From 'The Idol' trailer to 'Top Gun's' looooooong theater run, here are your top entertainment headlines.
The Weeknd's 'The Idol'
One of The Weeknd's most anticipated projects is on the brink of release and HBO has dropped a new trailer. The singer, who recently began using his birth name Abel Tesfaye publically, plays the lead role in The Idol, a film about a self-help guru and modern-day cult leader.
While many are excited for the project to drop, it is being met with pushback and lackluster reviews following its premiere at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival. In a nutshell, many critics of the project have said it glorifies rape culture and was even referred to as "torture porn" earlier this year. But despite the criticism, Tesfaye is pushing forward and has littered his Twitter account with reminders that the film opens June 4.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVYUKxF0wMc[youtube]
Alexa: Change Your Voice
How excited were you to upgrade your Alexa in order to chat with some of the biggest entertainers to ever walk the planet - or at least their voices? If you had plans to swap out the standard voice of Amazon's virtual assistant with the voices of stars like actress Melissa McCarthy, actor Samuel L. Jackson or retired NBA star Shaquille O'Neal, you won't get the chance.
Amazon discontinued the service that allowed for a more personalized Alexa experience. The service, which cost $4.99, in addition to the cost of a device, first rolled out in 2019.
"After three years, we're winding down celebrity voices," an Amazon spokesperson told Variety. "Customers will be able to continue using these voices for a limited time, and can contact our customer service team for a refund." It's not clear what Amazon decided to pull the plug now.
Top Gun: Flying High
Top Gun: Maverick is experiencing perhaps one of the most historic runs in film history. The movie premiered May 27, 2022 and in Japan it is still playing in theaters, according to Deadline.
The project became Tom Cruise's most successful in Japan and was re-released after the film raked up six Oscar nods. So far, Maverick has raked in nearly $1.5 billion, with over $100 million in Japan alone. Cruise has a chance to fly even higher with his next project Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One, which is slated for a July release in the U.S.
