Latest news with #MastersoftheUniverse
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Amazon MGM Lands Harrison Query's Short Story 'Code Black' For Film; Jake Gyllenhaal In Talks To Star In & Produce Political Thriller
EXCLUSIVE: In a competitive situation, Amazon MGM Studios has secured film rights to 'Code Black,' a new short story by Harrison Query, for seven figures guaranteed, sources tell Deadline. The deal is believed to be one of the biggest of all time for a short story. Scott Glassgold of 12:01 Films brought the package into Jake Gyllenhaal's Nine Stories, which will develop the political thriller as a starring vehicle for the Oscar nominee, under its first-look deal with the studio. More from Deadline Nicholas Galitzine Teases He-Man Costume After Wrapping 'Masters of the Universe' Bill Pullman & Rick Moranis Returning For New 'Spaceballs'; Keke Palmer, Lewis Pullman Also Set - The Dish Amazon MGM Studios Developing Dark Comedy Series 'God's Country' From John Owen Lowe & Samir Mehta; Chris Pratt Exec Producing In Code Black, the country's top heart surgeon is flown to D.C. to perform a high-stakes operation, finding himself led into a trap where his guile and genius become the only way to stop a plot that threatens both his family and the nation. In addition to Gyllenhaal and Josh McLaughlin for Nine Stories, producers in talks include Lynn Harris and Matt Reeves for 6th & Idaho, and Glassgold for 12:01. Query will adapt the screenplay. Code Black marks the second high-profile sale for Query in just two months. In May, he set up his drama series spec Trigger Point in A24 after six-way bidding, with Rebel Ridge's Jeremy Saulnier coming on to direct and exec produce alongside former Fifth Season Head of TV Joe Hipps. Query also wrote Amazon MGM's action-comedy Heads of State, starring John Cena and Idris Elba, which is out July 2, and teamed with Tommy Wallach to set up the forthcoming limited series on JonBenét Ramsey at Paramount+. After exec producing and starring in Apple's Presumed Innocent and seeing the critically acclaimed series break out as one of Apple's most-watched dramas of all time, Gyllenhaal is back on board to exec produce a second season. Previously, his Nine Stories has produced lauded titles like The Guilty, Wildlife and Stronger, among others. Upcoming, he also has the Guy Ritchie-directed sequel to his hit Road House remake for Amazon MGM, where he's both starring and producing. The first film had a record-breaking debut on Prime Video with over 50 million viewers in its first two weekends on the service. The 'Code Black' deal marks the fifth short story sale of the year for Glassgold, who last month went to Skydance with Drift, based on an unpublished work of science fiction by Ben Queen & Jason Shuman, securing a $2M+ deal following a heated auction. A master at selling the short story, he prior to that saw 20th preemptively acquire Ripped, a feature adaptation of the short story by Joe Ballarini, which his 12:01 Films will produce alongside Dwayne Johnson's Seven Bucks. Glassgold also bagged the first big sale of 2025 with After Shock, a Lionsgate adaptation of the earthquake-themed short story by Aaron Jayh, to star Brandon Sklenar. Other upcoming projects include Caretaker at Universal with Sydney Sweeney, The Dwelling at Amazon MGM with Michael B Jordan, and Occupant at New Line with Zach Cregger producing. Gyllenhaal is represented by WME and Carlos Goodman; Query by CAA, Ground Control and Jeff Frankel; Reeves by CAA, 3 Arts, and attorneys Karl R. Austen and Peter C. Sample; and Glassgold's 12:01 by Verve and McKuin Frankel Whitehead. CAA and Verve oversaw the auction.
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Mattel and OpenAI have partnered up – here's why parents should be concerned about AI in toys
Mattel may seem like an unchanging, old-school brand. Most of us are familiar with it – be it through Barbie, Fisher-Price, Thomas & Friends, Uno, Masters of the Universe, Matchbox, MEGA or Polly Pocket. But toys are changing. In a world where children grow up with algorithm-curated content and voice assistants, toy manufacturers are looking to AI for new opportunities. Mattel has now partnered with OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, to bring generative AI into some of its products. As OpenAI's services are not designed for children under 13, in principle Mattel will focus on products for families and older children. But this still raises urgent questions about what kind of relationships children will form with toys that can talk back, listen and even claim to 'understand' them. Are we doing right by kids, and do we need to think twice before bringing these toys home? Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK's latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences. For as long as there have been toys, children have projected feelings and imagined lives onto them. A doll could be a confidante, a patient or a friend. But over recent decades, toys have become more responsive. In 1960, Mattel released Chatty Cathy, which chirped 'I love you' and 'Let's play school'. By the mid-1980s, Teddy Ruxpin had introduced animatronic storytelling. Then came Furby and Tamagotchi in the 1990s, creatures requiring care and attention, mimicking emotional needs. The 2015 release of 'Hello Barbie', which used cloud-based AI to listen to and respond to children's conversations, signalled another important, albeit short-lived, change. Barbie now remembered what children told her, sending data back to Mattel's servers. Security researchers soon showed that the dolls could be hacked, exposing home networks and personal recordings. Putting generative AI in the mix is a new development. Unlike earlier talking toys, such systems will engage in free-flowing conversation. They may simulate care, express emotion, remember preferences and give seemingly thoughtful advice. The result will be toy that don't just entertain, but interact on a psychological level. Of course, they won't really understand or care, but they may appear to. Details from Mattel or Open AI are scarce. One would hope that safety features will be built in, including limitations on topics and pre-scripted responses for sensitive themes and when conversations go off course. But even this won't be foolproof. AI systems can be 'jailbroken' or tricked into bypassing restrictions through roleplay or hypothetical scenarios. Risks can only be minimised, not eradicated. The risks are multiple. Let's start with privacy. Children can't be expected to understand how their data is processed. Parents often don't either – and that includes me. Online consent systems nudge us all to click 'accept all', often without fully grasping what's being shared. Then there's psychological intimacy. These toys are designed to mimic human empathy. If a child comes home sad and tells their doll about it, the AI might console them. The doll could then adapt future conversations accordingly. But it doesn't actually care. It's pretending to, and that illusion can be powerful. This creates potential for one-sided emotional bonds, with children forming attachments to systems that cannot reciprocate. As AI systems learn about a child's moods, preferences and vulnerabilities, they may also build data profiles to follow children into adulthood. These aren't just toys, they're psychological actors. A UK national survey I conducted with colleagues in 2021 about possibilities of AI in toys that profile child emotion found that 80% of parents were concerned about who would have access to their child's data. Other privacy questions that need answering are less obvious, but arguably more important. When asked whether toy companies should be obliged to flag possible signs of abuse or distress to authorities, 54% of UK citizens agreed – suggesting the need for a social conversation with no easy answer. While vulnerable children should be protected, state surveillance into the family domain has little appeal. Yet despite concerns, people also see benefits. Our 2021 survey found that many parents want their children to understand emerging technologies. This leads to a mixed response of curiosity and concern. Parents we surveyed also supported having clear consent notices, printed on packaging, as the most important safeguard. My more recent 2025 research with Vian Bakir on online AI companions and children found stronger concerns. Some 75% of respondents were concerned about children becoming emotionally attached to AI. About 57% of people thought that it is inappropriate for children to confide in AI companions about their thoughts, feelings or personal issues (17% thought it is appropriate, and 27% were neutral). Our respondents were also concerned about the impact on child development, seeing scope for harm. In other research, we have argued that current AI companions are fundamentally flawed. We provide seven suggestions to redesign them, involving remedies for over-attachment and dependency, removal of metrics based on extending engagement though personal information disclosure and promotion of AI literacy among children and parents (which represents a huge marketing opportunity by positively leading social conversation). It's hard to know how successful the new venture will be. It might be that that Empathic Barbie goes the way of Hello Barbie, to toy history. If it does not, the key question for parents is this: whose interests is this toy really serving, your child's or that of a business model? Toy companies are moving ahead with empathic AI products, but the UK, like many countries, doesn't yet have a specific AI law. The new Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 updates the UK's data protection and privacy and electronic communications regulations, recognising need for strong protections for children. The EU's AI Act also makes important provisions. International governance efforts are vital. One example is IEEE P7014.1, a forthcoming global standard on the ethical design of AI systems that emulate empathy (I chair the working group producing the standard). The organisation behind the standard, the IEEE, ultimately identifies potential harms and offers practical guidance on what responsible use looks like. So while laws should set limits, detailed standards can help define good practice. The Conversation approached Mattel about the issues raised in this article and it declined to comment publicly. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Andrew McStay is funded by EPSRC Responsible AI UK (EP/Y009800/1) and is affiliated with IEEE.
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Mattel Announces Second Quarter 2025 Financial Results and Conference Call Date
EL SEGUNDO, Calif., June 23, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mattel, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAT) today announced that it plans to release its second quarter 2025 financial results on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, at approximately 4:05 p.m. Eastern Time. Following this, Mattel will host a webcast conference call at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The webcast and accompanying slides will be available under the Events and Presentations section of Mattel's Investor Relations website, To listen to the webcast, log on to the website at least 10 minutes early to register, download and install any necessary audio software. An archive of the webcast will be available on the Company's website for 12 months following the event. Certain financial and statistical information included in the webcast, such as information required by Regulation G, will be available at the time of the webcast on the "Investors" section of Mattel's corporate website, About Mattel Mattel is a leading global toy and family entertainment company and owner of one of the most iconic brand portfolios in the world. We engage consumers and fans through our franchise brands, including Barbie®, Hot Wheels®, Fisher-Price®, American Girl®, Thomas & Friends™, UNO®, Masters of the Universe®, Matchbox®, Monster High®, MEGA® and Polly Pocket®, as well as other popular properties that we own or license in partnership with global entertainment companies. Our offerings include toys, content, consumer products, digital and live experiences. Our products are sold in collaboration with the world's leading retail and ecommerce companies. Since its founding in 1945, Mattel is proud to be a trusted partner in empowering generations to explore the wonder of childhood and reach their full potential. Visit us at MAT-FIN MAT-CORP View source version on Contacts Securities Analysts Jenn News Media Catherine Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data


Business Wire
23-06-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Mattel Announces Second Quarter 2025 Financial Results and Conference Call Date
EL SEGUNDO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mattel, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAT) today announced that it plans to release its second quarter 2025 financial results on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, at approximately 4:05 p.m. Eastern Time. Following this, Mattel will host a webcast conference call at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The webcast and accompanying slides will be available under the Events and Presentations section of Mattel's Investor Relations website, To listen to the webcast, log on to the website at least 10 minutes early to register, download and install any necessary audio software. An archive of the webcast will be available on the Company's website for 12 months following the event. Certain financial and statistical information included in the webcast, such as information required by Regulation G, will be available at the time of the webcast on the "Investors" section of Mattel's corporate website, About Mattel Mattel is a leading global toy and family entertainment company and owner of one of the most iconic brand portfolios in the world. We engage consumers and fans through our franchise brands, including Barbie®, Hot Wheels®, Fisher-Price®, American Girl®, Thomas & Friends™, UNO®, Masters of the Universe®, Matchbox®, Monster High®, MEGA® and Polly Pocket®, as well as other popular properties that we own or license in partnership with global entertainment companies. Our offerings include toys, content, consumer products, digital and live experiences. Our products are sold in collaboration with the world's leading retail and ecommerce companies. Since its founding in 1945, Mattel is proud to be a trusted partner in empowering generations to explore the wonder of childhood and reach their full potential. Visit us at MAT-FIN MAT-CORP
Yahoo
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Nicholas Galitzine shows off his bulging biceps for hunky He-Man transformation
Nicholas Galitzine has officially left his twink era in the dust! The Red, White & Royal Blue star has been teasing his new muscles for months, but now that filming for the upcoming He-Man movie, Masters of the Universe, has finally wrapped, Galitzine star is driving fans wild by giving us a sneak peek at his transformation from twink to twunk. Yesterday, he posted a backlit photo on Instagram that showed off his new bod in his He-Man costume, carrying the iconic Power Sword on his back. But today, he gave fans what they've been craving when he dropped new behind-the-scenes photos and videos from the set of Masters of the Universe. Galitzine posted a carousel of images and videos that showed off all the work he's put in at the gym with the caption, 'Just a lil BTS and training from the last few months. (I can't show you nada)' See on Instagram The first image is a gym selfie that shows the 30-year-old actor in a white tank top, black sweats, and a baseball hat, flexing his biceps in a way that is sure to have gay basements flooding across the internet. There is also a photo of Galitzine with what appears to be his body double, wearing a pink button-down that seems like a nod to the pink tunic worn by Eternia's legendary hero in the original '80s cartoon, the movie is based on. But if you didn't already have the hots for Galitzine, the video footage that features him practicing sword fighting and a second one showing off his skills as a boxer is sure to have you thirsting over the Mary & George star. — (@) Amazon MGM Studio's long-anticipated live-action reboot of the iconic '80s franchise also stars Alison Brie, Jared Leto, Idris Elba, and Camila Mendes, and finds Prince Adam (AKA He-Man) living an ordinary life on Earth, totally unaware he possesses tremendous power until he stumbles upon the Power Sword which send him hurtling back to Eternia to save his kingdom. To play the 'most powerful man in the universe,' Galitzine had to dramatically change his lifestyle so he could bulk up. 'I'm eating about 4,000 calories a day, but the amount of physical work I'm doing, you end up hungry at the end of the day, which is quite surprising,' he told W Magazine back in January. Masters of the Universe is slated for theatrical release on June 5, 2026, followed by streaming on Prime Video. So if you think Pride Month is usually the sexiest time of the year, just wait until next June when the movie drops and gays everywhere line up to see Galitzine in all his loin-cloth clad glory.