Become a Member

Marvin Montanaro

Marvin Montanaro is the Editor-in-Chief of That Park Place and a seasoned entertainment journalist with nearly two decades of experience across multiple digital media outlets and print publications. He joined That Park Place in 2024, bringing with him a passion for theme parks, pop culture, and film commentary. Based in Orlando, Florida, Marvin regularly visits Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando, offering firsthand reporting and analysis from the parks. He’s also the creative force behind The M4 Empire YouTube channel, bringing a critical eye toward the world of pop culture. Montanaro’s insights are rooted in years of real-world reporting and editorial leadership. He can be reached via email at mmontanaro@thatparkplace.com SOCIAL MEDIA: X: http://x.com/marvinmontanaro Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marvinmontanaro Facebook: https://facebook.com/marvinmontanaro YouTube: http://YouTube.com/TheM4Empire Email: mmontanaro@thatparkplace.com
The Acolyte Viewership Failure Exposed by Official Third-Party Report, Star Wars’ Downfall Revealed as Access Media Tries to Spin This as a Positive

The Acolyte Viewership Failure Exposed by Official Third-Party Report, Star Wars’ Downfall Revealed as Access Media Tries to Spin This as a Positive

by | Jan 27, 2025 | , ,

This past weekend, numerous access media outlets and Star Wars-centric publications celebrated the perceived success of The Acolyte following the release of Luminate’s 2024 Film and TV report. Headlines and X posts boasted that The Acolyte was Disney+‘s second most-watched series of the year, accumulating 2.7 billion minutes of viewership. However, when the surface-level accolades are set aside and the numbers are examined in greater detail, this supposed victory turns into a major loss and a stark reflection of Disney’s ongoing struggles with the Star Wars franchise and streaming platform Disney+.

HBO’s Lanterns Casts Its Big Bad – Danish Actor Ulrich Thomsen Will Play Sinestro in the DC Series

HBO’s Lanterns Casts Its Big Bad – Danish Actor Ulrich Thomsen Will Play Sinestro in the DC Series

by | Jan 25, 2025 | , ,

The HBO DC series Lanterns has added a significant character to its lineup with Sinestro, one of the most notorious villains in the Green Lantern universe. Danish actor Ulrich Thomsen has been cast in the recurring role of the manipulative, yet charismatic, former Green Lantern, whose sinister turn will add even more intrigue to the upcoming series.

Universal Announces Opening Date for Halloween Horror Nights 34, Earliest HHN Opening Ever

Universal Announces Opening Date for Halloween Horror Nights 34, Earliest HHN Opening Ever

by | Jan 24, 2025 | , ,

Universal Studios has officially announced that Halloween Horror Nights 34 will begin on August 29, 2025, marking the earliest start date in the event’s history. Running through November 2, 2025, this extended schedule gives fans even more time to immerse themselves in the scares, thrills, and hauntingly immersive experiences that HHN is famous for.

Disney Defies Trump Order on DEI in SEC Filing, Admits to Tying Bonuses to Race and Sex Based Factors, Appears to List Diversity as a “Skill”

Disney Defies Trump Order on DEI in SEC Filing, Admits to Tying Bonuses to Race and Sex Based Factors, Appears to List Diversity as a “Skill”

by | Jan 24, 2025 | , ,

In its recent annual filing with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), The Walt Disney Company showcased unwavering commitment to its controversial Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) agenda. While companies like Amazon, Walmart, Boeing, and Ford are moving away from such initiatives amidst growing national scrutiny, Disney is doing the opposite—proudly incorporating DEI into its board selection process and executive bonuses.

Disney Sets Final Date for MuppetVision 3D, Sealing the Fate of Jim Henson’s Legacy Once and For All

Disney Sets Final Date for MuppetVision 3D, Sealing the Fate of Jim Henson’s Legacy Once and For All

by | Jan 24, 2025 | , ,

The unthinkable has finally happened. Disney has announced the closing date of MuppetVision 3D at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the last project Jim Henson worked on before his untimely death in 1990. The attraction, beloved by fans and celebrated for its charm and creativity, will officially shut its doors on June 7, 2025, to make way for a Monsters Inc.-themed land.

RUMOR: X-Men’s Storm Role in The MCU May Go To Socialist Pride Activist Hollywood Celebrity

RUMOR: X-Men’s Storm Role in The MCU May Go To Socialist Pride Activist Hollywood Celebrity

by | Jan 24, 2025 | , , ,

A new rumor from entertainment leaker MyTimeToShineHello suggests that Marvel Studios is considering Ayo Edebiri, best known for her role as Sydney Adamu in the hit FX series The Bear, to play Storm in its highly anticipated MCU X-Men reboot. If true, this decision would sideline Wicked star and recent Oscar nominee Cynthia Erivo, who has openly voiced her interest in portraying the beloved character. 

EA Faces Market Meltdown as Stock Plunges 20% After Admission of ‘Dragon Age: The Veilguard’ Failure

EA Faces Market Meltdown as Stock Plunges 20% After Admission of ‘Dragon Age: The Veilguard’ Failure

by | Jan 23, 2025 | , ,

Electronic Arts (EA) is facing a financial crisis of epic proportions, with EA stock dropping nearly 20% after the company openly admitted that Dragon Age: The Veilguard and EA Sports FC 25 failed epicly. The fallout from these high-profile disasters has sent shockwaves through the gaming industry, with investors reacting swiftly and decisively to the company’s lowered revenue forecast for the fiscal year.

WB Games Boss David Haddad Resigns as Sweet Baby Inc. Infected ‘Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League’ Fallout Decimates Warner Bros. Gaming Division

WB Games Boss David Haddad Resigns as Sweet Baby Inc. Infected ‘Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League’ Fallout Decimates Warner Bros. Gaming Division

by | Jan 23, 2025 | , ,

The fallout from Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League may have just claimed another major casualty. Warner Bros. Games president David Haddad is stepping down after a catastrophic year for the division, marred by the $200 million failure of Rocksteady’s live-service DC Arkham-verse game. A key factor in this debacle? The divisive involvement of Sweet Baby Inc. (SBI), the narrative design firm co-founded and run by Kim Belair. The firm’s embrace of identity politics and disruptive creative direction has left a trail of failures across the gaming industry.

Jeff Grubb and Mainstream Gaming Media Steal Major Smash JT and Grummz BioWare Scoop Without Crediting Them

Jeff Grubb and Mainstream Gaming Media Steal Major Smash JT and Grummz BioWare Scoop Without Crediting Them

by | Jan 23, 2025 | , ,

Mainstream games journalism has found itself in hot water once again, with trust in the industry seemingly plummeting further. Independent gaming journalist and YouTube star Smash JT and former World of Warcraft lead Mark Kern, AKA Grummz are calling out Jeff Grubb for allegedly stealing their scoop on the departure of BioWare’s Dragon Age director, Corinne Busche.

Entertainment Industry Turns to Trump as Media Melts Down, Hollywood Pragmatism Leaves ‘Variety’ Outraged as The Public Embraces ‘New Media’

Entertainment Industry Turns to Trump as Media Melts Down, Hollywood Pragmatism Leaves ‘Variety’ Outraged as The Public Embraces ‘New Media’

by | Jan 23, 2025 | , ,

The entertainment industry is making a quiet but undeniable shift: Hollywood is warming up to Donald Trump.

Once persona non grata among Tinseltown elites, Trump is now drawing collaboration from some of the biggest power players in entertainment. And if you take a closer look at Variety’s latest article on the topic, it’s clear that not everyone in the media is happy about it.