Month: April 2024

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Entertainment Daypop

Julia Garner cast as Shalla-Bal version of Silver Surfer in Marvel’s ‘The Fantastic Four’

Julia Garner at the LACMA Gala held at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in Los Angeles^ USA on November 5^ 2022

Variety reports that Julia Garner will joining Marvel’s “The Fantastic Four” as Shalla-Bal, a version of Silver Surfer from the Marvel comics.

Garner, a 3x Emmy and Golden Globe winner for her role as Ruth Langmore on the Netflix series Ozark, joins previously announced cast members: Pedro Pascal (Reed Richards, aka Mr. Fantastic), Vanessa Kirby (Sue Storm, aka Invisible Woman), Joseph Quinn (Johnny Storm, aka Human Torch) and Ebon Moss-Bachrach (Ben Grimm, aka the Thing).

‘The Fantastic Four’ is based on the Marvel Comics superhero team; it was previously adapted as Fantastic Four (2005) and Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007), starring Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans and Michael Chiklis, and Fantastic Four (2015), featuring Miles Teller, Michael B. Jordan, Kate Mara and Jamie Bell. The Silver Surfer character was previously portrayed by Doug Jones and voiced by Laurence Fishburne in 2007’s “Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer”.

Matt Shakman (‘WandaVision’, ‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters’) is set to direct ‘The Fantastic Four,’ with production on the film is set to begin this summer, with a planned release on July 25, 2025.

Editorial credit: Tinseltown / Shutterstock.com

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Entertainment Daypop

Owen Wilson cast in golf comedy series for Apple TV+

Owen Wilson attends premiere of Paramount+ movie Secret Headquarters at Signature Theatre New York^ NY - August 8^ 2022

Apple TV+ announced it will produce and stream an untitled golf-themed comedy series starring Owen Wilson, created by ‘Ford v Ferrari’ producer Jason Keller. The still-untitled series will consist of 10 episodes, with no further casting announced.

According to Variety, the 55-year-old actor, who is a big golf fan in real life, will executive produce and portray the role of an ex-pro golfer named Pryce Cahill whose career prematurely came to an end two decades prior. The former athlete’s life hits a new low after he loses his job at a sporting goods store in Indiana and is left by his wife, and decides to go all-in on a problematic 17-year-old golf prodigy.

Editorial credit: lev radin / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Rock Daypop

Allman Brothers Band singer/guitarist Dickey Betts dies at age 80

Lit memorial candles in the dark^ burning candles

Allman Brothers Band singer, songwriter and guitarist Dickey Betts has died at the age of 80.  Betts’ manager David Spero shared with Rolling Stone that the cause of death was cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Betts’ family confirmed his death on his official Instagram page alongside a throwback photo, writing: “It is with profound sadness and heavy hearts that the Betts family announce the peaceful passing of Forrest Richard ‘Dickey’ Betts (December 12, 1943 – April 18, 2024) at the age of 80 years old. The legendary performer, songwriter, bandleader and family patriarch passed away earlier today at his home in Osprey, FL., surrounded by his family … Dickey was larger than life, and his loss will be felt world-wide. At this difficult time, the family asks for prayers and respect for their privacy in the coming days. More information will be forthcoming at the appropriate time.”

Betts co-founded the Allman Brothers Band alongside bassist Berry Oakley, Duane Allman and his younger brother, Gregg Allman. Betts and Duane shared guitar duties in the original Allman Brothers Band lineup; following Duane’s death in a motorcycle accident in 1971, Betts became its primary guitarist, writing songs including “Jessica” and “Ramblin’ Man.” After founding member Berry Oakley was killed in a motorcycle crash, the Allman Brothers Band went on hiatus in the late 1970s. Betts recorded solo music and side projects such as Great Southern and The Dickey Betts Band. Allman Brothers Band reunited in 1979 with Dan Toler on guitar, but broke up again in 1982, during which time Betts formed the group Betts, Hall, Leavell and Trucks. In 1989 the band once again reformed, with Warren Haynes as guitarist alongside Betts; the band were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995. However in the 2000, Betts was ousted from the group over a conflict regarding his continued drug and alcohol use (per PEOPLE). He never performed with the band again nor played with former band members for reunions or side projects; and the band disbanded for good in 2014.

Betts is survived by his wife Donna, whom he married in 1989.

Editorial credit: boomkee2532 / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Pop Daypop

Metallica shares video of performance honoring Elton John and Bernie Taupin

Kirk Hammett (Left) and James Hetfield (Right) of Metallica performs onstage at Zilker Park during Austin City Limits 2018 Weekend One.AUSTIN^ TX / USA - OCTOBER 5th^ 2018:

Metallica honored Elton John and his songwriting partner Bernie Taupin by performing at a tribute concert at DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C. Per Blabbermouth, Metallica shared video of its performance of “Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding” – the opening track from John’s 1973 album, “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” – from a newly-broadcast Gershwin Prize for Popular Song event honoring the songwriting team of Elton John and Bernie Taupin.

Metallica posted on X: “We had an incredible time at this year’s #GershwinPrize for Popular Song, recognizing the achievements of our friends Elton John and Bernie Taupin. Sir Elton John helped cover “Nothing Else Matters” on The Metallica Blacklist in 2021, and tonight, you can see us return the favor! Tune in to @pbs
to catch our rendition of “Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding” at this year’s #GershwinPrize for Popular Music, celebrating the achievements of Elton John and his writing partner, Bernie Taupin. #GershwinPrizePBS @librarycongress @wetatvfm””

The all-star tribute concert, hosted by Billy Porter, also featured performances by John, Garth Brooks, Brandi Carlile, Annie Lennox, Maren Morris, Charlie Puth, and Jacob Lusk of Gabriels.

Editorial credit: Ismael Quintanilla III / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Rock Daypop

Metallica shares video of performance honoring Elton John and Bernie Taupin

Kirk Hammett (Left) and James Hetfield (Right) of Metallica performs onstage at Zilker Park during Austin City Limits 2018 Weekend One.AUSTIN^ TX / USA - OCTOBER 5th^ 2018:

Metallica honored Elton John and his songwriting partner Bernie Taupin by performing at a tribute concert at DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C. Per Blabbermouth, Metallica shared video of its performance of “Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding” – the opening track from John’s 1973 album, “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” – from a newly-broadcast Gershwin Prize for Popular Song event honoring the songwriting team of Elton John and Bernie Taupin.

Metallica posted on X: “We had an incredible time at this year’s #GershwinPrize for Popular Song, recognizing the achievements of our friends Elton John and Bernie Taupin. Sir Elton John helped cover “Nothing Else Matters” on The Metallica Blacklist in 2021, and tonight, you can see us return the favor! Tune in to @pbs
to catch our rendition of “Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding” at this year’s #GershwinPrize for Popular Music, celebrating the achievements of Elton John and his writing partner, Bernie Taupin. #GershwinPrizePBS @librarycongress @wetatvfm””

The all-star tribute concert, hosted by Billy Porter, also featured performances by John, Garth Brooks, Brandi Carlile, Annie Lennox, Maren Morris, Charlie Puth, and Jacob Lusk of Gabriels.

Editorial credit: Ismael Quintanilla III / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Pop Daypop

Doja Cat releases ‘Scarlet’ deluxe edition, shares video for ‘Masc’

Doja Cat at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles^ USA on January 5^ 2024.

Doja Cat has released the deluxe edition of her fourth studio album ‘Scarlet’ with the expanded version, dubbed ‘Scarlet II: Claude Frollo’, named after the villainous character from ‘The Hunchback of Notre Dame’ (per Billboard.)

The 28-year-old singer/rapper released the original version of Scarlet in September 2023, featuring 17 tracks and the singles “Paint the Town Red” and “Agora Hills,” with no guest appearances. The project debuted at number 4 on the US Billboard 200.

The deluxe version of Scarlet comes with 7 additional songs, including guest appearances from ASAP Rocky on “URRRGE” and Teezo Touchdown on “MASC”. The other tracks are titled “Acknowledge Me”, “Disrespectful”, “OkLoser”, “Piss” and “Headhigh”.  Doja has also dropped the video for ‘Masc’, which you can check out: here.

To stream Scarlet II: Claude Frollo, head here.

 

Editorial credit: Tinseltown / Shutterstock.com

Categories
News Daypop

Tesla asks shareholders to vote again on $56 billion payout to Elon Musk

Elon Musk^ founder^ CEO^ and chief engineer of SpaceX^ CEO of Tesla^ CTO and chairman of Twitter^ at VIVA Technology (Vivatech) in PARIS^ FRANCE - June 16^ 2023

Tesla said that they are asking shareholders to vote again on Elon Musk’s $56 billion pay package after a Delaware judge voided it earlier this year after ruling that the record-setting compensation deal was “deeply flawed.” In a proxy filing published Wednesday, Tesla said it would hold a vote on moving its state of incorporation to Texas from Delaware; Musk had suggested the move after his pay package was ruled illegal. Tesla is set to hold its annual shareholders meeting on June 13 (per CBS News).

A Delaware judge in late January threw out the share-based payout, calling it an “unfathomable sum” and unfair to shareholders. In her ruling, the judge accepted the shareholder lawyers’ argument that Musk personally dictated the landmark pay package in sham negotiations with directors who were not independent. The ruling had some investors anticipating that Tesla might revamp its governance, as the board had long faced criticism with Musk as CEO.

In looking to re-ratify Musk’s 2018 pay package, Tesla argued that “corporate democracy and stockholder rights” are at stake, telling shareholders the court had “rescinded the pay package that an overwhelming majority of you voted to grant.” n a letter to stockholders, Tesla cited the need to carefully manage its resources for its decision. The announcement came days after news that the electric-car manufacturer would reduce its workforce by 10% globally, or about 14,000 people.

Editorial credit: Frederic Legrand – COMEO / Shutterstock.com

Categories
News Daypop

White House says the U.S. will impose new sanctions on Iran over Israel attack

U.S. White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan during news briefing; Kyiv^ Ukraine^ March 20^ 2024

The White House said in a statement that the United States will impose new sanctions targeting Tehran in response to Iran’s attack on Israel over the weekend (per CNN). Iran directly attacked Israel on Saturday with hundreds of missiles and drones, the vast majority of which were intercepted. Iran has described its attack as retaliatory for a strike on its diplomatic complex in Damascus early this month that killed several Iranian military leaders. Israel has said that Iran would “face the consequences” for the attack, while the United States and other allies have called for restraint.

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan made the announcement in a statement issued by the White House, stating the punitive measures will be imposed shortly: “following Iran’s unprecedented air attack against Israel, President Biden is coordinating with allies and partners, including the G7, and with bipartisan leaders in Congress, on a comprehensive response. In the coming days, the United States will impose new sanctions targeting Iran, including its missile and drone program as well as new sanctions against entities supporting the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Iran’s Defense Ministry. We anticipate that our allies and partners will soon be following with their own sanctions.”

Sullivan said that the designations will target Iran’s missile and drone programs as well as entities supporting its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Ministry of Defense,  adding they expect allies and partners to soon follow with their own blacklistings: “these new sanctions and other measures will continue a steady drumbeat of pressure to contain and degrade Iran’s military capacity and effectiveness and confront the full range of its problematic behaviors.”

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said earlier in the week that the Biden administration would use sanctions “to continue disrupting the Iranian regime’s malign and destabilizing activity …from this weekend’s attack to the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, Iran’s actions threaten the region’s stability and could cause economic spillovers.”

Editorial credit: photowalking / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Sports Daypop

Raptors forward Jontay Porter receives lifetime ban from NBA for violating gambling rules

NBA. National Basketball Association logo on dark background. 3D render

The NBA released a statement Wednesday announcing that Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter has been given a lifetime ban for “by disclosing confidential information to sports bettors, limiting his own participation in one or more games for betting purposes, and betting on NBA games.” The NBA said the suspicious bets were brought to its attention by “by licensed sports betting operators and an organization that monitors legal betting markets.” The investigation remains open, and the league said it will share information with federal prosecutors. (per USA Today)

The league’s news release read: “There is nothing more important than protecting the integrity of NBA competition for our fans, our teams and everyone associated with our sport, which is why Jontay Porter’s blatant violations of our gaming rules are being met with the most severe punishment.”

Porter, 24, hadn’t played in the league since the NBA began investigating him for betting irregularities on March 25, after which the Raptors removed him from the lineup prior to that night’s game against the Brooklyn Nets. Per Yahoo Sports, the NBA’s investigation found that Porter purposely limited his participation in the Raptors’ March 20 game against the Sacramento Kings specifically to influence the outcome of one or more bets on his performance. Against the Nets, Porter claimed he felt ill after playing just three minutes. The NBA also found that prior to the game, Porter disclosed confidential information about his health status to “an individual he knew to be an NBA bettor.” A different individual associated with Porter also bet that Porter would underperform March 20 as part of an $80,000 parlay the bettor placed with an online sports book.

NBA players are not allowed to wager on NBA games. According to the collective bargaining agreement between the NBA and National Basketball Players Association, if a player is found culpable, punishment is at the discretion of the NBA commissioner and “may include a fine, suspension, expulsion, and/or perpetual disqualification from further association with the Association or any of its Members.”

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement: “While legal sports betting creates transparency that helps identify suspicious or abnormal activity, this matter also raises important issues about the sufficiency of the regulatory framework currently in place, including the types of bets offered on our games and players. Working closely with all relevant stakeholders across the industry, we will continue to work diligently to safeguard our league and game.”  

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Categories
Sports Daypop

Zion Williamson to miss Pelicans’ NBA Play-In game vs. Kings with hamstring injury

Zion Williamson of the New Orleans Pelicans attends the Quai 54 basketball tournament (The World Streetball Championship) in Paris^ France on July 9^ 2022.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports that New Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson will miss Friday’s NBA Play-In Tournament game against the Sacramento Kings with a left hamstring injury. Wojnarowski tweeted: “Friday’s Play-In Tournament elimination game vs. Sacramento and will be evaluated again in coming weeks. Huge blow for New Orleans.”

Williamson, 23, put up 40 points, 11 rebounds and five assists before injuring his hamstring late in Tuesday’s Play-In Tournament matchup vs. the Los Angeles Lakers. Williamson left the game with 3:13 remaining in the fourth quarter due to the left leg injury with the game tied at 95 apiece, and the Lakers went on to win 110-106.

Injuries have plagued Williamson throughout his NBA career thus far, but this season he has been healthy, appearing in 70 contests while averaging 22.9 points, 5.8 rebounds and five assists. Prior to this season, Williamson had never appeared in more than 61 games in a season. He only appeared in 29 games last year and missed the entirety of the 2021-22 campaign.

The Pelicans loss in the first round of the play-in tournament send them to an elimination game against the Kings on Friday; the winner of that game will secure the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference playoffs. If the Pelicans win on Friday, Williamson’s status is unclear; he may not be available to play in the first round of the playoffs, pending further evaluation.

Editorial credit: Victor Velter / Shutterstock.com