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Related: The Crown: Did Diana Really Perform "Uptown Girl" For Prince Charles?

Diana: The Musical is controversial largely because it attempts to turn Diana's real-life into a fun romp without really acknowledging the tragedies of her life. Diana dances in a Madonna-style wedding dress, hoping to make Charles "a rocker." James Hewitt arrives riding a saddle and making double-entendres. This version of Diana is a resilient woman who wants to make her marriage work and tries to use the press to her advantage in doing so, with no proper recognition of the fact the real person is known to have suffered from depression, paranoia, and anxiety.

There are 21 songs in Diana: The Musical, and none of them really highlight the struggles that were a key part of her life. They attempt to touch on her postpartum depression and barely mention her eating disorder. It is well-documented that she was stalked by the press, and the film initially sets that up to be part of the plot, only to abandon it at the end. Many people still remember watching her funeral live on television, as well as the hardships she endured. With this all in a relatively recent timeframe, the decision to not recognize the struggles that are an integral part of Diana's life to many leaves the musical to be in bad taste, as it risks reducing crucial elements of her personal life down in order to add in more jokes.

This said, one of the reasons the film has been accepted by some is because she is such an iconic figure. This film plays with the image of Diana as the fun-loving celebrity some remember. Many want to think of the song "The Dress" in Diana: The Musical as truth. Diana was a fashion icon. She was known to be cheeky, once remarking to Tim Curry that The Rocky Horror Picture Show "quite completed [her] education." She loved pop music, and this is a film that pays tribute to that love. To this group, this film is a love letter to how Diana wanted to be seen, and thus doesn't need to fully reconcile with the darker parts of her struggles.

The problem with Diana: The Musical is that the legacy of Diana is a complex one, especially given the deep emotions many still have for her. There are those who think this fun film makes light of all the adversity Diana faced in her life. There are others who think Diana herself would have enjoyed this. Neither group seems completely happy.

Next: Diana: The Musical Broadway Cast & Real Life Character Guide

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Spotify is making it easier to get ahold of its first hardware device, the Car Thing, by opening up a waitlist to purchase the device that anyone can join starting today. The catch is that now the streaming service’s previously invite-only product is $79.99 when it used to be free with paid shipping and handling.

While Spotify will let anyone with an account sign up for its waitlist, whether free or premium, you do still need a premium account to actually use the device. Also, at its new $79.99 price, it’s worth re-examining what the Car Thing can do.

The Car Thing is not a standalone Spotify device. It connects to your phone over Bluetooth and uses a phone’s internet connection to stream and control playback on songs and podcasts from Spotify’s library. The Car Thing is also totally reliant on your phone’s Bluetooth, USB, or auxiliary cable connection to your car, which basically makes the device a glorified Spotify remote.

Google is making it easier to doomscroll through search results by automatically loading newer results as you get to the end of the page. Previously, when you got to the end of a page of Google search results, there was a big “See more” button at the bottom you could tap to, well, see more results. With continuously loaded results, you’ll be able to just keep on scrolling to see more.

Continuous scrolling does have some advantages; it’s a lot easier to see more results quickly if you don’t have to consciously make a choice to tap the “See more” button. I can’t say I’m looking forward to this change, though, since reaching the end of a Google search page was often a natural place for me to consider if I had learned enough or if I wanted to seek out more information. With continuous scrolling, it might be harder for me to pull myself away from the page, which is something I already struggle with while using social networks with endlessly loading feeds.

Continuous scrolling is starting to “gradually” roll out Thursday for “most English searches on mobile in the US,” according to a Google blog post.

 AMD chips are having issues on Windows 11 and the latest OS update has made the problems even worse.

AMD and Microsoft previously revealed that Windows 11 was causing a reduced performance for AMD Ryzen CPUs for certain applications, with extreme cases seeing as much as a 15% performance hit.

Microsoft revealed a software update is in development to address these issues, but it looks like the very first Windows 11 update since launch has made the problem even worse.

TechPowerUp has reported that the latency is higher now. The Ryzen 7 2700X chip reportedly saw an increase from 10ns to 17ns when Windows 11 first launched. However, the latest Windows 11 patch (which launched on 12 October) made this problem even worse, seeing the latency reportedly skyrocket up to 31.9ns.

Latency is measured in milliseconds and measures how long it takes data to travel between the source and the destination, so a lower latency means a faster transfer. Seeing the latency increase so much could potentially cause noticeable performance slowdowns if your system uses a Ryzen processor.

 

The Apple Watch’s diagnostic port has been a mysterious part of the wearable lineup since its first model, but the new Series 7 officially ditches the six-pin port entirely.

First noted by MacRumors, the lack of a port can be seen when you remove the bottom strap from an Apple Watch Series 7 — the company has removed the hidden plate and the port behind it. Intended for internal use for diagnostics, the port wasn’t officially acknowledged on Apple’s website or documentation. But the diagnostic port briefly hinted at the possibility of expanding the Apple Watch with hardware accessories.

The most famous of these was the Reserve Strap, which attempted to use the port for extending the battery life of the Apple Watch by incorporating extra batteries into a specially made band that would slot directly into the diagnostic port. The port actually offered faster charging than Apple’s own magnetic cable, too.

Unfortunately, Apple quickly blocked that capability and Reserve Strap (along with virtually every other attempt at harnessing the port for useful purposes). For the subsequent life span of the Apple Watch, it remained useful for its intended purpose: diagnostics for internal Apple use and repairs.

Of course, Apple still needs a way to do diagnostics on the Apple Watch, and appears to be replacing the mysterious port with an even more mysterious 60.5GHz wireless module that pairs with a magnetic dock capable of local data transfer for internal use. That’s led to some speculation that Apple is using the Series 7 as a test bed for a future portless iPhone that could use similar technology to replace cables for connecting to a computer. But if years of the useless diagnostic port have taught us anything, it’s that sometimes there’s no greater meaning or utility to be found in proprietary diagnostic tools.

An Animal Crossing: New Horizons content creator has devised their own Squid Game contest within the Nintendo game. The YouTube streamer invited players to their island to take part in a series of Animal Crossing minigames, and while competitors weren't playing for their lives, they were playing for an impressive 99,000 Bell prize.

Netflix's Squid Game is one of the biggest shows of the year, engrossing viewers with its dark premise and narrative twists and turns. The Korean drama focuses on a series of competitive games in which players compete for a cash prize, with those eliminated from the games also losing their lives. The show has been a global success that has spawned countless fan-made video game recreations in releases including GTA Online, Roblox, The Sims 4, and of course, players have also been reimagining Squid Game in Animal Crossing.

Streamer and YouTuber Nikachu has created their own competitive Animal Crossing Squid Game, with seven of their viewers invited to their island to take part in three minigames. First is the "Red Light, Green Light" game seen in the first episode of Squid Game. In Nikachu's Animal Crossing version, Nikachu plays the ocarina as contestants try to reach a Face-Cutout Standee, with players eliminated if caught moving when the music stops. The second game pits teams against each other to pick flowers, while the final showdown puts a simple spin on the Squid Game itself, with players needing to push their opponent out of a square to win. The result is a hilariously cute take on the dark Netflix show, with Squid Game-inspired custom designs used throughout.

Watch the video on YouTube here.

A lack of gameplay is one of the biggest criticisms of Animal Crossing: New Horizons, but as the content creator has shown in their video, the game's tools can be used for player-made fun with the help of some imagination and inspiration. Other popular minigames that can be made for multiplayer madness in AC include treasure hunts where players have to search for a prize in an area filled with buried trash, as well as races, and obstacle courses. Nikachu's channel is filled with inspirational and hilarious videos perfect to reintroduce fun for Animal Crossing players who've grown tired of the core gameplay.

Fans of the game are hoping that November's new Animal Crossing content will help add more gameplay and more ways to enjoy the game. The update will welcome the coffee-loving NPC Brewster and his Roost Cafe to New Horizons for the first time, but could also add even more gameplay elements, items, and design tools to help creative players continue creating new and exciting ways to experience ACNH. An Animal Crossing Nintendo Direct is scheduled for this week and will announce what's coming to the game in the future.

Source: YouTube/Nikachu

Adult Swim Festival 2021 has announced its lineup, including a Rick and Morty panel and several musical performances. This is the latest in a run of exciting live stream festivals featuring huge announcements from popular properties. Just a few weeks ago, Netflix had its TUDUM event, which included the trailer drop for Stranger Things season 4 and the announcement that Chris Hemsworth would be returning for Extraction 2. On October 16, DC FanDome 2021 is poised to feature similar blockbuster announcements for its popular superhero projects.

This year's Adult Swim Festival will be the fourth annual iteration of the event, which includes live music performances in addition to panels and screenings. Last year, when the festival switched to a virtual format, the lineup included The Eric Andre Show, Toonami, and Run the Jewels. Back in 2019, the in-person event included a performance from Lil Nas X hot off the success of "Old Town Road," as well as a screening of a full episode from the then-upcoming Rick and Morty season 4.

This year's Adult Swim Festival will be live-streamed on the Adult Swim YouTube channel on Friday, November 12 and Saturday, November 13 with additional exclusives on HBO Max. This year, the musical lineup is huge, including Lil Baby, Karol G, 21 Savage, Flying Lotus, Alessia Cara, and Angel Olsen along with 19 additional artists. There will also be star-studded watch parties of 12 shows including Rick and Morty, Tuca & Bertie, Robot Chicken, and The Eric Andre Show. Check out the lineup poster below:

The Festival features some big-ticket panels this year. The Rick and Morty panel will find the series' cast competing to see "who is the Rickiest Rick in the multiverse," Squidbillies will be celebrating its final season with cast and crew, and Aqua Teen Hunger Force will look back at the storied history of the series which first aired in 2000. Also, the upcoming series Smiling Friends, about a company designed to bring happiness facing its greatest challenge, will be discussed by creators Michael Cusack and Zach Hadel. Last but not least, the animated series Blade Runner: Black Lotus will be featured in a panel exploring the long history of the property, which stretches all the way back to the 1982 Ridley Scott film and the 1968 Philip K. Dick novel it's based on.

Adult Swim Festival 2021 is more oriented toward having fun with existing and past properties. However, there are still certain to be big announcements coming during the panels, especially for Rick and Morty, which continues to be one of the network's most popular shows. Fans should also look forward to the full announcements of what stars will be attending the panels and watch parties because the options are truly endless.

Source: Adult Swim

Letitia Wright denies a report that claims she is expressing anti-vaccination views on the set of Black Panther 2. Following a few COVID-19 related delays, production of the sequel to 2018's Black Panther began in Atlanta this past June ahead of its July 2022 release date. Original director Ryan Coogler is returning along with writer Joe Robert Cole. However, the sequel had to be reworked considerably following the tragic passing of T'Challa actor Chadwick Boseman. The film will see Black Panther stars Angela Bassett, Martin Freeman, Danai Gurira, Daniel Kaluuya, Lupita Nyong'o, and Winston Duke reprising their roles.

There has been a lot of intriguing news coming out of the Black Panther 2 set as of late, including the revelation that Dominique Thorne will be making her MCU debut in the film as Riri Williams, a brilliant inventor who creates her own Iron Man suit, ahead of her upcoming Disney+ series, Ironheart. Letitia Wright, who will be returning as Shuri, was hospitalized in late August after suffering a minor onset injury, though she was able to return soon after. Earlier this month, Wright became embroiled in another controversy when The Hollywood Reporter claimed she was speaking out against the COVID-19 vaccine on set.

Now, Letitia Wright denies those claims in an Instagram post. The actress says it "saddens" her to have to address the report published by THR and went on to "honestly assert" that the claims made about her conduct on the set of Black Panther 2 are "completely untrue." Wright went on to defend her work ethic and say that her "main focus is always to do work that's impactful and inspiring." Read Wright's entire statement on Instagram below:

Click here to see the original post.

While Wright unequivocally denies the claims made by THR, she didn't clarify her actual beliefs about the COVID-19 vaccine or whether or not she has been vaccinated herself. Wright has shared similar sentiments on social media, including a YouTube video that questioned the legitimacy of the COVID-19 vaccine. The report claims this resulted in her parting ways with her entire US team of representatives, though Wright didn't address that claim specifically.

Wright has since deleted that video from her social media, and this statement on Instagram is her first post since the controversy began. Though she has now denied claims about espousing anti-vaccine beliefs, the evidence is undoubtedly mounted against her. Disney will start requiring proof of a COVID-19 vaccination for anyone working on their productions, though those already filming, like Black Panther 2, will be exempt from this mandate. While Wright could finish the rest of the film without further controversy, this could pose challenges for her future in the MCU.

Source: Letitia Wright/Instagram

The script for Blumhouse Pictures remake of The Wolfman starring Ryan Gosling is still in development says producer Jason Blum. The Wolfman is one of the most iconic of the Universal Monsters, having first appeared in the 1941 film starring Lon Channey Jr. In 2010, a remake starring Benenco Tel Toro in the title role opened in theaters after a very troubled production to negative reviews and was a box-office bomb.

After Universal attempted to relaunch their monster's property with the critical and box-office failure of 2017's The Mummy, they scrapped their plans for their cinematic universe called the Dark Universe. The studio decided to do stand-alone horror stories, the first being 2020's The Invisible Man, which was a box office and critical success. Hot off the success the studio reteamed The Invisible Man director Leigh Whannell and producer Jason Blum to do another monster property, The Wolfman, which had already secured actor Ryan Gosling for the lead role.

In an interview with Collider, producer Jason Blum confirmed they are still developing a script for The Wolfman. The successful horror producer says they are waiting on the script to be just right for star Ryan Gosling, one that the actor feels comfortable with. Ryan Gosling is very involved with The Wolfman as the film was green-lit from his pitch to Universal Pictures. Blum said:

"Wolfman, we are also working on the script, got to get the script, right. In that case, it's Ryan Gosling...But working on trying to get a script that he feels good about and comfortable about and excited about."

The Wolfman is one of many projects based on the Universal Monsters the studio has planned. Eternals director Chloé Zhao is developing a sci-fi western Dracula movie at the studio, while a separate Dracula project from Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman based on the side character Reinfeld is in development. Elizabeth Banks is set to direct The Invisible Woman, which has no connection to the already released Invisible Man. James Wan is working on a new version of Frankenstein. Meanwhile, Toy Story 4 Josh Cooley director has the live-action/animated hybrid Little Monsters which will be aimed at a younger audience.

Gosling's involvement with The Wolfman was a surprise to many, as the actor has tended to avoid big franchise IP-driven films in favor of character-centric stories like First Man or original properties like Drive and La La Land. Gosling has been considered for a number of high-profile films including The Lone Ranger, 2017's Beauty and the Beast, The Joker in Suicide Squad, and the Sinister Six film Sony was developing. Gosling did star in the lead role of Blade Runner 2049, a sequel to a highly influential film and Gosling himself has never expressed any disinterest in franchise films. Given he pitched The Wolfman to Universal, it appears he is very passionate about this particular project.

The latest adaptation of Frank Herbert's Dune is making its way to the screen on October 22 when the film premieres in theaters and on HBO Max. The film features an incredible cast and epic science fiction story with warring factions, alien races, and political scheming. Including in this cast are Stellan Skarsgård as Baron Vladimir Harkonnen, the leader of House Harkonnen and enemy of Duke Leto Atreides (Oscar Isaac), and his nephew, Glossu Rabban played by Dave Bautista.

Screen Rant spoke to Skarsgård and Bautista about bringing Dune to life.

Screen Rant: I'm curious what the biggest hook was for you in stepping into this world. Was it something about the character, was it a new challenge, or was it just a chance to work with director Denis Villeneuve?

Dave Bautista: For me, it was Denis. I really pursued this, because I was tracking Dune. I kept asking my agent, "When auditions would become available? When are they going to release these roles?" 

But I never hit up Denis personally, because I didn't want to be that guy. I didn't want to try to capitalize on our friendship, so I just waited and waited and waited - and finally, I got a phone call from him, and he offered me the role. I almost broke down; I was so emotional about it. Still, it's like, "Wow, this is crazy that I'm even here."

Stellan Skarsgård: For me, it was Denis as well. I admired him for so many years as a director and knew he would be wonderful to work with. Because I knew that he also was a very nice person. I don't want to work with geniuses that are assholes. 

But then I read the script, and there was barely anything in it. I mean, there [were] a few small scenes and stuff, but I didn't care, I wanted to do it anyway. But then I got fascinated by the idea of creating this monster and trying to make him feel human physically. He moved me, not in a prosthetic way, but in a very direct physical way. You could feel that, in all that fat, there was a lot of muscles underneath and all that stuff; the sensuality in how he moves. 

I'm really happy I did it because working with Denis is an experience any actor would think was absolutely fantastic.

 

This is obviously such a huge franchise, and there's another huge franchise that I'm a big fan of that Stellan is a part of. I don't know if you've heard, but ABBA released some new music. What do you need from me personally to make Mamma Mia! 3 happen? 

Stellan Skarsgård: I wish I could say. It took 10 years between Mamma Mia! and Mamma Mia! 2 - if it's going to take another 10 years, then I'll be dead. I'm worried we might not get there. But if they call, I will say yes immediately, because the experience of doing those two films was fantastic.

Dave Bautista: It's not going to be ten years. I guarantee you that people are on the phone; they've been anticipating this. And there is such a search for good entertainment, with all the new outlets that are constantly in search of media. I think there have been phone calls made, and Stellan will get a phone call when he gets home.

Stellan Skarsgård: Yeah, and hopefully you'll be in it, Dave. We talked about that. I want to dance with David on an island in Greece.