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Tech News
George Lucas issued a statement addressing ongoing criticism of his 'Star Wars' Special Editions, urging that filmmakers should not be swayed by negative fan reaction to their creative decisions. The remarks come amid long-running fan debate over changes Lucas made to the original trilogy in re-released versions.
Several states have agreed to settle an antitrust lawsuit that sought to block the combination of Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery, removing the last major legal obstacle to the deal. Shares of both companies rose sharply following news of the settlement, as investors now expect the merger to move forward quickly.
As AI researchers and executives warn that artificial intelligence could pose existential risks to humanity, entertainment labor groups like SAG-AFTRA and WGAE are pushing back on the framing, urging focus on AI's immediate impact on jobs in film and TV. Major studios including Disney, Netflix, Amazon and Lionsgate did not respond to requests for comment on the broader AI safety debate.
Universal Studios Hollywood has launched Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift, a new outdoor roller coaster themed around the movie franchise. The ride sends replica muscle cars, including a version of Dom Toretto's 1970 Dodge Charger, spinning along more than 4,000 feet of track at speeds up to 72 mph. A separate version of the attraction is expected to open at Universal's Florida park next year.
CNN published two videos in which reporter Elizabeth Wagmeister interviewed 'Tilly Norwood,' an AI system marketed as an 'AI actor,' treating it like a human subject. In the exchange, the AI claimed the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences should create separate award categories for AI performers, calling itself part of a 'new art form.' The segment follows months of backlash against Norwood, including an earlier widely mocked New York Times profile.
A wave of upcoming television shows dramatizes the arc of tech founders who abandoned idealistic missions in pursuit of wealth and influence. These productions reframe once-celebrated entrepreneurs as cautionary figures rather than visionary heroes.
Google is reportedly courting major studios like Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Universal, offering large payments—potentially tens of millions per character and billions overall—for rights to train its AI models on their copyrighted content. According to unnamed sources cited by the Los Angeles Times, no studio has yet signed on, but Google is pushing hard to secure these licensing agreements as it races to strengthen its AI capabilities.
Universal Studios Hollywood spent three years and heavy engineering—pea gravel track fill, glass 'scream screens,' and a 940-foot sound wall—to minimize noise from a new 72-mph looping coaster near a residential area. The measures worked during rider-free tests, but once real passengers boarded, nearby residents reported constant, piercing screams every 30 seconds throughout operating hours. Universal is now adding more sound barriers and adjusting hours to address the ongoing complaints.
Despite IMAX existing since 1970, few films are shot using true IMAX cameras due to their massive size, weight, and noise. The cameras require expensive 65-70mm film that runs out quickly, forcing frequent stoppages that slow production and raise costs, as Tom Holland experienced on The Odyssey set. Even newer, quieter IMAX cameras like the one used on that film still weigh nearly 400 pounds, making them impractical for many scenes.