The build-up to the new NBA season has been dominated by the debate over whether players should be vaccinated against coronavirus.

Some NBA players say they will not be jabbed or have refused to confirm their vaccination status, while LeBron James was "very sceptical" before deciding to get the jab.

NBA legends Michael Jordan and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar have backed the league's stance. Even Spain's prime minister Pedro Sanchez had his say on the matter in parliament.

With the 2021-22 season set to tip off on Tuesday, the vaccination rate among NBA players is about 95% and the debate has centred on one man - Kyrie Irving.

Because of local vaccine rules, the Brooklyn Nets star cannot play or practise with the team in New York until he has had at least one shot, ruling him out of home games.

Now the Nets have ruled him out altogether, meaning the NBA returns with one of its biggest stars sidelined indefinitely, and sacrificing about $15.6m (£11.5m).

What happened with Kyrie Irving?

Since coming into the league as the number one draft pick in 2011, Irving has not just won a championship with the Cleveland Cavaliers (2016), he's become an activist, a philanthropist and one of six vice-presidents of the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA).

The 29-year-old, who is of African American and Native American heritage, also admits to becoming a "big conspiracy theorist".

He once apologised for saying the earth is flat and this year has been sharing microchip claims about the Moderna vaccine on social media.

BBC Reality Check: No, your Covid Vaccine isn't magnetic

Irving: Unvaccinated Nets star 'doing what's best for me'

Mandates for all NBA team staff, coaches and referees to be vaccinated have been passed, but the NBPA is refusing to accept one for the players.

However, last month New York and San Francisco passed local vaccine mandates for all those entering indoor entertainment and performing arts venues. This month, Los Angeles followed suit.

Those markets feature five NBA teams, including Brooklyn, so Irving was set to miss home games. He was going to be hit in the pocket too.

The NBPA did agree to a reduction in pay of about 1% of an unvaccinated player's salary for each game they miss. For Irving, that's about $380,000 (£279,000), and with 41 home games in the regular season, that would total about $15.6m (£11.5m) for the whole season.

Speculation turned to how the Nets, expected to be championship-contenders after recruiting the star trio of Irving, Kevin Durant and James Harden, would manage having their starting point guard as a part-time player.

They reacted by saying the seven-time All-Star won't be selected at all "until he is eligible to be a full participant". In the same statement, Brooklyn's general manager Sean Marks added: "Kyrie has made a personal choice and we respect his individual right to choose."

Why are some NBA players still unvaccinated?

Andrew Wiggins was selected as the number one draft pick by the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2014

Speaking on Instagram Live on Wednesday, Irving said: "Do what's best for you, but I am not an advocate for either side. I am doing what's best for me.

"I know the consequences here, and if it means that I'm judged and demonised for that, that's just what it is, that's the role I play."

Andrew Wiggins was another of the vaccine 'holdouts' subject to local vaccine mandates as his team, the Golden State Warriors, are based in San Francisco.

The 26-year-old had a request for a religious exemption rejected by the NBA. A week later Wiggins had the jab but said he felt "forced to", adding: "It was a tough decision. Hopefully, it works out in the long run and in 10 years I'm still healthy."

Wiggins has vaccine after exemption denied

Isaac becomes first NBA player not to kneel for anthem since restart

Washington Wizards' three-time All-Star Bradley Beal has said he is unvaccinated for "personal reasons", adding: "You can still get Covid and still pass it along if vaccinated, so..."

The following day the 28-year-old said he was "still considering getting the vaccine. I'm not sitting up here advocating that you shouldn't get it".

The Denver Nuggets' Michael Porter Jr said "there's a chance you could have a bad reaction to the vaccine, I don't feel comfortable", while Orlando Magic's Jonathan Isaac said he is "not anti-vax" and referred to natural immunity. He, Porter and Beal have all recovered from bouts of coronavirus.

"I'm not ashamed to say that I'm uncomfortable with taking the vaccine at this time," said Isaac, 24.

"I understand that the vaccine would help if you have Covid, you'll be able to have less symptoms from contracting it. But with me having Covid in the past and having antibodies, with my current age group and physical fitness level, it's not necessarily a fear of mine."

What else has been said?

New York City mayor Bill de Blasio has told Irving to "get vaccinated. Your fans want to see you, we all want you back", while Donald Trump Jr tweeted that Irving had "just sacrificed more than [Colin] Kaepernick ever did!"

Another Republican, Texas senator Ted Cruz, tweeted that he "stands with Kyrie Irving" and the NBA's other unvaccinated players.

Michael Jordan said that he's a "firm believer in science" and is in "total unison with the league". Fellow Hall of Famer Abdul-Jabbar was part of an information campaign by the NBA, encouraging Americans to get vaccinated.

The six-time NBA champion also told Rolling Stone: "There is no room for players who are willing to risk the health and lives of their team-mates, the staff and the fans simply because they are unable to grasp the seriousness of the situation or do the necessary research."

After initial hesitancy, Los Angeles Lakers star James said he researched the vaccine before deciding "it was best suited for me and my family and my friends. But as far as speaking for everybody and what they want to do, that's not my job."

Giannis Antetokounmpo, last season's Finals MVP as the Milwaukee Bucks won the NBA title, has also confirmed he's been vaccinated, saying: "I did what was best for me and my family to stay protected."

Giannis Antetokounmpo: The making of 'The Greek Freak'

What are the rules for unvaccinated players?

After training camps started, the vaccination rate among NBA players rose from 90% to 95%, leaving about 30 still to get the jab across the league's 30 teams. That compares to 64.7% for the whole of the US population.

Visiting players are exempt from the local vaccine mandates so any still unvaccinated can play away games in New York, San Francisco or LA.

However, according to NBA protocols, they must have daily testing before entering a team facility or interacting with players and coaches. Vaccinated players are only tested if they show symptoms or are a close contact of a positive case.

Unvaccinated players could even be given jail time when visiting Canada to play the Toronto Raptors.

According to Canada's Quarantine Act, they must take a Covid test when arriving in the country and will only be permitted to leave their hotel room for team activities. Anyone breaking the rules can face up to six months in prison and/or $750,000 (£443,275) in fines.

As for Irving, while he'll still be paid for Brooklyn's games on the road this season, he'll forfeit his salary for home games. He could also have missed out on a contract extension worth $186m (£136m).

The Nets may now look to trade him, but how will rival teams feel about his vaccination status? Irving insists he won't be retiring though.

"I'm not leaving this game like this," he said. "There's still so much more work to do."

Police in Kenya have arrested the husband of record-breaking long-distance runner Agnes Tirop who was stabbed to death at her home.

Emmanuel Rotich, who was detained in the coastal city of Mombasa, will face charges once investigations are completed, an official said.

Ms Tirop, 25, was found dead on Wednesday in the western town of Iten, a training centre for top athletes.

She had finished fourth in this year's Tokyo Olympic 5,000m final.

In 2019, she had won the 10,000m bronze at the 2019 World Athletics Championships.

Her husband is in custody after being arrested "while fleeing", George Kinoti, the director of criminal investigations, told AFP news agency

Tributes have been pouring in for Ms Tirop from fellow athletes.

"She was an amazing young girl who was really working hard to be one of the top athletes in the world," Julius Yego, Kenya's former athletics captain, told the BBC World Service's Newsday programme.

"She wanted to be the best and it was only a few weeks ago that she broke the world record for the 10km. Her successful career was still being crafted but unfortunately, someone decided the whole story cannot be written."

During her career, Ms Tirop had success as both a junior - winning 5,000m bronze at world championships in 2012 and 2014 - and as a senior, winning the World Cross Country championships in 2015.

At the World Athletics Championships in 2017 and 2019, she won bronze in the 10,000m before finishing 0.75 seconds outside the medal places at the Tokyo Games two months ago.

Last month, she set a new world record of 30 minutes and one second, in Germany, for the 10km road race.

On Thursday, Athletics Kenya - the country's governing body - suspended all athletics competition for two weeks as a mark of respect for Ms Tirop.

"We just lost a great talent. She was such a strong woman and committed to what she was doing," said Mr Yego.

Asked how he would remember her, the Olympic javelin silver medallist replied: "A young lady who was so peaceful, so humble, always smiling."

"You would never know when she was sad or angry," he said, adding she had been incredibly "focussed on her training and her career".

"We had a difficult day yesterday - it is still shocking. When you check on social media or TV, it is the sad news of Agnes. We are still collecting ourselves."

IMAGE SOURCE,GETTY IMAGES

Image caption,Hellen Obiri (right) beat compatriot Agnes Tirop in the Tokyo Olympics 5,000m final

On Wednesday, both the president of World Athletics, Sebastian Coe, and his counterpart at the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach, spoke about the loss of Ms Tirop.

Former double Olympic champion Coe described her as "one of the world's best female distance runners over the past six years".

"Athletics has lost one of its brightest young stars in the most tragic circumstances," he added. "This is a terrible blow to the entire athletics community, but especially to her family, her friends and Athletics Kenya.

"I send them all our most heartfelt condolences."

Mr Bach hailed Ms Tirop as an inspiration in a post on Twitter.

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.View original tweet on Twitter

Last month, Tirop set the 10km road race world record at the headquarters of her sponsors Adidas in Germany, with the sportswear giants also posting their condolences on social media.

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.View original tweet on Twitter

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Teenage midfielder Pedri has agreed a contract extension with Barcelona which includes a 1bn euro (£846m) release clause, the club has announced.

The 18-year-old's new deal will run until 30 June 2026 and he is expected to officially sign it on Friday.

Pedri joined Barcelona from Las Palmas in August 2020 and played 53 times for them last season - the most of any player at the club.

He was also part of the Spain squad that reached the Euro 2020 semi-finals.

The billion dollar Pedri question - listen to BBC Radio 5 Live's Euro Leagues podcast

Spain boss Luis Enrique started him for each of his side's games at the tournament as he impressed on the international stage.

Pedri's exploits resulted in him being included in Uefa's team of the tournament.

The teenager also helped Spain win Olympic silver in the summer after they were beaten by Brazil in the final.

Pedri has made four appearances for a struggling Barcelona this season, with the club seventh in the Spanish top flight and bottom of their Champions League group.

'One of the symbols of the future' - analysis

Guillem Balague, Spanish football expert on BBC Radio 5 Live's Euro Leagues podcast

What a marketing tool the release clause is - that even we are talking about it. Karim Benzema also has a billion euro release clause at Real Madrid.

That is partly what it is, and also a sign of trust from both parties, from the player that he wants to stay and from Barcelona that they want him to stay.

Pedri had interest from other clubs, he is not the highest-paid player, but he gets paid more [now] than he did. It is the club he supports, this is his dream - even though Real Madrid could have had him.

He went on trial with Real but he was very unlucky, they thought he was too short and he ended up at Las Palmas.

He is now one of the symbols of the new Barcelona. They hope to sign Ansu Fati on a longer contract next - although his agent Jorge Mendes is making that difficult - and Gavi. They want a picture of the three youngsters saying "This is where we are going, follow us".

In the centre of a small east London park, just a stone's throw from Leyton Orient's stadium, is a statue of a man with arms outstretched, his left foot raised delicately on tiptoes.

The football at his boots makes his profession clear, but the posture could be that of a dancer - perhaps even a trapeze artist.

Balletic is one word frequently used to describe Laurie Cunningham, an electric winger who glided effortlessly across the boggy pitches of the 1970s, swaying past defenders with poise and purpose.

Cunningham was the first Briton to join Real Madrid, and one of the very first black players to represent England. He was often subjected to racist abuse.

Those who recall seeing him play talk with a whispered air about greatness. Spain's former manager Vincente del Bosque, Cunningham's team-mate at Madrid, described him as "the Cristiano Ronaldo of his era".

And yet he might have achieved so much more.

Cunningham was an other-worldly talent whose brilliance was checked by injuries and bad luck. He was a pioneer for black footballers who rarely saw himself as a role model. He was a man who moved in extraordinary ways, whose life was sadly cut short by a tragic accident.

Raised in north London by Jamaica-born parents, Cunningham is often described as being quiet and introverted off the pitch, in contrast to his flamboyant footballing style and love of dancing.

After joining youth side Highgate North Hill in 1968, he quickly established himself as a tremendous talent, but also a boy of grit who could take the agricultural challenges slung his way.

Arsenal showed interest and Cunningham was given a trial, followed by a schoolboy contract in 1970. But the Gunners played a rigid 'give and go' style that left little room for Cunningham's buccaneering gallops. It had just won them the double. He was released in 1972 with the note: 'Not the right material.'

Cunningham's prospects hung in the balance. He was picked up by Leyton Orient - then in the second tier, and known just as Orient. His debut came, at the age of 18, on 3 August 1974 in a pre-season friendly against West Ham.

"We lost the game 1-0," recalls one Orient fan, "but he just ran and ran and ran, dribbling all over Upton Park. He was already a phenomenon."

Cunningham stood out off the pitch too; he was a lover of dancing, fashion, painting, architecture and wine. Much of his time away from the game was spent on the dance floor, honing carefully choreographed moves in venues such as Crackers and the Tottenham Royal multiple times a week.

He was a man who moved at his own speed, which could range from the lackadaisical - he was frequently fined by Orient for being late - to the turbo-charged. It was rumoured he'd pay the fines with prize money from dancing contests.

Three years with Orient yielded 75 appearances, 15 goals and a transfer to West Bromwich Albion. There, his talent shone like never before - in often appalling circumstances.

Another photo from Orient in 1975 - Cunningham dressed to impress

If racism in football still rears its ugly head today, it's incomparable to what was seen in British stadiums in the 1970s. Bananas, coins and even ball-bearings were hurled at those with black skin. They were regular targets of verbal and physical abuse. In the vast majority of cases, it went entirely unpunished.

Brendon Batson, Cunningham's team-mate at WBA, explained how the National Front would be waiting for them at away games, where they'd arrive with no security and would be spat on.

Cunningham was regularly the best player on the pitch, a fact that would enrage the abusers even further. He played his game, often slaloming through half the opposing team before bursting the net.

"Defenders like myself were really just there to kick people mostly," says Viv Anderson, who in 1978 became the first black player to win a senior England cap. "The flair players, like Laurie, got the most stick."

On 27 April 1977, Cunningham pulled on the white shirt of England himself, in an Under-21s friendly against Scotland at Bramall Lane - a game won 1-0 thanks to his goal. He'd go on to play six times for the senior England side.

But his real breakthrough season came in 1978-79, alongside Batson and Cyrille Regis in a scintillating Baggies team that only fell away from title contention in the final weeks of the season to finish third.

This was not the first time three black players had played together in British football, but Batson, Cunningham and Regis were the first to regularly do so. They became known as 'the Three Degrees' - a term coined by manager Ron Atkinson in reference to the popular American soul group.

Manchester City forward Raheem Sterling says he would be open to playing abroad if he does not get more game time at Etihad Stadium.

The England international, whose contract runs out in 2023, said he had dreamed "from a young age" of playing abroad.

"If there was the opportunity to go somewhere else, I would be open to it," Sterling, 26, said.

"At this moment in time, football is the most important thing to me."

"I have always had something that maybe one day I would love to play abroad and see how I meet that challenge."

Sterling has started one Premier League game since the opening weekend of the season, although he was in Pep Guardiola's side for the Champions League group stage defeat by Paris St-Germain on 28 September.

The arrival of England team-mate Jack Grealish from Aston Villa for £100m has increased competition for forward places at City, although the absence of Ferran Torres for at least a month with a fractured foot does reduce Guardiola's options.

Sterling joined City from Liverpool in 2015 and has won the Premier League three times, the FA Cup once and the EFL Cup four times.

"I am not someone who complains," he said, speaking at the FT Business of Sport US summit. "I have not tried to make it a bigger deal than it is. I am just raring to go, play football and score regularly."

However, it is understood Sterling will not think about signing a new deal until he is playing regularly again, which does raise the possibility of fulfilling a lifelong ambition to play overseas.

'Racism not taken seriously enough'

Sterling told the event in London that he had stepped back from speaking about racism in public to concentrate on trying to "achieve more action within the limits of what I can do".

The Manchester City and England winger has been targeted in the past and in the summer had to support team-mates Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford and Bukayo Saka after they were racially abused after missing penalties during July's Euro 2020 final defeat by Italy at Wembley.

"If it was comments about something else, it would be taken a lot more seriously," he said. "Racist abuse I don't feel, is taken as seriously as other topics.

"It is something that we are still talking about and it is still happening."

Reflecting on the reaction to the Italy loss, Sterling added: "My main concern was the well-being of my team-mates and making sure they were all right.

"No-one likes to miss a penalty. To have the belief to step up when millions are watching and then to be racially abused afterwards, it is disappointing."

Olympic champion Michael Johnson says sports stars of his generation were "lulled to sleep in the 90s" when it came to tackling social injustices and racial inequalities.

The American sprinter and BBC athletics pundit was reflecting on the rise of athlete activism for the BBC Radio 5 Live's 'All About...' podcast series.

With more professional sportsmen and women using their profile and platforms to challenge inequality and discrimination and campaign for change, this summer the International Olympic Committee (IOC) was moved to relax its rules on protesting at the Tokyo Games.

Johnson has made a podcast series on the subject of athlete protests called Defiance and told the BBC: "This series has made me think - if I was an athlete today, when this fight is ongoing and it's brought to our doorstep - would I risk it all?

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"In the 1990s it was a very different time to what we're living in now. We weren't fighting for those things then, the fight didn't exist, it probably should have.

"We were lulled to sleep with the idea that we were in a good place - our parents fought for these rights that we have now and civil rights and we thought we were in a good place. Now we see, we weren't, we should've been fighting."

Black History Month: 'We were lulled to sleep' in the 90s - Michael Johnson

Johnson cites former San Francisco 49ers player Colin Kaepernick - who hasn't played in the NFL since he began kneeling during the national anthem in 2016 to protest against racial injustice in the US - as one of many athletes who have exercised their right to protest and faced consequences, but wonders whether he would have done the same.

Listen to the full Radio 5 Live podcast with Michael Johnson

From Trayvon Martin to Colin Kaepernick: The story of Black Lives Matter protest in sport

Johnson added: "It's not an easy choice. It's easy for me not being an athlete now to say 'absolutely I would do it'. But I've spoken to many of these athletes and you hear them talking about death threats and losing contracts and concerns for family members and it makes you really think about whether or not you would."

When US Olympic hammer thrower Gwen Berry raised her fist on the podium at the Pan-American Games in 2019 to draw attention to racial injustices, she received a 12-month probation from Team USA bosses.

Johnson expressed his support for Berry's right to peacefully protest - but received a backlash on social media.

"It happens quite often where these figures are pushing back against a societal wrong, become hated and are met with vitriolic responses from different corners of their own country and ultimately many years later are celebrated for what they have done.

"The question is whether that will happen with Kaepernick and Berry.

"How he [Kaepernick] is viewed 30 years from now will be determined by how successful we are in keeping his issue in the public debate and creating change around this subject."

Since Kaepernick's protests more athletes around the world have used their sports as stages to protest against injustices, which Johnson admits is a "risk".

He added: "I am far from that 54-year-old that says 'this generation don't know what they're talking about' - they absolutely do. They're pushing back on things that need to be pushed on.

"We were that generation of 'suck it up and grind it out' - we lost a lot of great athletes to that attitude but this generation have figured out that's not the right way to do it."

Johnson says that while it takes a lot of focus to succeed as a professional athlete, it is possible to also stand up for the things that you believe in.

"You need to have things that distract you from thinking about your sport 24/7," he said. "It's important to have things to think about that are bigger than you, that aren't about you.

"I was fortunate to figure out early on that the desire to win was important to me but never so important to me that I would sacrifice my family, my sanity or my happiness."

Listen to 5 Live Sport All About Michael Johnson from 19:00 BST on Wednesday, 13 October

Jurassic Park actress Ariana Richards has hinted at a potential return to the franchise's next title, Jurassic World: Dominion. Richards, who played Lex Murphy in the Spielberg classic, as well as briefly in its sequel, The Lost World, stepped back from acting to focus on a successful art career. Despite leaving her acting career behind, Richards' role in Jurassic Park was well-received, earning her several award nominations and wins.

Jurassic World: Dominion is the sixth title in the franchise and the third to star Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard as leads. While little is known about Dominion, it will follow the dramatic events of Fallen Kingdom, where dinosaurs have accidentally been unleashed onto the mainland US. While a T-Rex made its way to US shores briefly during the closing scenes of The Lost World, it looks likely that Dominion will explore the idea of dinosaurs and humans living in close proximity to each other further. Solidifying the potential events of Dominion is 2019 short, Battle at Big Rock, a follow-up to Fallen Kingdom, which sees escapee dinosaurs terrorizing a family of campers.

RELATED: Jurassic Park: How The Book Killed Off Dr. Henry Wu (& Why The Movie Didn't)

During a look back at her career for the Celebrity Catch Up podcast, Richards was asked if she would be returning to the franchise. Despite not admitting any potential scenes of her as an adult Lex Murphy, she also didn't deny the potential for a return, saying "Now that is something I wouldn’t be able to comment on." Further adding to the speculation, she admitted she would consider returning to acting "If the right project comes along."

If Richards were to return to the franchise, she'd be joining the likes of Sam Neill and Laura Dern, who have also confirmed their appearances in Dominion. Unlike Jeff Goldblum's cameo at the end of Fallen Kingdom, it's confirmed that the veteran actors (including Goldblum) will receive significant roles in last of the Jurassic World trilogy. While Goldblum's minimal screen time in Fallen Kingdom was disappointing, the return of so many members of the original cast in fuller roles for Dominion is exciting news, only heightened by the potential appearance of Richards.

Jurassic World: Dominion will bring the World trilogy to an end in June 2022, but the future of the franchise is yet to be determined. Producer Frank Marshall insists that the latest film will be the "start of a new era," so it's unlikely Dominion will be the finale in the franchise's long history. Regardless of future outings, Jurassic Park has remained the only successful dinosaur franchise in cinema history, and Dominion so far looks like an exciting way to round out the franchise.

Eternals will answer some big questions about the MCU’s Celestials, according to the film’s producer. Directed by Oscar-winner Chloé Zhao, Eternals stars an ensemble cast that includes Gemma Chan, Richard Madden, Kumail Nanjiani, Lia McHugh, Brian Tyree Henry, Lauren Ridloff, Barry Keoghan, Don Lee, Harish Patel, Kit Harington, Salma Hayek, and Angelina Jolie. Eternals is scheduled to release in theaters on November 5, 2021.

While the main story of Eternals will focus on the eponymous team of superpowered humanoid beings and their bitter rivals, the monstrous Deviants, there will also be a lot of lore added about the Celestials. The ancient race of giant godlike spacefarers has been mentioned and glimpsed at different points throughout the MCU – most notably in the Guardians of the Galaxy films – but they’ll be front and center in Eternals as they created both the Eternals and the Deviants. The Celestials are a huge piece of the Marvel Comics universe, and they could play an equally large role in the story of Phase 4 of the MCU.

RELATED: Every MCU Movie Releasing After What If…? (& When)

During a set visit attended by Screen Rant, Eternals producer Nate Moore revealed that the film will answer four big questions about the MCU Celestials – what their role was in the creation of the universe, how they’re different from each other, what their ultimate objective is, and what the exact nature of their connection to the Eternals is. Answering those questions will mean adding a ton of new lore to the MCU, fleshing out the ancient history of the universe and setting up some massive plotlines for the future. Read Moore’s full quote below.

“The notion of diving into the history of these space gods, what is their role to play in the creation of life across the galaxy, how are they different, what is their endgame? All things that we will learn in the film. We'll also learn the connection between the Eternals and the Celestials.”

So far, the MCU Phase 4 has been all about building out the Marvel universe, rather than a particular overarching story. The establishment of the multiverse, the additions of many new characters, and now the reintroduction of the Celestials are all expanding the scope of the franchise in new and exciting ways. And with Kang the Conqueror becoming a primary antagonist going forward, the future of the MCU looks like it could feature some exciting crossovers.

It should also be interesting to see how closely the MCU Celestials mirror those of the Marvel comics. From what’s been shown of them in the franchise so far, they seem pretty similar, but the story of Eternals could introduce some big changes. The MCU’s Celestials have been closely tied to the Infinity Stones, and in the comics, they’re responsible for the creation of the mutant x-gene. That means that Eternals could lay the foundation for the X-Men to join the MCU, but only time will tell.

Marvel didn't initially realize how popular the Black Panther supporting cast would be. Black Panther was released in 2018 and starred the late Chadwick Boseman as T'Challa/Black Panther in the lead. Directed by Ryan Coogler, the film would go on to become a massive success, raking in $1.3 billion worldwide, making it one of Marvel's most successful films. The film also introduced a number of new characters to the MCU, including Danai Gurira's Okoye and Letitia Wright's Shuri, who both appeared again in Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame.

Michael B. Jordan's Killmonger was another major character introduced to the franchise. Although his character was killed at the end of the film, Jordan recently reprised the role in Marvel's What If...? series. In the series, Killmonger betrays Tony Stark and takes on a very different role than he did in Black Panther, giving him an entirely different arc, but still within the attributes of his character.

RELATED:Black Panther 2 Shouldn't Have A Villain (Because It Can't Beat Killmonger)

While on the set of Eternals, Screen Rant was there with other venues to talk about the new film, where producer Nate Moore revealed that Marvel didn't realize that the supporting cast of Black Panther would be as popular as they became. Moore elaborates that once they became as popular as they did, it led to the characters making their way into Avengers. He says that the audience feedback in that regard helped decide where they would go with them. Read what Moore said below:

"When we made [Black] Panther, we didn't realize Okoye or Shuri would be as popular as they were. Well, then, all of a sudden you're like well, we're making Avengers, wouldn't it be cool if Okoye and Shuri were in this film as well. So to some degree, there is a little bit of audience feedback where we go."

Boseman passed away in 2020 after a private battle with colon cancer. His last appearances as Black Panther were in Avengers: Endgame and Marvel's What If...?, in which he supplied the voice for the character. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is currently in production, and it's unclear what direction the sequel will go in terms of filling the lead character's role (if at all). Marvel has said they won't be recasting T'Challa, so it serves to believe that it will be a new or returning character that will pick up the mantle.

In the comics, Shuri eventually becomes Black Panther, so that's always possible for the sequel. That said, the MCU has always taken its own direction, while paying homage to the comic roots, so it's possible that it could be just about any character. The popularity of Okoye and Shuri is huge, but Lupita Nyong'o's Nakia, Daniel Kaluuya's W'Kabi and Winston Duke's M'Baku are also impressive characters that could potentially take on the mantle of Black Panther or simply be featured in other MCU films. Regardless of who takes on the Black Panther mantle, the supporting cast is firmly established enough to help usher in the next era in Wakanda and beyond.

Aaron Sorkin reveals that his upcoming Lucille Ball biopic, Being the Ricardos, has a total of four musical numbers. Known for his quick-witted characters and ping-pong dialogue, Sorkin is the inimitable screenwriter behind the Emmy Award-winning series The West Wing and the Academy Award-winning film The Social Network. He made his directorial debut in 2017 with Molly's Game and followed that up last year with another critical darling in The Trial of the Chicago 7. Now, Sorkin has opted for a Lucille Ball biopic for his third film as a writer/director.

Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem headline the cast of Being the Ricardos as Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, the married couple who created and starred together as Lucy and Ricky Ricardo in the classic sitcom I Love Lucy. The film takes place over the course of one week of production on the show as a looming crisis threatens the couple's careers and marriage. Being the Ricardos also stars J.K. Simmons and Nina Arianda and William Frawley and Vivian Vance, the actors known for playing Fred and Ethel Mertz on I Love Lucy.

RELATED: Every Aaron Sorkin Movie Ranked From Worst To Best

Now, Aaron Sorkin is revealing some additional details about his upcoming film in an interview with Turner Classic Movies (via EW). After host Ben Mankiewicz asked about an unexpected challenge he faced while making Being the Ricardos, Sorkin revealed that there are four musical numbers in the film, which the director has never attempted before. Read what Sorkin had to say below:

There are four musical numbers in the film, and that's something I'd never done before, but we had a great musical director, great choreographer. The musical numbers are organic. It's not La La Land. It's rehearsals for Too Many Girls. It's at Ciro's where Desi and his orchestra are playing, that kind of thing.

Music has played a prominent role in both Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz's lives, as well as Sorkin's, which is perhaps part of the reason why he wanted to tell their story on screen. Before creating their hit sitcom, Ball was a showgirl and Arnaz a famous bandleader and musician. The couple actually met during rehearsals for the 1940 musical Too Many Girls which Sorkin says will be one of the musical numbers recreated for his film, along with one at Ciro's Nightclub where Arnaz frequently performed. I Love Lucy also featured plenty of musical numbers, some of which will likely find their way into Being the Ricardos.

Sorkin, on the other hand, studied musical theater in college before writing his breakthrough play, A Few Good Men, which he eventually adapted into the 1992 film starring Jack Nicholson and Tom Cruise. Though his roots are in musical theater, Sorkin has never directed a musical number before on the stage or screen, so it will be interesting to see how he fares when Being the Ricardos premieres this December.

Stellan Skarsgård wants his Dune co-star, Dave Bautista, to the join him in the cast of Mamma Mia! 3 whenever the highly anticipated sequel begins production. The first Mamma Mia! movie released in 2008 as a direct adaptation of the popular broadway jukebox musical of the same name, based on the classic songs of the iconic Swedish pop group, ABBA. Its star-studded cast and catchy tunes proved to be a smash hit with audiences worldwide, allowing the film to gross more than ten times its initial production budget of $52 million USD. The original cast reprised their roles a decade later in the follow-up, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, which was also a critical and commercial success.

In the films, Skarsgård plays Bill Anderson – one of Sophie Sheridan's (Amanda Seyfried) three possible fathers (alongside Pierce Brosnan and Colin Firth) that she invites to her Greek taverna for her wedding. The identity of Sophie's biological father is never revealed throughout the course of the two movies, with the three men instead agreeing to each be "a third" of Sophie's father. Skarsgård, Brosnan, and Firth all reprise their roles in the sequel in a smaller capacity to make room for the flashback-heavy sequences.

RELATED: Where Was Mamma Mia Filmed? All Locations In Greece

Skarsgård and Bautista recently sat down with Screen Rant to discuss the their work on Denis Villeneuve's upcoming sci-fi epic, Dune. In the midst of the interview, Mamma Mia! became the topic of discussion with Skarsgård saying that he hopes to reprise his role in the sequel. The actor went on to say that he hopes Bautista will join the sequel's cast, joking that he "want[s] to dance with David on an island in Greece." Check out the actors' full comments below:

Stellan Skarsgård: I wish I could say. It took 10 years between Mamma Mia! and Mamma Mia! 2 - if it's going to take another 10 years, then I'll be dead. I'm worried we might not get there. But if they call, I will say yes immediately, because the experience of doing those two films was fantastic.

Dave Bautista: It's not going to be ten years. I guarantee you that people are on the phone; they've been anticipating this. And there is such a search for good entertainment, with all the new outlets that are constantly in search of media. I think there have been phone calls made, and Stellan will get a phone call when he gets home.

Stellan Skarsgård: Yeah, and hopefully you'll be in it, Dave. We talked about that. I want to dance with David on an island in Greece.

Judy Craymer, producer of the original stage production, recently confirmed that a third movie is in development. She also confirmed that ABBA's newly released songs would appear in Mamma Mia! 3. With most of the cast enthusiastic to return, all the pieces are in place for the sequel to come to fruition. Unfortunately, the film is currently undergoing delays due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Hopefully Mamma Mia! 3 will release sooner than the ten-year window separating the first two films. Another decade may make the choreography-heavy movie difficult to film for older members of the cast, as Skarsgård himself states. Regardless, the final film of the trilogy will no doubt be a sentimental sendoff for the Sheridan family.

The Eternals' Sprite does not have a high opinion on humanity confirms star Lia McHugh. Eternals is the latest entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, a massive epic spanning 7000 years of history that sees the group of advanced aliens protecting the planet Earth from the emergence, a cosmic disaster brought forth by the events of Avengers: Endgame. The film is set to redefine the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with anticipation high as the film is already outperforming Black Widow and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings in advanced ticket sales.

Eternals features a wide variety of characters, and one interestingly present in a lot of the trailer is Lia McHugh as Sprite. Sprite may appear as a child, but she is as old as the rest of the Eternals, and is forever young. She also has the ability to cast illusions. Sprite is present in the London sequence in the trailer when it appears Dane Whitman (Kit Harrington) discovers that Sersi (Gemma Chan) is an Eternal. She also appears to be present while the Eternals are reuniting various members like encountering Thena (Angelina Jolie) and Gilgamesh (Don Lee). While McHugh may not be one of the major names like Angelina Jolie or Salma Hayek, it appears the character is a very important part of the ensemble.

RELATED: Eternals' Origin Changes Open The Door For MCU Greek Gods

Screen Rant and other publications were invited to the set of Eternals at Pinewood Studio in January 2020, on the last day of filming. McHugh revealed that her character Sprite doesn't care for humans, despite the Eternals' job being to protect and watch over humanity. The Eternals' long life and advanced technology makes Sprite view humans as childish, an interesting contrast for her character who is portrayed by a child. McHugh said:

"Sprite thinks humans are kind of stupid. [LAUGHTER] I mean, she thinks they're really dumb and they don't know things. They're really not advanced at all. And yeah. Like, the Eternals obviously are way more advanced because they're gods. And so they-- I see humans as very small and stupid."

Sprite's lack of care for humans is interesting as the trailer showcases Sprite using her magic to cast illusions for an audience of humans for entertainment. While the original read could be playful, Sprite could also be the MCU inspiration for how humans come up with trickster characters like Puck in Midsummer Night's Dream and Peter Pan. McHugh has previously mentioned how her character Sprite feels frustrated being stuck as a child in the modern world, which could further complicate her relationship with humanity.

This all may play out and set up a plot point from the comics. In Neil Gaiman's 2006 Eternals mini-series, Sprite was revealed to be the main villain of the story having wiped the Eternals' minds. Angelina Jolie's Thena is confirmed to suffer from memory loss, a possible suggestion of Sprite's villainous comic book turn. While the trailers for Eternals have teased the threat of the Deviants and the Celestials, the lack of a clear antagonist in the marketing suggests that one of the Eternals may turn on their own, and given Sprite's lack of care for humanity, she may be less willing to fight to defend them from a comic apocalypse and may be revealed as the true villain.

Avengers: Endgame director, Joe Russo, recently shared his thoughts on Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow lawsuit, and what it says about the current state of studios. Responsible for two of the five highest-grossing films of all time, Joe and his brother, Anthony, are longterm collaborators with Disney/Marvel. Aside from making big-budget superhero films for the House of Mouse, the Russo Brothers also directed Netflix's Cherry (2021), and served as producers on the action-thriller film, Extraction (2020).

Earlier this year, Johansson shocked moviegoers when it was revealed that the 36-year-old actor was suing Disney over the simultaneous release of Black Widow in theaters and on Disney+. She blasted the company for sacrificing the movie's box office success, accusing Disney of breaching her contract and depriving her of potential backend payments. The legal battle quickly turned sour, causing people to wonder if Jungle Cruise stars, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Emily Blunt, would follow suit. However, it was confirmed late last month that Johansson and Disney settled the lawsuit over Black Widow, though the terms of the deal were not disclosed.

RELATED:How ScarJo's Black Widow Lawsuit Changed Disney (& Hollywood)

While speaking with Variety, Russo weighed in on the legal battle between Disney and Johansson. The director, who has worked with Disney on several projects including Avengers: Infinity War and Captain America: The Winter Soldier, said it was "unfortunate" that the lawsuit spilled out into public domain. He went on to describe the incident as "indicative of significant change" in the industry, saying that corporations are panicking due to the longterm consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. Russo's full quote can be read below:

"Corporations are panicking at the moment, because I think that half the studios are going to disappear in the next 5-10 years, and the game has changed dramatically. There are content producers who can outspend any studio, and it’s just a rounding error for them, because they’re $1 trillion companies. We’ve never seen that before in the business.”

It's no secret that the COVID-19 outbreak has had a devastating effect on the theatrical model. While it seems like the global box office is starting to return to semi-normalcy, 2021 numbers are still nowhere close to 2019 in-person ticket sales. Surprisingly, Venom: Let There Be Carnage, the sequel to 2018's Venom, is the unexpected winner of the pandemic era box office thus far. In its first weekend, Venom: Let There Be Carnage opened to a massive $90.1 million at the domestic box office—a pandemic record. With the highly anticipated sci-fi epic, Dune, and Marvel's Eternals arriving in the coming weeks, big-budget fall blockbusters might just be the thing that brings moviegoers back to theaters.

However, with the potential IATSE strike and the ongoing pandemic, studios shouldn't be too optimistic for a full recovery just yet. Streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and HBO Max continue to grow their subscriber base, and Russo's prediction that content producers will overtake studios seems more than likely. The changing landscape of the industry has, and will likely continue to throw the theatrical model out of whack. It comes as no surprise that studios are panicking, as their survival seems in jeopardy now more than ever before.

Daisy Ridley has revealed that she still regularly texts Jodie Comer, who portrayed Rey's mother in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Star Wars came back in a big way when Disney got their hands on the franchise. Starting with 2015's Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Disney sought to continue the Skywalker saga. In doing so, they put together a cast of up-and-coming actors, featuring Oscar Isaac, John Boyega, and of course, Ridley. Ridley played the part of Rey, a force-sensitive orphan looking for her place in the universe. From the moment Rey was introduced, her parentage became a point of much discussion.

After The Force Awakens, many assumed Rey would have a familial link to one of the franchise's central heroes, like Luke, Leia, or Han, as the film left it as a dangling question to be answered in a later movie. Star Wars: The Last Jedi, the next film in the series, saw an answer delivered via Kylo Ren, who stated that Rey's parents were merely junk traders who sold Rey off for drinking money. This answer ignited a deep hatred from a large portion of the fanbase who had invested in the character with hope for something more grandiose. When Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker followed in 2019, the junk trader explanation was proven to be false (or retconned due to backlash), revealing Rey to be the granddaughter of Emperor Palpatine, aka Darth Sidious. Rey's parents were only featured briefly in the film, yet still made an impact for giving fans a far better answer than the previous movie.

RELATED: Rise Of Skywalker: Why Rey Didn't Turn Anakin's Lightsaber Yellow

Recently, Ridley spoke with Grazia to promote her new podcast thriller Zoetrope. During the interview, Ridley was asked about leaving Star Wars behind after all these years. She quickly mentioned how sad it was to walk away from Star Wars, complete with copious amounts of tears on her part when they all parted ways. Still, Ridley said she keeps in touch with a lot of the cast and crew. One name she mentioned was Jodie Comer, with whom she regularly exchanges texts. Check out Ridley's comments below:

"My god I was so sad. I spent a lot of time crying, I really felt like I was grieving something. They were my people for so many years! John [Boyega] and I met when we were both twenty-one, we were so young. We started this thing together in our early twenties and now I’m twenty-nine. But we all keep in touch, even though John is the busiest man in the world. I went for breakfast with Kathy Kennedy the other day which was so nice. Jodie [Comer] and I text all the time. It was such a wonderful experience."

Both Ridley and Comer entered the Star Wars universe as relative unknowns. Ridley had a few minor TV roles and short films on her resume. Comer had quite a few substantial roles under her belt when appearing in The Rise of Skywalker, yet she was mainly known for her work on Killing Eve. Now, Ridley has appeared in films like Murder on the Orient Express and Chaos Walking, with Comer recently appearing alongside Ryan Reynolds in the smash hit, Free Guy. Ridley currently has The Marsh King's Daughter in post-production, while Comer can next be seen alongside Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, and fellow Star Wars alum Adam Driver in The Last Duel.

While there is nothing new about actors staying in touch after a film wraps, Ridley and Comer didn't really share any screen time in The Rise of Skywalker. Their characters share a unique bond, but Comer's appearance in the movie was brief, with a younger actress, not Ridley, playing Rey. Rey's parents aren't even given names as Comer is credited as Rey's Mother and Billy Howle as Rey's Father. However, it would seem as though it was enough for Ridley and Comer to strike up a lasting friendship. As for Star Wars, Rey's journey looks to have ended for the time being, but the character could always return.

Denis Villeneuve's Dune will release on HBO Max streaming one day earlier than expected, potentially hurting the film's theatrical performance. Based on the acclaimed sci-fi novel by Frank Herbert, Dune tells the story of the desert planet Arakis and the political power struggles fought over its supply of Spice. The film features a star-studded ensemble cast including Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgård, Dave Bautista, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Zendaya, David Dastmalchian, Chang Chen, Sharon Duncan-Brewster, Charlotte Rampling, Jason Momoa, and Javier Bardem.

For all of 2021, Warner Bros. has been releasing all of its biggest films for streaming on HBO Max at the same time as their theatrical premieres, drawing some harsh criticisms from directors and other industry figures. Villeneuve himself has said that Dune will be best enjoyed in a movie theater, and that he disagrees with Warner’s approach to its recent feature releases. However, due to safety concerns during the covid-19 pandemic, the hybrid release model has also had its share of supporters.

RELATED: Dune Trailer Breakdown: 25 Story & Character Reveals

Previously, it was believed that Dune would release on HBO on October 22 – the Friday the film was scheduled to premiere in North America. However, per Decider, the film will actually start streaming one day earlier, at 6:00 pm EDT on October 21. That means that the early Thursday evening showings that blockbusters have become accustomed to in recent years won’t even occur before the HBO Max release, making Dune’s streaming release truly simultaneous with its theatrical debut.

How greatly this change will affect Dune’s box office performance remains to be seen, but Thursday showings are a huge part of most movies’ opening weekend ticket sales. Giving viewers the option to stream as early as Thursday evening could drag even more potential audience members out of cinemas and encourage them to instead view the film at home on HBO Max instead. To those concerned about public gatherings during the ongoing pandemic, that’s great news, but Villeneuve probably isn’t too happy about it.

Even with the moved up streaming premiere date, however, Dune looks set to be a huge hit in theaters, and the extra numbers it does for HBO Max won’t hurt either. The film has received very positive reviews from its international premieres, and plenty of people will still want to see the story of Dune play out on the big screen, regardless of the streaming option. Plus, with Villeneuve already planning additional films, Dune will likely have plenty of time in the cinematic spotlight, even well after its initial release.

One downside of MMO games is that they require frequent maintenance that renders them briefly unplayable, and New World is no exception. However, several European New World players have noticed an unfortunate pattern concerning the timing of planned maintenance--namely, that it keeps happening in the middle of the day instead of late at night, when it's unlikely to impact players.

Redditor Physics_Total raised the issue by pointing out that Amazon seems to have repeatedly scheduled planned maintenance for 1:00 PM on Wednesday in the EU servers, despite the same maintenance being applied to North American servers at 3:00 AM. Apparently, something similar happened during the beta, and although Amazon promised the issue would be fixed after launch, the company doesn't seem to have followed through. This isn't the first time Amazon has broken a promise to New World players, but it may have a significant impact on the European player base.

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In the original post, Physics_Total questioned why Amazon Game Studios – which is based out of North America – would apparently decide to work on the EU servers' planned maintenance in the middle of the night. The time zones involved would suggest that Amazon is not following the guidance of most other big MMOs, which tend to schedule planned maintenance either at the end of the workday or at different times in each region. The New World launch wasn't global, so Physics_Total expressed confusion about why planned maintenance was.

This isn't the first time an MMO game has been noticeably biased toward North American servers. For years, the controversial Riot Games was accused of favoring the North American League of Legends servers over the rest. While New World doesn't appear to have gone quite as far with its favoritism as Riot Games did in the past, Australian players noted under the post that they were also having trouble with planned maintenance. According to several users, the Australian servers keep getting hit by maintenance at times ranging from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM to 9:00 PM, all of which may make for very inconvenient timing.

As of writing, it appears that many other fans of New World are frustrated with the perceived favoritism and how it affects planned maintenance. One user posted nostalgically about the way that Guild Wars 2 avoided intentional server downtime, while another complained that New World's planned maintenance could take the game down for over seven hours at a time. A third user noted that the EU servers seem to have the least priority and are often the last region to come back online after planned maintenance.

New World is available now on PC.