All articles tagged with #epic
ESA plans to charter a dedicated SpaceX Crew Dragon mission under the EPIC program to send four ESA astronauts to the International Space Station for about a month in early 2028, boosting European presence in space ahead of the ISS retirement (target 2030, with talks of extending to 2032) and involving international partners while ESA leads the mission.
Baz Luhrmann discusses EPiC, his Elvis project assembled from 59 hours of long-lost Elvis Las Vegas footage unearthed from salt mines. He calls it a “tone poem” that isn’t strictly a documentary or a concert film, with Elvis himself narrating and guiding the story. The restoration required extensive rights work and Luhrmann funded the IMAX release (general release on Feb. 27, 2026). He hints the material could fuel subsequent Elvis projects—potentially signaling an Elvis Cinematic Universe—though the approach remains a personal, observational look at Elvis’s life rather than mythmaking.
Baz Luhrmann’s new concert documentary EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert assembles 1970–72 outtakes, archival clips and interviews into a high-energy portrait of Elvis, delivering dazzling visuals and a crisp, immersive sound—especially in IMAX—and cementing Luhrmann as the King’s definitive cinematic chronicler.
Baz Luhrmann’s EPiC stitches recovered 1970s concert footage and Graceland material into a kinetic, revealing concert film that doubles as a brisk biographical tour of Elvis’s career, delivering an immersive, non-gimmicky experience for fans.
Rob Sheffield’s Rolling Stone review argues Baz Luhrmann’s EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert restores 1969 rehearsal and on‑stage footage in a Get Back–style edit that lets Elvis speak through archival audio, spotlighting his raw live energy and evolution from Sun Sessions to the Comeback era. The film treats Elvis as a living cultural force rather than a relic, explores the tension with Colonel Parker, and underscores why he remains America’s ultimate obsession through his music and performances.
Epic and Google are in court negotiating a global settlement that could overhaul Android’s app-store rules: one option would reduce fees worldwide and allow rival app stores under a new framework, while the alternative would push developers into Google’s payment programs with per-install charges if no deal is reached. Judge Donato remains skeptical about approving the settlement today, and Fortnite’s return to Android could hinge on the outcome.
Epic and Google have agreed to settle their lawsuit, leading to significant changes in Android's app store ecosystem, including reduced fees, opening up to third-party stores globally, and allowing easier installation of alternative app stores, potentially transforming competition in the Android marketplace.
Epic is ending its partnership program that involved taking a stake in Abridge, signaling a potential shift in its approach to competition in the digital health sector while maintaining a low profile on deals to avoid antitrust scrutiny.
After losing a court case to Epic, Google is seeking an emergency stay to delay implementing court-mandated changes to its Play Store and Android ecosystem, which include allowing third-party payment systems, app links outside the Play Store, and supporting third-party app stores, with a potential rollout not before 2026.
Indie game developers are facing challenges as funding from big corporations like Microsoft and Epic for Game Pass deals reportedly dries up, making it harder for smaller studios to finance their projects. Deals for putting games on Game Pass and the Epic Games Store have decreased in scope, impacting the financial security of indie teams. As subscriber numbers plateau and growth slows, the situation reflects a need for more conservative funding approaches, potentially affecting Sony and PS Plus as well.
Apple has terminated Epic Games Sweden AB's developer account, stalling Epic's plans to launch its own app store on iOS in the EU. This move comes after Epic announced its intention to bring Fortnite back to iOS via a third-party app store in the European Union. Epic accuses Apple of undermining competition and choice on iOS devices and plans to continue fighting for true competition and choice on iOS devices in Europe and around the world.
The second half of Denis Villeneuve’s adaptation of Frank Herbert’s classic novel, 'Dune: Part Two,' is being reviewed by Sonny Bunch, Alyssa Rosenberg, and Peter Suderman. The discussion also includes Ian Bogost’s essay at The Atlantic suggesting the 4K revolution is a bit of a scam, and a bonus episode on Vulture’s ranking of the 100 greatest action sequences is scheduled for Friday.
Epic is preparing to challenge Apple's new 27 percent tax on developers who link to non-Apple payment methods, which it believes defies a court order to allow such links. Despite Apple's recent changes to its in-app payment policies, Epic contends that the new requirements are onerous and plans to seek court intervention. The company's lawyers are in discussions with Apple regarding a briefing schedule for a motion that has yet to be filed, and legal experts suggest that the court may not side with Apple if Epic decides to challenge the terms.
Hans-Jürgen Syberberg's rarely screened seven-hour epic "Hitler, a Film From Germany" is getting a rare screening at Film at Lincoln Center in New York, drawing sold-out crowds despite its daunting length. The film, distributed by Francis Ford Coppola, is a surreal collage of theatrical sketches and archival footage, offering a unique and disorienting portrayal of Adolf Hitler. Divided into four parts, the film presents Hitler as a projection of mankind's darkest fantasies and desires throughout history, with multiple actors and unconventional representations.
Gears of War creator Cliff Bleszinski acknowledges that the success of Palworld "kinda validates" a rejected pitch he made to Epic for a "medieval Pokémon with baby dragons" game, which was turned down by major publishers. Despite the rejection, Bleszinski expressed interest in developing the idea for mobile, but noted that Epic owns the concept. Meanwhile, Palworld's popularity has soared, with its Steam concurrent numbers surpassing two million, prompting The Pokémon Company to investigate potential intellectual property infringement.