Latest news with #Infected
Los Angeles Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
‘Superman' star Isabela Merced is owning her power onscreen — and IRL
Last year, Isabela Merced was living a double life. By day, she was running around the set of 'The Last of Us' in Vancouver — dodging Infected, WLF soldiers and Seraphites alongside co-star Bella Ramsey. Then, after wrapping what was sometimes a 15-hour workday, she'd be on a flight 4,500 miles away to Atlanta — doing costume fittings and fight training to become Hawkgirl in James Gunn's 'Superman.' 'I didn't know I could do that,' she tells De Los. 'I proved to myself that I'm capable of more than I think.' The Peruvian American actress has the kind of career that any young actor would aspire to: She made her Broadway debut at 10 years old in 'Evita,' earned critical acclaim acting opposite Benicio del Toro in 'Sicario: Day of the Soldado' at 17 and starred in the live-action film adaptation of the massively successful 'Dora the Explorer' franchise when she was just 18. In the last year alone, she's grown into a certified action star, making waves in huge franchise entries like 'Alien: Romulus,' 'The Last of Us' Season 2 and 'Superman.' At 24 years old, her filmography of formidable heroines, scrappy spitfires and multifaceted young women in major blockbusters has put her on a path that's been largely inaccessible to so many of the Latino actors who came before her. It's why she also has her sights set on producing, hoping to provide more opportunities for her community in front of and behind the camera. Yet this month, she's turning her focus away from the screen and toward her other creative calling: music. In 2020 she released her debut EP, 'The Better Half of Me,' which showcased her bilingual prowess through soulful Latin pop tracks, written and produced alongside her brother, Gyovanni Moner, during quarantine. Now, she's revisiting the project in a collaboration with the Grammy Award-winning Peruvian artist Tony Succar. Their new single 'Apocalipsis,' released Friday, transforms Merced's 2020 song of the same name from a slow jam to a modernized salsa groove fit for a Miami nightclub. With 'Superman' now out on digital platforms, Merced spoke with De Los about donning Hawkgirl's helmet, working with Succar on 'Apocalipsis,' and what's coming up next. It seems like everything is kept pretty under wraps for these massive superhero movies. How much did you know going into your 'Superman' audition? Initially, I had no idea who I was auditioning for because everything had secret names. I think mine said 'Cyclone' in the script. I didn't actually find out who I was until the day of the camera test with the [Justice Gang]. Oh, wow. How did they tell you?They didn't want to make it obvious that they were about to tell me, so it was all really mysterious. I'd been doing all the fittings, and the fight training, and then I got pulled into James [Gunn's] trailer with the producers and everyone, and they were like 'Do you want to be Hawkgirl?' As soon as I found out, I was really, really excited because I was like 'Oh thank God, it's someone I know.' What was your connection to Hawkgirl before this? I grew up watching [the 'Justice League' animated series] and the character is canonically Latina, so I loved that. Her history is really complicated, and it gets even crazier when you get into the comics, but I was a huge fan of her in the show, and I drew a lot on my memories of Maria [Canals-Barrera's] version of her. I mean, they're two different characters, but they're still of the same spirit because they share memories of their past lives. What made you most excited about this version of the character? Did you connect with her at all?She's the only young woman in this group of guys, in an industry that's mostly headed up by men, and in a movie that's mostly led by men. It was a really cool opportunity to exercise a different way of being in that kind of environment. She's kind of the unfiltered and disconnected, doesn't-care-how-she's-perceived version of me, and that was really cathartic to play. Because you also have a music background, I'm curious about whether you use music as a tool to get into character?Oh, yeah, definitely. Every character I play, I make a playlist of songs that remind me of them, and I'll play them before I go to film. With Hawkgirl it was a lot of punk music that I was discovering, with all these really strong singers. Then there were songs that Bella [Ramsey] and I really loved by Adrianne Lenker that informed our experience a lot as Dina and Ellie [in 'The Last of Us']. There was some '80s music in there too, maybe some early 2000s, but in general, just really soft, sweet, romantic songs. You're releasing a salsa remix of your 2020 single, 'Apocalipsis,' with Tony Succar. How did that come about?I mean, 'remix' almost feels like an understatement because it feels like a completely different song. That's thanks to Tony, who's the first Peruvian to win a Grammy. He came to me with this opportunity four years ago, and we recorded the song, but I was signed to a label and we weren't able to release it. Now that I'm free and independent, and he won his Grammy, he wanted to put it on his EP, and I was like, 'Hell yeah, let's do it.' He gave me the freedom to do the video for it, and I'm really happy with how it turned out. I got to dance for it, and I learned all the choreography in an hour and a half. It was crazy, but I'm really excited for people to see it. How would you describe your music taste? And how does it connect to the type of music you want to make?It's hard to pin down. If I'm looking at my most recents, it's Hermanos Gutiérrez. But it's also Dick Gaughan, Big Thief, Los Mirlos, which is a Peruvian band, and the Andrew Oldham Orchestra. There's no through line there other than good music. I already have a lot going on with acting, so if music could stay something fun and light for me, and not so disciplined, I think that would be nice. Is there a musical or an idea for a musical that would get you excited about returning to Broadway?Have they done a Selena musical? No, I think I would have remembered that. But that would be cool, getting to dance on stage. It would be like a concert-slash-musical theater experience, kind of like what they did with Gloria Estefan's 'On Your Feet!' If it was made by the right people with respect to her life and her legacy, I think that could be dope. But honestly, if I were to do something on Broadway, I would love for it to be an original composition. I'm currently working on one right now. I'm producing it, and also going to be in it. Things are moving along really well, and it's another project with friends. I think we have to take more bold chances when it comes to Broadway, because everyone's trying to reach a younger audience — but I think the most efficient way of doing that is by allowing the younger audience to bring their stories forward and tell them. You've mentioned that you're getting into producing. What kind of projects do you have in the works right now?I'm producing one movie that's shooting in September called 'Psyche.' I'm really excited about it. We have Latina director, and also the project I'm supposed to do next after that is going to be directed by a Peruvian woman. So there's some really, really cool s— that I've been trying to do, where I'll have more creative control and freedom — but also a lower budget, so, you know, roughing [it] compared to what I've been doing the last few years. But I'm excited to get to the root of why I love to do this and feel it fully. Your career is so interesting because it's just getting started, and yet, it's not the kind of career that many Latino actors have historically been able to achieve so early on. How do you process that?I'm in an interesting position because I think Hollywood is really comfortable picking Latino actors who are sort of white-forward or mixed before they're willing to cast Indigenous people. And look, I'll take anything I can get, because, girl, I'm just trying to work in this economy. [Laughs] But I think being aware of that is really important because when I go off and do my own projects, and have the power, I can hire people that look more like the people that I grew up with, or that look like my family. But it doesn't always happen that way. Financing is hard to get, and when you're trying to bring people on, they want someone who's already known, and Hollywood just hasn't given many of those opportunities to people of certain skin colors. Because you've grown up in this industry, I'm curious what your experience has been like learning to speak up for and advocate for yourself?Something I've learned is that there's always a power struggle going on, whether that's on a personal level, or on a bigger level, or even socially. I think we're constantly fighting for power. And because of that, we can become very defensive. So I think the biggest challenge for me wasn't necessarily what I went through, but how I reacted to it: by choosing to keep an open heart and still love freely and trust in people because of how I was raised. I think we all have a choice to make when we're harmed, and that's to either close up and harm others, or to keep going. It sucks, but I won't let that dictate the way I move through life.
South Wales Argus
09-07-2025
- Health
- South Wales Argus
Failures to listen to infected blood victims ‘exposed' in new report
The Haemophilia Society said that victims of the scandal, dubbed the worst treatment disaster in the history of the NHS, have been 'stripped of their dignity'. It comes as a report into the compensation for those infected and affected was published on Wednesday, following additional hearings of the Infected Blood Inquiry. Kate Burt, chief executive of the Haemophilia Society, said: 'Government's failure to listen to those at the heart of the contaminated blood scandal has shamefully been exposed by the Infected Blood Inquiry yet again. 'This failure is exhausting, damaging and is stripping this community of its dignity. 'Now Government must take urgent action to put this right by valuing those impacted by this scandal through a fair and fast compensation settlement. 'Only then can the infected blood community move on from the past and finally focus on what remains of their future.' Rachel Halford, chief executive of the Hepatitis C trust, said: 'The people impacted by the infected blood scandal have been failed for 50 years; the Government's refusal to act swiftly and collaboratively in designing the infected blood compensation system failed them yet again. 'They have delayed every action and routinely ignored the voice of the community; as a result, we have a poorly designed compensation scheme that does not reflect the harm done to thousands of people affected.' Campaigners, including many who are personally infected and affected by infected blood, gathering in Westminster, London (Victoria Jones/PA) She added: 'This report should never have been needed. 'But we hope today can mark a turning point in this terrible scandal.' Richard Angell, chief executive of Terrence Higgins Trust, added: 'Those impacted by HIV as a result of this tragedy have endured unimaginable suffering – physically, mentally, and emotionally. 'Having borne the heaviest burden for the longest time, it is essential that their claims be prioritised. 'We work with one family whose young son died three decades ago because of Aids-related illnesses caused by infected blood. 'His father now has dementia. It shouldn't be too much for him to receive compensation whilst he can still remember his son. 'Justice delayed is justice denied. We need faster and fairer progress and those who have been waiting the longest, experiencing Aids, early treatments and loss after loss, deserve to be prioritised.' Leigh Day partner Gene Matthews said: 'We hope the Cabinet Office and the Government accept those recommendations and take immediate steps to ensure the infected and affected communities are properly compensated for what happened to them. Des Collins, senior partner at Collins Solicitors and adviser to some 1,500 victims of the infected blood scandal, said: 'The Government has earmarked £11.8 billion in funds for the infected blood community. 'We need the Government to work constructively now with the Inquiry and the victims to implement Sir Brian's recommendations without delay.'
Western Telegraph
09-07-2025
- Health
- Western Telegraph
Failures to listen to infected blood victims ‘exposed' in new report
The Haemophilia Society said that victims of the scandal, dubbed the worst treatment disaster in the history of the NHS, have been 'stripped of their dignity'. It comes as a report into the compensation for those infected and affected was published on Wednesday, following additional hearings of the Infected Blood Inquiry. Kate Burt, chief executive of the Haemophilia Society, said: 'Government's failure to listen to those at the heart of the contaminated blood scandal has shamefully been exposed by the Infected Blood Inquiry yet again. 'This failure is exhausting, damaging and is stripping this community of its dignity. 'Now Government must take urgent action to put this right by valuing those impacted by this scandal through a fair and fast compensation settlement. 'Only then can the infected blood community move on from the past and finally focus on what remains of their future.' Rachel Halford, chief executive of the Hepatitis C trust, said: 'The people impacted by the infected blood scandal have been failed for 50 years; the Government's refusal to act swiftly and collaboratively in designing the infected blood compensation system failed them yet again. 'They have delayed every action and routinely ignored the voice of the community; as a result, we have a poorly designed compensation scheme that does not reflect the harm done to thousands of people affected.' Campaigners, including many who are personally infected and affected by infected blood, gathering in Westminster, London (Victoria Jones/PA) She added: 'This report should never have been needed. 'But we hope today can mark a turning point in this terrible scandal.' Richard Angell, chief executive of Terrence Higgins Trust, added: 'Those impacted by HIV as a result of this tragedy have endured unimaginable suffering – physically, mentally, and emotionally. 'Having borne the heaviest burden for the longest time, it is essential that their claims be prioritised. 'We work with one family whose young son died three decades ago because of Aids-related illnesses caused by infected blood. 'His father now has dementia. It shouldn't be too much for him to receive compensation whilst he can still remember his son. 'Justice delayed is justice denied. We need faster and fairer progress and those who have been waiting the longest, experiencing Aids, early treatments and loss after loss, deserve to be prioritised.' Leigh Day partner Gene Matthews said: 'We hope the Cabinet Office and the Government accept those recommendations and take immediate steps to ensure the infected and affected communities are properly compensated for what happened to them. Des Collins, senior partner at Collins Solicitors and adviser to some 1,500 victims of the infected blood scandal, said: 'The Government has earmarked £11.8 billion in funds for the infected blood community. 'We need the Government to work constructively now with the Inquiry and the victims to implement Sir Brian's recommendations without delay.'
Powys County Times
09-07-2025
- Health
- Powys County Times
Infected blood report to set out impact of compensation delays
Delays to compensation for victims of the infected blood scandal have had 'devastating' impacts, a leading charity has said as the probe into the disaster prepares to publish a special report on the impact. Victims of the scandal, which has been dubbed the worst treatment disaster in the history of the NHS, have described their 'frustration' with waiting. A report into the timeliness of compensation for those infected and affected is due to be published on Wednesday, following additional hearings of the Infected Blood Inquiry. On Sunday the Cabinet Office announced that it was 'unlocking administrative barriers' to help the compensation body 'speed up payments to victims'. Speaking ahead of the publication of the new Inquiry report, Kate Burt, chief executive of the Haemophilia Society, said: 'Delays and uncertainty about compensation continue to have a devastating mental and physical impact on the infected blood community. 'We hope the Infected Blood Inquiry's report on the government's handling of compensation will help to resolve remaining concerns about the scheme as well as maintain pressure to deliver fair payments as quickly as possible.' Brendan West, who was given infected blood in the 1970s, told the PA news agency that many members of the infected blood community felt 'frustrated' while waiting to be called forward for compensation. The former soldier lost his leg in 1979 and was given blood transfusions while at a British military hospital in Germany where his leg was amputated. Four decades later, he discovered that the blood he was given was infected with Hepatitis C. The 64-year-old from Farnborough, Hampshire, now suffers from liver cirrhosis which causes exhaustion. He said he hoped the Government will take 'fair and informed action' after the report is published. 'I'm fortunate enough to now in the process of going through compensation,' he said. 'I have no idea when I will be made an offer but at the moment I think I am being treated fairly.' He added: 'As you're aware people were very frustrated with waiting but it seems to me that the IBCA have bought on a load more staff and they have been inviting people to apply for compensation in greater numbers. 'There is still a frustration from a lot of the community that they're having to wait, particularly those that are affected rather than infected. 'I hope the Government will look at the report recommendations and take fair and informed action on them. 'I think there will be huge backlash if those recommendations are either ignored or discarded.' We've published our latest compensation figures today – these are accurate as of 1 July 2025. We will continue to publish updated figures every two weeks. Click the link to see the latest figures: — Infected Blood Compensation Authority (@IBCA_UK) July 3, 2025 More than 30,000 people in the UK were infected with HIV and hepatitis C after they were given contaminated blood and blood products between the 1970s and early 1990s. More than 3,000 people have died as a result, and survivors are living with life-long health implications. The Infected Blood Inquiry published its main report on the scandal in May last year, and a compensation scheme was announced a day later. But in the same week a general election was called and officials from the Infected Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA) have described how in the early days of the organisation it consisted of two men, a laptop and a phone. Some £11.8 billion has been allocated to compensate victims, administered by the IBCA. As of July 1, some 2,043 people have been asked to make a claim, and 460 people have had their compensation paid totalling more than £326 million, according to IBCA figures. On Sunday, the Cabinet Office said that it will 'reduce the administration and process delays' victims are facing, meaning the IBCA will 'be able to deliver services quickly, and require different supporting information from claimants'. Des Collins, senior partner at Collins Solicitors and adviser to 1,500 victims of the scandal, said: 'In our view there has already been some recent progress in the number of infected people being invited to apply for compensation. 'However it remains the case that those affected – by virtue of the fact they lost husbands, fathers, sons and family members to infected blood/blood products – are still in the dark about the route to compensation for them. 'There has been absolutely no guidance on timeframes for when they will be invited to apply – these members of the community deserve better.
Engadget
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Engadget
The Last of Us co-creator Neil Druckmann is stepping away from the show to focus on future games
Neil Druckmann, head of the PlayStation studio Naughty Dog and co-creator of The Last of Us, is stepping away from the HBO show based on the 2013 game and its 2020 sequel to focus his work on Naughty Dog's next game. On Instagram, the studio published the following statement from Druckmann: "I've made the difficult decision to step away from my involvement in The Last of Us on HBO. With work completed on season 2 and before any meaningful work starts on season 3, now is the right time for me to transition my complete focus to Naughty Dog and its future projects, including writing and directing our exciting next game, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet , along with my responsibilities as Studio Head and Head of Creative." He went on to thanks showrunner Craig Mazin (on the left in the above photo) as well as the cast and crew he worked with on the first two seasons and called working on the show a "career highlight" Druckmann was credited as executive producer and co-creator of the show and he directed one episode in each of the show's two seasons as well as contributing writing to several others. The bulk of the show itself was written by Mazin. Your Yahoo privacy setting is blocking social media and third-party content You can Allow your personal information to be shared and sold. Something went wrong. Try again. You can update your choice anytime by going to your privacy controls, which are linked to throughout our sites and apps. This page will now refresh. This comes after a fairly rocky reception for The Last of Us season two. The challenge of adapting the story of the second video game led to some decisions that didn't sit well with both fans of the games as well as those who were new to the world via the show. And, perhaps unsurprisingly, there was also an inordinate amount of online vitriol directed towards Druckmann and Mazin for some of the changes they made to adapt the game into a TV series. For my part, I thought season two was well-done, with continued excellent acting but issues with pace due in part to it only being seven episodes long. But I can also agree there are a number of fair criticisms to make about how the show was plotted — it probably stuck too closely to the timeline of the game, and the finale left things up in the air to what must be a frustrating degree for people who don't know the storyline from playing the games. As such, this is probably the right time for the show's creative team to get shaken up. Mazin still obviously has the rest of The Last of Us Part II to base the next season of the show on, and it's entirely possible he'll be working with Halley Gross on season three as well. She co-wrote several episodes of season two after co-writing the second game with Druckmann. That said, Druckmann co-wrote and directed one of the best episodes of the entire series (season two's "The Price") and did solid behind-the-camera work in season one's "Infected" as well. Not to mention the fact that he knows these characters better than basically anyone alive — it's plausible to wonder just how things will change without his influence going forward. On the other hand, this change might re-focus the show's creative team and help correct parts of season two where things just didn't land as fans had hoped. It's far too early to tell, but it'll be worth seeing if Mazin brings on anyone else to back him up — and if he does, if that person has experience with the game or is focused solely on the TV world. Someone with some distance from how the story was told in the games might be the right choice to help the show stand on its own. Regardless of what happens, it'll be a while before we find out how this all shakes out — as Druckmann said, there's no "meaningful work" done on season 3 yet, so we will probably have to wait until 2027 to see how these changes impact the show.
