News Roundup: July 25, 2017

Some news items you may have missed:

• Let's hear it for the bears! Furball in focus (above).

• According to a new USA Today poll, Americans are split 42% yes/42% no on whether President Trump should be impeached.

• The Queer Insurrection and Liberation Army, or TQILA, is a newly-formed LGBT-centric unit of volunteers who have joined the fight against ISIS in Syria.

These Faggots Kill Fascists! We shoot back! The Black & Pink and Rainbow flag fly in Raqqa. #Queers smashing the Caliphate. #TQILA #YPJ #YPG pic.twitter.com/eBCssrbjMI

— IRPGF (@IRPGF) July 24, 2017

• Trump says Attorney General Jeff Sessions only endorsed him for president because of his "massive numbers" at campaign rallies. #brutal

• Always on the lookout for new out music? Check out this list of summer tunes by LGBT artists.

• Mark Ruffalo shared this pic of Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston cuddling with Thor: Ragnarok director Taika Waititi on a recent flight. #Grrrr

Living the dream, dreaming of living. #thorragnarok #sdcc2017

A post shared by Mark Ruffalo (@markruffalo) on Jul 22, 2017 at 1:57pm PDT

Stars Promise You Naked Mark Ruffalo Scene If You Vote

2.2 million views in one day.

One of my mostest favorite actors, Mark Ruffalo, appears alongside fellow Avengers Robert Downey Jr. and Scarlett Johansson (and a whole lot of stars) for a new voting campaign - "Save The Day."

Cause, that's what Avengers do - save the day.

From TIME:

In case anyone needed an extra incentive to vote in this fall’s presidential election, Avengers director Joss Whedon has enlisted a bevy of celebrities and the possibility of a Mark Ruffalo nude scene to urge people to vote.

In a video campaign for his PAC titled “Save the Day,” A-list celebrities such as Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson and Julianne Moore rub shoulders with small screen stars like Matt McGorry, Jesse Williams and Neil Patrick Harris to encourage Americans to vote this November.

Like Hollywood get-out-the-vote efforts of years past, the video mostly encourages voters to do their civic duty, but there’s a hint that at least some of the stars would also prefer if you cast your ballot against Republican nominee Donald Trump. Actor Don Cheadle doesn’t mention Trump but does refer (not for the first time) to “a racist, abusive coward who could permanently damage the fabric of our society.”

The video also promises, tongue in cheek, that if voters do their part, actor Mark Ruffalo will do a full-frontal nude scene in his next film.

Wait, wait, wait - what's this "tongue in cheek" stuff, TIME? I want my full-frontal, naked Ruffalo.

Scarlett Johansson herself promises he'll be going "full monty."

I want the "full Marky."

Please vote. #ImWithHer

New TV Spot For Avengers: Age of Ultron For NCAA Tourney

New TV spot for Avengers: Age Of Ultron just in time for NCAA tournament.

In theaters May 1st!  Squeeee!

New Trailer - Avengers: Age Of Ultron

Avengers: Age of Ultron set for release May 1st.

(Squeee! I just wet myself a little....)

Super Bowl Commercials: First TV Spot For "Avengers: Age Of Ultron"

Directed by Joss Whedon, the sequel to 2012's Marvel's The Avengers, Age of Ultron stars Mark Ruffalo, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth and Robert Downey Jr.

The movie hits theaters May 1st.

Mark Ruffalo Wins SAG Award For His Performance In The Normal Heart

Mark Ruffalo (L) with Matt Bomer (R)

Although he missed out on Emmy and Golden Globe Awards for his work on The Normal Heart, tonight Mark Ruffalo was awarded Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries for passionate performance in the HBO film adaptation of Larry Kramer's play of the same name.

From Gay Star News:

Ruffalo played writer and AIDS activist Ned Weeks in the film based on the play by Larry Kramer. The character of Weeks is a fictionalized version of Kramer.

The award was accepted on Ruffalo's behalf by presenters Jared Leto and Lupita Nyong'o since the actor did not attend the ceremony at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.

Julia Roberts, Ruffalo's co-star and fellow producer on the film, later took the stage to present another award and dispensed with her prepared remarks to praise Ruffalo's acting abilities and to say 'I am so absolutely tickled to my toes that he won tonight.'

Ha ha ha! Sunny and my kids just woke me up to tell me I won a SAG award. Have to be at work in 4 hours. Thank you! @SAGawards

— Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) January 26, 2015

Thank you @ryanmurphy24 for giving me the incredible part! Thank you Larry Kramer teaching is all a little more about love.

— Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) January 26, 2015

Thanks @MattBomer my dear friend and partner in #TheNormalHeart you were an inspiration and friend every day.

— Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) January 26, 2015

To all the people who lived through the AIDS crisis and lost the ones you loved. This award is yours. @SAGawards You are heros.

— Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) January 26, 2015

Upon waking and hearing from my wife and kids that I won a @sagawards for #TheNormalHeart Love wins tonight!

A photo posted by Mark Ruffalo (@markruffalo) on Jan 25, 2015 at 6:45pm PST

New Trailer: "Avengers - Age Of Ultron"

The second trailer for the upcoming Marvel flick Avengers - Age of Ultron dropped yesterday and we get a look at how artificial intelligence bad guy Ultron (voiced by James Spader) plans to take our down favorite super-hero team.

Starring Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Robert Downey Jr., Jeremy Renner, Scarlett Johansson and Chris Hemsworth - in theaters May 1st.

HBO's "The Normal Heart" wins Outstanding TV/Movie at 2014 Emmys

The cast of the HBO film "The Normal Heart"

HBO’s “The Normal Heart” won the 2014 Emmy Award for best made-for-television movie.

The critically acclaimed film depicts the rise of the HIV-AIDS crisis in New York City between 1981 and 1984, as seen through the eyes of writer/activist Ned Weeks, the founder of a prominent HIV advocacy group.

“The Normal Heart” was directed by Ryan Murphy and written by Larry Kramer, based on his 1985 play of same name.

Fans and activists on the internet expressed worry that the ground-breaking movie would be shut out of the awards tonight.  Fortunately, not true.

Mark Ruffalo (L) and Matt Bomer (R) in "The Normal Heart"

Larry Kramer (scarf) stand to accept 2014 Emmy Award with "The Normal Heart" team

(via LGBTQ Nation)

The cast of HBO's "The Normal Heart" on Michael Sam's "draft kiss"

The cast of HBO's "The Normal Heart" stopped by HuffPost Live to talk about the upcoming debut of the film on May 25th.

During the chat, the question came up regarding how far the LGBT community has come in 30 years, including the NFL draft of Michael Sam and his televised celebratory kiss with his boyfriend Vito. Check out their comments in the video above.

The full interview is posted below the short clip.

HBO's The Normal Heart covers Entertainment Weekly

This week's cover of Entertainment Weekly focuses on the developmental journey of The Normal Heart, from Broadway to HBO feature film.

Despite involvement from names like Barbra Streisand, who owned the rights for 10 years, The Normal Heart appeared to be destined for only theater until Glee co-creator Ryan Murphy acquired the rights in 2009 with his own money.

“I really believed in it,” explains Murphy, who first read the play in college and directed the film version. “Larry set a very high price. I gulped and said, ‘Okay,’ and bought it. I think he wanted to see, ‘Is this kid serious?’ And I was.”

Kramer, who’s HIV-positive and currently recovering from unrelated medical complications, was unable to speak to EW but emailed that Heart made it to the screen “because of Ryan Murphy caring passionately about getting it made, abetted by [exec producer] Dante Di Loreto."

The Normal Heart starring Mark Ruffalo, Matt Bomer, Julia Roberts and Jim Parsons debuts on HBO on May 25th. Watch the trailer below:

Mark Ruffalo talks to HuffPost Live about "The Normal Heart"

Mark Ruffalo talks to HuffPost Live about what drew him to his role in the HBO film adaptation of Larry Kramer's "The Normal Heart":

“I have a lot of compassion for the struggle of people and I was growing up during the AIDS epidemic and I saw how cruel and insensitive people were to these people suffering.

"And it sort of has been forgotten, what happened in our culture during those times...and the small group of people who instituted vast change and brought us to the point today where gay marriage is almost as common as [traditional] marriage right now.

"That was an important story that needed to be told.”

"The Normal Heart" debuts on HBO on May 25th.

"The Normal Heart" - Full Trailer

The HBO original film, The Normal Heart, premieres Sunday, May 25th at 9PM/8C, only on HBO.

Starring Mark Ruffalo, Julia Roberts, Jim Parsons, Matt Bomer and Taylor Kitsch.

The cast of "The Normal Heart" talks to The Hollywood Reporter

During the photo shoot for the cover of The Hollywood Reporter, the cast of the upcoming HBO film "The Normal Heart" - Mark Ruffalo, Matt Bomer, Jim Parsons and Taylor Kitsch - talked on the impact of AIDS on the LGBT community and the exploration of humanity in the film.

New trailer for HBO's "The Normal Heart"

HBO has released a new trailer for the upcoming screen adaptation of Larry Kramer's award-winning play "The Normal Heart."

"The Normal Heart," directed by Ryan Murphy, chronicles the rise of AIDS in the 1980s during the earliest years of the epidemic.

The film stars Mark Ruffalo, Julia Roberts, Matt Bomer, Jim Parsons and Jonathan Groff.

Debuts on HBO on May 25.

Trailer: HBO's "The Normal Heart"

The HBO original film, The Normal Heart, premieres Sunday, May 25th at 9PM/8C, on HBO.

Starring Mark Ruffalo, Matt Bomer, Taylor Kitsch, Jim Parsons and Julia Roberts.

HBO's "The Normal Heart" to debut on May 25th

HBO Films has announced that "The Normal Heart" will  see it's world debut at 9:00 p.m. (ET/PT) May 25th on HBO.

The film stars Mark Ruffalo, Matt Bomer, Taylor Kitsch, Jim Parsons and Julia Roberts.  Also featured in the production are Alfred Molina, Joe Mantello, Jonathan Groff, Denis O'Hare, Stephen Spinella, Corey Stoll, Finn Wittrock and BD Wong.

Directed by Ryan Murphy and written by Larry Kramer, adapting his groundbreaking Tony Award-winning play of the same name, "The Normal Heart" tells the story of the onset of the HIV-AIDS crisis in New York City in the early 1980s, taking an unflinching look at the nation's sexual politics as gay activists and their allies in the medical community fight to expose the truth about the burgeoning epidemic to a city and nation in denial.

Ruffalo portrays Ned Weeks, who witnesses first-hand a mysterious disease that has begun to claim the lives of many in his gay community and starts to seek answers. Matt Bomer plays Felix Turner, a reporter who becomes Ned’s lover. Taylor Kitsch plays Bruce Niles, a closeted investment banker who becomes a prominent AIDS activist. Jim Parsons plays gay activist Tommy Boatwright, reprising his role from the 2011 Broadway revival. Roberts plays physician Dr. Emma Brookner, a survivor of childhood polio who treats several of the earliest victims of HIV-AIDS.

Kramer’s play debuted at New York’s Public Theatre in 1985 and was revived in Los Angeles and London, and off-Broadway. The 2011 Broadway revival garnered five Tony nominations, winning for Best Revival, Best Featured Actor and Best Featured Actress.

(source)

Mark Ruffalo shuts down O'Reilly Factor reporter on Benghazi

Actor Mark Ruffalo is not having any of the "Benghazi scandal" BS from "O'Reilly Factor" interviewer Jesse Watters at the premiere of "Infinitely Polar Bear" at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival.

Watters keeps trying to push his point of a "scandal" even though an investigation found the Obama Administration was NOT responsible for any mishandling.

Spin, spin, spin, kids.

HBO "End of Year Promo" includes first view of footage from THE NORMAL HEART

Mark Ruffalo and Matt Bomer in HBO's THE NORMAL HEART

This past weekend HBO released it's "End of the Year" promo which included the first footage the public has had a chance to glimpse of the upcoming THE NORMAL HEART.

One of the most anticipated gay media moments of 2014 is the film adaptation of Larry Kramer's The Normal Heart, which features a star-studded cast including Mark Ruffalo, Jim Parsons, Taylor Kitsch, Matt Bomer, and Julia Roberts.

Julia Roberts in HBO's THE NORMAL HEART

Jim Parsons in HBO's THE NORMAL HEART

(via Towleroad)

HBO green lights The Normal Heart movie adaptation

Mark Ruffalo (left) and Matt Bomer (right)

The movie-adaptation of Larry Kramer's The Normal Heart seem to have finally been worked out. HBO announced today that they greenlit the movie to be directed by Ryan Murphy, according to Deadline.

As announced earlier, Julia Roberts will play Emma Brookner, the paraplegic physician who treats several of the earliest victims of the disease (played by Ellen Barkin in the recent Broadway production and currently stars in Murphy's The New Normal).

Word is Mark Ruffalo will still play Ned Weeks (the Kramer stand-in) and Matt Bomer (the only out actor currently part of the movie) will play Felix Turner, a reporter who becomes Ned’s lover.

Kramer is adapting the play for the screen himself, and the film should begin filming this fall in New York City and air in 2014.

The 2011 Broadway revival garnered five Tony nominations, winning for Best Revival, Best Featured Actor for John Benjamin Hickey as Turner and Best Featured Actress for Ellen Barkin as the doctor.

(source)

Avengers movie to be released on DVD this coming Tuesday

Who's excited about the release of the Avengers movie on DVD this coming Tuesday?

Make you sure pre-order now so it's conveniently delivered to your home and all you have to do is pop in the video machine-y thing and enjoy Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Jeremy Renner and Robert Downey Jr. save the world.

I loved the movie this summer.  I thought it had just the right balance of action and humor.  Loved the dialogue between the heroes.  And they're not hard to look at either.

My copy in on the way! Love Amazon shopping.  It's like gifts just show up at the door :)