Latest news with #SamuelL.Jackson
USA Today
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
'Tulsa King' Season 3 first look unveils 'darkest season yet' of Stallone crime drama
Transplanted New York mobster Dwight "The General" Manfredi (Sylvester Stallone) shared a moment of peace and joy with his rag-tag crew of misfit Oklahoma mobsters in the "Tulsa King" Season 2 finale. That happy instance passed quickly in "Yellowstone" creator Taylor Sheridan's Paramount+ fish-out-of-water mob series. Season 3 kicks off in September with fights exploding and movie icon Samuel L. Jackson joining TV's oddball Manfredi crime family. The new season will herald crime world territory expansion and growing pains, according to Garrett Hedlund, who stars as Manfredi's right-hand man, Mitch "The Stick" Keller. "We're keeping the stakes high," Hedlund tells USA TODAY, unveiling the exclusive first look of "Tulsa King" Season 3. "At the end of the day, most of these guys are – or have been, or will be – killers. That makes for interesting drama. And this is our darkest season yet." Samuel L. Jackson joins 'Yellowstone,' Taylor Sheridan-universe with 'NOLA King' 'Tulsa King' Season 3 cast squares up The dread – and a spectacular gun-toting stand-off – are propelled by the new deadly rivals to Manfredi's growing Tulsa-centered crime network. Ruthless liquor mogul Jeremiah Dunmire (Robert Patrick) and his erratic, privileged son Cole Dunmire (Beau Knapp) will fight the Manfredi clan over the rights to a profitable local distillery in a primary Season 3 storyline. Patrick, who villainously squared off against Stallone in 1997's "Copland" nearly three decades ago, "brings a command and authority that hasn't been seen in a 'Tulsa King' nemesis," Hedlund says. "It's funny watching Patrick play a very bad man with such control of his darkness." Samuel L. Jackson will star in 'Tulsa King' and 'NOLA King' spinoff Jackson, 76, takes on his first TV series along with his first role besides Stallone, 79, a fellow big-screen icon. The star duo's "Tulsa King' characters have a long, interwoven history. Jackson plays Russell Lee Washington Jr., who spent hard time with Manfredi in prison. Washington is hired to kill his old friend, but changes his mind before executing the hit. He's inspired to start his Manfredi-style empire in his New Orleans hometown, which will be depicted in the upcoming spinoff "NOLA King." "Samuel L. Jackson is a gift to the series," says Hedlund. "He and Sly (Stallone) radiate as men who are absolutely genuine, but who are not to be messed with. And this season will give a taste of what (Jackson) is going to do in 'NOLA King.'" Mixing business and pleasure in explosive relationship Former rodeo star Mitch loses his loner status in Season 3 when he meets up with old flame and Tulsa native Cleo Montague (Bella Heathcote). Cleo is also a business partner, as her father owns the distillery prized by Manfredi's crew and competitors. The business and the relationship are explosive for Mitch and Cleo. "If you've ever heard the phrase 'It takes two to toxic,' well, get ready," says Hedlund of the screen couple. The actor calls back to his 2012 "On the Road" role, in the film adaptation of Jack Kerouac's famed novel, to describe Mitch's renewed "Tulsa King" love. "This relationship epitomizes what Kerouac meant when he wrote, 'The only ones for me are the mad ones.'" Manfredi has to deal with the FBI At the end of Season 2, Manfredi is hauled by a gun-wielding tactical team from the high-thread-count-sheeted bed he shares with his wealthy equestrian girlfriend Margaret (Dana Delany). The unhooded Manfredi meets his mysterious new government minder, who is revealed in Season 3 to be FBI Special Agent Musso (Kevin Pollak). Stallone told USA TODAY in November that the forced relationship between Manfredi and the government would be mutually beneficial. "I'm not going to snitch," Stallone said of his loyal character. "But if I have to do some deeds to people that deserve it, I'm going to." Manfredi's fed contacts will come in handy when dealing with returning Season 2 villains – steely Tulsa businessman Cal Thresher (Neal McDonough) and often-unhinged Kansas City mob boss Bill Bevilaqua (Frank Grillo). Bevilaqua joins forces with Manfredi, at least outwardly, and Grillo stood behind Stallone during the gun-drawn show of force at the disputed distillery. "Sometimes to take over the whole world, two kings have to come together," says Hedlund. "That meeting is the spine of the whole season." When is 'Tulsa King' Season 3 coming out? The upcoming season is currently set to air on Paramount+ in September.
Hype Malaysia
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hype Malaysia
adidas' New 'Superstar, The Original' Campaign Features Global Superstars – & We're Here For It!
Created for basketball, adopted by the pioneers of streetwear, championed again and again by each generation, the Superstar is the original icon that made a journey from sports to culture. Having launched 'The Original' campaign earlier this year, the brand with the Three Stripes returns to present the next iteration of its new global platform: shining a light on the trailblazing influence of the Superstar. Drawing on the iconic silhouette's legacy of transcending cultural spaces, 'Superstar, The Original' campaign adopts a living stage as its backdrop. Offering a striking ode to both the original Superstar colourway and its stripped back iconicity, the scene is captured in dramatic high contrast black and white as a cast of heroes show off the magnetism of being an Original Icon. Directed by visionary photographer and filmmaker Thibaut Grevet, whose dreamlike aesthetic has revolutionised fashion and music imagery, the campaign brings together an unprecedented roster of cultural trailblazers who exemplify what it means to be an Original Icon – individuals who have defined their respective fields through innovation and authenticity. Legendary actor Samuel L. Jackson narrates the film, lending his distinctive voice to a narrative that spans generations of cultural innovation. The campaign stars a multi-generational cast of original voices: multi-award-winning songwriter and producer Missy Elliott, skateboarding legend Mark Gonzales, NBA sensation Anthony Edwards, Memphis multi-platinum powerhouse GloRilla, American Singer Songwriter Teezo Touchdown, global music icon JENNIE, and boundary-pushing model and actress Gabbriette. 'The Superstar has always been more than just a sneaker—it's a symbol of originality and a spark for cultural change,' said Annie Barrett, Vice President of Marketing at adidas Originals. 'From street corners to global stages, it's been worn by those who don't wait for permission to lead. This campaign isn't about looking back – it's about spotlighting a new generation of Originals who are building what's next, unapologetically.' The campaign unfolds in two chapters. First up, 'Pyramids,' a powerful teaser seeing Samuel L. Jackson reflect on enduring monuments to human achievement that withstand the test of time – drawing a parallel between these ancient structures and the lasting cultural impact of the Superstar. Following this, the second chapter, 'Clocks,' is a dynamic hero film that unites a complete cast of seven global cultural icons, making a singular, powerful statement about the Superstar's enduring legacy and its continued resonance across diverse cultures. At the heart of it all stands the Superstar, returning in two classic colourways alongside the iconic Firebird Tracksuit. The Superstar, with its enhanced padding in the tongue and collar – defined an influential era of creative expression in the late 90s, becoming the footwear of choice for artists, musicians, and skaters who pushed cultural boundaries. 'Complementing this silhouette, the Firebird Tracksuit has remained in the cultural spotlight since 1967, continuously embraced by style pioneers and musical innovators worldwide. It just takes one. Before there can be a thousand. Superstars are the ones who build crowds, instead of joining them.
SoraNews24
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- SoraNews24
Upright napping capsules on sale in Japan now
Take a load off and stand a spell. Who hasn't been tired at work and wanted to reap the mental and physical benefits of a quick nap? However, if you were to stretch out on the break room sofa, you'd likely disrupt the feng shui of the entire office, not to mention the fact that getting up after lying down can often be such an agonizing experience that it ends up negating the whole nap in the first place. Now, there's no more need to worry… Well, there's only one thing to worry about, and that's convincing your boss to invest in a Giraffenap. Giraffenap is a specially designed capsule that allows sleepy workers to remain upright while catching a few Zs, and it went on sale from 8 July. ▼ Person A: 'You have a Giraffenap? But you aren't sleepy…' Person B (played by Samuel L. Jackson): 'I know.' According to research, sleeping upright can allow you to enter a stage of sleep that provides a lot of the health benefits of napping without making you groggy upon awakening. The rub is that it's really hard to sleep standing up, and that's actually how the inventor of Griaffenap got the idea in the first place. While watching tired commuters on the busy trains of Japan, the inventor watched as knees buckled while people desperately clung to their straps and thought there had to be a better way. Giraffenap provides support to the upper body, buttocks, knees, and feet to let nappers feel secure and supported while they doze off. Giraffenap takes up about 1.2 square meters (16 square feet) of floorspace and stands about 2.5 meters (8 feet) tall. It comes in two styles to fit differing aesthetic sensibilities. First, there's the Spacia model that has a more clean, futuristic profile, resembling the place where a Galactic Stormtrooper might sneak off to after realizing they're too tired to shoot anything accurately. ▼ I find your lack of napping disturbing. Then, there's the more organic-looking Forest model, a perfect fit for soothing environments that benefit from the tranquil tones of wood, like spas or clinics. The inside of each capsule doesn't really matter, because if you're using Giraffenap right, the only thing you'll be seeing is the inside of your eyelids. ▼ See? She knows what I'm talking about. You might be getting the feeling that you've seen these boxes before, and you'd be right. This is not the first time Giraffenap has gone on sale, and we even tried them out firsthand a couple years ago. It seems widespread adoption has been a little tough, and this time Itoki Corporation is trying their hand at marketing them. One major hurdle seems to be that they're rather pricey and not targeted towards individual consumers. Exact prices are hard to come by, but there is a 5-year leasing option for about 61,000 yen (US$415) per month, making them considerably more expensive than beds. Itoki seems to be betting that previous attempts to sell Giraffenap were ahead of their time, and increased interest in workplace wellness programs might make these booths hot items. So, if you hope to sleep like a giraffe, you're probably best to nag your place of employment until they either break down and get one for you or get one for themselves just to get away from you. It's a win either way. Source: Giraffenap, CNET Japan, Itai News, PR Times (1, 2) Images: PR Times (1, 2) ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
Time of India
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
What makes someone cool? A new study offers clues
HighlightsA study published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: General identifies six common traits among perceived 'cool' individuals, including extroversion, hedonism, power, adventure, openness, and autonomy. The research, which surveyed nearly 6,000 participants from various countries, revealed that perceptions of coolness are globally consistent, transcending cultural, age, and socioeconomic differences. Experts warn that the pursuit of coolness, particularly during adolescence, can lead to risky behaviors and potential struggles in adulthood, emphasizing that being well-liked is more beneficial for long-term success than merely being perceived as cool. Is there a secret sauce that helps explain why people as different as David Bowie , Samuel L. Jackson and Charli XCX all seem so self-assured and, well, cool? A new study suggests that there are six specific traits that these people tend to have in common: Cool people are largely perceived to be extroverted, hedonistic, powerful, adventurous, open and autonomous. The study, which was published Monday in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, surveyed nearly 6,000 participants from 12 countries around the world. Their beliefs about what's 'cool' were similar regardless of where the study participants lived, and despite differences in age, income level, education or gender. 'What blew my mind was the fact that it was pretty much the same result everywhere,' said Caleb Warren, one of the authors of the study and a professor at the Eller College of Management at the University of Arizona who has researched consumer psychology for two decades. In the study, each participant had to recognize the word 'cool' in English, without translation, suggesting that they were already familiar with — or maybe even idolized — notions of coolness from wealthy Western countries like the United States. In that sense, the study offers a window into the spread of cultural beliefs from one group of people to another, said Joseph Henrich, an anthropologist and a professor of human evolutionary biology at Harvard University who was not involved in the study. 'Globally, American success has led to the diffusion of music styles and an immense amount of cultural content, including, apparently, the concept of cool,' Henrich said. Coolness is not a widely studied subject. Past research has found that coolness is usually considered something positive: People who are cool are also friendly, competent, trendy and attractive. But Warren and his colleagues wanted to know what makes a person distinctly 'cool' rather than just 'good.' So the researchers asked the participants to think of specific people: one who is cool, one who is not cool, one who is good and one who is not good. Then they asked the participants to evaluate each person by answering questionnaires that collectively measured 15 different attributes. While the cool and good people had overlapping traits, compared with their cool counterparts, good people were perceived as more conforming, traditional, secure, warm, agreeable, universalistic (the extent to which a person sees everyone and everything as being equal or equally worthy of care and respect), conscientious and calm. Those who were perceived as capable were equally considered cool and good. One limitation of the study was that anyone who did not know the word 'cool' was automatically filtered out. As a result, the data cannot determine how frequently the word is used in different countries or whether in certain cultures coolness will lead to a higher social status relative to others. In addition, while the study included participants with a wide range of ages, the population skewed young: The average age from each region was generally 30 or younger. Other studies have shown that there are important cultural differences that can affect the traits that we value. 'Factors like aggression make us have higher status in some Western cultures and simultaneously give us less status in the East,' said Mitch Prinstein, the chief of psychology at the American Psychological Association, who has written two books about popularity, which can be a consequence of coolness. Research on coolness suggests that the desire to be cool is particularly strong during adolescence, and it influences not only what people buy or whom they admire but also how they talk and what they do for fun. But what's considered cool by the broader culture might not be the same as what you personally believe is cool. This is why Warren and his colleagues asked each participant to think about the people they considered cool vs. good. Interestingly, across the board, the types of traits that are typically associated with kindness or helpfulness were more often perceived as good instead of cool. So is coolness a trait that's worth pursuing? To that end, Warren said, 'I have serious doubts.' Coolness that involves risk-taking and being socially precocious during adolescence may offer popularity during youth, but one study published in 2014 found that many teenagers who behaved in this way would later struggle in their 20s, developing problems with alcohol, drugs and relationships. 'They are doing more extreme things to try to act cool,' one of the researchers told The New York Times. For the popular kids in school, 'status is dominance, visibility, attention,' Prinstein said. But, he added, it is how well-liked you are that contributes to long-term success. 'Even the most uncool kid will probably fare well if they have at least one close friend,' he added. Perhaps coolness — particularly the dismissive 'too cool for school' variety — isn't all it's cracked up to be.
Eyewitness News
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Eyewitness News
Scarlett Johansson becomes Hollywood's highest-earning actor ever
With the release of her new film 'Jurassic Park Rebirth', she surpasses her fellow Marvel co-stars to become the highest-grossing lead actor ever. The film took in a whopping $147.3 million in the US and $318.3 million worldwide since opening on Wednesday (2 July). This brings Johansson's worldwide total for leading roles up to $14.61 billion. She surpasses Samuel L. Jackson ($14.60 billion) and Robert Downey Jr ($14.3 billion).
