Michelle Rodriguez wants to “pass the baton” of the Fast and Furious franchise on to the younger generation, suggesting perhaps the Fast actors’ kids.
Fast & Furious actress Michelle Rodriguez contemplates the future of the franchise after Fast X. Rodriguez has played Letty in the Fast movies ever since The Fast and the Furious was released in 2001. In Fast X, she stars alongside a mix of new and returning franchise actors, including Vin Diesel, Jordana Brewster, Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris, Rita Moreno, Cardi B, Helen Mirren, Jason Momoa, Charlize Theron, and Brie Larson. Fast X is directed by franchise newcomer Louis Leterrier and is currently set for a May 2023 release.
Fast X is the first of two films that will supposedly end the main Fast saga. The finale of the series will be Fast & Furious 11, finally marking the end of the over two decades-long action franchise’s central story. According to actor Gibson, Fast X will return the franchise to its roots. While it is unclear how exactly that will manifest, it nonetheless suggests that Fast X will attempt to pay fan service to those who have been following the series for years.
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Though these last two films mark the end of the main storyline, Rodriguez offers a different message regarding the Fast franchise’s future. In an interview with Deadline at San Diego Comic-Con, Rodriguez was asked various questions about the series and its conclusion. Rather than discussing Fast X and Fast 11 as the end of the central saga, Rodriguez said they will need “to pass the baton” to others and alluded to the cast’s own kids maybe taking that on. Check out the quote from Rodriguez:
At some point we’re going to have to pass the baton on to the younger generation. Don’t worry, we’re popping out kids! It’ll happen.
Though Rodriguez is likely joking with her mention of the cast’s kids, the statement nonetheless bodes well for what’s to come in the Fast franchise. Rodriguez’s co-star Ludacris recently made a similar comment regarding Fast’s future, also pointing to his and other actors’ kids potentially playing a role in the series going forward. Ludacris expressed hope that the franchise, even if it takes on a new form, will “live on forever,” comparing its potential to what the Jurassic films did.
With two actors openly rooting for the Fast films to continue, the franchise’s future is looking more and more hopeful. Fast X and Fast & Furious 11 will likely still be the end of Dom Toretto’s arc, but that does not mean that the entire series will stop there. Given the end of the Toretto era, it seems unlikely that a new installment would come in the form of a Fast 12, but rather that the series could spin off with new characters and arcs, as it did with 2019’s Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs and Shaw. As Fast X’s May 2023 release date nears, perhaps more concrete plans for a Fast follow-up will be revealed. Until then, audiences will have to rely on these comments from franchise actors like Rodriguez to fuel their excitement.
Source: Deadline
Fast X / Fast & Furious 10 (2023)Release date: May 19, 2023
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In a possible rerun of the Galaxy Note 7 fiasco, multiple popular YouTubers are reporting that Samsung phones have a problem with swelling batteries.
Multiple popular YouTubers seem to be reporting that Samsung phones have a problem with swelling batteries as they age. Samsung is no stranger to battery-related controversies, with the Galaxy Note 7 fiasco still fresh in everyone’s mind. The Note 7, released in 2016, was initially praised in the media for offering a premium design and high-end features fit for a flagship smartphone but had to be eventually pulled from the market after numerous reports of fires and explosions. Things became so bad at one stage that airlines worldwide had to ban the device from flights to prevent midair incidents.
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Samsung is the world’s largest Android phone manufacturer and one of the two largest smartphone vendors globally, alongside Apple. The company has an extensive portfolio that includes premium Galaxy S-series devices, as well as mid-range A-series, M-series and F-series devices in various markets around the world. While flagship Samsung devices have always been popular, the company’s recent mid-range offerings are also reasonably successful commercially and compete on even terms with Chinese vendors, such as Oppo, Vivo, Xiaomi, Realme, OnePlus and others.
Many Samsung phones reportedly have a massive problem with swelling batteries that are causing the body of the phones to crack open. The news comes from Arun Maini, who runs the popular YouTube Channel, Mrwhosetheboss. According to Maini’s latest video, the problem is not just limited to one or two devices but extends to almost all Samsung smartphones in his collection. The laundry list of affected devices includes the Galaxy Note 8, Galaxy S6, Galaxy S8, Galaxy S10, Galaxy S10e, Galaxy S10 5G, Galaxy S20 FE and even the relatively new Galaxy Z Fold 2.
Samsung Phones Affected By Swelling Batteries
In his video, Maini claimed that the issue exclusively affects Samsung phones in his collection, not devices from other brands, such as Apple, Google, Asus, etc. He also showed his extensive smartphone collection and claimed that all his older phones are stored exactly under the same conditions, meaning the Samsung devices were not subjected to any extra heat or pressure compared to the rest of the devices. Maini also claimed that he is yet to hear from Samsung since shipping the errant devices to the company to conduct investigations.
Maini’s claims about the swelling batteries seem to be backed by YouTuber Matt Ansini, who runs the popular channel ‘This Is.’ Ansini also faced a similar issue with his Galaxy S7 and other Samsung devices that are more than three years old. Maini and Ansini’s accounts were also corroborated by popular YouTubers Marques Brownlee (MKBHD) and Zack Nelson (JerryRigEverything), with the former claiming that the only battery swelling issues he’s ever encountered are with Samsung phones.
Oprah Winfrey delivered an inspiring speech to close out Variety’s Power of Women dinner, presented by Lifetime. Winfrey was honored at the event alongside her “Queen Sugar” partner Ava DuVernay, both of whom turned the OWN series into a launching pad for female directors. Winfrey championed “Queen Sugar” for “defining the OWN network” and for “reflecting black families.”
“We are all looking for the same thing,” Winfrey said. “This is the one lesson I came away from doing ‘The Oprah Winfrey Show.’ The common denominator of our experiences is that we all want to know that we matter and we want a show that reflects our values.”
Winfrey was introduced by DuVernay, who spoke about their experience creating the OWN drama series “Queen Sugar,” which made history with the duo’s decision to exclusively hire women to direct the series’ 7-season, 88-episode run. The show employed 42 women directors, seven of whom — Shaz Bennett, Kat Candler, Patricia Cardoso, DeMane Davis, Aurora Guerrero, Stacey Muhammad and Victoria Mahoney — walked the red carpet in solidarity with Winfrey and DuVernay and still more “Queen Sugar” helmers took the stage before Winfrey gave her rousing speech.
“It’s groundbreaking what they’ve done,” Winfrey said of the show’s directors. “When I came back from opening my school, I was sitting with Maya Angelou and I said, ‘Maya, oh my God, you should have been there for the opening of the school because that school is going to be my greatest legacy.’ She said, ‘You have no idea what your legacy is going to be.’ I said, ‘Oh no, I think it’s really gonna be those girls.’ And she said, ‘I said, ‘You have no idea what your legacy is going to be because your legacy is never one thing. Your legacy is every life you touch.’ And so I think of every story, every show, every life that has been touched because of the idea that [Ava] had [to hire women directors].”
In their Power of Women cover story, Winfrey and DuVernay discussed the origins of their daring “Queen Sugar” mandate.
“I remember getting the call from Ava saying, ‘I have this idea: What if we just have all women directors?’” Winfrey said. “I go, ‘All women directors? Can we do that?’ Ava goes, ‘Yeah, we can do that.’”
DuVernay chimed in, “Because you own the network.”
In DuVernay’s estimation, Winfrey’s OWN was key to making this work.
“These were all real things that we heard: ‘It won’t last.’ ‘There aren’t enough women directors to do it.’ ‘This is just a fluke,’” DuVernay recalled. “But seven seasons later, this has become a real movement in episodic directing that will reverberate through our industry for many years to come.”
With the seventh and final season of “Queen Sugar” underway on OWN, the pair also examined the show’s legacy.
“The fact that this is the longest-running dramatic television series that centers a Black family really says something about the state of American television over the history of the medium,” DuVernay shared.
Noting the dearth of these dramas, she added: “We have to ask: ‘Why has this not happened? Why has this not been launched and nurtured? Why has it not been seen and celebrated?’ These are all questions that I think our industry should be looking at. As ‘Queen Sugar’ goes away, what’s in its place?”
Movies are a great way for couples to strengthen a budding relationship with their partner, whether it’s a horror film like Jordan Peele’s Nope or a heartwarming animated adventure like Pixar’s Lightyear. Through movies, new couples can spend some good quality time together while watching interesting characters discover themselves, go on exciting adventures, and find true love.
From the romantic comedy film Begin Again to the jukebox musical movie Mamma Mia!, there are some movies that are best enjoyed by couples who have just started their romantic journey together.
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Begin Again (2013)
Stream On Netflix
There’s a harmonious balance between music and drama in the 2013 film Begin Again. In the movie, Dan Mulligan (Mark Ruffalo), a successful record label executive who is way past his prime, tries to sign a budding songwriter from England named Gretta James (Keira Knightley).
The movie has won an Academy Award for Best Original Song for Lost Stars, which is arguably one of the most romantic songs in film history. Even though the film does not feature a romantic relationship between its two leads, new couples will surely relate to the dynamic of the main characters who try their best to help each other with their personal woes.
The Notebook (2004)
Stream On Netflix & HBO Max
Based on a novel of the same name by Nicholas Sparks, The Notebook is a movie about a couple who lose touch early in their relationship but later again to continue their romance. The movie’s lead roles are played by Hollywood icons Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams.
The movie might have been riddled with melodramatic clichés, but there’s no doubt that the film will surely make new couples feel warm inside. The two stars give an astounding and inspiring performance as a couple to boot. In fact, some movie buffs consider Gosling and McAdams’ pairing as one of the best examples of effective on-screen chemistry in film.
Happy Death Day (2017)
Stream On FuboTV & FXNow
Slasher films are a great movie genre for couples who like a little thrill in their lives. In Happy Death Day, a college student named Tree Gelbman (Jessica Rothe) finds out that she’s stuck in a time loop that resets whenever she dies. Unfortunately for her, she’s stuck with a murderer hiding behind a baby mask in the time loop.
Happy Death Day attempts to shake up the slasher genre by putting a fun sci-fi spin on its story, which will surprise couples who want to see a thrilling flick together. Couples who want to find out what happens to Tree after the events of the movie can also watch its sequel together, Happy Death Day 2U, making for a thrilling date night.
Mamma Mia! (2008)
Stream On Starz
The popular jukebox musical by Catherine Johnson finally makes it to the silver screen with the 2008 movie adaptation of the same name. The movie features an endearing story between a bride-to-be, her mom, and her three presumed fathers. The movie also has some of the catchiest songs from the beloved Swedish pop group ABBA.
Mamma Mia! is an accessible film for couples that want to get into musicals together due to its heartwarming story and iconic pop songs. While the film does get some flack for its campy tone and underwhelming vocals, many viewers still found it a fun movie to watch and even consider it better than the original stage show.
Lost in Translation (2003)
Stream On Tubi
Directed by Sofia Coppola, Lost In Translation follows a movie star played by Bill Murray, who travels to Japan to take a job as his spotlight has dimmed. There, he meets a college graduate, played by Scarlett Johansson, and the two eventually start a friendship.
The movie touches on topics like cultural displacement, alienation, and loneliness – heavy themes that new couples might find interesting to discuss and dissect. Couples might also relate to Lost In Translation as it explores a novel connection between an unlikely pair. Despite the melancholic atmosphere of Lost In Translation, Coppola is still able to imbue the film with tender humor, allowing the viewers to laugh at the characters’ plights while also empathizing with them.
The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005)
Stream On Starz
Judd Apatow has directed a lot of comedy films, but The 40-Year-Old Virgin remains one of his most popular flicks. The movie follows Andy (Steve Carell), an electronics store employee and the titular virgin who receives help from his friends in order to find a woman he likes and finally lose his virgin status.
Andy meets and starts dating a customer named Trish (Catherine Keener). The movie received a lot of praise for the excellent performance of its cast, sweet narrative, and incredibly likable characters. New couples looking for a fun movie to watch will surely laugh together at Andy’s antics and sympathize with his woes.
Couples Retreat (2009)
Stream On Peacock Premium, DIRECTV, & Sling
Couples Retreat is a fun comedy film for couples who are looking for gut-busting movie sequences and sizzling one-liners. The movie showcases four couples who are all riddled with their own problems and issues, and in one couple’s attempt to save their marriage, they invited the other three pairs to a couples resort therapy named Eden.
The movie features a stellar cast with actors like Jon Favreau, Kristen Bell, and Vince Vaughn, all of whom have supreme comedic chops and can easily make couples laugh with the way they deliver their hilarious lines. Couples Retreat can provide new couples with an insightful look at the issues they might face in the long term.
Iron Man (2008)
Stream On Disney+
The Marvel Cinematic Universe’s phase one started with the 2008 superhero film Iron Man. The movie explores how Tony Stark started his superhero journey and became one of the most recognizable superhero characters in film history.
Iron Man was received warmly for its impressive special effects, for its strong lead actor, and for successfully reinvigorating the superhero movie genre. The film is a great introduction to the wide world of comic book films and couples who find themselves interested in the MCU thanks to Iron Man can enjoy the best films the MCU has to offer.
A Star Is Born (2018)
Available To Rent On Amazon Prime Video
The most recent iteration of the 1937 romance film A Star Is Born stars Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper in the lead roles. The movie is about the romance between a famous musician who suffers from alcohol addiction and a young singer who soon finds mainstream success.
The movie showcases an enlightening performance from Gaga, who shows that she’s more than just a pop star. It’s also a good pick for couples who want to watch a movie together as it features the beginning and tragic end of a beautiful but strained relationship. The movie received several Academy Awards nominations, including a Best Actress nomination for Gaga.
Your Name (2016)
Available To Rent On Amazon Prime Video
Makoto Shinkai is a Japanese animator and filmmaker who’s most known for his sentimental films. His 2016 film Your Name is about two teenagers in different timelines who inexplicably switch bodies. Because of their predicament, they also form a connection and bond.
The movie’s animation is breathtaking and Shinkai manages to entertain audiences with its endearing tale about destiny, youth, and tradition. Your Name is a good introduction for couples who want to veer away from what Hollywood offers and explore the vibrant world of Japanese animation.
