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Rockstar Games has unveiled plans to give fans a deeper look at the highly anticipated ‘Grand Theft Auto VI’ through a special presentation titled “Grand Theft Auto VI: An Extended Look.”
Netflix has secured the exclusive early premiere, before the footage becomes widely available, set to debut on Netflix on Aug. 27 at 3 p.m. ET – followed by its release on Rockstar Games’ official YouTube channel and the game’s website six hours later at 9 p.m. ET.
The special presentation marks an unusual collaboration between one of gaming’s biggest publishers and the streaming giant as anticipation builds ahead of the game’s Nov. 19 launch on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. While Rockstar has not disclosed exactly what the presentation will include, the company described it as “Grand Theft Auto VI: An Extended Look,” fueling speculation that viewers will see substantial gameplay footage, story details and a closer examination of the game’s world beyond the two trailers already released. The partnership also underscores Netflix’s expanding ambitions in gaming, following its investments in mobile games and interactive entertainment, while giving subscribers a temporary exclusive window to view one of the industry’s most anticipated reveals.
The latest reveal continues Rockstar’s carefully managed marketing campaign for Grand Theft Auto VI, a title that has dominated the gaming conversation since development was officially confirmed in 2022. Its predecessor, Grand Theft Auto V, remains one of the best-selling video games ever made, with nearly 230 million copies sold worldwide, raising expectations for the franchise’s next installment. The sequel is set in the fictional state of Leonida and has already generated record-breaking interest through its earlier trailers and preorders.
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Netflix has released the first full trailer for The Whisper Man, offering a preview of the upcoming crime thriller led by Robert De Niro and Adam Scott. Based on Alex North’s bestselling novel, the film premieres Aug. 28 and centers on a desperate search for an abducted 8-year-old boy that becomes tied to a notorious serial killer believed to have been stopped decades earlier.
Scott stars as widowed crime writer Tom Kennedy, whose son, Jake, is kidnapped under circumstances that echo the crimes of the infamous “Whisper Man.” Seeking answers, Tom reluctantly reunites with his estranged father, retired detective Peter Willis, played by De Niro. Peter was the officer responsible for capturing the original killer 30 years earlier, but with the suspect still serving a life sentence, the pair must determine how a copycat — or something even more unsettling — could be behind the new disappearances. Michelle Monaghan co-stars as detective Amanda Beck, while Hamish Linklater, Owen Teague, Will Brill and Acston Porto round out the cast.
The trailer leans heavily into psychological suspense, opening with a haunting nursery rhyme that has become synonymous with the elusive murderer: “If you leave a door half open, soon you’ll hear the whispers spoken. If your window is left unlatched, you’ll hear him tapping at the glass. If you’re lonely, sad, and blue, The Whisper Man will come for you.” The footage teases eerie cassette tapes, unsettling encounters and a growing mystery as investigators race against time to save Jake before more children disappear.
Directed by James Ashcroft, The Whisper Man marks another high-profile adaptation for Netflix and is produced by AGBO, the company founded by Anthony and Joe Russo. The film has been positioned as one of the streaming service’s marquee late-summer releases, combining an acclaimed source novel with an ensemble cast led by Academy Award winner De Niro.
‘The Whisper Man’ premieres Aug. 28; see the trailer – HERE.
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Phoebe Bridgers has dropped the video for the single ‘Lost Boys,’ the first release from her highly anticipated third solo studio album “Lost Weekend,” which is scheduled for release on Aug. 14 through independent record label Dead Oceans.
The upcoming album marks the California native’s first full-length solo compilation in six years, following her critically acclaimed 2020 sophomore record, Punisher. The 16-song double album features creative contributions from alternative music mainstays, including record producer Jack Antonoff, singer-songwriter Alex G, and musician Matty Healy.
Directed by Lance Oppenheim and Pablo Rochat, the video for “Lost Boys” sees Bridgers portraying a Renaissance faire elven princess who inspires a convenience store clerk, played by actor Skyler Gisondo, to become a “knight.” The ‘Lost Boys’ video also features the Knights of DeBracey performing troupe; check it out: HERE.
Bridgers’ new music comes following her month-long series of unannounced, intimate pop-up concerts back in May that commenced in Roswell, New Mexico. The low-profile performances concluded with a capacity concert at Madison Square Garden in New York City, where ticket sales aided the Community Justice Exchange’s Immigration Bond Freedom Fund. Attendees at these introductory shows experienced a strict no-phones policy while Bridgers previewed her first new original musical material in three years.
The upcoming album release follows a highly successful collaborative period for Bridgers, who earned four trophies at the 2024 Grammy Awards. Three of those accolades were shared with her musical supergroup boygenius—alongside bandmates Lucy Dacus and Julien Baker—for their 2023 release, The Record, while her fourth win recognized “Ghost in the Machine,” a joint effort featured on R&B artist SZA’s studio album, SOS.
Bridgers has also finalized scheduling for an extensive fall stadium tour across North America and the United Kingdom, featuring Alex G as the primary opening act. The promotional tour is set to begin on Sept. 14 in Indianapolis and includes multi-night engagements at major venues such as the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
Presave ‘Lost Weekend’ – HERE.
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Taylor Swift, Lyle Lovett and three other accomplished songwriters will join the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame as members of its 2026 class, the organization announced Tuesday.
Swift, 36, was selected in the contemporary songwriter/artist category, making her the youngest person ever inducted into the Nashville institution. Lovett will enter in the veteran songwriter/artist category, while Shawn Camp and Lee Thomas Miller were chosen as contemporary songwriters and Bruce Channel was selected as a veteran songwriter.
Swift’s induction adds another major songwriting honor during a milestone year for the singer-songwriter. In June, she became the youngest woman inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in New York. Her Nashville recognition comes 20 years after the release of her self-titled debut album and reflects a career that began in Music City when she was a teenager. Her songwriting credits include country hits such as “Teardrops On My Guitar” and “Love Story,” as well as pop successes including “Blank Space,” “Anti-Hero” and “Cruel Summer.”
Swift submitted songs including “All Too Well (10 Minute Version),” “Blank Space,” “Anti-Hero,” “Love Story” and “The Last Great American Dynasty” for consideration. In a statement delivered during the announcement, Swift shared: “From the time I started writing songs as a child, I fixated on Nashville as the perfect place to be. I wanted to learn with and from the best and get to immerse myself in a community of storytellers, and thankfully, Nashville turned out to be exactly what I’d dreamed of. A town that validated and prioritized hard work, determination and imagination. Where the writers show up to work every day even when the mysterious muses and the magic don’t. To be honored by this city I love so much is a beautiful thing, and I’m very grateful.”
Lovett, a four-time Grammy Award winner, is being honored for a catalog that blends country, folk, jazz and Americana influences. His songwriting credits include “She’s No Lady,” “Cowboy Man,” “Give Back My Heart” and “God Will.” Camp, a veteran Nashville musician and songwriter, has written songs recorded by artists including Garth Brooks, Brooks & Dunn and Willie Nelson. Miller’s credits include “You’re Gonna Miss This,” “Whiskey And You” and songs recorded by Tim McGraw, Brad Paisley and others. Channel, meanwhile, is best known for writing the 1959 classic “Hey! Baby!,” which gained renewed exposure through its prominent use in the 1987 film “Dirty Dancing.”
The five inductees will be formally celebrated at the 56th Anniversary Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Gala later this year. The organization, established in 1969, has honored hundreds of songwriters whose work has helped define Nashville’s influence across country and popular music.
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Nearly a decade after its original release, the Academy Award-winning musical La La Land will return to theaters beginning Aug. 16 as part of a special 10th anniversary celebration. Lionsgate announced the limited re-release, giving audiences another opportunity to experience writer-director Damien Chazelle’s acclaimed film on the big screen, with select screenings presented in Dolby Cinema for enhanced picture and sound.
Released in 2016, the film stars Emma Stone as aspiring actress Mia and Ryan Gosling as jazz pianist Sebastian, whose romance unfolds against the backdrop of Los Angeles while each pursues career ambitions. The cast also includes John Legend, Rosemarie DeWitt, J.K. Simmons, Finn Wittrock, Sonoya Mizuno and Tom Everett Scott. Chazelle reunited with composer Justin Hurwitz, whose score and songs became central to the film’s success.
La La Land earned 14 Academy Award nominations and won six Oscars, including Best Actress for Stone, Best Director for Chazelle and awards recognizing its original score and cinematography. The film also remains closely associated with the memorable Oscars ceremony in which it was mistakenly announced as the Best Picture winner before Moonlight was revealed as the actual recipient.
The anniversary celebration extends beyond the nationwide theatrical return. Los Angeles’ Griffith Observatory, one of the film’s most recognizable locations, is hosting special anniversary screenings featuring conversations with members of the creative team, while La La Land in Concert performances with a live orchestra conducted by Hurwitz are also scheduled as part of the milestone celebration.
Tickets for the theatrical re-release are now on sale.
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FX has announced that “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” will return for its 18th season on Aug. 17, with new episodes airing at 9 p.m. EDT on FX and FXX, streaming on Hulu in the United States and on Disney+ internationally.
The announcement coincided with the release of a promotional poster that sparked online debate after some viewers mistakenly believed it had been created using artificial intelligence. FX clarified that the artwork was produced through traditional artistic methods, and that the AI-inspired appearance was an intentional creative choice.
The long-running comedy will feature 10 episodes, marking its first double-digit season since Season 14 after the previous three installments each consisted of eight episodes. Charlie Day, Rob Mac, Glenn Howerton, Kaitlin Olson and Danny DeVito reprise their roles as the dysfunctional owners of Paddy’s Pub.
According to FX, the new season represents a return to the series’ roots while placing the characters in fresh situations involving workplace automation, conspiracy theories, neurodivergence, class divisions, tent encampments and changing attitudes toward alcohol. Season 18 will also feature celebrity guest appearances and the return of the McPoyle family, portrayed by Jimmi Simpson, Nate Mooney and Thesy Surface. FX noted that, after nearly two decades on the air, the central characters are now in their 50s while Frank Reynolds, played by DeVito, is in his 80s, adding a new dynamic to the show’s trademark satire and chaotic humor.
All previous 17 seasons remain available to stream on Hulu ahead of the Season 18 premiere.
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Ariana Grande has added another major milestone to her chart career as “petal,” her eighth studio album, debuts at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. The 12-track album earned 295,000 equivalent album units in the United States during its opening week, giving Grande her strongest weekly total of the 2020s and her seventh album to reach the top of the chart.
The result places Grande among an elite group of female artists with at least seven Billboard 200 No. 1 albums. She now stands alongside Lady Gaga and Janet Jackson, who also have seven chart-toppers. Only Taylor Swift, Barbra Streisand, Madonna and Beyoncé have more No. 1 albums among solo female artists. Grande previously reached the summit with “Yours Truly,” “My Everything,” “Sweetener,” “Thank U, Next,” “Positions” and “Eternal Sunshine.”
“petal” follows 2024’s “Eternal Sunshine,” which also opened at No. 1 and marked Grande’s return to music after an extended period focused on acting and other projects. Before the album arrived, its lead single, “Hate That I Made You Love Me,” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Grande’s 10th career leader on the singles chart and the eighth of her songs to begin at the top.
The album’s commercial performance also comes as Grande completes the “Eternal Sunshine Tour.” She finished the North American portion with a Chicago performance Aug. 6 and is scheduled to conclude the tour with 10 shows at London’s O2 Arena from Aug. 15 through Sept. 1. Following the tour, Grande is expected to take a break from public-facing work. She has also withdrawn from the planned West End production of “Sunday in the Park With George,” which was to have reunited her with “Wicked” co-star Jonathan Bailey.
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Sombr has released the official music video for his latest single “My Body Isn’t Ready,” directed by Gus Black and starring actors Inde Navarrette and actor Josh Heuston.
The video follows Sombr as he navigates a glamorous party while feeling like an outsider. After facing ridicule and growing increasingly isolated, he covers himself in papier-mâché, symbolizing the pressure to change himself to fit others’ expectations. Navarrette’s character ultimately helps strip away the false exterior, reinforcing the song’s central message about confronting self-doubt and embracing authenticity.
In a message shared alongside the release, Sombr said he hopes “My Body Isn’t Ready” resonates with listeners in different ways. He explained that the title “can be taken as a metaphor. Or it can be taken literally as a description of how I have perceived my own body, for my whole life.” He added that he wanted to share his experiences so “other people who may also be struggling know that they are not alone,” concluding, “You are beautiful, and I love you.”
“My Body Isn’t Ready” is the third single to debut from Sombr’s forthcoming second studio album, following “Homewrecker” and “Potential.” It continues Sombr’s run of introspective releases and arrives as momentum around the 20-year-old artist continues to build following the success of his debut album I Barely Know Her.
See the video for ‘My Body Isn’t Ready’ – HERE.
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NBC will premiere “The Traitors: New Blood,” a new version of its Emmy-winning competition franchise that marks the first U.S. season built entirely around everyday contestants, on Sept. 17. The series, hosted by Alan Cumming, will premiere with a two-hour episode at 8 p.m. EDT on NBC, with subsequent installments streaming the following day on Peacock.
Unlike previous editions that featured reality television personalities and celebrities, “The Traitors: New Blood” will bring together 22 Americans selected from more than 60,000 applicants. The contestants will compete inside the Scottish Highlands castle that serves as the backdrop for the franchise, attempting to identify hidden Traitors while pursuing a $250,000 prize. If a Traitor remains undetected through the finale, that player claims the entire jackpot.
NBC first revealed plans for a civilian edition when unveiling its 2026-27 schedule, reflecting the growing popularity of the franchise. “The Traitors” has become one of Peacock’s biggest unscripted successes, earning multiple Emmy Awards, including honors for outstanding reality competition program and for Cumming’s hosting work. The new series will continue the traditional format that originated overseas, with contestants divided between Faithfuls and secretly assigned Traitors in a game of deception and elimination.
All previous seasons of “The Traitors” remain available on Peacock, while NBC plans to air “The Traitors: New Blood” on Thursday nights as part of its fall lineup.
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