SXSW kicks off the season of pop culture conventions with its nine day event that celebrates the convergence of the interactive, film and music industries. If you couldn’t make it in person like most of us, don’t worry, FIB has got you covered for all the biggest scoops. Check out what’s the latest in Game of Thrones news, the premieres of the biggest films and the weirdest tech launches.
Ed Sheeran Heads to Game of Thrones
Game of Thrones fans were treated to some much wanted promotional news after the HBO shows delayed premiere this year. Co-show runner David Benioff revealed on a panel that the much loved Ed Sheeran would be joining the cast this season. God, as if he wasn’t busy enough with a chart-topping album to promote and tour. His role wasn’t disclosed to the audience, so fans have something to look forward to come July. The show’s producers also revealed that Game of Thrones eighth and final season will only consist of six episodes.
American Gods Makes Its Eagerly Awaited Debut
American Gods premiered at this years SXSW and the first screening was a hit with audiences. The TV series, based on novel of the same name written by Neil Gaiman is set to premiere on American cable network Starz on April 30, 2017. In case you missed it, the film follows Shadow Moon (played by Ricky Whittle) and Mr. Wednesday (played by Ian McShane) in a magical world where a battle between the Old Gods and the New Gods is brewing. The cast and creative team behind American Gods attended a panel at SXSW to spill the beans on the new show.
Terrence Malick Returns to Confuse Us Once Again
Terrence Malick’s new film Song to Song wasn’t as well received as American Gods though. The experimental romantic drama film received mixed reviews after its premiere on March 10. Song to Song has divided critics up; some say it’s an embarrassing disaster; others say it’s a life-changing masterpiece. Ryan Gosling, Rooney Mara, Michael Fassbender and Natalie Portman star in Malick’s latest and play a quartet of characters in and around the Austin music scene who chase success through a landscape of betrayal and seduction. It has since been released in cinemas.
Meanwhile, Jake Gyllenhaal and Ryan Reynolds Want us to Know they had Fun Making ‘Life’
While, Life may be the next serious sci-fi thriller, Jake Gyllenhaal and Ryan Reynolds definitely brought laughter onto the set. Speaking at a panel for the debut of their film, Gyllenhaal called the set “a wonderful place to be” and added “we were laughing all the time. None of us takes ourselves that seriously, so there was a really wonderful spirit on set all the time.”
While they may heroic characters in the film, you should count Reynolds out in the event of an actual hostile alien takeover, or really any kind of crisis at all. In his own words, “If this happened to me, I’m not qualified for this. I spent 30 minutes working on a microwave a few days ago.” Oh dear.
Gyllenhaal says to count him out, too: “Seriously, I find treadmills complicated, so I don’t know that I’d be able to survive on the International Space Station if a creature attacked.”
If movies just aren’t your thing, there was plenty of weird and wonderful tech displayed at SXSW this year.
Calling All Skype Users that Can’t be Bothered Chucking Makeup on
Japanese cosmetics company Shiseido took lazy day makeup to the next level. The company have developed a Skype-based app that puts digital make-up on your face. If you’re feeling a little lazy in the morning and you have an incoming Skype call, the app will do all the hard work for you. The telebeauty app will apply the digital makeup to your on-screen face in a colour that matches your skin tone, on a spectrum of natural to trendy.
Buzz Aldrin is Here to Help us Get on Mars
Buzz Aldrin made an appearance at SXSW and previewed his virtual reality experience called Cycling Pathways to Mars. Aldrin, the second man to walk on the moon, wants to pave the way for humans to become a two-planet species. His VR allows you to ride in the cycler designed by Aldrin, to transport humans to Mars quickly and efficiently.
Another year of SXSW is over but we still have plenty of films and cool tech to look forward to over the course of 2017.