Hotline Feature – Germain Lussier: Mortal Kombat 2 Review, Melissa Barrera and Scream 7, and Star Wars Celebration Chaos

Germain Lussier of Gizmodo joins Dave Weekley to cover a packed entertainment slate. Lussier shares his review of Mortal Kombat 2, calling it action-packed fan service that course-corrects several decisions from the 2021 original — including a conversation with the film's writer about why those changes were made. The discussion moves to Melissa Barrera's absence from Scream 7, with Lussier recapping how her firing over social media posts led to a wave of cast and crew departures, eventually forcing the studio to bring her back, and whether her continued public commentary is helping or hurting her standing in Hollywood. The segment closes with Disney's better-than-expected quarterly earnings and Lussier's firsthand account of the chaotic ticket sale for Star Wars Celebration 2027 in Atlanta — the first U.S. edition in five years and the 50th anniversary of the franchise — which sold out over the course of roughly six hours.