March 23, 2021 • No Comments • Entertainment News

Clay Enos/HBO Max(LOS ANGELES) — Sorry, Zack Snyder fans: it looks like there won’t be a extended DC Comic movie universe based on his hit, extended cut of Justice League — no matter how much you hashtag it. 

You can’t blame ’em for trying. #ReleaseTheSnyderCut grew to be a viral movement so strong it eventually persuaded Warner Bros. to invest millions to allow Snyder to reassemble and eventually release the film on HBO Max, following the disappointment of the Joss Whedon’s re-shot version. 

The success of #ReleaseTheSnyderCut led to the currently-trending #RestoreTheSnyderVerse — with fans hoping the universe Snyder resurrected would thematically continue, a la the Marvel Cinematic Universe. 

However, WarnerMedia Studios CEO Ann Sarnoff tells Variety it’s not meant to be. 

While Sarnoff tells the trade she was “happy” that HBO Max gave Snyder the opportunity to “complete his vision,” of his DC heroes trilogy — including Man of Steel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, and Zack Snyder’s Justice League — his vision is, apparently, officially complete.

And as for the success of another viral fan campaign? Looks like a one-off. “On balance, you of course want to listen to your fans, but we do want to stay true to our vision and our mission for DC and build that out,” the exec explains.

That strategy seems to be another attempt to imitate the success of Marvel Studios, in the wake of its hit MCU small-screen crossovers WandaVision and Falcon And The Winter Solider. 

“My mantra coming in was to make [the DC universe] bigger and broader…with more connective tissue across the various media and platforms,” Sarnoff says. “I’m talking movies, HBO Max, television and our games division.”

Marvel Studios is owned by Disney, the parent company of ABC Audio.

By Stephen Iervolino
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

March 23, 2021 • No Comments • Entertainment News

Marvel Studios(LOS ANGELES) — Marvel’s The Falcon and The Winter Soldier is ranked as the most watched series premiere ever on Disney+ during its opening weekend.

The streamer reports The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, starring Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan respectively as the titular Avengers, was the most watched title overall Friday through Sunday, and for the same time period on a global basis, including in Disney+ Hotstar markets.

It joins the premieres of Marvel Studios’ first live-action series, WandaVision, and the season two premiere of The Mandalorian from Lucasfilm as the three most-watched Disney+ original series opening weekends to-date.

The series follows Sam Wilson/Falcon and Bucky Barnes/The Winter Soldier in the aftermath of Avengers: Endgame, which ended with a very old Steve Rogers passing his Captain America shield and mantel to Wilson, who doubts his worthiness.  The duo pairs up on a global adventure that tests their abilities — and their patience.

Marvel and Lucasfilm are owned by Disney, the parent company of ABC News.

By George Costantino
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

March 23, 2021 • No Comments • Entertainment News

Amazon Studios(LOS ANGELES) — A new trailer for Them, the new Amazon Prime anthology series from Lena Waithe, has been derided by viewers as a ripoff of Jordan Peele’s films, Get Out and Us.

Amazon’s official synopsis of the film, set in the 1950s, follows a Black family that “moves from North Carolina to an all-white Los Angeles neighborhood during the period known as The Great Migration.” Their “idyllic home becomes ground zero where malevolent forces, next door and otherworldly, threaten to taunt, ravage and destroy them.”

Following a trailer for the show, released on Monday, Twitter users jumped all over the series, writing it off as a knockoff of Peele’s hit films.

“How’d [Waithe] go from a solid film like Queen and Slim…to producing a Jordan Peele knockoff?” one commenter complained. “It’s giving Get Out themes with US’s approach and title.”

“Imagine being Barry Jenkins and Jordan Peele only having two films under your belt but already having all these copy cats wanting what you have,” wrote another.

“This feels like someone whos [sic] never seen a Jordan Peele movie describing what a Jordan Peele movie is like,” shared one.

“Jordan Peele has given us two black horror movies and now they’re copying him already,” still another suggested.

Finally, one Twitter user observed, “they even ripped off the ‘Us’ title and called it ‘THEM.’”

However, some people who have seen the show have a more positive review, like this fan who raved, “This is going to be THE series to watch. I was fortunate to screen during #sxsw and it is.  Amazing writing, storytelling and can we get into this talented and beautiful starring cast?”

Them debuts April 9 on Amazon Prime.

By George Costantino
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

March 23, 2021 • No Comments • Entertainment News

Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for The Recording Academy(LOS ANGELES) — Portia de Rossi, wife of Ellen Degeneres, was rushed to the hospital on Friday for emergency appendicitis surgery.

People reports that the 48-year-old actress is back home and “doing well” after the ordeal.  

A source to the magazine explained, “Ellen rushed Portia to the hospital on Friday night, she was in a lot of pain… It was appendicitis and she had surgery.”

Adds the insider, de Rossi is “now resting at home and Ellen is taking care of her. It was a scare at first, but all good now.”

According to Mayo Clinic, appendicitis happens when a blockage causes the organ’s lining to become inflamed.  The condition, while common, causes severe pain and requires immediate treatment, which typically involves removal of the organ.  The condition can become life threatening as the appendix can burst if left untreated.

Ellen and Portia wed in 2008.

By Megan Stone
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

March 23, 2021 • No Comments • Entertainment News

Steve Granitz/WireImage(LOS ANGELES) — Brad Pitt is reportedly “heartbroken” over the latest revelations in his custody battle with ex Angelina Jolie. 

Last week, leaked court documents revealed that the Maleficent star said she is prepared bring forth “proof and authority in support” of her allegations of domestic abuse violence against Pitt. 

A source close to the 57-year-old actor tells Entertainment Tonight, “Brad is anxious to get custody worked out so that the family can finally move on. He just wants to spend time with his children and move in a positive direction. His priority has always been his relationship with his children.”

The former couple, who share children — Maddox, 19; Pax, 17; Zahara, 16; Shiloh, 14; and twins Knox and Vivienne, 12 — are gearing up for their custody trial.

“Brad is heartbroken it has come to this,” the source adds. “Those around him feel Angelina’s claims are to sway the court in her favor.” 

A Page Six source also shared, “Brad feels like he’s being more and more isolated from his children, and he’s devastated about it.”

Angelina and Brad confirmed their relationship in 2006 and married in 2014. They divorced two years later citing irreconcilable differences. 

By Danielle Long
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.