A scene from ‘Desert One’ (Photo Courtesy of Greenwich Entertainment)
Academy Award-winning documentary filmmaker Barbara Kopple’s latest project, Desert One, examines and delves into one of the greatest American political and military failures in history, Operation Eagle Claw. “The mission was very plain and simple, bring home 52 American hostages,” states Major William G. Boykin of Delta Force who was involved in the failed attempt to rescue the 52 Americans being held hostage in 1979 during the Iranian Revolution.
Originally made for the History channel, Kopple’s film begins with the start of the Iranian Revolution and the Ayatollah coming into power after the exit of the hated Shah. With new interviews from some of the hostages and Iran militia students, Desert One brings back into focus the siege of the American Embassy and the hatred Iran had toward America at the time.
The film then switches its focus onto the 1980 Delta Force mission set up to try to rescue the hostages. New interviews with some of the men who went on the mission, President Jimmy Carter and his staff, and legendary newsman Ted Kopple help the film lay out and reveal all the flaws, missteps, and mistakes that led up to and resulted in the mission’s terrible and deadly failure.
Using never-before-heard recordings of phone conversations between President Carter and the Commander of Delta Force, as well as classic archived news footage, Desert One is an intriguing, dramatic, but not very enlightening documentary which breaks down everything wrong with the handling of the hostage crisis by the Carter Presidency and the military, from the early decision to explore only a diplomatic solution to the restrictions put upon the military during the rescue attempt. Desert One also reveals, using animation, what went wrong with the helicopters used during the mission as well as the questionable decisions made by some of the military personnel involved.
It’s unfortunate that Desert One – even with the new interviews and recordings – doesn’t bring to the screen any new insight or facts that haven’t already been uncovered and explored by other filmmakers and historians. There’s really not much additional meat to the story added with this 2020 documentary.
Writer/director James Gunn (Guardians of the Galaxy) gathered his large ensemble cast for a DC FanDome panel that finally revealed exactly who is playing which character in The Suicide Squad. The cast and their characters were introduced during a special video presentation, and the panel also featured the first look at behind-the-scenes footage from the upcoming 2021 theatrical release.
The video revealed Viola Davis is returning as Amanda Waller, Joel Kinnaman is back as Colonel Rick Flag, Margot Robbie reprises her Harley Quinn character, and Jai Courtney also returns as Captain Boomerang.
The cast also includes Michael Rooker as Savant, Flula Borg as Javelin, David Dastmalchian as Polka Dot Man, John Cena as Peacemaker, and Daniela Melchior as Ratcatcher 2. Idris Elba plays Bloodsport, Steve Agee is King Shark, Mayling Ng is Mongal, Peter Capaldi is Thinker, and Alice Braga plays Sol Soria.
The huge cast also includes Pete Davidson as Blackguard, Nathan Fillion as TDK, and Sean Gunn as Weasel.
After their characters were revealed, the cast formed two teams to answer questions about the Squad. Viola Davis and Joel Kinnaman were the team captains, with Viola’s team ultimately emerging victorious. Most of the cast found some way to incorporate teasing Michael Rooker into their answers, even if the question had absolutely nothing to do with him.
Warner Bros. Pictures has not confirmed a 2021 release date yet.
Director Patty Jenkins and Wonder Woman 1984 stars Gal Gadot, Chris Pine (“Steve Trevor”), Kristen Wiig (“The Cheetah”), and Pedro Pascal (“Max Lord”) participated in a panel that kicked off DC FanDome and revealed a brand new trailer for the much-anticipated sequel. Jenkins told fans that she’s determined to wait it out and release the film in theaters. As of late August, the Wonder Woman sequel is targeting an October 2, 2020 theatrical release.
The DC FanDome panel included surprise appearances by Lynda Carter and Venus Williams, with Williams asking who would win in a tennis match: Wonder Woman or The Cheetah? Kristen Wiig assured her it would definitely be her character as Wonder Woman would be weighted down by all that gold, while Jenkins thought it best they teamed up to take on Venus.
Pedro Pascal talked about the 1984 outfits, calling costume designer Lindy Hemming a genius. “The way that she started to show me, in my experience, these horrifying power suits from the 1980s and the way that she ended up…I was like, ‘There’s just no way. I’m going to look like a fool in this ’80s stuff.’ And she was able to make something so animated and specific and feel and be completely stylish, and feel like a million dollars and serve the purpose of what it was. I was in awe of all of her image boards and how she collaborated. It was really incredible,” said Pascal.
Jenkins directed from a screenplay she co-wrote with Geoff Johns & David Callaham. Charles Roven, Deborah Snyder, Zack Snyder, Patty Jenkins, Gal Gadot and Stephen Jones produced the action film. Rebecca Steel Roven Oakley, Richard Suckle, Marianne Jenkins, Geoff Johns, Walter Hamada, Chantal Nong Vo and Wesley Coller served as executive producers.
The Very Basic Plot Description, Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures:
Fast forward to the 1980s as Wonder Woman’s next big screen adventure finds her facing two all-new foes: Max Lord and The Cheetah.
Peacock’s just announced a slate of original films that includes a documentary on Harry Belafonte’s stint hosting The Tonight Show and a movie focusing on the murder of Anthony Walker in 2005. Peacock will also be the exclusive streaming home of Emilio Estevez’sThe Public and the rowing documentary A Most Beautiful Thing.
The documentary The Sit-In: Harry Belafonte Hosts The Tonight Show will premiere on September 10, 2020. Directed by Yoruba Richen and executive produced by Joy Reid, The Sit-In features previously unseen footage of the week Harry Belafonte hosted The Tonight Show for Johnny Carson.
“When I started this film, I thought that I was telling the story of Harry Belafonte’s historic achievement as the first African American to host a full week of late-night television,” stated director Yoruba Richen. “I soon discovered the film was not only about this week during a politically volatile time in U.S history but also a journey through Harry’s incredible career, political activism and enduring influence. I discovered how relevant it is to today when we are in a time of political crisis, much like 1968, the year Harry hosted the show.”
Director Terry McDonough’s Anthony is set to premiere on September 4th. Written by BAFTA winner Jimmy McGovern, Anthony explores the life murdered 18-year-old Black student Anthony Walker may have led if his life hadn’t been cut short in 2005. The cast is led by Toheeb Jimon in the title role. Rakie Ayola, Julia Brown, and Bobby Schofield also star.
“Both Donna [Molloy] and I were privileged to have produced Anthony. It follows a rich vein of factual drama we have been delivering for almost a decade now,” said executive producer Colin McKeown. “It means a lot to me personally as I am from the same village as the Walker family, and it is typical of Gee Walker, Anthony’s mother, to draw positive conclusions from tragic events.”
Two-time Super Bowl champion Malcolm Jenkins executive produces Black Boys arriving on Peacock on September 10th. Sonia Lowman directed the documentary which, according to Peacock, “celebrates the full humanity of Black men and boys in America. Utilizing conversations and stories around education, criminal justice and sports, the film reveals the emotional landscape of those experiencing racism and invites us to reimagine an America in which Black boys experience true belonging and unlimited possibilities.”
“Our intention with this film and future films like it is to give visuals to the reality that the humanity of Black people lives on a wide spectrum,” stated executive producer Malcolm Jenkins. “This project is focused on the humanity of Black boys. No segment group is monolithic. What we are displaying in this film is how Black boys’ bodies have been commodified, our minds completely disregarded, and our feelings, creativity, and love painted over by society. Operating in a society that fears them, Black men and Black boys face a unique kind of trauma. We need white people, and everyone for that matter, to see that the identity of the Black boy is under attack as early as preschool to adulthood. We all have a responsibility to help map the future of our children, and how our children preserve the world around them. Next up is Black Girls!”
Activist/rapper Vic Mensa, NBA All-Star Carmelo Anthony, two-time Super Bowl champion Greg Scruggs, NFL Hall of Fame inductee Cris Carter, Super Bowl champion Chris Long, award-winning sports journalist Jemele Hill, poet/activist Malcolm London, and former U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. John King Jr. are featured in interviews.
A Most Beautiful Thing is a documentary about the very first African American high school rowing team. Premiering on September 4th, A Most Beautiful Thing is described as taking “a deep dive into the rowing team’s backstory, examining the issues of inter-generational trauma and violence. After twenty years out of the boat, the death of a former coach brings the team back together to race once more for their sons and their community. In an extraordinary turn of events, team captain Arshay Cooper invites members of the Chicago Police Department to join their reunion team. What happened next was unexpected for all involved.”
The documentary is based on Arshay Cooper’s memoir and was directed by filmmaker and Olympic rower Mary Mazzio. Oscar and Grammy Award winner Common narrates and Grant Hill, Dwyane Wade, and 9th Wonder executive produce.
“Every day, Americans of color face a long list of challenges and oppression, a list too long and too painful to recite here,” said executive producer Grant Hill. “With the recent events that have transpired, it is even more meaningful to be a part of a project which shows young black men in a positive, human, and hopeful way. The protagonist of the film, Arshay Cooper, and his extension of an olive branch to members of the Chicago Police Department, moved me in deep and profound ways. He is a leader of his generation and his name will be one that soon everyone will know.”
Writer, executive producer, and director Emilio Estevez’s The Public will debut on Peacock on September 15th. The ensemble includes Alec Baldwin, Emilio Estevez, Jena Malone, and Taylor Schilling. Christian Slater, Che “Rhymefest” Smith, Gabrielle Union, Jacob Vargas, Michael K. Williams, and Jeffrey Wright also star.
Per Peacock: “In The Public, an act of civil disobedience turns into a standoff with police when homeless people in Cincinnati take over the public library to seek shelter from the bitter cold.”
Global phenomenon BTS just dropped their new single “Dynamite”’ at midnight on August 21, 2020 and has already shattered records. The single’s release is described by Big Hit Entertainment as BTS looking “to send a message of hope with their new upbeat disco-pop song.”
The new single marks the first time the Korean boyband has taken on a song purely in English. As they stated in their press conference held hours before the single was released, after recording the guide version of the song they decided to keep it in English, loving the vibe and melody.
This new single comes six months after the release of their album Map of the Soul: 7 which went to number one on the Billboard 200, making it their fourth album to do so and becoming the number one selling album worldwide to date. In this new single “BTS sings of joy and confidence, treasuring the little things in life that make life truly valuable and special. The song aims to bring a new surge of much-needed ‘energy’ to reinvigorate the global community in the midst of COVID-19,” according to Big Hit.
Creative contributors to “Dynamite” include David Stewart and Jessica Agombar, known for “What A Man Gotta Do” by the Jonas Brothers and “I Love You’s” by Hailee Steinfeld.
Throughout the “Dynamite” music video, the seven-member boyband is seen having fun with flashy dance moves and letting their personalities shine bright. In one particular scene, member Jungkook is shown in a bedroom decorated in posters seeming to pay homage to music greats such as The Beatles, David Bowie, and Queen. BTS is seen doing dance moves that were the late Michael Jackson’s signature moves. The music video is bright and cheery, most likely to cause fans to smile throughout.
The song and its official music video have already broken records. On iTunes, “Dynamite” is the fastest song by any artist to reach #1 in over 100 countries around the world, with the United States being one of those countries. The music video garnered 10 million views in just 20 minutes making it the fastest music video to do so in YouTube history. The music video is currently at 68 million views in under 24 hours and counting.
Up next for the superstars are the MTV VMAs on August 30, 2020 where they’ll be debuting their first-ever performance of “Dynamite.” BTS is also up for three awards at MTV’s annual awards show: Best Pop, Best Choreography, and Best K-pop. In addition, BTS will also be headlining the iHeart Music Festival that’s going virtual this year due to COVID-19. That event is scheduled to take place September 18th & 19th.
Netflix’s The Boys in the Band will premiere on September 30, 2020. The premiere date announcement was accompanied by five new photos from the drama based on the play of the same name by Mart Crowley.
The talented ensemble cast includes the stars of the 2018 Broadway 50th anniversary revival. Jim Parsons, Zachary Quinto, Matt Bomer, Andrew Rannells, Charlie Carver, Robin de Jesús, Brian Hutchison, Michael Benjamin Washington, and Tuc Watkins return to star in the feature film adaptation.
Joe Mantello, director of the 2018 Broadway play, directed the film from a screenplay by Mart Crowley and Ned Martel. Mantello, David Stone, Ryan Murphy, and Alexis Martin Woodall served as producers.
The Plot, Courtesy of Netflix:
More than fifty years after Mart Crowley’s play became an unexpected smash hit for putting gay men’s lives center stage with honesty and humor, The Boys in the Band returns to the screen in a new adaptation that reunites acclaimed director Joe Mantello with the all-star cast of the Tony-winning, 2018 Broadway production.
In 1968 New York City – when being gay was still considered to be best kept behind closed doors – a group of friends gather for a raucous birthday party hosted by Michael (Parsons), a screenwriter who spends and drinks too much, in honor of the sharp-dressed and sharp-tongued Harold (Quinto). Other partygoers include Donald (Bomer), Michael’s former flame, now mired in self-analysis; Larry (Rannells), a randy commercial artist living with Hank (Watkins), a school teacher who has just left his wife; Bernard (Washington), a librarian tiptoeing around fraught codes of friendship alongside Emory (de Jesús), a decorator who never holds back; and a guileless hustler (Carver), hired to be Harold’s gift for the night.
What begins as an evening of drinks and laughs gets upended when Alan (Hutchison), Michael’s straight-laced college roommate, shows up unexpectedly and each man is challenged to confront long-buried truths that threaten the foundation of the group’s tight bond.
Global superstars BTS held a press conference in Seoul, South Korea on August 21, 2020 just hours before their single “Dynamite” dropped. Due to COVID-19, the press conference was held online with a live stream to select invited press.
The seven-member boyband consisting of RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook took to the press conference stage to talk about their single “Dynamite,” along with their upcoming album and life during the pandemic.
BTS Press Conference Q&A:
Moderator: It has been since February since I last met you for the press conference of your album Map of the Soul: 7. How have you all been?
RM: “It has been a while since we have said hello; we have been doing many things. Sharing what we have been doing, we have been working on new songs for our upcoming new album. We have also been spending our time doing our favorite hobbies. We also held our online concert ‘Bang Bang Con’ in June. Although we could not meet ARMY in person, we were happy we could perform. We also filmed a new reality show ‘BTS in The Soop’ that started airing already.”
Moderator: Anyone else?
Jimin: “We’ve been working on our new album and we really wanted to share how we worked on our album, so we revealed who is in charge of what and we also have shown us having meetings. We had a really meaningful time. While we were working on the new album, we came across this song ‘Dynamite’ and it wasn’t our plan, but we released this song as a digital single first.”
Moderator: Some of the members of the media emailed in some questions for you to answer. Which we will get to, but let me ask you, can you tell us about “Dynamite?”
Suga: “’Dynamite’ is disco-pop and it is a very fun, cheery vibe. It sends a message of happiness and confidence. It is very bright and disco so I’m sure many people can dance to it and it’s a fun song.”
Jin: “The lyrics are very fun and cheery and fit the melody. One of the lines goes, ‘I’m gonna light it up’ so I hope many people can gain energy from listening to this song. And I would like to say this is the song that we want you to hear.”
Moderator: I had seen the teaser and I can tell it is a very fun and exciting song. Can you tell us how you came to release it and why?
RM: “We mentioned this earlier, but it wasn’t on our plan at all. We’ve been working on our album from earlier this year aiming to release it the second half of this year and when we are preparing the album, we record a lot of songs and we came across this song, ‘Dynamite.’ As soon as we heard it, we thought it was really fun and exciting. It was a song we really wanted to try. We really wanted to share this energy. I wanted to release this fun song as soon as possible.”
Moderator: “Dynamite” is entirely in English, so it felt new. Is there a reason you sang it in English?
V: “As RM mentioned, when we first heard this song, we all liked it. It just made us feel excited hearing it. When we recorded the guide version, we felt that the English lyrics fit better and it felt new and different from what we have tried before. So considering the song and melody, we felt singing it in English would be better.”
J-Hope: “Yeah, that’s right when I first heard it, I really liked the vibe, I really liked the message. I felt the message fit the direction we wanted to go and when we were recording it made us feel good. It energized us so I wanted to share this feeling with many people. The release of this digital single is a new challenge, a new try for us, so I think it is more meaningful.”
Moderator: How about Jimin?
Jimin: “Everyone in the world is going through tough times right now. Nobody has expected this and we ourselves could not do a lot of things we had planned. We really wanted to be on stage and really wanted to meet the fans. As artists who wanted to meet our fans, we felt empty and we also felt helpless. We needed a breakthrough to help overcome this emptiness and helplessness and came across this opportunity to try something new.
‘Dynamite’ is a song that could lift anyone’s spirits. We gained a lot of energy singing this and prepared this song thinking about you, (the fans).”
Moderator: What kind of message does “Dynamite” have?
Suga: “’Dynamite’ sends a message of happiness and confidence. So, it says even though you are going through a tough time we will do what we can in our place to find freedom and happiness through dance and music. So, I would say it is a song dedicated to all the people who have felt like they have fallen down while running the marathon. There is a lyric ‘I’m gonna light it up’ and I hope everyone can cheer up listening to this line.”
Moderator: Through the teaser, we see “Dynamite” has a lot of flashy dance moves. What kind of dance does “Dynamite” have?
Jungkook: “Yes, there are some flashy moves and the dance also fits the song really well. It is very cheery and refined, and there are also some easy moves that you can try yourselves. I’m sure the fans can do some covers in their rooms. It is going to be really fun and you may look forward to it. There are a lot of moves that bring out our unique personalities and vibes. We also enjoyed practicing for this song, and I hope you really enjoy it.”
Moderator: “Dynamite” is going to be premiered on August 30, 2020 at the MTV VMAs. Is that correct?
RM: “We released through our promotion schedule image, we are going to do our first comeback stage reveal on a show we have never been on before on the VMAs 2020. We are really, really excited since this is our first time; we really wanted to be on it. We are nervous but also very excited. We really can’t wait to be on stage and meet many people. [Side note: Due to COVID-19 BTS will be performing virtually from Korea.] We will try our best to show our stage.
‘Dynamite’ is a new try, as we said before, so we are trying some new ways of promoting than we did before so we are going to show some new things. I hope you stick around and stay tuned.”
Moderator: You said this single wasn’t planned so are there going to be any changes to your album schedule?
Jimin: “Nope. We are still working on our album. It is still a go and our goal is to release it the second half of this year. This album has the highest participation rate that we have done on an album. We are trying really hard and we are working really hard. We can’t say the exact release date yet, but as much as ARMYs is waiting for us, we really want to see you too, so we are going to work harder.”
Moderator: You talked about participating. Can you tell us how you are working on the new album?
Jimin: “I am the project manager of this album and V is in charge of visuals. We have taken part in planning stages in the past, but it is our first time of who’s in charge of who. I’m not sure if I did a good job, but the members are doing a good job.”
V: “Jimin did really good and worked on our schedules.”
Moderator: Can you tell us of any goals you are looking forward to?
Jungkook: “On September 10th we are releasing a movie that follows our stadium tour, ‘Love Yourself Speak Yourself.’ Break the Silence the Movie is going to come to the theaters, and I hope you enjoy it.”
Press Member: We are all curious about the Billboard chart rankings for this new song because it is a single. We are curious how it will rank on the Hot 100. What are your hopes and goals for chart performance?
Suga: “I’m actually wondering that myself. The chart rankings are always something we watch with a lot of nervousness and a lot of excitement. Of course, if they are good results it is always, always a great honor. But rather than have some sort of result that we have as a target, it is better to do our best so that we can repay the love and attention that our fans show us.
I think for our new single ‘Dynamite’ our goal is special. Everyone is going through hard times and we built this song to give a little bit of strength to people who listen to it. So our goal is for as many people as possible to hear it and get a little bit of healing and reassurance from it. We hope this song will be meaningful to the fans and us.”
Press Member: Why did you choose “Dynamite” and what were some of the behind-the-scenes preparations for this song?
J-Hope: “We felt rather than have the single in the new album we wanted to enjoy this right now with everybody. That’s why we decided to release it now. It was kind of a last-minute decision. The schedule was very tight, but we all worked together recording, making the jacket, and making the video.
Throughout this whole process, we really had a lot of fun. For behind-the-scenes for my part my key was pretty high – very high, actually – so it was a little bit difficult for me when I was recording this song, but I think it will be very good. For the music video, it was fun and free, a lot of improvising.”
Press Member: Recently BTS appeared on I-Land. It has been a while since BTS has appeared on a Korean program and you were able to spend some time with the trainees. A lot of their role models are BTS members so what did you get out of this? How did you feel? And do you have a message to all the people who want to become K-pop artists?
J-Hope: “We visited the set of I-Land. It really reminded me of the way it was for us when we were trainees. A message for them I would like to say even if you are doing your best, I know as well as anyone else you still have this anxiety and nervousness and so I want to cheer you up and I want to encourage you.”
Jungkook: “When I saw them I learned a lot of things about not resting on my laurels and remembering this time that I actually experienced and how I should keep going.”
Press Member: How has this pandemic affected BTS’ music?
V: “Right now, not just us but everyone is going through a very difficult times and we did not plan to release this song. We have a situation that nobody predicted. We also had a lot of plans which did not happen so it naturally allowed us to think about music and we love music more than anyone. And I can say we are passionate about singing and dancing as anyone else but it was more important that we have people inspired by our music and heal people through music. So, I think that is the reason why ‘Dynamite’ came into this world. We learned throughout this whole process that we will be more open towards our attitude to music.”
Press Member: Why do you continue to stress the importance of you, I and us together?
Suga: “Because of COVID-19 things have become very difficult all over the world. Our world tour concert had to be rescheduled. When this happened it made us feel very powerless. These were things we couldn’t change, even if we tried. It was sad we couldn’t see our fans and perform on stage, so we prepared this online concert to make up for a little bit of these feelings. We realized we really belong on stage and when singing and dancing BTS can really be BTS. Even though it was online it was a time to come together and engage with our fans. We felt very thankful, grateful, and happy.”
Queen + Adam Lambert will release their first live album – Live Around the World – on October 2, 2020. Live Around the World will be available in CD, CD+DVD, CD+Blu-ray and Vinyl formats. The 20 tracks were selected by Brian May, Roger Taylor, and Adam Lambert and were recorded during their 200+ live shows.
The surviving members of Queen originally performed with Adam Lambert on the season finale of American Idol. They instantly hit it off and decided to get back out on the road for sold-out shows across the globe. Since they began touring together, Queen and Adam Lambert have performed in front of nearly 4 million fans.
The Covid-19 pandemic forced the Queen + Adam Lambert tour planned for the UK and Europe during the summer to be postponed until next year. They hated disappointing fans and took to YouTube to entertain with a special Queen + Adam Lambert “Tour Watch Party.” The hour-long show included the best moments from previous tours. Fans ate it up and that ultimately led the band to come up with the idea of a live album.
“We hadn’t really watched those clips before, we were always too busy touring,” said Roger Taylor. “We weren’t aware of how good the band sounded. So we thought, well, maybe there’s a live album of highlights of concerts that we’ve done over the last eight years with Adam Lambert to be made.”
“As we all grapple with the challenge of creating live shows in a world dominated by a formidable viral enemy, it seemed the perfect time for us to create a collection of hand-picked live highlights from our Queen shows over the last 7 years with our brother Adam Lambert, stated Brian May. “It’s a first! As you watch and listen to these tracks you’ll be journeying all around the world with us, and experiencing a complete virtual live set. The collection climaxes in Sydney earlier this year when, in support Fire Fight Australia, we recreated the complete Queen Live Aid set. It was a historic event for a great cause – with perhaps the highest adrenaline level since the original Live Aid in 1985. It makes me particularly happy that we can now share this unique moment with the whole world.”
Adam Lambert added, “When we couldn’t tour this year we wanted to give the fans something in place of that, and a Live album just felt right. It’s the first time we have released an album together and we have had a lot of fun putting it together, picking out favorite performances over the past seven years.”
Queen + Adam Lambert Live Around the World Details:
CD / VINYL TRACK LIST
“Tear It Up” (May) The O2, London, UK, 02/07/2018
“Now I’m Here” (May) Summer Sonic, Tokyo, Japan, 2014
“Another One Bites The Dust” (Deacon) Summer Sonic, Tokyo, Japan, 2014
“Fat Bottomed Girls” ft. Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders (May) American Airlines Center, Dallas, USA, 2019
“Don’t Stop Me Now” (Mercury) Rock In Rio, Lisbon, Portugal, 2016
“I Want To Break Free” (Deacon) Rock In Rio, Lisbon, Portugal, 2016
“Somebody To Love” (Mercury) Isle of Wight Festival, UK, 2016
“Love Kills” (The Ballad) (Mercury/Moroder) iHeart Radio Theater, Los Angeles, USA, 2014
“I Was Born To Love You” (Mercury) Summer Sonic, Tokyo, Japan, 2014
“Under Pressure” (Queen/Bowie) Global Citizen Festival, New York, USA, 2019
“Who Wants To Live Forever” (May) Isle of Wight Festival, UK, 2016
“The Show Must Go On” (Queen) The O2, London, UK, 04/07/2018
“Love Of My Life” (Mercury) The O2, London, UK, 02/07/2018
“Bohemian Rhapsody” (Mercury) Fire Fight Australia, ANZ Stadium, Sydney, Australia, 2020
“Radio Ga Ga” (Taylor) Fire Fight Australia, ANZ Stadium, Sydney, Australia, 2020
“Ay-Ohs” (Mercury) Fire Fight Australia, ANZ Stadium, Sydney, Australia, 2020
“Hammer To Fall” (May) Fire Fight Australia, ANZ Stadium, Sydney, Australia, 2020
“Crazy Little Thing Called Love” (Mercury) Fire Fight Australia, ANZ Stadium, Sydney, Australia, 2020
“We Will Rock You” (May) Fire Fight Australia, ANZ Stadium, Sydney, Australia, 2020
“We Are The Champions” (Mercury) Fire Fight Australia, ANZ Stadium, Sydney, Australia, 2020
DVD / BLU-RAY TRACK LIST
“Tear It Up” (May) The O2, London, UK, 02/07/2018
“Now I’m Here” (May) Summer Sonic, Tokyo, Japan, 2014
“Another One Bites The Dust” (Deacon) Summer Sonic, Tokyo, Japan, 2014
“Fat Bottomed Girls” ft. Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders (May) American Airlines Center, Dallas, USA, 2019
“Don’t Stop Me Now” (Mercury) Rock In Rio, Lisbon, Portugal, 2016
“I Want To Break Free” (Deacon) Rock In Rio, Lisbon, Portugal, 2016
“Somebody To Love” (Mercury) Isle of Wight Festival, UK, 2016
“Love Kills” (The Ballad) (Mercury/Moroder) iHeart Radio Theater, Los Angeles, USA, 2014
“I Was Born To Love You” (Mercury) Summer Sonic, Tokyo, Japan, 2014
“Drum Battle” (Taylor) Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney, Australia, 2014
“Under Pressure” (Queen/Bowie) Global Citizen Festival, New York, USA, 2019
“Who Wants To Live Forever” (May) Isle of Wight Festival, UK, 2016
“The Guitar Solo” (Last Horizon) (May) The O2, London, UK, 2018
“The Show Must Go On” (Queen) The O2, London, UK, 04/07/2018
“Love Of My Life” (Mercury) The O2, London, UK, 02/07/2018
“Bohemian Rhapsody” (Mercury) Fire Fight Australia, ANZ Stadium, Sydney, Australia, 2020
“Radio Ga Ga” (Taylor) Fire Fight Australia, ANZ Stadium, Sydney, Australia, 2020
“Ay-Ohs” (Mercury) Fire Fight Australia, ANZ Stadium, Sydney, Australia, 2020
“Hammer To Fall” (May) Fire Fight Australia, ANZ Stadium, Sydney, Australia, 2020
“Crazy Little Thing Called Love” (Mercury) Fire Fight Australia, ANZ Stadium, Sydney, Australia, 2020
“We Will Rock You” (May) Fire Fight Australia, ANZ Stadium, Sydney, Australia, 2020
“We Are The Champions” (Mercury) Fire Fight Australia, ANZ Stadium, Sydney, Australia, 2020
Two-time Oscar winning actor, writer, and director Ben Affleck (Argo, Good Will Hunting) will put on the cape and cowl to portray Batman once more in the upcoming Warner Bros. film, The Flash, starring Ezra Miller as the Scarlet Speedster. The director of the film, Andy Muschietti (Mama, It) revealed the news in an interview with Vanity Fair.
According to Muschietti, Affleck got the script a week ago and agreed to join the project this week.
Ben Affleck first slipped into the role of the Caped Crusader in the 2016 film Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice. He reprised the role in the 2017 superhero extravaganza, Justice League, which was critically panned. Affleck was planning to both star and direct a stand-alone Batman film but walked away from the project. That film – The Batman – is being directed by Matt Reeves with Robert Pattinson taking on the role of Bruce Wayne/Batman.
In the VF interview, Muschietti said he expects Affleck as Batman will deliver an unexpected emotional impact. “It’s Barry’s movie, it’s Barry’s story, but their characters are more related than we think. They both lost their mothers to murder, and that’s one of the emotional vessels of the movie. That’s where the Affleck Batman kicks in,” explained Muschietti.
Muschietti also confirmed Michael Keaton is returning to the role he played in the 1989 Batman film. Apparently Keaton will have a “substantial part” in The Flash stand-alone film.
The Flash feature film will draw most of its plot from the DC graphic novel, Flashpoint. In it, Barry uses his speed to go back in time to save the life of his mother and returns to an alternate, dark and fractured timeline. The film is scheduled to hit the big screen on June 3, 2022.
National Geographic and Disney+ announced The Right Stuff, based on the bestselling book by Tom Wolfe, will premiere on October 9, 2020. The season consists of eight episodes, with the first two episodes dropping on premiere day.
The premiere date announcement was accompanied by a full trailer introducing the Mercury 7 astronauts.
The cast includes Jake McDorman (“Lieutenant Commander Alan Shepard”), Patrick J. Adams (“Major John Glenn”), Colin O’Donoghue (“Captain Gordon Cooper”), Michael Trotter (“Gus Grissom”), Aaron Staton (“Wally Schirra”), and Micah Stock (“Deke Slayton”). James Lafferty (“Scott Carpenter”), Nora Zehetner (“Annie Glenn”), Shannon Lucio (“Louise Shepard”), Eloise Mumford (“Trudy Cooper”), Eric Ladin (“Chris Kraft”), and Patrick Fischler (“Bob Gilruth”) also star in the series based on true events.
Mark Lafferty (Castle Rock) is the showrunner and executive produces along with Appian Way’s Jennifer Davisson and Leonardo DiCaprio. Will Staples, Emmy winner Danny Strong, Howard Korder, and director Chris Long also executive produced.
The Plot, Courtesy of National Geographic and Disney+:
The Right Stuff is an inspirational look at the early days of the U.S. Space Program and the incredible story of America’s first astronauts, the Mercury Seven. At the height of the Cold War in 1959, the Soviet Union dominates the space race, and America fears it is a nation in decline.
Newly-formed NASA has the monumental task of sending a man into space, and its engineers estimate they need decades to accomplish the feat. They are given two years. Dubbed Project Mercury, the program recruits and trains just seven astronauts from a handful of the military’s best pilots. Within days of being presented to the world, the Mercury Seven become instant celebrities, forged into heroes before they achieve a single heroic act.
At a time when many wondered if America’s glory days were behind it, The Right Stuff is an aspirational story about how ordinary human beings can achieve the extraordinary. As much about who we are today as it is about historic achievements, the series evokes the wonder of this singular era, when the free world looked towards a new horizon of hope as we first stepped off the bounds of our only home to venture into the vast unknown.
