Jude Bellingham is Louis Vuitton’s Newest Ambassador
Since Jude Bellingham was a kid, he’s always wanted to wear the newest Louis Vuitton apparel. Now, that dream is a reality because the Real Madrid star is the newest brand ambassador for the French fashion house. Expect to see Bellingham sporting LV threads ahead of matches at Santiago Bernabéu this season and front row when Fashion Month begins in the fall. Other athletes signed with Louis Vuitton include Carlos Alcaraz, Victor Wembanyama, Léon Marchand, and Antoine Dupont.
Nicolas Cage to Portray John Madden in Upcoming Bopic
The late Legendary NFL head coach and broadcaster John Madden will be portrayed by Nicolas Cage in an upcoming biopic titled Madden. The film will focus on “the joy, humanity, and genius that was John Madden in a wildly inventive, cool world of the 1970s,” said director David O. Russell. Before deciding on Cage, Will Ferrell and Hugh Jackman were also reportedly being considered to play the role of Madden, who passed away in 2021 at the age of 85.
The launch of Venu Sports, the joint sports-specific streaming bundle from Disney, Fox, and Warner Bros. Discovery, has been temporarily blocked by a federal judge. Fellow streaming service Fubo TV filed a lawsuit claiming it would “face insolvency” if not given a preliminary injunction, which the judge granted on Friday. Disney, Fox, and Warner Bros. said it would appeal the decision. Venu Sports was slated to launch in the fall for $42.99 per month.
Billy Joel, New York Knicks Help MSG Entertainment’s Revenue Hit $959M
Since spinning off from the Sphere a year ago, Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp. revenue has jumped 13%, the company shared Friday. Over the past year, the company welcomed around 6.3 million guests at over 960 events, which translates to reported earnings of $959.3 million, an increase of $107.8 million year-over-year. Execs credited a record number of shows across its venues, specifically Billy Joel’s 150th concert at the Garden. A strong performance by the New York Knicks this past NBA season also contributed to growth in profits for the overall brand.
Duolingo, Sony Music Partner to Bring Popular Songs to Music Courses
Duolingo may have gained prominence as a language-learning app, but the company is expanding its profile, tapping one of the biggest firms in music for help. On Thursday, Duolingo announced a partnership with Sony Music to incorporate more than 60 pop songs from over 40 artists as part of its curriculum. Last year, Duolingo expanded to teach the fundamentals of music like note length, rhythm, sheet reading, and ear training. The musicians featured in this agreement include Whitney Houston, Dove Cameron, Hozier, Meghan Trainor, and more.
Jay-Z Reportedly Plans to Reopen Iconic 40/40 Club
The iconic 40/40 Club may be making a triumphant comeback. Per Us Weekly, owner Jay-Z and his team are drawing up plans to reopen at a permanent spot in New York City in 2025. 40/40 Club Vice President of Operations Sheldon Robinson said that by the end of this year, his goal is to have a lease signed in order to break ground. The flagship Manhattan location closed in 2023 after 20 years in business, but the club is hosting a pop-up activation at Fanatics Fest this weekend in New York City.
Ryan Reynolds has outdone himself quite literally. Following 2016’s Deadpool debut of $783 million worldwide, 2024’s Deadpool & Wolverine has exceeded $1.085 billion at the global box office thus far, making it the highest-grossing R-rated film ever. Starring alongside Hugh Jackman, the comic combination’s joint effort has already accounted for over $516 million domestically and over $568 million abroad, taking the title from 2019’s Joker as the most commercially successful rated R film worldwide.
Eugene & Dan Levy to Host the Emmy Awards
Taking their talents from Schitt’s Creek to Tinseltown, father-and-son duo Eugene and Dan Levy will host the 76th annual Emmy Awards in Los Angeles. The accomplished creatives in acting, writing, and producing will emcee the event set at Peacock Theatre, airing on ABC this September.
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