Disney and Universal Sue AI Image Generator

Disney and Universal are suing AI firm Midjourney, accusing its image generator of mass-producing pirated versions of iconic characters. The lawsuit claims the tool replicates countless characters, from Darth Vader and Elsa to Marvel heroes and Minions, without permission. While studios explore AI for storytelling, they're alarmed by its ability to replicate creative content without consent.

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USA Today

43 minutes ago

• USA Today

What to watch this week: Every new TV show coming to streaming

Your work day is over, you sit down on the couch and you pull up your menu of streaming services. But the question remains: what should you watch this week? The problem is there are too many choices; streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video and Disney+ debut new series and new seasons every single day. To help, we've listed out every new film, series and special that will stream June 23-29, 2025, across the major platforms. It's a big week in TV, from the return of FX's Emmy-winning "comedy" "The Bear" on Hulu to a new Marvel series ("Ironheart") on Disney+ to the final installment of Netflix's blockbuster "Squid Game." We've highlighted the shows and specials we think are worth your notice as you fight to beat the late June heat. Join our Watch Party! Sign up to receive USA TODAY's movie and TV recommendations right in your inbox New on streaming Monday, June 23 New on streaming Tuesday, June 24 New on streaming Wednesday, June 25 New on streaming Thursday, June 26 New on streaming Friday, June 27 New on streaming Saturday, June 28 New on streaming Sunday, June 29

Gizmodo

an hour ago

• Gizmodo

‘Elio' Gave Pixar Its Worst Box Office Opening Ever

Elio may have garnered some very solid reviews–low for Pixar considering its back catalogue, but still very solid–but that apparently wasn't enough to save it from setting a pretty grim record. The movie is now currently Pixar's worst-performing opening weekend, but while there is still plenty of time for things to change, what it might say about the future of the studio's output isn't so optimistic. Variety reports that Elio ranked third at the Box Office this weekend behind the still-continued success of the How to Train Your Dragon remake and the launch of 28 Years Later, racking up $21 million. The total came under the roughly $25-30 million that had been anticipated for opening weekend, and the film didn't do much better internationally, bringing Elio to a $35 million global taking so far. There are perhaps multiple factors that can be blamed. Pixar is arguably in some ways still feeling the impact of the pandemic shuttling several of its original films straight to streaming, leading to families anticipating the film coming home sooner rather than later. There's also Disney's marketing of the film, which had been almost non-existent before ramping up in the wake of positive reviews–and even when it did exist, it aimed for vague sci-fi adventure vibes, rather than the compelling emotional story at the heart of the film (and the heart of much of it's critical praise). It's not necessarily all doom and gloom for Elio just yet. The prior holder of the infamous record for worst opening weekend at the studio was Elemental, which faced similar marketing and scheduling challenges when it launched just to the tune of $29.6 million in 2023. However, incredible word of mouth turned things around for Elemental, leading to it closing out its box office run with $155 million domestically, and $496 million globally. Given the similarity of circumstances here, there's every chance that Elio could find a way to a happy ending in theaters. Perhaps even if it did, it's still far from reaching the highs that people (and Disney) expect of Pixar releases at this point. Not every Pixar release post-pandemic has suffered a similar fate: Inside Out 2 broke records last year to rake in over a billion dollars. But that success perhaps more keenly reflects an ongoing broader trend in the industry: kids films are making a comeback after COVID sent them to streaming platforms, but the ones that are leading that comeback aren't original animation any more, but sequels or live-action remakes of familiar brands, from Lilo & Stitch to the aforementioned How to Train Your Dragon. Of the five confirmed films in its slate for the next few years, just two of Pixar's upcoming projects are based on original ideas, Hoppers, due out next year, and the recently announced Gatto, set for 2027. They're sandwiched between heavy hitter sequels in the form of Toy Story 5, Incredibles 3, and Coco 2. Time will tell, just as it will with Elio's fate at the box office, if this rough news now is just signs of an increasingly dire trend. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what's next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

Geek Tyrant

3 hours ago

• Geek Tyrant

TRON: ARES Heads to Hall H at Comic-Con, but the Spotlight Comes with Controversy — GeekTyrant

With Marvel Studios sitting this year's Hall H out, Disney is shifting the spotlight to Tron: Ares . According to TheWrap, the long-awaited sequel will be the company's flagship presentation at San Diego Comic-Con 2025, and that's a big deal, both in terms of fan anticipation and the complicated conversation that now surrounds the film. Tron: Ares stars Jared Leto as the titular program, and he's the face of this next chapter in Disney's decades-spanning digital frontier. But Leto's involvement now brings a heavier context. Earlier this month, AirMail published a detailed report in which multiple women accused the actor of inappropriate and sexual misconduct, including allegations that some incidents occurred when they were underage. One source told the outlet that his behavior 'has been an open secret for a long time.' Leto has denied the allegations. Meanwhile, Disney and Amazon MGM Studios, who are also working with him on Masters of the Universe , where he's set to play Skeletor, have remained silent. It's unclear whether Leto will appear on the Hall H stage, or if Disney will shift the focus to other cast members like Greta Lee, Cameron Monaghan, Jodie Turner-Smith, and returning legacy star Jeff Bridges. Given that Tron: Ares hasn't had much marketing presence since its teaser trailer, Comic-Con would be the obvious place to drop something major, assuming Disney decides to stay the course. There's still a lot of mystery around the movie itself, but it's currently scheduled for release on October 10. With SDCC running July 24–27, we'll soon see how Disney navigates the mix of fandom hype and real-world controversy that now surrounds this title. Either way, Tron: Ares is set to be one of the biggest, and possibly most talked-about films of the convention.