We’re not going to kid ourselves, in the world of paid reviews we don’t know which ones are or are not in today’s environment. While it’s always better to go see a movie yourself the early reviews for Masters of the Universe appear to be very impressive
Developing…
Horror always seems to succeed where other genres fail. Even when critics shrug or the mainstream audience barely notices, horror has a way of finding profitability. A massive opening weekend is not always required when the budget is microscopic compared to modern blockbuster standards. Sometimes a horror movie only needs curiosity, atmosphere, and enough people willing to buy a ticket on a Friday night.
Take Obsession for instance. The film did not become the number one movie of the weekend, but it did not have to. Reports indicate the movie opened to around $16 million domestically against a production budget of only about $750,000. In an era where major studio films can lose hundreds of millions of dollars, horror once again proved why it remains one of the safest bets in entertainment.
Directed by emerging filmmaker Mark Ellison, Obsession leans heavily into psychological horror and paranoia rather than expensive visual effects. The movie stars Samara Weaving alongside Justice Smith, telling the story of a couple whose relationship spirals into terror after a seemingly harmless fixation turns dangerous. Much of the buzz surrounding the movie came from social media reactions praising its tension, disturbing imagery, and old school thriller atmosphere.
And that really is the magic formula horror continues to pull off year after year. While superhero films and giant action spectacles require enormous budgets just to survive, horror can thrive on creativity, mood, and word of mouth… If audiences are intrigued enough to show up, the genre often wins before the opening weekend is even over.
Donald Trump knows how to troll… so maybe that’s what is happening again on Sunday as the President posted an image of him standing with an alien gray chained up as a prisoner..
Trump just posted an AI image of himself walking a chained gray alien out of an Area 51 hangar.
Months ago this would’ve been a meme account. Today it’s the President of the United States.
The net has lit up with other images of the alien replaced by Epstein.. and more..
But, no one ever said this image was AI… 🙂
While not really a joking making, as the world continues to deal with health scares ranging from hantavirus fears to endless social media speculation about future pandemics, another very real outbreak is now unfolding in Africa and it has officially caught the attention of the World Health Organization.
Ebola.. this time it is a rare strain..
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is now dealing with a deadly Ebola outbreak tied to the rare Bundibugyo strain of the virus, and according to reports more than 65 people are already dead with hundreds of suspected cases under investigation. Some reports now place the death toll even higher.
What has health officials are nervous is that this does not appear to be the dominant Ebola strain that many vaccines and treatments were designed around.
The Bundibugyo strain is considered more rare and currently does not have approved vaccines specifically tailored to it.
Information from the WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION..
MORE..
Now the World Health Organization has declared the situation a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern”…
This does not mean the world is facing another COVID style pandemic at least at the moment.
From health officials, Ebola spreads very differently and generally requires direct contact with bodily fluids rather than airborne transmission. .. The WHO officials believe this situation is serious enough that the world should be paying close attention.
The outbreak is reportedly centered in the conflict plagued Ituri Province of the Congo.. there has been movement between neighboring countries including Uganda causing the virus to spread..
We need the TIME magazine persons of the year again.. calling all Ebola hunters and fighters across the planet..
DEVELOPING..
As this is written, I just got back from a sunny beautiful New York City, center of the universe.
A Saturday night with busy crowds and life abounding, and we sat in a Broadway theater enjoying Stranger Things: The First Shadow. Not sure where people reading this are from or how far a quest to New York City would be for you but should you happen to have the spare jingle and time it would serve your needs if you’re a Stranger Things fan to see this.
From the moment the play opens it blows you away. You’re told by staff to silence your phones and you’ll be admonished if you’re not doing that, but because of the intensity and immediacy of the action you don’t even think about recording it.
A lot of people have given a lot of five star reviews and influential publications have said that they were blown away by this live performance of The First Shadow.
The group I saw with and the audience I saw it with clearly were blown away. A couple of kids who were perhaps a bit too young were taken from the audience because of the intensity of some scenes but everybody else respectfully laughed when they should have, jumped when they didn’t know what was coming, and cheered in an enormous round of applause for the actors in this play. You probably already know a bit about The First Shadow.
The play serves as a prequel to the Netflix series and takes audiences back to Hawkins in 1959, long before the events of the television show.
The production first premiered in London’s West End before making its way to Broadway where it has quickly become one of the most talked about live theatrical experiences in recent memory. Critics and fans have praised the production for somehow capturing the cinematic scale of Stranger Things while still feeling like live theater, with many reviews singling out the visual effects, sound design, performances, and shocking stage illusions as something audiences have rarely seen before in a Broadway production.
Perhaps what was the most amazing of all was the first few minutes. I’m only going to spoil it in this way, when the play opens up it’s immediate action. We’re thrown back into the teenage years of our favorite adult cast from the Stranger Things Netflix series. Isabella Pappas as Joyce is spot on and she and Louis McCartney as Henry Creel steal the show. And once that opening sequence, a very loud opening sequence mind you, happens we immediately are immersed into the opening song with the stage showing the famous Stranger Things logo appearing just like it did on the Netflix show. It suddenly feels like we’re not watching a play but instead we are in the actual world of Stranger Things itself.
Going to Broadway or theater or plays will do that but the action, the animatronics, the screens, and the set design and tricks played by this show’s staff morphs you into a silent observer in the world of The First Shadow. It feels like you’re there with Henry Creel as he discovers his powers and evil takes itself over. The only other thing I’ll sort of ruin for you is not the ending of the play itself because again, you may have already ruined that for yourself and read about it, but expect to be in awe of a very famous character making an appearance at the extreme end. And what I really loved about it is as we see the post show song play on the screen in front of us on the stage appears that famous little Netflix clickable item of either watching the credits or clicking on the next episode. It gave our audience a laugh while we cheered and instead of the next show playing since the play was over we watched the credits as the cast and crew came out to a roaring lengthy ovation.
I will say the play seemed flawless. Of course there’s errors that the random viewer may or may not really pick up on but that’s fine, they perfect them as they continue doing plays. But for the audience that saw it today we were in awe and I could have sat through three more hours. Watching this play actually gives you a certain sense of sadness about how season 5 actually was. So many things from the youth of our adults get referenced but not expanded on during season 5. And perhaps it’s just because there was not enough time and the congruity of everything working together doesn’t really flow but, if you have the abilities and means to get there it’s highly advisable that you see The First Shadow on Broadway.
The cast broke a leg and with Henry Creel in action, many many legs..
As we’ve written before, we’re still not sure if the He-Man movie coming out in June is going to do well or not. But if it doesn’t do well, you certainly can’t blame the advertising team, because they are doing a heck of a job promoting the crap out of this movie.
Now, in the run-up to the film, some absolutely amazing Masters of the Universe posters have been released, with 18 character posters produced so far. Some fans have complained that the movie itself doesn’t seem to have the bright colors and visual style of the classic cartoon, but these posters showcase a beautiful array of colors, scenery, and character designs that look very much inspired by the 1980s comic series and classic action figures.
The posters feature Nicholas Galitzine as He-Man, Jared Leto as Skeletor, Camila Mendes as Teela, Idris Elba as Man-At-Arms, Alison Brie as Evil-Lyn, Morena Baccarin as the Sorceress, Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson as Fisto, James Purefoy as King Randor, Charlotte Riley as Queen Marlena, Kristen Wiig as the voice of Roboto, James Wilkinson as Mekaneck, and Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson as Goat Man.
At this point, the fandom is definitely alive and well, but a large portion of that fandom is made up of Gen Xers and millennials who grew up with these characters. Let’s hope the posters and the movie itself connect with younger audiences as well, because if they do, Masters of the Universe could become something much bigger than just a nostalgia trip.
Meet the characters of Masters of the Universe with a series of 18 new character posters:
Based on the classic Mattel toy line, the sci-fi action-adventure film opens in theaters — including Dolby Cinema, 4DX, and D-BOX — on June 5 via Amazon MGM Studios.
After being separated for 15 years, the Sword of Power leads Prince Adam back to Eternia, where he discovers his home shattered under the fiendish rule of Skeletor. To save his family and his world, Adam must join forces with his closest allies, Teela and Man-At-Arms, and embrace his true destiny as He-Man — the most powerful man in the universe.
Travis Knight (Bumblebee) directs from a script by Chris Butler (ParaNorman), Aaron & Adam Nee (The Lost City), and David Callaham (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings).
Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal, Robbie Brenner, Steve Tisch, and DeVon Franklin produce, with Ynon Kreiz, Bill Bannerman, and David Bloomfield serving as executive producers.
Mattel launched Masters of the Universe with a toy line in 1982 followed by the “He-Man and the Masters of the Universe” cartoon from 1983-1985. The franchise now includes multiple animated series, toy lines, comics, video games, and books, along with a 1987 live-action film.
Harvey Weinstein’s third Manhattan sex crime trial ended today with yet another hung jury, as four women on the panel voted to clear him of raping actress Jessica Mann in 2013.
The deadlock reportedly happened just after 1:00 p.m. today, marking the second time a jury could not reach a unanimous decision in this situation. Reports indicate that 9 out of the 12 jurors were prepared to acquit Weinstein, including all of the female jurors. Three male jurors reportedly remained firmly committed to conviction, and neither side was willing to budge. With that, the former Miramax executive now faces another hung jury.
Jurors were reportedly upset that they could not come back with a verdict, with tensions and heated debates breaking out during deliberations. In many ways, it sounds exactly like 12 Angry Men… and in cases like this, perhaps it should. That is the way the justice system was designed to work. Debate, disagreement, and scrutiny are all part of the process. But in this particular case, an agreement simply could not be reached.
Before the new Masters of the Universe movie even arrives in theaters, one of the biggest questions surrounding the entire project may not actually be about the movie itself. It may be about toys… and whether kids even want them anymore in the modern era.
For years now, it feels like adult collectors have completely changed the toy industry. Every time a major toy line comes out, shelves are emptied by collectors, resale prices are inflated online, and the toys themselves become collectibles instead of actual toys for children. It has happened with Star Wars, Transformers, GI Joe, wrestling figures, retro reissues, and countless others. Parents sometimes walk into stores only to discover the shelves already raided by adults hunting rare variants and exclusives before kids even had a chance to see them.
That is what makes the current strategy from Mattel so interesting. It appears a conscious effort is being made to divide the line between collector products and kid-focused products. The larger premium collectibles and nostalgia-driven exclusives are still being made for longtime fans, while more affordable figures in the lower price ranges are reportedly being aimed directly at children and families. In a strange way, a moral position almost seems to be getting taken here… toys should still belong to kids.
That approach may end up being one of the smartest things Mattel has done with Masters of the Universe in decades.
But the larger mystery remains the same… will modern kids even embrace He-Man?
That question becomes more complicated when it is remembered that younger audiences today have grown up in a completely different entertainment landscape than children from the 1980s. The imagination-driven era of after-school cartoons, toy aisles filled wall-to-wall with action figures, and playground mythology has largely been replaced by TikTok clips, YouTube personalities, anime, streaming services, Roblox, Minecraft, and endless fast-moving digital entertainment.
A child born after 2011, or especially after 2020, may not automatically connect with a giant sword-and-sorcery fantasy mythology the same way older generations once did.
There was a certain imagination attached to the 1980s that still carries enormous nostalgic power. He-Man and the Masters of the Universe existed in a colorful world filled with strange creatures, giant castles, cosmic battles between good and evil, and larger-than-life personalities. The sincerity of it all was part of the appeal. It was not ironic. It was not ashamed of itself. Eternia was simply allowed to be strange.
The concern now is whether that kind of mythology still works in the modern age… or whether its time has long passed.
Reportedly carrying a budget somewhere between $170 million and $200 million, the new film is not being treated like a niche experiment. A massive theatrical rollout is expected, with projections pointing toward a wide release in roughly 3,500 to 4,000 theaters when the film arrives on June 5, 2026. The runtime is also being reported at approximately 132 minutes, making it a fairly lengthy fantasy blockbuster.
But we are already hearing about early pre-sales that are not meeting their target.
That runtime may become part of the problem.
A prediction is going to be made here… the movie will probably have a decent opening weekend fueled by nostalgia, curiosity, and longtime fans, but may ultimately fall flat afterward. Toy sales for the kid-focused line may also end up weaker than expected, while adult collectors will likely scoop up the premium and nostalgia-driven figures almost immediately. Of course, reality may prove this prediction completely wrong, and honestly it would be great if that happened. A genuine new He-Man sensation taking over pop culture again would actually be pretty incredible to witness.
Still, there is skepticism.
The movie may simply be too long to fully appeal to younger children unless the pacing is nonstop action from beginning to end. But at the same time, constant action for over two hours involving characters that many kids have never seen before could become overwhelming rather than exciting. Modern audiences, especially younger viewers, often need emotional anchors before they become invested in giant fantasy worlds. If there is no attachment to the characters themselves, endless spectacle can start to blur together.
That may be the biggest challenge facing Eternia in 2026.
Adults already care about He-Man. Adults already understand Skeletor, Castle Grayskull, Battle Cat, and the mythology. But the future of the franchise will not really be decided by nostalgia-driven collectors. It will be decided by whether children begin asking for the toys, pretending to be the characters, wearing the shirts, arguing about who is stronger, and carrying Eternia into an entirely new generation.
That is the real test.
And right now, nobody truly knows whether Masters of the Universe is about to become the next great fantasy revival… or simply another relic of the 1980s trying one last time to survive in a completely different world.
Last night the Duffer Brothers appeared at a live Happy Sad Confused podcast event in Los Angeles and for a fandom already hanging on every rumor surrounding Stranger Things 5 and the so called “Conformity Gate” theories, the event immediately became dissected online in real time. Livestreams started popping up before audience members were politely asked to stop recording because the discussion was being taped officially for a future podcast release. But by then the attendees had already started taking notes…
According to attendees, the Duffer Brothers touched on everything from Vecna inspirations to the emotional ending of the series, awkward moments involving Noah Schnapp discussions, Season 2 regrets, the future animated series, music licensing nightmares involving Prince, The Beatles and Michael Jackson, and even strange behind the scenes stories including Joe Keery allegedly officiating a wedding in a Scoops Ahoy costume.
One thing that immediately stood out from fan reactions online was the feeling that the Duffers seemed surprised some viewers believe Eleven is dead. That alone is probably going to launch another avalanche of theories. At the same time, when “Conformity Gate” was brought up, the brothers reportedly didn’t really engage the theory directly but instead appreciated how closely fans pay attention to the details in their work.
That answer probably won’t satisfy people who spent months turning Stranger Things into a forensic investigation.
Some of the bigger revelations or talking points from attendees included the Duffer Brothers admitting they would redo the controversial Season 2 Episode 7 if given the chance. They reportedly clarified that the episode was never intended as a spinoff setup and said they simply wanted to take a big creative swing instead of remaking Season 1 over and over again. They also admitted that ending production on the final season was emotional and that filming the final scene deeply affected them, especially watching Finn Wolfhard perform it in what was allegedly one take while the rest of the cast watched emotionally from behind the cameras.
Fans online also became hyper focused on comments involving Noah Schnapp and Will Byers. According to audience notes, the Duffers discussed spending a lot of time with Noah during production, mentioned how many questions he asks, and referenced incidents where he allegedly scared production crews by climbing onto things or nearly hurting himself during filming. Some fans interpreted parts of the conversation as awkward or tense while others thought it was simply the brothers joking around in a blunt way that didn’t necessarily land with everybody.
Another interesting point involved Will Byers’ story arc.
The Duffers reportedly said that at one point a new love interest for Will may have been discussed, but ultimately they decided his journey was more internal and personal instead of being driven by another outside character.
Byler was never in the cards..
The brothers reportedly talked about the challenge of securing music rights for the series and mentioned artists like Prince, The Beatles and Michael Jackson as some of the hardest names to clear. There were also discussions involving why “Purple Rain” was chosen creatively, although some attendees admitted they missed portions of the explanation while trying to take notes quickly.
Meanwhile the future of the Stranger Things universe was also teased. The animated series appears to be moving forward and was reportedly described as already greenlit for another season. Questions about the live action spinoff were handled far more cautiously with the brothers refusing to reveal much other than saying they do not want to rush it and that it has to be “awesome or forget it.”
And perhaps the most fascinating thing about the entire event was not necessarily what was said… but how people reacted afterward.
The Duffer brothers gave us excitement for the past decade and over the past 5 months have become very divisive in the entertainment world. The divisiveness is clearly on display even after the event last night, it doesn’t seem so much damage control was being done but instead the duffers were just being themselves. And that can be appreciated, but the fandom being themselves didn’t seem to appreciate it that much.
In the end this was just a show but as many shows go for so many people it was more than a show and characters that we got to know as though they were real and we had hopes and aspirations for those characters that many times were deflated. But the biggest deflation of all probably came after the show was done when people point it out all of the plot holes and themes such as time travel never really explored.
The appearance on this podcast probably will not do much to assuage fans who are upset.
Some big announcements for streaming came today. We were a bit shocked that the Paper is getting season 2 but not shocking is the Peacock show Crystal lake. October 15th except for it’s debut…
The new Friday the 13th prequel series, hailing from A24 and set to stream on Peacock, stars Callum Vinson a young Jason Voorhees and Linda Cardellini as murder mommy Pamela Voorhees. The show is set prior to the accident that made Voorhees the killer..
Joining Vinson and Cardellini are William Catlett, Devin Kessler, Cameron Scoggins in a major role, Gwendolyn Sundstrom, Nick Cordileone, Danielle Kotch, Phoenix Parnevik, Nancy Nagrant, and Joy Suprano, with Michael Lennox, Celine Held and Logan George, and Quyen Tran directing episodes.