Latest news with #Calexit
Perth Now
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
John Wick director Chad Stahelski to produce movie adaptation of controversial comic Calexit
Chad Stahelski is to produce a movie adaptation of the comic Calexit. The 56-year-old director - who helms the John Wick series - is attached to produce a film version of publisher Black Mask Studios' controversial 2017 comic, which details a fictionalised Californian resistance. Calexit - which was written by Matt Pizzolo - is set in a near-future America where the president has signed an executive order to deport all immigrants. In response, California declares itself a sanctuary state and sparks a fierce struggle against an autocratic regime. Amid the chaos, the story follows Jamil, a courier and smuggler navigating war-torn zones, and Zora, a rising leader of the Mulholland Resistance, as they fight to escape Occupied Los Angeles - a city locked under martial law. Calexit proved popular upon its release in 2017, going through seven printings and launching the spin-off comics Calexit: All Systems San Diego, Calexit: Our Last Night in America and Calexit: The Battle of Universal City. Pizzolo - Black Mask's co-founder and president - has written the movie's script, and is also set to produce. The writer will be producing Calexit alongside Stahelski and his 87Eleven Entertainment cohorts Alex Young and Jason Spitz, while Brett Gurewitz and Brian Giberson of Black Mask also serve as producers. Stahelski is currently working on his Highlander reboot for Amazon MGM Studios, which will star Henry Cavill as Connor MacLeod - who was previously portrayed by Christopher Lambert in the original fantasy series. The Ballerina producer previously revealed he managed to convince the Man of Steel star to sign on to Highlander by pitching the project as a martial arts-focused flick that centred around an intense character arc for the Scottish swordsman. Speaking with The Direct, Stahelski said: 'My selling point was, to [Cavill], look, you've got a guy that's been alive for over 500 years. He's the last person in the world that wanted to be in this situation. 'So you get to cover quite a broad spread of a character arc there. And you get to experience someone that's trained over 500 years and sort of played [with many types of] martial arts.' The filmmaker added his Highlander movie would be set 'beyond present-day New York and Hong Kong', teasing that it's 'a bit of a love story, but not how you think'. He explained: 'We're bringing it forward from the early 1500s in the highlands to the beyond present-day New York and Hong Kong, and seeing how it goes. 'There's big opportunity for action. There's a chance to play a character that not a lot of people get to play. And it's a bit of a love story, but not how you think. On John Wick, I learned a lot on how to bend the storytelling a little ... another kind of myth.' The Highlander reboot will also star Russell Crowe as Juan Sánchez-Villalobos Ramírez - previously played by Sir Sean Connery - and Industry breakout actress Marisa Abela in a new, unnamed role. After Abela was announced as the newest cast member for Highlander, she said it was a 'real honour to step into such a legacy', and emphasised she was 'looking forward to working with Henry and Russell on something this iconic'.
CBS News
15-07-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Leaders of Calexit petition plan to start over, refile ballot initiative
With a week until the signature deadline, the leaders of the California secession movement dubbed "Calexit" have decided to pull their attempted ballot initiative so they can re-file it later in the summertime. "We are going to re-file the ballot initiative so we can start the clock back for five-and-a-half months," said Marcus Ruiz Evans, the leader of Calexit. Ruiz Evans said the leadership doesn't want to chance not meeting the required signature threshold, so they will not be submitting any by the July 22 deadline set by the California Secretary of State's Office. Proponents had to submit at least 546,651 signatures for their initiative to qualify for the 2028 ballot. "We felt that we had the requisite number of signatures, but we did not have the insulation amount. You want to get about 550,000 signatures, but most people will tell you that you need an additional 100,000-300,000 because a lot of those signatures will be invalidated," he said. "Given that this is a radical political concept, we figured that it would be under a high level of scrutiny." The initiative would not have been a vote for California to actually secede, as the question still raises numerous legal questions and a lot of scrutiny. If voters approved it, it would have put the non-binding question on the 2028 ballot: "Should California leave the United States and become a free and independent country?" The measure also would have established an official commission to study California's viability as an independent nation. Approval would require at least 50% voter participation and 55% voting "yes." CBS News Bay Area asked Ruiz Evans about his response to those who would say Calexit failed because of the decision to re-file. "I say, based on what? We didn't get enough signatures this time? Okay," Ruiz Evans said. He points towards other movements, such as the legalization of cannabis and same-sex marriage, that took several attempts and many years to come to fruition. "Both of those movements took about 10 to 12 years to go from 'that will never happen' to full blown legality," he said. While the movement gained notariety following Donald Trump's victory in the 2016 presidential election, Ruiz Evans previously told CBS News Bay Area that his idea for California to secede dates back to 2007. Ruiz Evans explained the Calexit movement's leadership is changing its approach, with the strategy shifting from a grassroots feel to that of a professional operation. He points towards several upcoming events designed to focus on education and fundraising outreach. "The deadline to re-file is mid-August. We're looking to do this at the beginning of August," he said. Though the signature gathering process will start from scratch, he believes the Calexit movement will gain momentum as tensions continue to rise within the current political atmosphere. "The climate is riper than ever," he said. "The soil is more fertile than it's been in 10 years."
Ya Libnan
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Ya Libnan
Calexit or common ground? Why California and America must move beyond the Trump-Newsom clash
Calls for California to secede from The United States increased following the feud between Governor Gavin Newsom and President Donald Trump over the deployment of thousands of National Guards in Los Angeles By Vlad Green , Op-ED The idea of California seceding from the United States has resurfaced with a vengeance, driven by hashtags like #Calexit and #FreeCalifornia that have trended nationally following recent clashes between Governor Gavin Newsom and President Donald Trump. As tensions flare over immigration enforcement and National Guard deployments, some Californians — frustrated by what they see as federal overreach — have again floated the notion of breaking away from the Union. But while the idea of Calexit may be good fodder for social media and late-night talk shows, it distracts from the deeper issues facing California and the nation: political division, economic uncertainty, and the urgent need for practical solutions that actually help people. California's economy is enormous — the largest in the United States and the fourth largest in the world if it were a separate nation. It's home to some of the planet's most valuable companies, top universities, and a diverse, dynamic population that embodies the American Dream. Yet even in this powerhouse state, many Californians feel left behind, struggling with housing costs, homelessness, and an immigration system that needs reform. These are not problems that can be solved by hashtags or by political theater. They require collaboration, not conflict. Unfortunately, the Trump-Newsom feud has often deepened the divide. President Trump famously dubbed Newsom 'Newscum,' while Newsom has relished taking shots at Trump's policies, even vowing to 'Trump-proof' California. This dynamic may generate headlines, but it does little to solve real problems. Instead, it reinforces the notion that California is at odds with the rest of America — an idea that fuels talk of secession. But let's be clear: Calexit is neither legal nor practical. The Supreme Court settled this question after the Civil War, ruling in Texas v. White that states cannot unilaterally secede. More importantly, secession would upend California's trade, defense, and economy, hurting the very people who are already struggling. What California — and America — needs now is a bridge, not a break. We need leaders who can look beyond personal rivalries and forge partnerships that get things done. Whether it's immigration reform, wildfire prevention, or building affordable housing, these challenges won't be solved by blue states and red states battling it out. They require a commitment to dialogue, respect, and compromise. Gavin Newsom has a responsibility to work constructively with federal authorities — no matter who occupies the White House. Likewise, Donald Trump — and every president after him — has a responsibility to treat California not as an enemy but as an integral part of the American family. California's story has always been one of reinvention and resilience. Let's not let the rhetoric of secession overshadow that legacy. Instead, let's choose unity over division and partnership over partisanship. In the end, that's the only way forward — for California and for America.
Time of India
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Los Angeles protests spark renewed calls for California independence, but is secession really possible?
Mass protests in Los Angeles have reignited online calls for California to break away from the United States—an idea that has periodically gained traction in moments of national crisis but has never advanced beyond the fringes. This time, outrage flared after President Donald Trump deployed 2,000 National Guard troops to the city following a series of aggressive ICE raids that led to the arrest of dozens of undocumented immigrants. The demonstrations quickly escalated, and many Californians took to X (formerly Twitter) to voice support for the state's secession from the U.S., with hashtags like #Calexit and #FreeCalifornia trending nationally. Ballot Measure for Secession Earlier this year, a renewed push for California's independence was formally cleared to begin signature gathering. The proposal, spearheaded by Fresno activist Marcus Evans, seeks to place a question on the 2028 state ballot: Should California become an independent country? by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Top 5 Dividend Stocks for May 2025 Seeking Alpha Read Now Undo — eeldenden (@eeldenden) The initiative, approved by the California Secretary of State's Office, must collect over 545,000 valid signatures from registered voters by July 22, 2025, to qualify for the ballot. Live Events However, even if voters say yes, independence wouldn't be automatic. According to Fox News, the measure would establish a 20-member commission tasked with studying the feasibility of California becoming a sovereign nation. The measure would also serve as a symbolic "vote of no confidence" in the United States—without immediately altering California's current government structure or its legal relationship with the federal government. — Ma_WuKong (@Ma_WuKong) Ultimately, full secession would require a U.S. constitutional amendment, needing approval from two-thirds of Congress and three-fourths of U.S. states—a near-impossible bar in the current political landscape. What the Law Says California's existing state constitution explicitly affirms its unity with the nation. Article III, Section 1 reads: 'The State of California is an inseparable part of the United States of America.' This legal language, combined with federal precedent, makes any unilateral attempt at secession effectively symbolic unless supported by the broader U.S. legal and political system. President Trump, in a post on X, earlier on Sunday accused protesters of trying to 'sabotage federal deportation operations,' referring to them as 'violent, insurrectionist mobs.' — YooglyZoogly (@YooglyZoogly) He further alleged that Los Angeles has been 'invaded and occupied by illegal aliens and criminals' and ordered Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Attorney General Pam Bondi to coordinate a federal response aimed at restoring order. 'Order will be restored, the illegals will be expelled, and Los Angeles will be set free,' Trump declared, adding that these 'lawless riots only strengthen our resolve.' As protests continue, California finds itself once again at the crossroads of federal power and state identity. While talk of independence may be fueled by frustration and symbolism, the legal path to secession remains long, uncertain—and legally improbable. Can California Constitutionally Secede? According to American Historical Association, there is no provision in the US Constitution for secession. "The Constitution of the United States provides that it may be amended, and prescribes how this may be done, but it does not, as it exists now, contemplate its own destruction, nor a dissolution of the Government of which it is the living evidence. Constitutionally, there can be no such thing as secession of a State from the Union," it stated.
See - Sada Elbalad
26-01-2025
- Politics
- See - Sada Elbalad
California Pushes for Independence with ‘Calexit' Initiative
California has officially approved a new initiative, "Calexit," that seeks to begin the process of gathering signatures for a referendum on the state's potential secession from the United States. This move, spearheaded by political activist Marcus Evans, is inspired by the UK's "Brexit" referendum and aims to put the question to voters: "Should California become an independent nation?" Evans, who has previously attempted to rally support for the initiative, believes that now is the right time for "Calexit," citing a more favorable political climate than when he first launched the movement in 2016. The proposal would require participation from more than 50% of registered voters in the state, with 55% voting in favor by July 22 of this year. If successful, the initiative will lead to the formation of a 20-member commission tasked with exploring the possibility of California's independence and publishing a report by 2028. While the initiative will not directly result in California's secession, it would mark the beginning of a "vote of no confidence" in the United States. The proposal also includes provisions to remove the American flag from government buildings in California, symbolizing the state's potential move toward sovereignty. The cost of the project is estimated at $10 million, with an additional $2 million annually required to run the commission.
