AM Prep-Segue

Audio By Carbonatix

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Jon Landau, an Oscar-winning producer who worked closely with director James Cameron on “Titanic” and the “Avatar” series, has died. He was 63. Landau’s family announced his death Saturday. No cause of death was given. Landau’s partnership with Cameron led to three Oscar nominations and a best picture win for 1997’s “Titanic.” Together the pair account for some of the biggest blockbusters in movie history, including “Avatar” and its sequel, “Avatar: The Way of Water.” The trio of films are among the highest grossing movies of all time. In a statement, Cameron says Landau “will be remembered as much for his vast generosity of spirit as for the movies themselves.”

After a historically bad first half of the year, the box office is suddenly booming. The Illumination Animation sequel “Despicable Me 4” led the way over the holiday weekend with $75 million in ticket sales Friday through Sunday. Universal Studio metrics released Sunday estimate that the movie has raked in $122.6 million since opening on Wednesday. The Independence Day weekend haul further extended the considerable box-office reign of the Minions, arguably the most bankable force in movies today. And it also kept a summer streak going for Hollywood. The year’s biggest hit thus far, “Inside Out 2” came in second with $30 million. “A Quiet Place Day One” dropped to third with $21 million.

Alec Baldwin is about to go on trial for the shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. Baldwin was pointing a revolver at Hutchins in 2021 on the New Mexico set of the Western “Rust” when it fired and killed her. Unaware the gun contained a live round, Baldwin said he pulled back the hammer — not the trigger — and it fired. He’s been charged with involuntary manslaughter and could get 18 months in prison if he’s convicted by 12 jurors in a Santa Fe courthouse. The trial begins with jury selection Tuesday and is expected to last nine days. The prosecution will argue that Baldwin as a producer allowed for a dangerous environment and that as an actor used the gun in a way that he never should have.

Jenn Tran cannot escape thinking about being the first Asian lead in the history of “The Bachelor” franchise — not that she wants to. Despite being the subject of racist online vitriol, the new “Bachelorette” is looking forward to introducing viewers to her Vietnamese American family and heritage. Her debut could bring more audience members of color to a reality TV show that has a history of clumsily dealing with issues involving race and Asian cultures. Her season debuts on ABC tonight, and it’s already received some criticism for having few suitors of Asian descent. Tran herself embraces her unconventional search for love as an opportunity to share her bicultural upbringing.

There really aren’t enough games where you get to kick your enemies, so thank goodness for Devolver Digital’s Anger Foot. Sure, it lets you arm yourself with standard weapons like rifles and crossbows, but for up-close brawling nothing beats a shoe to the face. The visuals look like something you might see after too many Red Bulls, the bass-heavy soundtrack will wake up your neighbors, and the shoe collection should satisfy any sneakerhead. South African developer Free Lives is known for raunchy, ultraviolent comedy, and it doesn’t take the foot off the gas pedal here. Kick out the jams Thursday, July 11, on PC.