HBO and Max Chief Casey Bloys said he has no plans to use <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/artificial-intelligence" target="_blank" rel="noopener">artificial intelligence</a> to create shows and simply doesn&#8217;t see it happening in our world following the resolution of the Writers Guild Of America&#8217;s strike.
Speaking at Vox Media&#8217;s Code Conference in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Bloys said that he knows it &#8220;sounds old-fashioned,&#8221; but added that he&#8217;s still &#8220;holding out hope for, especially in an artistic endeavor, the need for soul and human stories,&#8221; rather than those created by things like ChatGPT, according to <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/hbo-chief-ai-1235602540/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Hollywood Reporter</a>.
&#8220;I know that some people use it [AI] as a prompt to say, &#8216;Give me some ideas,'&#8221; Bloys said. &#8220;Again, if a writer wants to do that, fine, but I don&#8217;t see a world where a writer is out of that process and a bunch of executives are saying, &#8216;OK ChatGPT gives us a great &#8216;True Detective&#8217; season.'&#8221;
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As writers hit the picket lines during the 146-day WGA strike, they were absolutely barred from writing anything for the Hollywood studios and streamers. But there was no reason they couldn’t write their own scripts on spec. <a href="https://t.co/fd06brv5BO">https://t.co/fd06brv5BO</a>
&mdash; Variety (@Variety) <a href="https://twitter.com/Variety/status/1707495350024454592?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 28, 2023</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;I don&#8217;t see it happening,&#8221; he added. &#8220;It&#8217;s not, that&#8217;s not a world I&#8217;m interested in working in. But, you know, who knows where technology goes, but for the foreseeable future, given how we work at HBO and Max and the kinds of shows we&#8217;re doing, I don&#8217;t see it overtaking the necessary artistic ability that&#8217;s needed.&#8221;
The head of the network/streamer said that with the writers strike ending — but the SAG-AFTRA strike still ongoing — &#8220;it&#8217;s an uncertain time&#8221; in the industry.
&#8220;It&#8217;s a scary time. There&#8217;s a lot changing, so it is not business as usual,&#8221; Bloys said. &#8220;I don&#8217;t think any of any aspect of the business is business as usual. Labor issues included.&#8221;
In May, the WGA voted to go on strike over a variety of issues — and one of them included the use of artificial intelligence when it comes to the production of screenplays, <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/wga-deal-studios-plan-pursue-copyrights-ai-generated-scripts-1235602466/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">THR</a> noted. On Wednesday, the WGA agreed to a tentative a deal with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) that ended the 148-day strike. The agreement didn&#8217;t ban the use of AI, but did restrict how it can be credited and utilized, the outlet noted.
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&#8220;The Companies agree that because neither traditional AI nor GAI is a person, neither is a &#8216;writer&#8217; or &#8216;professional writer,'&#8221; states the Memorandum of Agreement. &#8220;Therefore, written material produced by traditional AI or GAI shall not be considered literary material.&#8221;
&#8220;A writer must obtain the Company&#8217;s consent before using GAI,&#8221; the agreement added. &#8220;The Company retains the right to reject the use of GAI, including the right to reject a use of GAI that could adversely affect the copyrightability or exploitation of the work.&#8221;
One of the things that led to the strike was writers&#8217; concerns that studios&#8217; use of things like ChatGPT — to write or rewrite scripts — will take away jobs from producers, writers, and more, as previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/studios-load-up-on-ai-specialists-as-actors-writers-remain-on-picket-line" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/writers-strike-could-be-ending-as-wga-reaches-tentative-deal-with-studios" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Writers Strike Could Be Ending As WGA Reaches Tentative Deal With Studios</a>

HBO Max-1

‘I Don’t See It Happening’: HBO/Max Chief Says He Won’t Use AI To Create Shows Following End Of Writer’s Strike

‘I Don’t See It Happening’: HBO/Max Chief Says He Won’t Use AI To Create Shows Following End Of Writer's Strike

Artificial Intelligence

Entertainment

HBO Max

Hollywood

U.S.

&#8220;Euphoria&#8221; star Angus Cloud has died at the age of 25, just days after returning to the United States from Ireland — where he buried his father.
According to a <a href="https://www.tmz.com/2023/07/31/euphoria-star-angus-cloud-dead-dies/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a> published Tuesday by entertainment site TMZ, police and firefighters in Oakland, California, responded late Monday morning to a 911 call placed by Cloud&#8217;s mother. She informed authorities that she suspected an overdose, and told them that her son did not have a pulse.
He was later pronounced dead at the scene, and his family released a statement to TMZ.
&#8220;It is with the heaviest heart that we had to say goodbye to an incredible human today. As an artist, a friend, a brother and a son, Angus was special to all of us in so many ways. Last week he buried his father and intensely struggled with this loss,&#8221; the statement read. &#8220;The only comfort we have is knowing Angus is now reunited with his dad, who was his best friend. Angus was open about his battle with mental health and we hope that his passing can be a reminder to others that they are not alone and should not fight this on their own in silence.&#8221;
&#8220;We hope the world remembers him for his humor, laughter and love for everyone. We ask for privacy at this time as we are still processing this devastating loss,&#8221; the statement concluded.
Cloud, who was best known for his portrayal of Fezco on popular HBO Max series, also appeared in the films &#8220;North Hollywood” and “The Line.&#8221;
The official Twitter account for &#8220;Euphoria&#8221; responded to the loss, saying, &#8220;We are incredibly saddened to learn of the passing of Angus Cloud. He was immensely talented and a beloved part of the HBO and Euphoria family. We extend our deepest condolences to his friends and family during this difficult time.&#8221;
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We are incredibly saddened to learn of the passing of Angus Cloud. He was immensely talented and a beloved part of the HBO and Euphoria family. We extend our deepest condolences to his friends and family during this difficult time. <a href="https://t.co/PLqkz5Rshc">pic.twitter.com/PLqkz5Rshc</a>
&mdash; euphoria (@euphoriaHBO) <a href="https://twitter.com/euphoriaHBO/status/1686137982003126273?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 31, 2023</a></blockquote>
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No cause of death has yet been reported, but a source told TMZ that the actor had been battling suicidal thoughts since the recent loss of his father and had been staying with family while he attempted to navigate his grief.
&#8220;Conor Angus Cloud Hickey was an extremely talented actor and a very sweet young man. He told me he had a lot of family in Ireland. Offaly and Balbriggan I believe. He wanted to go back there,&#8221; actor and director Jason O&#8217;Mara <a href="https://twitter.com/jason_omara/status/1686146056822874112" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. &#8220;I am devastated to hear this news. Sending love to his family and friends.&#8221;
Cloud had <a href="https://www.etonline.com/angus-cloud-dead-at-25-how-he-got-cast-in-euphoria-without-acting-experience-208966" target="_blank" rel="noopener">no acting experience</a> when he landed the role on &#8220;Euphoria&#8221; — a casting rep. had literally approached him on the street in New York City, asking him to come in and read lines from what would eventually be the show&#8217;s first episode.
&#8220;I was confused and I didn&#8217;t want to give her my phone number,&#8221; Cloud said in GQ <a href="https://www.gq.com/story/angus-cloud-euphoria-spotlight" target="_blank" rel="noopener">interview</a> in 2019. &#8220;I thought it was a scam &#8230; I had to change it a little bit to make it sound real, like how I would say it.&#8221;
He had previously attended the Oakland School for the Arts – but rather than acting, had spent his time there building sets and working behind the scenes. So when the time came for him to shoot the pilot episode, he opted not to change who he was to become more of what he thought an actor should be.
&#8220;I wasn&#8217;t trying to learn how to act on the plane over there,&#8221; he told GQ at the time. &#8220;Imma just show up and do what they want and then be done.&#8221;
If you or someone you know needs support now, call or text 988 or chat at <a class="c-link" href="http://988lifeline.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://988lifeline.org" data-sk="tooltip_parent">988lifeline.org</a>.

Variety’s 2022 Power Of Young Hollywood Celebration Presented By Facebook Gaming – Arrivals

‘Euphoria’ Star Angus Cloud Dead At 25, Just Days After Losing His Father

'Euphoria' Star Angus Cloud Dead At 25, Just Days After Losing His Father

Celebrities

World

HBO voiced its support for author <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/jk-rowling" target="_blank" rel="noopener">J.K. Rowling</a> being an executive producer on the upcoming &#8220;Harry Potter&#8221; TV series amid numerous attacks against her by trans activists.
During the Max streaming event, officials confirmed that a TV series based off the seven-book series from Rowling will move forward, the <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/harry-potter-tv-series-controversy-jk-rowling-1235372796/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hollywood Reporter</a> reported.
Officials said the long-form series will be rolled out over a 10-year period and be faithful to the book series, with Rowling as one of its producers.
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The series, featuring a new cast, promises to be &quot;authentic to the original books&quot;, which will see author JK Rowling serve as an executive producer <a href="https://t.co/Y9BME9BTyV">https://t.co/Y9BME9BTyV</a>
&mdash; Sky News (@SkyNews) <a href="https://twitter.com/SkyNews/status/1646498916702076928?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 13, 2023</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;J.K. is an executive producer, and her insights will be helpful,&#8221; Casey Bloys, chairman and CEO, HBO and Max Content said. &#8220;We are in the Harry Potter business.&#8221;
&#8220;The TV show is new and exciting, but we&#8217;ve been in the Harry Potter business for 20 years; this isn&#8217;t a new decision,&#8221; Bloys added. &#8220;We&#8217;re comfortable being in the Potter business. &#8221;
&#8220;J.K. is a very online conversation … It&#8217;s very nuanced and complicated and not something we&#8217;re going to get into,&#8221; the CEO continued. &#8220;Our priority is what&#8217;s onscreen. The Harry Potter story is incredibly affirmative and positive about love and acceptance, and that&#8217;s our priority, what&#8217;s on the screen.&#8221;
The &#8220;Harry Potter&#8221; author also released a statement that read, &#8220;Max&#8217;s commitment to preserving the integrity of my books is important to me, and I&#8217;m looking forward to being part of this new adaptation which will allow for a degree of depth and detail only afforded by a long-form television series.&#8221;
Following confirmation of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/j-k-rowling-throws-her-support-behind-macy-gray-after-singer-faces-backlash-for-transphobic-comments" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rowling&#8217;s</a> involvement, social media users reacted, with many blasting the move.
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Reporter Sean T. Collins <a href="https://twitter.com/theseantcollins/status/1646215299459317771">wrote</a>, &#8220;If you interview an actor or filmmaker or executive involved with the Harry Potter tv show and don&#8217;t lead with a question about JK Rowling leading a hate group you&#8217;re done, over, out of the art club.&#8221;
<a href="https://twitter.com/kvanaren/status/1646271283682844673">Vulture</a> critic Kathryn VanArendonk wrote, &#8220;This faithful adaptation of harry potter, announced with absolutely bulls*** craven disdain for Rowling&#8217;s political impact, is bad.&#8221;
Out Magazine <a href="https://twitter.com/outmagazine/status/1646268372785459200" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tweeted</a>: &#8220;We don’t want any new Harry Potter content if noted transphobe J.K. Rowling is involved&#8230;&#8221;
Rowling has been the target of transgender activists because of her numerous comments in defense of biological women, as previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/twitter-deletes-trans-activist-video-with-j-k-rowling-death-threat-after-initially-saying-it-didnt-violate-safety-policies" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/harry-potter-to-get-series-reboot-and-trans-activists-are-already-planning-boycott">Harry Potter To Get Series Reboot — And Trans Activists Are Already Planning Boycott</a>

“Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore” World Premiere – Arrivals

HBO Refuses To Cave To Woke Mob, Backs J.K. Rowling As Executive Producer On ‘Harry Potter’ TV Series

HBO Refuses To Cave To Woke Mob, Backs J.K. Rowling As Executive Producer On 'Harry Potter' TV Series

Harry Potter

JK Rowling

Transgender

Wokeness

&#8220;The Last of Us&#8221; star Bella Ramsey said the lead character in the series, Joel, made the &#8220;right decision&#8221; in the finale of the first season when he was faced with saving a child or humanity in the zombie-apocalypse series.
During an interview with <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVa651YfWJw&amp;t=172s">Vanity Fair</a>, the 19-year-old actress — who plays Ellie — was asked her thoughts about the dilemma her co-star Pedro Pascal faced in the season finale of the HBO Max series. The <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/the-last-of-us-finale-draws-8-2-million-viewers-a-series-high-despite-oscars-competition">series</a> centered on Joel and Ellie, who are seeking a cure in a world overrun by zombies created by a fungal infection.
WATCH:
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Bella Ramsey Reacts to &#039;The Last of Us&#039; Fan Theories | Vanity Fair" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hVa651YfWJw?start=172&#038;feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
&#8220;I mean, I think he made the right decision,&#8221; Ramsey replied to a fan question. &#8220;I think most people agree from like the reaction to the series as well. I think more people are like, &#8216;he definitely made the right decision.'&#8221;
&#8220;I don&#8217;t think it was even a choice,&#8221; she added. &#8220;I don&#8217;t think it was even a decision for him. There was no other option other than to save her. Because … he did save the world. But, like, his world. That&#8217;s so cringy but it&#8217;s kind of true.&#8221;
Later in the clip, Ramsey read another fan comment that laid out what they saw as Joel&#8217;s thought process in the end. (Warning: Spoilers)
&#8220;Joel thought that sacrificing Ellie wasn&#8217;t worth saving humanity, the same humanity that killed his daughter, the same people that kill each other every day,&#8221; Ramsey read. &#8220;I think the giraffes symbolize true innocence, the vanishing grace of childhood. When Joel looked back at the giraffes, and they were almost gone, he realized that innocence has left this world and the world needed innocence, people like Ellie. They didn&#8217;t need a &#8216;cure&#8217; because the [fungal infection] wasn&#8217;t the real disease. It is what people have become.&#8221;
The young actress agreed with the theory and said &#8220;Yeah, true. Truth.”
Following the series finale, reactions from fans on social media have been mixed with many supporting Joel&#8217;s actions but others saying what he did was selfish, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/mar/22/id-like-more-of-the-infected-your-verdicts-on-the-last-of-us">The Guardian</a> noted.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/the-last-of-us-presents-an-ethical-dilemma-kill-a-child-to-save-humanity">&#8216;The Last Of Us&#8217; Presents An Ethical Dilemma: Kill A Child To Save Humanity?</a>

Bella Ramsey-1

‘The Last Of Us’ Star Says Series’ Lead Character Made ‘Right Decision’ In Finale

'Last Of Us’ Star Says Lead Character In The Series Made 'Right Decision' In Finale

Pedro Pascal

There’s going to be another “<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/game-of-thrones" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Game of Thrones</a>” spinoff coming to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/television" target="_blank" rel="noopener">television</a>.
Warner Bros. Discovery made an announcement confirming the prequel during a media event on Wednesday. This prequel, currently called “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight,” is based on George R.R. Martin’s “Dunk and Egg” books.
The newly merged company also announced that the combined <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/hbo-max" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HBO Max</a> and Discovery+ streaming service would be known as Max going forward, per <a href="https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/game-of-thrones-prequel-series-a-knight-of-the-seven-kingdoms-hbo-1235578466/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Variety</a>.
This newest spinoff will follow the story of Ser Duncan the Tall (Dunk) and a young Aegon V Targaryen (Egg), which takes place 90 years before the events of “A Song of Ice and Fire,” which is the series that provided the storyline for “Game of Thrones.” 
The official project logline says: “A century before the events of ‘Game of Thrones,’ two unlikely heroes wandered Westeros … a young, naïve but courageous knight, Ser Duncan the Tall, and his diminutive squire, Egg. Set in an age when the Targaryen line still holds the Iron Throne and the memory of the last dragon has not yet passed from living memory, great destinies, powerful foes, and dangerous exploits all await these improbable and incomparable friends.”
The publication noted that Martin would serve as writer and executive producer. Ira Parker, who was a co-executive producer on Season 1 of “House of the Dragon,” is also part of the project.
“Game of Thrones” and “House of the Dragon” alums Ryan Condal and Vince Gerardis will be executive producers on the new prequel series.
This is one of many “Game of Thrones” spinoffs currently in the works, but the only one besides “House of the Dragon” that’s been confirmed. &#8220;HOTD&#8221; launched in August 2022 and was renewed for a second season, which is currently in production.
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In 2021, HBO and HBO Max chief content officer Casey Bloys said future “Game of Thrones” spinoff shows would be decided based on which stories had the strongest content. 
“Obviously, we know George has this incredible world with all of this really rich and complicated history and all of these characters,” Bloys <a href="https://tvline.com/2021/01/21/game-of-thrones-dunk-and-egg-prequel-series-spinoff-hbo/">told</a> TVLine at the time. “So we’ve been trying to be thoughtful about what are the stories that are worth telling. What would be exciting? What would fans love?” he said. “Dunk and Egg is one of those, but not the only one.”
“We’ll let the creative dictate where we end up,” the network exec said.

George RR Martin

HBO Announces ‘Game Of Thrones’ Prequel Series ‘A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight’

HBO Announces 'Game of Thrones' Prequel Series 'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight'

Game of Thrones

Television

A debate about the moral conundrum presented in “The Last of Us” is raging all over again now that TV fans were introduced to Joel’s impossible choice: save one child, or save humanity?
Only the question isn’t as simple as that, which is why video game players have been debating this exact issue for years before the HBO Max television adaptation brought the story to a wider audience. For those who don’t know, “The Last of Us” follows two people as they journey across a post-zombie apocalypse America.
Joel (Pedro Pascal) is a father who is bereft after losing his teenage daughter in the early days of the crisis. Fourteen-year-old Ellie (Bella Ramsey) is an orphan who never knew an uninfected world. But what makes Ellie special is her immunity to the cordyceps brain infection which turns people into flesh-eating zombies. 
The pair spends the entire season attempting to get to the Fireflies headquarters where one doctor is eager to use Ellie’s immunity to create a vaccine against the deadly cordyceps. Along the way, Joel becomes like a father to Ellie, bonding them in a strong parent-child bond. That’s why he reacts in a murderous rage when they finally reach the doctor who claims he can save the world, but only by killing Ellie to extract her brain and create a cure. 
Joel guns down everyone in his path on his way to rescue Ellie from the surgery. He escapes the hospital and in the final moments of season 1, lies to the teen about why they left before the vaccine could be created. Ellie didn’t know she was about to make the ultimate sacrifice, and Joel fears she would have wanted to.
Troy Baker, the person who voiced Joel’s character in the game, said his perspective on the events has changed since he became a father.
When asked if he would have made the same decision, the voice actor <a href="https://www.ign.com/articles/troy-baker-joel-miller-the-last-of-us-ending-daredevil-game" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>, “When we were making part one, I was at a disadvantage to [game writer Neil Druckmann], because Neil was a father. I was acting. This was a very real possibility for him — what do I look like in the event that I lose my daughter?”
“And I have a son, and I don’t know what I would look like if I lost him,&#8221; Baker continued. &#8220;But I do know that if I had the opportunity to save him I would do anything. I would do anything to save him. So people have asked me, why would Joel do that when he could have saved the world, and my answer to them is always this — he did, he did save the world. It’s just that the world was that girl, and that’s it.”
While many arguments focus on whether it’s morally permissible to sacrifice one person’s life for the sake of many, they mostly fail to bring up one essential point: consent, or more accurately, the ability of minors to consent.
While there’s a good chance that Ellie would have agreed to the surgery even if she had been told it would kill her, that doesn’t make it acceptable for adults to allow her to make those decisions. It brings to mind many other timely debates over <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/morally-and-medically-appalling-gender-clinic-case-manager-blows-the-whistle-on-permanent-harm-done-to-kids" target="_blank" rel="noopener">other life-altering choices</a> children should and shouldn’t be making. 
Adults are there to protect kids, not to let them decide it’s time to die. That’s why, for now at least, most Americans are still rightly horrified at the introduction of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/canada-moves-toward-assisted-suicide-for-minors-critics-erupt" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pediatric assisted suicide</a> being introduced in Canada.
Co-showrunner Craig Mazin also weighed in on Joel’s choice.
“When you love something unconditionally, logic goes out the window and you will do really horrible things to protect the ones you love,” Mazin said during an interview with <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/the-last-of-us-finale-interview-1235347161/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Hollywood Reporter</a>.
“And there’s a lot of examples worldwide of this happening all the time. So for us it was just like, ‘Here are all the different pieces that we have, the tools we have within this story. How can we, with each episode, thematically, touch on that in some way?’”
Ultimately, Mazin said he’s unclear on what the “right” choice is. “I’m confused about it morally,” he said. “I think it’s a difficult choice. I go back and forth. I think a lot of people will go back and forth on it.”
A New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/13/arts/television/the-last-of-us-season-finale.html?" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reviewer</a> was sympathetic to Joel’s protective tendencies but still insisted that Ellie should have been able to make her own choices, even if that meant choosing death.
“[Joel] fails Ellie in the way that many parents fail their children: out of love and fear,” James Poniewozik wrote of the finale. He said Joel lied about the Fireflies not needing her anymore because he knew she would have been angry about what he did.
“Maybe he doesn’t want her to feel guilty,” the reviewer continued. “Maybe he doesn’t want her to hate him. Maybe he suspects that, if she had the choice, she would have agreed to save the world instead of herself.”
“We have already been told that Joel has done horrible things to survive the apocalypse,” Poniewozik writes. “But the unforgivable thing he does here is to make Ellie into a non-player character again, denying her the agency to be the protagonist of her own life.”
The season finale of “The Last of Us” brings to mind the classic trolley car morality question. This famous ethical thought exercise asks people how they would react if they could divert a train poised to kill five people onto a track where it would only kill one person.
The answer changes for most people depending on who, exactly, is standing on that track. What if the one person is your own child? That’s one way of looking at the choice Joel made.
Steven Gimbel, a professor of Philosophy at Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania, also weighed in on the question. “We are wired to respond more strongly to people we care about and to people we think are like us,” he <a href="https://www.today.com/popculture/tv/the-last-of-us-season-finale-joel-choice-explained-morality-rcna74698" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. “If we&#8217;re talking about the wellbeing of all humanity, now that seems a different case. We can understand why Joel made the decision he did. Most people, including me, would&#8217;ve made that decision.”
But Gimbel said that ultimately Joel should have chosen to sacrifice Ellie’s life for the greater good. “It would&#8217;ve hurt, but sometimes the right thing is hard to do,” he concluded.
One major problem with this analogy when it comes to “The Last of Us” is that there was no guarantee that the doctor would have been able to create a vaccine to defeat the cordyceps despite his belief that he could. So letting the doctor take out Ellie’s brain to potentially create this miracle cure only offered the potential for saving humanity.
And even if it was guaranteed that the doctor could have saved the whole world, would that make it the right choice to kill a child without informing her? Would that answer change if the adults had told Ellie she’d have to die to save humanity and she agreed it was worth it?
Like most anything to come out of Hollywood these days, “The Last of Us” included multiple leftist-approved storylines ranging from <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/the-last-of-us-creators-confirm-major-character-wont-be-recast-in-season-2-despite-time-jump" target="_blank" rel="noopener">LGBTQ cheerleading</a> to portraying communism as utopia and, as always, portraying <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/the-office-actor-rainn-wilson-admits-theres-anti-christian-bias-in-hollywood-following-the-last-of-us-episode" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Christians as the eternal villains</a>. But when it came to Joel stepping up and doing what it took to protect the young girl who had become a daughter to him, for once this series made a good decision.

Los Angeles Premiere Of HBO’s “The Last Of Us” – Arrivals

‘The Last Of Us’ Presents An Ethical Dilemma: Kill A Child To Save Humanity?

'The Last Of Us' Presents An Ethical Dilemma: Kill A Child To Save Humanity? 

Readers Pass

Bella Ramsey will not be recast as Ellie on the popular <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/hbo-max">HBO Max</a> series “<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/television">The Last of Us</a>,” creators have confirmed.
Fans were wondering if the 19-year-old star would reprise the role for season 2. While Ramsey plays a 14-year-old girl in the first season, which is based on a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/video-games">video game</a> of the same name, the second part jumps forward five years. This led to speculation that Ellie’s role could be recast to better reflect the character’s age.
Showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann addressed the rumors during a virtual press conference ahead of the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/entertainment">season finale</a> on Sunday. &#8220;Let&#8217;s put this thing to rest,&#8221; Druckmann said of the rampant rumors.
&#8220;One of the things about the casting process that&#8217;s tough is that we invite people to join us on this process, and we know everything [about the secrets of the production] and nobody else knows anything except what they know, which is the game,&#8221; Mazin said, per <a href="https://ew.com/tv/the-last-of-us-season-2-bella-ramsey-time-jump/">Entertainment Weekly</a>. 
He continued, &#8220;We know what we&#8217;re gonna do in terms of costume and makeup and hair, but more importantly, we also know the spirit and soul of the actor.&#8221;
Mazin went on to discuss how “The Last of Us” fans were initially upset that Ramsey had a different look compared to Ellie in gameplay. The series co-creator talked about how that controversy was eventually resolved.
&#8220;I&#8217;m like, &#8216;It doesn&#8217;t matter. Watch! Just watch what happens.&#8217; And now they know,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I think there is still this constant drumbeat of anxiety. All I can say to people is, I have so much anxiety myself about doing a good job on this. Just know I am also very anxious. If you&#8217;re anxious about something, I&#8217;m probably anxious about it, which means we&#8217;re talking about it and thinking about it.&#8221;
The series has been both praised and criticized for deviating from the game’s storylines. While most of “The Last of Us” follows the original content closely, including many shot-for-shot copies, certain elements were changed or embellished. 
The love story between Frank and Bill in episode 3, “Long, Long, Time,” is one example of the showrunners adding to the existing story to flesh out characters. Many game fans accused it of being unnecessary filler, while others said it gave the series depth.
Mazin said during the press conference that “The Last of Us” season 2 would also be different than Part II of the game. 
&#8220;It will be different just as this season was different [from the first game],&#8221; he noted. &#8220;Sometimes it will be different radically, and sometimes it will be [barely] different at all. But it&#8217;s going to be different and it will be its own thing. It won&#8217;t be exactly like the game. It will be the show that Neil and I want to make. But we are making it with Bella.&#8221;
&#8220;The only way we would ever, ever consider re-casting Bella is if she said, &#8216;I don&#8217;t want to work with you guys anymore,'&#8221; Druckmann agreed. &#8220;And even then, we&#8217;re not sure we would grant her that. We might still force her to come back to season 2.&#8221;

‘The Last Of Us’ Creators Confirm Major Character Won’t Be Recast In Season 2 Despite Time Jump

'The Last Of Us' Creators Confirm Major Character Won't Be Recast In Season 2 Despite Time Jump

“<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/television">The Last of Us</a>” season finale aired Sunday night at the same time as the 95th <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/oscars">Academy Awards</a>, but that competition did nothing to affect its viewership.
The popular <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/hbo-max">HBO Max</a> drama attracted an audience of 8.2 million <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/ratings">viewers</a> for its season 1 finale on March 12, a record high for the series. Warner Brothers Discovery reported that the first six episodes are now averaging 30.4 million viewers, including initial views and streaming over time. 
“The Last of Us” has become the most-watched HBO Max series in the network’s history in Europe, per <a href="https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/the-last-of-us-season-1-finale-ratings-viewers-1235551465/">Variety</a>. It’s still outranked by “House of the Dragon” in the United States.
Meanwhile, the Academy Awards boasted its highest viewership since 2020 but still failed to get anywhere close to pre-pandemic numbers. The ABC broadcast earned an average of 18.7 million viewers for the evening.
This isn’t the first time the series competed with a major awards show for views. Episode 4, “Please Hold to My Hand,” earned 7.5 million viewers while airing at the same time as the Grammys on February 5, a record at the time. 
HBO Max did not attempt to compete with the Super Bowl on February 12, opting to release that week’s new episode two days early.
“The Last of Us” was already renewed for a second season, and there are rumors of a third. The zombie apocalypse show is based on the video game of the same name, and series creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann have already hinted that the events of the second part of the game could merit two seasons to explore. 
Like season 1, the next installment of “The Last of Us” will rely heavily on the game’s narrative for content but will also divert from gameplay at the creators’ discretion.
Mazin said during a virtual press conference this week that season 2 &#8220;will be different&#8221; from Part II of the game. 
&#8220;It will be different just as this season was different [from the first game],&#8221; he said, per <a href="https://ew.com/tv/the-last-of-us-season-2-bella-ramsey-time-jump/">Entertainment Weekly</a>. &#8220;Sometimes it will be different radically, and sometimes it will be [barely] different at all. But it&#8217;s going to be different and it will be its own thing. It won&#8217;t be exactly like the game. It will be the show that Neil and I want to make.”

‘The Last Of Us’ Finale Draws 8.2 Million Viewers, A Series High, Despite Oscars Competition

'The Last Of Us' Finale Draws 8.2 Million Viewers, A Series High, Despite Oscars Competition

Oscars

Ratings

Episode 3 of “<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/television">The Last of Us</a>” got a lot of attention for featuring a gay love story, and now one of the series leads is hinting at more <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/lgbtq">LGBTQ</a> storylines to come.
This comes as no surprise to anyone familiar with the video game upon which the hit <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/hbo-max">HBO Max</a> series is based. The storyline from <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/the-last-of-us-goes-all-in-for-suicide-for-reasons-of-heartbreak">episode 3</a> featuring survivalist Bill (Nick Offerman) and his relationship with Frank (Murray Bartlett) is also hinted at during gameplay. Players know there will be more gay stories in future episodes, too.
Series lead Bella Ramsey, who plays the teen orphan Ellie, shared a message with fans who questioned or criticized the third episode for including a same-sex relationship.
&#8220;I know people will think what they want to think. But they&#8217;re gonna have to get used to it,” Ramsey told GQ during an <a href="https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/culture/article/bella-ramsey-interview-2023">interview</a>. “If you don&#8217;t want to watch the show because it has gay storylines, because it has a trans character, that&#8217;s on you, and you&#8217;re missing out.&#8221;
The “Game of Thrones” alum said, &#8220;I&#8217;m not particularly anxious about it. It isn&#8217;t gonna make me afraid. I think that comes from a place of defiance.&#8221;
Ramsey, 19, identifies as non-binary but doesn’t care which pronouns anyone uses. The actress previously told <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/11/arts/television/bella-ramsey-the-last-of-us.html">The New York Times</a> that she &#8220;has always been very fluid&#8221; regarding gender and wore a chest binder &#8220;90 percent&#8221; of the time while shooting &#8220;The Last of Us.&#8221; &#8220;
The British star clarified those comments while speaking with GQ, warning fans that it “probably isn&#8217;t healthy, like, please bind safely.&#8221;
She discussed how her co-star Pedro Pascal was very “supportive” of her. He has a trans-identifying sister, which led to the duo talking about gender and sexuality all the time, GQ notes.
“And [the conversations] weren’t always deep: they could be funny and humorous, the whole spectrum. We were just very honest and open with each other,” Ramsey said.
The actress also talked about portraying an older version of Ellie, who is in a relationship with an older woman named Dina in part two of the game. “There are a few bits with Ellie on her own, probably, but I like the fact that she also has [Dina] now,” she said of the recently announced second season.
“I mean, season one really was the best year of my life,” Ramsey said. “As the episodes come out, [they] bring back such good memories. I am nervous, of course. [But] I’m so excited to get the chance to do that again.”

‘The Last Of Us’ Star Hints At Future LGBT Storylines, Says Fans Should ‘Get Used To It’

'The Last Of Us' Star Hints At Future LGBT Storylines, Says Fans Should 'Get Used To It'

LGBTQ

&#8220;The Last of Us&#8221; director Peter Hoar said he wanted to &#8220;trick&#8221; his audience into watching a gay love story in an episode of HBO Max&#8217;s new apocalyptic drama.
Hoar, who is gay and is known for his work on the British LGBT+ miniseries, &#8220;It’s a Sin,&#8221; said that he wanted the viewers to see that it was the &#8220;same love&#8221; as straight people, but just between two guys, <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/last-of-us-episode-3-nick-offerman-b2272921.html?utm_medium=Social&amp;utm_source=Facebook&amp;fbclid=IwAR28zmmQXFCVmR3iW8Jlsehtrraob9rQPbKO_PG55PYGqCR7uc1niSZOLX4#Echobox=1675222615">Independent UK</a> reported.
&#8220;Sometimes you have to sort of trick the rest of the world into watching these things before they&#8217;re like, &#8216;Oh, my God, it was two guys. I just realized,'&#8221; Hoar told <a href="https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/the-last-of-us-episode-3-director-peter-hoar-interview">Inverse</a> magazine ahead the release of the zombie series&#8217; third episode.
&#8220;I think then they might understand that it&#8217;s all real,&#8221; he added. &#8220;It&#8217;s just the same love.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
The journey continues.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheLastofUs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TheLastofUs</a> will return for another season on HBO Max. <a href="https://t.co/GdcL4Uhkfv">pic.twitter.com/GdcL4Uhkfv</a>
&mdash; HBO Max (@hbomax) <a href="https://twitter.com/hbomax/status/1619017944263958529?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 27, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&nbsp;
In the first two episodes of the series adapted from the popular video game, the show focused on fighting zombies. However, the third one veered off course with a self-contained romance between two surviving men Bill (Nick Offerman) and Frank (Murray Bartlett) who hadn&#8217;t been infected with the virus.
Reading through reviews on&#8221;<a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the_last_of_us/s01/reviews?type=user">Rotten Tomatoes,</a>&#8221; the third episode didn&#8217;t sit well with many who suggested skipping it, as most of the episode consisted of the romance between the two men.
&#8220;If episode 3 was about a heterosexual couple, fans would still be bored and disappointed,&#8221; one person wrote. &#8220;Most fans are watching for the adaptation of a video game about fighting zombies, not a full episode about romance. We all know why the episode is receiving high praise, let&#8217;s calm down.&#8221;
&#8220;They didn&#8217;t respect the existing story in the game with this episode 3, terrible!&#8221; another wrote.
One shared, &#8220;Episode 3 was an hour of my life I will never get back. Just watch episodes 1 &amp; 2 and wait until episode 4 comes out.&#8221;
And on &#8220;<a href="https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/the-last-of-us/user-reviews/adult">Common Sense Media</a>&#8221; a reviewer slammed the site for only showing &#8220;reviews based on first/early episodes.&#8221;
&#8220;There is a sex scene between two men in episode 3 not mentioned anywhere,&#8221; the person wrote. &#8220;For new/current series, there should be a weekly update from the review team. I wrote a similar review to the Terminal List series and as of today, it is still not updated. Very irresponsible to parents/guradians who use this site. Especially those who subscribe monthly. Please fix!!!&#8221;

The Last of Us

‘The Last Of Us’ Director Says He Wanted To ‘Trick’ Audience Into Watching Gay Love Story

Creator and actress Mindy Kaling has made history for her <a href="https://slate.com/culture/2023/01/velma-mindy-kaling-hbo-max-review.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">woke</a> <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/mindy-kalings-velma-will-be-east-asian-series-wont-have-scooby-doo" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Scooby-Doo</a> spin-off &#8220;<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/mindy-kalings-scooby-doo-spinoff-velma-trashed-by-fans-saying-its-horrible-not-funny-at-all" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Velma</a>&#8221; &#8212; but certainly not in the way she expected.
The HBO Max show, as highlighted by <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/mindy-kalings-scooby-doo-spinoff-velma-trashed-by-fans-saying-its-horrible-not-funny-at-all" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Daily Wire</a>, has absolutely bombed on the review-aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes. And now it&#8217;s landed the number three spot on IMDb&#8217;s list of worst-rated shows of all time.
While only four episodes of &#8220;Velma&#8221; have aired so far, the show has already racked up more than 41,000 1-star reviews. On the flip side, it&#8217;s earned a mere 1,688 10-star reviews as of Tuesday morning.
<div id="attachment_492607" style="width: 626px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-492607" decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-492607 size-large" src="https://www.dailywire.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Screen-Shot-2023-01-24-at-8.43.20-AM-616x576.png" alt="IMBd" width="616" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/01/Screen-Shot-2023-01-24-at-8.43.20-AM-616x576.png 616w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/01/Screen-Shot-2023-01-24-at-8.43.20-AM-300x281.png 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/01/Screen-Shot-2023-01-24-at-8.43.20-AM-768x718.png 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/01/Screen-Shot-2023-01-24-at-8.43.20-AM.png 1264w" sizes="(max-width: 616px) 100vw, 616px" />Screenshot: IMDb</div>
Kaling&#8217;s &#8220;Velma&#8221; is only behind &#8220;The Pogmentary&#8221; and &#8220;Iste Bu Benim Masalim&#8221; on the worst-rated IMDb <a href="https://www.imdb.com/search/title/?title_type=tv_series&amp;num_votes=5000,&amp;sort=user_rating,asc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">list</a>, while &#8220;A Little Late with Lilly Singh&#8221; and &#8220;Santa Inc.&#8221; are behind &#8220;Velma&#8221; to round out the top five.
The show&#8217;s negative reviews are all over the place, though they all agree it completely misses the mark. Some slam Kaling for going full-woke and constantly focusing on race, sexuality, and gender, while others are incensed about how far-removed the show is from the classic &#8220;Scooby-Doo.&#8221;
And it&#8217;s even worse for Kaling, who strived for woke applause. Some reviews on the IMDb page actually slam the creator of the show for its apparent racism and sexism.
&#8220;The jokes aren&#8217;t funny. It&#8217;s not cool. It&#8217;s not hip. It&#8217;s the opposite. It&#8217;s majorly offensive. Offensive for two reasons,&#8221; one review <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14153790/reviews?ref_=tt_sa_3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reads</a>. &#8220;One for how terrible it is and it is really bottom of the barrel terrible, and two for its obvious sexism and racism. What an absolute insult, really, to anyone with half a shred of respectability. I&#8217;m just staggered that this even exists.&#8221;
Another high-ranking review on the IMDb page highlights the bizarre sexual aspects of the show.
&#8220;This was atrocious. I watched the entire first episode and did not laugh once. Not even a chuckle. The jokes were so juvenile, so heavy handed and the premise so far removed from the original IP, it was embarrassing,&#8221; the review slams, adding, &#8220;Why is this series about sex and what does any of the random sexual situations have to do with Scooby Doo? I also don&#8217;t know, nor care. Speaking of which, where is Scooby and Shaggy? &#8230; Personally, I feel like HBO and Mindy Kaling owe everyone an apology for this abomination of a series.&#8221;
Notably, before the show even aired, Kaling made it a point to emphasize that the main animated character, Velma, would be South Asian.
“Hopefully you noticed my Velma is South Asian,” Kaling <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/mindy-kaling-announces-her-scooby-doo-velma-character-is-south-asian-says-if-people-freak-out-about-that-i-dont-care" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> last year to a crowd of fans. “If people freak out about that, I don’t care.”
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/mindy-kaling-announces-her-scooby-doo-velma-character-is-south-asian-says-if-people-freak-out-about-that-i-dont-care" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mindy Kaling Announces Her ‘Scooby-Doo’ Velma Character Is South Asian, Says ‘If People Freak Out About That, I Don’t Care’</a>

The Academys 13th Governors Awards – Arrivals

Mindy Kaling’s Woke ‘Velma’ Makes History For Its Dismal Reviews

Mindy Kaling

Scooby Doo

The new “<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/television">Scooby-Doo</a>” spinoff cartoon “Velma” is not appealing to many fans of the original series.
The adult-oriented cartoon airing on <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/hbo-max">HBO Max</a> features the character Velma Dinkley and her origin story before the beloved crime-solving gang from the original &#8220;Scooby-Doo&#8221; series got together. It stars comedic actress <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/mindy-kaling">Mindy Kaling</a> as the voice of the main character alongside a cast of diverse characters.
“Velma” was released this week, and already many “Scooby-Doo” fans are upset about how the series fundamentally changes the characters’ personalities. So far, the series has an 8% audience rating and a 50% critic rating on <a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/velma/s01">Rotten Tomatoes</a>.
“If you are a fan of Scooby-Doo don&#8217;t watch this. It&#8217;s everything terrible about modern-day Hollywood wrapped into a terrible Reboot no one asked for,” one reviewer warned.
“As a fan of the original series, this is not written for me which is a shame really,” another viewer agreed.
“I actually gave this show the benefit of the doubt. As I was watching it dawned on me, the only creativity left in these Hollywood types is to change the race of some of the protagonists and add in some seriously unfunny childish humor,” another person echoed.
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Velma | Official Trailer | HBO Max" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GSm_Y3yS7bA?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<div class="audience-reviews__review-wrap">
&#8220;Writing is horrible, voice acting is mediocre at best, animation is atrocious, jokes are painfully unfunny and the show doesn&#8217;t respect the original concept. Character&#8217;s personalities are so different it doesn&#8217;t resemble anything that we loved to watch as kids and it&#8217;s too vulgar for today&#8217;s kids,&#8221; another shared.
&#8220;A complete disaster. It&#8217;s not funny at all,&#8221; yet another Rotten Tomatoes user wrote.
Many reviewers pointed out the blatant adult content, with one person calling the new series “unnecessarily sexual,” especially considering how the characters are meant to be teenagers.
</div>
One reviewer wrote: “Hey let&#8217;s take people&#8217;s childhood and fill it with violence, profanities, drugs and sexual references, they&#8217;ll love it!”
While critics rated “Velma” slightly better, they were also mostly unimpressed with the finished product.
“It’s been done before, and much better, using unique takes on the gang that maintained their essence, so Velma is never as groundbreaking as it seems to think it is,” the Variety reviewer <a href="https://variety.com/2023/tv/reviews/velma-review-hbo-max-queer-scooby-doo-mindy-kaling-1235486171/">shared</a>. “More than that, these characters are just really unpleasant to spend time with.”
“Too much meta humor, not enough heart,” the Hollywood Reporter synopsis <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-reviews/velma-hbo-max-mindy-kaling-constance-wu-1235292034/">says</a>.
Kaling, who also serves as executive producer on the project, previously spoke about her inclusion of a same-sex kiss between Velma and Daphne in episode two of the new show. Velma’s sexuality has long been a topic of discussion among fans.
“The character is so iconic, and there’s been so much speculation about her sexuality,” Kaling said, per <a href="https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/velma-gay-mindy-kaling-hbo-max-animated-1235486503/">Variety</a>. “I work on a couple other shows about young women, and it just felt like this gift to explore that, knowing that there’s all these expectations for the character. It was one of the reasons why it really felt worthy to do an origin story of her.”
“We faced no resistance. We came in and said, ‘This is what we want to do, and this is how we want to do it,&#8217;” series creator Charlie Grandy agreed of their decision to add the kiss.

New York Comic Con 2022 – Day 1

Mindy Kaling’s ‘Scooby Doo’ Spinoff ‘Velma’ Trashed By Fans Saying It’s ‘Horrible,’ ‘Not Funny At All’

Mindy Kaling's 'Scooby Doo' Spinoff 'Velma' Trashed By Fans Saying It's 'Horrible,' 'Not Funny At All'

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