Talk Fuse

    Topic: Entertainment

    Entertainment brings together the latest from film, television, music and gaming, tracking everything from big studio releases and streaming hits to the smaller stories behind the scenes. Expect a mix of reviews, interviews and features that look at how films and shows come together, the choices actors and musicians make along the way, and how decisions by studios and networks play out once viewers get involved.

    The topic also keeps an eye on the business and cultural side of the industry: how streaming services are reshaping what gets made and watched, the sometimes tangled relationship between entertainment and technology, and the moments when a franchise, format or platform doesn't go the way its backers hoped. Older films, shows and songs feature too, revisited with the benefit of hindsight on decisions that looked different at the time.

    For readers, it's a way to keep up with what's actually worth watching or listening to, understand the reasoning behind the projects that shape popular culture, and see how the industry's bigger shifts affect the entertainment on offer day to day.

    • The Odyssey: Nolan Pushed Practical Filmmaking to Extremes

      Christopher Nolan’s forthcoming film adaptation of Homer’s *The Odyssey* has reportedly pushed practical filmmaking to unprecedented lengths, with the director favouring real ships, demanding shooting locations and pioneering IMAX camera technology over digital alternatives. The approach reflects Nolan’s long-standing preference for in-camera effects and physical production over CGI, and underlines the scale of the challenge…

    • The director who left Robin Williams in awe in 1991: “He knows every movie that’s ever been made”

      In 1991, Robin Williams reportedly expressed admiration for director Terry Gilliam, saying Gilliam seemed to know every film ever made. The comment highlights Gilliam’s reputation as an unusually knowledgeable and imaginative filmmaker, whose wide-ranging cinematic references informed his distinctive style. Williams and Gilliam later worked together on *The Fisher King*, released in 1991, in which…

    • Today’s Top Deals: MTG x Marvel Commander Bundle, LEGO One Piece, and Gran Turismo 7

      IGN highlights discounted gaming, collectibles, technology and fitness products ahead of the weekend, with several items described as reaching their lowest prices so far. – Magic: The Gathering x Marvel Commander bundle: $209.95, down 30%, including four decks. – LEGO One Piece Going Merry set: $111.99, down 20%, with 1,376 pieces. – Gran Turismo 7…

    • ‘You need to evolve’: Enzo Maresca plots life after Pep at Manchester City

      Enzo Maresca has returned to Manchester City as Pep Guardiola’s successor, acknowledging the difficulty of following a manager who won 20 trophies in 10 years. He said clubs can struggle after long-serving, highly successful managers leave, but described the role as a challenge to continue the work already done for the club and its supporters.…

    • The 12 best new metal songs you need to hear right now

      Metal Hammer selects 12 newly released metal songs for its weekly listening guide, spanning established acts and emerging artists. – The playlist includes new music from Amon Amarth, Hatebreed and Halestorm. – It also highlights newer or rising acts including Black Spikes, Kim Dracula and Imminence. – In the previous week’s reader vote, Red Method’s…

    • ‘Off Campus’ Star Ella Bright Had No Idea Niall Horan Recorded ‘Baby Now That I Found You’ Duet

      Niall Horan has joined Ella Bright, who plays music student Hannah Wells in Prime Video’s Off Campus, on a duet of the Foundations’ “Baby Now That I Found You”. Bright was not told that Horan had contributed vocals until she heard the finished track, and her filmed reaction was released to promote the soundtrack; the…

    • Michael Stipe Previews Solo Album with New Song “Hum Desiderata”

      Michael Stipe has released “Hum Desiderata”, a new work previewing material from his forthcoming debut solo album. The piece combines an instrumental version of the unreleased song “Hum” with a spoken-word reading of Max Ehrmann’s poem “Desiderata”, offering fans an early indication of the album’s experimental direction. The track is available exclusively through the online…

    • Why Cognition bought Poke: AI personality is becoming a competitive advantage

      Cognition has acquired Poke, a conversational AI assistant designed to interact like a friend, in a deal valued in the low nine figures. The acquisition aims to bring Poke’s personality-driven interaction style to Cognition’s coding agent, Devin, reflecting a broader belief that engaging user experiences can be as commercially important as underlying AI models. Launched…

    • Roku raises streaming hardware prices by up to $50

      Roku has raised prices across its streaming-device range, with increases of up to $50. The company attributes the changes to the continuing global memory shortage, which is increasing component costs as chipmakers prioritise demand from AI companies. The HD Streaming Stick has risen from $29.99 to $39.99, while the Streaming Stick Plus and 4K model…

    • 5 Years Later, ‘The Book of Boba Fett’ Is Officially Getting a Sequel Series

      Lucasfilm Publishing has announced a comic-book sequel to The Book of Boba Fett, continuing the story of the Disney+ series five years after its 2021 debut. The news matters because Disney appears not to be pursuing a second television season, despite star Temuera Morrison’s interest, and is instead extending the character’s storyline in print. The…