Marvel Studios’ shows at Comedian-Con included a showcase with Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn and Ebon Moss-Bachrach from the just-rebranded “The Unbelievable 4: First Steps” — full with their trip, the Fantasticar, by some means floating throughout the stage.

That movie is due out July 25, 2025.

One other presentation featured Anthony Mackie and Harrison Ford, two of the celebs of the February 2025 launch “Captain America: Courageous New World.”

Ford stated he was “proud” to be becoming a member of the opposite actors who’ve been having a lot enjoyable within the MCU, saying: “I needed a chunk of the motion.”

He additionally “Hulked” out on stage, in a nod to his character Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross changing into Purple Hulk within the film.

That movie’s Giancarlo Esposito was additionally there, confirming that he is enjoying the villain Sidewinder.

Marvel’s highlight additionally noticed David Harbour, in character and in costume as his “Black Widow” character the Purple Guardian, strolling by the gang to hype up “Thunderbolts,” his team-up film with different stars who had been there, together with Sebastian Stan, Florence Pugh and Julia Louis-Dreyfus.

After a thunderous introduction, Harbour then broke character, saying to his co-stars, “Oh my God, you guys did not costume up?”

Followers in Corridor H had been handled to a tease of that forthcoming movie, as properly, which is due out Might 5, 2025.

Marvel Studios concluded the ceremony with the shock information of Robert Downey Jr.’s return to the MCU as Physician Doom.

Marvel Studios is owned by Disney, the mother or father firm of ABC Information.

It did not take Staff USA lengthy to succeed in the highest step of the swimming podium on the 2024 Olympics, because the U.S. males’s 4x100m freestyle relay crew secured the nation’s first gold of the Paris Video games in dominant trend on Saturday’s opening night time.

The American relay squad, that includes Jack Alexy, Chris Guiliano, Hunter Armstrong and Caeleb Dressel, mixed to submit a time of three:09.28, adequate for gold by greater than a second over silver medalists Australia. Italy completed third to assert the bronze. 

FULL RESULTS

With the victory, the U.S. prolonged its profitable streak within the occasion to a few consecutive Video games. The Individuals have received gold in 11 of the final 14 editions of the lads’s 4x100m free relay on the Olympics.

For Dressel, the victory marked his eighth-career gold medal throughout three Olympics, elevating him right into a tie with countryman Matt Biondi for third all-time within the sport. Nonetheless, it was his first as a father. Dressel had his five-month-old son, August, cheering him on within the stands.

“My son getting to observe me win a gold medal is all the things,” Dressel instructed NBC’s Melissa Stark after the race, earlier than shifting the highlight to his youthful teammates. “I simply wished to get a gold medal for these guys. I’ve had my moments within the sport, it is time for these guys to have their enjoyable.”

Guiliano and Alexy, each 21, earned gold medals within the first race of their Olympic careers. 

“Coaching with all these guys, that shot my confidence by the roof,” Guiliano stated. “Attending to be behind the blocks with these guys, it is simply a right away feeling of, ‘We’re gonna do that.'”

For Armstrong, it is a second profession gold medal after the Tokyo males’s 4x100m medley relay, the place he swam within the prelims solely. The 23-year-old Ohioan posted one of the best break up of the quartet, finishing his third leg in 46.75 seconds. Armstrong attributed the blistering break up to preferring relays. Dressel, jokingly, had a special concept.

“I feel he misplaced 10 years of his life for that,” Dressel stated. “It at all times takes a particular efficiency. That was this man (Armstrong).”

Matt King and Ryan Held may also obtain gold medals for his or her participation in Saturday morning’s prelims.

The 4 finalists hope they will take the golden momentum with them into their particular person occasions to come back. Armstrong and Guiliano get again within the pool as quickly as Sunday, with heats and semifinals within the males’s 100m backstroke (Armstrong) and males’s 200m freestyle (Guiliano).

Woman Gaga referred to as Michael Polansky her fiancé, seemingly revealing the couple is engaged, whereas introducing him to French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal on the 2024 Summer season Olympics in Paris.

“My fiancé, Michael,” Gaga is heard casually saying in a clip the prime minister posted on TikTok Sunday evening (July 28). The quick video reveals Attal briefly hugging the singer and shaking palms with Polansky, Woman Gaga’s associate of greater than 4 years, at an Olympic occasion.

Billboard reached out to a consultant for Woman Gaga for remark.

Gaga and Polansky have been publicly relationship since early 2020; she made their relationship Instagram official with a publish that February. In an interview a pair months later, she referred to Polansky as “the love of my life.”

Prime Minister Attal didn’t point out the pair’s obvious engagement on TikTok, as an alternative specializing in the pop star’s show-stopping Friday evening efficiency in Paris: “Thanks Woman Gaga on your beautiful efficiency on the opening ceremony,” he wrote in a caption. “It was breathtaking.”

The multi-talented famous person — who will take over the large display as Harley Quinn in Joker: Folie à Deux alongside Joaquin Phoenix when the film hits theaters Oct. 4 — was the primary artist to take the stage in the course of the opening ceremony of the Olympics, offering her model of Parisian cabaret-style leisure forward of this summer season’s video games. Woman Gaga carried out the French-language “Mon Truc en Plume” (“My Factor With Feathers”) in a extremely choreographed, however playful, routine that led her from a protracted staircase to a piano.

Whereas in France, Woman Gaga shocked Parisian followers on Sunday with the smallest teaser of music from her forthcoming, much-anticipated seventh studio album.

A thumping, dance-ready snippet off of LG7, and one other teaser leaning extra rock — each heard within the clip under — was performed on the road from a automobile’s rooftop whereas Gaga pumped her fist and spectators screamed. She additionally popped out from the automobile at one level to hitch a crowd sing-along of her A Star Is Born observe “At all times Bear in mind Us This Method.”

“I’m so deeply touched by my French followers this week outdoors the lodge,” she wrote in an Instagram Story simply earlier than coming outdoors to play the music. “I’m gonna come out and say goodbye tonight with just a few seconds of #LG7.”

The as-yet-untitled LG7 would be the follow-up to 2020’s Billboard 200 chart-topping album Chromatica, which was Gaga’s sixth set to debut at No. 1.

Ariarne Titmus’ pre-race error on Saturday turned out to be her solely mistake of the night time in successful a second consecutive gold medal within the 400-meter freestyle.

And, the Australian swimmer defined, it was not some sort of intimidation tactic when she lined up in Katie Ledecky’s lane — merely an sincere error.

“I simply noticed that that one was the free one,” Titmus stated, per the Herald Solar. “Normally such as you stroll out the one on the left is the one you go to and I completely didn’t even understand and take a look at the quantity and we had a little bit of fun within the medal ceremony room.

“I feel [Ledecky] simply stated, ‘Hey Arnie, I feel that’s my lane.’ And I used to be like, ‘Oh my god, I’m so sorry.’ I simply picked up my stuff and moved over.

“After which she stated to me within the medal ceremony room, ‘Don’t fear, I feel it’s instinctive for us to go over to lane 4 nowadays.’

“Like, if anybody thinks it was on goal, that’s not true. It was completely an sincere mistake.”

2024 PARIS OLYMPICS

Ledecky completed third within the occasion to take bronze, behind Titmus and Canadian Summer time McIntosh.

“I instructed her, ‘All good, all good,’ as a result of she was freaking out,” Ledecky stated, per the Herald Solar. “I didn’t need her to really feel unhealthy or something. I joked together with her earlier than the medals, you’re getting a bit comfy there in lane 4.

“That was no massive deal. I didn’t need both of us to be disqualified for swimming within the improper lane. We received it taken care of.”

Titmus and Ledecky will face off once more within the 800-meter freestyle, with Ledecky the favourite over the better distance.

Titmus can be swimming the 200-meter race, whereas Ledecky is competing within the 1,500-meter occasion.

Did Girl Gaga simply verify her long-rumored engagement?

The singer is at present in Paris for the 2024 Summer time Olympics, the place she carried out on the Opening Ceremony on Friday evening and has been noticed watching occasions over the weekend.

On Sunday, a video was posted on French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal’s TikTok with the caption, “Thanks Girl Gaga to your gorgeous efficiency on the opening ceremony. It was breathtaking.” 

However that’s not why the clip is getting consideration. Within the video, taken on the venue the place the swimming occasions are being held, with the pool seen within the background, Gaga will be seen giving Attal a hug within the stands. Instantly afterward, she turns to Michael Polansky, the entrepreneur and tech investor she’s been reportedly relationship since roughly 2019 or 2020, and launched him to Attal as “my fiancé.” Attal and Polansky then shake arms.

Studies that Gaga and Polansky have been engaged first surfaced in April, when she was seen sporting a diamond ring on her left ring finger.

The Hollywood Reporter has reached out to Gaga’s reps for remark.

The singer was beforehand engaged to expertise agent Christian Carino (they broke up in 2019) and actor Taylor Kinney (they broke up in 2016).

On the Opening Ceremony on Friday evening, Gaga carried out solely in French. She sang the French-language track “Mon Truc en Plume” (“My Factor With Feathers”) whereas finishing a choreographed routine with backup dancers. She additionally performed the piano for a part of the efficiency.

Her involvement within the Opening Ceremony had been rumored however unconfirmed till she took the stage on the River Seine in Paris. Her face was hid by pom-poms earlier than the dancers eliminated them to disclose her identification. In response to the Related Press, the efficiency was prerecorded earlier on Friday.

Whereas the theatrical opening ceremony on the 2024 Paris Olympics introduced a myriad of memorable moments, one scene from the efficiency has prompted combined reactions.

The four-hour ceremony on July 26 kicked off the beginning of the Summer season Video games, with athletes gliding down the River Seine and performers reenacting internationally historic moments.

Throughout a tableau, drag queens and dancers lined an extended desk in a picture that sparked controversy, some initially believed resembled Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Final Supper” portrait of Jesus Christ and his 12 apostles.

Although many discovered the second an inclusive celebration for the LGBTQ+ group, others took to social media to name the imagery a “mockery” and “insulting to Christian folks” following the efficiency.

On July 28, Paris 2024 spokesperson Anne Descamps apologized “if folks have taken any offense.”

“Clearly there was by no means an intention to point out disrespect to any spiritual group. Quite the opposite, I believe that (creative director) Thomas Jolly actually tried to rejoice group tolerance,” Descamps mentioned at a press convention. “We imagine that this ambition was achieved. If folks have taken any offense, we’re actually sorry.”

That very same day, the ceremony’s creative director, Thomas Jolly, confirmed on French tv that da Vinci’s fifteenth century piece was not his inspiration for the scene.

Learn on for why some have in contrast this Olympics opening ceremony efficiency to the “The Final Supper,” how persons are reacting and extra.

Why some are connecting the Olympics opening ceremony to ‘The Final Supper’

In a single scene from the opening ceremony, a dinner platter lifted to point out a primarily nude Philippe Katerine singing in French. Within the background, dancers and drag queens struck poses alongside an extended desk.

Panning via the tableau, a digital camera first confirmed an individual topped with an aureole in entrance of DJ turntables. The following shot confirmed the remainder of the desk lined with performers holding their poses.

The desk then remodeled right into a catwalk, because the drag queens and fashions took the stage in homage to Paris’ trend scene.

The official X account for the Olympic Video games shared photographs of the second and referenced Dionysus, Greek god of wine-making, fruitfulness and ecstasy.

“The interpretation of the Greek God Dionysus makes us conscious of the absurdity of violence between human beings,” read a tweet from the official X account of the Olympics.

However some related the tableau to the biblical scene da Vinci portrayed in “The Final Supper,” when Jesus Christ and his apostles shared a remaining meal earlier than the crucifixion.

When requested concerning the backlash July 27, the ceremony’s creative director, Thomas Jolly, mentioned at a press convention that he didn’t intend “to be subversive,” “mock” or “shock.”

“We wished to incorporate everybody, so simple as that,” he mentioned. “In France, we’ve freedom of creation, creative freedom. We’re fortunate in France to reside in a free nation. I didn’t have any particular messages that I wished to ship. In France, we’re republic, we’ve the fitting to like whom we wish, we’ve the fitting to not be worshippers, we’ve a variety of rights in France, and that is what I wished to convey.”

Showing on French information channel BFM-TV Sunday, Jolly confirmed “The Final Supper” was “not my inspiration.”

“There may be Dionysus who arrives on this desk. He’s there as a result of he’s the God of celebration in Greek mythology. The concept was to have a pagan celebration related to the gods of Olympus. You’ll by no means discover in me a need to mock and denigrate anybody,” Jolly mentioned.

Reactions to Olympics opening ceremony efficiency

Some have been supportive of the creative imaginative and prescient, arguing the tableau was combating to make an announcement on inclusivity.

“We all know within the LGBTQ group in France we’re removed from what the ceremony confirmed. There’s a lot progress to do in society relating to transgender folks. It’s horrible that to legally change their id they’re pressured to be on trial,” France’s Inter-LGBT President James Leperlier mentioned, per the AP.

Chatting with French newspaper Le Parisien, Katerine mentioned in French that all the ceremony was “shifting” and “grandiose.”

“I used to be pleased with it as a result of it’s my tradition. We’re full of various folks and every particular person lives in their very own method and above all has the fitting to take action. I beloved doing it,” he mentioned. Katerine added that he hoped to get the next message throughout: “If we’re bare, there isn’t any warfare as a result of there are not any weapons.”

Le Filip, who gained the third season of “Drag Race France” this yr, informed AP they have been “amazed.”

“I assumed it will be a five-minute drag occasion with queer illustration. I used to be amazed. It began with Woman Gaga, then we had drag queens, an enormous rave, and a hearth within the sky. It felt like a crowning once more. I’m proud to see my associates and queer folks on the world stage,” Le Filip mentioned.

Others, together with celebrities, U.S. political figures and Catholic church leaders, expressed outrage on the scene.

Actor Candace Cameron Bure, whose husband is a two-time Olympic medalist, referred to as the efficiency “disgusting.” 

“(To) see the opening ceremonies utterly blaspheme and mock the Christian religion with their interpretation of the Final Supper was disgusting,” she mentioned in an Instagram submit July 28. “It made me so unhappy. And somebody mentioned, ‘You shouldn’t be unhappy. You need to be mad about it.’ And I’m like, ‘Belief me. It makes me mad.’ However I’m extra unhappy, as a result of I’m unhappy for souls.”

Home Speaker Mike Johnson shared a picture July 27 of the scene on X and referred to as the tableau “stunning” and “insulting.”

Catholic leaders in France referred to as the scene a “mockery of Christianity” in an announcement, Reuters reported.

“This ceremony has sadly included scenes of derision and mockery of Christianity, which we very deeply deplore,” the Convention of French bishops mentioned in an announcement.

Harrison Butker, the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs kicker who gave a controversial graduation speech concerning contraception, COVID-19 restrictions, girls’s roles and extra earlier this yr, quoted the Bible on X after the ceremony.

“‘Be not deceived, God is just not mocked. For what issues a person shall sow, these additionally shall he reap. For he that soweth in his flesh, of the flesh additionally shall reap corruption. However he that soweth within the spirit, of the spirit shall reap life eternal,’” he wrote, citing, “Galatians 6:7-8.”

Peacock is streaming the Paris Olympics across the clock. Be taught extra about accounts right here. TODAY earns a fee on purchases. Peacock is owned by our mother or father firm NBCUniversal.

A dance troupe performing on the Opening Ceremony of the Paris Olympics drew the ire of Christians all over the world after they appeared to mock Jesus and the Final Supper.

The ceremony, held on Friday alongside the Seine River within the French capital, featured the normal parade of countries. It was the primary time in Olympic historical past the ceremony was held outdoors a stadium.

However the festivities, which featured singers Celine Dion and Woman Gaga, drew controversy when a bunch of 18 performers — together with three members of “Drag Race France” — struck poses behind what regarded like a protracted desk with the Eiffel Tower within the background.

READ: France’s Olympic Hijab Ban Violates Worldwide Legislation And Exacerbates Tensions

On the middle of the desk was an ornately dressed dancer with a silver headdress that resembled a halo as depicted in well-known Renaissance fresco of Jesus and his apostles by Leonardo da Vinci that was accomplished in 1498. The dancer smiled and made a coronary heart form together with her arms earlier than the dancers carried out a choreographed routine.

“That is loopy. Opening your occasion by changing Jesus and the disciples on the Final Supper with males in drag,” Clint Russel, the host of the “Liberty Lockdown” podcast, posted on X. “There are 2.4 billion Christians on earth and apparently the Olympics wished to declare loudly to all of them, proper out of the gate NOT WELCOME.”

The Final Supper is the ultimate meal that, within the Gospel accounts, Jesus shared along with his apostles in Jerusalem earlier than his crucifixion. The Final Supper is commemorated by Christians on Holy Thursday and supplies the scriptural foundation for the Eucharist.

Paris 2024 organizers stated the efficiency was an “interpretation of the Greek God Dionysus” to make the world “conscious of the absurdity of violence between human beings.”

Choreographer Thomas Jolly defined his intentions to The Related Press following the ceremony.

“My want isn’t to be subversive, nor to mock or to shock,” he stated. “Most of all, I wished to ship a message of affection, a message of inclusion and in no way to divide.”

The Bhaker family was understandably elated and her father remembers the religious classes which grew to become Manu’s mantra.

“Manu’s mom usually recites shlokas from the Gita to her and one of many verses which she usually recites is ‘yaḥ sarvatrānabhisnehas tat tat prāpya śhubhāśhubham, nābhinandati na dveṣhṭi tasya prajñā pratiṣhṭhitā’ which suggests one who stays indifferent beneath all situations, and is neither delighted by luck nor dejected by tribulation, he’s a sage with excellent information,” her father informed The Indian Categorical.

Regardless of the rostrum end, Ramkishan says Manu shall be remembering the Tokyo debacle too this present day.

It was on April 28, 2014 {that a} younger Manu Bhaker first took a pistol in her arms on the Common Senior Secondary College in Goria in Haryana, the place her mom was the principal. Previous to that, she would delve into boxing, skating, volleyball, martial arts and tennis, profitable greater than 60 medals on the nationwide stage.

It was solely after an eye fixed damage suffered whereas taking part in volleyball at college that Manu’s curiosity in boxing dwindled and he or she seemed for different sports activities to maintain her busy.

“When Manu was born, my spouse had her B.Ed exams the identical day. So, we will say from day one, Manu had learnt to be on her personal. That’s how we needed her to be and no matter sport she favored, we gave her full freedom to play. She was an excellent boxer, and it helped her construct fast reflexes as a toddler,” shares Ramkishan.

The college had coaches Naresh and Anil Jakhar, a Kargil warfare veteran, who had began a capturing academy. With greater than 30 ladies coaching on the capturing vary on the faculty, Manu Bhaker would urge her father to get her a brand new pistol from Chandigarh.

“I used to be a service provider navy engineer and every time I’d come residence, Manu can be prepared together with her listing of sports activities gadgets. One month after she began capturing, I went to Chandigarh to get her first pistol costing Rs 1,80,000,” her father remembers.

Stage-headed

Jakhar, too, remembers Manu’s early days in capturing on the village and counts one trait as her largest power. “Her household owns the varsity. But, she by no means confirmed off with different ladies and can be at her capturing level on her flip. Generally, she would carry her books to the vary and utilise the time learning earlier than her flip got here,” he says.

A horse-riding fanatic, Manu learnt taking part in the violin in latest months within the build-up to Paris and likewise reconciled together with her long-time coach Jaspal Rana. Whereas Rana had seen her profitable a number of Junior World Cup medals and senior worldwide medals, the coach-shooter duo had parted methods previous to Tokyo Olympics.

Ramkishan sees this as a studying curve. “Jaspal Sir has seen her capturing proper from her junior days and he or she shared rapport with him. No matter occurred, Manu’s largest studying has been to neglect issues and work on issues which assist her obtain her goal, an Olympic medal. Her brother Akhil gifted her a violin final 12 months and he or she was as excited as when she began capturing.”

Whereas she did her commencement from Delhi College, the final two years have seen Manu enrolling herself for a Masters diploma in public administration at DAV Faculty in Chandigarh, a school which counts Neeraj Chopra as one in all its college students. Professor Amanendra Mann, who can be on the ISSF jury, talks about Manu’s curiosity in research motivating her.

“Among the many Paris Olympics Indian shooters learning on the faculty, Manu has been the sharpest. She has developed a eager curiosity in public administration and sometimes discusses the themes with fellow shooters. Generally, shooters want a while off and it has helped her in an enormous manner,” shares Mann from Paris.

At Goria, uncle Mahendra Bhaker is able to name the varsity college students to share the excellent news. “Each Trainer’s Day, Manu makes some extent to go to the varsity and share her insights with the scholars in addition to take heed to them. Her medal won’t solely encourage the scholars however the entire nation,” says the proud uncle.

Father Ramkishan is aware of Manu won’t relaxation on her laurels. “She has learnt to play the nationwide anthem on the violin. This bronze will inspire her for the combined staff occasion and perhaps she will be able to win a gold and allow us to hear the Indian anthem,” says the proud father.