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Whoa! Netflix is Sending Narnia Heading to Theaters...What This Means for the Future of Film

(Welcome to the “Most Important Story of the Week”, my bi-weekly strategy column analyzing the most important (but often not buzziest) news story of the last two weeks. I’m the Entertainment Strategy Guy, a former streaming executive who now analyzes business strategy in the entertainment industry. Please subscribe.) Here’s a funny thing about the debate over whether streamers should release their movies in theaters first: Both sides think the other side represents the “conventional wisdom”. If you’ve been reading me for any amount of time, or even just scanned my front page, you know I think movies make more money by having a robust theatrical window compared to going straight-to-streaming. I’ve published thousands of words on this topic. And for years, I felt like I was standing up to a wave of opposition. See, while the “put your films in theaters to make money” take was obvious at any point before 2019, post-streaming revolution, most of the trendy thinkers took the opposite point of view. Big names argued that Netflix putting their film straight-to-streaming (“S-to-S” from here on out) actually made more money. Netflix was “disrupting” theaters, just as they disrupted Blockbuster Video, and since innovation is always good, this too was a great idea. This thinking then leaked into the mainstream business outlets like the Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg. I read many articles whose take boiled down to “Netflix makes tons of money from S-to-S releases” and “theaters were in structural decline” anyways. Covid-19 shutting down theaters and the 2023 strikes shutting down film production seemingly justified this point of view, as the box office struggled to return to 2017-2019 heights. Yet I’ve also read folks arguing the opposite point: the conventional wisdom says to put films in theaters! From some writers’ points of view, “everyone” actually agrees/agreed with my “send your films to theaters” take—especially the stodgy traditional studios—and folks still didn’t understand Netflix’s genius. I feel like, for the last two years, many people have argued this point as if it’s conventional wisdom. You know what? I may have been wrong. At this point, the “S-to-S strategy makes money” might be the minority viewpoint. Especially with the news this month that Netflix will put at least one film—Greta Gerwig’s Narnia film The Magician’s Nephew—in theaters in 2027 for a full 49-day run is big news. So that’s the story of the week, but I’ll also explain why they’re making this move now and why Netflix may not completely embrace theaters, along with other topics, like how I don’t buy Disney’s “super app” strategy, the latest good news out of the unions, my take on the latest attacks against free speech, and a whole lot more. Let’s get started. Subscribe Most Important Story of the Week - Netflix Goes to Theaters! Listen, I promise not to victory lap too hard today. As I just wrote, I’ve argued against sending films straight-to-streaming for—checks calendar—eight years now. Since 2018. Yikes. That’s a long time. And for years, others painted my thinking as “conventional” in that I was standing up for the status quo against trendy, cool disruption. And that’s not cool! But math is math, and I never could make the S-to-S numbers work. The only thing that ever enabled that model was Wall Street’s brief exuberance for it. It seems like the heads of Netflix now agree with me. (There were always rumors that former head of film for Netflix Scott Stuber argued internally for theatrical releases as well.) As they announced: “The Magician’s Nephew_—the first film in a Narnia series of films—will open on 12-Feb-2027, with a 49 day theatrical exclusive run.”_ I’m a little surprised at how little coverage this big change actually got. Credit to Bloomberg for leading with it and Matt Belloni’s The Town for highlighting it with the provocatively titled podcast “Hell Hath Frozen Over”. But after that? Instead of getting as much coverage as, say, the FCC’s latest egregious crackdown on free speech, this news story got crickets. But it’s massively more important for the future business of entertainment. So let’s start with the obvious question… Why Put Your Movies in Theaters? So…why should Netflix put (some!) of their movies in theaters? Well, I’ve already written that in a very, very, very long article from 2022: [ ](https://entertainment.substack.com/p/the-data-is-in-theatrical-films-massively) [ The Data Is In: Theatrical Films Massively Outperform Straight-To-Streaming Films ](https://entertainment.substack.com/p/the-data-is-in-theatrical-films-massively) Entertainment Strategy Guy · April 5, 2023 [ Read full story ](https://entertainment.substack.com/p/the-data-is-in-theatrical-films-massively) To summarize, theatrical runs make much more money, especially blockbusters, because they earn more money per viewing,1 and that helps boost home entertainment sales. Theatrical films also perform as well or better than the streaming-only films. Now, partially this is driven by increased marketing for said films, but said marketing ultimately boosts the awareness of the movies and drives improved streaming and library performance as well. Again, I’ve made this case after reviewing the economic models and streaming data for years. Just last week, Emily Horgan also made the case for kids films! Yes, it is probably conventional wisdom, but that’s also because it’s true! I’d also argue we’ve seen a lot of data in the various studios’ behavior. As I’ve noted before, the more a studio needs to make money, the likelier they are to put films in theaters. As such, Disney, Universal, Warner Bros., Paramount and Sony all send their major films to theaters. Even if they once made a big S-to-S push (*cough* Disney *cough*), they’ve since relented and returned to theaters. The tech companies don’t need to make money, per se, so it took them years to embrace theaters. Apple doesn’t need to make money because it doesn’t disclose their (likely) Quibi-sized losses each year. (They fear bad press more than losing money.) Amazon announced two years ago that they planned to make Amazon-MGM Studios/Prime Video profitable on its own, and guess what? Now they’re putting films in theaters. That leaves Netflix. They’re in between the “no need to make money at all” and the “desperately need to make money to offset linear TV declines”, so they had less pressure to put some films in theaters. Plus, for years, they were the sexy disruptor, and Wall Street rewarded them for that. (Honestly, they still do.) Yet, even Netflix likely saw the money they were leaving on the table (I’ve estimated it at an easy billion dollars before) so they changed their course. I heard one pundit argue that, because Netflix already makes so much money, they don’t need to make more money, which sort of goes against everything I’ve ever learned about business and economics. Again, to be super-nuanced, sending “films to theaters” does not mean EVERY film. TV movies have been a thing for decades. Lifetime films, Hallmark holiday films, Disney Channel Original Movies, and so on, don’t need theatrical runs. But films above a certain budget level (say $25 to 50 million) almost certainly need theaters to maximize their revenue. The Scenarios (with a Dose of Skepticism) Now time for some skepticism: it won’t surprise me at all if Netflix re-changes course. Specifically, Netflix announced that their Narnia film will go to theaters. And I’d bet anything we see KPop Demon Hunters 2: The Huntering2 also goes to theaters, cause it’s the surest hit outside of a Disney animated sequel right now. But how much does Netflix truly commit to theaters? They’ve already tried to emphasize that this is a one-off move. I see three broad scenarios:

May 18 • 3:27 PM EDT • Entertainment • entertainment.substack.com

MTG Arena Announcements

Catch up with the latest info and events on MTG Arena.

May 18 • 1:00 PM EDT • Technology • magic.wizards.com

Chartbook 449: Voldemort on Threadneedle street. The Bank of England and the "haunted house" of English politics.

Imagine the scene: In some Harry Potter version of 21st-century London, a group of deathless UK Treasury officials gathered from across the last century huddle over warm pints and glasses of Chardonnay. Around the table there are officials from the 1920s, the 1930s, the 1970s, 2022 and today. Inevitably, in May 2026, the subject of conversation is the disintegration of the current Labour government. Despite its huge majority in parliament, it has been reduced to tatters by catastrophic local election result. These exposed the fact that rather than having a government with a clear popular majority, the UK is like most other modern societies divided into 5 segments each of which commands between 26 and 16 percent of the vote. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the leadership at Nos 10 and 11 Downing Street - where the Prime Minister and the Chancellor (Treasury Secretary) work - seem paralyzed. They are caught between mounting discontent over unfairness and the cost of living, and tough fiscal strictures that push them into making unpopular spending decisions. In the London pub, the Treasury officials from across the ages, can barely hide their satisfaction at the latest display of democratic politics caught in the vice-grip of financial logic. “Remember the mur d’argent and the banker’s ramp?” “Just like yesterday!” There are smirks around the table. Then the representative of 2026 pipes up: “One thing you have to say about the current lot (referring to the latest hapless Labour government), you don’t have to teach them about the bond market!” There is a murmur of ascent from the Treasury Mandarins. The trauma of the fiscal crisis of September-October 2022 sits deep. Back then, in the final stages of Tory decay, a ‘mini budget’ that challenged fiscal orthodoxy led to a brief but fierce panic in one of the oldest government bond markets in the world (aka gilt market). Now all you have to do is to mention the “bond market” to hush debate. [ Paul Mason@paulmasonnews In the name of public service, and as ex-economics editor of BBC Newsnight, I offer to do a zoom call, tonight, with any Labour MP who wants to understand why bond markets do not "fall into line" with governments. 1/ 3:57 PM · May 12, 2026 · 466K Views 224 Replies · 674 Reposts · 3.93K Likes ](https://x.com/paulmasonnews/status/2054229532404519082?s=20) “And the funny thing is”, the young man in the huddle continues, “they don’t even want to talk about … ”. There is a sudden hush. Significant looks are exchanged around the table. About? One of the senior figures puts down his glass with a decisive “clink”. He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named has entered their thoughts. Meanwhile, a few miles away in a grubby pub in Bloomsbury, two conspirators from the camp of Critical Macrofinance huddle over cans of low-alcohol IPA. They look at each other and blurt out loud: “The Bank!” “Everyone in the bloody Labour party is talking about the bond market. But why aren’t they even mentioning … the Bank of England!?” “Why is no one talking about Voldemort?” In Paul Mason’s blogpost, after much chest-thumping about basic fiscal logic, the basic point about the Bank of England is buried in the fine print at #3 in his list of suggestions as to what a radical Labour government might actually be able to do! [ Conflict & Democracy Down with the bond market! Down with gravity! It may seem unfair to focus on Labour MP Paula Barker for her off-the-cuff assertion that the bond market would have to “fall in line” with Andy Burnham, should he replace Keir Starmer as prime minister. But Burnham himself told the New Statesman that Labour had to “get beyond this thing of being in hock to the bond markets… Read more 2 days ago · 100 likes · 3 comments · Paul Mason ](https://htsf.substack.com/p/down-with-the-bond-market-down-with?utm_source=substack&utm_campaign=post_embed&utm_medium=web) Back in Bloomsbury they shake their heads and ask: “Didn’t we learn anything from the Eurozone crisis?” Meanwhile, as if summoned to the conversation by some higher force, the “pink pages” announce: “The days of ultra-cheap government borrowing have come to an end” and Martin “Whizzard” Wolf publishes the graph of the season Look at the UK in 2026, perilously positioned on the upper edge of the pack. No wonder no one in London needs any lessons about the “bond market”. But, look again. Imagine how they feel in Rome. What is London’s nightmare in 2026? The nightmare is that you end up like Italy in the early 2010s during the Eurozone crisis. Once comfortably situated in the middle of the pack, watching with horror as your ten-year yields explode to 7 percent and “spreads” become a national nightmare. One of the largest economies in Europe, a founding member of the euro, stigmatized. But the message of the Italian experience is ambiguous. After all, the stigma didn’t last. In 2026, Italy borrows at rates lower not only than the UK but the US. The US, which, as everyone knows, enjoys the “exorbitant privilege” of being the issuer of reserve, safe asets. What kind of magic is this? How did Italy, in the space of fifteen years, go from being good, to bad and back again? Which brings us back to our dissident friends in their Bloombury boozer and their memories of the Eurozone crisis. Italy never was Britain - with its ongoing fiscal deficits. Without interest payments, on primary balance, from 2000 to 2020 Italy ran a tight fiscal ship. Even in 2008 it barely went into deficit and when it was being put on the rack in the early 20210s its primary surplus matched that of austere Germany. So, what happened? How did it end up stigmatized? Of course Italian politics didn’t help. Berlusconi was at the helm and he had legal issues. But amongst friends in the Bloomsbury pub, Berlusconi is a sideshow, the name we whisper to each other is “Trichet”. From 2004 to 2011 the ECB was headed by Jean-Claude Trichet, ex of the French Treasury, more German than the Germans. After 2009 as the news of the Greek fiscal disaster broke, the European bond markets wento into panic mode and Trichet began a brutal game of cat and mouse. Between 2009 and 2011, Trichet intervened in the bond market to help, only when he thought he had compliance with austerity. When he thought they were uncooperative, he withdrew. In the summer of 2011, he even made direct suggestions to his Italian counterparts in Rome, as to how Italy should be governed. It was this cat and mouse game that drove the bond markets crazy and exposed Italy to a violent squeeze. When Mario Draghi took over the ECB at the end of 2011 and declared “whatever it takes”, the pressure on Italy, gradually eased. It is that starring role that has made Draghi into the towering figure in European politics that he remains today. So now you see why voices in London hush when it comes to the Bank of England. “The bond market” isn’t an irresistible objective force like the weather or an avalanche. It can appear like that. But that depends on the way it is being handled, or not handled by the central bank. Which is why the silence about the Bank of England in London right now is so significant. If you think this all sounds a bit fishy, coming from a left-liberal Keynesian like myself, well, let me introduce you to Robin Brooks, who, to put it mildly, plays on a different quidditch team to me. Here, from the position of a fiscal hawk is Robin’s celebratory account of the Bank of England’s role since 2022; In October 2022, at the height of the bond market blow-up in the UK, something incredible happened. Governor Andrew Bailey told British pension funds the Bank of England would end its support program for the country’s fragile gilt market, drawing a line under how much help the central bank was willing to give to exposed pension funds and - implicitly - the government. By the end of that week, Kwasi Kwarteng - the finance minister - had resigned. Prime Minister Liz Truss would soon follow. This episode is so incredible because it contrasts with what happened in the Euro zone earlier that year. Bond markets in Spain and Italy were under pressure amid high inflation and rising interest rates. In the middle of this, Mario Draghi - Italy’s Prime Minister - resigned, compounding pressure on bond markets of high-debt countries on the Euro periphery. Unlike the Bank of England, the ECB caved. It bought Italian and Spanish government bonds in an effort to cap yields and introduced a new tool that signaled to markets it might do such caps more frequently going forward. Faced with pressure on bond markets, the ECB capitulated to political pressure from high-debt countries like Italy and Spain. The Bank of England stood its ground and toppled the Truss government. This kind of thing has long-lasting consequences. It means markets price a higher probability of yield caps in the Euro zone, which keeps Italian and Spanish yields artificially low, while markets feel free to push up UK yields without fear of central bank intervention. As I flagged in yesterday’s post, this means you really can’t compare UK yields to those of other high-debt countries. The UK looks worse, but only because its central bank isn’t interfering with markets. There’s more to this than just that 2022 episode. The Bank of England has also been much more aggressive in its quantitative tightening (QT) than other central banks. If one motivation for quantitative easing (QE) is to lower bond yields - especially longer-dated ones - then it stands to reason QT pushes yields up. The left chart above shows a four-quarter moving average of UK government debt issuance (black line) in percent of GDP and which sectors absorb this issuance, including the Bank of England (blue bars). The right chart above compares the Bank of England’s accumulation or run-off of government bonds (blue line) with that of other central banks, where this blue line is the same as the blue bars in the left chart. The Bank of England was quicker and more aggressive than other central banks in downsizing its bond holdings, so UK yields will have risen more than elsewhere also for this reason, not just because of Governor Andrew Bailey’s remarks in October 2022. Back in October 2025, after a conversation in New York with friends in British politics, my sense of dysphoria was such that I raised the issue of the Bank of England openly in the FT Since 2008, the UK has slid into a deep economic and political predicament. Growth has stagnated to a degree far worse even than in the 1970s. The Tory leadership’s wager on the Brexit referendum spectacularly backfired, leaving the UK isolated from Europe and at the mercy of its special relationship with the US, many of whose political class regard the UK as a basket case. After years of austerity, the Labour party lurched to the left and then back to the centre. The Tory party has been eclipsed by the populist nationalism of Reform. Any British government should be worrying first and foremost about how to restart growth. Instead, Keir Starmer is beset by shades of the gilt market panic triggered by the Liz Truss government in 2022. The debt level is higher than in recent years, but there is no cause for panic. UK debt is at far from critical levels and of long duration. Whether you want to “take back control” or launch progressive economic policy, a democracy dogged by fear of bond market vigilantes is unhealthy. In a country that is a monetary sovereign, this climate points to one thing: a disconnect between the government and the central bank. Since 1997, the independence of the Bank of England has become a sacred cow. But independence is what you make of it. And in the wake of the gilt market crisis of September 2022, relations between the Bank of England and the UK government need a reset. In normal times, there is no doubt that an inflation-targeting independent central bank can serve a country well. But since 2008, the UK and other advanced economies have not had the luxury of such simple problems. To their credit, central bankers around the world have not stood on orthodoxy. After 2008, the US Federal Reserve rescued the global banking system and, through quantitative easing, it stabilised the Treasury market in the face of huge deficits. In Europe, things were trickier. Both the Bank of England under Mervyn King and Jean-Claude Trichet’s European Central Bank played cat and mouse with national governments. This was a high stakes wager that between 2010 and 2012 escalated bond market tension and triggered a disastrous turn to austerity. Shaken by the impact of those shocks, their successors, Mark Carney and Mario Draghi adopted a more protective stance (assuming you were not the government of Greece). Recall that Draghi’s legendary slogan, “Whatever it takes”, was uttered to face down the City of London’s bond vigilantes. In 2015, Draghi launched QE — financial repression by another name. In 2016, Carney used the authority of the Bank of England to stabilise markets following the vote for Brexit, an exemplary demonstration of how central banks can underpin democratic choice, even when those choices are wrong headed. All these were independent central bankers steeped in the best practice of the 1990s, who recognised that historic crises demanded radical action. It was the price surge of 2021-2023 that poisoned the atmosphere. Though the shock came mainly from the supply side, central banks ended up in the dock. Nowhere more so than in the UK. The Bank of England reacted with aggressive normalisation. Faced with a cost of living crisis, the governor called for workers to accept real wage cuts. In early 2022, as gas prices were at record levels and Russia’s army was poised to invade Ukraine, the Bank adopted a stringent programme of quantitative tightening, elevating interest rates. When the Truss government got itself in trouble, the Bank took almost a week to come to the rescue. Rather than enacting a charade of normality, it is time to recognise that in 2025 the UK faces a period of historic transition. To meet this challenge, what is needed is a new concordat with the Bank. This should not ignore inflationary pressures or the long-run trajectory of debt, but should affirm the priority of reviving investment-led growth. One could follow Donald Trump in demanding interest rate cuts. The Bank could shadow the ECB in its commitment to capping Eurozone yields. But the top priority should be to lay the ghost of September 2022. The Bank’s slowing of QT last month was a concession. An immediate and complete end would send the right signal. Such a concordat will not by itself restore sanity to politics, solve the housing problem or rebuild the NHS. But it would help to lift the fear of bond market crisis, which is paralysing the effort by democratic politicians to answer the fundamental questions facing the nation. Now, that call for a new concordat between government and Bank of Englands seems more urgent than ever. The problem is that in October 2025, Starmer still had some authority. Today the government is in tatters. And when you are the “under the harrow” - to echo a phrase of Montagu Norman’s from the 1920s - it is the worst possible time to consider institutional change. To make general arguments at a time of crisis can only seem like special pleading rather than a general argument for long-term change. The same, unfortunately, is also true for the other basic institutional reform that Britain urgently needs i.e. the abolition of the out-dated first past the post electoral system and its replacement by a moderated form of proportional representation. And thirdly - whilst we are saying the quiet parts out loud - Britain needs to reopen the question of EU membership. What the local election results of 2026 show is that this remains a key issue. And what they also show is that there is a clear majority that would favor a return. Until these basic features of Britain’s political economy are addressed the country will carry on its politics as though in a haunted house, governed by governments that lack actual majorities, conjuring up false constraints whilst ignoring the real ones. This one is for DG and MI. I love writing the newsletter. If you enjoy it too and fancy buying me a coffee once a month, you know what to do. Click below! Subscribe

May 15 • 3:04 AM EDT • Politics • adamtooze.substack.com

This Summer on Disney Cruise Line: New Entertainment, Frozen Fun in Alaska, and More

This summer, Disney Cruise Line entertainment is bigger, bolder, and more magical than ever. New and refreshed entertainment experiences will debut across the fleet, giving you more chances to sing, dance, and celebrate at sea. From Broadway‑style stage spectaculars and high‑energy deck parties to destination‑inspired moments, entertainment takes the spotlight all summer long. If you

May 14 • 11:00 AM EDT • Entertainment • disneyparksblog.com

How New Hampshire Motor Speedway Delivers Maximum Entertainment for Maximum Value

Experience more than just racing at New Hampshire Motor Speedway’s NASCAR weekend. Beyond exhilarating races at "The Magic Mile," enjoy live music, the Fan Zone, camping and more. NHMS focuses on affordability and fan value, offering a lively, all-day motorsports celebration packed with action and entertainment for the whole family.

May 13 • 5:00 AM EDT • Entertainment • nhms.com

Googlebook's best feature is already available in Chrome on your laptop

Google's Magic Pointer feature is rolling out to Gemini in Chrome on desktop.

May 13 • 4:56 AM EDT • Technology • androidcentral.com

DeepMind details Googlebook ‘Magic Pointer’ with demos you can try, also coming to Gemini in Chrome

The Magic Pointer on Googlebook was built with Google DeepMind. The research team behind this underlying capability...

May 12 • 7:12 PM EDT • Technology • 9to5google.com

These Women-Owned Businesses Are Riding the Spurs Wave

San Antonio's Spurs fever is spilling into the boutique scene — and one group of women-owned small businesses is here for ALL of it. 🖤🪨 Spurs-inspired pieces are flying off the shelves at Poderosa Co this playoff season. The crowds are showing up, the energy is electric, and this all-women crew is proving that small business + a winning team = pure magic. Come support local, come support art, come support them. 🙌

May 12 • 12:50 PM EDT • Business • ksat.com

MTG Arena Announcements

Catch up with the latest info and events on MTG Arena.

May 11 • 1:00 PM EDT • Technology • magic.wizards.com

PNB costume shop brings designs to life with couture-like detail

The average costume at Pacific Northwest Ballet takes 100 hours to make. We get a special peek behind the scenes in the costume shop to see the makers' magic.

May 11 • 9:00 AM EDT • Entertainment • yakimaherald.com

'Big players producing in the big moments'

When Martin Odegaard came on at London Stadium against West Ham United, he looked like he had a point to prove and he lifted everything about the way Arsenal were playing. Then, when that magic moment comes where he has played a lovely little give and go with Declan Rice and found space himself inside the area, did he have the calmness and awareness to wait and play the perfect pass for Leandro Trossard? Before now, Eberechi Eze, Noni Madueke, Kai Havertz, Viktor Gyokeres and Bukayo Saka have all played their part in crucial goals at important times.

May 11 • 4:29 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

Magic Mini Golf closes in Delmar Loop; Joe Edwards teases new business

Magic Mini Golf opened in October 2023 and had 18 holes of indoor miniature golf, 2 shuffleboard courts and a fully-functioning 5-car indoor Ferris wheel.

May 9 • 1:14 PM EDT • Business • stltoday.com

HBO’s ‘Harry Potter’: Kevin McKidd Responds to Arthur Weasley Speculation

A certain Instagram follow has fans thinking McKidd has been cast in a magical HBO project.

May 9 • 12:41 PM EDT • Entertainment • cbs19news.com

HBO’s ‘Harry Potter’: Kevin McKidd Responds to Arthur Weasley Speculation

A certain Instagram follow has fans thinking McKidd has been cast in a magical HBO project.

May 9 • 12:41 PM EDT • Entertainment • wyomingnewsnow.tv

HBO’s ‘Harry Potter’: Kevin McKidd Responds to Arthur Weasley Speculation

A certain Instagram follow has fans thinking McKidd has been cast in a magical HBO project.

May 9 • 12:41 PM EDT • Entertainment • kten.com

HBO’s ‘Harry Potter’: Kevin McKidd Responds to Arthur Weasley Speculation

A certain Instagram follow has fans thinking McKidd has been cast in a magical HBO project.

May 8 • 8:41 PM EDT • Entertainment • wfxg.com

Blackmagic Camera Hands-On: Apple Watch Compatibility Gives Vloggers Remote Control

Capture high-quality Apple ProRes video with full stabilization.

May 8 • 9:02 AM EDT • Technology • engadget.com

The real storm chasers of the Great Plains

A veteran chaser separates Hollywood magic from the real, on-the-ground excitement of tornado season.

May 7 • 9:00 AM EDT • Science • popsci.com

Magic mushrooms make mean fish lazier and more chill

Psilocybin may selectively lower aggressive behavior in the the notoriously nasty mangrove rivulus.

May 7 • 12:00 AM EDT • Science • popsci.com

An Enchanted Weekend Of Fantasy, Food, And Entertainment For The Whole Family

LEONARDTOWN, Md. — Huzzah, y’all! The Lord Mayor of the medieval Town of Leonard invites you to step into a world of fantasy and imagination at RenFest Southern Maryland. The event returns Memorial Day weekend with an energetic two-day celebration of live entertainment, medieval merriment and magical moments. The residents of the local town stand […]

May 6 • 2:44 PM EDT • Entertainment • thebaynet.com

Gamethread 5/5: Athletics at Phillies

Does the Mattingly Magic come home?

May 5 • 5:35 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

Single dose of magic mushroom psychedelic can cause anatomical brain changes, study finds

Participants took 25mg of psilocybin, reporting deeper psychological insight and better wellbeing a month later

May 5 • 11:00 AM EDT • Science • theguardian.com

No, these rainbow clouds over Indonesia are not AI

The stunning meteorological phenomenon is 'truly magical.'

May 5 • 9:11 AM EDT • Science • popsci.com

Magic fire coach Jamahl Mosley after another first-round playoff loss

Orlando's loss to the Pistons after leading the series 3-1 ultimately led to Mosley getting ousted.

May 4 • 10:11 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

Magic fire Jamahl Mosley after another first-round playoff loss

Orlando allowed Toronto to score 31 unanswered points in a 52-point loss earlier in the season that spelled poorly for Mosley's future with the team.

May 4 • 9:55 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

An ace and his catcher remember Cocalico baseball\'s golden era 6 decades later

They stood 60 feet, 6 inches apart, just like the old days. The mind was willing to try to recreate the magic. The body? Not so much.

May 4 • 5:00 AM EDT • Sports • lancasteronline.com

Detroit restaurants and businesses see boom amid Pistons playoff run

A huge win for the Pistons means a huge win for Detroit businesses, too. After the Pistons shut down the Magic on Sunday, restaurants were ready for the rush of it all.

May 3 • 10:20 PM EDT • Business • clickondetroit.com

Pistons rout Magic to complete comeback, advance in NBA playoffs

The Detroit Pistons dominated the Orlando Magic 116-94 on Sunday to complete their NBA playoff series comeback and punch their ticket to the Eastern Conference semi-finals.The Cavs hosted game seven of their series later on Sunday.

May 3 • 6:29 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

‘Magic for Non-believers’ to change minds

Peter Boie will perform “Magic for Non-believers” at the Blue Hill Public Library on Saturday, May 16, at 3 p.m.

May 3 • 4:00 PM EDT • Entertainment • ellsworthamerican.com

TST Best Bets: May 3, 2026

After the Philadelphia 76ers became the 14th team to ever come back from a 3-1 lead to win the series, the Detroit Pistons enter Sunday on the brink of history themselves. Detroit looked to be in dire straits against the Orlando Magic, as their physical defense made for a very poor matchup with the Pistons’ lack of secondary offensive creators behind Cade Cunningham. However, aided by an untimely injury to Franz Wagner for the Magic, the Pistons have started to look like the 60-win team they wer

May 3 • 12:53 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

Pistons vs Magic preview: It’s time for Game 7

It’s do or die time. Game Vitals Where: Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, MIWhen: Sunday, May 3 at 3:30 PM ESTWatch: ABCOdds: Pistons (-8.5) Analysis Game 7, baby – IT’S TIIIME! Lineups Detroit Pistons (3-3): Cade Cunningham, Duncan Robinson, Ausar Thompson, Tobias Harris, Jalen Duren Orlando Magic (3-3): Jalen Suggs, Desmond Bane, Jamal Cain, Paolo Banchero, Wendell Carter Jr Question of […]

May 3 • 10:14 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

Game 7 predictions! Who wins Magic-Pistons and Raptors-Cavaliers? Are Knicks the team to beat in the East?

May 2 • 10:45 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

Finally: After Years of Pressure, SeaWorld Is Changing Theme Park Entertainment

SeaWorld is finally changing course.

May 2 • 3:29 PM EDT • Entertainment • insidethemagic.net

Game 7 predictions! Who wins 76ers-Celtics, Magic-Pistons and Raptors-Cavaliers?

May 2 • 12:47 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

Orlando Tragic: The wildest numbers of the Magic's 24-point collapse against the Pistons

May 1 • 10:26 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

Pistons Stun Magic With Historic Second Half in Game 6

The Detroit Pistons stunned the Orlando Magic with a 55-19 second half surge to win Game 6 and force a decisive Game 7.

May 1 • 9:47 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

Immersive and magical retail experiences at Broadway at the Beach for summer 2026

The Cloak and Wand is expected to open June 1, welcoming customers into a whimsical world of witchcraft and wizardry.

May 1 • 9:00 AM EDT • Entertainment • myhorrynews.com

Wizards of the Coast Is Making a Brand New Trading Card Game

Almost 30 years in the making, 'Mood Swings' wants to deliver a smaller, quicker, and more accessible card game experience that not even 'Magic: The Gathering' can provide.

Apr 30 • 12:05 PM EDT • Technology • gizmodo.com

Top-seeded Pistons stay alive in playoffs with Magic win

An epic Cade Cunningham performance kept top-seeded Detroit's NBA playoff run alive in a crucial 116-109 victory over the Orlando Magic on Wednesday.The Magic -- who only qualified for the playoffs via the play-in tournament -- will have another chance to finish a surprise series win on Friday back in Orlando.

Apr 29 • 10:10 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

Cade Cunningham drops Detroit record 45 points to power Pistons past Magic in Game 5, avoid elimination

Apr 29 • 10:07 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

Cade Cunningham drops 45 points to power Pistons past Magic in Game 5, avoid elimination

Cade Cunningham's 45 points are the most in a playoff game in Pistons history.

Apr 29 • 9:53 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

Magic Johnson Issues Apology to 76ers After Win Against Celtics

Magic Johnson thought the 76ers-Celtics series was over after Boston's 32-point win in Game 4.

Apr 29 • 7:18 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

Pistons-Magic takeaways: Detroit's problems are coming to a head as Orlando aims to dunk No. 1 seed

Let's dive into Orlando's big win Monday night as it tries to become the seventh No. 8 seed to knock off a No. 1 in NBA history.

Apr 27 • 11:38 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

Jamal Cain throws down vicious one-handed dunk through Jalen Duren in Game 4 as Magic take stunning 3-1 lead over Pistons

Jalen Duren just never stood a chance at stopping Jamal Cain at the rim.

Apr 27 • 11:04 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

Philomath voters will decide on city's psilocybin-related business ban

Voters in Philomath will decide in May whether to prohibit psilocybin-related businesses and manufacturing within city limits.

Apr 27 • 7:07 PM EDT • Business • klcc.org

Where to watch Detroit Pistons vs Orlando Magic Game 4 NBA playoffs: Live stream, start time, TV channel, odds for Monday, April 27

The Magic hold a 2-1 lead in the series entering Game 4.

Apr 27 • 5:00 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

Canva apologizes after its AI tool replaces ‘Palestine’ in designs

How does this even happen?

Apr 27 • 10:29 AM EDT • Technology • theverge.com

Magical Abilities Removed From Upcoming Assassin's Creed Hexe, Leak Suggests

Fresh leaks point to a major change for the upcoming witchcraft-themed Assassin's Creed Hexe, and expectation of an Assassin's Creed 1 remake.

Apr 27 • 6:02 AM EDT • Technology • ign.com

Epstein files show extent of his unsavory relationships with magicians David Blaine and David Copperfield

A CNN review of the Epstein files found numerous messages and photos that show the extent of the financier’s interactions with two prominent magicians.

Apr 27 • 5:00 AM EDT • Politics • cnn.com

Community Spotlight: The Impossible Science Festival

DECATUR, Ill. (WCIA) — The Macon Piatt Regional Office of Education is hosting an event in Decatur at the start of May that combines STEAM learning with stage-performance magic. Jill Reedy, R…

Apr 26 • 6:50 PM EDT • Science • wcia.com

Larry Wilmore stuns Abby Phillip with magic trick

Apr 25 • 10:45 AM EDT • Politics • cnn.com

Magic & Wonder Dinner Theater casts spell with 2026 season of magic and music

Magic & Wonder Dinner Theater is immersing its audiences in magic from the time they walk through the door this season.

Apr 25 • 5:00 AM EDT • Entertainment • lancasteronline.com

Pistons look to carry momentum into Game 3 vs. Magic

The Detroit Pistons almost were unrecognizable for the first six quarters of their first-round series against the Orlando Magic, but that all changed in the span of about eight minutes.

Apr 24 • 1:30 PM EDT • Sports • cbssports.com

2025-26 NBA Playoff Odds: Why Long-Shot Magic Are Best Bet to Win East

If you believe in magic like Will Hill, long-shot Orlando to win the East might be a bet you want to consider. Here's why.

Apr 24 • 12:12 PM EDT • Sports • foxsports.com

NBA Playoffs Power Rankings for the remaining teams

The NBA Playoffs are underway. The early story was the Orlando Magic giving the Detroit Pistons issues. Orlando entered the playoffs confidently, and it has shown through two games. The biggest story is the health of San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama.…

Apr 23 • 7:34 AM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

Goodbye, OTPs and magic links: Signing up for new Android apps just got a lot easier

Google has introduced a new Verified Email feature to Android, and it's about to make signing up for new apps much easier.

Apr 23 • 3:44 AM EDT • Technology • androidauthority.com

MHS sports weekly notebook from the diamond to the court

High fives for boys tennis The Marblehead High boys tennis team (5-1) made it five in a row after beating hosts Swampscott (5-0, April 13) and non-league Lynnfield (4-1, April 16) last week. It’s always good to beat your longtime rival, and that’s what the Magicians did to the Big Blue, under the direction of

Apr 22 • 11:18 PM EDT • Sports • marbleheadcurrent.org

Magic-Pistons takeaways: Cade Cunningham shines, but questions remain about consistency and supporting cast

For the second game in a row, Cunningham was the main driving force, with little contributions elsewhere, in the first half.

Apr 22 • 10:10 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

Pistons tie series with monster run to wipe out Magic 98-83 in Game 2

The Detroit Pistons used an insane 30-3 run to open the third quarter, breaking the Orlando Magic in Game 2 to tie the NBA playoff series at 1-1.

Apr 22 • 9:52 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

Computer Science Student Deemed 'Wizard' For Tech Acumen

Seeing Sierra Brandt’s technological magic in action led Erica Cullwell to dub Brandt “The Departmental Wizard” of the Career Center.Not only was Brandt able to resolve a longstanding problem for the Career Center, her solution will support Cal State San Marcos students for years to come.Brandt is a transfer student from MiraCosta Communit...

Apr 21 • 6:00 PM EDT • Science • news.csusm.edu

A Realm Reborn in Magic: The Gathering®—FINAL FANTASY™

Cameron Williams discusses how Magic: The Gathering—FINAL FANTASY's designers brought the critically acclaimed MMORPG to Magic.

Apr 21 • 11:00 AM EDT • Technology • magic.wizards.com

Zombie Magic, old LeBron, Wemby’s debut & more thoughts on every NBA Playoff series + Warriors drama & LaMelo’s future with Jason Timpf, Kelly Iko & Noa Dalzell

Apr 20 • 4:03 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

Science Expeditions Campus Open House brings STEM wonder to the whole family - Morgridge Institute for Research

The Discovery Building and other venues across campus brought the magic of STEM discovery to visitors of all ages at Science Expeditions Campus Open House, a flagship spring event for science engagement.

Apr 20 • 2:35 PM EDT • Science • morgridge.org

MTG Arena Announcements

Catch up with the latest info and events on MTG Arena.

Apr 20 • 1:00 PM EDT • Technology • magic.wizards.com

Orbán’s Hungary Defeat Shows Disinformation is Not a Political Magic Trick

Counter-disinformation work should be supported continually, not to prevent certain election outcomes but to give voters the chance to make an informed choice.

Apr 20 • 5:17 AM EDT • Politics • techpolicy.press

NBA playoffs 2026 takeaways: Pistons disappear against Magic; Wemby dominates; Thunder roll to begin title defense; Jayson Tatum stars in Celtics' big win

Apr 19 • 11:58 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

NBA playoffs 2026 takeaways: Pistons disappear against Magic; Thunder roll to begin title defense; Jayson Tatum stars in Celtics' big win

Apr 19 • 10:48 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

NBA playoffs 2026 takeaways: Jayson Tatum the best player on the floor in Celtics' dominant Game 1 win over 76ers

The 2026 NBA playoffs continues Sunday with four Game 1s: 76ers-Celtics, Suns-Thunder, Magic-Pistons and Trail-Blazers-Spurs. We're breaking down the key takeaways from each game.

Apr 19 • 3:47 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

Common cleaning sponge found to release trillions of microplastic fibers

That “magic” sponge under your sink may be hiding an environmental downside. While melamine sponges are famous for effortlessly scrubbing away stubborn stains, they slowly break down as you use them—shedding tiny plastic fibers that wash into water systems. Researchers estimate that globally, these sponges could release over a trillion microplastic fibers every month, potentially entering the food chain and affecting wildlife.

Apr 18 • 8:00 AM EDT • Science • sciencedaily.com

Pictures: Orlando Magic rout Charlotte to clinch Playoff Spot

Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) Orlando coach Jamahl Mosley yells during the Charlotte Hornets at Orlando Magic NBA Play-In game at the Kia Center on Friday, April 17, 2026. Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) Orlando forward Franz Wagner (middle) scores between Charlotte defenders Brandon Miller (24) and Miles Bridges (0) during the Charlotte Hornets at Orlando Magic NBA Play-In game at the Kia Center on Friday, April 17, 2026. Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) Orlando coach Jamahl Mosley signals during the Charlotte Hornets at Orlando Magic NBA Play-In game at the Kia Center on Friday, April 17, 2026.

Apr 17 • 11:50 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

NBA playoffs 2026: Hornets-Magic, Warriors-Suns wrap up play-in tournament Friday, seeking No. 8 seeds in East and West

Apr 17 • 5:30 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

I went to Coachella and masqueraded as an influencer for 48 hours. Unfortunately, it was amazing.

Some people say the California music festival has lots its magic. Maybe it has, but it's still a spectacle.

Apr 17 • 4:07 PM EDT • Entertainment • yahoo.com

Blackmagic Camera app gets Apple Watch companion

Blackmagic Design, ahead of NAB 2026, updated its Blackmagic Camera app to include a new Apple Watch control option.

Apr 16 • 12:15 PM EDT • Technology • 9to5mac.com

Two Magicians Warn the Supreme Court About Junk Science

Penn & Teller filed a Supreme Court brief questioning the use of “investigative hypnosis” in a death-penalty case in Texas.

Apr 16 • 12:02 PM EDT • Science • nytimes.com

Magic Johnson's transition from basketball to business

NBA icon Magic Johnson delivered a high-energy, deeply personal talk at Wake Forest University’s Face-to-Face Speaker Forum on Tuesday night, shifting seamlessly from storytelling to a masterclass in business, discipline and community impact. Interviewed by college basketball commentator Jay Bilas, Johnson commanded the stage — and eventually the aisles — blending humor, sermon-like energy and […]

Apr 16 • 10:05 AM EDT • Business • businessnc.com

Jonathan Isaac is OUT for the Magic tonight

Jonathan Isaac is OUT for the Magic tonight

Apr 15 • 7:10 PM EDT • Sports • sports.yahoo.com

Adobe is making bold claims about its new Firefly AI Assistant

"All of Adobe’s magic in a single wand."

Apr 15 • 11:35 AM EDT • Technology • creativebloq.com

‘Scarpetta,’ ‘Heated Rivalry’ and more shows based on books

From comedy and crime to magical realism, these TV series based on books will hook you, then leave you wanting more.

Apr 14 • 5:00 PM EDT • Entertainment • yakimaherald.com

Blackmagic Debuts $29K+ URSA Cine Immersive 100G for Vision Pro

Blackmagic has announced a new version of its URSA Cine Immersive camera, the first commercial camera system designed to capture 3D content for the Vision Pro. The URSA Cine Immersive 100G adds 100G Ethernet to the original camera to deliver the bandwidth needed to output live immersive video for the first time.

Apr 14 • 6:30 AM EDT • Technology • macrumors.com