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By Danielle Broadway LOS ANGELES (Reuters) -For Oscar-winning actor Ke Huy Quan, Disney’s animated buddy cop comedy, “Zootopia 2,” has a healthy message about the importance of confiding in others for emotional support. Quan, who voices Gary De'Snake — a pit viper determined to help his family — told Reuters, “I grew up in a very traditional Chinese family and was taught to really internalize a lot of my feelings and not share them.” However, the “Everything Everywhere All at Once” actor added that it’s unhealthy to keep emotions bottled up. For him, the sequel creates an avenue for people to explore the importance of sharing their experiences to foster empathy. “Zootopia 2” continues the story of the highly acclaimed 2016 film “Zootopia,” which follows rookie police officer rabbit Judy Hopps, voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin, and the con artist fox named Nick Wilde, voiced by Jason Bateman, as the unlikely pair team up to investigate the disappearance of predator animals. The sequel picks up where the first film left off, quickly sending Judy and Nick on their latest adventure to uncover the truth surrounding the new reptilian character, Gary De'Snake. The second installment is co-directed by Byron Howard and Jared Bush, who also worked on the first film. The voice cast includes actor Idris Elba as Chief Bogo, the Zootopia police chief, singer Shakira as the pop star gazelle named Gazelle, and newcomers Patrick Warburton as Mayor Brian Winddancer, a stallion, and Fortune Feimster as the beaver named Nibbles Maplestick. In “Zootopia 2,” Judy, the overachieving bunny, and Nick, the laidback fox, must come to terms with their differences to become a stronger team. For Bateman, the core of what the movie is conveying is that “differences can be a plus” for those who have the courage and curiosity to be with someone unlike themselves. Echoing Bateman, Howard felt that Judy and Nick needed to show both the pros and cons of a new professional partnership. “Nick and Judy needed to be at the center of this film,” he said. “There are new things to get used to. There’s different baggage that you’re each carrying from your upbringing,” he added. Mirroring his own real-life collaboration with others to create the film, Howard said that “each of us has superpowers.” However, several characters do have to be vulnerable to communicate their needs before coming together, which is something that Feimster thought was timely for the audiences who watch the film. “I think we should be entering into a time where it’s considered a positive thing to say how you feel and to be more in touch with your feelings because, why not? The antithesis of that is so much pent up aggression,” the comedian said. "Zootopia 2" arrives in theaters on Wednesday. (Reporting by Danielle Broadway and Rollo Ross)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

By Danielle Broadway LOS ANGELES (Reuters) -For Oscar-winning actor Ke Huy Quan, Disney’s animated buddy cop comedy, “Zootopia 2,” has a healthy message about the importance of confiding in others for emotional support. Quan, who voices Gary De'Snake — a pit viper determined to help his family — told Reuters, “I grew up in a very traditional Chinese family and was taught to really internalize a lot of my feelings and not share them.” However, the “Everything Everywhere All at Once” actor added that it’s unhealthy to keep emotions bottled up. For him, the sequel creates an avenue for people to explore the importance of sharing their experiences to foster empathy. “Zootopia 2” continues the story of the highly acclaimed 2016 film “Zootopia,” which follows rookie police officer rabbit Judy Hopps, voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin, and the con artist fox named Nick Wilde, voiced by Jason Bateman, as the unlikely pair team up to investigate the disappearance of predator animals. The sequel picks up where the first film left off, quickly sending Judy and Nick on their latest adventure to uncover the truth surrounding the new reptilian character, Gary De'Snake. The second installment is co-directed by Byron Howard and Jared Bush, who also worked on the first film. The voice cast includes actor Idris Elba as Chief Bogo, the Zootopia police chief, singer Shakira as the pop star gazelle named Gazelle, and newcomers Patrick Warburton as Mayor Brian Winddancer, a stallion, and Fortune Feimster as the beaver named Nibbles Maplestick. In “Zootopia 2,” Judy, the overachieving bunny, and Nick, the laidback fox, must come to terms with their differences to become a stronger team. For Bateman, the core of what the movie is conveying is that “differences can be a plus” for those who have the courage and curiosity to be with someone unlike themselves. Echoing Bateman, Howard felt that Judy and Nick needed to show both the pros and cons of a new professional partnership. “Nick and Judy needed to be at the center of this film,” he said. “There are new things to get used to. There’s different baggage that you’re each carrying from your upbringing,” he added. Mirroring his own real-life collaboration with others to create the film, Howard said that “each of us has superpowers.” However, several characters do have to be vulnerable to communicate their needs before coming together, which is something that Feimster thought was timely for the audiences who watch the film. “I think we should be entering into a time where it’s considered a positive thing to say how you feel and to be more in touch with your feelings because, why not? The antithesis of that is so much pent up aggression,” the comedian said. "Zootopia 2" arrives in theaters on Wednesday. (Reporting by Danielle Broadway and Rollo Ross)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

By Lisa Richwine LOS ANGELES (Reuters) -Netflix's hit sci-fi series "Stranger Things" is about to ride to its conclusion with a marketing and merchandising blitz befitting a blockbuster movie. Ahead of the fifth and final season's debut on Wednesday, thousands turned out in Los Angeles at a cycling event dubbed "One Last Ride," a nod to the show's bike-riding teenagers in the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana.  Retailers are offering everything from Demogorgon Crunch cereal to Hellfire Club backpacks for what is Netflix's largest consumer products program to date, said Netflix Chief Marketing Officer Marian Lee. Target stores are selling more than 150 "Stranger Things" products.  Many brands are leaning in to 1980s nostalgia. Gatorade brought back an '80s Citrus Cooler flavor, and Walmart is selling a "Stranger Things" collection of Care Bears, one of the hot-selling toys of that era. The promotional push extends around the world.  "This is a show that really resonates globally," Lee said.  In Paris, visitors can browse a Hawkins Christmas market at the Galeries Lafayette department store. A "Stranger Things" experience featuring the Hawkins Lab has stopped in San Francisco, New York, Rio de Janeiro and Sydney. New Netflix Houses inside malls feature "Stranger Things" areas. Instead of releasing all episodes at once, Netflix will stagger the final season's episodes around major holidays. Four episodes debut on Wednesday, the day before the U.S. Thanksgiving Day holiday, three on Christmas Day in December and the final episode on New Year's Eve.   "Stranger Things" – whose stars include Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard and Noah Schnapp – will be hard to miss throughout the holiday season. A "Stranger Things" float featuring 1970s and '80s rock band Foreigner will appear in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. More products will arrive to tempt holiday shoppers. The all-in approach is similar to what movie studios employ for big-budget films such as "Barbie" or "Wicked," said Amanda Cioletti, an expert on licensing trends and vice president of content and strategy at research firm Informa Markets Global Licensing Group. TV shows rarely receive such treatment.  "We see 'Stranger Things' everywhere," said Cioletti. "When you are on social media you see it, and you see it in all the storefronts. You see it in every other placement that makes sense." Fans at the Los Angeles bike ride voiced anticipation for the final season of a series that began nine years ago. "The (show) started when I was in about sixth grade, so I was the same age as the characters when it started," said 21-year-old Chloe Allen. "It's definitely been a huge part of my life." Netflix hopes to keep fans interested in the "Stranger Things" world for years. A play called "Stranger Things: The First Shadow" is running on Broadway and London's West End, and an animated series is set for next year. A live-action spinoff also is planned. "It's not a continuation of the story of Hawkins, of these characters, but it's still in the universe of 'Stranger Things,'" Co-Creator Ross Duffer said. Executive producer Shawn Levy revealed few details but said he and the Duffers would offer fans something new. "We are never going to repeat ourselves," Levy said. (Reporting Lisa Richwine in Los Angeles; Additional reporting by Dawn Chmielewski, Danielle Broadway and Rollo Ross in Los Angeles; Editing by Matthew Lewis)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

By Lisa Richwine LOS ANGELES (Reuters) -Netflix's hit sci-fi series "Stranger Things" is about to ride to its conclusion with a marketing and merchandising blitz befitting a blockbuster movie. Ahead of the fifth and final season's debut on Wednesday, thousands turned out in Los Angeles at a cycling event dubbed "One Last Ride," a nod to the show's bike-riding teenagers in the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana.  Retailers are offering everything from Demogorgon Crunch cereal to Hellfire Club backpacks for what is Netflix's largest consumer products program to date, said Netflix Chief Marketing Officer Marian Lee. Target stores are selling more than 150 "Stranger Things" products.  Many brands are leaning in to 1980s nostalgia. Gatorade brought back an '80s Citrus Cooler flavor, and Walmart is selling a "Stranger Things" collection of Care Bears, one of the hot-selling toys of that era. The promotional push extends around the world.  "This is a show that really resonates globally," Lee said.  In Paris, visitors can browse a Hawkins Christmas market at the Galeries Lafayette department store. A "Stranger Things" experience featuring the Hawkins Lab has stopped in San Francisco, New York, Rio de Janeiro and Sydney. New Netflix Houses inside malls feature "Stranger Things" areas. Instead of releasing all episodes at once, Netflix will stagger the final season's episodes around major holidays. Four episodes debut on Wednesday, the day before the U.S. Thanksgiving Day holiday, three on Christmas Day in December and the final episode on New Year's Eve.   "Stranger Things" – whose stars include Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard and Noah Schnapp – will be hard to miss throughout the holiday season. A "Stranger Things" float featuring 1970s and '80s rock band Foreigner will appear in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. More products will arrive to tempt holiday shoppers. The all-in approach is similar to what movie studios employ for big-budget films such as "Barbie" or "Wicked," said Amanda Cioletti, an expert on licensing trends and vice president of content and strategy at research firm Informa Markets Global Licensing Group. TV shows rarely receive such treatment.  "We see 'Stranger Things' everywhere," said Cioletti. "When you are on social media you see it, and you see it in all the storefronts. You see it in every other placement that makes sense." Fans at the Los Angeles bike ride voiced anticipation for the final season of a series that began nine years ago. "The (show) started when I was in about sixth grade, so I was the same age as the characters when it started," said 21-year-old Chloe Allen. "It's definitely been a huge part of my life." Netflix hopes to keep fans interested in the "Stranger Things" world for years. A play called "Stranger Things: The First Shadow" is running on Broadway and London's West End, and an animated series is set for next year. A live-action spinoff also is planned. "It's not a continuation of the story of Hawkins, of these characters, but it's still in the universe of 'Stranger Things,'" Co-Creator Ross Duffer said. Executive producer Shawn Levy revealed few details but said he and the Duffers would offer fans something new. "We are never going to repeat ourselves," Levy said. (Reporting Lisa Richwine in Los Angeles; Additional reporting by Dawn Chmielewski, Danielle Broadway and Rollo Ross in Los Angeles; Editing by Matthew Lewis)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

By Lisa Richwine LOS ANGELES (Reuters) -Netflix's hit sci-fi series "Stranger Things" is about to ride to its conclusion with a marketing and merchandising blitz befitting a blockbuster movie. Ahead of the fifth and final season's debut on Wednesday, thousands turned out in Los Angeles at a cycling event dubbed "One Last Ride," a nod to the show's bike-riding teenagers in the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana.  Retailers are offering everything from Demogorgon Crunch cereal to Hellfire Club backpacks for what is Netflix's largest consumer products program to date, said Netflix Chief Marketing Officer Marian Lee. Target stores are selling more than 150 "Stranger Things" products.  Many brands are leaning in to 1980s nostalgia. Gatorade brought back an '80s Citrus Cooler flavor, and Walmart is selling a "Stranger Things" collection of Care Bears, one of the hot-selling toys of that era. The promotional push extends around the world.  "This is a show that really resonates globally," Lee said.  In Paris, visitors can browse a Hawkins Christmas market at the Galeries Lafayette department store. A "Stranger Things" experience featuring the Hawkins Lab has stopped in San Francisco, New York, Rio de Janeiro and Sydney. New Netflix Houses inside malls feature "Stranger Things" areas. Instead of releasing all episodes at once, Netflix will stagger the final season's episodes around major holidays. Four episodes debut on Wednesday, the day before the U.S. Thanksgiving Day holiday, three on Christmas Day in December and the final episode on New Year's Eve.   "Stranger Things" – whose stars include Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard and Noah Schnapp – will be hard to miss throughout the holiday season. A "Stranger Things" float featuring 1970s and '80s rock band Foreigner will appear in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. More products will arrive to tempt holiday shoppers. The all-in approach is similar to what movie studios employ for big-budget films such as "Barbie" or "Wicked," said Amanda Cioletti, an expert on licensing trends and vice president of content and strategy at research firm Informa Markets Global Licensing Group. TV shows rarely receive such treatment.  "We see 'Stranger Things' everywhere," said Cioletti. "When you are on social media you see it, and you see it in all the storefronts. You see it in every other placement that makes sense." Fans at the Los Angeles bike ride voiced anticipation for the final season of a series that began nine years ago. "The (show) started when I was in about sixth grade, so I was the same age as the characters when it started," said 21-year-old Chloe Allen. "It's definitely been a huge part of my life." Netflix hopes to keep fans interested in the "Stranger Things" world for years. A play called "Stranger Things: The First Shadow" is running on Broadway and London's West End, and an animated series is set for next year. A live-action spinoff also is planned. "It's not a continuation of the story of Hawkins, of these characters, but it's still in the universe of 'Stranger Things,'" Co-Creator Ross Duffer said. Executive producer Shawn Levy revealed few details but said he and the Duffers would offer fans something new. "We are never going to repeat ourselves," Levy said. (Reporting Lisa Richwine in Los Angeles; Additional reporting by Dawn Chmielewski, Danielle Broadway and Rollo Ross in Los Angeles; Editing by Matthew Lewis)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

By Danielle Broadway LOS ANGELES (Reuters) -For Oscar-winning actor Ke Huy Quan, Disney’s animated buddy cop comedy, “Zootopia 2,” has a healthy message about the importance of confiding in others for emotional support. Quan, who voices Gary De'Snake — a pit viper determined to help his family — told Reuters, “I grew up in a very traditional Chinese family and was taught to really internalize a lot of my feelings and not share them.” However, the “Everything Everywhere All at Once” actor added that it’s unhealthy to keep emotions bottled up. For him, the sequel creates an avenue for people to explore the importance of sharing their experiences to foster empathy. “Zootopia 2” continues the story of the highly acclaimed 2016 film “Zootopia,” which follows rookie police officer rabbit Judy Hopps, voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin, and the con artist fox named Nick Wilde, voiced by Jason Bateman, as the unlikely pair team up to investigate the disappearance of predator animals. The sequel picks up where the first film left off, quickly sending Judy and Nick on their latest adventure to uncover the truth surrounding the new reptilian character, Gary De'Snake. The second installment is co-directed by Byron Howard and Jared Bush, who also worked on the first film. The voice cast includes actor Idris Elba as Chief Bogo, the Zootopia police chief, singer Shakira as the pop star gazelle named Gazelle, and newcomers Patrick Warburton as Mayor Brian Winddancer, a stallion, and Fortune Feimster as the beaver named Nibbles Maplestick. In “Zootopia 2,” Judy, the overachieving bunny, and Nick, the laidback fox, must come to terms with their differences to become a stronger team. For Bateman, the core of what the movie is conveying is that “differences can be a plus” for those who have the courage and curiosity to be with someone unlike themselves. Echoing Bateman, Howard felt that Judy and Nick needed to show both the pros and cons of a new professional partnership. “Nick and Judy needed to be at the center of this film,” he said. “There are new things to get used to. There’s different baggage that you’re each carrying from your upbringing,” he added. Mirroring his own real-life collaboration with others to create the film, Howard said that “each of us has superpowers.” However, several characters do have to be vulnerable to communicate their needs before coming together, which is something that Feimster thought was timely for the audiences who watch the film. “I think we should be entering into a time where it’s considered a positive thing to say how you feel and to be more in touch with your feelings because, why not? The antithesis of that is so much pent up aggression,” the comedian said. "Zootopia 2" arrives in theaters on Wednesday. (Reporting by Danielle Broadway and Rollo Ross)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)