Dwayne Johnson has publicly declined #FastAndFurious series star Vin Diesel’s request to rejoin the action franchise for its upcoming 10th mainline entry bit.ly/3znKZP3
In November, Diesel extended an invitation to Johnson on Instagram, imploring him to reprise his role as secret agent Lucas Hobbs for the upcoming, and ostensibly penultimate, entry in the series bit.ly/3znKZP3
“The world awaits the finale,” Diesel wrote. “My children refer to you as Uncle Dwayne... Legacy awaits. I told you years ago that I was going to fulfill my promise to Pablo. I swore that we would reach and manifest the best Fast in the finale that is 10!” bit.ly/3znKZP3
In a new interview with CNN, Johnson responded to the request, criticizing Diesel for voicing an invite on social media after the two had already reached an agreement in private bit.ly/3znKZP3
“I'll always root for the franchise... but there [is] no chance I would return,” Johnson said. “Vin’s post was an example of his manipulation. I didn’t like that he brought up his children and Paul Walker’s death... We had [come] to a clear understanding” bit.ly/3znKZP3
Johnson joined the “Fast & Furious” franchise with 2011's "Fast Five." He bowed out of the mainline series following his appearance in “The Fate of the Furious,” teaming up with Jason Statham to headline a spin-off, “Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw"
“Fast & Furious 10” is set to hit theaters on April 7, 2023. Diesel will return to star, while regular series cast members Tyrese Gibson, Sung Kang, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Jordana Brewster and Michelle Rodriguez are expected to return bit.ly/3znKZP3
On January 4, VIP+ is releasing its latest special report exclusively for subscribers, “Fading Ratings,” which provides extensive analysis of viewership changes across broadcast and cable TV. Check out the following report excerpts in advance! 🧵 bit.ly/3pHoksz
The substantive increase in popularity in cable news highlights what viewers can expect in overall cable TV lineups heading into 2022 bit.ly/31N5GHd
Meanwhile, there are more original series than ever before, with streaming services new and old now leading the surge in content bit.ly/3FbgOwn
Hollywood is remembering Betty White after her death at 99. "The world looks different now," Ryan Reynolds tweeted. bit.ly/31dErpk
Seth Meyers recalled White's behavior at an "SNL" afterparty, when he says she ordered "a vodka and a hotdog and stayed til the bitter end." bit.ly/31dErpk
Ariana DeBose recalled a "Golden Girls" tradition, tweeting, "So we’re eating cheesecake in honor of Betty White. Who’s with me?" bit.ly/31dErpk
Betty White, the Emmy-winning TV star who had a remarkable later-career resurgence in films, TV commercials and the hit series “The Golden Girls” and “Hot in Cleveland,” has died. She was 99. bit.ly/3pIKOuh
White, who played Sue-Ann Nivens on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” in the 1970s and Rose on “The Golden Girls” from 1985-92, was a staple on TV for more than 60 years. bit.ly/3pIKOuh
The energetic blonde with the honeyed voice and girl-next-door beauty was one of the rare performers to remain as popular into her nineties with new generations of viewers — thanks to reruns of “Golden Girls” — as she was in her sitcom heyday. bit.ly/3pIKOuh
With 2022 in the offing, VIP+ is here to forecast what will play out in media/tech — from all angles. First up: predictions for subscription video streaming, where incumbents like Netflix fought off upstarts including Paramount+ 🧵 bit.ly/3pYMizm
The social-media sector had a banner year, but changes, as always, are afoot. From Facebook to Clubhouse, our educated guesses on what will go down bit.ly/3EADQvL
Overall, media is all too happy to leave 2021 in the dust after a rollercoaster year. Still, there are some bright spots ahead in the financial big picture — we pick three bit.ly/3FxYSw9
On January 4, VIP+ is releasing its latest special report exclusively for subscribers, “Fading Ratings,” which provides extensive analysis of viewership changes across broadcast and cable TV. Check out the following report excerpts in advance! bit.ly/3pHoksz
The substantive increase in popularity in cable news highlights what viewers can expect in overall cable TV lineups heading into 2022 bit.ly/31N5GHd
Meanwhile, there are more original series than ever before, with streaming services new and old now leading the surge in content bit.ly/3FbgOwn
Ghislaine Maxwell has been convicted on federal charges of luring underage girls to engage in sex acts with financier Jeffrey Epstein. bit.ly/32IlBag
Maxwell faced 6 counts of sex trafficking and conspiracy to entice Epstein’s victims. The trial included testimony from four women who alleged that Maxwell recruited them into having sex with Epstein in the 1990s and early 2000s. bit.ly/32IlBag
Prosecutors showed that Maxwell had received $30.7 million from Epstein from 1999 to 2007, and argued that the payments underscored her complicity in Epstein’s crimes. bit.ly/32IlBag