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NUREMBERG, Germany, Jan 29 (Reuters) – Mattel launched a new line of action figures on Thursday for its upcoming live-action movie "Masters of the Universe", aiming to repeat the success of its 2023 smash hit "Barbie". The toymaker has more than a dozen movies in development as it looks to reinvigorate its brands and spur demand. "Masters of the Universe" is Mattel's second major theatrical release after "Barbie", which grossed more than $1.4 billion worldwide and won an Academy Award. The toy launch builds on momentum from the new movie's first teaser trailer, released last week, which has since racked up more than 30 million YouTube views. Roberto Stanichi, Mattel's chief global brand officer, said there was a lot of nostalgia for a toy line that first came out in the 1980s. "So we've been waiting for the right moment to bring it back in a way that really delivers on the legacy", he said at the Nuremberg International Toy Fair in Germany. The decision to relaunch the brand was driven by Mattel finding the right team to make the movie, led by Oscar-nominated director Travis Knight, he told Reuters. The action figures – including He-Man, Skeletor and Evil-Lyn – will retail for about $25 and roll out globally from April, around two months before the movie, starring Nicholas Galitzine as He-Man, hits theatres. The cast includes Jared Leto as the villain Skeletor, as well as Idris Elba, Alison Brie and Camila Mendes. (Reporting by Louisa Off in Nuremberg and Miranda Murray in Berlin. Editing by Mark Potter)

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

NUREMBERG, Germany, Jan 29 (Reuters) – Mattel launched a new line of action figures on Thursday for its upcoming live-action movie "Masters of the Universe", aiming to repeat the success of its 2023 smash hit "Barbie". The toymaker has more than a dozen movies in development as it looks to reinvigorate its brands and spur demand. "Masters of the Universe" is Mattel's second major theatrical release after "Barbie", which grossed more than $1.4 billion worldwide and won an Academy Award. The toy launch builds on momentum from the new movie's first teaser trailer, released last week, which has since racked up more than 30 million YouTube views. Roberto Stanichi, Mattel's chief global brand officer, said there was a lot of nostalgia for a toy line that first came out in the 1980s. "So we've been waiting for the right moment to bring it back in a way that really delivers on the legacy", he said at the Nuremberg International Toy Fair in Germany. The decision to relaunch the brand was driven by Mattel finding the right team to make the movie, led by Oscar-nominated director Travis Knight, he told Reuters. The action figures – including He-Man, Skeletor and Evil-Lyn – will retail for about $25 and roll out globally from April, around two months before the movie, starring Nicholas Galitzine as He-Man, hits theatres. The cast includes Jared Leto as the villain Skeletor, as well as Idris Elba, Alison Brie and Camila Mendes. (Reporting by Louisa Off in Nuremberg and Miranda Murray in Berlin. Editing by Mark Potter)

(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 Hanna Rantala LONDON, Jan 28 ((Reuters)) – Actors Chris Hemsworth and Mark Ruffalo reunite in the new heist thriller "Crime 101", which had its European gala premiere in London on Wednesday – the Marvel Cinematic Universe co-stars' fifth collaboration. Hemsworth plays Mike Davis, a high-end thief who has managed to evade capture while carrying out a string of heists along the 101 Freeway. Spotting a pattern, detective Lou Lubesnick (Ruffalo) starts closing in on Davis just as he teams up with disillusioned insurance broker Sharon (Halle Berry) for a major robbery, upending the lives of all three.     "I signed on to the film first. I read the script and thought of Mark, texted Mark and he said, 'Oh my God, this is one of the greatest things I've read'," Hemsworth said at the film's London premiere on Wednesday. "To get back together with him, he's such a wonderful person…it was a dream."    The film sees Davis carefully selecting his targets, acting fast and without violence. It shows off both his skill set and his emotional side, as well as the psychological warfare between the characters, Hemsworth said.    "It's a very different character than I'd played before. It was about sort of shedding a lot of the default mechanisms or tools I had applied through, especially action films, and films where there was a lot of strength and posturing and showmanship," Hemsworth said.    Berry, 59, found the struggles of the high-performing Sharon, who keeps being passed over for a promotion at work, relatable.    "This is a woman that's very close to me, being a woman of a certain age and feeling like at this certain age the world is trying to diminish me in some way or tell me that my time is up and that things are over," Berry said. "I just refuse to accept that. It's not over. I'm just getting started."    Also starring Barry Keoghan, Monica Barbaro and Nick Nolte, "Crime 101" is written and directed by Bart Layton and based on the 2020 novella of the same name by Don Winslow. It begins its global theatrical rollout on February 12. (Reporting by Hanna Rantala; Editing by Michael Perry)

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

(Removes extraneous words paragraph 3, no other changes to text) By Hanna Rantala LONDON, Jan 28 ((Reuters)) – Actors Chris Hemsworth and Mark Ruffalo reunite in the new heist thriller "Crime 101", which had its European gala premiere in London on Wednesday – the Marvel Cinematic Universe co-stars' fifth collaboration. Hemsworth plays Mike Davis, a high-end thief who has managed to evade capture while carrying out a string of heists along the 101 Freeway. Spotting a pattern, detective Lou Lubesnick (Ruffalo) starts closing in on Davis just as he teams up with disillusioned insurance broker Sharon (Halle Berry) for a major robbery, upending the lives of all three.     "I signed on to the film first. I read the script and thought of Mark, texted Mark and he said, 'Oh my God, this is one of the greatest things I've read'," Hemsworth said in London. "To get back together with him, he's such a wonderful person…it was a dream."    The film sees Davis carefully selecting his targets, acting fast and without violence. It shows off both his skill set and his emotional side, as well as the psychological warfare between the characters, Hemsworth said.    "It's a very different character than I'd played before. It was about sort of shedding a lot of the default mechanisms or tools I had applied through, especially action films, and films where there was a lot of strength and posturing and showmanship," Hemsworth said.    Berry, 59, found the struggles of the high-performing Sharon, who keeps being passed over for a promotion at work, relatable.    "This is a woman that's very close to me, being a woman of a certain age and feeling like at this certain age the world is trying to diminish me in some way or tell me that my time is up and that things are over," Berry said. "I just refuse to accept that. It's not over. I'm just getting started."    Also starring Barry Keoghan, Monica Barbaro and Nick Nolte, "Crime 101" is written and directed by Bart Layton and based on the 2020 novella of the same name by Don Winslow. It begins its global theatrical rollout on February 12. (Reporting by Hanna Rantala; Editing by Michael Perry)

(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 Mike Scarcella WASHINGTON, Jan 28 (Reuters) – Spider-Man star Tobey Maguire testified on Wednesday at the U.S. criminal tax trial of Tom Goldstein, telling jurors in Greenbelt, Maryland that he once hired the prominent American lawyer to help recover more than $7 million in poker winnings. Maguire said he met Goldstein, a former top U.S. Supreme Court lawyer, through “poker circles.” The actor, who starred as Spider-Man in Sam Raimi’s 2002 blockbuster film, recounted learning poker in his youth, before later playing in casinos and at private homes. Federal prosecutors allege that Goldstein concealed his true finances while leading a “high roller” lifestyle as a high-stakes card player. Maguire turned to Goldstein in 2020 and 2021 to recover more than $7 million that the actor said he won playing poker with a Texas businessman. Maguire, who is not accused of wrongdoing, testified that Goldstein had him route his $500,000 legal fee to a third party rather than pay it directly to Goldstein. Prosecutors, who called Maguire to testify on the eighth day of trial, allege Goldstein used the payment to pay off one of his own poker debts. A lawyer for Goldstein said that it was common in the poker world to have three-way transactions to resolve debts. Maguire declined to comment after his testimony. Goldstein pleaded not guilty last year to charges he failed to report millions of dollars he won in poker games, lied on loan documents and made improper payments through his law firm Goldstein & Russell.  He contends that he relied on his accountants and law office managers for tax and financial matters, and never willfully violated any federal laws. Goldstein co-founded the SCOTUSblog news website and argued more than 40 cases before the U.S. Supreme Court before retiring in 2023. His trial is expected to last about four weeks. Professional poker player Vivek Rajkumar also testified on Wednesday and recounted having won $200,000 to $300,000 in matches with Goldstein. “He was an unpredictable player, I would say — definitely capable of bluffing,” Rajkumar said, describing his opponent. “A smart player, but wasn't afraid to gamble.” (Reporting by Mike Scarcella; Editing by David Bario, Rod Nickel)

(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 Mike Scarcella WASHINGTON, Jan 28 (Reuters) – Spider-Man star Tobey Maguire testified on Wednesday at the U.S. criminal tax trial of Tom Goldstein, telling jurors in Greenbelt, Maryland that he once hired the prominent American lawyer to help recover more than $7 million in poker winnings. Maguire said he met Goldstein, a former top U.S. Supreme Court lawyer, through “poker circles.” The actor, who starred as Spider-Man in Sam Raimi’s 2002 blockbuster film, recounted learning poker in his youth, before later playing in casinos and at private homes. Federal prosecutors allege that Goldstein concealed his true finances while leading a “high roller” lifestyle as a high-stakes card player. Maguire turned to Goldstein in 2020 and 2021 to recover more than $7 million that the actor said he won playing poker with a Texas businessman. Maguire, who is not accused of wrongdoing, testified that Goldstein had him route his $500,000 legal fee to a third party rather than pay it directly to Goldstein. Prosecutors, who called Maguire to testify on the eighth day of trial, allege Goldstein used the payment to pay off one of his own poker debts. A lawyer for Goldstein said that it was common in the poker world to have three-way transactions to resolve debts. Maguire declined to comment after his testimony. Goldstein pleaded not guilty last year to charges he failed to report millions of dollars he won in poker games, lied on loan documents and made improper payments through his law firm Goldstein & Russell.  He contends that he relied on his accountants and law office managers for tax and financial matters, and never willfully violated any federal laws. Goldstein co-founded the SCOTUSblog news website and argued more than 40 cases before the U.S. Supreme Court before retiring in 2023. His trial is expected to last about four weeks. Professional poker player Vivek Rajkumar also testified on Wednesday and recounted having won $200,000 to $300,000 in matches with Goldstein. “He was an unpredictable player, I would say — definitely capable of bluffing,” Rajkumar said, describing his opponent. “A smart player, but wasn't afraid to gamble.” (Reporting by Mike Scarcella; Editing by David Bario, Rod Nickel)

(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 Mike Scarcella WASHINGTON, Jan 28 (Reuters) – Spider-Man star Tobey Maguire testified on Wednesday at the U.S. criminal tax trial of Tom Goldstein, telling jurors in Greenbelt, Maryland that he once hired the prominent American lawyer to help recover more than $7 million in poker winnings. Maguire said he met Goldstein, a former top U.S. Supreme Court lawyer, through “poker circles.” The actor, who starred as Spider-Man in Sam Raimi’s 2002 blockbuster film, recounted learning poker in his youth, before later playing in casinos and at private homes. Federal prosecutors allege that Goldstein concealed his true finances while leading a “high roller” lifestyle as a high-stakes card player. Maguire turned to Goldstein in 2020 and 2021 to recover more than $7 million that the actor said he won playing poker with a Texas businessman. Maguire, who is not accused of wrongdoing, testified that Goldstein had him route his $500,000 legal fee to a third party rather than pay it directly to Goldstein. Prosecutors, who called Maguire to testify on the eighth day of trial, allege Goldstein used the payment to pay off one of his own poker debts. A lawyer for Goldstein said that it was common in the poker world to have three-way transactions to resolve debts. Maguire declined to comment after his testimony. Goldstein pleaded not guilty last year to charges he failed to report millions of dollars he won in poker games, lied on loan documents and made improper payments through his law firm Goldstein & Russell.  He contends that he relied on his accountants and law office managers for tax and financial matters, and never willfully violated any federal laws. Goldstein co-founded the SCOTUSblog news website and argued more than 40 cases before the U.S. Supreme Court before retiring in 2023. His trial is expected to last about four weeks. Professional poker player Vivek Rajkumar also testified on Wednesday and recounted having won $200,000 to $300,000 in matches with Goldstein. “He was an unpredictable player, I would say — definitely capable of bluffing,” Rajkumar said, describing his opponent. “A smart player, but wasn't afraid to gamble.” (Reporting by Mike Scarcella; Editing by David Bario, Rod Nickel)

(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 Mike Scarcella WASHINGTON, Jan 28 (Reuters) – Spider-Man star Tobey Maguire testified on Wednesday at the U.S. criminal tax trial of Tom Goldstein, telling jurors in Greenbelt, Maryland that he once hired the prominent American lawyer to help recover more than $7 million in poker winnings. Maguire said he met Goldstein, a former top U.S. Supreme Court lawyer, through “poker circles.” The actor, who starred as Spider-Man in Sam Raimi’s 2002 blockbuster film, recounted learning poker in his youth, before later playing in casinos and at private homes. Federal prosecutors allege that Goldstein concealed his true finances while leading a “high roller” lifestyle as a high-stakes card player. Maguire turned to Goldstein in 2020 and 2021 to recover more than $7 million that the actor said he won playing poker with a Texas businessman. Maguire, who is not accused of wrongdoing, testified that Goldstein had him route his $500,000 legal fee to a third party rather than pay it directly to Goldstein. Prosecutors, who called Maguire to testify on the eighth day of trial, allege Goldstein used the payment to pay off one of his own poker debts. A lawyer for Goldstein said that it was common in the poker world to have three-way transactions to resolve debts. Maguire declined to comment after his testimony. Goldstein pleaded not guilty last year to charges he failed to report millions of dollars he won in poker games, lied on loan documents and made improper payments through his law firm Goldstein & Russell.  He contends that he relied on his accountants and law office managers for tax and financial matters, and never willfully violated any federal laws. Goldstein co-founded the SCOTUSblog news website and argued more than 40 cases before the U.S. Supreme Court before retiring in 2023. His trial is expected to last about four weeks. Professional poker player Vivek Rajkumar also testified on Wednesday and recounted having won $200,000 to $300,000 in matches with Goldstein. “He was an unpredictable player, I would say — definitely capable of bluffing,” Rajkumar said, describing his opponent. “A smart player, but wasn't afraid to gamble.” (Reporting by Mike Scarcella; Editing by David Bario, Rod Nickel)

(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 Mike Scarcella WASHINGTON, Jan 28 (Reuters) – Spider-Man star Tobey Maguire testified on Wednesday at the U.S. criminal tax trial of Tom Goldstein, telling jurors in Greenbelt, Maryland that he once hired the prominent American lawyer to help recover more than $7 million in poker winnings. Maguire said he met Goldstein, a former top U.S. Supreme Court lawyer, through “poker circles.” The actor, who starred as Spider-Man in Sam Raimi’s 2002 blockbuster film, recounted learning poker in his youth, before later playing in casinos and at private homes. Federal prosecutors allege that Goldstein concealed his true finances while leading a “high roller” lifestyle as a high-stakes card player. Maguire turned to Goldstein in 2020 and 2021 to recover more than $7 million that the actor said he won playing poker with a Texas businessman. Maguire, who is not accused of wrongdoing, testified that Goldstein had him route his $500,000 legal fee to a third party rather than pay it directly to Goldstein. Prosecutors, who called Maguire to testify on the eighth day of trial, allege Goldstein used the payment to pay off one of his own poker debts. A lawyer for Goldstein said that it was common in the poker world to have three-way transactions to resolve debts. Maguire declined to comment after his testimony. Goldstein pleaded not guilty last year to charges he failed to report millions of dollars he won in poker games, lied on loan documents and made improper payments through his law firm Goldstein & Russell.  He contends that he relied on his accountants and law office managers for tax and financial matters, and never willfully violated any federal laws. Goldstein co-founded the SCOTUSblog news website and argued more than 40 cases before the U.S. Supreme Court before retiring in 2023. His trial is expected to last about four weeks. Professional poker player Vivek Rajkumar also testified on Wednesday and recounted having won $200,000 to $300,000 in matches with Goldstein. “He was an unpredictable player, I would say — definitely capable of bluffing,” Rajkumar said, describing his opponent. “A smart player, but wasn't afraid to gamble.” (Reporting by Mike Scarcella; Editing by David Bario, Rod Nickel)

(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 Andrew Hay Jan 28 (Reuters) – Bruce Springsteen on Wednesday released a protest song honoring Alex Pretti and Renee Good, two Minneapolis residents killed in what he called the "state of terror" visited on the city by President Donald Trump's aggressive immigration raids.  Springsteen said he wrote  "Streets of Minneapolis" on Saturday, the day Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, was shot dead by U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents. Good, 37, a mother of three, was shot dead by an ICE agent on Jan. 7. "It’s dedicated to the people of Minneapolis, our innocent immigrant neighbors and in memory of Alex Pretti and Renee Good," the singer wrote in a social media post. In "Streets of Minneapolis" the 76-year-old star sings of the immigration crackdown in the Minnesota city where residents like Pretti and Good have followed federal agents to record their operations and confront officers. The song lauds Minnesotans for resisting "smoke and rubber bullets" and using "whistles and phones" against "Miller and Noem's dirty lies." Stephen Miller is President Donald Trump's Homeland Security Advisor and Kristi Noem is U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security. A chorus joins him on the line "ICE out now!" Following Pretti's shooting, Noem said Pretti had brandished a gun and Miller called him an "assassin" who tried to murder federal agents. Both claims were disproved by bystander videos. In a statement, White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said Trump's administration was "focused on encouraging state and local Democrats to work with federal law enforcement officers on removing dangerous criminal illegal aliens from their communities – not random songs with irrelevant opinions and inaccurate information." Springsteen has been a critic of Trump in both his terms. Known by his fans as "The Boss," the rocker has also written songs that critique mistreatment of veterans and the working class. His 2001 “American Skin (41 Shots)” attacks police brutality and racism, and was inspired by the killing of immigrant Amadou Diallo by New York police. His latest song ends with the refrain "we'll remember the names of those who died on the streets of Minneapolis," and the sounds of protesters chanting. (Reporting by Andrew Hay in New Mexico; editing by Donna Bryson and David Gregorio)

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