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IGNITION ZEITGEIST
Ignition Zeitgeist is a handy resource for staying ahead of the cultural curve, covering the latest trends in entertainment, tech and marketing. Delivered straight to your inbox, Ignition Zeitgeist is designed for everyone who wants to stay informed, but only has time for the headlines. Whether it's the latest industry flash-in-the-pan, intriguing augurs of genuine cultural and societal change or the latest ephemeral viral sensation... Ignition Creative has you covered.
Trending… news to be aware of
Trending 1: San Diego Comic-Con
The what… Over the years, San Diego Comic-Con has earned a reputation as the premier fan event where Hollywood stars debut exclusive footage, reveal breaking news, and share behind-the-scenes stories with passionate fans, many of whom wait in line for hours just for the opportunity to get inside.
Gorging geeks… Comic-Con 2025: All the movie and TV trailers
Trending 2: The fantastic four summer blockbusters exciting cinema goers
The what… This summer season is bringing a wave of blockbusters to theatres, many of which are posting strong box office numbers. Action-packed and family-friendly films are dominating, with two highly anticipated superhero movies leading the charge.
Gunning for glory… Box Office: ‘Superman’ surpasses $400 million globally
Roaring success... ‘Jurassic World Rebirth’ just took down the fourth-most expensive film ever made at the global box office
Trending 3: US government approves Paramount Global-Skydance merger
The what… The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has approved the proposed $8 billion merger between Paramount Global and David Ellison’s Skydance Media. As a result of the deal, Paramount Global's controlling shareholder, Shari Redstone, will give up control of the company her family has held for decades.
Kind of a big deal… US government approves Paramount Global-Skydance merger
Trending 4: The Late Show with Stephen Colbert to end in May 2026
The what… CBS announced in a surprise statement Thursday that The Late Show with Stephen Colbert will come to an end in May 2026, concluding a 33-year run on the air. The network emphasised that the decision is "purely financial" and made in response to the "challenging landscape of late-night television," adding that it is "in no way related to the show's performance, content, or any other factors."
Closing time… Colbert says The Late Show will end after 33 years
Lock-in… Late night hosts unite to support Stephen Colbert with Coldplay kiss cam spoof after cancellation
Nighttime economy… CBS canceling Colbert begs the question: Are more late night shows next?
Trending 5: Coldplay kiss-cam and Astronomer’s response
The what… The CEO of tech company Astronomer has stepped down after a ‘kiss-cam’ video showing him in a compromising situation with the company’s Head of HR at a Coldplay concert went viral.
A small moment… Astronomer CEO resigns after viral Coldplay kiss cam video
Poses some big questions… Can you ever expect privacy in public? Coldplay kiss camera saga tells us a lot about the answer
When in doubt get a celebrity out… Gwyneth Paltrow helps Astronomer address Coldplay kiss cam scandal
Trending 6: Spotify tries to get a tune out of AI
The what… Following Deezer's recent revelation that as many as 7 out of 10 streams on its platform may be the result of fraudulent AI bots, rival platform Spotify is continuing to ramp up its investment in AI across its own service.
AI killed the music star… An AI-generated band got 1m plays on Spotify. Now music insiders say listeners should be warned
Dead Man Blues… Spotify is releasing AI-generated music by deceased artists
Trending 7: Roblox news
The what… Roblox is introducing a new licensing platform designed to simplify collaboration between IP rights holders and creators on its gaming platform. They have also been busy developing new safeguarding mechanics and hosting a Women’s European Championship simulator.
Trending 8: ‘The Odyssey’ shaping up to be an epic cinematic experience
The what… Anticipation is already running high for Christopher Nolan’s upcoming Greek epic, The Odyssey, even though its release isn’t slated until July 2026. Early IMAX screenings have already sold out, and audiences are now getting their first look at the historical drama as a teaser debuts in theatres.
Entering the arena... ‘The Odyssey’ teaser is in theatres
Trending 9: Disneyland Turns 70
The what… Disneyland Resort first welcomed guests on July 17, 1955. Seventy years later, the Anaheim, California theme park continues to be a beloved destination where generations of families from around the world come to experience the magic of Disney.
It’s a big world after all... Disneyland President Thomas Mazloum on the park's past, present and great big beautiful DisneylandForward on its 70th Anniversary
A whole new world... This is what Disneyland looked like when it opened 70 years ago
Arabian nights... Disney announces plans for new theme park in Abu Dhabi
Monitoring… news to keep an eye on
Monitoring 1: Entertainment / Video Game Crossovers
The what… With 40+ video game based movies currently in development and a string of recent success stories to prove the model, we’re excited to see our two favourite sectors collide and are eagerly watching to see if these crossovers can continue to realise their potential. In this section we also cover video games based on entertainment IP.
Monitoring 2: AI Marketing
The what… Where to start… AI is already having a tangible influence on the entertainment and creative sectors, with the potential for greater impact yet to come. Ignition Zeitgeist will tease out the latest meaningful developments and noteworthy uses.
News: Sources suggest that staff laid off at King will be replaced by AI tools they helped to create
Monitoring 3: TikTok
The what… it’s been hard to escape the existential drama concerning the future of TikTok in the US. With an array of high profile suitors waiting in the wings and a change of administration, it feels like there are lots of twists and turns to come.
Insight Of The Week
The highly anticipated Oasis reunion concerts began in July amid a wave of news coverage, brand collaborations, and a revival of bucket hats. Expected to generate around £400 million from ticket sales alone for the Gallagher brothers, the shows have also sparked a surge in demand for the band’s music, with three albums landing in the top five on the official streaming charts. Here’s a list of the most streamed Oasis songs of all time in the UK. Source: Official Charts
Don’t Believe Everything You See On The Internet…
Influencer Mia Zelu made waves at Wimbledon, first drawing attention for her distinctive ‘tenniscore’ style. However, when it was revealed that Mia is actually an AI influencer, the story went viral, thrusting the concept of AI influencers into the mainstream consciousness - link
Ads We Love
A realistic Superman figure has been installed near the top of London’s tallest building, The Shard, to promote the latest Superman movie from James Gunn. The 11-foot (3.5-metre) statue, modelled on American actor David Corenswet, weighs over 120 kg (18 stone). Watch how the Man of Polystyrene was created - link
WTF Of The Week
In what must be the biggest rebuttal to corporate and political pressure to “respect my authoritah!”, Matt Stone and Trey Parker displayed Randy sized cojones and decided to celebrate the signing of their $1.5bn Paramount deal with an episode skewering Paramount and Donald Trump - link
And Finally
We were all glued to our TV’s on Sunday night to watch the brilliant Lionesses overcome Spain to win the UEFA Women’s Euros. The resulting TV viewing figures are testament to the growth in popularity of women's football in the UK. A peak live audience of 12.2 million watched England’s historic back-to-back Women’s Euro final on Sunday evening across all BBC platforms, making it the most watched television moment of 2025 across all TV broadcasters, with ITV adding an additional 4.2 million through their own broadcast of the match.
Of all the well deserved plaudits and celebrations that followed, we particularly liked Nike’s ‘IIOME’ reactive social post.
