Entertainment

David Chase On The “Mistake” He Made With ‘The Many Saints Of Newark’

David Chase has begun work on Project: MKUltra. This limited series will tell the story of a CIA mind-control program in the 50s and 60s. The series will be Chase’s first since his breakthrough hit The Sopranos. Why has the New Jersey native waited so long before returning to television?
Chase said, “Well I wrote a bunch of stuff, but nobody bought it,” during a Q&A session at Karlovyvary Film Festival’s industry forum.
I wasn’t lucky and this is why. HBO refused to let me do something I wanted to. This fell through because it was too expensive, and nobody else would do it. “After that we made what was called a Prequel to The Sopranos. It was not at all what I thought, but it did well on TV.”
Chase is referring to 2021’s The Many Saints of Newark, a prequel. He told an audience in Karlovy Vary he originally envisioned it as primarily an origins tale, but that “unfortunately, that took over the entire process.”
He said, “I’m telling you that we made an error.” There was Dickie who was Chris’s father. The Sopranos had made him out to be a drug-addict, alcoholic, and mentally ill. “And then, when we made it, he was not in it.”
Chase continued: “I’m not sure how we missed that but we did.” We didn’t cross him up with Tony Soprano. “We thought he was the same type of idiot with a rage, so we decided not to do it.
Chase explained that it was just luck that The Sopranos could be produced with little interference from studios or networks.
Chase, a writer for networks and studios, said: “I wasn’t that lucky because I knew that I wrote outside what they wanted.” They want what they have seen in the past. “They want everything they have seen before.” The answer is simple. “They want to attend the Oscars, and they also want to party.”
Chase was puzzled as to why financiers and executives would enter the movie business, if they were afraid of taking creative risks.
If you are afraid to take risks, I don’t know why someone would enter the film business. “You’d be better off selling shoes,” said he.
Chase illustrated his argument by referring to a press quote that Christopher McQuarrie gave.
Chase stated that “Christopher McQuarrie, who wrote The Usual Suspects and left town for some time, said there are only two factors at play in the entire Town: greed and fear. He was absolutely correct.”
It’s natural that we return to fear and greed.
Project: MKUltra was adapted from the non-fiction work Project Mind Control by John Lisle. Chase wrote the adaptation and optioned this book. It falls under his first-look HBO deal with Riverain Pictures.
The plot has been called a “dramatic novel” as it follows Sidney Gottlieb – the infamous chemist, spymaster, and spy who led the CIA’s MKUltra Psychedelic Program, where dangerous mind-control experiments were conducted on unwilling and willing subjects at the height of Cold War. Gottlieb was also the unwitting father of the LSD counterculture.
Chase replied: “Well most likely, because I used LSD as a teenager.”
Then he continued, “I wasn’t an acidhead, but I did take it 8 or 9 times and believe that it has changed my life. I don’t understand how it happened, because it is not at all a weapon. It’s just a spiritual journey. That’s what makes a great movie.”
Chase will explore the topic in a HBO series and also through a film he’s currently working on. Chase has not yet found a distributor for the feature film: “I suppose we’ll have to try and find one after making it,” he said.
He continued by saying that at first he had no intention of adapting the tale for television, and only saw it as a movie.
I’ve written the film for five years. But it isn’t just about LSD. It’s also a story of a family. Then, this book was published, and he said he wanted to option the rights so it could be featured in newspapers. “But, someone has already done an LSD-related story so I will not do it,” explained a spokesman.
My agent told me that I had to ask HBO for permission because we have an agreement with them. “I went to see Casey Bloys, Francesca Orsi and told them my plan. They said we would buy it.”
Chase stated that he has never seen such excitement for a film or TV project during the pitching phase. He decided to divide the project between the two.
Chase also said that he’d like to bring back the cast of Not Fade Away 2012, Jack Huston Will Brill and Bella Heathcote for another film. He would like to make a movie about Italian Americans who return to their ancestral home.
I’d like something done about Italian Americans purchasing property in Italy. “They sell these houses for free in these abandoned town, and many Americans buy these houses and move there because the situation in America is questionable,” Chase explained. I like to make a movie about Italian Americans going to their old homeland and the surprises they will find there.
Karlovy Vary is open until the 11th of July.

Entertainment

Kris Jenner’s Mother Mary Jo ‘MJ’ Dead at 91

Mary Jo, also known as MJ or Kris Jenner’s mother Mary Jo, is no longer with us.
Kris posted on social media Thursday that her mother had died.
She said… “Today we bid farewell to my beautiful Mother MJ.” No words could describe how much she meant to me, or even the pain of saying goodbye.
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Kris said… “My mother was the center of our family.” She taught me to value family, be kind to others, show up to support those you care about, and never to take anything for granted.
She wrote that she will miss her daily conversations with her mother, MJ, her smile and laughter.
In closing, she thanked her mother for giving “me the best childhood” and a “beautiful blessed life”, adding “My heart has been broken into a thousand pieces”. I love you forever Mommy.”
MJ has become a favorite of many fans over the years, thanks to her frequent appearances in the reality shows featuring the Kardashians. Viewers got to see her warm personality, quick wit and her close relationship with Kris, Kim Khloe Kourtney Kendall Kylie, and other members of the family.
Kris didn’t share any details about MJ or her cause of death.
MJ died at the age of 91.

Entertainment

Queen Camilla’s role in Prince Harry, King Charles’ reunion revealed

The long-awaited meeting between Prince Harry and King Charles was made possible by Queen Camilla.
Catherine Mayer, royal author and People’s newest cover story published on Wednesday, said: “She’s a nonnegotiable element of Charles’ life.”
There is no reconciliation between him and her.
Harry, Meghan, their children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet and Charles, both 78 years old, met at Highgrove House, on the 10th of July, with Camilla and Charles.
Charles has not seen his grandchildren in the last four years. He is currently fighting cancer. The details of this meeting are not public.
People quoted a royal source as saying that it was better for the public to not know about these meetings. They should be allowed to renew those family bonds.
Harry and Camilla have a complex relationship. Camilla is alleged to be the woman who had an affair during Charles’ marriage with Harry’s mom, Princess Diana.
The Duke of Sussex referred to Camilla in a “60 Minutes interview” from 2023, which was conducted for the promotion of his book “Spare”, as “the villain” in the relationship between his parents.
Harry stated that his stepmother needed to “rehabilitate” her image. She married Charles nine years after Diana and the monarch divorced.
Harry claimed that Camilla leaked stories to the media for her personal benefit.
He claimed that both sides were willing to exchange information. There were going to be bodies or people left on the streets because she was part of a hierarchy-based family and on her way to becoming Queen consort.
Harry revealed in his autobiography that he, along with brother Prince William, urged their dad not to marry Queen consort.
Harry said, “We did not think it necessary.” We thought it would do more harm than benefit and that, if he is now on his own person, then that should be enough. Why would you go to such lengths when it is not necessary?
Harry said that his siblings, who were now estranged from each other, agreed to the marriage because they wanted “their dad [to] be happy” and see how happy she was with him.
Page Six confirms that Harry’s family, including his wife and children, joined him to the UK for a meeting with his stepmother and father.
The trip turned into “a nightmare” after Buckingham Palace retracted the offer of letting the couple stay in the royal residence.
Markle (44), who was on a trip with Harry and his wife Camilla, spent the majority of their time without them.
William did not see his brother Charles, but royal expert Kinsey Schoffield told us exclusively that the future king, “understands”, why Charles and Harry reunited.
Schofield said that William also believes Harry has “not earned the right to return into family confidence.”

Entertainment

Marvel Comics to Leave New York and Move Staffers to L.A.

Marvel Comics, which has called New York City home for nearly 90 years now, is leaving the Big Apple. Marvel Comics is moving to Hollywood.
The move was announced to the staff of Marvel Studios’ New York Midtown office on Thursday. Employees were told that their publishing division would be moving to Burbank in California. This is where Marvel Studios, and its corporate parent The Walt Disney Company, have offices.
This development coincides with a change of guard in the leadership. Stephen Wacker is the new Marvel editor in chief, replacing C.B., who will be leaving. Wacker has been a veteran comics editor for over 30 years and was nominated for an Emmy for his animation work. Cebulski had been leading the division for over a year. Cebulski, who had led the division since 2017, will remain a part of the group, but will move to Japan, where he will spearhead the push for manga in the company, and will also serve as the editor-in-chief, Asia Originals.
The two changes aim to revive the comic book division of Marvel, which was overshadowed by its movies and a slump in creativity that led it to lose the lead as the market leader of comics for the first century. Kevin Feige, Marvel chief Kevin’s installation of new leadership as well as the relocation of Marvel comics to Disney Burbank represents a commitment for the long term in the storytelling that he feels is the foundation of Marvel.
Feige, Marvel’s director of TV, Animation, Comics, and Franchise Brad Winderbaum, and David Abdo as newly appointed general manager for comics, and franchise, presided over the Town Hall.
The Hollywood Reporter obtained a copy of a company-wide letter written by Winderbaum, Abdo and other members after the Town Hall. The statement read: “This will place the team alongside our broader organization for creative collaboration and opportunities across Marvel and Disney.” We will learn more from each other, work together, and enhance the strength that makes Marvel the House of Ideas by bringing our creative teams in comics, TV, film and television.
It is a seismic move. New York City, the home of comic books, is the place where the industry began. Timely Comics as well as Altas Comics were both based on 42nd Street. Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, and Steve Ditko were among the most famous Marvel creators who lived in New York. New York is where many of Marvel’s key characters lived, including the Fantastic Four and the Avengers; Spider-Man may be the most New York-based hero.
This move has also left Empire City with no major comics publisher. Rival DC moved to Warner Bros.’Burbank Batcave in 2015.
It took months to make the decision. The current New York lease for its Avenue of the Americas office is due to expire in the next year. This made the decision of relocating necessary. The company wanted to look at the possibility of merging all Marvel businesses into one location, which had never been done before Disney purchased the company in 2009
In May, the newly appointed Marvel Comics management began to meet with the staff at the New York offices in order to determine the feasibility of a combined operation. In order to do this, the team conducted a survey of comic creators’ locations.
Where once the majority of creators were located in New York, California and Connecticut today’s community is international. California has more U.S. based creators than New York.
In their letter to the company, Winderbaum & Abdo wrote: “New York is a major part of who Marvel as a business and what we do in our comics.” New York will always be a part of our DNA, even though our writers and artists are now an internationally-based team. Marvel is indebted to our colleagues from New York who have been instrumental in shaping generations of characters and stories.
Marvel wants to relocate all the employees in New York, which is just under 100, to California before July 2027. Marvel will host orientation sessions next week for these employees and their family members.
Winderbaum & Abdo wrote: “We hope that they will continue their journey in California with us.” We are dedicated to providing support for every employee affected by this change, which is expected to take place in the coming 12 months.
Wacker will join the Burbank headquarters after leaving Marvel in early 2020s. He left to run Jonathan Hickman’s 3W3M worldbuilding project and co-found the entertainment studio Stone Kite.
Wacker, a beloved editor who has strong relationships with talent, spent more than fifteen years working at Marvel. He was responsible for overseeing Spider-Man’s comic runs, including the “Brand New Day”, “Superior Spider-Man”, and best-selling “Brand New Day”. Wacker was editor of Daredevil, Hawkeye and Ms. Marvel when they won Eisner Awards.
Wacker has also gained extensive experience in Marvel’s television, digital and animation divisions. He co-produced in 2017, the Emmy nominated Rocket & Groot animation series and executive produced Marvel’s successful Wastelanders audio-series.
Cebulski is the third-longest serving editor-in chief in Marvel’s 90-year-old history. Cebulski recently overseen the relaunched of the Ultimate Universe, and was also involved in “Krakoan Age”, a period of X-Men Comics. He has deep ties with Japan, and he spearheaded a partnership between Shonen jump and Deadpool Samurai to create titles such as Spider-Man: Octo-Girl.
Cebulski and Wacker are both members of Wacker’s global leadership team.
Below is the full text of this memo.

Entertainment

Jenna Ortega, Rose Byrne Set for ‘Nasty’ at Warner Bros Clockwork Label

This fall, Warner Bros. Clockwork will begin filming Nasty with Jenna Ortega starring and Oscar-nominated Rose Bryne.
Mary Bronstein’s project reunites Byrne with the filmmaker, after she received her first Best Actress Oscar nod for If I had legs I’d kick you. Isabella Jarosz’s 2024 Black List script Nasty is her first screenplay sale.
The story of Nasty revolves around an athlete with incredible talent who fights for a place on the Olympic gymnastics team. She must, however, overcome her greatest opponent: Her trainer.
The project is produced by Margot Robbie’s LuckyChap, and Ortega.
Byrne won a BAFTA and Critics Choice Best Actress Award nomination for her role as a woman who is on the brink of breakdown. She also received the Golden Globe Best Actress Musical Comedy award. In the film, she portrays a mother dealing with the illness of her daughter, her absentee husband, the disappearance and a strange relationship she has with her therapist.
Ortega was nominated for Best Actress Emmy Comedy, 2x Golden Globes and 2x Actors Awards in her role as Wednesday’s titular character on Netflix. Nasty takes Ortega to Warner Bros, where she starred in her most successful movie Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (452M World Wide) and J.J. Abrams’ The Great Beyond.
Bronstein’s CAA attorney is David Krintzman. Jarosz’s representatives are CAA, Untitled and Ziffren. Ortega’s CAA is represented by Jeff Hynick of Jackoway Austen and CAA. Byrne’s reps are CAA and RGM Artists. LuckyChap’s reps are CAA Entertainment 360, Attorney Jeff Bernstein and Entertainment 360.

Entertainment

Savannah Guthrie announces absence from ‘Today’ show for ‘a few weeks’

Savannah Guthrie has announced that she will not be appearing on the Today show for “a few weeks”. She is filming a game show.
The journalist said to her co-hosts of the NBC Morning News show on Thursday, “I am heading over to film ‘Wordle.'”
We’re very excited to be able to film the entire season. “I can’t wait to show it all.”
Page Six reported back in May that Guthrie (54), a popular New York Times puzzle, had been chosen to host the Wordle Game Show.
Jimmy Fallon is executive producing the game show. He told Guthrie he was’so glad’ she had been chosen as host.
We were searching for the ideal host. The 51-year-old host of “Today”, a talk show, stated that they needed someone with a look like they were playing Wordle and someone who knew how to manage a show.
Fallon continued, “We were amazed by your performance.”
It is anticipated that the game show will premiere in 2027.
Savannah took a short break from her “Today’s” broadcast last week to spend some time with family during the investigation of her mother Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance.
Nancy, age 84, first went missing on February 1, from her Tucson home.
Authorities found bloody stains on her front porch during the investigation of the disappearance.
The FBI published photos taken by home security cameras of a masked and armed person standing outside Nancy’s front door on the night that she vanished.
Nancy has not been kidnapped. Last month, however, a former FBI officer claimed that investigators were pursuing the man who was captured on Nancy’s camera.
Savannah has returned to “Today’s” staff in April.
Page Six reported that NBC employees were specifically instructed to not mention Nancy’s disappearance, or welcome her back in any formal way.
It was expected to be business-as-usual. “[Producers] told us to act completely normal”, the insider said at that time. The vibe is “Move Forward”. “It’s been an exhausting year.”