The 2026 TV schedule included the first series Aubrey Plaza ever co-created, and it's called Kevin. It premiered for those with an Amazon Prime subscription two months ago, but if you were hoping for another season of the adult animation, Plaza shared some bad news that involved a heartbreaking callback to Parks and Recreation.

The comedy, which follows a cat adjusting to life after his two owners separated, is the latest 2026 TV cancellation. That list already included quite a few shows from Prime Video. Here's what Plaza had to say about her series ending:

Kevin earned mixed-to-positive reviews from viewers, but must have gotten lost in the streaming shuffle given its fate. The series boasted an incredible voice cast including Jason Schwartzman as Kevin alongside the likes of Plaza, John Waters, Amy Sedaris, and Whoopi Goldberg.

It's understandable that Plaza would find the news "disappointing", especially considering the show didn't get much of a chance to find a footing with audiences. As she added in her Instagram post:

Can you imagine if Parks and Recreation had ended after one season? We would have missed out on so many of the show's great bits, guest stars and such! Nowadays, it's pretty universally agreed among fans of the NBC comedy show that it didn't get off to the best start, but because the network believed in it, it became the kind of TV series we still rewatch on streaming all the time.

And it ended over ten years ago. Parks and Recreation may seem like a no-brainer of a show to have as many seasons as it should now. However, when it was actually on the air, the cast and creators have said on many different occasions that they never felt completely safe from cancellation.

Aubrey Plaza makes a sad but very eloquent point about the importance of TV shows like Kevin getting the room to be developed and supported, rather than dying on arrival. However, it sounds like Plaza isn't giving up, and hopes to see the show get picked up by another "owner" so she and her team can continue to produce Kevin.

While the cancellation of Kevin is a tough blow, Plaza is keeping plenty busy lately. She already stars in two movies that are coming out in 2027. She'll be in a comedy called Animal Friends alongside Ryan Reynolds, Jason Momoa and Dan Levy coming in January, and she's also in Michael B. Jordan's remake of The Thomas Crown Affair, hitting theaters next March. So, there's still plenty to look forward to, as we continue to hope that Kevin finds a new home.

Parks and Recreation may be a show that’s officially been off the air for over a decade, but that hasn’t stopped the cast from reuniting over the years and referencing their time on the show. When Aubrey Plaza did her first talk show since the public learned she’s pregnant, she ended up referencing a great scene from the beloved comedy, and I'm geeking out about it.

We learned that Aubrey Plaza is pregnant with her first child with boyfriend Christopher Abbott earlier this month. This week, the actress turned up on Late Night With Seth Meyers, where the host mentioned the pregnancy, and she responded to his comment in her classic deadpan delivery:

Oh yeah, that episode! In the finale of Parks and Recreation, April and Andy have a baby on Halloween, and Henry Winkler’s Dr. Lu Saperstein delivers it. You can check out the scene here:

You have to love how Aubrey Plaza just casually talked about Parks and Recreation unprompted. It is pretty funny that her most famous character has had a baby, and now she joked that she wants the guest star or Seth Meyers to assist her in the birth.

In the finale, April hilariously decides that she wants to wear Halloween makeup while giving birth – prompting Andy to say she looks “more beautiful” than he’s ever seen her. The whole exchange is classic Aubrey Plaza, and it’s moments like these that make me want to go to Pawnee and rewatch the whole show all over again.

Plaza was on Seth Meyers to promote a new show of hers that just dropped on the 2026 TV schedule. She co-created an adult animation TV show with her ex Joe Wengert about their cat, and it’s called Kevin. The show has a wild cast list, including Whoopi Goldberg and John Waters, and the first season is now streaming completely for those with an Amazon Prime subscription.

Being a mother-to-be reportedly came as a “beautiful surprise” to Aubrey Plaza and her partner, Christopher Abbott, per People. The actress has been dealing with the loss of her husband Jeff Baena, who died in January 2025, a few months after the couple had separated after being a couple since 2011. Along with getting ready to welcome her first child, Plaza has two animated movies on the way, The Ark and The Aardvark and Animal Friends.

Until then, I have to wonder what April and Andy’s baby is like...

The biggest looming MCU project is obviously the Russo brothers’ Avengers: Doomsday, and its Secret Wars follow-up is rumored to be resetting Marvel’s live-action universe. But for those of us who have been more infatuated with the studio’s small-screen projects like WandaVision and Agatha All Along, the future is lit up by the white glow of Paul Bettany’s titular hero in the upcoming series VisionQuest, which could potentially update fans on Agatha Harkness’ current situation.

Given that VisionQuest is the third part of this quasi-trilogy that first introduced Agatha to audiences, it stands to reason that Kathryn Hahn will complete the (witch’s) hat trick by appearing at some point during the season. But if the actress herself is to be believed, there aren’t any currently confirmed plans for the character’s ghostly entity to show up in any upcoming Marvel TV shows, nor any future MCU movies. Speaking with Collider about the nomination-amassing comedy The Studio, Hahn addressed the character’s unfinished business, saying:

Despite Agatha All Along's penultimate episode seeing Aubrey Plaza's Rio giving Hahn's duplicitous witch a literal kiss of death, she's still kicking posthumously as a spirit guide for the resurrected Billy Maximoff. Plus, Death is still out there, even if it's not entirely clear whether the entity is aware or not of Agatha's more selfless goals of helping Billy find his brother Tommy. Either way, the two former lovers likely wouldn't need much prodding to get together again.

Not that Death is the only character that Agatha would likely want to follow up with in some way. If Aubrey Plaza wouldn't be around to bring her character's green motif back to the streaming service, let's not forget that Sasheer Zamata's Jennifer Kale also survived the fatal traversal of the Witches Road. And she might have a bone or two to pick with Agatha for everything the group went through.

Though Hahn sounds more eager to share the screen with Plaza again, she's also willing to explore that side of Agatha's story, though she's not fully convinced that Jennifer herself would be so willing to reconnect and put water under the bridge.

I agree that it would likely be one extreme or the other when it comes to their possible shared future. Jennifer would likely never ever want to see Agatha again, or she'd go all in on befriending the centuries-old witch, thinking their experience together was too pure and important to ignore. I can't imagine there would be much middle ground allowing for less-intense emotions.

Hahn has previously shared interest in having Agatha get mixed up in some mischievous crossover mayhem involving Doctor Strange and/or Loki, and I don't foresee either of those characters popping by VisionQuest. So maybe it'd be better for Agatha to make the jump to features to keep her and Billy's story going.

While fans wait to see if the MCU will bring any coven members into the overarching story being set up for Avengers: Doomsday or not, Agatha All Along is available to stream in full via Disney+ subscription. Maybe if we play it backwards on a laserdisc, that'll conjure up Mephisto, and he can help....

If you were to ask Elizabeth Olsen, she would say she’s not an actress who is keen on method dressing. In fact, I know she would say that because she literally did say it, recently revealing in an interview that she method dressed with co-star Aubrey Plaza years before Zendaya and her stylist Law Roach made the trend cool.

In a recent interview, Olsen was going through her purse to explain a bunch of items. It’s a YouTube bit that is pretty much known for being staged, but this time it was even more obvious given Olsen pulled out a giant photograph of herself and Aubrey Plaza wearing matching clothes. I mean, I guess there’s always a chance she’s just lugging around a 5X7 of herself and her former co-star, but I’d be a little worried about the actress, if true.

Anyway, the going through one's bag trick is great as a conversational starter point for talking about Olsen’s career, and having the picture handy was probably nice for reminiscing, as well. The moment in question went viral in 2017, and it’s rare for two actresses to show up wearing the same outfit (though not unheard of as Alexandra Daddario and Brie Larson wore the same dress to an event more recently).

In this case, Olsen and Plaza’s look-alike stint was 100% staged, as she recently admitted:

If you’ve actually seen Ingrid Goes West, the concept makes total sense. In the movie, Aubrey Plaza plays a character who is stalking Elizabeth Olsen’s own character. But Olsen admitted it was more to get press than to start any sort of “on theme” method dressing trend, telling In Style in the video it was before the advent of the popular method dressing trend.

Ingrid Goes West came out in 2017, the same year Zendaya, who notable started the method dressing trend, starred in Spider-Man: Homecoming and The Greatest Showman. It’s also the year that Zendaya really started method dressing with her partner Law Roach, as she wore a ringmaster-inspired outfit for that movie, later following up that triumph with a C-3PO space-looking Dune outfit and, of course, a slew of tennis-inspired looks for Challengers.

Method dressing has become far more popular on recent red carpets, as Olsen herself alluded to in her interview, and Megan Fox recently wore a bloodied corset to harken toward an alternate universe where Jennifer from Jennifer’s Body made it out alive. It's led to some real-life trends like Barbiecore and more, and I hope that celebrities keep it up -- even if it isn't totally Elizabeth Olsen's cup of tea.

Saturday Night Live Season 51 just started airing amid the 2025 TV schedule, and this weekend's episode brought back SNL alum Amy Poehler as the host. Her episode commemorated the 50^th anniversary of the series and even got her back behind the Weekend Update desk alongside Seth Meyers and Tina Fey. However, Meyers and Fey weren't the only stars who cameoed, as a hilarious fake Hunting Wives trailer sketch involved Aubrey Plaza.

Over the years, SNL has spoofed plenty of TV shows, including The White Lotus, (which caught a lot of flak from star Aimee Lou Wood). Although The Hunting Wives Season 2 was only recently announced, SNL was quick to give fans a spoof of the first trailer for the new season of the “straight but lesbian, horny republican murder drama.” After presenting insane scenes involving a threesome with teenagers and drinking whiskey while pregnant, the trailer showed Plaza as a “new new girl” from California:

When Poehler’s character tells Plaza's to pull up a chair since they’re making mimosas, the latter admits she’s never made mimosas, which leads to her getting some… interesting help from Chloe Fineman, Poehler, Sarah Sherman, and Ashley Padilla. Plaza reveals she has a girlfriend and, almost immediately, everyone steps back and aims their guns at her. Even despite the sexual tension that can most certainly be felt throughout the trailer between the ladies, the fact that having a girlfriend is where everyone draws the line is ironic and hilarious.

It's not surprising that Aubrey Plaza made a cameo on Saturday Night Live with Poehler hosting, as Poehler did the same thing for her. In 2023, while Plaza was hosting, she reprised her role as April Ludgate from Parks and Recreation on Weekend Update and surprised the audience with Poehler appearing as Leslie Knope. Even 10 years after the series ended, it’s nice to see how close they still are.

Meanwhile, SNL may only be two episodes into its 51^st season, but already it’s been pretty entertaining, even despite all the cast changes. Also, as Poehler hosted, Role Model served as the musical guest, and he brought out Charli XCX as a special guest for his performance of “Sally, When the Wine Runs Out.” Next weekend, will see Sabrina Carpenter pulling double duty as the host and musical guest, and it will surely be fun.

After having seen Aubrey Plaza pop up on this weeks's show, I honestly wouldn't mind seeing her show up on SNL again this season. It'd be fun to see Plaza host again, and I hope that she does get the opportunity to do it again.

Those who missed Amy Poehler’s SNL episode are able to stream it now with a Peacock subscription, alongside all episodes of Saturday Night Live. SNL has also uploaded all sketches, musical performances, and Weekend Update on the show's YouTube channel, so fans can watch and rewatch their favorites whenever they want. Also, episodes of the show are available to check out with the help of a YouTube TV subscription.

As someone who grew up in a comedy forward household, I’ve built out a decent foundation of the genre. From Lou and Costello to 50 years of Saturday Night Live giants to the comedy queens of RuPaul’s Drag Race, all have been enjoyed and welcomed. But, nothing properly prepared me for this dream collaboration of Aubrey Plaza, Whoopi Goldberg and John Waters on the same cast sheet. Until the show airs, it’ll be at the back of my mind.

It's unclear whether this newly announced Amazon Prime series, simply titled Kevin, won’t be clawing its way onto the 2025 TV schedule. But the coming comedic cartoon, from Plaza, Joe Wengert and Dan Murphy boasts even more star power in addition to the trio above to keep potential viewers interested. Set in an Astoria, Queens “Furrever Friends” pet rescue, and inspired loosely on a real break-up, viewers will follow Kevin the cat, (voiced by Jason Schwartzman) and his coming of age-esque story after his move.

Kevin’s humans splitting up seem to be the crux of the show, as it inspires the ‘loveable and neurotic’ cat to move into the ragtag shelter. Of course, everyone who he meets there will add to the layered and textured fun of his saga.

Here’s another first look at Kevin, the tuxedo colored cat and one of his owner’s, Dana (voiced by Plaza). The moody feline standing in the foreground while his guardian tries to reason with him signals to me that this new project could easily be on par with some of the great movies with talking animals.

Notably billed stars who will join as Schwartzman character’s new roommates include Waters, Goldberg and Aparna Nancherla (Corporate, The Standups). Nancherla plays Judy, a naively positive Scottish Fold Kitten, Goldberg is a feral free wheeling type cat named Cupcake and Waters will be a Persian cat named Armando who is an independent, no non-sense type. I can already anticipate Armando being a sassy-boom-bassy fan favorite.

If that lineup didn’t excite you enough, Gil Ozeri (#BlackAF, Big Mouth) and Amy Sedaris are also attached. Ozeri will play doormat human Seth, owner of “Furrever Friends” and Sedaris will play Seth’s queen bee Shih Tzu, Brandi. I can only see big success from the trio, and beyond from the ways I’ve already imagined it. Just look at (assumingly) Brandi and Cupcake’s date night and tell me it doesn’t have a chance to rank with the best animated shows.

When I say I’m desperate for this series premiere, I mean it. Just thinking about the iconic LGBTQ+ cinema director’s signature campy style, Plaza’s immaculate deadpan and Goldberg’s expert observational standup coming together makes me outright giddy. Again, that’s not even taking into account Schwartzman, Sedaris or the other stars. Regardless of my excitement, the announcement couldn’t be better from Amazon after the new James Bond image ruckus, at least for comedy fans like me.

Whenever Kevin does move along in production and gains a release date, it’s set to stream exclusively with a Prime subscription worldwide. And if you’re wondering if I will have recovered from a Plaza, Goldberg, Waters project by then, the answer is likely no. But, I’ll certainly be watching it!

Aubrey Plaza is no stranger to balancing comedy with pathos, but in a recent conversation, she revealed just how personally The Gorge (which is streaming with an Apple TV+ subscription) resonated with her. While speaking on Amy Poehler’s podcast, Plaza used the new horror movie as a way to articulate what grief has felt like for her following the death of her husband, writer-director Jeff Baena. For that film's director, Scott Derrickson, those words weren’t just flattering, they were profoundly moving.

Derrickson responded to Plaza’s words during an interview with EW, admitting he was deeply touched. The Doctor Strange filmmaker explained what it was like to hear that his work resonated so deeply, saying:

The Black Phone director was careful to note that Plaza’s comments, while moving, weren’t necessarily tied exclusively to his latest work. Instead, he framed them as part of a larger truth about storytelling, explaining:

For a bit more context, Plaza, whose husband Jeff Baena tragically died this past January, recently opened up to fellow Parks and Rec alum Amy Poehler on her podcast Good Hang. The Agatha All Along star didn’t just casually mention the film but went into detail about how its imagery mirrored her own grief. Describing The Gorge’s premise, where characters guard a mist-covered expanse filled with monsters, she explained:

It was an unusually vulnerable moment for an actress whose television and best movie roles often stem from her sardonic edge in projects, especially in shows like Parks and Recreation and The White Lotus. But it also underscored something universal: how art, even a monster-driven action film, can provide clarity about life’s most challenging experiences.

On the surface, The Gorge is a great original Apple TV+ movie that tells the story of a tense survival journey starring Miles Teller and Anya Taylor-Joy as operatives confronting monsters across an ominous chasm. And though The Gorge didn't quite resonate with critics, Plaza’s comments clearly highlight the film’s deeper subtext. That endless gorge, filled with unseen threats, doubles as a metaphor for the emotional weight of loss — always there, always threatening to pull someone under.

It’s that layered reading that makes Derrickson’s work so impactful. While viewers may come for the scares or spectacle, they often leave with something more personal: a mirror of their own struggles.

Both Scott Derrickson and Aubrey Plaza are keeping busy with 2025 movie releases. Plaza’s collaboration with one half of the Coen brothers, Ethan Coen’s dark comedy Honey Don’t, is currently playing in theaters, so be sure to check your local listings to catch it. Meanwhile, Derrickson not only has The Gorge streaming now, but he’s also gearing up for the release of the highly anticipated The Black Phone 2, which hits theaters on October 17.

Ethan Coen is well-known for the work he’s done with his brother Joel, including The Big Lebowski and No Country for Old Men, but last year he set out on his own to direct Drive-Away Dolls. Ethan is now back with a follow-up, which hit the 2025 movie calendar on August 22. Margaret Qualley also returns, starring in the dark comedy Honey Don’t! — the second of a lesbian B-movie trilogy from Coen. Critics screened the film ahead of its release, and they seem a bit conflicted on Ethan’s solo work.

Alongside Margaret Qualley in this second (but unrelated) movie from Ethan Coen and his wife Tricia Cooke are Aubrey Plaza and Chris Evans, who play a police officer and cult leader, respectively. David Fear of Rolling Stone says Qualley’s performance as private investigator Honey O’Donahue was worthy of that Cannes standing ovation, as she is easily the best part, writing:

Jesse Hassenger of Paste rates the movie a 7.0 out of 10, saying that while Honey Don’t! doesn’t quite come together as a mystery, it feels very much like a page out of the Coen Brothers’ playbook. Margaret Qualley’s confidence as Honey makes this a viable option for a fun theater experience. The critic continues:

Fred Topel of UPI agrees audiences are in for some “light, sexy fun,” though he says some aspects feel like a retread, and nothing about it surpasses anything Ethan Coen’s done with his brother. Topel says:

Lindsey Bahr of the AP gives Honey Don’t! 3 out of 4 stars and says that while it’s ultimately (and probably intentionally) insignificant, it’s still “fun and immensely watchable.” That’s thanks to Margaret Qualley, Bahr writes, as the actress meshes Philip Marlowe with Veronica Mars, adding red lipstick, high heels and silks. More from the critic:

Todd Gilchrist of ScreenRant has a similar middling opinion to many critics, rating the film 6 out of 10, as he acknowledges Ethan Coen going solo to blaze his own trail. However, he says the body count and an overbaked plot ultimately weigh down what should be a fizzy mystery. Gilchrist continues:

Critics seem to appreciate what Margaret Qualley brings to the role of the P.I., but many critics are struggling to see Ethan Coen’s unique vision as a director. Overall, the movie has accumulated 49% on the Tomatometer, but if you’re looking for some dark Coen fun, Honey Don’t! is in theaters now.

Major spoilers below for My Old Ass, so be warned if you haven't yet streamed the offbeat comedy with an Amazon Prime subscription.

A 2024 movie debut whose emotional core may be unexpected after hearing its ridiculous title, Megan Park's My Old Ass is a fun and quirky coming-of-age tale, as well as a teen coming-out story, with a dash of cautionary sci-fi fantasy for narrative thrust. I truly adored Nashville vet Maisy Stella's college-bound Elliott, as well as Aubrey Plaza's older version of the character, and their shared-yet-separate journey.

My Old Ass is relatable in all kinds of ways, even for someone like me who is admittedly quite far from Elliott's demographic, and its message about living for yourself today is easily as wholesome and charming as a comedy moral gets in 2024. But something that's maybe less universally familiar and conceptually understandable is the movie's most amusingly bonkers kiss scene, which is somehow not even the biggest WTF on-screen smooch for an Aubrey Plaza character in 2024.

Elliott Kissing An Older Version Of Herself Is Pretty Weird And Unique

As viewers are aware, My Old Ass' core concept revolves around Plaza's Elliott mysteriously jaunting back to the past to chat it up with her shroom-imbibing teen self. (A feat that once again transpires later in the movie after Older Elliott eats a bunch of weed.) And everything about their initial meeting, as it were, felt right on the money, from the disbelief to immediate questions about gaming time for financial gains.

Yeah, I'd also go so far as to say even Elliott's later curiosity about what kissing herself is like falls under the umbrella of "somewhat relatable instincts." I personally don't ever reacall practicing kissing against a mirror, but have no judgment for anybody that's done it. I might have felt slightly less in tune with the scene had it turned into a sweaty makeout sesh, but it was easily the most PG-friendly kiss in the movie.

It's definitely not a moment that's played out in very many movies or TV shows, though I guess I haven't seen ALL the Timecop follow-ups to speak for those. It's a very Bill and Ted move, as is the off-screen marijuana usage. However....

It's Still Not As Weird And Unique As Aubrey Plaza's Big Kiss In Agatha All Along

Spoilers below for Agatha All Along for anyone who hasn't yet streamed the season with a Disney+ subscription.

What could be more one-of-a-kind than someone temporarily locking lips with their future-self? The personification of Death kissing arguably the world's most powerful witch...to death. That one takes the cake along with the entire bakery.

Interestingly enough, Plaza's arrival in Agatha's premiere also involves a character hallucinating, albeit through a witch's curse and not psilocybin. But rather than showing off its left-of-center kiss early on, as it went with My Old Ass, the MCU series only danced around Rio and Agatha's past relationship for the first seven episodes, with Rio's true identity also being kept secret. (Not the best kept secret, because Funko.)

The penultimate episode, however, followed up on the Death reveal by giving viewers the Rio Vs. Agatha fight that was brewing all along. But only after things came to blows did Kathryn Hahn's seemingly immortal witch make the shocking decision to sacrifice herself by planting a big kiss on Rio's lips, which siphoned death-magic into Agatha, soon killing her. I'm sure we all have a story just like that one, save for a small detail or two.

It's a good thing Megan Park's film didn't end with Plaza's Elliott killing Stella's Elliott with that kiss, or it might have completely shattered reality. My Old Paradoxical Ass might have been a better title in that case.

Though it has nothing to do with a kissing scene, per se, Aubrey Plaza's character name in Francis Ford Coppola's Megalopolis is also worthy of celebration in 2024. Three cheers for Wow Platinum! Three cheers for Rio! Three cheers for Older Elliott!

If you have an Amazon Prime subscription, you know there are always a lot of options to pick from when scrolling through the many movies in their library. This week, though, the streaming platform added one of the best (yet underrated) 2024 movies, but yes, it has a ridiculous title.

A Movie Called My Old Ass Is Now Streaming On Amazon Prime

The movie is called My Old Ass, and I’m not kidding you when I say it’s one of my favorites of the year.

What is it about? Well, it follows a teenager named Elliott (played by newcomer Maisy Stella) living in Muskoka, Canada, who decides to celebrate her 18th birthday with a little bit of psychedelic mushrooms. While in the woods of the beautiful vacation destination with a couple of friends, she drinks some magic mushrooms and experiences an unexpected trip. She is then visited by her 39-year-old self (played by Aubrey Plaza), who is definitely not what she thought her older and wiser self would be.

Along with learning the older version of Elliott is a graduate student, who kind of seems like she’s going through it, she asks for some advice. Older Elliott tells her to stay away from a boy named Chad at all costs, and soon enough, post-trip, she meets said Chad. It’s kind of like a reverse Back To The Future for Gen Z.

Why The Aubrey Plaza Film Is Low-Key One Of The Best Movies Of 2024

My Old Ass may have a hilarious title, but it’s received rave reviews by critics and audiences alike since it was released. (The movie premiered at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year before going to theaters in September).

The movie currently has a 90% on Rotten Tomatoes after 176 reviews, with critics calling it “touching,” “laugh-out-loud funny,” “charming” and “one of the best coming-of-age stories in a long time." On the website’s audience review section, the movie has just about the same reaction with an 89% popcornometer, as well.

I can attest to the movie’s quality as well. I found myself completely enraptured by it when I watched it back in September, and I still think about it. It’s one of those rare movies that’s both hilarious and leaves you a blubbering mess at the end. Honestly, you'll probably leave the movie with a new spring in your step about life.

But, if you need me to sell you on this project more...The movie was produced by Margot Robbie, who continued a sweet Barbie tradition on the film. It has a hilarious Justin Bieber tribute and an unexpected coming-out scene.

Maisy Stella is a newcomer to movies, but she has a breakthrough performance here that has me excited about her career going forward. Oh, and Aubrey Plaza delivers one of the greatest performances I’ve ever seen of her. So, yeah this film with a silly title is worth the praise and your time.

My Old Ass is definitely joining the best movies on Amazon Prime Video. Check it out yourself!

While we still don’t know if a second season of Agatha All Along will be part of the upcoming Marvel TV slate, the bewitching Disney+ hit certainly left enough breadcrumbs and plot strands to justify another trip back to Westview, even if it’s just to immediately vacate the city on a hunt for Tommy Maximoff. For instance, fans still want to know if Agatha’s son Nicholas Scratch will take on his comic counterpart’s more demonic narrative, while also wondering who his father is.

I should probably specify it by saying “father,” now that AAA showrunner Jac Schaeffer has essentially confirmed that the creative team did indeed have a certain character in mind for that parental role, and it’s thankfully the one that fans started theorizing about as soon as questions about Nicky’s fate arose in the premiere: Aubrey Plaza’s Rio, or Death if you’re on the friendliest of terms.

To be absolutely sure, this reveal is not confirmed MCU canon at the moment, but it’s certainly as close as we’re going to get for the foreseeable future. Speaking with Backstory Magazine, Schaeffer was asked if there was credence to the fan-embraced theory that Nicholas Scratch was the love child of Agatha and Rio. And here’s her downright splendid response:

I honestly didn't expect such a candid and plainly worded explanation for how Agatha All Along's creative team approached Nicholas Scratch's biological heritage. Just after giving birth, Kathryn Hahn's character spoke to the idea that she didn't need to use spells or incantations to conceive the kid, which implied either an immaculate conception or another mysterious circumstance.

Though it does seem as if one form of magic or supernatural shenanigans would be required in order for the O.G. Green Witch herself, Death, to impregnate someone. I guess I have near-zero idea of how that would work even with magic involved, and I can't imagine Marvel would get hyper-specific about the process. But this info, even if not official, does help me accept NIcholas Scratch's backstory without as many issues.

Jac Schaeffer continued, pointing out that nothing is MCU-canonical yet:

Ultimately, it's up to viewers, and parentage is in the eye of the beholder. But the showrunner expressed her optimism for this double-mother scenario one day becoming gospel within Agatha's story. She finished with:

Following the Agatha All Along finale, fans took to social media and reddit with posts comparing Nicky actor Abel Lysenko to Aubrey Plaza, pointing out similarities between their eyes and smiles among other facial expressions. So if the showrunner had purported any other answer for this mystery, I imagine riots would have filled the streets; or at least tree-covered forest paths.

Death being NIcholas Scratch's other parent would certainly justify some of the reactions and lines that Plaza's character showcased throughout the season. From softened sympathy for Agatha to the way she appeared to Nicholas as a Green Witch instead of her freaky Reaper look, she was invested in that kid, and I choose to believe her motherly instinct is the reason why.

Agatha All Along is available to stream in full with a Disney+ subscription, not to mention all the other new Disney+ releases, and we'll hopefully get word soon on whether or not the series will get a second season.

November is here and that means that Halloween is now behind us, the dueling holidays of Thanksgiving and Christmas are right around the corner. There isn’t much holiday cheer upcoming on Netflix this week, however. It’s mostly about getting ready for people to punch each other in the face.

Most of us will have our eyes glued to a TV set this Tuesday for the biggest news event of the year. Several of the best streaming services from Peacock to Prime Video will have special coverage. And there’s plenty of fun TV to reward yourself with when all the important stuff is over.

2024 Presidential Election - November 5 (Peacock, Prime Video, Disney+, Paramount+)

The most important television of the week takes place on Tuesday after everybody has voted in the 2024 Presidential Election. While results will be all over regular television as is the norm, there will also be ways to track things if you’ve cut the cord. Both Disney+ and Paramount+ have 24-hour streaming news channels available which will surely cover the results. If you have a Peacock subscription or have Prime Video those platforms will be offering exclusive election night coverage streaming that you won’t find on TV.

Countdown: Paul vs. Tyson - November 7 (Netflix)

The upcoming boxing match between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson has been making headlines since it was announced. After being delayed once, the fight is now set to take place on November 15, but fans who can’t wait can use their Netflix subscription a week early to check out Countdown: Paul Vs. Tyson a documentary series covering the combatants as they train for the match.

Citadel: Honey Bunny - November 7 (Prime Video)

Citadel is one of the most expensive TV shows ever produced but based on the show’s popularity it was money well spent. While many are certainly waiting for Citadel Seqason 2, while they wait, spinoffs set in the same universe are coming quickly. Last month saw the Italian series Citadel: Diana and this week everyone can watch Citadel: Honey Bunny a prequel series set in India which tells the story of the parents of Nadia, played by Priyanka Chopra in the main series.

Arcane, Season 2, Part 1 - November 9 (Netflix)

Of all the video games to get adapted for the big and small screen, League of Legends doesn’t necessarily come across as the most obvious. And yet, the first season of the animated series Arcane was a massive hit. After a wait that’s been far too long, Season 2 is finally here. The new season will see episodes dropped in three batches over the course of the month, with the first set coming on November 9.

My Old Ass - November 7 (Prime Video)

What would we say to our younger selves if we had the chance? What should we absolutely not say? These are questions at the heart of the new comedy My Old Ass. Maisy Stella stars as a teen who does mushrooms for the first time, and as a result ends up seeing her older self, played by Aubry Plaza. It’s hilarious and heartfelt and if you missed it in theaters it’s now available with your Prime Video Subscription.

Spoilers for anyone who isn’t yet caught up with Agatha All Along, the most enjoyable series to theorize about in the 2024 TV schedule thus far, so be warned!

I don’t know about you, but I’m still feeling the sting of losing Patti LuPone’s Lilia after Agatha All Along’s time-jumping ep “Death’s Hand in Mine.” Her doomed fate was made all the more intriguing by revealing how her seemingly random outbursts connected back to her youthful years in Italy, and with the reveal that Lilia was the first witch (beyond presumably Agatha) to grasp Rio’s true identity: Death. But what about the details that weren’t revealed in the episode?

With only two installments left to go in Agatha All Along’s standalone season, the stakes are higher than ever for the struggling coven. But I now believe that Lilia may have worked some unseen magic that could result in the return of at least one thought-dead character: Ali Ahn’s Alice, who was turned into a shriveled husk in Episode 4. Let’s discuss:

I Believe Lilia Made A Deal With Rio To Bring Alice Back

Like many Agatha fanatics, I’ve been harboring confusion over how this series could just do away with Alice Wu immediately after she discovered and then vanquished the family curse that essentially ruined her mother’s life, as well as their relationship. And like many, I’ve also been hoping beyond hope that characters’ deaths on the Witches’ Road didn’t mean they’d actually be dead in off-Road reality, allowing for Alice to live anew.

But the events depicted in Episode 7 seemed to heavily imply that line of thinking is all wrong, or else Lilia’s big sacrifice would have been cheapened if seen as not so selfless an act. Which then led to the line of thinking that maybe taking on the Salem Seven along — an outcome that drew my first big complaint about this show to date — wasn’t even her only altruistic move near the end.

One huge moment that Agatha All Along doesn’t fully show audiences is what happens immediately after Rio introduces her true self to Lilia just after she fell through the mud with Jen. We get the death reveal, and then nothing. Considering that happened before Lilia and Jen went on their underground trek to find the others, though, it stands to reason we missed out on quite an interesting and non-lethal conversation.

During that talk, I believe Lilia somehow convinced Rio to not just spare herself from death, but also Jen, and on top of that, I think she figured out a way to have the O.G. Green Witch reverse the effects of Agatha’s power-suck so that Alice can return to the story to offer her protection and fire powers for whatever the show’s final confrontations are. Well, I guess the better bet would be on Lilia making a deal with Death, as opposed to making demands.

Given the bouncing from timeline to timeline, I can only assume that Lilia didn't know exactly what her fate would be, but either way, I do wonder if she possibly promised Rio the Salem Seven's bodies, as well as her own, since that higher intake seems like the only bargaining chip that would have been significant enough to convince Rio to go along with it.

The Alice Shot From Previous Trailers Would Finally Make Sense

Even beyond the general idea that Alice is a cool character who deserves to remain alive within the MCU, some fan theories about Alice not being all the way dead stem from the shot seen above, which appeared in one (or maybe more) of Agatha's trailers. The character is pretty clearly laying on the floor of the recording studio where the Trial #2 took place, though no longer all withered and sucked dry, as a hand boasting long black fingernails caresses Alice's face.

Those suspecting Rio of being a Death-mongering character have been convinced that this shot proved Alice would be back before the end, but without a whole lot to go on as far as why Rio would bring her back. Especially in an episode where she fully laid out the plan for Agatha to take the powers while Rio takes the bodies.

But now that Episode 7 hinted at a mystery conversation between Lilia and Rio, I feel all the more confident in believing that discussion is the missing link needed to fully justify believing in Alice's eventual return. Plus, it would also possibly explain why Rio remained gone after Agatha emerged from the mud and had her big revealing talk/argument with Bily.

Now, does that guarantee that Rio will bring back the same bristling-but-loving Alice that fans grew to love in her scant few episodes? Not in the slightest. Rio could very easily resurrect both Alice and Sharon to be her mindless minions or some other dangerous threats, though I'm not sure to what end beyond just trying to amass other corpses.

Though I was only hypothesizing above, I do also legitimately wonder if Sharon could return to the land of the living for the same reasons. I could easily see Lilia attempting to save both her fellow sister in witchery as well as the one non-witch who got dragged into a completely unfamiliar situation, and then died almost immediately. Justice for Sharon!

Hopefully this theory doesn't get instantly upended as soon as Agatha All Along's final two episodes arrive on Disney+ on Wednesday, October 30, starting at 9:00 p.m. ET. Fans need more treats than tricks as the series reaches the end of the Road.

Spoilers below for the latest episode of Agatha All Along, so be warned if you haven’t yet watched.

With its fifth episode, “Darkest Hour / Wake Thy Power," Agatha All Along may have very well changed the game for upcoming Marvel movies and MCU TV shows by confirming the Disney+ series’ worst-kept secret: Teen’s true identity. Yes, Joe Locke’s crown piece essentially confirmed that he’s playing Wanda’s son Billy Kaplan/Maximoff, better known in the comics as Wiccan. It was indeed a cheer-worthy moment, but ended the episode on a curious note for Aubrey Plaza’s Rio.

The green witch was nowhere to be seen by the time Agatha, Jen and Lilia were being forced down into the muddy depths straddling the Witches’ Road, and that wasn’t the only time during the episode I had questions about Rio’s actions. So let’s hop on a hastily crafted (and shamelessly co-opted) broom and fly through these currently unanswered questions about Plaza’s character.

Why Did Rio Seem So Intimidated By Evanora Harkness' Ghost?

Whatever the specific case may be, Rio is an extremely powerful entity whose abilities stretch beyond witchcraft, and she returned to the show in Episode 4 by climbing out of the ground like a zombie. But while it seems like she should be immune to feeling intimidated or overpowered by others — not even in her scuffles with Agatha — her demeanor became far more vulnerable and subdued once the ghost of Agatha’s mother showed up (with Kate Forbes back in the role).

To be expected, given the pair’s romantic past, Rio was quick to step up in Agatha’s defense when Evanora attempted to convince the witches to leave her daughter behind. As it went:

• EVANORA: Leave her with me.
• RIO: No! No way!
• JEN: A minute ago, you were ready to slit her throat.
• RIO: Yeah, well, her mother can't have her!

Here, Evanora gets a little angrier, causing Rio to lose her aggressive manner, and it's quite possibly the first time in this series that Rio looks legitimately worried. But if I'm reading things correctly, Plaza's character didn't look as if she was worried about what might happen to Agatha, whom she'd already seen turn into a possessed Deadite. Rather, she looked potentially worried for herself, which is very interesting.

Could it be that Rio was suddenly worried about herself being possessed by Evanora or some other ghostly entity? And if Rio is indeed an interation of Death, would possessing her give Evanora the power to take the souls of anyone she wanted? It's something I hadn't considered before, but now want to obsess over for a bit.

Did Rio Tell Agatha Teen Wasn't Her Son Just To Jumpstart Agatha's Evil?

Near the end of Episode 4, Rio kicked up gasps all over the MCU fandom by derailing a potential kiss with Agatha to share the update that, despite what the latter may have been thinking or hoping for, Teen is not her son. (A detail that appeared to be doubled-down on by the Ouija Board spirit spelling out her son’s name, “Nicholas Scratch.”) In the moment, I thought it was a sign of offbeat compassion, where Rio wanted to make sure Agatha’s libido wasn’t fueled by false expectations.

But now I feel silly for even flirting with such an idea, considering Rio is chaos incarnate, and probably can’t do anything positive without having some kind of negative consequences to follow. And so now I’m thinking that Rio just wanted to continue her initial goal in the premiere of turning Agatha back into her original, devious, body-dropping self. And what better way to do that than to strike at the witch’s most vulnerable wound?

Is it possible she knew what was coming with Teen's Wiccan unveiling, and wanted to try and keep Agatha safe? That could serve as circumstantial proof for my theory that Rio threw him through that window in the recording studio. Or were her intentions to make that reveal happen sooner than it might have otherwise?

What Was Rio Doing With Alice's Body While Teen Was Busy Dunking The Other Witches In Mud?

I think most viewers would agree that Teen was absolutely correct in assessing that Agatha could have readily stopped herself from sapping Alice's powers and life force whenever Ali Ahn's character tried blasting Evanora's ghost out with fire. Agatha's face was no longer all zombie-like, and she seemed to be getting pleasure out of it, even if she may not have been 100% back to her normal headspace.

Rio presumably could have stepped in to halt things and save Alice's life, but didn't. And in the aftermath, as the others were in shock over what happened, Agatha rather quickly made her way up the steps and back out onto the Witches' Road where she seemed unable to manifest Alice's power for more than a few seconds. Then Teen came out and all the Wiccan gloriousness happened.

But curiously, Rio wasn't ever shown to have exited the spooky cabin during the final sequence, and thus wasn't involved with the other witches' being sucked underground. So I'm guessing she was busy doing something with Alice's body, though it's obviously not clear what. I'm secretly hoping Rio is able to dislocate her jaw and eat adult bodies whole like an anaconda, but that's probably a stretch. (Pun sorta intended.)

For Rio to not have followed everyone else, she must have been doing something somewhat time-intensive, and I have to wonder if Teen only did what he did to Agatha & Co. specifically because Rio wasn't around to stop him. She likely couldn't have known that Teen and Agatha would have that tiff leading to him snapping, and thus maybe didn't think it was vital enough for her to stick with everyone.

But let's not forget that Alice's death didn't eliminate Evanora's presence from the cabin. So what if the next time we see Rio in Episode 6, she's possessed by Agatha's mother? I don't even want to think about the Oedipal complications that would spawn from that.

Hopefully we'll get some more answers soon, as well as a full-body shot of Joe Locke's Wiccan costume. Tune in every Wednesday night at 9:00 p.m. ET with a Disney+ subscription.

Spoilers below for anyone who hasn’t yet caught up with Agatha All Along, so be warned!

It’s hard to conceive of any upcoming Marvel TV shows coming anywhere close to sparking the same kind of theory factory that Agatha All Along has, with fan responses on par with the hyper-speculation inspired by WandaVision’s run. Just four episodes in, and roughly 95% of all possible outcomes and explanations have been talked out — okay, that’s probably hyperbole — with new questions constantly popping up. The same definitely goes for Episode 4’s LGBTQ+-coded musical mayhem.

In particular, the full-band performance of Lorna’s version of the Ballad was an A+ treat, as were the costuming and set design. But perhaps the biggest shock of the episode was Teen’s brush with death, so to speak, after his side was pierced with a big chunk of glass. He survived to live another identity-hiding day, of course, but the episode didn’t fully address why he was injured to begin with, and seemed more focused on celebrating Jen’s powers seemingly returning.

I’m not wholly sure whether or not I believe in Jen’s potions again, but I definitely think Rio was fully intending to take Teen out of the equation, and she didn’t exactly hide those intentions. Let’s discuss.

Rio Very Clearly Stated Her Intention To Start Dropping Bodies

Most people are familiar with the concept of “Chekov’s gun,” which reasons that a gun introduced in Act 1 of a performance will almost necessarily go off by the time the story is completed, creating a sense of anticipation. Aubrey Plaza’s Rio took that idea to its logical extremes by stating plainly in the first half of the episode (over the microphone so everyone could hear) that she wants Agatha to kill the other witches so that she can “get my bodies.”

Even for those who haven’t had the surprise of Rio’s mystery identity ruined by Funko Pop! Figure leaks yet, that seemed like a pretty on-the-nose clue. Regardless, even if she was led into that admission by Agatha, it’s still a legit goal of hers while on this trip down the Witches’ Road. So it is really so coincidental that one of the characters suffers a near-fatal injury mere minutes after Rio said that?

Teen's Injury Inside The Recording Studio Didn't Seem Curse-Related

"If I Can't Reach You / Let My Song Teach You" obviously centered on the mysterious curse placed on the family of Ali Ahn’s Alice Wu-Gulliver, who realized by the end of the episode that she’d misinterpreted much of her mother’s behavior as being dismissive and uncaring, while in reality the musician was trying to keep Alice safe from the fire-centric curse plaguing their family. (Pretty sure Lorna could have spread the Ballad’s power without being an absent parent, but that’s a convo for another time.)

In any case, the curse has an adverse effect on the other witches in the house who aren’t protected by the Ballad’s spell. They each appear to suffer burning pains, both physically and mentally, until Alice counterbalances the threat with her powers. At least that’s how it goes for the established female witches.

Instead of feeling as if he’s being burned alive, Teen is instead thrown across the room and through a window, which we later learn has impaled him. But why would that even happen if the whole point of this was to serve as the Fire Trial? The show’s LGBTQ+ elements make me hesitant to attribute that to the curse having different effects on men and women. And so I don’t believe the curse was paying attention to Teen’s analog witchery at all.

I believe Rio, in the midst of the witches’ agony and confusion, took the opportunity to get one of her bodies, believing Teen to be the most expendable one in the group. At that point, Agatha was still keeping her feelings about the lad under wraps, and it wasn’t until later when Rio clocked that her purple-hued former lover was giving into her maternal instincts anew.

I'm Not Convinced Jen's Powers Suddenly Came Back Just To Fix Teen

I'm still bewildered over Teen being able to pull off playing guitar for the Ballad with glass sticking out of his side, but while that can be chalked up to adrenaline and TV magic, I'm a bit more suspicious about whose magic actually healed his wounds up. Obviously the Occam's Razor answer would be Jen's potion, since that's what the episode laid out for viewers to believe.

But Agatha's pleading face to Rio to not take him, combined with Rio's powers seeming to go well beyond mere witchcraft, had me immediately believing that she was the one who actually healed Teen's wounds, and that Jen's potion process was just shadow puppetry. Not that I want to discount Jen's potential to have regained some talents after the first Trial, but considering her potion misstep in Episode 3 led to Sharon's death, I'm not so eager to think she's fully upwards and onwards just yet.

It'd be one thing if this was the very first time audiences watched someone's messy wound heal up immediately and without any scarring, without having any other instances to compare it to. But that's certainly not the case here, since the series premiere featured the obsession-worthy moment where Rio licked Agatha's cut hand back to health, blood and all. The healing process even looked similar, for what that's worth.

I've a working theory that Rio was also present during Agatha's prevous walk down the Witches' Road, and that's why her prior coven seemed to have issues with keeping everyone alive as well. Of course, Agatha holding a single finger up when asked may be entirely unrelated to Rio, but the episode seemed to make a point of having both characters address their shared pasts without letting others know it was shared.

Rio's knowledge about Agatha's son Nicholas Scratch is also worth digging into by way of theories about how she's connected to Agatha's sacrifice, not to mention the Mephisto of it all, but that's also for another time. Perhaps after one of the upcoming episodes directly addresses it, while also hopefully bringing Emma Caulfield's Dottie back into the fold.

Warning: SPOILERS for the Agatha All Along episode “If I Can't Reach You / Let My Song Teach You” are ahead!

Last week’s episode of Agatha All Along was pretty eventful, from Debra Jo Rupp’s Sharon Davis dying at the end to that Mephisto name drop. Well, this week’s episode, titled “If I Can't Reach You / Let My Song Teach You,” had its own significant developments, including Aubrey Plaza’s mysterious Rio Vidal being summoned to take over as the coven’s green witch. As we’ve known since Agatha All Along premiered to those with a Disney+ subscription, Rio and Kathryn Hahn’s Agatha have history together, but this latest episode took things a step further and had these characters almost kiss each other. There’s no question this is one of the biggest queer moments in the Marvel Cinematic Universe to date, and showrunner Jan Schaeffer opened up about how Agatha All Along’s LGBTQ+ representation was “undeniable.”

Schaeffer, who was also WandaVision’s showrunner, talked with EW about how Agatha All Along is infused with things that many in the LGBTQ+ demographic like, including camp, musicals, horror and actress Patti LuPone, who stars in this show as Lilia Calderu. This is why Joe Locke’s Teen is a gay goth horror fan, and Schaeffer explained why it was important to infuse the latest Marvel series with such elements with these words:

The MCU’s version of Agatha Harkness was initially introduced in WandaVision as Agnes, the nosy neighbor who lived next door to Wanda Maximoff and Vision during their sitcom-hopping days in Westview. However, her true identity was eventually revealed, and while we got a look into her past through a 1693-set flashback showing a coven of witches, including Agatha’s mother, trying to execute her for using dark magic, Agatha All Along is preparing to do a much deeper dive into her background. Now there’s also a romantic beat to keep track of with her too, as there’s clearly chemistry between Agatha and Rio Vidal in the midst of their adversarial dynamic.

Jac Schaeffer also recalled how when WandaVision was originally airing, she saw footage of a Minneapolis drag brunch where one of the performers was dressed like Agatha Harkness, and she was “moved and overwhelmed and flattered.” Cut to Agatha All Along, Schaeffer wanted the title character to also be a drag queen of sorts, saying:

As mentioned earlier, Agatha and Rio fell short of actually locking lips, as the latter reminded the former that Teen is not her long-lost son, whom Teen inquired about to Agatha just minutes beforehand, but she refused to talk about it. With five episodes left to go in Agatha All Along, there’s still time for viewers to see them kiss, but whether that happens or not, Kathryn Hahn is happy with how the show’s LGBTQ+ representation has turned out. In her words:

New episodes of Agatha All Along are released Wednesdays at 9 pm ET on Disney+. You can look further ahead into the future by browsing through the upcoming Marvel TV shows and upcoming Marvel movies.

Warning! The following contains major spoilers for Agatha All Along. Stream it with a Disney+ subscription, and read at your own risk!

Agatha All Along might've had two of its biggest mysteries spoiled, and it's all thanks to a toy release. As readers stream the MCU's latest miniseries and wonder about the identities of Rio Vidal and the teen who had a spell cast on him, Funko accidentally let slip the big details of who they are.

If you'd like to remain spoiler-free and not discover who Aubrey Plaza and Joe Locke are playing in the Marvel series, now is the time to back out. For everyone else, it looks like two big characters will be making their debut in the MCU really soon, and one of them might be a major factor in events going forward.

Who Aubrey Plaza Is Really Playing In Agatha All Along

I had my heart set on Aubrey Plaza reprising her role as the Shadow King from Legion, but she's playing a much bigger character in the MCU who was originally left out of Avengers: Infinity War. According to pictures circulating the internet, she's taking on the role of Death. In the comics she was a major factor in Marvel's Infinity War comics, but the Russos opted not to bring her to their adaptation.

Death is a cosmic entity in the Marvel universe, making her one of the most powerful beings in the lore. One has to think that means the MCU has plans for Plaza to portray the character in upcoming Marvel movies and other projects, but we'll have to wait and see what happens at the end of this miniseries.

Who Joe Locke Is Really Playing In Agatha All Along

CinemaBlend's Nick Venable dropped a few guesses on who Joe Locke is playing in Agatha All Along, and one of them was right on the money. I'm sure many people thought "Teen" was Billy Maximoff, but there was still speculation on whether he'd adopt the Wiccan persona in this miniseries. Based on the Funko Pop reveal, it's looking like he will be doing that, though we can't say that with absolute certainty until we see it on screen.

For those wondering how a leak like this could happen, it's a fairly regular occurrence. Toy companies have to be privy to spoilers to make toys in time for when the series releases, and sometimes delays can be a factor, too. Remember how McDonald's Happy Meals spoiled Red Hulk appearing in Captain America: Brave New World? Good times.

It's unfortunate that it happened, of course, but unless Disney deliberately holds off on toy production, as it did with Grogu before The Mandalorian came out, it's hard to avoid. The best advice I can give is for readers not to search the internet for things they don't wish to see, and hopefully, they can avoid being spoiled with future shows.

Agatha All Along streams new episodes on Disney+ beginning on Wednesdays at 9:00 p.m. ET. It's a perfect series for the upcoming Halloween season so far, so I don't expect these reveals to impact the fun of the story too much.

People are streaming Agatha All Along and realizing that they might've had more interest in the villain of WandaVision than they originally guessed. No doubt part of the reason the Marvel series is crushing it with audiences is Aubrey Plaza, whose character, Rio Vidal, is a bit of a mystery in these opening episodes. I've seen many fan theories about the character she might actually be playing, and I feel it makes sense after Deadpool & Wolverine.

Readers not watching Agatha All Along with a Disney+ subscription might be missing out on one of the more significant villain reveals in the history of the MCU. While I'd love to see Aubrey Plaza play one baddie in upcoming Marvel movies more than others, I could see some other viable options at all. Here's the chatter surrounding her character and why could be the big reveal.

I Love The Theories That Rio Vidal Is Actually The Shadow King

The fact that so many people overlook the fact that Aubrey Plaza has played a Marvel role before makes me so sad. I loved Noah Hawley's Legion, and while it never managed to get Patrick Stewart as Professor X, it did feature Plaza as a version of the famous Marvel villain The Shadow King.

Plaza originally played David's friend from the psych ward, Lenny Busker, and was masquerading as someone entirely different before Navid Negahban made his official entrance as the Shadow King. The actress's first scene in Agatha All Along had me convinced she was playing the Shadow King once again, to the point that if she isn't this character, I have to think she was encouraged by Marvel to channel that performance again for this series.

The Shadow King debuted as one of the first villains Professor X encountered in the X-Men mythology. As Amahl Farouk, he has powers in the astral plane and has existed since before the dawn of humanity. His main goal is to inhabit the minds of psychics and other telepaths in order to gain power in the world.

Agatha Harkness isn't the most powerful telepath in the Marvel universe, but everyone has to start somewhere. It's possible the Shadow King is attempting to gain a foothold in the 616 reality by taking her body captive and then possibly transferring over to more powerful telepaths when the opportunity presents itself. It's a theory that I absolutely love, and it would be a great nod to a past Marvel series that is absolutely worth streaming with a Hulu subscription for those who haven't seen it.

With X-Men slowly making their way into the MCU, it would be amazing to see one of their more notable villains show up and begin to establish a foothold before other mutants start to become more prevalent on Earth-616. Honestly, the more I talk about this I feel like I'm more or less envisioning my ideal direction for Marvel in the future rather than what is realistically happening, but I'm still not ruling it out. The Shadow King is certainly strong enough to take down Agatha, and I'm hoping we see them return.

I Can Understand Why People Think She's Blackheart

I know quite a few Agatha All Along viewers are already rolling with the idea that Rio Vidal is the villain Blackheart due to the symbol of the final Coven member literally being a "black heart." Blackheart is a very powerful being with immense powers largely driven by magic, but the hint presented in the show just feels a little too on the nose for the MCU. Plus, unless Ghost Rider is coming to the MCU, I'm not sure we need Blackheart just yet.

I Empathize With Those Keeping Hopes For Mephisto Alive

There's a mixture of jokes and serious theories that Rio Vidal is the demon Mephisto, which would be a huge deal in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. That said, WandaVision kind of ruined me on ever guessing Mephisto for a villain in a series tied to Wanda Maximoff again, so I'm not even going down that road this time. I can empathize with the people that want to hold onto hope that this is happening, but I just can't subscribe to it.

I should also add that there was a rumor last year that Sacha Baron Cohen was playing Mephisto in the upcoming series Ironheart. I'll be honest, I'm even skeptical of that rumor, but given how great the character is, I can understand why people keep claiming he's coming to the MCU.

Is Rio Vidal Actually Death?

It's been pointed out a few times now that the name Rio means "river" in Spanish, and that Vidal in Latin translates to "life." When we think of the "river of life" the closest thing that comes to mind is the River Styx in Greek mythology that separates the world of the living and the dead. It's said that Charon works as a ferryman on the river, and that character has also been likened to the personification of, wait for it, Death.

Death exists as a cosmic entity in the MCU, and there were actually discussions at one point to include her in the franchise much earlier. Unfortunately, the Russos balked at putting her in Avengers: Infinity War despite her having a major role in the comic story. I certainly think there's a chance we'd see Death more than Blackheart or Mephisto in Agatha All Along, but I'm still leaning towards it being the Shadow King for now.

I Hope This Isn't Another Ralph Bohner Situation

Ultimately, I'll be ok with whoever Rio Vidal ends up being, assuming this isn't another Ralph Bohner situation. For those not familiar with what that means, it refers to the last time the MCU tried to tease us with a big reveal with Evan Peters' character in WandaVision, only to reveal he was largely meaningless to the story.

I can't help but chuckle looking back on the hubris of the MCU creatives back then. Fresh off of Avengers: Endgame, it seemed like the good times would never end. What's wrong with a little trolling of fans who are so conditioned to character reveals? Wouldn't it be nice to subvert expectations?

People weren't pleased now, and considering public perception is that Marvel has dropped the ball a few times since then, it would not be a great idea to try and trick the audience once again. Doing so might just cause some fans to jump off the Marvel bandwagon, and I think a few have already.

Agatha All Along streams new episodes to Disney+ on Wednesdays at 9:00 p.m. ET. Catch the opening episodes right now and catch up because this series is off to a strong start.

SPOILERS are ahead for My Old Ass.

My Old Ass is one of those 2024 movies that just completely snuck up on me and simply won my heart. Sure, I knew I had to see another comedy starring Aubrey Plaza, but it’s one of the best coming-of-age concepts I’ve seen in years. The movie follows a high school senior named Elliott who decides to go on a mushroom trip with her friends for her birthday and ends up connecting with her 39-year-old self (Plaza), who leaves much to be desired. It has a lot of profound things to say, but one subject that’s worth talking about is how it handles its queer protagonist.

At the beginning of My Old Ass, Maisy Stella’s Elliott is established as an out and proud queer woman who is comfortable in her sexuality. The storyline makes it known that she is into girls, so when her older self tells her to watch out for a guy named Chad, she’s really taken aback. As the plot continues to unfold, Elliott gets to know Chad, despite warnings from the elder version of herself, and to her surprise, she falls in love with him. As she laments to her friend Ro in one key scene, she is suddenly questioning the sexuality she was so sure about. “Is she bisexual?” she asks. Sexuality is a lot less clear cut than she thought.

In the unexpected coming out scene, Ro comforts Elliott’s confusion by letting her know that she’s not any “less queer” for suddenly liking a man. It delivers a nuanced perspective that we haven’t seen a lot among bisexual characters in the past. Here’s what writer/director Megan Park shared with me about the sequence:

In an age where more Gen Z people are perhaps exploring their queer identities at younger stages in their lives, Park felt this super different coming out scene might act as a fresh take on a popular beat that has become a cliché in LGBTQ+ movies. In My Old Ass, Eliott realizes that she had more to explore within her sexuality than she thought about herself in the 17 years of her life. As many of us can attest, no matter which gender or genders you may be attracted to, what we know at 17 does not stay true forever. Stella also told CinemaBlend this:

During CinemaBlend’s interview with Park and Stella, they talked about how helpful Margot Robbie was as a producer on My Old Ass as well. The movie is now playing in theaters now.

While I know there are viewers out there who cannot wait for upcoming Marvel shows such as X-Men ‘97 Season 2 and Dominique Thorne’s Iron Heart, those like myself who appreciate darker stories are most intrigued by the impending WandaVision spinoff Agatha All Along. The new series will soon thrust fans into its Halloween-friendly quest to travel the Witch’s Road, but not before reminding everyone about its stars’ breakout sitcom Parks and Recreation.

To promote the MCU’s latest spooky shenanigans hitting the Fall TV schedule, Agatha All Along’s cast and creators were present for the big red carpet premiere in L.A. on September 16. (Technically a purple carpet to properly match the horror-comedy’s color palette.) And it’s there where current screen-sharers Kathryn Hahn and Aubrey Plaza were joined by their former co-stars Amy Poehler and Adam Scott, as seen in the Marvel IG vid below. Pawnee elites showing out!

How awesome would it have been to be a fly on a wall or a backdrop somewhere at the premiere? Though obviously only with the expressed written confirmation that the event decorations didn't include any live, hungry spiders, though Spider-Man would have been welcomed.

Parks and Rec aired from 2009-2015, with Amy Poehler's optimism-laden Leslie Knope leading a ragtag team of local government employees that earned a spot on CinemaBlend's 100 Best Sitcoms. That squad would serve as an interesting counterpart to Agatha's newfound coven of co-occultists, perhaps in some kind of Challenge-like competition. With WandaVision paying homage to shows like Bewitched and The Brady Bunch, there's no reason why Agatha can't honor Battle of the Network Stars. Well yeah, I guess there are reasons.

In any case, fans were pumped about seeing the reunion, and said as much in the comment section. (Though at least one person wondered why the NBC sitcom was getting all the love without any nods to Hahn and Scott both appearing in Adam McKay's Step Brothers.) Though there were certainly a few comments about Parks and Rec favorites who seemingly weren't present for the Disney+ premiere.

• It’s been Li’l Sebastian All Along - @Oskarate
• Where's Duke Silver 🎷 ? - @elevate.to.resonate
• Hold up, where is Star-Lord? Is Burt Macklin undercover? - @jeffreywale

Lit-rally the only thing that would have made this reunion better is if Rob Lowe's Chris Traeger showed up and made Adam Scott go off and handle some insignificant duty. Well, and obviously a performance from Duke Silver.

Speaking of, Nick Offerman was actually just in his own warped superhero adventure alongside wife Megan Mullally, as part of the shortened fourth season of The Umbrella Academy. So it might have been a little gauche for him to show up on premiere night for Agatha All Along, even for a P&R reunion.

Agatha All Along will make its highly anticipated debut on Disney+ on Wednesday, September 18, at 9:00 p.m. ET.

Despite some fans’ concerns over Season 2 of The White Lotus introducing a new cast of characters instead of having the original characters return, the sophomore season went on to be one of the best shows of 2022. Millions of people tuned in to HBO and Max each week to watch episodes as they dropped, and yet Aubrey Plaza, one of the stars of the season, has yet to watch the show that garnered her first Primetime Emmy nomination.

It’s not uncommon for actors to not want to watch themselves, especially if they hated the role or the way things turned out. Thankfully, Plaza doesn’t fall into the category, and her reason for not watching her phenomenal performance is much more relatable. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal Magazine, the Parks and Recreation star explained why she still hasn’t seen Season 2:

Who knew Emmy-nominated actors are just like us? As if forgetting her password isn’t relatable enough, she then doubled down and totally gave up on watching her critically acclaimed performance. Honestly, who can blame her? The only thing worse than forgetting your password is trying to reset it only to be unable to get into your email or, even worse, getting told you’ve already used your “new” password.

No one wants to go through with all of that, especially not on Max, which doesn’t always have the most user-friendly interphase. And with all of the best streaming services attempting to crack down on password sharing, it's not like she could have called up one of her co-stars for help.

Unlike other streaming shows that air exclusively on these sites, the Mike White series also aired live on HBO, meaning Plaza could have caught the episodes on the premium cable channel. This either never crossed her mind, or she’s even more relatable than she lets on and doesn’t even have an HBO subscription. Judging by what she told WSJMag next, I think the latter is true:

Cutting her teeth in the broadcast world with Parks and Recreation, it makes sense that Plaza would be expecting a physical version of her work to be given to her instead of a digital link or access code. Unfortunately, it seems like the days of physical media, even for the stars themselves, are over.

Hopefully, someone will help Plaza out so she can see why her performance earned so much praise — and maybe it’ll even lead to more hilarious behind-the-scenes stories coming to light, like when she and a co-star took mushrooms while hiking on their off-time.

You can catch the first two seasons of The White Lotus with an active Max subscription — assuming you remember your password. And don’t forget to check back as we bring you all the news about Season 3 coming in 2025.

For all the excitement built into the upcoming Marvel TV schedule, which hit new heights thanks to SDCC and D23, my horror fanaticism necessitates that I’m most tuned into the long-awaited WandaVision spinoff Agatha All Along. The mystical and spooky miniseries will finally arrive in September, with episodes releasing weekly all through Halloween season, and stars Kathryn Hahn and Aubrey Plaza have stoked that hype-filled energy further by name-dropping some betwitching cinema faves as Agatha’s inspirations.

It may not be as gory or psychologically twisted as some other upcoming horror TV shows, but it sounds like Agatha All Along could be one of Marvel’s darkest efforts yet, and the rare comic book series to focus on a perceived villain. (Albeit one who had her memory wiped the last time we saw her.) And Plaza spoke to its scarier nature by bringing up one of Neve Campbell’s early genre efforts; no, not Scream. As she put it when talking to Total Film:

The Craft is a great example of a movie that blurs the lines for its protagonists and antagonists for a while before things get more hectic, and I can easily see Agatha All Along doing the same kind of thing. Although in this case, it may be an issue of the characters starting off evil and then gaining audience sympathy as other more dangerous threats come in, rather than the other way around.

That’s certainly not the only popular ‘90s flick that was mentioned by Agatha’s stars, with Kathryn Hahn herself calling out several, saying:

Obviously Nancy Meyers isn’t known for her horror cred, and Hocus Pocus is far goofier than freaky, but both comparisons speak more to the emotional core of the series and the sisterhood relationship. As far as spooky, family-friendly vibes go, though, the trio of Practical Magic, Poltergeist and E.T. are quite a mix, but I can definitely see how each could play muse to a certain story beat or thematic element.

For what it’s worth, co-star Joe Locke also laid out a few film references that he picked up on when filming, such as two of the best horror movies of all time, The Exorcist and Rosemary’s Baby. Though he actually called out The Goonies as being “the big one.” If someone has to do the Truffle Shuffle to put someone else in a hypnotic trance, I am here for it.

Hahn has offered up a “fantastic” tease or two in the past, even if we still have no idea how Marvel-centric those hints were. Personally, I’m sticking with my theory that the show’s constant name changes were the work of Mephisto, but won’t be too flabbergasted to find out that I’m wrong.

Find out what other horror movie and TV influences are there to be recognized when Agatha All Along takes over your Disney+ subscription on Wednesday, September 18.

Ron Swanson from Parks and Recreation is a simple man. Or at least, that's what he would have you believe. While the show had amazing cast members and even more amazing guests, the head of the parks department, played by Nick Offerman, has some of the funniest and most ridiculous lines. From words of advice to cutting insults, his quotes are some of the best from the show, so here are 32 of our favorite Ron Swanson quotes from Parks and Rec. 

Well I’ve never been one for meeting new people, or doing new things, or eating new types of food, or traveling outside of southern Indiana. I’ve had the same haircut since 1978 and I’ve driven the same car since 1991. I’ve used the same wooden comb for three decades. I have one bowl. I still get my milk delivered by horse.

If there is any quote that perfectly sums up Ron Swanson, it's this one. He's a man of principle and a man stuck in his ways. He's also a man stuck in the 1800s, apparently. There's a lot to criticize Ron over, but you can't call him inconsistent.

Please talk more about how you hate Europe and Bicycles.

When Ron is forced to find a new barber for the first time in decades, Donna, played by Retta, takes him to her hairdresser, Typhoon. At first, Ron thinks he'll have little in common with the new-age stylist, but they soon bond over their shared hatred for Europeans and bicycles. How nice for them. 

Crying: Acceptable at funerals and the Grand Canyon.

The Ron Swanson Pyramid of Success is full of hilarious, if questionable, life advice. Apparently, to be "a man" or "a Swanson" you can only cry in two places. Ron does live up to this standard, mostly. He does occasionally cry when he's happy too, though. Besides at the Grand Canyon, that is. 

Capitalism is the only way… It makes America great, England OK and France terrible.

If there is one thing that is pretty distasteful about Ron's set core of beliefs, it's his jingoism. It's not pretty. It's on full display when he heads to England, but that's not the only we see it. Do better, Ron. 

Any dog under 50 pounds is a cat, and cats are useless.

At the risk of offending small dog owners (and I am one myself), Ron is 100% correct here. Dogs should be big and dopey, not small and yappy. The smaller the dog, the more cat-like they are. Like Ron, I'm not a cat person. I still love my tiny dog though. 

I’m impressed with Andy, pulling himself up by his bootstraps. Reminds me of a young me. I got my first job when I was nine working at a sheet metal factory. In two weeks I was running the floor. Child Labor Laws are ruining this country.

Andy (Chris Pratt) doesn't seem like the kind of person Ron would tolerate, yet he does, for some reason. Andy is a hard worker and dedicated to his job, (and a breakout role for Pratt) unlike Ron, but he also moonlights as a musician, playing in his band Mouse Rat, just like Ron moonlights as jazz musician Duke Silver. 

I like Tom. He doesn’t do a lot of work around here. He shows zero initiative. He’s not a team player. He’s never wanted to go that extra mile. Tom is exactly what I’m looking for in a government employee.

Tom (Aziz Ansari) is someone whom Ron Swanson barely tolerates. Everything Tom does seems to drive Ron nuts, except what Tom doesn't do. By being generally terrible at his job and worrying more about this personal life, Tom is Ron's perfect employee. 

There’s only one thing I hate more than lying: skim milk. Which is water that’s lying about being milk.

Ron Swanson hates lying. He talked about it more than once. He also doesn't like what he sees as health trends. Or anything healthy to eat, for that matter. Skim milk holds a special place of disdain in the heart of Ron. 

The less I know about other people’s affairs, the happier I am. I’m not interested in caring about people. I once worked with a guy for three years and never learned his name. Best friend I ever had. We still never talk sometimes.

Something else Ron Swanson is consistent about it is his narcissism. While he probably wouldn't call it that, we just call 'em like we see 'em. Of course, he does care about people, a little. 

Fishing is for sport only. Fish meat is practically a vegetable.

Another bit of "advice" from the Ron Swanson pyramid of greatness. While Ron doesn't seem to like fish, he sure does love shrimp, especially if it's wrapped in bacon. Bacon makes everything better. 

The whole point of this country is if you want to eat garbage, balloon up to 600 pounds and die of a heart attack at 43, you can! You are free to do so. To me, that’s beautiful.

Again, Ron really isn't into being healthy. He's also not interested in other people. That's why this quote is so perfect, it combines both of the things he seems most interested in. 

Fishing relaxes me. It’s like yoga, except I still get to kill something.

It's safe to say that anything Chris does is going to upset Ron in some way, but Ron holds a deep mistrust of yoga. He mentions it on a number of occasions, but it's the most ridiculous when he compares it to fishing. Though, he's not wrong, both activities are relaxing. 

Just give me all the bacon and eggs you have. Wait … I worry what you heard was, ‘Give me a lot of bacon and eggs.’ What I said was, give me all the bacon and eggs you have. Do you understand?

After being served what he thought was an underwhelming steak, Ron switches gears in one of the funniest scenes in the whole show. You can't help but be horrified and impressed by Ron's dedication to breakfast foods.  

You had me at ‘Meat Tornado'

While Ron doesn't really "go for ethnic food" he is stopped in his tracks when Andy tells him about the burrito called a "Meat Tornado." Maybe there is hope for Ron yet. 

It's a hamburger made out of meat on a bun with nothing. Add ketchup if you want. I couldn't care less.

At one point, Chris Trager (Rob Lowe) and Ron decide to have a competition over who can make a more delicious burger. Chris' burger is a beacon of healthy options, with all kinds of buzzy food options, like a brioche bun. Ron's is a burger. On a bun. Turkey can never beat cow, Chris. 

You’ve accidentally given me the food that my food eats.

Ron doesn't really go for salad and when he's served one, he makes it clear that it is not enough to satisfy him. He's also incredibly consistent when it comes to how much he hates vegetables. In that way, he's like a little kid who has to choke them down after being scolded by an adult. 

Normally, if given the choice between doing something and nothing, I’d choose to do nothing. But I will do something if it helps someone else do nothing. I’d work all night, if it meant nothing got done.

On some level, you can't help but admire Ron Swanson's dedication to his principles. He believes in small government. Strike that, Ron believes in no government. Anything he can do to stop government from doing anything at all, he'll work hard to achieve that.  

There are three acceptable haircuts: high and tight, crew cut, buzz cut

Even though it doesn't appear that Ron Swanson actually served in the military, he does appreciate a good, precise haircut, clearly. 

Birthdays were invented by Hallmark to sell cards.

Ron doesn't like making a fuss about anything and when the rest of the office is determined to celebrate his birthday, he makes it clear where he stands on the issue. 

Give 100 percent. One-hundred-and-ten percent is impossible. Only idiots recommend that.

One thing Ron Swanson cannot abide is fools. Of course, anyone who doesn't fit into the narrow parameters of his life views is a fool. Like people who exaggerate things, which is literally the one thing Chris Trager does best.  

When people get too chummy with me, I like to call them by the wrong name to let them know I don’t really care about them.

He doesn't care about other people's problems, that's for certain. He also doesn't want to be friends and this is how he goes about it. He even teaches April, played brilliantly by Aubrey Plaza the same trick and she takes to it like a fish to water. 

America: The only country that matters. If you want to experience other ‘cultures,’ use an atlas or a ham radio.

Not all of Ron's beliefs are healthy, or advisable. His jingoism, which he thinks is patriotic, is actually idiotic. Still, ham radios and atlas are fun, so that but of advice is pretty decent. 

It’s always a good idea to demonstrate to your coworkers that you are capable of withstanding a tremendous amount of pain.

You might think that when Ron takes pliers and pulls his own tooth out, a tooth the dentist had already extracted, it was meant as a practical joke. Ron Swanson never jokes though, and he was really just doing it to shock his coworkers and it works. 

I would rather bleed out than sit here and talk about my feelings for 10 minutes.

Let's be upfront, Ron Swanson doesn't care about your problems, and he doesn't want to talk about his either. It may not be healthy to bottle everything up, but you know he's not budging on this one. 

I think that all government is a waster of taxpayer money. My dream is to have the park system privatized and run entirely by for-profit corporations, like Chuck E. Cheese. They have an impeccable business model.

The biggest source of conflict between Ron, the head of the parks department, and his deputy Leslie (Amy Poehler) is that Leslie believes that government can do good for people. Ron thinks it should be run by a pizza restaurant.

I hate metaphors. That’s why my favorite book is Moby Dick. No frufu symbolism, just a good simple tale about a man who hates an animal.

On some level, I'd like to believe that Ron is smarter than this. In a great bit of comedic irony, Ron talks about why he loves Herman Melville's Moby Dick, but the reason is... questionable. The book is full of metaphors, and is, indeed basically one big one. A big white whale of one. 

I love Food and Stuff. It’s where I buy all my food… and most of my stuff.

Ron Swanson is a simple man, with simple needs. Mostly meat, but a little stuff too. Luckily, his favorite store has both. He rarely "treats himself" like some of the other office workers. 

There is only one bad word: taxes.

A libertarian in the most extreme version, Ron really hates government. What he hates the most, it seems, is the taxes that the government collects. They may pay his salary, but that doesn't mean he appreciates them. 

History began July 4, 1776. Everything before that was a mistake.

Here we go again with the extreme patriotism. Ron Swanson just doesn't care about anything other than the United States, even the history that led to its creation. It's still not a good look and never will be. 

The key to burning an ex-wife effigy is to dip it in paraffin wax and then toss the flaming bottle of isopropyl alcohol from a safe distance. Do not stand too close when you light an ex-wife effigy.

If there is anything in the world that Ron hates as much as government and taxes, it's both of his ex-wives, Tammy 1 and Tammy 2. He holds nothing back when it comes to slandering them, without any respect whatsoever. Yet, he still believes in love. Good, I guess?

Give a man a fish and feed him for a day. Don’t teach a man to fish…and feed yourself. He’s a grown man. And fishing’s not that hard.

Fishing is important to Ron. Making friends and helping people is not. Case in point? This quote. Lighten up, Ron! 

The Human Resources department requires that I be available once a month to discuss workplace disputes with my employees. The rules do not specify whether or not I am allowed to listen to Willie Nelson on my headphones.

This is yet another example of Ron not caring about anyone other than himself. Willie Nelson is great, but try to set a better example, Ron! 

Another word for 'jokes' is 'lies'. I do not lie. Therefore, I do not joke.

Oh, but you do joke, Ron. Some of the very best jokes on Parks and Rec come from the mind of Ron Swanson, whether he appreciates them or not. Like all 32 of the jokes here. They are all gold, though you probably don't want to take his advice very often. 

Alexandra Daddario played one of the biggest breakout characters of The White Lotus Season 1. Her character Rachel blew up on social media and elsewhere after the release of the series, most notably thanks to Daddario's bikini scene that served as a setdown to a couple of mean teenagers. She’s credited The White Lotus for a career resurgence in the past, and recently spoke out about whether or not she would be interested in returning to Mike White’s hotel-based universe. 

No surprise here, but the actress says she loved working with Survivor fan-favorite and TV creator Mike White. Should a future season of The White Lotus need her, she’d be open for a return, and I personally think it could be fun to get an update on what’s been going on with Rachel since the events in TWL’s Season 1 finale, though she told In Style:

Even before reading the quotes, it's no surprise her answer would be yes; the show has been critically acclaimed and a big career plus for those whose lives have been touched by it. However, one thing that is also worth pointing out about The White Lotus Season 1 is that it was filmed completely differently from most television shows. Wrapping in 2020, the show was actually the brainchild of HBO and Mike White simply wanting a series that could be filmed on location in one place after the cast quarantined. What better way to do so than at a luxury hotel?

While this worked for the first season of the series, that bit is not an experience the actress would love to repeat. And to her point, if she were able to come back, it would be like creating a totally different show with different parameters.

It's as good of a reason to want to come back as any, I'd wager. But the other point she made is the one I'm most interested in, as she'd noted she'd love to share a screen with Aubrey Plaza's character, Harper, an uptight wife who was having some challenges in her marriage during her season (Season 2) as well.

She said of the character she'd most like to be seen onscreen with she'd, "love to go with Aubrey Plaza anywhere."

I have no idea how those two characters would interact; whether they'd find commonalities or be repelled by one another, but I do think it would be fun to be a fly on the wall when they were filming. It helps that I was extremely invested in the Harper and Ethan storyline and the way it shaped out against the temptations of Ethan and Daphne

Of course, there's all kinds of speculation about which characters might come back in future seasons; Season 2 famously brought back Jennifer Coolidge and Season 3 has Natasha Rothwell coming back (from what we know so far about The White Lotus Season 3). Plus Season 3 has been teased as "longer, bigger, crazier."

Plus there's a whole subfandom who would really like to see more Survivor cameos on The White Lotus. I'm just saying, White has a lot of options that would also get my attention. All I need are a few more cameos to be fully sated; I'm just saying, Ms. Daddario has officially thrown her name into the mix.

As this summer marks five years since we said goodbye to Chris Evans’ Marvel stint in Avengers: Endgame, it’s surely been a fun journey to see where the actor has taken his career next. After playing Captain America for nearly a decade, a hero who was oftentimes way too wholesome for modern times, the actor has gravitated towards a ton of villain roles as of late, and will continue that trend with his next movie, Honey Don’t!

Chris Evans has reportedly just signed up to star in Ethan Coen’s latest comedy alongside Aubrey Plaza, whom he worked with before in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, and Margaret Qualley, who just worked with Coen on Drive-Away Dolls. Let’s get into how the project will continue his villain era. 

The Upcoming Movie Chris Evans Just Signed Up For 

As IndieWire reported on Wednesday, a movie called Honey Don’t! Is currently in the works from Ethan Coen (yes, of the Coen brothers) alongside his wife Tricia Cooke. The pair just worked together to write the roadtrip comedy Drive-Away Dolls, which is hitting theaters on February 23. They are already re-teaming for this Chris Evans film, which is described as a dark comedy and will see the actor apparently playing a cult leader. Qualley’s character will be a private eye, whereas Plaza’s role is described as a “mystery woman.” 

Honey Don’t! will be Ethan Coen’s second solo feature after Drive-Away Dolls’ release among the 2024 movies. His brother went solo first with 2021’s The Tragedy of Macbeth starring Denzel Washington. While the filmmaking brothers are on their own paths lately after making iconic films together like Fargo and The Big Lebowski, they haven’t discounted the possibility of reuniting for a future film. 

Chris Evans Has Been Playing A String Of Villains Lately 

Since Chris Evans hung up his shield in the MCU in 2019, he’s been in somewhat of a villain era. It started with 2019’s Knives Out when he played Hugh “Ransom” Drysdale, and has continued in the form of 2022’s The Gray Man and as a nasty pharmaceutical exec in 2023’s Pain Hustlers cast. When the actor was asked about picking roles different from Captain America after Endgame, he said that Steve Rogers was actually more “against type” than his other roles. 

Evans hasn’t only played the bad guy though. He also voiced Buzz Lightyear in 2022’s Lightyear and played an unlucky-in-love gent in Apple’s Ghosted, which broke records for the streaming service in 2023. While I enjoy watching Evans regardless of him being the good guy or a baddie, the idea of him playing a cult leader has me really intrigued. I think there’s so many ways Evans can approach a role like that, and I’m looking forward to him collaborating with Ethan Coen and re-teaming with Plaza. 

Aubrey Plaza is known as one of the funniest people in any room — she has proclaimed herself as "this generation's Billy Crystal," after all. So, it's not a shock that The White Lotus Season 2 cast's leading lady had a characteristically hilarious reaction to all of the social-media ribbing over her red-carpet appearance on Monday night when the winners of the 75th annual Emmy Awards were announced. 

The actress, who was nominated for Best Supporting Actress - Drama Series for her role as strait-laced lawyer Harper Spiller in The White Lotus Season 2, attended the TV awards ceremony wearing a gold gown from Loewe's Spring 2024 collection that featured a dramatic square bodice pierced with a giant "needle" straight through it:

And it's a look that had people talking, with many taking to social media to post memes and reactions to the designer dress, saying that the top half of the otherwise chic gown, unfortunately, resembled a classic yellow Post-it note. Of course, that led to online jokesters Photoshopping text onto the night's red-carpet photos of Plaza, which she gamely reposted to her own Instagram Stories and shared with her 4.5 million followers.

One Instagram account, @bravo_cadotoast, jokingly embellished pics of the actress with the go-to greeting from The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City cast member Lisa Barlow, as well as other memorable quotes from the Utah-based Housewives: 

Another account, @got2gonyc (a guide to free, public bathrooms in New York City), fittingly had a running bathroom theme to their Aubrey Plaza memes, including one that said:

The wellness-focused page @becoolasacucumber had a nice little "daily reminder" for followers to post on their mirrors "or your dress," the account joked: 

One frequent joke made by social-media users, including X poster @austinblakemays, compared the Loewe gown to the infamous Post-it note break-up scene between Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker) and her awful ex-boyfriend Jack Berger (Ron Livingston) in Season 6 of Sex and the City, a reference Plaza loved so much, she immortalized it in a grid carousel. In the SATC scene, Livingston's Berger basically ghosts his writer girlfriend, only leaving behind a solitary note that reads: 

But another Instagrammer, @tucartoons, stood out from the pack with their own post, which featured a cartoon rendering of the Parks and Rec star attending the 2024 Emmys. Cheekily written across the "pinned" Post-it was:

Clearly, Plaza was good-natured about the whole thing. Along with reposting several of the memes on her Instagram account, she posted a series of photos showing off her glamorous Emmys ensemble and showed her team and her date—her sister!—some social-media love: 

There will undoubtedly be more red carpets in Aubrey Plaza's near future: next on the 2024 TV schedule for the actress is Agatha: Darkhold Diaries and Monsters at Work, both for Disney+, so we'll likely be seeing more of the funny actress stepping out in glam outfits to support those projects. And maybe we'll get a meme or two out of it if we're lucky!

The stars were out in Los Angeles, as the biggest names in television gathered at the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards to celebrate the best actors, actresses and series that graced the small screen in 2023. For many, the best part about any awards show — in addition to seeing who took home the trophies — is seeing all of the amazing looks the celebrities put together, and the Emmys crowd certainly did not disappoint. 

Social media was buzzing over the hottest looks — and a couple of misses — from the Emmys red carpet, so let’s take a look at 6 of the most eye-catching fashion choices from Monday’s ceremony:

Issa Rae

Hi Barbie, indeed! Issa Rae was absolutely gorgeous in a cream-colored Pamella Roland gown. Crystals and pearls streamed down the floor-length dress, making the feathers sparkle, particularly on its wing-like long sleeves. The actress was making waves on social media as viewers said on X (Twitter): 

• I wouldn't like this on anyone else but it feels so authentically Issa and the details are gorgeous – TheOldMeg
• Issa Rae is absolutely perfect. – aslivedbyBria
• Issa Rae's dress at the Emmys is STRAIGHT FIYAH!!! OMG! – chilltowntv

Suki Waterhouse

You have to love a good baby bump moment on the red carpet, and as Suki Waterhouse and Robert Pattinson prepare to welcome their first child, the Daisy Jones & The Six actress showed off her growing belly in a red Valentino dress that was to die for. The backless gown featured a large bow below Waterhouse’s stomach, and she wore her hair down in natural waves. Fans loved the look, writing: 

• Um, this is insane. What a goddess. – drebythesea
• MOTHER IS MOTHERING! – bestsukiw

Selena Gomez

Selena Gomez straight-up dropped jaws when she arrived to the Emmys in a sheer Oscar de la Renta embellished with maroon sequins — 450,000 sequins to be exact, according to E!’s red carpet correspondent. She complemented the look with a statement necklace, dark lips to match her gown and velvet maroon heels. The fans voted and the results were unanimous: 

• Omg Selena looks stunning – Ceci20GS
• Selena Gomez looking so STUNNING. SHE'S SO GORGEOUS – repfolkorian
• Selena served this time 🔥 – @cosm1co

RuPaul's Drag Race Cast

Every member of the RuPaul's Drag Race cast who appeared on the red carpet deserved a moment to shine, as it’s no surprise they went all out for their ensembles. However, Princess Poppy specifically garnered a lot of attention, dressing from head to toe as a green troll. When asked about what inspired the look, Poppy told EW:  

Princess Poppy certainly turned heads but not necessarily in a bad way. Several social media users were calling the fashion statement “iconic.” 

Sam Richardson

The dresses always garner the most attention at any red carpet, but you have to love when the guys make a splash too. Sam Richardson, who won Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for his performance on Ted Lasso, looked amazing in a textured white jacket with black shirt and pants. 

Aubrey Plaza

The most polarizing look of the night — well, green trolls not included — went to Aubrey Plaza, whose pastel yellow Loewe gown featured a giant sewing needle across the neckline. While some loved the unique look and its “don’t come near me or I’ll stab you” vibes, others didn’t quite get the ensemble, commenting: 

• Why does it look like Aubrey Plaza is wearing a Kraft cheese square? – Seanlofficial
• I legit gasped at what Aubrey Plaza is wearing - and not at all in a good way. – mizjawnson
• A large manilla envelope of documents stapled to Aubrey Plaza’s boob – calmdownbecky

It was great to see the hottest TV stars out on the red carpet, especially after the ceremony was delayed in September due to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. The night featured a Grey’s Anatomy reunion that included Katherine Heigl, and Pedro Pascal giving an A+ response to Kieran Culkin’s zinger from the Golden Globes. 

If you missed any of the drama or amazing fashion moments, the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards can be streamed with a Hulu subscription on January 16, and be sure to check out our 2024 TV schedule to see what premieres are coming soon. 

We see it quite often – comedians and comedic actors cut their teeth performing stand-up or appearing on beloved sketch comedy shows before knocking everyone’s socks off with a remarkable and remarkably emotional dramatic role. Sometimes, these earn the actors and actresses Academy Awards or at least their first Oscar nomination for unforgettable performances that make us cry as much as they once made us laugh.

That being said, here are 32 examples of people known for their comedy being great in dramatic roles…

Robin Williams

Even before Robin Williams earned a much-deserved Oscar for his performance in Good Will Hunting, the comedian proved time and time again that he was more than capable when it came to dramatic roles. In fact some of Williams’ best movies like Dead Poets Society and Awakenings showed early on what he could achieve in a less comedic capacity. And let’s not forget his frightening turns in One Hour Photo and Insomnia.

Jim Carrey

After being an almost guaranteed box office draw in the mid 1990s, Jim Carrey showed he was more than just an over-the-top slapstick comedian with roles in The Truman Show and Man on the Moon. However, Carrey’s most notable dramatic turn, and probably his best overall performance can be found in 2004’s Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

Eddie Murphy

For years, Eddie Murphy was well-known for beloved comedic roles in classics like Coming to America, 48 Hrs., and Beverly Hills Cop, but he’s also displayed a more dramatic side over the years. At the top of this list is Dreamgirls, the 2006 musical drama that saw him take on the role of James “Thunder” Early, a performance that should have earned him an Oscar.

Whoopi Goldberg

Whoopi Goldberg is an all-time great comedian who has made audiences laugh with her stand-up specials and various film and TV projects for the better part of the past 40 years. During that time, Goldberg has also given us some of the richest and most nuanced dramatic performances like her take on Celie Harris Johnson in Steven Spielberg’s The Color Purple, which earned her a Golden Globe and numerous other accolades.

Adam Sandler

When he wants, Adam Sandler can stand toe-to-toe with just about any living actor. Though he’s mostly known for his various comedies like Happy Gilmore, The Waterboy, and the Grown Ups movies, let’s not forget his outstanding dramatic performances in Punch-Drunk Love, Reign Over Me, and Uncut Gems. Watching Sandler in the Safdie Brothers’ 2019 crime thriller is like watching a completely different actor.

Steve Carell

Around the same time Steve Carell was making us fall over with laughter with his portrayal as Michael Scott on The Office, he was also giving audiences some of the best dramatic performances in movies like Little Miss Sunshine and Foxcatcher. Even since then, Carell has continued to steal the show with heart-wrenching turns in Beautiful Boy and Last Flag Flying.

Jamie Foxx

Jamie Foxx made a name for himself as one of the funniest comedians on the planet in the early ‘90s thanks to shows like In Living Color and The Jamie Foxx Show, which he followed up with some truly great movies in the final decade of the 20th century. But in 2004, Foxx showed off his dramatic chops in Michael Mann’s thrilling Collateral and the must-watch music biopic, Ray, a performance that earned him an Oscar.

Aubrey Plaza 

To some, Aubrey Plaza will always be remembered for her hilarious portrayal of April Ludgate on Parks and Recreation, but the comedian has given some commanding dramatic performances over the years as well. Movies like Emily the Criminal and Black Bear, as well as the second season of The White Lotus, have shown she’s a force to be reckoned with.

Melissa McCarthy

Okay, Melissa McCarthy may be one of the funniest comedic actors on the planet right now, but let’s not overlook her gripping portrayal of literary fraudster Lee Israel in 2018’s Can You Ever Forgive Me, a movie that saw her hold her own with Richard E. Grant. That’s not nothing.

Will Ferrell

Though Will Ferrell’s dramatic roles still have the comedian's unique style of humor, his performances in Everything Must Go and Stranger Than Fiction are still worth bringing up. He’s less manic and a tad bit quieter in these two movies, but that charm is still there, which really messes with your head.

Ben Stiller

Ben Stiller has shown over the years that he can do more than play the lovable loser in movies like Meet the Parents, detestable villains in Dodgeball, or caricatures of models in Zoolander. In fact, he’s given quite a few outstanding dramatic performances in everything from The Secret Life of Walter Mitty to the gutting Permanent Midnight.

Mo'Nique

In addition to being a prolific comedian with multiple stand-up specials including The Queens of Comedy, as well as having a lead role on the long-running sitcom, The Parkers, Mo’Nique is also an Academy Award, Golden Globe, and BAFTA winner thanks to her lights out performance in the 2009 drama film, Precious. 

Bette Midler

Bette Midler has made us laugh ourselves out of our seats countless times over the years, but her performance as Cecilia Bloom in Beaches has been making everyone cry for decades now. It’s impossible to listen to “Wind Beneath My Wings” without thinking of that masterful dramatic turn.

Richard Pryor

Legendary stand-up comedian Richard Pryor had a series of comedies with frequent collaborator Gene Wilder at the height of his career, but the comic also gave a dynamic dramatic performance in Paul Schrader’s 1978 crime film, Blue Collar. The movie, which showed the actor’s range, also featured Harvey Keitel and Yaphet Kotto. Talk about a cast.

Lily Tomlin

Lily Tomlin, an actress who continues to thrive decades into her career, is best known for performances in comedies like 9 to 5, shows like Grace and Frankie, and various stand-up specials and Broadway productions. But Tomlin can also pull off dramatic roles like her Academy Award-nominated performance in Nashville, her feature film debut.

Albert Brooks

Albert Brooks is wonderfully hilarious in movies like Finding Nemo, Broadcast News, and so many others, but his trademark happy-go-lucky and funny sensibility and charm went out the window with his bone-chilling portrayal of Bernie Rose in Drive. Ice cold.

Marlon Wayans

Here’s something wild to think about: Marlon Wayans played the stereotypical stoner Shorty in the parody horror flick Scary Movie and Tyrone in Darren Aronofsky’s devastating drama Requiem for a Dream in the same year. During the latter film’s development, the star of The Wayan Bros., the comedian had to go through five auditions.

Kristen Wiig

Some of Kristen Wiig’s best movies are those that lean more towards the dramatic side of the spectrum, with Mother, The Skeleton Twins, and The Secret Life of Walter Mitty all coming to mind. This isn’t to say her comedic work isn’t great, as Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar is legitimately one of the funniest movies of the 2020s.

Jason Segel

Jason Segel, through shows like Freaks & Geeks and How I Met Your Mother, has shown time after time that he’s undeniably hilarious. However, through work in movies like The End of the Tour and the 1999 dramedy SLC Punk, the actor has proven he can handle more dramatic performances as good as the rest.

Steve Martin

On top of being the all-time best SNL host, Steve Martin is also one of the most prolific actors of our time. But in addition to all of that, the actor, writer, musician, and what we can assume is a generally good hang, Martin can also pull off more dramatic roles. This can best be seen in the 2005 romantic drama, Shopgirl, which was based on one of his novellas.

Maya Rudolph

Two years after her Saturday Night Live tenure came to an end, Maya Rudolph gave a passionate and beautiful performance in Sam Mendes’ 2009 dramedy, Away We Go. The role, which saw her play the pregnant wife trying to find a place to settle down, allowed the comedic actress to play a more grounded, and sincere character.

Goldie Hawn

In 1991, Goldie Hawn took on the role of Adrienne Saunders in Damian Harris’ psychological thriller, Deceived, which saw her play the wife of the manipulative Frank Sullivan (John Heard in a devilish role). Though the movie wasn’t all that well-received, Hawn was still masterful in it, showing a great deal of range in the process.

Seth Rogen

Seth Rogen has given one wonderfully funny performance after another for nearly the past quarter-century, but the actor and writer behind movies like Superbad and Pineapple Express can handle his own when it comes to drama. Danny Boyle’s 2015 biopic, Steve Jobs, saw the comedian portray Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, which required him to go head-to-head with Michael Fassbender’s tech CEO in some extremely intense scenes.

Kevin Hart

Kevin Hart made the jump to serious drama in The Upside in 2019, an English remake of the french film, The Intouchables. However, this wouldn’t be a one and done type situation for the comedian. He would give another emotional performance in the 2021 Netflix drama, Fatherhood, in which he played a widower trying to raise his daughter in the wake of his wife’s sudden passing.

Jack Black

After dipping his toes in the drama waters with his charming performance in The Holiday, Jack Black played his darkest role yet in the 2011 crime biopic, Bernie. In Richard Linklater’s movie, Black took on the role of mortician Bernhardt “Bernie” Tiede, who was later convicted of murdering his friend and millionaire Marjorie Nugent (Shirley MacLane). 

Anna Kendrick

Anna Kendrick is best known for her starring roles in musical comedies like the Pitch Perfect franchise and the Trolls animated movies, but the comedic actress has also given commanding dramatic performances. This includes the likes of Up in the Air, 50/50, Alice Darling, and A Simple Favor, all of which show her dynamic range.

Awkwafina

If you look at Awkwafina’s best movies, you’ll see a lot of great comedies like Crazy Rich Asians, Ocean’s Eight, and Quiz Lady. However, you’ll also find Lulu Wang’s 2019 drama, The Farewell, which saw the comedian pull off a whole range of emotions throughout its story. In fact, she even won a Golden Globe for her performance.

John Lithgow

John Lithgow has had a remarkable career full of great comedies, including 3rd Rock from the Sun and Shrek, but he’s also given some impressive dramatic performances throughout his career. Be it shows like Dexter and The Crown or a list of movies that includes Killers of the Flower Moon, Terms of Endearment, and Interstellar, the decorated actor has always been able to pull off some impressive feats.

Jerry Lewis

One-half of Martin and Lewis with Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis was one of the funniest names in show business throughout his career, be it with his Vegas shows or various movies like The Nutty Professor and The Ladies Man. But Lewis also gave a terrific dramatic performance in Martin Scorsese’s The King of Comedy, which saw the legendary comedian play a late night TV host kidnapped by an obsessed fan (played by Robert De Niro).

Jennifer Aniston

Jennifer Aniston will always be remembered for her take on Rachel Green in the landmark sitcom, Friends, but the actress has since taken on some rather dramatic roles that worked quite well. One of the most notable is the 2014 drama, Cake, which saw Aniston take on the role of a woman coming to terms with the death of her son.

Jonah Hill

Jonah Hill spent the better part of the 2000s appearing in comedies like Superbad, Grandma’s Boy, and Accepted, but he started to take more dramatic roles in the 2010s. One of the most promising was his part in 2011’s Moneyball, which saw him play Billy Beane’s (Brad Pitt) incredibly intelligent (and sometimes awkward) assistant to great effect.

Steve Coogan

Steve Coogan is lights out in comedies like the Night at the Museum movies and Tropic Thunder, but he was equally as good in the 2013 drama film, Philomena, which saw him take on the role of a journalist helping a woman (played by Judi Dench) track down the son she was force to give up for adoption decades earlier.

Each of these comedians found a way to turn audience expectations on their head and give us some all-time great dramatic performances. It’s safe to say we’ll never forget some of these beloved, and wonderfully emotional roles and the people who brought them to life.

While there’s never a bad time to go to a theme park, the best time may very well be right now. The Halloween season starts early at places like Disneyland Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood. Halloween decorations are already up at Disney World, and Universal’s famed Halloween Horror Nights get started this week. But while nearly every major theme park resort celebrates Halloween over the next two months, they all do it in very different ways.

Being the two biggest theme park companies, Disney and Universal are by and far the leaders and the two companies certainly come at Halloween from two very different directions. A viral video going around Twitter from Christopher Ripley explains it just about as well as I possibly could, pulling a clip of Aubrey Plaza and Chris Pratt from Parks & Recreation to show the difference between one resort’s fun and games Halloween, and the other’s dark and violent horror night. Check it out.

I’ll be honest, I never watched Parks & Recreation so this clip was new to me, but I absolutely love it because there’s no better way to show just how differently Disney and Universal approach Halloween. One of them goes hard into the horror aspects of the holiday, trying to make you scream, while the only fear that comes from the other is clearly a fear that somebody might actually be scared. 

That isn’t necessarily a knock against either one, it’s actually great that we have both. If you like dressing up in costume and going trick or treating and seeing characters that are scary, but without them trying to scare you, you can go to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom or to Oogie Boogie Bash at Disney California Adventure. 

Disney, being the “family-friendly” company is obviously not looking to truly scare their guests. Not everybody loves being scared, especially kids. It’s the reason Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion was made just as funny as it was scary because there was a fear that fans wouldn't embrace it if it really scared them

If you don’t mind a bit more (fake) blood and guts, something that could legitimately make you jump out and scream in terror, then there’s Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios in both Hollywood and Florida. Instead of Mickey and Minnie in costume, they'll have Chucky trying to kill you and the infected monsters of The Last of Us hunting for you

All over the country will see a variety of special Halloween events that run the gamut when it comes to how much they try to terrify. There is sure to be something pretty close to perfect for everyone, but it also allows the different parks to differentiate themselves and offer things a little different to the potential guests. 

The 2023 WGA strike and SAG-AFTRA strike are in full swing, with many big stars pulling up to show their support on the picket lines. There have been many cast reunions, including the former Shameless stars who walked the lines together, and a pair of Chicago P.D. actors who joined forces to strike for the cause. Now, the cast members of Parks and Recreation are picketing together, and even brought their own Li’l Sebastian miniature horse to help with the fight. Aubrey Plaza joined her former castmates as well, channeling all of her April Ludgate energy. 

The Parks and Rec cast went all-out on the picket lines, truly getting into the Pawnee spirit while fighting for a better contract for the actors and the writers of the entertainment industry. Many main cast members showed up to join the cause, including Adam Scott, Retta, Nick Offerman, and Jim O’Heir, to name a few. Susan Yeagley, who played recurring character Jessica Wicks for many episodes throughout the run, posted a compilation of photos from the day. You can see her Instagram post below:

In the show, the citizens of the fictional town of Pawnee have a bizarre obsession with a miniature horse named Li’l Sebastian, which is referenced throughout the series. One of Parks and Rec’s most memorable and beloved episodes is when the horse passes away, and the town comes together to hold an emotional funeral. Adam Scott’s Ben is an outsider, and is utterly bewildered by the whole thing. Hopefully, Scott learned to love the horse while picketing alongside the animal. Parks and Rec fans know how meaningful it is to have Li’l Sebastian supporting the movement.

Aubrey Plaza, who got her start on the popular NBC sitcom, also joined her former co-stars. She truly got into the spirit, as the sign she held was totally in line with her character, April. Her sign read “Ann Perkins works for the AMPTP,” which is a reference to April’s hatred for Rashida Jones’ Ann character throughout the show. The AMPTP is the negotiation body of major studios who are joining forces opposite the WGA and SAG. She posted a photo of herself posing with the sign alongside show co-creator Michael Schur and Li'l Sebastian. You can see the picture from her Instagram story below:

Seeing well-loved television stars like the Parks and Rec cast on the picket lines is incredibly important for the movement. It gives visibility to the strikes, and high-profile supporters provide meaningful voices when it comes to support from the public. On the show, the members of the Pawnee Parks and Recreation Department unite for causes they believe in and build a better future for their small town. It seems so apropos that the cast would unite for a cause that is affecting their community in real life. 

You can revisit the widely adored sitcom now, as all seasons of Parks and Recreation are streaming now with a Peacock subscription. Fans of the series should also check out our picks for some of the best Parks and Rec episodes, which feature the wonderful and union-supporting cast. 

Although NBC’s beloved workplace sitcom Parks and Recreation ended back in 2015, every once in a while that show seems to come back in unique ways. In 2020, the Parks and Rec cast had a special reunion episode of the series where everyone was connecting by way of Zoom. Fans were able to see not only how their favorites from the Pawnee Parks and Recreation Department were doing, but to see how COVID has affected them all. Flash-forward three years, and Aubrey Plaza surprisingly brought back April Ludgate when she hosted Saturday Night Live, but she opens up about how it actually terrified her.

When Aubrey Plaza hosted SNL back in January, she played the monotone, sarcastic former intern on Weekend Update. And while it had only been three years since she last played April, that doesn’t mean it was semingly easy to slip back into character. In an interview with The LA Times, the White Lotus cast member admitted that she was terrified that she wouldn’t be able to play April as well as she used to:

Even though Aubrey Plaza was scared, she did end up going through with it and definitely killed it. Between the outfit, voice, and personality, it was like nothing had changed for April/ Plaza, and you wouldn’t even think that she was scared. It’s likely every actor feels that way at some point when it comes to reprising a role they haven’t done for a while, especially if it’s live. But what made it a bit easier for Plaza was the fact that she had one of her former co-stars right next to her while doing Weekend Update:

When Amy Poehler made a surprise appearance on Weekend Update as Leslie Knope, it was again like nothing had changed. Still playing the perky-as-ever character, Poehler seemed to have slipped right into that signature role. And it sounds like having a familiar face right next to her helped ease Plaza’s nerves. It’s been close to 10 years since Parks and Rec came to an end, and even with the reunion special three years ago, it’s still hard to get back into character. Luckily, by the sounds of the cheers in the audience during Weekend Update, it was like we were all back in 2015.

There are a lot of Aubrey Plaza TV shows and movies, but no matter how much time passes and no matter how many other projects she’s been in Parks and Rec will always be close to her heart. The fact that she definitely did not need to do April Ludgate for SNL and decided to go for it (perhaps to go along with her master plan for the sketch-comedy series) with Amy Poehler no less shows that she is truly dedicated to the series still after all this time. And her fans, who probably also had a hand in making her decide since she likely knew how much they would love it. 

Since April Ludgate’s return was for a special occasion, its unlikely fans will be seeing her again, at least for a while. Luckily they can stream all seven seasons of the NBC sitcom with a Peacock subscription and enjoy every last minute of Aubrey Plaza’s portrayal, as well as her episode of Saturday Night Live.

It often feels like rom-coms are a dime a dozen, but the truth is that the best romantic comedies are ones built on several things. Fans of the genre enjoy snappy dialogue, inventive and/or realistic complications for the central couple, a swoon-worthy love story, and, of course, main characters portrayed by actors who have more than enough on-screen chemistry to make all of those pieces come together. 

What’s great about romantic comedies is that we’ve gotten more than enough couples like this over the past two plus decades, but some of them have either only partnered one time (which, granted, may be because their pairing is still relatively new), or haven’t been in a film together for many years now. So, let’s take a look at the (mostly) rom-com partners that we really think should make another movie together!

Meg Ryan And Tom Hanks

This duo probably feels like a no-brainer to you, and, well, it should! Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks have memorably joined forces for two rom-com hits, Sleepless in Seattle and You’ve Got Mail, plus the 1990 cult favorite romantic comedy, Joe Versus the Volcano, so there’s no reason for them not to really round things out with a fourth film. I’d be down for a second chance romance where they learn to love again, wouldn’t you?

Diane Keaton And Keanu Reeves 

Yes, yes… Already I’m cheating here, but only a tiny bit. While the magnetic on-screen coupling of Diane Keaton and Keanu Reeves wasn’t the main focus of Something’s Gotta Give, I have spent the past 20 years wishing they were. So, let's get these adorably crazy kids back together! They could play any kind of couple (bickering marrieds who are clearly still hot for each other, two folks who shouldn’t get together but can’t help themselves, etc.) and I’d be in the theater on opening night.

Lana Condor And Noah Centineo

Honestly, there might not be a cuter couple on this list. The dreamy teen romance movie pairing of Lana Condor and Noah Centineo was, obviously, gifted to everyone with a Netflix subscription in the To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before trilogy, and there’s a reason that so many people fell head over heels for them. These two sorta sparkle together on screen, and I’d love to see them reunite in a romance (or any comedy) that’s got more of an adult edge to it.

Alison Brie And Jason Sudeikis

We all adore it when a rom-com gives us something different, and 2015’s Sleeping with Other People does just that with its story of friends who openly acknowledge their sexual tension, but purposely avoid doing anything about it so as to not screw up what they have. Alison Brie and Ted Lasso cast lead Jason Sudeikis are amazing as the friends in question, and I’d love to see them bring their casual, but still sexy, chemistry to another film. 

Jenny Slate And Jake Lacy

A true pleasure of watching Obvious Child was seeing the relationship between Jenny Slate and Jake Lacy’s characters develop as she has trouble revealing that she’s getting an abortion several weeks after their one-night stand. They work great as a duo with a clear attraction that’s impeded by a secret, and we’d really appreciate it if we could watch him warm her butter and make her tea in a movie that sees them as fully coupled characters.

Constance Wu And Henry Golding

I cannot tell a lie; some of the reason for Constance Wu and Henry Golding making the list is simply because we are all dying for the Crazy Rich Asians sequel we’ve been promised for several years now. While we wait, I’m hoping we can at least get those two into another fun rom-com where he can bring his posh, suave energy to meet her adorably spunky, girl-next-door verve.

Emma Stone And Ryan Gosling

What’s not to love about Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling, especially when they star opposite each other in a romantic story? They were sweet, sexy, bantery, and slightly goofy together in Crazy, Stupid, Love, then had all of that with more emotional depth in La La Land, and also had the same chemistry in Gangster Squad, but with an added veneer of danger. It’s been a rough few years; the world needs more of their exact thing, OK?

Kate Hudson And Matthew McConaughey

I know, I know! Matthew McConaughey doesn’t make rom-coms anymore, but that’s honestly no reason why he can’t re-team with Kate Hudson, 20 years after they first hit the screen together in How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days. The engaging push-and-pull of their romance in that film can easily be translated to, say, a movie where each is portraying a lawyer on the opposite side of a big murder case. There! Someone make that movie!

Queen Latifah And Common

Just Wright might not be the first movie you think of when it comes to Queen Latifah or romantic comedies, but it’s hard to deny that watching her play off of Common as they slowly go from not-quite-enemies to lovers was a genuine treat. Now all we need is the right vehicle for them so their individual easygoing charm can show us how well-matched they are on screen.

Jennifer Garner And Mark Ruffalo

There’s a reason that 13 Going On 30 is still so popular almost two decades later. That reason is Jennifer Garner’s joyful, weirdo energy as a teen suddenly transplanted to her adult life, sure, but it’s also how Mark Ruffalo calmly reconnects with the childhood friend he’d long ago lost touch with. They're just sweet together, OK? We saw them in The Adam Project. We need more!

Sandra Bullock And Channing Tatum

The luminous and hilarious pairing of Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum was definitely not on my rom-com bingo card, but damn, it was a joy to behold once we got it. In The Lost City, they were perfect as a starchy and grieving romance novelist and her incredibly sweet but somewhat dim cover model who get caught in a life-or-death situation in the jungle, and all I can hope for is that we someday have a sequel to enjoy.

Billy Eichner And Luke Macfarlane

If an opposites attract energy is your thing, there’s no way for you not to enjoy the pairing of Billy Eichner and Luke Macfarlane. The Bros stars only just met up on screen in 2022, but we’d love to see them reunite in a rom-com that switches Eichner’s intense characterization and Macfarlane’s laid-back vibe around for additional laughs.

Meg Ryan And Hugh Jackman

Kate & Leopold is the rare romance where Meg Ryan’s character is less than sweet for much of the film, but watching her early ‘00s driven career woman begin to soften with the attentions of Hugh Jackman’s fancy man from the 1870s was a delight. Now if we can just get them to play off of one another when both are from the modern day, all will be right in the world.

Anne Hathaway And Chris Pine

We all know that The Princess Diaries 2 is so beloved that fans have wanted to bring the cast back for the now in development third movie for nearly 20 years, and part of that was because of the sweet, (sorta) slow burn love story between Anne Hathaway and Chris Pine’s characters. While everyone would love to see them as a long-married couple in a sequel, we’d also take them as, oh, I don’t know, bickering co-workers who can’t deny their attraction, so let’s stop stalling and get this coupling back on the big screen!

Julia Roberts And Hugh Grant

Look, I know that Hugh Grant is fully in his slimy villain era right now and is hilariously against even attempting rom-coms again. But! I think that makes the potential of this Notting Hill pairing coming back together even more appealing. Let him play a con-man who tricks Julia Roberts into falling in love, only to steal all her money and force her to track him down with a hilarious vengeance. I’d buy a ticket for that, OK?

Jennifer Lopez And George Clooney

Sure, sure. I’m cheating this entry a bit because, technically, Jennifer Lopez and George Clooney didn't star in a traditional rom-com together, but who among us can deny that they were HOT in Out of Sight? No one, that’s who! I say we get these two into a proper romantic comedy, but maybe one that’s not another Lopez wedding movie, just to switch things up.

Sanaa Lathan And Omar Epps 

Yes, this is another, more direct, fudging of this article’s concept, because Sanaa Lathan and Omar Epps were a romantic drama pairing in Love & Basketball… but they were SO GOOD TOGETHER. Watching them play out a long-term path to eventual happiness was extremely satisfying, but maybe this time we can use that chemistry of theirs for a couple that has more good times than stressful ones.

Cristin Milioti And Andy Samberg

The chances that Cristin Milioti and Andy Samberg will strike time loop movie gold again after Palm Springs is incredibly unlikely, and we wouldn’t want them to try. Instead, why not let these two portray criminals on the run for separate crimes who accidentally cross paths and fall in love while they’re on the lam? They can give us that same adorably wacky enthusiasm that we all loved the first time around that way!

Kristen Stewart And Aubrey Plaza

If you saw Happiest Season, then you saw the undeniable spark between Kristen Stewart and Aubrey Plaza as their characters (Who weren’t even dating!) dealt with a lot of toxicity during Christmastime. They managed to genuinely bond (and look great doing it) over their similar relationship trauma, so I say we go ahead and give these two an even bubblier romantic comedy where they can actually freakin’ end up as a couple! 

Gemma Chan And Harry Shum Jr. 

Obviously, we didn’t get a real romance between the characters played by Gemma Chan and Harry Shum Jr. in Crazy Rich Asians, but the movie sure did set up the promise of fulfilling the epic love story that was a part of Kevin Kwan’s novel trilogy. Fans got a very brief scene of them looking all cute and dreamy with each other and dancing during the mid-credits scene, so hear me now: WE NEED THAT ASTRID AND CHARLIE SPINOFF, ASAP!

Issa Rae And Kumail Nanjiani

It may be hard to cast two people who have perfect romantic chemistry, but it could be even harder to find a duo who can portray the first glorious blush of falling in love, that same couple once they’ve begun to fall apart, and then play them as they start to get closer… because they’re on the run after being accused of murder. Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani are those people, and we’ve been wanting them back on screen since The Lovebirds to do something just as crazy and rom-commy again.

Reese Witherspoon And Josh Lucas

If you’re looking for a bickering duo who are hot together no matter what, that’s Sweet Home Alabama’s Reese Witherspoon and Josh Lucas, for sure. I’m sure they’d be great doing anything on screen, but also doubt anyone would mind if they paired for a story that would let them fight (and fight through) their attraction until they finally admit their feelings for each other.

Rachel McAdams And Domhnall Gleeson

You know what’s coming, right? After being apart for a decade, it’s About Time that Rachel McAdams and Domhnall Gleeson join forces again to bring fans another lovey dovey couple, and we don’t even care what the set up is!

Sarah Hyland And Tyler James Williams

Never has it been more enjoyable to watch a woman who’s not sure about the whole marriage thing date a man who’s very much ready for a long-term commitment than in The Wedding Year, and that was because of the well-matched chemistry/comedic energy of Sarah Hyland and Tyler James Williams. I think these two would be fantastic in an action/adventure rom-com like The Lost City!

Kristen Bell And Dustin Milligan 

Though Kristen Bell and Dustin Milligan starred in The People We Hate at the Wedding, which was more of a straight ahead comedy, they had a definite romantic comedy storyline and played off of each other beautifully. I’m imagining a cinematic rematch for them that involves both of their characters being messy and a bit angry this time, and I think they’ll be a delight to watch once again.

Vivian Oparah And David Jonsson

Even though Vivian Oparah and David Jonsson are a very new rom-com pairing, as their starring vehicle, Rye Lane, debuted in early 2023, there’s no doubting the fizzy joy one gets from watching their characters meet cute and end up slowly becoming attracted to each other over the course of one eventful day. These two can do anything together next, but I don’t think anyone would mind a sequel where we get to see this romance progress!

If nothing else, while we wait to see if these rom-com partners get back together on the big screen, we can all at least go back and enjoy the amazing films they’ve already given us!

When it comes to some of the most known actresses that are around these days, one of the first ones I think of is Aubrey Plaza. While she is known for many roles during her time as an actress, she has only gone up in popularity over the years and gained more and more fans through her excellent acting and hilarious comedic timing. 

She was even named one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People in 2023, and if you’re like me, and you’re looking for the best Aubrey Plaza movies and television shows and where to watch them. So, look no further because we have you covered. 

Parks And Recreation (2009 – 2015)

First up on this list is Parks and Recreation. The iconic sitcom released from 2009 – 2015 and mainly followed Leslie Knope, a deputy director of the Parks and Recreation department in her town, Pawnee, IN, and her daily life working with her co-workers and the people of her town. 

Plaza portrayed April Ludgate, which was a huge breakout role for her. Ludgate became a major fan favorite for many, thanks to Plaza’s incredible acting and her comedic timing, instantly turning her into a certified star. She even had the chance to reprise the role in a reunion special in 2020. While the entire Parks and Recreation cast is stellar, I have a special place in my heart for Plaza as Ludgate. 

Stream Parks and Recreation on Peacock.

Happiest Season (2020)

Next up on the list is the modern-day Christmas movie, Happiest Season. This film follows a young woman who is having trouble coming out to her parents as gay, even though her girlfriend has come to visit with the family for the holiday.

Arguably, Happiest Season is one of the best modern Christmas movies I’ve seen and it’s genuinely because the cast is so fun, and that includes Plaza’s character, Riley, who's Harper’s ex-girlfriend. She’s great in this role and really shines through despite being a supporting character, and I love the interactions she has with Abby (played by Kristen Stewart)

Stream Happiest Season on Hulu.

Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World (2010)

I’m sure that everyone and their mother has heard of this film. Scott Pilgrim vs. The World tells the story of the titular character, a slacker who, in order to win the affection of Ramona Flowers, has to fight off her evil exes. 

This movie is just ridiculous in every sense of the word, but you can’t help but enjoy the heck out of it, and that’s thanks to the Scott Pilgrim vs. The World cast, as well as Plaza as Julie Powers. Her deadpan expression mixed in with the jokes gets me every time, and I can’t wait to hear her voice the same character in the upcoming Scott Pilgrim anime that is releasing on Netflix. 

Stream Scott Pilgrim vs. The World on Peacock.
Rent/Buy Scott Pilgrim vs. The World on Amazon.

Black Bear (2020)

Black Bear is a comedy drama starring Aubrey Plaza in the lead role. It follows the story of a filmmaker who is a retired actress and is looking for inspiration to figure out her next move in life, using a couple at a lake house in order to find something to write about. Things quickly start to take a turn for the worse as the night progresses. 

The movie is certainly something different from Plaza that fans of her haven’t seen, as it really shows just how brilliant she can be as a dramatic actress. While she’s done other movies outside of her typical wheelhouse, Black Bear is one of the best and you should definitely give this crazy film a try. 

Stream Black Bear on Paramount+.
Rent/Buy Black Bear on Amazon.

Legion (2017 – 2019)

Moving on, we take a look at Legion, a television series released on FX and set in a different timeline from the X-Men movies. It mainly follows David Haller, a mutant who is struggling to control his powers while also attempting to stay out of the government’s grip, as he's constantly being hunted. 

Plaza was one of the main characters of Season 2, and I want to talk about her character but I feel like even that would be giving too much away. She's really awesome in this role, and it makes me want to see her in way more superhero-esque parts, because she knocked it out of the park. Legion will get you excited for her in Agatha: Coven of Chaos. That’s all I’ll say. 

Stream Legion on Hulu.

Safety Not Guaranteed (2012) 

In this comedy starring Aubrey Plaza and Mark Duplass, Safety Not Guaranteed follows the story of an intern at Seattle Magazine who investigates an ad asking for a time travel partner, which notes that whoever takes the trip will not have their safety guaranteed. Once she meets the man behind the ad, things really get crazy. 

This move is funny. That’s all you really need to know. It’s hilarious, the chemistry is there between Plaza and Duplass, and it really stands out as such a fun movie. This is the kind of film you would watch on a rainy day and just laugh your butt off. Such a good time. 

Rent/Buy Safety Not Guaranteed on Amazon.

Mike And Dave Need Wedding Dates (2016)

Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates is a classic Aubrey Plaza movie. This romantic comedy film, starring Zac Efron and Adam DeVine, as guys who are in search of wedding dates for their sister’s wedding, and the story of the two girls who answered their ad.

This movie is so funny, but what really drives it for me is the chemistry between Plaza and her co-star, Anna Kendrick, who is freaking awesome. I love watching them together and would willingly watch them again. 

Rent/Buy Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates on Amazon.

The White Lotus, Season 2 (2022)

The White Lotus is a popular HBO series that takes place across multiple locations, telling stories of a select group of vacationers who are travelling to The White Lotus resorts across the world, and the trouble they run into while looking for their paradise.

The star was a part of the cast of the second season and received a ton of praise for her role. Not only was she nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress, but she killed it in every scene she was in. I truly did not think that she could get better in a television series but this proved me wrong. 

Honestly, if you haven’t gotten the chance to watch either season of The White Lotus yet, do yourself a favor and check them both out. You won’t regret it. 

Stream The White Lotus Season 2 on HBO Max.

Ingrid Goes West (2017)

This comedy-drama features Aubrey Plaza as Ingrid in a movie about a social media user who becomes obsessed with an influencer and follows her across the country just because she believes she has a relationship with her.

I honestly think that this film is one of Plaza’s best out of many on this list, because not only does it highlight her comedic ability yet again, but you really get to see her play with drama as well. The character of Ingrid is unpredictable – and she’ll keep surprising you as the movie progresses. 

Stream Ingrid Goes West on HBO Max.
Rent/Buy Ingrid Goes West on Amazon.

Emily The Criminal (2022)

Last but not least, we have Emily the Criminal, which focuses on a young woman who has a lot of college debt, but in her quest to try and pay it back, she is pulled into a scam and the criminal underworld of Los Angeles. 

I personally love Plaza in this role and the rest of the world did too, because it was a pretty big deal when it dropped on Netflix and ended up becoming a huge hit for the platform. She's awesome as usual and it’s wonderful to see her in a thrilling crime drama such as this. 

Stream Emily the Criminal on Netflix.
Rent/Buy Emily the Criminal on Amazon.

With all of these movies and shows, I’m sure there’s something here that you haven’t seen that you’re excited to watch now. Let’s have some fun and check out some great Aubrey Plaza titles together, shall we? 

Every once in a while, there is a movie that truly changes a generation and brings us a cast that is the definition of star-studded. You can’t help but look back on it and wonder, “How were there so many stars in this movie?” Well, friends, I’m here to bring you back to a movie that released in 2010 that had exactly that – Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. 

The film didn’t do so well at the box office, but ended up becoming a cult classic, so much so that it was announced in 2023 that there would be an anime adaptation of the popular graphic novel series, but using the exact same cast from the film. But, where is the Scott Pilgrim vs. The World cast now? And what are they doing? With a cast full of stars, this is what they’ve been up to – and what you can catch them in. 

And, let me just say here – every single one of these actors is going to be in the upcoming Scott Pilgrim vs. The World anime that is coming out, and reprising their roles, which is awesome.

Michael Cera (Scott Pilgrim)

First up on the list is Michael Cera, who portrayed the titular character in Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. Cera has been in many movies and television shows since his big appearance in the adaptation, and you’ve most likely seen him somewhere. Besides continuing his main role Arrested Development, Cera also had parts in shows such as Burning Love, Drunk History, and Life and Beth. 

In terms of movies, he’s appeared in several comedies, including This Is The End, Magic Magic, The Lego Batman Movie, Sausage Party (which is getting a spinoff series) and more. Coming up, he’s going to be in Barbie, as well as a film called Dream Scenario.

Mary Elizabeth Winstead (Ramona Flowers)

Next up, we have Mary Elizabeth Winstead, who portrayed Ramona Flowers. Winstead has had quite the career since her role in the cult classic. Some of her biggest movies thus far include 2011’s The Thing, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, The Spectacular Now, 10 Cloverfield Lane, All About Nina, Birds of Prey, and Kate, and coming up, she’s going to have a role in a new film called Moscow. 

She’s also had roles in television as well, including parts in The Returned, Brain Dead and Mercy Street. 

Kieran Culkin (Wallace Wells)

Kieran Culkin played Wallace Wells, and I’m pretty sure you’ve been hearing his name a lot lately, largely for his main role on the hit HBO show, Succession, for which he’s received critical acclaim. However, Culkin has done plenty more in movies and TV. 

With films, he’s been in Movie 43, Quitters, Infinity Baby and No Sudden Move, but on television, he also had a main role in Fargo in Season 4, as well as a big part in Go Fish. He also had a guest role in the hilarious Hulu comedy, Solar Opposites. Soon, he’s going to be in a new movie called A Real Pain. 

Chris Evans (Lucas Lee)

Chris Evans exploded onto the scene after his role as Lucas Lee in Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. While he was known for his appearances in teen comedies beforehand, after this film he took on the mantle of Captain America in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which he held onto for almost a decade.

Besides that, he’s also appeared in films such as the hit Knives Out, Snowpiercer, Lightyear, The Gray Man on Netflix, Gifted, 2023’s Ghosted and more. He was also one of the leads in the Apple TV+ series, Defending Jacob.

Coming up, he’s going to be in Red One alongside Dwayne Johnson, and Pain Hustlers.

Anna Kendrick (Stacey Pilgrim)

Another star who blew up after Scott Pilgrim vs. The World was Anna Kendrick, who plays Stacey Pilgrim. Kendrick received a lot of acclaim for her lead role in the Pitch Perfect movie franchise, but has also appeared in films such as the last of the Twilight movies, ParaNorman, End of Watch, Life After Beth, A Simple Favour alongside Blake Lively, Alice, Darling and more. She also has one of the lead roles in the Trolls movie franchise. 

Besides movies, Kendrick has also had plenty of time on television. Not only has she hosted SNL, but she was the main star of Season 1 of Love Life, an awesome HBO Max original show that you should really watch if given the chance. Soon, she’s going to be in the next Trolls movie, Trolls Band Together, and a new movie called The Dating Game. 

Brie Larson (Natalie V. "Envy" Adams)

See what I told you, when there’s just been star after star? Brie Larson played Envy Adams and continued to shine on with even bigger roles right after. She took on the part of Captain Marvel in the MCU, and is going to be playing her again in the upcoming film, The Marvels. 

Aside from that, Larson has appeared in movies such as 21 Jump Street, Don Jon, The Spectacular Now, The Gambler, The Glass Castle and Basmati Blues. She also had a recurring guest role on Community. Aside from that, she also had a starring role in Room, a film which won her the Academy Award for Best Actress. 

Coming up, she’s also going to be in Fast X, as well as an Apple TV+ series called Lessons in Chemistry.

Alison Pill (Kim Pine)

Moving on, Alison Pill played Kim Pine in Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, and she’s been in several films since her appearance in the cult classic. These include, but aren’t limited to, Midnight in Paris, Goon and its sequel, To Rome With Love, Zom, Hail, Caesar!, Miss Sloane, Vice, and All My Puny Sorrows. 

In terms of television, she’s had main roles in shows such as The Newsroom, The Family, Devs alongside Nick Offerman, Them on Amazon Prime, Hello Tomorrow!, and was in the first two seasons of Star Trek: Picard. Coming up, Pill is going to be in a new movie called Eric Larau, so keep an eye out for that. 

Aubrey Plaza (Julie Powers)

Next up on the list, we have Aubrey Plaza, who played Julie Powers in the movie. The star blew up after the film thanks to her big role in the Parks and Recreation cast, but she’s also had big parts in movies and other television shows since then. 

Plaza’s main movies that she had done so far are 10 Years, the English dub of From Up on Poppy Hill, The End of Love, The To Do List, Monsters University, Addicted to Fresno, Dirty Grandma, Life After Beth, the reboot of Child’s Play, Happiest Season, Emily the Criminal on Netflix, Spin Me Round, and Safety Not Guaranteed, among others. 

The actress also had a voice role in the Nickelodeon show, The Legend of Korra, a role in Legion, and was a part of the Season 2 cast of The White Lotus. Coming up, she’ll be in Agatha: Coven of Chaos, Olga Dies Dreaming and a film called Megalopolis.

Brandon Routh (Todd Ingram)

Next up is Brandon Routh, who played Todd Ingram in Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. Some of the films he’s been in include Crooked Arrows, 400 Days, Lost in the Pacific, and Anastasia: Once Upon a Time. 

On television, Routh had a pretty prominent role in CW’s Arrowverse as The Atom, and appeared on many of the shows, but other than that, he also guest-starred in many other television series as well. Coming up, he’s going to be in the Magic: The Gathering television series, as well as a movie called The Redeemer. 

Jason Schwartzman (Gideon "G-Man" Graves)

Jason Schwartzman portrayed Gideon “G-Man” Graves in Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, and has truly made a name for himself after the film. He’s appeared in several Wes Anderson films, including The Grand Budapest Hotel, The French Dispatch, and Isle of Dogs. Other than that, he’s appeared in movies such as Saving Mr. Banks, Moonrise Kingdom, Wine Country, Klaus, Sing 2, The Overnight and more. 

In television, he had a main role in Mozart in the Jungle, as well as leading Bored to Death and having a main part in Fargo Season 4. Coming up, he will also appear in Megalopolis, but will also be in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, both Spider-Verse sequels, and Asteroid City. 

Johnny Simmons ("Young" Neil Nordegraf)

Johnny Simmons played Neil Nordegraf, and has been in multiple movies and TV shows since his role in the cult classic. Movies include The Perks of Being A Wallflower, Whiplash, 21 Jump Street, The To Do List, The Late Bloomer, and more. In television, he appeared in the show Klondike, and had a main role in Girlboss. 

Mark Webber (Stephen Stills)

Moving on, we take a look at Mark Webber, who played Stephen Stills in Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. In films, he’s been in movies such as The End of Love, Laggies, Uncanny, Green Room, Antibirth, Flesh and Blood, and Clover. He also had a guest role on the TV show SMILF, and appeared in The Gift of the Magi. He’s soon going to be in a movie called Trigger Warning. 

Mae Whitman (Roxanne "Roxy" Richter)

Mae Whitman played Roxanne Richter in Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, and has had quite the career since her role in the movie. She’s appeared in films such as The Perks of Being A Wallflower, The Duff, CHiPs, Freaks of Nature, and more, and also did voice roles for the Tinker Bell movie franchise and the English dub for The Wind Rises, a Hayao Miyazaki movie. 

In TV, she had a main role on Parenthood, a guest role on Drunk History, a leading part on Good Girls, and had a voice role on the underrated The Owl House. 

Ellen Wong (Knives Chau)

Ellen Wong played Knives Chau, and has since appeared in films such as Silent Knight, The Voice, The Circle, In The Life of Music, Best Sellers and more. She’s also had big roles in shows such as Combat Hospital, The Carrie Diaries, and a recurring role in GLOW on Netflix. 

Satya Bhabha (Matthew Patel)

Last but not least is Satya Bhabha, who played Matthew Patel in Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. He’s appeared in movies such as Midnight’s Children, Change in the Air, The F**k-It List and more. He also had a recurring role on New Girl, as well as Sense8, and a part in the rebooted Gossip Girl. 

There are truly so many stars here and I for one can’t wait to hear all their wonderful voices again in the upcoming anime – and now I might just have some new movies and TV shows to watch or look forward to. It’s going to be a fun ride. 

Remember that time Mark Ruffalo accidentally live streamed part of Thor: Ragnarok, and the numerous other moments when Tom Holland accidently revealed various Spider-Man secrets? I think we might be able to add Patti LuPone’s name to the list of MCU actors who may have accidentally given away too much information. This is because while the Broadway legend was on The View she revealed a shocking number of details about one of Marvel’s upcoming projects: Disney+’s Agatha: Coven of Chaos, and now I think it’s safe to assume someone at Marvel is panicking. 

Patti LuPone joined the panel of The View to chat about her movie on the 2023 movie schedule, Beau is Afraid this morning, and of course at the very end of the interview they slipped in a question about Agatha: Coven of Chaos. However, instead of giving an answer that skirted the question, like most MCU stars do, LuPone, like the icon she is, dished some major details, revealing: 

Whoa Patti! That’s a lot of information, especially when it comes to a Marvel project that is still in production. Details about specific characters in an MCU project typically aren’t revealed this early, unless it’s a returning character, and considering Coven of Chaos will follow an entirely new cast of characters, with the exception of Agatha, I couldn’t quite believe she revealed so much about all these new witches (and familiar). 

Up to this point, we knew about the Marvel project casting Heartstopper’s Joe Locke and that actresses joining the Coven would include Aubrey Plaza and SNL alum Shasheer Zamata. However, we didn’t know who the actors would be playing in Marvel’s Phase 5 project. Now, we know that all the women will be playing a coven of witches, which could kind of be inferred. However, the big shock was learning that Joe Locke would be playing a familiar. I personally can’t wait to see this young actor act as these wicked women's assistant, I’m certain it will be buckets of fun.

The other big detail LuPone dished was about her character specifically. She revealed that she’d be playing Lilia Calderu, a witch who uses divination and tarot to wield her power, which feels perfect for the Tony winner. She elaborated on her character saying:

Like LuPone, Lilia Calderu sounds like an absolute icon, and I can’t wait to see how the actress wields her witchy power in the MCU. Along with these new character details, the actress also explained that they are still filming the series in Atlanta, and it’s expected to come out next year. 

So, considering we have to wait until 2024 to see what this coven of witches and their familiar get up to in Agatha: Coven of Chaos, you can go back and watch the Marvel movies in order with a Disney+ subscription while you ponder over the surprising number of details Patti LuPone just revealed. 

Few actors today set the internet on fire quite like Ryan Reynolds, Jason Momoa, and Aubrey Plaza, and as such, one expects that there will be quite a lot of excitement that follows the news that all three of the stars and now attached to an upcoming film. Along with Vince Vaughn, the talented performers are set to be a part of Animal Friends, a new live-action/animation hybrid feature that is being developed by Legendary Entertainment.

This casting news comes to us from Deadline, and though specifics about the film's plot are being kept hush-hush for now, it is known that the project isn't as family friendly as the title may make it sound. Animal Friends is described as an "R-rated road trip adventure." Peter Atencio, who won an Emmy for his work on the sketch series Key & Peele and directed the 2016 comedy Keanu is helming the movie as his follow-up to The Machine starring Bert Kreischer and Mark Hamill.

Duo Kevin Burrows and Matt Mider are writing the script based on their original concept. Their previous credits include the animated series Gentlemen Lobsters, which they co-created, and the 2018 Netflix film The Package. Animal Friends will not only be produced by Legendary, but also Ryan Reynolds' production company Maximum Effort and Prime Focus Studios.

Reynolds has spoken about taking a career sabbatical in recent years, but it's unclear exactly when that is going to start given that he is presently one of the busiest people in the entertainment industry. Last year he was in three different movies – The Adam Project, Spirited and Bullet Train – and in 2023 he's been developing big projects including a Red Notice sequel for Netflix, John Krasninski's IF (which features a stellar cast), and Deadpool 3 for Marvel Studios. Perhaps he'll finally take a break one those projects and Animal Friends are finished?

Like Ryan Reynolds, Jason Momoa is also having a monster year with some very exciting projects in the pipeline. Audiences won't see him in Dune: Chapter 2 due to the unfortunate fate of Duncan Idaho in the first film, but he'll be playing the "flamboyant bad boy" villain in Fast X this summer, and will be back on the big screen as DC hero Arthur Curry at the end of the year in Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom.

Aubrey Plaza is presently coming off an amazing career year. On the feature front, she earned widespread acclaim for her work in the indie drama Emily The Criminal (which immediately started trending on Netflix when it hit the streaming service), and both critics and audiences went nuts for her role in the second season of the hit HBO series The White Lotus. She most recently starred in Guy Ritchie's Operation Fortune: Ruse de guerre, co-starring Jason Statham, Cary Elwes and Hugh Grant.

As for Vince Vaughn, the actor was last seen featured in the two most recent seasons of Curb Your Enthusiasm, and he has two projects in the works: Nic Pizzolatto's movie Easy's Waltz starring Al Pacino and the Apple TV+ drama Bad Monkey.

Animal Friends does not yet have a release date, but stay tuned for more updates on the film, and check out our 2023 Movie Release Calendar to discover all of the features set to come out between now and December.

If there was a Mt. Rushmore created to honor the heroes of the all-time greatest spy movies, I think it would be unanimously agreed that it should include Matt Damon’s title hero from the Jason Bourne movies, Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt from the Mission: Impossible movies, and one of the James Bond actors (which one of them it should be is up to you to decide). For my choice of the fourth head, I would like to submit Jason Statham as Orson Fortune in Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre.

It may seem a little early to give such an honor to the main hero of this new 2023 movie (which just came out in theaters today), but once you see how fun co-writer and director Guy Ritchie’s old school espionage thriller is, you might find yourself agreeing with me. Of course, Statham’s character is just one reason why the film is so irresistibly entertaining. To get a clear understanding of the other reasons, you could ether check out the official trailer or stick around and take a look at the rest of the Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre cast, starting with the title role.

Jason Statham (Orson Fortune)

Highly skilled (and very picky) special operative Orson Fortune is only the latest character in a Guy Ritchie movie that Jason Statham has played, having launched his acting career at the same time that the filmmaker launched his directing career with Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels in 1998. The British duo would reunite again for 2002’s Snatch, 2008’s Revolver, the earnest revenge thriller Wrath of Man in 2021, and this film, most recently.

Statham would also earn a storied action star reputation outside of his collaborations with Ritchie as a main player in a few franchises — including the Transporter movies (until bailing on the fourth film), the Expendables movies as Lee Christmas, the Fast and Furious movies (including his own spin-off with Dwayne Johnson’s Hobbs) as Deckard Shaw, and creature feature The Meg, which is getting a sequel in 2023. He also appeared in one of the last John Carpenter movies (Ghosts of Mars), played a good bad guy in Cellular, had a memorable cameo in Collateral, and poked fun at the spy genre in 2015’s aptly titled, Spy.

Aubrey Plaza (Sarah Fidel)

As the sharp-tongued and vivacious expert in hacking (among other things) Sarah Fidel, we have Aubrey Plaza, whose charming, dry wit that she brings to the film is what made her an MVP in the Parks and Recreation cast as April Ludgate. She has also stolen the show or led it wonderfully in comedy movies like Funny People, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates, and Hulu’s Happiest Season.

Plaza has also been known to show her more serious side, such as when she played the homicidal Cat Adams on Criminal Minds, played a mental patient on FX’s Marvel-inspired series Legion, starred in the 2019 Child’s Play remake, and played the title role of Emily the Criminal, which she also produced. This is just the latest instance of her channeling her more serious and more comedic sensibilities in the same project, following the likes of Safety Not Guaranteed, the darkly comic, romantic horror movie, Life After Beth, and HBO’s The White Lotus Season 2 in 2022.

Josh Hartnett (Danny Francesco)

In order to get close to a target, Orson and Sarah’s crew enlist the help of movie star Danny Francesco, who is played by Statham’s fellow Wrath of Man cast member, Josh Hartnett, who made his debut in one of the more underrated Halloween movies, Halloween H20: 20 Years Later, in 1998 — the same year he appeared in another cult favorite horror flick, The Faculty. He would later return to the genre by leading 2007’s grisly vampire movie 30 Days of Night, playing Ethan Chandler on Showtime’s Penny Dreadful, and joining the upcoming sixth season of Black Mirror.

In between then, he starred in acclaimed coming-of-age dramas like The Virgin Suicides and the Shakespeare-inspired O, fact-based war movies like Pearl Harbor and Black Hawk Down, and worked with Bruce Willis in the Sin City cast and in 2006’s Lucky Number Slevin. More recently, he played himself on Quibi’s Die Hart, starred in the 2021 Neo-western movie Ida Red, and will star in Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer cast as Ernest Lawrence.

Cary Elwes (Nathan Jasmine)

Nathan Jasmine — the one calling the shots (or struggling to do so) for Orson and Sarah’s crew — is just one of two spy movie characters that Aubrey Plaza’s Best Sellers co-star, Cary Elwes, is playing in 2023, as he is also in the Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One cast, which will mark his second collaboration with Tom Cruise after 1990’s Days of Thunder. Of course, he is still best known for his breakout role in 1987’s The Princess Bride cast as Westley, which led to more fantasy/medieval adventure movies like the criminally underrated ‘90s classic, Robin Hood: Men in Tights (in which he played the title role), the animated Quest for Camelot, and 2004’s Ella Enchanted with Anne Hathaway.

The British actor has also led an impressively versatile career that includes powerful period dramas like Glory, fun modern comedies like Liar Liar, blockbuster disaster flicks like Twister, and quite a few horror movies — most notably the Saw movies as Dr. Lawrence Gordon. Elwes was also on an episode of Seinfeld, worked with Steven Spielberg on 2011’s The Adventure  of Tintin, and, in its third season, joined the Stranger Things cast.

Bugzy Malone (J.J.)

As the fourth member of Orson’s crew — the sharp-shooting J.J. — we have Bugzy Malone, who rose to fame in the U.K. as a rap music artist known for hits like “Out of Nowhere” and “Beauty and the Beast.” Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre is, actually, only his second film credit so far. In fact, Ritchie previously directed Malone (whose real name is Aaron Davis) in his feature-film debut, when he appeared in the filmmaker’s acclaimed return to British crime thrillers, The Gentlemen, in 2020.

Hugh Grant (Greg Simmonds)

Playing billionaire arms dealer — and Number One fan of Danny Francesco — Greg Simmonds is Bugzy Malone’s The Gentlemen co-star, Hugh Grant, who first worked with Ritchie in the filmmaker’s first try at espionage thrillers, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., in 2015. Before then, his main claim to fame was romantic-comedies — such as Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill, Love Actually, and the Bridget Jones movies, to name a few.

However, Grant has also been known to branch out into more challenging and versatile roles, too, such as his multiple parts in Cloud Atlas, the main villain of Paddington 2, U.K. politician Jeremy Thorpe in the miniseries A Very British Scandal, or the voice of the Captain in 2012’s The Pirates! Band of Misfits. More recently, he appeared opposite Nicole Kidman in HBO’s The Undoing, appeared as Benoit Blanc’s husband in Netflix’s Glass Onion, and joined the Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves cast for the upcoming adventure epic.

With a title like the one this film boasts — which includes a name-check for the central hero and an exotic phrase following a colon — I cannot help but wonder if it is Ritchie’s intention to launch a new franchise of spy thrillers with this release. If so, I certainly hope the goal proves successful because the chemistry between the Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre cast members is strong enough to warrant another adventure, in my opinion.

From Zendaya rocking millions of dollars in jewelry and two gowns, to Jenna Ortega’s Wednesday-inspired vintage Versace dress there were many memorable ensembles on the red carpet of the SAG Awards. However, Aubrey Plaza’s underboob-baring dress was the talk of the night after it sparked rumors and received mixed reactions. Now, her long-time stylist is defending The White Lotus star’s outfit, and making it clear that the underboob outfit, was a well-fitted, intentional, trendy decision.

Even a few days after the award show, people are still talking about the Parks and Rec star's dress, and if it was too much underboob. One comment from maison.versace on checkthetag’s post read:  

To which Plaza’s longtime stylist Jessica Paster replied with: 

Not only did they go through seven fittings, but the gown was also custom-made for Aubrey Plaza, according to Vogue. The Michael Kors dress was inspired by ‘70s fashion, and the actress gushed about how much she loved it to the magazine, saying: 

While Plaza loved the look, and I do too, many weren’t sure if the underboob was intentional or not, and they didn’t vibe with the unique cutout on her torso. Many pointed out the crossbody straps across the actress’s chest, saying they looked tight or too small. However, as The White Lotus star and her stylist have shown that the decision to rock the underboob trend was intentional and meticulously planned. 

The Ingrid Goes West star is the latest actress to jump on the underboob-baring trend. Last December, Megan Fox rocked a full barbiecore, underboob outfit and Rachel Zegler recently shared her take on the trend by wearing an underboob-baring gown to Paris Fashion Week. Much like sheer dresses, this trend has taken off, and celebs are rocking it on in lots of different ways, with Plaza sharing her take on it at the SAG Awards. 

Along with her highly talked about dress, Aubrey Plaza was at the center of a few memorable moments from the SAG Awards.  First of all, she brought her Parks and Rec pal Amy Poehler as her date, then she presented an award with Jenna Ortega, who could easily play her little sister, and finished off the night by taking home an award with the cast of The White Lotus. So, while the dress has been the talk of the town, let us not forget all the other iconic moments we got from the Emily the Criminal star at this ceremony. 

Considering Plaza has a movie on the 2023 movie schedule, Operation Fortune: Ruse de guerre, that hits theaters on March 3, I’m sure we’ll have another red-carpet look from her soon. And while her latest look caused a divisive stir similar to fans' reactions to Portia’s fashion on The White Lotus, overall I think it’s commendable that Plaza took a fun risk with her dress, and was able to walk the carpet feeling “glamorous and chic.” 

Guy Ritchie is starting to become an established name in the espionage genre. Thanks to projects like The Man From U.N.C.L.E., and the upcoming The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, his rapid fire wit and action chops have been applied to situations where the fate of the world is in the balance. With Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre, Ritchie finds himself reunited with collaborators like Jason Statham and Hugh Grant, taking on the world of spies once more with feeling. What results is a seriously funny movie that balances its humor with moments of intense action, carrying both sides of the equation with that trademark Guy Ritchie flair. 

Things start off fast and to the point from the moment the logos fade, as a concerning theft from a research facility has left the British government with great, top secret concerns. We don’t know what’s stolen at first, only that it’s a big enough job that Orson Fortune (Jason Staham) is recruited into action to retrieve the goods and make the buyer. That mission will require a team that Orson can trust (Aubrey Plaza, Bugzy Malone) and the aid of a reluctant movie star (Josh Hartnett) who can help the team get to some key players involved.

Of course, the traditional hang-ups will be present throughout Operation Fortune, as this is a Guy Ritchie movie after all. There will be betrayals, subterfuge, and some cleverly edited flashbacks that provide details we didn’t see the first time out. Though this is a movie where Ritchie is playing around with elements he’s always been comfortable with, the man does so with a lens that’s more serious than you’d think. That approach allows both the laughs and the thrills to land as powerfully as one of Jason Statham’s punches; and you’ve seen how that dude can punch. 

A more comedic take on Mission: Impossible-style spying, Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre isn’t as silly as it’s sold itself to be.

On the outside, Operation Fortune looks like it’d be at home with one of Ritchie’s more comedic affairs; especially when promising some well played verbal sparring between Aubrey Plaza and various members of the cast. Though there is a strong current of humor that makes this Mission: Impossible-style caper as fun as it should be, the co-writer/director of this picture doesn’t skimp on serious thrills.

Laughter is only part of the picture here, as the stakes of the catastrophe that Orson Fortune and his team are trying to stop is treated as deadly serious when it needs to be. A scene that sees Jason Statham’s operative engaging in a vital infiltration exercise that’ll put his team ahead of their foes shows just how exacting the tone of Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre happens to be. What starts with Statham’s character getting distracted by a movie on TV shifts into serious thievery, which then finishes with Plaza and Statham debating semantics and architecture. 

Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre walks between the tones of humor and peril rather adeptly, and it’s thanks to Guy Ritchie working once again with writers Ivan Atkinson and Marn Davies. Both collaborators have been on hand to sculpt the plots to Ritchie’s last two movies, The Gentlemen and Wrath of Man, and the confidence of this team shows throughout this latest endeavor. Which, in turn, further highlights the abilities of the crack team of actors put together to take it off the page.

The Guy Ritchie stable continues to flourish with another amazing ensemble and some strong, sharp pacing.

Guy Ritchie’s stable of recurring actors is something that’s always exciting to follow, as he seems to pick up new friends on a regular basis. Jason Statham’s continued work with his Lock, Stock, and Two Smokin’ Barrels helmer was naturally the strongest connection going into Operation Fortune, and their work together once again does not disappoint. The same should be said for Eddie Marsan and Bugzy Malone, both of whom are returning Team Ritchie players that help hold down the fort most admirably. 

Showing off the strong casting game that’s been present throughout his career, Guy Ritchie has really outdone himself by bringing the likes of Aubrey Plaza and Cary Elwes on board. Plaza’s computer expert Sarah Fidel is one of several parcels of comedic dynamite going off in Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre. Not only does she get to match wits with Jason Statham’s Orson, but she also serves as a comedic foil for Josh Hartnett (whose Danny Francesco is yet another hilarious try hard in the Ritchie-verse) as well as Hugh Grant.

Needless to say, Grant is firing on all cylinders as well, injecting the character of arms dealer Greg Simmons with the right amount of charm and menace to sell any given moment. Mixing sleaze with a more sinister nature, Hugh Grant could be the very pivot point of the dual tones to the story at hand, especially when delivering a Ritchie-esque monologue that gives the third act a nice boost in the middle of all the action. 

Just as the story knows how to navigate the lines of humor and hard action, the ensemble of performers in Operation Fortune read those lines very carefully. At times, this picture feels like it stops on a dime, only to turn in another direction and start zooming away into the distance. The energy is never forced, and in a sense Orson Fortune and his team outdo their spying competition by showing the audience one continued mission, step by step, without ever rushing or belaboring any particular point. 

With Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre, Guy Ritchie has yet again proven he’s one of the masters working in the espionage genre today.

At this point, everyone probably wants Guy Ritchie to either submit his resume for a Mission: Impossible movie, or even a James Bond adventure. It’s hard not to dream of those scenarios when Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre does so well with pacing its story and providing engaging characters, while also keeping the stakes firmly in sight. 25 years after directing his breakout film with Jason Statham, Ritchie has yet again proven he’s got the spy genre figured out. 

With a structure and team that takes the Mission movies and marries it with some 007 style humor and plottery, Operation Fortune is a welcomed addition to the canon of espionage movies. It’s tempting to want to see a new franchise for Guy Ritchie to return to, as the film does tip its hand towards potential plans for the future, and in a very Man From U.N.C.L.E. fashion. At the same time, it’s the roving nature of his filmography that’s given Ritchie the chance to develop such skilled precision. So something new is just as much of a welcomed prospect. 

It’s at least comforting to know that another Guy Ritchie movie has landed, with all of the entertainment and electricity you’d expect. Growing his stable of acting collaborators, one would hope that Aubrey Plaza and Cary Elwes will start to show up more often, alongside the likes of Jason Statham and the rest of the family that’s come on board through the years. Operation Fortune is a rich spy caper that cashes in every chip it has with such glee that it’s only further evidence as to why Ritchie should continue to play the spy game on a regular basis.

While the Screen Actors Guild Awards aren't necessarily known for sparking high-profile and viral moments from its presenters and winners, such was the case for the 2023 telecast, in part due to a seemingly awkward on-stage moment involving Aubrey Plaza, her White Lotus co-stars, and her underboob-friendly dress. But now that the dust has settled, one of those co-stars explained the moment as being more innocuous than others first thought.

Let’s go over what went down, and what The White Lotus’ Jon Gries said about Aubrey Plaza’s reaction. 

Why Fans Thought Aubrey Plaza Was Angry On SAG Award Stage

The White Lotus fans know that each season’s cast gets pretty chummy while filming in the HBO series’ picturesque locations, with Aubrey Plaza and Meghann Fahy having tripped on shrooms together while on location. But SAG Awards viewers suspected something was off at one point when the cast and crew took the stage after winning the award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series. 

As F. Murray Abraham gave an empowering thank you speech that touched upon various topics, fans were quick to notice Plaza’s specific demeanor behind him. Her arguably stern look changed up after Jon Gries got her attention and seemed to address a potential wardrobe malfunction involving her underboob’s prominence. She adjusted accordingly, but didn’t necessarily look overly enthused once everyone started hugging each other, and she appeared be jostled around.

The most shared moment from the speech though, came when the Parks and Rec vet seemed to mouth “Jesus Christ” out of annoyance. To be sure, this behavior wasn’t entirely out of character for the actress (or her characters for that matter), who’d recently revealed she stole a note off of then-Veep Joe Biden’s White House desk in order to prove a point. But some fans were still believing she was sincerely peeved. 

What Actually Happened, According To The White Lotus' Jon Gries

The way Jon Gries explains it, Aubrey Plaza wasn’t bothered at all in the moment, either by his comment about her dress or about what was happening around her. Speaking with Page Six, the actor says he'd initially realized that Plaza was being blocked on stage by others, so he'd motioned for her to look forward. At that point is when he suggested she might want to adjust her dress, but says she was just being "funny" whenever she mouthed "Jesus Christ" and was expressing faux outrage over the idea that her underboob needed to be covered. In his words:

Plaza, who reconnected with her Parks and Rec femmes for a Galentine's Day post, isn't exactly known for leaning into her provocative nature so much as exuding sardonic wit. But if she wanted to give her underboob credit on stage for being part of why The White Lotus' ensemble took home the trophy, who are we to stop her?

That fashion choice wasn’t so wild in comparison to another White Lotus vet, Sydney Sweeney, who recently pulled off a massive butt-necklace-kinda-thing at the Berlin Film Festival. Meanwhile, Zendaya rocked the SAGs with necklaces worth over $2.7 million combined. So if you’ve got it, whether it’s your underboob or pricy jewels, flaunt it. 

Aubrey Plaza is always down to tell an interesting story, whether it’s about her failed SNL audition or getting lost with White Lotus co-star Meghann Fahy while tripping on shrooms. Now, Plaza shared another funny anecdote that defies easy comparison – this time involving current U.S. president Joe Biden. The Park and Recreation alum hilariously reflected on stealing a note from then-Vice President Biden’s desk in the White House over a hilariously petty reason.

The White Lotus star spilled her wild tale to The New Yorker while promoting her acclaimed film Emily the Criminal, sharing that her relationship with Biden goes back to her teen years. She confronted the future U.S. president while attending his youth leadership conference, calling her approach “very Tracy Flick in Election.” The two Delaware natives met up years later when he made cameo appearances on her show Parks and Recreation, with Biden greeting Plaza personally each time, which raised her suspicions.  Each time, Biden would appear, he would greet Plaza personally. During one appearance, the cast and crew toured the then-Vice President’s office, leading to the rabble-rousing actress to discover a surprise note about herself. In her words:

Maybe that confrontation between the TV and film star and the current president just didn’t have the same impact as the adversarial relationship between Tracy Flick and Jim McAllister. Plaza's stance is relatable, as far as believing something disingenuous was at play. Sharing his first wife’s connection to Plaza is a fine instinct, but it's part of what proved her point, since he seemingly didn't remember sharing the story before. But the line was drawn in the sand when the Legion vet noted that he was given some crib notes about her. Considering how many people the U.S.' top brass meets in any given day, week, or month, it's no shock that those kinds of notes are needed.

The usually sardonic actress was understandably taken aback upon seeing her information penned on the stationery, and decided to snatch it up as proof. That arguably criminal action lead to a hilariously heated exchange between her and Parks and Rec creator Mike Schur.  

That’s sad she lost a piece of oddball pop culture history. She could’ve cashed in somehow on having the current U.S. president’s stationery during his time as President Barack Obama’s number two. The written note would’ve been bragging rights for her to show her frenemy relationship with President Biden. Maybe not Smithsonian-worthy, but perhaps in a Delaware museum of some kind.

Aubrey Plaza has more going for her than palming post-its from President Biden, of course. She is set to play an undisclosed role in the upcoming Marvel Disney+ series Agatha: Coven of Chaos. Plaza will pop up on the film side in the 2023 new movie release, Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre, which will arrive in theaters on March 3. She’s also attached to the upcoming sci-fi film Megalopolis and the animated movie The Ark and the Aardvark.

The Galentine’s Day tradition continues as Rashida Jones and her Parks and Rec pals got together once again to celebrate the Valentine’s Day adjacent, friendship-forward holiday. The actress behind Ann Perkins posted a lovely little reunion photo of her, Amy Poehler, Aubrey Plaza and Kathryn Hahn as they celebrated Galentine’s Day, and it’s the cutest thing ever. 

Ever since Season 2 Episode 16 of Parks and Rec aired, February 13 has been known to many as the beloved holiday Galentine’s Day. It’s a day to celebrate your gal pals and friendship, and the ladies of the classic NBC comedy continue to reunite on the day before Valentine’s Day, even all these year’s after the show ended, as Rashida Jones posted their reunion on her Instagram. 

I absolutely love that these gals get together to celebrate Galentine’s Day year after year. Following the show ending in 2015, the cast has remained very close. Amy Poehler and Aubrey Plaza performed together on SNL as Leslie and April, respectively, on Weekend Update. The whole cast got together virtually for an episode during the pandemic, and there’s a group chat that remains active all these years later that includes the whole Parks and Rec cast. 

However, despite all these moments being adorable, the annual Galentine’s Day dinner with these four actresses is my favorite thing. Seeing Ann Perkins, Leslie Knope, April Ludgate and Jen Barkley get together to celebrate friendship is so wholesome, and it reminds us every year just how stellar these ladies were together on Parks and Rec. 

This is not the first time Jones, Poehler, Hahn and Plaza have gotten together to celebrate the Parks and Rec-inspired holiday. Back in 2018, the Ann Perkins actress posted a photo of the four of them together, which is very similar to the one from this year. Clearly, this holiday is something they all love, and getting all the gals together has become their Galentine’s Day tradition. 

Many inside jokes from Parks and Rec as well as stories from some of the show’s best episodes have made their way into the zeitgeist. For example, “Treat yo self,” can be heard all over the place, and Galentine’s Day has become a well-known holiday, not just a bit from Season 2, showing the impact this show has had on its viewers. 

What makes this reunion even sweeter is seeing all the big projects these actresses have gone onto. Kathryn Hahn is making a splash in the industry between her character Agatha Harkness in the MCU and her role in Glass Onion. Aubrey Plaza turned heads with her performances in The White Lotus and Emily the Criminal. Meanwhile, Amy Poehler is getting ready to voice Joy again in Inside Out 2, and Rashida Jones has a few projects in development as well. 

So, even though it’s currently Valentine’s Day, it’s never too late to celebrate Galentine’s Day like these lovely ladies did, and take a moment to appreciate all the wonderful gal pals in your life. And I think the best way to celebrate is by watching Parks and Rec’s Galentine’s Day episode with a Peacock subscription. 

Ted Lasso is definitely one of the best shows on Apple TV+ right now, with the Emmy awards to prove it. Although the future of the Jason Sudeikis-led series is unknown, it is still a smash hit. In fact, it's such a big part of the zeitgeist now, that it got name-dropped on The White Lotus. Now the football-centric show's co-creator Bill Lawrence is reacting to the surprise mention. 

During Season 2 of The White Lotus, Aubrey Plaza’s Harper was asked about her thoughts on the Apple TV+ comedy. Unfortunately, she said that she doesn’t watch the series. Luckily, Bill Lawrence didn’t take it to heart, as he told /Film that as a TV nerd, he loves when shows reference his work, even when it’s not in a particularly good way:

Bill Lawrence is no stranger to shows referencing his own series, as he’s responsible for Scrubs, Spin City, Clone High, Cougar Town, Ground Floor, and Rush Hour, with credits on Boy Meets World, The Nanny, Friends, and plenty more. It just comes with the territory. Even though the Ted Lasso mention on The White Lotus wasn’t exactly in the show’s favor, it was pretty on par for Aubrey Plaza’s character. I just wonder if the show will drop any more mentions moving forward.

Meanwhile, Lawrence has other new projects that may have reference potential, with the cast of Shrinking, including Jason Segel and Harrison Ford, joining Ted Lasso on Apple TV+. Also, the Vince Vaughn-led series from Lawrence Bad Monkey will join the two shows at an unknown time. So, make sure you sign up for an Apple TV+ subscription so you can see why Lawrence is basically turning into the Taylor Sheridan of the Apple TV+.

Since The White Lotus is an anthology series, it usually has a whole new cast each season, with a few exceptions. A cast for the third season hasn’t been announced yet, but it would be entertaining to see a Ted Lasso star picked for the series and maybe even make things super meta with another reference to the comedy. It’s hard to tell who will be starring in Season 3 and what the storyline will be, so you never know what could happen.

This likely won’t be the only Ted Lasso reference that will be made on TV, and I’m curious to see what the next one will be and whether it will compare to the mentions of Bill Lawrence's other hit shows. Overall, this little namedrop just means that he’s doing something right. 

If you want to see the reference for yourself, make sure you have an HBO Max subscription so you can watch the first two seasons of The White Lotus. Check out CinemaBlend’s 2023 TV schedule to see what’s coming to television soon and what shows may name-drop Jason Sudeikis’ beloved character next.

I have no idea if Amy Poehler is more fondly remembered for her eight season run on Saturday Night Live or her seven season run on the endlessly rewatchable Parks And Recreation, but her two beloved projects came crashing together last night when she made a surprise appearance. Aubrey Plaza was hosting SNL last night and stopped by Weekend Update as her Parks & Rec character April Ludgate, and luckily for fans, she also brought along her old boss: Poehler’s Leslie Knope.

The point of the sketch originally was for April to explain to young people how they can get involved with local government. Given her personality, she didn’t exactly do it in the most enthusiastic fashion; so, it was up to Leslie Knope to jump in. You can check out the really fun moment below…

This is a great example of, to me, why Amy Poehler is one of my absolute favorite Weekend Update hosts ever. She just has the perfect cadence to how she speaks, which allows it to feel both like a real news broadcast and a comedic performance. She could jump in full-time tomorrow and be just as brilliant as she always was. 

Poehler, of course, hosted Weekend Update during portions of her tenure on Saturday Night Live. She first grabbed the job in 2004 and co-hosted alongside Tina Fey. The two women were extremely successful and later partnered on projects outside of SNL like Sisters and the criminally underrated Baby Mama. After Fey left the show, she briefly hosted with Horatio Sanz before establishing another longer term partnership with Seth Meyers. As such, it should come as a surprise to absolutely no one that she delivered her final dog joke to perfection.

As for the rest of the episode, Aubrey Plaza obviously crushed it. The comedian delivered a great parody of The White Lotus called The Black Lotus, as well as a spoof of Avatar and the more traditional sketch comedy you’d expect like a take on couples game nights. Plaza forecasted to be a really good host, given her comedic timing and willingness to get weird, and she lived up to the lofty hopes.

Saturday Night Live has been off for a bit with the holidays, but it’ll be back next week with upcoming host Micahel B Jordan and musical guest Lil Baby. It should be a great episode, though it’ll be the second the cast does without longtime SNL mainstay Cecily Strong. She left the show at the end of the year and of course, received a send-off that was very fitting for someone who had such a terrific impact on the long-running series. 

SNL headman Lorne Michaels called this year a transition one at the beginning of the season, and it’s easy to see why. Thankfully, many of the new cast members are continuing to find their footing. It’ll be fun to see the cast continue to come together and gel as we move closer to SNL’s landmark 50th season, which should be filled with tons of fun and I’m sure, tons of returning players from the show’s glorious history.

There is a fairly large number of comedians who auditioned for Saturday Night Live but didn’t make the cut. That includes Donald Glover, Ellie Kemper, Jim Carrey, Kevin Hart, and the subject of this story Aubrey Plaza. However, there was more to the Parks and Recreation alums story with the sketch comedy show than the other mentioned, because she used to intern at Studio 8H. Now she’ll make her return to 30 Rock to host SNL as part of the Season 48 lineup, completing her “master plan,” and hopefully, playing some of the characters she revealed were used during her audition. 

SNL alum Jimmy Fallon asked Plaza how she feels about hosting, and she said she was “scared,” however, unlike some SNL hosts, I'd assume she's not scared of the unknown of it all, because she used to work there. She actually has a lot of experience working at 30 Rock, because she was an intern at the legendary sketch show. The Parks and Recreation star explained that while she didn’t care much for working in the set design department, she did learn a thing or two while working at SNL, saying on The Tonight Show:

Following her internship, Plaza also auditioned for Saturday Night Live, however, it didn’t work out the way she planned. While she didn’t make it to the stage of auditions that we viewers have all seen, she did do a first-round showcase at UCB, and showed off some original characters. The actress explained one character, saying: 

Then she recalled a character and talk show she came up with for the audition, and low-key, I hope it happens during the show this Saturday. Plaza said: 

While the audition may not have gone the way she wanted, clearly things have worked out extremely well for Plaza. She burst onto the scene and into our hearts as the cold-hearted April Ludgate on Parks and Recreation, where she was part of some of the show’s best inside jokes. However, it’s been over the course of 2022 and now 2023 that the actress has entered a new level of stardom. 

Not only was she part of the stunning Season 2 cast of White Lotus, she also starred in and produced an indie movie that is killing it on Netflix called Emily the Criminal. On top of all that, she’s set to star alongside Kathryn Hahn in the upcoming MCU series on the 2023 TV schedule Agatha: Coven of Chaos. Plus, you’ll be able to watch Plaza on SNL this Saturday at 11:30 p.m. ET on NBC or with a Peacock subscription.

So, in short, I think it’s safe to say her master plan worked…

The White Lotus Season 2 was all about the adventures of characters staying at an Italian resort, so it tracks that the actors playing those characters had some adventures of their own while filming the season. Aubrey Plaza, for example, ended up getting lost while hiking with a co-star, which must’ve been especially scary and hilarious for her since they were both on mushrooms. 

Meghann Fahy recently appeared on Late Night With Seth Meyers to tell a hilarious story about getting lost while on a hike in Italy with Aubrey Plaza during filming for The White Lotus Season 2. The Parks and Recreation alum then appeared in a later episode to re-tell the story because she felt there was some massive context missing when Fahy mentioned her yelling at Italian motorcyclists during the adventure. Meyers asked the Emily the Criminal star about the story, and then he heard it all over again with the previously omitted information that Fahy and Plaza were on psychedelic mushrooms when this all occurred:

In the original story, it might’ve sounded like Aubrey Plaza was frustrated at the fact she and Fahy were lost and took it out on some random people. In actuality, she was just high on psychedelic mushrooms, and she was kind of freaked out that some random people were driving around on motorcycles while going through that experience. 

And while not everyone may know what it’s like to trip on psychedelic mushrooms, Aubrey Plaza was able to paint a picture by explaining what was going through her mind when the Italian men were riding around. It seems as though she felt like she was filming Star Wars as opposed to The White Lotus because she was worried about heading over to “the dark side”: 

Aubrey Plaza was admittedly confused why Meghann Fahy omitted that important bit of information from their adventure. However, after a brief back and forth with Seth Meyers, she figured it might’ve been because her parents were in attendance when Fahy was on Late Night With Seth Meyers. I’m not sure many people would want to tell on themselves for doing drugs in front of their parents, especially during an interview on national television. 

As for the show the two actresses were working on, Season 2 of The White Lotus was a massive hit on the 2022 TV schedule. While Season 3 will make its way to HBO eventually for anyone with an HBO Max subscription, it seems possible we’ll never get all the answers we want regarding Aubrey Plaza and Meghann Fahy’s characters. Like, did Cameron and Harper do more than share a kiss, and did Ethan and Daphne hook up as well? 

Those questions, and maybe justice for Tanya McQuoid, might be answered when The White Lotus Season 3 comes to HBO. Here’s hoping the wait for more episodes won’t be long, but in case it is, there are plenty of great shows on the 2023 TV schedule to check out in the meantime. 

Aubrey Plaza has been a budding star for years now, but with her recent performance on The White Lotus, she's become part of water cooler talk. Due to timing and great reviews, it’s no suprise that her latest film, Emily the Criminal, is having enormous Netflix success, and trended on the top 10 list. Alhough, one person was surprised, and that was Plaza, who couldn’t be happier that the small independent film is finding its audience. 

In a recent interview with Playlist, the Parks and Rec alum opened up about her success, and some of her own projects that she is most proud of. One of these is Emily the Criminal, a low budget passion project that is now doing great numbers on Netflix. Plaza was surprised that such a small film was receiving so much attention, and was so excited that it is finally being seen. She expressed:

I’m sure it's not very often that an independent film made for $2 million dollars is spoken in the same breath as a major summer blockbuster like Bullet Train, or such an auteur driven creative masterpiece like Pinocchio. This is a huge accomplishment, and hopefully encourages more movie stars to lend their talents to low budget films with a lot to say. Plaza has always been a champion of the independent world, and has expressed her love for the theater-going experience. 

For those who have seen Emily the Criminal, they know that the success is extremely well deserved. The film is about a young, broke college graduate who falls into student loan debt. Her desperation lends her in the midst of a fraudulent credit card ring, that she participates in to pay off her debts. The film tackles big ideas like what people do when they feel hopeless, and the student debt crisis. Critics and audiences all are having great reactions to the film, so Plaza certainly had a winner on her hands. 

In the wake of one success after another, Plaza continues to diversify her filmography. She is starring in an action drama by Guy Ritchie titled Operation Fortune: Ruse de guerre, a bigger, sleeker film than she has done before. She also clearly has a desire to continue working on director driven projects. For example, she has been cast in Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis, which the director has had in the works for a while. Both are very different films, so I’m glad we are getting to see even more range from the actress. 

You can catch Aubrey Plaza in Emily the Criminal which is currently streaming with a Netflix subscription. For more information on other films arriving in theaters and streaming in the near future, make sure to check out our 2023 movie release schedule. 

Coming off of the success of season 2 of The White Lotus, Aubrey Plaza’s stardom is on the rise. She is set to appear in the latest Guy Ritchie film Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre, and the new Disney+ series Agatha: Coven of Chaos. It’s safe to say that the Parks and Rec alum is having a bit of a moment right now. Plaza’s latest film, a small independent movie titled Emily the Criminal, just recently hit Netflix, and is already trending on the platform. It seems like this is drawing a new audience to the film, and giving fans another reason to fall in love with the actress.

Emily the Criminal follows a young woman in Los Angeles who struggles to pay off her student loans. In turn, she finds herself involved in a fraudulent credit card ring while trying to make some extra money. The film received critical acclaim for its social commentary and Plaza’s stellar performance. The movie is also striking a cord with fans, who all seem to love this film, including recognition from some big Hollywood names. 

Stephen King recently tweeted his appreciation for the film, and praised the actors involved with the project.

Filmmaker and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia actor Danny DeVito also had nothing but great things to say about Emily the Criminal and Aubrey Plaza.

Fans of Plaza’s are also super hyped about the film, gushing about how wonderful the film communicates feelings of desperation and struggle, while also being a great action flick. One Twitter user seemingly forgave Emily for her wrongdoings because of her relatable motivations. 

Another audience member seemed to feel the same way about the film, humanizing the main character due to her arc within the film.

One film critic was blown away by Plaza, noting that the film made him realize just how great of an actress she truly is.

Clearly Emily the Criminal is really resonating with audiences looking for a relatable, honest film to watch on Netflix. Aubrey Plaza is always choosing unique, and grounded projects to attach herself to, and it seems like this film is no different. It’ll be exciting to see what else the actress has in store for audiences. She has a lot of projects lined up, including Francis Ford Coppola's Megalopolis, so there's a lot for her fans to be excited about. 

Netflix subscribers can check out Emily the Criminal now, as it is currently streaming on the platform. The movie has been nominated Independent Spirit Awards and is one of many 2022 movies to look out for during the 2023 awards season. For more information on other projects hitting the streaming service, make sure to check out our Netflix movie release schedule.

Major spoilers below for The White Lotus’ Season 2 finale, so be warned if you haven’t yet taken the plunge.

Mike White delivered another masterful season of The White Lotus, filled with gorgeous settings and complicated relationships amongst the large ensemble, as well as a shocking death (or four) serving as narrative bookends. This time around, the HBO drama’s biggest seasonal connection met their demise, with Jennifer Coolidge’s Tanya unwittingly causing her own death after single-handedly stopping Quentin & Co.’s murder plot. The finale, fittingly titled “Arrivederci,” also wrapped up several other overarching storylines, with Lucia proving herself to have used Albie for his money, while her supposed threat Alessio was revealed to be just another hotel worker. Scammers gonna scam, I guess. 

But for all the answers that were given, The White Lotus still left me with plenty of additional questions that don’t seem like they’ll be granted full clarity anytime soon. So while waiting for the next boat to come and pick us all up from this picturesque dock, let’s run down some of the biggest curiosities that were left unexplained.

Why Was The Plan To Kill Tanya So Ridiculously Complicated?

Throughout Season 2, White Lotus fans were 100% on top of the notion that Greg teamed with Quentin to somehow take possession of Tanya’s fortune, but what failed to come up often enough was the simple question of why Greg would go through all of this trouble and planning to kill her in lieu of literally anything simpler and less distant. It’d be easier to understand Quentin wining and dining Tanya if the point was to get her to consensually sign over part of her fortune in one way or another, but I can’t grasp why they spent so much time and money to take her out to the opera and whatnot if the point was just to kill her outright anyway. 

Seriously, why bring in the sexy hitman with all the party favors? Why get her all coked up and horny if neither the drug use nor the infidelity would be used to the gay mafia’s advantage? Are we to believe that Quentin, Matteo and others were truly so won over by Tanya that they wanted to give her a few last hurrahs before taking her out for good? Matteo’s tearful goodbye was perhaps partial proof of that, but still. It seems like a whole lot of flashy build-up for something that could have played out in the U.S.

Is Greg A Black Widower “Killer,” So To Speak?

Considering Greg remained absent after leaving Tayna in Italy, his story remains unclear beyond the bits of their marriage we were made privy to. As such, we don’t know if this was a one-time situation for Greg, or whether this is learned and patterned behavior. While I have to think his medical maladies were legitimate enough, since Tanya likely witnessed some of those procedures and check-ups, is it possible that Greg has been collecting and killing off wives (and possibly husbands) for years prior to Tanya? It’d certainly be one way for Quentin and his clan to keep up appearances without ever having to get official employment, though that would open up more questions about Greg and Quentin’s current relationship and where his sexual interests lie.

Was Jack Supposed To Kill Portia?

Jack’s finale behavior took a sharp turn away from the jovial, fun-loving lushiness he exuded in days prior, as Portia became more convinced she’d been intentionally separated from Tanya, and was in danger of spending her final hours inside Quentin’s Range Rover. (Assuming it was even his, of course.) Said danger grew more palpable once it came out she knew Jack and Quentin were banging each other, and it didn’t take a genius to realize he wasn’t actually driving her where he claimed. But in the end, he chose to let her go free with the dire warning not to return to the White Lotus, and not to bring more trouble on herself by talking about it with others. Which sorta makes it all the more strange that he DID let her go, since she definitely figured Tanya was going to die at that point. Maybe he just figured all her griping implied she didn’t care that much about her boss. 

Were Jack And Quentin Actually Related?

Weirdly enough, the jury is still out on this one, considering The White Lotus didn’t double down on either Yea or Nay here. Creator Mike White previously played coy when asked, and it seemed like the show was going to explain that relationship a little more. But no, that wasn’t meant to be. So I’m just going to assume/pretend that Jack’s mom married Quentin’s sibling, making them a sexually active uncle and nephew through marriage and not by blood.

Will Portia Ever Say Anything To The Cops (Or Anyone)?

Surely, it doesn’t seem likely that Portia will go blabbing about the previous night’s discoveries either during her trip back to the U.S., or soon after. But what about when she learns more about Greg’s potential involvement and more background details? Will she still choose to remain quiet once she finds out it was Quentin and others that Tanya killed, or will that embolden her to come forward? And to reiterate a point introduced a little earlier: does Portia give enough of a shit about Tanya’s posthumous existence to put forth the effort?

What Happened Between Cameron/Harper And Daphne/Ethan?

The White Lotus wisely, if somewhat frustratingly, gave viewers no concrete answers when it came to the potential sex-capades that went on between Season 2’s most horned-up and horned-down couples. When Ethan confronted Harper full on about it, she mirrored his earlier half-admission regarding the condom wrapper by offering up slightly more to the story, saying Cameron suggested they go back up to the room together, and that they kissed for a brief time just before Ethan had returned to the room. But Ethan didn’t believe that was all that happened, and Aubrey Plaza did a fantastic job of playing it right down the middle, without ever being too convincing or too untrustworthy. 

Fans were given even less information when it came to Ethan’s mid-day sojourn with Daphne, though there were literal waves of implications that they found ways to rectify their complicated feelings about Cameron and Harper, even if it wasn’t strictly all about rote intercourse. Whatever happened there, it was enough to convince Ethan that there are other ways for him to handle his issues with Harper that aren’t just anger and non-affection. Here’s what Mike White had to say about this one in the post-episode “Unpacking” feature:

So White doesn’t necessarily think that everyone went through with the least moral version of events, but isn’t confirming the most innocent take either.

Is Cameron Aware Of And Angry About His Kid(s) Having Another Father?

It was previously implied that Daphne’s trainer was the father of one or more of her children, and The White Lotus’ finale offered a secondary look at that likely scenario by showing Cameron flossing while both ignoring and getting frustrated with Daphne calling for him to greet the kids via video call. He could have been annoyed for any number of reasons, but it seemed like that moment was tipping its hat to the idea that Cameron spends every day knowing he’s raising another man’s biological child, with that likely being the daunting King piece on Daphne’s side of their twisted chess board.

For what it’s worth, Mike White also spoke to the idea that Cameron isn’t the kind of guy whose patterns are likely to change simply because it’s a good idea, so there’s always the possibility that some of the unspoken truths in his marriage will bubble up to the surface sooner rather than later. My dream for Season 5 is them both going to the same White Lotus as post-separation singles. 

Did Albie Actually Learn Anything?

I feel like Albie had the right idea in the first place by aiming for Portia, only for him to get dicked over by both of them in very different fashions, resulting in 50,000 euros being siphoned from his father, while Albie also further sold out his values by lying to his mom about Dom being on good behavior. And in the end, he just ended up with Portia’s number anyway, while also obviously now being far more in line with the older men in the family, libidinously speaking. So is he coming out of this a better person in any respect?

The White Lotus is over for now, but both seasons are available to stream again and again with an HBO Max subscription, and we know Season 3 is coming, even if we don’t yet know exactly what it’ll be about. 

Spoilers below for anyone who isn’t yet current with The White Lotus’ Season 2 episodes, so be warned!

With only one episode left in HBO’s sexed-up and paranoia-driven resort drama The White Lotus, fans are closer than ever to learning the overarching mystery of the dead bodies referenced in Season 2’s opening sequence. But as any viewer is well aware, the identity of the corpse(s) is but one of many questions that deserve answers in the impending finale, with another being “Why in God’s name is Harper leaning into flirting with Cameron and making Ethan jealous?” Thankfully, star Aubrey Plaza provided some key insight into that confused horniness, and how it’s a product of more than what viewers have seen play out.

Episode 6 seemingly brought Ethan to his breaking point, and he so very clearly suspects things are happening between Harper and Cameron, and isn’t so unjustified for such hypotheses. Which is made all the more confusing by the idea that Harper hasn’t said or thought many nice things about Theo James’ womanizer since the season began. Speaking with Vanity Fair, Plaza explained why there’s still some chemistry with Cameron despite any and all negative feelings about his personality, saying:

As much as we’d all like to think we can forever rise above our base instincts in the face of such primal urges, that’s just not always going to be the case. And in Harper’s situation, her potentially eroding marriage and absent sexual relationship with Ethan have left the door open to make some regrettable decisions in the face of philandering hunks. Plaza continued:

The White Lotus has introduced the idea that Cameron has had a long-lasting influence over Ethan’s relationships, both real and idealized, with much unaddressed scar tissue built up there. And while we don’t know if that played into the onset of Harper and Ethan’s marital woes, Aubrey Plaza confirmed that the couple’s problems existed well before their trip to Italy, and that she intentionally played up the idea that they weren’t in positive headspaces from the minute they arrived on the boat. But the island is indeed where these bubbling-up concerns are finally being addressed, which has obviously created more of a powder keg sitch than anything genuinely healthy for their shared future.

The question now, going into the final episode, is whether Harper and Cameron actually will do the dirty deed, whether Ethan will find out, and how anyone will react to it all. I guess that’s more than just one question. Since there’s also the matter of Lucia and Alessio’s questionable relationship, the truth behind Quentin’s relationship with Jack and his motives for befriending Tanya, and whether Dom can do right by a woman for once (and without blaming his dad if it doesn’t happen). 

The White Lotus’ finale will air on HBO on Sunday, December 11, at 9:00 p.m. ET, and all previous episodes can be streamed with an HBO Max subscription. Head to our 2022 TV schedule and our 2023 premiere guide to see what’ll be popping up once this European excursion has run its course.