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There are more than a few things in Chloé Zhao’s Eternals we’ve never really seen before in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Most of the conflict in Eternals comes from within the Eternals themselves. One of the main arguments in the film comes from the Eternals’ primary mission, which is to protect Earth, but only up until a point. After this point, Earth will be destroyed, which will bring millions of new planets and life to existence. Ikaris (Richard Madden) believes the group should finish its mission. Most of the other Eternals, led by Sersi (Gemma Chan), have grown to like Earth and do not like this plan and vow to stop it from happening. (Some possibly minor spoilers ahead.)

But then something truly interesting happens when Kumail Nanjiani‘s character, Kingo, a fan favorite throughout the movie (at least he was at my screening), decides not to fight. He believes they should complete the intended mission, which would sacrifice Earth. But he also will not use violence to defend his position. So, he simply leaves. A scene in the movie that seems like something very personal to Zhao herself. Which, as she confirms, it very much is personal and she doesn’t know what side she’d be on if put in this situation.

Another scene we discussed (which, in reviews, has caused some controversy) is that of Phastos (Brian Tyree Henry), an emotional wreck while lamenting about the part he played with the mass destruction at Hiroshima. It is a very pointed decision for Zhao to use this particular moment in human history and, ahead, she explains why.

And then there’s Star Wars. Before this interview, I was told by a friend of Zhao’s that she’s a huge fan of Star Wars. With emphasis on the word “huge,” while extending the “U” sound. “Huuuuuuuuge.” I, innocently, bring this up to Zhao who, once I did, well, she had that look on her face like, “something might be up and I’m sure as heck not going to tell you about it right now.” Could the Oscar-winning director be interested in helming a Star Wars movie?

A scene I’m curious about, there’s a battle about to start and Kumail Nanjiani’s character, Kingo, says he doesn’t agree with what they are fighting for, but won’t try to stop the rest of the Eternals. This felt like something personal to you. Is there anything to that?

Oh, man. Thank you. First of all, three days of press, thank you, you’re the only person ask me about that.

Really? I thought you’d be like, “This question again?”

I really, really thank you for that, because that is one of my, personally, most important moment in the film. Because we would like to, through this film, the idea to challenge some of the foundations of this genre. We really do feel like we’re entering the revisionist stage of superhero genre – I think at the edge of it. And the idea of black and white morality, the ideas of humans are automatically worth saving, things like that. What does strength look like? And also, the idea that you have to always punch your way through everything. You have to be violent physically to be heroic, as long as you’re on the right side. So we’re trying to have a movie where there isn’t… I mean, obviously, we want Earth to survive, but it’s going to be a tough decision and Kingo is an extremely complex character.

He loves Earth. He’s having a good time.

He loves Earth, but he has strong beliefs, just like Ikaris. He’s no different than Ikaris in terms of his faith for the Celestials and believing in the greater good: The fact that human beings and Earth doesn’t have the right to break out of the natural order. He believes that. However, the big difference between him and Ikaris is that he might believe something personally, but he does not believe that he should hurt other people for his beliefs.

That seems like you saying that, too.

I think if we give humanity the choice, how many of them would choose? I’m curious, because it would be a tough one for me. It would be a tough decision for me, personally. And I think a lot of us might sit this one out. We might be like, “You know what, I’m not going to play God. Maybe we should sometimes humble ourselves and let nature take its course.”

See, that’s the thing I can’t figure out, if you’re on Sersi or Ikaris’s side? I honestly don’t know.

It’s a tough one. And I have friends around me who have different opinions about it and they change. Sometimes they would go, “Actually, today because of what happened in the world, I’m more with this person now.” So, it was a decision, not easy to make. A lot of discussion went into it. We also talked to Kumail about it. It is a brave decision for superhero film character to take.

And you said there were discussions. How serious did those discussions get? Because I could see some difference of opinion there.

Very serious, because we are putting a character at risk, for the audience, a beloved character at risk. Because we have 10 characters, we have to try to do something different, give each of them a different perspective. And I would say this is personal. I think it’s one of the bravest things someone did in this movie is decide not to fight, not to hurt people for their beliefs.

Right. I’ve never seen anything like that before. I’m glad there was something to that.

Thank you. There’s a first sex scene, first this and that, but there is also this first. I’m glad, I’m so happy you recognized it.

When I talk to directors of Marvel movies and ask if they want to do another one, I kind of already know what the answer is going to be, I’m just curious how they’re going to word it. with you, I have no idea. You just won an Oscar. Maybe you’re like, “I’d like to do one and then do something else.”

I’ve been a fan of the MCU, and this process. I loved working with the team at Marvel. So I’ll be back working with them in a heartbeat with the right project. And with Eternals, we really were encouraged to leave everything on the table. Don’t think about the future. Don’t plan everything out. Make the best film we can make. Don’t leave anything. Everything out of my sleeves. It’s all here. So, now in this very moment, this film is more yours than mine.

No, it’s not. It’s yours.

No.

I saw the credits, you’re in them. I’m not in them.

I know, but this is yours, because the film is going to grow with you, with the audiences, and it’s going to find its own identity. It’s out of my hands now. So we will see how things go. And then there’s no need to plan the future until we see this child’s new growth period and how things turned out.

I’m also curious how you picked the eras and places for the flashbacks. Like Hiroshima, a very interesting choice that I feel was a very pointed choice.

Wow. You are really on point. You’re the first person asking me that.

That’s very surprising.

No, it’s very surprising to me as well. I think, again, the weight of it, I think people might even feel uncomfortable asking, because there’s so much. And then that is also a discussion we’ve had many times, and including in post-production, in the edit. Personally, I do think it’s a crime against humanity. It’s not about which side you pick. It’s also a turning point in the psyche of us as a species. And after that moment, we’re never the same again. So for Phastos – who had this big belief and faith and positivity about who we are, of humanity – he believes as long as they advance, advance, advance, advance, they would be perfect. They would be fine. And that was a big wake-up call for him.

And then, from that disappointment, he has to focus on the smallest thing about humanity: not the biggest accomplishment, but the love of a family, the love of a lover, of his husband. And that’s when he can regain our humanity. It’s similar to us today. We turn on the news, we look at the big, clear picture, it could get pretty bleak. But if you go home, you look into the eyes and your parents or your child, your lover, you might regain some faith in humanity. And that’s sort of Phastos’ arc, and why Hiroshima was in the film.

On a lighter note, someone who knows you said you are a huge, and put a bunch of u’s in the word “huge,” Star Wars fan. I did not know that.

[Laughs] It’s true.

You should do one of those. I’d be in for one of those movies too from you.

[Laughs] Would you? I love how you buttered me up with those questions for the first 10 minutes? No, just kidding. No, look, I’ll be lucky if I get to play in the Star Wars universe. But, as you know, again, just like the MCU, the universe is so grand with so many incredible characters. And I think if I ever get the chance, it’s got to be the right story, the right character.

Well, obviously I would have liked to see a take from you in Star Wars anyway. But now knowing that you’re super into it, even more so now.

We did Comic-Con for Eternals, the first time they announced the project. And I went on the stage with this T-shirt and Kevin, first thing he said once I got on stage was, “Tell them what’s this on your T-shirt.” And it was, “I had friends on that Death Star.” It was a very sad Stormtrooper sitting in a chair, crying.

You can contact Mike Ryan directly on Twitter.

The Portland Trail Blazers faced a whole heck of a lot of uncertainty this summer. After the team was eliminated from the postseason in the first round by the Denver Nuggets, All-Star guard Damian Lillard made it clear he wasn’t happy with how things were going in the only place he’s called home during his NBA career.

Lillard’s primary complaint was that he did not think the team’s roster was good enough, and now that he’s 31, he understands the window is closing on his prime years to be the man on a championship team. But ultimately, he stayed, and so far this season, he’s made clear that his intention is to stay with the Blazers.

In a new piece by Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports, Lillard lays out some of the reasons why he decided to stay. Among them was watching Giannis Antetokounmpo stay in Milwaukee and win a championship with the Bucks, which Lillard said was eye-opening.

“Usually when people win championships and start getting all emotional, I’m always wondering if they’re really moved like that,” Lillard told Yahoo Sports. “Is that real emotions? Does he really feel like that? Because I’ve been in big moments and people would expect me to be emotional and I’m not. So I question the authenticity of how emotional they are in some situations.

“But when I watched Giannis, he was really looking around like, ‘Damn, what if I really left Milwaukee? This was worth it.’ So for me, I put myself in his shoes. Sometimes it seems like this is impossible and it’s never going to happen, and I’m sure he was there before, too.

“If I was to get that championship for Portland, I would cry, bruh. Bruh, on the spot. I would really cry, bro. I want to win a championship here. And because of how strongly I feel about that, I don’t know how rewarding it would feel for me at this point if I won somewhere else. Winning it here would be a lifetime achievement for me.”

This does track with something Lillard has made clear over the years: While he wants to win a ring, his strong preference is to do it with the Blazers. Both the team and its star player have gotten off to rocky starts this year — Portland sits at 3-4 and Lillard is putting up career-worst scoring and efficiency marks — but as long as Lillard is able to find his form, the Blazers are going to feel good about their chances to compete once April rolls around.

Licia and her cat Mega have a relationship that looks more like a “Tom and Jerry” cartoon than the average one you’d find between a human and feline. In a series of videos she’s posted to Instagram, Licia documents the knock-down, drag-out fights she has with her cat, who always seems to win.

Licia refers to herself in her bio as the “girl who got beat up by a cat.” She calls herself and Mega the “Toxic Duo” because they can never see eye-to-eye on anything and she is in constant terror in her own home.

Here, Mega grabs Licia and won’t let go. This cat’s prey instinct is off the charts.

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Their bed has become like a WWE arena. One woman and one cat enter, one cat leaves.

Licia should know better than to approach Mega when he has the high ground.

The cat felt her face before going in for the slap. C’mon Licia, you saw it coming a mile away.

She’s running for her life in her own home.

Never, ever trust Mega.

All she was trying to do is have an adult conversation, but this beast doesn’t understand reason.

​Of course, Licia and Mega’s relationship isn’t always toxic. There are plenty of moments where the two show each other true love and affection.

We know that Licia and Mega are just playing it up for the cameras and that people should never fight with their pets. But it’s incredibly important for people to play with their cats every day.

Animal Planet’s Jackson Galaxy has some great tips for playing with your cat in the video below.

Just like every dog owner has a leash and a collar to take their dog for a walk, Galaxy says it’s essential for cat owners to have interactive toys for daily playtime if they want peace in their homes. He says the primordial cat instincts we’d find in a lion or a leopard still exist in house cats so it’s important that they are able to express them in a healthy way.

“Your cat wakes up in the morning [with] ‘hunt, catch, kill eat’ bubbling up in their system and there’s no out,” Galaxy says in the video above. That’s why your cat is ready to “blow up at the seams” when you try to relax at night.

His solution is to have an interactive toy that you control on one end, such as a wand with a feather, that helps your cat express its instincts to kill. “All cats will play because all cats will prey,” he says. But your job is to behave like your cat’s natural enemy to stimulate their natural instincts.

Galaxy says the most important thing is to follow the three Rs, “routine, ritual, and rhythm” and you will drastically improve your relationship with your cat.

If not, you may end up like Licia.

Throughout the pandemic, we’ve seen countless stories of patients in the ICU, terribly sick with COVID-19, still insisting that the virus isn’t real. Such stories of denial are frustrating, especially for healthcare workers who are doing their best to save people’s lives.

That’s why this story of a COVID patient returning to the hospital to thank—and apologize to—the medical staff who helped him offers a ray of hope that not all who are in denial will stay that way.

According to KOMO News, Richard Soliz hadn’t known anyone who had gotten sick from the coronavirus. He had also fallen prey to misinformation on social media about the vaccine, so had chosen not to get vaccinated. Then he fell ill in late August, spiked a fever and found it difficult to breathe.

“That’s when I really knew I was in a bad situation,” Soliz said. “That’s when I knew, hey, this is COVID. Man. I contracted the virus.”

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Soliz told KOMO he was embarrassed when staff at Seattle’s Harborview Medical Center asked him if he was vaccinated. Pulmonologist and director of the ICU Dr. James Town told CNN that when Soliz was admitted, about 99 out of 100 COVID-19 patients at Harborview had not been vaccinated

Soliz ended up spending 28 days in the hospital. He was put on a ventilator and a heart monitor in the ICU and nearly didn’t make it.

“I am certain that there is truth to this virus, and not being vaccinated leaves you vulnerable to the extent of possibly really taking a person’s life,” Soliz said. “I personally know that, because I was not vaccinated. I did not act, I wasn’t certain, and I nearly lost my life.”

Soliz did make it, though. Then he did something that few unvaccinated COVID-19 survivors do. He went back to the hospital to thank the medical team that treated him—and apologize for not getting vaccinated.

“I was literally on my deathbed and hanging from a string, and [doctors and nurses] tended to me as perfect strangers,” Soliz told CNN. “I just had to say something.”

Soliz thanked Dr. Town and told him he deeply regretted not getting the vaccine.

“No one blames you or judges you,” Town responded. “Everyone is just happy that you are willing to share the story, I think. And happy that you’re better.”

Healthcare workers are heroes. Seriously.

“It’s emotional for us to see someone do well,” Town told KOMO News. “Particularly when things are so dark.”

Other staff members were moved by Soliz’s apology and gratitude.

“We do put so much of our own heart into the care and worry,” nurse Kimmy Siebens said. “We never really get to see people get that much better. And so it’s amazing. It makes it feel like it’s definitely all worth it, you know?”

Soliz has a message he wants everyone to hear:

“Please go get vaccinated because this virus is real. Real enough to take someone’s life (or) put you in the ICU.”

Though a majority of American adults have gotten vaccinated, misinformation about the vaccines has resulted in millions of people choosing to reject the COVID-19 vaccines. Public health experts have tried every which way to convey to the public that the No. 1 thing people can do to mitigate the effects of the pandemic and safely get back to normal is to get vaccinated. Vaccines make viral infection and transmission less likely, and drastically reduce the chances of hospitalization and death. It’s unfortunate that it may take more stories like Soliz’s to convince some people, but here we are.

Thank you, Richard Soliz, for acknowledging you made a mistake and for serving as a good example of humility and gratitude after your hospitalization.

Second maturations are huge in whiskey right now. That means that after the first barrelling, the whiskey goes back into a different barrel for a matter of days, months, or years. The allure of a second barrelling is found in the potential flavors imparted by barrels that recently held other spirits, wines, fortified wines, beer, or even spice extracts or honey.

Sherry is one of the most common vessels used in second barrellings, most often with Scotch whisky. And the principles that make that work aren’t too far off from a similar concept, which we’re focusing on today — port wine casks being used to finish bourbon. Not unlike sherry-finishing, bourbons that go into port wine barrels often feature flavors of dried fruits, ripe berries, and various fruity jam-like flavors (stewed cherry, etc). Like sherry, this technique adds to the overall sweetness without being cloying and works well with the spirit’s base flavors, creating a sublimely complex expression.

Below, you’ll find eight bottles of bourbon that completely encompass port cask-finished bourbon style and would be a welcome addition to any home bar cart. Click on the prices to give one of these a try for yourself!

Breckenridge Port Cask Finished Bourbon

ABV: 45%

Average Price: $60

The Whiskey:

Breckenridge Distillery is well-known for its award-winning bourbon. The distillery decided to take this juice a little further and finished some in 59-gallon Tawny Port casks. The result is a sweeter, fruitier, spicy whiskey that you won’t soon forget.

Tasting Notes:

The nose is filled with aromas of dried cherries, butterscotch, vanilla beans, and a nice, gentle hit of spice. The palate is highlighted by notes of vanilla, caramelized sugar, dried fruits, toffee, and spicy cracked black pepper. This finish is a combination of sweetness and warming spice.

Bottom Line:

While we enjoy drinking port-aged whiskey any time of year, this expression has a nice mixture of fruity sweetness, creamy caramel, and slight spice that make it well-suited to the season.

Thomas S. Moore Port Cask Bourbon

ABV: 49.45%

Average Price: $75

The Whiskey:

This whisky from The Barton 1792 Distillery starts with the brand’s high-rye bourbon that’s originally matured in new, charred American oak barrels before being finished between one to three years in port wine casks. The result is a truly unique, fruity, caramel-filled limited-edition expression.

Tasting Notes:

The nose is loaded with aromas of dried fruits, honey, robust port wine, and caramel. The palate unveils hints of port wine, baking spices, dried cherries, vanilla beans, toffee, and cinnamon sugar. It all ends with a nice, warming finish of spices, toffee, and dried berries.

Bottom Line:

This is a very well-rounded whiskey. It starts with caramel, vanilla, and cinnamon and moves into a nice, spicy, fruity finish.

Woodinville Port Finished Bourbon

ABV: 45%

Average Price: $52

The Whiskey:

Washington State’s Woodinville has gained a lot of fans in the last few years because of its award-winning whiskeys. One of its best is Woodinville Port Finished Bourbon. It begins with the distillery’s five-year-old aged bourbon that’s finished for an extra six months in ruby port barrels.

Tasting Notes:

A lot is going on with this whiskey’s aroma. There are myriad scents, including cherries, ripe berries, vanilla beans, wood char, and slight spice. The palate is loaded with flavors like oaky wood, caramel malts, ripe berries, and vanilla. The finish is dry, warming, and ends with a nice combination of fruit and spice.

Bottom Line:

This is a well-made bourbon that’s only ramped up by the addition of six months spent finishing in port barrels. It’s sweet, fruity, and warming. A great slow sipper on a cold night.

Isaac Bowman Port Barrel Finished Bourbon

ABV: 46%

Average Price: $49

The Whiskey:

The award-winning Isaac Bowman Port Barrel-Fisnished bourbon is first aged in charred, American white oak casks. It’s then finished in port barrels (some from local wineries). The result is a whiskey with the caramel and vanilla highlights of a classic bourbon with the added fruitiness from the port.

Tasting Notes:

This whiskey has a very fruity nose with hints of berries, cherries, as well as caramel, and slight spices. Taking a sip, you’ll find notes of candied pecans, dried cherries, fudge, cinnamon, and baking spices. The finish is warming, sweet, and slightly spicy.

Bottom Line:

This award-winning bourbon is loaded with nutty sweetness, caramel, and a gentle fruit that makes it a complex, well-balanced whiskey for fall sipping.

Litchfield Batchers Port Cask Finished Bourbon

ABV: 50%

Average Price: $75

The Whiskey:

Litchfield took its award-winning straight bourbon and matured it for an extra year in casks that had previously held port wine. What you get is oaky, caramel flavors from the bourbon and ripe fruit and spices from the port wine.

Tasting Notes:

The nose is filled with hints of toffee, vanilla beans, cherries, and a nice, nutty sweetness. The palate is surprisingly spicy — with with cloves and cinnamon predominating. It also hits on notes of dried fruits, caramel candy, and wood char. It all ends in a dry, warming, sweet, slightly spicy finish.

Bottom Line:

While not as well known as many of the other brands on this list, if you can find a bottle, snatch it up. You’ll be glad to have a bottle of this unique expression when the holidays are finally upon us.

Angel’s Envy Bourbon

ABV: 43.3%

Average Price: $55

The Whiskey:

There is definitely no American port wine finished whiskeys more well known than Angel’s Envy. Its Angel’s Envy Kentucky Straight Bourbon gets its unique flavor from being finished in port wine casks between three and six months. This small-batch whiskey is popular among bartenders and whiskey aficionados alike.

Tasting Notes:

On the nose, you’ll find varied aromas including toasted marshmallows, maple candy, candied almonds, caramel, and holiday spices. The palate is piled high with chocolate fudge, buttery toffee, vanilla beans, candied orange peels, dried fruits, and a gentle hit of smoke.

Bottom Line:

There’s a reason this is one of the most popular bourbons on the market. It’s mellow and filled with a nutty sweetness, slight fruitiness, and just a hint of spice.

Chattanooga Tawny Port Cask Bourbon

ABV: 47.5%

Average Price: $50

The Whiskey:

If you’ve never tried a whiskey from Chattanooga, now’s your chance. This non-chill filtered bourbon is finished for more than six months in Tawny port barrels. It’s produced in small batches of no more than six to seven barrels to guarantee a complex, nuanced final product.

Tasting Notes:

The nose begins with scents of dried berries, oaky wood, vanilla, and slight spice. The palate features notes of dried fruits, berry jam, charred oak, honey, and toffee. It all ends with pleasing heat and a sweet, fruity finish.

Bottom Line:

This whiskey is a tremendous combination of sweetness and oaky, caramel flavors. It’s complex, exciting, and perfectly suited for slow sipping neat or on the rocks.

TX Bourbon Whiskey Port Finish

ABV: 50.8%

Average Price: $65

The Whiskey:

While Garrison Brothers and Balcones get all the press when it comes to Texas whiskey, you definitely shouldn’t sleep on Firestone & Robertson. Its line of TX whiskeys is not to be missed. Its foray into the port finished world is its TX Bourbon Port Finish. First aged in new, charred American oak casks, it’s finished in barrels that formerly held Tawny port wine.

Tasting Notes:

The nose is highlighted by hints of dried cherries, caramel, cloves, cinnamon, vanilla. The palate has a nutty sweetness, toffee, baking spices, dried fruits, and butterscotch. It all ends with a warming, sweet, fruity finish that will leave you wanting more.

Bottom Line:

This is a great example of a bold bourbon that’s even more heightened by being finished in port casks. It’s fruity, nutty, and highly memorable.

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As a Drizly affiliate, Uproxx may receive a commission pursuant to certain items on this list.

Today marks a year since Election Day 2020, which put then-president Donald Trump on a collision course towards, among other calamities, getting booted off Twitter and other such services. His, shall we say, erratic behavior became too much for social media overlords, forcing him to subsist on a quickly failed blog and, now, the occasional un-copy edited “press release.” (That’s to say nothing of his already beleaguered social media service.) But was booting him a good idea? Did perhaps silencing the GOP’s top dog make it easier for people to re-embrace the Republican party? That’s what one journalist thinks.

As per The Wrap, the AP’s Jonathan Lemire went on Morning Joe, hosted by conservative (but anti-Trumpist) Joe Scarborough, Wednesday morning. He was there to weigh in on the previous day’s election, which saw a number of Republicans making big gains. Among them was Glenn Younkin, who trounced Democratic incumbent Terry McAuliffe in Virginia’s gubernatorial race. And Lemire believes he won because Trump wasn’t constantly building him up on social media.

“As much as Trump looms, Democrats believe, as an existential threat to the democracy, we will see in 2024 that it was too much,” Lemire opined. “Voters were turned off. They didn’t buy the argument that Youngkin was Trump and Youngkin did a good job of keeping Trump at arm’s length. I was talking to a Republican strategist last night who said the best thing that can happen to any Republican who is paid to win an election, certainly in a moderate or swing district, is that Donald Trump is off Twitter.”

Lemire pointed out that the former president “doesn’t dominate the conversation like he used to” adding, “if you can keep him off stage, even a little, that can be a playbook for 2022 and beyond.”

Of course, Trump wouldn’t like to hear this. He’s still considered the head of the GOP, and he almost certainly plans to run again in 2024. (Unless, you know, he’s in jail.) But perhaps Lemire is right and not having Trump bloviate about everything from world politics to Kristen Stewart’s love life was ultimately good for Republicans, bad for Democrats.

(Via The Wrap)

Looks like Dave’s has enough of Alvin, Simon, Theodore, and their wild antics because The Chipmunks are up for sale. Okay, okay, not really. But it does turn out Bagdasarian Productions, the current owner of the Alvin and the Chipmunks property, is looking to sell off the franchise for quite the pretty penny.

According to CNBC sources close to Bagdasarian, the production company is currently seeking $300 million for ownership of the three, furry friends. Considering just how hot a commodity pre-existing IPs are in the age of streaming services and cinematic universes (I mean, even Hasbro wants one), the steep asking price actually seems about right, and several interested parties are reportedly already in talks with Bagdasarian, including ViacomCBS.

While the negotiations have been kept private, it feels pretty dang safe to assume there are also a number of other potential buyers that might be on the prowl for the classic children’s franchise. Recently, Netflix has made a huge push towards increasing the amount of children’s content on their streaming service, purchasing the entire catalog of Roald Dahl (James and the Giant Peach, Matilda, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) for $700 million back in September. Other steamers, such as CBS’s Paramount+ and WarnerMedia’s HBO Max, could be looking to make a similar move — and Alvin and the Chipmunks might not be a bad place to start. In addition, some private equity firms, such as Carlyle, Providence Equity, Apollo Global and Blackstone, have reportedly also expressed interest in acquiring the IP.

Created by Ross Bagdasarian Sr. in 1958, Alvin and the Chipmunks was originally intended as a musical act featuring three animated chipmunks — Alvin, Simon and Theodore — singing with sped-up voices. However, the trio of critters soon became so popular, a TV show and several movies (both animated and live action) were created to quite a bit of success. Most recently there was the 2007 film Alvin and the Chipmunks and its sequels, which still haunt cast member David Cross to this day.

Time to brace yourself if you hate ‘em or celebrate if you simply can’t get enough of the lil’ guys in your life — we could soon see Alvin and friends make a pretty big return sometime soon.

Aminé came to the rescue this past weekend at Outside Lands Festival in San Francisco when Young Thug had to cancel his set. The Portland rapper hopped on a plane on short notice and took the festival’s main stage on Saturday afternoon. Turns out, it was a win-win for him, because he had something to start promoting, and it wasn’t just the video for his first song of the year, “Charmander,” that he dropped last week.

Today, Aminé made a surprise announcement that his next project, TWOPOINTFIVE, will be coming out this Friday. The 12 track release follows 2018’s ONEPOINTFIVE tape and the excellent 2020 album Limbo. Like the drum and bass-inflected production of “Charmander” insinuated, TWOPOINTFIVE is a pointed exploration of dance music rhythms over his smirky and smart lyrics. Aminé shared some thoughts on the sentiment behind the release in a statement:

“The POINTFIVE projects are the breaks in between albums where I give myself the freedom to make music without expectations, focusing instead on spontaneity and the best of what comes from stream of conscious creation, which is why they arrive unexpectedly without a long rollout. It’s an opportunity to create for my day one fans the way I used to in my bedroom. Thanks for listening.”

TWOPOINTFIVE is out 11/4 via CLBN. Pre-order it here.

The Harder They Fall (Netflix film) — Idris Elba, Regina King, Zazie Beez, Jonathan Majors, Zazie Beetz, LaKeith Stanfield, and more join forces in this Western that’s also playing in selected theaters. The story involves the coldest revenge possible, which is the goal of outlaw Nat Love (Majors) upon Rufus Buck (Elba), who only wants to enjoy life after prison. Yet enemies will do their thing, so expect Elba to gather his crew (played by King and Stanfield), who don’t do the losing thing well.

DC’s Legends of Tomorrow (CW, 8:00pm) — The Legends descend upon the Windy City (Chicago!), where they visit a speakeasy and inadvertently irritate a mob who decides to wield fire.

Batwoman (CW, 9:00pm) — The “30 Under 30” list includes Ryan, which makes Luke fret over Ryan’s popularity and Marquis’ involvement, along with how all of this will impact Wayne Enterprises.

The Wonder Years (ABC, 8:30pm) — This reimagining adopts a different perspective (from the Fred Savage-starring original show) with the focus on an African-American family and their home base in 1960s Montgomery, Alabama. Don Cheadle narrates the usual tween ordeals and also the experience of being part of a Southern Black family. This week, Kim’s gunning for a car while grandpa’s probably no longer driving, so that’s pretty convenient.

The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon — Kristen Stewart, Joyelle Nicole Johnson

Late Night With Seth Meyers — Dan Levy, Rüfüs Du Sol

In case you missed these recent Wednesday streaming picks:

Dopesick: Season 1 (Hulu series) — Michael Keaton (who is still the greatest Batman in history, so don’t mess with him in any role) finally comes to TV beyond cameo mode. Here, he takes on Big Pharma as a physician whose patients are dying off amid an opioid epidemic, and Rosario Dawson portrays one of the heroes who want to take the makers of Oxycontin down. The title of the source material (Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors and the Drug Company that Addicted America, the book by Beth Macy) tells you a lot, but this trailer promises an intense ride, and the cast includes Michael Stuhlbarg and Kaitlyn Dever, who’s all over TV now and making Justified‘s Loretta proud here.

Hypnotic (Netflix film) — When a young woman decides to aim for self-improvement, she visits a widely-respected hypnotist, and everything soon goes wrong. Intense sessions and deadly consequences are afoot, all after her own personal trauma. Will she ever recover, even with the help of a detective who can help her solve a mystery that apparently erupted from her consciousness after being buried for so long? The spooky season continues.

Despite not getting a new season of Stranger Things this year, all-in-all it hasn’t been too shabby of a time to be a fan of the hit Netflix original series. The showrunners have dropped hints that an extended universe is on the way, more merchandise than ever before is coming, both Stranger Things: 1984 and Stranger Things 3: The Game are now available to play on Android devices, and, for some lucky fans, something even cooler is headed their way this weekend.

On November 6, Stranger Things enthusiasts living in New York City and Los Angeles will get the chance to drop by the series’ first-ever pop-up shops located in Times Square and The Americana at Brand respectively. According to Variety, both stores will be completely decked out with Stranger Things-inspired décor, creating an immersive experience for shoppers and providing fans with plenty of exclusive photo opportunities. Even better, the store will also be selling some seriously cool-sounding limited-time merchandise.

Among the merchandise being sold at the pop-up stores are General Mills Stranger Things cereal, which comes packaged in 1980s-style boxes, and a line of collectible Bandai action figures featuring 16-inch demogorgons with interchangeable heads. There will also be an exclusive “Elegorgon” vinyl piece for sale, which features Ecuadorian artist Chogrin’s rendition of what “an Eggo waffle eating tween would look like if mashed up with a demogorgon.” The stores will also have customizable apparel stations and “much more.”

While fans shop, they will also get the chance to partake in a series of exclusive photo moments, including getting up close and personal with a demogorgon in the Upside Down, attending Hawkins Middle’s Snowball Dance, and hitting up iconic locations, such as the Starcourt Mall, the Russian Lab, and Joyce’s House. Last but certainly not least, there will also be arcade games available to play at a replica of Stranger Thing‘s Palace Arcade.

For a first look at the interactive pop-up stores, you can visit People’s exclusive report.