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Mattel Is Making a Whac-A-Mole Live-Action and Animation Hybrid Movie, Apparently

Mattel Is Making a Whac-A-Mole Live-Action and Animation Hybrid Movie, Apparently

Yahoo20-05-2025

The MCU is adding another movie to its franchise. No, not the Marvel Cinematic Universe. We mean the Mattel Cinematic Universe, which is bizarrely a thing after the big success of the Barbie movie. The power of Margot Robbie knows no bounds. We know that there are over a dozen films in the works, many of which we've detailed in this very handy post. But there's yet another one to add. Mattel and TriStar Pictures are developing a live-action and animated hybrid movie about Whac-A-Mole. (Thank you Variety for bringing news to our attention that we truly did not see coming.)
For those who are reading this and aren't familiar, Whac-A-Mole is a simple game. It involves a surface, whether on an arcade game or a smaller version for your desk, that has about 4-8 holes in it. The player takes a large mallet and, as little moles pop out of the hole, attempts to hit as many as possible until time runs out. The more moles ya whack, the more points ya get.
For the Whac-A-Mole movie from Mattel, we assume that the moles are the animated part and the humans whacking at them are the live-action portion.
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After BARBIE, Mattel's Cinematic Universe Is Ready with 15 Movies
We don't know what the storyline could be or what's going on in Hollywood these days. But we do know that Mattel Films president Robbie Brenner is stoked about this new film.
'Whac-A-Mole is more than a game — it's a laugh-out-loud battle of reflexes that has brought joy and a little chaos to families for five decades,' said Brenner. 'We're beyond excited to team up with TriStar Pictures to turn the iconic experience into a wild, action-packed ride for the big screen.'
So yeah, there's your weird news for the day. Have a good one!

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‘Big Bang Theory' star Kunal Nayyar gets candid on if he'd be open to a reboot
‘Big Bang Theory' star Kunal Nayyar gets candid on if he'd be open to a reboot

New York Post

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‘Big Bang Theory' star Kunal Nayyar gets candid on if he'd be open to a reboot

We'd love to put this plan into motion. After starring as astrophysicist Raj in 'The Big Bang Theory' for 12 seasons from 2007 to 2019, Kunal Nayyar would love to get the gang back together. But, it might be too soon to be shouting 'Bazinga!' just yet. 12 Kunal Nayyar attends the 'South Asians at the Oscars' Pre-Oscars Party. Getty Images for A-Game Public Relations 'First of all, I would be game because I'd love to spend more time with people who are my family,' Nayyar, 44. 'But look, we only ended in 2019. I'm not sure you're legally allowed to have a reunion. What? Six years after the show ends!' 'I think that would obviously have to mature a little bit,' the 'A.J. Fikry' alum continued. 'Even though the show ended in 2019, it's still on every single day, so it feels like even though the show is over, it's still on. So I think some time would have to pass, and hopefully, if I'm not too old to wear a t-shirt or a sweater vest, yes, I would love to come back on.' The CBS sitcom followed a group of best friends and roommates and also starred Kaley Cuoco as Penny, Jim Parsons as Sheldon Cooper, Johnny Galecki as Leonard Hofstadter, Simon Helberg as Howard Wolowitz, and Mayim Bialik as Amy Farrah Fowler. 12 Kunal Nayyar and Simon Helberg on 'The Big Bang Theory.' ©CBS/Courtesy Everett Collection When the show went off air, fans weren't completely out of the 'Big Bang' universe, as the spinoff 'Young Sheldon' started in 2017, which followed Sheldon Cooper growing up in East Texas. 'There is an entire generation of people who are watching 'Young Sheldon' for the first time, and then they realize there is an entire 12 years of a show after 'Young Sheldon,' so it's the greatest gift,' Nayyar gushed, 'and it was one of the greatest periods of our life, and we are all so lucky to have lived it.' If the network were to get the cast back together for one more hoorah, the actor knows exactly what the close-knit friend group would be up to. 12 Beth Behrs, Kunal Nayyar on 'Big Bang Theory.' ©CBS/Courtesy Everett Collection / Everett Collection 'I think we would just be sitting on the couch eating Chinese food like we always have. That's the family, and the family always stays together,' the actor told The Post. Looking back at his time on set, the comedian admitted that it was hard to stay in character while dealing with a room full of hilarious stars. And one funny man, in particular, is to blame. 'You know, Simon Helberg, who played Wolowitz, is still the funniest human to have ever lived,' Nayyar stated. 'Any time I'm in a scene with him, he would just do something that would set me off. I'm not sure I was pissing them off, but we show up in front of a live audience. You have to get it right. You can't mess around. I was quite embarrassed because I would always break, and I would wait for the camera to turn to the other actor, and then I would break and come back.' 12 Nathan Fillion, Johnny Galecki, Kunal Nayyar on the CBS sitcom. ©CBS/Courtesy Everett Collection 'But I was terrible so I'm apologizing to everyone,' he added. 'We were very lucky to have a really loving and happy set for 12 years.' These days, the 'Criminal: UK' star is still in touch with 'everyone,' explaining that their bond is one for the books. 'You can't go through a run like that without being [close],' confessed Nayyar. 'I spent more time with them than I did with my actual family. So I'm in touch with everyone. We are all still very close.' 12 'The Big Bang Theory.' ©CBS/Courtesy Everett Collection / Everett Collection Although, don't expect this cast to have a text chain. 'It's individual text,' Nayyar teased, 'I have like 70 family group chats, so no more group chats!' 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Disney Defends THUNDERBOLTS* Spoiler Reveal of THE NEW AVENGERS; Says Fans Actually Liked It — GeekTyrant
Disney Defends THUNDERBOLTS* Spoiler Reveal of THE NEW AVENGERS; Says Fans Actually Liked It — GeekTyrant

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time2 hours ago

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Disney Defends THUNDERBOLTS* Spoiler Reveal of THE NEW AVENGERS; Says Fans Actually Liked It — GeekTyrant

Marvel fans who hit theaters opening weekend for Thunderbolts* got the full payoff after months of speculation on what that sneaky little asterisk meant. It turns out, the team introduced in the movie is officially The New Avengers in the MCU, a reveal held back until the film's final scenes… only for Marvel to drop the twist in its marketing just a couple days later. As you know, that didn't sit well with a lot of fans. I saw so many complints about that. But, Disney believes that they made the right marketing move, and that fans actually liked it. Speaking with Empire, Ryan Stankevich, Disney's SVP of Marketing, addressed the controversy over the spoiler-heavy promotional materials that rolled out post-release: 'Discourse is a great part of the Marvel fan experience. For as many people who complained, we saw a large percentage say they thought it was really clever. Some people also complained we didn't do *The New Avengers with a 'z'! But we welcome healthy debate.' Yeah, I'd say the fans that already saw the movie where the ones that thought the marketing was clever because it didn't hurt their movie-going experience. The studio rebranded the movie as *The New Avengers on posters and promo assets shortly after Thunderbolts opened, a move that many saw as premature, especially considering Marvel's usual spoiler-free grace period on social channels. Fans who missed opening weekend understandably felt blindsided. In the film, the twist unfolds near the end after the Sentry situation spirals out of control, Valentina Allegra de Fontaine publicly spins her ragtag group of heroes, Yelena, Red Guardian, U.S. Agent, Bucky, Ghost, and Bob, into heroes by branding them the 'New Avengers.' It's a big PR move for her. The post-credits scene then reveals Sam Wilson is putting together his own real Avengers team… and he's not thrilled. A lot of Marvel fans hoping for a surprise in the theater got a Marvel-branded reminder… nothing's sacred when the marketing machine kicks in.

Mark your calendars! Chick-Fil-A's peach milkshake makes its return next week, see when
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Mark your calendars! Chick-Fil-A's peach milkshake makes its return next week, see when

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