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Gold Derby presents a roundup of today’s prominent entertainment news for December 23, 2024.
Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer Follow-Up Announced: The Odyssey
Universal Pictures recently shared exciting news about Christopher Nolan’s next endeavor, The Odyssey, revealed through a social media announcement. This ambitious, mythic action film will utilize cutting-edge IMAX filming technology, promising to bring Homer’s timeless epic to the big screen like never before. Audiences can expect to see The Odyssey in theaters starting July 17, 2026, with filming slated to commence in early 2025.
This cinematic venture boasts an impressive cast, including renowned actors such as Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Lupita Nyong’o, Robert Pattinson, and Charlize Theron. The film marks Nolan’s first project since the critically acclaimed Oppenheimer, which garnered seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director, representing a significant recognition of Nolan’s contributions to cinema over the past two decades where he has amassed eight Oscar nominations for titles like Memento, Inception, and Dunkirk.
Yellowstone Finale Scores Big
The popular Paramount Network series Yellowstone concluded with a sensational finale that captivated audiences. The December 15 episode attracted 13.1 million viewers within three days, marking it the most-watched episode in the show’s history across Paramount and CMT networks through simulcast. However, including showings on CBS and subsequent airings brings the total for the mid-season premiere even higher, at an impressive 16.4 million viewers. Such figures underscore the show’s phenomenon status throughout its run.
In addition to the main series, Yellowstone has inspired two prequel spinoffs: 1883, led by Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, and 1923, featuring Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren. Both series delve into the legacy of the Dutton family. A second season of 1923 is set to premiere on February 23, 2025. The creative force behind Yellowstone, Taylor Sheridan, has also launched a range of other shows for Paramount, including Mayor of Kingstown, Tulsa King, Lioness, and the latest addition, Landman, starring Golden Globe nominee Billy Bob Thornton.
Mariah Carey Celebrates Record-Breaking Success with “All I Want for Christmas Is You”
Mariah Carey continues to make history with her festive hit “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” which has now spent three consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart as of December 28. When taking into account its chart performance over past holiday seasons, the song has accumulated 17 weeks at the top, surpassing her previous record-holder, “One Sweet Day,” a collaboration with Boyz II Men that held the title for 16 weeks. This impressive feat makes it the third longest-running No. 1 single of all time, trailing only Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus’ “Old Town Road” and Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” both of which stayed at the top for 19 weeks.
Over her career, Carey has amassed 19 No. 1 hits, just one shy of matching The Beatles’ all-time record of 20. Notably, she holds the record for the most cumulative weeks at No. 1 with a remarkable total of 96 and continues to extend this achievement each holiday season.
DC’s Creature Commandos Renewed for Season 2 on Max
Even before its Season 1 finale on January 9, the animated series Creature Commandos has been confirmed for a second season on Max. This unique series follows a group of incarcerated monsters called upon for high-stakes missions unsuitable for humans. It was created by James Gunn, co-chair of DC Studios, who also serves as writer and executive producer. Gunn and fellow co-chair Peter Safran have significantly influenced the DC landscape since taking on their roles in 2022, with Gunn also working on the upcoming Superman film set for 2025.
Expressing excitement about the renewal, Gunn and Safran stated, “We’re thrilled to team up with Max for another season of Creature Commandos mayhem. From our spectacular first season of Peacemaker to the astonishing run of The Penguin to the record-breaking launch of Creature Commandos, Max has consistently surpassed industry expectations and we are proud to call Max home.”
New Year’s Rockin’ Eve Introduces New Hosts and Performers
As ABC prepares for its 20th consecutive year of New Year’s Rockin’ Eve, Ryan Seacrest will be hosting the event. This year’s celebrations will showcase a dynamic collaboration with Dick Clark Productions and MGM Resorts International, bringing Las Vegas flair to the festivities. Joining the Las Vegas party is Super Bowl champion Rob Gronkowski, along with an exciting lineup of performers such as Blake Shelton, Cody Johnson, Lenny Kravitz, and Thomas Rhett. The iconic Blue Man Group and the Jabbawockeez dance crew will also participate.
On the west coast, Jeannie Mai will host the festivities, which will include a special performance from the British band Jungle. Additional previously announced performers include Alanis Morissette featuring Reneé Rapp; Dasha; and DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic Live! featuring Ja Rule, Fat Joe, Slick Rick, and Doug E. Fresh; alongside Kesha, Laufey, Natasha Bedingfield, and T-Pain.
Zero Day Trailer Unveils Robert De Niro’s Netflix Role
Netflix has unveiled the teaser for Zero Day, which marks Oscar-winning actor Robert De Niro’s first foray into television. The star-studded cast also features Angela Bassett, Jesse Plemons, Lizzy Caplan, and others.
The plot dives into the chaos following a crippling cyberattack, centering on a former President portrayed by De Niro, who must uncover the attackers’ identities while facing the possibility of another imminent strike. The storyline raises critical questions about whether the greatest threat comes from international adversaries or within.
Co-creator Eric Newman describes Zero Day as a narrative that explores the personal toll on those in power grappling with overwhelming challenges, while co-creator Noah Oppenheim emphasizes the series’ exploration of the consequences of power on individuals and their families. The full trailer is available for viewers to watch.
Stray Kids Celebrate Their Sixth No. 1 Album
K-pop sensation Stray Kids has made history once again by achieving their sixth No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 with their recent release, Hop. This achievement makes them the first group ever to debut at number one with each of their first six chart entries. Previously, they reached the top with albums such as Oddinary and Maxident in 2022, Rock-Star and 5-Star in 2023, and Ate in 2024. Accumulating 187,000 equivalent album units, Hop reflected robust sales and streaming activity.
The top five of this week’s chart sees familiar names. Kendrick Lamar remains steady at No. 2 with GNX, while Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department drops to No. 3 after holding the top position for a total of 17 weeks. Sabrina Carpenter climbs to No. 4 with Short n’ Sweet, while Michael Bublé’s Christmas makes a comeback at No. 5 as this week’s leading holiday album.
Billboard Celebrates Global Music Chart-Toppers
Billboard has completed its Global No. 1s initiative, shining a spotlight on a diverse array of artists from around the globe, spanning from the British star Dua Lipa to Mexican talent Edgar Barrera, and the Filipino girl group BINI. As noted by Hannah Karp, editorial director of Billboard, this series showcases a rich mix of talent and tells the stories behind their success. The initiative amplifies Billboard’s global influence and relevance in music, with plans to continue recognizing exceptional global artists in 2025.
The series has highlighted additional artists, including Creepy Nuts (Japan), KUN (China), Ana Castela (Brazil), IU (Korea), Geolier (Italy), Valentino Merlo and the La Planta (Argentina), Diljit Dosanjh (Canada), Giorgi Gigashvili (Georgia), and Abdul Majeed Abdullah (Arabia).
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