway, Super, Erivo, “ Locations: Los Angeles, Grande

☆ A 4,000-year-old lipstick uncovered in Iran may be the oldest ever found. It's uncannily similar to modern ones.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-05 | by ( Marianne Guenot | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewA small stone tube found among the remains of a mysterious Bronze Age culture could be the oldest known example of lipstick. That could make it the earliest example of lip paint ever found. AdvertisementA colorised picture shows the mineral composition of the paste found inside the tube, which scientists say is similar to modrn-day lipstick. AdvertisementFor Baysal, it makes sense that red paste is similar to modern-day cosmetics that would have been found millenia in the past. She said, however, that more research will be needed before we can confidently call the stone tube a lip paint container.

Persons: —, Massimo Vidale, Vidale, Emma Louise Baysal, wasn't, Jiroft Organizations: Service, Business, University of Padua, al, Ankara University Locations: Iran's Jiroft, Italy, Egypt

☆ ‘Dune: Part Two’ Gives Sci-Fi-Obsessed Silicon Valley a Reason to Party
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-04 | by ( Mike Isaac | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

In a top-floor atrium in downtown San Francisco on Thursday evening, tech workers from Google, Slack, X and Mozilla mingled next to a pair of cardboard cutouts of Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya. Alex Stamos, the former head of security at Facebook, was also spotted. “Do you think they’ll let me take home one of the freaky sandworm popcorn buckets?” someone in the crowd tittered. The techies were all there to celebrate Silicon Valley’s newest obsession: “Dune: Part 2,” the latest movie adapted from the Frank Herbert-authored science-fiction saga, which helped inspire many of them to become interested in technology. The film, which follows the 2021 installment “Dune,” sold an estimated $81.5 million in tickets in the United States and Canada over the weekend, the biggest opening for a Hollywood film since “Barbie.”

Persons: Zendaya, Dustin Moskovitz, chatted, Tim O’Reilly, Alex Stamos, Frank Herbert, ”, “ Barbie Organizations: Google, Mozilla, Facebook Locations: San Francisco, United States, Canada

☆ ‘Dune 2’ passes ‘Oppenheimer’ opening weekend at domestic box office with $82.5 million
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-04 | by ( Ramishah Maruf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Oppenheimer, directed by Christopher Nolan, brought in $82.4 million in its opening weekend. The film is a much-anticipated sequel to one of the most popular science fiction adaptions in recent years, and helped revive a sleepy box office. Similarly, “Oppenheimer” was one half of the “Barbenheimer” phenomenon last summer, which took social media and the movie theater industry by storm. “This is just what the box office needed and much higher than any of us could predict,” said Jeff Goldstein, president of domestic distribution at Warner Bros. Pictures, which distributed the movie. And we grossed $178.5 million worldwide, which is quite a standup.”The sequel doubled the domestic opening of the first “Dune” installment, which opened with $41 million when it was simultaneously released in theaters and on the streaming service HBO Max in October 2021.

Persons: New York CNN —, “ Oppenheimer, ”, ‘ Oppenheimer, ’, Denis Villeneuve, Oppenheimer, Christopher Nolan, “ Denis Villeneuve, ‘ Oppenheimer ’, ” Paul Dergarabedian, “ Oppenheimer ”, Jeff Goldstein, HBO Max, CNN’s Eva Rothenberg Organizations: New, New York CNN, Warner Bros ., CNN, Universal Pictures, Warner Bros . Pictures, HBO Locations: New York

☆ Denis Villeneuve wants to make 'Dune 3' — here's what's in store for Timothée Chalamet
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-04 | by ( Eammon Jacobs | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Here's what's in store for Timothée Chalamet if Villeneuve gets the green light. "'Dune Messiah' was written in reaction to the fact that people perceived Paul Atreides as a hero. Paul Atreides will be the Emperor of the universe in "Dune 3"Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atreides on Calodan in "Dune." "Dune 3" would also introduce Paul and Chani's childrenZendaya as Chani and Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atreides in "Dune." AdvertisementPaul may exile himself to the desert at the end of "Dune 3"Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atreides in "Dune."

Persons: Denis Villeneuve, Frank Herbert's, Chalamet, Villeneuve, —, Timothée Chalamet, Paul Atreides, Paul, Jessica, Rebecca Ferguson, Baron Harkonnen, Stellan, Emperor Shaddam, Christopher Walken, That's, Alia —, Anya Taylor, Joy, Paul's, Zendaya, Princess Irulan, Florence Pugh, He's, Chani, Frank Herbert didn't, –, Alia Organizations: Service, Rotten, Empire, Times, Warner Bros, Guild, Warner Bros ., Villeneuve Locations: South Korea, Hollywood, Arrakis, Chalamet

☆ I cannot express to you how unbelievably bald Austin Butler is in 'Dune: Part Two'
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-04 | by ( Palmer Haasch | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A recap: Villeneuve's "Dune" series (currently two films, potentially a third) is an adaptation of Frank Herbert's seminal novel. Worry about Austin Butler's shiny head. Proof that Austin Butler is enthrallingly hot in "Dune: Part Two." AdvertisementI need you to look — really look — at Austin Butler. one thing that’s not a spoiler I will say is no matter how many previews you see of dune 2, austin butler is somehow balder than that in the movie.

Persons: —, Denis Villeneuve's, Oscar, Austin Butler, Frank Herbert's, Timothée Chalamet, Paul Atreides, Arrakis, Paul, Niko Tavernise, Pictures Butler, Feyd, Baron Vladimir Harkonnen, Gaze, Slay, Rautha, Villeneuve, Butler didn't, Butler, Jimmy Kimmel, That's, you've, austin, balder Organizations: Service, Business, Warner Bros, Pictures Locations: Arrakis, Feyd

☆ ‘Dune 2’ jolts sleepy box office with $81.5 million opening
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-03 | by ( Eva Rothenberg | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

1 spot in its opening weekend with a strong $81.5 million in domestic sales, according to studio estimates. The sequel beat out the first Dune installment, which opened with $41 million when it was released in domestic theaters in October 2021. According to Comscore data, “Dune: Part Two” is the largest opening for Timothee Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson and Austin Butler. Box office revenue is down 13.5% compared to this time last year, Comscore data shows. February and March have, over the past three years, reliably housed movie releases from established franchises and properties including “The Batman,” ($134 million opening weekend) “Creed III” ($58 million) and “Uncharted” ($51 million).

Persons: ”, Jeff Goldstein, Warner, Timothee Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Austin Butler, It’s, Denis Villeneuve’s, Denis Villeneuve, Goldstein, Paul Dergarabedian, “, III ” Organizations: CNN, Warner Bros . Pictures, Warner Bros, Warner Bros ., Dolby, Comscore, Studios

☆ IMAX 'ran out of seats' for 'Dune: Part Two' and Legendary Entertainment is interested in 'Part Three'
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-03 | by ( Sarah Whitten | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

After a two-month drought, "Dune: Part Two" has delivered a much-welcomed deluge of ticket sales to the domestic box office — and its success could bring a third franchise film to cinemas. The Warner Bros. and Legendary Entertainment film opened with an estimated $81.5 million at the box office, the highest of any film released so far in 2024. Denis Villeneuve's sci-fi epic, the second in the Dune franchise, was buoyed by IMAX ticket sales, which represented around 23% of domestic ticket sales, or $18.5 million. "The only reason it wasn't higher is we ran out of seats," said Rich Gelfond, CEO of IMAX. IMAX represented 18% of all international ticket sales, the company said.

Persons: Shawn Robbins, Denis Villeneuve's, Rich Gelfond, Gelfond, Oppenheimer, Josh Grode, Denis, Villeneuve, we've Organizations: Warner Bros, Entertainment, BoxOffice.com, Legendary Entertainment, CNBC Locations: Hollywood, China

☆ ‘Dune: Part Two’ Draws Large Audiences
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-03 | by ( Brooks Barnes | More About Brooks Barnes | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

“Dune: Part Two” and its A-list cast jump-started moviegoing in North America after a dismal start to the year. The science-fiction sequel sold an estimated $81.5 million in tickets in the United States and Canada from Thursday night to Sunday, the biggest opening for a Hollywood film since “Barbie” in July. (Taylor Swift’s concert documentary arrived to $93 million in October.) “Dune: Part Two,” directed by Denis Villeneuve, collected an additional $97 million overseas. But Legendary also needed to sell the film’s more delicate story — a boy becoming a man, a guy falling in love — which would be more difficult without cast interviews.

Persons: Barbie ”, Taylor, ”, Denis Villeneuve, Timothée Chalamet, Austin Butler, Anya, Taylor Joy, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, Florence Pugh, baring Organizations: Legendary Entertainment, Warner Bros, London Locations: North America, United States, Canada, Mexico City, London, New York

☆ Crowdfunding Hollywood: How studio Legion M taps fans-turned-investors to make movies
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-03 | by ( Sarah Whitten | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Emma Mcintyre | Getty ImagesWhen Paul Scanlan and Jeff Annison first dreamed up their production studio, Legion M, they set out to build not just a company, but a community. While crowdfunding is not a new concept, Legion M is taking it to the next level — giving ordinary moviegoers a seat at Hollywood's table. That's what sets Legion M apart. For Legion M's "My Dead Friend Zoe," the company collected funds from Legion M investors and from larger, more traditional Hollywood financiers, including Kansas City Chiefs star tight end Travis Kelce. He said working with Legion M "felt very natural from the first call."

Persons: William Shatner, Emma Mcintyre, Paul Scanlan, Jeff Annison, Jay, Bob, Anne Hathaway, Jason Sudeikis, Simon Pegg, Minnie Driver, Nandor Fodor, Zach Braff's, Rob Thomas, Veronica Mars, Annison, Zoe, Travis Kelce, Chris Temple, Glauber Contessoto, Zach Ingrasci, Erik Tanner, Frazer Harrison Organizations: Legion, San Diego, Theatre, Business, Amazon Prime, Kansas City Chiefs, Spring Studio, Getty, Angel Studios, Con, Paramount Theater Locations: San Diego , California, Hollywood, New York City, Austin , Texas

☆ What it would take for humans to actually survive the harsh conditions on Dune's planet Arrakis
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-02 | by ( Jenny Mcgrath | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Frank Herbert first described this harsh, fictional world of Arrakis in his 1965 novel "Dune," which was recently adapted into a film trilogy. The movie was shot in the deserts outside Abu Dhabi, but we wondered what it would actually take to survive on a real-life Arrakis. AdvertisementDune's planet Arrakis has enormous sandworms, a drug known as spice that helps with interstellar travel, and two moons. Planet Arrakis lacks oceans, lakes, or even tiny puddles on its surface. Surviving the temperature extremesIf the lack of water on Arrakis doesn't kill you, the heat certainly will if you're not prepared.

Persons: —, Frank Herbert, Seth Collings Hawkins, Amy J, it's, Alexander Farnsworth, Farnsworth, Herbert, Hawkins, Arrakis, Kreykes Organizations: Service, Business, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Warner Bros, University of Bristol, Mexican - Locations: Abu Dhabi, Arrakis, Sonoran, Mexican, Mexican - U.S, Arizona , New Mexico, California

☆ Russia appeared to flaunt a captured, 'fully operational' Bradley infantry fighting vehicle
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-02 | by ( Cameron Manley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Russia claims its forces captured a US-made Bradley infantry fighting vehicle (IFV). AdvertisementRussia has claimed its forces captured a US-made Bradley infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) in Ukraine — and it appears to be preparing to parade it across Russia. Russia also said in December that it had captured a Bradley IFV, Reuters reported. In one video that was circulating on social media last week, Russian soldiers appeared to conduct field testing on a captured US-made Humvee. 🇺🇦🇺🇸 Russian soldiers captured an American Humvee that was in service with the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Persons: flaunting, —, l, sid e, ure, Russ, sian, Bradley, Wes, Тоби Organizations: Bradley, Defence, Service, Ukraine —, Russian Embassy, FV, kr Locations: Russia, Ukrainian, Ukraine, Russian, South Africa, Moscow

☆ ‘Dune: Part Two’ can inspire you to revisit these other timeless sci-fi sequels
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-02 | by ( Dan Heching | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Twentieth Century Fox/Courtesy Everett CollectionWhat better way to start off than with one of the greatest sequels – and sci-fi films in general – ever made, with a screenplay that’s been taught in film schools. ‘Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan’ (1982)DeForest Kelley, William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy in 1982's "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan." ‘Dawn of the Planet of the Apes’ (2014)Andy Serkis in 2014's "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes." ‘Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back’ (1980)"Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back" (1980). “Dune: Part Two” is produced by Warner Bros. Pictures, which, like CNN, is owned by Warner Bros.

Persons: Denis Villeneuve’s, there’s, Sigourney Weaver, –, James Cameron’s Oscar, Ridley Scott’s, Ellen Ripley’s, Carrie Henn, Khan ’, DeForest Kelley, William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, Khan, Everett, ”, Ricardo Montalban, “ Khan ”, Arnold Schwarzenegger, James Cameron, he’s, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s, Linda Hamilton, Sarah Connor –, Andy Serkis, Caesar, “ Dawn ”, Max, Thunderdome, Mel Gibson, Warner, Mad Max, George Miller’s, Tina Turner’s, Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron, Miller, Theron’s Furiosa, Anya Taylor, Joy, Ernie Hudson, Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, Harold Ramis, Annie Potts, Rick Moranis, Peter MacNicol, Howard Huntsberry, George Lucas Organizations: CNN, Rotten, Century Fox, Paramount, “, TriStar, Columbia, ‘, Lucasfilm Ltd, Wars, Warner Bros . Pictures, Warner Bros . Locations: Ripley, ‘, “ Kingdom

☆ Dubai jet suit race: Real-life ‘superheroes’ take to the sky in inaugural event
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-01 | by ( Rebecca Cairns | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Against a backdrop of skyscrapers and super yachts, the airborne athletes competed in the inaugural Jet Suit Race Series, an event organized by the Dubai Sports Council and Gravity Industries, the manufacturers of the jet suit. Browning compares the 1,700-horsepower jet suit to “the power of a Bugatti Veyron” sports car in a 30-kilogram (66-pound) backpack. The jet suit uses aviation fuel or diesel, and can go at speeds of up to 136 kilometers per hour (85 miles per hour), Browning’s own record. In 2020, there was a fatal jetpack accident in Dubai, though it was not a Gravity suit.) Test pilots take off in Gravity Industries jet suits ahead of the inaugural race, in Dubai in February 2024.

Persons: Superlatives ”, ”, Richard Browning, “, Browning, Toby Patterson ‘, Browning’s, Toby Patterson “, Issa Kalfon, Paul Jones, Freddie Hay, Kaflon, Ahmed Al Shehhi, Al Shehhi, he’s, it’s Organizations: CNN, Dubai Sports Council, Gravity Industries, CAA, FAA, Royal Marines, Great North Air Ambulance Service, Industries, British Royal Navy, Commando Royal Marines, JetPack Aviation Locations: Dubai, “ City, Superlatives, UAE, Lake District, California

☆ A complete timeline of Tom Holland and Zendaya's relationship
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-01 | by ( Olivia Singh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +53 min

AdvertisementNovember 2016: Holland and Zendaya appear in their first-ever joint cover, for The Hollywood ReporterZendaya and Tom Holland in June 2017. March 2021: Holland describes Zendaya as 'very sensible and humble'Zendaya and Tom Holland in June 2017. November 17, 2021: Holland and Zendaya comment on their relationship going publicZendaya and Tom Holland in "Spider-Man: No Way Home." February 18, 2022: Tom Holland denies reports that he bought a new house in London with ZendayaTom Holland in February 2022. I visited a lot while they were shooting it and I really, really enjoyed it.

Persons: —, Tom Holland, Zendaya, they've, Sony Pictures Entertainment Holland, Peter Parker, Holland, didn't, I've, He's, Con Tom Holland, Albert L, Ortega, Laura Harrier, Liz, Tony Revolori, Flash Thompson, Jacob Batalon, Ned Leeds, ove, hank y, hank, ove y 'all!, hanks, eing, hy, H, ada, ike, huck, Tom Hol, le tag ove, g the, Hol, MJ', ake, hal l, taki, as h, Rob K, ate fame, abou, ..ha, lea, Kev, edd, Josh Flor, birt, rie, stor, Ric, aske, Tom H, ed then, hal, ong, winn, Q, iva, riva, ory, oba, Fran, and S, Jacob, him ", nic, Eric C, y, 2022:, enda y, Kelly, siti, ted, Hunter, Marc, Marin, inger, his ap, Rajan, Ze, kee, enjoy,, "I wa, stu, shou, olly, ing each o, I love, It's, Elvin R odrig, bert Downey Jr. an, Harry, l ove, bec, Room,", enda, fini Organizations: Service, Sony, Business, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Marvel, America, Hollywood, San Diego Comic, Con, San Diego Convention Center, ust, pla, imi, ucc, MTV, ppr, a pl, Norton, rac, eas, CP, ACP, Fr, rit, acc, klan, ely Locations: Holland, Zendaya, ife, uman, pla, Hol, " he, sens, nsw, pula, India, Italy

☆ NASA may build giant telescopes on the moon in your lifetime. Check out the blueprints.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-01 | by ( Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

One moonshot plan would build a giant radio dish spanning an entire crater on the far side of the moon. An illustration of a conceptual radio telescope within a crater on the moon. Silk argues that lunar telescopes would open the door to a new era of major space discoveries. A satellite trail streaks in front of galaxies in this image from the Hubble Space Telescope. Any radio telescope on the moon's back end would pick up the pure emissions of the universe.

Persons: —, Vladimir Vustyansky, James Webb, Dallan Porter, Roger Angel, Joseph Silk, Jack Burns, Burns, That's, Stefica Nicol, Artemis, Ronald Polidan, FarView, Jack Burns Karan Jani, LILA, Fermilab LILA, Jani, NASA's James Webb, Temim, Webb, Angel, Chris Gunn, Nick Woolf, Angel Roger, Phil, Martin Elvis, Elvis Organizations: Service, NASA, Business, Vanderbilt Lunar Labs, Telescope, University of Arizona, American Astronomical Society, Payload, University of Colorado Boulder, Hubble Space, Hubble, ESA, Radio Telescope, REUTERS, NASA JPL, Caltech, Radio Science Investigations, Houston, Lunar Resources, Resources, Inc, Vanderbilt University, Fermilab, Telescopes, CSA, Princeton University, Engineers, James Webb Space, Industry, AP Locations: New Orleans, Australia

☆ Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya recall meeting ‘terrifying creature’ Austin Butler on ‘Dune: Part Two’ set
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-29 | by ( Elizabeth Wagmeister | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Recalling her first day on set in Budapest, Zendaya told CNN in a recent interview that arriving to see an in-character Butler filming one of his scenes “was quite jarring.”The “Euphoria” star added that it was her first time “properly meeting and getting to know” Butler. “But it was also funny because once you get to know Austin, you see that he’s obviously very warm and very kind. From just five seconds ago, being this terrifying creature, and then being like, ‘Hey, how are you? Niko Tavernise/Warner Bros. PicturesIn the end though, Chalamet said that while his fight sequences with Butler required a lot of work, it turned out well. “But it was a dream.”In “Dune: Part Two,” – which comes from Warner Bros. Pictures, owned by CNN’s parent company Warner Bros.

Persons: Denis Villeneuve’s, Timothée, Christopher Walken, Florence Pugh, Léa Seydoux, Anya Taylor, Joy, Austin Butler, Butler –, Oscar, Elvis ” –, Zendaya, Butler, “, ” Butler, ”, Austin, Chalamet, Wonka, Timothee Chalamet, Niko Tavernise, – Chalamet’s Paul Atreides, Stellan, Glossu Rabban, Dave Bautista, Butler’s Organizations: CNN, Warner Bros, Pictures, Warner Bros . Pictures Locations: Budapest, LA, Hungary

☆ Critics call 'Dune: Part Two' a 'sci-fi masterpiece' and one of the 'greatest sequels ever'
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-29 | by ( Jason Guerrasio | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

A critic hailed it as "the best sci-fi epic of the century." AdvertisementIt's time to return to Arrakis for the much-anticipated sequel to Denis Villeneuve's 2021 epic "Dune." Prepare for a cliffhanger endingLike in the first movie, you're not going to get many answers by the end. Inverse's Hoai-Tran Bui dubbed it "the best sci-fi epic of the century" in her headline. "It's a towering feat of sci-fi cinema that will put 'Dune: Part Two' in contention for the pantheon of greatest sequels ever."

Persons: —, Denis Villeneuve's, Villeneuve, Paul Atreides, Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, Léa Seydoux, Christopher Walken, Critics, Timothée, Lawrence, Peter Bradshaw, Peter Debruge, Therese Lacson, He's, IndieWire's David Ehrlich, Irulan, Paul, Chalamet, IndieWire's Ehrlich, Nick Schager, David Fear, Niko Tavernise, Joshua Rothkopf, Tran Bui Organizations: Service, Warner Bros, The Guardian, Collider, Hollywood Reporter, Stone, Los Angeles Times, Hollywood Locations: Arabia

The animated series is a coming-of-age story set in a futuristic Lagos, Nigeria. Simisola Gbadamosi, who voices Tola in the animated series "Iwájú," attends the world premiere in Lagos, Nigeria, on February 27. As audiences tune in to watch “Iwájú,” Ibrahim says he hopes the family show will speak to viewers of all ages. Kugali co-founders Olufikayo "Ziki" Adeola (left), Hamid Ibrahim (middle), and Tolu Olowofoyekul (right) attend a screening of "Iwájú: in Lagos, Nigeria on February 27. Along with the six-episode series, the soundtrack featuring music by Nigerian composer Ré Olunuga and a game called “Disney Iwájú: Rising Chef” are also being released.

Persons: Hamid Ibrahim, Tolu, ” Ibrahim, ”, ” Adeola, Lagos ” Ibrahim, Simisola Gbadamosi, Siji Soetan, Tola, Kole, Dayo Okeniyi, “, ” Olowofoyeku, ” “, “ Iwájú, Kugali, Olufikayo, Tolu Olowofoyekul, CNN Ibrahim, Disney, Christine Service, Ré Olunuga, Ibrahim Organizations: Nigeria CNN —, Kugali Media, Walt Disney Animation Studios, CNN, Disney, Disney Channel, Walt Disney Company Locations: Lagos, Nigeria, Africa, Femi, Walt Disney Company Africa, Nigerian

☆ Between ‘Star Wars’ Trilogies, a Golden Age of Video Games
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Calum Marsh | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Though it sometimes feels as if there is a new “Star Wars” installment every couple of months, there was a time when all that fans of George Lucas’s sci-fi universe had were three movies and a lot of imagination. The 16-year gap between the end of that trilogy, 1983’s “Return of the Jedi,” and the start of the divisive prequels, 1999’s “The Phantom Menace,” was a vast creative void — one that video games helped fill. Developers at LucasArts, the subsidiary of Lucasfilm known for its adventure titles Monkey Island and Maniac Mansion, saw themselves as the standard-bearers of the “Star Wars” franchise for many years, said Jon Knoles, a longtime LucasArts designer. Unlike most games based on movies, its “Star Wars” games were not bogged down by market pressure or rushed to match a film’s release. “We had all kinds of creative freedom,” said Knoles, who worked on more than a dozen “Star Wars” games in the 1990s and early 2000s, first as a background artist, then as a lead animator and finally as a writer and director.

Persons: George Lucas’s, ”, Jon Knoles, “, Knoles Organizations: LucasArts, Lucasfilm, Wars

☆ Sayre Gomez’s paintings show LA ‘as it is, rather than a projection’
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-26 | by ( Victoria Woodcock | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —It was not until I looked at “Family Room” for the second time that I saw the two children. The scene of decay and demise is a painting by LA-based artist Sayre Gomez, called “Family Room,” that brings together disparate elements of his hometown in an unnervingly photorealist style. The work forms part of his solo show “Heaven N’ Earth,” at art dealer Xavier Hufkens’ flagship gallery in Brussels, Belgium, exploring the complex dichotomies of the urban landscape. The Broad Museum in Los Angeles has also recently added Gomez’s work to its collection. Gomez's photo-realistic work is currently appearing in a solo show at Xavier Hufkens in Brussels, Belgium (above) and a group show at The Broad in Los Angeles.

Persons: Sayre Gomez, Xavier Hufkens, ” Gomez, Xavier Hufkens It’s, “ Gomez, Gomez, ”, Ed Rusha, Jack Goldstein, ” Sayre Gomez, Sam Ramirez, it’s, fabricators, John Baldessari, Xavier Hufkens “, Ed Schad, David Zwirner Organizations: CNN, Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, California Institute of the Arts, Lucasfilm, Peabody Werden, Voorlinden, The Broad Museum Locations: LA, Brussels, Belgium, deindustrialization, ”, Chicago, Los Angeles, Boyle Heights, Hollywood, Netherlands, Hope, Angeles, California

☆ How antimatter engines could fly humans to other stars in just a few years
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-22 | by ( Adam Barnes | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

AdvertisementInterstellar travel is only something humanity has achieved in science fiction — like Star Trek's USS Enterprise, which used antimatter engines to travel across star systems. "Annihilation of antimatter and matter converts mass directly into energy," Weed, cofounder and CEO of Positron Dynamics, a company working to develop an antimatter propulsion system, told Business Insider. Space travel at record speedProxima's star system, shown here, could be reached in just five years with antimatter-powered technology. For example, let's take a trip to our nearest star system, Proxima, about 4.2 light years away. And since the '80s, there's been talk of thermal antimatter engines, which would use antimatter to heat liquid, gas, or plasma to provide thrust.

Persons: Elon Musk, Ryan Weed, Weed, Brice, Maximilien, Gerald Jackson, Forbes, It's, Jackson, he's, Eugen Sänger, there's, Paul M, Sutter, Steve Howe, Howe Organizations: Enterprise, Dynamics, Southern, NASA, CERN, Fermilab, Hbar Technologies, Space, Alpha Locations: Switzerland, Austrian

☆ Some Authors Were Left Out of Awards Held in China. Leaked Emails Show Why.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-17 | by ( Alexandra Alter | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Suspicions in the science fiction community have been building for weeks that something was amiss with last year’s awards, which rotate to a different city each year, and in 2023 were hosted in Chengdu, China. What are the Hugo Awards? The awards, first established in 1953, are given annually at a gathering hosted by the World Science Fiction Convention. Writers are nominated and awarded prizes by members of the World Science Fiction Society, which includes science fiction fans. In January, the Hugo Awards revealed which writers had been nominated for last year’s awards, and by how many people.

Persons: Ursula K, Le Guin, William Gibson, Philip K, Dick, Hugo, Kuang, Xiran Jay Zhao Organizations: Science, Convention, Writers, Science Fiction Society, Canadian Locations: China, Chengdu, American, Oxford

☆ Lab-Made Meat? Florida Lawmakers Don’t Like the Sound of It.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-17 | by ( Dionne Searcey | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Start-up companies around the world are competing to develop technologies for producing chicken, beef, salmon and other options without the need to raise and slaughter animals. Now, a measure in Florida that would ban sales of laboratory-grown meat has gained widespread attention beyond state borders. The bill, which is advancing through the Florida Legislature, would make the sale or manufacture of lab-grown meat a misdemeanor with a fine of $1,000. It’s one of a half-dozen similar measures in Arizona, Tennessee, West Virginia and elsewhere. Opponents of lab-grown meat include beef and poultry associations worried that laboratory-made hamburgers or chicken nuggets could cut into their business.

Organizations: Department of Agriculture, Florida Legislature Locations: China, United States, Florida, Arizona , Tennessee, West Virginia

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