Month: August 2019

Brightly lit GameStop storefront. (credit: JeepersMedia / Flickr)

Major video game retailer GameStop has announced layoffs for 120 corporate staffers, representing a 14% reduction of the company's "total associate base at our company headquarters as well as at some other offices."

“While these changes are difficult, they were necessary to reduce costs and better align the organization with our efforts to optimize the business to meet our future objectives and success factors," GameStop said in a statement. "We recognize that this is a difficult day for our company and particularly for those associates impacted. We appreciate their dedication and service to GameStop and are committed to supporting them during this time of transition.”

It's unclear if that number includes staffers at GameStop-owned Game Informer magazine, many of whom took to Twitter today to share news of their unexpected layoffs. Of the 19 staffers listed on the magazine's masthead at least six were let go today, including Managing Editor Matt Bertz.

Enlarge / "Mr. Feige, I don't feel so good." Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige will not be producing the next two Spider-Man films with Sony Pictures. (credit: Aurich Lawson / Marvel / Getty)

Update, August 21,2019, 11:15 AM: Sony Pictures has released an official statement via Twitter, mostly focusing on what happened with regard to Kevin Feige's producer role:

Much of today’s news about Spider-Man has mischaracterized recent discussions about Kevin Feige’s involvement in the franchise. We are disappointed, but respect Disney’s decision not to have him continue as a lead producer of our next live action Spider-Man film. We hope this might change in the future, but understand that the many new responsibilities that Disney has given him—including all their newly added Marvel properties—do not allow time for him to work on IP they do not own. Kevin is terrific and we are grateful for his help and guidance and appreciate the path he has helped put us on, which we will continue.

Original story:

Deadline Hollywood reports that future blockbuster films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe will likely be missing a key figure: Spider-Man. Apparently, Sony Pictures and Disney/Marvel have failed to reach new terms for the franchise acceptable to both parties. That means Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige will not be a producer on the next two Spider-Man movies reportedly in the works.

Enlarge / Tim Cook announces Apple TV+ at an event on March 25, 2019. (credit: Ron Amadeo)

Disney earlier this year announced that it will launch its Disney+ streaming TV service on November 12 in the United States for $6.99 per month. Yesterday, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman published a report claiming that Apple's competing TV service, Apple TV+, will also launch in November, but likely at $9.99.

Both companies are entering an increasingly crowded streaming TV landscape that already includes the likes of HBO, Netflix, CBS, Showtime, and Starz, among others, and will soon see other major entries like HBO Max, offerings from AT&T, and offerings from NBC Universal.

According to the Bloomberg report, which cites people familiar with Apple's plans, Apple TV+ will launch with a "small selection of shows," including The Morning Show, Amazing Stories, See, Truth Be Told, and a documentary series about houses called Home. Apple is still mulling over prices, the report says, but is leaning toward $9.99.