This case just got bigger.
Monday, 31 August 2020
Sunday, 30 August 2020
Frozen 2: What The Cast Looks Like In Real Life | Screen Rant
Disney's Frozen 2 featured several actors who reprised their roles from Frozen, and although the characters looks are updated, they certainly haven't aged as much as their real-life counterparts. Disney first released Frozen 2 in November 2019, six years after the original Frozen hit theaters. Not much had changed in the Kingdom of Arendelle since Elsa (Idina Menzel) became Queen of the land, and the sequel is set just three years after the events of the first film.
Frozen was a huge hit for Disney, grossing almost ten times its $150 million budget — not to mention the merchandising and licensing money the movie generated. Although the animated feature was not designed to set up a sequel, its phenomenal success guaranteed that it would get one. The story in Frozen 2 is necessarily different from the first movie — Elsa couldn't discover her powers twice, and reversing roles with Anna wouldn't have made sense — but Disney kept the basic formula the same, focusing the movie on the same core characters and elevating the exposition with exciting musical numbers.
Frozen 2 did add some new characters into the mix, including introducing an indigenous population, the Northuldra, who live in the nearby Enchanted Forest; unfortunately, none of these characters had a significant role in the movie's plot. The following are all of the actors in Frozen 2, and what they look like in real life, in order of first billing.
Kristen Bell plays Anna, Elsa's headstrong, socially-awkward sister. Like in the first movie, Anna is a key figure in Frozen 2's plot, and by the end, proves herself a worthy queen for Arendelle. Kristen Bell is known for her roles in Veronica Mars, Forgetting Sarah Marshall and The Good Place.
Broadway alum Idina Menzel leant her impressive vocal chops to the Disney franchise, providing the voice for Elsa in Frozen and Frozen 2. Elsa is based on the Snow Queen in the Hans Christian Andersen fairytale, and Frozen 2 continues Elsa's journey of self discovery. Outside of her Broadway appearances, Menzel is best known for her supporting role in Enchanted, as well as her guests appearances on the television series Glee.
Everyone's favorite hug-loving snowman, Olaf is voiced by another Broadway star: Josh Gad, who played Elder Arnold Cunningham in the Broadway musical The Book of Mormon. Gad played LeFou in the live Disney remake of Beauty and the Beast, and is currently playing Herman Judd in the satire series Avenue 5.
Kristoff is voiced by Jonathan Groff. The rugged ice-harvester from Frozen returns as Anna's love interest in Frozen 2, and gets a show-stopping song that showcases Groff's talents. Like Menzel, Groff is a Broadway star who appeared in Glee. Groff portrays King George III in Hamilton.
This Is Us actor Sterling K. Brown lends his voice to the character Lieutenant Destin Mattias in Frozen 2. Mattias is one of the official Arendellian guards who have been trapped in the Enchanted Forest for 34 years. Brown is best known for playing Randall Pearson in This Is Us, but also has appeared in Black Panther and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.
Queen Iduna gets more screen time in Frozen 2, in which she is voiced by Evan Rachel Wood. Wood is instantly-recognizable to any Westworld fans since she plays the show's hero (or villain, depending on one's perspective) Dolores. Wood has been in the industry for two decades and has appeared in several notable projects, including The Wrestler and Tru-Blood.
King Agnarr, Anna and Elsa's late father, is played by Alfred Molina. Molina is a prolific voice actor, appearing in a number of projects like Solar Opposites, Harley Quinn, and Robot Chicken. Molina has appeared on screen in live-action roles as well: he's probably best remembered for playing Dr. Otto Octavius in Spider-Man 2.
Martha Plimpton has a small yet memorable role in Frozen 2 as Northuldra leader Yolana. Like the Arendellian guards, the Northuldra people are trapped in the Enchanted Forest because of the magical mist. Plimpton has appeared in numerous roles across television, feature films, and even Broadway shows. She's probably best known for her roles in Raising Hope and The Good Wife.
In Frozen 2, Jason Ritter voices Ryder Nattura, one of the Northuldra tribe. Like Kristoff, Ryder demonstrates an affinity for reindeer. If the voice sounds familiar, it's probably because the actor also voiced Dipper Pines, one of the leads in the much-loved Disney series Gravity Falls. Ritter appeared in live-action roles as well, in a number of television projects that struggled to get off the ground. He is probably best known as the lead in the short-lived Kevin (Probably) Saves the World.
Rachel Matthews voices Honeymaren; another Northuldra character, her character is notable for a scene that fuelled much speculation about a possible romance between Honeymaren and Elsa. Matthews has also appeared in Happy Death Day and the CW series Batwoman.
Arguably the true villain of Frozen 2, King Runeard is voiced by Jeremy Sisto. Sisto is probably best known for his role in the featured film Wrong Turn, as well as his television appearances in Suburgatory and Wicked City.
Pabbie returns in Frozen 2 in a limited role, still voiced by Irish actor Ciarán Hinds. Hinds is a celebrated character actor having appeared in numerous critically-acclaimed projects, including the series Rome and Game of Thrones. Hinds also plays Steppenwolf in Zack Snyder's Justice League, and has long been a vocal supporter of the Snyder Cut.
Young Anna appears in a flashback sequence in Frozen 2, voiced by up-and-coming actor Hadley Gannaway. Young Anna was a breakout role for Gannaway, who went on to provide a voice for the Final Fantasy VII remake as well as the series T.O.T.S.
Young Elsa is voiced by Mattea Conforti, another young actor, in Frozen 2. Conforti is known for voicing the character Moon from the popular children's program The Ollie & Moon Show. She also appears in the series Power and NOS4A2.
Beloved character-actor and general funny-man Alan Tudyk provides several voices for Frozen 2, including the Duke of Weselton. Tudyk is probably most associated with playing Wash in Firefly, but also gave memorable performances in the cult-classic movie Tucker & Dale vs. Evil and the series Suburgatory.
How To Use Microsoft Word's New Record & Transcribe Audio Feature
Microsoft has launched a new record and transcribe tool for the web-version of Word that could prove extremely useful for professionals, as well as students who often take notes. Here's what you need to know about Microsoft's new record and auto-transcribe feature.
The new tool is the latest among the new Microsoft 365 releases that draw on Microsoft's Azure Cognitive Services, a family of cognitive AI services that the company offers. Of late, Microsoft has been focusing more on AI, and related technologies, with a wide variety of applications. For instance, the company has been using an AI for Project Artemis to fight child predators online. The company has also launched a massive open data project this year that aims to reduce the growing data inequality in the world, again with the help of AI. Furthermore, Microsoft has also been using AI to improve the various Microsoft 365 suite, including the Edge browser. To that end, the company recently released a teaser on what the future of Microsoft 365 applications holds, including substantial AI-based enhancements.
The new transcribe tool for the cloud-based version of Word gives users a taste of what to expect in future AI-based upgrades. As usual, the feature, which helps users record a conversation and then transcribes directly in Word, was announced in a blog post that provided details regarding the 'dictate' voice-command feature for Word. At present, the feature is only available for web Word users, but Microsoft has said it will come to desktop and mobile Word by the end of the year.
To use the record and transcribe feature, users with a Windows 365 subscription must sign-in to their accounts from Microsoft Edge or the Chrome browser. Then open Word and on the home page, open the transcribe pane from the 'Dictate' drop-down menu. This can be used to either transcribe from an already recorded audio, which can be uploaded and transcribed, or users can record a conversation using the option, and let the software automatically do the transcribing. For recording, select the 'start recording' option from the 'transcribe' pane. If the browser has not been used for recording before, the user will need to give the browser permission to do that - under 'site permissions' in Edge and 'privacy and security' in Chrome.
When recording, users must make sure to speak clearly and there is an option to pause and resume the recording, if needed. Once users finish recording, pressing 'Save and transcribe now' will save the audio file in One Drive, and the transcription will start as soon as the audio is saved. For reference, the transcribe pane must be left open throughout the recording and transcribing process. Users can also simply upload a prerecorded audio file and then have it transcribed. Fascinatingly, the transcribe feature can differentiate speakers and will denote them as Speaker 1, Speaker 2, and so on, while transcribing.
It is also worth noting that there are no limits on how much users can live record and transcribe, although there is a five-hour limit per month on uploaded audio files. Nevertheless, this is going to be an incredibly useful tool for people in a variety of professions. It is also safe to assume that at some point the option will also come to desktop and the mobile version of Word. A mobile version of Microsoft's new tool would be extremely useful for journalists and others doing live interviews or recordings without the aid of additional equipment.
Source: Microsoft
New Mutants Star Wants Sunspot to Return for a U.S.Avengers Movie
The New Mutants star Henry Zaga is ready to return as Sunspot in a U.S.Avengers movie. The New Mutants came out this weekend as one of the first films to release during the coronavirus pandemic. Developed and filmed prior to Disney's purchase of 20th Century Fox, the movie has faced many delays. Unfortunately, despite the long wait, initial reviews for The New Mutants have been disappointing. However, the film's box office numbers are a little more promising, at least considering many theaters around the country are still closed. As of now, The New Mutants has earned $7 million in its opening weekend domestically, making for the biggest haul since the theaters that are open did so.
Even setting aside its release during the pandemic, the movie hasn't been without controversy. Some of it has involved Zaga's Sunspot, with many accusing The New Mutants of whitewashing the character. In the comics, Sunspot is typically portrayed as darker skinned, which readers have been quick to point out. New Mutants co-creator Bob McLeod even weighed in this week, voicing his disappointment at Sunspot's lighter skin. However, despite the controversy surrounding the movie, some are still hoping for a sequel, or at least for some of the characters to show up in future Marvel movies.
Zaga is clearly hoping for this as well. Speaking with ComicBookMovie, the actor revealed where he'd like to take Sunspot next:
Yeah, man, I want to go and create the U.S.Avengers! Let’s go! I’m ready, I’m older, I’m excited, I think the fans have been very vocal about what they want, so I don’t know, I was just reading it for fun, for inspiration, and was just thinking, “Oh my God, there’s so much here!,” like it goes to so many different places. Sky’s the limit, we’ll see.
U.S.Avengers is a comic book series featuring an offshoot team of heroes. Sunspot leads the group, though under the alias Citizen V. He's joined by notable characters like Red Hulk, Squirrel Girl, and Cannonball. The series ran from January 2017-June 2018. As Sunspot's time with the U.S.Avengers is a key part of his story, it makes sense Zaga is hoping to portray it on screen. However, at this time, that seems unlikely.
Though The New Mutants was planned to be the start of a trilogy, that went out the window when Disney acquired Fox. The studio has its own Marvel Cinematic Universe to worry about and will likely want to start fresh with any X-Men characters. Though a U.S.Avengers adaptation could happen at some point, it will probably be a long way down the line and with a completely new cast. This would allow Marvel Studios to more easily make the movie a part of the MCU. For now, Zaga's portrayal of Sunspot in The New Mutants will have to do.
Source: ComicBookMovie
Scott Disick & Kourtney Kardashian Dine At Same Restaurant As Ex Sofia Richie
Scott Disick and Kourtney Kardashian from Keeping Up With the Kardashians were recently spotted grabbing dinner at the same restaurant as Scott's ex-girlfriend, Sofia Richie. This comes amid reports of flirtatious behavior between Scott and Kourtney.
Ever since Scott Disick and Kourtney Kardashian separated at the height of their Keeping Up With the Kardashians fame, there have been a number of events that have raised eyebrows and stirred up rumors that the two are getting back together. As of right now, there hasn't been any official talk of the two reuniting. But that hasn't stopped them from stepping out together, including a run-in with Scott's most recent ex. The encounter comes amid reports of Richie saying that she "can't sleep" following her recent breakup with Disick during his journey to sobriety. Scott and Sofia dated for nearly three years and seemed relatively happy, despite their large age gap and occasional drama due to Disick's alcohol abuse. But their latest breakup may be their "forever" split, to the dismay of fans. Other KUWTK fans, however, dream of seeing Scott and Kourtney back together again.
Lord Disick, 37, and Kourtney, 41, were spotted Friday night dining at LA hotspot Nobu in Malibu, People reports. The former couple who share three children — sons Reign, 5, and Mason, 10, and daughter Penelope, 7 — were seen arriving at the hotspot together shortly before Richie arrived separately with friends. The outing took place amid recent reports that Disick and Richie, who briefly reunited earlier this summer after going on a break earlier this year, had split again. The daughter of singer Lionel Richie has been dealing with the breakup by spending time with friends. She most recently asked her followers for advice while admitting to insomnia. "Can't sleep... any good movie suggestions?" she captioned an Instagram post.
The recent trailer for the new episodes of Keeping Up With The Kardashians shows an upset Disick confronting the Kardashians over the leak of his rehab photo. The photo was taken during Disick's stint in a Colorado rehab facility, which he checked into in late April. According to his lawyer Marty Singer, the KUWTK star was dealing with residual feelings after the passing of his parents in 2013 and 2014.
Reportedly, ex-girlfriend Kourtney Kardashian encouraged Disick to get help after noticing that he was having a tough time. There have been rumors that Disick still has strong feelings for Kourtney and his recent breakup from Sofia Richie has people wondering if he and Sofia couldn't make it work because of his lingering feelings for the mother of his kids. KUWTK is set to return to E! for the second half of Season 18 on September 17. It will be interesting to see how this drama plays out.
How Marvel Totally Retconned Cable As Cyclops' SON | Screen Rant
In the 1990s, Marvel Comics retconned Cable as the son of the X-Men's Cyclops - but how did it happen? When most comic book characters are introduced, the first issue is an origin story. Occasionally things are told a little out of sequence, but as a rule, the writer always has a sense of the character and their backstory when they're making a debut. But that hasn't always been the case with the X-Men; in fact, a major reason Stan Lee came up with the idea of mutants in the first place was because he was getting fed up having to come up with all these origin story. How did a mutant get their powers? They were born with them.
Fast forward to 1990, and Marvel introduced Cable, a cybernetic gun-slinger who swiftly became the New Mutants' mentor. Bizarrely, there's actually a dispute over exactly who created Cable in the first place; in general, he's usually viewed as Rob Liefeld's creation, because he'd long since sketched out a character he saw as a cross between the Terminator and John McClane from Die Hard. About the only things that were locked down about Cable's origin were the fact he was a time traveler (Liefeld insisted on this), and that he was a military man. In fact, before Marvel settled on the name "Cable," Louise Simonson used the placeholder name "Commander-X" - a nice way of instantly signifying the difference between him and Professor X. But that was it.
In New Mutants #100, Rob Liefeld had the villainous Stryfe unmask, revealing Cable's likeness. He was intending them to actually be the same person, just from different points in their own personal timeline; Cable would gradually descend into madness, becoming Stryfe, the villain he'd been fighting all along. But meanwhile, editor Bob Harras, writer Whilce Portacio and artist Jim Lee came up with an actual origin story for the mystery man; they hit upon the idea that the infant Nathan Summers, the child of Cyclops and Madelyne Pryor (who's subject to just as many tortuous retcons) would be sent to the future, where he would grow up to become Cable. Liefeld wasn't particularly happy, but he figured out a course-correction. He hit upon the idea that Stryfe was the original Nathan Summers, and Cable was the clone, but Marvel editorial nixed that idea. Cable became the real deal, and Stryfe the clone.
And then, in 1992, a group of Marvel's most prominent creators left to form Image Comics in an event known as the "X-Odus," because most of them were associated with the X-Men books. Naturally, this caused absolute chaos across the X-Men range, because all the long-term plans were suddenly thrown into disarray. This had a particularly pronounced effect on the "X-Cutioner's Song" event, which was intended to reveal the truth about Cable and Stryfe once and for all. With the publishing line in chaos, Marvel had no idea when Cable would return, and so they decided to keep an element of mystery to it all. Instead of concrete answers, "X-Cutioner's Song" settled for tantalizing hints. It was only when Cable finally returned that the truth was revealed, with every detail clarified in Scott Lobdell and Gene Ha's The Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix miniseries in 1994.
Cable perfectly illustrates the problems that can arise if a character's origin and backstory isn't established from the outset. Comic books are a team enterprise, especially when you're dealing with a massive range like the X-Men books. As such, anybody and everybody can get involved - and the result can be chaotic to say the least.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)