Itzel Luna, Author at The Rapid City Post

FILE - In this Jan. 7, 2020, file photo, Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex leave Canada House in London. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein, File)

Prince Harry, Meghan and Netflix extend partnership for streaming programs

August 11, 2025

Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, announced Monday that their media company’s partnership with Netflix has been extended with a multiyear, first-look deal. Archewell Productions first collaborated with the streaming giant in a 2020 deal that produced the successful documentary series “Harry & Meghan.” The couple and Netflix also announced upcoming collaborations, including a second season of, “With Love, Meghan,” a lifestyle reality show starring the Duchess, and a scripted adaptation of Carley Fortune’s book, “Meet Me at the Lake.” Netflix’s chief content officer call Harry and Meghan “influential voices whose stories resonate with audiences everywhere.”

Lucasfilm and Disney settle with actor Gina Carano following her firing from ‘The Mandalorian’

August 7, 2025

Gina Carano has settled her lawsuit against Lucasfilm and Disney over her firing from “The Mandalorian.” The actor had filed suit in federal court last year alleging she had been dismissed from the “Star Wars” series in 2021 for expressing right-wing views on social media. Carano thanked Elon Musk for helping fund the lawsuit “and asking for nothing in return.” Lucasfilm said in a statement that the company “look forward to identifying opportunities to work together with Ms. Carano in the near future.” The specific terms of the agreement were not made available.

‘Weapons’ spins small town into chaos that mirrors real life, humor and all

August 6, 2025

Zach Cregger says he had to stop writing jokes while creating his latest horror film, “Weapons,” and instead let the hyper realistic aftermath of tragedy drive the movie’s humor. The film follows Cregger’s widely celebrated genre-bending horror “Barbarians,” his 2022 solo directorial debut. The young director spins a town into chaos in his second act, after all children but one from the same classroom mysteriously vanish, leaving a trail of questions in their place. Cregger says the movie’s humor comes naturally, as characters stumble through their grief and navigate the absurd events happening around them. The Warner Bros. Pictures release hits theaters Friday.

Soulja Boy arrested on suspicion of weapons charge during a traffic stop

August 3, 2025

Los Angeles police confirmed that Soulja Boy was arrested early Sunday following a traffic stop on suspicion of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. Police said that Soulja Boy, whose real name is DeAndre Cortez Way, was a passenger during a traffic stop and was arrested. Inmate records indicate Way was booked into jail after 6 a.m. in the department’s Wilshire Division. The rapper was recently found liable for sexually assaulting and physically and emotionally abusing a former assistant. He was ordered to pay the woman $4 million in damages. The Chicago hip-hop artist is best known for his 2007 single “Crank That (Soulja Boy).”

“The Fantastic Four: First Steps” holds its lead atop the box office

August 3, 2025

Marvel’s first family faltered in its sophomore weekend at the box office, recording a 66% dip in North American theaters. But the movie still managed to hold on to the No. 1 spot this weekend. “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” earned $40 million, bringing total earnings to $198 million domestically. “The Bad Guys 2” and “The Naked Gun” snagged the second and third spots. Marvel’s previous film, “Thunderbolts,” took a 55% dive in its second weekend and is almost on par with “Captain America: Brave New World.” That film landed in theaters earlier this year and fell 68% after its debut weekend.

‘Building the Band’ has Liam Payne’s last major appearance before his death

July 22, 2025

AJ McLean and Kelly Rowland from Netflix’s “Building the Band” say they are lucky to have moments with Liam Payne in his last major appearance before his death. The One Direction singer appeared as a guest judge just months before his death in October. The show brings 50 young singers together to form bands based on talent alone, without seeing each other. Band members praised Payne’s mentorship and interest in supporting them. The first batch of episodes premiered in early July and the last few episodes will premiere Wednesday. The last band standing will win a $500,000 prize.

‘Love Island USA’ prepares to crown winning couple following tumultuous seventh season

July 12, 2025

“Love Island USA” will crown season seven’s winning couple Sunday evening after a tumultuous season. The episode will begin streaming on Peacock starting at 9 p.m. Eastern. The show brings young singles together in a remote villa in Fiji to explore connections with the ultimate goal of finding love. The winning couple will win $100,000. The couples in contention Sunday are Amaya and Bryan, Huda and Chris, Iris and Pepe and Olandria and Nic. A new series called “Love Island: Beyond the Villa” will also premiere Sunday and follows last summer’s cast.

Former ‘Love Island USA’ contestant Cierra Ortega apologizes for using racial slur

July 10, 2025

Former “Love Island USA” contestant Cierra Ortega has released a video on TikTok apologizing for previously using a racial slur against Asian people. Just a week before the reality show’s finale, Ortega, who was half of one of the season’s strongest couples, left the villa after old posts resurfaced that contained a racial slur against Asian people. Ortega calls her nearly 5 minute video released Wednesday night “an accountability video.” Ortega’s removal from the villa was announced early in Sunday’s episode. Host Iain Stirling said she had left “due to a personal situation.”

FILE - SAG-AFTRA signage is seen on the side of the headquarters in Los Angeles on Friday, Nov. 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel,File)

Video game performers vote on contract that could end nearly three-year-long battle over AI

July 8, 2025

Union members have until July 9 at 5 p.m. Pacific to vote on a tentative contract between video game performers and their employers. If the agreement is ratified, it would formally end a nearly three-year-long effort between the union and major video companies to settle on artificial intelligence protections. A spokesperson for the video game producers involved in the deal said the new contract secured “industry-leading” AI protections. Union leaders say the 11-month strike was a “grueling and excruciating” process, but necessary to ensure safe working conditions for the nearly 3,000 union members covered under the contract.

Video game actors are voting on a new contract. Here’s what it means for AI in gaming

July 8, 2025

A tentative agreement passed by the union board in June could put video game performers back in action after a nearly year-long strike. Union leaders say the new contract secured necessary artificial intelligence protections that had previously left large game companies at a standstill during negotiation efforts. Members had raised concerns that unregulated use of AI could displace them. The agreement centers on consent, compensation and transparency, which union leaders say are key elements needed for the industry to keep moving forward. About 3,000 striking union members now have until Wednesday evening to vote on the contract’s ratification.

Cierra Ortega exits ‘Love Island USA’ villa following backlash over resurfaced racial slur posts

July 7, 2025

“Love Island USA” says contestant Cierra Ortega has left the show “due to a personal situation” during Sunday’s episode, just a week before the finale will air. Her departure follows weeks of uproar from viewers after old social media posts in which Ortega used a racial slur against Asian people resurfaced. The show, which is on its seventh season, didn’t provide a direct reason for her departure and a spokesperson declined to comment Monday. Ortega’s family posted to her Instagram story Sunday evening following the departure announcement asking the public for compassion, patience and “basic human decency.”

Jennifer Aniston appears at a screening of "The Morning Show" during PaleyFest, April 12, 2024, in Los Angeles, left, and Actor-author Jennette McCurdy appears at the Time100 Next list on Oct. 25, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo)

Jennifer Aniston will star in series inspired by Jennette McCurdy’s memoir ‘I’m Glad My Mom Died’

July 1, 2025

Jennifer Aniston will star in a new Apple TV+ original series inspired by Jennette McCurdy’s bestselling memoir “I’m Glad My Mom Died.” McCurdy rose to fame as a co-star on Nickelodeon shows “iCarly” with Miranda Cosgrove and its spinoff “ Sam & Cat ”opposite Ariana Grande. Her memoir recounts being “emotionally, mentally and physically abused” by her mother throughout her childhood. McCurdy wrote the 10-episode series with film producer Ari Katcher. The pair will serve as co-showrunners and will executive produce the series alongside Aniston. Aniston also stars and executive produced The Morning Show, another Apple TV+ series. The show’s fourth season is set to premiere Sept. 17.

Home reportedly owned by Brad Pitt was ransacked by burglars, police say

June 26, 2025

Police are investigating a break-in at a home reportedly owned by Brad Pitt, who has been on a globe-spanning promo tour for his new movie, “F1.” Los Angeles Police Officer Drake Madison says three suspects broke into the residence through the front window, ransacked the home and fled with miscellaneous property. Pitt reportedly bought the home for $5.5 million in April 2023. A Pitt representative declined comment. The actor has been out of the country on a promotional tour for the “F1” movie. He recently attended the international premiere in London on Monday. The movie will be in U.S. theaters Friday.

Itzel Luna.