In a surprising last-minute maneuver, HBO Max worked some serious magic for Harry Potter fans by locking down all eight of the original films and making them instantly available for subscribers just before the new streaming service launched on Wednesday.

According to TVLine, the deal wasn’t as simple as just waving a wand. Despite both HBO Max and the Harry Potter films being Warner Media properties, the new service still had to navigate notoriously convoluted streaming rights, which in this case, involved ponying up some serious cash to get another studio to relinquish its hold on the franchise.

Universal back in 2016 inked a deal to secure exclusive rights to the franchise, including on-air and digital dibs on all Wizarding World films (including two Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them flicks). That means that Warner Media had to actively buy back what it once owned, for many a shiny galleon. (As industry analyst Matthew Ball put it on Twitter, it was a “big, costly, and important move” for the newbie streaming service, akin to how Disney+ has made it a mission to accumulate as many Marvel films as possible.)

But the deal wasn’t an entirely clean break where Warner Bros. flew off into the night with the beloved franchise. As of this writing, the second Fantastic Beasts film, The Crimes of Grindelwald is only available through HBO Max if you already have an HBO cable subscription. (It’s complicated.)

The acquisition is still a major win for the streaming service’s first day though. Knowing that the entire Harry Potter series is available is sure to entice new subscribers, which is why HBO Max content chief Kevin Reilly made it a point to cite landing the massive franchise as a “high on our priority list” during a lengthy interview with Business Insider just a few days ago. However, it’s notable that just that recently, Reilly couldn’t confirm a timetable on when the films would be available on HBO Max, so it sure sounds like the ink isn’t even dry on this surprise addition.

(Via TVLine)

The Knicks will soon begin the head coach hiring process to fill the vacancy left when the franchise fired David Fizdale earlier this season, according to Shams Charania and Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic. At the top of their list will apparently be veteran NBA coach Tom Thibodeau, who has been out of a job since the Timberwolves let him go in January 2019.

Prior to this report, the Knicks officially announced Wednesday morning the rounding out of their front office, as well as a one-year extension for general manager Scott Perry.

The Athletic report, however, specifically said new president Leon Rose will be leading the coaching search, and he also is the one who hired the staff to fill out Perry’s front office. The implication here is that Perry is as close to a lame duck as a GM can get, but if he nails this coaching hire and continues to build out New York’s young core, there is hope he can become the team’s long-term lead executive.

In addition to Thibodeau, the duo reported former Brooklyn Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson will also be interviewed by the Knicks. These two candidates are quite different coaches, but in terms of pedigree, they are two of the most well-known established candidates on the market. If experience is what Rose values here, then having those two on his list makes sense.

The Knicks have the makings of a team that could take a step forward in 2020-21, after promising seasons for rookie R.J. Barrett and the continued development of prospects like Mitchell Robinson and Kevin Knox, not to mention whomever New York nabs from this year’s draft class. The right coach could help the Knicks become one of the most-improved squads in the NBA next season.

Jessie Reyez released her long-awaited debut record Before Love Came To Kill Us in late March. While the singer hasn’t been able to tour behind the record, Reyez still offered her fans a treat Wednesday with a duo of singles for the Spotify Singles series. The singer gave a stripped-down cover of Drake’s “Headlines” as well as a version of “Love In The Dark” from her recent album.

For her cover, Reyez added her own artistry to the track. With only a piano and her soaring vocals, Reyez managed to turn Drake’s Take Care anthem into a heart-throbbing ballad. The singer’s unique vocals complement Drake’s steady flow, with Reyez delivering each verse with a self-assured cadence. “I might be too strung out on compliments / Overdosed on confidence / Started not to give a f*ck and stopped fearing the consequence,” she sings.

Ahead of the coupled singles, Reyez detailed how rolling out her album during a global pandemic was less than ideal. In a statement, Reyez said releasing Before Love Came To Kill Us at the time made her feel uneasy. “It messed me up because I was like ‘I don’t want to seem insensitive,’” she said. “I’ve grown up thinking about death as something that could easily happen tomorrow. But I know that for everybody else, there’s a lot of fear right now. I’m conflicted. But I’ve decided I’m putting it out because indecision never did anything for nobody.”

Listen to Jessie Reyez’s Spotify Singles release below.

Before Love Came To Kill Us is out now via Island. Get it here.

There’s a high chance that this is your first time reading SNX DLX. How do we know? Because Travis Scott is dropping a new sneaker this week, the highly anticipated Air Max 270 Cactus Trails, and since everyone and their mom will be trying to get their hands on a pair this week (the new sneaker drops in adult and toddler sizes), it’s likely your hunt has brought you here. So welcome to SNX DLX, we’re here every week!

While the newest Cactus Jack collaboration with Nike is going to feel like a must-cop, this week also brings with it a lot of other notable drops that are worth your time and money. New old Air Jordans, a fresh Supreme drop, and a SNEEZE Magazine collab with Reebok are some of the week’s other highlights, which are bound to make your bank account cry as you spend way more money than you should. That’s life!

Here are the week’s best sneaker and apparel drops.

Air Jordan XIII Flint

Had enough of Jordans yet? Of course not! With The Last Dance now over, some of us are still feeling nostalgic for MJ’s ’98 season and there’s no better way to satiate that nostalgia than to pick up the sneakers Jordan himself wore during that fateful year. The Air Jordan XIII Flint Greys are finally getting a reissue this weekend and purists will dig on the fact that Nike went the extra mile to make sure that this iteration captures the magic of the original pair, from its identically-toned navy-blue vamp to the slight shimmer of the upper. The Flint Grey also features the XIII’s molded sockliner, making you feel instantly court ready.

The Air Jordan XIIIs in Flint Grey is set to drop on May 30th for a retail price of $190. Pick up a pair through the Nike SNKRS app.

Adidas ZX 2K BOOST

Between the two big brands of Nike and Adidas, the latter is killing it when it comes to tech-focused runners. Thanks in large part to the BOOST technology and ultra-lightweight uppers, Adidas just knows how to make the ideal running sneaker right now, and this week’s new ZX 2K BOOST Shoes (yes, “shoes” is in the name) are another great example of how. Featuring and an all-mesh upper atop a BOOST midsole with a TPU cage, the ZX 2K BOOST combines modern tech with a bright ‘80s-inspired colorway that recalls the Adidas ZX 710s and will make you feel like you’re running without shoes on without, you know, making you feel like you’re actually running without shoes on, which would hurt.

The Adidas ZX 2K BOOST Shoes are set to drop on May 29th for a retail price of $140. Pick up a pair through the UK Adidas store.

SNEEZE Magazine Reebok Club C

Reebok has linked up with the ultra-cool skate and street-style centered SNEEZE Magazine for a striking Club C sneaker that expertly injects the magazine’s aesthetic into a much-loved classic. The SNEEZE Magazine Club C features an all-white upper and midsole with the titular magazine’s signature bubble-lettering in place of Reebok’s typical branding. The sneaker’s black collar and tongue offer some contrast to the all-white upper and is complemented by a white-lace set with a small black strike at the lace bridge.

The SNEEZE Magazine Reebok Club C is set to drop on May 29th for a retail price of $120. Pick up a pair through SSENSE.

Travis Scott x Nike Air Max 270 Cactus Trails

The wavy and worn Cactus Trails find Travis Scott ditching his more elegant and clean-cut design choices for a beat-up vintage look. Featuring a trail-inspired leather overlay of brown, tan, and orange tones over exposed foam, the Cactus Trails are meant to resemble an old hiking sneaker straight out of the ‘90s, even the 270-degree air unit at the heel has a worn-out dirt-stained earthy glow.

The Cactus Trails midsole injects Nike React Foam to the 270’s base tech with embedded grooves that interplay with the textile upper’s wavy design. An extra layer of fleece at the ankle adds a premium touch that boosts comfort, with Cactus Jack branding on the heel tab and a pair of mini swooshes.

The Travis Scott Nike Air Max 270 Cactus Trails are set to drop on May 29 for a retail price of $170. Pick up a pair through the Nike SNKRS app or through END. Clothing.

Nike Air Force 1 Reveal

Nike Air Force 1 Reveal is a bit of a two-in-one deal. For a couple of months, you get to rock an all-white AF1 with a strange underglow — that by itself is already pretty sick — that gradually reveals itself to look like a Basquiat painting in sneaker form. Or you could just rip off the thin white textile shell right away. It’s totally your choice. But why have one pair of sneakers when you can have two?

The Nike Air Force 1 Reveal is set to drop in an extended-size run on May 27th for a retail price of $110. Pick up a pair through the Nike SNKRS app.

Supreme SS20 Week 14 Drop

Supreme is releasing the 14th drop out of their Spring and Summer 2020 collection this week, and highlights include the multi-colored eyelet hooded sweatshirts, simple pocket t-shirts, and a Waves Work jacket with matching long-sleeve tops. On the gimmicks side, Supreme is dropping ceramic bowls and a giant Mac Tools Workstation with 3 x 5 sliding drawers, giving you the most hype beast toolbox of all time. It’s actually insane and more puzzling than the famed Supreme block.

Rounding out the collection is the Camp Cap with Satin Dig Camo and the 5-panel Tank cap.

Supreme’s Week 14 drop will hit the Supreme online store on May 28th.

Gelareh Mizrahi “A Better Place Is Hard To Find” Long Sleeve

Gelareh Mizrahi, one of our ComplexCon brands to watch, is dropping new cotton long sleeves this week in washed-out neon colors that will slot perfectly amongst your spring and summer wardrobes. Featuring a simple spiral design of the label’s “a better place is hard to find” motto, the shirt and sweater’s back end features a passage from Ram Dass that feel particularly resonant right now.

The Gelareh Mizrahi long sleeves are available now at the Gelareh Mizrahi webstore.

Sew Happiness Face Masks

There aren’t enough quality face mask brands out there, and since masking-up is a way of life now and for the foreseeable future, we’ll take all the masks we can get. Sew Happiness makes a number of different face masks constructed from 100% quilting weight cotton, ensuring easy breathability and increased protection over simple single-layer bandanas.

Sew Happiness makes several adult-sized face masks with adjustable ear loops, straps, or elastic bands that wrap around your head, helping you find the fit that works best for you.

Shop the various designs at the Sew Happiness’ webstore.

In April, WWE released a months-long, detailed taping schedule. This week, the company reportedly both veered from those filming plans and started planning how to resume their live event schedule.

Last month, WWE’s taping schedule from April through the beginning of July was revealed through an “exclusive” piece published on Pro Wrestling Sheet that featured several quotes from anonymous insiders about the company’s health and safety procedures. According to PW Insider, WWE broke from that schedule this week, and rather than taping just this week’s and next week’s episodes of Raw yesterday, taped this week’s Raw, Smackdown, 205 Live, and Main Event.

Another, much more obvious change from the week’s Raw will reportedly continue at future tapings. The NXT wrestlers in the audience (seen this week watching Raw from behind plexiglass while standing six feet apart and not wearing masks, said by commentary to have been medically tested before the event), are here to stay and will be used for all WWE programs going forward.

According to WrestleVotes, WWE has begun discussing internally how to resume live events (with regular fans in attendance) this summer. The WWE insider Twitter account posted, “I’m hearing that internally the WWE live event schedule is slowly being rebuilt. I’m still not expecting anything with fans prior to July, however. Discussions about ticket sales going forward have also begun, with social distancing guidelines remaining in place. That’s tricky.” Flordia Governor Ron DeSantis previously speculated that sports in the state could have limited amounts of fans in attendance in June or July.

HBO Max has finally launched, and like a lot of people, you might be wondering if your HBO subscription will get you in the door at no extra charge. It’s a valid question, given that cable packages are pricey, with or without premium channels, and paying for HBO Max on top of HBO doesn’t sound appealing. The good news is that HBO Max is serious about standing as a formidable rival to Netflix and Disney. Not only will the service offer 10,000+ movie and TV titles (both on the library catalog and original content sides), but it’s shaping up to be competitive, price-wise. We’ll try and clear up some confusion here.

The Cost Of HBO Max If It’s Not Part Of Your Existing HBO Package:

If you’re coming to HBO Max dry — that is, if you aren’t one of the fortunate viewers who will be rolled into membership with an existing HBO subscription elsewhere or as an HBO Now subscriber — then HBO Max’s standard price will run $14.99 per month. That’s a higher price than Netflix’s standard plan ($12.99) and lower than its premium plan ($15.99). HBO Max also runs the same baseline price as HBO Now, although a special introductory deal was once available to lock people into a 12-month HBO Max rate at $11.99 per month.

Naturally, anyone who can avoid being charged separately for HBO Max will want to do so. We’re all thrifty! So it only makes sense to look for ways to save money. First, let’s recap the other ways that you might already watch HBO: mainly, the other two HBO streaming services (HBO Go and HBO Now) already offered.

What Is HBO Max Vs. HBO Go And HBO Now?

– HBO Max is the newcomer streaming platform from WarnerMedia. The service will feature 10,000+ hours of premium content, which includes HBO’s entire library, HBO Max Originals, tons of Warner Bros. movies and TV shows, and much more.

– HBO Go is the on-demand streaming service that HBO cable viewers already receive as part of their subscription. The service includes HBO’s original content and rotating monthly selections, and access is tied directly into your specific cable TV package.

– HBO Now is a standalone, on-demand streaming offering for people who don’t hold a cable or satellite package but still want to subscribe to HBO and watch on a smart TV, laptop, tablet, phone or other compatible devices. The current price for this service is $14.99 per month, and many current HBO Now subscribers will automatically receive HBO Max access without any added cost.

So If You’ve Got HBO, Do You Get The HBO Max Upgrade For Free?

Maybe. The current guidelines aren’t clear cut, and they’re very much in flux. Here’s where the issue stands as of now:

– Those who subscribe to HBO (and, in turn, HBO Go) through a cable TV service may (or may not) be in luck. As it stands, there’s no deal between HBO and some cable TV service companies, but that could change in the future. However, HBO subscribers who pay for the channel through Charter or an AT&T package will receive HBO Max at no added charge. That includes subscribers to the AT&T-owned DirecTV, IPTV, AT&T TV, which means that millions of these HBO customers will get rolled into HBO Max. In a late-breaking announcement, HBO Max also announced partnerships with Alice USA, Cox Communications, Microsoft, National Cable Television Cooperative (NCTC), Samsung, Sony Interactive Entertainment, and Verizon. Comcast has also hopped on board to provide HBO Max access to Xfinity X1 and Flex customers at no extra cost.

– HBO Now subscribers who pay straight through HBONow.com will automatically receive access to HBO Max. So will subscribers who sign up for HBO with the Hulu add-on or use Apple, Google, or YouTube TV to access HBO. And HBO Max has made a special point of saying that more partnerships might pop up before and following launch. Right now, though, it remains unclear whether those who pay for HBO Now as an add-on service through Amazon Prime or Roku will also gain access to HBO Max with no extra charge.

– We do know that neither HBO Go nor HBO Now will be erased from existence for the foreseeable future. You can keep on doing your thing and pretend that HBO Max doesn’t exist, but you probably will want to enjoy the expanded library if you can.

Where The Topic Goes From Here:

If you’re a cable subscriber who remains (understandably) puzzled on whether you’ll receive access to HBO Max at no extra charge, your best bet is to ask your cable provider. That’s easier said than done, we know. HBO Max’s FAQ page is also a good source for updates because, soon, HBO Max will also be the only place to stream every episode of Friends and enjoy an expanding slate of wonderful-sounding HBO Max Original TV series and movies. Beyond an included cable package, the easiest way to get HBO Max rolled into an existing HBO service is through HBO Now (directly or through Hulu), so if you’re tempted to cut the cord, there’s one more reason to do so. That, however, might feel like a drastic move, so maybe hang tight and see what happens — other partnerships may very well surface as HBO Max evolves.

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After as many as 6.3 million viewers tuned into “The Match” last weekend, Phil Mickelson and the event’s producer both are encouraged and believe the competition could turn into an annual charity match, with new participants each year.

The 2020 event raised $20 million for coronavirus relief, and Mickelson told Arash Markazi of the Los Angeles Times that this year’s precarious version of “The Match,” which included a socially distanced broadcast and intimate moments with golf cart cameras and mic’d up players, gave him optimism about making it a more consistent treat for golf fans. In 2018, “The Match” featured only Mickelson and Tiger Woods, but producer Bryan Zuriff said the natural rivalry between Tom Brady and Peyton Manning was key to this year’s event’s success.

“I don’t know what specifically it will look like but it would be a competition while also being entertaining and getting the right mixture of individuals to have their personalities come out the way Peyton and Tom shined in this last one,” Mickelson told the LA Times. “They were humanized with their golf game yet they were competitive and they were funny and entertaining. They let their sense of humor come out. It’s about finding the right mix of those competitors and I don’t think we could get two better guys than who we had in Peyton and Tom.”

Mickelson hopes they can continue to get different types of celebrities and athletes involved going forward. While Zuriff, the producer, admitted Steph Curry was part of the initial plan for the 2020 event until Manning came up, Mickelson sees Tony Romo, Patrick Mahomes, or even Michael Jordan being in play. All bets are off on the ratings if Jordan plays, but if the production schedule of The Last Dance is any evidence, it may take a while to convince him.

It wouldn’t be a surprise to see the 2021 version (or is it too late to squeeze another one before the end of this year?) include Hollywood celebrities as well. Among the guys on Mickelson’s mind are Larry David and Bill Murray, who would be a delight.

Other pro golfers could come on as well, though Mickelson admitted that they need to be entertaining people for the event to work. Still, Brooks Koepka or Justin Thomas would be perfectly fine, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if future editions of “The Match” were blown out to include six or eight people.

No matter what it looks like, the powers that be seem determined to keep putting on “The Match” going forward, and that’s a treat for all of us.

Toronto duo Japandroids unveiled a big project Wednesday. The group is culminating their nearly 15 years as a band with a live album recorded in Toronto’s historic venue Massey Hall.

Aptly titled Massey F*cking Hall, Japandroids pull from their entire catalog on the 12-track live album. To preview the project’s lively sound, Japandroids shared the live rendition of the 2009 Post-Nothing track “Heart Sweats.”

In a statement alongside the live album’s announcement, Japandroids drummer David Prowse said “Heart Sweats” is one of their most energetic songs to perform: “We’ve always loved playing that one live. It’s just got a great sense of momentum and never fails to get me hyped. During that tour we were playing it second or third in the set. It consistently feels like the moment in the set where I just get that sense of ‘oh yeah we’re cooking now,’ and everything just locks in and we’re ripping through the rest of the set. All the nerves are gone and it’s the moment where we’re just locked in and totally in the zone.”

Prowse continued that playing Massey Hall was a big accomplishment for the band:

“We never thought we’d have the opportunity to play at Massey Hall. It’s the most legendary venue in Canada by far, but it didn’t seem like a natural spot for a band like us to play. It’s a 100+ year old seated theatre, which isn’t the usual type of spot you expect to see Japandroids. Honestly, when we got off the stage that night, I remember feeling a sense of relief and exhilaration, but the whole thing felt like a bit of a blur. It was a very emotional show for me. We were both pretty nervous getting up on that stage.

I really, really miss live shows. I miss playing them and I miss being in the crowd. When you love music, there are few things more uplifting and cathartic than being in a room full of people at a live show. To not have that opportunity to experience live music together with a group of people has been hard to adjust to. It’s disorienting and it makes me sad to think about it. I hope that maybe in some small way people who are feeling similarly can find some solace in this record. They can hear the crowd and listen to us having the time of our lives at a historic venue and maybe that makes life a little easier for a minute, and reminds them that those moments will happen again down the road.”

Listen to “Heart Sweats” above and find the Massey F*cking Hall cover art and tracklist below.

1. “Near To The Wild Heart Of Life”
2. “Fire’s Highway”
3. “Heart Sweats”
4. “Arc Of Bar”
5. “Younger Us”
6. “North East South West”
7. “The Nights of Wine And Roses”
8. “No Known Drink Or Drug’
9. “Continuous Thunder”
10. “Young Hearts Spark Fire”
11. “Sovereignty”
12. “The House That Heaven Built”

Massey F*cking Hall is out 6/19 via Anti. Pre-order it here.

When HBO Max announced last week that they’ll actually #ReleaseTheSnyderCut (which is still far from finished) in 2020, it took about ten seconds for fans to clamor for an “Ayer Cut” of 2016’s trashtastic Suicide Squad. The film, although ridiculously successful on a financial note, was a narrative disaster that subbed in Blob People in place of an overarching villain. The Warner Bros./DC movie was about a Dirty Dozen-esque gathering of bad guys, so I guess someone maybe gave up on a “big bad” and figured Blob People would work? Well, let’s just say that director David Ayer has been quite vocal in his displeasure for what hit theaters.

Ayer has lamented the loss of most of Jared Leto’s Joker in the movie and claimed that people haven’t truly seen his vision materialize onscreen. So of course he’d like to finish an Ayer Cut, and with Twitter being Twitter, someone asked James Gunn — who is currently finishing up a relaunch called The Suicide Squad — what he thinks of an Ayer Cut surfacing in the near-ish future.

Well, Gunn is cool with this happening and isn’t giving any indication of feeling like his toes might be smooshed. “I’d be okay with whatever @DavidAyerMovies & Warners wanted to release with that no problem,” the Guardians of the Galaxy helmer tweeted.

And Ayer reacted with gratitude and praise while calling Gunn “good people” and “a master filmmaker.” He’s also excited to see Gunn’s “take on these characters.”

The lovefest continued with Gunn repsonding, “I feel the same way about you, man.”

The nerd affection between these guys is evident, and more than that, this is about filmmakers supporting their own. Hollywood is reeling, along with much of the world, from the pandemic, and getting everyone back on their feet feels more important than squabbling over comic book characters. Gunn and Ayer are pure class, no doubt.