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The first reviews are in for Echo, the new Marvel series on Disney+ (and Hulu), and well, they are definitely mixed.

Debuting under the new Marvel Spotlight banner, Echo marks a return to the more gritty vibes of the Netflix series, which it pulls off quite readily thanks to the appearance of both Charlie Cox’s Daredevil and Vincent D’Onoforio’s Kingpin, the latter of whom plays a significant part in the events of the show. Echo also boasts a TV-MA rating, which allows the series to up the violence compared to prior MCU series.

However, there’s definitely a divide among critics about whether the show’s street-level approach offers a breath of fresh air or is just more of the same. Alaqua Cox is clearly formidable in the role, prompting some critics to rave about her character bringing a unique perspective to the MCU. Others were not as blown away and found Echo’s background to be superficial trappings.

You can see what the critics are saying below, but note that these reviews were based on only the first three episodes of Echo that were provided ahead of its full season release:

Mike Ryan, Uproxx:

Echo is a show I want to like but didn’t quite get there. As much as Echo wants to distinguish itself apart from the rest of the MCU – especially the more recent efforts that have turned off a lot of people – there’s, unfortunately, still a sense of, “here we go again.” How Maya’s Native American heritage is used, incorporating flashbacks to ancestors, is interesting. (And anytime Graham Greene shows up is a treat.) But the rest still, at least so far, feels like the typical MCU formula … only with some more violence.

Charles Pulliam-Moore, The Verge:

It’s going to be very fascinating to see how this pivot to “grownup” superhero projects plays out for Disney going forward, especially considering that Marvel also has its first R-rated MCU film on the horizon. But if Echo’s any indication, the studio knows what it’s doing, and the MCU’s probably going to start getting a bit more bloody around the edges in a very satisfying way.

Aramide Tinubu, Variety:

While “Echo” is beautifully filmed, compressing it down to a two-hour event and cutting away many redundant displays may have increased the emotional impact for viewers. Also, had the series unpacked Maya’s inner thoughts, the audience might feel more intimately connected to a character who has shut out everyone around her. Without this grounding in her psyche, it’s taxing to appreciate her motivations when her end game seems so hazy. Had the series been tapered down, the pacing would have aided in capturing Maya’s pent-up emotions and vulnerability, keeping viewers invested in this antihero overall, and not just enraptured in the fighting and shooting sequences.

Proma Khosla, IndieWire:

“Echo” doesn’t just center a character with disabilities, but builds itself around her. Maya’s identity and life experience — and Cox’s by extension — permeate the entire show. For every network, studio executive, or other powerful creative who recoils from highlighting underrepresented communities, “Echo” is here to humble them, to make the task look not only easy but exhilarating. When shows like “Master of None” and “Only Murders in the Building” made the admirable decisions to share deaf characters’ viewpoints, they inevitably had to retreat from this perspective. … Here, it’s a commitment, not an experiment.

Nick Schager, The Daily Beast:

Cox mostly scowls and grimaces intensely as Echo, and she adeptly handles her more acrobatics-oriented responsibilities. Yet there’s nothing compelling about the protagonist’s quest or her familial frictions, all of which have been conceived in threadbare and clichéd fashion. Another footnote that’s neither interesting on its own nor must-watch necessary in order to keep apprised of the grander MCU saga, Echo continues Marvel’s “Phase Five” floundering.

Sam Barsanti, The A.V. Club:

Throughout all of that, it’s impressive just how good Cox is here. She carries the show completely with her body language, facial expressions, and signing, and it genuinely feels special that Marvel is introducing a hero here who is a deaf Native American woman who uses a prosthetic leg played by a deaf Native American woman who uses a prosthetic leg. As tired of superhero stories as people may be, it’s really goddamn cool that they can be used for stuff like this.

All five episodes of Echo are now streaming on Disney+ and Hulu.

One of the leading stories of the last week-plus in the sports world (and generally, the media world) has been Aaron Rodgers’ weekly appearances on The Pat McAfee Show, where his propensity for spouting conspiracy theories landed him and McAfee in some very hot water.

Rodgers said that Jimmy Kimmel, who is one of Disney’s highest paid employees along with McAfee, was hoping the Jeffrey Epstein list wouldn’t come out publicly. That crossed the line from just “talking sh*t,” as McAfee tried to call it in a half-apology later, and had Kimmel threatening legal action against Rodgers and then torched him on his late night show. Rodgers then returned to the McAfee show this Tuesday and, while he wouldn’t apologize, he said he was hoping everyone could move past it (which is certainly what someone who might get sued would want). He then continued to spout various COVID conspiracies and other things while A.J. Hawk stared blankly at the camera, and it was all just a lot.

On Wednesday, McAfee opened his show by proudly saying Aaron Rodgers’ fourth season of appearances on the show had come to an end, as they would not bring him in through the playoffs.

It was the decision of McAfee and company, but certainly one ESPN is probably very relieved by. The real question will be what happens next fall and whether Rodgers returns to McAfee’s airwaves, as that door certainly wasn’t closed by Pat in this segment. In the meantime, McAfee says he’s glad his mentions will not include people yelling at Rodgers — which, again, that’s Pat’s decision to bring him on knowing exactly how Rodgers is going to act — and hopes he will stay out of hot water with ESPN’s brass for a bit.

Hangout Festival unveiled its 2024 lineup today, with Zach Bryan, Lana Del Rey, and Odesza set to headline. The fest will take place in Gulf Shores, Alabama from May 17 to 19.

For those looking to head down to the beach to catch their favorite artists, here’s what to know about the ticket sale.

When Do Hangout 2024 Festival Tickets Go On Sale?

Right now, Hangout Festival is allowing interested attendees to register on their website for presale access to tickets. They will then hand out a code, with the presale taking place this Friday, January 12 at 12 a.m. ET.

The site also notes that tickets can be secured with “as little as 20% down” and they offer a number of payment plans.

As for what to expect about specific prices for the Hangout Festival tickets, there are a few different tiered options. Right now, a 3-day General Admission pass is $299 with fees, but will increase to $359 as a max — with different time waves increasing the cost. A GA+ pass starts at $519, and provides access to air-conditioned restrooms and a private bar.

The VIP pass starts at $1,299. It includes access to the VIP Grove with complimentary drinks, side stage pool access, and more exclusive perks.

Finally, the Super VIP ticket starts at $2,299 currently. It includes access to a private VIP deck, as well as up-close viewing areas at the stages and WiFi access, and more.

For more information, visit Hangout Festival’s website.

Some of the artists mentioned here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Hangout Festival is set to return to Gulf Shores, Alabama this spring. Entering its 13th iteration, Hangout Festival encapsulates good vibes and an eclectic blend of music.

Taking place over the course of three days (May 17 to 19), this year’s hangout is offering a mix of hip-hop, rock, R&B, and pop performers. Headlining this year’s Hangout are Zach Bryan, Lana Del Rey, Odesza, The Chainsmokers, Cafe The Elephant, Reneé Rapp, Dominic Fike, and Jessie Murph.

Also on the bill are Alison Wonderland, Doechii, Nelly, Sexyy Red, Chappell Roan, and more.

In addition to music, attendees can look forward to all sorts of beach activities, including swimming, sand volleyball, dancing at an onsite club, and more.

“Beyond the music, a weekend spent at Hangout offers the most perfectly-timed and carefree antidote to winter where adulting takes a back seat to picturesque sunsets and leisurely days spent with toes in the sand,” reads a statement accompanying the announcement. “Imagine posting up at Hammock Beach, playing beach volleyball or sliding down a slip-and-slide at Camp Hangout, catching heartfelt vows at the Beach Wedding Chapel, then popping into a beach dance club with direct swimming access in the refreshing Gulf of Mexico, all between sets and before retiring to your condo, beach house, or nearby hotel.”

Pre-sale for Hangout Festival 2024 begins Friday, January 12 at 11 a.m. CT. Fans can purchase tickets here.

You can see the full lineup below.

Some of the artists mentioned here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

We all know that Keanu Reeves can act, we all know he can destroy anyone in a thrilling game of pool, and we all know that he can essentially do no wrong (except for that one movie we don’t talk about). But next up, the actor/driving enthusiast is dipping his toes into the world of writing, presumably because Nic Cage won’t play pool with him again and he just needs something else to do.

Reeves’ popular comic book series, BRZRKR, is getting a new installment in the form of a novel titled The Book Of Elsewhere. The novel will take place in the same universe as Reeves’ series, which follows an immortal warrior named Berzerker who embarks on various dangerous adventures to discover the key to his immortality. The novel will be released on July 23rd.

Reeves is co-writing the novel with New York Times best-selling author China Mieville, who helped expand the ever-growing BRZRKR universe. Maybe one day they will expand to using vowels.

In a statement, Reeves said, “It was extraordinary to have the opportunity to collaborate on The Book of Elsewhere with one of my favorite authors, China Mieville. China did exactly what I was hoping for – he came in with a clear architecture for the story and how he wanted to play with the world of BRZRKR, a world that I love so much. I was thrilled with his vision and feel honored to be a part of this collaborative process.”

Not only will BRZKRK be getting a novel, but Reeves is also attached to star in a live-action adaption of the comics for Netflix, in addition to the upcoming anime series. John Wick might be dead, but Keanu will continue beating up men for years and possibly decades to come, and that’s enough to keep us all going.

(Via Deadline)

Netflix’s push to continue getting into the sports space will continue with its latest offering in the world of sports documentaries, as they will follow up their Quarterback series that followed Patrick Mahomes, Kirk Cousins, and Marcus Mariota two years ago with an NBA version.

For the currently untitled NBA series, Shams Charania reports five players have agreed to be part of the doc, headlined by LeBron James along with Jayson Tatum, Anthony Edwards, Jimmy Butler, and Domantas Sabonis.

The NBA series won’t provide quite the same perspective Quarterback did, which had the biggest QB star on the planet, a “good but not great” in Cousins, and a journeyman who spent most of his career as a backup in Mariota. It’s understandable why they wouldn’t go that route, because the same levels of NBA players aren’t as well-known as quarterbacks in the NFL.

Instead, they opted to go with stars in different stages of their careers, from the legend finishing up his career in LeBron James to someone entering his prime in Tatum to a budding superstar in Edwards — along with an established veteran in Butler and an under the radar All-Star in Sabonis. Quarterback allowed fans to get to know those players a bit better off the field, and I’m sure that’s what we can expect from the NBA edition, with the caveat that the subjects have to open up their real selves in front of the cameras for it to have the intended effect.

50 Cent has a surprising New Year’s resolution for 2024 it seems: have no sex. The rapper and mogul shared a recent photo of himself sitting in a restaurant with a cigar. In the Instagram caption, he shared why he’s probably taking some time away from any women.

“My new idea is so big, I don’t have time to be distracted I’m practicing abstinence, I have been meditating and focusing on my goals,” 50 Cent wrote. “I hope this New Year helps you excel to the next level.”

While it’s unclear if that’s exactly what he’ll be abstaining from, fans in the comments seem to think it is also.

50 Cent is allegedly planning to work on a documentary about Diddy and his sexual assault allegations, which will be led by his production company, G-Unit Film & Television. The proceeds will be donated to victims of sexual abuse, according to Complex.

Additionally, 50 Cent is likely continuing to work on his Power Book: II and Power Book: III hit programs, along with many more shows that you can find here. He is also currently developing an 8 Mile television show with Eminem.

And that doesn’t even include his plans to keep working on music, which he wanted to return to pretty recently. With 50 Cent having all these different work projects, it’s no wonder he wanted to limit any distractions or temptations this year.

Check out 50 Cent’s post about abstinence below.

David Ayer has a new movie to promote, The Beekeeper, and with that comes the inevitable topic of his mythical director’s cut for Suicide Squad a.k.a. the Ayer Cut. Unlike Zack Snyder, who was able to talk Warner Bros. into releasing his Justice League “Snyder Cut” in 2021, Ayer was unable to secure the same treatment despite a similar social media campaign at the time.

Since then, Ayer has continued to revisit the topic in hopes that one day DC Comics fans will see his original version of the film, which was infamously re-edited by Warner Bros. at the last minute in a blatant attempt to ape the success of Guadians of the Galaxy. However, in a new interview, Ayer took things to the next level by touting his Suicide Squad cut as one of the all-time great superhero films.

Via The Hollywood Reporter:

The thing that’s been difficult for me is that I made a great film. I made a great film. The people who have seen my cut have pretty much unanimously said that it’s one of the best comic book movies ever made. If someone who’s seen the cut wants to dispute that, then they can come talk to me. I was pilloried, pilloried, in the media again and again over it, and then pilloried again and again in the press launch of subsequent IPs, but I kept my mouth shut for years. I learned that nature abhors a vacuum, and if you don’t tell your story, then somebody else will.

Despite once again revisiting the topic, Ayer now claims he’s ready to move on and has given up hope of his cut seeing the light of day.

“I can take the hint. It’s been radio silent, and I’m done pushing a rock uphill,” Ayer said. “There are great places and great partners out there to work with, and I just want to focus on being a great partner and making some good movies.”

The Beekeeper opens in theaters on January 12, 2024.

(Via The Hollywood Reporter)

Selena Gomez is, once again, on another social media hiatus. But before announcing her (latest) social media break, she seemingly offered fans an indication of potential future projects. In a photo shared to Gomez’s Instagram story, the singer is seen reading Linda Ronstadt‘s memoir. Many fans took this as a hint that she may star in a biopic based in Ronstadt.

Is Selena Gomez playing Linda Ronstadt in a biopic movie?

Rumors that Gomez would play Ronstadt began circulating last month after Showbiz411 reported that James Keach, who produced a documentary of Ronstadt called The Sound Of My Voice, had written a script for a Ronstadt biopic and that he was in talks with Gomez.

About a month after the Showbiz411 report, Gomez took to her Instagram stories to share songs by Ronstadt, as well as a quote from the artist.

“The smell of the carpet in a hotel room is the same everywhere,” read the quote.

If this is true, Gomez certainly will have plenty of time. Earlier this month, she revealed on an episode of the Smartless podcast that her upcoming album might be her last, as she wants to focus on acting.

At the time of writing, neither Gomez nor Ronstadt have commented on the rumored biopic.

Once Game of Thrones wrapped up with a final season that was universally beloved and no one, especially on social media and Reddit, had anything negative to say about it, co-creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss signed a $200 million deal with Netflix. They could have also kept making money from all future Thrones projects, including House of the Dragon and the upcoming A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight, as producers. They wouldn’t have to do anything, other than have their names appear in the credits. But according to the Hollywood Reporter, “they turned it down. Nobody does this.”

Benioff told the outlet that “HBO was kind of confused. I remember their lawyer saying, ‘But it’s just money, we’re just going to pay you.’” Weiss added, “I don’t think there is such a thing as free money. For us, if our name is on it, especially that, while being completely detached and uninvolved, it felt like the strain that would come with that hands-off approach — with its success or failure or anything in between — was not worth it.”

Instead, they decided to make 3 Body Problem with The Terror showrunner Alexander Woo. “We work better focused on one thing,” Weiss said. “It’s the elephant strategy versus the sea turtle strategy. The sea turtle has a thousand babies and points them all toward the ocean and hopes 10 make it. An elephant puts two years into one baby and guards it with its life and is devastated if the poachers come knocking. There are people who do amazing-amazing stuff while overseeing many projects at once, and I respect their ability to do that. It’s just not what we’re good at.”

Netflix’s 3 Body Problem premieres on March 21. You can watch the trailer below.

(Via the Hollywood Reporter)