From a taste of Netflix to 'Black Mirror' almost taking it too far, here's what's happening in entertainment.
Netflix Eats
Netflix is set to add cuisine to its menu of offerings.
The streaming giant is launching a pop-up restaurant in Los Angeles called Netflix Bites. The experience will only be available for a limited time and will feature dishes and drinks from chefs featured on popular series like Chef's Table, Is It Cake?, and Iron Chef.
"From episode to entrée, with NETFLIX BITES, we are creating an in-person experience where fans can immerse themselves in their favorite food shows. We are excited to collaborate with these incredible chefs who will bring this vision to life and showcase an array of their delicious menus," Josh Simon, vice president of consumer products at Netflix, said in a statement.
NETFLIX BITES will open on June 30 at Short Stories Hotel.
'Rust' Movie Update
Actor Alec Baldwin and armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed are still not in the clear following the accidental shooting death of a cinematographer on the set of the film Rust.
Prosecutors are mulling over the idea of recharging Baldwin after his charges were dismissed in late April. At the time, prosecutors in New Mexico said an investigation remained active.
Meanwhile, charges still stand for Gutierrez-Reed and prosecutors now allege she was likely hungover on the set when she loaded a live round into the weapon that killed Halyna Hutchins. The state's lawyers are looking to establish a pattern of reckless conduct, according to the Associated Press.
Gutierrez-Reed is due in court in August for a preliminary hearing that will decide whether or not the charges levied against her will stand. Meanwhile, prosecutors said they will decide whether or not to recharge Baldwin for his role in the shooting in the next 60 days.
Hayek Talks 'Black Mirror'
With the return of Netflix's Black Mirror just days away, we're learning more about at least one episode from Salma Hayek.
Last month, we told you about Hayek's introduction into the series as she takes up the role of an average, non-celebrity who finds out that a streaming service, which appears to be a spoof of Netflix, has launched a series about her life. Now Hayek has revealed she almost reconsidered the role after reading the script and realizing she'd have to do something that might get her canceled.
"There was one thing that really did make me hesitate about doing it all together. Yeah, it's insane, but I love that Black Mirror is not known for being super funny. I like breaking the mold," she said in an interview with Good Morning America.
Next-generation gaming ecosystem Joystick recently raised $8 million in a seed round and is in the process of raising a $110 million Series A funding round. Gaming ecosystems are a relatively new type of platform in the Web3 space, allowing users to maximize their play-to-earn gaming opportunities, exchange crypto-currencies, and sell their digital assets. Joystick says its platform is flipping the current model on its head by giving players the opportunity to keep 100% of the revenue they earn. Robin Defay, co-founder and CEO of Joystick, and Michael Le, co-founder of Joystick and TikTok content creator, join Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
The dating app Bumble has sponsored bills and pushed lawmakers to criminalize the online practice of sending unsolicited nudes or “cyberflashing." Payton Iheme, Bumble's head of public policy for the Americas, joined Cheddar News to discuss why the app was going after the harassing behavior beyond its own platform. "Now, while we went to work internally in the company, and we created something called private detector to automatically blur those images so the user can decide if they want to see them, there's nothing for the rest of the internet," she said. "And so that's why we went to work with these laws."
'Top Gun: Maverick' making an estimated $156 million domestically for its four-day opening weekend. Daniel Loria, SVP of Content Strategy and Editorial Director at Boxoffice Pro, joins Cheddar News to weigh in on the long-awaited sequel and the summer box office.
The holiday weekend saw Disney+ and Netflix competing head-to-head for streaming views as the Disney behemoth kicked off the unofficial start to summer with its release of "Obi-Wan Kenobi" and Netflix responded with the first part of "Stranger Things" Season 4. The streaming giants caught the eye of Wall Street, and Seth Schachner, the managing director at consultancy Strat Americas, joined Cheddar News to break down the heavy hitters. "This is a very tough, competitive game, and I don't see it getting any easier," he said. "I think you'll probably see more consolidation."
The founder and president of Cyborg Mobile Kobie Hatcher has been on a strong trajectory to disrupt his industry with a program called The New Technologists. It's not only meant to address the diversity gap within large tech companies but also help pave the way to transform the lives of young BIPOC students. He joined Cheddar News to talk about how he's working to make a difference with the lack of diversity in tech. “There's truly no lack of talent out there. It's just identifying them and letting them know that, hey, I've been in the tech sector for over 20 years. I see you. I know what you can bring, bring it, we need it," Hatcher said.
Catching you up on the entertainment headlines of the day with "Top Gun: Maverick" soaring up to a record opening at $160.5M, Harry Styles also hitting number one on Billboard with "Harry's House," Netflix released images of Bradley Cooper as Leonard Bernstein in "Maestro," and more.
Constituent service platform Indigov recently raised $25 million in a Series B funding round. Indigov bills itself as a constituent relationship management tool that helps elected officials improve the way they organize, respond to, and engage those they serve. The startup's services are being used by federal, state, and local governments across the country, including the U.S. House of Representatives. Alex Kouts, founder & CEO of Indigov, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
