After a whirlwind week in the movie and sports world, the B-List is back to help you make sense of it all. Allison Rauch has more.
Welcome to The B-List, your weekly roundup of celebrity mess and pop culture. This week: new movies, new memoirs, and new sports drama.
In movies, director Luca Guadagnino’s Challengers hit theaters last Friday, after being delayed by the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. The film stars Zendaya, Josh O’Connor and Mike Faist, with a unique score composed by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. The film was a smash hit at box offices, although audience reviews are mixed.
News broke today that Blue Ivy Carter will join mother Beyonce in Mufasa: The Lion King. Directed by Barry Jenkins, the photorealistic-animated film will be a prequel to Disney’s 1994 hit The Lion King. Jenkins’s upcoming film will bring back cast members from director Jon Favreau’s 2019 remake of the original, including Beyonce, Donald Glover and Seth Rogen.
Gypsy Rose Blanchard has announced she is releasing a memoir, My Time to Stand, in January 2025. Blanchard has said she wants to address commonly-asked questions and put forth her perspective on her experiences. Blanchard was released from prison in January after serving seven years for a second-degree murder charge over having her boyfriend kill her mother.
In sports, the 2024 NFL Draft wrapped up Saturday in Detroit. This year’s draft saw the most quarterbacks taken in the first round since 1983. USC quarterback Caleb Williams was picked number one overall for the Chicago Bears. Other notable (some controversial) picks include Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. going number 8 overall to the Atlanta Falcons, LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels going number 2 overall to the Washington Commanders, and UNC quarterback Drake Maye going number 3 overall to the New England Patriots.
Phoenix Suns fell to the Minnesota Timberwolves last night in a 4 game sweep. They’re the first team to crack. So far, the Denver Nuggets lead the Los Angeles Lakers 3-1, the Boston Celtics lead the Miami Heat 2-1, the Oklahoma City Thunder lead the New Orleans Pelicans 3-0, the New York Knicks lead the Philadelphia 76ers 3-1, the Indiana Pacers lead the Milwaukee Bucks 3-1, the Orlando Magic and Cleveland Cavaliers are tied 2-2, and the Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Clippers are also tied 2-2.
Games continue today right after our show with a Celtics-Heat matchup at 6:30 PM CST, Thunder-Pelicans game at 7:30 PM CST, and a Nuggets-Lakers showdown at 9:00 PM CST.
That’s all for the B List this week. Check in next Monday to hear about what happens this week in pop culture. For WNUR News, I’m Allison Rauch.
