Webtagr - Technology News Summarizer

Call of Duty Movie Officially in the Works

2025-09-03

Paramount Pictures and Activision have officially partnered to bring the globally successful video game franchise, Call of Duty, to the big screen. Spearheaded by Paramount's Chairman & CEO David Ellison, a lifelong fan of the game, and produced by Skydance, this collaboration aims to deliver a high-quality film adaptation. While Activision previously attempted a Call of Duty film adaptation, this new partnership leverages the success of the Top Gun: Maverick team, promising a cinematic experience that will satisfy the millions of fans worldwide.

(deadline.com)

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HBO Max to Crack Down on Password Sharing

2025-08-08

Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) is getting aggressive in its efforts to curb password sharing on HBO Max. The company's head of streaming and gaming announced plans to close loopholes by the end of 2025, impacting financials starting in 2026. Following Netflix's lead, WBD aims to significantly boost revenue by cracking down on this practice. Months of testing to identify legitimate users precede a tougher stance, with more forceful measures rolling out in Q4. Despite this, HBO Max added 3.4 million streaming subscribers this quarter, reaching a total of 125.7 million.

(deadline.com)

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Amazon Cancels 'The Wheel of Time' After Season 3: High Production Costs and Viewership Decline

2025-05-24

Amazon's Prime Video has canceled 'The Wheel of Time' after three seasons. Despite critical acclaim for season 3 (97% on Rotten Tomatoes), the show's viewership failed to justify its high production costs. While it initially set records as Prime Video's most-watched series premiere, viewership declined over the seasons, ultimately falling short of renewal expectations. This decision reflects the streaming platform's focus on cost-effectiveness in the current economic climate.

(deadline.com)

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FTC Alleges Facebook Acquired Instagram to Neutralize Competition

2025-04-14

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is accusing Meta (Facebook's parent company) of acquiring Instagram in 2012 to eliminate a competitive threat, not for legitimate business reasons. The FTC lawyer argued that Facebook, struggling with the shift to mobile and its own mobile photo app development, saw Instagram's rise as a major threat. A key piece of evidence is a Zuckerberg email stating the need to "neutralize a potential competitor." The FTC also points to Facebook shelving its own Facebook Camera app after the acquisition. The case hinges on whether Meta abused its market dominance, potentially leading to a breakup of Facebook.

(deadline.com)

Tech

Ketchup Entertainment Snags Warner Bros.' Shelved 'Coyote Vs. Acme'

2025-03-31

Ketchup Entertainment has acquired worldwide rights to Warner Bros.' shelved animated film, 'Coyote Vs. Acme,' for a reported $50 million. The live-action/animated hybrid, starring Will Forte, John Cena, and Lana Condor, follows Wile E. Coyote's lawsuit against Acme Corp. Initially shelved due to Warner Bros.' cost-cutting measures, the film's acquisition marks a significant investment for Ketchup Entertainment and signals a theatrical release in 2026.

(deadline.com)

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Hollywood's Silent Deal: AI-Generated Fake Movie Trailers Flood YouTube

2025-03-28

AI-generated fake movie trailers are flooding YouTube, so realistic they've even fooled French national television. Created for fun or profit, these trailers garner billions of views. Hollywood studios' response is baffling: instead of enforcing copyright, some are sharing ad revenue with creators. This has drawn criticism from SAG-AFTRA, who see it as disregard for actors' rights. The article explores the impact of AI on movie marketing and copyright, and Hollywood's ambiguous stance on this emerging challenge.

(deadline.com)

Tech

Bezos Narrows Washington Post Op-Ed Focus, Sparking Outrage

2025-02-26

Jeff Bezos, owner of the Washington Post, announced the opinion pages will prioritize "personal liberties and free markets," explicitly excluding opposing viewpoints. This decision has sparked internal concern and criticism, with reporters and former executives accusing Bezos of stifling dissent and suggesting a link to Amazon's antitrust lawsuit. Bezos' shifting stance towards the Trump administration and his intervention in the Post's editorial direction raise significant concerns about journalistic integrity.

(deadline.com)

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Avatar: Seven Havens – A New Chapter in the Avatarverse

2025-02-23

The creators of Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra are bringing a new 26-episode animated series to Nickelodeon: Avatar: Seven Havens. Set in a world ravaged by cataclysm, a young Earthbender discovers she's the new Avatar, but in this dangerous era, she's hunted by both human and spirit enemies. She and her long-lost twin must uncover their origins and save the Seven Havens before civilization collapses. This marks a significant expansion of the Avatar universe, produced by Avatar Studios.

(deadline.com)

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Amazon Pays $1 Billion for Full Creative Control of James Bond Franchise

2025-02-22

Amazon has secured full creative control of the James Bond franchise for a reported $1 billion, ending the long reign of producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson. This acquisition follows Amazon's $8.5 billion purchase of MGM, but an additional $1 billion was necessary to fully acquire the creative rights to the Bond IP. This marks a new era for the franchise, with Amazon planning to expand the Bond universe, developing spin-offs including a potential Bond girl movie and series focused on villains. However, concerns have been raised about Amazon's potential to compromise the quality control that Broccoli and Wilson maintained, potentially damaging the brand's image.

(deadline.com)

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New Bill Aims to Crack Down on Foreign Digital Piracy, Sparking Debate

2025-02-04

Rep. Zoe Lofgren's introduced the Foreign Anti-Digital Piracy Act (FADPA), aiming to curb foreign-run piracy sites exploiting U.S. legal loopholes. The act mandates site-blocking, requiring ISPs to make a 'good faith effort' to disable access to pirate websites. While backed by industry groups citing billions in economic losses from piracy, the bill has also raised concerns about free speech and internet openness. FADPA attempts to balance intellectual property protection with maintaining a free internet, a delicate dance considering the legacy of past, more heavy-handed legislation like SOPA.

(deadline.com)

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Legendary Director David Lynch Dies at 78

2025-01-16

Acclaimed filmmaker David Lynch passed away on January 16, 2025, at the age of 78. Known for his surrealist style and exploration of psychological thriller, Lynch's works including Blue Velvet, Mulholland Drive, The Elephant Man, and the TV series Twin Peaks, have profoundly impacted cinema and television. His bold and avant-garde style, filled with symbolism, left an indelible mark on the industry. Lynch's death is a significant loss to the film world, but his legacy will live on through his enduring works.

(deadline.com)

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