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The joint venture between CBS Studios and the NAACP is developing a new daytime drama for the CBS Television Network.

The series, titled The Gates, follows the lives of a wealthy Black family in a posh, gated community. Michele Val Jean, who has written more than 2,000 episodes of daytime dramas and won multiple Daytime Emmy and WGA Awards for her work on The Bold & The Beautiful and General Hospital, will serve as writer and showrunner. Val Jean will also be an executive producer alongside Sheila Ducksworth (pictured in the image above), Leon Russell, Derrick Johnson and Kimberly Doebereiner. The Gates will be produced by the CBS Studios/NAACP production venture in partnership with P&G Studios, a division of Procter & Gamble.

“The Gates will be everything we love about daytime drama, from a new and fresh perspective,” said Sheila Ducksworth, president of the CBS Studios NAACP venture. “This series will salute an audience that has been traditionally underserved, with the potential to be a groundbreaking moment for broadcast television. With multi-dimensional characters, juicy storylines and Black culture front and center, THE GATES will have impactful representation, one of the key touchstones of the venture.”

Continued Ducksworth, “I’m excited to develop this project with CBS and P&G, two of the longest and most passionate champions of broadcast and daytime television, and the NAACP, whose enduring commitment to Black voices and artists is both powerful and inspiring. I also want to thank CBS’ George Cheeks, NAACP’s Derrick Johnson and P&G’s Marc Pritchard for their personal involvement and support to take our next step forward with THE GATES.”

The CBS Studios’ production venture and development deal with the NAACP was established to help elevate a diverse range of voices as well as increase the visibility of Black artists on broadcast and streaming platforms in an ever-evolving media landscape.

The portmanteau term Blerd, which is the moniker for a subcultural community that self-identifies as Black nerds, has evolved and carved a large landscape into many areas of pop culture. This includes entertainment, education, sports, books, and now McDonald’s. In a special panel discussion presented by McDonald’s USA and moderated by founder and CEO of Black Girl Nerds, Jamie Broadnax, a virtual roundtable discussion was held on the intersection of Blerd culture and Anime. 

Featured on the panel was a group of subject matter experts in this fandom which includes Hilton George (founder of Blerdcon), Krystal Shanelle (Content Creator), and Marques Gartrell (Chief Creative Officer, Widen & Kennedy). This valuable yet very entertaining discussion examines how the term Blerd and its meaning has shifted within the last decade, the transformative power of cosplay within Black Indigenous People Of Color communities and how anime is transforming and impacting the culture. 

The impacts of “blerdism” are now visible in many facets of culture, including food! If you have stopped by your local McDonald’s recently, you may have noticed that illustrious golden arch turned upside down in the form of a W, along with diverse characters embossed on the side. 

So what does this mean exactly?

For decades, McDonald’s has been embraced by the anime community, commonly dubbed

WcDonald’s and other names across various titles, episodes, and genres. For a limited time,

McDonald’s is also getting in on Blerd culture by offering fans the opportunity to experience their favorite fictional restaurant in real life. Through a four-week anthology of anime shorts, manga and immersive experiences, fans will be transported into the fantastical WcDonald’s universe. And they’re even introducing a new savory chili sauce to make this moment official! It’s available at a restaurant near you for a limited time only – take advantage while you can!

Check out the video below which includes an hour-long discussion as we all “Blerd Out Loud” and dive deep into our favorite fandoms and so much more! Just like that savory chili WcDonald’s sauce, the conversation is going to get a little savory! So be prepared!

Leading a box office global phenomenon results in a whole lot of opportunities. Studios love hiring people who have already shown they can bring home the big bucks with a critical darling. But when you do that for the world’s most popular cinematic universe, with a movie that combines three different big screen series, you can basically do whatever you want next. And Spider-Man: No Way Home director Jon Watts has decided he wants to use his massive success to resurrect the Final Destination franchise. Yes, Final Destination is heading back to screens with a sixth entry titled Final Destination: Bloodlines. And it looks like it will be released in 2025.

In 2022, Variety reported that No Way Home‘s director would revive the horror franchise that made Death itself the most dangerous villain. And Watts will indeed produce New Line Cinema’s next installment of the franchise, Final Destination 6, now known as Final Destination Bloodlines. Watts’ partner and wife Dianne McGunigle will also serve as a producer on the film. As will Final Destination alums Craig Perry and Sheila Hanahan Taylor. The script will come from Wicked Wicked Games‘ Lori Evans Taylor and Scream‘s Guy Busick. Variety says they will work from a treatment written by Watts, who says he and his wife are “massive fans” of the franchise.

Most recently, we learned the filming has actually begun on Final Destination: Bloodlines, and the movie even has a release date window. According to Bloody Disgusting, producer Perry shared:

After a long, hard slog through the pandemic and the strikes, Day One is finally in the can. 2025 will mark the 25th anniversary of the release of the first installment in the franchise. To honor the occasion with another worldwide theatrical release (in IMAX, no less) is a rare and wonderful thing. See you next year!

PS: I know, I know — Pet Sematary: Bloodlines. But this is the title we’ve had for three years, and we’re keeping it… for now.”

While 2011’s Final Destination 5 served as perfect end point for the franchise, fans know you can’t keep Death at bay forever. (Or even for an entire film.) What you can do though is send Death to HBO Max. That’s where the new installment will debut.

There’s no information about the film’s plot, but Bloodlines does give us a hint. Regardless of whether this s a reboot or a continuation though, we feel there is no excuse not to bring back Tony Todd. You hear us, New Line Cinema? No excuse! Fill out the blank check right now and mail it to him today.

Wait, what are we worried about? Jon Watts can do anything he wants right now. And if he loves Final Destination enough to resurrect it, he’ll want to bring back Tony Todd too.

Originally published on January 11, 2022.

The post FINAL DESTINATION: Bloodline Begins Filming, Sixth Franchise Movie Shares Release Window and Title appeared first on Nerdist.

BGN interviews the cast and director behind the A24 film Love Lies Bleeding.

Featured in the interviews are: Kristen Stewart, Katy O’Brian and director Rose Glass.

Lou is a reclusive gym manager who falls hard for Jackie, an ambitious bodybuilder who’s heading to Las Vegas to pursue her dream. Their love soon leads to violence as they get pulled deep into the web of Lou’s criminal family.

Interviewer: Jamie Broadnax

Video Editor: Jamie Broadnax

Love Lies Bleeding premieres March 8th.