Month: April 2022

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Pop Daypop

Bad Bunny to star in Spider-Man standalone film ‘El Muerto’

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Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio — better known by his stage name Bad Bunny — has been cast as the newest Marvel hero, and will lead the Spider-Man standalone comic book film “El Muerto.” Ocasio will be the first Latino actor to headline a live-action Marvel film.

Sony Motion Picture Group president Sanford Panitch made the announcement at CinemaCon in Las Vegas.  Known as Juan-Carlos Estrada Sanchez in the comics, El Muerto is a wrestler whose powers are handed down by ancestry in the form of a mask (which, according to Marvel’s official site, gives him superhuman strength). In past comics, El Muerto has gotten in the ring with Spider-Man himself.  At CinemaCon, Sony suggested Ocasio will portray ‘an antihero on the verge of inheriting his father’s power.’

Bad Bunny is a noted professional wrestling fan who competed at WWE’s WrestleMania 37 in April and at the 2022 Royal Rumble in January. Bad Bunny told the crowd at CinemaCon about his love of wrestling, adding, “to bring El Muerto to life is just incredible…so exciting.”   Bad Bunny’s acting experience includes a previous role in ‘Narcos: Mexico’, and he will next be seen in Bullet Train, which comes to theaters on July 29.

“El Muerto” is set to hit theaters on Jan. 12, 2024.

Editorial credit: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Entertainment Daypop

Bad Bunny to star in Spider-Man standalone film ‘El Muerto’

shutterstock_1199459920-2

Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio — better known by his stage name Bad Bunny — has been cast as the newest Marvel hero, and will lead the Spider-Man standalone comic book film “El Muerto.” Ocasio will be the first Latino actor to headline a live-action Marvel film.

Sony Motion Picture Group president Sanford Panitch made the announcement at CinemaCon in Las Vegas.  Known as Juan-Carlos Estrada Sanchez in the comics, El Muerto is a wrestler whose powers are handed down by ancestry in the form of a mask (which, according to Marvel’s official site, gives him superhuman strength). In past comics, El Muerto has gotten in the ring with Spider-Man himself.  At CinemaCon, Sony suggested Ocasio will portray ‘an antihero on the verge of inheriting his father’s power.’

Bad Bunny is a noted professional wrestling fan who competed at WWE’s WrestleMania 37 in April and at the 2022 Royal Rumble in January. Bad Bunny told the crowd at CinemaCon about his love of wrestling, adding, “to bring El Muerto to life is just incredible…so exciting.”   Bad Bunny’s acting experience includes a previous role in ‘Narcos: Mexico’, and he will next be seen in Bullet Train, which comes to theaters on July 29.

“El Muerto” is set to hit theaters on Jan. 12, 2024.

Editorial credit: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Sports Daypop

Jacksonville Jaguars and OT Cam Robinson agree to 3-year extension worth $54 million

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The Jacksonville Jaguars and veteran offensive tackle Cam Robinson agreed to a contract extension for three years worth $54 million, with an annual salary of $18 million. Robinson confirmed the news Wednesday on his Instagram story.

Robinson was set to play on the franchise tag with a salary of $16.7 million in 2022. He received a franchise tag salary of $13.75 million last season. Robinson started in 14 games last season, and played in all 16 games in 2020.

Robinson joined the Jaguars out of Alabama as a second-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. He was the No. 48-rated offensive tackle in the NFL last season, rating higher as a pass blocker than as a run blocker.

Editorial credit: April Visuals / Shutterstock.com

Categories
News Daypop

Miami judge vacates life sentence of man wrongfully convicted of murder in 1991

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On Wednesday, a judge in Miami vacated the life sentence of Thomas “Jay” Raynard James, a 55-year-old Black man who prosecutors said was wrongfully convicted because of mistaken identity in 1991.  As he left a Miami courtroom with his attorneys and family members, James said: “I feel good. Real good.”

Still wearing his red prison uniform and shackles, James stood behind his mother, Doris Strong, earlier in the day as Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle detailed a 90-page motion her office filed asking for the conviction to be vacated. James, who was 23 when he was convicted, was expected to be released after paperwork was completed Wednesday.

Fernandez Rundle said that over the past year members of her office’s ‘Justice Project’ reviewed over 20,000 pages of documents, reinterviewed witnesses, resubmitted fingerprints and retested DNA samples. She said the case has gone through numerous appeals, post-conviction reviews, and reviews by a private investigator and the Innocence Project of Florida Inc. In a 90-page motion to vacate the conviction, prosecutors said “what appears to be a chance coincidence that the defendant, Thomas Raynard James, had the same name as a suspect named by witnesses and anonymous tipsters … led to the defendant’s photograph being included in a lineup, and set in motion a mistaken identity.”

At the trial, eyewitness Dorothy Walton told jurors that she was sure that James pulled the trigger. However beginning last fall, Walton said she had some concerns about her testimony.  She initially refused to meet with prosecutors, but earlier this month made contact and said she now believes she made a mistake in identifying James as the gunman.  Over the years there have been conflicting stories about detectives confusing James with another man who shared his name, but that man had been arrested and was in jail at the time of the shooting.

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Categories
News Daypop

3 dead in Mississippi hotel shooting; alleged gunman dead after 2-hour standoff

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The alleged suspect in a shooting that killed three people at a hotel in Biloxi on Mississippi’s Gulf Coast was found dead in the nearby city of Gulfport hours later, after a standoff with police. Gulfport Police Department’s incoming chief Adam Cooper said that the man holed up at a Gulfport store after fleeing from a vehicle that had been carjacked.

Cooper said police fired teargas about 20 to 30 minutes after arriving at the scene and trying to negotiate with the man. After getting no response, police entered the store to find the man dead.  Police say the carjacking victim in Gulfport was injured but he did not know whether that driver was hit by gunfire that was reported at the scene.

Gulfport and Biloxi police were working to confirm whether the dead man is connected to the triple homicide Wednesday morning at the Biloxi Broadway Inn. Biloxi Police Department Capt. Milton Houseman confirmed that three people were killed but had no details on their identity.

https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/dead-mississippi-hotel-shooting-police-standoff-84349819

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Categories
Sports Daypop

Milwaukee Bucks eliminate the Chicago Bulls with 116–100 win in Game 5 to advance to semifinals

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The Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Chicago Bulls 116–100 in Game 5 on Wednesday evening to win the series and advance them to the conference semifinals. Giannis Antetokounmpo led the way for the Bucks, scoring a game-high 33 points.

The series was Chicago’s first postseason appearance since 2017, where they were eliminated in the first round.  Milwaukee, meanwhile, will now move forward to face the Boston Celtics (the Eastern Conference’s No. 2 seed) in the semifinal round.  The reigning NBA champions were dominant for most of the series, blowing out Chicago in the final three games by an average margin of 23.3 points. Reigning NBA MVP Antetokounmpo led his team in average points (27.5), rebounds (14.5), assists (7.0) and blocks (1.8), and off the bench, Grayson Allen scored 22 and 27 points in the final two games of the series, respectively. In Game 4, Allen shot 5-for-7 on three-pointers, then went 6-for-7 threes in Game 5.

The Bulls struggled in Game 5 partially due to being without star forward Zach LaVine (COVID-19 protocol) and guard Alex Caruso (concussion protocol). The Bucks were without Khris Middleton for the final three games of the series after he injured his knee.

The Bucks and Celtics will face off this Sunday, May 1st in Boston.

Editorial credit: Ververidis Vasilis / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Country Daypop

Jimmie Allen reveals the lineup for the second annual Bettie James Festival

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Jimmie Allen has revealed the lineup for the second annual Bettie James Fest, taking place on Saturday, August 13th at Hudson Fields in Allen’s hometown of Milton, DE.  This year’s performers include We The Kings, Lainey Wilson, Neon Union, Chayce Beckham, JJ Rupp and Kounty. Two additional opening acts will be selected through a social media contest later this year, with details to come on Allen’s social media platforms.

Allen will once again serve as headliner for the festival, which he established in 2021 in honor of his late grandmother Bettie Snead and late father James Allen.  Said Allen: “Bettie James Fest part two! Bettie James Fest is a music festival that I put on in my hometown of Milton, DE, in honor of my grandma Bettie and father James. It’s a multi-genre day of music, celebrating life and different types of music. It’s super fun, and it’s a way for me to come back and dive back into my hometown and bring music here. It’s the one show that I look forward to most every year. To be able to come back to the place that raised me, after having a little bit of success, just means so much ‘cause these are the people that made me who I am. This is the town that made me who I am. And it’s great because we also get to have Delaware artists come down and be part of the festival as well. Bettie James Fest… Part 2… Going down August 13, 2022 – Hudson Fields in Milton, De… I’ll see y’all there!”

Tickets go on sale Friday, April 29th.

Editorial credit: Debby Wong / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Country Daypop

Chris Janson, Ingrid Andress, Cole Swindell and more to perform during Ascend Amphitheater Nighttime Concerts at CMA Fest

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The Country Music Association has revealed the lineup for the CMA Fest Nighttime Concerts at Ascend Amphitheater, taking place on Friday, June 10 and Saturday, June 11.

On Friday, Chris Janson will headline and will be joined by Boy Named Banjo, LANCO, Peytan Porter and Mitchell Tenpenny.  Cole Swindell will headline Saturday’s show, which will also feature performances by Ingrid Andress, Tyler Braden, Shy Carter and Randall King. Carter will also serve as the host of the evening.

Tickets are required for entry into the Nighttime Concerts at Ascend Amphitheater. Public on-sale begins Friday, April 29 at 10:00 AM/CT.  Tickets can be purchased at CMAfest.com or Ticketmaster.com.  For $53 per night, fans can purchase standing room and pit access, or fans who prefer a reserved seat, single day seats are available as well for $39 per night. Lawn seats are also available for $24 per night.

Chris Janson and Cole Swindell To Headline CMA Fest Nighttime Concerts at Ascend Amphitheater

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Categories
Entertainment Daypop

Robert Pattinson and director Matt Reeves set to return for ‘The Batman’ sequel

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The Batman is officially getting a sequel, with Robert Pattinson set to return as Gotham’s Caped Crusader and Matt Reeves serving as director.

Warner Bros. announced its plans for the sequel during its presentation at CinemaCon, the annual trade show that features the largest gathering of theater owners.  Warner Bros. chairman Toby Emmerich said:  “Matt took one of our most iconic and beloved superheroes and delivered a fresh vision that clearly resonated with audiences and with your incredible support, shattered box office records around the world. Which is one of the reasons I’m excited to break the news that Matt, Rob Pattinson and the whole team will be taking audiences back to Gotham with The Batman 2.”  Emmerich also confirmed that the entire cast of The Batman is expected to return for the sequel, which includes Zoë Kravitz as Selina Kyle (aka Catwoman), Paul Dano (Riddler), Colin Farrell as Oswald “Oz” Cobblepot (aka Penguin) and Andy Serkis as Alfred Pennyworth, Bruce Wayne’s butler and confidant.  Reeves was also on hand at CinemaCon to reveal the news that he will write and direct the film, but he didn’t provide any details about the sequel. No release date was announced for the film.

The Batman debuted in theaters in March earning $134 million domestically over its first weekend, ranking as the biggest opening weekend of the year. To date the film has grossed more than $759 million globally, making it the highest-grossing movie of 2022 thus far.

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Categories
Entertainment Daypop

Pete Davidson’s semi-autobiographical comedy series ‘Bupkis’ coming to Peacock

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Pete Davidson’s semi-autobiographical comedy series ‘Bupkis’ has landed at Peacock. The streaming service said in a press release that it has given a straight-to-series order to the half-hour live-action comedy series, described as a “heightened, fictionalized version of Pete Davidson’s real life.” 

Bupkis stars Davidson, who will executive produce the series along with Lorne Michaels, Andrew Singer and Erin David. Davidson also co-wrote the series, along with Dave Sirus and Judah Miller.

Peacock says the series “will combine grounded storytelling with absurd elements from the unfiltered and completely original worldview for which Pete is well known.”  NBCUniversal television and streaming chairman of entertainment content Susan Rovner said: “Pete Davidson is one of the most sought-after comedians today with his smart, one-of-a-kind humor and honest point of view. Bupkis will showcase Pete’s funny, surprising and unfiltered brand of comedy audiences have come to love as we continue to bolster our Peacock comedy slate.” 

Davidson joined the NBC sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live in 2014,  becoming the show’s youngest-ever cast member at 20-years-old.  Bupkis will mark Davidson’s first starring TV role, and he also will appear in the upcoming films Bodies Bodies Bodies, Good Mourning with a U and Meet Cute.

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