Latest news with #Sera
Digital Trends
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Digital Trends
This Netflix movie based on a popular video game now has a director
Netflix is riding the wave of popularity for video game adaptations by commissioning a Gears of War movie. The streamer is recruiting a former stuntman turned director to helm the action spectacle. Per The Hollywood Reporter, David Leitch is in negotiations to direct Gears of War for Netflix. Jon Spaihts, the Academy Award-nominated co-writer of Dune, will pen the Gears of War screenplay. Recommended Videos Leitch and Kelly McCormick, Leitch's wife and creative partner, will produce the Netflix adaptation through their 87 North banner. Netflix will partner with The Coalition Studio, the Canadian video game developer, to produce the feature film adaptation. Netflix acquired the rights to Gears of War in 2022. The streamer has plans to make a blockbuster adaptation of the video game before expanding to other mediums, including an adult animated series. Released in 2006, Gears of War is a third-person shooter game set on the fictional Earth-like planet of Sera. With society on the brink of extinction, humans engage in a war with vicious underground creatures known as the Locust Horde. The game follows soldiers Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago of the Delta Squad in a fight to save humanity against the Locust forces. Gears of War became the fastest-selling video game of 2006 and one of the best-selling franchises for the Xbox 360. There have been eight Gears of War video games, which include the main series, spinoffs, and prequels. Leitch began his career as a stunt performer, doubling for Brad Pitt and then working on two Matrix movies. After working as the uncredited co-director of John Wick, Leitch helmed his first feature with 2017's Atomic Blonde. Since Atomic Blonde, Leitch has become a reliable action director backed by excellent stuntwork. Leitch's other films include Deadpool 2, Hobbs & Shaw, Bullet Train, and The Fall Guy. Leitch's next movie is 2026's How to Rob a Bank, a crime thriller with Nicolas Hoult, Pete Davidson, and Anna Sawai.
Chicago Tribune
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
David McGrath: Who says father knows best? Mom was always one step ahead of me, and always right
There seemed to be no end to the embarrassment my mother caused me as a kid. We grew up watching Marlon Brando and James Dean at the movies when motorcycle caps and tight jeans were ultra cool. So what did Mom get for me and each of my five brothers for Christmas? Corduroy pants in 'husky' sizes that had cuffs and were so baggy they made a whipping sound that announced every humiliating stride as I walked down the school hallway. Granted, your legs didn't freeze like they did in jeans in Chicago's winters, and they were soft and comfortable enough for sitting at your desk all day. But I'm convinced the other kids were stifling their laughter the entire year. In sixth grade, I was mortified when Mom made me give Sister Joel a bottle of Jergens lotion for Christmas. I protested that it was a dumb present for a nun to whom the other kids gave rosaries and candles and framed pictures of the Blessed Virgin. Sister, in fact, looked like she was going to cry when I gave it to her, and then squeezed my hand, probably because she was also ashamed. Which reminds me of the time I was 9 and standing up at my Uncle Don's wedding with Cathy Gogal, the bride's sister, and the prettiest girl I ever saw. I wore a white tuxedo with a cummerbund, which I had to admit looked cute on my brother Kevin, who was 5 and the ring bearer. But leave it to Mom to ruin everything when she made me put a bag of Tootsie Rolls in my pocket with which to feed Kevin if he got antsy in church, which I told her would be disgraceful to do in the middle of holy Mass and in front of Cathy. Lucky for Mom, though. When Kevin started squirming during Communion, the candy shut him up. And Cathy signaled me with a hopeful smile that she would like a Tootsie Roll too. The worst was the Southeast Improvement Association's annual variety show. Mom was the director and said I could sing, 'Que Sera, Sera,' the only song I knew all the words to since they played it on the radio a million times a day. The night of the show, however, she made me put on a yellow wig since it was Doris Day's song. She said Red Skelton and Milton Berle wore wigs all the time and it was fun. But I hated it to death. Then a funny thing happened. The audience cheered and clapped and kept standing till I sang it again. I was the hit of the show, and people kept buying me bottles of Pepsi and chocolate Dixie Cups until my belly ached. It gave me a liking for the stage, and confidence in front of an audience, which came in handy when I joined the high school debate team. And later as a musician when I was in college. And a school teacher after graduation. And at readings in bookstores. Come to think of it, most everything my mother made me do worked out a lot better than if I hadn't. Which seems to be true about mothers everywhere, who magically know things ahead of time and things you don't even say out loud but are in your head. They know when you're sick before you do. Or if you're just faking it to stay home on test day. Don't try to sneak past them and hide your sadness or fear or worry, since they narrow their eyes and can see inside you. I think you know what I mean. And they'll always get you to tell them what's wrong. Mothers are all-knowing that way, mainly because they are so loving; and they're the closest thing we have to people's conception of an all-knowing, all-loving God. Some may think it blasphemous to make such a comparison. But honestly, with respect to mothers, I think God would be flattered.
The South African
08-05-2025
- Sport
- The South African
Orlando Pirates face surprise rival bids for former Royal AM star
Orlando Pirates face surprise rival bids for former Royal AM star. Motebang Sera has become the centre of a transfer storm, with Cape Town City and Chippa United now leading the chase for the Lesotho international. While initial reports linked the free-scoring forward to Orlando Pirates, new developments suggest that the Soweto giants now face stiff competition. Following his well-publicized exit from Royal AM, Sera has sparked a bidding war among Betway Premiership sides eager to snap up the free agent ahead of the 2025/26 campaign. 'Motebang Sera will be playing in the PSL next season, that much I can confirm,' a source close to the negotiations revealed. The same source added, 'He's a free agent now because of what happened at Royal AM, and that's put him on the radar for quite a few clubs. His representatives have been fielding a lot of interest. Right now, it's just a matter of weighing the options and choosing the best move.' Insiders indicate that Cape Town City are aggressively pursuing Sera as they prepare for a potential promotion/relegation playoff showdown. Their urgency may give them the upper hand in sealing the deal quickly. 'Cape Town City have made it clear they want him immediately,' the source confirmed. 'They see him as someone who can help them in their current situation, especially with the playoffs looming.' While City want an instant impact, Chippa United are also making a strong case to land Sera. The Eastern Cape outfit views him as a vital piece in their squad rebuilding plans for next season. 'But Chippa United are also very serious. They're looking to bolster their squad for next season and see Sera as part of that plan. Talks are ongoing with both teams, and a final decision is expected soon.' Sera appeared in nine games for Royal AM during their short season and scored two goals. With three clubs, Orlando Pirates, Cape Town City, and Chippa United jostling for his signature, Sera looks set to remain in the top flight, but his destination remains a mystery. Stay tuned with The South African as Orlando Pirates face surprise rival bids for Sera. Who will land the forward Sera for next season? Let us know by leaving a comment below or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
Digital Trends
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Digital Trends
All Gears of War games in order, by release date and chronologically
Table of Contents Table of Contents All Gears of War games in release order All Gears of War games in chronological order The original Gears of War trilogy on the Xbox 360 introduced us to the world of Sera, Delta Squad, and the Locust Horde threatening to wipe humanity off the map. Since then, the franchise has grown to include sequels, prequels, and intersticials that aren't even in the original genre. This makes it not that different from playing the Halo games in order. You could stick to playing just the numbered games in order, but every game with Gears of War in its name (save for one) is important to the story, especially Gears of War: E-Day. Unlike the Doom games, which have a lot of lore but keep it pushed to the side, the story in Gears is a large part of what makes these games more than just mindless shooters. We've been roadie running with Marcus since 2006 and will give you a complete breakdown of how to play the entire series in release order and chronologically. All Gears of War games in release order Gears of War was one of the most impressive Xbox 360 games we'd seen at the time, and was primed to become a huge franchise. We got three main games from the original developer Epic Games before it was handed off to The Coalition, but a few other teams have also contributed to the Gears universe. If you're interested in getting started with the series now, playing in release order isn't the worst way to go about it. Thanks to the original game rereleasing as Gears of War: Reloaded, going back to the earliest game is easier than ever. However, that only muddles the release order more if you were depending on the numbers to guide you, especially when the franchise rebrands itself to simply 'Gears' for a time. Recommended Videos To experience the Gears saga as it was originally told, not including any remakes or remasters, here's the official release order: Gears of War (2006) (2006) Gears of War 2 (2008) (2008) Gears of War 3 (2011) (2011) Gears of War: Judgment (2013) (2013) Gears of War 4 (2016) (2016) Gears 5 (2019) (2019) Gears POP! (2019) (2019) Gears Tactics (2020) (2020) Gears of War: E-Day (TBD) All Gears of War games in chronological order You can safely assume that the numbered entries follow one another in a linear order, but what about all those non-numbered entries? Those are especially interesting and add a lot of texture to the lore, not only because they feature characters besides Marcus, but fit into unexplored parts of the timeline. Playing the series in chronological order might be the best experience possible since the main games throw you into the world with little context to figure things out over the course of many games. Knowing what's going on, how you got there, and what events led up to that point makes the emotional beats hit that much harder. The only game you should ignore to play the games chronologically is Gears POP!, but otherwise, follow this play order: Note: The Gears timeline is marked by years Before Emergence Day (B.E.) or After Emergence Day (A.E.) Gears of War: E-Day (0 B.E) (0 B.E) Gears of War: Judgment (0 A.E.) (0 A.E.) Gears Tactics (1 A.E.) (1 A.E.) Gears of War/ Gears of War: Reloaded (14 A.E) (14 A.E) Gears of War 2 (14 A.E.) (14 A.E.) Gears of War 3 (17 A.E.) (17 A.E.) Gears of War 4 (42 A.E.) (42 A.E.) Gears 5 (42 A.E.)
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Yahoo
This animal sanctuary lets you track rare rhinos on foot in Kenya
Sand sifts through the fingers of Jimmy Lekiondo, a Samburu safari guide at Saruni Rhino who specializes in rhino tracking. It blows to the ground as he scans the trees with squinted eyes. Noticing my curiosity, he whispers, 'Rhinos can't see well but are very sensitive to smell. We do this to ensure they don't catch our scent.' Motioning for me to follow, he cautions, 'Walk lightly.' Rhinos are also highly sensitive to sound. 'There!' Lekiondo stops and suddenly points. Between the bushes, I see what looks like a giant grey boulder. Then, it moves. A massive southern white rhino stands. Startled by its size, I leap behind Lekiondo, spooking the rhino, which bolts in the opposite direction. 'Never move until I say,' he warns, clearly frustrated. In this environment, following instructions is critical. Until that moment, I hadn't realized white rhinos are actually grey (the name comes from the width of their mouth) or just how massive they are—the second-largest land mammals on Earth after the African elephant. Our tracking experience is as real as it gets. For hours, we trek through the bush as Lekiondo follows footprints, dissects dung piles, and flings sand to gauge the wind's direction. We're searching for the elusive black and white rhinos that roam the 10,700 hectares (26,000 acres) of the Sera Rhino Sanctuary within Samburu's Sera Conservancy. I am one of two guests on this riveting rhino trek, led by Lekiondo and two armed rangers. This is the first and only community-managed black rhino sanctuary in East Africa, and the only site in Northern Kenya where visitors can track both black and white rhinos on foot. I take comfort in knowing that every step taken here not only brings me closer to these endangered animals but also supports their survival and the communities dedicated to their protection. Until February 2024, white rhinos had never roamed Samburu; they are native to South Africa, Namibia, and Zimbabwe. Last year, four adult southern white rhinos—two males and two females—were translocated from Lewa Wildlife Conservancy to Sera, marking the first-ever presence of white rhinos in the region. This initiative builds on Sera's success in reintroducing black rhinos to Samburu. Before their translocation in 2015, black rhinos hadn't been seen in Samburu since the late 1980s, according to Albert Leturuka, Sera Rhino Sanctuary Manager. Historically, black rhinos roamed the region for thousands of years but were wiped out by poaching. Nearly 30 years later, thanks to Sera's pioneering efforts–not only reintroducing the species to Samburu, but incorporating a community-centric conservation model, establishing wildlife corridors to counter human-wildlife conflict and facilitate the free movement of other wildlife, and employing advanced monitoring and notching techniques to rigorously track the species–the black rhinos are back and thriving. Rhino poaching may sound like an archaic problem, but it's a concern even today. In 2025 alone, 35 rhinos have been poached from South Africa's Kruger National Park, with 19 incidents occurring at the same location in 2024. Rhino translocations reduce overpopulation, resource competition, and threats in high-density areas. Since their arrival, Sera has seen zero poaching incidents and a 92-percent population increase—from 10 black and 4 white rhinos to 22 black (9 adults, 13 young) and 5 white, including a newborn. And it's not just about the rhinos, these efforts are directly supporting the local community too. (Related: This is the only place on Earth where lions live alone.) All Sera Conservancy rangers and staff are local like Albert. 'I'm from the Seriolipi Group Ranch,' says Albert. 'I understand the landscape–I've been looking after animals here since childhood.' This lifelong connection makes the team invaluable to the sanctuary. They're personally invested in conservation and see direct benefits in their communities. Albert attributes Sera's success to community involvement. Through the Basecamp Explorer Foundation, the non-profit arm of Saruni Basecamp, and conservancy fees, social services like medical benefits, school scholarships, water access, employment, and transportation to clinics are provided. 'The relationship has created a sense of 'this is ours' within the local community,' he explains. 'Decisions are made through a citizen board, so the community has a voice in decision making.' Svein Wilhelmsen, founder and chair of Saruni Basecamp, emphasizes their commitment to Sera's mission. 'We really want to support the initiative of the rhino sanctuary because we think it's so important for stability and the local community,' he says. 'It's about balancing commercial viability with job creation.' Saruni Rhino, a small community-owned lodge, employs only local staff and features just four bandas (rustic cottages). The land and the fixed assets belong to the community, and Saruni Rhino manages the business, directing profits back to local initiatives. Guests come specifically for the rare thrill of tracking rhinos on foot, knowing their stay directly supports conservation and community projects. Tourism revenue funds schools, healthcare, and infrastructure while creating conservation and hospitality jobs. The lodge itself prioritizes sustainability, using eco-friendly materials–the camp features bandas, rustic stone cottages with thatched roofing and canvas roll-down windows, plus, they use solar power throughout, and promote water Rhino has achieved a Silver Eco-Rating from Ecotourism Kenya, and conservation fees directly support anti-poaching efforts and habitat restoration, ensuring rhino and wildlife protection. (Related: A poetic look inside the world of wildlife conservation.) At the end of rhino tracking excursion, we visit Loijipu, a young black rhino raised by rangers and accustomed to human interaction. Born at Sera to mother Nairenyu and father Loeku, he was the second rhino born here post-translocation. At two days old, a ranger found him alone, likely abandoned. 'Without milk, he was in danger,' Albert explains. Loijipu was flown to Reteti Elephant Orphanage in northern Kenya, where he was nursed alongside elephant calves for nine months before returning to Sera. Unable to reintegrate with wild rhinos, he now lives in a designated space within the sanctuary, cared for by dedicated rangers. The best time to visit is during Kenya's dry season (June to October, and December to March), and rhino tracking usually takes place early in the morning to avoid the midday heat. To access this experience, visitors will first need to fly into Nairobi, and then fly by small bush plane to Samburu, followed by a two-hour scenic drive to the remote conservancy. A two-night stay at Saruni Rhino grants exclusive access to the Sera Rhino Sanctuary and its on-foot rhino tracking experience. While there, guests can even stay in a banda named after Loijipu, a cozy cottage overlooking a dry riverbed. Afternoons offer game drives, village visits, or riverbed walks, followed by refreshing dips in the pool or naps under the shade of swaying palms and thorny acacias. From here, you may spot some of Samburu's most spectacular wildlife, such as the 'Samburu Special Five,' which include the reticulated giraffe, Grevy's zebra, Beisa oryx, Somali ostrich, and gerenuk. These special sightings add to the draw of the more commonly sought-after 'Big Five' sightings which can also be found in this unique sanctuary in northern Kenya. (Related: Why are so few African safaris Black-owned?) Bianca Bujan is an award-winning travel writer from Vancouver, BC Canada, specializing in luxury, family, and adventure travel, with a focus on culture, cuisine, and conservation. Follow her adventures on Instagram.
