Avengers: Endgame trailer smashes views record

Avengers: Endgame trailer becomes the first trailer in history to reach 289 million views in just 24 hours, according to Marvel Studios. That blasted past the previous record of 230 million views, set a little over a year ago by the studio’s Avengers: Infinity War.

Behind that was Disney’s The Lion King teaser, which racked up 224.6 million views. The views for the Avengers: Endgame trailer were tabulated across multiple platforms, including YouTube, Facebook and Twitter. Avengers: Endgame is set to hit theatres April 26, 2019.

Marvel announced the record on social media, extending thanks to “the greatest fans in the world”:

In addition, according to Marvel, Twitter conversation surrounding the trailer — with 549,000 mentions — also set a 24-hour volume record, beating out previous record holder Avengers: Infinity War (389,000) and Black Panther (349,000).

Lady Gaga awarded for A Star is Born

Lady Gaga was awarded 2018 National Board of Review award for A Star is Born. The 2018 National Board of Review awards saw Lady Gaga win for her turn in the musical.

The awards season has started in earnest after the Gotham Awards, but now the United States’ National Board of Review (NBR) has revealed its best films and performances of 2018, including one award for the shy and retiring Lady Gaga for her acclaimed turn in A Star is Born.

The NBR are made up of film enthusiasts, industry professionals, academics and filmmakers. Their success, however, was not replicated at Oscar wins, but the body’s favourite films were the ones to get Oscar nominations, so this would be a good chance to see what will likely be up for some wins when the Academy Awards come round.

Joker on the run

Joaquin Phoenix sprinted in his Joker costume while filming recently in New York City. The 44-year-old actor sported his creepy clown make-up while running under the Manhattan Bridge. Joaquin signed on to portray Batman’s arch villain in July with Joker scheduled to be released in theatres on October 4, 2019.

Joker follows failed stand-up comedian Arthur Fleck in 1981 as he becomes a psychopathic criminal. The film by director Todd Phillips also features Robert De Niro, Zazie Beetz, Bill Camp, Frances Conroy, Glenn Fleshler and Shea Whigham.

The cast also includes some important characters from the Batman comics, including Dante Pereria-Olson as a young Bruce Wayne; Brett Cullen as Bruce’s father, Thomas Wayne and Douglas Hodge as Wayne family butler, Alfred Pennyworth. Joaquin has taken on the villainous role after Oscar-winner Jared Leto, 46, portrayed Joker in 2016’s Suicide Squad.

Late, but it will get made!

Despite the many delays, Ezra Miller promises The Flash solo movie will still be made. The project is still in development with current directors John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein, and it sounds like Miller has full confidence in the plan.

The young star has already made three appearances in the DCEU, but only his role in Justice League gave him anything of significance to do. His appearances in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Suicide Squad were merely cameos used to keep him around while his solo movie went through a number of changes.

The director changes have also appeared to impact the story of the film, which at one point was titled Flashpoint, but no longer is. The movie has taken so many detours that it already missed the March 2018 release date that was set back in 2014.

Ariana Grande chokes up

Ariana Grande choked up accepting an award and declared this year “one of the best” of her career but ‘‘the worst of my life.”

Ariana Grande capped off a whirlwind 2018 by accepting Billboard‘s Woman of the Year award at the recent Women in Music event. The 25-year-old singer, who was just nominated for two Grammys, was visibly emotional onstage as she reflected on her “interesting” and “conflicting” year.

“I’m very grateful,” Grande told the crowd, after saying she felt “completely undeserving” of the honour.

“I just want to say that if you’re someone out there who has no idea what this next chapter’s gonna bring, you’re not alone in that,” Grande added, getting choked up.

Meanwhile, Grande’s smash single Thank U, Next earned the singer her first Billboard Hot 100 No. 1. She was the first woman to debut at the top of the charts in three years. Her music video, which dropped recently, became a viral sensation and easily smashed YouTube’s all-time record for most views in the first 24 hours of release. It has more than 135 million views and counting.

Published in Dawn, Young World, December 15th, 2018