Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Entertainment
  3. Audio / Video
  4. Podcasts
  5. s

Between the Streams: Westworld fever, Rogue One relief, Finding Dory magic

Add as a preferred source on Google

DT’s entertainment show, Between the Streams, is your guide to all of the hottest, most important, and (of course) dumbest new developments in streaming and entertainment, providing a handy recap of the week that was. (You can also add us via RSS, iTunes, or Stitcher at the links above to take BtS on the road!)

Sure, Brexit has caused economic uncertainty worldwide, affecting everything from global trade to the fantastic U.K. film and TV industry; but the good news is, Game of Thrones is going to be fine. We’ll chat briefly today about the ripple effect of Britain’s EU exit in entertainment, but don’t worry, politics won’t detour us from all the other crazy entertainment news happening this week.

For instance, what the hell’s going on with Prometheus 2 … er, Alien: Covenant? First, we heard that Noomi Rapace, who played the only “living” thing to make it off that godforsaken hell-rock in the Alien prequel from Mr. Scott, wouldn’t be reprising her role in the sequel. Then the film’s name changed, and now it sounds like Rapace will indeed be in the film, and is rumored to be flying to Australia for a few weeks of shooting. Also this week, we got a picture of Danny McBride with Scott on the bridge of a ship, all of which prompted The Guardian to ask if Scott is just making this movie up as he goes along. We’re still stoked (if not slightly concerned) about another Alien gorefest, but it’s starting to get interesting, to say the least.

Switching gears a bit, we’ll also be talking about the glory that is Finding Dory, which, at times, looks more like live action than CGI thanks to Pixar’s genius animators. Then we’ll switch gears again to talk about the absolutely addicting new trailer for Westworld, HBO’s highly anticipated series adaptation of Michael Crichton’s ingenious film about a fantasy world populated by androids gone haywire.

And how about those Rogue One reshoots, eh? While we’d been told all sorts of troubling rumors about test audiences, 40 percent of the film getting axed, and trouble with the film’s tone, it appears it may all have just been internet nonsense. That’s according to Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy, who put her name on the line Friday to dispel virtually all the rumors.

We’ll also chat a bit about the poor critical showing for Independence Day: Resurgence, the intriguing new film from the director of What We Do in the Shadows (and Thor: Ragnarok), which opens this weekend, and so much more.

Check us out live at 2 p.m. PT each Friday, or take us along for the ride!

Ryan Waniata
Former Home Theater & Entertainment Editor
Ryan Waniata is a multi-year veteran of the digital media industry, a lover of all things tech, audio, and TV, and a…
Spotify’s new conversational AI can play tracks you request and answer your music questions
A ChatGPT-like AI feature is coming to Spotify for music requests and listening-history questions
spotify

Spotify is rolling out a new AI-powered conversational feature that lets Premium users talk directly to the app about what they want to hear. Users can type or speak a request and refine the results through follow-up questions instead of manually searching for a song, podcast, or audiobook.

The feature is available from Spotify’s Home and Now Playing screens and works much like a personal audio assistant. It can choose what plays, answer questions about the current track or album, recommend something new, and look through your listening history to provide more personalized responses.

Read more
Christopher Nolan’s personal take on smartphones is surprisingly practical
Christopher Nolan says not owning a smartphone helps him think better
Christopher Nolan sits in front of an IMAX camera.

Christopher Nolan has spent his career embracing cutting-edge filmmaking technology while resisting one of the most common gadgets on the planet: the smartphone. The Oscar-winning director behind Oppenheimer, Inception, and the upcoming The Odyssey says his decision isn't about rejecting technology altogether. It's about protecting something he believes has become increasingly rare - time to think.

In an interview with The Telegraph ahead of the premiere of The Odyssey, Nolan explained that he still doesn't own a smartphone, despite living in a world where QR codes, digital tickets, and messaging apps have become everyday necessities. His reasoning, however, is far more practical than philosophical.

Read more
Letterboxd could find a new home at Netflix, but Sony is fighting for it, too
Netflix wants Letterboxd, but Hollywood isn't letting it go without a fight
Letterboxd

Letterboxd, the fast-growing social network for film lovers, could soon have a new owner. According to a report by Puck News, the New Zealand-based platform has been exploring a potential sale, attracting interest from several major entertainment companies, including Netflix, Sony Pictures Entertainment, and Paramount Skydance.

While no deal has been confirmed, the discussions highlight how valuable online fan communities have become as streaming platforms compete not just for viewers, but also for the audiences that influence what people watch next.

Read more