Latest news with #Puck
NBC Sports
3 days ago
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Succession plan hovers over Roger Goodell's contract situation
When making more than $60 million per year, it's hard for anyone to have a bad week. Still, last week was not ideal for Commissioner Roger Goodell. Beyond having two of his pet projects fail to muster sufficient owner support (tush push ban and playoff seeding changes), Goodell's latest contract extension wasn't finalized. There was at least one report that it would be. However, no vote was taken on Goodell's contract. In a conversation with John Ourand of Puck, Seth Wickersham said that an extension will happen — but that owners want Goodell to focus on a succession plan. 'Owners would like to have a better sense of the bench,' Wickersham told Ourand. The problem is that there isn't much of a bench. And, frankly, there's been a trend in recent years that, once an in-house name emerges as a potentially viable candidate to become the next commissioner, the person ends up not sticking around much longer. From Dean Blandino to Chris Halpin to Tod Leiweke to Maryann Turcke, they came, they saw, and they were gone long before they could conquer. At this point, there's a generally-accepted belief in league circles that the folks who end up being long-term high-level executives at 345 Park Avenue are not regarded by the captain as viable candidates to take the helm. Of course there's a Game of Thrones/Succession-style drama at play here. There's too much money and power riding on the job. For Goodell, who has privately said there's no way he'll still be working when he's 80, he's only 14 years away from blowing out a full four score of candles. He has perfected the craft. He knows the personalities. He (usually) gets what he wants. Where else would he make the kind of money he makes and (perhaps as importantly) wield the kind of power he wields? His only career objective was to become Commissioner of the NFL. He achieved the goal 19 years ago. For the dog who chased the car, caught it, and is now surfing on the hood, why stop? Still, the owners need to be ready for life after Goodell. The longer they aren't, the more they need Goodell to not go.
NBC Sports
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- NBC Sports
The CW says so long to Inside the NFL
Inside the NFL is on the outside looking in, again. A must-watch highlights repository in the days before the Internet, Inside the NFL has struggled in recent years. John Ourand of Puck reports that the show will be on the move, again. The CW held the rights to the weekly program for the past two years. It has decided not to renew the show. After an extended run at HBO, Inside the NFL spent 13 years at Showtime before a brief run at Paramount+. It's unknown where it will land in 2025. As Ourand notes, there aren't many options. Ourand adds that the league has opened talks with 'several interested parties,' but no announcement is imminent. Some network may view buying the show as a price to be paid to otherwise have a good relationship with the league. Still, the overriding question is whether anyone will watch. It never creates news, never moves the needle. Even with Bill Belichick on the show in 2024, it was a tree that fell in an empty forest. (Indeed, the only news it made last year came from the hiring of Belichick.) If the show is going to survive, it needs to be ripped down and reimagined. Highlights are everywhere. Debates are everywhere. Interviews are everywhere. Inside the NFL needs to come up with a fresh approach that gives the audience something that it wants — and something that it can't get anywhere else. In an ever crowded landscape of NFL media options, it's entirely possible that this is impossible. And the inescapa ble conclusion could be that there's no longer a seat at the table for Inside the NFL.
Geek Tyrant
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
THE SANDMAN Season 2 Images Reveal Puck and Destruction; Showrunner Breaks Down the Casting Choices — GeekTyrant
Netflix's The Sandman is gearing up for its second and final season, and fans have been given their first look at two major characters making their debut: Jack Gleeson as Puck and Barry Sloane as Destruction. The newly released images tease what's ahead, and showrunner Allan Heinberg shares his enthusiasm about the cast. The upcoming season will adapt several pivotal stories from Neil Gaiman's iconic comic, including 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' and 'The Song of Orpheus.' Alongside the returning Tom Sturridge as Dream, the season introduces the remaining Endless siblings — Destiny, Delirium, and Destruction, as well as a handful of mythological figures. Gleeson's Puck might come as a surprise to fans expecting the traditional trickster. Heinberg described him as something much more layered. Heinberg told Entertainment Weekly: 'He brings sexiness to it and mischief and psychology and heart. I have a tendency to write to the actors playing these parts, and I think our Puck is a very different Puck from the comics, but also from the Puck that I would've written for any other actor.' Gleeson will appear in the episode adapting A Midsummer Night's Dream, a standout single-issue story where Dream collaborates with Shakespeare himself. As for Barry Sloane's Destruction, or the Prodigal, fans should brace for something unexpected. Heinberg said much of the dialogue is lifted directly from the comic, but casting Sloane wasn't just about finding someone who could embody an immortal force. 'He has such a lightness of touch, and he's such a loving human. That's really what we were looking for in casting this role. You think of Destruction, especially as he's presented in the comics during The Song of Orpheus story, as the ultimate destroyer of worlds. 'His story in the comic, and in our show as well, is actually a soul that's in conflict. He wants to create, he doesn't want to destroy. So you need an actor who is so full of love and so full of joy and yet looks like the archetypal soldier.' In addition to Puck and Destruction, Season 2 brings in a robust lineup of new characters. Adrian Lester steps in as Destiny, Esmé Creed-Miles as Delirium, and Ruairi O'Connor as Dream's son Orpheus. The Norse pantheon is also coming into play, with Laurence O'Fuarain as Thor, Freddie Fox as Loki, and Clive Russell as Odin. Rounding out the cast are Ann Skelly as Nuala, Douglas Booth as Cluracan, Indya Moore as Wanda, and Steve Coogan lending his voice to Barnabas the dog. The Sandman Season 2 will roll out in two parts. The first six episodes drop on July 3, 2025, with the final five following on July 24.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
The Sandman Season 2 Release: When will Part 1 arrive on Netflix? Here's what to expect, characters and cast
Netflix will release the first half of The Sandman Season 2 on July 3. The season is divided into two parts. New characters and deeper storylines will be explored. Dream will continue to face inner struggles while other figures enter the plot. Jack Gleeson joins the cast as Puck. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads The Sandman Season 2 Release What to Expect in Season 2? Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Characters and Cast FAQs Netflix has confirmed that the first half of The Sandman Season 2 will debut on July 3. The new season will be released in two parts. The upcoming season will expand the story of Dream while introducing new characters and plans to launch The Sandman Season 2 in two parts. The Part 1 arrives on July 3. This format allows viewers to stay engaged longer. Netflix has used this method for other major shows. The second season of Wednesday will also follow this pattern. Allan Heinberg returns as the showrunner. He previously worked on Hawkeye and Wonder story of Dream continues in the new season. Actor Tom Sturridge plays Dream, also called Morpheus. He will search for meaning and face the results of his choices. While Dream seems sure of himself, he often deals with his own doubts. This season will show how Dream's identity affects those around new characters join the story. These include Desire, played by Mason Alexander Park; Despair, played by Donna Preston; and Delirium, played by Esmé Creed-Miles. Dream's journey will continue, but the show will also focus on how others are impacted by his past Gleeson will play Puck in Season 2. Gleeson is known for playing King Joffrey in Game of Thrones. His new role is based on the mythical figure from English folklore. Puck may be involved in a plot against Dream. This marks a new chapter in Gleeson's acting first half of The Sandman Season 2 will be available on Netflix from July characters include Desire, Despair, Delirium, and Puck, who will influence Dream's story in major ways.
Perth Now
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Michael Jackson biopic could be two films
Michael Jackson's biopic may be split into two movies. 'Michael' - which is being made with the cooperation of the late singer's family and stars his nephew Jaafar Jackson in the lead role - had been due for release next year but it has now been pushed back into 2027, and studio Lionsgate have admitted there is so much material to cover, they are exploring options as to whether it should stay as one film or become a multi-part story. During a call about quarterly earnings, Deadline reported Lionsgate film chief Adam Fogelson said: 'At the end, when you look at the music library, when you look at what Michael Jackson was able to deliver in terms of music and contributions to art, whether or not that can be fit into one movie comfortably or not is a question that we are absolutely asking. 'We'll be ready to answer more specifically in the coming weeks.' Adam's comments came in response to a question about why the film had been delayed, noting CEO Jon Feltheimer had referenced a three-and-a-half hour cut in his opening remarks. Adam added: 'Any number of the biggest motion pictures over the last ten or 20 years have had first cuts of movies that were well in excess three and a half hours. 'And when Jon mentioned the footage, it wasn't a cut, it was an accumulation of scenes that we've seen.' Jon had explained the film was being pushed back during the conference call. He said: 'In regard to our Michael Jackson biopic, we're excited about the 3½ hours of amazing footage from producer Graham King and director Antoine Fuqua, and we will be announcing a definitive release strategy and timing in the next few weeks. I would note that it is likely we will move Michael out of the fiscal year which will impact fiscal '26 financial results but will bolster an already strong fiscal 27 slate." Adam said the reasons for the delay are "twofold and kind of out there", with the length being one and while he didn't address the other, it was previously reported the movie had required extensive reshoots for legal reasons. In January, the film was said to have run into trouble with its third act because of its portrayal of the abuse allegations made by then-13-year-old Jordan Chandler, which saw the teenager testify that the 'Thriller' hitmaker had engaged in "sexual offensive contacts" before receiving a $23 million out-of-court settlement and the late singer not charged over the allegations. And according to Puck co-founder Matthew Belloni, the Jackson team allegedly signed an agreement prohibiting them from ever dramatising the Chandler family or their story, rendering "several key scenes" unusuable". The journalist suggested the movie's ending will have to be re-scripted and re-shot as much of the later plot 'hinges specifically on the impact of the Chandler circus'. He wrote: 'In the script I read – which I'm told was close to final, but obviously these things are often revised – a tense sequence involves John Branca (Miles Teller), Johnnie Cochran (Derek Luke), and other Jackson lawyers discussing whether to pay off Chandler and his family.' 'At one point, the lawyers play the infamous recording, submitted in court, of Jordan's father threatening to leverage his son's accusations to 'destroy' his ex-wife and Jackson's career. 'The ensuing scenes dramatise the extensive police investigation, including a 'traumatising' strip search of Michael that scars him for life'. The report claimed the revelation was only made after director Antoine Fuqua had already wrapped shooting, so will require extensive reshoots, but sources are "confident" and "hopeful" the issues will be resolved.
