Michelle Obama says US is 'not ready' for female president, ‘Black Panther 3,’ Labubu movie

Michelle Obama believes US is ‘not ready for a woman’ president

Michelle Obama is reigniting a national conversation after candidly suggesting that the United States still struggles to accept the idea of a woman in the Oval Office. 

Speaking in an interview with Tracee Ellis Ross for her new book The Look, the former first lady pointed to Kamala Harris’ failed presidential bid as proof the country has more progress to make. 

“As we saw in this past election, sadly, we ain’t ready,” she said, adding that there are “a lot of men who do not feel like they can be led by a woman.”

Her remarks came as she once again shut down long-standing speculation about her own political ambitions. Obama emphasized that people should stop looking to her as a potential candidate, quipping, “Don’t even look at me about running ‘cause you all are lying. You’re not ready for a woman.” 

Obama also reflected on her time campaigning for Harris last year, when she highlighted both Harris’ qualifications and the nation’s hesitation. “By every measure, [Harris] has demonstrated that she’s ready. … The real question is, as a country, are we ready for this moment?”.

Ryan Coogler goes back to Wakanda for ‘Black Panther 3’

Ryan Coogler is officially heading back to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, much to the delight of superhero fans everywhere. Following his recent work on Sinners, Coogler confirmed that Black Panther 3 will be his next directorial project. 

The Oscar nominee shared the news to fans during the Sinners panel at Deadline’s Contenders Film: Los Angeles. Coogler teased the confirmation with a playful remark: “If it was anybody but you, I would say, ‘I can neither confirm or deny,’” he said. “But we’re working on it hard […] Yeah, it’s the next movie.” 

Adding to the anticipation, in November 2024, Denzel Washington revealed during an interview in Australia promoting Gladiator II that he is being considered for a role in the upcoming Black Panther film. He mentioned that Coogler was “writing a part for me,” a detail the director has since confirmed. 

This casting news has fans speculating about the direction the third installment will take, especially following the events of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, where Shuri, played by Letitia Wright, assumed the mantle of the superhero after the passing of T’Challa.

‘Labubu’ movie potentially set for cinematic debut

Sony Pictures is looking to bring the quirky world of Labubu to the big screen, acquiring the film rights to the popular Chinese toy line. 

Known for its scruffy, cute-ugly monster dolls, Labubu has captured the hearts of fans worldwide after first gaining traction in Southeast Asia, with Pop Mart reporting a 350 percent boost in profits earlier this year. 

While no filmmakers or producers are attached yet, the deal indicates Sony’s interest in potentially creating a full-fledged movie—and, if successful, a larger franchise. The studio has yet to decide whether the project will be live-action, animated, or a hybrid. 

With Sony’s track record on family-friendly hits like Jumanji and animated offerings including KPop Demon Hunters, the Labubu adaptation could be positioned as another major addition to its lineup.

Calum Worthy unveils controversial AI app that let users talk to the dead

A new AI-powered app co-founded by Disney Channel alum Calum Worthy, designed to create interactive avatars of deceased loved ones, is generating significant controversy on social media. 

Worthy, known for his role in Austin & Ally, shared the viral ad introducing the app called 2wai on X. The video featured an expectant mother talking to an AI-generated avatar of her late mother, showing moments as her son is born, grows up, and eventually has children of his own. 

At the end, they revealed that these interactions were made possible by merely having to film her mother speaking and moving for just three minutes.

“With 2wai, three minutes can last forever,” their tagline claims. 

Worthy echoed this vision in his post, describing the platform as “building a living archive of humanity” and enabling “loved ones we've lost [to] be part of our future.”

Despite the sentimental intent, many social media users have criticized the technology, calling it dystopian and drawing comparisons to the futuristic, unsettling scenarios depicted in the sci-fi series Black Mirror, igniting a heated debate about the ethical and emotional implications of digitally recreating those who have passed.

ICYMI:

• Donald Trump announced that he’s withdrawing his endorsement of longtime loyalist Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, publicly blasting her as “Wacky Marjorie” and accusing her of doing nothing but “COMPLAIN, COMPLAIN, COMPLAIN!” In his The Truth Social post, Trump said he’s grown tired of her “ranting lunatic” calls and hinted he may back a primary challenger in her Georgia district.

• On a recent episode of The Broski Report, comedian Brittany Broski cheekily challenged Hunger Games star Josh Hutcherson to say something he’d say if he’d literally been brainwashed. “[I’d] say ‘I’m a Republican,’ or anything that reads into that,” he replied.

• During the closing night of her U.S. tour, PinkPantheress was caught on a surprise FaceTime call from pop star Zara Larsson, who teased that something special is on the way. “I will see you soon for something very special,” she said, hinting at a new collaboration.

— Bea Bertuldo

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