Phil Johnston to write live-action View-Master movie for Mattel and Sony Pictures

Courtesy Mattel

Mattel would like you to see another toy story.

The company announced Tuesday that it will release a feature film about the 3D image toy that was introduced in 1939. Phil Johnston — the writer, director, and producer who has worked on animated Disney movies includingWreck-It Ralph,Ralph Breaks the Internet, andZootopia— will pen the script.

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"View-Master was one of my favorite toys when I was a kid (still is), because it gave me a chance to explore faraway worlds without ever leaving my room," Johnston said in a statement. "I would escape into those slides for hours at a time, and no one would yell at me for staring. I want to bring the wonder I felt as a bowl-haired kid in the '80s to the big screen now, and working with Mattel, Sony, and Escape Artists is giving me the chance to do just that."

Johnston's credits also include writing and co-directing Netflix's 2025 movieThe Twits, based on the Roald Dahl book of the same name, and writing the 2011 Ed Helms comedyCedar Rapids.

Walt Disney Pictures/courtesy Everett

Toy company Mattel has some experience translating its toys, such as He-Man and Barbie, to the big screen. The latter, in particular, became a sensation when it was released in 2023.

With a star-studded cast that included Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, Issa Rae, Simu Liu, Kate McKinnon, Will Ferrell, and American Ferrera, the film drew such a large audience that it was one-half of theBarbenheimer phenomenonthat lured audiences off their couches and back into theaters in 2023.

Mattel is optimistic.

"View-Master has always been pure magic to me — a simple toy that opened entire worlds beyond imagination," Tom McNulty, a senior executive for Mattel Film, said. "It's an incredible honor to have the brilliant Phil Johnston, one of the most soulful and inventive storytellers in film, at the helm of the View-Master reimagining. Building on our wonderful collaboration with Todd and Jason at Escape Artists onMasters of the Universeand now joining forces with Sony Pictures Entertainment, we're thrilled for the opportunity to bring a timeless classic into a bold new era—and to inspire new audiences to see the world with wonder."

The tale of He-Man will be highlighted inMasters of the Universe, which is set for release June 5, 2026. Nicholas Galitzine stars as He-Man in the film, with Camila Mendes as Teela and Idris Elba as Duncan/Man-At-Arms.

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byAnio Baumeister

in

November 11, 2025

Phil Johnston to write live-action View-Master movie for Mattel and Sony Pictures

Courtesy Mattel Mattel would like you to see another toy story. The company announced Tuesday that it will release a feature film about t...

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Megan Moroney's password-protected website countdown hints at new musical era

Megan Moroneyis stirring up excitement about a new upcoming musical era.

Moroney, 28,teased (and stumped) fans Nov. 9 when she posteda countdown to her websitewithout revealing what would be on the other end of it. Against a bubble gum pink background, no doubt hinting at the color scheme ofher impending musical era, site visitors are prompted to enter a password to "Access V3 .9."

Above the text is a countdown clock, which appears to indicate that the announcement, whatever it is, will drop at 10 a.m. ET on Nov. 11.

Megan Moroney discusses her'Lucky,' sudden rise to Music City stardom

Moroney,who nabbed theCountry Music Association'scovetednew artist of the year award in 2025, is thinking pink after a year of blue. Her sophomore album, "Am I Okay?" adopted a blue color scheme, and earlier this monththe singer took to Instagramto post a series of photos of her promoting it, captioned "gooodbye blue."

Then, in a teaser trailer also shared to social media Nov. 10, Moroney can be seen walking through a navy blue room in a baby blue dress, then opening the curtained window to a pop of pink.

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A post shared by Megan Moroney (@megmoroney)

She looks out then, over a window box of fuchsia flowers, as notes from seemingly an original song play out. In the wake of "Am I Okay?" Moroney has released two singles – "6 Months Later" and "Beautiful Things" – though she hasn't yet shared her third album's track list.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Megan Moroney's password-protected countdown hints at new era

byAnio Baumeister

in

November 11, 2025

Megan Moroney's password-protected website countdown hints at new musical era

Megan Moroneyis stirring up excitement about a new upcoming musical era. Moroney, 28,teased (and stumped) fans N...

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Eddie Murphy avoids awards shows because ‘everybody's dressed and acting and fake’

Eddie Murphyskips award shows forthe same reason he avoids funerals. His tendency to absorb the vibes of a space leaves him susceptible to others' emotions.

He's always been able to "read a room," Murphy tells USA TODAY. InNetflix's "Being Eddie" documentary(streaming Nov. 12), Murphy reflects on his career spanning more than four decades. The 64-year-old suspects he's an empath.

"That's one of the reasons why I don't go to award shows and stuff, the feeling of being in a room full of famous people who all want win some trophy, that feeling is such a s----- feeling," he says with a laugh. "Everybody's dressed and acting and fake … just being in a room full of famous people is just a weird − I don't like it."

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Murphy spurred headlines in 2007 when he left the Academy Awards right after losing best supporting actor. "Murphy Storms Out Of Oscars After Losing,"HuffPost reported. "Eddie Murphy Loses Oscar, Bolts From Show"Fox News wrote. Murphy, nominated for his role as singer James "Thunder" Early in "Dreamgirls," lost to Alan Arkin for his portrayal of the encouraging grandpa in "Little Miss Sunshine."

Murphy addresses the 2007 Oscars in "Being Eddie," explaining that he would've preferred to take the hit on the chin at home.

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Legendary comedian and Hollywood star Eddie Murphy is the subject of new Netflix documentary "Being Eddie," streaming Nov. 12. What follows are four exclusive first-look photos from the movie, as well as a taste of Murphy's screen work.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Eddie Murphy (right, with Judge Reinhold) scored an early Hollywood hit playing Detroit detective Axel Foley in the 1984 action comedy "Beverly Hills Cop."

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Eddie Murphy brought back his classic 1980s character Mister Robinson – a spoof of Mister Rogers – during a 2019 hosting gig on "Saturday Night Live."

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Eddie Murphy (left) and Pete Davidson play armored truck drivers who get embroiled in a high-stakes heist in Murphy's latest comedy, "The Pickup."

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

See exclusive pics of Eddie Murphy from Netflix's 'Being Eddie' documentary

Legendary comedian and Hollywood star Eddie Murphy is the subject of new Netflix documentary "Being Eddie," streaming Nov. 12. What follows are four exclusive first-look photos from the movie, as well as a taste of Murphy's screen work.

" I've always liked to stay around the house," Murphy tells USA TODAY. "The people I know that do stand-up comedy ... they do it because they love it. They love it. They get something from getting on that stage and feeling the energy and all, and I'm the exact opposite.

"My batteries get recharged in a quiet setting when I'm at home, or I'm somewhere where everything can slow down, that's where I get energized. The crowd saps my energy."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Eddie Murphy avoids award shows because celebrities act 'fake'

byAnio Baumeister

in

November 11, 2025

Eddie Murphy avoids awards shows because ‘everybody's dressed and acting and fake’

Eddie Murphyskips award shows forthe same reason he avoids funerals. His tendency to absorb the vibes of a space leaves h...

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Oprah Winfrey picks Ann Packer's 'Some Bright Nowhere' for book club

NEW YORK (AP) — Ann Packer's "Some Bright Nowhere," her first novel in a decade, isOprah Winfrey'slatestbook club pick.

Published on Tuesday, "Some Bright Nowhere" is the story of a long-married couple and the questions they confront when the wife becomes terminally ill and makes a dying wish that two close friends care for her instead of her husband.

"This beautifully written story is going to get you thinking about some things that really matter," Winfrey said in a statement. "The story leaves you questioning the obligations of marriage and the difference between male and female friendships, and one of the most significant of questions: How do you want to spend your last days?"

Packer, 66, is best known for her highly praised novel, "The Dive from Clausen's Pier," which came out in 2002. She has also published the novels "Songs Without Words" and "The Children's Crusade" and the short fiction collection "Mendocino and Other Stories." Likeother authors selected by Winfrey,Packer learned she had been chosen through an unexpected telephone call.

"I don't think I've ever said 'Oh my God' so many times in so few minutes," Packer said in a statement.

Tuesday's announcement continues Winfrey's partnership with Starbucks. She and Packer spoke recently at a Starbucks in New York City, and their conversation is airing on Winfrey's YouTube channel and other podcast outlets.

byAnio Baumeister

in

November 11, 2025

Oprah Winfrey picks Ann Packer's 'Some Bright Nowhere' for book club

NEW YORK (AP) — Ann Packer's "Some Bright Nowhere," her first novel in a decade, isOprah Winfrey'slates...

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Reader's guide for Ann Packer's "Some Bright Nowhere"

Oprah Winfrey chose Ann Packer's novel "Some Bright Nowhere" as her November book club pick.

Reader's Guide QuestionsThe novel opens with the cessation of Claire's treatment, immediately positioning her at a threshold. How does Packer use the landscape of illness to explore Claire's interiority and her assertion of agency over her own narrative?Eliot's displacement as primary caregiver is a central conflict. To what extent is his struggle about love for Claire versus a loss of control and identity? Discuss the novel's commentary on gender roles within caregiving.Claire's decision to spend her final days with Holly and Michelle, rather than her husband, is a radical act. What does this choice suggest about the different forms of intimacy and support she requires? How does it challenge conventional notions of marital duty?Consider Eliot's recurring tendency to "concede" rather than agree in his marriage. How does this dynamic, established over decades, inform his actions and reactions during the crisis of Claire's illness?The title,Some Bright Nowhere, is a phrase from a poem that is sent to Eliot by a friend that he then shares with Claire. Analyze this phrase. How does it function as a metaphor for death, acceptance, or the existential space the characters inhabit?Packer intricately weaves past and present, using memory to illuminate character motivations. How do objects and memories shape the narrative's emotional resonance? How do specific spaces evoke both the past and the present?Analyze the role of setting, from the cluttered intimacy of the family home to the stark beauty of the Maine coast. How does the physical environment reflect the characters' internal states and the shifting dynamics between them?Eliot's act of breaking into Holly's email and later throwing the chair in Maine are moments of profound transgression. What do these actions reveal about his character arc? Are they acts of desperation, violation, or a painful breaking point leading to self-awareness?The novel resists a simple, sentimental depiction of dying. Claire herself notes, "Just because it's the end, that doesn't make it bigger." How does the narrative balance the gravity of death with the mundane, often messy, realities of life?Reflect on the novel's ending and the final moments between Claire and Eliot. Does their reconciliation feel earned? What does the quiet resolution suggest about the nature of love, forgiveness, and the legacy we leave behind?

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byAnio Baumeister

in

November 11, 2025

Reader's guide for Ann Packer's "Some Bright Nowhere"

Oprah Winfrey chose Ann Packer's novel "Some Bright Nowhere" as her November book club pick. ...

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