First Details Revealed From Netflix Animated Spinoff Series STRANGER THINGS: TALES FROM '85 — GeekTyrant
This week at Annecy International Animation Film Festival, Netflix showed up to present fans with a first look at the animated spinoff series, Stranger Things: Tales From '85 , described as a family spectacle blending nostalgia with supernatural intrigue.
Netflix's official logline for the series reads: 'Welcome back to Hawkins in the stark winter of 1985, where the original characters must fight new monsters and unravel a paranormal mystery terrorizing their town in Stranger Things: Tales From '85, an epic new animated series.'
With animation headed by Australian outfit Flying Bark, the show is being executive produced by Stranger Things creators Matt and Ross Duffer via their Upside Down Pictures, along with Shawn Levy and Dan Cohen via 21 Laps, Eric Robles, – who is showrunning the series – via Flying Bark Productions and Hilary Leavitt from Upside Down Pictures.
It is early days, and no images have even been released, but Robles talked a packed Annecy crowd through some of the animatics, character design, scary creatures – including some terrifying upside down pumpkin zombies and a snow shark.
Robles revealed many of the projects that have inspired Tales From '85 but it is one above all that became his 'north star.' 'It all went back to The Real Ghostbusters ,' he said. 'It was silly but had a handful of dark, creepy episodes and we just kept talking about that. That became the north star for us.'
Other inspirations cited by Robles, who drew on projects old and new for his show about 'friendships, horror-filled story and mystery,' included Transformers, ET and Goosebumps .
'The vision is kids riding bikes, using walkie-talkies,' he added. Making an animated show replete with danger was a new experience for Robles. 'There's danger and not everyone might survive,' he added. 'The danger is real and that had an impact on the design.'
Stranger Things: Tales From '85 comes out next year.
via: Deadline
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Politico
30 minutes ago
- Politico
Can the GOP megabill hold together?
Presented by With help from Eli Okun, Bethany Irvine and Ali Bianco Good afternoon. It's Zack Stanton in your Sunday inbox. Get in touch. DISPATCH FROM ASPEN: My Playbook colleagues Jack Blanchard and Dasha Burns are out in Aspen this weekend along with POLITICO's own Jonathan Martin for the annual Aspen Ideas Festival, where they're moderating panels on everything from diplomacy — with Australian Ambassador Kevin Rudd — to the future of warfare and Ukraine. Jack's conversation last night with social media influencers and content creators Dean Withers, Brad Polumbo and Jayme Franklin focused on how TikTok and Gen Z are changing the political landscape — and it was standing-room only for the full hour. Watch it back here The vibe: Jack is blinking in wonder on his first trip to the Rockies. JMart is holding court, because of course he is. And Dasha is feeling the whiplash, flying in straight off a whirlwind week at the NATO summit. Do tune in to tomorrow's Playbook Podcast, which Jack and Dasha will be recording live from the beautiful Rocky Mountains. DRIVING THE DAY RECONCILABLE DIFFERENCES: The Republican megabill that forms the crux of President Donald Trump's legislative agenda is inching closer to passage. Last night, 51 Senate Republicans voted to clear a procedural hurdle and allow consideration of the bill to move forward. Right now, the chamber floor is mostly empty, save for the clerks, who are roughly 13 hours into a marathon session reading aloud the 940-page bill. They're likely to finish some time before 4 p.m. today. Then, the Senate will start voting on amendments to the package as Majority Leader John Thune eyes a Monday passage for the megabill. Welcome to the vote-a-rama: 'Democrats are expected to try and put Republicans on the record on issues that could resonate in the midterms, including tax cuts for the wealthy, Medicaid cuts, and changes to food assistance for the poor, or SNAP,' as POLITICO's Katherine Tully-McManus and Nicholas Wu write. In doing so, 'Democrats could try to break the all-time record of 44 amendments set in 2008.' 'But Democrats aren't the only ones who could squeeze Republicans,' they continue. 'Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), who has vocally opposed the Medicaid cuts, plans to offer amendments, including to raise income taxes on the wealthiest Americans to pre-2017 levels.' At this 11th hour, the megabill is effectively duct-taped together. And the compromises and homestate concessions — the 2025 version of the 'Cornhusker Kickback' could perhaps be called the 'Blubber Bonus,' seeing as it benefits Alaskan whaling captains — leadership made to get to this point also risk the whole thing falling apart. Some of the key things we're watching … Will Republicans gut a key part of Obamacare? GOP leaders spent the bulk of yesterday trying to win over holdouts in the Senate. One of those conservatives, Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), 'said they won a promise of an amendment vote related to the expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act,' POLITICO's Jordain Carney reports. 'Their proposal would end the 90 percent federal cost-share for new enrollees under that arrangement, Johnson said — gutting a key feature of the law known as Obamacare.' Will Trump go along with that? 'Thune declined to comment on the concessions, but Johnson suggested Thune and Trump will support the amendment,' Jordain writes. Republican moderates are not keen on the idea, and if it somehow makes it through the Senate, its inclusion could imperil its chances of passage in the House. The cost of the tax cuts has ballooned: 'The cost of Senate Republicans' tax cuts has grown to $4.45 trillion, congressional forecasters said Saturday night,' POLITICO's Brian Faler reports — that's a $200 billion increase from their earlier draft of the plan. 'The growing price tag could be a problem for some Republicans, especially in the House where many lawmakers have been adamant that their tax cuts cost no more than $4 trillion, unless they find more spending cuts.' The Senate bill drastically increases the deficits: You're going to hear a lot of spin over the next 24 hours that the Senate bill will reduce budget deficits by $500 billion. That's true, according to a Congressional Budget Office report released last night — 'but only if you first assume that all the expiring tax cuts are extended permanently and have no cost,' as WSJ's Richard Rubin and colleagues write. 'On an apples-to-apples basis with the House bill, the Senate bill would likely increase deficits by about $3.3 trillion, up from $2.4 billion for the House version.' That could be a bridge too far for the House Freedom Caucus. So, where are the savings? In the red tape, as NYT's Margot Sanger-Katz and Emily Badger report: 'Instead of explicitly reducing benefits, Republicans would make them harder to get and to keep. The effect, analysts say, is the same, with millions fewer Americans receiving assistance. By including dozens of changes to dates, deadlines, document requirements and rules, Republicans have turned paperwork into one of the bill's crucial policy-making tools, yielding hundreds of billions of dollars in savings to help offset their signature tax cuts.' The megabill now taxes solar and wind projects: 'Senate Republicans stepped up their attacks on U.S. solar and wind energy projects by quietly adding a provision to their megabill that would penalize future developments with a new tax,' POLITICO's Kelsey Tamborino and colleagues write. 'The new excise tax is another blow to the fastest-growing sources of power production in the United States, and would be a massive setback to the wind and solar energy industries since it would apply even to projects not receiving any credits.' Among those angry about it: Elon Musk. 'The latest Senate draft bill will destroy millions of jobs in America and cause immense strategic harm to our country!' he tweeted last night in regards to the renewable energy changes. 'Utterly insane and destructive. It gives handouts to industries of the past while severely damaging industries of the future.' He later added that the 'bill is political suicide for the Republican Party.' But Trump wants this bill to pass. Yesterday, he met senators at his golf club in northern Virginia, and followed that up by lobbying senators over the phone late into the night, Playbook is reliably told. Will he get it on his desk by this Friday? 'I mean I can't tell you that,' Trump said this morning on Fox News' 'Sunday Morning Futures.' 'I'd like to say yes, but the problem is if we're two days late or five days late, everybody says, 'oh, you had a tremendous failure.' Whatever it is, as long as we have it. It's very important.' One key question: Presuming this gets through the Senate, will Trump's support for it be enough to get House Republicans to swallow a bill that many of them are trashing in private? There are some real doubts. Yesterday, House Republicans held a 15-minute call during which a 'frustrated' Speaker Mike Johnson 'urged his members to keep their powder dry and refrain from weighing in publicly on the Senate's version of the bill, as so much of it is in flux — which means no posts on X,' CNN's Sarah Ferris and colleagues report. 'At least one Republican, Rep. David Valadao of California, posted publicly that he opposed the Senate bill because of changes to Medicaid. And another Republican who is closely watching the Medicaid provisions, Rep. Jeff Van Drew of New Jersey, told CNN: 'I don't like it. We had hit a sweet spot with our bill.'' The view from the Senate Democrats: 'This bill is a real piece of shit it and it would be excellent if that's all anyone talked about for the next few days,' posted Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii). 'Super interested in your think piece about the NYC mayor's race but let's get to that after we try to stop the biggest wealth transfer in American history.' Speaking of … The smartest 30,000-foot analysis we've read on Zohran Mamdani's victory over Andrew Cuomo in NYC's Democratic mayoral primary comes from this insightful conversation between NYT's Ezra Klein and MSNBC's Chris Hayes on how the attention economy has fundamentally changed our politics in a way many longtime pols and Washington operators don't fully appreciate. (And which, frankly, can make it hard for nuanced policy discussion to take place.) Someone who does get it: Alex Bruesewitz. He's the media adviser behind Trump's campaign-season podcast blitz and MAGA world's constant online trolling as a way to steamroll through the news cycle. In this morning's episode of 'The Conversation,' Bruesewitz talks about that strategy with Playbook's Dasha Burns. More on YouTube … Subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify SUNDAY BEST … — President Donald Trump spoke with Maria Bartiromo on Fox News' 'Sunday Morning Futures.' 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The language that I used and the language that I will continue to use to lead the city is that which speaks clearly to my intent, which is an intent grounded in a belief in universal human rights. … What I think I need to show is the ability to not only talk about something but to tackle it and to make clear that there's no room for antisemitism in this city.' — Rafael Mariano Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, on the damages from U.S. strikes and Iran's capacity to rebuild, on CBS' 'Face the Nation': 'The capacities they have are there. They can have, you know, in a matter of months, I would say, a few cascades of centrifuges spinning and producing enriched uranium, or less than that. … So if they so wish, they will be able to start doing this again.' TOP-EDS: A roundup of the week's must-read opinion pieces. 9 THINGS FOR YOUR RADAR 1. 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Here's DC's new bus map IN MEMORIAM — 'Longtime State Department spokesman, diplomat Richard Boucher, dies at 73,' by AP's Matthew Lee: 'Boucher had been the face of U.S. foreign policy at the State Department podium across administrations throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, beginning in the George H.W. Bush presidency and continuing through Bill Clinton's and George W. Bush's terms in office. Boucher served as the spokesman for secretaries of state James Baker, Madeleine Albright, Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice.' WELCOME TO THE WORLD — James Braid, director of legislative affairs for the White House, and Melissa Braid, director of public affairs at the Federal Highway Administration and an alum of Senate Commerce, DHS and Interior, recently welcomed Victoria Rose Braid. She joins big brother Derek. HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Playbook's own Garrett Ross … Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.) … Hanna Trudo … Ropes & Gray's Amish Shah … Laura Rozen … White House's Robin Colwell and Marie Policastro … Josh Meyer … CNN's Evan Pérez … Carl Forti … former Rep. Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) … Ben Jarrett … Hal Brewster of Freshfields … Christina Pearson … Don Verrilli of Munger, Tolles & Olson … Max Virkus … Christian Marrone of Standard Industries … Jordan Davis … Roku's Kaya Singleton … Katie Zirkelbach … Vijay Menon of Sen. Josh Hawley's (R-Mo.) office … Owen Kilmer … Kia's Christopher Wenk … Emily Spain … MSNBC's Kenny Reilly … Tony Salters … POLITICO's Caitlin Bugas Did someone forward this email to you? Sign up here. Send Playbookers tips to playbook@ or text us on Signal here. Playbook couldn't happen without our editor Zack Stanton, deputy Garrett Ross and Playbook Podcast producer Callan Tansill-Suddath.
Forbes
an hour ago
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Charlize Theron's ‘The Old Guard 2' Premieres On Netflix This Week
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Elle
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- Elle
Where Is Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader Chandi Dayle Now?
The acclaimed Netflix docuseries America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders has returned for season 2, chronicling the 2024 football season from tryouts and training camp all the way through the last game. But instead of checking in with fan-favorites from season 1, director Greg Whiteley focused on an entirely different set of women. Sixth-year veteran Chandi Dayle was one of the focal points, and her arc is an emotional one. Chandi, who works as many as four jobs during the season, is one of the quieter members of the team and is self-admittedly 'really good at pushing things down' instead of dealing with emotions head-on. Over the course of the season, Chandi experiences high highs, like being named one of the 1st Group Leaders—a role that operates like a team captain—while also having significant lows related to her mental health. And after six years, Chandi decides to put down the pom-poms for good. Here's an in-depth look at Chandi's journey in season 2. The 1st Group Leaders of the team are prestigious titles, but they come with a lot of extra responsibility. 'They help Judy [Trammell, head choreographer] with choreography, they help us with communication, they're mentors, they're guidance counselors, and they're critical to the seamless performances that the cheerleaders do,' Senior Director Kelli Finglass explains in the second season. Kelli and Judy had the rookies vote on who they wanted as team leader, and Chandi received votes from all 24 girls. She experiences the exhilaration of being named to one of the most coveted spots on the team and champions her organization skills that will help her excel, but also admits that her quiet demeanor could be a challenge in a leadership position. Judy saw Chandi's habit of 'always letting everyone else make the big decisions' as a potential roadblock to success, but she recognizes it as something that reminded her of herself when she was younger. Trammell similarly clocks Chandi's need to please, saying she 'craves her attention and approval.' Feeling a kinship to Chandi, Judy is a motherly presence that really believes in her abilities. Chandi and her sister were adopted, and her parents divorced when she was 12. After her father remarried, he and her step-mother sat Chandi down and told her they didn't need to see each other again. Chandi complied and said she assumed the role of a parent because she 'had the least amount of emotion in the house.' Her mom Joanna corroborated this fact, revealing that she's only seen Chandi cry once when she was 10 because she 'doesn't like to express her vulnerability to anyone other than herself.' While Chandi believes her mental health struggles began with her father's absence, they materialized more prominently after a toxic relationship, in which she experienced physical abuse and stalking. Chandi still lives with the fear of this ex popping up anywhere; during a brunch with Jada, Megan, and Armani, the girls are on high alert when they see someone who resembles him at the restaurant. In October 2024, Chandi posted about Domestic Violence Awareness Month. 'I used to hide my past, afraid of judgment and shame. Every day, I gain confidence and rediscover the girl I once was. I'm using my voice to stand up against domestic violence. As a survivor, I know I am more than my scars. Every story matters. Let's stand united against domestic violence,' reads the caption. When we first meet Chandi's then-boyfriend Ryan, she describes their relationship sweetly, appreciating that he often anticipates her needs before she even realizes them. But in the finale, she reveals that they broke up off-camera. 'I think the last thing I said to him was, 'I deserve better. I deserve better and so do you,'' she describes to her friend Jalyn, a retired DCC member. Chandi doesn't elaborate on what happened between them but Jalyn seems relieved by the news. 'I won't say 'I told you so'…I'm just gonna say you had to figure it out for yourself,' she says. Following the break-up, Chandi connected with someone she met in the Bahamas who shared a similar past. Feeling like she had no one to talk to and that she was 'crumbling down,' Chandi admits to inviting him back to her room. This makes the other girls on the team worry about their safety, citing strict security rules tied to the team's location. The atmosphere at rehearsal is uncomfortable and Chandi decides to take a mental health break away from the team, returning only for the final game of the season. During Chandi's sabbatical, KayDianna, who stepped in for Chandi as group leader, vaguely responded to a question about what happened in the Bahamas on a TikTok Live, as fans noticed Chandi's absence at games. Her mom visibly reacted to the question but KayDianna brushed it off, saying she'll make a video about it someday. Unfortunately someone screen- recorded the video and put it on Reddit, which prompted leadership to put KayDianna under investigation for bullying and harassment and suspend her from the team. KayDianna maintains that she didn't say Chandi's name or anything incendiary about her teammate, and she ultimately chose to walk away from the team after the accusations. Chandi hobbles into the conference room with a hip brace, ready to say a tearful goodbye to the DCC. She acknowledges her struggles this year before stating that she's really found herself this year. 'There was a long time where I was scared to live without dance because that was my safe place,' she admits just before hanging up the iconic star-spangled outfit for the last time. Since leaving the DCC, she returned to her alma mater at the University of Arizona as an official judge of the Pomline team and celebrated former teammate McKenzie Hughston's pregnancy. She's also continuing to recover after hip surgery.
