Author: GoneTrending

Even though The Fast and the Furious franchise might seem like it is spearheading the “dangerous driving in action movies” trope, John Wick is steadily creeping up behind Vin Diesel and co!

In a new action-packed featurette ahead of John Wick: Chapter 4, Reeves details all of the various weaponry and tools that the assassin uses, and the list is getting pretty long because it now includes some fancy driving sequences. “We have all the John Wick swag: cars, new weapons, Jiu-Jitsu,” Reeves said, adding that they cranked it up a notch with this installment. “With Chapter 4, we took it to another level.”

With a new level comes months of training for Reeves, who has said that the latest flick has been the hardest physical role of his career thus far. “It’s been about 12 weeks of training. It’s new levels of action. You know, nun-chucks. Which was challenging,” Reeves explained, along with footage of him cursing out an innocent pair of nun-chucks. Does Vin Diesel have nun-chucks? Didn’t think so.

The actor continues, “John Wick action asks just a little bit more. And you see the effort and the commitment from the team. For Chapter 4 we wanted to bring the muscle cars back. We’re gonna have a sequence around the Arc De Triomphe,” he added, detailing the elaborate scene they shot outside the French monument.

Stunt coordinator Scott Rogers explained the logistics of the scene, “We tore all the doors off and lost the windshield,” Rogers said, adding that Reeves had to do a reverse 180, while reloading his weapons and shooting. This might sound like Fast and Furious-level action, but Reeves was up for the challenge. “He actually started getting too good in the car,” Rogers added. Hear that, Momoa?! Your time is up!

The latest installment in the series will follow Reeves as he continues his expedition to look cool in every country on the planet, this time taking production to Germany, Japan, France, and the US. As Reeves states in the clip, “Have we gone too far?” To which we say “NO!” The action simply cannot stop until Wick owns his own dog hotel.

John Wick 4 arrives in theaters on March 24, 2023

(Via Collider)

Michael B. Jordan may have let it slip that Dreamville boss J. Cole was executive producing the soundtrack to his directorial debut film, Creed III, but ever since, he has remained tight-lipped. The project’s first single, “Ma Boy,” featuring JID and Lute, was shared earlier this month, and now as the movie’s opening week approaches, another track from the soundtrack has hit the internet.

The latest track, “Blood, Sweat, & Tears,” by Dreamville’s own Bas and Ghanaian recording artist Black Sherif featuring Nigerian producer Kel-P, is the epitome of the film’s plot, in which Adonis Creed’s (played by Jordan) legacy is being threatened by his former childhood friend Damian (played by Jonathan Majors). The pair will, as the trailer outlines, “reconnect in the ring, setting up a delicious dichotomy between loyalty and betrayal.”

Bas opens the track with a declaration of faith as he raps, “I’ve been waitin’ all my life, I’ve been spendin’ all my nights / Contemplatin’ all my trails, oh my God, this not overnight / I’ve been givin’ all my soul, I’ve been chasin’ all my goals / Dedication all I know, that’s how hard I go,” which could be a first-hand account from the fictional and namesake character.

On the chorus, Black Sherif joins in for a combined chanting of, “Blood sweat and my tears, no, I will not surrender/ If you take my lead then we can fly together / Heaven never seem to reach, it’s now or never / We got what we need, but we don’t got forever,” which will send chills down your spine if you’re a big fan of climatic cinema as it creates suspense for what’s to come in the film.

Listen to the full track above.

Creed III hits theaters on 3/3.

The 1975’s Matty Healy commented on how’ Liam and Noel Gallagher’s continued feud has prevented an Oasis reunion for years during a recent appearance on Q With Tom Power.

“What are Oasis doing?” Healy said. “Can you imagine being in potentially – right now, still – the coolest band in the world, and not doing it because you’re in a mard with your brother?”

“There’s not one kid, not one person, going to a High Flying Birds gig or a Liam Gallagher gig that would not rather be at an Oasis gig,” he added.

People had been wondering, after Healy’s words went viral on social media, when and what Liam’s response would be — as he’s frequently a comedic Twitter presence. Sure enough, he chimed in after someone prompted him.

“Matty Healy says you’re just wasting your time and you should stop being like children… what do you think?” one fan asked.

“It’s our time to waste who made him the boss of time,” Liam responded.

Still, hope is not completely lost on the possibility of an Oasis reunion.

“You should never say never,” Noel admitted to BBC Radio Manchester (via NME) last month. “It would have to take an extraordinary set of circumstances. That’s not to say that those circumstances would never come about.”

“Why not f*ck all else going on this year,” Liam also tweeted to another fan around the same time.

While Donald Trump continues to say nice things about his buddy Vladimir Putin, much to the dismay of those around him, Mike Pence is threatening the Russian tyrant. Or so he claims. “I really do believe that it’s absolutely essential that we embrace that Reagan doctrine,” the former vice president said on Fox News on Tuesday. “I’ve stood closer than I am to you and looked Vladimir Putin right in the eye and told him things he didn’t want to hear.”

There are a lot of things that Putin doesn’t want to hear — like that he’s a below-average height for a male, or that his troops have suffered humiliating defeat after humiliating defeat — but no one is buying that Indiana’s biggest Garfield fan is the one who said them.

“Mike Pence just making stuff up. He claims he stood up to Putin ‘and told him things he didn’t want to hear.’ It never happened. It’s more likely Mother or the fly on his head did,” former NBCUniversal senior executive Matt Sington tweeted, while political commentator Brian Normoyle added, “There are many things Mike Pence has never done in his life. Chief among them is look Vladimir Putin in the eye and tell him anything of consequence, let alone things he didn’t want to hear. What a weird lie to tell.” Here’s more:

And what’s this I hear about the baby looking at him?

(Via Raw Story)

After being taken off the air for his comments that Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley “isn’t in her prime,” CNN anchor Don Lemon returned to This Morning on Wednesday. Ahead of Lemon’s return, the network made it a point to note that the anchor would be participating in formal training.

“I sat down with Don and had a frank and meaningful conversation,” CNN CEO Chris Licht wrote in a memo. “He has agreed to participate in formal training, as well as continuing to listen and learn. We take this situation very seriously.”

However, according to a new report, Lemon is on very thin ice. CNN reportedly gave him a “final warning” and are prepared to cut him loose if he generates any more problems. Via TMZ:

It’s interesting Don was given this ultimatum, especially since we’ve heard from people in his world that he’s not happy at CNN — not at all — so the uneasiness is mutual.

As for why Don was given such a short leash — well, the fact is … he’s pretty polarizing. DL’s racked up negative headlines (for one reason or another) in recent years, and not just from criticism from people on the right.

As TMZ notes, there’s also another serious factor. Ratings for This Morning have reportedly fallen since adding Lemon to the program after he left his primetime slot. On top of that, CNN staffers are reportedly still angry about Lemon’s sexist remarks, which has put everyone on edge ahead of his Wednesday return.

(Via TMZ)

Earlier this month, Lizzo shared a “Special” remix featuring SZA. The crossover was expected since SZA revealed in an interview in December that the pair recorded at least five or sings songs together.

“She’s another person who has hella [wide] music tastes and doesn’t fit in anybody’s box of anything,” SZA said about Lizzo in that interview. “She makes it seem like she doesn’t even care, like she just does whatever she wants. And I just love being with her, just as a friend and hanging out. So whenever she comes to a studio, I just feel like, ‘Let’s drop into some bullsh*t.’”

Now, Lizzo is singing SZA’s praises. In a new article on Billboard celebrating SZA’s status as their Woman Of The Year, Lizzo shared some kind words about the “Kill Bill” singer. “I declare 2023 the year of SZA. But SZA has been Woman Of The Year for me for at least a decade,” she said. “I’m always such a fan of her music, a fan of her artistry, but I really love her as a friend. Solána Imani Rowe, you will always be ‘the one.’”

Lizzo is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

In a dead period of the NBA calendar between All-Star weekend and the resumption of on-court action, many look to dive into the NBA Draft world, perhaps for the first time during a given cycle. That period has arrived for 2023, with the Draft looming in just four months and a handful of teams firmly playing out the string with an eye toward lottery positioning.

This is a class with a clear No. 1 prospect in the form of Victor Wembanyama, who many believe is a generational talent on a potential trajectory toward superstardom. From there, Scoot Henderson grabs plenty of headlines as a potential star initiator at the point of attack but, at the same time, neither Wembanyama nor Henderson is operating in the traditional collegiate structure. This also applies to top-tier prospects like Amen Thompson and Ausar Thompson, who suit up for Overtime Elite.

As such, many will be catching up on the prospects with a crash course over the next four months and, without further delay, it is time for the first DIME mock draft of the 2023 cycle.

Note: Draft order determined by current standings as of the All-Star break.

1. Houston Rockets – Victor Wembanyama (C/F, Metropolitans 92)

With all due respect to Scoot Henderson, who would be the No. 1 player in many classes, it appears that the team that wins the lottery will be drafting Victor Wembanyama. He is an absurd prospect who stands 7’4 with guard skills and elite rim protection, and many intelligent evaluators believe he may be the best pure prospect since LeBron James. Is that reasonable? We’ll see, but it would shock everyone if he doesn’t go No. 1 at this point, even with a few months to go.

2. San Antonio Spurs – Scoot Henderson (G, G League Ignite)

The Spurs would win big in this scenario, even without Victor. Henderson is a monster of a prospect with high-end burst, real polish, and tremendous production for a player who just turned 19 years old playing against pros in the G League for the second straight season. As noted above, Henderson would be a rightful No. 1 in many classes.

3. Detroit Pistons – Amen Thompson (G, Overtime Elite)

Thompson is a transcendent athlete, and I don’t say that lightly. He is 6’7 with unreal explosiveness, and he projects to be a tremendous defender and transition weapon at the NBA level. Amen is also a very, very good passer, and the big question is whether he can round out his game with perimeter shooting and something between the rim and the three-point line. Still, he has All-NBA upside if the pieces fit, and team fit is merely a tiebreaker at this early juncture before the draft order is actually set.

4. Charlotte Hornets – Brandon Miller (F, Alabama)

At this juncture, we have no idea how the pending legal questions may impact Brandon Miller. This is the placement he would have from a basketball standpoint, but there is tremendous uncertainty regarding what the future holds for him.

5. Orlando Magic – Cam Whitmore (F, Villanova)

Villanova is stunningly bad this season, at least by Villanova standards, but that isn’t really on Whitmore. His scoring value is clear, and he checks a lot of boxes with size and physicality. It’s unclear whether he can make others better as a passer, but there is a lot to like.

6. Indiana Pacers – Jarace Walker (F, Houston)

Walker is a favorite of mine, largely because of his defense and how hard he plays. The offensive development has pushed him up boards, though, and it seems entirely possible he could be a top-five pick. It’s been a heck of a rise.

7. Orlando Magic (via Chicago) – Ausar Thompson (G/F, Overtime Elite)

The consensus is that Ausar is a step or two behind his brother from an upside standpoint. He isn’t quite as electric athletically, although still very good. Ausar is also more of a wing than a guard, like Amen is. The two do have similar questions with regards to their ability to shoot, and it’ll be interesting to see how they stack up.

8. New Orleans Pelicans (via Los Angeles Lakers) – Gradey Dick (G/F, Kansas)

Dick is going to be a defensive target for the opposition, at least for a while. However, his shooting is genuinely dynamic, and he has a great feel for how to move without the ball on offense. This is pretty high for him, but his name is shooting up boards in recent weeks.

9. Toronto Raptors – Nick Smith (G, Arkansas)

This is a big TBD. Smith has barely played at Arkansas due to injury and hasn’t lit the world on fire. Going back to high school, where he was he No. 1 player in the country as a recruit, it is easy to see his sky-high ceiling as a shot creator with size and craft.

10. Portland Trail Blazers – Cason Wallace (G, Kentucky)

Wallace may be the best defensive guard in the class, and the Blazers desperately need perimeter defense. Granted it wouldn’t be the best process to take a third guard in the lottery, but Wallace was a five-star high school guy for a reason. It’s not only the defense.

11. Washington Wizards – Jett Howard (G/F, Michigan)

Simply put, Howard is 6’8 and can really score. Everything else lags behind, but he knows how to play and teams are clearly buying the scoring upside.

12. Utah Jazz – Keyonte George (G, Baylor)

From a college standpoint, George isn’t even the best guard on his own team. But from an NBA standpoint, he projects quite well as a starting guard down the line given his craft and scoring acumen.

13. Oklahoma City Thunder – Brice Sensabaugh (G/F, Ohio State)

Sensabaugh is a divisive prospect because, right now, he is mostly a shooter/scorer that doesn’t do much else. Oklahoma City could use another high-end shooter, and Sensabaugh is definitely that, but you could nitpick his overall profile pretty easily.

14. Golden State Warriors – Taylor Hendricks (F, UCF)

A few months ago, Hendricks wasn’t even a consensus first-rounder, much less a potentially lottery pick. He came from well off the radar as a freshman at UCF, but the blend of size, athleticism, and production helps.

15. Atlanta Hawks – Anthony Black (G/F, Arkansas)

There is a ton to like with Anthony Black. He is a very strong defender already. He is a good ball-handler and playmaker. He plays very hard and impacts winning. The major question is his jumper, but that is far less of a concern in the middle of the first round than it would be in the top half of the lottery.

16. Utah Jazz (via Minnesota) – Dariq Whitehead (G/F, Duke)

It’s been a very rough season for Whitehead at Duke, going from a consensus top-10 guy to a step below that. It’s possible that teams will focus more on his high school projection than his up-and-down showing at Duke, and that would help him.

17. Los Angeles Lakers (via New Orleans) – Maxwell Lewis (G/F, Pepperdine)

People are all over the place on Lewis. Folks who value statistical production have him as a lottery pick. Folks around the league seem to be much lower. He’s also playing at Pepperdine, which almost automatically creates the divide for some players operating outside of the traditional power-conference structure. He’s definitely a first-round pick, but we’ll see.

18. New York Knicks (via Dallas) – Kris Murray (F, Iowa)

The twin brother of 2022 top-5 pick Keegan Murray, Kris should be able to join an NBA rotation very quickly, even if he’s not considered as high-profile of a prospect. He isn’t an upside swing, but his two-way appeal at a forward spot is clean.

19. Brooklyn Nets (via Phoenix) – Jordan Hawkins (G, UConn)

Hawkins is seemingly rising on boards, largely due to his movement shooting. He’s not a full-blown specialist, but Hawkins does have fantastic gravity and he should be able to hold up on defense.

20. Houston Rockets (via LA Clippers) – Jalen Hood-Schifino (G, Indiana)

If this was my big board, Hood-Schifino would be higher, because he is fantastic. There are some questions about upside, but Hood-Schifino does many things well and I buy the defense and creation.

21. Miami Heat – Terquavion Smith (G, NC State)

This isn’t the best fit for Smith given his defensive concerns and overlap with Tyler Herro but, again, it’s so early to be diving deep into fit. Smith is an explosive scorer that has wide appeal in the back half of the first round.

22. Portland Trail Blazers (via New York) – Dereck Lively (C, Duke)

Lively was a top high school prospect in the class and, through that lens, has disappointed in college. With that said, his defense is starting to really pop — he had eight blocks in the Blue Devils’ win over North Carolina — and there is little doubt that he could be a big-time rim protector at the NBA level. Everything else is up in the air.

23. Sacramento Kings – Noah Clowney (F/C, Alabama)

This is an upside swing. It would take Clowney a little while to get to where teams need him to be, so don’t get married to the Kings fit. It’s mostly a placeholder for “any team in the 20’s.”

24. Brooklyn Nets – Rayan Rupert (G/F, New Zealand Breakers)

It’s a little aggressive for me right now, but some view Rupert as a lottery pick. His potential skill set is tantalizing, particularly on defense, and Brooklyn’s depth would give him to time to develop.

25. Memphis Grizzlies – Colby Jones (G/F, Xavier)

Jones projects as a valuable glue guy, no matter where he goes. He’s a 6’6 guard who can handle, pass, defend, and shoot. That is an enticing package, even if he is more of a role player.

26. Indiana Pacers (via Cleveland) – Kyle Filipowski (C/F, Duke)

Filipowski’s offensive arsenal is very impressive and he might be Duke’s best player this year. With that said, it is unclear how he’ll defend at the NBA level, so that’s going to be the swing on his perceived value.

27. Utah Jazz (via Philadelphia) – G.G. Jackson (F, South Carolina)

This is an exceptionally difficult evaluation. Jackson reclassified — he was the No. 1 overall prospect in the class of 2023 — and chose South Carolina as an 18-year-old freshman. The Gamecocks are kind of a mess, making him look worse, and his stats are rather concerning. Then, if you watch him, the flashes are considerable the pedigree is there. It’s hard to see him sliding out of the first round, especially if a team with a more long-term view like Utah believes it can help him reach his potential.

28. Charlotte Hornets (via Denver) – Kobe Bufkin (G, Michigan)

There is a chance Bufkin is at the peak of his perceived value right now after a nice mid-season run in Ann Arbor. However, he could continue to rise given his burst, especially if evaluators buy into his shooting.

29. L.A. Clippers (via Milwaukee) – Julian Phillips (F, Tennessee)

Phillips isn’t a consensus first-rounder by any means, but it’s easy to see why he’d be in this range. He’s a 6’8 forward who can defend with versatility and, in theory, shoot it a little bit.

30. Indiana Pacers (via Boston) – Trayce Jackson-Davis (F/C, Indiana)

Jackson-Davis has earned top-40 status with a fantastic season. He has always been highly productive but, in the last couple of months, Jackson-Davis has taken a leap with his supporting characteristics and generally dominated quality competition in the Big Ten.

It’s been quite some time since we’ve seen our buddy Mando, but the wait is finally over. Disney realized that everyone is really into Pedro Pascal at the moment and decided that we needed more of him in his space shiny suit, which is why the long-awaited season three of The Mandalorian will premiere next week.

Mando aka Din Djarin and Grogu will return to the galaxy for more adventures on March 1st, and though there has been quite some time since season two, some important stuff has happened to our main little dude. Though season three of The Mandalorian will consist of eight episodes, you might want to catch up with The Book Of Boba Fett before the premiere, which fills in a bit of the gap between seasons and proved you with some CGI Luke Skywalker that nobody really asked for.

Since the end of season two, Djarin secured the Darksaber, a legendary Star Wars weapon that was used to kill Jedis. Season three will pick up with the duo after Gorgu has abandoned his Jedi training, while Djarin is being ostracized by his fellow Mandolorians. You know, normal “fulfilling your destiny” type of stuff.

Following the premiere, episodes will be available Wednesdays on Disney+ starting at 12 AM ET.

In honor of Usher’s Vegas residency, the R&B icon did an interview with GQ, revealing some interesting anecdotes along the way. Particularly, one about how his teenage sons took him to a truly special show that changed his outlook — and possibly converted him into a K-pop stan.

“I literally went to a Blackpink concert in Atlanta, and I was like, man!” Usher said. “I’m goofy! I’m looking like, ‘Wow, this is amazing.’  They were putting on a show. Wardrobe, great sequencing, with the lighting and everything working in sync — there’s no detail spared. I loved that.”

The piece also notes that he thoroughly enjoyed Blackpink’s choreography and all the pieces that went into their concert. Usher goes on to touch on how this ties into his intentions for each of his “My Way” residency performances — titled after his second album from 1997.

He notes that he wanted it to cater to the ladies attending and bringing his level of perfectionism to the Park MGM.

“I really wanted to give women something to look forward to, something to come here to Las Vegas with their friends for,” he shared. “They’ve been saving up all year and were able to manage to get away from their kids or get away from their problems.”

“They come out and really enjoy themselves for the entire weekend. They want to be able to really get away and have an experience,” Usher added.

Usher’s shows are picking back up in March and will run through July. More information is available here.

SZA is an undeniable force in music. As her sophomore album, SOS, continues to break records on the music charts or serve as the inspiration behind a few tongue-in-cheek TikToks by other famous musicians, fans can’t get enough of the project. Now, with the launch of the album’s supporting tour, concertgoers are beginning to wonder what they should expect as the “Kill Bill” singer makes her way to their city.

Yesterday (February 21), after opening the North American wing in Columbus, Ohio, at The Jerome Schottenstein Center, the internet is buzzing about which tracks of the songwriter’s discography made the cut. According to setlist.fm, SZA has a melting pot of her solo music featured during her show. In addition to her new music, fan-favorite tracks from her debut album Ctrl, the Black Panther soundtrack, and her older EPs, as well as songs from artists she’s inspired by.

View the setlist below, but don’t hold the singer to it. As the tour progresses, SZA shared on Twitter that nothing is set in stone, writing, “all imma say is the set list will fluctuate. Everything will have its day.”

1. “PSA”
2. “Seek & Destroy”
3. “Notice Me”
4. “Conceited”
5. “Love Galore”
6. “Broken Clocks”
7. “Forgiveless”
8. “Used”
9. “Bag Lady” (Erykah Badu cover)
10. “Blind”
11. “Shirt”
12. “Smoking On My Ex Pack”
13. “All The Stars”
14. “Prom”
15. “Garden (Say It Like Dat)”
16. “F2F”
17. “Drew Barrymore”
18. “Doves in the Wind”
19. “Low”
20. “Open Arms”
21. “Supermodel”
22. “Special”
23. “Nobody Gets Me”
24. “Gone Girl”
25. “SOS”
26. “Kiss Me More” (Doja Cat cover)
27. “Love Language”
28. “Snooze”
29. “Kill Bill”
30. “I Hate U”
31. “The Weekend”
32. “Good Days

See below for the remaining dates for the SOS Tour.

02/24 — Detroit, MI @ Little Caesars Arena
02/25 — Toronto, ON @ Scotiabank Arena
02/27 — Washington, DC @ Capital One Arena
02/28 — Boston, MA @ TD Garden
03/02 — Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center
03/04 — New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
03/07 — Atlanta, GA @ State Farm Arena
03/09 — Austin, TX @ Moody Center
03/10 — Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center
03/13 — San Diego, CA @ Viejas Arena
03/14 — Oakland, CA @ Oakland Arena
03/16 — Seattle, WA @ Climate Pledge Arena
03/18 — Portland, OR @ Moda Center
03/19 — Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena
03/22 — Los Angeles, CA @ The Kia Forum

Omar Apollo is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.