Sizzling Samachar : The Last of Us Season 2 paused due to writer’s strike; Disney+ to purge content by merging with Hulu; HBO to produce a documentary on Elon Musk

Welcome to Sizzling Samachar , your daily dose of entertainment news from around the world on OTTplay. I'm your host Nikhil

The Last of Us Season 2 paused due to writer’s strike

The much-awaited second season of HBO’s superhit drama The Last of Us is likely to be delayed. Like many others, the production of the show has been temporarily suspended due to the Writers Guild of America strike. Sources share that the show was in the process of casting for new characters and had begun the process of adapting scenes from the video game into the script. But the strike which was triggered by the fact that writers were not being offered adequate compensation has stalled the production of the show. Adapted from the popular video game by the same name, the post-apocalyptic show stars Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey in the lead. The show revolves around Joel, who lost his daughter during the Cordyceps outbreak, and subsequently makes it his life’s mission to protect Ellie as they navigate across the country, evading imminent danger. The first season folded at a precarious point and left audiences anxious about the events to follow. We’re hoping the writer’s strike is called off soon and we’re ushered back into Joel and Ellie’s world that captured our imagination with its captivating story.

Disney+ to purge content by merging with Hulu

In a world of limitless choices where every streaming platform is racing the other to grab a piece of the action, Disney+ has recently made a shocking announcement. The streamer which recently slimmed down its catalogue after dropping content from HBO Max is now planning to further trim its offerings. In a recent investor call, the media giant announced that they would also be producing less original content going forward. This decision was triggered by the fact that Disney recently reported a drop of over 2 million subscribers for Disney+ in the US. CEO Bob Iger’s focus will now be on producing content that retains and grows their subscriber base, with a more surgical approach to spends related to content. But with stiff competition from streaming giants Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, this move could be near-fatal for a streamer that has already begun slipping in the popularity charts.

Monica Bellucci, Jenna Ortega, Michael Keaton have joined the cast in Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice 2
We have some exciting news about Tim Burton’s highly-anticipated sequel, Beetlejuice 2. It’s been confirmed that Monica Bellucci, who is currently starring in the comedy Mafia Mamma, will join the star-studded cast of Jenna Ortega, Michael Keaton and others in the upcoming movie. Keaton will reprise his role as the obnoxious ghost, Winona Ryder will return as Ortega's mother, and Catherine O'Hara is also among those returning to the franchise. Following her stupendous hit Wednesday, it’s hardly surprising that Ortega is the lead in this one, while Justin Theroux is another new addition to the cast. Details about the film are being kept under wraps, but it has been revealed that Bellucci will play the role of Beetlejuice’s wife. The film is slated to release on September 6, 2024, taking over the date from Marvel’s Blade, which shut down pre-production last week due to the writers strike.

HBO to produce a documentary on Elon Musk
HBO has announced that it will be producing a documentary on the life of the controversial tech leader Elon Musk titled Musk. Produced by Alex Gibney's Jigsaw Productions, Musk is said to be “definitive and unvarnished examination” of the CEO of Tesla, SpaceX, and Twitter. Gibney has previously collaborated with HBO on various projects, including films such as The Crime of the Century, The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley and Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief. Going by Musk’s enviable list of achievements and questionable business acumen, this is surely going to be an unfiltered account to watch out for.

Paul Walker’s daughter Meadow will make a cameo appearance in Fast X

Meadow Walker, the daughter of the late actor Paul Walker, will make a cameo appearance in Fast X the latest instalment of the Fast and Furious franchise. The news was announced by the 22-year-old on her Instagram account, where she shared a preview of the scene and reflected on growing up on set with her father, Vin Diesel, Jordana Brewster, Michelle Rodriguez, Ludacris, and others. Meadow thanked the film’s director, Louis Leterrier, and her late father’s best friend, producer Brandon Birtell, for their support in making her appearance possible. Paul Walker, who died in 2013 at the age of 40, was a mainstay of the Fast and Furious franchise, and his final appearance in the series was in Furious 7. The new film, Fast X, will hit theaters on May 19 and stars Diesel, Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris, Sung Kang, and newcomers Jason Momoa, Brie Larson, and Rita Moreno.

Well that's the Sizzling news for today on OTTplay, until the next episode it's your host Nikhil signing out.

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Written by Kunal Guha