Quantcast
Channel: Business Insider
Viewing all 118226 articles
Browse latest View live

'Game of Thrones' star Emilia Clarke says she'd like to be the first female Bond

$
0
0

emilia clarke

"Game of Thrones" star Emilia Clarke is looking beyond riding her dragons on the HBO hit to slaying spies as the first female version of James Bond.

"I have a lot of unrealized dreams," Clarke recently told UK newspaper Daily Star. "I would love to play Jane Bond."

And as for the British actress' main Bond guy?

"My ultimate leading man would be Leonardo DiCaprio. No doubt about it," she said.

The "Thrones" star, who plays fan favorite Daenerys Targaryen, will not only have to compete against men for the honor of replacing current Bond Daniel Craig. She'll also be going up against a growing list of women.

Former Miss World and ABC's "Quantico" star Priyanka Chopra has thrown her hat in the ring. And fans of "The Fall" and "The X-Files" actress Gillian Anderson have started a petition to get her into the role.

Reportedly, "Spectre" might be Craig's fourth and final spin as the international spy.

SEE ALSO: Priyanka Chopra says she doesn't want to be a Bond Girl — she wants to be the next James Bond

DON'T MISS: Emilia Clarke says she wants 'equality' for male and female nudity on 'Game of Thrones'

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: 4 things you might have missed on this week’s 'Game of Thrones'


The best movies and TV shows coming to Amazon, iTunes, Hulu, and more in June

$
0
0

zootopia hopps disney

As the official start of summer inches closer, it's time to get the AC cranked up and start thinking of all the movies you can watch indoors instead of sweating outside.

In June, there are many hit movies and TV shows coming to your favorite streaming services, including the Disney box-office smash "Zootopia," Matt Damon in "The Martian," and on the TV side, the new season of "UnReal" as well as the much-anticipated ESPN documentary "O.J.: Made in America."

Here's the complete list. We've highlighted some of our top picks you shouldn't miss in bold.

SEE ALSO: Stop what you're doing and watch these classic movies before they leave Netflix forever in June

iTunes

Available June 1

"Animal Kingdom" (Free Series Premiere)

Available June 6

"Feed the Beast" (Free Series Premiere)

Available June 7

"Midnight Special"
"Zootopia"
"My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2"
"Fathers and Daughters" (pre-theatrical)
"UnReal" (Season 2)

Available June 10

"Holy Hell" (same day as theaters)
"U2 Live in Paris"

Available June 12

"O.J." Made in America"

Available June 13

"Billions" 

Available June 14

"Knight of Cups"
"45 Years"
"Whiskey Tango Foxtrot"
"Eye In The Sky"

Available June 21

"The Divergent Series: Allegiant"
"Everybody Wants Some"

Available June 28

"Green Room"



Amazon Prime

Available June 1

"Apocalypse Now"
"Apocalypse Now: Redux" (2001)
"Carrie" (1976)
"Feed The Beast" (Season 1)
"The Good, The Bad And The Ugly"
"Runaway Bride"
"Wayne's World"
"The Golden Child"
"Mulholland Falls"
"Syriana"

Available June 3

"Rules of Attraction"

Available June 4

"Love & Mercy"

Available June 6

"Downton Abbey" (Season 6)
"UnReal" (Season 2)

Available June 7

"13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi"
"Hail, Caesar!"
"Zootopia"

Available June 13

"Mr Robot" (Season 1)

Available June 16

"Trumbo"

Available June 20

"The Good Wife" (Season 7)



Hulu

Available June 1

"Apocalypse Now"
"Apocalypse Now: Redux" (2001)
"The Black Stallion"
"Carrie"
"The Golden Child"
"The Good, The Bad and The Ugly"
"Midnight in Paris"
"Runaway Bride"
"Six Degrees of Separation"
"W."
"Wayne's World"
 
Available June 3

"Rules of Attraction"
 
Available June 4

"Love & Mercy"

Available June 11

"He Named Me Malala"
 
Available June 12

"30 for 30: OJ Made in America": Part 1 (Series Premiere)
 
Available June 20

"The Good Wife" (Complete Season 7)
 
Available June 24

"Elaine Stritch – Shoot Me" (2013)
 
Available June 26

"Rick and Morty" (Complete Season 2)



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

This pair of smart rings will stop you from 'Netflix cheating' on your significant other (NFLX)

$
0
0

cornetto rings

If you’re in a longterm relationship, chances are you have been, at one time or another, tempted to be unfaithful — specifically when it comes to binge-watching Netflix.

There are times when you know your partner is on episode five of a series, and you probably shouldn’t watch episode six, or seven, or eight, but you just do anyway. Once you are mid-binge, it can be hard to simply stop.

But Cornetto, the British ice cream company, has come up with a way to keep your relationship in harmony. The company has created “Commitment Rings,” which use NFC technology to make sure you are only watching a show when your partner is there.

Here’s how they work.

First, you can sign up to get a pair of rings from Cornetto (first-come first-serve). Once they arrive, you link the rings to a video streaming service for six months. The exact services are still being worked out, according to Fast Company, but let’s imagine Netflix and Hulu will be the big ones. Then you use an app Cornetto has created for the rings to choose which shows you and your partner want to watch together. These shows will then only play when the rings are physically close together.

Here’s a video explaining the project:

 

SEE ALSO: These 17 life hacks will change the way you use Gmail

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: The 7 best TV shows on Netflix you've probably never heard of

Katie Couric takes responsibility for 'misleading' part of gun violence documentary

$
0
0

Katie Couric

Katie Couric is owning up for her role in a "misleading" portion of a recent documentary about gun violence.

"I take responsibility for a decision that misrepresented an exchange I had with members of the Virginia Citizens Defense League," Couric said in a statement on Monday.

In the scene in question from Epix's "Under the Gun," a pause was added after Couric asked the members how guns could be be kept from terrorists and other dangerous people without a background check. The eight-second silence made it seem like the pro-gun rights activists were unable to answer or were stumped by the question.

The statement represents a shift for the Yahoo reporter's acceptance of fault surrounding the controversy. Previously, the documentary's director, Stephanie Soechtig, said that the pause was placed there to allow viewers time to absorb the question. She also said she didn't mean to "make anyone look bad." Couric told press at the time that she supported the director's statement.

Now, Couric says she has changed her mined. She has also released a transcript of the initial response from the gun rights activists.

Read her full statement below:

As Executive Producer of “Under the Gun,” a documentary film that explores the epidemic of gun violence, I take responsibility for a decision that misrepresented an exchange I had with members of the Virginia Citizens Defense League (VCDL). My question to the VCDL regarding the ability of convicted felons and those on the terror watch list to legally obtain a gun, was followed by an extended pause, making the participants appear to be speechless.

When I screened an early version of the film with the director, Stephanie Soechtig, I questioned her and the editor about the pause and was told that a "beat" was added for, as she described it, “dramatic effect," to give the audience a moment to consider the question. When VCDL members recently pointed out that they had in fact immediately answered this question, I went back and reviewed it and agree that those eight seconds do not accurately represent their response.

VCDL members have a right for their answers to be shared and so we have posted a transcript of their responses here. I regret that those eight seconds were misleading and that I did not raise my initial concerns more vigorously.

I hope we can continue to have an important conversation about reducing gun deaths in America, a goal I believe we can all agree on.

SEE ALSO: Katie Couric is looking to jump ship from Yahoo

DON'T MISS: 'Access Hollywood' cohost Billy Bush is officially moving to 'Today'

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Katie Couric learned to be a leader by following this humble advice from her mom

25 fascinating, intimate photos of cosplayers in their homes

$
0
0

klaus pichler Klaus Pichler, a 38-year-old Austrian photographer, is fascinated by the creation of alter egos through costumes, including the imitation of fictional characters called cosplay.

"In my opinion, [cosplay] is due to the growing pressure in the working world and the need to escape from this pressure by creating an alter ego which can be entered from time to time," Pichler told Business Insider.

In his photography series, "Just the Two of Us," Pichlercaptured elaborately costumed people pursuing everyday activities in their private homes. He used homes as the location for each photo because he felt it was the only way to show the real person and the alter ego in one shot.

"The design and style of a private living environment is a very personal decision and same goes for the decision to take on the identity of a certain costume," Pichler said.

Pichler's photography series is available for purchase on his website.

All photos republished with permission.

SEE ALSO: Inside Drake's $8 million mansion with a pool that puts Hugh Hefner to shame







See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Here are the actors vying to be the next James Bond, and who should get it

$
0
0

skyfall james bond daniel craig

With reporting that Daniel Craig turned down a contract to return as James Bond for two more movies, the talk of who will next play the famous spy with a license to kill has ratcheted up.

From unnamed sources revealing actors having secret meetings with Bond producers to fans forming petitions to get their favorites the job, there's no shortage of "news" on who could be 007.

Note: Craig hasn't come out and said that he's not coming back as Bond, nor has the studio that releases the movies, Sony, commented on Craig's status.

Here are nine actors who have gone on record and said that they want to play James Bond and why their talents would work for the iconic role. And we took an opinion in the matter.

SEE ALSO: The best movies and TV shows coming to Amazon, iTunes, Hulu, and more in June

1. Tom Hiddleston

He's got the look — though he might be a bit slim, especially compared to Craig — and the accent, and now he's reportedly talking with producers about playing Bond.

Tom Hiddleston has not been shy about taking over the role if he were asked, and it seems that might be already underway. Part of a large franchise playing Loki in the Marvel movies, Hiddleston has also shown that he can play characters of this world. He's received high marks starring as former British soldier Jonathan Pine in the AMC miniseries "The Night Manager."

Why he would be a good Bond: Hiddleston has proved he shines in the franchise setting — not just the on-camera commitment, but also the publicity song-and-dance. No doubt he would be a much more outgoing Bond than Craig.



2. Idris Elba

If the Bond franchise really wants to get with the times, then producers will give serious consideration to Elba.

Whether it's playing the strategic drug dealer "Stringer" Bell in "The Wire" or the genius detective in "Luther," Elba, who has been coy about the Bond talk, has a knack for playing tough guys with a subtle, cool manner that would fit perfectly in the Bond role.

Why he would be a good Bond: Not counting how historic it would be if a black actor got the role, there are just some men who have the right look in a tux, and Elba has it. We would totally spend the next five-plus years watching Elba chase down baddies around the world.



3. Priyanka Chopra

Speaking of historic casting ...

"Quantico" star Priyanka Chopra is not looking for a coveted Bond-girl role if asked. She wants the brass ring.

"F--- that — I wanna be Bond," she told Complex.

Casting a female in a franchise that's been extremely chauvinistic for decades would be a huge move.

Why she would be a good Bond: Chopra has proven on "Quantico" that she isn't shy to take the lead and play a tough, strong-willed character, a trait an actress would need to play the first-ever female Bond.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Amber Heard's lawyers deny blackmail of Johnny Depp: 'Amber is the victim. Amber is a hero.'

$
0
0

amber heard johnny depp getty final

Days after actress Amber Heard was granted a restraining order against estranged husband Johnny Depp, Heard's lawyers, Samantha F. Spector and cocounsel Joseph P. Koenig, are speaking out in defense of their client following reports that Heard did not give police a statement during an initial investigation.

"Amber did not provide a statement to the LAPD in an attempt to protect her privacy and Johnny’s career," the statement reads. "Johnny’s team has forced Amber to give a statement to the LAPD to set the record straight as to the true facts, as she cannot continue to leave herself open to the vicious false and malicious allegations that have infected the media."

Heard's lawyers say in the statement that their client's silence has been "used against her by Johnny's team." One story includes a claim by comedian Doug Stanhope that Heard is blackmailing Depp.

"Amber is simply a victim of domestic violence, and none of her actions are motivated by money," the statement says.

The statement also goes into the lengths Heard's team has gone to trying to keep the matter out of the public eye:

"From the beginning it has been Amber’s desire to keep this matter as private as possible, even though LAPD officers responded to a 911 call made by a third-party. The LAPD officers viewed not only the disarray that Johnny had caused in the apartment but also the physical injuries to Amber’s face. We filed the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage at the very end of the day on Monday May 23rd and we did not serve Johnny with the Petition at the premiere of 'Alice Through the Looking Glass' that evening. We sent a letter to Johnny’s counsel team the next morning making it clear we wanted to keep this matter out of the media. We then held off requesting a domestic violence restraining order as we knew that Johnny was out of the country."

The statement ends by saying, "Amber is the victim. Amber is a hero."

Depp and Heard were married for 15 months. Depp is ordered to stay 100 yards away from Heard at least until a hearing next month. Depp is currently out of the country promoting "Alice Through the Looking Glass."

Read the full statement by Heard's lawyers below:

"As the result of Amber’s decision to decline giving an initial statement to the LAPD, her silence has been used against her by Johnny’s team. Amber did not provide a statement to the LAPD in an attempt to protect her privacy and Johnny’s career. Johnny’s team has forced Amber to give a statement to the LAPD to set the record straight as to the true facts, as she cannot continue to leave herself open to the vicious false and malicious allegations that have infected the media. Amber has suffered through years of physical and psychological abuse at the hands of Johnny.

In domestic violence cases, it is not unusual for the perpetrator’s playbook to include miscasting the victim as the villain. In reality, Amber acted no differently than many victims of domestic violence, who think first of the harm that might come to the abuser, rather than the abuse they have already suffered. Amber can no longer endure the relentless attacks and outright lies launched against her character in the Court of Public Opinion since the tragic events of May 21st. With her statement Amber hopes to give the LAPD the opportunity to conduct an accurate and complete investigation into the events of that evening and before. If that occurs, and the truth is revealed, there is no doubt that Amber’s claims will be substantiated beyond any doubt, and hopefully Johnny will get the help that he so desperately needs.

From the beginning it has been Amber’s desire to keep this matter as private as possible, even though LAPD officers responded to a 911 call made by a third-party. The LAPD officers viewed not only the disarray that Johnny had caused in the apartment but also the physical injuries to Amber’s face. We filed the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage at the very end of the day on Monday May 23rd and we did not serve Johnny with the Petition at the premiere of Alice Through the Looking Glass that evening. We sent a letter to Johnny’s counsel team the next morning making it clear we wanted to keep this matter out of the media. We then held off requesting a domestic violence restraining order as we knew that Johnny was out of the country."

We took the high road. Unfortunately, Johnny’s team immediately went to the press and began viciously attacking Amber’s character. Amber is simply a victim of domestic violence, and none of her actions are motivated by money. Amber is a brave and financially independent woman who is showing the courage of her convictions by doing the right thing against Johnny’s relentless army of lawyers and surrogates.

The Family Law Court is not going to be influenced by misinformation placed in the social media based on anonymous sources. Amber is the victim. Amber is a hero.”

 

SEE ALSO: Disney execs are reportedly "not happy" with the "Star Wars" spin-off and have demanded reshoots

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: 4 important things you probably missed on this week's 'Game of Thrones'

'Game of Thrones' star Kit Harington says 'sexism toward men' exists in Hollywood

$
0
0

kit harington sexism hollywood getty

"Game of Thrones" star Kit Harington says that women aren't the only victims of sexism in Hollywood.

"I think there is a double standard," the British actor told the UK's Sunday Times. "If you said to a girl, 'Do you like being called a babe?' and she said, 'No, not really,' she'd be absolutely right.

"I like to think of myself as more than a head of hair or a set of looks," he added. "It’s demeaning. Yes, in some ways you could argue I’ve been employed for a look I have. But there’s a sexism that happens towards men. There’s definitely a sexism in our industry that happens towards women, and there is towards men as well... At some points during photo shoots when I’m asked to strip down, I felt that.”

The star's comments have definitely earned him some ribbing in the media.

Feminist news site Jezebel began its article about Harington's statements by correcting his use of the word "sexism": "I think what he is actually describing is feeling objectified, which certainly isn’t a phenomenon belonging to a single gender."

Vanity Fair summed up his statements with, "Harington really wants us to understand how hard it is to be pretty."

This isn't the first time Harington has spoken about being objectified. Last year, he told New York Post's Page Six that he found it demeaning to be called a "hunk." And the media threw elbows at him then, too.

SEE ALSO: 'Game of Thrones' star Emilia Clarke says she'd like to be the first female Bond

DON'T MISS: The 5 most talked-about moments from this week's 'Game of Thrones'

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: 4 things you might have missed on this week’s 'Game of Thrones'


Disney is making a new 'Mary Poppins' movie starring Emily Blunt

$
0
0

mary poppins

It's been 52 years since Julie Andrews starred in the timeless classic "Mary Poppins," and now Disney has announced that it's making a sequel.

Emily Blunt will play the no-nonsense nanny with the catchy songs in a sequel titled "Mary Poppins Returns," according to a press release sent out by Disney on Tuesday.

Also starring is creator of Broadway hit "Hamilton," Lin-Manuel Miranda, who will play a new character, a lamplighter named Jack.

According to the release, the story will take place in Depression-era London and follow Jane and Michael Banks — the kids whom Poppins looked over in the first movie, now grown — along with Michael’s three children. They're all visited once more by Poppins following a personal loss.

The film will be directed by Oscar nominee Rob Marshall ("Chicago," "Into the Woods") and come out on Christmas Day, 2018.

The original "Mary Poppins," released in 1964 and based on a series of children's books by P.L. Travers, was revolutionary for the time as it melded live action and animation. It went on to win Oscars for original score, special effects, and best actress for Andrews.

The film has a lifetime gross of over $100 million (that would be over $670 million by today's ticket prices).

SEE ALSO: Here are the stars of the new live-action "Beauty and the Beast" — and who they're playing

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Sacha Baron Cohen recounts his 2003 Trump interview: 'I was the first person actually to realize that he’s a d---'

'X-Men: Apocalypse' sets the stage for its most powerful mutant to be unleashed in future films

$
0
0

apocalypse x men

"X-Men: Apocalypse" pits a new class of young heroes against Apocalypse, the original mutant. Apocalypse can destroy entire cities with little more than a hand gesture and wants to destroy the planet and remake it with a new mutant world order where he rules as a god.

At his side are the Four Horsemen. Powerful in the own right, Apocalypse uses his abilities to strengthen them even further.

Given the high caliber of mutants onscreen in "Apocalypse," it comes as a huge shock when, in the last act, one character is revealed to have powers rivaling that of the ancient god.

Warning: There are spoilers ahead if you have not seen "X-Men: Apocalypse."

x-men apocalypse

Jean Grey.

She spends much of the film trying to repress her powers and is a quiet, but confident, tagalong for much of the movie. So when she steps onto the center stage and takes down the most powerful mutant, it's a shock.

As Xavier loses the battle in his own mind against Apocalypse, he cries out to Jean Grey, telling her: "Let go." Jean focuses her full strength onto Apocalypse and, emanating brilliant rays of light, lets out a piercing scream that literally melts the face off of Apocalypse.

His skin, muscles, and finally bones peel away and turn to ash. While he still has lips left to speak, he whispers aloud, "All is revealed." We know Jean struggled to control her powers, but how could she kill an ancient would-be god in only a few moments? And what does it mean for her future appearances?

Enter: the Dark Phoenix.

dark-phoenix

Jean tapped into the powers of the Phoenix Force to defeat Apocalypse. The Phoenix Force is sentient, cosmic energy of immeasurable power. In the comics, Jean comes into contact with the Phoenix Force while traveling through space, but in the films, she's born with the connection. As the name implies, the Phoenix has full power over life and death, and can destroy and absorb the solar energy of stars and planets.

Jean and the Phoenix Force are inseparable, yet as Jean taps into its strength, she loses herself to its appetite for destruction. In a comic event known as "The Dark Phoenix Saga," the Phoenix Force took full control of Jean and began devouring stars, killing thousands of people across the galaxy. This set off a series of intergalactic conflicts across multiple issues and established the Dark Phoenix as one of the most powerful enemies in Marvel history.

Given its status as such a revered character arc, fans are very cautious about how studios will approach showing Dark Phoenix on screen. With early speculation that an "Apocalypse" sequel may cover the "Dark Phoenix" arc, fans are hesitant that it may have been introduced too soon.

The original "X-Men" trilogy teased Dark Phoenix for two films before her appearance in the "X-Men: The Last Stand," but fans and critics agree that that version of the character was muddled and disappointing. How slowly or quickly Dark Phoenix is introduced isn't the issue — it's the execution. And if Jean's powers are already being teased, then it's better to address the storyline while it's fresh in audience's minds.

It remains to be seen how this storyline will be handled on screen, but Sophie Turner teased to Entertainment Weekly that Phoenix is key to the future of the franchise: "The seeds of Phoenix definitely are planted in there. There are definitely, like, bits and pieces, but I think in future movies to come we'll definitely see a bit more of that."

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Seth Rogen explains why Marvel is great at making sequels

Exclusive: Photos of Kerry Washington, Bobby Cannavale, and more for Immigrant Heritage Month

$
0
0

Cary Fukunaga and Guillermo Diaz

"True Detective" and "Beasts of No Nation" director Cary Fukunaga lent his time and talents to photographing and videotaping dozens of stars for the third annual Immigrant Heritage Month.

Julianne Moore, Lupita Nyong’o, Tracee Ellis Ross, Alan Cumming, and Rosario Dawson are among the more than 50 stars donning t-shirts with the hashtag #IAmAnImmigrant in partnership with Welcome.us for the month of June.

Business Insider is exclusively sharing a few of the photos from the campaign first.

Our photos include a behind-the-scenes photo of Fukunaga during "Scandal" star Guillermo Diaz's shoot, and the director's final photos for "Vinyl" star Bobby Cannavale and the cast of Hulu's "East Los High."

We also have the first look at celebrity photographer and director Kiino Villand's photo of "Scandal" leading lady Kerry Washington for the campaign.

Founded by Welcome.us three years ago, Immigration Heritage Month was officially recognized by President Obama in 2015.

"It’s a source of our strength and something we all can take pride in," the president said.

See our exclusive photos above and below.

 

SEE ALSO: A third season of 'True Detective' is probably not happening

DON'T MISS: John Oliver provides a step-by-step takedown of Donald Trump's 'serious' Mexican wall proposal

Kerry Washington (ABC's "Scandal")



Bobby Cannavale (HBO's "Vinyl")



The cast of Hulu's "East Los High" (Part 1)



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

'Star Wars' stars create hilarious fake auditions for the movie in new 'SNL' video

$
0
0

star wars auditions daisy ridely snl nbc

"Saturday Night Live" just released more footage from the hilarious "Star Wars" auditions sketch starring Daisy Ridley and John Boyega from last year.

The original video — which features the "Force Awakens" cast doing screen tests with "SNL" stars impersonating celebrities and actual stars, including Jon Hamm, Emma Stone, and Michael Buble — has more than 8 million views on YouTube.

In this new video, Matthew McConaughey throws his hat in the ring and tries to bring back Lando, who was played by Billy Dee Williams in "The Empire Strikes Back" and "Return of the Jedi." Plus, we get more footage from Stone and Hamm.

The "SNL" cast also step in with funny impersonations of Jennifer Lawrence (Vanessa Bayer), Shia LaBeouf (Kyle Mooney), singer Janelle Monae (Sasheer Zamata), and more.

Watch the bonus video below:

SEE ALSO: Viral video star 'Chewbacca Mom' got a huge 'Star Wars' surprise from James Corden

DON'T MISS: This 'SNL' star explains how she pretended to be a Scientologist to get a job

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Daisy Ridley's 'Star Wars' lightsaber training is intense

Sony is in a war over the rights to sell emoji merchandise for its new movie

$
0
0

confounded face emoji

Following the success of “Angry Birds,” the movie adaptation of the popular mobile game that knocked “Captain America: Civil War” off its box-office perch with a $39 million opening, Sony is confident that its emoji movie will have the same kind of success.

But the studio is in a battle over merchandise trademark rights, which could seriously affect the ancillary markets of the project, and even what Sony is legally allowed to title the movie.

Marco Husges, a former video game executive from Germany, has created more than 3,000 of his own emoji icons and trademarked and licensed them for use in an array of merchandise through his company The Emoji Co., according to The Hollywood Reporter.

And Husges believes Sony’s yet-to-be-titled emoji movie may be in violation of his trademarks.

"I am curious how Sony would want to produce a movie under that name and do accompanying merchandising, especially given the fact our brand has already been successfully established with license partners and retailers all over the world," Husges told THR. (Husges does not own the rights to the emoji icons that populate phones and social media.)

In October 2015, Sony filed an application for dozens of trademarks in connection with the film, and they were rejected in February, according to THR.

Regardless, Sony Pictures Animation president Kristine Belson said in April at CinemaCon that the studio has hired a licensing company for the emoji project.

Husges told THR that he has begun developing his own emoji projects for TV, movies, and the web. He’s even teamed with one of the producers of “The Lego Movie,” Roy Lee, to get some of them off the ground.

A Sony spokeswoman told THR: “We have full confidence in our rights as we make the film we’ve always intended to make.”

Sony's emoji movie is slated to be released in 2017.

SEE ALSO: Movie trailers have a new trick to keep you watching — and the people who make them hate it

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: 4 important things you probably missed on this week's 'Game of Thrones'

Here's why Disney is demanding reshoots of the 'Star Wars' spin-off

$
0
0

rogue one thumb final

After Tuesday’s news that the first-ever “Star Wars” spin-off, “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” will undergo four weeks of reshoots after Disney executives saw the movie and were “not happy” with the current version, new details have surfaced on what exactly was in the cut.

A source told The Hollywood Reporter that the movie didn’t have the “classic” feel of a “Star Wars” movie and that it felt more like “a war movie.”

The goal is to add in some fun to the adventure. That's something many movie studios want their tentpoles to have following the success of “Deadpool” and “Captain America: Civil War,” which both executed their action and drama with a lighthearted touch, and cashed in at the global box office to the tune of about $760 million and $1 billion, respectively.

Though not confirmed, reshoots could also open the door for a cameo from young Han Solo, a role recently handed to actor Alden Ehrenreich (“Hail, Caesar!”).

The source also told THR that “Rogue One” will literally end right before the events of the original “Star Wars.”

“This takes place just before ‘A New Hope’ and leads up to the 10 minutes before that classic film begins,” the source said.

If this is correct, the plans for the Death Star that Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones) and her team are after in "Rogue One" are the same plans that link Luke, Han, Leia, and Obi-Wan in the start of "A New Hope."

“Rogue One” opens in theaters December 16.

SEE ALSO: "Star Wars" stars create hilarious fake auditions for the movie in a new "SNL" video

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Bill Cosby will stand trial on sexual assault charges

YouTube is getting rid of one of its most useful tools, and you should check it out before it disappears (GOOGL)

$
0
0

Nearly every day when I get home from work, there’s one feature on YouTube I’ll regularly check out.

It’s called the YouTube Trends Map.

youtube trendsmap

Not only does it show you the top trending videos across the site, but it also shows you what videos are being watched the most in different parts of the country.

Even cooler? 

You can see what videos people are watching on YouTube across the country according to age group and sex, and you can organize videos by most views or shares. It’s a pretty handy tool if you want to spot a video before it starts going super viral or to find a fun video to wind down after a long day.

trends map youtubetrendsmap 1

So I was incredibly bummed when I noticed late last week that YouTube would be phasing out Trends Map.

trendsmap youtube

It’s a bit of a perplexing decision. Trends Map was first introduced in 2013 and works as an effective way to see how a video travels through the web across gender and age groups. 

As a data junkie, I found it fascinating to see whether people in California were watching different videos than those in New York and the center of the country. 

Over time, I noticed young male teens are often obsessed with Pewdiepie’s gaming videos while teenage girls are more likely to be watching a new music video. I watched as viral videos would start off being shared across the younger age groups and sometimes wouldn't make their way to the older demographics until several days later. 

Now that Trends Map is practically gone, YouTube has suggested I head over to its “trending” page, but it’s not the same. 

All this shows me is a feed of “trending” videos. Nothing on the trending page is broken down by age group or gender. It’s just a giant scrolling feed of videos. I’ll be less likely to head here every day. Though it’s slightly helpful, it’s a lot less organized. It’s just one large video feed.

youtube trending

Maybe that’s the point. Maybe Google and YouTube want to keep this data internal.

But until Trends Map is gone, you should check it out at least once. It’ll probably blow your mind and you may find something enjoyable to view you wouldn’t have otherwise.

Tech Insider has reached out to YouTube about why it's phasing out the Trends Map.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: The Big Bang is not the beginning of our universe — it’s actually the end of something else entirely


You haven't heard of these weird little earphones, but they're a great value

$
0
0

RJA alfa genus v2If you spend a significant chunk of time with your headphones, it’s worth paying for something higher-end.

They don’t have to be swanky, but spending just a little bit more on a good pair of cans will usually open new doors, both in terms of sound quality and durability.

After testing many pairs that cost anywhere from $100 to $2,000, I know I’ve personally ruined any chance I had of going back to the old Apple EarPods.

If you just can’t drop the cash for something explicitly nice, though, there are a few relatively affordable pairs that’ll at least get good value out of that smaller investment. I’ve reviewed a couple before, but today brings another worthy choice in the Rock Jaw Alfa Genus V2.

I know what you’re thinking: What? Even among enthusiasts, UK-based Rock Jaw Audio isn’t a household name, and “Alfa Genus V2” doesn’t roll off the tongue the way “Beats by Dre” might. But for £45 (or $66, but usually less if you look around), they mix a mature design with strong, surprisingly versatile performance. That should make them particularly appealing to audio nerds looking for a travel-friendly complement to more premium models.

RJA alfa genus v2The Alfas’ dark grey buds aren’t all that flashy, but their smooth, aluminum finish feels more substantial than most in-ears you’ll find for less than $100. While that metal gives them a little more heft than the typical plastic earbuds, they also don’t come off as outright heavy. In general, the earphones are comfortable; I’ve worn them for hours at a time without much of any struggle. A five-pack of extra eartips should help those who’re less fortunate.

Most of the other basics are fine enough: The rubber cable is sturdy and not easily tangled (even if it can get a pinch noisy at its worst); there’s a play/pause button and an exceptionally clear mic built in (though no volume controls, which is a pain); and they neither leak nor let in too much noise (with the music going.) The only thing to stress is that these are not for working out: They aren’t sweat resistant, and the buds tended to slide ever so slightly out of my ears after jerkier movements. They’re for listening, first and foremost, on the bus, while walking, or at your desk.

That much is obvious when you consider the trio of “tuning filters” Rock Jaw throws in the box. That’s the big, nerdy hook here: You can pseudo-customize the Alfas’ sound based on which tiny piece of hardware you screw in over its drivers. If you mostly dig hip-hop and EDM, twist on the silver filters to get bigger bass. If you’re in more of an acoustic, singer-songwriter mood, the black filters sculpt the sound to emphasize treble. If you prefer a more balanced signature, the champagne pair does that. All of these take seconds to install.

RJA alfa genus v2More importantly, they do what they set out to do. They’re not quite like having three headphones in one, but the differences are noticeable enough for me to float the idea out there. Either way, the sound is better than the price suggests. There’s good detail, imaging, and spaciousness throughout, and the natural filters give a particularly pleasant, accurate sound (for the money) without being totally boring. You lose some low-end depth with the treble filters, naturally, and the bass filters can get boomy at points, but neither feels obnoxiouslycolored in one direction.

Now, will everyone want to swap out filters based on what they’re feeling on a given day? Probably not. But merely having the option makes Alfas more versatile than most earphones, let alone ones that cost less than $70. (And the natural filters alone would be worth the price of admission.) Higher-end pairs will still get you a more defined, lusher sound, but if you’re into music (and on a budget), don’t be afraid to give the Alfa Genus V2 a shot.

SEE ALSO: These are the best noise-cancelling headphones

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Sorry Apple fans — the iPhone 7 is going to be boring

Jay Z fires back at a conservative critic of Beyoncé and brags about avoiding taxes

$
0
0

jay z

Jay Z is getting a lot off his chest in guest verses these days.

The rap legend recently used a remix of a Fat Joe song to address his wife Beyoncé's "Lemonade" album and its much-discussed potential meaning about infidelity in their marriage. He rapped: "You know you made it when the fact / Your marriage made it is worth millions / Lemonade is a popular drink and it still is / Survival of the littest."

Now he's going off on a conservative critic of Beyoncé in a just-released Pusha T song, "Drug Dealers Anonymous," with Jay Z rapping at the end. The song includes an audio recording of conservative host Tomi Lahren from TheBlaze.

In the original video that went viral (it has about nine million views as of this writing), Lahren criticizes Beyoncé for her Black Panther-referencing Super Bowl performance and says, "Your husband was a drug dealer. For 14 years, he sold crack cocaine."

Apparently the line got under Jay's skin enough for him to include it in the new song and add his reaction. You can read the full lyrics here, but he raps:

Google me baby, you crazy
'89 in London pull the Benz up
Type it in, Google’s your friend bruh
14-year drug dealer and still counting
Who deserves the Medal of Freedom is my accountant
He been hula hooping through loopholes, working around s---
IRS should’ve had the townhouses surrounded
Thanks to the lawyers
I marbled the foyer
I tore the floor up
Yeah, that’s for Koi fish

So essentially Jay Z, while admitting to his drug-dealing past, says he never stopped hustling — "14-year drug dealer and still counting." But now his hustle is music. He gives a funny shoutout to a photo of him in London in 1989 when he was launching his rap career.

He also claims his lawyers have helped him jump through loopholes to evade the IRS and keep his money. ("Thanks to the lawyers/I marbled the foyer.")

But Jay Z might also just be bragging to get back at the conservative host, and not actually admitting to dodging the IRS — unless he really feels that invincible.

You can listen to the full song via Tidal.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Bill Cosby will stand trial on sexual assault charges

6 revealing new photos from the next episode of 'Game of Thrones'

$
0
0

Margaery Olenne Tyrell Game of Thrones Helen Sloan

Warning: Spoilers ahead for "Game of Thrones" season six.

The upcoming seventh episode of "Game of Thrones" season six is "The Broken Man," and based on the epic teaser, it's going be a great hour of television.

With Margaery Tyrell out of prison and back at the Red Keep, things are going to get interesting between her grandmother Olenna and Cersei Lannister. Plus, we have a lot of action in the Riverlands with Jaime and Bronn reunited, and Brynden "The Blackfish" Tully standing up to them.

Scroll down for a look at the six images released by HBO.

Arya looks out over Braavos. The episode description says that she's making a plan. Hopefully, that plan involves getting the Waif off her back and heading to Westeros again.



Margaery is re-crowned and reunited with her grandmother, Olenna. Septa Unella is still standing guard over her ... perhaps to keep Margaery faithful to the Seven.



Olenna is going to have some words with Cersei. This whole mess started with Cersei giving the High Sparrow an army.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

'Game of Thrones' videos are huge on Pornhub, and HBO is trying to take them down

$
0
0

game of thrones season three finale Daenerys

HBO's war on online piracy includes a porn site.

According to British newspaper The Sun, HBO's legal department has issued requests for pornography video platform Pornhub to take down any scenes from the hit fantasy drama.

An HBO spokesperson told Business Insider, "HBO is aware of the issue and is in the process of getting material taken down from Pornhub."

Demand for "Thrones"-related videos on the site, including explicit scenes from the show and pornographic parodies, has been growing. Pornhub reports that in the days surrounding the season-six premiere on April 24, "Game of Thrones"-related searches went up 370% compared to their average search levels.

Meanwhile, Pornhub has seen a drop in traffic during "Game of Thrones" episode airings. Its overall site traffic (over 60 million daily visitors, according to Pornhub) went down 4% during the sixth-season premiere. And the traffic continues to fall, with a 5% traffic decrease during the current season's fourth episode.

The top four most-searched characters on Pornhub, in order of ranking, are Daenerys (Emilia Clarke), Margaery (Natalie Dormer), Shae (Sibel Kekilli), and Cersei (Lena Headey).

As for men, Pornhub reported that "there were too few searches for male performers to rank in comparison to females, 'Jon Snow' did come close."

Pornhub didn't immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment.

SEE ALSO: 'Game of Thrones' star Kit Harington says 'sexism toward men' exists in Hollywood

DON'T MISS: The 5 most talked-about moments from this week's 'Game of Thrones'

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: 4 things you might have missed on this week’s 'Game of Thrones'

Amazon Video is making a big push into Japan (AMZN)

$
0
0

Amazon VideoThis story was delivered to BI Intelligence "Digital Media Briefing" subscribers. To learn more and subscribe, please click here.

Amazon Prime Video is doubling down on local content for its Prime Video service in Japan, Bloomberg reports.

Of the 40 original global content productions that Amazon has planned this year, 20 will be Japanese, according to Amazon Studios chief Roy Price. Meanwhile, the company has just unveiled a dozen original shows that will be released exclusively to Prime members in Japan, including several manga TV series, remakes of cult classic Japanese superheroes, “Ultraman Orb” and “Kamen Rider," and a host of other Japanese programming. 

Japan is one of the largest SVOD market opportunities in APAC. Almost 10 million Japanese households used SVOD services in 2015, and this number is expected to double by 2020, according to Digital TV Research. These figures peg Japan as the largest SVOD market, ahead of South Korea and China, although China is expected to overtake Japan in 2016 to be the regional market leader, according to a separate study by Digital TV Research.

However, China's strict controls on foreign-owned media make it a tough market to break into, unlike Japan. Amazon debuted Prime Video in Japan in August 2015, and already counted around 3 million Prime members at the launch date, according to Morgan Stanley estimates cited by Variety.   

Amazon is ramping up its Japanese content to compete for market share in Japan in the following sectors:

  • Online video streaming. Some of Amazon’s rivals in this space in Japan include Avex, Netflix, and Hulu. Avex runs dTV, one of the country’s biggest video streaming services with 120,000 titles and over 5.5 million subscribers. Netflix launched in Japan in September 2015, and intends for local content to make up at least 40% of its catalog in the country, according to Bloomberg. Hulu debuted in Japan in 2011, but lackluster results prompted a sell-off to Japan’s Nippon TV. While the company is not yet profitable, it had around 1.3 million paid subscribers as of March, is targeting another 360,000 this year,according to Nikkei. The company aims to breakeven in 2017. 
  • E-commerce. Building out Prime Video’s Japanese content can act as a draw to Amazon's platform as a whole, and help drive signups for Prime. This would allow Amazon to be more competitive against leading Japanese e-commerce players like Rakuten and Yahoo Japan Shopping. These three companies represent around 50% of Japanese annual e-commerce revenue, according to Practical Ecommerce. Meanwhile, the Alibaba subsidiary Taobao recently toppled Amazon as the most popular marketplace in terms of number of visitors, according to Practical Ecommerce.

The rise of subscription video on-demand services such as Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video have led some to question how long traditional pay-TV can survive.

Margaret Boland, research analyst for BI Intelligence, Business Insider's premium research service, has compiled a detailed report on subscription video on-demand services that examines how the growth of SVOD is coming at the expense of the pay-TV industry. The report analyzes the state of the pay-TV industry and maps out which demographics are more likely to stop buying traditional TV packages.

The report also discusses the user base, original content offerings, and subscription models of the major subscription streaming services available today, including Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Video. Finally, it looks at how traditional pay-TV companies and premium channels like HBO and Showtime are addressing the shift to digital viewing, as well as the implications of their response for advertisers.

  • Those abandoning pay-TV packages fall into three main groups: cord-nevers, cord-cutters, and cord-shavers. Whereas video streaming services have found favor with younger viewers in particular, an increasing portion of older subscribers also are leaving behind their pay-TV packages. Still, younger viewers watch four times as much video content online than older viewers.
  • Netflix is the largest SVOD service and will continue to dominate the industry with an impressive original content lineup and aggressive expansion plans.
  • Amazon is trying to compete with Netflix by investing significant resources in original content.
  • Hulu is the third-largest SVOD service, but the only one to offer ad-supported membership tiers. Hulu has been the slowest to roll out original and exclusive content, but it has inked numerous deals in the past year to boost its content library.
  • Pay-TV companies are responding to the rise of SVOD services by offering subscribers "skinny bundles" and their own streaming services.

In full, the report:

  • Illustrates the fall of the traditional TV package and the rise of broadband only cable subscriptions.
  • Lays out the different types of viewers that are leaving behind pay-TV: cord-cutters, cord-shavers, and cord-nevers.
  • Examines the leading SVOD services including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and premium channel offerings from HBO and Showtime.
  • Explains the various ways that pay-TV companies are responding to the rise of SVOD services, notably skinny bundles and standalone streaming services.
  • Considers what the migration to SVOD services means to marketers.

To get your copy of this invaluable guide, choose one of these options:

  1. Subscribe to an ALL-ACCESS Membership with BI Intelligence and gain immediate access to this report AND over 100 other expertly researched deep-dive reports, subscriptions to all of our daily newsletters, and much more. >> START A MEMBERSHIP
  2. Purchase the report and download it immediately from our research store. >> BUY THE REPORT

The choice is yours. But however you decide to acquire this report, you’ve given yourself a powerful advantage in your understanding of subscription video on-demand services.

Join the conversation about this story »

Viewing all 118226 articles
Browse latest View live