Pharrell Confirms Upcoming Lego Biopic, 'Piece by Piece'
Pharrell Williams is no stranger to innovation. Now, the founding member of The Neptunes is bringing his life story to the silver screen in his own special way. Williams announced on Friday that his biopic, Piece by Piece, will be a Lego film. The movie will capture the evolution of his life, including his time as a rapper and producer, the head men’s creative director at Louis Vuitton Men’s, and more. Pharrell unveiled the news on social media, saying, “Who would’ve thought that playing with Legos as a kid would evolve into a movie about my life. It’s proof that anyone else can do it too.” The movie poster summons his Minecraft-inspired debut Louis Vuitton collection. The film is set to hit theaters later this year on Oct. 11.
Stephen Curry May 'Challenge' WNBA Star Sabrina Ionescu to 3-point Contest at NBA All-Star Weekend
Stephen Curry wants to ensure his 3-point title is air-tight. During the Warriors‘ 134-133 loss to the Kings on Thursday night, Curry, who was mic’d up for the game, alluded to the prospect of squaring off against not only the best in the NBA over All-Star Weekend but also WNBA standout Sabrina Ionescu. “I think I’ve got to challenge her,” Curry said. The New York Liberty star took home the 3-point title during WNBA All-Star Weekend in Las Vegas last summer, tallying 37 points (a competition record). Ionescu confirmed her interest in the matchup on social media, saying, “Let’s getttttt it!! See ya at the 3 pt line.”
Justin Timberlake to Go on First Major Tour in Five Years
Justin Timberlake is heading back on the road. The former N’SYNC star released the single “Selfish” on Friday, his first new music in five years. Following its debut, Timberlake announced the “Forget Tomorrow World Tour,” which will kick off in Vancouver at the Rogers Arena on April 29 and run through July 9 in Lexington, KY. The tour will be in support of Timberlake‘s newest album, Everything I Thought It Was, which will be released on March 15. Additionally, JT will hit the stage as the musical guest on this weekend’s upcoming episode of Saturday Night Live.
Axios Links with Amazon, Tom Brady, Chrissy Teigen & More for Entertainment Expansion
Axios is expanding its brand, as the digital news publisher announced Friday it will be stepping into the entertainment space. Ahead of the announcement, Axios secured several television projects with production studios founded by Tom Brady, Chrissy Teigen, and more. Additionally, The Hollywood Reporter exclusively revealed that Axios secured a distribution deal with Amazon for its first show, The Money Game, co-produced by Campfire Productions and Shaquille O’Neal‘s Jersey Legends. The show, announced yesterday, will dive into the world of NIL at LSU, a school that boasts some of the highest earners in the nation in Olivia Dunne, Angel Reese, Flau’jae Johnson, and Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels. The show will air on Prime Video. “Entertainment programming is a natural next step for Axios, using engaging documentary storytelling to make audiences smarter, faster about the ever-changing world around them,” Axios co-founder and CEO Jim VandeHei told THR.
LVMH Posts Over $93B in Q4 Sales, Stock Jumps 12%
Luxury sales are on the rise. LVMH, the parent company of Louis Vuitton, Moët Chandon, and more, unveiled strong results for its Q4 earnings, outpacing expectations by posting $93.34 billion in sales. As a result, the stock surged as much as 12% during trading, adding $30 billion to its market cap. The strong report also fueled a trickle-down effect to other luxury brands, including Kering, Hermes, and Burberry.
Elon Musk Seeks to Challenge OpenAI with Major Fundraising Campaign for xAI
Elon Musk is looking to expand his footprint in the ever-growing world of AI. News broke Friday that Musk seeks to raise $6 billion for his artificial intelligence startup xAI. The Financial Times reports that Musk has courted funds from wealthy individuals around the world in recent weeks. With the cash infusion, he hopes to grow xAI into a viable competitor for OpenAI‘s widespread AI tools. The fundraising round reportedly is being conducted against a $20 billion valuation.