Latest news with #Thing
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Wednesday' season 2 opening scene reveals Haley Joel Osment's killer role
Wednesday Addams knew exactly how she wanted to spend her summer vacation: Tracking down her favorite serial killer. During Netflix's live Tudum event on Saturday, the streamer released the first six minutes of Wednesday's highly anticipated second season, which features Jenna Ortega's teenage sleuth tracking down The Kansas City Scalper, "America's most elusive serial killer," at least according to Wednesday. In the footage, which you can watch above, the series follows Wednesday's obsession with the serial killer from the time that she was 11 and gave a presentation about him in class. Now, with a little help from Thing — and the psychic abilities that she's been working on — she's able to use a piece of (stolen) evidence to locate the killer. And it just so happens that the killer looks a lot like Haley Joel Osment. The actor, who made news recently when he was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and possession of cocaine at a ski resort, was known to be part of season 2, but until now, his role had been kept secret. But as the footage reveals, Osment is playing the aforementioned Kansas City Scalper. In the clip, the Sixth Sense star has Wednesday tied up before she pulls out her secret weapon: Thing. Thing attacks the serial killer, knocking him out, while Wednesday frees herself. She then pulls out an actual weapon — a knife — and tells the scalper, "Let's play dolls." The dark opening won't surprise fans, especially considering that season 1 opened on Wednesday releasing piranhas into a pool filled with her brother's bullies, but according to show creators Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, season 2 will be even darker. "There's some moments which are definitely horror movie-worthy," Millar previously told Entertainment Weekly. "We have that in season 1, but I think this season there are moments that are very intense, I'll say."One other tidbit worth pointing out from the scene: Thing calls out the fact that Wednesday's eyes are bleeding, which she calls "a minor psychic glitch" before telling Thing he has to keep it a secret ... particularly from her mother. For more, you can watch the full opening six minutes of Wednesday season 2 above. The series is set to premiere Part 1 on Aug. 6 and Part 2 on Sept. 3 on Netflix. Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly
Mint
17-05-2025
- Business
- Mint
What is Big Tech trying to hide?
Big Tech is acting like it has something to hide. And that's not helping tech titans argue, in either the courts of law or public opinion, against the idea they have become too big for their own good. If anything, they're helping dig their own graves. is the latest to face possible sanctions over allegations it improperly withheld tens of thousands of business records—including some unflattering to founder Jeff Bezos—in defending against an action by the Federal Trade Commission. At Google, a federal judge in San Francisco has ruled the company didn't properly save evidence in a case brought by Epic Games, and its behavior has become a yoke as the Justice Department seeks to break up the search giant after winning two landmark antitrust cases. A different federal judge recently referred the behavior of Apple to the Justice Department, in part because of alleged efforts to hide documents from legal scrutiny. Such skulduggery gives new credence to complaints by rivals and regulators that these companies are often leaning into obfuscation as one of the tactics used to protect their kingdoms. In addition, their actions in court seemingly confirm what their many critics contend: that Big Tech needs to be reined in. Apple, Google and Amazon have all argued in their individual legal battles that they have done nothing wrong. In Amazon's instance, a judge hasn't even ruled on the matter, and the FTC's accusation comes on the heels of Apple's rebuke. Legal staff carting documents for the 2021 trial in Epic Games' suit against Apple over its app store. Each company is accused of being overly aggressive in holding back internal documents under special legal standing—known as privilege—that should have, in fact, been turned over to the government or lawyers suing on behalf of Epic. The videogame company has been fighting separate multiyear battles against Apple and Google over its desire to load its app on smartphones outside the tech giants' 30% commission. 'The lawyers are the people who are supposed to be saying no when something crosses a line, and they aren't even failing that duty—they are actively encouraging this stuff," said John Newman, a law professor at the University of Miami and a former FTC deputy director. 'That just seems to have created, or at least contributed to, a culture of what—if they weren't our crown jewel tech companies—I think we would call a culture of lawlessness." Maybe it isn't surprising the companies can't help themselves in pushing the limits. It is, after all, what has made them so successful as disrupters turned conquerors. In their minds, they are the underdogs, whether they are facing the rise of AI, China or the next Big Thing lurking beyond the horizon. in addition, these companies' lawyers are fighting to protect the geese that lay their clients' golden eggs. They are trying to shield executives who live in an always-on digital chat and email culture from hurting themselves—and the companies. An unartful, or too truthful, missive can easily become a plaintiff's next smoking gun. Or maybe it's simply sloppiness in a complex legal process that can involve millions of records handed over through third-party contractors. Still, that doesn't make it right. Megan Gray chalks up abuse of legal privilege to 'rich privilege." She is an antitrust lawyer who once worked for the FTC and Google's rival DuckDuckGo. She suggests some lawyers might not feel vulnerable for overstepping, especially when the ramifications of getting caught can seem inconsequential. 'Lawyers, especially at these large companies, make so much money—I mean it's just mind-boggling—and when you are making that much money, the worst possible consequences are that you get disbarred," she said. In Apple's case, U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers wrote late last month that about half of the tens of thousands of documents the company claimed were privileged were later downgraded in the midst of extra scrutiny. She concluded it resulted in delay for the legal proceedings and 'that delay equaled profits" for the iPhone maker. (For its part, Apple disagrees and plans to appeal.) In a recent filing, the FTC made its case for seeking sanctions against Amazon for what it called 'systematic abuse of privilege." It noted that after some probing, the company withdrew 92% of its claims and produced about 70,000 documents that it had previously held back. (A company spokesman responded: 'We are working hard to ensure the FTC has all of the documents well in advance of trial." He added that Amazon is currently litigating how to handle having inadvertently turned over privileged information in another case. 'Mistakes happen in both directions when you are dealing with complex productions of millions of documents on compressed time frames," the spokesman said.) The FTC's case contends that Amazon knowingly duped millions of customers into unwittingly enrolling in its Prime service. Documents the FTC pointed to as being improperly withheld include notes from a December 2020 meeting between executives reminiscing about when customers used to have to call to cancel subscriptions. In reference to that practice, one of the executives recalled how Bezos 'used to be chief dark arts officer." Boxes of documents were brought to federal court in Alexandria, Va., in September as Google faced its second major antitrust trial in less than a year. During Epic's trial against Google in late 2023, the search giant was taken to task by U.S. District Judge James Donato not just over improper privilege claims but also steps taken to not retain internal chat messages that should have been saved. In a rare move, Alphabet's top lawyer, Kent Walker, a longtime corporate attorney and former assistant U.S. attorney, was called to testify. Walker told the judge, outside the jury's presence, that he believed the company took its obligations to preserve and produce information in litigation seriously. The judge didn't agree, later calling his old law-school classmate's testimony evasive and 'materially inconsistent" with other witnesses. 'All of this presents the most serious and disturbing evidence I have ever seen in my decade on the bench with respect to a party intentionally suppressing potentially relevant evidence in litigation," the judge said. 'I have just never seen anything this egregious." To take such heat, I can only imagine how embarrassing those messages must have been. Write to Tim Higgins at
Daily Mail
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Jenna Ortega and Catherine Zeta-Jones return for Wednesday season two which promises to reveal where 'bodies are buried'
Jenna Ortega returns as the comically dour Wednesday Addams in the first teaser trailer for Wednesday season two. The trailer, which was released by Netflix on Wednesday, showed the Gen Z scream queen, 22, shocking airport security after setting off the metal detector. At the beginning of her solo travel mission, she begrudgingly revealed the brass knuckles, a taser, a machete and many more knives and weapons as well as a severed hand. But what she ended up getting in trouble for was a small tube of sun cream that was secretly packed by Thing, the beloved limb character and Wednesday's companion played by Victor Dorobantu. The actress — who is also set to star opposite The Weeknd and alongside Barry Keoghan in the singer's upcoming thriller movie Hurry Up Tomorrow — as Wednesday then revealed that she knows where the bodies are buried. The second season of the record-breaking supernatural series, which Netflix teased in first look photos set in a graveyard and a psychiatric hospital earlier this year, will premiere in two parts. The trailer plays a montage of noir-ish, action-packed clips teasing the mysteries to solve and the beasts to be unleashed in upcoming season. Wednesday is seen riding back to school with the rest of the Addams family driving with her. She is joined by Catherine Zeta-Jones again as her mother Morticia and Luis Guzmán as the Addams family patriarch Gomez and brother Pugsley, played by Isaac Ordonez. 'This is the first time you've ever willingly returned to a school,' her mother Morticia observes. 'How does it feel?' 'Like returning to the scene of the crime,' Wednesday says in response. 'I already know where the bodies are buried.' Back at Nevermore Academy, Wednesday reunites with her bubbly and colorful roommate Enid Sinclair, played by Emma Myers, and sees she is having a fun gathering in their room. Then, Wednesday is seen deep in the throes of another mystery as a sequence of dynamic, action scenes plays. But what she ended up getting in trouble for was a small tube of sun cream that was secretly packed by Thing, the beloved limb character and Wednesday's companion played by Victor Dorobantu Wednesday is seen riding back to school with the rest of the Addams family driving with her Wearing what appears to be a gym uniform, she is seen emerging from an ominous pink fog full of wasps. She is also seen tied up to a chair and sitting at the head of a table with a bunch of dolls in what appeared to be an in-the-dark tea party. She has a cloth tied over her mouth as a gag and black tears running down her face, but then gets out of her binds as she is later seen holding up a massive knife. 'Let's play dolls,' she utters in a haunting tone. Then, the trailer shows Wednesday showing her adoration for her friend and roommate Enid, gifting her a life-size doll with blonde hair and in colorful dress. 'I mean, it is a little creepy but, um, the curls are super soft,' Enid says kindly as she tries to stifle her unease. 'It's made from real human hair,' Wednesday tells her with her deadpan humor and the most excitement she can muster. The teaser trailer also shows a sneak peek of a celebration as Wednesday and her loved ones find themselves at a spooky 'Grim World' carnival. A scene shows her parents Morticia and Gomez dancing in a close embrace as they perform a sultry tango. And while maintaining intense eye contact, the pair sway and Gomez lowers Morticia into a dip. Another montage shows a dramatic car accident as well as Wednesday swinging an axe at the carnival in addition to new characters. 'Wherever there's murder and mayhem,' she whispers. 'You will always find an Addams.' She also comes face to face with Tyler Galpin's Hyde Monster once again and sees her former classmate, who was a part of a love triangle with her, escape from a psychiatric hospital. The trailer concludes with a mysterious turn of events, seemingly suggesting that a long-gone Addams family member will wake up from the dead. A broken tombstone is shown, where only the Addams surname is visible alongside the epitaph: 'Resting in death's sweet embrace.' 'Every family has dark secrets, Wednesday,' Morticia whispers in a voiceover. 'And secrets can have deadly consequences.' 'You don't have to worry about me, Mother,' the sharp-tongued Wednesday replies. 'I do my best work in the dark.' She also comes face to face with Tyler Galpin's Hyde Monster once again and sees her former classmate, who was a part of a love triangle with her, escape from a psychiatric hospital Alongside the returning cast members, there are also many newcomers joining the all-star ensemble. Fred Armisen returns as Wednesday's Uncle Fester. Meanwhile, their former co-star Percy Hynes White, who played Xavier Thorpe, one of Wednesday's two love interests, will not be returning for the season and his character was erased from the storyline due to controversy. Multiple allegations of sexual assault were raised against Hynes White after the first season debuted in 2022, and he has denied all accusations. To distract from his absence, however, a slew of fresh faces will be joining the cast. Joanna Lumley joins the cast as Hester Frump, Morticia's complex mother and Wednesday's closest ally. Steve Buscemi plays Principal Barry Dort. The first four episodes will hit the streamer on August 6, 2025, and the second four will be released on September 3, 2025.
BBC News
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Wednesday season two: Netflix series gets launch date and first glimpse of Joanna Lumley
The first trailer for the second season of Wednesday - the most watched show in Netflix's history - has given fans the first glimpses of Joanna Lumley and Steve Buscemi in their new roles, alongside a host of returning streamer has announced it will split the new season in half - releasing the first episodes on 6 August and the second batch on 3 September. This series follows Wednesday Addams, played by Jenna Ortega, as she returns to Nevermore Academy, now under the leadership of new principal Barry Dort (Buscemi).Also joining the school this term is her little brother Pugsley (Isaac Ordonez), a character described by executive producer Tim Burton as an "outcast among outcasts". Wednesday's parents will also have an increased presence on campus this season - "a rare new form of torture for the fiercely independent amateur sleuth", Netflix first full-length trailer, which was released, appropriately, on Wednesday, opened with the show's lead character going through airport security. As the metal detector beeps, she has to unload a knuckle duster, cattle prod, several knives and Thing - a disembodied hand - from her bag, before a security guard challenges her about the tube of sun cream she is also carrying. "Wednesday Addams is one of the coolest characters of all time," Ortega said as the trailer launched."So to have gotten the opportunity to play her once was incredible, and then to be able to slip into the costume and tone again, it's so much fun. "She runs circles around everyone that she has a conversation with, so to play someone who's so much more intelligent than you will ever be, it's quite funny and strange and enjoyable." Lumley 'perfect and hilarious' Veteran British actress Lumley has joined the cast as Hester Frump, Wednesday's grandmother and closest ally."The first day on set when Joanna walked on, she just was Hester and she nailed every single line, and it's just so delicious," said show creator Miles Millar. "She's perfect and hilarious."Lumley described the Nevermore atmosphere as "intoxicating", adding: "It's wonderful. I get to wear many, many huge wigs, one on top of the other - and lots of quite constraining clothes, so I love it." Buscemi's 'mysterious' principal Meanwhile, Buscemi described Principal Dort as "a bit of a mysterious figure", adding: "Something about him is not right, but he loves the school and he has real outcast pride."The first series of Wednesday was Netflix's biggest hit to date, and cemented Ortega as a major screen star. She has since appeared in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Death of a Unicorn and Scream XI. In the trailer, Wednesday's mother Morticia (Catherine Zeta-Jones) notes it's the first time her daughter has returned to school her part, Wednesday describes returning to school as "like returning to the scene of the crime", noting that she "already knows where the bodies are buried".Later, the young Addams daughter is seen attending a macarbre tea party for a group of dolls."Wherever there's murder and mayhem," Wednesday reflects, "you will always find an Addams."The trailer's reference to "mayhem" could hint at a previously reported cameo appearance from Lady Gaga, who recently released an album of that will be hoping the series replicates the success of the first. Its decision to split the new season in half is likely due to efforts to retain subscribers, refresh its platform and increase the hype around the show. Netflix's most watched shows ever: WednesdayStranger Things (season four)AdolescenceMonster: The Jeffrey Dahmer StoryBridgerton (season one)The Queen's GambitBridgerton (season three)The Night Agent Fool Me OnceStranger ThingsSource: Netflix Additional reporting by Ian Youngs
The Herald Scotland
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Joanna Lumley glimpsed in trailer for new series of Netflix hit Wednesday
It is based on the world of the Addams family, who have spawned a series of films and TV shows, and focuses on Wednesday Addams' emerging psychic ability and her actions to solve crimes. From visionary Tim Burton, WEDNESDAY S2 returns this summer! 🖤 — Netflix UK & Ireland (@NetflixUK) April 23, 2025 Absolutely Fabulous actress Dame Joanna, 78, appears towards the end of the teaser, wearing a black dress with a sharp v-neck and looking slightly menacing. Following Dame Joanna being on screen as Grandmama, the emotionless and creepy Wednesday (Jenna Ortega) is told by her mother, the sultry Morticia Addams (Catherine Zeta-Jones), that 'every family has dark secrets'. Wednesday appears to reply saying: 'You don't need to worry about me mother, I do my best work in the dark.' Also shown is Reservoir Dogs star Steve Buscemi as Barry Dort, the new principal of Nevermore Academy, who takes over from Larissa Weems, played by Game Of Thrones star Gwendoline Christie. Dame Joanna Lumley in a scene from Wednesday (Owen Behan/Netflix) The trailer starts with Wednesday arriving at an airport and going through security where she declares her series of weapons including knives, throwing stars and mace along with the supernatural hand creature called the Thing. It is then revealed that her sun cream is the issue getting through security, before Wednesday returns to her school, and is shown tied up and at a creepy doll party. The upcoming season is the latest project that Dame Joanna has done with Netflix, after she featured in thriller Fool Me Once. Wednesday has seen people around the world copying the character's dancing to The Cramps' 1981 cover of Ronnie Cook and The Gaylads' Goo Goo Muck in a black dress, along with other viral moments from the show. Wednesday season two part one comes out on August 6, with a second part coming on September 3.
