As Marvel fans await Florence Pugh’s return as Yelena Belova in upcoming MCU epic Avengers: Doomsday, and Dune fans await her return as Princess Irulan in the third film — releasing on the same day, no less — the actress is busy keeping sheer dresses front of mind heading into the summer. Pugh not so long ago made the sheer dress a “free the nipple” statement, and her latest see-through look is surprisingly intricate and unsurprisingly divine.

Pugh is a standard-setter for this fashion trend, and is not interested in hearing others’ complaints as she brings her brings her nipple-freeing looks to life. The occasion for the sheer-tastic look below was the 30th birthday celebration of fashion designer Harris Reed, who opted for his own sheer outfit to usher in his next decade. Pugh shared a pic from the event on her Instagram, as seen below.

(Anyone wondering just how sheer the back of Pugh’s dress is need not seek out the help of oracles on high. Reed also shared a close-up shot of both of their backsides, and there’s no mistaking which body parts are on display, though everyone's nether regions are covered up.)

This dress is certainly stunning from any angle, and I'd love to know how flexible that fabric is, as well as whether the fuzzy bits are soft like fur or if they're more straw-like to help everything stay lifted. Regardless of if it's all extremely soft or weirdly scratchy, it's another big win for Pugh's see-through fashion picks. Not as simple as some of her looks have been, with full head-to-toe theming, as opposed to just rocking a sheer skirts with non-sheer tops.

Gotta give Harris Reed props for going with a sheer look at the same time as Pugh. Birthday or not, that's quite the challenge, but it looks like everyone had a great time.

Pugh actually went with the opposite of a sheer dress while celebrating her 30th birthday earlier this year. But that was less to do with making or breaking fashion trends, and more to do with her being in the snowy Alps for the occasion, which can make extremely thin and wispy fabrics a less than ideal outfit.

Amusingly enough (or not), Pugh's next high-profile project is one in which wearing a sheer dress of any kind would break all the laws of reality. She's set to star in the limited series adaptation of John Steinbeck's 1952 magnum opus East of Eden, which was developed by Zoe Kazan. (Her grandfather Elia Kazan directed the 1955 film.) The first trailer for the 2026 Netflix release dropped recently, and it looks like it'll definitely get viewers talking. Albeit not about any see-through fashion choices.

Florence Pugh is one of the biggest stars in Hollywood now, and she has starred in a number of beloved projects across multiple genres. Folks who like to watch Pugh's movies are in for a treat this holiday season, as she's starring in Avengers: Doomsday and Dune: Part Three, both of which hit theaters on December 18th. And the actress responded to this event (lovingly titled Dunesday by the fans) after having a little time away from the spotlight.

What we know about Avengers: Doomsday is limited, but fans can't wait to see entire teams of heroes on the big screen. While Pugh is reprising her role as Yelena in the MCU (her other appearances are streaming with a Disney+ subscription), she'll also return as Princess Irulan in the third Dune film. In a clip from ET's TikTok, the Oscar-nominated actress addressed her two big releases hitting theaters at the same time, offering:

Talk about a great perspective. While promoting these two movies at the same time might be a crazy schedule, at least Pugh was able to rest a bit before jumping into the chaos of Dunesday. And no matter what happens with the box office battle between Avengers: Doomsday and Dune: Part Three, Ms. Flo is coming out on top.

While most of us thing of actors doing their job primarily on set, promoting movies is a big part of the gig. Given the global appeal of both Dune and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Florence Pugh is likely going to be doing a ton of traveling and countless interviews for her pair of blockbuster sequels.

Big things will seemingly happen for Pugh's characters in both Dune 3 and Avengers: Doomsday. The latter will see Yelena, who is leading the New Avengers, crossover with entire teams of heroes while fighting Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom. Then there's the third Dune movie, which will see Princess Irulan married to Paul Atreides in the midst of his Holy War. The stakes are high, and I have to assume moviegoers will be doing plenty of double features.

Both Dune: Part Three and Avengers: Doomsday will hit theaters on December 18th as part of the 2026 movie release list. Dunesday will be here before we know it, and I can't wait to see what happens both narratively and financially with the pair of movies.

Like many of her fellow stars, Florence Pugh has sought to maintain a level of privacy as she’s navigated life as a public figure. She does, however, provide fans with insight into her life as well as her mentality regarding her career and Hollywood as a whole. More recently, Pugh (who left LA to return to London) shared some candid thoughts on what it’s like being a woman working in the entertainment industry. And the A-lister didn’t hold back her thoughts on the notable double standards she’s experienced within the business.

Pugh’s breakthrough role arguably came by way of 2016’s Lady Macbeth and, since then, she’s worked quite consistently, landing roles in major projects. All of that doesn’t necessarily mean the road has been – or is – easy for her to travel down, though. Pugh spoke with The Mirror (via DailyMail) and opened up about the challenges women face carving out lanes for themselves within the acting profession. The Midsommar star specifically spoke to how people’s perceptions of men and women – both figuratively and literally – vary:

It’s unfortunate to say, but labels like “difficult” and “diva” are still unfairly cast upon actresses in some situations. Someone could argue that such descriptors are used when a woman tries to defend herself or ask questions regarding the work they’re doing. Pugh also makes a good point when it comes to how men’s bodies are viewed compared to women’s. There’s a particularly high amount of scrutiny that women receive for the way they look compared to men. Pugh previously discussed how women’s bodies were judged, and she has first-hand experience with backlash due to that 2022 situation involving her Pink Valentino sheer dress.

From the perspective of the business, there is certainly a patriarchy that still exists, and that system can have damaging effects on a female artist’s trajectory. Pugh doesn’t claim to have all the answers, of course, but she did share suggest a few courses of action that could be implemented to better the landscape for younger female performers and seasoned ones:

That’s certainly a positive message, and it’s one that may resonate not only with Pugh’s peers but with women in other industries who are facing similar challenges. Something that’s arguably endeared Pugh to people is her willingness to be so candid in certain respects. It’s honestly great to see a star like her succeed within the business, but it’s also admirable to see one who speaks truth to power about what she views as inequalities in the workplace.

See Florence Pugh shine on the big screen when both Avengers: Doomsday and Dune: Part Three open on December 18 as part of the 2026 movie schedule.

There’s been some big cinematic productions from women in music lately, and they’ve assembled the biggest names in Hollywood to help them out. Sabrina Carpenter’s most recent music video for her song “House Tour” continues her visual narrative of a criminal starlet on the run, this time joined by accomplices Madelyn Cline and Margaret Qualley. After country music star Ella Langley’s music video “Choosin’ Texas” went viral last week for its lovelorned tale starring Luke Grimes and Ava Phillipe, it seems like this is a recent trend rather than a coincidence.

Now Laufey has entered the chat, and while the celebrity cameos are A+, I can’t get over how similar the music video is to a certain Florence Pugh movie.

Laufey Assembled An All-Star Cast Full Of Asian-American Representation

After teasing her upcoming project all week, Laufey released the music video for her song “Madwoman” on April 13, and she recruited some of the biggest Asian-North American celebrities to round out her cast.

The Asian-Icelandic song writer recruited The Summer I Turned Pretty’s Lola Tung, Megan Skiendal from Katseye, and USA gold medalist Alysa Liu, the latter of whom famously used Laufey’s song “Promise” in her figure skating short program at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

However, fans freaked out when the “Lover Girl” singer announced Heated Rivalry’s Hudson Williams would be playing her “madman.” The Canadian actor is one of the buzziest names in Hollywood right now thanks to his breakout performance in the popular gay hockey show, making him the perfect leading man.

Also included in the narrative were Bottoms actress Havana Rose Liu and I Know What You Did Last Summer’s Chase Sui Wonders, who appeared on fake tabloid covers, making for fun easter eggs.

Holy crossover, what I would have given to be in the room where it happened! These aren’t just big stars, they’re the next generation of Asian representation in Hollywood. They’re also all at the top of their respective industries right now.

Not to mention, this is an extremely attractive cast, and don’t even get me started on the slow motion shot of Williams lifting his shirtless self out of the pool. They all look so good in their ‘50s outfits, the colorful dresses, headbands and go-go boots, which brings me to my next point: we need to talk about the themes and storytelling in this video.

I Couldn’t Get Over The Don’t Worry Darling Vibes

Laufey’s “Madwoman” is eerily similar to the 2022 psychological thriller Don’t Worry Darling, starring Florence Pugh and Harry Styles. From the mid-century modern outfits and decor, the video theme is clearly in line with ‘50s So-Cal suburbia, which matches that of Don’t Worry Darling’s simulation town of Victory. That alone is not enough to connect the two pieces of media though, and I was really struck by the plot parallels about halfway through the music video.

For context, Laufey’s lyrics in “Madwoman” talk about how she knows it’s a bad idea to re-involve herself with such a deceptive lover, yet he always convinces her to stay. She describes herself as being “vexed” and “hypnotized” by him, very similar themes found in Olivia Wilde’s film.

The video reflects these lyrics, showing the charming Williams exhibit certain red flags, but still causing everyone to swoon around him. Check it out:

Everything seems so perfect, including the moment the Heated Rivalry star gets down on one knee, up until Laufey backs up into a ceramic bust, which falls and shatters on the pool deck. At that moment, everyone in this idyllic scene freezes but Laufey, who has been brought back to reality by the crash.

It immediately reminded me of the moment Alice breaks an egg in her hand in Don’t Worry Darling, realizing it’s just a hollow shell. It’s one of many cracks in the simulated utopia that start to pull her out of her daze, warning signs that her husband Jack is not what he pretends to be.

However, the final scene of Laufey’s video solidifies for me the Don’t Worry Darling influence. After realizing it’s all a ruse, Laufey drives off in a vintage car, until suddenly the road ends, and she stops short in front of an endless black pit. There are limits to the world she’s in... where have I seen this before?

Oh that’s right! Florence Pugh drives off in a vintage car until she reaches the edge of Victory, where there is a portal to the outside world. The similarities are quite uncanny in my opinion, but that’s where they end. Olivia Wilde’s film ends with Alice seemingly escaping the false utopia prison, although viewers were left with many questions. Laufey, on the other hand, returns to her mid-century modern house and to her narcissistic partner, accepting that she cannot help but give in to the chaotic relationship.

Overall, I thought the video and narrative were so well done, and I thoroughly enjoyed the cameos. I sure hope more artists take a page out of Laufey’s book!

After getting our first unsettling look at what’s ahead in the upcoming Dune: Part Three, it turns out Timothée Chalamet’s not the only one looking dramatically different this time around. Florence Pugh has now entered the chat with a visual of Princess Irulan from the 2026 calendar release, which is just as hard to ignore. After she posted a pic of her character's clay-covered face, fans had a lot to say. Well, now she’s responded.

Florence Pugh shared an image on Instagram showing Irulan, her face covered in cracked, clay-like material. The image below is stark, textured, and, honestly, a bit eerie, especially given how polished and composed the character appeared in Dune: Part Two. Naturally, the internet reacted within seconds.

So, how did fans respond? About as over-the-top as you’d expect.

Fans' Responses To Princess Irulan’s Clay Face

Instead of diving straight into plot theories, plenty of fans fixated on something else entirely: what was going on with that clay-covered face?

A lot of the early reactions leaned into humor. Comments like @morgflorals’ “What foundation do you use?!” and @pubity’s “Love your makeup here” captured the tone right away. When a look is that intense, sometimes the only option is to joke about it. Fashion designer Harris Reed kept things especially dry with a simple “Casual.”

Others took the comparison in a different direction. “That looks like a very nice face mask,” wrote content creator stellalasaurus, while @ayeeeitstoriii asked, “What kind of clay mask are you using queen?” At that point, the comment section started to feel like a very niche skincare forum.

And that was just scratching the surface. A few more standout reactions included:

• @Camerongsands: “girl why are they trying to cover your face card🙄”
• @Joefevs: “She needs a better skincare routine”
• @polo.nyyy12: "not exclusively on tiktok i hope tf not??"
• @thisoddangel: “This will be what gets me into the dune series”
• @charliemwashby: "Girl, drop that skincare routine!"

So yes, fans were keeping things… subtle. As for Florence Pugh’s response? It was exactly as playful as you’d expect.

Florence Pugh Responds To Dune 3 Fans

Pugh didn’t leave fans hanging for long. She reposted the image to her Instagram Stories and added a short caption: “Check out why Irulan has a clay mask in Dune 3🥰” The “clay mask” comments have officially been acknowledged.

More importantly, her response may suggest there’s a real in-universe explanation behind the look. Given how Dune tends to handle politics, religion, and symbolism, it’s not hard to imagine this being tied to something ceremonial, strategic, or even personal for Irulan as the story moves forward.

Either way, the image has already done what any good first look should do. It grabbed attention and got people talking, even if that conversation briefly turned into skincare recommendations. Now the only real question is whether Irulan’s “routine” is something fans will actually want to try… or something best left on Arrakis.

Alongside Pugh’s Irulan, Dune: Part Three will bring back several familiar faces, including Jason Momoa as Duncan Idaho, Rebecca Ferguson as Lady Jessica, Anya Taylor-Joy as Alia Atreides, and Josh Brolin as Gurney Halleck. Robert Pattinson is also joining the lineup as the film’s antagonist, Scytale. The next chapter hits theaters on December 18, going head-to-head with Avengers: Doomsday. In the meantime, fans can revisit the first two films, along with the prequel series Dune: Prophecy, with an HBO Max subscription.

Sheer fashion and the naked dress have been a staple trend for years now. However, it’s not one that rose to fame for the first time when celebs like Florence Pugh and Megan Fox went viral in the early 2020s for their jaw-dropping looks. No, it’s been around for a very long time. And to prove that, I’d like us to travel back to 1997 and an iconic sheer illusion dress that Victoria Beckham rocked at the Brit Awards.

Obviously, the sheer trend did not just pop up in the 2020s. As Vogue noted, it was prominently embraced by celebrities like Jane Birkin and Cher in the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s. However, it had a major moment in the 1990s. Specifically, the naked dress had a stand-out moment in 1997 when Victoria Beckham wore this incredible Maria Grachvogel garment, per Hello, to the Brit Awards:

As you can see in this legendary photo of the Spice Girls, Posh Spice’s dress features a dark black sheer top that cuts into a V around her waist. Then, lighter sheer paneling outlines it at the bottom of the dress. Truly, this feels like the naked dress the roads should lead back to. It’s remarkable.

Of course, when I think of recent sheer fashion, the first two names that pop into my head are Megan Fox and Florence Pugh.

Fox comes to my mind because of the absolutely iconic naked dress she wore to the 2021 VMAs. The completely sheer gown that was detailed with sparkly lines was stunning and flattering, and it paired very nicely with the all-red ensemble MGK wore to the event. After that, it felt like we were in the year of the naked dress, seeing as 2022 was full of sheer moments that will go down in history.

Speaking of 2022, that's when Florence Pugh became a very prominent name when considering this trend, thanks to her completely sheer hot pink Valentino dress. She wore the totally see-through gown to the Valentino Haute Couture Fall/Winter 22/23 fashion show, and it sparked quite the conversation because you could see her nipples.

In the years since Pugh rocked that pink naked gown, she has absolutely owned the sheer trend. From dresses made of see-through white lace to sparkling black gowns to a garment made of flowy green fabric, some of Pugh’s best fashion moments have been see-through. They also single-handedly prove the range this trend has.

The same is true for Fox and many other celebrities, like Jenna Ortega and Margot Robbie, for example. Truly, for the last five years, we've gotten a wealth of absolutely stunning naked dresses.

However, while it can feel like this trend just got going in the 2020s with A-listers like Megan Fox, it didn’t. It dates back decades, which was totally proven by that absolutely incredible naked dress Victoria Beckham wore back in 1997.

Every year comes with a number of celebrity deaths, and 2026 has started off with a bang as fashion icon Valentino Garavani passing away at the age of 93. He was reportedly surrounded by loved ones at his home in Rome, and passed away from natural causes. And as a result of his impact, a ton of celebrity tributes have started rolling out online, many of which praise both his talent and the strength of his character.

One of the A-list celebrities to pen a tribute was none other than Oscar-nominated actress Florence Pugh, who went viral for wearing a sheer Valentino dress that began the "free the nipple" movement. This even led her to becoming the face of the brand. Pugh took to Instagram story to write the following message:

Another iconic actress to take to social media is Oscar-winner Gwyneth Paltrow, who has worked with Valentino on a number of her iconic looks throughout the years. She posted a sweet photo with the late designer, as well as a touching caption. You can check it out below:

Aside from being the star of The Kardashians (streaming with a Hulu subscription) and a recent actress, Kim Kardashian is also known for being a style icon. She's another celeb who seemingly had a close relationship with Valentino, sharing a sweet photo on her Instagram story, where she's seen walking arm in arm with the late designer.

Sarah Jessica Parker has spent years playing fashionable writer Carrie Bradshaw on Sex and the City and And Just Like That (which are streaming g with a HBO max subscription) but she's also a style icon IRL. She posted on her Instagram grid about Valentino's passing, see below:

The fashion industry has been collectively mourning since it was revealed that Valentino passed away. Case in point: pillar of the community Donatella Versace posted a photo on her Instagram, with the caption reading:

These tributes are only a drop in the bucket to how many are circulating online, as well as how many non-celebrity fans have been impacted by Valentino's work throughout the years. On top of bringing stunning fashion to the world, these posts also show how beloved he was as a person. Our thoughts are with his loves ones during what is no doubt a very difficult time of mourning.

As Florence Pugh entered her “30, flirty, and thriving” era this year, she made sure to pull all the fashion stops. Just when we thought celebrating her 30th (yes, 30th) meant solely cozying up in her fluffiest pink hat, the British actress took it one step further by going skiing in the Swiss Alps. I’ve got to say, though, what I’m most obsessed with is the colorful look Pugh was sporting while celebrating her big 3-0 in the snowy location.

Emily in Paris’ Ashley Park posted a carousel of photos showing her time celebrating good pal Florence Pugh’s milestone 30th in the wintry Swiss Alps. The two looked like they had the time of their lives playing games, skiing up blankets of snow and humorously wearing cutouts of Yelena Belova’s face. Yet the photos I can’t take my eyes off are of the Marvel star wearing a colorful and furry snowsuit against the backdrop of the frosted mountains:

We already knew the fashion icon could pull off any furry hat that she accessorizes with. Pugh also proved purple was clearly her color when she wore that Valentino purple sweat-set for the 2022 Venice Film Festival. (That purple ensemble still represents one of her best fashion moments.) However, I’m obsessed with the combination of both fun styles taking place in Pugh’s 30th birthday attire. This is sheer proof that when it comes to being model-ready, the Oppenheimer actress doesn’t miss a trick.

The purple-patterned snowsuit with the furry teal on the collar and cuffs exude Pugh's playfulness and unique fashion sense. Also, my love of unicorns has me swooning over the Little Women actress’ cosplay helmet while she’s looking playfully serious at the camera with her friends. If you’re going skiing down a mountain, who says you can’t look chic while doing so?

Pugh has earned the right to party it up with her friends in the Swiss Alps, especially since she’ll be having a very busy year promoting projects amid the 2026 movie schedule. She's reprising her role as Yelena in the upcoming Marvel movie Avengers: Doomsday, and she's returning as Princess Irulan for Dune: Part Three. On top of that, the A-lister will play Cathy Ames in the limited series adaptation of East of Eden. With a blockbuster-filled year coming her way, it’s only fitting that Pugh start the new year in style before the cameras roll again.

All of that aside, it’s just hard to believe Florence Pugh is now 30 years old. In any case, she's definitely starting off this new year right by ringing it in with an eye-popping, colorful outfit to mark her Swiss Alps birthday. With Pugh never failing to make an entrance with her distinctive styles, I can’t wait to see what other fashion moments she’s got in store this year.

Florence Pugh never fails to make waves with her best fashion moments. Now, as one of many actors hitting the big 3-0 this year, why not continue the hot streak of iconic style choices? Well, the Oscar nominee sure did that by celebrating her 30th birthday wearing the fluffiest pink hat I’ve ever seen.

The last time I remember the British actress wearing a fuzzy head accessory was when she kicked off 2023 with a furry bucket hat. As Florence Pugh takes on a new chapter of being “30, flirty, and thriving,” she took to her Instagram stories to prove her affinity for this kind of cozy accessory again, and I love it:

With those dark shades on and her signature septum ring, the Midsommar actress rang in her 30th birthday (which is on January 3) with the fuzziest pink hat I’ve ever seen. It’s practically engulfing her entire head! But Pugh has always been one to wear unique pieces that are pleasing to the eye and get us all talking. I wouldn’t expect anything less from the style icon.

Pretty in pink perfectly describes Florence Pugh. She broke the internet wearing a sheer pink Valentino dress that sparked a “Free the Nipple” movement. Then, Pugh rocked another pink sheer look weeks later in the form of a transparent jumpsuit. At the We Live in Time premiere, she looked elegant in pink, wearing a satin Tamara Ralph ballgown. Clearly, she loves a pink moment, and we do too!

I already have a feeling that Florence Pugh's 30th year is going to be a great one with all of the upcoming projects she has.

The BAFTA nominee will star in the East of Eden miniseries that will be available with a Netflix subscription eventually. Pugh will play the book adaptation’s antagonist, Cathy Ames, who destroys people for their own amusement. I can’t wait to see the versatile actress sink her teeth into a well-known role like this and make it her own.

The Fighting with My Family actress also has multiple releases on the 2026 movie schedule. She'll reprise her role as Yelena Belova in Avengers: Doomsday, and she'll return as Princess Irulan in Dune: Part Three. Her kickass MCU character and regal sci-fi role show her commanding screen presence that audiences adore. So, with such an exciting lineup, fans have a lot to look forward to as the actress celebrates her year of being 30.

Nothing says having a cozy new year and new milestone age like sporting the fuzziest hat you own. But, only Florence Pugh can turn a wild birthday accessory into a fashion statement moment we’ll always remember. With style, confidence, and exciting movie and TV projects coming up, I don’t see where Pugh can go wrong in 2026.

A new year is upon us, with lots of exciting things to come over the next 365 days — and I’m not just talking about the 20+ sequels that are set for release on the 2026 movie calendar. We’ve got Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding date reportedly in June, and Zendaya will turn the big 3-0 in September, as she and Tom Holland plan their own nuptials.

In fact, there are quite a few former child stars who were born in 1996 and will celebrate a milestone birthday this year. Let’s take a look at some of the celebrities who will be “30, flirty and thriving” in 2026:

Zendaya

After working as a fashion model in commercials and singing for KidzBop, Zendaya kicked off her career on the Disney Channel, starring in the 2010 sitcom Shake It Up. That has blossomed into a career that’s won her two Emmys and a Golden Globe for the HBO drama Euphoria, and as she approaches her birthday on September 1, she’s got a number of projects in the works, including Dune: Part Three and The Odyssey.

Tom Holland

Also celebrating a full three decades is Zendaya’s fiancé, Tom Holland, who will have his big day on June 1. Holland transitioned to film from dance and theater in 2012, when he starred in The Impossible with Naomi Watts. He then broke big in 2016 when he made his first appearance as Spider-Man in Captain America: Civil War. This year, he will star in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey and will be reprising his role as Peter Parker in Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

Hailee Steinfeld

Hailee Steinfeld had her breakthrough performance in 2010, when she starred in the Coen brothers’ True Grit and earned an Academy Award nomination. In addition to turning 30 on December 11, the Sinners star will welcome her first child with husband Josh Allen this year. The NFL star will also celebrate the big 3-0 on May 21.

Hailey Bieber

I can only imagine that self-proclaimed nepo baby Hailey Bieber (of Baldwin family fame) will do it big when she marks her 30th trip around the sun on November 22. The model, who shares a son with husband Justin Bieber, began modeling as a teenager and has become quite a successful influencer and skin care mogul.

Paul Mescal

Paul Mescal’s career has really taken off over the past few years, including his latest role in Hamnet, which earned him a Golden Globe nomination for the upcoming awards show. He’ll know whether or not he won by the time he turns 30 on February 2.

Mescal got his start in the theater before transitioning to TV in 2020 for Normal People. He will star as Paul McCartney in the upcoming Beatles movies, The Beatles – A Four-Film Cinematic Event.

Normani

After coming to fame as part of Fifth Harmony, Normani will celebrate her big day on May 31, nearly a year after the release of her first solo studio album, Dopamine.

Lili Reinhart

We likely know Lili Reinhart best for portraying Betty Cooper in the teen drama Riverdale, but the actress, who will turn 30 on September 13, had roles in movies like The Good Neighbor, The Kings of Summer and even an episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit before that.

Abigail Breslin

It’s crazy to think Abigail Breslin is only 30 years old, since she’s been on our screens forever. Or, maybe I should just feel incredibly old since the little girl from Signs will have a big birthday come April 14. Breslin’s career since then has included Oscar and BAFTA nominations for Little Miss Sunshine and roles in Zombieland, Scream Queens and even an episode of Grey’s Anatomy.

Dove Cameron

Another former Disney kid will celebrate three decades of life, as Dove Cameron — who got her start playing the titular dual roles on Liv and Maddie before starring in the Descendants movies as Mal — turns 30 on January 15.

Bella Hadid

Bella Hadid, who has been modeling since she was 16, will mark her 30th birthday on October 9, undoubtedly surrounded by her famous family members — including fellow model Gigi Hadid — and celebrity friends.

Skyler Gisondo

Known most recently for his role as Jimmy Olsen in 2025’s Superman, Skyler Gisondo may be best recognized as the nerdy neighbor Eric from Santa Clarita Diet. He’s compiled around 75 credits as he turns 30 on July 22, dating all the way back to episodes of Everybody Loves Raymond in 2005. This year he’ll star opposite Ariana Grande in Focker In-Law, the latest in Ben Stiller and Robert DeNiro’s Meet the Parents franchise.

Anya Taylor-Joy

Getting her acting start in her late teens, Anya Taylor-Joy has starred in projects like The Queen's Gambit — for which she won a Golden Globe — and The Menu. This year, in addition to turning 30 on April 16, she’ll reprise her role as Alia Atreides in Dune: Part Three.

Florence Pugh

Florence Pugh has become quite the celebrated actress since making her debut in 2014. At 30 years old (as of January 3), Pugh has been nominated for an Oscar for Little Women with other credits including Midsommar, Don’t Worry Darling, Oppenheimer, We Live in Time, and the second and third Dune movies, to name a few. She also managed to find time to terrify people with her nipples.

Sophie Turner

It’s kind of hard to believe Sansa Stark from Game of Thrones is hitting the big 3-0 in 2026 on February 21. The HBO epic was her first screen credit, but she’s gone on to other projects and is set to star as Lara Croft in the upcoming Tomb Raider series.

Noah Centineo

Noah Centineo’s recurring role as Dallas on Austin & Ally kicked off his career with the Disney Channel in 2011. He continued with small roles with the House of Mouse until joining The Fosters in 2015 and ultimately landed the role of Peter Kavinsky in the To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before movies and the XO, Kitty spinoff. He’s also recently starred in The Recruit and has a couple of projects in the works for 2026, not including whatever is in store for his 30th birthday celebration on May 9.

There are a surprising number of celebrities hitting their milestone three-decade birthday this year. We may have known a lot of them from work they did as a child actor or teenager, but their careers will continue into their 30s. In addition to keeping your eye out for them on the big screen, be sure to also check out the 2026 TV schedule to find some of the thirty-somethings there.

It wasn’t always a forgone conclusion that Denis Villeneuve’s Dune series would be a trilogy, but thankfully, we are getting a third movie during the 2026 movie schedule. Dune: Part Three, as it’s simply titled, will be a continuation of the previous movies. Tickets are even on sale now (as of the end of May 2026) for select IMAX theaters around the world in anticipation of the conclusion to the trilogy.

The upcoming book-to-screen adaptation based on the second novel in the Dune series by author Frank Herbert, Dune: Messiah, is getting closer. We've seen the first trailer (more on that below), we know who is reprising their roles from the previous Dune movies, which you can catch with an HBO Max subscription, and who is joining the cast. Here's everything we know about the movie.

When Will Dune: Part Three Be Released?

Warner Bros. has announced that Dune: Part Three will be released on December 18th, 2026. The movie was shot in IMAX, according to Variety, making this the first Dune movie to be filmed with the large-format cameras, though the other two were released in the format after post-production work.

In fact, because it was shot in IMAX, it appears to have an advantage going into opening week. You see, it's not the only big movie getting released on December 18th. Avengers: Doomsday is also dropping that very same day, setting up a fascinating duel at the box office that we rarely see these days.

A big part of that duel (which some fans have dubbed "DunesDay") will be which will be on the most IMAX screens, and it seems that, at least at the moment, Dune: Part Three has the advantage because it was shot in the format, and Doomsday was not. Recently, theater owners have bristled at both movies competing for audiences and screens, but no one appears to be budging, and tickets for select screenings of Dune Part Three in IMAX are now on sale.

The Dune: Part 3 Trailer

As is the case with any good trailer, there is a lot to unpack (blonde Robert Pattinson??), and a lot of questions that we probably won't have answers for until DunesDay. Are Paul and Chani really back together, because they were definitely NOT at the end of the last installment? If they are, where does that leave Princess Irulan (Florence Pugh)? Those are just the most basic questions!

Who’s In The Cast?

Much of the cast is returning from the first two movies, plus there are a few exciting additions to the cast.

Timothée Chalamet As Paul Atreides

Timothée Chalamet is returning as Paul “Muad'Dib” Atreides in Dune: Part Three. Chalamet led the first two movies as the central character in the Dune series, so of course, he’s back for this one. Since starring in Dune and Dune: Part Two, Chalamet’s star has only grown brighter, and it’ll be great to see him back in this role that I think he performed outstandingly.

In February 2026, Chalamet opened up about how excited he was to make this third movie after gaining more and more confidence after the previous two. He spoke with Matthew McConaughey at an event for CNN and Variety:

"Taking a big swing" is exactly what fans of the books want to hear, and it hopefully means big things for the adaptation.

Zendaya As Chani

Like Chalamet, Zendaya will be back reprising her role as Chani, Paul’s Fremon lover. While she had a pretty limited role in the first movie, she was a huge part of Part Two, and that will continue here.

Florence Pugh As Princess Irulan

Princess Irulan has a big role in the book Dune: Messiah, so Florence Pugh, who appeared in the second Dune movie, will likely have more to do here.

Robert Pattinson As Scytale

CinemaBlend’s Eric Eisenberg theorized Robert Pattinson could be the character Scytale, and now, after the trailer, it's confirmed. Pattison appears with blonde hair in the trailer, and he looks as menacing as Scytale should. With the caliber of cast members that Dune has, a big name in the role is no surprise.

Anya Taylor-Joy As Alia Atreides

One of the most exciting additions to the cast is only sort of an addition. Anya Taylor-Joy appeared in Dune: Part Two, but mostly just her voice was heard, with a few fleeting images. Her character, Alia Atreides, Paul’s sister, was still in utero in the second movie of the trilogy. This time, she’ll have a full role to play, and it’s one of the best characters in the story.

Jason Momoa As Duncan Idaho

We won’t spoil too much here if you’ve never read Dune: Messiah, but yes, Jason Momoa will be back, and he’ll once again be playing fan-favorite Duncan Idaho (or, at least a version of him). Momoa was one of the most beloved characters in the first movie, just as he is among book fans, so it’ll be great to see him once again after he died in the first movie.

Josh Brolin As Gurney Halleck

Gurney Halleck, being played again by Josh Brolin, is one of the few characters we didn't see in the trailer (at least, one we could tell was definitely him). Gurney is a fan favorite, and it's hard to imagine anyone else in the role other than Brolin here.

Rebecca Ferguson As Lady Jessica

This is an interesting one because Lady Jessica, Paul’s mother, doesn’t really play a part in Dune: Messiah, but Rebecca Ferguson will be reprising her role. She teased a little about the part recently, saying it was a small role, but that “Denis had a little idea.” What that idea could be, I can’t wait to find out. She was wonderful as Jessica in the first two movies.

And finally, at least for now, we know that Paul's children, Leto II and Ghanima, will be played by Jason Momoa's son, Nakoa-Wolf Momoa, and Silo actress Ida Brooke, respectively. Charlotte Rampling will reprise her role of Reverend Mother Mohiam as well.

Dune: Part Three Is Based On The Book Dune: Messiah

For those who haven’t read the book, we’ll keep the spoilers light here. Dune: Part Three is based on the second book in the Dune series, Dune: Messiah, by author Frank Herbert. The book, published in 1969, is as well regarded by fans as the original Dune novel. It is set about 12 years after the events of Dune, and Paul is now emperor. That doesn’t mean all is well in the universe. In fact, Paul has unleashed something in the Fremon that even he can’t control, and it threatens everything.

Dune: Messiah is a shorter book than Dune, but Villeneuve will probably still have to make some serious decisions on what to cut. Given how enthusiastic he’s been about these adaptations, I think it’s fair to trust him on what is critical and what can get cut, but it’s going to be tough for fans of the book, no matter what he cuts.

Could There Be A Dune: Part Four?

We’re going to get a little ahead of ourselves here and start wondering about a 4th installment. The answer is murky, to say the least. For starters, Villeneuve’s next project after Dune: Messiah is the next James Bond movie. Bond 26 is loosely scheduled for 2028, so it’s unlikely that if there is a fourth film, Villeneuve will be directly involved.

That’s not to say it is impossible. There is plenty of rich story left to tell in the Dune universe (the original series is six books by Herbert), so a fourth is certainly possible, likely with another director at the helm. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. We're only about months from being back in the Dune universe, and all will be right with the world.

Hollywood made a big change several years ago, when many productions began using intimacy coordinators to help plan sex scenes in television shows and movies, like the 2025 movie schedule entry, Marty Supreme. In fact, that film stars one of a growing number of detractors to the relatively new profession, Gwyneth Paltrow, who went viral and took some heat for noting how she’d feel “stifled” if a coordinator was overly involved with her sex scenes.

Now, a well-respected member of the profession has spoken out about why they’re actually very much needed on set.

What Did An Intimacy Coordinator Say About Why They’re Essential On Sets?

The #MeToo movement sparked a lot of public conversations about just how prevalent sexual violence and abuse had been in Tinseltown, but few probably expected the conversation to alter the film and TV industry the way it has. One thing that came out of this was the realization that many actors (especially women) had felt taken advantage of during the filming of sex scenes, or retaliated against if they’d opted not to take part (or at least take part in ways directors had wanted them to).

Intimacy coordinators have become Hollywood's answer, and while actors like Olivia Colman have praised those in the profession for being able to give “great” direction during those intimate moments on screen, others like Florence Pugh have noted that the burgeoning field is more “complicated,” especially if you end up having “a shit example” when working with one who ends up making the process “so weird and so awkward.”

Recently, the Daily Mail spoke to veteran intimacy coordinator Yehuda Duenyas (who also trains those in the field through his own SAG-AFTRA accredited program), and about those who’ve had negative experiences he said:

Though we’ve heard some positives about intimacy coordinators over the past several years, it does make sense that there would be some variety in how people do the job, and that some might not be as suited to it as others. This is the case with every profession, and as Duenyas noted, it isn’t a reason to dismiss them as a whole.

Some actors have said that they believe having sex scenes be so fully choreographed (to the point that there is a strict nudity rider that must be changed and agreed upon if an actor changes their mind, and there’s then a waiting period of 48 hours before the scene can be filmed) kills whatever natural chemistry the actors involved have, but Duenyas disagrees:

While Duenyas makes some solid points, there will likely continue to be a lot of debate about what intimacy coordinators do, and whether or not it's beneficial for every performer. Stay tuned.

There's a new fashion trend on the scene, and it’s not what fans may think. While we’ve broken down the likes of the naked dress trend and the Barbiecore pink color craze from 2023, it’s now time to talk about floating shoulders. While many have attempted the silhouette over the years, it feels like it was first popularized by Florence Pugh with her 2024 Oscars look. Now, Zoe Saldaña is rocking the look and going about it in a whole new way.

Saldaña arrived at a photo call in Paris France for her latest film, Avatar: Fire and Ash, looking absolutely stunning. Her hair and makeup are flawless, but everyone is talking about her sculptural black leather top by Balenciaga. Just like the floating islands in Pandora, the leather collar floated above her neck. This could be the first time some have seen the floating shoulders look in awhile, and I'm loving it. The floating shoulders give the dress a regal and futuristic look, which is perfect for an Avatar event. Check it out:

I love this look, I think it is elegant and also edgy, bringing something different to a press event. This is very different from how Pugh famously wore her floating shoulders look. Pugh’s Del Core dress was mostly fitted, aside from the floating peaks on her straps. It was also a cool look, but it felt a little more like a take on a classic bodice rather than something totally different like Saldaña’s top. You can see Pugh’s ensemble below:

The trend didn’t stop with Pugh. Emily Blunt wore a similar type of bodice by Schiaparelli the same year when she was nominated at the Oscars for Oppenheimer. Also, just recently, Emily Ratajkowski also wore a floating shoulder dress at the 5th Annual Academy Museum Gala, proving that this push towards a more sculptural style is making waves in the fashion industry. It feels like a new fashion wave, and I’m interested to see how this trend evolves as designers get more and more creative.

They all look absolutely stunning and chic, so I couldn’t even begin to play “Who Wore It Best.” However, I think the way Saldaña is doing things feels most unique, not stopping the elevated look just at the shoulder peaks but the entire top of the dress. It’s undeniably cool and cutting edge, and I have a feeling fans are going to see a lot more looks like this as we enter into awards season.

Surely, we'll also see more as the Academy Award-winning actress continues to promote the buzzy new Avatar film as well. Whether it's "floating" or not, I'm hoping Saldaña -- who plays Neytiri in the sci-fi film series --sports some attire that more overtly pays homage to the world of Pandora.

While Zoe Saldaña makes waves with a stunning fashion moment, you can see her on the big screen in Avatar: Fire and Ash, which hits theaters on December 19, 2025. Fans of the franchise can also check her out in the previous two Avatar movies, which are both streaming with a Disney+ subscription.

Actors have to be able to portray the full range of human emotion in order to get an audience invested in their character and the story, and Florence Pugh has done just that. Like the best actors in the world, Pugh can make fans truly believe she's dealing with grief, pain or trauma. Of course, there are times when the acting seemingly ceases to become acting. That was apparently the case when Pugh made Ari Aster’s Midsommar.

Florence Pugh recently appeared on The Louis Theroux Podcast, where she revealed that all the pain that her character went through in Midsommar honestly had a real impact on her. She realizes now that the movie actually made her "depressed." Despite that, I love hearing that the movie she made right after, an adaptation of a celebrated book, allowed her to put the darkness away, at least for a while. Pugh said…

Midsommar sees Pugh play Dani, a young woman who is traumatized by the death of her family before visiting a rare midsummer festival in Sweden. While there, Dani, still dealing with trauma and depression, witnesses the dark rituals of the cult putting on the festival. This wild tale concludes with a truly depressing ending, one that Pugh and the director don't actually agree on.

Midsommar, like Aster’s Hereditary before it, is an absolutely dark film that is not for the faint of heart and the sort of feature that can really hit you wrong if you’re in the wrong mood while you watch it. Pugh admits she had to envision some pretty terrible things, including the death of her own family, in order to properly portray the character, and the result was depression.

However, for as dark as Midsommar was, it's great hearing that the process of making Greta Gerwig’s Little Women was something else entirely for Pugh. It seems that a much warmer set allowed her to put aside the darkness she was dealing with at the time. Although, she now admits that it didn’t completely solve the problem as, once filming was over, the depression came back. Pugh continued…

While Florence Pugh is great in Midsommar, it doesn’t sound like she’ll be making a lot of movies like it in the future. While she says she’s better now at managing herself and her emotions, and she gets better with every film, it sounds like while this is an experience she’s glad she had, she’s not looking to repeat it. And, quite frankly, I don't blame her.

The film and TV industry is ever changing, and in the last few years we've seen the rise of a new crew member: intimacy coordinators. This individual is there to methodically choreograph love scenes, and ensure that everyone involved is comfortable. But Oscar nominated actress Florence Pugh recently honest about the good and that bad that's come as a result of this new addition to film crews.

While fans are counting down the days for Pugh to return as Yelena in upcoming Marvel movies, she's works on a ton of smaller, non-superhero projects. In those films she's worked with intimacy coordinators for love scenes, to various levels of success. While appearing on The Louis Theroux Podcast, she spoke to how good intimacy coordinators have helped her love scenes, offering:

That's a solid point. on top of making sure that sex scenes are methodically choreographed so that the cast feels secure and comfortable, it sounds like good intimacy coordinators have also positively contributed to her overall storytelling. At least, when things are going right.

As Florence Pugh recalled in the same podcast, she shot the majority of her love scenes prior to intimacy coordinators being introduced to film sets. And there are times she could have used one, as she put it:

Since this job's inception, some actors actually don't love their inclusion in the process. For example, Shailene Woodley doesn't like having intimacy coordinators. What's more, Oscar winner Mikey Madison didn't want one on set for Anora. So it's an ongoing situation within the industry.

Florence Pugh also spoke about a less than positive experience she had with one of these professionals, offering:

While there's a learning curve involved, it does sound like intimacy coordinators can be a helpful member of film crews. Pugh could have used one when she was younger, even if she's had a bad experience or two. We'll just have to wait and see how the industry continues to adapt to these new standards.

Florence Pugh has some thrilling projects coming down the line, including Avengers: Doomsday and Dune: Part Three, which are both set to arrive as part of the 2026 movie release list. Since they're genre projects I assume there were no love scenes in these blockbusters, but we'll just have to and see.

As a fan who’s spent a lot of time watching the Marvel movies in order, in my humble opinion, Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova has quietly become one of the more compelling characters in all of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. First introduced in Black Widow, she has quickly become a fan favorite thanks to her dry wit and the Little Women star’s undeniable charisma. Since her 2021 debut, she has appeared in Hawkeye and then took center stage in the 2025 movie release, Marvel’s Thunderbolts* (or New Avengers). Now, a new rumor suggests that big things are coming for Yelena as we move forward with new Marvel movies. And honestly? I so hope it's true.

According to MyTimeToShineHello, a Marvel insider account on X (formerly Twitter), Yelena Belova may be stepping into a much bigger spotlight. The post claims she’ll appear in at least three major upcoming Marvel projects.

Now, nothing’s officially confirmed by Marvel Studios yet, but considering Thunderbolts laid the groundwork for a New Avengers lineup—and Pugh was front and center—it’s not a huge leap. So, what are fans saying about this rumor?

How Fans Are Responding To Yelena Speculation

Naturally, the fandom has thoughts. Some were pumped, others skeptical, and a few straight-up salty. Here's a snapshot of the discourse online:

• @mattgriffinreal: “Duh... Yelena Belova is easily the most notable non-superhuman of the Multiverse Saga.”
• @Harden_TF_Up: “As she should. @Florence_Pugh is fabulous.”
• @Snehalxmode: “Source? Because Marvel keeps announcing projects that never happen. Remember Inhumans movie?”
• @Caius_Caesar55: “If true, would you rank her above Natasha as the better Black Widow? I gotta be honest, she already is for me. No shade to Nat, I loved her in Winter Soldier. But Yelena’s character writing - at this point - is leagues and bounds above Nat’s during the Infinity Saga.”

Of course, not everyone is thrilled. Here are some of the more negative takes:

• @rickslamu22NJ: “Oh for God's sake stop trying to make her a thing! She was never ever that popular in the comics! And at least there she was an actual Femme Fatale goddess! MCU White Widow looks like she was trying to wait for a position to open up as a yoga instructor at Planet Fitness!”
• @Angrybrother_: “I like her… but she’s already turning into Captain Carter 2.0.”

So yeah, it’s a bit of a mixed bag. But then again, most speculation amongst the fandom usually is.

Pugh Taking Center Stage Actually Makes a Lot of Sense

Here’s the thing: Thunderbolts may not have been a billion-dollar smash, but it did something rare for the MCU, which is that it slowed down and prioritized character over spectacle, something we don’t often see in new superhero movies. The Thunderbolts was my favorite Marvel film in years, largely because Florence Pugh brought real vulnerability to Yelena. She navigated themes of loneliness, depression, grief, and found-family identity, all while delivering sharp one-liners and nailing the action beats. Her scenes with Sentry and Ghost added surprising emotional weight to what could have been just another team-up flick.

Now that Thunderbolts is confirmed to tie directly into the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday (via that juicy post-credits tease with the Fantastic Four), it’s easy to see why Marvel would keep her front and center. She bridges grounded storytelling and cosmic stakes, something the next Avengers movies will need in spades.

If this rumor holds up, Florence Pugh’s Yelena might become one of the key emotional anchors of the Multiverse Saga and what comes beyond that, and honestly, that’s exactly what this next phase needs. Her performance in Thunderbolts proved that she can lead a scene that carries emotional weight without relying on a glowing superpower. And I’m here for it.

The Thunderbolts* is available to stream now with a Disney+ subscription.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe regularly treats fans to new content, arriving in theaters as well as streaming with a Disney+ subscription. The recent release Thunderbolts* is now available to stream, and I maintain it's my favorite MCU flick in years. While not everyone is a superfan like me, I think that even casual moviegoers will enjoy Jake Schreier's blockbuster.

Fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order will recall just how many previous projects Thunderbolts* was connected to. Specifically Black Widow, The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, and Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania. Still, don't think you need to have watched all of these projects to enjoy the movie and its motley crew of antiheroes.

You Don't Need To Be A Marvel Superfan To Enjoy Thunderbolts*

While the cast members of Thunderbolts* have been introduced across various projects, the movie isn't written to require you to know all of their backstory. The screenplay expertly drops in appropriate exposition, thanks to the characters' introductions to each other as well as their visions from The Void. So you can really dive right into the movie without needing to have seen every single chapter of the MCU.

The runtime for Thunderbolts* is 127-minutes, so its not bogged down by an overly complicated story. Instead the story takes place over just a few days, as a group of antiheroes meet and become an unlikely team in order to survive their conflict with Julia Louis-Dreyfus' Valentina.

Aside from the way Thunderbolts* introduces each member of the team, the screenplay is also funny and genuinely moving. So while we get some awesome action and comic book adventure, the movie also has a point of view and human-driven story to tell.

Thunderbolts* Tells An Emotional, Relatable Story.

From Yelena's opening narration and free jump, which was seen in the Thunderbolts* trailer, it's clear that the movie is a narration about grief and depression. Florence Pugh's character is struggling to get by mentally, which actually ends up connecting her to a lot of the members of the New Avengers... especially Bob/Sentry. Along the way we learn John Walker's family left him, and Ghost shares her tragic backstory.

Rather than a flashy final battle, the third act of Thunderbolts* is emotionally-driven and the perfect way to wrap up the aforementioned narrative. Despite being set in a world full of superheroes, the story at the heart of the movie is surprisingly relatable. So many of us have struggled with mental health, or know someone who has. I found myself moved when watching it in theaters, which doesn't often happen to me when enjoying a MCU blockbuster.

It's already been confirmed that the Thunderbolts aka New Avengers will return for upcoming Marvel movies, so this particular team is seemingly going to be sticking around. They were all confirmed in the Avengers: Doomsday cast announcement, and the Thunderbolts* credits scene teased them meeting the Fantastic Four shortly. So if casual fans enjoy Schreier's movie, maybe they'll be invested in more MCU projects.

Thunderbolts* is streaming on Disney+, and Avengers: Doomsday is expected to hit theaters December 18th of next year as part of the 2026 movie release list.

On the surface, Marvel’s Thunderbolts* (or New Avengers, I guess I should say now), is a story about seemingly expendable assassins and operatives, coming together to fight off a big bad. However, on a deeper level, this Marvel project that premiered on the 2025 movie schedule is about loneliness, depression, trauma, and how we cope with them. It’s about the importance of family, support and the power of emotional vulnerability, and I think no one’s character illustrates that better than Florence Pugh’s Yelena.

I Appreciated How Candid Thunderbolts' Depiction Of Yelena's Loneliness Was

From the jump – like literally from the base jump off a tall building – it’s made very clear just how lonely Yelena is. In her first mission in the movie, she captures a man on her own, saves a guinea pig and blows up a building while wearing a hoodie and lamenting about her job and its repetitiveness.

She’s operating on autopilot and simply trying to survive the day. However, the loneliness and "emptiness" are getting to her. That becomes incredibly clear, too, as later in the movie we see her see herself drinking by the bathtub.

While she’s still obviously operating and working, she also doesn’t hide how lonely and hurt she’s feeling, which I really appreciate. I personally loved the moment where she and Lewis Pullman’s Bob were bonding right when they met, and she said:

While she said she didn’t care and ultimately joked with Bob about pushing these feelings down, her facial expressions said otherwise, and as the movie progressed, that bond with Bob deepened, and her care for the other Thunderbolts did too.

I was also deeply moved by Yelana and Alexei’s relationship. Her loneliness is based on the grief she’s been dealing with after the loss of her sister. So, watching her grapple with that while her father-figure finally comes back into her life was incredibly emotional and quite moving.

As someone who has struggled with loneliness, I found Yelena’s story and struggle to be real and raw. I also found the way the film helped her through this challenging time deeply moving too, because in my experience, support from friends and giving back that support can be the most healing thing.

I Loved How The Film Validated Her Feelings And Then Gave Her A Support System To Help Her Heal

As I mentioned earlier, overall, Thunderbolts* is a movie about depression, loneliness, grief and how we handle it healthily. We see this idea literally personified through Bob’s Void, and we see Yelena fearlessly face it by literally stepping into it.

However, we also watch the other people she’s fighting alongside step into it after her. That’s not the only time this happens in the film, either. Throughout Thunderbolts*, this team is constantly supporting each other (even if it is reluctantly at times), and they clearly get where their fellow fighters are coming from.

It’s that act of validation and support time and time again (even if it’s not through the most obvious actions) that truly helps people get out of dark times. I think we saw that beautifully depicted throughout the whole movie.

The way the team followed Yelena into the Void and supported her through that was one of the most healing scenes in the movie to me.

Some have said that Thunderbolts* helped cure their Marvel fatigue, and that was true for me, too. I think it’s primarily because of how it’s based on these relatable and emotional representations of loneliness, depression and mental health, and I was the most moved by what Yelena went through.

To go back and watch Yelena and her teammates' journey, you can now stream Thunderbolts* with a Disney+ subscription.

Throughout its years on the air, plenty of HBO shows have gotten the world talking. Lena Dunham's comedy Girls is definitely on that list, and folks are regularly discovering it or re-watching with a HBO Max subscription. Florence Pugh recently posted that one scene from Season 1 made her want to give the show another watch, and I think she's so spot on.

Pugh is an Oscar-nominated actress who is constantly making headlines thanks to her bold fashions and film work. But she's also a fan of TV and film just like the rest of us. A clip from Girls featuring Andrew Rannells and Lena Dunham is going viral online, and the Little Women actress took to IG Story to share her love for the series as a whole. Check it out below:

I'm a Girls superfan, and I have to agree that the first scene between Elijah and Hannah was a game changing moment for the series. The dialogue is hilarious, especially when Rannells' character accuses Hannah's father of being gay. The chemsitry between the two actors was so explosive that the Book of Mormon actor appeared in every season, eventually becoming a series regular.

Lena Dunham recently mused about where the Girls characters would be years after the series finale, but it's equally fun to see the humble beginnings of the Golden Globe-winning comedy. No I'm just hoping that Pugh shares more IG stories once she actually started re-watching it from the beginning.

It's been fascinating to see how Girls has been received in the years since the finale aired back in 2017. While the show's selfish characters was originally criticized (along with comments about Lena Dunham's body), it's been having a bit of a renaissance in recent years. Namely because folks are realizing what a hilarious satire of millennials in their 20s. And the show's comedy and dramatic beats have both aged rather well. As TV addicts know, this isn't always the case with comedies.

While Florence Pugh is primarily known for being a film actress, she has popped up on the small screen in Hawkeye (which is streaming with a Disney+ subscription) and Human Resources. But her love for Girls really makes me want to see her work with someone like Lena Dunham. We'll just have to wait and see if her new series Too Much gets renewed by Netflix. Since it's a UK-based series, it might be the perfect project to bring Pugh in.

As previously mentioned, Lena Dunham returned to the small screen with Too Much, which stars Megan Stalter. The show was a delight for Girls fans like me, but it's unclear if it'll get more episodes on Netflix.

Girls is streaming in its entirety on HBO Max and Too Much is available on Netflix as part of the 2025 TV premiere list. Now I want to know who Florence Pugh's favorite character is.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day is shaping up to be quite the doozy on the upcoming Marvel movies schedule. Michael Mando’s Mac Gargan is finally returning to become The Scorpion, Jon Bernthal’s Punisher is finally making his theatrical debut, and Mark Ruffalo will reprise Bruce Banner/The Hulk. Now we can count a Severance star among the new actors joining Brand New Day, but there may be an even bigger casting on the horizon for this upcoming Spider-Man movie.

The Severance Star Who’s Joining Spider-Man: Brand New Day

Let’s go with the casting that’s pretty much set in stone barring Marvel Studios outright debunking it. Variety reports that Tramell Tillman, who plays Seth Milchick in the popular Apple TV+ subscription-exclusive series, has joined Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Like Stranger Things’ Sadie Sink and The Bear’s Liza Colón-Zayas, his role hasn’t been disclosed yet.

While Brand New Day will mark Tillman’s comic book movie debut, it’s not his first time lending his talents to a comic book project, as he voiced Double-Tap in Hit Monkey Season 2. This casting news follows a few months after he performed opposite Tom Cruise in Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, and several weeks before we see if he wins Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his Severance role at the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards. Tramell’s other upcoming movies include Good Sex and Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother.

The MCU Alum Who’s Rumored To Appear In Spider-Man: Brand New Day

As great as it is for Severance fans to learn that Tramell Tillman will make his MCU debut on the 2026 movies schedule, the coming days might bring news from the trades of another established MCU protagonist also taking part in Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Scooper Daniel Richtman is claiming that Florence Pugh will reprise Yelena Belova, and ComicBookMovie is hearing the same thing. This would mean we’ll see Pugh reunite with her Dune: Part Two costar Zendaya five months before the two respectively reprise Princess Irulan and Chani in Dune: Part Three.

Assuming Florence Pugh is indeed appearing in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, that will make this her fourth MCU appearance. After debuting in Black Widow, she had a supporting role in the Hawkeye series, then returned for the 2025 movie release of Thunderbolts*. Yelena will also appear alongside the rest of the New Avengers in December 2026’s Avengers: Doomsday, which Tom Holland has been reported to appear in too, but that hasn’t been officially confirmed. Like with Punisher and Hulk, I’m curious to see what makes Yelena and Peter Parker’s paths cross, as they’re not the two easiest dots to connect together in this franchise.

2026 continues to shape up as a tremendous year for both Holland and Pugh. Spider-Man: Brand New Day comes out on July 31, 2026, with Destin Daniel Cretton taking over directorial duties from Jon Watts, and Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers writing the script, just like they did with the MCU’s first three Spidey movies.

It has been nearly two months since Thunderbolts* came and went from the 2025 movie schedule, but people still can’t get enough of that big, yet predictable, twist where it was revealed that the ragtag group of outcast antiheroes was, in fact, The New Avengers. And while Marvel didn’t try too hard to put out the flames of speculation – after all, they added the infamous asterisk a year before the film was released – it was a different story for the cast.

Florence Pugh, who plays the show-stealing Yelena Belova in one of the best Marvel movies in some time, spoke with Entertainment Weekly and opened up about the great lengths the cast and crew took to protect the big reveal on set. Talking about the big scene where Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ Valentina Allegra de Fontaine holds a press conference and rebrands the group as The New Avengers, Pugh stated:

Obviously, the reshot version was the one that made the final cut, and thank heavens, because “The New Thunderbolts” just doesn’t have the same ring as “The New Avengers.” There are still a lot of questions about who the real Avengers are and whether it's this version or the official group led by Sam Wilson, but this scene at least gave us a great moment on the same level as Tony Stark’s “I am Iron Man” presser at the end of the MCU-starter back in 2008.

Though moviegoers only found out (or at least had their suspicions confirmed) in May 2025 that these Thunderbolts were actually The New Avengers, it was a completely different story for Julia Louis-Dreyfus. In the same chat with EW, the former Seinfeld cast mainstay revealed that she found out about the big twist “many years ago,” stating:

Maybe Tom Holland, who has a history of being loose-lipped about MCU spoilers, should take some advice from the Veep actress, as it sounds like she was sitting on this information for a very long time. Though she didn’t say when that meeting happened, Louis-Dreyfus has been a part of the MCU for half a decade at this point. Did she know while filming Black Widow or The Falcon and the Winter Soldier? It’s anyone’s guess, but it wouldn’t be surprising if that were the case.

If you want to revisit Thunderbolts*, which seems to still be the official title judging by the upcoming home release of the second of three new Marvel movies this year, you’ll be able to do that shortly when it lands on digital platforms on July 1 and physical media on July 29. There’s no word on when it’ll be streaming for those with a Disney+ subscription, but expect that to change soon.

Florence Pugh has made a name for herself with her acting performances, but the frank and realistic way she presents to her fans is almost even better. We’ve seen her frankly dissect Marvel trying to tell her “no” about her Thunderbolts stunt. We’ve seen her laugh at herself after getting burned by Pedro Pascal on a red carpet. Also on this same press tour, she took a moment for herself to get real and “wrangle” the Marvel cast for a pic like a den mother. Now she’s back and admitting to chin hairs while prepping for events. Could she get any more real?

OK, I suppose the majority of us won’t ever throw on a dress worth thousands of dollars only to get hollered at by paparazzi hoping to catch one in the midst of a wardrobe malfunction. However, many of us can totally identify with looking in the mirror and seeing unwanted changes in our faces, whether those changes be pimples, wrinkles or even new hairs in weird places.

Just prior to stepping out for an event with a cool suit and pretty lip, Pugh mentioned that she was being plagued by chin hairs. It's not the time of facial flaw celebrities typically admit to, but it's a fact of life, and one of the reasons why the actress is so stinking fun to follow.

I believe what she is actually looking to say there is "sneaky fuckers," but I digress. In fact, a typo almost makes the post feel even more real than her bold admission.

The good news? Florence Pugh might get a break from events for a while as she's heavily on the filming train right now. After starring in Yungblud's new music video "Zombie," which she said on Instagram she was "forever impressed" by, she's also got a slew of upcoming roles including Avengers: Doomsday filming in 2025. Then she'll jump to Dune: Messiah and the TV miniseries East of Eden, all of which will eventually come with some big press moments.

But with Avengers: Doomsday not premiering until 2027 and Dune: Messiah set to hit the movie release schedule in what will likely be December of 2026, she may get a break from cleaning up for carpets and events for a while. Although I'd probably be freaking out if I knew I had chin hairs and someone was filming me in IMAX to bring a space opera to life. I'm just saying, I might be taking care of that sooner rather than later.

Then again, this is a girl who literally shaved her head for a movie, so it seems she's pretty much fearless. All in all though, I feel her, and I love how honest she continues to be about her life in the face of the mega fame she's achieved in recent years.

There’s an honor that most actors in the industry covet just as much as a mega hit on the 2025 movie schedule. Miami Vice star Phillip Michael Thomas coined it as “The EGOT,” which means that a star has won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony award in their presumably storied career. While this is still a gold standard of trophy hunting, stars like Tom Cruise and Florence Pugh might inspire a Guinness World Record to become part of the mix.

Admittedly, the most recent story that fuels this speculation is one out of Variety, which claims that Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning’s big burning parachute set piece was the feat that clinched it. In case you were wondering where that new record stands, it’s at 16 - which you can see play out in this video from Paramount’s Mission marketing campaign:

As far as Florence Pugh’s end of this discussion goes, her interview with Harper’s Bazaar confirmed that she is a Guinness World Record holder, as are her Thunderbolts*’ stunt double Sarah Irwin and stunt coordinator Heidi Moneymaker.

As you’d guessed, the stunt that landed this honor was Pugh’s insane MCU base jump off of the second highest building in the world - Kuala Lumpor’s Merdeka 118 building. Which, by the time Disney+ subscription holders get to stream May's MCU entry, will probably still have fans talking about Thunderbolts*' most daring stunt.

It’s not just actors and their stunt performers that are pushing for some of that Guinness gold either. Back when I talked to legendary James Bond special effects supervisor Chris Corbould, even he admitted that the production wanted to outdo their record setting explosion on Spectre, which led to No Time to Die’s even bigger blast.

But if we turn our gaze back to stunt performers and actors, winning a Guinness World Record could be a feather in the cap of anyone who really wants to go for the gold. Thanks to the Oscars’ new “Achievement in Stunt Design” award, the trophy set to be introduced in 2028 might see voters swayed by shenanigans that make the record books.

I mean, would you vote against a stunt that won a Guinness World Record? I highly doubt that, because a massive feat of such daring kind of goes with awards recognition the same way that Tom Cruise pairs with popcorn, and that man loves his popcorn.

If this trend is truly going to happen, then I propose we alter the name to “GEGOT,” because that’s the best sounding rebrand that stands out. The subject’s open for discussion of course, and you can get involved by seeing both Thunderbolts* and Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning - which are currently showing at a theater near you.

As of late, Florence Pugh has become a blockbuster star, between her role as Yelena Belova in new Marvel movies, including the recent release of Thunderbolts* and being officially in the cast for Avengers: Doomsday, and she's also set to reprise her Dune role in Messiah the same weekend. So I wasn’t expecting to see her as the star of a music video on a random Friday, but she proved she can make us cry in a role that last about four minutes, too.

Florence Pugh Is The Star Of Youngblud’s Latest Music Video

Yungblud is a British pop punk star who has been on the music scene since around 2018, but I think he can officially say he’s made it now that he has Florence Pugh in one of his music videos. Check out the new video for “Zombie”:

Wow, I totally understand why Florence Pugh not only signed on for this, but was thought about for “Zombie.” It’s not your average video starring a famous actress as a nurse; it’s really taking viewers into the mindset of what it feels like to be a healthcare worker day by day, and how harrowing it can be to see so much death all the time.

While we'd assume when Yungblud made the song that he was thinking about his own experiences with “looking like a zombie,” he gave a new meaning to the song on his upcoming album called “Zombie” by making it about a young nurse just trying to get through the day.

The Music Video Is Getting Flooded With Sweet Comments From Actual Healthcare Workers

Upon the release of “Zombie,” the music video has been labeled as a “love letter to nurses.” In Pugh’s own commentary on the video on her Instagram Stories, she thanked the punk star for having her “on your journey.” She said she will “always be grateful for this moment and forever impressed” by what he does and “why” he does it.

The comment section of the Instagram announcement video is also flooded with healthcare workers thanking Yungblud and Pugh for making the video. Check out some of them:

• “As a Healthcare worker. THIS is a true representation of our daily struggles. We laugh. We cry. We scream. What a beautiful video and anthem. Thank you Dom.” - @thejennorater
• “As a healthcare worker who worked in critical care during the pandemic and witnessed so much death. Thank you for this. It truly hit home. Ugly crying by how beautiful this was.” - @missgio_
• “As an icu nurse, I felt every scene! Thank you 🖤💋” - @pattie.bhc
• “As a nurse, thank you ❤️ This is a beautiful song and video.” - @katherinefruendt
• “This video really highlights the intense ups and downs with being a nurse. As a nurse, thank you, this was lovely to watch 🥹🤍” - @adellaturay
• “As a nurse this makes me feel so seen and appreciated🥹🖤 I love you so much, thank you🖤” - @grayson.onmars

Sure, Florence Pugh is a lot more likely to show up in a sparkly dress on her usual day to day, but her talent to make us feel deeply is already touching so many who can relate to the content of the video. Pugh has already made us cry for her Thunderbolts role and playing a young mom with cancer in We Live In Time, and this new role for “Zombie” is another great performance from Ms. Pugh.

We’ve been talking about how we’re getting the summer of Tom Holland, with the English-born actor set to star in Christopher Nolan’s Odyssey movie and swinging back into cinemas in the upcoming Spider-Man sequel. The summer of 2026 will be huge for upcoming movies, but if you’re looking ahead a few months, December is already shaping to belong entirely to someone else: Florence Pugh. Not just figuratively, either; she has two major films landing on the same weekend.

Those would be the Russo brothers' Avengers: Doomsday, and Dune: Messiah, both slated for December 2026. Go ahead, let that sink in.

Why December 2026 Should Be All About Florence Pugh At The Movie Theater

Let’s start with Doomsday, the next big swing in Marvel’s Multiverse Saga. Pugh returns as Yelena Belova, the no-nonsense assassin who’s gone from scene-stealing supporting role to franchise anchor. With much of the original Avengers lineup gone or rebooted, Yelena is positioned to take center stage in a way fans have been waiting for. And with Doomsday reportedly setting up the final pieces of Marvel's multiverse endgame, expect high stakes, massive cameos, and the Midsommar actress is in a full-fledged action lead capacity.

She won’t even have time to take off the combat boots before dropping into the sand again, because she’s also reprising her role in some of the best sci-fi movies of recent memory, as Princess Irulan in Dune: Messiah, Denis Villeneuve’s next chapter in the sweeping sci-fi saga. This sequel is expected to take a darker, more intimate turn as Paul Atreides’ messianic rule begins to unravel.

And if you’ve read the book, you know Irulan’s role is only growing. She’s no longer just window dressing in the imperial court, but a political.

Two franchise juggernauts. Two wildly different roles. One actress anchoring both. That’s not just a scheduling coincidence, but a flex.

Studios rarely schedule two major blockbusters starring the same actor on the same opening weekend, but the Little Women star isn’t your average star. She’s earned a reputation for elevating every project she joins, whether it’s the unsettling indie Midsommar, action-packed upcoming Marvel movie tentpoles, or the prestige ensemble of Oppenheimer. Now, she’s entering rare air: a bona fide box office force and a critical powerhouse. Come next holiday season, it won’t just be Christmas, it’ll be Pugh Season. And like the Barbenheimer phenomenon before it, we’re about to witness a cultural collision. Call it DoomsDune, Dune’sDay, Doone, whatever the name, it’s the event of the season, and fans won’t want to miss it.

So yes, the summer of Tom Holland is happening. We’ll get the suit, the quips, the billion-dollar box office, and maybe even a Spider-Verse twist or two. But when winter hits, it’s Florence Pugh’s turn to own the spotlight. And with Avengers: Doomsday and Dune: Messiah both set to dominate the cultural conversation, she could walk away from 2026 with not just the year’s biggest hits, but its most iconic performances too.

Mark your calendars! Dune: Messiah hits theaters on December 16, 2026, and just two days later, Avengers: Doomsday is coming to cinemas on the 18th. Don't miss out!

Fresh off the press tour for her project on the 2025 movie schedule, Thunderbolts*, Florence Pugh is back on the fashion front. The actress took to Instagram to thank the jewelry brand Bulgari for an event she attended, and she showed off a gorgeous and lavish look that featured a sparkling white gown and opulent jewelry. As she said, this number was truly a “Sicilian dream.”

While attending a massive Bulgari event in Sicily, Florence Pugh posted a stunning set of photos to show off her equally stunning ensemble. Wearing the sparkling Rodarte FW25 Beaded White Gown with Tulle Details and gorgeous Bulgari earrings and necklace, she truly was a picture of opulence. Take a look:

I'm so obsessed with that white scallop detail mixed with the textured sparkly pattern of the dress, it adds so much dimension to the monochromatic garment. However, it's the jewels that really elevate this to the next level. That necklace and earrings are fabulous and bring the luxurious look together.

As the We Live In Time actress noted, this feels like a “Sicilian dream.” She also mentioned that the show she attended for Bulgari was “absolutely breathtaking,” and I’d say the same thing about the ensemble.

It’s also notable because this outfit comes right after we saw Pugh rock a ton of chic black clothing on the Thunderbolts* press tour. While she wore a few colorful and white pieces, for the most part, she seemingly took a page out of her Black Widow character’s spy playbook as she wore darker garments most of the time.

She rocked a cool black corset and skirt to one event, a sheer black gown to a premiere (where she was also seen sweetly “wrangling” her crew), and an edgy lifted shoulder look on a talk show. And that’s just three examples.

However, now that Thunderbolts* is in theaters and it’s time to look onto the next upcoming Marvel movie, it’s also time to see Pugh in some other stunning outfits.

While Pugh has made waves for wearing gowns of all colors, she does seem to love a white moment. She’s turned heads with sheer white dresses on more than one occasion, and this latest number, while not sheer, is another addition to her growing catalog of lovely white fashion moments.

As the year goes on, I’m curious to see what other fits Pugh steps out in, because she’s shown off her full fashion range over the last few months, and she can truly pull anything off.

Currently, she has no other 2025 releases outside of Thunderbolts*. However, she has multiple 2026 movies in the works – including Dune: Messiah and Avengers: Doomsday. She’s also a consistent attendant of fashion and jewelry events, so I’m positive more opulent, dreamy and sparkling looks will be coming our way.

SPOILERS are ahead for the latest of new Marvel movies, Thunderbolts*, now playing in theaters. I highly recommend going to see it before you read further.

How about them Thunderbolts*, huh? I’ll be honest here, when I sat down to see the latest of superhero romps from the MCU, I was mostly seated to see another great Florence Pugh performance that had critics raving, a fun action movie starring Marvel's charismatic underdogs, and find out officially what the asterisk meant. But I got a lot more than I bargained for. It not only reminded me why Marvel movies can be great, but also resonated with me in terms of its depictions of depression.

I’ve waited a couple of weeks since my early showing of Thunderbolts* to write this, mostly because I was curious how its depression plot line would ultimately sit with me over time, as someone who has dealt with anxiety and depression since I was a teenager. And after sharing some mental space with it, I can confirm that my positive takeaway still hasn't gone away, and I want to explore why I feel that way.

And as a quick disclaimer, I am very aware that everyone’s relationship with depression, is their own. I am only speaking to my own personal thoughts and opinions based on my lived experiences.

Ever Since I Watched Thunderbolts* There’s One Scene That I’ve Been Thinking About The Most

Thunderbolts* is not so secretly about depression, from the very first scene where Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova jumps off the second tallest building in the world, and talks about her life getting monotonous and lonely to the final act when Lewis Pullman’s Sentry becomes a terrifying villain who sucks people into The Void to be stuck living out their most sad and regretful memories. But, the scene that I’ve had in my head since I watched Thunderbolts* is the moment we are brought to the center of Sentry’s Void, on the operating table of the Sentry project. When Bob comes face-to-face with his shadow-esque self, and begins to hit himself over and over in an effort to fight off the bad feelings.

When it comes to the third act of superhero movies, usually violence is the answer, but in the case of Thunderbolts* as Bob continues to punch his The Void self , things only get worse, and he begins to become all encompassed into it. What ultimately happens is Yelena Belova recognizes his depression (partially because of her own experience with it), and ventures into the Void to find him before coming over to help him face it. Then, all the Thunderbolts join him. As it turns out, Bob succumbing to the darkness only makes things worse, and not giving the Void energy is the best way to escape it.

I’ve Had Anxiety And Depression For A Long Time, But The Void Helped Me Visualize It In A New Way

Since I’ve seen Thunderbolts*, I've been surprised to find that I’ve thought back to that scene when visualizing my daily navigation of my own mental health (which I personally manage through talk therapy, medication, exercise and journaling, and usually and thankfully only morphs into depression when my anxiety gets particularly overwhelming or a big life event occurs). When it has flared up, I've thought about Bob fighting his sinister/shadow-y version after hiding away in the darkest corners of my mind, and how surrounding myself with a kinder voice is more helpful than Bob's initial way of dealing with it.

Those feelings start to subside when I stop treating myself as an adversary and I find empathy for myself instead – just like Yelena did for Bob at the end of Thunderbolts*. And admittedly, sometimes it takes another person outside of myself, to remind me to stop “fighting” myself, because that always makes it worse, but is easier said than done.

The ‘Shame’ Rooms Remind Me Of What It Feels Like To Be Caught In The Same Negative Thought

Additionally, I want to talk about what Yelena Belova called the “shame” rooms in The Void. Right before Yelena and the team find Bob, Yelena watches herself as a young girl betray her friend over and over, in what seems to be a really big traumatic event for her she becomes trapped in. The scene reminds me of what it feels like to replay a negative memory or thought over and over in a bout of anxiety and/or depression.

When that happens it can feel as torturous as Yelena felt during that scene. Overall, I. found the whole third act of this movie to be clever, because it offered all the stakes of the ending of a Marvel movie I’ve seen before, but with a pretty accurate visualization of what mental health struggles can feel like. I think it's also worth pointing out how Yelena's own struggles with depression in her own life, allows her to see what's going on with Bob, and help him deal with it. I find the people who have the tools to recognize depression (whether that be a therapist, partner, family member or a friend), can better offer the support to pull someone out of a bad place if they understand what's going on with them.

Yes, Thunderbolts* Could Have Gone Deeper With The Topic. I Am Happy It Didn’t

All and all, I’m very much impressed with how the Thunderbolts* movie depicted depression, especially considering it’s big-budget movie with a runtime of around two hours, that also sets up The New Avengers! It also managed to be No. 1 at the box office in its opening weekend and took away my Marvel fatigue for now. I’m not going to say it delves into all the complexities of anxiety and depression, but definitely nails what it feels like for me on a base level. As I think about the movie more, sure, I do think there could have been a bit more exploration into the subject, but, I honestly wouldn’t have wanted a movie to delve so much into that it’s a bummer, and strays away from its main goal in this context to entertain and be a big popcorn movie, too. It found a way to be both, somehow.

I also love how the post-credit scene didn’t depict Bob all healed up and sunny after he escaped The Void. We leave the character sitting down with some fast food and celebrating the small win of doing the dishes this week. Sometimes the smallest wins are the sweetest.

I’m curious how the MCU will continue to deal with Sentry in the future, but wow, am I happy such a massive movie chose to handle the experience of depression in a creative and resonant way to my own life.

It’s hard to believe, but Fantastic Four: First Steps is the only title left among upcoming Marvel movies before we get our first Avengers movie since Endgame, Avengers: Doomsday. And while I probably wouldn’t have believed you if you told me before seeing it, Thunderbolts* is my favorite MCU movie in years, and I have to say a lot of that is thanks to Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova. Never mind the actress already being some of my favorites in movies like Dune: Part 2 or Midsommar, her character is quickly rising in the ranks in the current superhero lineup. And when I rewatched her first appearance in Black Widow, it only made me appreciate her more.

I remember digging Black Widow when it came out, but I’ll be honest, I’ve kind of forgotten about it since I saw it. Of course, there’s the fact that it probably came out at the wrong time, given the COVID-19 pandemic was still heavily affecting theaters and Disney was experimenting with its Disney+ service, perhaps to the detriment of the movie’s performance. But, I need to talk about how seeing Thunderbolts* reminded me to go back to the 2021 release and deepen my love for Yelena Belova further. SPOILERS are ahead for Thunderbolts* and Black Widow.

As Soon As I Watched Thunderbolts* I Wanted To Revisit Black Widow Right Away

There’s a lot to love about Thunderbolts* in my opinion, but the biggest highlight of the movie for me is the relationship between Yelena and her “dad,” the Red Guardian. My favorite scene was definitely in the third act of the movie when Yelena gets honest with him about how she’s been feeling really alone and having a lot of regrets about her life. In response, Red Guardian tells Yelena that when he looks at her, he “doesn’t see” her mistakes. Instead, he remembers who she was as a kid, and how she wanted to be the goalie on her childhood soccer team in order to be the “person everyone relies on when they make a mistake.”

Without that scene in the movie, I just don’t think Thunderbolts* would be as good as it is. It had me thinking back to when Yelena and Red Guardian’s relationship was established in Black Widow. I remember the two actors being just as funny and grounded in the 2021 movie, and yet I hadn’t placed the movie high in my mind to realize this going into seeing Thunderbolts*. So I made it my mission to revisit Black Widow after seeing the latest Marvel movies.

I’m Happy I Did, Because It Made Me More Emotional About Yelena Belova Becoming An Avenger

When it comes to Marvel movies in order, I had actually forgotten that the movie takes place in 2016 in the MCU timeline, two years prior to the events in Infinity War and the events of Thunderbolts* takes place a little over a decade after Black Widow (with the five-year gap of the snap in between to think about). And after seeing Black Widow again, I think the movie does a good job of establishing an older Yelena who has dealt with a lot more life and loss, and having the context of her upbringing with the Red Guardian and Melina really helped me understand her better. It was so much fun to see how the character was introduced in the movie, because Pugh very much stays true to who Yelena is between them. Oh, and it slipped my mind how quotable Yelena was in Black Widow to the point of actually stealing the thunder off of Scarlett Johansson’s MCU sendoff.

But the one thing that really caught me off guard is how much Yelena clearly looks up to Natasha Romanoff throughout the movie, even if she’s always taking shots at her Avengers position and "posing". While I read it more as MCU banter the first time I saw it, this time I noticed how much that relationship really gives sister energy, and while Natasha kind of brushes Yelena off (as big sisters often do), Natasha means a lot to her. I realized getting to do a mission with her and reunite with their “parents” is kind of the best thing for Yelena, because she's spent a lot of time alone. Throughout the movie, you see how, while Natasha has kind of lost her respect for her parental figures, Yelena is still attached to them. As she says in one memorable line: "It was real to me."

It made me extra sad about the death of Natasha in Endgame, and how in Thunderbolts*, Yelena feels like she wants to make a difference like her sister did, but she’s having problems making the transition (inwardly and outwardly). So, when I finished Black Widow, knowing that her second MCU movie ends with her becoming a new Avenger, I found it especially poignant. She still clearly feels the loss of Natasha, now she’s going to get the chance to serve with the Avengers and be the person she has always looked up to: her sister! I’m not crying, you are.

It Also Made Wish Natasha Romanoff Made A Cameo, But Oh Well, I Guess

While the Thunderbolts* director has suggested the movie isn’t a Black Widow sequel, I would argue the new Marvel film wouldn’t have worked for me as well as it did if it weren’t for the 2021 movie. If I hadn’t seen the scene where Yelena and Red Guardian sing “American Pie” together, I wouldn’t have bought into their continued father-daughter dynamic as much, and there’s a kind of twisted found family element in the Kate Shortland film that spiritually carries over into Thunderbolts*, I think.

The only thing that really bummed me out after seeing Black Widow is how the movie perfectly served Thunderbolts* the chance to feature Scarlett Johansson one more time through the shame rooms created by Sentry. I think it would have been really beautiful if she had shown up for a moment and allowed Yelena to get some closure or something. But, I also understand that Johansson is hesitant to return to the MCU after her long stint, and I was kind of into the fact that Thunderbolts* wasn’t packed full of cameos.

Because while Yelena Belova kind of sees herself as not as good as Natasha, the fact is she’s being given way more to do in the MCU already than her sister was. Sure, it was different times, but I’ve always felt so conflicted about how Black Widow was handled as a character. She’s very much in the center of things going into Doomsday, and I love that for her, but now I’m never getting out of my mind how the character will be constantly missing her sister as she becomes a hero in her own right.

The release of Thunderbolts* has caused a lot of people to take a look back at Black Widow, being the movie that introduced two of the major members of Marvel’s newest hero team, it’s an important piece of the larger story. The death of Black Widow weighs heavily on Yelena in the newest Marvel movie, but it’s a safe bet that Florence Pugh was also missing Scarlett Johansson during production.

An interview clip taken from the set of Black Widow was recently posted by ET, and it shows just how much the two actresses adored each other. ScarJo had nothing but great things to say about her co-star, and it looks like the pair got really quite close, literally, on set.

Scarlett Johansson Was All Praise For Florence Pugh On The Set Of Black Widow

Florence Pugh was one of the hottest up-and-coming actresses in Hollywood when she was cast in Black Widow. Roles in films like Little Women, which earned her an Oscar nomination, and Midsommar had shown just how capable a performer she was. Still, when ET asked Scarlett Johansson why people should “look out” for Pugh, the two-time Oscar nominee praised her co-star’s skills, saying:

Pugh is standing next to Scarlett Johansson as she says all this, and it’s clear the kind words touch her. The two then get all huggy, which, as it turns out, was apparently not an uncommon occurrence on the set of Black Widow.

The Adorable Way Florence Pugh Used To “Trick” Scarlett Johansson

We often hear about different celebrities who like to have a little fun with their co-stars. George Clooney is famous for pranking his friends. However, the sorts of “tricks” that Florence Pugh apparently got up to on the set of Black Widow were a tad different.

When Johansson is initially asked why people should “watch out” for Florence Pugh, she says that she needs to watch her co-star because Pugh is always trying to trick her. Pugh takes offense (comedically) and said she only ever tried to trick her:

To answer your next question: no, these two could not be more adorable.

Scarlet Johansson has continued to insist that, even though comic book characters rarely stay dead, her character is gone for good. While that may be the best choice from a storytelling perspective, seeing this makes me wish these two could work together in the MCU again. It was clearly a special experience for both of them the first time.

This past weekend, Simu Liu revealed some big news (and, no, it’s not related to the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday or the long-hoped-for Shang-Chi sequel). Liu confirmed that he and his longtime girlfriend, Allison Hsu, are officially engaged. The actor signified the occasion by sharing lovely photos as well as an A+ Marvel reference. Since Liu made the announcement, a number of fellow celebrities like Florence Pugh and Ming-Na Wen have reached out, but it’s one fan’s Dwayne Johnson joke that’s really taking me out.

Simu Liu, 36, and Allison Hsu, 28, jointly shared a post on Instagram, which revealed that the former popped the question in Paris or The City of Lights.” The photos are absolutely sweet, but what’s also heartwarming is the array of responses from other stars. Florence Pugh led the charge with some sweet sentiments, with Rachel Zegler also expressing excitement. You can see their messages along with some from Ming-Na Wen, Ken Jeong and Ariana DeBose:

• AHHHHHHH HOW AMAZING! Sending love to you both ❤️ - Florence Pugh
• YAYYYY - Rachel Zegler
• Congrats!💕 - Karen Fukuhara
• CONGRATS!!!!❤️❤️❤️ - Ken Jeong
• 👏👏❤️❤️Congrats you two lovebirds! - Ming-Na Wen
• Congrats you two🤍🙌🏾✨ - Ariana DeBose
• 🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌 - Lance Bass
• Congrats you two!! 😍 - Melissa Barrera
• 😍😍 - Natasha Lyonne

What a lovely chorus of comments from some of Hollywood’s biggest talents. They’re not the only ones weighing in on the engagement either. Fans have been sending their congratulations, too, and have been making good-natured puns, too. One user by the name of ceryslxwxs really won the day, as they evoked Dwayne Johnson’s name while complimenting Allison Hsu’s ring:

Seriously, I can’t be the only one who appreciates that pun, right? Even if I man, it doesn’t matter, because it’s downright perfect. There were also a few other great ones as well, with a user named onebakersjourney also declaring, “That’s no diamond….THAT’S A NEW INFINITY STONE!” Simu Liu himself referenced his Marvel character, Shang-Chi when mentioning “nine rings.” On that note, artist Matt Senger said, “SHANG CHI AND THE NINE RINGS CONFIRMED”. Check out the ring for yourself in the post below:

It was in 2022 that Simu Liu and Allison Hsu were reported to be dating and, around that time, neither of them spoke much about their romance. However, by December of that same year, Liu opened up about meeting Hsu’s parents. They eventually went public with their relationship, appearing at a number of notable show business-related events.

While the Kim’s Convenience alum is being open about popping the question to his lady, he is keeping secrets regarding Avengers: Doomsday. The film is now in production in the UK, and, of course, the members of the ensemble cast are remaining mum on plot details. What is known is that the Shang-Chi actor has been getting in shape for his MCU movie return, and his abs are definitely proof of that.

Given that Simu Liu could be in for a long production schedule due to this latest Marvel movie, I hope he and his fiancé have some time to soak in their happiness as well as the positive messages they’ve received from celebrities and fans. Here’s to years of happiness for the couple and to more A+ Dwayne Johnson and Marvel puns!

The Marvel Cinematic Universe constantly puts out new content, both in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. The latest big screen adventure was Jake Schreier's Thunderbolts*, which brought together a scrappy team of antiheroes. The Thunderbolts* cast, specifically Florence Pugh, shared the terrifying story of filming on top of a scorpion's nest. And yes I'm officially freaked out.

Fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order were hyped to see Thunderbolts*, which was a crossover for a number of projects. But the movie was very focused on Yelena's experience, with Oscar nominee Florence Pugh delivering a killer performance. In a clip from EW's Instagram, she revealed that there was some unexpected danger from filming in the dessert. As she shared:

This is truly the thing of nightmares. While Florence Pugh's record-breaking jump off a building is making plenty of headlines, this is just another example of how potentially dangerous making a movie can be. The heat of filming in the dessert for Thunderbolts* already sounds grueling, even before you add live scorpions to the mix.

And there wasn't just one scorpion involved, as Pugh and the rest of the cast recalled being on top of a nest of sorts when filming that particular sequence. As the Midsommar icon continued:

As terrifying as it is to be lying on top of some scorpions, at least Pugh didn't actually know it was happening. Ignorance was bliss, because once she and the rest of the cast knew about the scorpions, they were not going to get back to the same position. As she shared:

Costumes are a key part of helping actors transform into their characters, and Yelena's boots also helped protect Pugh from potentially being stung by a scorpion in the middle of the dessert.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus' face of horror in the above video is exactly how I feel, and I have to assume I'm not the only fan who is similarly freaked out about this turn of events. Thank goodness no one got stung, especially since they're expected to appear in future projects like Avengers: Doomsday.

Thunderbolts* is in theaters now and Fantastic Four: First Steps will follow suit in July 25th as part of the 2025 movie release list. Luckily we'll see Yelena and the rest of the team in Doomsday next year.

The following article contains some fairly hefty SPOILERS for Thunderbolts*. If you’ve yet to watch the new 2025 movie, please take a step back and return once you’re all caught up with the MCU timeline.

Like a large portion of the moviegoing population, I had some MCU fatigue heading into Thunderbolts*’ opening weekend, which is something I didn’t think I would ever say. However, after giving the critically-acclaimed comic book adaptation, I have to admit that I was pleasantly surprised by the story, characters, action and comedy in what has become one of the best Marvel movies in a few years. But that wasn’t the only surprise…

Heading into the movie, I had a feeling Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova would be the heart and soul of Thunderbolts*, which she is. But on top of that, there’s another show-stealing character that shouldn’t be overlooked when discussing the movie. Considering this is a character who was absolutely despised when they were introduced a few years ago, this made an already great experience into a thrilling and fulfilling journey.

Yelena Belova Is The Emotional Core Of The Thunderbolts* And At The Center Of The Movie's Biggest Scenes

Though Thunderbolts* is very much a team movie in the same vein as Guardians of the Galaxy or the various Avengers movies, Yelena Belova is the emotional core of this superb MCU film and its near-perfect balance of humor, heart and action (it does all three very well). She’s the first major character we meet in the movie, we follow her throughout much of it, and she’s at the center of the Thunderbolts* ending.

One of the most interesting characters introduced to the MCU in the post-Endgame stage of the franchise, Yelena has all the skills you’d want in a hero, but also all the angst, fears and self-deprecating humor that prevent her from coming off as the perfect heroine. Yeah, she kicks a lot of butt up and down the movie’s two-hour runtime, but she also provides so much of the emotional weight and carries it around as she’s trying to figure out her life.

But I Kept Finding Myself More And More Invested In John Walker's Story

This isn’t taking anything away from Yelena Belova, or any other member of the Thunderbolts in the movie, but I couldn’t stop gravitating towards Wyatt Russell’s John Walker, a.k.a. “State-sponsored Captain America,” a.k.a. U.S. Agent, as soon as he showed up in the hard-hitting and unforgettable vault sequence. The wise-cracking, heelish and unhinged super soldier brought a lot to the whole action set piece (and others that followed), but there was one moment that really started to make me see him from a different point of view.

That happened when he came in contact with Lewis Pullman’s Bob and was transported back in time to one of his worst memories and biggest failures; not on the battlefield or the moment from Falcon and the Winter Soldier where he used his shield to brutally murder someone, but back home when he was unable to get over his public perception and be a good father.

His Transformation From A Villain In Falcon And The Winter Soldier To A Hero In Thunderbolts* Was So Fulfilling

Most of the main characters in Thunderbolts* were villains (or at least very bad anti-heroes) at one point in their lives, and that’s very much the case for John Walker. As I mentioned just above, he brutally killed a man in cold blood with his shield in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier in front of shocked and terrified civilians. That said, I didn’t think the guy would ever be able to redeem himself or at least attempt to make up for his dark past. While he doesn’t completely fix everything by the time that big post-credits scene rolls around, his transformation has started.

That journey was honestly one of the most emotional, fulfilling and fun-to-watch aspects of Thunderbolts*, and this standout member of the New Avengers (little hat and all) is totally on his way to becoming the best version of himself; one that can be celebrated without getting all caught up in his troubled past.

The Vision Where He's Transported Back To His Son's Room Was So Heartbreaking

Thunderbolts* featured several dark, ominous, and distressing visions whenever various characters came in contact with Bob, but the one I keep going back to is John Walker’s memory of being a bad, or at least distracted, father. Walker sitting there, buried in his phone reading headlines about his fall from grace while his son begs and cries for even the slightest amount of attention was so painful, heartbreaking and real. In a movie where the villain is an unstable super soldier who transports everyone to a labyrinth of shame rooms, this bit of grounding went a long way.

It’s an incredibly brief scene, yet I’m still feeling the impact of it hours after leaving the theater (I’m sure it will be days or possibly weeks before I fully shake it), and that’s not something I expect to experience with a comic book movie about a ragtag group of former villains who become the new Avengers.

And I Feel Like I'm Obligated To Give Wyatt Russell Praise For His Comedic Timing In Thunderbolts

But it isn’t all just gloom and doom with John Walker in Thunderbolts*, as he is honestly one of the funniest Marvel characters in some time. The vault fight scene, where he and the rest of Valentina Allegra de Fontaine’s (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) misfit toys are sent to kill each other so the CIA director can avoid being impeached and indicted, features some outrageously funny U.S. Agent moments. His refusal to put others before himself, his confusion about who was sent to kill whom, and everything else about him in his sequence is top-notch comedy.

I guess I shouldn’t be all that surprised considering Wyatt Russell is the son of Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell, so comedy pretty much comes naturally to his second-generation star. Maybe that explains that goofy smile on his face when he’s wearing that absurd hat at the very end of the movie, which I bet we’ll be seeing a lot more of when Avengers: Doomsday comes out next year.

So with Thunderbolts* completely changing the way I think about John Walker after all these years, I cannot wait to see how the character continues to evolve in the very near future.

In the romance drama We Live in Time (which is streaming on your Max subscription), Florence Pugh portrays a talented chef, Almut, who falls in love with a recent divorcée (portrayed by Andrew Garfield) and raises a daughter together. However, she gets diagnosed with ovarian cancer and allows her partner to shave her head. As a result, Pugh herself really did away with her blonde locks, and she's explaining why she was nervous about doing it. I wasn't expecting her explanation, but it totally makes sense.

Previously, Florence Pugh revealed she was offered the chance to wear a bald cap to portray her character in We Live in Time but declined. She felt that to truly act as a character who’s undergoing cancer treatment, it was better to be all in. While Pugh shaving her head was her decision, she admitted to Who What Wear why she was terrified to go through this bold transformation due to a specific matter of uncertainty:

This is such a good point that I hadn't considered. When people have heads full of hair, it's hard to tell what their exact head shape is. With that, it's hard to tell what it might look like once it's revealed after a shave. I can't help but think about what real-life cancer patients have to go through when they start chemo and subsequently experience hair loss. While it's absolutely far from the most important concern in a situation like that, I would imagine that some patients consider their head shape as well.

Something I love about We Live in Time is how it depicts dignity in the face of illness. Almut's shave scene could've been depicted as being incredibly sad. Instead, there's beauty and light-heartedness in it, as she allows her partner, Tobias, to shave her head with their young daughter in tow. She embraces this big change with grace and love from her family, overcoming any fear. As Florence Pugh really did have Andrew Garfield shave her head for that memorable scene, I would hope she felt supported knowing she was surrounded by a caring cast and crew.

The Oscar-nominated actress has never been one to hold back on each film performance of hers. Pugh continued to talk about what she looks for in future roles and the importance of giving it her all:

Florence Pugh is certainly no slouch. She wasn’t afraid to put herself “in really shit situations” to portray heart-wrenching trauma in Midsommar or accomplish an insane base jump for Thunderbolts*. It appears Pugh is willing to do whatever it takes to provide an authentic portrayal of her characters, and I’m all for it!

I hope Pugh knows that her decision to shave her head wasn't in vain, given how important it proved to be for We Live in Time. In addition, she later proved she could pull off her new look with style. After displaying her shaved look for her partnership with Tiffany, which later grew into a punk blonde hairdo at the Lotus Car event, it’s clear the talented star can sport any hairstyle she chooses. You can watch light up the screen again with her 2025 movie release, Thunderbolts*, which is in theaters now.

I don’t think I’ll ever get over my experience watching the Midsommar ending for the first (and only) time. I felt so incredibly unsettled as the Ari Aster horror movie unfolded into a cult-y nightmare all during a sunny Swedish midsommar festival. However, it also introduced me to the incredible talent that is Florence Pugh, so no regrets. Now, I’ve just learned that the actress actually took her grandparents to go see it back when it was in theaters, and I can’t get enough of how they reacted.

Florence Pugh is always involving her family in her career, and it’s the sweetest thing. Just last week, she made sure to get her whole team together at a special screening for Thunderbolts*, including her granny, and it was adorable. But as Pugh recently recalled, she also took her grandparents to Midsommar. As she tells it:

Midsommar is such a dark watch, I have steered away from watching it since 2019, and I was absolutely obsessed with it when it came out. There’s absolutely no way I could sit in a theater next to my grandparents or parents without getting incredibly stressed out. I totally get it, though. Florence Pugh’s grandparents wanted to be supportive and see the film she worked hard on, and hey, they were pretty lovely with their responses, all things considered. As Pugh continued on Late Night with Seth Meyers:

So much happens in Midsommar that makes it so inappropriate for elders – unless they are big horror fans, of course. Multiple people throw themselves off a huge cliff, there’s a really awkward sex scene towards the end, oh, and the part where she watches her boyfriend burn alive in a suit of bear skin? It's wild! Florence Pugh also has a different view on the final scene than the director, but no matter how you slice it, it’s got messed-up imagery.

Pugh also said this about why she took them:

This is such a great story. You just don’t think about the family of the actor in a movie like Midsommar, and how things go when she wants to show off her work, but there you have it. The Ari Aster movie was a very technical film that required a lot of precision out of the actors, so it makes a lot of sense that she would want to show it to her close family. Earlier this year, Pugh also spoke to the movie being a bit “too much” on her wellbeing, but she remains “proud” of being part of it.

Thankfully for the actress and her family, her new movie Thunderbolts* is a lot more family-friendly. It’s in theaters now.

One of Florence Pugh’s best qualities, other than her incredible acting skills, is definitely her bold fashion statements. Whether she is breaking the Internet with her sheer Valentino dress or accessorizing with extra-long eyelashes, the British actress pretty much always looks like a knockout. Last year at the Oscars, she and fellow actress Emily Blunt even got fans to pay attention to their shoulders, and she's back on the deltoid train with a cool black dress just in time forThunderbolts*' premiere.

On Instagram, Florence Pugh described the busy few days she had in L.A. leading up to the L.A. premiere of the 2025 movie release of Marvel's Thunderbolts*. After hearing about hiking, doll cars and unforgettable views, I’m getting jealous!

But the picture I’ve got my eye on in her photo carousel is her latest outfit from Jimmy Kimmel Live!. It's not exactly the same as her floating shoulders, but it's still drawing my eye to the same spot.

Leather truly works for the Little Women actress. Florence Pugh is wearing a Marine Serine Fall 2025 dress with padded shoulders that perfectly show off the actress’s confidence and her strong deltoids. With the impressive stunt work Pugh pulled off in her upcoming Marvel movie, she ought to flaunt those strong shoulder muscles of hers. Considering what a trendsetter Pugh is, I wouldn’t be surprised if other celebrities follow her example of deltoid decor.

As noted prior, Emily Blunt and Florence Pugh share more in common than just being in the cast of Oppenheimer. The two both wore dresses at the 97th Oscars that exposed their firm shoulder muscles with pinched-up straps. The Quiet Place actress helped popularize those “floating shoulders” with her futuristic dress that spotlighted her toned deltoids too:

Oscar onlookers may have been confused at the sight of Emily Blunt’s light gold beaded gown from Schiaparelli’s Spring/Summer 2024 Couture collection. Sure, it’s not every day you see spaghetti straps popping up. But like Blunt’s stylist, Jessica Plaster, said, fashion is supposed to be fun, with the opportunity to wear something "interesting." So if men can pop the collar, why can’t women pop the straps?

If you remember, Florence Pugh also wore a “floating shoulders” dress at the 2024 Oscars red carpet. Just like Zendaya zoned into the future looking like C3PO at the Dune 2 premiere, so could the Oscar-nominated actress at the Oscars with her futuristic floating shoulder dress:

Florence Pugh’s silver Del Core dress certainly gave off a mermaid vibe with a sculpted sheer bodice that resembled water droplets. But, of course, we couldn't take our eyes off her straps that look like they have a mind of their own popping off the shoulder like that. Now, that’s how you defy gravity on the red carpet.

As women expose their strength, elegance and futuristic flair in each outfit, these shoulder-baring outfits provide a statement that beauty and boldness are a great mix. Don’t forget to see Pugh’s kick-ass strength come into play in Thunderbolts* in theaters now.

There are a couple of upcoming Marvel movies set to hit the 2025 movie calendar, and the first of those puts the villains front and center. Thunderbolts* will close out Phase 5 of the MCU when it hits theaters May 2, and fans will finally learn the endgame plan for Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. Critics had the opportunity to screen the film ahead of its release, and they can’t stop talking about how good Florence Pugh is.

Marvel fans are naturally excited about the MCU’s Thunderbolts*, especially after director Jake Schreier released that explosion-filled behind-the-scenes footage. The film centers around a grieving Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) as she teams up with other antiheroes against a common enemy. In CinemaBlend’s review of Thunderbolts*, Eric Eisenberg says the film is among the better of the MCU’s recent offerings, mostly checking the boxes it needs to before next summer’s Avengers: Doomsday. He rates the movie 3.5 out of 5 stars, writing:

Nicholas Barber of the BBC also calls it one of Marvel’s best of the past few years, giving it 4 stars out of 5. The critic calls it “scrappy, scruffy-looking, down-to-earth fun" and says it’s so neatly plotted that you can get the gist and enjoy the ride whether you're a Marvel nerd or not — mostly thanks to Florence Pugh. Barber continues:

Jesse Hassenger of AV Club grades the upcoming superhero movie a B, saying Marvel gets some of its mojo back with this semi-Black Widow sequel, as Thunderbolts* brings these antiheroes to the forefront with surprising ingenuity. Hassenger says:

Peter Debruge of Variety writes that the blockbuster balances self-deprecating comedy with mental health concerns and relies on deep knowledge of obscure characters (better get to watching those Marvel movies in order) to make sense of the MCU going forward. Debruge agrees with the others that it’s Florence Pugh’s film, writing:

Clint Gage of IGN rates it a “Good” 7 out of 10, saying the father/daughter dynamic between David Harbour and Florence Pugh is a blast to watch, but Thunderbolts* truly excels with its darker, more upsetting subject matter. All in all, Gage says it’s the most solid MCU movie in a while, concluding:

The critics seem to agree that Florence Pugh’s performance is a big reason why Thunderbolts* is some of Marvel’s best work in recent years. The movie has been Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with 89% on the Tomatometer. Luckily, you don’t need to wait any longer to check it out for yourself, as the MCU Phase 5 flick hits theaters Friday, May 2.

The upcoming Marvel movie Thunderbolts* is in many ways a direct follow-up to 2021’s Black Widow. Three of the movie’s major characters, Yelena, Red Guardian and Taskmaster, debuted in that film, and this is the first time we’ve seen the latter two since then. It is, of course, not surprising that Scarlett Johansson’s Natasha doesn’t appear, but considering the rest of Black Widow’s “family” is here, it makes one wonder what happened to Melina.

Rachael Weisz joined the Black Widow cast as Melina, a Red Room operative who also played the role of mother to Natasha and Yelena during their days undercover. At the end of Black Widow, the family comes together, but Melina is nowhere to be found in Thunderbolts*. Speaking with THR, David Harbour is surprisingly open that he doesn’t know where Melina is, but he absolutely wants to see her back, and has even been talking to Marvel about making that happen. He said…

While Harbour's Alexei and Weisz’s Melina were only playing an undercover husband and wife in Black Widow, the movie reveals that there was real affection between the pair, and there’s even a Black Widow deleted scene (viewable with a Disney+ subscription) where the two kiss at the end of the movie. But Red Guardian is very clearly a bachelor during Thunderbolts*.

While Yelena and Red Guardian are not particularly close in Thunderbolts*, they have remained in touch. It’s unclear if the same is true with Melina. It could be that she is simply elsewhere during the events of the film, or there could be something else going on.

The fact that Melina isn’t anywhere in Thunderbolts* could be an indication that her story is simply seen as over, and the MCU will move on without her, as it has with so many other characters over the years. However, David Harbour thinks there’s a real chance we could see Melina again, and he thinks it would certainly make for some real drama for his character. He continued…

We know that David Harbour and the rest of the Thunderbolts* cast will be joining the cast of Avengers: Doomsday, and as long as Red Guardian and Yelena are a significant part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the door is likely open for a return for Melina. Florence Pugh was in the same interview with Harbour, and it seems clear that both of them would love to see Rachel Weisz return. Maybe it really could happen.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is known for constantly releasing new content, both in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. The next upcoming Marvel movie heading to the big screen is Thunderbolts*, which features a killer ensemble cast. In it Florence Pugh jumps off a skyscraper, but Julia Louis-Dreyfus is making it clear that she gets into the action too.

What we know about Thunderbolts* has been limited ahead of its release, with the studio guarding the movie's contents. Fans are eager to see the cast of Thunderbolts* interact with each other, with Louis-Dreyfus' Valentina Allegra de Fontaine seemingly bringing them together. In an appearance on Radio Andy, the Seinfeld icon let slip that she got physical in her most recent MCU appearance, saying:

Well, I'm intrigued. While Valentina has appeared in The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and Black Widow's credits scene, she hasn't been involved in any action sequences just yet. But that'll change in Thunderbolts*, and I'm eager to see exactly how adept the character is in a fight.

Security for the shared universe is notoriously tight, so this sliver of information is definitely thrilling for fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order. In that same interview, Louis-Dreyfus shared her passion for getting into Thunderbolts*' action, saying:

As previously mentioned, actress Florence Pugh has been making headlines over a wild stunt that's shown in the Thunderbolts* trailer. Marvel was originally unsure about the dive, but it looks like it's going to be pretty epic on the big screen. On top of spectacle, it also looks like it's going to be a gripping emotional moment for Yelena. I mean, just look at her face here:

We haven't any big crossover moments in the MCU since Endgame, so Thunderbolts* look thrilling on paper. What's more, the scrappy group of antiheroes who make up that team have been confirmed as part of the Avengers: Doomsday cast list. Unfortunately, Julia Louis-Dreyfus hasn't been included in that ensemble... at least not yet.

Luckily the wait for Thunderbolts* is nearly over, as it hits theaters May 2nd as part of the 2025 movie release list. We'll just have to see which characters survive, and just how thrilling the action sequences are.

Spring has fully sprung, which means it’s time for sunshine and pastels. Florence Pugh and Geraldine Viswanathan made that abundantly clear at the LA premiere for their upcoming Marvel movie Thunderbolts* with their colorful dresses and adorable interaction, which featured the Black Widow actress fixing the train of her co-star’s lovely sunflower-colored gown.

Ahead of Thunderbolts* release, the cast made their way to Hollywood to promote it. Clearly, Pugh and Viswanathan were both ready to use this moment to harness that spring energy as they wore bright spring-y colors to the premiere, take a look:

Now, the dresses are stunning, and we’ll get to them in a minute. However, first, can we take a second to appreciate how adorable these two were as Pugh fixed the train on Viswanathan’s dress? I loved seeing the Midsommar star perfectly place the Drive-Away Dolls actress's train on the red carpet before going to pose with her. It was so sweet and made my heart warm.

It also only added to an already incredible and stylish moment between the Thunderbolts* cast members.

Now, let’s break down these looks.

On the Thunderbolts* press tour, Florence Pugh rocked a dress that gave seatbelts, a gorgeous sheer black dress and so much more. She’s been on her A-game, as usual, and that streak has continued with this pastel seafoam green gown. According to People, the dress is from Alexander McQueen’s Fall 2025 Ready-to-Wear collection, and she paired it with some lovely dangling earrings and light glam. Overall, the dress was stunning, and I love it!

Meanwhile, Geraldine Viswanathan rocked a lovely sheer sunflower yellow dress that featured a hood and beautiful flowing pieces that ended in a big train, which Pugh expertly fixed. Her silver rings and slicked-back hair complemented the garment perfectly, and overall, she was shining in this fabulous outfit.

Overall, this fashionable interaction took my breath away. However, the real highlight was seeing the two actresses happy together and supporting each other.

So, now, I’m even more excited to see both of them in Thunderbolts*.

In the lead-up to its release on the 2025 movie schedule, Thunderbolts* reviews have been solid. That mixed with this fun press tour and my own love for Pugh, Viswanathan and more has me stoked to go to the theater on May 2. In the meantime, I’ll be keeping an eye out for more fashionable and friendly moments from this Marvel ensemble, because they're giving me the happy spring energy I need right now.

While most MCU fans are already looking forward to upcoming Marvel movies like the Fantastic Four and the return of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes in Avengers: Doomsday, there is another team waiting in the wings with Thunderbolts*. The new team of Marvel cast off anti-heroes looks to be a rougher around the edges team of heroes, but with everything I see, the movie is getting more and more interesting.

The cast of Thunderbolts* is already strong, with Florence Hugh and Sebastian Stan leading a team of Marvel’s anti-heroes. As with any superhero movie, we can expect lots of amazing digital effects to make the impossible come to life, but what’s exciting about this film is just how much of it was shot practically. Video footage shot on an iPhone by director Jake Schreier and posted to Instagram shows that a lot of the stunts and action were done in camera.

We already knew that Florence Pugh jumped off the second-tallest building in the world for Thunderbolts*, but the footage here reveals that a lot of the action, from cars flipping over to furniture flying around to vehicles being smashed by concrete, was also just as real.

As a lover of practical effects, this has me even more pumped up to watch Thunderbolts* this weekend. Anything we see in this clip could have been done digitally instead. It arguably would have been easier to do so, but it would not have looked this good.

Digital effects can be incredibly realistic, a lot of the time, and they’re useful and creating things that simply can’t be done any other way, but nothing looks more ”real” than the real thing. Practical stunts take time and effort to properly stage, but the end result is almost worth whatever time and money it costs. It makes the movie better.

The nature of superhero cinema is such that CGI is going to be necessary and pervasive. Within Thunderbolts* , you have Ghost, a character who can disappear and reappear at will, and showing that on screen is going to need a computer, but the rest of the team don’t have magic or crazy science fiction powers. It’s a team of mostly regular people, so it makes sense that the action is handled in as realistic a way as possible.

Since we already know that the cast of Thunderbolts* will have roles to play in Avengers: Doomsday, what happens in this movie will likely be quite important for those following the larger MCU story. That may help aid the movie’s box office performance, but whether or not the movie is a hit, it’s clearly going to look amazing.

Actress Florence Pugh is one of the biggest movie stars out there right now, and is constantly working on high profile projects. She's currently at work promoting the upcoming Marvel movie Thunderbolts*, where she's once again reprising her role as Yelena. She redefined the concept of the little black dress with a look featuring seat belts, once again proving why she's become such a fashion icon.

What we know about Thunderbolts* is limited, thanks to Marvel's tight security. But what is clear is that Pugh has been absolutely bringing it fashion-wise while promoting the blockbuster. Case in point: Pugh's Instagram post featuring a LBD, complete with seat belts at the bottom and an accompanying bomber. Check it out below:

I'm definitely seated (and buckled up) for this look. It's only one day of press for Thunderbolts*, and it looks like she's mixing fashion and comfort for a round of interviews. And for some reason the belts feel very appropriate for the character of Yelena.

In the post, which was shared to Pugh's 9.4 million followers, she thanks the publicists who are also hard at work promoting the MCU flick. These press tours are huge, and there are a ton of people working with the actors to spread the word as much as possible. And that includes the fashion experts who are working with the Midsommar actress.

In her IG post, Pugh tagged some of the individuals who helped her pull off this look, and the Thunderbolts* press tour as a whole. That includes makeup artist Alex Babsky, stylist Rebecca Corbin-Murray, and hair stylist Hyungsun Ju. And making sure they get their flowers during this moment is definitely a classy move by the Oscar nominated actress.

As previously mentioned Pugh, who is leading the Thunderbolts* cast list, has become a bit of a style icon in recent years. She went viral for wearing a sheer Valentino pink dress which freed the nipple, and started a popular fashion trend in Hollywood. She became a face of the brand as a result, and has continued to stun on red carpets and other public events. This seat belt LBD wasn't sheer, but it's turning heads thanks to its expert styling and accessories.

Fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order are eager to see Pugh back in Thunderbolts*, as she's become a fan favorite character thanks to her work in Black Widow and Hawkeye. The trailers put Yelena at the center of the forthcoming story, and she's already confirmed to be returning in Avengers: Doomsday. So we should expect more killer press looks from Pugh as well.

Thunderbolts* hits theaters on May 2nd as part of the 2025 movie release list, and Doomsday is expected to follow suit May 1st, 2026. It certainly seems like Florence Pugh is sticking around the MCU for the foreseeable future.

When it comes to upcoming Marvel movies set to come out this summer, Florence Pugh and Pedro Pascal are the two big stars at the forefront of Thunderbolts* and The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Both of the stars are beloved by fans, and it seems one of them has a lot of admiration for another. Pascal supported Pugh’s Marvel Cinematic Universe film when he attended its premiere in London this past week, but they seem to have just missed each other. With that, a now-viral video of Pugh trying to get Pascal's attention has surfaced, and it's too good.

This week’s premiere was by all means all about Florence Pugh, who had another big moment when she asked her whole crew to join her on the carpet while she was wearing a gorgeous black dress. I'd say the moment she tried to call out to Pedro Pascal really takes the cake, though. Check it out:

As you can see, while Florence Pugh was talking to a journalist at the premiere, she caught a glimpse of Pedro Pascal and yelled his name for all to hear. My heart melts at the sound of her calling, “Hi Pedro! Love you, Pedro! See ya later, Pedro! Nice to see you, Pedro!” like a true fan girl. Fans were all over the moment on TikTok, commenting about how relatable it is:

• “she’s one of us” - @_teleri
• “Florence represents us so faithfully, I adore her.” - @pascal.pedrito
• “Wow, celebrities ARE just like me” - @stereotypicalcdn
• “This is the exact and only energy Pedro deserves” - @krystalree12
• “She is just like me” - @im_eliimndz

Pugh was too real for this. It just goes to show that it’s not just Pascal stans who are ready for him to continue to take over Hollywood this summer, as the Fantastic Four release date looms. Later on, when Pugh spoke to MTV UK about seeing him on the Thunderbolts* carpet, she gushed about Pascal with these words:

When Pedro Pascal did walk the carpet at the London premiere, he sported a “Protect The Dolls” T-shirt from Connor Ives. The T-shirt from the fashion designer is currently available to buy with proceeds going to the Trans Lifeline, which is a trans-led charity based in the United States that offers support to the community. Pascal has a younger sister who is trans and remains outspoken about the cause.

Pugh was all about his statement at the Thunderbolts* premiere, and is ready to grab the t-shirt herself. When asked what her favorite role of Pedro Pascal’s is, she said this:

Yeah… I don’t think she’s ready for the tragic The Last Of Us death many are still recovering from! While we didn’t get to see Pugh and Pascal unite at the premiere, the pair of Marvel actors are set to be part of the Avengers: Doomsday cast. So, hopefully, we'll see Pugh's Yelena and Pascal Reed Richards share screen time. Or, at the very least, I hope the A-listers get to chop it up on a red carpet one of these days.

Thunderbolts* will be released in theaters on May 2, while The Fantastic Four: First Steps opens on July 25. In the meantime, stream past Marvel movies using a Disney+ subscription.

The world of action in the 2025 movie schedule is giving fans something to talk about, especially regarding actors who do their own stunts. As Thunderbolts*’ upcoming theatrical release is almost upon us, learning about subjects like Florence Pugh’s practical stunt jump are stoking the anticipation for the film pretty high. And of course, as the lady herself has admitted in a recent chat, Tom Cruise’s Mission: Impossible feats were part of what influenced her to take that specific spectacle on in the first place.

The Associate Press’ TikTok showed one of their journalists catching up with the burgeoning action star at the London premiere for her upcoming Marvel movie. And when she discussed what inspired her to take on that massive Thunderbolts* stunt, Ms. Pugh tipped her batons to the Mission: Impossible icon. She said:

Watching the Black Widow star mirror the respect Tom Cruise has for the stunt community back at him is something pretty special. And considering that feat that Florence Pugh has set to debut in director Jake Schreier’s new Marvel movie, that outlook is only reinforced by her actions.

But before you start to think your Disney+ subscription is about to be flooded with titles that see Pugh actually going to space, or flying an F-14 Tomcat, she addressed that subject rather brilliantly. Offering these further remarks, the woman behind Yelena Belova made that abundantly clear:

Who knows what the future could hold though? Maybe a Tom Cruise collaboration could see Florence Pugh pushing her limits even further, in a picture that’d allow them to be mentor and mentee in both plot and action prowess. Perhaps leaving the planet isn’t totally out of the question, as Cruise’s mysterious space picture still looks to be on the books. Or maybe our potential new action star could be the key to finally getting that Edge of Tomorrow sequel made?

As we all sit here and dream of the possibilities, let’s not forget that Thunderbolts*’ very real Florence Pugh stunt is about to be revealed to us all! That MCU picture will debut in theaters on May 2nd, and if that doesn’t lure audiences to check it out, I don’t know what will.

As we count down the final days until Thunderbolts* release on the 2025 movie schedule, Florence Pugh has been turning heads with outfits for the press tour that fit the movie's vibe. For example, her most recent outfit was a stellar take on the corset trend that also gave big Black Widow energy. Honestly, the sleek, minimalist two-piece takes this viral trend to a new level that's also fit for a Thunderbolts* Wheaties box.

Make no mistake, the British actress is no stranger to killing the style game on the carpet and off. Last year, in fact, she shared another dramatic take on the corset trend during the BAFTAs that stole the show. Now, her latest take on the trend plays on the grit of Thunderbolts* thanks to this black garment by Francesco Murano.

As you can see, Pugh’s black fit breaks away from the classic norms of a typical cinched structure, and pairing it with dark makeup and sunglasses feels very Yelena-coded – take a look for yourself:

As mentioned, the accessories and makeup play into the unique, dark, and edgy vibe this MCU project brings to the table. Plus, with Pugh’s character having an outspoken element within the ensemble, as well as being David Harbour's character’s child, the too cool for all of you energy across the board hits the nail on the head. The combo absolutely stands out among the various takes on the corset trend, too.

With many celebs in all corners of Hollywood showing up and showing out in their own pretty, pinched interpretations over the last few years, it’s no wonder that Pugh returned to the style. From Taylor Swift's corset dress to Sydney Sweeney's cinched look and even Kim Kardashian's take on the fitted trend, it’s been everywhere!

Still, the Little Women actress’s latest take may be the winner for me. Take a look at this group photo and tell me this dress doesn’t stand as one of the coolest fitting frocks of the press tour:

It’s just immaculate from head to toe, in my opinion. And it's another addition to the performer's ever-growing catalog of iconic looks.

Honestly, Pugh will always know how to turn a look. She’s been rocking the sheer trend with her more formal, stunning Thunderbolts* red carpet look, and of course, the famed pink Valentino 'free the nipple' dress. And her many other fits, like the one above, show off the range of her style. Truly, she's an unmistakable icon and a professional dead ringer in nailing any fashion trend.

Speaking of absolutely nailing it, it seems like Pugh is about to kill it in this upcoming Marvel movie. After seeing the Thunderbolts* trailers and learning about the stunts the actress did for this movie, I can't wait to see her back on the big screen as Yelena.

Until I catch the flick, though, this Murano number of Pugh’s will tide me over, because it is a killer take on the corset trend.

Florence Pugh is a sheer dress muse, and she proved that again ahead of the Thunderbolts* release on the 2025 movie schedule as she attended the UK special screening for the film. However, this dress wasn’t the scene-stealer of this event. The real star of the show here was the actress “wrangling” her family and friends onto the red carpet to take adorable group photos.

To celebrate the release of her upcoming Marvel movie and all the work that goes into preparing to release a film like Thunderbolts*, Pugh brought a ton of her family and friends to a special screening. In a video posted by CinemaBlend, you can see her joyously yelling at her “crew” – which includes her mom and Granny Pat – to come over for a photo, take a look:

Granny Pat dancing just made my day, and seeing all these folks so happy to be there makes me smile from ear to ear.

It made the Marvel actress smile, too, as the video illustrates. However, she further showed how much this moment meant to her by reposting it on her Instagram story with the caption:

Well, that’s the sweetest and most real thing ever. Nothing brings me more joy than seeing a happy family, and this video is just that.

Along with her mom and grandmother, the actress tagged a bunch of friends in her repost of our video. This included Joey Mackin, Olive McHugh, Theo Smith, Ashley Smith, Jacob Smith and the actor Finn Cole, who is rumored to be dating Pugh and you might recognize from Peaky Blinders.

On top of that, the Little Women actress was dressed to the nines, obviously. Her black sheer gown came from Elie Saab’s fall 2024 collection (via W Magazine), and it was perfect for her style and this movie. She’s the queen of the naked dress, and this black sparkly number paired with her neon orange eye shadow was giving Black Widow in the best way.

So, all around, she was looking fabulous with the whole fam. Honestly, this fashionable family affair is lovely and a wonderful way to commemorate the release of Thunderbolts*, which hits theaters next Friday. I note that because this MCU installment is all about a group of anti-heroes being wrangled together to take down a big bad. And the fun vibe between the Thunderbolts* cast fits the energy radiating off Pugh’s post about “wrangling” her “crew.”

Now, it’s time to wrangle your crew together and get ready for Thunderbolts*, because it hits theaters on May 2, and I have a feeling you and your fam won’t want to miss it.

If you’re excited about the next upcoming Marvel movie, then today is a big day. While Thunderbolts* is still more than a week away from its global theatrical release, the movie will take a big step tonight with its red carpet premiere. We can expect to see the Thunderbolts* cast looking stylish as they walk the carpet tonight, but Florence Pugh is clearly going to have a rough day getting there.

Pugh will return to the MCU as Yelena in Thunderbolts*, and while the new film will surely make the character look incredible, we already know that Florence Pugh jumped off a building for one action sequence. Pugh posted to Instagram that she’s not feeling particularly stylish right now and is likely going to have a wild day leading up to the film’s premiere tonight.

It’s understandable why Florence Pugh may have overdone the coffee a bit. She’s sure to have a long day in London, where the movie premiere is taking place. I am very curious about the sock situation, however. Was she getting dressed in the dark and didn’t realize her socks didn’t match until later? How exactly does that happen? The good news is that she probably won’t be wearing the same socks on the red carpet, so nobody ever needs to know.

We’ve all had those days when it seems like everything that can go wrong does, and it often seems to happen on a day when we really can’t afford to deal with all the problems. One can only imagine what that’s like when the day will also include an immense number of cameras pointing at you while you’re supposed to be looking your best.

The pressure of premiere day may be especially tough because there's likely a lot riding on the early response to Thunderbolts*. The critical response to Captain America: Brave New World wasn't particularly impressive, and the box office, while not a disaster, wasn't a huge win either. Strong buzz coming off the premiere could help the new movie be the big hit that marvel Studios surely wants to see.

And a lot of eyes, and cameras, are sure to be pointed specifically at Florence Pugh. While she’s part of an incredible ensemble cast, she certainly appears to be playing something of a lead role on the team based on the Thunderbolts* trailers. If nothing else, she’s the most prominent female character in the film, which means she’ll be getting a lot of attention.

Of course, it’s possible that the Thunderbolts* stars won’t even be getting a great deal of attention personally. A great deal of the questions on the red carpet likely won’t even be about Thunderbolts* release specifically, but more focused on the future of the MCU. The majority of the Thunderbolts* cast has already been confirmed to appear in Avengers: Doomsday, and since that movie is already in production, we can bet a lot of people will be trying to pull whatever information they can from the actors.

The issue of actors doing their own stunts is often one that has a lot of very strong opinions behind it. Some, like Tom Cruise, insist on doing all their own stunts and have been known to fire insurance companies to make it happen. Other actors are more than willing to let professional stunt people do their jobs. But in between, there are actors who want to do their own stunts, but can run into roadblocks, which is what nearly happened to Florence Pugh on the set of the upcoming Thunderbolts* movie.

Speaking with Fandango, Pugh discusses a major stunt in the film that has her character jumping off the roof of Merdeka 118, the second tallest building in the world. While the scene was planned from the very beginning, it seems there were concerns about cost and the safety of the sequence, but Pugh was the one who insisted, in very strong language, that it needed to happen. She said…

It’s at least understandable why Marvel Studios may not want to throw Florence Pugh off a building. If she had actually gotten hurt doing the stunt, it would have delayed the production significantly, and that would have cost everybody involved a lot of money. This is the main reason that studios often specifically don’t want their actors doing their own stunts.

While it doesn’t sound like Florence Pugh went “the full Tom Cruise,” which is to say that stunt performers were used, she didn’t actually parachute off the second tallest building in the world. The actress played her part and was more than happy to do so. She says she kept after Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige to make sure he let her do it. She continued…

And she did, in fact, fall off the building, so it all worked out. The sequence in question will apparently be the very beginning of Thunderbolts*, so clearly the movie will be starting off big. It’s exciting to see where it all goes from there.

Whatever else happens in Thunderbolts* we know that Florence Pugh will also be in the cast of Avengers: Doomsday. Perhaps, like Tom Cruise does in all the Mission: Impossible movies, Florence Pugh will find a way to top herself with an incredible stunt.

Fame has its downside, one of which being the way that the public becomes invested in one's personal life. Just look at celebrity pairs like Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce or former couples like Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck. Actress Florence Pugh experienced this firsthand, with plenty of fans commenting about her former relationship with Zach Braff. Now she's opened up about that break-up, and why it's "not easy" to date her.

Pugh and Braff broke up back in 2022, after much discourse online about their age gap and relationship as a whole. It's been a few years, with the former couple still managing to work together after the split. Given this distance from the situation, Pugh spoke to Harper's Bazaar about what the break-up was like, sharing:

I think many of us can relate to break-ups being "scary", and the struggle of finding one's self after unliking from a romantic partner. And to make the situation more complicated for Pugh, she also had outside voices via fan reactions factoring into her emotional state. Because while she's got a ton of fans who are eager to see her return to the big screen in upcoming Marvel movies, having this public of a split must have been uniquely challenging.

In the interview, the Dune actress confirmed she was in love again, and revealed she's approaching this relationship differently. As she shared to the outlet:

Honestly, this is a fair point. And it's another reason why finding fame can be tricky. Because while Pugh has been filming non-stop and working with collaborators like Christopher Nolan, it also means an unpredictable schedule and tons of time away from home. And that can be challenging for any relationship. The Midsommar actress shared more about this dynamic, saying:

Talk about empowering. It sounds like Pugh has learned a lot about what type of life and career she wants to lead. And while her star power continues to grow, she's also going to be firmly in the driver's seat for what comes next.

The 29 year-old actress is attached to a number of exciting projects including Marvel's Thunderbolts*. That crossover project hits theaters May 2nd as part of the 2025 movie release list.

It’s no secret that movies are getting released digitally faster and faster now, shortening their exclusive theatrical runs. Add that to the fact that audiences are experiencing a so-called “superhero fatigue,” and it makes sense why Florence Pugh has decided to encourage her followers to check out her upcoming Marvel movie Thunderbolts*, in theaters when it releases on May 2nd.

The We Live in Time actress recently shared the highly anticipated film’s poster on her Instagram account, along with a hilarious caption about why catching the flick in theaters is a great idea. As a huge supporter of going out and seeing movies on the big screen, I can’t help but mostly agree with Pugh’s points. I’ll get to the one I disagree with in a moment, but let’s start with her number one reason for catching ThunderBolts* in theaters:

Maybe strange isn’t the right word, but I get what the Black Widow star is indicating. Where else is it perfectly acceptable to eat an entire bucket of popcorn with your candy of choice mixed into it? And don’t forget the collectible buckets that have become popular with new releases. But if popcorn’s not your thing, you can always sneak something in from outside. On second thought, maybe that’s what Pugh meant when she suggested “strange” snacks.

Next up on Pugh’s reasons to catch Thunderbolts* in your local movie theater is “holding hands if you’d like.” I don’t know that I’d 100% consider a Marvel action movie as date night material, but once again, I get where she’s coming from. It would be nice to take a significant other or even a friend for moral support. Because if the star-studded trailer is to be believed, things are going to get bad before they get better for this ragtag group of antiheroes.

If the exciting foods and potential for hand-holding aren’t enough of a sell, maybe Pugh’s next point will get you to log onto your local theater app and buy those tickets.

Now this is where Pugh loses me. I don’t know about you, but I never purposely spend all that money on snacks and tickets just to purposely fall asleep in a movie. And even if I did, I don’t think a loud, action movie like Marvel films are known to be would be my choice. But hey, maybe there is someone out there who is looking to get a good nap in while our anti-heroes embark on a dangerous mission.

Of course, if you’re not going to take a nap, you can always do Pugh’s next reason for going to the movie theaters, which involves “getting jumbo-sized drinks that no one really needs.” If you get those strange snacks she talked about and a giant souvenir bucket of popcorn, you’re definitely going to need a drink.

It’s Pugh’s fifth and final reason why fans should consider checking out Thunderbolts* in theaters that’s the most compelling:

Fans have already gotten a sense of how cool this ragtag group and their suits are from the Thunderbolts* trailer and Hasbro’s new merch line for the film that further confirms theories about Lewis Pullman’s “surprise” MCU villain.

So does Pugh have you convinced? I’m not the biggest Marvel fan, but even I can’t deny that catching the action play out on a big screen is appealing. If she’s won you over, you can head to your local movie theater website and order tickets now. It’s best not to wait since Thunderbolts* hits the 2025 movie schedule in just a few short weeks.

If you thought sitting through Marvel’s 5.5-hour Avengers: Doomsday chair reveal stream was a wild ride, just know—you weren’t alone. It turns out that even Florence Pugh and David Harbour were right there with us, navigating the chaos, caffeine, and confusion of a never-ending lineup of director chairs, with names slowly being unveiled for the upcoming Marvel movie. And just like us, they weren’t 100% sure they were even in the film.

In a recent interview shared via Fandango’s official Instagram account, the super cast of the upcoming Thunderbolts* was asked about their reactions to the now-infamous Marvel livestream event. The stream revealed the entire cast of Avengers: Doomsday by showing personalized director chairs one by one throughout five and a half hours. The host posed the million-dollar question: “What was your reaction to the Marvel livestream? Did you know by that time that your name was announced?” What followed was gold, as Florence Pugh shared:

Tea? Heck, Pugh could have had an entire dinner and returned before her name was revealed. David Harbour was even more like the rest of us, as he shared:

The host hilariously asked which number Harbour was in the seemingly never-ending line of star announcements. He continued:

Just to clarify, Harbour's name popped up a little over two hours into the stream. It’s nice to know that even Black Widow and Red Guardian were feeling the same confusion as the rest of us while watching. What started as a big marketing stunt by Marvel—making us wait almost six hours for the Doomsday cast announcement—quickly turned into an experiment in patience, speculation, and total chaos.

The live stream, which trended for hours, had fans theorizing, memeing, and, in some cases, live-blogging as they waited to see names slowly unveiled on chairs. While the approach was divisive, it was undeniably effective: people were watching to the bitter end—including, as we now know, people actually in the movie.

Avengers: Doomsday is set to hit theaters on May 1, 2026, and if it includes even half the personality these two bring to a press junket, we’re in for something special. Until then, keep the tea hot, and maybe next time, give Florence and David a heads-up, Marvel.

Florence Pugh and David Harbour can be seen next, suited up for the Thunderbolts*, hitting the 2025 movie release schedule on May 2. Until then, be sure to check out our schedule of upcoming superhero movies coming to a theater near you.