Disney is testing gamers’ appetite for Hollywood IP once again with Ubisoft's latest offering, Star Wars Outlaws. This AAA title, released on August 30th, follows the expiration of EA’s exclusive 10-year rights deal for the Star Wars franchise. Developed by Massive Entertainment, Outlaws ventures into open-world gameplay, echoing the style of Ubisoft’s popular franchises like Assassin’s Creed and Far Cry. Massive Entertainment, known for the 2023 release Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, faced lukewarm reception with its Avatar game despite the [...]

AI music startups Suno and Udio AI are facing a major lawsuit from top record labels, including Universal, Sony, and Warner, over copyright infringement claims. This case, seen as potentially precedent-setting for various creative industries, could either reinforce the labels' market dominance or significantly impact their assets and relevance to artists. Rather than seeking to dismiss the claims, Suno and Udio have chosen to move directly into the discovery phase, a bold strategy that could lead to high-stakes trials and [...]

Under the artistic direction of Alberto Barbera, the world's oldest film festival has been relaunched and expanded. Venice’s Mostra del Cinema has revitalized its infrastructure and screening rooms, enhanced the quality of film selections—many of which start at the Lido and go on to receive numerous awards worldwide—and attracted Hollywood stars and celebrities from around the globe. However, when it comes to the business side, the outcome is more nuanced. Barbera often boasts that Venice has overtaken Cannes in terms [...]

Marco Bellocchio will receive the 25th Robert Bresson Award. The award ceremony will take place on Saturday, August 31, at 12:30 p.m., at the Italian Pavilion - Sala Tropicana 1 at the Hotel Excelsior, during the 81st Venice International Film Festival. The award, presented by the Fondazione Ente dello Spettacolo and Rivista del Cinematografo with the patronage of the Dicastery for Culture and Education and the Dicastery for Communication of the Holy See, is given to a director who has [...]

‘Not a Sequel Cash Grab’—A Passion Project Met with Enthusiastic Reception At the Venice Film Festival, Tim Burton, alongside his star-studded cast, unveiled Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, the much-anticipated follow-up to the 1988 cult classic. Thirty-six years after Beetlejuice charmed audiences, Burton and Michael Keaton have returned with the next chapter of this supernatural comedy, set to have its world premiere tonight after a press screening earlier today. Speaking to the press, Burton expressed his deep connection to the film and its [...]

NBA Slams Warner Bros Discovery in Court Battle Over Amazon TV Rights Deal, Calls Company Too Small to Compete  The NBA has slammed Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) in an escalating legal battle over broadcast rights, accusing the media giant of lacking both the financial strength and the audience reach to compete with Amazon’s lucrative deal. The fight centers around a $77 billion, 11-year rights package that Amazon secured earlier this year, set to begin in the 2025-26 season. WBD, through [...]