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Entertainment Daypop

The Weeknd, Jenna Ortega to star in psychological thriller ‘Hurry Up Tomorrow’

Abel Tesfaye, better known as The Weeknd, will make his big screen debut in the psychological thriller Hurry Up Tomorrow, inspired by the artist’s yet-to-be released album of the same name.

Deadline reported that Lionsgate will distribute the film, directed by Trey Edward Shults (“Waves”) with Jenna Ortega and Barry Keoghan also set to star. The film is produced by Tesfaye’s Manic Phase and Reza Fahim along with the late Kevin Turen and Harrison Kreiss. It is executive produced by Ortega, Shults, Michael Rapino, Ryan Kroft, Wassim “Sal” Slaiby and Harrison Huffman.

Adam Fogelson, Lionsgate Motion Picture Group chair, said in a statement: “Abel is a visionary whose art cannot be confined by any single medium. With Hurry Up Tomorrow, in partnership with Trey (Edward Shults), his musical universe expands onto the big screen with a psychological thriller that will usher in a new cinematic experience for fans. We are thrilled to be bringing it to audiences worldwide.”

Tesfaye dropped Hurry Up Tomorrow‘s first single, “Dancing in the Flames,” in September. The album is the culmination of the Weeknd’s trilogy of studio albums, following the hits “Dawn FM” (2022) and “After Hours” (2020). This third album in the trilogy serves as the final chapter crafted with existential and self-referential themes.

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Entertainment Daypop

Ben Stiller stars in trailer for Hulu holiday comedy ‘Nutcracker’

Ben Stiller stars in the trailer for Hulu’s holiday comedy Nutcrackers, from filmmaker David Gordon Green. Stiller plays Mike, a strait-laced workaholic who must care for his orphaned nephews over the holidays until they find foster parents.

Stiller’s four child co-stars — Homer Janson (13), Ulysses Janson (11), Arlo Janson (8), and Atlas Janson (8) — are real-life brothers who had never acted before; filmmaker Green is friends with their mother, Karey Williams, who was a classmate of his at film school, and wound up filming the pic at both her family farm and dance studio.  The film also stars Linda Cardellini, Edi Patterson, Tim Heidecker, and Toby Huss.

Nutcrackers premieres Nov. 29; check out the trailer – HERE.

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Rock Daypop

Five Finger Death Punch donates $200k to homeless, veterans charities

Five Finger Death Punch has donated $200k from a portion of ticket sales from their headlining arena and amphitheater North American tour this past summer and fall. The funds will be split between two charities personally chosen by band members Ivan Moody and Zoltan Bathory.

Moody chose Covenant House, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping homeless, trafficked, and exploited youth and young families, in support of Youth Homelessness Awareness Month in November. Covenant House’s 34 locations across the country aims to provide shelter, support, and comprehensive services to homeless youth.  Said Moody: “Many of our songs and music videos speak directly to the issues being addressed by Covenant House. Our commitment to donating to support their programs and using our platform to raise awareness perfectly aligns with the band’s and our fans’ values.”

Zoltan chose to support the Call of Duty Endowment, a non-profit organization helps veterans find high-quality careers by supporting groups that prepare them for the job market and by raising awareness of veterans’ value to the workplace. Zoltan’s connection to this charity began when he was featured as a character (an in-game operator named Oz) in two Call of Duty games: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II and Call of Duty: Warzone.

Zoltan and Ivan have raised millions of dollars over the past two decades for various causes and shown overwhelming support to first responders and the military. Proceeds from their 2019 No. 1 hit “Blue On Black” featuring Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Brantley Gilbert, and Brian May were donated to the Gary Sinise Foundation.

Additionally, the official video for the band’s song, “Wrong Side Of Heaven,” brought awareness to the struggles of veterans suffering from PTSD and has garnered over 411 million views to date. The band raised over $300K for various military organizations supporting veterans afflicted by PTSD through the campaign around the song in 2014, and 5FDP was awarded the prestigious Soldier Appreciation Award in 2016 by the ‘Association of The United States Army’ an honor bestowed only upon Elvis Presley.

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Rock Daypop

Korn, Metallica, Linkin Park among performers at Sonic Temple 2025

The Sonic Temple Art + Music Festival has unveiled its full 2025 lineup, headlined by Metallica (on two nights), Linkin Park, and Korn. The annual hard rock and metal fest is set for May 8th-11th at the Historic Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.

A post to the festival’s social media platforms reads:  “LINEUP ANNOUNCEMENT: @SonicTempleFest brings an iconic rock & metal lineup to @CrewStadium in Columbus, Ohio on May 8-11. Experience 2 Unique Sets from @Metallica plus @LINKINPARK, @Korn, @badomenscult, @IncubusBand, @AliceInChains, @RobZombie, @threedaysgrace (reunited with Adam Gontier), @alicecooper, and a very rare reunion performance from Acid Bath. Over 100 bands in total!”

Fest promoter Danny Wimmer in a press release: “We’re thrilled to finally reveal the full lineup to our fans! Bringing two nights of Metallica to Sonic Temple has been years in the making, and we’re excited to make it a reality. With over 100 bands, including powerhouses Korn, Bad Omens and Incubus, alongside the highly anticipated return of Linkin Park, and the reunion of Three Days Grace with Adam Gontier, 2025 is shaping up to be an unforgettable year. We can’t wait to see everyone at Sonic Temple!”

  • Thursday, May 8th will be headlined by Korn, with performances by Bad Omens, Three Days Grace (with original vocalist Adam Gontier), Killswitch Engage, Jinjer, and Ministry, and more.
  • On Friday, May 9th, the first of two Metallica headlining slots will take place, as the metal legends bring their two-show “No Repeat Weekend” format to Sonic Temple. Friday also features sets by Rob Zombie, Alice Cooper, Mastodon, Cannibal Corpse, Deafheaven, Suicidal Tendencies, Hatebreed, and a reunited Acid Bath, among other acts.
  • Saturday, May 10th will be headlined by Linkin Park (featuring Emily Armstrong on vocals) with sets by Incubus, I Prevail, and Trivium. Bullet for My Valentine, Jimmy Eat World, Underoath, and a reunited Crossfade also are featured for that date.
  • Wrapping up the festival on Sunday, May 11th will be headliners Metallica, who will perform a completely different set than their Friday slot. Other feature performers include Alice in Chains, Arch Enemy, GWAR, and a reunited Power Trip.

For information on Sonic Temple 2025, head HERE.

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Entertainment Daypop

Halle Bailey, Smokey Robinson to host NBC’s Motown Christmas special

Halle Bailey and Smokey Robinson have signed on to host NBC’s 2-hour holiday special, “A Motown Christmas.” The show will premiere on the broadcast network Dec. 11, and will be available to stream on Peacock Dec. 12.

The network announced on social media: “we’re bringing the magic of motown to your holiday season! 🎄🎶 celebrate with motown legends and today’s hottest stars in #AMotownChristmas December 11 on nbc and streaming next day on @peacock”

NBC said in a press release that “the special will include performances featuring more than 25 Motown hits, performed by Smokey Robinson, Gladys Knight, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, and the Temptations.”

Bailey will perform a medley of Diana Ross’ hits, while Oscar-winner Jamie Foxx will celebrate the music of Stevie Wonder alongside Bebe Winans, Jordin Sparks and Andra Day. The lineup of performers also includes Ashanti, JoJo, mgk, October London, Pentatonix, and the Broadway company of MJ the Musical, with an 11-piece live band led by Emmy-winning musical director Rickey Minor.

Jen Neal, executive vice president of live events and specials at NBCUniversal Entertainment, said in a statement: “Motown’s timeless hits have played as a soundtrack for American families for the last eight decades. NBC is honored to spotlight the iconic legacy of Motown with a festive celebration for the holiday season.”

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Entertainment Daypop

Beyoncé to perform at halftime show for Netfix’s NFL Christmas Day game

Beyoncé and the NFL announced that she will be performing the halftime show for the Houston Texans-Baltimore Ravens game taking place on Christmas Day in her hometown of Houston, and set to stream on Netflix.    Beyoncé previously performed at the Super Bowls in 2013 and 2016.

The streaming service released a teaser video which shows the Grammy-winning performer catching a football while standing on top of a red vintage car and singing “American Requiem” – the opening song of her latest album, Cowboy Carter.   They added in a press release: “Your early Christmas wish has been granted as Beyoncé will perform during Netflix’s first-ever NFL Christmas Gameday.”  Netflix added that details of the superstar’s performance are “under wraps” but she is “expected to feature some special guests” who are featured on her recent “COWBOY CARTER” album.

Beyoncé was just nominated for 11 Grammy awards on Nov. 8, including Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Album of the Year — making her the most-nominated artist in Grammy history.

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Rock Daypop

Hollywood Undead bring back masks, share video for new song

Hollywood Undead have signed a new record deal and have released the song “Hollywood Forever”, which also finds the band sporting newly reworked masks done by Jerry Constantine.

In the new video for “Hollywood Forever,” the band members appear maskless throughout most of the clip,  and features people entering a theater and giving up their various vices as the price of admission. By the end of the clip each member has their new masked look for their next era.

Vocalist/bassist Johnny 3 Tears said of this song, “This song is for the fans. They’ve allowed us to live out our dreams and simple words can’t express our gratitude – so we wrote this for them.”

Vocalist/guitarist Charlie Scene adds: “It’s refreshing to find a group of people who share the same vision and are as passionate as we are about this next chapter for Hollywood Undead. Our idea of what this band could be has never seemed so possible. Excited to get started.”

See the video for Hollywood Undead’s “Hollywood Forever” – HERE.

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Rock Daypop

Ringo Starr to release first country album in 50 years, ‘Look Up’

Ringo Starr will release his next project, a country album titled ‘Look Up’, due out January 10, 2025.

Look Up, produced and co-written by T Bone Burnett, features 11 original songs and is Starr’s first new LP since 2019 — and his first country record in more than 50 years. Starr sang and played drums on all the songs and co-wrote the album’s closing track, “Thankful,” featuring Alison Krauss. Burnett enlisted some of Nashville’s best talent for the record, including Billy Strings, Larkin Poe, Lucius, and Molly Tuttle.

Ringo said of the album: “I’ve always loved country music. And when I asked T Bone to write me a song, I didn’t even think at the time that it would be a country song – but of course it was, and it was so beautiful. I had been making EPs at the time and so I thought we would do a country EP -but when he brought me nine songs I knew we had to make an album! And I am so glad we did. I want to thank and send Peace & Love, to T Bone and all the great musicians who helped make this record. It was a joy making it and I hope it is a joy to listen to.”

Burnett adds: “I have loved Ringo Starr and his playing and his singing and his aesthetic for as long as I can (or care to) remember. He changed the way every drummer after him played, with his inventive approach to the instrument. And, he has always sung killer rockabilly, as well as being a heartbreaking ballad singer. To get to make this music with him was something like the realization of a 60-year dream I’ve been living. None of the work that I have done throughout a long life in music would have happened if not for him and his band. Among other things, this album is a way I can say thank you for all he has given me and us.”

Starr will bring this new music to Nashville when he headlines the famed Ryman Auditorium on January 14-15, 2025. The first track from Look Up, titled “Time On My Hands” is out now; take a listen: HERE.

Pre-order Look Up: HERE.

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Entertainment Daypop

See the trailer for Amazon’s ‘Cruel Intentions’ reboot series premiering Nov. 21st

Prime Video‘s reboot of Cruel Intentions will premiere with all eight episodes on Thursday, Nov. 21, with the streaming service also releasing the first trailer for the series.

Cruel Intentions reimagines the 1999 film starring Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ryan Phillippe, Reese Witherspoon and Selma Blair. Both are modern adaptations of the 18th-century novel ‘Dangerous Liaisons.’

The Amazon reboot “follows the elite students of Manchester College, a Washington, D.C.-adjacent university, where reputation means everything, fraternities and sororities are the gold standard, and two ruthless stepsiblings, Caroline Merteuil (First Kill’s Sarah Catherine Hook) and Lucien Belmont (One Night’s Zac Burgess), will do anything to stay on top of the cutthroat social hierarchy. After a brutal hazing incident threatens the entire Greek Life system, they’ll do whatever is necessary to preserve their power and reputation – even if that means seducing Annie Grover (the Gossip Girl reboot’s Savannah Lee Smith), the daughter of the Vice President of the United States. Hearts will be broken, loyalties will be tested, and secrets will be revealed in this modern-day royal court that is Manchester College.”

The cast includes Sarah Catherine Hook as Caroline, Zac Burgess as Lucien, Savannah Lee Smith as Annie, and Sara Silva as Cece Carroway, with John Harlan Kim, Khobe Clarke, Sean Patrick Thomas and Brooke Lena Johnson also starting.

The series will premiere Nov. 21 on Prime Video; see the Cruel Intentions trailer: HERE.

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Entertainment Daypop

Conan O’Brien to host the 2025 Oscars

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced that Conan O’Brien will host the 2025 Academy Awards in March, marking his first time hosting the awards show.  O’Brien takes over hosting duties from Jimmy Kimmel, who hosted the last two Oscar ceremonies.

The 61-year-old O’Brien jokingly said in a statement: “America demanded it, and now it’s happening: Taco Bell’s new Cheesy Chalupa Supreme. In other news, I’m hosting the Oscars.”  O’Brien is no stranger to hosting award shows; he previously hosted the Emmy Awards in 2002 and 2006, in addition to serving as host of the 2014 MTV Movie Awards.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences CEO Bill Kramer and president Janet Yang shared: “We are thrilled and honored to have the incomparable Conan O’Brien host the Oscars this year. He is the perfect person to help lead our global celebration of film with his brilliant humor, his love of movies, and his live TV expertise. His remarkable ability to connect with audiences will bring viewers together to do what the Oscars do best—honor the spectacular films and filmmakers of this year.”

Oscars executive producers Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan added: “Conan has all the qualities of a great Oscars host — he is incredibly witty, charismatic and funny and has proven himself to be a master of live event television. We are so looking forward to working with him to deliver a fresh, exciting and celebratory show for Hollywood’s biggest night.”

O’Brien is best known for hosting “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” from 1993-2009 after David Letterman’s departure, and served as host of “Conan” from 2010 to 2021. Most recently, he starred in the travel show “Conan O’Brien Must Go” on Max, and he currently hosts the podcast Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend.

The 97th Academy Awards will take place on Sunday, March 2, 2025, live from the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood at 7 p.m. EST/4 p.m. PT on ABC.

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