Trump: Jussie Smollett Case a ‘Disgrace to Our Nation’ - Variety

April 27, 2019 8:15PM PT

During a campaign rally in Green Bay, Wisconsin on Saturday night, Donald Trump called Jussie Smollett a “third-rate actor” whose highly-publicized case was a “disgrace to our Nation.”

“It’s MAGA country,” he told the crowd. “I didn’t hear that term until that third rate actor in Chicago went out and said I was beaten up by MAGA country, can you believe it?”

“Turned out to be a total lie,” he added.

Trump spoke as the White House Correspondents’ Dinner took place in Washington, D.C., an event he has skipped the past two years.

Smollett had been indicted on 16 charges in February for falsely claiming he had been the victim of a racial and homophobic attack, in which he alleged the attackers yelled “This is MAGA country.”

Chicago’s State Attorney controversially dropped all charges against the actor to the surprise of the city’s police officials and mayor, Rahm Emanuel, who called it an “abomination of justice.”

Related

On Wednesday, Smollett’s “Empire” co-stars Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson signed a letter defending the embattled actor, along with other key cast members: “He is innocent…he is honest,” they wrote. Read the full letter here.

Leave a Reply

Want to read more articles like this one? Subscribe to Variety Today.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

https://variety.com/2019/politics/news/trump-jussie-smollett-case-a-disgrace-to-our-nation-1203199606/

2019-04-28 03:15:00Z
52780278966798

Avengers Endgame Spoilers: Who Is The Kid At The End? - GameSpot

Now that the world is seeing Avengers: Endgame in record numbers, the final installment of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Infinity Saga, there are many questions to be answered. And that's before you consider what happens from here in the MCU. We know some of the movies still to come, but how will Marvel Studios top what it has already done? Warning: The following contains spoilers for Avengers: Endgame.

While most of the questions you have will likely be answered with time, there's some we can solve right now, whether it's if there was a post-credits scene or what the ending of the film means. However, there's yet another question--a minor one, but still--that is ready to be answered.

Toward the end of the film, during Tony Stark's (Robert Downey Jr.) funeral, many of those he's has known throughout the first decade of the MCU are seen, from his fellow Avengers to the Guardians of the Galaxy, to even friends like Aunt May (Marisa Tomei) and Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson). There was one face in the crowd you might not have recognized, though: that of a teenage boy. At a glance, you may have dismissed him as being Peter Parker (Tom Holland), but the answer is actually a really nice Easter Egg.

The boy is Harley Keener (Ty Simpkins). You should remember him as Tony Stark's kid sidekick in Iron Man 3. In the 2013 film, Tony winds up in Tennessee after an attack by the Mandarin (Ben Kingsley), where he befriends Harley. The kid then helps him track down the Mandarin and plays a big role in helping Tony cope with the PTSD he's suffering from due to the fallout of the first Avengers film.

Harley was not seen or mentioned in the MCU after Iron Man 3, but including him in Tony's funeral is a very nice touch--and one that shows the impact Stark had on the young man. In fact, now that he's growing up, perhaps Harley could be a candidate to become the next Iron Man. That probably won't happen, but what a fun twist it would be. Regardless, the mystery is solved.

Avengers: Endgame is in theaters now. Made sure to check out GameSpot's review of the film, as well as an accounting of everyone who dies, and a deep dive into figuring out Dr. Strange's plan between Infinity War and Endgame.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

https://www.gamespot.com/articles/avengers-endgame-who-is-that-kid-at-the-end/1100-6466505/

2019-04-27 22:54:00Z
52780274514077

Avengers Endgame Spoilers: Who Is The Kid At The End? - GameSpot

Now that the world is seeing Avengers: Endgame in record numbers, the final installment of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Infinity Saga, there are many questions to be answered. And that's before you consider what happens from here in the MCU. We know some of the movies still to come, but how will Marvel Studios top what it has already done? Warning: The following contains spoilers for Avengers: Endgame.

While most of the questions you have will likely be answered with time, there's some we can solve right now, whether it's if there was a post-credits scene or what the ending of the film means. However, there's yet another question--a minor one, but still--that is ready to be answered.

Toward the end of the film, during Tony Stark's (Robert Downey Jr.) funeral, many of those he's has known throughout the first decade of the MCU are seen, from his fellow Avengers to the Guardians of the Galaxy, to even friends like Aunt May (Marisa Tomei) and Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson). There was one face in the crowd you might not have recognized, though: that of a teenage boy. At a glance, you may have dismissed him as being Peter Parker (Tom Holland), but the answer is actually a really nice Easter Egg.

The boy is Harley Keener (Ty Simpkins). You should remember him as Tony Stark's kid sidekick in Iron Man 3. In the 2013 film, Tony winds up in Tennessee after an attack by the Mandarin (Ben Kingsley), where he befriends Harley. The kid then helps him track down the Mandarin and plays a big role in helping Tony cope with the PTSD he's suffering from due to the fallout of the first Avengers film.

Harley was not seen or mentioned in the MCU after Iron Man 3, but including him in Tony's funeral is a very nice touch--and one that shows the impact Stark had on the young man. In fact, now that he's growing up, perhaps Harley could be a candidate to become the next Iron Man. That probably won't happen, but what a fun twist it would be. Regardless, the mystery is solved.

Avengers: Endgame is in theaters now. Made sure to check out GameSpot's review of the film, as well as an accounting of everyone who dies, and a deep dive into figuring out Dr. Strange's plan between Infinity Was and Endgame.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

https://www.gamespot.com/articles/avengers-endgame-who-is-that-kid-at-the-end/1100-6466505/

2019-04-27 22:22:00Z
52780274514077

Sorry folks, but Idris Elba is officially married - CNN

Written by Katie Polglase, CNN

Womp, womp. ...

Idris Elba broke millions of hearts Friday when he married model Sabrina Dhowre in a secret ceremony in Morocco.

The ceremony took place at Ksar Char-Bagh, a luxury hotel in Marrakech, the hotel's special events manager Gigi Saadani told CNN. The wedding was covered exclusively by Vogue magazine for its July edition, and photographs of the event were published online Saturday.

The celebration lasted for three days and included a "colours of the Souk"-themed dinner for friends and family, Vogue reported. Elba, 46, wore a bespoke suit by designer Ozwald Boateng, while Dhowre, 29, wore a dress by Vera Wang, the magazine said.

Boateng celebrated the couple on Instagram: "Congratulations to my brother Idris Elba and his beautiful wife Sabrina Dhowre so happy for you."

Dhowre, an American model, was named Miss Vancouver in 2014. She met Elba on the set of "The Mountain Between Us" in 2017. The following year, Elba surprised Dhowre by popping the question at a film screening in London.

The British actor, who has been married twice before, first shot to fame on the small screen, starring in "The Wire" and "Luther." The latter earned him a Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild Award and four Emmy nominations.

He began his film career in 2005, starring in "American Gangster," "Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom," "Beasts of No Nation" and "Molly's Game."

The heartthrob was named People's "Sexiest Man Alive" in 2018.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

https://www.cnn.com/style/article/idris-elba-married-sabrina-dhowre/index.html

2019-04-27 18:47:53Z
52780278410873

Avengers: Endgame -- 22 things I learned from Marvel's epic opus - CNET

There's a lot going on in Avengers: Endgame. A lot. It's packed with whos and wheres and whens wrapping up a decade of Marvel Cinematic Universe continuity, so there's no wonder we have a lot of opinions and more than a few questions.

But here are 22 things I definitely learned -- one for each of the movies in the MCU up to this point.

Warning: Spoilers ahoy!

Marvel Studios

Did we mention spoilers? OK, you've been advised, here we go...

1. Captain Marvel is busy elsewhere. There's a lot of universe out there, and that's apparently more important than literally time traveling to save the universe. Look, she's just busy, OK?
2. Ant-Man's first word in Endgame is "Hope?"
   
3. As is traditional for the Russo brothers, the film has a number of cameos from the much-loved sitcom Community on which the directors cut their teeth. In Endgame, Ken Jeong plays a security guard, while Yvette Nicole Brown is a SHIELD employee.
4. We can learn a lot about you based on when you chose to go to the bathroom during Endgame. I went while Thor had a heart-to-heart with his mom. My wife went when the punching started.
5. Even Marvel doesn't expect you to remember The Dark World. That rambling speech Thor made about how his ex Jane encountered an Infinity Stone was pretty funny, but let's face it: you really needed the reminder.
6. The MCU still has no love for Netflix. The Avengers invited all hands on deck and still didn't call Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage or Iron Fist (even the Punisher might have come in handy).
7. There are no other scientists on earth. There's just Tony Stark and Hulk Banner, even though it isn't even their area of expertise and they're only geniuses when there's no space aliens around. There isn't even anyone to stand and look at the dials while they jump through time.
8. Come on, you know you're going to pause the Blu-ray to read the names on the memorial.
9. Cap shaving his beard signals a clean slate as he tries to move on with his life, while Hawkeye gets a mohawk and questionable tattoo to show he's all edgy now. Captain Marvel's haircut signifies that... er... she's fierce?
10. Superheroes spend a lot of time fighting crime, but not in the MCU. We've seen them fight space aliens, international techno-terrorists, mythical frost elves and Nazis, but it's rare we've seen anyone in the MCU actually go out and bust some honest-to-goodness criminals. Although Ronin -- Hawkeye with hang-ups -- takes vigilantism a bit far.



Marvel

11. Tony Stark is a mass murderer. Yes, Thanos and Obsidian Maw and their chums weren't very nice, but two wrong snaps don't make a right.
    
12. Black Widow's father's name was Ivan. She learned that just before she died, sadly -- but could this factoid be a setup for her forthcoming movie to be a prequel?
13. It seems Peggy Carter is always going to be given short shrift by the Russos. They had the chance to redress the balance after unforgivably killing her off in a text message in Civil War, but while it's true Endgame gifts Agent Carter a happy ending with lost love Steve, she doesn't do or say anything. Her TV sidekick Jarvis gets more actual lines.
14. Rich people have privilege. Pepper Potts' survival means Tony Stark is insulated from the snap, so he retires to his country estate with his family to be complacent and selfish. Billionaires, eh? Fortunately, Tony recognizes that when you can do something, you have to do something. Great power equals great responsibility, right? Think on that, Jeff Bezos.
15. Stick around for the credits -- despite the lack of a postcredits scene -- and you'll see "The Producers would like to thank Jim Starlin for his significant contribution to the film," which is only fair seeing as he created Thanos. You'll also see the comic book legend cameo in the film's postsnap support group, along with co-director Joe Russo.



Marvel

16. The credits also list personal trainers to the main cast, including a "trainer to Mr. Hemsworth." Unless that was Korg with his local pizza delivery place on speed dial, someone didn't do their job very well.
17. Everybody just wants to retire to a farmhouse and have a daughter -- that's the dream for Tony, Hawkeye and Thanos, anyway. Even Thor can't be bothered anymore so he lumps Valkyrie with the job.
18. Scarlett Johansson really shouldn't go to Tokyo. Ronin's first words to her were "You shouldn't be here," which is what a few people said when she was cast in Ghost in the Shell.
19. Back to the Future is bullshit. As Professor Hulk Banner says of time travel, "Either it's all a joke or none of it is."
20. Hulk is both Hulk and Banner now. Deal with it. It's great that after two disappointing solo movies, Hulk saves the day with a snap, but his huge character change feels like cheating. The whole point of the character is his unpredictable duality -- he's a genial genius and a ticking time bomb. That led to one of the most interesting subplots of Infinity War, but then it was just written out offscreen. Which makes me angry. And you wouldn't like me when I'm angry...
21. Tony Stark still loves an Audi, all these years after the product placement in the first Iron Man movie. Let's hope Happy Hogan doesn't take Morgan Stark to Burger King.
22. Storage Locker Rat is the new Star Destroyer Gunner.

What did you learn from Endgame? For more, check out our spoiler-free review, our spoiler-packed review and our hopes for the Phase 4 future of the MCU.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

https://www.cnet.com/news/avengers-endgame-22-things-i-learned-from-marvels-epic-opus/

2019-04-27 17:57:00Z
52780274514077

‘Avengers: Endgame’ To Near Rare Breakeven Point With $1.1B Global Opening - Deadline

EXCLUSIVE: With an estimated global opening weekend on course for $1.1 billion, Disney Avengers: Endgame will make what most successful superhero movies earn in a theatrical lifetime. At this level, film finance experts tell Deadline that the Anthony and Joe Russo-directed sequel will near cash breakeven tomorrow on Sunday, which is unheard of for a major studio tentpole during its opening weekend. Last year, the duo’s Avengers: Infinity War clicked into profitability after ten days.

While it’s still early, our sources believe that a final worldwide endgame well north of $2B, closer to $2.5B for Endgame isn’t out of the question. Only four films have cleared that mark: Avatar ($2.79B), Titanic ($2.19B), Star Wars: Force Awakens ($2.07B), and Infinity War ($2.05B). Endgame‘s domestic B.O. is poised to lie at greater than $750M.

At the upper end of Endgame‘s final B.O. range, a $600M-$650M profit is within the realm of possibility off the sequel’s estimated $356M net negative costs and a global $150M P&A spend. Infinity War off combined theatrical expenses of $475M plus ancillary costs saw a half billion profit and won Deadline’s Profit Tournament. Talent participations and residuals amounted to a combined $170M on Infinity War per our finance insiders, and we hear they will increase slightly on Endgame. Star Wars: The Force Awakens walked away with $780.1M in profit after total theatrical and ancillary revenues of $1.55B and total costs of $776.6M.

This weekend, Endgame‘s domestic start is estimated between $350M-$356M and its overseas B.O. close to $800M. Of that latter figure, $300M-plus is from China (which delivers a 25% to 27% rental between $75M-$81M).

Let's block ads! (Why?)

https://deadline.com/2019/04/avengers-endgame-breakeven-profit-after-opening-weekend-box-office-marvel-1202603237/

2019-04-27 17:42:00Z
52780274514077

'Avengers: Endgame' has already broken the global box office record - CNN

And the weekend isn't even close to being over yet.

The Disney (DIS) and Marvel film surpassed the record held by "Avengers: Infinity War," which made $641 million for its opening around the world last April.

"Endgame," which has the Avengers return to take on the evil Thanos, has grossed an estimated $487 million overseas, according to the studio. That breaks the record for the biggest opening weekend internationally, which was held by 2017's "The Fate of the Furious."

"Endgame" also already has the highest-grossing three day start ever in China. The film has so far made $217 million there.

The film rolled out internationally starting on Wednesday.

Back in the states, the records are also racking up.

"Endgame" had the biggest opening day ever in North America with an estimated $156.7 million Friday. That's roughly $37 million more than the previous record's total, which was held by 2015's "Star Wars: The Force Awakens."

Disney said Saturday that it now estimates a three-day domestic total for "Endgame" in the $310 million to $340 million range. The current domestic record belongs to "Infinity War," which made $258 million.

While these numbers are unprecedented for an opening box office, they make sense considering the immense excitement and buzz around "Endgame."

"Endgame" is the epic conclusion to Marvel studio's decade long series of blockbuster films. All together Marvel Studios has made more than $19 billion worldwide.

Movie chains are running around the clock and adding showtimes to meet the demand of moviegoers. AMC Theatres announced on Monday that seventeen locations will stay open for 72 straight hours from Thursday night through Sunday.

The film, which clocks in at roughly three hours, has garnered acclaim from critics and moviegoers. It holds a 96% score on review site, Rotten Tomatoes and an A+ CinemaScore.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/27/media/avengers-endgame-box-office-global-record/index.html

2019-04-27 17:40:00Z
52780274514077