Kathleen Kennedy Says A New ‘Star Wars’ Franchise Film Would Arrive 2025 At The Very Earliest

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor Semafor, the digital new startup launched last fall, announced that it has raised $19 million in a new financing round, bringing its total raised to $34 million. The New York-based company was co-founded by Ben Smith, previously media columnist for the New York Times and editor in chief of BuzzFeed News, and Justin B. Smith, former CEO of Bloomberg Media Group. (The two are not related.) Semafor said the additional investments are an extension on the same terms of the company’s previous financing round. The new total also takes into account the repurchase of the approximately $10 million in funds from Sam Bankman-Fried, the former CEO of cryptocurrency company FTX whom federal prosecutors have charged with fraud, money laundering and campaign finance offenses. The funding from Bankman-Fried will be returned to FTX creditors as directed by officials, according to Semafor.

Carmelo Anthony has decided to retire from the NBA after 19 seasons. The 38-year-old baller made the announcement on Monday through social media, with a beautiful video that was shot by his longtime friend, Lebron James. “I remember the days when I had nothing, just a ball on a court and a dream of something more,” he says over old footage of him playing.Una publicación compartida por Carmelo Anthony (@carmeloanthony)In the touching statement, Carmelo says his legacy is his son, Kiyan, who is a top high school prospect. He has a score of 84 for “Scout Grade” on ESPN and is class of 2025.

Natalie Portman is looking back on her “Star Wars” era.

Lucasfilm Boss Kathleen Kennedy was asked at the Cannes presser for Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny to give her opinion as to how she’d like to see the standoff between AMPTP and WGA resolved.

Zack Sharf Digital News Director Lucasfilm chief Kathleen Kennedy showed support for the writers strike while attending the Cannes press conference for “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.” Kennedy has been a producer on the Harrison Ford-led franchise since its first installment. “When it comes to acknowledging the importance of writing, I think everybody up here has demonstrated that you can’t do any of this without great writing,” Kennedy said. “You can’t do any of this without great writing. All of us who create anything…I am in full support and I know most people are in full support of the writers getting what they deserve.” Kennedy said she’d like to see the strike resolved “in an environment where people can talk about what are some really complicated issues that are effecting the entire industry,” but it’s “going to take time.”

Brent Lang Executive Editor Drafthouse Films has acquired three films that it will release theatrically in U.S. theaters followed by digital releases across major streaming platforms.  They include “Mister Organ,” a documentary from journalist and filmmaker David Farrier, whose 2016 film “Tickled” explored the dark underbelly of “competitive endurance tickling,” will be released in theaters this fall. As he turns his camera on another stranger than fiction story, Farrier finds himself caught in an increasingly dangerous game of cat and mouse with a mysterious character who expertly manipulates the lives of anyone who dares to expose his secrets. The film, Produced by Ant Timpson and Firefly Films’ Emma Slade and Alex Reed, was a critical and audience favorite at Fantastic Fest 2022, and has become a box office hit in Farrier’s native New Zealand.

Maren Morris was honored at the 2023 GLAAD Media Awards New York with the Excellence in Media Award. The singer-songwriter took the stage to accept the award and recalled her feud with former Fox News star Tucker Carlson.

Lucasfilm, has announced a new trading card game, Star Wars: Unlimited.Star Wars: Unlimited is set to release in 2024 described as a fast-paced, dynamic game that is easy to learn, but strategically deep. The trading card game will feature iconic heroes from the Star Wars universe, including already confirmed heroes like Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Leia Organa and more; as well as villains like Darth Vader.Players can also expect ships and settings seen across the franchise – including from the various television series, comic books and video games, as well as the films.Announcing STAR WARS: Unlimited, a trading card game of unlimited possibilities!Join the clash between heroes and villains from across the STAR WARS galaxy! Learn more: https://t.co/Uc7UBwL0dN pic.twitter.com/Rhx0ktQmEN— Star Wars: Unlimited by FFG (@UnlimitedFFG) May 9, 2023“Ensuring this game was accessible to all players was key for us, so whether you are a casual player, competitor, or collector, there’s something for everyone in this game,” said Jim Cartwright, product strategy director.

Ethan Shanfeld As she stares down the barrel of an 11-year prison sentence, Theranos fraudster Elizabeth Holmes unveiled her new persona — Liz Holmes, the remorseful and soft-spoken mother of two — in an interview with The New York Times. In the profile, which received backlash online by those critical of the paper’s willingness to give Holmes a platform, the Theranos founder reflected on how the media has portrayed her. Amanda Seyfried won an Emmy for playing Holmes in the Hulu miniseries “The Dropout,” and Jennifer Lawrence was set to embody the same role in a movie directed by Adam McKay. She has since dropped out of the project. “They’re not playing me,” Holmes said of the actors who have donned her signature black turtleneck and red lipstick. “They’re playing a character I created.”

Marc Malkin Senior Film Awards, Events & Lifestyle Editor Judd Apatow thinks the studios and streamers already have an idea of when the writers strike may end. “I think they probably already know what they’re going to bend on,” Apatow told Variety Saturday at the Rock4EB benefit in Malibu. “I would assume they already know what date this is going to end. They’ve probably been planning this for years.” The writer-director reflected comments heard on picket lines in Los Angeles and New York after talks cratered between the Writers Guild of America and Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers and the writers union began to strike Tuesday. Apatow explained that he sees the strike as a calculated business move by Hollywood’s largest employers.

May the Fourth be with you, “Star Wars” fans. In honor the “Star Wars Day,” Disney+ has two new “Star Wars” series premiering on the streamer today, along with new trailers for each to build up hype.

Zack Sharf Digital News Director Anthony and Joe Russo conquered the Marvel Cinematic Universe with the record-breaking blockbuster “Avengers: Endgame” (their fourth Marvel movie after “Captain America: The Winter Solider,” “Captain America: Civil War” and “Avengers: Infinity War”), and it turns out the “Star Wars” franchise could’ve been next. During an appearance on the “Smartless” podcast (via Total Film magazine), Joe Russo confirmed that the brothers had early talks about signing on for Marvel president Kevin Feige’s “Star Wars” movie. The project has since been shelved. “We love ‘Star Wars,'” Joe Russo said. “Kevin Feige is a huge ‘Star Wars’ fan, and there were some early conversations about maybe teaming up with Kevin to do ‘Star Wars.'”

May the Fourth be with you, “Star Wars” fans. And with three upcoming films announced at last months Star Wars Celebration, the “Star Wars” universe has plenty to be excited about on the holiday this year.

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor Grogu, better known to his legion of fans as Baby Yoda from Disney+’s “The Mandalorian,” has infiltrated the Googleplex. Type “Grogu” or “Baby Yoda” into the Google Search bar — and the diminutive creature appears in the lower right-hand section of the screen. When you click or tap on Grogu, he commences to use The Force… and knocks out the top section of the search results. If you keep clicking on him, he continues to dismantle the Google Search page. Grogu stars alongside Pedro Pascal in Disney+ original series “The Mandalorian,” which just finished its Season 3 run on the streamer, and the toddler also appears in “The Book of Boba Fett.” (Before he was identified by name, Grogu was simply called “The Child.”)

Do you folks remember, not that long ago, during Star Wars Celebration, when Kathleen Kennedy told the press that Kevin Feige was never really attached to a “Star Wars” film and it was just the fandom that made it all up? She actually said, “We never discussed an idea,” and basically, gaslit everyone into thinking it was all a rumor. Of course, we know that’s not true because Feige talked about it, Michael Waldron talked about being hired to write a script, and now, we have the Russo Brothers, who not only confirm that Feige was working on a “Star Wars” film with Lucasfilm but that they were discussing possibly signing on to direct.

Jennifer Lopez is one of the many A-Listers in at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City for the Meg Gala. This year’s theme is Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty which will act as the dress code for the evening.

happens in New York, but Rihanna's not around to attend it, did it even happen? Thank God we didn't have to find a way to answer that question, because the queen is here! She was so late, but she's here!Rihanna hit the iconic steps at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on Monday, May 1 in a look that will be hard to top next year—even for . The expecting mom, who during her performance at the Super Bowl halftime show earlier this year, arrived in what is essentially a white cocoon of rosettes.

Kim Kardashian has arrived. After short-lived rumors that Kim would not be invited to the Met Gala, the billionaire is at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Kim told Vogue she took shots before hitting the red carpet with her sisters.

New York Times.Citing two people with knowledge of the company’s operations, the Times said a bankruptcy filing could arrive in the coming weeks, but that Vice is still hoping a buyer will swoop in to avert it.

Anna Wintour is making fashion’s big night a family affair!