Drake Pays Tribute to Nipsey Hussle as Music Industry Reacts to Rapper’s Death

Shelley Lazar, founder of SLO Ticketing and a pioneer of premium ticketing and VIP programs for artists including the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney and The Who, died Sunday morning after a battle with cancer, a rep for her company confirmed. She was 69. Affectionately known as “The Ticket Queen” — or “MFTQ,” as she was [...]

SAG-AFTRA Backs WGA Fight Against Agents

SAG-AFTRA, Ad Industry Extend Commercials Contract Expiration

SAG-AFTRA and the ad industry have agreed to extend the commercials contract expiration for two days until the end of April 2 while both sides negotiate a successor deal.

Terms and conditions of the 2016 commercials contract — which generates about $1 billion a year for members of the performers union — will remain in effect. The two sides issued a joint statement on Sunday afternoon, a few hours before the contract would have expired.

“The parties will continue to negotiate, remaining under a media blackout,” the union and ad industry said in the statement.

Talks launched on Feb. 20 in New York City under the blackout. The union said in 2016 that the current three-year contract contained “more than $200 million” in pay hikes for members, including a 7% hike in minimum wage rates and a 1.2% increase in employer contributions to health and retirements funds.

SAG-AFTRA has been mobilizing members through an acrimonious strike against ad agency Bartle Bogle Hegarty. BBH abandoned its union contract in September, asserting that the agreement was outdated and accusing SAG-AFTRA of being inflexible. SAG-AFTRA told its members not to work for BBH, which has produced commercials for Audi, Absolut, Ikea, Samsung, and Virgin Media.

The union has held dozens of protests against BHH; a rally earlier this year at the La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles drew nearly 1,000 members. Signers of a statement of support include Tom Hanks, Ryan Gosling, George Clooney, Jennifer Aniston, Alec Baldwin, Rachel Brosnahan, and Octavia Spencer. More than 5,000 of SAG-AFTRA’s 160,000 members have also signed the ad.

SAG and AFTRA struck the ad industry for six months in 2000 in an acrimonious work stoppage over pay rates and Internet rights.

Broadway Review: ‘What The Constitution Means To Me’

Rapper Nipsey Hussle Dies After Shooting Outside L.A. Store

UPDATED: Rapper Ermias Davidson Ashedom, better known by his stage name Nipsey Hussle, has died after being shot multiple times outside his store in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Los Angeles. He was 33.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Ashedom was shot multiple times and then transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. No suspects have been detained, Mike Lopez of the LAPD told NBC.

The shooting, which injured two others, took place outside the Marathon Clothing Company, which Ashedom opened in 2017 with two partners. It shares a name with his clothing line, Marathon Clothing.

Born in 1985 and raised in Los Angeles, Ashedom released multiple mixtapes but dropped his first official album, “Victory Lap,” last year. It was nominated for best rap album at the Grammy Awards, but lost to Cardi B’s “Invasion of Privacy.” Signed to Atlantic Records, he performed at the Warner Music party in Los Angeles during Grammy Week.

Ashedom released his first mixtape, “Slauson Boy Volume 1,” in 2005 and followed with two more, “Bullets Ain’t Got No Name” volumes 1 and 2, in 2008. He signed with Epic Records that year, although an album he reportedly completed for the label, “South Central State of Mind,” was never released and he left the label in 2010. In the following years he collaborated with Drake on the song “Killer”, as well as Snoop Dogg on the song “Upside Down.”

He continued to release mixtapes over the years, collaborating with Rick Ross, YG, DJ Mustard and many others; in 2016 he released a song with YG about the presidential election called “FDT (F— Donald Trump).” He signed with Atlantic the following year and released “Victory Lap” earlier in 2018.

He has a child with actress Lauren London (a former girlfriend of Lil Wayne’s) and the two appeared in a GQ profile last month.

Write Roxane Gay paid tribute to Ashedom on Twitter, writing that his death “makes no sense.”

Film Review: ‘Slut in a Good Way’

How ‘Veep’ Would Be Different If It Debuted Under Trump

Shelley Lazar, Founder of SLO Ticketing, Dies at 69

Shelley Lazar, founder of SLO Ticketing and a pioneer of premium ticketing and VIP programs for artists including the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney and The Who, died Sunday morning after a battle with cancer, a rep for her company confirmed. She was 69.

Affectionately known as “The Ticket Queen” — or “MFTQ,” as she was dubbed by none other than Keith Richards — Vanity Fair called Lazar “the mastermind behind rock royalty’s all-access passes,” Lazar made her mark in the industry as the Vice President of Artistic Relations and Special Projects Coordinator of Bill Graham Presents (BGP), where she worked from 1991 to 2002, before striking out on her own with the San-Francisco based SLO VIP Ticket Services. Earlier in her career in her native New York, she worked with promoter Ron Delsener and at Madison Square Garden.

In the book, “Ticket Masters, The Rise of the Concert Industry and How the Public Got Scalped,” Lazar explained how she created the VIP ticketing package.

“I said to the artists, ‘These are your great fans and these are your great tickets, so why not give your great fans the great tickets?,’” she said. “That way they don’t have to go to what we at the time called scalpers.”

Her Facebook page is filled with loving tributes. In 2014, at San Francisco’s Candlestick Park, McCartney performed “San Francisco Bay Blues,” an early hit for the Weavers, and dedicated it to her. He speaks about her at length in the video included in the tweet below, saying “You want tickets for anything? Shelley’s the go-to,” then apologizes. She can be seen smiling and waving at the end of that video, and this one of McCartney performing the song.

RIP Shelley Lazar, who hired me for my first job after law school and has remained a good friend ever since. A music industry legend. The Ticket Queen. pic.twitter.com/frtcgI7AxT

— Marc Luber (@JD_COT) March 31, 2019

According to her biography, Lazar went on to manage VIP ticketing and credentials coordination for major concert tours, festivals and events, including Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, Lady Gaga, Beyonce, Pink, Celine Dion, the MTV Video Music Awards, the People’s Choice Awards, Barbra Streisand’s 2017 television special, Madonna’s “Drowned World” tour and even two Popes; she was co-executive producer of the award-winning documentary, “Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars.”

SLO was acquired by Ticketmaster in 2008, with Lazar remaining as chief executive.

Lazar began working part-time in the music industry in the early 1970s, while still a public school teacher in New York City (future comedy and film star Chris Rock was one of her students). According to her bio, she worked in several areas of the business, starting with catering and moving up to booking, marketing and ultimately ticketing, managing the ticket office at Madison Square Garden and earning a reputation as “The Keeper of the List” at the Pier in New York for shows promoted by Ron Delsener.

She was also active in several non-profit organizations, including the Bill Graham Memorial Foundation, Human Rights Watch and the Elton John AIDS Foundation. She also melded her teaching and music-business backgrounds as a member of the Board of Directors of Little Kids Rock, a charity based in Verona, New Jersey charity encouraging children to play popular music by providing free music instructions and instruments to school districts across the country.

Kanye West Bringing His ‘Sunday Service’ to Coachella

‘Killing Eve’ Final Season 2 Trailer: The Obsession Returns

Given the show airs on BBC America, though albeit, is now available on AMC and Hulu and elsewhere, not everyone is as versed in “Killing Eve” as they should be. Many are as obsessed with it as the characters are on it with each other, but it’s taken time for others to catch on. However, take it from someone who is a late adopter to the show who arrived to the show after its critical acclaim, it more than matches the hype and plaudits. Season two, coming up in just a week, has been adored by the rest of the Playlist staff for some time too. It was named one of The Best TV Shows Of 2018 and one of our Most Anticipated TV Shows Of 2019 as well.

READ MORE: ‘Killing Eve & Most Anticipated TV Shows Of 2019

Created developed for television by Phoebe Waller-Bridge— which is slightly surprising, considering she’s more of a comedian known for two sitcoms, Channel 4’s “Crashing” and BBC Three’s “Fleabag”—”Killing Eve” is based on Luke Jennings’ Codename Villanelle novella series and centers on the obsessive cat and mouse game played by a mysterious, sociopathic assassin (Jodie Comer) and the unfulfilled m15 agent (Sandra Oh) who suddenly springs to life and purpose when she crosses paths with this killer. In short, they become fixated with each other and while funny, wild and absurd and Waller-Bridge’s comedic sensibilities make it much more of a typical assassin or spy show. Here’s the season one synopsis:

READ MORE: The Best TV Shows Of 2018

MI5 security officer Eve Polastri is bored in her job and yearns for a more exciting life. When a Russian politician is murdered, Eve is tasked with protecting the only witness and soon finds herself on a collision course with an assassin, Villanelle.

READ MORE: Emmy-Nominated Phoebe Waller-Bridge Steps Down As Writer For ‘Killing Eve’ Season 2

Critics love “Killing Eve,” and it’s given Sandra Oh a second life as an actress and made Jodie Comer a one-to-watch rising star. “Killing Eve” did exceptionally well during the awards circuit for TV too, winning two Emmys –- Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series (Oh), Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series— four coveted Television Critics Association Awards—including Program of the Year— and two big Golden Globe Awards— Best Television Series – Drama, Best Actress – Television Series Drama (Oh).

Without spoiling much, at the end of season one, Oh’s Eve Polastri and Comer’s Villanelle finally met, but an explosive, violent ending through everything for a big surprise loop. Both characters are alive, but it’s going to be time for some hitman payback and more obsessive pursuing of one another to be sure.

Waller-Bridge won’t be writing in season two, so it’ll be interesting to see how the show survives and moves on without her, but that said, a firm tone and flavor has already been set up and should hopefully be maintained. “Killing Eve” also stars Kim Bodnia as Villanelle’s charming boss, Fiona Shaw, Darren Boyd, Owen McDonnell, Kirby Howell-Baptiste and Sean Delaney. Season two is right around the corner and premieres on BBC America Sunday, April 7 at 8/7c. Watch the final trailer below.

Tim Burton’s ‘Dumbo’ Can’t Live Up To Disney Expectations With Disappointing Debut [Box Office]

Maybe it’s the fact that Disney live-action remakes don’t have the same “special” feeling they once had? Perhaps, it’s just that people weren’t interested in a live-action remake of a rather sad almost-80-year-old film featuring an elephant in a circus? Whatever the case, Disney’s new “Dumbo” debuted at the top of the box office, but didn’t quite soar like the Mouse House was expecting.

Pulling in $45 million domestically, “Dumbo” fell well below expectations and turned in one of the worst live-action remake performances for Disney yet. Now, let’s be clear, when we talk about disappointing opening weekends, understand that we are grading on a curve. You see, when a “normal” non-mega-studio turns in a live-action film with a reported $170 million budget, a $45 million opening weekend wouldn’t be such a terrible debut. But we’re talking about Disney here, and anything below “massive” is deemed as a sort of loss.

Now, to quantify how low this opening is, we have to compare “Dumbo” to its live-action remake brethren. Taking the sequel out of the equation (‘Alice 2’), the new Tim Burton-directed live-action remake turned in one of the worst debuts in this category, beating only “Pete’s Dragon” ($21.5M) and “101 Dalmations” ($33.5M). The latter of those films debuted in theaters 23 years ago and hardly qualifies in this category, but we’ll include it anyway. And as a further aside, we have to really consider if “Pete’s Dragon” fits in the live-action remakes of “classic” Disney films. But I digress.

READ MORE: Disney’s Live-Action ‘Dumbo’ Is Filled With Overwhelming Cuteness But Doesn’t Ever Soar [Review]

“Dumbo” fell well short of “Cinderella” ($67.9M) and it’s just silly to compare this new film to the likes of “Jungle Book,” “Beauty and the Beast,” and Burton’s own “Alice in Wonderland.” Needless to say, Disney’s “Dumbo” remake is not even the same class, financially, as the big films that came before it.

Overseas, the film did alright, opening day-and-date in most every territory, pulling in another $71 million. Overall, this would be a pretty decent opening for any other studio not named Disney.

READ MORE: Jordan Peele Breaks Down Religious Themes Of ‘Us’ & Calls His Latest A “Dark Easter” Film

In light of this rather disappointing competition, Jordan Peele’s “Us” continued to pull in great numbers, dropping only -52% in its second weekend for a $33.6 million frame. While it doesn’t have nearly the hold that “Get Out” did in its second weekend (there are way too many factors that we would have to go through to break this down, but the main reason for the lower drop is “Get Out’s” lower opening weekend), “Us” did far better than many blockbuster second-weekends, especially for horror films, in general. Peele’s second film now totals over $128 million in 10 days.

As for your weekly “Captain Marvel” update, the Brie Larson-led film earned another $20.5 million in its fourth weekend, with a new domestic total of $354 million. The film has entered the top 15 all-time in the superhero genre (domestically) and has a real shot at $400 million and the top 10. As for its worldwide gross, the film is this close to $1 billion, with a worldwide total of $990 million. Over the coming week, “Captain Marvel” will become 7th Marvel Studios film to reach this milestone.

READ MORE: ‘Avengers: Endgame’ Opens In China Two Days Before The Rest Of The World & Could Reach $840M Opening Weekend

There weren’t any remarkable limited release openings with films like “The Chaperone,” “Diane,” “Slut in a Good Way,” and “The Brink” all opening under $10,000 per-theater. However, the big film in this category from last weekend, “Hotel Mumbai,” did open wide (just under 1,000 locations) and pulled in $3.2 million.

As for the highest-profile indie release of the weekend, “The Beach Bum,” from filmmaker Harmony Korine and star Matthew McConaughey, the film failed to light up the box office and earned only $1.8 million, which is barely enough to keep it in the top 10.

READ MORE: Harmony Korine Explains His Dislike Of Politics & His Love Of Mountain Dew, Taco Bell, & Computer Poker

And finally, the religious, anti-choice propaganda film “Unplanned” debuted at #5 with $6.1 million. While that’s a good opening for a film of that budget, that’s really all we’re going to say about it.

Next weekend will be very interesting, with “The Best of Enemies,” “Pet Sematary,” and “Shazam!” all debuting in what is already a pretty competitive box office. Obviously, “Shazam!” is expected to win the weekend, but the real question is how “Us,” “Captain Marvel,” and “Dumbo” will fair.

Here’s the domestic top 10 for March 29 to March 31:
1. Dumbo – $45M (Debut)
2. Us – $33.6M ($128M Overall)
3. Captain Marvel – $20.5M ($354M)
4. Five Feet Apart – $6.25M ($36M)
5. Unplanned – $6.11M (Debut)
6. Wonder Park – $5M ($38M)
7. How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World – $4.2M ($153M)
8. Hotel Mumbai – $3.2M ($3.3M)
9. Tyler Perry’s A Madea Family Funeral – $2.7M ($70M)
10. The Beach Bum – $1.8M (Debut)

‘Annabelle Comes Home’ Trailer: ‘The Conjuring’ Universe Continues To Haunt

The seventh installment in “The Conjuring” Universe franchise, “Annabelle Comes Home” is the third installment of New Line Cinema’s “Annabelle” film saga and it’s not hard to tell producers James Wan and Peter Safran (also the duo behind “Aquaman”), have never met movie they didn’t want to turn into a big series.

Starring the infamous sinister doll from the “Conjuring” universe, the film features McKenna Grace (TV’s “The Haunting of Hill House,” “Gifted,” “Captain Marvel”), who just bagged the lead role in Jason Reitman’s “Ghostbusters.”

This time Gary Dauberman, the screenwriter of the “Annabelle” films, “IT” and “The Nun,” makes his directorial debut on the film, which is again produced by Safran and Wan.

Here’s the official synopsis:

Determined to keep Annabelle from wreaking more havoc, demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren bring the possessed doll to the locked artifacts room in their home, placing her “safely” behind sacred glass and enlisting a priest’s holy blessing. But an unholy night of horror awaits as Annabelle awakens the evil spirits in the room, who all set their sights on a new target—the Warrens’ ten-year-old daughter, Judy, and her friends.

The film co-stars Madison Iseman (“Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle,” “Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween”) and Katie Sarife (TV’s “Youth and Consequences” and “Supernatural”). The original “Conjuring” team appear too: Patrick Wilson (“Aquaman,” “The Conjuring” and “Insidious” films) and Vera Farmiga (“The Conjuring” films, upcoming “Godzilla: King of the Monsters,” TV’s “Bates Motel”) reprising their roles as Ed and Lorraine Warren.

Dauberman directed the film from a screenplay he wrote, from a story by Dauberman & Wan. Richard Brener, Dave Neustadter, Victoria Palmeri, Michael Clear, Michelle Morrissey, and Judson Scott served as executive producers.

How many more films can come in the series? Well, five films have already grossed $1.569 billion worldwide and “The Conjuring 3” is still on the horizon (2020). These films are also profitable and made for a song, so if Wan and Safran have their way, one bets there is no end in sight.

“Annabelle Comes Home” is set to open in theatres and IMAX on June 28, 2019. Watch the new trailer below.

Jai Courtney Will Boomerang Back Into James Gunn’s ‘Suicide Squad’ Reboot

If it’s not clear already, and at the risk of repeating ourselves, Warner Bros. is resetting itself. Ben Affleck is gone as Batman, Henry Cavill is gone as Superman (at least for now), and James Gunn’s “The Suicide Squad” is said to be a reboot that will include only a few of the original members and actors. Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie) is returning), Will Smith decided to opt out, and he’s been replaced with Idris Elba, and one more original member from the cast is returning: Jai Courtney’s Captain Boomerang character.

READ MORE: James Gunn’s ‘Suicide Squad 2’ Won’t Be A Sequel And Will Instead Be A “Brand-New Take”

“We’re getting ready to shoot in a few months’ time,” Courtney told Business Insider late Friday while promoting his upcoming movie “Storm Boy.” “There’s not much else I can reveal about it but, yeah, you’ll be seeing Boomerang back for sure.”

READ MORE: Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn Spin-Off ‘Birds Of Prey’ Officially Receives A 2020 Release Date

Directed and written by James Gunn, “The Suicide Squad” is expected to wipe the slate clean, jettison characters and actors and act as what’s probably a soft reboot. At this point, it looks like only Robbie and Courtney will return unless Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) comes back and she’s one of the few fan favorites in the original.

READ MORE: Producer Says James Gunn’s “Total Reboot” Of ‘Suicide Squad’ Is The Director’s “Priority” & Will Hopefully End “Absurd” DC/Marvel Rivalry

David Ayer directed the original “Suicide Squad” in 2016, and while there were a few bright lights like Robbie and Courtney, the movie was widely panned by critics and anyone else, but hardcore DC fans and the film has one of the lowest Rotten Tomatoes scores of the DCEU.

READ MORE: ‘The Suicide Squad’: Idris Elba To Replace Will Smith As Deadshot

Courtney is psyched he made the cut. “I’m happy; it’s going to be fun,” the actor said. “It will be different, for sure, but it’s going to be great.”

READ MORE: ‘The Suicide Squad’: Here Are The Characters Reportedly Joining Idris Elba’s Deadshot In James Gunn’s DC Film

“The Suicide Squad” is currently scheduled for August 6, 2021. “Birds of Prey,” starring Margot Robbie reprising her Harley Quinn role in a spin-off, “The Joker” and “Wonder Woman 1984” will be the three DCEU movies that land in theaters first.

‘Captain Marvel’ Actress Mckenna Grace To Star In Jason Reitman’s ‘Ghostbusters’

She won’t be afraid of no ghosts. Mckenna Grace, who played young Carol Danvers in “Captain Marvel” and the young Sabrina Spellman on Netflix “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina” has bagged one of the lead roles in Jason Reitman’s upcoming “Ghostbusters” sequel. The currently-untitled movie is a continuation that picks up where “Ghostbusters II” left off in the 1980s and discounts the events of Paul Feig’s 2016 all-female “Ghostbusters” film (his film took place in an alternate universe).

READ MORE: ‘Ghostbusters’ Lives: Jason Reitman To Direct New Film Set In The Original Universe

Grace completes the puzzle of one of the family’s in the movie. “Stranger Things” star Finn Wolfhard and “The Leftovers” character actress Carrie Coon are already cast, and Reitman revealed via Twitter they are part of one family unit in the film. Character break downs have suggested three more co-leads and three more families. The screenplay, by Reitman and Gil Kenan (the “Poltergeist” remake), centers on four teens, one set older, one set younger, with a focus on one family in particular. It’s unknown if McKenna’s unit will be the lead, but THR, who breaks the news, seems to suggest she might. So, “Ghostbusters” is going to be lead much a younger cast and the rumors of the film seemingly taken inspiration from “Stranger Things” seems legit.

READ MORE: Leslie Jones Says New ‘Ghostbusters’ Film Ignoring Female Reboot Is A “Trump”-Like “Dick Move”

Reitman has made an Alexander Payne-esque career of human dramedies, but as the son of Ivan Reitman, the original director of the “Ghostbusters” movie has evidently had the films in his DNA from a young age. Early on when his career started, Reitman had suggested he had no interest in “Ghostbusters” and wanted to forget his own path, but the filmmaker of “Young Adult,” “Juno” and frequent collaborator of screenwriter Diablo Cody has a change of heart.

READ MORE: The 40 Best ‘Ghostbusters’ Characters Ranked

“Ghostbusters 3” or whatever it is ultimately called shoots this summer and is scheduled for a summer 2020 release. The rest of the casting pieces should arrive soon. The 2016 version of “Ghostbusters” was reported to have lost over $70 million for Sony Pictures and opened up the floodgates of toxic misogynist fandom that is well-explored in this piece, ‘Ghostbusters’ And The Post-Truth Politics Of 2016 Blockbuster Culture. [THR]

Meet the family.#GB20 pic.twitter.com/uxO0KQatyS

— Jason Reitman (@JasonReitman) March 29, 2019

Cillian Murphy In Talks to Join ‘A Quiet Place’ Sequel With Emily Blunt

“Peaky Blinders” star Cillian Murphy is in talks to join the sequel to John Krasinski‘s “A Quiet Place” sequel. According to an exclusive brought to us by The Hollywood Reporter, Murphy would play a man with mysterious intentions who joins the family unit played by Emily Blunt, Millicent Simmonds, and Noah Jupe who all are set to reprise their roles. *Spoilers* if you haven’t seen the original, but Murphy would be a de facto man of the house in this family given that Krasinski died at the end of the original film. But he won’t be far.

READ MORE: John Krasinski Will Direct ‘A Quiet Place 2’; Emily Blunt Will Return 

Details on the plot are being held under wraps but Krasinski is writing and directing the sequel, and it appears a summer shoot is being prepped.” A Quiet Place” focused on a post-apocalyptic Earth sometime in the near future where a family is forced to live in silence while hiding from alien monsters with ultra-sensitive hearing. The film stunned audiences last year, grossing $340 million worldwide on a budget of around $17 million.

READ MORE: The 20 Best Horror Films Of 2018

In an interview with us late last year, Krasinski stated that “Well, I feel like [directing the sequel] might be the next step, so I’m prepared for it.” He was, at first, only supposed to write the sequel.

READ MORE: John Krasinski Says He Could Still Direct A Very Different ‘Quiet Place 2’ Sequel [Interview]

Murphy is currently starring as crime boss Thomas Shelby in the BBC‘s historical crime drama “Peaky Blinders.” However, he may be best known for his collaborations with Christopher Nolan.

READ MORE: The 100 Most Anticipated Films Of 2019

Murphy starred as Batman villain Jonathan Crane or “The Scarecrow” in Nolan’s “Batman Begins,” as well as starring in a key role in the 2017 war drama “Dunkirk” and appearing in “Inception.”

Paramount has dated the sequel for a May 15, 2020, release. [THR]

Tania Mallet Dies: Model And ‘Goldfinger’ Actress Was 77

‘What The Constitution Means To Me’ Broadway Review: Heidi Schreck’s Brilliant Lesson In Life & Civics

The impulse to tear down and start over, as ancient as we are, occasionally makes a bigger noise of itself than usual. World War I, that was a loud one. Sacco and Vanzetti, loud. The Sex Pistols, really loud. The noise was so loud in 2016 it handed the earth’s most important job to a reality TV host who’d distilled the impulse into a catchphrase, and just might get so loud in 2020 that “You’re Fired!” comes back to haunt him.

All of which is to say, Heidi Schreck has crazy perfect timing. A playwright and performer whose indelible, subversive and audaciously funny What The Constitution Means To Me opens tonight on Broadway at the Helen Hayes Theatre, Schreck has carried a particular true-life story within her for 30-odd years, and she springs it on us when we need it most.

Blending autobiography with U.S. history, social studies, civics and at least one or two other high school classes you only wish were this much fun, Schreck arrives on a stage designed by Rachel Hauck to resemble all the wood-paneled meeting rooms of all the American Legion halls Schreck visited in her teens to participate in the debate and speech competitions that would eventually fund her entire college education and give this play its title. Dozens of photos of presumably dead Legionnaires, all men, line the walls, watching.

Directed by Oliver Butler, Constitution opens with Schreck, in jeans, white shirt and bright yellow blazer bounding onto the set. After describing her long-ago debate career (she’d later be a successful TV writer with Nurse Jackie and Billions, among others), Schreck says she started thinking again about the Constitution a few years ago “for various reasons” – the sly delivery gets a laugh – and wonders what, exactly, so captured the devotion of a teenage girl. “Because I did, I loved it,” she says, her voice as loud and enthusiastic as that high schooler trying to impress her judges. “I was a zealot!”

For much of the rest of its 90 minutes, Schreck, a monologist (with a little help from friends, but more of that later) in a league with John Leguizamo and Spalding Grey, will shift back and forth from the girl she was to the woman she is, delivering the speech that so many Legionnaires loved with the interruptions that the wiser and world-wearier adult Schreck can’t resist adding.

But before we get to those interruptions, a word on the old speech. It’s terrific, in and of itself. Of course we can’t know just how accurately the playwright is recalling her 15-year-old self, but the bits and pieces we hear are marvelous – as optimistic, weird and dark as the teenager obsessed with sex, Patrick Swayze and the Salem witch trials Shreck says she was.

Like someone too frustrated to let a joke-teller get away with leaving out a crucial part of the set-up, the adult Schreck will interject with fresh insights, updated history and her own personal reflections – at one point well into the 90 minute play, Schreck sends her younger self and the show’s initial premise packing, doffing the yellow jacket and the excitable voice, lowering her vocal register with a conspiratorial, re-introductory “hello.” 

As the play proceeds, Schreck deconstructs not only the Constitution, but her younger, more naive view of a document that had to be so grudgingly forced to protect women, African Americans, Native Americans, and the LGBTQ population. She wonders whether countries with newer constitutions – based on “positive rights,” like the right to health care or education – rather than “negative rights” – the government can’t lock us up without due cause – would better serve a population more diverse than the Founding Fathers could ever have imagined.

Along with talk of the 9th and 14th Amendments, there’s personal history, parallels drawn and connections made between the civics lessons and the harrowing accounts of the depressions, suicides and sexual and domestic violence that have hounded the women in Schreck’s extended family for generations. She’ll recall a college incident in which a boy, who remains a friend to this day (well, a Facebook friend) removed her pants before the two engaged in sex that even now she’s pretty sure was consensual. 

I had read Audre Lord and Gloria Steinem and bell hooks. I was taking Advanced Feminist Theory. And yet I just decided to go ahead and have sex with this guy because it seemed like the polite thing to do. I think. Or maybe… Now, I don’t know. When I think back about being in the car, I remember how dark it was outside. I remember there was nobody on the street, my dorm was way, way out on the edge of campus. I remember having this kind of sick feeling in the pit of my stomach and then this fleeting thought— so quick, I almost can’t put it into language. But if I had to say it out loud, it would sound something like “stay alive.”

By now I should have mentioned that Schreck has not been alone on stage. Her friend and fellow actor Mike Iveson has been sitting, on the sidelines, dressed as the American Legion referee who sets the rules, calls time and quietly suggests when Schreck is getting off-topic. Once the “memory” premise is disposed of, Iveson strips down to his street clothes and introduces himself, discussing the irony of representing “male energy” when for so long he questioned exactly that about himself. He recalls being gay bashed not so very long ago on a New York street.

A third person arrives near the end of the play, a young high school woman of color (the astoundingly confident Thursday Williams at the reviewed performance) who will engage in a real debate with Schreck over whether the United States should keep its Constitution or abolish it and begin again. The sides – who argues to keep the Constitution, who to abolish – are randomly chosen at each performance, and while some improvisation seems likely, various endings are scripted, with an audience member ultimately choosing the winner. I was pleased with the outcome on my night, when youth had the final word.

Kanye West Sets “Sunday Service” For Coachella

Whether you like him or not, Kanye West is heading to Coachella in April to serve the world his brand of dragon energy. The musician/rapper/artist/fashion designer/social media raconteur is set to bring his “Sunday Service” sessions to the popular music festival of jorts, kerchiefs and cultural appropriating headdresses. West’s “Sunday Service” is appropriately set for Easter Sunday April 21. He joins a lineup that includes Ariana Grande, Childish Gambino and Tame Impala. Coachella takes place from April 12-14 and April 19-21.

Coachella confirmed the news of the “Sunday Service” addition today in a tweet that simply stated: “”Kanye West’s Sunday Service on Easter, Weekend 2.” West’s wife Kim Kardashian re-confirmed the news with her own tweet that included a video of the rapper making an announcement on a plane with his “Sunday Service” crew.

The news of West performing at Coachella isn’t exactly new. He was originally in talks to perform at the outdoor music fest, but stepped down after they couldn’t accommodate his needs. Apparently, he wanted to build a custom dome for his performance, but it couldn’t happen. Now that he has “Sunday Service” as part of his repertoire, he is singing a different tune. The sessions are part of a regular meeting he has with a gospel choir every Sunday at his home where they perform “worship” versions of his songs. The service has featured collaborators such as Kid Cudi and 070 Shake and hs played host to people like Katy Perry and David Letterman. It has also featured the debut of new music.

Dodgers Stadium Parking Lot Fight Leaves Man On Life Support

A fight between two men at Dodgers Stadium on Friday night has left one fan on life support.

The Dodgers have said they are cooperating with the police investigation. The incident is reminiscent of a 2011 Dodgers Stadium altercation involving San Francisco Giants fan Bryan Stow, who suffered permanent disability and brain damage when he was assaulted in the stadium parking lot following a game.

Stow’s assailants received prison sentences and the Dodgers sustained an $18 million judgment. After the Stow incident, security was ramped up in the parking lots and at the stadium, and the Dodgers management at the time (the team has since been sold) vowed to crack down on perceptions that a gang element had taken over on nights when discounts were offered.

The Dodgers issued a statement on Saturday about the Friday incident, which occurred after a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

“Last night, an altercation occurred suddenly between two men who were leaving the stadium,” the Dodgers said. “One of the men was injured as a result of the altercation. A witness immediately reported the incident to stadium personnel, and emergency medical technicians were promptly dispatched to provide medical assistance at the scene. The matter is now being investigated by the Los Angeles Police Department, and the Dodgers are cooperating fully with the investigation.”

The injured man was identified as Rafael Reyna, age 47, by his wife. He sustained a fractured skull, among other head injuries, and is on life support.

“I was hearing the arguing happening and then I heard like a smack, a crack,” his wife, Christel Reyna, told KABC. “It sounded like a baseball bat, and then I heard him start moaning.”

Police are looking for a man in his 20s who drove away in a white SUV. Police said Reyna was punched once in the fight.

SAG-AFTRA Extends Commercials Contract Talks Until Midnight Tuesday

SAG-AFTRA, whose commercials contract was set to expire today, has extended its negotiations with advertisers and ad agencies until Tuesday night. “The parties will continue to negotiate, remaining under a media blackout,” the union and the ad industry’s Joint Policy Committee said today in a joint statement.”

In the meantime, all terms and conditions of the guild’s 2016 Commercials Contracts – including all waivers and provisions that might otherwise sunset – have been extended until Tuesday night, one minute before midnight, ET.

Negotiations for a new pact began on Feb. 20, but unlike the ongoing talks between the WGA and the Association of Talent Agents – which have been played out in public for months as the April 6 deadline for their negotiations approaches — the SAG-AFTRA negotiations have been conducted completely in secret.

SAG and AFTRA, prior to their merger in 2012, last struck the ad industry in 2000; it lasted six months. Before that, they struck the industry for 26 days in 1988, for 51 days in 1978-79 and for 80 days in 1952-53.

‘Fear The Walking Dead’ Trailer: Season 5 Promises High Body Count And Familiar Faces

After announcing the June 2 premiere date of the fifth season of Fear the Walking Dead  at WonderCon, AMC chased the news with a trailer that gives a look at the new — and bloody — season of zombie series.

A little over three minutes, the trailer gives a generous look at the new season of The Walking Dead spinoff. The body count of walkers is very high as we are treated to a lot of stab-the-undead-in-the-eye action, but at the very end of the trailer, we see a familiar face added to the mix: Dwight from The Walking Dead. Played by Austin Amelio, the character will crossover from TWD to FWTD this season.

On Saturday Amelio joined Lennie James, Colman Domingo, Alycia Debnam-Carey, Danay Garcia, Garret Dillahunt, Maggie Grace, Jenna Elfman, and Alexa Nisenson on a WonderCon panel along with surprise guest and returning cast member Ruben Blades. They were also joined by executive producers and showrunners Andrew Chambliss and Ian Goldberg, executive producer Scott M. Gimple and director Michael Satrazemis.

In Fear the Walking Dead season five, the group’s mission is clear: locate survivors and help make what’s left of the world a slightly better place. With dogged determination, Morgan Jones (James) leads the group with a philosophy rooted in benevolence, community and hope. Each character believes that helping others will allow them to make up for the wrongs of their pasts. But trust won’t be easily earned. Their mission of helping others will be put to the ultimate test when our group finds themselves in unchartered territory, one which will force them to face not just their pasts but also their fears. It is only through facing those fears that the group will discover an entirely new way to live, one that will leave them forever changed.

Watch the new trailer above.

Fox News Mistakenly Labels Three Central American Nations As “Mexican Countries”

Fox News has apologized for referring to El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras as “Mexican countries” in a graphic this morning.

The gaffe occurred during this morning’s Fox & Friends show during a discussion of President Donald Trump’s plan to cut aid to the three countries. The graphic underneath read: “Trump cuts US aid to 3 Mexican countries.”

Naturally, social media had a field day with the error.

Later, Fox News issued its apology.

“We want to clarify and correct something that happened earlier in the show,” the apology read. “We had an inaccurate graphic on screen … we just want to be clear the funding is being cut off to three Central American countries. We apologize for the error, it never should have happened.”

There has been no reaction so far from the consulates of the insulted Central American countries.

President Donald Trump Tweetstorm – The Sunday Edition

If there’s any doubt that Round Two of the Russian collusion story is underway, that was dispelled today by President Donald Trump’s first two posts of the Sunday tweetstorm.

The Commander-in-Tweet is clearly gearing up for a post-Mueller jihad on the sources of the FISA warrants, railing against the issue from his online bully pulpit. It promises to be a wild few weeks if he follows-up and institutes yet another special investigation on the issue, which could uncover some very uncomfortable facts about who and what was involved in launching the long Mueller probe.

The tweetstorm so far:

“Outrageous, it’s the Adam Schiff problem. People abusing the access to classified data to then go out in public and make allegations that didn’t prove to be true. You look at a decision to essentially investigate a political rival. Who made it?” James Freeman, @WSJ

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 31, 2019

Everybody is asking how the phony and fraudulent investigation of the No Collusion, No Obstruction Trump Campaign began. We need to know for future generations to understand. This Hoax should never be allowed to happen to another President or Administration again!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 31, 2019

‘Dumbo’ Flies In Low With $71M Overseas; ‘Captain Marvel’ Nears $1B Global – International Box Office

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The Beach Bum Gives Matthew McConaughey The Worst Opening Of His Career

Not alright, alright, alright at all. No one needs to cry for Matthew McConaughey, but The Beach Bum just marked his lowest opening for a film opening on over 1,000 screens. The Oscar winner leads Harmony Korine's all-star cast -- which also includes Isla Fisher, Snoop Dogg, Zac Efron, Jonah Hill, Martin Lawrence, and even Jimmy Buffett as himself.

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Original Pretty Little Liars Stars Plan To Return For The Perfectionists, But There's A Catch

It is one of the questions undoubtedly on the minds of many Pretty Little Liars fans: Will the stars of the original series return for its spinoff, The Perfectionists? Maybe, but there is a significant catch. Sasha Pieterse, who has starred on both series, explained:

It sounds like the actresses who played Hanna and Spencer will not be making an on-screen return. Sasha Pieterse told ET that her former Pretty Little Liars co-stars would make their way to The Perfectionists via behind-the-scenes work. The pair are apparently interested in directing episodes of the series. That is if The Perfectionists gets renewed for Season 2.

Considering the nature of this update; fans should not expect an in-the-flesh recap of Toby and Spencer’s current relationship status. Or Hanna to return with Caleb to show off their baby. The good news is fans have gotten updates on the characters via some revealing dialogue.

Why was the cast not able to have more to do with The Perfectionists' debut season? The actresses’ busy schedules. Sasha Pieterse explained the behind-the-scenes situation that led to the cast not being able to participate, saying:

It has been a busy time for the Pretty Little Liars stars. Troian Bellisario welcomed a baby daughter with her husband, Patrick J. Adams, since the long-running series ended on Freeform, per his Instagram. So, lots of joy-filled excitement happening for her.

Ashley Benson -- whom Sasha Pieterse also mentioned potentially taking on directing duty on The Perfectionists -- is still acting. She starred in the 2018 musical drama Her Smell with Mad Men’s Elisabeth Moss and Legion’s Dan Stevens.

The Pretty Little Liars cast has not slowed down since the series came to an end. Sasha Pieterse and Janel Parrish, two of the original stars are both prominently featured on the spinoff. Meanwhile, Shay Mitchell starred in the first season of the Netflix hit You in the pivotal role of Peach Salinger.

Lucy Hale starred in the one-season CW series, Life Sentence. She has since signed on to lead the Riverdale spinoff, Katy Keene. Hale will take on the title role for the series.

Fans wanting an update on the actress’ characters will have to listen carefully. So far, The Perfectionists has given fans a lot of insight into what the Liars are up to these days. Some of it has involved breakups and for one, a new marriage.

Having Hanna and Spencer back would be exciting. Maybe someday. A lot has been happening in their lives off-screen. For now, this fan is content with the fact the characters are happy. Coming to The Perfectionists could only tempt fate at messing with that. No dramatic turn goes unpunished on Pretty Little Liars.

New episode of Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists air Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET on Freeform.

Kaley Cuoco Has A Great Plan To Honor The Big Bang Theory A Year (Or Two) From Now

Kaley Cuoco has been documenting her time on The Big Bang Theory in a fun way. In a recent interview, the actress revealed that she has taken numerous Polaroids while filming the series. She has a great plan to honor the show with them.

The Big Bang Theory star wants to release them in a book. Kaley Cuoco told AOL about her promising hopes for the "2,000 Polaroids" she has taken "since the beginning," saying:

That’s right! She has photos dating back to when the series first began with the pilot. The trip down memory lane should give fans something to look forward to. Kaley Cuoco is going to give it some time before releasing it. She suggested a wait of about another year or two.

By then, The Big Bang Theory will have been off the air for a while. However, it will never be too far from fans' hearts, thanks to its lucrative syndication. Thankfully for fans, Kaley Cuoco has not been keeping all of her behind-the-scenes photography to herself. She has been generous on Instagram.

Ahead of filming the sitcom’s final episodes, Kaley Cuoco got nostalgic on social media. She posted a picture of the cast’s first Comic Con. Before that, Cuoco shared a photo of her and co-star Johnny Galecki paying homage to Titanic with a fun behind-the-scenes snap from production.

These Polaroids sound like something special in their own right. She has a lot of pictures to choose between including or not. Kaley Cuoco has her work cut out for her. It should be fun to learn what she selects. She has over a decade of memories to choose from to use for the book.

As for acting, she has other projects in the works. Will they last for twelve years? Time will tell. It is interesting to contemplate what the cast will be up to when Kaley Cuoco publishes her book. Will there be a Leonard and Penny spinoff? Cuoco weighed in with her feelings a while ago.

For now, the series finale of The Big Bang Theory is closing in. Polaroids are not the only thing from her time on the beloved sitcom that Kaley Cuoco wants to take with her. Not too long after the series-ending news hit, the actress revealed which prop she desired to bring home. Hint: she wants to put it in her living room.

When Kaley Cuoco started snapping Polaroids, did she expect the comedy to become the longest-running multi-camera sitcom? It is hard to believe, but that was 2,000 photos ago. Now she will have to turn her camera to the final snaps. The Big Bang Theory takes its final bow on Thursday, May 16 with a one-hour event. It starts at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.

Catch Kaley Cuoco and her co-stars in the remaining episodes of the final season of The Big Bang Theory, Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.

Emily Bett Rickards' Felicity Is Leaving Arrow Before The Final Season

DC Universe's First Look At Stargirl Shows Brec Bassinger Is Ready For Action

DC Universe’s Stargirl TV show is getting ever closer to its debut. In a sign that it is, DC Universe shared the first look at Brec Bassinger in the title role of Stargirl. Bassinger also shared the image, which debuted Friday night at WonderCon. She is all suited up, and it is a starry sight to see. Check it the photo:

Stargirl’s shimmering costume and the Cosmic Staff are fully aglow. Her costume is replete with the illustration’s eye mask, red gloves, utility belt, and star-filled suit.

The blue is reminiscent of Henry Cavill’s Superman costume in the DC movies. Both are deeper blues, which draws an interesting parallel between the suits.

It is hard to tell if Courtney is going to opt for Stargirl’s red boots. She appears to be wearing shorts, so maybe she will go with ankle boots? Or will it be knee highs? As for the Cosmic Staff, it is incredibly well-rendered, in my opinion, and it looks ready to save lives.

Brec Bassinger posted the first look on Instagram, after it made its debut at DC Universe’s WonderCon. At the panel, DC announced that Stargirl will premiere on its streaming platform in 2020. Other release dates included James Wan’s Swamp Thing (May 31) and Young Justice: Outsiders (July 2). The animated series, Harley Quinn, and Titans Season 2 are set for the fall of 2019.

In case you were wondering or need a refresher, Stargirl will follow high schooler Courtney Whitmore, aka Stargirl. Her teenage life starts like one of the usual ones. However, some radical changes in her home life drastically alter things.

Her mom gets married, and she and Courtney relocate from the bright lights of Los Angeles to Blue Valley, Nebraska. The most significant change happens later, though.

Courtney learns that her new stepdad, Pat (Luke Wilson), had a secret “super” life. He used to be a superhero’s sidekick known as Stripesy. Having found the superhero’s Cosmic Staff, Courtney borrows it. The rest is Stargirl history, as she inspires the next generation.

The reveal of Stargirl’s costume is another major step towards the series’ debut. Four months ago, Joel McHale got cast as -- per DC Universe -- the “courageous” and “confident” Starman. As his known-to-the-world alter ego, Sylvester Pemberton, he is a wealthy socialite. How does he tie into Courtney’s story?

Starman is the superhero that Courtney’s stepdad was sidekick to. Thus, expect some crucial things from him. Joel McHale is set to recur on the series, so it remains to be seen how much action he will have.

Not too long after news broke of Joel McHale’s casting, Hourman and Wildcat were also cast. Given that all of these occurred a few months ago, it is nice to get a visual update on the show. It is coming along!

A precise premiere date for Stargirl has not gotten set yet, so stay tuned. The television show is set to arrive next year in 2020. When it premieres, it will do so on DC Universe.

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Valve Teases New VR Headset Valve Index

Valve’s teasing what appears to be a new virtual reality headset called the Valve Index with an image and the note to “upgrade your experience May 2019.”

While there have been leaks about a Valve-designed virtual reality headset, the page for the Valve Index only features an image and those words.

The headset appears to have forward-facing cameras, an underside button, and a slider that could be for adjusting IDP. It seems likely that the new headset would not require external trackers, as with the recently announced Oculus Rift S, though that’s not entirely supported by the single image. It’s also impossible to tell if this headset would require a PC or be a standalone device like the Oculus Quest.

The fact that there’s no mention of HTC, which teamed up with Valve for the HTC Vive, means it’s likely that this will be a Valve-only product.

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CBS Employees’ Credit Union Shutters Amid $40 Million Embezzlement

A credit union that served CBS employees has been shut down following the discovery of a $40 million embezzlement, federal officials announced Friday.

The CBS Employees’ Federal Credit Union, based in Studio City, served about 2,800 members. Federal authorities announced that the credit union has been liquidated, and all members have been transferred to the University Credit Union.

The CBS credit union posted a message on its website, saying that members will experience a transition to a new system on May 1. The University Credit Union acquired all assets and liabilities of the CBS employees’ credit union, and accounts remain insured up to $250,000.

The move comes two weeks after the credit union’s manager, Edward Martin Rostohar, 62, was arrested and accused of a long-running embezzlement scheme. Rostohar worked at the credit union for 30 years, and allegedly admitted to authorities that he had been stealing money for the last 20 years.

Prosecutors say Rostohar gambled away much of the money, and used much of it on lavish personal expenses, including private jet flights, expensive watches, and a Porsche and a Tesla. He also gave his wife a $5,000 weekly allowance, and used some of the money to start a business in Reno, Nev., according to a federal complaint.

The scheme began to unravel on March 6, when a credit union employee discovered a suspicious $35,000 check made out to Rostohar, prosecutors said. An internal probe found that Rostohar had obtained $3,775,000 since January 2018, using a forged signature from a co-worker.

Rostohar was suspended on March 12. His wife called 911 that morning, telling police that her husband had stolen money from work and was planning to flee the state. Rostohar was arrested at his home and charged with bank fraud and identity theft. On March 14, a federal magistrate found him to be a flight risk and ordered him detained until trial.

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Fox Nearly Made a Promo With Lisa Simpson as a Disney Princess, Says Yeardley Smith

Lisa Simpson may be the newest Disney princess.

With Disney finally completing its purchase of 21st Century Fox assets, the company could technically add Lisa Simpson to its ranks of iconic princesses like Snow White, Rapunzel, and Cinderella.

Lisa’s voice actor, Yeardley Smith, told Variety at the GLAAD Media Awards on Thursday that Fox nearly referenced her character’s new royal status on air.

“What’s funny is we actually almost recorded a promo where Lisa was excited that she gets to be a Disney princess,” she said. “I’m excited. Any tiara, anytime, anywhere and any form, sign me up.”

Smith has played the saxophone-playing middle child since the show began in 1989, lending her voice to more than 600 episodes across 30 seasons and making her one of the most tenured voice actors on TV. In addition to “The Simpsons,” Disney now owns “Family Guy” and the X-Men and Fantastic Four franchises. Longtime fans have been wary to see how the family-friendly company will oversee its new purchases.

In regards to if she thinks anything will change on “The Simpsons” following the big acquisition, Smith said, “I think that’s a risky proposition, to change something that is so beloved and so entrenched in our society after 30-plus years. You don’t want to mess with that too much, but you never know.”

However, she was overjoyed at the possibility of Lisa crossing over with “Frozen” or Homer joining the Avengers.

“Oh, I think that’s a good idea,” she said. “I like that, that’s sort of again in the Lisa/Disney princess sort of vein. I’m all about that.”

‘Brightburn’ Extended Trailer: We See What Would Make A Superhero Kill In James Gunn’s Horrific Take On Superman

There are rip-off movies that copy other films due to their popularity, in an attempt to cash out and make a quick buck. And then there are films that are inspired by other works and take a story that has been done before but tweak it slightly into something new. The upcoming “Brightburn” is most definitely not a rip-off of the Superman mythology. Instead, it’s a tweak on the origin that leads to something very different.

READ MORE: Producer Says James Gunn’s “Total Reboot” Of ‘Suicide Squad’ Is The Director’s “Priority” & Will Hopefully End “Absurd” DC/Marvel Rivalry

And as seen in the new extended trailer for “Brightburn,” which is produced by “Guardians of the Galaxy” filmmaker James Gunn, we see what would happen if an alien child is left in the care of a loving family in rural Kansas. However, instead of the child growing up like Clark Kent and saving the world hundreds of times, Brandon Beyer is constantly picked on and humiliated, leading to the young man using his incredible powers for evil.

The extended trailer is very similar to the last trailer, except in the second half, the scenes showing Brandon using his powers to terrorize people have been slightly extended, particularly the scene in the diner. Overall, it looks like Gunn, along with his brothers Mark and Brian (who are the credited writers) and director David Yarovesky, has crafted a film that wears its Superman inspirations on its sleeve but wants to be something completely different.

“Brightburn” will hit theaters on May 24.

Here’s the synopsis:

What if a child from another world crash-landed on Earth, but instead of becoming a hero to mankind, he proved to be something far more sinister? In this horrific take on the classic superhero trope, a couple (Elizabeth Banks and David Denman) adopts a baby who came from the stars. While they attempt to raise the boy (Jackson A. Dunn) to use his powers for good, an evil begins to grow inside that he unleashes.

Taika Waititi Reunites With His ‘Green Lantern’ Co-Star Ryan Reynolds For New Action-Comedy, ‘Free Guy’

It’s the “Green Lantern” reunion you’ve been waiting for! Taika Waititi and Ryan Reynolds are about to team up once again (hopefully, with better results than that 2011 abomination) for an upcoming action-comedy film.

THR is reporting that Waititi, along with actor Utkarsh Ambudkar, has signed on to co-star in the film “Free Guy,” which stars Reynolds and is directed by Shawn Levy. The film follows a background character in a video game (Reynolds), who realizes he’s a fictional character and must team up to help save his world from the creators who are threatening to shut it down.

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As alluded to up top, Waititi and Reynolds have already shown they have pretty good chemistry on-screen (at least as much as anyone can show good chemistry in the film) in the Warner Bros. film “Green Lantern.” While the film was terrible and quickly sunk Reynolds’ hope of being a superhero (until “Deadpool,” at least), Waititi and Reynolds were both pretty funny in their roles. And it’s safe to say that both have refined their acting craft quite a bit in the almost-decade since that film.

Waititi and Ambudkar (who is probably best known for his work in films like “Blindspotting” and “Pitch Perfect,” and will be seen in the upcoming “Mulan”) join an already-great cast that includes Jodie Comer, Joe Keery, and Lil Rel Howery.

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The film is directed by Levy, based on a script from Matt Lieberman and Zak Penn. Levy has been working on the Netflix series “Stranger Things,” most recently, having directed numerous episodes of the hit show.

“Free Guy” doesn’t have a release date yet, but is one of the few Fox carryovers that will survive the merger with Disney.

‘Avengers: Endgame’ Opens In China Two Days Before The Rest Of The World & Could Reach $840M Opening Weekend

With less than a month to go before the world finds out how the Avengers beat Thanos in “Avengers: Endgame,” box office nerds can start thinking about how big of a debut the film will actually have. It’s already been predicted that in North America, ‘Endgame’ should likely contend for the largest opening weekend ever (which was set in 2018 by “Avengers: Infinity War”). But now, with the news that China is opening the film roughly the same time as the rest of the world, the question remains whether or not the worldwide gross of the latest ‘Avengers’ film could be the biggest ever.

Deadline is reporting that Disney/Marvel Studios has secured an April 24 release date for “Avengers: Endgame” in China. Yes, that’s before the rest of the world. And yes, sadly, that means that many will have to avoid the internet even if they plan on going to the first showing on opening night. But hey, Disney needs that Chinese box office.

READ MORE: Director Says There’s More To Spoil In ‘Avengers: Endgame’ Than In ‘Infinity War’: “You’re Going To Want To Protect Yourself”

Now, with the knowledge that China will factor into the worldwide opening weekend, box office analysts are predicting that we could be looking at a global gross at around $840 million for ‘Endgame’ in its first frame. That would easily shatter the worldwide record of $640.4 million set last year by ‘Infinity War.’ Why such a discrepancy in just a year’s time?

It’s difficult to imagine life before ‘Infinity War’ blew away box office records in 2018, but you might recall that the film did set records without China. The Chinese release of the last ‘Avengers’ film didn’t come until a full two weeks after the rest of the world saw the film. And even still, the Chinese opening weekend for the film was just below $200 million. So, if you take that $200 million, assume that nothing will change in a year, and add that to the record opening for ‘Infinity War,’ you’re looking at an $840 million gross. Of course, that number isn’t a true prediction, as we don’t know how ‘Endgame’ is tracking until closer to its release, but still, it’s an estimate that shouldn’t be overlooked.

Speaking of things that can’t be overlooked, we have to talk about Thanos’ butt. Seriously.

READ MORE: Chris Evans Talks Getting “Choked Up” Watching ‘Avengers: Endgame’ As Kevin Feige Calls The Actor’s Political Tweets “Very Cap-Like”

A fan theory has recently gone viral, which states that all the Avengers would have to do to defeat Thanos in this film is to have Ant-Man, played by Paul Rudd, shrink down, jump into Thanos’ anus, and then revert to his normal form, tears the Mad Titan into pieces.

It’s a ludicrous theory (while not entirely impossible) that Disney most likely would never let happen. But that hasn’t stopped the internet from keeping it alive through memes and whatnot. And that’s where Thanos actor Josh Brolin and ‘Endgame’ directors The Russo Brothers come in.

Recently, Josh Brolin posted a #TBT on his Instagram, timed perfectly for this recent viral sensation, showing the Thanos actor trying to squeeze something out while on the toilet. It’s a funny (perhaps unrelated) post that is keeping the Ant-Man-in-Thanos’-Butt meme alive. The Russos also joined the fun by changing their profile picture on Instagram to a Venn diagram that is an elaborate meme on the subject, as well. Good times.

Here are the Russos’ and Brolin’s recent social media mentions of the controversy:

“Avengers: Endgame” hits theaters in China on April 24, but everywhere else on April 26. Two new international posters have also been released, that you can find below:

Skynet Forces ‘Charlie’s Angels’ To Delay November Release By Two Weeks

In the box office struggle between the forces of Skynet and the disembodied voice of Charlie Townsend, it appears that the latter (and his Angels) is the first to blink.

Recently, we reported that “Terminator: Dark Fate” had officially staked its claim to the release date of November 1. That date just so happened to be the same time that Sony’s upcoming “Charlie’s Angels” reboot was expected to drop in theaters. And considering both films are going after that nostalgia-based, action-movie fan, it could have meant box office suicide for one of those projects. So, it comes as no surprise that one of the films is moving to a later date.

Deadline is reporting that “Charlie’s Angels” has moved its intended release date from November 1 to November 15, a mere two weeks later.

READ MORE: The Most Anticipated Films By Female Filmmakers In 2019

For those not aware of the news surrounding the reboot of the classic ‘70s TV show and early-2000s film series, the new “Charlie’s Angels” is directed by Elizabeth Banks (who also appears in the film) and stars Kristen Stewart, Naomi Scott, and Ella Ballinska. It’s been described as a re-imagining that is putting the female empowerment angle more in focus, as the original series and 2000s films seemed to focus more on the…assets of the cast.

The move to mid-November came at an opportune time. The date was originally occupied by the upcoming “Kingsman” prequel film. However, the report says that film has moved off its original date, which left “Charlie’s Angels” with a free slot to occupy. Of course, the Thanksgiving time is always a fairly busy time for the film industry, as moviegoers tend to flock to the theaters during the holiday.

READ MORE: Patrick Stewart To Play A “Bosley” In Elizabeth Banks’ ‘Charlie’s Angels’ As First Plot Details Emerge

For November 2019, the multiplex will be quite crowded. In addition to “Charlie’s Angels” and ‘Terminator,’ film fans will also have a chance to catch “Sonic the Hedgehog” (Nov. 8), “Doctor Sleep” (Nov. 8), the Mister Rogers biopic with Tom Hanks titled “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” (Nov. 22), Paul Feig’s “Last Christmas” (Nov. 15), and Rian Johnson’s “Knives Out” (Nov. 27), just to name several.

But at least we avoided the logjam on November 1.

Netflix Snaps Back At Twitter Troll Trying To Drag Brie Larson Over Her Directorial Debut

Like it or not (and we’re going to guess she most certainly loves it), Brie Larson has found herself at the center of every discussion about feminism in Hollywood. That’s not to say that Larson is somehow trying to take all the feminist spotlight from other folks, but through her recent “Captain Marvel” promotional tour and the surprising amount of hate she received for comments she’s made previously, the Oscar-winning actress is now the poster child for what many trolls would call “SJW Hollywood.” (My eyes can’t roll back in my head far enough.)

And even though the release of “Captain Marvel” has come and gone, and Larson’s film has proven wrong all the trolls who were predicting it would be Marvel Studios’ first flop, these idiots are still out there trying to tarnish any sort of accomplishments that the actress has made. The most recent example of this is with Larson’s upcoming directorial debut, “The Unicorn Store.” The film, which premiered at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival (remember that, it’ll be important in a second), is set to debut on Netflix in a matter of days and is part of an overall deal the actress signed with the streaming company. The deal also includes one more film that she is expected to direct.

READ MORE: Brie Larson Out & Toni Collette, Jessie Buckley, And David Thewlis In As Charlie Kaufman Casts Upcoming Film

To help promote “The Unicorn Store,” Netflix tweeted the trailer, with some nice words about the film. You know, as the streaming giant is supposed to do. Well, the trolls came out in force to naysay Larson and her directorial debut (sight unseen, mind you). In a now-deleted tweet (via IndieWire), a Twitter user replied that Larson was “just riding ‘Captain Marvel’s’ wave,” and the success of that film is what landed her the directing gigs. Now, as you should remember, ‘Unicorn Store’ debuted in 2017, a year and a half before “Captain Marvel” dominated the box office, and well before Marvel Studios even started promoting the film.

So, since Netflix is not the type of company that shies away from interacting with unreasonable people on Twitter, the streaming company replied to his tweet with a laundry list of accomplishments that Larson has accumulated over the years, including “58 acting credits, 53 award noms, 2 writing credits, 2 short film directing credits, 1 composing credit, 1 producing credit, 1 Oscar, 1 feature directing credit.”

READ MORE: ‘Unicorn Store’ Trailer: Bright Colors Abound In Brie Larson’s Directorial Debut Coming To Netflix

Larson caught wind of Netflix’s response and simply replied, “NETFLEX.”

Another filmmaker was made aware of the Twitter exchange. Edgar Wright decided to reply directly to Brie Larson, and say (tongue firmly pressed into his cheek), “Brie, you only won 1 Oscar out of a total of 58 attempts. Do better.”

So, it would appear that the social media hate of Brie Larson is still alive and well. And for those who want to celebrate the young actress and her first feature film as a director, “The Unicorn Store” hits Netflix on April 5.

So excited to share the trailer for Unicorn Store, @brielarson's directorial debut and an absolutely charming, heartfelt, exploration of the things that drive us and the creativity that adulthood often tries to extinguish. pic.twitter.com/1nLqX8DJ3r

— Netflix Film (@NetflixFilm) March 22, 2019

Brie Larson has:
58 acting credits
53 award noms
2 writing credits
2 short film directing credits
1 composing credit
1 producing credit
1 Oscar
1 feature directing credit
Been working since 1998
Worked with Apatow, Baumbach, Wright, Boden, Fleck, Abrahamson, and more.

— Netflix Film (@NetflixFilm) March 22, 2019

NETFLEX https://t.co/FsGSFzpoRO

— Brie Larson (@brielarson) March 28, 2019

Brie, you only won 1 Oscar out of a total of 58 attempts. Do better xxx

— edgarwright (@edgarwright) March 28, 2019

‘Pennyworth’ First-Look Teaser: Batman’s Butler Is A Young, Badass Bodyguard In 1960s London

You wouldn’t be wrong to think that we’ve entered the era of Peak Superhero TV when you hear that a cable network is developing a drama series based around the early life of Batman’s butler, Alfred Pennyworth. But alas, it’s 2019 and with CW, Hulu, Freeform, Fox, ABC, Netflix, and seemingly every other network attempting to bring their own superhero TV shows to the small screen, the pickings have become…slim.

Enter EPIX and its upcoming series “Pennyworth.” The 10-episode series follows the adventures of the young, badass Alfred Pennyworth, decades before he’d be delivering tea to Bruce Wayne in the Batcave. This Alfred is a former British SAS soldier that is now part of a security company that has been hired by, wait for it…Thomas Wayne! The series is set in 1960s London and is said to show how the young kickass Alfred would mold into the dependable guardian of the young Bruce Wayne some decades later.

READ MORE: Creator Says ‘Batman’ Spin-Off Series ‘Pennyworth’ With Young, Badass Alfred Will Be “Unhinged, R-Rated”

“Pennyworth” comes from the mind of Bruno Heller, who is the man who brought fans “Gotham.” He’s brought director Danny Cannon on board, who also had his hand in the “Gotham” stew, as well.

The ‘Batman’ spin-off series stars Jack Bannon, Paloma Faith, Ben Aldridge, Hainsley Lloyd Bennett, Ryan Fletcher, Jason Flemyng, and Polly Walker.

“Pennyworth” is set to arrive on EPIX this summer. You can watch the trailer below.

Here’s the synopsis:

From Warner Horizon Scripted Television, DC origin story is a ten-episode, one-hour drama series based on DC characters created by Bob Kane with Bill Finger. It follows Bruce Wayne’s legendary butler, Alfred Pennyworth (Jack Bannon), a former British SAS soldier who forms a security company and goes to work with Thomas Wayne (Ben Aldridge), Bruce’s billionaire father, in 1960’s London.

‘Pet Sematary’ Filmmakers Explain Why Major Twist Was Spoiled In Latest Trailer & Why It’s Not A Big Deal

**If you haven’t seen the new trailer for the upcoming “Pet Sematary” remake, consider the below to be spoilers. However, if you were unaware that you should have skipped the trailer (like me), you can read the directors try to explain why it’s not really a spoiler. Enjoy!**

I can’t sit here and say that writing about movies is a tough job. It’s not easy, sure. Writing, in general, isn’t something that everyone is able to do. However, I’m not curing cancer or working 12 hours a day in a factory, so it’s all relative. That being said, one of the more difficult aspects of my job is that people who write about films and TV shows have to watch trailers. There’s no way around it. Normally, it’s not such a big deal, as studios have been better and better about hiding plot points. But that’s not what happened in the latest trailer for “Pet Sematary.”

As mentioned in the above spoiler warning, the new trailer for “Pet Sematary” is great…until it’s not. Everything we’ve seen about the film, up to the spoilerific part of the last trailer has been really superb, presenting a film that is sure to delight fans of Stephen King novels and horror films. But then you reach the point in the trailer when it’s revealed that the young daughter in the film is killed and brought back to life using the evil forces. It’s clearly a pivotal moment in the film, and one of the “twists” that you would expect in a horror film. So, why the hell did the studio give it away in the trailer?

READ MORE: ‘Pet Sematary:’ Update Of Stephen King’s Novel Exudes More Visceral Thrills Than Sorrow [SXSW Review]

Speaking to Collider, the film’s directors Dennis Widmyer and Kevin Kölsch attempt to explain.

“Yeah, we would not have done that, but we don’t work in marketing,” said Widmyer. “But I will say though, to their credit, that we tested the film in a bunch of different cities, as you always do with studio films, and our score went up after the trailer was revealed.”

He continued, “I’m not saying it was because of that. We had made the movie better obviously in between, but I don’t know. There is something to be said about people sort of knowing going in already what to expect and then being ready for it rather than blindsided by it if they’re not into it.”

If it wasn’t frustrating enough that the deal of the little girl is shown in the trailer, fans of the original King story were extra upset because the surprise of the daughter dying and not the son, Gage (who bites it in the novel and first film), is completely ruined.

“Yeah, it’d be great to live in an alternate reality where it was different and to see how people responded to it, but I don’t know,” the filmmaker said. “Let’s say you were into the movie the whole time and you were enjoying the movie, but in your heart of hearts you were waiting for Gage to die. And then in that moment he didn’t die. It doesn’t necessarily mean you’re gonna go, ‘Oh my god! Wow, they got me!’ You might just go, ‘F this. I don’t want that,’ you know?”

READ MORE: ‘Pet Sematary’ Trailer: Sometimes Dead Is Better In Another Stephen King Remake

As Kölsch explained, however, there is a precedent for showing the death of a child in a “Pet Sematary” trailer.

“When you look at the trailer for the original movie, I mean, it shows that Gage comes back,” added Kölsch. “So it’s a plot point of the movie, so calling it a twist or not wanting to reveal that we switched the child – which we were on that team at first! We were like, ‘Ah, let’s keep this secret. It’s gonna hit them so hard in the movie.’ But then you’re going like, ‘Well then you can’t really pitch what the whole movie’s about in your trailer,’ you know?”

Ultimately, it’s clear that the filmmakers were not fully onboard with the decision to reveal the death in the trailer. However, for folks like me, who had the twist spoiled, there are apparently plenty more to get excited about when the film hits theaters on April 5.

‘X-Men’ Producer Simon Kinberg Refuses To Let The ‘Gambit’ Dream Die: “I Suspect, I Hope It Will Happen”

The idea that Channing Tatum is still attempting to get his “X-Men” spin-off film, “Gambit,” made, even after years of development and the recent Disney/Fox merger, is a running joke amongst film fans. However, every time we think it’s safe to throw “Gambit” in the trash can and attempt to erase it from our minds, someone pops up to remind us that the film is still ready to go and could be a reality…someday.

The latest person to tease the possibility of a “Gambit” film is producer Simon Kinberg. The man behind pretty much every Fox ‘X-Men’ film is out and about promoting the Fox swansong “Dark Phoenix,” and is constantly being hit with questions about the future of the franchise, now that the Mouse House has control.

READ MORE: Simon Kinberg Talks That Death In New ‘Dark Phoenix’ Trailer & Giving “Closure” Fox’s ‘X-Men’ Franchise

Speaking to Variety, Kinberg gave the company line about the future of the Fox franchises under Disney rule, saying, “All of the movies at Fox are being evaluated.”

Well, of course, they are. Disney is now knee deep in films that Fox was attempting to get off the ground. Now, Disney has to decide which are worthwhile and which should be scrapped. And yes, that even includes the remnants of the ‘X-Men’ film franchise, such as “The New Mutants” and “Gambit.”

While the future of “The New Mutants” is clearly undecided (as the stars don’t even have a clue what’s going on), we all just assumed that Channing Tatum’s “Gambit” was an easy project for Disney to chuck into the garbage. Apparently not.

READ MORE: ‘New Mutants’ Star Is Just As Confused As You Are About ‘X-Men’ Spin-Off: “Who Knows When The F–k It’s Gonna Come Out?”

“I love the idea of Channing playing Gambit. I think we have a great script for it and I think it’s a role he was born to play,” Kinberg said. “It’s a character I grew up loving and I know the fans love. So I suspect, I hope it will happen.”

Now, let’s put on our optimistic cap for a second. Let’s say that the script that Tatum has been working on with a variety of collaborators is as good as Kinberg says. It wouldn’t be absurd for Disney to want to move forward with it, as part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Let’s follow studio logic for a second.

READ MORE: Rupert Wyatt Says His ‘X-Men’ Spin-Off ‘Gambit’ Would Have Been “‘Godfather’ With Mutants”

First, you have an A-list star in Tatum. There’s a fan-favorite character (no matter how silly he might seem to many, he’s still beloved). And the X-Men are surely going to be introduced into the MCU relatively soon, because the brand is too strong to pass up. Now, why wouldn’t they use “Gambit” as one of those early X-films? It could happen. And I can’t believe I just typed that.

Obviously, the odds of this happening seem to be 1,000,000 to 1. Stranger things have happened.

I imagine the pitch meeting between Channing Tatum and Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige goes something like this:

Guillermo Del Toro Reveals Jennifer Kent Will Write/Direct An Episode Of His Upcoming Netflix Anthology Series

Jennifer Kent is a filmmaker that is been on the minds of film fans around the world since her debut film in 2014, “The Babadook.” Since then, the filmmaker has released one film, last year’s “The Nightingale,” which earned mixed reviews coming out of the 2018 film festival circuit. However, fans hoping that she ventures back into the horror realm will be happy to know that it appears Kent’s next project is deeply in the genre, and she’s teaming up with one of the masters.

Bloody Disgusting is reporting that Jennifer Kent has signed on to write a produce an episode of Guillermo del Toro’s upcoming horror anthology series ‘Ten After Midnight.’ Del Toro was speaking at a special event yesterday, promoting his upcoming “Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark,” and he was asked about Kent’s involvement.

READ MORE: Jennifer Kent Talks New Projects & Controversial Violence In Venice Winner ‘The Nightingale’

“She’s going to do one of the stories that we’re doing for Netflix,” del Toro said. “She’s adapting a story that is based on a concept that I came up with but she’s writing and directing.”

Of course, we still don’t have much information about del Toro’s upcoming Netflix series, as it’s been in development for quite some time and seems to only now be going into production. But it is said to feature incredible filmmakers (such as Kent) tackling genre stories that are being crafted by del Toro.

READ MORE: Jennifer Kent’s ‘The Nightingale’ Is A Thrilling Revenge Story That Falls Short Of Really Singing [Venice Review]

“Ten After Midnight” is one of a few projects del Toro has been developing over on Netflix. Another project is the stop-motion animated reimagining of the classic “Pinocchio,” which is said to be in production, as well.

As for the next live-action film that del Toro is going to direct? He’s apparently still deciding which to tackle.

“I have two movies that are neck to neck but I haven’t decided,” del Toro said.

‘Dumbo’ Hovering At Low Altitude With $44M; Matthew McConaughey Hits Bottom With $1.8M ‘Beach Bum’

James Gunn Returns To Twitter With ‘Brightburn’ Trailer Tout

Life is slowly returning to normal for writer/director James Gunn. After vanishing from Twitter last summer in the midst of a controversy over his past tweets, Gunn has apparently resumed regular social media activity now that he’s been reinstated by Disney for Guardians of the Galaxy 3.

Although Gunn resurfaced on Twitter March 15 after coming back to Disney by posting a thank-you note, today he did his first “normal” post since then, promoting his forthcoming Brightburn film, a superhero story with a twist that offers a subversive take on the genre.

Here’s Gunn’s first two return tweets:

George Clooney Trashed For Brunei Hotel Boycott On ‘Real Time With Bill Maher’

While right-wingers usually take the worst punishment in a typical one-hour episode of HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher, tonight it was noted progressive George Clooney’s turn in the barrel.

Maher and guests SE Cupp and Andrew Sullivan all criticized the star for calling for a boycott of the Beverly Hills and Bel-Air hotels. The luxe properties are owned by the sultan of Brunei, the nation that is about to pass legislation that would sentence to death anyone who is gay or commits adultery. (Democratic Rep. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan and former New York attorney general Preet Bharara were on Real Time but stayed out of the Clooney fray.)

In an exclusive guest column on Deadline, Clooney argued that Hollywood is capable of applying constructive pressure to address an unconscionable human rights violation, the possibility that homosexuals can legally be stoned to death. “Every single time we stay at or take meetings at or dine at any of these nine hotels we are putting money directly into the pockets of men who choose to stone and whip to death their own citizens for being gay or accused of adultery,” he wrote.

Maher called Clooney’s effort “chickenshit tokenism because, what about Saudi Arabia? If you really want to get back at them, stop driving. Don’t use oil.”

Sullivan complained that “not everything has to be filtered through a political lens. … We shouldn’t be dictating our lives like a religion according to the dictates of wokeness. It kills the vitality of a free society.”

Cupp said she had looked closely at the same kind of critique of Bahrain and the tie to LA luxury hotels when it arose in 2014. “It’s totally hypocritical,” she said. “It’s also the United Arab Emirates, where Hollywood does a ton of business.”

If you’re serious about speaking out about injustice, “Don’t go to a cocktail party with MBS,” Sullivan said, referring to Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman. After a whirlwind embrace by studio moguls and a range of entertainment figures, the leader has been linked to a range of tyrannical behavior and the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

“George Clooney is a smart guy who knows about the issues in the Middle East. He made a movie about it called Syriana,” Maher said.

‘The Blacklist’ Bids Farewell To A Series Regular In Two-Hour Episode

Fox’s ‘Dark Phoenix’ Brightens Expectations With WonderCon Win

‘Swamp Thing’ Gets DC Universe Spring Premiere Date

Aquaman director has emerged as the go-to-guy for DC Comics heroes, especially if they like things wet and now his Swamp Thing has a debut date.

It was announced at WonderCon today that Crystal Reed, Derek Mears and Andy Bean-led original live action series will premiere on the increasingly packed DC Universe streaming service on May 31.

With 90210 and Sharknado star Ian Ziering on-board too, the Mark Verheiden and Gary Dauberman-penned Swamp Thing follows Reed’s Abby Arcane  as she investigates what seems to be a deadly swamp-born virus in a small town in Louisiana but soon discovers that the swamp holds mystical and terrifying secrets. When unexplainable and chilling horrors emerge from the murky marsh …well, you know the comic drill, the swamp is about to hit the fan.

The series is produced by Wan’s Atomic Monster in association with Warner Bros. TV. The pilot is written by Verheiden and Dauberman, and Underworld helmer Len Wiseman is directing.

WonderCon runs until March 31 in Anaheim.