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James Norton to play Beatles manager Brian Epstein in Mendes films
British actor James Norton has been selected to portray Brian Epstein, the influential manager of The Beatles, in…
- British actor James Norton has been cast as Brian Epstein, the influential manager of The Beatles, in director Sam Mendes' upcoming four-part biopic titled "The Beatles — A Four-Film Cinematic Event," set for theatrical release in April 2028
imdb+1.
- Norton joins an ensemble cast including Paul Mescal as Paul McCartney, Harris Dickinson as John Lennon, Joseph Quinn as George Harrison, and Barry Keoghan as Ringo Starr, with each film telling the story from a different band member's perspective
imdb+1.
- This marks the first time Apple Corps Ltd. and The Beatles have granted full life story and music rights for scripted films, with Mendes directing all four movies based on scripts by Jez Butterworth, Peter Straughan, and Jack Thorne
imdb+1.
- Epstein, often called "the fifth Beatle," first met the band during a 1961 performance at Liverpool's Cavern Club and helped propel them to global fame despite having no prior management experience, remaining with the group until his death from a drug overdose at age 32 in 1967
imdb+1.
- The cast has expanded to include Saoirse Ronan as Linda McCartney and Mia McKenna-Bruce as Maureen Starkey, with Norton bringing musical biopic experience from his recent role as Chris Blackwell in "Bob Marley: One Love"
deadline+2.
Netflix to premiere Eddie Murphy documentary on Nov. 12
Netflix announced Monday that "Being Eddie," an intimate documentary chronicling comedian and actor Eddie Murphy's nearly five-decade career,…
- Netflix announced that "Being Eddie," a documentary about comedian and actor Eddie Murphy, will premiere on the streaming platform on November 12, 2025
imdb+3. - Directed by two-time Oscar winner Angus Wall, the documentary features approximately 40 hours of interviews with Murphy conducted in his home during the COVID-19 pandemic, marking the first time the entertainment icon has granted such unprecedented personal access
usatoday. - The film chronicles Murphy's nearly five-decade career, from joining Saturday Night Live straight out of high school at age 17 to starring in blockbuster films like "Beverly Hills Cop," "The Nutty Professor," and "Shrek"
imdb+2. - "Being Eddie" features commentary from comedy and entertainment legends including Dave Chappelle, Chris Rock, Jamie Foxx, Kevin Hart, Jerry Seinfeld, Tracee Ellis Ross, Arsenio Hall, and Tracy Morgan, along with industry figures like producers Jerry Bruckheimer and Brian Grazer
imdb+2.
Disney lands Taylor Swift Eras Tour content in $100M deal
Disney The Walt Disney Company has secured exclusive rights to Taylor Swift's Eras Tour content through what sources…
- Disney secured exclusive streaming rights to Taylor Swift's Eras Tour content for $100 million, outbidding Netflix and Amazon in what sources call an "unprecedented" deal that gave Swift total creative control and ownership
cosmopolitan+1. - The package includes a six-episode docuseries titled "The End of an Era" and a full concert film "The Final Show" from Swift's Vancouver finale, both premiering December 12 on Disney+, with episodes releasing in batches of two over three weeks
cosmopolitan+1. - Disney stock rose 3% Monday following the announcement, as investors responded positively to the streaming acquisition that a Hollywood executive called "the crown jewel" of entertainment
finance.yahoo+1. - The docuseries features appearances by Travis Kelce, Sabrina Carpenter, Ed Sheeran, Florence Welch, and Gracie Abrams, offering behind-the-scenes insight into the $2 billion-grossing Eras Tour that industry sources describe as "the biggest live event in history"
robshuter.substack+1. - The deal comes one week after Swift's latest album "The Life of a Showgirl" earned over 4 million equivalent album units in the U.S., with the concert film featuring the complete Tortured Poets Department set not included in her 2023 theatrical release
thewaltdisneycompany+1.
Apple TV hits 45 million subscribers despite price hikes
Apple TV has "significantly more" than 45 million subscribers, the company's services chief revealed this week, marking a…
- Apple services chief Eddy Cue revealed on The Town podcast that the newly rebranded Apple TV streaming service has "significantly more" than 45 million subscribers, exceeding analyst estimates and marking the first time the company has disclosed subscriber figures.
- The disclosure comes as Apple TV+ quietly rebranded to simply Apple TV in October 2025, dropping the "plus" from its name while maintaining its ad-free streaming model across more than 100 countries and regions.
- Despite subscriber growth, Apple TV has raised prices 160% since launching at $4.99 per month in 2019, with the most recent 30% increase in August 2025 bringing the monthly cost to $12.99, making it more expensive than ad-supported tiers from competitors like Disney+ and Netflix.
- Cue acknowledged the challenges of building a subscriber base without a legacy content library, citing production delays from the pandemic and a nine-month writers' strike that set the service "a little further behind" than planned.
- The streaming service reportedly loses over $1 billion annually despite winning 628 awards from 2,819 nominations, including Emmy wins for hit shows like "Severance," "Ted Lasso," and "The Studio," while the service remains significantly smaller than market leaders like Netflix with over 300 million subscribers.
Former Dior chief Chiuri returns to Fendi after 33 years
Maria Grazia Chiuri, the former Dior creative director, has been appointed as Fendi's new Chief Creative Officer, marking…
- Maria Grazia Chiuri has been appointed Chief Creative Officer of Fendi, marking her return to the Italian fashion house where she began her career over three decades ago as an accessories designer from 1989 to 1999
fashionweekdaily+2. - The announcement by LVMH on October 14, 2025, comes six months after Chiuri departed Dior, where she served as creative director for nine years and was the first woman to hold that position before being succeeded by Jonathan Anderson in May
vogue+2. - During her first tenure at Fendi, the 61-year-old Rome native played a pivotal role in creating the iconic Baguette bag alongside Silvia Venturini Fendi, who recently stepped back from creative duties to become honorary president
fashionweekdaily+2. - Bernard Arnault, Chairman and CEO of LVMH, praised Chiuri as "one of the greatest creative talents in fashion today" and expressed confidence she will contribute to Fendi's artistic renewal while honoring its heritage
vogue+1. - Chiuri will present her first collection for Fall/Winter 2026 during Milan Fashion Week in February 2026, returning to her hometown of Rome where Fendi's headquarters are based
fashionweekdaily+2.
Jisoo becomes first Korean female soloist to hit 1B Spotify streams
BLACKPINK's Jisoo has made history by becoming the first Korean female solo artist to surpass 1 billion streams…
- Blackpink member Jisoo became the first Korean female solo artist to surpass 1 billion streams on Spotify, achieving this milestone with just eight solo tracks in 925 days, according to her agency Blissoo announced Tuesday
korean-vibe+2. - The streaming achievement was accelerated by her latest single "Eyes Closed," a collaboration with British pop star Zayn (formerly of One Direction) that debuted at No. 21 on Spotify's Top Songs Global chart after its October 10 release
korean-vibe+2. - "Eyes Closed" dominated global music platforms, topping iTunes Top Singles charts in 40 countries and reaching No. 1 on YouTube Music's Worldwide Trending chart in 74 countries
korean-vibe+2. - The track, which tells the story of two people choosing love again after heartbreak, also claimed the top spot on China's QQ Music and KuGou Music daily selling singles charts
news.sbs+1. - Blackpink is set to resume their world tour in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, on Saturday, with the Asian leg expanding to 20 shows across eight cities including Bangkok, Jakarta, Singapore, Tokyo, Hong Kong, and the Philippines through January
koreaherald.
Elliot Page to reunite with Nolan for ‘The Odyssey’
Elliot Page is reuniting with Christopher Nolan fifteen years after their collaboration on *Inception*, bringing renewed personal significance…
- Elliot Page is reuniting with director Christopher Nolan on The Odyssey, 15 years after they last worked together on 2010's Inception, where Page played an architecture student in the sci-fi thriller
people+1. - Speaking at New York Comic-Con on October 12, Page said being "more comfortable in yourself" post-transition has made the project more enjoyable, adding that the opportunity to work with Nolan again "meant so much to me" personally
people+2. - In his memoir Pageboy, Page revealed that filming Inception coincided with severe struggles with gender dysphoria that made him physically unwell, making this reunion particularly meaningful from a more stable place in his life
yahoo. - The Odyssey, an adaptation of Homer's ancient Greek epic poem, features Matt Damon as Odysseus alongside an all-star cast including Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, and Charlize Theron
wikipedia. - With an estimated $250 million budget making it Nolan's most expensive film, The Odyssey was shot entirely on IMAX 70mm film cameras across multiple international locations including Morocco, Greece, Italy, and Scotland, and is scheduled for theatrical release on July 17, 2026
wikipedia+1.
Edgar Wright’s ‘The Running Man’ trailer debuts at Comic Con
Paramount Pictures unleashed an explosive new trailer for Edgar Wright's highly anticipated adaptation of "The Running Man" on…
- Paramount Pictures released an explosive new trailer for Edgar Wright's adaptation of The Running Man at New York Comic Con on October 13, featuring Glen Powell as Ben Richards, a desperate father entering a deadly televised competition to save his sick daughter's life
gizmodo+1. - Stephen King praised Wright's film on social media, calling it "fantastic" and comparing it to "Die Hard for our time" and "a bipartisan thrill ride," marking a stark contrast to his disappointment with the 1987 Arnold Schwarzenegger version
screenrant. - The film follows Richards as he attempts to survive 30 days while being hunted by professional killers for a billion-dollar prize in the nation's most popular reality TV show, with the story taking place across multiple environments rather than a single arena
screenrant+1. - Wright's adaptation features a star-studded ensemble cast including Josh Brolin, Colman Domingo, Lee Pace, William H. Macy, Michael Cera, and Emilia Jones, and promises to be more faithful to King's 1982 novel than the previous film
screenrant+1. - The Running Man arrives in theaters November 14, 2025, showcasing Wright's signature kinetic visual style and delivering both action-packed sequences and sharp social commentary on media manipulation and societal inequality
gizmodo+1.
Apple drops ‘Plus’ from TV+ streaming service name
Apple quietly announced Monday that its Apple TV+ streaming service is being rebranded as simply "Apple TV," marking…
- Apple quietly announced that its streaming service Apple TV+ is being rebranded as simply "Apple TV," marking the platform's first name change since its November 2019 launch.
timesofindia.indiatimes+1 - The rebrand was buried in a press release announcing the December 12 streaming debut of "F1 The Movie," with the company describing the change as a "vibrant new identity," though no details about visual changes or rollout timeline were provided.
timesofindia.indiatimes+1 - The name change creates confusion as Apple now has three distinct products sharing identical branding: the streaming service, the Apple TV set-top box device, and the Apple TV app.
timesofindia.indiatimes+1 - The rebranding comes two months after Apple raised the streaming service's subscription price by more than 30 percent in August to $12.99 per month, and the platform remains the only major streaming service without an advertising-supported tier.
timesofindia.indiatimes+1 - Apple's streaming service has earned 553 wins and 2,562 award nominations since launch, including becoming the first streaming platform to win the Academy Award for best picture with "CODA."
timesofindia.indiatimes+1
Louvre acquires its first video work in historic collection
The Musée du Louvre has made history by acquiring its first-ever video work, "Les 4 temps" (The 4…
- The Musée du Louvre has acquired its first-ever video work, "Les 4 temps" (The 4 Seasons) by Algeria-born artist Mohamed Bourouissa, marking a historic milestone for the world-renowned museum as it embraces contemporary digital art
theartnewspaper+1. - The video work focuses on the Tuileries Gardens, the historic public space connecting the Louvre to Place de la Concorde, and will be displayed in the Salle de la Chapelle from October 22, 2025 through January 19, 2026
theartnewspaper+1. - The acquisition originated from a year-long Instagram project where Bourouissa posted 52 weekly videos documenting the garden across all four seasons from February 2024 to February 2025, reaching millions of viewers before being transformed into a standalone piece with original music composed by the artist
theartnewspaper+1. - The work was acquired through the Histoire du Louvre program, which focuses on contemporary or historic works reflecting the institution's history, with the museum's head of contemporary programmes calling Bourouissa "one of the greatest video artists of our time"
theartnewspaper+1. - The acquisition comes as Bourouissa gains wider recognition, having recently won the prestigious Mario Merz Prize in September 2025 for his film examining police brutality, with his work focusing on marginalized communities and social dynamics of power
artsy.
Brad Pitt’s F1 film to hit Apple TV on Dec. 12
Apple announced Monday that "F1: The Movie," the Brad Pitt-starring Formula 1 blockbuster that became the highest-grossing sports…
- Apple announced Monday that "F1: The Movie," starring Brad Pitt, will stream globally on Apple TV starting December 12, following its record-breaking theatrical run
9to5mac+2. - The film has become the highest-grossing sports film of all time, earning over $629 million globally since its June 27 theatrical release and achieving Brad Pitt's highest-grossing feature to date
9to5mac+2. - "F1: The Movie" received exceptional audience scores with an A CinemaScore and a 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and was directed by Joseph Kosinski who also helmed Top Gun: Maverick
9to5mac+2. - The announcement coincided with Apple's rebranding of Apple TV+ to simply "Apple TV," dropping the plus sign for what the company calls a "vibrant new identity"
9to5mac+1. - The new branding creates potential confusion as "Apple TV" now refers to the streaming service, the hardware device, and the app, though Apple has not provided details on how it will differentiate between them
theverge.
German woman returns ancient Olympic artifact stolen 50 years ago
A German woman has returned an ancient limestone column capital she stole from Greece's Olympic birthplace more than…
- A German woman returned an ancient limestone column capital she stole from the Leonidaion guesthouse in Ancient Olympia over 50 years ago, with the formal handover ceremony taking place on October 10, 2025.
cbsnews+2 - The 4th-century BC artifact, measuring 24 centimeters high and 33.5 centimeters wide, was illegally removed in the 1960s and returned through the University of Münster, marking the third repatriation the German institution has facilitated in recent years.
cbsnews+2 - The woman was inspired to return the artifact after learning about the University of Münster's previous repatriations, including a wine cup belonging to marathon champion Spyridon Louis in 2019 and a Roman-era marble head in 2024.
cbsnews+2 - Greek Culture Ministry officials praised the woman's "sensitivity and courage" in voluntarily returning the stolen relic, with Secretary General Georgios Didaskalou calling it a "particularly moving moment" that proves "culture and history know no borders."
cbsnews+2 - The return reflects Greece's ongoing diplomatic efforts to recover cultural treasures through cooperation rather than legal action, with Athens continuing to pursue the repatriation of the Parthenon Marbles from the British Museum.
cbsnews+1
Ancient Roman tombstone found in New Orleans backyard
A New Orleans family's routine yard work has solved an 80-year-old international mystery, revealing how a 1,900-year-old Roman…
- Tulane University anthropologist Daniella Santoro and her husband Aaron Lorenz discovered a 1,900-year-old Roman tombstone buried beneath undergrowth in their New Orleans backyard in spring 2025 while doing routine yard work
explorersweb+1. - The marble grave marker honors Sextus Congenius Verus, a sailor from Thrace who served 22 years in the Roman Imperial Navy and died at age 42 in the second century AD
explorersweb+2. - The tombstone had been missing since World War II, when Allied bombing destroyed the National Archeological Museum in Civitavecchia, Italy, where it had been housed
explorersweb+2. - The mystery was solved when Erin Scott O'Brien recognized her former home on news reports and revealed she had inherited the stone from her grandparents—her grandfather Charles Paddock Jr. was a WWII veteran stationed in Italy who brought it back to New Orleans after marrying his Italian wife Adele in 1946
explorersweb+1. - The FBI's Art Crime Team now holds the artifact and is working with Italian authorities to repatriate it to Civitavecchia, with a ceremony planned for next summer
explorersweb+2.
Rome’s Colosseum to open secret imperial passage to vistors
For the first time in nearly two millennia, Rome's Colosseum has opened its once-secret imperial passage to the…
- Rome's Colosseum opens the Commodus Passage to the public on October 27, marking the first time in nearly 2,000 years that visitors can walk through the secret imperial corridor once used by Roman emperors.
- The S-shaped underground tunnel allowed emperors to reach their reserved honor box unseen and protected, gaining notoriety when Emperor Commodus survived an assassination attempt there between 180 and 192 CE.
- The passage, added to the Colosseum between the late first and early second centuries CE, features decorative remnants including depictions of boar hunts, bear fights, and acrobatic performances near its entrance.
- A year-long restoration project completed between October 2024 and September 2025 revealed marble-lined walls, elaborate stuccoes depicting mythological scenes, and installed new lighting systems that recreate ancient natural light.
- Small guided groups will access the passage through special tickets, while a second restoration project planned for early 2026 will explore the tunnel section extending beyond the Colosseum's perimeter.
Frieze to launch Abu Dhabi art fair in November 2026
Global art fair giant Frieze officially announced its expansion into the Middle East with the launch of Frieze…
- Frieze announced it will launch its first Middle East art fair, Frieze Abu Dhabi, in November 2026, taking over the existing Abu Dhabi Art fair through a partnership with the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism
artsy+1. - The expansion marks Frieze's eighth international fair and comes as competitor Art Basel prepares to launch its own Qatar fair in February, intensifying competition between the world's two largest art fair operators in the Gulf region
artsy+1. - The announcement represents the first major initiative under new owner Ari Emanuel, who acquired Frieze this week through his holding company Mari with $2 billion in equity funding, including investment from Abu Dhabi-based IMI media group
artsy+2. - Frieze Abu Dhabi will take place at Manarat Al Saadiyat in the Saadiyat Cultural District, which is expanding with the Zayed National Museum opening in December 2025 and the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi expected to debut in 2026
artsy+2. - The 2025 edition of Abu Dhabi Art will proceed as planned next month before transforming into Frieze Abu Dhabi the following year, bringing what organizers call a "distinctive Frieze approach" to the region
artsy+1.
Netflix wins bidding war for Gordon-Levitt AI thriller
Netflix has secured the rights to Joseph Gordon-Levitt's highly anticipated AI thriller in a competitive bidding war, with…
- Netflix has acquired the rights to an AI thriller directed by Joseph Gordon-Levitt after winning a competitive bidding war, with Rachel McAdams set to star in the lead role
deadline+1. - The untitled film marks Gordon-Levitt's return to directing more than 12 years after his 2013 debut "Don Jon" and is produced by Rian Johnson and Ram Bergman's T-Street Productions, reuniting the filmmaker with his previous collaborators
deadline+1. - McAdams replaced Anne Hathaway, who was originally attached when the project was announced in December, with reports suggesting scheduling conflicts may have prompted the change
joblo+1. - Gordon-Levitt co-wrote the screenplay with Kieran Fitzgerald (his "Snowden" collaborator), with both sharing story credit alongside Natasha Lyonne, and the film is expected to explore AI's impact on creativity—a topic Gordon-Levitt has advocated for publicly
deadline+2. - At the UN Internet Governance Forum in June, Gordon-Levitt warned that AI could cause "creativity as we know it sort of goes away" and argued that "your digital self should belong to you," with production eyed for 2026
joblo+2.
Swift’s ‘Life of a Showgirl’ shatters Adele’s record
Taylor Swift's "The Life of a Showgirl" has shattered music industry records just one week after its release,…
- Taylor Swift's "The Life of a Showgirl" shattered music industry records by earning 3.5 million equivalent album units in its first five days, surpassing Adele's decade-old record set by "25" which had 3.378 million units in 2015
nytimes+2. - The album, released October 3, became Spotify's most-streamed album in a single day for 2025 in less than 11 hours, while lead single "The Fate of Ophelia" broke Spotify's all-time record for most streams in a single day and single week
newsroom.spotify+2. - The album achieved 3.2 million in physical and digital sales with an additional 300,000 units from streaming, and set a new vinyl sales record with 1.2 million copies sold
hollywoodreporter+1. - Despite commercial success, Swift faced mixed critical reception with Pitchfork rating the album 5.9 out of 10 and The Guardian awarding two out of five stars, though Swift stated "I welcome the chaos" in response to criticism
nytimes+1. - The album had already broken pre-save records with over 6 million advance additions on Spotify before its release, marking the platform's most pre-saved album in history
newsroom.spotify+1.
Netflix pledges €4M to revive Rome’s Cinema Europa
Netflix marked its 10th anniversary in Italy this week with co-CEO Ted Sarandos unveiling a major partnership to…
- Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos announced a €4 million, five-year partnership with Italy's Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia (CSC) to renovate and reopen Rome's historic Cinema Europa theater, which has been closed since the COVID-19 pandemic
variety+1. - The Cinema Europa, which hosted the first public screening of an Italian film 120 years ago, will be transformed into a cultural and educational hub for Europe's oldest film school, with an anticipated reopening in late 2026
variety+1. - The announcement at Italy's Ministry of Culture marks Netflix's 10th anniversary in Italy, during which the streaming giant has produced over 1,000 Italian films and series, filmed in more than 100 cities, and supported over 5,500 jobs in the past five years
variety+2. - Netflix has contributed over €1.1 billion to the Italian economy between 2021 and 2024, with approximately 50 Italian originals reaching the platform's Global Top 10
variety+1. - Italy's Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli praised the partnership as "a concrete example of virtuous collaboration between the public and private sectors," as Italy's audiovisual industry reached €16.3 billion in revenues in 2024
wantedinrome+1.
Finland reverses $8.26M film industry budget cuts
The Finnish government has reversed its controversial decision to cut €7.8 million ($8.26 million) from the film industry's…
- Finland's government has reversed its controversial decision to cut €7.8 million ($8.26 million) from film industry support, Science and Culture Minister Mari-Leena Talvitie announced to MTV News
yle. - The cuts, originally agreed in the budget negotiations, will no longer target the film sector, with the government planning to find replacement savings in November's supplementary budget proposal
yle. - Finnish Film Foundation CEO Lasse Saarinen had warned the cuts would have halved domestic film production, reducing output to fewer than 10 feature films annually and threatening 200-300 jobs
imdb+1. - The film industry had mounted fierce opposition to the cuts, with prominent directors including Zaida Bergroth, Dome Karukoski, and Teemu Nikki warning of devastating consequences for Finland's cultural identity and emerging filmmakers
variety. - The proposed cuts had been controversially labeled as "business subsidies" rather than cultural funding, despite the Finnish Film Foundation arguing that every euro invested returns doubled to state coffers
variety+1.
Warner Music nears deal with Netflix for artist films
Warner Music Group is reportedly close to finalizing a deal with Netflix to create a slate of movies…
- Warner Music Group is nearing an agreement with Netflix to produce a slate of movies and documentaries featuring the label's artists and songs, according to sources familiar with the matter
businesstimes+1. - The partnership marks a strategic shift for Warner Music, which closed its in-house film and TV production division earlier this year as part of a $300 million cost-cutting initiative and is now outsourcing content development
businesstimes+1. - Warner Music CEO Robert Kyncl emphasized the company's "tremendous catalogue" of rights to legendary artists including Madonna, Fleetwood Mac, Prince, Ed Sheeran, Cardi B, and Bruno Mars, stating their stories "haven't been told" at the Bloomberg Screentime conference in Los Angeles
businesstimes+1. - Music biopics and documentaries have become essential for labels seeking to keep catalogs relevant, with growing demand exemplified by productions like Walt Disney's upcoming Bruce Springsteen film and Taylor Swift's recent theatrical release that grossed over $50 million globally in three days
businesstimes+2. - In July, Warner Music announced job cuts and partnered with Bain Capital to invest up to $1.2 billion in iconic music catalogs, while Netflix continues focusing on building content through partnerships rather than acquisitions
moneycontrol+1.
Netflix unveils first look at Hemsworth as Geralt
Netflix unveiled the official trailer for The Witcher Season 4 on October 7, marking Liam Hemsworth's highly anticipated…
- Netflix released the official trailer for The Witcher Season 4 on October 7, marking Liam Hemsworth's debut as Geralt of Rivia after Henry Cavill's departure from the role he held for three seasons
variety+1. - The new season, premiering October 30, 2025, follows Geralt, Yennefer, and Ciri as they navigate a continent-wide war that has separated them, with Geralt assembling a team of allies to locate the missing Ciri
variety+2. - The trailer features new cast additions including Laurence Fishburne as vampire Regis and Sharlto Copley as villain Leo Bonhart, while showcasing Hemsworth's Geralt battling monsters and confronting the sinister mage Vilgefortz
variety+1. - Season 4 marks the beginning of the series' final arc, with Season 5 already confirmed as the concluding chapter for Netflix's adaptation of the fantasy novels
hollywoodreporter. - Hemsworth initially felt "pretty hesitant and unsure" about joining mid-series but embraced the role as a fan of the video game, bringing a slightly different voice and more humor to the character compared to Cavill's portrayal
people.
Hauser & Wirth UK profits plunge 90% as art market slumps
Hauser & Wirth's UK operations suffered a devastating 90% drop in pre-tax profits for 2024, plummeting to just…
- Hauser & Wirth's UK arm saw pre-tax profits plunge 90% to $1.6 million in 2024 from $12.5 million the previous year, while revenues collapsed by more than half from £193 million to £91.4 million.
- The mega-gallery attributed the dramatic decline to "lower secondary-market sales" as the high-end art market experiences a severe contraction, with auction transactions over $10 million down 39%.
- The struggles at Hauser & Wirth, which represents artists including Martin Creed and Amy Sherald, reflect an industry-wide crisis that saw prominent galleries like Blum, Venus Over Manhattan, Kasmin, and Clearing close in 2025.
- Fine-art auction sales totaled $4.72 billion in the first half of 2025, down 8.8% year-over-year and 40.9% from 2022's peak, while the Art Dealers Association of America canceled its popular 2025 Art Show.
- Global art market sales fell 12% to $57.5 billion in 2024 according to the Art Basel and UBS report, marking the second consecutive year of decline as wealthy collectors pull back spending amid economic uncertainty.
12,000-year-old pillar with human face discovered in Türkiye
A T-shaped pillar carved with a human face has been discovered at the Karahantepe archaeological site in southeastern…
- Archaeologists discovered a 12,000-year-old T-shaped pillar carved with a human face at the Karahantepe archaeological site in southeastern Türkiye, marking the first time a Neolithic-era facial representation has been found on such a monument.
english.news+2 - Turkish Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy announced the discovery on Monday, calling it "the first example of Neolithic man carving himself on a T-shaped column" and a historic breakthrough in understanding early human self-representation.
english.news+1 - The carved face features sharp contours, deep-set eyes, and a broad, block-shaped nose, with stylistic traits similar to other human sculptures previously unearthed at Karahantepe.
english.news+1 - The discovery was made under the Stone Hills Project, which explores humanity's transition from nomadic to settled lifestyles across several Neolithic sites in southeastern Anatolia, including the nearby Göbekli Tepe.
english.news+2 - While T-shaped pillars at these sites were previously known to feature carvings of arms and hands, this is the first time a human face has been carved directly onto such a pillar, revealing a new dimension of symbolic and artistic expression among Neolithic communities 12,000 years ago.
english.news+2
Disney secures film rights to ‘Impossible Creatures’
Walt Disney Studios The Walt Disney Company has secured the film rights to Katherine Rundell's fantasy book series…
- Disney has acquired the film rights to Katherine Rundell's fantasy book series "Impossible Creatures" in a seven-figure deal, beating Netflix and Warner Bros. in a competitive bidding war.
gizmodo+1 - Rundell will adapt the first two books of her planned five-book series into screenplays, with Disney CEO Bob Iger stating he was "immediately drawn into the vibrant world Katherine imagined."
gizmodo+1 - The Oxford professor became the first UK children's author since J.K. Rowling to simultaneously reach number one on children's book charts in both the UK and US, with her books selling over four million copies worldwide.
superherohype+1 - The series follows a boy named Christopher who discovers a hidden portal to a magical realm called the Glimouria Archipelago while vacationing in the Scottish Highlands, where he teams up with a girl named Mal to save mythological creatures.
deadline - The deal marks a strategic shift for Disney as the company seeks fresh intellectual property beyond live-action remakes of animated classics, amid signs of fatigue in its Marvel and Star Wars franchises.
gizmodo
Netflix announces one-shot Ed Sheeran concert film
Netflix today announced "One Shot with Ed Sheeran," an innovative music experience that promises to revolutionize the concert…
- Netflix announced "One Shot with Ed Sheeran," a groundbreaking music experience set to premiere November 21 that will film the multi-Grammy Award winner performing his greatest hits while traveling through New York City in real time, captured entirely in a single, unbroken take.
thefutoncritic+1 - The special is directed by Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Philip Barantini, who recently swept eight Emmy Awards in September for "Adolescence," including Outstanding Limited Series and Best Director, and is known for his masterful one-shot filming technique.
thefutoncritic+2 - The innovative format will capture Ed Sheeran performing impromptu concerts on bustling sidewalks, in subway cars, and at various locations throughout Manhattan, including spontaneous interactions with fans and passersby during one afternoon.
thefutoncritic+1 - Fulwell Entertainment produces the special, with Emmy-winning producer Ben Winston serving as executive producer alongside Sheeran and Barantini, bringing his extensive track record of producing music specials for artists including Bruno Mars, Harry Styles, and Justin Bieber.
thefutoncritic+1
Sonic named Olympic ambassador in new SEGA-IOC deal
SEGA Corporation and the International Olympic Committee announced a groundbreaking multi-year licensing partnership today that names Sonic the…
- SEGA Corporation and the International Olympic Committee announced a multi-year licensing partnership naming Sonic the Hedgehog as an official Olympic ambassador, marking the character's return to Olympic branding after four years.
screenrant+1 - The collaboration, called "Five Rings," will launch a comprehensive merchandise collection in 2026, timed to coincide with the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy.
screenrant+1 - Custom promotional artwork unveiled with the announcement features Sonic integrated with the iconic Olympic rings alongside characters including Tails, Amy, and Knuckles.
screenrant+1 - The partnership is part of the IOC's Global Licensing Strategy launched in 2020, which aims to engage fans year-round through official licensed products beyond just Olympic Games periods.
screenrant+1 - SEGA President and COO Shuji Utsumi said the partnership allows the company to promote values of respectful and inclusive communities, while IOC Deputy Managing Director Elisabeth Allaman emphasized creating fresh opportunities for fans to experience sport and play.
screenrant+1
Instagram launches ‘Ring’ awards for top platform creators
Instagram Meta Platforms, Inc. unveiled its Rings awards program on Monday, offering 25 top creators physical gold rings…
- Instagram announced its Rings awards program on October 6, awarding 25 top creators physical gold rings designed by Grace Wales Bonner and exclusive digital profile features, but no monetary compensation.
newswire+1 - A judging panel including Instagram head Adam Mosseri, director Spike Lee, designer Marc Jacobs, YouTuber Marques Brownlee, and artist KAWS selected winners based on creative risk-taking rather than follower counts, narrowing down from three billion users.
newswire+2 - Winners receive unique profile customizations including a golden ring around their stories, the ability to change profile background colors, and featured content spotlights within the app.
newswire+1 - The program launches as Meta has scaled back cash-based creator bonuses, having discontinued its Reels Play bonus initiative in 2023 and ending other payment programs, while competitors like YouTube have paid over $100 billion to creators in four years.
cnbc - Critics question why Meta is offering symbolic recognition instead of financial compensation as brand partnerships declined 52% in 2024 and the creator economy faces increasing challenges.
cnbc
Rare 1913 Fabergé egg to auction for over £20M in London
A rare 1913 Fabergé Winter Egg, once gifted by Russia's last Emperor Nicholas II to his mother, is…
- The Winter Egg, a rare 1913 Imperial Easter Egg commissioned by Emperor Nicholas II for his mother Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna, is expected to sell for over £20 million ($27 million) at Christie's London on December 2, 2025, potentially setting a new world record for a Fabergé work.
yahoo+2 - Only seven of the original 50 Imperial Easter Eggs created between 1885 and 1916 remain in private collections, making this auction a rare opportunity for collectors to acquire one of Fabergé's most technically and artistically inventive creations.
the-independent+1 - The egg was designed by Alma Theresia Pihl, one of the first female designers at the House of Fabergé, who drew inspiration from ice crystals on her workshop window to create the winter-to-spring motif featuring 1,660 diamonds, platinum snowflakes, and a surprise basket of white quartz anemones.
the-independent+2 - After the 1917 Russian Revolution, the Winter Egg was confiscated and sold by the Soviet government for just £450 in the late 1920s, disappeared for two decades between 1975 and 1994, and was rediscovered in a shoebox under a bed in suburban London in 1993.
the-independent+1 - The egg has previously set world records twice at Christie's auctions—selling for 7.3 million Swiss francs in 1994 and $9.6 million in 2002 to Qatari Prince Saud bin Muhammed Al Thani, whose descendants are now offering it for sale.
the-independent+2
Study claims Shackleton knew Endurance was fatally flawed
A groundbreaking study published today challenges one of exploration's most enduring myths, revealing that Sir Ernest Shackleton's legendary…
- A new study published in the journal Polar Record by Professor Jukka Tuhkuri of Aalto University reveals that Sir Ernest Shackleton's legendary ship Endurance was fundamentally flawed with critical design weaknesses that doomed it before its 1914 Antarctic expedition.
iflscience+2 - The research dismantles the century-old myth that Endurance was the "strongest polar ship of its time," finding it lacked essential diagonal bracing beams, had weaker deck structures, and featured an oversized engine compartment that created a vulnerable section in the hull.
iflscience+2 - Shackleton was aware of these structural deficiencies before departing, writing to his wife that he would exchange Endurance for his previous ship and having previously recommended the very reinforcements his vessel lacked for another polar ship that survived months in Antarctic ice.
iflscience+2 - The ship, originally built for Arctic tourism during summer months, could withstand only 1.7 to 2.7 times less compressional force than contemporary polar vessels, making it ill-suited for the crushing pack ice conditions of the Weddell Sea that ultimately sank it in November 1915.
popsci+1 - Despite the vessel's fatal flaws, Shackleton and all 28 crew members survived the disaster, and the wreck was discovered in 2022 at a depth of 3,000 meters by the Endurance22 expedition, of which Tuhkuri was a member.
iflscience+1
Study uncovers ancient origins of Egypt’s Karnak Temple
A groundbreaking geoarchaeological study published today has revealed how Egypt's legendary Karnak Temple evolved from a sacred island…
- Researchers from the University of Southampton and Uppsala University have conducted the most comprehensive geoarchaeological survey of Egypt's Karnak Temple, revealing it was built approximately 4,000 years ago during the Old Kingdom period as a sanctuary for the deity Amun-Ra.
msn+1 - The study, published in the journal Antiquity, analyzed 61 sediment cores and tens of thousands of ceramic fragments, confirming the site was unsuitable for occupation before 2520 BCE due to Nile flooding, with the earliest ceramic fragments dating between 2305 and 1980 BC.
msn+1 - The temple was deliberately constructed on an island of high ground emerging from river channels, mirroring the ancient Egyptian creation myth where the first land rose from primeval waters, making it an ideal location for worshipping the creator god.
msn+1 - Researchers discovered that ancient Egyptians actively shaped their environment by dumping desert sands into river channels to create new building land, while the annual flood cycle recreated the mythological creation scene as the temple mound appeared to rise from receding waters.
miragenews+1 - The findings resolve a long-standing archaeological debate by ruling out the theory that Karnak Temple could date back to 3000 BC, instead confirming the later date around 2000 BC at the UNESCO World Heritage site near Luxor.
msn+1