LMorning, Culture Morning! Pop Base just posted a 'new' Beyoncé cover that's actually from 2006.
COf course it is. The internet has no memory.
LAnd the comments are already a mess. One fan said 'Old asf,' another said she's 'pushing 50 and acting 25.'
CPushing 50? She's 43. And she looks better than most of us on a good day.
LThe 'OH MY GOOOODDDD' reply is the right energy, honestly. Beyoncé from 2006 is still Beyoncé.
CFor the record, that i-D cover is from the August 2006 'Health Issue.' One of two covers that month. She was 24.
LSo Pop Base really dug deep for that engagement. Classic.
CYeah, nothing says 'new drop' like a photo from when she was 24.
LSpeaking of things that aren't what they seem, the Dune 3 rumor mill is spinning hard this morning.
CWhat are we hearing?
LDiscussingFilm posted a new poster for 'Dune: Part 3' and says the trailer drops tomorrow.
CNo official word from Warner Bros or Legendary yet, right?
LNo, but the first two films were massive, the cast is stacked, and reports say they're already deep in development.
CSo we're in the 'trust me bro' phase of Dune 3 promotion. Love that for us.
LCome on, this isn't some random fan account. DiscussingFilm has sources.
CEven reliable accounts get ahead of themselves. Remember when people swore 'Dune: Part 2' was coming out in 2023?
LThat's different—
CIt's exactly the same energy. Until the studio confirms, it's just a rumor.
LFine, I'll wait for the official poster. But I'm excited.
LAnd the same account also posted character posters for Zendaya, Jason Momoa, Anya Taylor-Joy and Robert Pattinson.
CSo the whole cast is back? That's a lot of unconfirmed art.
LThe rumor mill is efficient, I'll give them that.
LHere's a question that'll start a fight: Sher Azam Khan on X asked whether Shah Rukh Khan's 'King' or Marvel's 'Avengers: Doomsday' wins the December 2026 box office.
CAvengers, easily. It's a Marvel event film.
LOh, come on. You're underestimating SRK. His last film 'Jawan' did over a billion dollars worldwide.
CAnd 'Avengers: Doomsday' is the culmination of the Multiverse Saga, with Robert Downey Jr. back as Doctor Doom. It'll make two billion, minimum.
LThat's a bold claim. 'Avengers' films have been declining since 'Endgame.' Meanwhile, SRK has a massive global fanbase that shows up every time.
CGlobal fanbase? 'Avengers' is a global brand. It's not even close.
LIn India alone, SRK could make as much as 'Avengers' does in North America. It's a different market.
COkay, but we're talking worldwide total. Marvel will crush it in every territory. Even in India, 'Avengers' does well.
LBut 'King' could be an event because it's SRK's return to big-budget action after a break. Fans are starving for it.
CI'll give you that SRK is a legend, but Marvel has the machine. It'll be like 'The Flash' versus 'Barbie'—no contest.
LThat's a stretch. 'King' is more like 'Barbie' in that analogy. It's the cultural underdog that surprises everyone.
CSo you're saying SRK is Margot Robbie? I can see it, actually.
LHe could be! Anyway, we'll find out in December 2026. But I'm calling it now: 'King' wins the opening weekend in India by a landslide.
CAnd 'Avengers' wins the global total. Want to bet a coffee?
LYou're on.
LYou really think a Marvel film can beat SRK in India? 'Pathaan' made 100 crore in a single day. 'Avengers' doesn't do that.
C'Avengers' made more in North America alone than 'Pathaan' made worldwide. It's a different beast.
LYou keep bringing up North America. The world is bigger than that. SRK owns Asia, the Middle East, parts of Europe.
CAnd Marvel owns everything else, including parts of Asia. 'Avengers: Endgame' made over 600 million dollars in China. SRK's films barely release there.
LBut that was before the Hollywood-China cooldown. Now Marvel films are hit or miss there. SRK's market is more reliable.
COkay, fair point about China. But 'Avengers: Doomsday' will still be huge in Europe, Latin America, and North America.
LAnd 'King' will be huge in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and the entire South Asian diaspora. We're talking over a billion people who grew up with SRK.
CYou're making me want to watch 'King' now. But I still think Avengers takes the global crown.
LWe'll see. I'm putting my money on SRK. Literally, a coffee bet.
CDeal. And listeners, we'll settle this in December 2026.