It never ceases to amaze me when an actor is the spitting image of the real person they are selected to play. I do not think a historical portrayal necessarily lives or dies by the performer’s resemblance to the subject, but I think it is something to appreciate, especially when you consider the amount of biopics starring actors who bear absolutely no resemblance to their role. Here are a few notable examples of actors who were clearly hired for their talents above anything else.

Michael Shannon As Elvis Presley (Elvis & Nixon)

The most requested photo in the National Archives depicts Elvis Presley shaking hands with Richard Nixon in the Oval Office, and the events surrounding this historic meeting at the White House are dramatized in 2016's Elvis & Nixon. Kevin Spacey makes for a visually believable depiction of the 37th United States President, but the otherwise wonderfully talented Michael Shannon simply does not cut it as the one many call the King of Rock 'n Roll, even with a decent jumpsuit and wig.

John Wayne As Genghis Khan (The Conqueror)

Oh, boy, where do we begin with this one? The only visual evidence we have of what Genghis Khan looked like is artist renderings, but it does not take an expert to notice that John Wayne was not Asian. Still, the legendary Western movie star was cast as the Mongol chief in 1956's The Conqueror, which has since been regarded as one of the worst films ever made.

Aaron Taylor-Johnson As John Lennon (Nowhere Boy)

Director Sam Taylor-Johnson's 2009 music biopic Nowhere Boy focuses on the pre-Beatles life of John Lennon, as portrayed by Aaron Taylor-Johnson. If you ask me, the Golden Globe-winning actor might have been a better fit to play, perhaps, Paul McCartney or, better yet, George Harrison.

Tom Cruise As Barry Seal (American Made)

If more people knew about Barry Seal and what he looked like, I believe Tom Cruise's portrayal in 2017's American Made would have been criticized as one of the most egregious miscastings in Hollywood history. The otherwise talented movie star did absolutely nothing to alter his appearance and pass for the ill-fated, heavy-set CIA smuggler, save what I regard as an embarrassing Southern accent.

Julia Roberts As Erin Brockovich (Erin Brockovich)

Julia Roberts gives, arguably, the finest performance of her career as a single mother and paralegal who uncovers a small town pollution scandal in Steven Soderbergh's Erin Brockovich from 2000. However, if a resemblance to the person an actor is portraying were part of the Academy's voting criteria, she might not have won the Oscar.

Denzel Washington As Frank Lucas (American Gangster)

Ridley Scott's 2007 biopic American Gangster dramatizes the career of mobster Frank Lucas, played by Denzel Washington, and also stars Chiwetel Ejiofor as Lucas' brother, Huey. Curiously, Ejiofor actually looks a whole lot more like the real Frank than the two-time Oscar winner. However, Washington was a good friend and frequent collaborator of the director's brother, Tony Scott, so he probably had the role in the bag for that, among other reasons.

Johnny Depp As J.M. Barrie (Finding Neverland)

Oddly enough, J.M. Barrie boasted a striking resemblance to another influential author, Edgar Allan Poe, with his tall forehead and small moustache. However, Johnny Depp, who played the Peter Pan author in 2004's Finding Neverland, does not boast a resemblance to either of them, if you ask me.

Hugh Jackman As P.T. Barnum (The Greatest Showman)

Let's not even bother talking about the many historical inaccuracies from The Greatest Showman, 2017's musical retelling of the origins of the circus, and even ignore the fact that P.T. Barnum was not the kindhearted man Hugh Jackman portrayed him as. All that matters to this list is whether or not the Wolverine star looked the part, and the famously attractive Australian actor most definitely was not a match for Barnum in that regard.

Michael Fassbender As Steve Jobs (Steve Jobs)

Michael Fassbender's Oscar-nominated performance in director Danny Boyle and writer Aaron Sorkin's Steve Jobs from 2015 is widely regarded as superior to Ashton Kutcher's portrayal in Jobs from two years earlier. However, at least the former That '70s Show cast member can say he resembled the tech pioneer more closely.

Jesse Eisenberg As Mark Zuckerberg (The Social Network)

Mark Zuckerberg once made a surprise SNL cameo, during which he stood right next to host Jesse Eisenberg on the Studio 8H stage, proving that they are certainly not a visual match. The actor does not even bother to imitate the Facebook founder's distinctly low voice when portraying him in 2010's The Social Network, but his Oscar nomination proves that that is not what really matters in the end.

Tom Hanks As Fred Rogers (A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood)

Casting a universally beloved actor such as Tom Hanks to play a universally beloved children's television personality like Fred Rogers, of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood fame, is brilliant in theory. However, even giving the Oscar winner the icon's signature haircut and sweaters is not quite enough to distract from the fact that you are still unmistakably watching Hanks on screen.

Leonardo DiCaprio As Howard Hughes (The Aviator)

A major inspiration for Marvel's Tony "Iron Man" Stark was Howard Hughes, whose resemblance is actually a striking match for both Robert Downey Jr. and Dominic Cooper, who plays Howard Stark in his early years in the MCU. In fact, I think either one of them would have been a better visual fit for the eccentric millionaire in The Aviator than Leonardo DiCaprio, even if his performance in the 2005 biopic makes it one of his best collaborations with the director, Martin Scorsese.

Warren Beatty And Faye Dunaway As Clyde Barrow And Bonnie Parker (Bonnie And Clyde)

From a performance standpoint, Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway make a great onscreen duo portraying the titular notorious bank robbers in 1967's Bonnie and Clyde. However, the screen legends' casting does not earn the film any points for historical accuracy, considering Beatty does not have Clyde Barrow's jug ears, nor does Dunaway boast Bonnie Parker's sharp, thin face.

Taraji P. Henson As Katherine G. Johnson (Hidden Figures)

Taraji P. Henson gives an undeniably commanding performance in 2016's Hidden Figures as Katherine G. Johnson, a mathematician who was pivotal in helping NASA figure out space travel. Yet, when comparing the Empire star to photos of the real Johnson, it is clear the actor does not resemble her much at all.

Anthony Hopkins As Richard Nixon (Nixon)

Reportedly, Anthony Hopkins had some hesitation about taking on the lead role of Oliver Stone's 1995 biopic about Richard M. Nixon. Ultimately, I would say the Academy Award winner went on to give a great performance in Nixon, but I find myself distracted by his struggle to hide his accent and his obvious fake teeth and hairpiece that really do not help make him look any closer in resemblance to the disgraced U.S. president.

Margot Robbie As Queen Elizabeth I (Mary Queen Of Scots)

Cate Blanchett previously gave an Academy Award-nominated performance as the lead of 1998's Elizabeth, and even bore a strong resemblance to the royal based on artist renderings. I cannot say the same about Margot Robbie, even if the Australian actor's portrayal of Queen Elizabeth I in Mary Queen of Scots was still worthy of praise.

Benedict Cumberbatch As Alan Turing (The Imitation Game)

Benedict Cumberbatch has such a distinct appearance, making it difficult for him to resemble anyone else without heavy alterations. However, nothing was done to make him look any closer to World War II-era computer scientist Alan Turing in The Imitation Game.

Javier Bardem As Desi Arnaz (Being The Ricardos)

Oscar winner Nicole Kidman went above and beyond to physically become Lucille Ball for writer and director Aaron Sorkin's dramatization of what went on behind the scenes of the beloved TV sitcom, I Love Lucy. However, playing her onscreen husband is Oscar winner Javier Bardem, who does not pass for Desi Arnaz in the slightest.

Ray Liotta As Shoeless Joe Jackson (Field Of Dreams)

Technically, Ray Liotta plays the ghost of Shoeless Joe Jackson in Field of Dreams, but even a person's spectral remnant should look something like them. The infamous MLB player had a much narrower face and wider ears, not to mention that he pitched left-handed, while the actor did the opposite in the beloved sports movie.

Beyoncé As Etta James (Cadillac Records)

No one could possibly deny that Beyoncé has the pipes to match Etta James, which had to have been the reason why she was cast in 2008's Cadillac Records. However, the "At Last" singer was short and round-faced, and the former Destiny's Child member is neither.

Dominic West As Prince Charles III (The Crown)

I mean no disrespect to Prince Charles III, but is it just me, or was The Wire star Dominic West just a little too handsome to play the Royal Family member on The Crown? Then again, any one cast member's portrayal on the historical Netflix series might pale in comparison to Elizabeth Debicki's striking resemblance to Princess Diana.

Kane Hodder As Ed Gein (Ed Gein: The Butcher Of Plainfield)

The most famous actor to wear Jason Voorhees' hockey mask in the Friday the 13th films must have seemed like an inspired choice to play one of the most notorious serial killers in history in 2007's Ed Gein: The Butcher of Plainfield. However, the 6'2", broadly built Kane Hodder does not boast Gein's narrower face and small stature.

Clive Owen As Bill Clinton (Impeachment: American Crime Story)

In most cases, prosthetics can be very helpful in making an actor look more similar to the person they are portraying, such as when Charlize Theron became Megyn Kelly for Bombshell. Clive Owen adopted this method to play Bill Clinton on Impeachment: American Crime Story, but the makeup only caused the English actor to resemble the 1990s-era President even less.

Angelina Jolie As Christine Collins (Changeling)

Christine Collins is the subject of Clint Eastwood's 2008 period film, Changeling, which is based on the true story of when her missing son was replaced by an impostor. Had she been an even better-known historical figure, there might have been more criticism over casting Angelina Jolie, an actor known for her voluptuous lips, as the thin-lipped 1920s woman.

Fred Armisen As Barack Obama (Saturday Night Live)

Considering the fact that the otherwise extremely talented SNL star Fred Armisen is a white man with a subpar impersonation of the 44th. U.S. President, I'll just say that I am glad Jay Pharoah eventually took over as Barack Obama.

Tom Hulce As Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Amadeus)

Just based on artist renderings of the seminal composer, Tom Hulce was nowhere near a match to play the title role of director Milos Forman's Best Picture Oscar winner, Amadeus, from 1984. However, the actor is widely admired for his performance as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, which earned him a well-deserved Academy Award nomination.

Robert Redford As Harry Longabaugh (Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid)

I wonder how many others like me had no idea that Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid was based on a true story, which might be how the film was able to get away with casting actors who look nothing like the Western outlaws they play. For instance, Robert Redford's mustache works just fine for the role, but Harry Longabaugh, a.k.a. "The Sundance Kid," did not have long blonde locks.

Diana Ross As Billie Holiday (Lady Sings The Blues)

Most would agree that 1972's Lady Sings the Blues is the superior biopic about the trailblazing "Strange Fruit" singer over The United States vs. Billie Holiday from 2021. However, those same people might also agree that Andra Day was a better fit to play Holiday, physically speaking, than the otherwise wonderfully talented Diana Ross in the earlier film.

Robin Williams As Patch Adams (Patch Adams)

The real Patch Adams hates Tom Shadyac's biopic based on his life, which has nothing to do with the fact that Robin Williams looks nothing like the influential doctor. However, it's still impossible to ignore, especially with how they do not even bother to give the Oscar winner Adams' signature mustache.

Mel Gibson As William Wallace (Braveheart)

In the most well-known illustrations of William Wallace, the Scottish warrior is depicted as having short hair and a beard. Why director Mel Gibson opted against this look when he portrayed Wallace in Braveheart is beyond me.

Serena Scott Thomas As Princess Diana (Diana: Her True Story)

Many actors have portrayed Princess Diana to varying degrees of success, but most consider Serena Scott Thomas from the 1993 two-part miniseries, Diana: Her True Story, to be one of the weakest matches, purely in terms of her physical resemblance.

Zoe Saldaña As Nina Simone (Nina)

The 2016 biopic, Nina, sparked controversy when Zoe Saldaña donned skin-darkening makeup and a prosthetic nose to better resemble singer Nina Simone, which the actor would later admit she regretted.

So I'm going to be honest with you and say that I'm not a huge Tyler Perry fan, but I think that's honestly been for the better – let me explain.

I do enjoy these films – I really think you can't go a lifetime without watching and laughing hysterically at at least one of the Madea movies. However, because I tend to lean more towards dramatic movies or fantasy films, comedies often get lost in the ever-changing landscape of cinema these days. There's just so much to watch.

However, when I was effectively utilizing my Netflix subscription by browsing around, I came across Straw. I noticed that Straw was number one, which is an excellent achievement for the streaming service. Netflix makes so many original films that might fall under the radar, so anytime one from the Netflix schedule pops off, I'm here for it.

I was sick and tired, and I decided to press play... and I really didn't expect it to break me as it did.

The Movie Itself Is Raw And Connects To So Many People

Before I get into what exactly got to me, I have to give the movie its flowers because, man, this film hits hard.

If you don't know what Straw is about, it stars Taraji P. Henson. It's about a woman hitting her last straw after a string of failures lined up her day, from not having enough money for her daughter's school to being evicted, to job issues and much more. This leads to a desperate decision from her that turns her entire life upside down.

Straw…hits really hard. I can already tell why this movie connected with so many people because, truthfully, the story it tells is raw and honest. We live in a world with billions and billions of people. I'm sure there have been plenty of viewers out there who were watching Straw and saw themselves in Janiyah's (Henson) character, and for that, I give the movie a lot of props.

I've Never Known The Struggles Of Motherhood, But Straw Made Me Appreciate My Mom A Whole Lot More

Something else that I didn't necessarily connect with in Straw but that I appreciated nonetheless was the struggles of motherhood. I'm only twenty-six right now, and while having a family in the future is something I've thought about, I'm still not there yet and couldn't imagine going through what Janiyah goes through for her daughter in Straw.

And truthfully, I found myself getting teary-eyed watching her and then felt the need to call my mom right after.

I've mentioned this before, but watching a movie where a mother actively struggles to provide for her children always hits me hard. I always grew up with a roof over my head, food on my plate, and a bed to sleep in. I never had to worry about that because my parents, especially my mother, made it their mission never to let me know.

Now, as an adult, I've started to talk with them more about their struggles when I was a child, and everything they went through in order to provide. And this film really made me connect and appreciate my mother in a way I didn't even think possible.

Don't get me wrong, I've always loved my mother, and we connect a lot – I get my love of books, the best horror movies, fantasy, and so much more from her. But sometimes it takes a film to transport you back to those moments, truly, and I have to admit that I did call my mother after this to say I loved her and thank her for everything she's done for me.

However, while that was personal to me, there's another aspect of this movie that hit harder — and I think many people will understand why.

But I Felt Myself Break When I Realized Just How Much I Connected With Those Horrible Days

I…have not been good.

Well, that's a bit dramatic, but my time in 2025 has been a bit harder than most, and life has been throwing some extra curveballs in with plenty of other drama that has made me feel like I'm on Grounded mode in The Last of Us.

That's an intense cut, but my gamers will understand.

Either way, I have had so many horrible days. Maybe not to her extent – thankfully, I've never had to worry about eviction, but I have had days regarding medical emergencies, bad phone calls, and moments where it feels like the pain won't end. It's depressing, heart-shattering, soul-crushing in a way where it's hard to get up the next day.

And while everything Janiyah did was for her daughter, I connected so personally with the aspect that those days, when everything falls apart, are awful, and it truly feels like there is no end. I got super emotional – I cried a little and went through several tissue boxes. But honestly, I think I needed that.

There are so few movies nowadays that feel grounded and down-to-earth, where anyone can connect with them if they dig deep enough, and this is one of those.

The Ending Also Tore Me Apart In A Way I Didn't Expect

Warning: If you haven't seen Straw, skip this section!

And the ending…god, the Straw ending.

Talk about a gut punch. Again, I'm not a mother, and I have never experienced the loss of a child, but to find out at the very end that this entire day that Janiyah has gone through has all been for nothing and that her daughter being alive was all just a hallucination? Yeouch. I felt that. Hard.

It's a great twist in so many ways. I give my kudos to Perry and his writing team. But god, that kind of pain is like a knife stabbed in the gut and then twirled to make the wound even deeper. I love it and hate it at the same time.

Tyler Perry Has Gone In Such A Great Dramatic Direction, And I Need So Much More

If Tyler Perry keeps going in this direction, I'm going to have to watch a lot more of his films. Again, his comedy is enjoyable, but I have particularly loved his dramatic turns and the movies he has released.

I loved The Six Triple Eight and the inspiring story behind that, but I also love this – the kind of movie where so many people, regardless of gender, race, or whatever, can relate to these moments. Honestly, these are the kind of films we need on our 2025 movie schedule or beyond that – the ones with love and adoration poured into them that you can't help but love, too.

If you haven't seen Straw, you can check it out on Netflix right now. But if you have, well, have you called your mom to tell her you love her yet? I need to do it again.

Warning! The following contains spoilers for the movie Straw. Stream it with a Netflix subscription and read at your own risk!

Subscribers are raving about Tyler Perry's new drama Straw, and after seeing it for myself, it's easy to see what inspired all the praise. Taraji P. Henson stars in a riveting drama that, while brutally sad from the very start, somehow only gets more and more upsetting the deeper it gets. To the point where I was already expecting an unhappy ending, but still couldn't fully prepare for how the actual final act tore my heart out.

Shout out to Henson for giving such a dynamite performance on the heels of her break from Hollywood, as Straw has given me hope once again that upcoming Netflix movies can be seen as appointment viewing, and potentially even worthy of an awards conversation or two. We shall see how Straw fares, but I'd be shocked if it doesn't early at least one or two noms when the time comes. So let's dig in, keeping tissues at the ready.

Straw Is A Sad Movie, But The Twist Ending Goes Beyond

Straw initially tells the story of Janiyah, a single mother trying to make ends meet, and is feeling the walls closing in around her. Her sick daughter, Aria, needs lunch money, her rent is due, and child services takes Aria into foster care after noticing the bruises she had from a fall in the shower. The stress of it all comes to a peak during an attempted robbery in which she accidentally kills one would-be thief, and then intentionally kills her boss, who assumed she orchestrated the theft.

In shock, Janiyah attempts to cash her weekly paycheck with the gun still in hand, and is then accused of robbing the bank. Making things more harrowing, she has her daughter's science fair project, which resembles a bomb. Pretty soon, the police arrive with the presumed knowledge of what occurred at the store earlier that day, and it seems as though the odds of Janiyah ever seeing her daughter again, at least without substantial prison time, are slim.

It's sad enough, but it gets even more upsetting after Tyler Perry throws in the big twist in the final act. Through a phone call with Janiyah's mother, we learn that Aris is dead, and that she died years prior. What the what?

It turns out that Janiyah was hallucinating that her daughter was alive all that time, and everything viewers witnessed involving Aria earlier in the movie never actually happened.

Straw Goes From An Unfortunate Series Of Events To A Sobering Look At Mental Health

I'm hoping that Straw has the same impact on streaming for Tyler Perry movies as Six Triple Eight did, because I want it to lead to more movies that provide a sobering portrait of mental health. As the truth about Janiyah's story is revealed at the end of the movie, it becomes more tragic not just because her daughter had long passed, but because so many people struggled to help someone struggling with grief.

It's a powerful message, and the kind of story that makes me hungry for more. As Netflix pursues more offbeat movies like Nonnas that may have no place in theaters, they should definitely keep up this relationship with Tyler Perry and other filmmakers making movies like Straw. These may not be the kind of movies that are going to break box office records, but they're important to tell all the same, and without tying pithy comedy to the twist in the way that FIght Club and others have.

For now, there's no shortage of Tyler Perry movies available on Netflix, and while not all of them are going to be as dramatic as Straw, there's still a solid number of titles to enjoy for people seeking that out. I know that I'm going to be looking for more, and do hope the filmmaker pursues more projects like Straw after seeing the response.

As mentioned, Straw is available to stream on Netflix. I would hope that everyone who reads this has already watched it, because I don't think this movie would hit the same knowing the twist in advance. For those who made that mistake, check in and let me know because I'm genuinely curious.

June has only just begun, and just as the weather is heating up, so is the world of streaming. From the return of popular series, one coming a decade after the previous season, to new films, there are plenty of ways to beat the heat by staying inside and not leaving the couch.

From the first season of Phineas & Ferb in a decade to the newest entry in the Predator franchise. Here’s a look at the best content to stream from your favorite platform this week.

Stick - June 4 (Apple TV+)

Fans of golf and comedy are probably waiting for next month when Netflix releases Happy Gilmore 2, but if you really love golf and comedy, you might also want to check out Stick. The new series, available with an Apple TV+ subscription, stars Owen Wilson as a failed golf star who finds a final chance at success through coaching a young prodigy.

Ginny & Georgia, Season 3 - June 5 (Netflix)

The first two seasons of Ginny & Georgia were incredibly popular for those with a Netflix subscription, leading the streamer to take the unusual step of giving the comedy-drama series a renewal for not one but two seasons. Ginny & Georgia Season 3 arrives this week and will see Georgia standing trial for murder.

Predator: Killer of Killers - June 6 (Hulu)

Director Dan Trachtenberg showed how well he understood the Predator franchise with the incredible movie Prey, released originally on Hulu. Trachtenberg was then given two more Predator movies to work on. The live-action Predator: Badlands is on the 2025 movie schedule for later this year, but fans can better endure the wait with the new Predator: Killer of Killers, a new animated anthology film also available with a Hulu subscription.

Phineas and Ferb, Season 5 - June 6 (Disney+)

Ferb, I know what we’re going to do today! It’s been almost 20 years since Phineas and Ferb debuted and a full decade since Season 4 came to an end, but in the era of streaming, no show is truly gone forever. Phineas & Ferb Season 5 debuts with a Disney+ subscription, and it looks to have all the wild fun of the original run, with the two title characters doing incredible things, while driving their sister crazy, and while their pet platypus continues to foil the evil Dr. Doofenshmirtz.

Straw - June 6 (Netflix)

Anytime Taraji P. Henson makes a movie, movie fans should take notice. Her new film, Straw, from director Tyler Perry, sees the Oscar-nominated actress play a single mother who finds herself accused of attempting to rob a bank. This thriller doesn’t look like it will be an easy watch, but the performance may be one we won’t want to miss.

Ocean With David Attenborough - June 8 (Disney+)

When a David Attenborough-led nature documentary arrives, even those who don’t generally watch such things tend to take notice. The newest entry in the long-running series from Attenborough focuses on the world’s oceans and how we may be able to save them.

There’s plenty more to be excited about when it comes to streaming in June. Come back next week and we’ll help you find the shows and movies you won’t want to miss.

There’s no doubt that Taraji P. Henson is a real powerhouse in when it comes to the roles she plays. From her unforgettable breakthrough performance in Hustle & Flow down to her Emmy-nominated role in Abbott Elementary, Henson slays the camera with strength and energy. However, the American actress' career has seen peaks and valleys. Henson just recently got real about why she needed to take a break from acting, and she shared strong sentiments about her standing in the entertainment business.

Henson has certainly had a successful career in Hollywood, having landed leading roles in films and TV shows. Nevertheless, when she spoke at the Cannes Film Festival for a Kering Women in Motion Talk (via Variety), she spoke about feeling dissatisfied over the lack of leading roles, pay, and awards recognition for women of color:

Stacy L. Smith, founder of the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, supported the Empire actress’s claims with evidence of her own. While 54% of the top 100 movies featured women and girls, only 13% featured women of color, and 1% had a woman of color who was 45 and older. After feeling “discouraged” by the entertainment industry, Taraji P. Henson decided to take a month off from acting and spend some time in Bali.

The entertainment industry is very competitive, and tha can be exacerbated by awards season. Fortunately for Taraji P. Henson, she has a clear motive for acting, and it has nothing to do with the accolades:

It's easy to get the impression that the Empire star is very grateful for how she's defied the odds in a very tough industry. Before finding fame, she worked odd jobs like working as a secretary in the Pentagon and being a Tina Turner cover singer on a cruise ship.

Then, as an actress, the Henson began to give Oscar-worthy performances playing characters that brought strength and depth to Black women via Hidden Figures, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and The Color Purple. While she may only be nominated for one Oscar at this point in her career, her impact goes far beyond trophies.

A real defining moment for the What Men Want actress came when she was told Black-led projects don’t sell overseas. That myth was debunked as soon as Taraji P. Henson did international press for Empire in Paris, and audiences at the Q&A erupted in applause at the sight of her. This was all the more reason why, at Cannes, Henson served a powerful statement to all the women in attendance:

That’s an incredibly passionate message Taraji P. Henson sent out to audiences, and I'm hopeful that it resonates. While she previously got real about social media’s flaws in regard to people only posting the good parts of their day, it looks like she sees the positive influence she can have due to her massive following. An online platform gives a star the space to say what’s on their mind and advocate for what matters most to them.

Henson's brief break from Hollywood seems to have been beneficial for her, as she was able to return with more clarity. As her powerful statement conveys the importance of people speaking up when it’s most necessary, I’d like to believe this will be a real stepping stone towards more inclusion for leading roles with people of color. As for Henson's work, she'll next appear in Tyler Perry’s 2025 Netflix release, Straw, which debuts on June 6th.

From the moment it debuted with a two-hour pilot episode in September of 1994 until it left the air in 2009, ER was a ratings monster. It regularly topped the ratings for the year during its 331-episode run and launched careers left and right. George Clooney for goodness sake! Not only did it have big stars in its regular cast like Clooney, Anthony Edwards, Maura Tierney, and Eriq LaSalle, but it also had a huge amount of guest stars and up-and-coming actors roll through the show. Here is our list of some of the biggest. 

Nick Offerman

Nick Offerman is most well known for playing the great Ron Swanson on Parks and Recreation where he regularly delivered some of the funniest lines on the show. He didn't have anything funny to say in his one role on ER where he played a bandmate of a bass player in distress in the emergency room.  

Taraji P. Henson

The accolades for Taraji P. Henson's acting have come fast and fierce in recent years, but she's been showcasing her talent on screen since the late '90s. One of her earliest roles was in a Season 4 episode of ER, and then in Season 5, she returned in a different role. She kept landing guest roles for years on shows like CSI and Boston Legal before landing her starring turn in Empire and the rest is history. 

Bradley Whitford

A few years before the role of Josh Lyman on The West Wing would make him a star, Bradley Whitford appeared in two episodes of ER in 1995. He'd been working regularly for almost a decade at that point and would find small roles here and there for another few years before The West Wing. He's been an in-demand actor ever since. 

Kristin Davis

Before she was a regular on Melrose Place, and before she was one of Jerry's many girlfriends on Seinfeld, Kristin Davis played a woman who was very into George Clooney's character very briefly in one episode of the first season of ER. While she only showed up once on the show, it clearly opened some big doors - and big martini glasses - in the future. 

Zac Efron

Before becoming a star in High School Musical, Zac Efron was almost type-cast as a troubled teen. On ER he played a teenager who turned up in the emergency room after being shot. He was also a troublemaker in an early role on NCIS. These days he's one of the biggest stars to grace the screen, but he used to just be in trouble on screen! 

Ewan McGregor

Ewan McGregor is something different to different generations. For some, he'll always be Renton in Trainspotting. Of course, for many, he'll always be a young Obi-Wan Kenobi. For even others, he's known as the guy who drove his motorcycle around the world in Long Way Round. You can't help but wonder if that name was inspired by his guest spot on ER in a Season 3 episode called "The Long Way Around" in 1997. 

Julie Bowen

While Julie Bowen is best known these days for playing Claire Dunphy in Modern Family, her career stretches way further back. Her first TV role came in the early '90s and her breakout role came in the 1993 Adam Sandler smash hit Happy Gilmore. In the late '90s, she had a nine-episode run on ER as the reoccurring character named Roxanne Please, who was John Carter's (Noah Wyle) girlfriend. 

Ving Rhames

1994 was a big year for Ving Rhames. Not only did he star in Pulp Fiction, but he also landed a reoccurring role as Walt Robbins, father-in-law to Dr. Peter Benton (Eriq La Salle). In total, he appeared in eight episodes over three seasons, but by then he'd also starred in Mission: Impossible and the rest is history. 

Lucy Liu

Lucy Liu is no stranger to hit television shows. She was a star of Ally McBeal in the '90s and '00s, and in Elementary in the teens. Early on, she also appeared in cameos and supporting roles on big shows like NYPD Blue and The X-Files. She also made it onto three episodes of ER, in 1995. 

Chris Pine

Believe it or not, there was a time when Chris Pine wasn't one of the "Chrises" and wasn't one of the biggest movie stars in the world. He was, in his early days, just like so many other actors, just looking to snag any role they could. Luckily for Pine, it was on a show like ER. In fact, the show he appeared in during Season 9 of the show was his first credited acting performance. 

Don Cheadle

When Don Cheadle appeared as a doctor in a 4-episode arc in 2002 on ER, he was already well-established as an actor. In fact, it came not long after he was established enough to take his name off the credits of Ocean's Eleven, despite delivering some of the best one-liners in the movie. 

J.K. Simmons

Any fan of Law & Order knows just how ingrained J.K. Simmons was in prime-time television around the turn of the century. He was a regular on that show, and he turned up in a bunch of others as well, including an episode of ER in 2004. you can always count on a great J.K. Simmons performance, no matter what he is in. 

Christina Hendricks

While she had been cast in a number of shows before Mad Men, Christina Hendricks had never really broken through as a star. That changed with the AMC show, but before that, she was just a regular hard-working actress in Hollywood. One of her earliest gigs was on ER in 2002. 

Adam Scott

Adam Scott is not the only Parks And Recreation star to appear in ER early in his career, but he did have a pretty intense role as an injured man clinging to life in the emergency room way back in 1995. It's hard to imagine it took 15 more years to get the big-time attention he deserves when he landed his role on Park & Rec. 

Glen Howerton

In 2005 Always Sunny In Philadelphia took the world by storm and went on to become one of the longest-running sitcoms of all time. Glen Howerton played a huge part in that, as one of the stars and co-creators. A couple of years earlier, he was playing a very different role as a doctor in six Episodes of ER during its 10th Season. 

Keiko Agena

Gilmore Girls regular and co-star of Prodigal Son, Keiko Agena is one of the few actors who played two different characters on ER. She first appeared on the show very early in her career, in 1998, then later appeared in the final season in 2009. 

Jessica Chastain

With three Oscar nominations and one win, Jessica Chastain has proven she's among the best Hollywood has to offer. She proved her acting years ago though, in shows like ER. In only her second credited role, she appeared on ER in 2004 in an episode called "Forgive and Forget."

Aaron Paul

For most people, Aaron Paul is best known for his legendary role in Breaking Bad but years before that show would become a hit, he played a pretty similar character on ER in an episode called "A Saint in the City," way back in 2003. 

Octavia Spencer

In 1998 when Octavia Spencer appeared on ER, it was the latest in a string of supporting roles she landed early in her career. That string would continue for a little while longer before she emerged as one of the most beloved stars of the teens and '20s after her star-making role in The Help.

Mena Suvari

As it was for a lot of cast members, American Pie was huge for Mena Suvari. She had been working for a few years in Hollywood before that, picking up roles here and there in shows like Boy Meets World and movies like The Slums of Beverly Hills. Another early role came in a 1998 episode of ER where she played a high school cheerleader who didn't want to listen to her doctors. 

Kirsten Dunst

As a child actor, Kirsten Dunst's career started when she was just six years old. It would be a few years before she landed a brief reoccurring role as a troubled teen in six episodes of ER in the show's third season. 

Dakota Fanning

Quite a few child actors who went on to greater fame came through the doors of the emergency room at Cook County General Hospital, including a young Dakota Fanning. Fanning played a young girl named Delia who came in after a car accident and viewers find out she's a cancer survivor. 

James Cromwell

One of the ultimate "that guys" in Hollywood, James Cromwell has been acting for decades. His career really started in earnest in the mid-'70s and he's been playing supporting and starring roles ever since. On ER, he played a drug-seeking priest in four episodes in Season 7. 

Josh Peck

Josh Peck was a breakout Nickelodeon star as half of Drake & Josh. That wasn't his first role though. After a few small roles and a reoccurring spot in The Amanda Show (which led to Drake & Josh), he landed a small role in an episode of ER in 2002 as a kid with heart problems. 

Eva Mendes

Before Eva Mendes semi-retired to raise her family with Ryan Gosling, she was one of the biggest stars on the planet. You can trace her career all the way back to her very first role which came in 1998 on an episode of ER. It's wild to look back and watch her doing her first on-screen performances with George Clooney and not think about what lay ahead for both of them. 

Shia LaBeouf

Without a doubt, Shia LaBeouf has had one of the wildest careers of the 21st Century. There have been times when he was on top of the world, and others when he... definitely wasn't. One high point early in his career was of a kid in the emergency room of Cook County General in 2000, during Season 6. 

Milana Vayntrub

Milana Vayntrub eventually became one of the most recognizable actors in commercials as the AT&T pitchwoman. Long before that though, she was like a lot of child actors who got their start on ER. She appeared in three episodes, her first three credited roles, as a Russian girl, way back in Season 1. 

John Mahoney

Before scoring the role of a lifetime as Martin Crane on Fraiser, John Mahoney had been a steadily working actor going back to the '70s. After Frasier, he could pretty much write his own ticket. One role he chose to take was that of a self-professed "drag queen" whose long-time boyfriend was in rough shape in the hospital on ER in 2006, making a strong statement about gay marriage before many were brave enough to join him. 

Janel Moloney

One of the many great actresses who found early work in their career on ER was Janel Moloney. Moloney scored only a handful of roles between that and The West Wing, but boy was the West Wing lucky to have her - as was ER in its first season when she appeared in one episode. 

Amy Ryan

One of the most underrated characters in The Wire has to be Beadie Russell, played by Amy Ryan. About a decade before she joined The Wire in Season 2, she starred in a single episode of ER in the show's first season. She's been in many TV shows and movies since, including a beloved recurring role on The Office and in the underrated Netflix original Worth.

Rosemary Clooney

George Clooney isn't the only famous person in his family. His aunt is, of course, the inimitably Rosemary Clooney, who was one of the most beloved singers of her generation. She only had about a dozen acting credits on her impressive resume, but one was ER during the show's first season. What a great experience for her and her nephew. Her son, actor Miguel Ferrer, also appeared in an uncredited role in the series premiere of the show. 

Dan Hedaya

If you grew up in the '90s, Dan Hedaya was seemingly everywhere, but he's probably best remember by that generation as Cher Horowitz's angry but loving father in Clueless. On ER, he plays a lawyer with... questionable ethics, but a heart of gold. He appeared in four episodes over the length of the whole show. remembered

Taraji P. Henson has given outstanding performances across film and TV over the past two plus decades. Henson has enthralled viewers by showing her vast acting range in projects ranging from prestige films like The Best of Enemies to the Think Like a Man franchise and classic movies like Baby Boy. 

Having amassed a long filmography and acclaim, Henson should at least have one or two Academy Awards. Unfortunately, that isn’t the case for the Cookie Lyon actress with one Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Her recent claims about poor treatment and pay inequity on The Color Purple set amplified Hollywood's underappreciation of her talent. That doesn’t mean the Oscar nominee hasn’t delivered more Oscar-worthy performances, so, here are just some of Taraji P. Henson’s movies worthy of an Academy Award.

Hustle & Flow (2005)

After years of working in Hollywood, Taraji P. Henson finally caught the attention of Hollywood and critics as the lovable and shy pregnant sex worker, Shug, in the 2005 drama Hustle & Flow.

Whereas other actresses might’ve gone the stereotypical route, Henson made Shug a nuanced character full of complexity, illustrated in the iconic studio scene. She allowed the character to evolve from hooker to hook singer while developing into a romantic interest. The evolution gave the actress room to keep her performance grounded while capturing the emotions of a young woman living in a gritty Memphis.

Henson gave her best in the scenes with her co-star, Terrance Howard. Watching Djay and Shug’s relationship evolve was the best part of the movie. However, the acclaim didn’t pan out to a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination, but Howard did score a Best Actor nom.   

You can watch the acclaimed music drama by streaming it on Max.

Talk To Me (2007)

Henson took on the biopic genre by popping up in the 2007 film Talk to Me. She played Petey Greene's (Don Cheadle) lively girlfriend, Vernell Watson, in the legendary radio disc jockey’s life story.

While Vernell was a supporting role, Henson made the character a formidable counterpart to Petey’s outlandish persona (with better reasoning and morals). While serving as the voice of reason, the Empire alum stole several scenes with her infectious jokes. On the other side, she evolved as Petey’s rising fame caused relationship conflict.

However, Henson’s best scenes came from working with Cheadle’s over-the-top Greene or Chiwetel Ejiofor’s straight man, Dewey Hughes. In some cases, she outperformed her two male co-stars. Despite nods from the NAACP and Satellite Awards, the AMPAS completely ignored the Hollywood A-lister with no Supporting Actress Oscar nom.  

Stream the Petey Green biopic through platforms like Amazon Prime Video and Hulu.

From The Rough (2013)

The actress found her niche playing real-life personalities. She led the 2013 sports biopic, From the Rough, playing Tennessee State University golf coach Catana Starks.

Henson took inspiration from her real-life counterpart, and expertly portrayed Starks’ struggle to form a golf team. The Oscar nominee took audiences on an emotional rollercoaster as she channeled the TSU coach’s time and dedication against insurmountable obstacles.

Portraying Starks’ story allowed Henson to play off her mostly male co-stars. She recreated the coach’s personal and professional conflicts, especially with Henry Simmons. The biopic’s tepid release caused the Academy to miss nominating the movie star for a Best Actress Oscar.  

Watch the sports biopic by getting an Amazon Prime Video subscription.

Hidden Figures (2016)

After From the Rough, Taraji P. Henson dipped her toe back in the biopic waters with the Oscar-nominated film, Hidden Figures. She became influential NASA mathematician Katherine Goble Johnson.

Like her earlier biopic role, Henson mimicked her late real-life counterpart through her speech, personality, and mannerisms. The Hollywood A-lister highlighted Johnson’s journey from a gifted young woman to an accomplished NASA analyst, wife, and mother. The movie captured the influential figure’s personal and professional struggles, as seen in the much-cited bathroom scene.

Of course, Henson’s best moment came from the display of friendship between her, Octavia Spencer, and Janelle Monáe. Even Mahershala Ali and Kevin Costner shared some incredible moments with the TV and film star. Despite being the film’s emotional center, Henson did not garner a well-deserved Best Actress Oscar nom. Even so, the film and Spencer did rake up a few nominations.

Check out the acclaimed Oscar nominee by streaming it through a Disney+ subscription.

The Color Purple (2023)

Henson tapped into her musical roots by joining the all-star cast of the stage-to-screen adaptation of The Color Purple. She took over the role of troubled jazz singer Shug Avery, originated by Oscar nominee Margaret Avery in the original 1985 film.

The Hollywood star managed to marry the original drama of 1985 original and the Tony-winning Broadway musical. She showed off her acting and singing talents to become the iconic character. Despite the foundation laid out in the first film, the Emmy-nominated actress took Shug in a new direction by exploring her love connection with both Celie and Mister.

Shug’s romantic dynamics with Celie (Fantasia Barrino) and Mister (Colman Domingo) provided Henson with some of the musical film’s best scenes. These scenes helped the story to progress. Garnering acclaim and early Oscar buzz as Shug didn’t lead to Henson nabbing a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination despite her co-star Danielle Brooks receiving a nomination in the category. You can now watch the acclaimed musical film through a Max subscription.

The above performances prove that Taraji P. Henson has offered enough Oscar-worthy roles for the Academy to recognize. Never stepping on the Academy Award stage is unjust; however, being overlooked never kept the Hollywood staple from working consistently. The Acrimony star has multiple shows and movies arriving in 2024 and beyond, including Time Alone and the miniseries, Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist. Maybe the former project will finally see her accept her well-deserved Oscar. Check with CinemaBlend for more Taraji P. Henson news as the year progresses.

The brand new, revamped and rebooted DC Universe (DCU) has opened up endless possibilities. A new Superman has already been cast and is ready to take flight in the first movie in the new universe, which is replacing the old DC Extended Universe (DCEU). 

Producer James Gunn has shown he has a clear vision to wipe away most of the past and move forward with new actors and new stories, so for the purposes of this daydreaming, we're going to leave out the great actors who have appeared in DC-related films in the past, including the most recent movies starring the likes of Jason Momoa, Gal Gadot, and Ben Affleck, though we're not against them returning, too. 

Ryan Gosling

Ryan Gosling is one of the biggest stars in the world, and also one of the most versatile actors in Hollywood. He's the kind of actor you could cast in almost any role and you just know he'd hit it out of the park. He could play a hero or a villain and audiences would be transfixed no matter what. We probably want him as one of the most famous heroes though, someone befitting his star status. 

Daisy Ridley

We know she can carry a franchise, and we know she's a tough woman, so Daisy Ridley just has to find her way into the DCU. Of course, she'd have to be a hero, but who knows, maybe a change of pace from the Star Wars movies could be cool and she could play a villain. Either way, she has to have powers greater than The Force. 

Tom Cruise

It's time. It's hard to believe Tom Cruise has never been in a superhero movie. One of, in not the, biggest action stars of the last few decades still has that "hole" on his resume and it's time it got filled. Of course, we'd all love to see Cruise as a hero, but it would be awesome for him to be in any role, even a cameo like his turn in Tropic Thunder. Just get him in there, James Gunn! 

Jennifer Lawrence

Sure, Jennifer Lawrence appeared in the X-Men franchise, but that was years ago, and the comic book movie scene is a whole lot different today. Lawrence is a perfect fit for any number of roles, and even though she's great as Mystique, what about a hero as big as Wonder Woman or Black Canary? Surely she'd be fantastic. 

John Krasinski

John Krasinski delighted fans with his cameo as Dr. Reed Richards in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. MCU fans have been dying to see him as Mister Fantastic in the Fantastic 4 in the future, but so far, there's only been cold water thrown on the idea. That opens up the DCU for the former The Office star and he needs to step in. 

Zendaya

There isn't a bigger star on the scene right now than Zendaya. Sure, she's played MJ in the MCU and Spider-Man movies, but let's give her some real superpowers and let her run wild in the DCU. 

Jacob Elordi

Sure, Jacob Elordi says he's not interested in playing a superhero, having turned down an opportunity to read for Superman in the new DCU, but that doesn't mean we can't dream, right? There are so many heroes in the universe he could play. Elordi has been a hit in recent years with his role on HBO's Euphoria and movies like Saltburn and Pricilla, so he doesn't really need to be in the DCU, but we need him to be. 

Timothée Chalamet

Timothée Chalamet has a knack for picking great roles for himself. At this point, he can pick and choose anything he wants, given how often his movies are hits. Chalamet could probably just tell James Gunn what role he wanted and they'd find a way for it to happen. So let's do it! 

Meryl Streep

Let's be real, there is nothing Meryl Streep can't do. The greatest actor of her generation, bar none, and yet, she's never appeared in a superhero movie. She's flirted with the idea, according to some reports, and she even did the Wakanda salute at the 2024 Golden Globes, but alas, we still haven't seen her in one. The new DCU must have a spot for her, right?

Patina Miller

Patina Miller has won a Tony and she's starred in two hit shows (Madam Secretary and Power Book III: Raising Kanan), but she hasn't broken big on the big screen, aside from an important but too-brief role in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, and it's time that changed. She looks like a superhero and can act her socks off, so let's make it happen, let's make her a star in the DCU. 

Adam Driver

As Kylo Ren in the Star Wars sequels, Adam Driver showed he could play a first-rate villain. Now it's time to see him play a hero. Any hero, pick one, it doesn't matter, he'd kill it. Batman? For sure. Superman? Well, that role is taken, but yes. Aquaman? Oh yes. Martian Manhunter? Check. Wonder Woman? Sure, why not, he's got the hair for it. Let's go! 

Mark Wahlberg

Mark Wahlberg may be aging gracefully and while he says he's ready to play grandpa roles, we think he'll never be too old for a spot in the DCU. Somehow he's never been in either the MCU or any of the DC-related properties, so the time is right. 

Cailee Spaeny

She may not jump off the page as a possible superhero, but don't forget that Cailee Spaeny starred in Pacific Rim Uprising and clearly has the chops to be in a big action flick. She's an up-and-coming superstar and jumping into the DCU now would be perfect timing. 

Alan Ritchson

Reacher's Alan Ritchson is over six feet tall and built like a monster truck, is there anyone in Hollywood more perfect to play an intimidating villain in a comic book movie? Sure, he could play a superhero, too, but being a villain would be an awesome departure from his character on Reacher and it would be a ton a fun. And again, just look at the guy! 

Sterling K. Brown

Sterling K. Brown had an all-too-brief role as T'Chala's traitorous brother N'Jobu in Black Panther and it's high time he gets a chance to sink his teeth into a bigger superhero role. How about John Stewart/Green Lantern in the DCU? Brown has even campaigned for the role, so really, it's a perfect opportunity to get him into the DC Universe, it needs to happen, so we're putting it out there into the universe again. 

Peter Dinklage

Peter Dinklage has dabbled in superhero movies in the past, playing the villain, Bolivar Trask, in X-Men: Days of Future Past, as Eitri in Avengers: Infinity War, and as the Toxic Avenger, but it leaves us all wanting more. Let's be honest here, anything Dinklage does is awesome, so getting him into the DCU somehow would be amazing. He's also pretty good at carrying a wildly popular franchise, as he proved with Game of Thrones.

Taraji P. Henson

Taraji P. Henson has done it all, except star in a comic book movie. Henson is one of the best actors of her generation and yet, she's got this hole in her resume that, let's be honest, we all want to see filled. The DCU would be a perfect place for her to land, in just about any role, superhero, villain, regular human... anything, just get her in there! 

Charlize Theron

Audiences were teased with a Charlize Theron character in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and the actress stars in the Old Guard franchise, but she's not appeared in any DC-related projects yet and she sure deserves to. We'd love to see her in any number of roles, as she can play just about anything. 

Jason Statham

He's one of the biggest action stars in the world, and yet Jason Statham hasn't appeared in the MCU or anything DC-related. This is something that must be remedied! How about Cliff Steele/Robotman, whose origin story comes out of a race car crash, which would dovetail perfectly with Statham's past work as star of The Transporter movies and in the Fast franchise?

Jodie Comer

Jodie Comer has been taking the world by storm over the last few years and that means it's time to find her way into the DCU. Comer could be great in the MCU, but the possibilities in the DCU are endless and for someone like her, on the rise in Hollywood, the sky's the limit. 

Don Cheadle

Don Cheadle is pretty entrenched in the MCU, where he's played James "Rhodey" Rhodes/War Machine 10 times in various movies and TV shows. Still, Cheadle is awesome, and there has to be a way to get him into the DCU, too. He'd need to play a completely different kind of character, like a villain, but we're for it. 

Jenna Ortega

Wednesday star Jenna Ortega is clearly ready for the big time. She'd be great as Aquagirl, or, even better, the villain Lourdes Lucero/Encantadora. There are a lot of options, let's hope she fits into one, because it would be great. 

Zoe Saldaña

Zoe Saldaña is another star that most fans immediately associate with The Guardians of the Galaxy and the MCU, but with the Guardians franchise possibly winding down, and the franchise's director, James Gunn, now in charge over at DC, this could be a good time to switch it up for Saldaña, as there are a lot of different heroes she would be great for. 

Josh Gad

Hear us out. Josh Gad may not be the first person you think of when you think of an action movie or a comic book movie, but some of the best casting decisions are sometimes the ones you least expect. Think Michael Keaton as Batman or even Robert Downey, Jr. as Iron Man. Gad, with his blend of humor and "everyman" qualities, can be pretty chameleon-like and that could make him perfect for the DCU. 

Gwendoline Christie

How has this happened? How have we gotten dozens of superhero movies in the last couple of decades and Gwendoline Christie hasn't been in any of them? Sure, she's got the physique to play any hero out there, but it's her wit and comedic timing combined with that that makes the Game of Thrones star a no-brainer. This seems too easy.

Naomie Harris

Naomie Harris jumped into the comic book world by playing Shriek in Venom: Let There Be Carnage. She was predictably great, so why not have her cast as a character with a multi-film arc? She should be. With the James Bond Universe in flux with the departure of Daniel Craig, this would be a great time for Harris to find a new franchise to get attached to. 

Daniel Kaluuya

Black Panther star Daniel Kaluuya (who also starred as a real-life Black Panther in Judas and the Black Messiah) is an actor who could fit into the DCU in just about any role. He could be a charming hero, or an evil villain, or even a government bureaucrat. Kaluuya's acting toolbox has a lot of options, the DCU will do well to take advantage of that somehow. 

Natalie Dormer

Natalie Dormer is a veteran of a lot of big-time franchises. Game of Thrones, Hunger Games, and even the MCU. Unfortunately, she was in fewer Game of Thrones episodes than you would think, and her appearances in the other two were also fairly brief. The DCU has a great opportunity to feature her in a much larger role. 

Donald Glover

This is another absolute no-brainer. Donald Glover is one of the most talented and charming actors in the business, there are an endless amount of roles he could fill in the DCU, so someone out there needs to find a spot for him. 

Diego Luna

With Andor (and his other projects) Diego Luna showed the world how great he can be in a franchise. His performance was gripping, and bringing that same energy to the DCU would be fantastic. 

Jack Quaid

Let's take a sec to lament that despite starring in one of the wildest superhero franchises of all time, The Boys, Jack Quaid hasn't really had an opportunity to be a proper superhero (V-24 notwithstanding). So let's give him a proper chance here! Put him in the DCU! 

Hayden Panettiere

Save the cheerleader, save the world. It was a mantra for Heroes and it's time to see Hayden Panettiere play another superhero. She was so great in Heroes, there's no way she wouldn't be great in the DCU

The DC Universe is James Gunn's oyster, these are some of the pearls out there just waiting to be plopped onto his beach. 

You better believe I was yelling “Hell yeah!” when Danielle Brooks was included on the list of 2024 Oscar nominees. However, you also better believe that I was, in the words of her character Sofia, saying “Hell No!” when the 2023 musical remake of The Color Purple only got one nomination from The Academy. 

This happens every year, movies get majorly snubbed. This year, along with that WTF moment when Greta Gerwig wasn’t nominated for directing Barbie, the critically adored The Color Purple was essentially left out of the awards conversation, which is maddening. However, they did get one incredibly well-deserved nomination for Danielle Brooks in the Best Supporting Actress category. 

I’m So Excited That The Academy Recognized Danielle Brooks For Her Work In The Color Purple

When I tell you I yelped in excitement when Danielle Brooks' name was read during the nominations, I mean it. Her performance as Sofia, the confident and outspoken wife of Harpo and friend of Celie in The Color Purple, was a true standout of the film, as the actress brought humor and heartbreak to the role. 

Throughout the film, Sofia has more lighthearted beats than the rest of the cast – however, things take a turn when she’s arrested following her refusal to work for a white family. Brooks provides a strong-willed performance during moments like the heart-pounding song “Hell No!,” and she gives a tender and tragic one after her arrest. Talk about Academy-worthy range!

Brooks mesmerizing as Sofia – she also got a Tony nomination for playing her in the Broadway revival of the musical The Color Purple – and she is deserving of every accolade she receives. She told the New York Times that being nominated feels “like getting the M.V.P. at the Super Bowl,” and it brings me so much joy that her dream came true. 

The Color Purple Deserved Way More Than One Nomination

However, the majority of The Color Purple cast and crew also deserved nominations. Like Danielle Brooks, the folks both on and off screen turned in career-best performances in this film, and I’m really sad that The Acedmy didn’t recognize them. 

Most notably, Fantasia Barrino had a huge moment with The Color Purple, and she carries this movie as Celie – who she also played on Broadway. I know the Lead Actress category is stacked, but moments like “I’m Here” and Shug and Celie’s loving relationship clearly show how deserving she also was of recognition. 

Along with Barrino, Taraji P. Henson, who plays Shug the boisterous singer Shug, showed a totally different side of her talent. Seeing the Empire alum belt “Push Da Button” and help Barrino’s character find empowerment and freedom highlighted the strength of this powerhouse actress. 

Lastly, Coman Domingo – who played the antagonist Mister and was nominated this year for his role in Rustin – was also incredibly deserving of a nomination. Yes, he was great in Rustin and deserving of that nomination. However, he took a seemingly unlovable character in The Color Purple and humanized him, creating a beautiful arc that warranted recognition. 

Along with all these incredible actors, I’d be remiss not to mention that The Color Purple also deserved nominations in cinematography, costume design, best director and best picture.

The Color Purple is a masterclass in filmmaking and a brilliant musical. It’s a shame that it wasn’t nominated for 11 Oscars like the 1986 film was. However, let us celebrate what we did get, and that’s a well-deserved and wonderful nomination for the incredible Danielle Brooks. 

To see if this actress takes home the gold, you can tune into the 2024 TV schedule’s telecast of The Oscars on Sunday, March 10 at 7 p.m. ET on ABC. 

In The Color Purple, Shug is Celie’s best friend, confidant and lover. However, that last aspect of their relationship is only briefly shown in the 1985 adaptation of Alice Walker’s novel. However, in the musical adaptation of The Color Purple on the 2023 movie schedule, the romantic relationship between these two women is clearly shown, and I loved it. And guess what? So did the author of the book, and she explained why.  

What Happens Between Shug And Celie In 2023’s The Color Purple 

The reason why I loved Celie and Shug’s relationship so much is because it serves as a primary point of joy and safety for Fantasia Barrino’s character. She adores Taraji P. Henson’s Shug Avery, and the singer helps her find the confidence that eventually leads to her leaving her abusive relationship with Mister. 

In the film, the two go out for a romantic evening on the town, share a fantastical romantic song, and then kiss before spending the night together. 

Other than Nettie and Sofia, Shug is the only person Celie really feels loved by. It’s a gorgeous relationship, and it helps Barrino’s character feel the care she’s so deserving of. Her and Shug’s romance is so sweet and vital to Celie’s healing, and both Alice Walker and I are thrilled that it was depicted in detail in Blitz Bazawule’s film. 

Why Alice Walker, The Author Of The Color Purple Loved Celie and Shug's Relationship In The Musical Movie 

Now, in Steven Spielberg's 1985 adaptation of The Color Purple, Shug and Celie’s relationship doesn’t go past a few chaste kisses. So, when the 2023 film made their romance much clearer, Alice Walker absolutely loved it, as she said to THR:

The article notes that in the book, Shug and Celie’s romantic relationship is integral. However, in the 1985 film, it's merely hinted at, as the characters share one scene where they kiss. As we talked about, in the new movie, it’s clear that they love each other deeply, and along with sharing a kiss, they also spend the night together. And while no other big romantic moments are shown after that night, the love between them is present throughout the rest of the film. 

In 1985 queer relationships were not as widely accepted as they are now. So, Walker said Steven Spielberg and Quincy Jones, who produced both iterations of The Color Purple, did their best for the times. She said:

Shug and Celie’s relationship is a big deal in the 2023 movie, and the romantic feelings they have are not simply hinted at, they are shown. Danielle Brooks, who stars alongside Henson and Barrino as Sofia in The Color Purple cast, commented on why this kind of representation is important, saying: 

It truly is a “beautiful thing,” and I’m so thrilled we got to see this kind of representation in such a massive movie. Shug and Celie’s love for one another is a major point of joy in The Color Purple, and seeing them express that care and act on their chemistry in such a clear way is moving on a lot of levels.

To see why Alice Walker loved Shug and Celie’s gorgeous relationship in the critically adored musical adaptation of The Color Purple, you can catch the film, which is one of my favorite movies of 2023, in theaters now. 

Very few people can say that they started out working their dream job and celebrities — excluding some well-known child stars, of course — are certainly no exception. Many of the biggest names on the A-list used to make a living doing something completely different than what they are now famous for, but at least some of them can say that one of their earliest jobs was especially different. Take a look at some of our favorite examples of not-so-average professions famous people took on before hitting it big.

Meghan Markle (Calligrapher)

Even before Meghan Markle married Prince Harry, she knew how the write like a princess. According to People, the former Suits cast member used to work part-time as a professional calligrapher, writing out wedding invitations for the likes of Robin Thicke and Paula Patton and even teaching the craft.

Whoopi Goldberg (Mortuary Cosmetologist)

Even before teaming up with a “spirited” Patrick Swayze in the 1990 romantic supernatural thriller, Ghost, Whoopi Goldberg knew a thing or two about the dead. The future EGOT winner recalled to David Letterman on Late Night how she used to work in a mortuary putting makeup on corpses and styling their hair.

Matthew McConaughey (Golf Course Armadillo Hunter)

Matthew McConaughey broke through in the industry with his unforgettable performance in Dazed and Confused in 1994. Earlier than that (as he revealed to GQ), the Academy Award-winning Texas native worked at Oak Forest Country Club initially to just rake the golf course sand traps, until he was asked to also help get rid of an armadillo infestation. All right, all right, all right.

Christopher Walken (Lion Tamer)

Did you ever notice how often Christopher Walken has played an animal — such in 2016’s astonishing The Jungle Book remake as King Louie or in the 1998 animated adventure, Antz? Well, as the Oscar-winner revealed to Vanity Fair, he actually has a unique connection with animals, having gained some experience with lion taming while working at a traveling circus.

Simu Liu (Birthday Party Spider-Man)

When Simu Liu led the Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings cast in the title role, technically, that was not his first time playing a Marvel Comics character. While on Jimmy Kimmel Live, the Chinese-Canadian actor shared that he used to dress up as Spider-Man and entertain children at birthday parties.

Jennifer Lopez (Law Office Tax Return Filer)

Most people know that one of Jennifer Lopez’s earliest jobs before becoming “Jenny from the Block” was dancing with the Fly Girls on In Living Color. Yet, the Bronx Times revealed that, before even then, she spent her Saturdays at the Thomas Lavin Law Office filing tax returns.

Margot Robbie (Sandwich Artist)

From the way Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn speaks so passionately about a certain breakfast item in 2020’s Birds of Prey, you might think the Australian actor knows a thing or two about making sandwiches, and you would be correct. The Academy Award nominee spoke to Sean Evans on Hot Ones about her time as a “sandwich artist” at Subway, where she actually invented a few delicious concoctions of her own.

Terry Crews (Courtroom Sketch Artist)

A lesser-known fact about Terry Crews is that he is an exceptional drawer and even showed some of the best examples from his portfolio on Jimmy Kimmel Live. During that same visit, the Brooklyn Nine-Nine cast member and America’s Got Talent host recalled how he put that talent to great use by working for a television station sketching scenes from local trials in his hometown of Flint, Michigan.

Megan Fox (Smoothie Shop Banana Mascot)

One time when Megan Fox appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, the actor fell prey to the host’s recurring “jump scare” gag, courtesy of a person dressed as up as a banana. The costume choice was in reference to the Transformers movies star’s first job at a smoothie shop, for which she would, sometimes, have to dress as the yellow fruit to promote the business.

Hugh Jackman (Clown)

While known best for playing very intimidating characters like Wolverine in the X-Men movies, Hugh Jackman is known to be a very funny and charming presence offscreen. It makes sense when you discover the Australian actor used to work as a clown, but would reveal to Howard Stern that his talents were limited to juggling and found entertaining children above three years old quite difficult.

Eva Mendes (Hot Dog On A Stick Vendor)

Fun fact: one of Eva Mendes’ earliest show business gigs was appearing in Will Smith’s 1998 “Miami” video before reuniting with him in Hitch seven years later. Before then, she made dough working at a “hot dog on a stick place,” which she revealed to Australia’s Will & Woody radio show (via Daily Mail) that she was actually fired from for giving an inappropriate Secret Santa gift to a coworker.

Sylvester Stallone (Girls Boarding School Dorm Bouncer)

Even if Sylvester Stallone had not written one of the best sports movies ever, 1976’s Rocky, he could have landed the title role of the aspiring boxer by his physicality alone. According to a profile by People, his jacked frame came in handy when he was 18 and started working at a Swiss boarding school to both teach gym and keep unwanted guests out of the girls dorms.

Wanda Sykes (NSA)

As one of the funniest people of her generation — and the star of one of Paramount+’s best stand-up comedy specials — it may come as a surprise to learn that Wanda Sykes used to work for an organization as serious as the National Security Agency. However, as she explained on The Rich Eisen Show, her job did not involve covert operations or filing classified material, but “buying stuff” for the office, mostly.

Chris Pratt (Coupon Salesperson) 

Before joining an insane amount of franchises (including the MCU’s Guardians of the Galaxy movies to the Jurassic World trilogy), Chris Pratt had humble beginnings as a supporting character on hit TV shows Everwood and Parks and Recreation. However, his true beginnings were even humbler, having revealed during an appearance on Conan that he once sold coupons door-to-door and did well enough to manage his own office of salespeople.

Taylor Swift (Praying Mantis Exterminator)

Years before taking on the world as a hit singer-songwriter, Taylor Swift grew up on a Christmas tree farm where everyone in her family was given a different task. As she told Esquire, the star of the sensational “Eras Tour” had the job “picking praying-mantis pods off of the trees” so that customers would not have an invasion of multi-legged uninvited guests.

Brad Pitt (Chicken Restaurant Mascot)

With how many intimidating roles Brad Pitt has played, from Fight Club’s Tyler Durden to Cliff Booth in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, the last thing anyone would think to call the actor is “a chicken.” Yet, you would not have been wrong if, decades ago, you spotted him when he made a living dressed as the mascot for California chicken restaurant El Pollo Loco, as he recalled on The Ellen Show in 2019.

Cindy Crawford (Corn Shucker)

One of the most famous models of all time, Cindy Crawford, first took on that profession in Chicago when she was 17, at a rate of $1,000 per day. A profile for Town & Country mentions that the modeling gig “sure beat shucking corn for $4 an hour,” which is something she did for a summer when she was younger.

Helen Mirren (Amusement Park Blagger)

Academy Award winner Helen Mirren technically got her start as an actor by participating in the National Youth Theatre before she was invited into the Royal Shakespeare Company, but first started honing her performance skills as a “blagger” for a London amusement park. While appearing on Mark Maron’s WTF Podcast, she defined “blagging” as shouting “something incomprehensible out to someone just to get their attention.”

Taraji P. Henson (Pentagon Secretary/Tina Turner Cover Singer)

Some of Taraji P. Henson’s most famous roles, such as Shug in Hustle & Flow and Cookie (a notable TV divorcée) on Empire, are linked to the music industry — a fact that is made even more interesting when you discover she used to work on a Potomac River cruise ship singing Tina Turner covers. Per Vanity Fair, at that same time, the future Academy Award nominee’s day job was at the Pentagon as a secretary.

Steve Buscemi (Firefighter)

While not exactly a “weird” job, it is intriguing to learn that Steve Buscemi used to work as a New York firefighter before landing roles like Mr. Pink in Reservoir Dogs. He would later revisit this time in his both onscreen (in The King of Staten Island) and in real life when — per The Independent — he volunteered to help his old company, Engine 55, search for survivors of the World Trade Center attacks on September 11, 2001.

Ken Jeong (Doctor)

After starring in 2009’s The Hangover cast and the Community cast made him a star, Ken Jeong led his own sitcom called Dr. Ken. The short-lived ABC comedy was actually based on the comedian’s previous career as an internal medicine specialist, during which he pursued comedy merely to “let off some steam,” as he shared to NPR.

Ashton Kutcher (Cereal Factory Sweeper)

Before hitting it big as Michael Kelso in the That ‘70s Show cast and, later, making innovations in the tech industry, Ashton Kutcher got his start in the cereal industry. To be more precise, as he recalled on Hot Ones, the actor swept the floors of loose Cheerios shavings at a General Mills factory.

Halsey (DMV Photographer)

As a chart-topping Grammy nominee and a non-actor who nailed her SNL hosting gig, Halsey is a person who boasts many skills but has only demonstrated a few to the public, as it turns out. She revealed in a tweet that, when she was still “Ashley Frangipane,” she worked “loads” of different jobs, but the one that caught our eye was taking “license photos at the DMV.”

Zayn Malik (Boxer)

While he did not actually make a living doing this, before competing on The X Factor and joining One Direction made Zayn Malik a star, he trained in boxing in his mid-to-late teens. In 2013, he told Daily Star (via Digital Spy) that he aspired to pursue the sport full-time at some point.

Jennifer Aniston (Bike Messenger)

As part of the Friends cast, Jennifer Aniston became one of the highest-paid actors of her time, but in her earlier years, did several odd jobs for her mother’s advertising firm. One of them, as she shared on The Tonight Show, was being a bike messenger “for a day” that she admits she decided to finish out by taking a cab for final delivery.

George Clooney (Insurance Salesman)

Despite technically growing up in a show business family (his father, Nick Clooney, is a former TV personality, and his aunt, Rosemary, acted), it took time for George Clooney to find fame of his own. According to The Standard, the Oscar-winning actor and filmmaker worked various low-paying jobs early on — one of which was going door-to-door, selling insurance.

Jon Hamm (Adult Film Set Dresser)

Very few A-listers would be willing to admit they worked in the adult film industry, but Jon Hamm had no problem talking to Howard Stern about it. For $100 a day, the Emmy-winning Mad Men cast member worked as a set dresser for, as he described them, “Skinemax movies.”

Amy Adams (Hooters Server)

Many people might say that they first saw Amy Adams when she appeared on The Office in its first season, but others might be able to claim she served them at Hooters. The Academy Award nominee told Entertainment Tonight that the restaurant chain gig was a “great way” to make ends meet during college before she found success as an actor.

Chris Hemsworth (Human Milk Pump Cleaner)

During a game of “True Confessions” with Kumail Nanjiani and host Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show, MCU star Chris Hemsworth’s potentially false personal fact stated that he used to clean and repair human milk pumps for pharmacies to rent when he was 14. It turned out to be the truth.

Danny DeVito (Morgue Hairdresser)

An artist known for his morbid sense of humor — as he has demonstrated by his crazy moments as Frank Reynolds on It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and by helming movies like Duplex and Death to Smoochy — is Danny DeVito. Perhaps he got it from the several times he worked as a hairdresser for female corpses — a story he shared on The Always Sunny Podcast (via Unilad).

Channing Tatum (Exotic Dancer)

If you ever wondered how Channing Tatum learned to dance the way he does in 2012’s Magic Mike, according to an interview with Flicks and Bits, the drama was inspired by his own life before acting. In 2015, the actor recalled to Howard Stern how he started his brief exotic dancing career when he was 19 after dropping out of college.

Miley Cyrus (Undergarment Collector)

Miley Cyrus is one of the few examples on our list who actually did come from a show business family, but having a rock star like Billy Ray Cyrus as her dad also led to her first odd job. The former Hannah Montana star told Rolling Stone that, when she was much younger, her father used to pay her $10 for picking up women's undergarments that had been thrown on stage during his concerts.

Some of these jobs would make us thankful to eventually be an actor or singer if we were in any of these celebrity’s shoes. However, others sound like an interesting way to make a living.

The Color Purple is a powerful story of a Southern Black woman in the early 1900s, originally adapted from Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning book for a 1985 movie. That phenomenon garnered 11 Academy Award nominations, featured one of Whoopi Goldberg’s best performances (alongside Oprah Winfrey in a career-defining role, no less), and inspired a stage production that would earn just as many Tony Award nods and one win. So it’s no small feat what Fantasia Barrino and the rest of the cast of the 2023 remake of The Color Purple are doing. The upcoming film from director Blitz Bazawule has screened, and critics are hitting social media with their first reactions.

The phenomenal cast features a number of Broadway veterans, including Fantasia Barrino and Danielle Brooks, who have portrayed Celie and Sofia, respectively, on the stage. There’s no shortage of talent, with The Color Purple also starring Taraji P. Henson, Corey Hawkins from the In the Heights film adaptation and — following her turn as Ariel in the live-action remake of The Little Mermaid — Halle Bailey in another iconic role. Anticipation is high for this movie ahead of its late-year release, and Jazz Tangcay of Variety writes that the actors deliver: 

Valerie Complex, meanwhile, is just one of many X users who are predicting Oscars love for multiple members of the cast, writing: 

Atom posts that Fantasia Barrino and Danielle Brooks are on another level talent-wise in “one of the best ensembles ever united.” Its December 25 release is a gift indeed, the review site writes, calling the remake: 

As a fan of the original movie, Rama’s Screen writes that the new rendition holds up with great music and divine performances. In the critic’s words: 

More high praise is coming from CineMovie on social media, as they say The Color Purple is the best movie of the year and the best musical ever, “hands down.” Get ready to have a spiritual experience, they say, writing: 

Steven Spielberg’s 1985 movie is unquestionably a classic, and it’s apparently hard for Guy at the Movies to fully embrace this remake over that film, but that doesn’t mean he’s got negative things to say about what this cast has contributed. The critic writes: 

Courtney Howard agrees with others who saw an early screening that this movie belongs to the former American Idol winner and Danielle Brooks. Bring tissues, she warns, because this movie will get you. Howard posts: 

Come awards night, Ryan Casselman says there are several performances worthy of recognition, but the critic predicts Danielle Brooks may be the favorite. Casselman continues: 

Whether or not you’re familiar with the original movie, play or book — and Alice Walker’s novel is worth reading even after you’ve watched the movie — the critics say Blitz Bazawule’s offering is worth your time. Unfortunately for us, we’ve still got a few weeks before it hits theaters. The Color Purple is set to be released near the end of the 2023 movie calendar, on Christmas Day, Monday, December 25, so circle that date, and then check out our 2024 movie release schedule to get you started in the new year. 

Though Hollywood A-listers make more money for one movie that some of us will see in a lifetime, there are times where even some of the highest grossing actors of all time didn’t make as much as you'd think. Over the years, stars like Robert Downey Jr., Julia Roberts, and Brad Pitt have brought in massive paydays for acting and producing, but those same stars have also seen incredibly small paychecks for one reason or another.

If you’ve ever wanted to know about 33 actors who made way less than you’d think for a beloved movie, look no further…

Robert Downey Jr. Made $500,000 For Iron Man

Robert Downey Jr. was the first major star of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and would be a staple of the Infinity Saga for more than a decade. During this time, he made a ton of money for his superhero performances. However, he only took home a comparatively small payday of $500,000 for 2008’s Iron Man, per The Hollywood Reporter.

Bill Murray Made $9,000 For Rushmore

Bill Murray is one of the most beloved actors of all time and a frequent collaborator of Wes Anderson’s ever since the release of Rushmore back in 1998. That fruitful partnership started out modestly for the SNL alum, as he was paid $9,000 for his take on Herman Blume, per Vulture.

Gal Gadot Made $300,000 For Wonder Woman

When Gal Gadot first signed on to portray Diana Prince in the DCEU back in 2014, Variety reported that the Fast & Furious star would take on a salary of $300,000 per movie, including Wonder Woman, which was released three years later.

Julia Roberts Made $300,000 For Pretty Woman

Though she had some success at the box office prior to its release, Julia Roberts turned into a massive star thanks to 1990’s Pretty Woman and one of the most well-known A-listers on the planet. However, Roberts, who would go on to earn a ton of cash for movies like Erin Brockovich years later, reportedly received a modest sum of $300,000 for her role in the all-time great romantic comedy, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Hilary Swank Made $3,000 For Boys Don’t Cry

Hilary Swank won her first Oscar and became one of the most talked about actresses thanks to her transformative portrayal of Brandon Teena in Kimberly Peirce’s Boys Don’t Cry. When appearing on Women’s Dinner Party years later, Swank revealed she was paid $3,000 for the role, which wasn’t enough to qualify for health insurance.

Tom Hanks Made $50,000 For Toy Story

Tom Hanks, who won two Academy Awards prior to the 1995 release of Toy Story, was reportedly paid $50,000 to provide the voice of Woody in the landmark Pixar film, according to the Los Angeles Times. In the same article, the publication reported that Hanks made $5 million upfront for its 1999 sequel.

Oprah Winfrey Made $35,000 For The Color Purple

Oprah Winfrey received an Oscar nomination for her performance in Steven Spielberg’s The Color Purple back in 1985. The media mogul, who is worth billions today, later told Essence she was paid $35,000 for portrayal of Sofia.

Robin Williams Made $75,000 For Aladdin

Aladdin will forever be remembered as one of the best Robin Williams movies, and rightfully so. And while the late actor provided countless hours of incredible lines for his co-starring performance, he only made $75,000 for his troubles, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Jamie Lee Curtis Made $8,000 For Halloween

John Carpenter’s Halloween, one of the best horror movies, turned Jamie Lee Curtis into a scream queen almost overnight. However, the Academy Award winner later told People Magazine that she only made $8,000 for her portrayal of Laurie Strode.

Nick Castle Made $25/Day For Halloween

Nick Castle has played Michael Myers a total of five times over the years, with the most recent being 2022’s Halloween Ends. Though the role made him a horror icon, Castle told Vanity Fair he was only paid $25 for each day of shooting in the original back in 1978.

Matthew McConaughey Made Less Than $200,000 For Dallas Buyers Club

Matthew McConaughey won an Oscar for his performance in Dallas Buyers Club, a role that ushered in a new era of his career. According to The Hollywood Reporter, he was paid less than $200,000 upfront for the movie9 but did receive an undisclosed amount on the backend.

Chris Evans Made $300,000 For Captain America: The First Avenger

Chris Evans was a driving force for the first few phases of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and was paid handsomely for his efforts later on. However, when he was cast to play Steve Rogers in 2011’s Captain America: The First Avenger, he reportedly only made $300,000, per The Guardian.

Jeff Daniels Made $50,000 For Dumb And Dumber

Jeff Daniels, who was mostly known for his dramatic roles at the time, was cast to appear alongside Jim Carrey in the Farrelly Brothers’ 1994 comedy Dumb and Dumber despite New Line Cinema wanting someone else. Years later, the directors told The Hollywood Reporter that the studio low-balled him with an offer of $50,000, thinking he’d say no. You know the rest.

Taraji P. Henson Made $150,000 For The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button

Taraji P. Henson received an Oscar nomination for her portrayal of Queenie in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, a performance that netted her a great deal of screen time. However, as she later told Variety, she was only paid $150,000 for the gig, which was several hundred thousand dollars less than her initial request of $500,000.

Jonah Hill Made $60,000 For The Wolf Of Wall Street 

Jonah Hill was paid $60,000 for his portrayal of Donnie Azoff in Martin Scorsese’s 2013 epic comedy The Wolf of Wall Street. While that may seem small considering the size of his role, Hill later told Howard Stern (via BBC) that he immediately took the offer, adding that he would have sold his house and given all his money to work with the acclaimed director. 

Orlando Bloom Made $175,000 For The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy 

Orlando Bloom was an instrumental part of Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy, with his character, Legolas, being featured heavily throughout all three movies. During a 2023 appearance on The Howard Stern Show, the actor revealed he was paid a total of $175,000 for the entire project.

Jon Heder Initially Made $1,000 For Napoleon Dynamite 

Napoleon Dynamite pretty much came out of nowhere and took the world by storm in 2004, partly because its star, Jon Heder. A few years after the film’s release, Heder told Stuff Magazine that he initially made $1,000 from the movie but was later able to negotiate his deal after MTV picked up distribution.

Daisy Ridley Made Between $100,000 And $300,000 For Star Wars: The Force Awakens 

Daisy Ridley was a relatively unknown actress when she was cast in one of the lead roles in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, which might explain her low salary for the 2015 blockbuster. According to Variety, that number was reportedly between $100,000 and $300,000.

John Boyega Made Between $100,000 And $300,000 For Star Wars: The Force Awakens 

John Boyega’s Finn was one of the most heavily featured characters in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, but the young actor reportedly only received a payday somewhere between $100,000 and $300,000, per Variety.

James Earl Jones Made $7,000 For Star Wars

James Earl Jones’ dynamic voice gave Darth Vader a menacing edge in George Lucas' 1977 film Star Wars (and the rest of the franchise), but did you know that he was only paid $7,000 for the first movie? When speaking with the American Film Institute, the legendary actor admitted that he thought that was good money at the time.

Mel Gibson Made $9,000 For Mad Max 

After appearing in Mad Max, Mel Gibson would go on to lead some of the best action movies of all time, but back when he was cast in the late ‘70s, he was a broke college student. That’s why, as he told ExperienceWith.com, his $9,000 salary for George Miller’s dystopian thriller seemed like a fortune.

Seann William Scott Made $8,000 For American Pie 

American Pie was one of the biggest movies of the ‘90s, and Seann William Scott’s Stifler was its breakout character. So, how much did the young actor make for his career-defining role? Well, as he told The Rich Eisen Show in 2023, he was paid $8,000, most of which he spent on a used Thunderbird.

Christian Bale Made The Minimum Salary For American Psycho 

Christian Bale’s take on the unhinged Patrick Bateman in 2000’s American Psycho is one of the actor’s most unforgettable performances, but it could very well be one of his smallest paydays. Though he didn’t reveal the exact number in a 2022 GQ profile, the actor did say it was the “absolute minimum they were illegally allowed” to pay him.

Michelle Williams Made $625,000 For All The Money In The World 

Michelle Williams was reportedly only paid $625,000 for her portrayal of Gail Harris in Ridley Scott’s 2017 biographical crime thriller All the Money in the World, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Though this is a hefty fee, her co-star, Mark Wahlberg, was reported to have taken home $5 million for his role.

Barkhad Abdi Made $65,000 For Captain Phillips 

Barkhad Abdi became an overnight sensation following the release of Captain Phillips, in which he plays lead pirate Abduwali Muse. According to the New Yorker, Abdi’s acting debut and Oscar-nominated performance earned him $65,000.

Jennifer Lopez Made $0 For Hustlers 

Jennifer Lopez received a Golden Globe nomination for her role in Hustlers, a movie she made for free. During a GQ breakdown of her biggest career moments, the multi-talented star said she starred in and produced the movie for no upfront money, as she was investing in herself. However, it wasn’t disclosed as to how much she made on the backend of the film’s release, which was $157.6 million, according to Box Office Mojo.

Gunnar Hansen Made $800 For Texas Chain Saw Massacre 

Gunnar Hansen’s Leatherface is an instantly recognizable horror villain thanks to his mask made of human flesh and signature chainsaw. But did you know that the actor was only paid a three-digit sum for his performance in The Texas Chain Saw Massacre? In 2013, the actor told Fast Company that he made $800 for his part in the iconic ‘70s horror movie.

Dustin Hoffman Made $20,000 For The Graduate 

The Graduate was the movie that turned Dustin Hoffman into a young Hollywood star, but it was also one that didn’t earn him a whole lot of money. According to a 1968 New York Times article, Hoffman reportedly made $20,000 for his career-defining role, but he only ended up keeping $4,000 of that after expenses and taxes were taken out.

John Candy Made $414 For His Home Alone Cameo 

The late John Candy appears in Home Alone for only a few minutes, but it’s still wild to think that his cameo only netted the actor $414. In the Home Alone episode of Netflix’s The Movies That Made Us, it is revealed that Candy’s unforgettable portrayal of Gus Polinski, the Polka King of the Midwest, didn’t necessarily break the bank.

Jessica Chastain Made $1.75 Million For The Martian 

Jessica Chastain’s paycheck for The Martian was shockingly low. Around the time of the film’s 2015 release, there was a report that the actress made $7 million from her part, but she told The Huffington Post that she actually made around a quarter of that, which would be around $1.75 million. The film’s star, Matt Damon, reportedly made between $15 and 25 million for his part.

Brad Pitt Made $6,000 For Thelma And Louise 

Brad Pitt is one of the biggest and highest paid actors around today and has been that way for the better part of the past 30 years. However, that wasn’t always the case. According to the Daily Mail, the actor was paid just $6,000 for his breakout performance as JD in Ridley Scott’s Thelma and Louise.

Jon Voight Made The ‘Minimum’ Salary For Midnight Cowboy 

Jon Voight received all kinds of nominations for his performance in Midnight Cowboy, but the actor was paid the “minimum” for his portrayal of Joe Buck. When disclosing this to The Guardian decades later, Voight also revealed he received a $14.73 charge for meals on the final day of the shoot.

Adam Levine Made $0 For Begin Again 

Maroon 5 frontman and former coach on The Voice Adam Levine appeared in John Carney’s 2014 musical dramedy, Begin Again for free. When speaking with USA Today around the time of the film’s release, Levine explained that he did the movie “for no money,” stating that he had made enough through his other ventures and wanted the experience.

It’s safe to say that all of these actors have done okay for themselves over the years after making relatively small salaries throughout their career. But it’s still wild to think about Robert Downey Jr. only making half-a-million to play Tony Stark. What a steal.

At long last, Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie, one of the biggest animated movies on the 2023 release schedule, is finally here with the next chapter in the popular franchise’s cinematic journey. The movie, which is already setting Guinness World Records, will surely be a hit with audiences of all ages (and species) thanks to its exciting story, colorful animation, and all those fan-favorite characters and despicable villains.

Speaking of the Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie cast… there’s a good chance you’re wondering where you’ve seen and heard the actors who bring those iconic pooches (and all the other characters who grace the screen) in the latest Adventure City-centric story. Well, you’ve come to the right place because we’ve got you more than covered…

Mckenna Grace (Skye)

This time around, Skye, the pup that gains the ability to fly after coming in contact with a meteor, is voiced by Mckenna Grace in Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie.

Grace, who is set to reprise her role as Phoebe Spengler in the upcoming Ghostbusters: Afterlife sequel in March 2024, has been on the rise the past few years thanks to memorable roles in movies like Gifted, Captain Marvel, and Troop Zero, as well as shows like Young Sheldon, The Handmaid’s Tale, and A Friend of the Family. 

Taraji P. Henson (Victoria Vance)

Taraji P. Henson shows up in the Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie cast as Victoria Vance, the not-quite-mad scientist whose invention brings the meteor that gives the pups and herself super powers crashing into Adventure City.

Henson has a long and notable career. She won a Golden Globe for her role on Empire. She was nominated for an Oscar for her work in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, and she received a number of other accolades for everything from Hustle & Flow to Hidden Figures and Four Brothers to Ralph Breaks The Internet. She’s also in the running for a Primetime Emmy thanks to her guest appearance in Abbott Elementary. 

Marsai Martin (Liberty)

Marsai Martin is one of the returning members of the Paw Patrol: The Movie cast, once again playing Liberty, the newest member of the Paw Patrol and leader of the Junior Patrollers in the new film.

Martin, who got her big break as Diane Johnson on the popular TV show, Black-ish, has been on a roll the past decade, landing roles in movies like Little, Spirit Untamed, and Fantasy Football. She’s still busy on the small screen as well with appearances on DreamWorks Dragons: Rescue Riders, Wild ‘n Out, and The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder.

Finn Lee-Epp (Ryder)

Finn Lee-Epp is a new addition to the franchise with his portrayal of Ryder, the group’s human leader in Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie. This is Lee-Epp’s second film appearance, with the first being as the young version of Diane Lane and Kevin Costner’s characters’ son in the 2020 neo-Western thriller, Let Him Go.

Christian Convery (Chase)

Chase, the police pup with special ability of super speed, is voiced by Christian Convery in Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie.

Convery, who takes over the character voiced by Iain Armitage from the first movie, is perhaps best known for his portrayal of Gus on the Netflix original series, Sweet Tooth. However, fans of the streamer’s live-action One Piece cast may recognize him from his appearance as a young Sanji in the 2023 TV show.

Christian Corrao (Marshall)

Christian Corrao voices Marshall, the fire pup with the power to throw flames, in Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie. Corrao has played the clumsy Marshall on the Paw Patrol TV series since 2022, which came after popping up on shows like Odd Squad, Esme & Roy, and several others in recent years.

Callum Shoniker (Rocky)

Callum Shoniker, who previously voiced Rocky in Paw Patrol: The Movie, returns to play the magnetic handyman pup in the new adventure. The past couple of years have been a busy stretch for Shoniker, as he appeared in various animated series like PJ Masks, Go, Dog, Go, and Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood to name a few.

Nylan Parthipan (Zuma)

Nylan Parthipan appears in Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie as Zuma, the aquatic rescue pup with the power to transform into water. The young actor, who previously voiced a different character on the Paw Patrol TV series, has also voiced characters on shows like Firebuds, PJ Masks: Power Heroes, and Superkitties.

Luxton Handspiker (Rubble)

Rounding out the core pups in Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie is Luxton Handspiker, who takes on the role of the wrecking ball that is Rubble. Handspiker previously voiced the character on the spinoff series, Rubble & Crew.

Lil Rel Howery (Sam Stringer)

Sam Stringer, the TV reporter who shows up throughout Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie, is voiced by Lil Rel Howery.

Howery has been all over the place in 2023 with key roles in the Vacation Friends 2 cast and The Out-Laws ensemble. He's also set to appear in movies like Dashing Through the Snow and the highly anticipated Good Burger 2. This comes after years of being in everything from Get Out to The Carmichael Show and Judas and the Black Messiah to Craig of the Creek. 

Kristen Bell (Janet)

Kristen Bell shows up in Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie as Janet, the owner of the junkyard saved by the pups in the film’s opening scene. From Veronica Mars to Frozen and countless other movies and TV shows in between, Bell is a very recognizable actress in Hollywood with and incredibly well-known voice.

James Marsden (Hank)

James Marsden portrays Hank, the other owner of the junkyard saved at the beginning of Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie. Marsden has appeared in everything from the X-Men movies to the video game adaptation, Sonic the Hedgehog, and dozens of other movies and TV shows throughout his career, including The Boss Baby: Family Business, and most recently Jury Duty.

Chris Rock (Kitty)

Chris Rock briefly appears in Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie as Kitty, after one of Mayor Humdinger’s evil cats gains the ability to speak, as seen in the movie's official trailer. The incredibly successful SNL alum is best known for his various stand-up comedy specials and movies like Down to Earth, The Longest Yard, and the Madagascar film franchise.

Kim Kardashian (Delores)

Kim Kardashian briefly appears in Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie, reprising her role as Delores the poodle from the first movie. Kardashian, who is also a member of the American Horror Story: Delicate cast, is also well known for the reality series, Keeping Up with the Kardashians, which was followed by The Kardashians on Hulu.

Serena Williams (Yoga Yvette)

Serena Williams is another celebrity to make a short yet noticeable appearance in Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie, in which she portrays Yoga Yvette, a fitness instructor. In addition to her historic tennis career, the younger Williams sister has appeared in movies like Pixels, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, and Ocean’s 8.

Ron Pardo (Mayor Humdinger)

Ron Pardo shows up in Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie, once again portraying the evildoer Mayor Humdinger. Pardo is best known for his portrayal of the Paw Patrol’s nemesis, though he has lent his voice to shows like Totally Spies, Braceface, and Ace Ventura: Pet Detective.

The Junior Patrollers (North West, Alan Kim, Brice Gonzalez)

And then there are the Junior Patrollers Mini, Nano, and Tot, three Pomeranian pups voiced by North West, Alan Kim, Brice Gonzalez, respectively. This is West’s first film appearance, while Kim has appeared in titles like Theater Camp and Minari, and Gonzalez has been in Flamin’ Hot.

You can check out Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie in theaters now. If you want even more from Adventure City’s finest, you can watch 2021’s Paw Patrol: The Movie and all the TV shows based on the pups with a Paramount+ subscription.

Some of the biggest stars in Hollywood are also some of the most often snubbed by the Oscars when it comes to Best Actor and Actress Academy Awards. Legends like Harrison Ford, Jamie Lee Curtis, and many others have somehow had some of the most successful careers in film, but have only been nominated for one Academy Award in the acting categories. 

Harrison Ford - Nominated For Best Actor (Witness)

Harrison Ford is a national treasure, most everyone will agree. Everyone, it seems, except The Academy, as he has only ever nominated once, for 1985’s Witness. This actor has been in two of the biggest franchises in history, plus the two Jack Ryan movies and so much more. He should’ve been nominated for The Fugitive at least. 

Eddie Murphy - Nominated For Best Supporting Actor (Dreamgirls)

Another icon of the late 20th Century and early 21st Century is Eddie Murphy, who has only been nominated once, for Dreamgirls in 2007. This is probably more testament to the Academy's apparent lack of appreciation for some of his best comedic performances because I dare you to find better ones in history than Murphy in Beverly Hills Cop or Coming To America. 

Gwyneth Paltrow - Nominated For Best Actress (Shakespeare In Love)

Gwyneth Paltrow will likely be a polarizing name on this list because the actor herself tends to be, but she’s had a number of wonderful performances over the years. Roles in The Talented Mr. Ripley, Emma, and The Royal Tenenbaums are all worthy of more consideration than she’s received over the years. She's earned just one nomination for Shakespeare in Love, for which she also won. 

Taraji P. Henson - Nominated For Best Supporting Actress (The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button)

Taraji P. Henson has been nominated for more than thirty acting awards across her sterling career. Somehow, only one of those was for an Academy Award. Her lone Oscar nomination was for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button in 2008, and it’s frankly astounding that’s the only one. At a minimum, she should have been nominated for Hidden Figures alongside her cast-mate Octavia Spencer. Hopefully, this changes with her role in the upcoming remake of The Color Purple. 

Hugh Jackman - Nominated For Best Actor (Les Misérables)

Hugh Jackman is one award away from achieving EGOT status. The “O” is missing and shockingly he’s only been nominated once for an Oscar, for his performance in Les Misérables. The multi-talented Jackman has won so many awards, but is shut out yearly at the Academy Awards. The Oscars may not show much respect to comic book films, but everyone else does, and saying he should have been nominated for Logan isn’t a stretch, nor is saying it about his performance in The Greatest Showman.

Jamie Lee Curtis - Nominated For Best Supporting Actress (Everything Everywhere All At Once)

Jamie Lee Curtis is one of the most versatile actors of her generation. Horror, comedy, drama, she does it all. And yet, she has little to show for it in terms of Oscar nominations. She finally was nominated (and won) for Everything Everywhere All At Once but where were the nominations for My Girl and A Fish Called Wanda?

Salma Hayek - Nominated For Best Actress (Frida)

It’s been more than two decades since Salma Hayek was first nominated for an Oscar, for 2001’s Frida and she’s not been nominated since. Hayek is an icon and one of the most beloved actors today, yet never seems to get the attention of the Academy. This is likely in part due to the discounting of action films, which have become Hayek’s bread and butter, but that doesn’t mean her performances in movies like Traffic and Beatriz at Dinner weren't worthy of attention.

Matthew McConaughey - Nominated For Best Actor (Dallas Buyers Club)

When Matthew McConaughey won the Oscar for Dallas Buyers Club after being nominated for the first and only time, he led his speech with his trademark “Alright, alright, alright” and while his role in Dazed and Confused is a classic, he certainly deserved nominations for other roles, like how about a nod for his supporting role in The Wolf Of Wall Street or his performance in the vastly underrated Mud?

Samuel L. Jackson - Nominated For Best Supporting Actor (Pulp Fiction)

If there is anyone on the list that should be a perennial nominee, it’s Samuel L. Jackson. His lone nomination came from his unforgettable and meme-able turn in Pulp Fiction, but he’s an actor who steals every scene he's in, in a good way. Just his roles in Quentin Tarantino films alone, like Django Unchained and The Hateful Eight, are worthy of nominations, but it hasn’t happened, sadly. Thankfully for all of us, Jackson was given an honorary Oscar in 2021 for his contributions to film, which is some consolation. 

Uma Thurman - Nominated For Best Supporting Actress (Pulp Fiction)

Speaking of Pulp Fiction, the Tarantino classic also led to Uma Thurman’s one and only Academy Award nomination. Despite being one of the biggest stars on the planet, Thurman seems to have no luck getting the attention of the Academy. One role that really stands out is in the under-appreciated Prime. 

Benedict Cumberbatch - Nominated For Best Actor (The Imitation Game)

One has to believe that more nominations will be coming for Benedict Cumberbatch. Thus far, his only acknowledgment from the Oscars was for his wonderful performance as Alan Turing in The Imitation Game. There are plenty of other roles he could have been nominated for, especially as William Bulger in Black Mass and Julian Assange in The Fifth Estate and that’s just the roles in which he’s played real people! 

Mark Wahlberg - Nominated For Best Supporting Actor (The Departed)

In 1990, no one would have expected “Marky” Mark Wahlberg to appear on any kind of list like that, but almost 35 years later, it’s astounding his only Oscar nomination has been for The Departed (one of our picks for the 100 best movies of the 2000s). You have to question why he was ignored for Boogie Nights, for sure. The Fighter is another clear snub, though he was technically nominated for Best Picture as a producer of the film. 

Halle Berry - Nominated For Beat Actress (Monster's Ball)

When Halle Berry earned her one Oscar nomination for 2001’s Monster’s Ball, she was the odds-on favorite to win. She had become one of the biggest stars of the 1990s and now was her time to shine. She won, of course, but sadly, it would be the last time Berry would be nominated, so far, at least. It’s a shame because there are plenty of roles she’d be deserving of a nomination, like Frankie & Alice, for which she was nominated for a Golden Globe.

Laurence Fishburne - Nominated For Best Actor (What's Love Got To Do With It)

This could be the most shocking on the list. At first thought, you might guess Laurence Fishburne was nominated for his amazing work as Furious Styles in Boyz n the Hood or Professor Phipps in John Singleton’s other masterpiece, Higher Learning. Alas, the Matrix star has only one nomination, for playing Ike Turner in What’s Love Got To Do With It, and he didn’t win. 

Josh Brolin  - Nominated For Best Supporting Actor (Milk)

Josh Brolin has been a favorite since he was a teenager in The Goonies. He’s also starred in some powerhouse movies, like Sicario and, most of all, No Country For Old Men. No Country won a slew of Oscars including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Supporting Actor for Javier Barden, and yet Brolin wasn’t even nominated. It frankly doesn’t make sense. Brolin’s lone nomination came from his wonderful performance in Milk, but that was the year that the late Heath Ledger won for The Dark Knight.

Sharon Stone - Nominated For Best Actress (Casino)

You could argue that while Sharon Stone was brilliant in Casino, it wasn’t even her best performance, though it’s the only time she’s been nominated. She wasn’t nominated for Basic Instinct, despite winning the Golden Globe for the role, nor for the underrated The Muse in 2000. At least we have Casino. 

Tilda Swinton - Nominated For For Best Supporting Actress (Michael Clayton)

2007's Michael Clayton was awash in acting nominations, including George Clooney for Best Actor and Tom Wilkinson for Best Supporting Actor. The only winner of the night, though, was Tilda Swinton for Best Supporting Actress. Over her incredible career, Swinton has been honored for other roles, like her parts in The Deep End, We Need to Talk About Kevin, and even Snowpiercer, but this remains her only Oscar nod. 

Liam Neeson - Nominated For Best Actor (Schindler’s List)

Long before Liam Neeson re-invented himself as an action star in summer blockbusters, he was a character actor carving out a nice career in film. Then came the epic Schindler's List. He was nominated for the Oscar for Best Actor in a movie, though he lost out to Tom Hanks for Philadelphia. In the 30 years since, Neeson has not been nominated, not even for fantastic turns in The Gangs of New York, Michael Collins, or Rob Roy. For shame.  

Lupita Nyong'o - Nominated For Best Actress (12 Years A Slave)

Lupita Nyong'o burst onto the Hollywood scene with her heartbreakingly beautiful performance in 12 Years A Slave. She won the Academy Award for Best Actress and has since been racking up the accolades everywhere... except the Oscars. Despite well-received turns in Us and Queen of Katwe, not to mention her roles in the Black Panther films, she hasn't again been nominated. 

Sean Connery - Nominated For Best Supporting Actors (The Untouchables)

Sean Connery was one of the biggest movie stars in the world, and yet he was virtually ignored by the Academy for his whole career. Setting aside his brilliance as James Bond, Connery should’ve earned nods for The Hunt For Red October, and The Name Of The Rose, at least. Instead, his only nomination came for The Untouchables, which, thankfully, he won. 

Alec Baldwin - Nominated For Best Supporting Actor (The Cooler)

Another fantastic performance in The Hunt for Red October that didn’t get recognition is Alec Baldwin’s as Jack Ryan. Baldwin could’ve been nominated for either of his two on-screen performances in 1992, Glengarry Glen Ross, and Prelude To A Kiss, but again he was snubbed. His only nomination came for his role in The Cooler.

Diane Lane - Nominated For Best Actress (Unfaithful)

Diane Lane found her footing in film in the late 1990s with outstanding performances in movies like A Walk on the Moon and The Perfect Storm, either of which could've been award-winning. Instead, it wasn't until 2002's Unfaithful that she got the recognition she deserved when she was nominated for Best Actress. 

Bill Murray - Nominated For Best Actor (Lost in Translation)

The Academy has missed out on great performances by one of the best comedic actors the world has ever seen in Bill Murray. Stripes, Ghostbusters, What About Bob?, and Groundhog's Day are some of the most beloved comedies of all time, and Murray was never recognized. Nor was he for his brilliant turns in Rushmore and The Royal Tenenbaums. Murray's sole nomination came, deservingly, for 2003's Lost In Translation. 

Jennifer Connelly - Nominated For Best Supporting Actress (A Beautiful Mind)

Jennifer Connelly has been wowing audiences for decades, including in 2022's massive hit Top Gun: Maverick. It appears though, that she has not been wowing the Academy, as she's only ever been nominated for one Oscar, which she won, for her role in 2001's A Beautiful Mind. Other roles have earned her other awards, like her parts in Requiem For A Dream and The House of Sand and Fog, but to date, nothing from the Academy Awards. 

Kathleen Turner - Nominated For Best Actress (Peggy Sue Got Married)

Despite massive hits like Body Heat, Serial Mom, and of course, Romancing The Stone, Kathleen Turner has only earned one Oscar nomination, for the vastly underrated Francis Ford Coppola film from 1986, Peggy Sue Got Married. Surely this icon of the screen deserves more. 

Robert Redford - Nominated For Best Actor (The Sting)

It’s astounding that the great Robert Redford has only one acting nomination in his whole career, for The Sting. Though he defined what a movie star is, Redford never received Oscar attention for roles in All The President’s Men, All Is Lost, Out Of Africa, and Three Days of the Condor, among many others. The list is endless here. He has been nominated twice for Best Director, for Ordinary People and Quiz Show, and won for the former. Redford also received an Honorary Oscar in 2002.

Catherine Zeta-Jones - Nominated For Best Actress (Chicago)

At the 75th Academy Awards, Chicago was the biggest winner of the night, garnering 13 nominations and winning six of them, including Catherine Zeta-Jones for Best Actress. Alas, this, so far, is the only time the Welsh actress has even been nominated, despite powerhouse roles in Traffic and Entrapment. At least she shares this dubious distinction with her husband Michael Douglas. 

Micheal Douglas - Nominated For Best Actor (Wall Street)

Gordon Gekko in Wall Street is one of the all-time great cinema villains and Michael Douglas richly deserved the Academy Award he won for playing the part in 1988. An actor with a slew of amazing performances from Falling Down, to Traffic, to Fatal Attraction and more, with only one acting nomination. He was also nominated/won for Best Picture in 1976 as the producer of One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest. 

Lauren Bacall - Nominated For Best Supporting Actress (The Mirror Has Two Faces)

Lauren Bacall was one of the true icons of the Golden Age of Hollywood, starring in such films as The Big Sleep, Key Largo, and many, many more over her career. Shockingly, it took until 1997 for the Academy to recognize her work when she was finally nominated for a Best Supporting Actress role for The Mirror Has Two Faces. She did finally receive a well-deserved honorary Oscar in 2000. 

Kevin Costner - Nominated For Best Actor (Dances With Wolves)

Dances With Wolves was the darling of the Oscars in 1991. It was nominated for 12 awards, winning seven, including Best Director for Kevin Costner and Best Picture, which Costner won as a producer. It was also the one and only time Costner has been nominated for an acting Academy Award. There are so many other iconic parts he should’ve gotten more credit for, like JFK, Bull Durham, The Untouchables, and Hidden Figures, just to name a few. 

It just goes to show that even being a huge box office draw, and a megastar doesn't mean you'll get recognition from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Oscars are incredibly hard to win and even being nominated is an honor, they say. Still, for everyone on the list, you'd think they'd have more than one.  

Taraji P. Henson made a splash on Abbott Elementary with her guest-star turn as Janine Teagues' wayward mother, Vanetta. Her irreverent role earned her praise from critics and viewers alike. The positive reception ultimately led to the Oscar nominee scoring her third Primetime Emmy nomination. Compared to her earlier Emmy noms, this particular one was special for Henson, as she revealed why her Abbott guest spot marked a full-circle moment for her career.

The Empire actress’ Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series nom is only one of the ABC sitcom's seven Emmy nominations. Before Abbott, Taraji P. Henson was known more for her dramatic roles in series like Empire and Person of Interest. However, the TV and film star began her Hollywood career guest-starring on notable sitcoms like Sister, Sister and The Parent’ Hood. Those gigs were part of the now-52-year-old actress' mission to become a sitcom star. The Hollywood A-lister said to Entertainment Weekly:

It appears that Taraji P. Henson got one step closer to her dream after playing Janine’s mother. She proved she could manage one-liners and comedic timing with ease. Maybe the Emmy nod could lead to Henson getting more guest spots on Abbott or other sitcoms. And if the award-winning actress plays her cards right, this could get her some momentum towards her own sitcom.

Despite the acclaim she received for her scene-stealing role, the Benjamin Button alum didn’t expect this latest Primetime Emmy nom, which comes years after she scored two for Empire. She just viewed the role as a way in which she could flex her funny bones:

When you're an actor, I'm sure there's nothing like having a job you love and getting awards buzz for it. The 52-year-old actress landed her role after she and Abbott Elementary creator Qunita Brunson were guests on the competition series That’s My Jam. The Internet was already excited upon hearing Henson would play Janine's mom on the mockumentary. The hiring was incredibly personal for the former Cookie Lyon actress considering that she was once a substitute teacher herself. Upon Brunson writing the role for her, the Oscar-nominated actress was doubtful about playing a mom before reaching an epiphany about aging gracefully in Hollywood.

Taraji P. Henson faces stiff competition from other nominees, like her TV daughter Qunita Brunson and Judith Light. Still, she has a good chance of winning, in my estimation. Viewers will find out who takes home the gold when the Primetime Creative Arts Emmys air on Fox on September 18 at 8 p.m. ET. In the meantime, you can watch Henson’s scene-stealing guest role by streaming Abbott Elementary using a Hulu subscription. Be sure to keep an eye on the 2023 TV schedule for information on upcoming premieres.

Many actresses reach a point in their careers at which they go from playing a bright-eyed ingenue to portraying a mom. Like some of her contemporaries, Taraji P. Henson reached that moment, and it happened when she got cast as Janine’s irresponsible mom, Vanetta, on Abbott Elementary. While fans were excited to see Henson join Abbott, the actress herself surprisingly wasn’t into the idea of playing the mother role at first. However, the Empire star had an epiphany after scoring the gig, and she humorously recalled how it hit her.

Vanetta Teague isn't the first character the Oscar-nominated actress has played that just happens to be a mother. She's played a mom in several projects, including Baby Boy and Empire. So on the surface, she'd be the perfect fit for the role of Janine’s wayward mama. Henson had been angling to be on the Emmy-winning sitcom for some time, as she explained ahead of her debut. However, Vanetta isn't the role she imagined for herself, as she believed she could play Janine's sister. As the What Men Want star recalled to Hello Beautiful though, she checked herself quickly:

Thankfully, the star let her ego go and took on the scene-stealing guest role on the workplace comedy. The Emmy nominee appeared to leave an impression on viewers, who were treated to the eye-opening and relatable dynamic between the people-pleasing Janine and flaky Vanetta. Taraji P. Henson and Quinta Brunson had impeccable chemistry, and it really shone through during the episode. The installment is available to stream using a Hulu subscription, and you can get a brief snippet of it via the clip below:

At age 52, the Hidden Figures alum in in the midst of a new phase of her already-amazing career. This will more than likely come with a few changes -- that could have professional and personal ramifications. But it sounds like she's ready to accept what comes her way and wants to age gracefully as well. Many of her fans would probably agree with me when I say that she hasn't missed a beat in recent years. She's still as vibrant as ever, and I have few doubts that she'll have trouble securing other sweet roles.

In terms of her upcoming work, Taraji P. Henson, will be heard in the upcoming film PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie, with the animated sequel opening theaters on September 29. Henson will also star as Shug Avery in the upcoming movie adaptation of The Color Purple, which arrives in cinemas on Christmas Day. On top of that, she's in the process of pitching a sitcom featuring her and Kevin Hart. When Abbott Elementary officially returns, I wouldn't be surprised if she pops back in for another guest spot as well. And should she for some reason second guess her role, she can always give herself another hilariously honest pep talk.

The ongoing writers' strike leaves Abbott Elementary's status uncertain but, in the meantime, check out our 2023 TV schedule for other offerings.

Much of the Internet exploded with excitement upon hearing that Empire’s Taraji P. Henson is going to guest star as Janine Teagues' mom on the hit ABC sitcom Abbott Elementary. It goes without saying that the Oscar nominee's appearance will be a huge feather in the show's cap. Henson has shown her incredible acting range over the years, and she's bound to put in a memorable performance. Since the news broke, Henson has spoken about landing her guest role and also opened up about the personal connection she feels to the sitcom.

The What Men Want star discussed her guest spot on the Emmy-winning comedy while promoting multiple projects, including her haircare line, on The View. Taraji P. Henson couldn’t hide her excitement over playing Janine’s mother, Vanetta. The TV and film star admitted that like many of us, she’s a huge fan of the sitcom and, as a result, she partially landed her role in a very direct way:

There you go! The actress put out the right energy, and Quinta Brunson came back at the right time. I suppose viewers also have Jimmy Fallon to thank for bringing the two women together in the first place as well. It’s cool to know that the Family That Preys alum had no problem requesting a role and that Brunson ultimately obliged.

During her appearance on the daytime talk show, Taraji P. Henson gave the cast and crew a glowing review, as she had nothing but good things to say about her experience filming her guest appearance on the teacher-centric show. However, she didn't just appreciate it because she was able to cut up with Quinta Brunson and co. As it so happens, Henson has a special connection to the educational system.

One would think that the Curious Case of Benjamin Button alum could see some of her teaching experiences reflected the ABC sitcom as has been the case for many real-life educators. The actress also gave the ladies of The View some insight into Vanetta’s psyche, calling her “a mess.” See what else the star had to say about Janine’s immature mother in the funny clip below:

Hopefully, this guest appearance is just the first of many for her on Abbott Elementary. Up until this point, Janine's mother has only been mentioned on occasion, and it's been suggested that the two don't have the best relationship. I can't imagine the mother and daughter only crossing paths on one episode during the show's run but, if that's the case, let's hope it's a reunion to remember. And who knows, maybe Vanetta will have an impact on Janine and Gregory’s messy will-they/won’t-they dynamic. 

Taraji P. Henson’s Abbott Elementary episode, “Mom,” will air on April 12 on ABC at 9 p.m. EST and will later be available to stream using a Hulu subscription. In the meantime, check out the 2023 TV schedule to learn about the other big premieres that are arriving in the coming weeks.

Fans of ABC’s award-winning sitcom Abbott Elementary have continued to see the characters develop in its second season, and a big part of that has come through the introduction of more family members and friends that the teachers interact with outside of school hours. This season we’ve already met the sisters of Melissa Schemmenti and Janine Teagues, and it looks like we’re about to get an even closer look at what made Janine into the earnest go-getter she is today, when we meet her mother. Taraji P. Henson was recently revealed to be making a guest appearance on the popular show as Janine's mom Vanetta, and the Internet definitely had thoughts.

It was announced at PaleyFest (via Variety) that Taraji P. Henson will appear in the April 12 episode, appropriately titled “Mom,” and fans took to Twitter to show their excitement to see Quinta Brunson — who’s fresh off her debut as a host on Saturday Night Live’s 48th season — share scenes with Empire’s Cookie Lyon herself. One fan tweeted: 

In “Mom,” Taraji P. Henson’s Vanetta will reportedly ruin her daughter’s plans for a solo trip over Memorial Day weekend, when she shows up asking Janine for help. The elementary school teacher has never been one to turn down an opportunity to help, and it will be interesting to see the dynamic Quinta Brunson’s character has with her mother. One Twitter user seemed to think this was the kind of news even principal Ava Coleman (Janelle James) could get on board with: 

The secondary story in the April 12 episode will reportedly involve Janine’s will-they-won’t-they love interest Gregory Eddie (Tyler James Williams), who will apparently be looking to brush up on his people skills. I’m not sure what energy Taraji P. Henson will bring as Vanetta, but I can only imagine the hilarity that would ensue if she has a run-in with Gregory. Will she make his and Janine’s dynamic even messier? Either way, this fan says bring on the chaos! 

There are plenty of actors who would be fun to set in Abbott Elementary’s world — and even a veteran of The Office who Quinta Brunson wants to collaborate with — and Taraji P. Henson is an exciting choice, following the introduction of The Bear’s Ayo Edebiri as Janine’s sister Ayesha. It’s pretty clear from viewers, including this one, how they feel about the upcoming episode: 

It’s been exciting getting to know more of the people in the Abbott teachers’ lives. Last season we met Barbara Howard’s (Sheryl Lee Ralph) daughter Taylor, and Lauren Weedman has been hilarious as Melissa Schemmenti’s (Lisa Ann Walter) sister Kristin Marie. Tune in to see the Hustle & Flow star’s introduction into the Abbott-verse at 9 p.m. ET Wednesday, April 12, on ABC, and in addition to our 2023 TV schedule, you can check out some of the other best new sitcoms. 

Considering Nick Cannon is known to be one of the most prolific entertainers in Hollywood when it comes to conceiving offspring — currently at 12 and possibly counting — it's no surprise the Internet fully bought into Cannon and Kevin Hart teaming up on a new show featuring women competing to have the Masked Singer host's next kid. But as it turns out, that viral clip wasn’t for an actual reality competition, but was created for a wild new show that the duo are ready to spring on audiences in the very near future: E!’s Celebrity Prank Wars. 

The comedy-loving friends have engaged in some large-scale prank battles against one another in recent years, from Nick Cannon using his own personal decoration ideas for Kevin Hart’s private plane to the Jumanji franchise star sending Cannon a vending machine full of condoms (not to mention that billboard gag). As such, they’re as logical a hosting duo as I could imagine, and they’re bringing in a bunch of talented celebs to go head-to-head for what will hopefully be the most epic prank-friendly TV show since Jackass. 

Here’s the full rundown of past and present WWE Superstars, actors, musicians and more that will be heading to the funny-bone zone when Celebrity Prank Wars debuts on Thursday, April 6: 

• Anthony Anderson
• Brie and Nikki Bella
• Lil Duval
• Big E
• Fantasia
• Tiffany Haddish
• Taraji P. Henson
• Lil Jon
• Kofi Kingston
• Ludacris
• Joel McHale
• Killer Mike
• Chance The Rapper
• T-Pain
• Robin Thicke
• T.I.
• Xavier Woods

To start off with, we have the always hilarious Anthony Anderson, and I can only imagine what kind of tomfoolery he'll come up with. (Fun fact: this is the third project to be announced this week for the black-ish and Law & Order vet, as he has a new comedy pilot and food-geared series on the way.) Let's just hope he'll be in an episode taking on his Hustle & Flow co-star Taraji P. Henson, because that could be more hype than a mere rap battle.

Speaking of rap, quite a few lyricists and musicians from other genres are representing in this lineup, from Fast franchise vet Ludacris to new Voice coach Chance the Rapper to vocal-effect trendsetter T-Pain to docuseries host Killer Mike. Is Lil Jon in there also? "Yea-yuh!" And viewers can also anticipate seeing T.I. waving his prank flag, but will it be against his "Blurred Lines" padna Robin Thicke? Seems likely enough, although the latter's Masked Singer has featured Joel McHale as a frequent guest star. And let's not forget about American Idol winner Fantasia.

And from there we go to a different group of audience-wowing performers. On the stand-up comedy side, there's The Afterparty star Tiffany Haddish and Guy Code's Lil Duval. And rounding things out are those made famous through WWE pro wrestling, including twin reality stars Brie and Nikki Bella and the three New Day founders Big E, Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods.

Check out the synopsis for the new series below:

And for those who want more of a visual tease for what's to come, check out E!'s first official trailer for Celebrity Prank Wars. 

The new show will hit E! on Thursday, April 6, at 10:00 p.m. ET, so don't forget to tune in, or you might wake up to your car being covered in a Kevin Hart-emblazoned wrap. 

Being a celebrity in the age of social media is a lot more complicated than in the years before Twitter and other popular platforms. Fans and critics are able to get even closer to those they idolize or even hate with just the click of a button. It doesn’t always have its advantages, as Empire alum Taraji P. Henson spoke about having social media as someone in the limelight. 

While a guest on Angie Martinez IRL Podcast, Taraji P. Henson got candid about her fame. She’s been acting since the late 1990s, meaning she has been in the game as the internet became more and more essential. Henson opened up about social media and the way people just hide behind screens:

It can be hard for some to not become addicted to social media, as it’s an easy way to stay connected with people and find new friends. But it is definitely taxing on the mind and mental health, especially since some people may not show all of their feelings. As a celebrity, it’s evidently even worse.

Taraji P. Henson opened up about how some things on social media would wake her up, and she’d have restless nights because of conversations or posts she’s overthinking:

In my experience, it’s not uncommon to overthink something you post on social media or worry about something you may have said or should have said. Hearing what Taraji P. Henson has to say about it shines a light on how celebrities deal with the strain, and it’s definitely eye-opening.

Back in 2019, Henson opened up about her struggles with mental health and how there’s a misconception about people in the limelight having it all together when that really isn’t the case. Her comments about social media track with those earlier comments. 

Taraji P. Henson, who is part of the cast of The Color Purple that releases later this year, has been keeping focused on other ventures. She hosted That’s My Jam on NBC, which will premiere its second season as part of the 2023 TV schedule on March 7. She lent her voice to 2022’s Minions: The Rise of Gru and 2023’s PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie. She is also set to star in and produce the upcoming movie Time Alone, which has yet to have a premiere date.

It's likely that social media will continue playing a big role for years to come, but hopefully, it messes less with mental health in the future, or at the very least, it messes less with public images. Everyone could use a break at some point. 

They’re back and they’re better than ever! Minions: The Rise of Gru has arrived in theaters as part of the 2022 movie releases, telling the beginning of everyone’s favorite villain, Gru, and how he came to use the Minions - ya know, those little yellow monsters - as his personal henchman.

But, with any Despicable Me movie, and especially with Minions 2, whether that be a main entry or a spinoff such as Minions: The Rise of Gru, there is always a star-studded cast, and that is the case with this film as well. Here is where you might have seen - or heard - the cast of Minions: The Rise of Gru before. 

Steve Carell (Gru) 

I’m sure it’s no surprise that Steve Carell, the man, the myth, the legend himself, has returned to voice the impeccable Gru - this time, in younger form for Minions: The Rise of Gru. But of course, you’ve seen Steve Carell in plenty of other places before, in both movies and television. 

Carell is probably known the most for his iconic portrayal of Michael Scott in the critically acclaimed The Office, but the actor has done plenty more in television since then, including the leading role on the Netflix original comedy, Space Force, a main role in the great Apple TV+ series, The Morning Show, a leading role in Angie Tribeca, and plenty of guest spots on many TV shows. 

However, Carell has also been plenty active in movies as well. You might have seen in comedies such as Evan Almighty, Date Night, Crazy, Stupid Love, or maybe even Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgandy. He's also done so much in drama as well, with appearances in critically acclaimed films such as Foxcatcher, Little Miss Sunshine, Battle of the Sexes, Beautiful Boy, and more. 

Taraji P. Henson (Belle Bottom)

Another fantastic talent on this list is Taraji P. Henson, who voices Belle Bottom in Minions: The Rise of Gru. This amazing actress has been around for some time and appeared in many movies and TV shows, with one of her biggest being Empire, where she portrayed Cookie Lyon, and received critical acclaim. 

She also has had several guest roles on many television shows, and was a part of the Annie Live! cast, where she got to show off her singing skills. 

Henson has also had a great run in movies as well, appearing in huge hits such as Hidden Figures, Hustle & Flow, Proud Mary, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, The Best of Enemies and so many more. 

Michelle Yeoh (Master Chow)

Another iconic actress that is added to the cast list of Minions: The Rise of Gru is Michelle Yeoh, who voices Master Chow, a kung-fu master. Most recently in 2022, Michelle Yeoh has been making headlines for her incredible performance in Everything, Everywhere, All At Once, but Yeoh has been active in the film industry for decades. 

She's appeared in many movies, such as the James Bond film, Tomorrow Never Dies, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, the romantic comedy, Crazy Rich Asians, Last Christmas, the Marvel Cinematic Universe film, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and so many others. 

Yeoh has also made her mark in television, with a role as Phillipa Georgiou in Star Trek: Discovery on Paramount+, as well as a role in the Netflix original series, Marco Polo. She’s also going to be in the upcoming The Witcher spinoff, The Witcher: Blood Origin. 

Jean-Claude Van Damme (Jean Clawed)

Playing Jean Clawed in Minions: The Rise of Gru is none other than action star himself, Jean-Clause Van Damme. This Belgian actor has made his name in Hollywood and appeared in a variety of movies and TV, showing off his skills as not only a fighter but as an actor. 

Some of his highlights in the film industry include the crime drama JCVD, Sudden Death, Maximum Risk, Double Impact, Cyborg, The Expendables series, the Kung Fu Panda franchise, the Kickboxer series, The Last Mercenary, and many more. 

Damme has made his mark on television as well, although it’s usually through guest appearances or hosting his own shows, such as Jean Claude Van Damme: Behind Closed Doors, Ramez Movie Star or other series. 

Lucy Lawless (Nunchuck)

You ever wonder what a nun with nunchucks would look like? That’s what Nunchuck, who is voiced by Lucy Lawless, answers in Minions: The Rise of Gru. This iconic actress made a name for herself back in the ‘90s in the series, Xena: Warrior Princess, and has only continued to grow as a star. 

Some of her biggest roles in the film industry have been Boogeyman, Justice League: The New Frontier, Bedtime Stories, and more. Lawless has lent more of her talents to television, with roles in several big-time shows after her time as Xena, including Battlestar Galactica, Sapartcaus: Blood and Sand, Spartacus: Gods of the Arena, Spartacus: Vengeance, Parks and Recreation, Ash vs. Evil Dead, My Life is Murder, and more. 

Dolph Lundgren (Svengeance)

Next up, we have Dolph Lundgren, who voices Svengeance in Minions: The Rise of Gru, and he came to fame primarily for portraying Ivan Drago in Rocky IV. Since then, he has appeared in a variety of movies and television shows. 

He portrayed the iconic He-Man in Masters of the Universe, and had big roles in films such as The Punisher, Showdown in Little Tokyo, Castle Falls, Wanted Man, Silent Trigger, and more. He also had a big role in The Expendables series, reprised his role as Ivan in Creed II, and was a part of the Aquaman cast. 

Lundgren has also had some time in the spotlight in regards to television, appearing in a recurring role in the CW's Arrowverse, on the flagship show, Arrow, as well as a main role in the series SAF3. 

Danny Trejo (Stronghold)

Let me tell you - Danny Trejo has been everywhere in Hollywood and is a badass, and it’s no surprise that he’s voicing Stronghold in Minions: The Rise of Gru. This man has way more credits than other actors. Seriously, just look him up, he’s all over. But, for the sake of the length of this article, we’ll go over some of his best. 

In terms of film, Trejo has appeared in many great ones, including Desperado, Heat, the From Dusk ‘Till Dawn series, Machete, Grindhouse, Dora and the Lost City of Gold, Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, Reindeer Games, and so many others. 

Trejo has also had a prominent career in television, with some of his biggest roles being a recurring voice part on King of the Hill, a role on the popular FX drama, Sons of Anarchy, and a role in the TV series based on From Dusk ‘Till Dawn - along with many guest roles. 

Russell Brand (Young Dr. Nefario)

Russell Brand has been around for some time in the business and he’s a great choice for voicing young Dr. Nefario, Gru’s partner, in Minions: The Rise of Gru. Originally, Brand became well known for hosting Big Brother’s Big Mouth, but continued to lend his talents higher profile projects. 

He starred in movies such as Get Him To The Greek, Hop, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Rock of Ages, Trolls, Arthur, and most recently, was a part of the Death on the Nile cast in 2022. He’s also had some parts on television as well, with most having been guest appearances or for his own shows, such as Brand X with Russell Brand. However, he did have an acting role as Lance on the HBO series, Ballers. 

Julie Andrews (Gru’s Mother)

Julie Andrews is straight up the love of my life and that’s because I adore Julie Andrews and her movies so much, and I am so happy that she’s back for Minions: The Rise of Gru to continue voicing Gru’s mother. 

Andrews is an icon in Hollywood. While she hasn’t participated that much in television, aside from a few guest roles and her work as Lady Whistledown on the Netflix show, Bridgerton, she has been huge in movies for decades now, appearing in so many legendary films that I’m sure you’ve heard of. 

Some of her highlights include, but are not limited to, The Sound of Music, Mary Poppins, Victor/Victoria, My Fair Lady, The Princess Diaries franchise, The Tamarind Seed, Torn Curtain, the Eloise at the Plaza series, and the Shrek series. 

Alan Arkin (Wild Knuckles)

Next up, we have Alan Arkin, who voices Wild Knuckles in Minions: The Rise of Gru. Alan Arkin has been active in Hollywood for a very long time, and has been nominated for many awards for his performances, so it’s no surprise that he’s adding  a voice-acting role to his already impressive resume.

Some of his biggest films have been The Russians Are Coming, Wait Until Dark, The In-Laws, Little Miss Sunshine (which he won an Academy Award for), Argo, Slums of Beverly Hills, Thirteen Conversations About One Thing, Million Dollar Arm, and more. 

He’s also appeared in a few projects on television, such as Escape from Sobibor, as well as The Kominsky Method. 

RZA  

Last but not least, we have RZA, an actor and a music artist, who is in Minions: The Rise of Gru. As an artist, who originally got his start as part of the Wu-Tang Clan, he has scored many films that you might recognize the music from, such as the Kill Bill duology, Blade: Trinity, The Man with the Iron Fists, and more. 

But, as an actor, he’s appeared in many movies and TV shows as well. Some of his biggest films were American Gangster, Nobody, The Dead Don’t Die, and Life in a Year, alongside many other roles. He’s also guest-starred on shows such as Outlaw, Gang Related, The Simpsons, and more. 

With so many big stars, it’s not surprising to see that the cast of Minions: The Rise of Gru have done so many incredible things. I for one can’t wait to see what they do next - that is, after having a run at those pesky little minions.  

After years of many major animated movies like Trolls World Tour and Turning Red going straight to streaming during the COVID-19 pandemic, studios are finally bringing these family films back to theaters, most recently with Lightyear. Next weekend, the long-awaited Minions: The Rise of Gru is finally being released. So,should you plan to check out the flick starring a familiar bunch of overalled yellow bunches of fun? Let’s take a look at what the critics have to say. 

Minions: The Rise of Gru has had its share of delays over the years, with its original release date being summer 2020. But on the first weekend of July, the Illumination and Universal animated film is coming out. As the Minions: The Rise of Gru trailer teases, the movie will take audiences back in time to Gru’s childhood (in the 1970s) when he first meets the Minions. It serves as a prequel for the Despicable Me movies in several ways. 

On the review front, the response to the film is so far mixed. To get the most negative critique out of the way first, we’ll turn to The Guardian’s Peter Bradshaw. The critic gave the movie two out of five stars and called Gru’s origin story “feeble.” Also, in his words: 

Bradshaw called the character of Gru “mildly funny,” but overall hopes the franchise is “laid to rest” after its fifth installment. Sorry to break it to you, but there’s already another Despicable Me film scheduled for 2024. Now let’s move to the more positive side of reviews for Rise of Gru. Slashfilm’s Rafael Motamayor for example called the new entry “pretty fun,” saying this: 

As Motamayor points out, the new Minions movie is especially entertaining when it comes to its use of its 1970s era, where a team of supervillains called the Vicious 6 come into the scene. The Telegraph’s Robbie Collin was also somewhat complementary about Rise of Gru in their review, with these words: 

Variety’s Peter Debruge found Rise of Gru to be predictable, but found its humor good enough to be entertaining. In Debruge’s mixed review, he said this: 

Empire’s Olly Richards caps our review roundup off with another middle ground critique, calling the movie “fun,” but also being aware of the shortcomings that perhaps hold the movie back from absolute greatness. In their words: 

There you have it. Perhaps that’s your best measure when it comes to deciding whether you’ll go to Minions: Rise of Gru when the upcoming 2022 movie hits theaters this July. Did you like the other Despicable Me and Minions movies? If you have and don’t mind some of the same old tricks, it sounds like this prequel is worth your time. However, if you’ve been hate watching your way through the others, Rise of Gru likely won’t be the one to knock your Minion goggles and overalls on. 

Minions: The Rise of Gru is coming to theaters on July 1. Check out what we know about the latest Minions movie in the meantime here on CinemaBlend. 

There’s so much to love about Kelly Clarkson. Whether she’s going head-to-head with Blake Shelton on The Voice or shutting down body-shamers, the American Idol winner seems like she’d be so much fun to hang out with. Well, after the host made a quarantined appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show from home this week, I love her even more, as she was in full DGAF mode, sporting no makeup, in her robe, with a sleep mask pulled over her forehead.

Taraji P. Henson stepped in to help her friend and play guest host for The Kelly Clarkson Show, revealing that the singer had been in close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID. Per the show’s strict safety rules, Clarkson was required to quarantine, but ever the good sport, she served as her own show’s first guest. Clarkson called in to chat with the Empire actress, giving her (and the viewing audience) a real-life look at the struggle. 

Yes, even in full meltdown mode, Kelly Clarkson knows we’re still thankful for her presence. She is definitely right though. After so many people shut down their lives as much as possible two years ago for the COVID pandemic, it is such a bummer to go back to that way of life, however temporary the quarantine may be. And if you can’t leave your house, why bother getting dressed and putting on makeup? 

I mean, maybe I would have if I had to appear on a nationally televised talk show, but no, Kelly Clarkson had no fucks left to give, and I fully support that. The host laughed at herself as she drank from her Kelly Clarkson Show tumbler and showed Taraji P. Henson her broken nail, prompting Henson to wonder aloud if there was wine in that cup rather than coffee.  

That’s the beauty of a tumbler, right? All joking aside, The Voice host assured her viewers that she was fine and has not tested positive for COVID. 

Hopefully everyone will continue to be healthy and Kelly Clarkson can escape her quarantine, because the situation seemed dire there for a minute. Does almond milk even expire? How long have you been at home, Kelly? Taraji P. Henson assured her friend she’d be okay, and admitted that she hadn’t even left her house since Christmas. We’re all really just doing our best, aren’t we?

Robe and sleep mask is a new fashion statement, I have to say, but Kelly Clarkson has raised eyebrows before regarding her fashion choices. On the most recent season of The Voice (which she won), fans also began to take note of her fashion, particularly in one episode where she wore a Texas-sized belt buckle for the singing competition that Twitter users had a pretty good time commenting on.

Kelly Clarkson can keep dressing down, for all we care, as long as the singer continues to bless us on our television screens. We hope everyone continues to be safe and healthy, both physically and psychologically!

When The Color Purple arrived in theaters in 1985, it marked a change of pace from Steven Spielberg’s typical blockbusters. The period drama was based on the best-selling novel by renowned author Alice Walker, who served as a consultant and writer on the film. The film went on to become a critical and commercial hit, grossing $142 million worldwide and earned 11 Oscar nominations. The acclaimed film continued to live on as its legacy and popularity grew. That led to an original stage musical being brought to Broadway in 2005, and the stage adaptation’s successful run led to a revival in 2015 with talks of a film version surfacing in 2018. After years of development, the musical film is finally moving forward.

With The Color Purple heading into production, the musical remake already has a release date set for Dec. 23, 2023. It is currently unknown if the musical film will lean more into the 1985 film, the original stage production or the book. For now, we do know who will make up the musical adaptation’s main cast. Let’s see who are the new and familiar faces that will bring a new take on these iconic film characters.

Fantasia Barrino

Fantasia Barrino’s Celie Harris serves as the protagonist and vessel for the long-suffering struggles of Black women in the early 1900s, including racism, sexism, incest and domestic abuse. In every outlet, Harris transitions from a meek teenage girl to a self-sufficient woman. She escapes the abuse of her father into the life of her equally abusive husband Mister. She eventually breaks away from Mister and his miserable family for a life filled with love and respect. The apex of her fight for independence in the musical is the signature tune “I’m Here.”

But tackling the tune would be nothing new for the American Idol winner, as she became a replacement during The Color Purple's original Broadway run. Whoopi Goldberg originated the role in the 1985 film, which scored her an Oscar nomination for Best Actress. The part is considered one of the Oscar winner’s best performances.

Colman Domingo

As the main antagonist in the original book, as well as every adaptation, Albert Johnson, a.k.a. Mister, loses his first wife and needed a mother for his children, and that’s where Celie came in. He treats Celie more like a servant for his family rather than his second wife. Eventually his relationship with Celie becomes the catalyst for her to forge her independence. He ends up redeeming himself similarly to the 1985 movie after changing his ways and helping Celie reunite with her sister Nettie. It will be up to Zola’s Colman Domingo to breathe new life into this universally hated character.

Unlike Fantasia Barrino, Domingo has never crossed paths with The Color Purple stage musical. The Zola star will be following in the footsteps of Danny Glover, who played the troubled patriarch in the 1985 coming-of-age drama.

Danielle Brooks

As The Color Purple’s Sofia, Danielle Brooks will serve as the opposite of Celie Harris with her strong-willed and outspoken nature. Sofia is the wife of Mister’s eldest son Harpo (wedded as a teenager, much like Celie). After a series of domestic violence incidents with Harpo (due to some not-so sage advice from Celie), Sofia packs up her things (and her children) and heads out for good with her signature song “Hell No!” After disappearing for a time, she sporadically returns throughout the musical culminating in a reunion with Harpo after her stint as the Mayor’s indentured servant.

Much like Fantasia Barrino, Danielle Brooks, who stars in HBO Max's Peacemaker, originated the role of Sofia in the 2015 Broadway revival. Talk show icon Oprah Winfrey played the role originally in the 1985 film adaptation, which earned a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination.

Corey Hawkins

Harpo is the eldest and the most visible of Mister’s children, who Corey Hawkins will take on. He tries following in his father’s footsteps after marrying the headstrong Sofia, but he isn’t as assertive and domineering, so his teen bride runs over him. Eventually his relationship with Sofia becomes mutually abusive after taking some advice from Celie. After Sofia leaves and takes their children, he comes into his own by opening a juke joint, leading to Shug’s introduction and his signature number “Brown Betty.” Harpo moves on with his girlfriend and barmaid Squeak. Eventually, Squeak leaves him, leading to his second chance with Sofia.

Corey Hawkins already showed his musical chops in another film adaptation of a hit Broadway musical as Benny in In the Heights. The Straight Outta Compton star joining the musical has been reported since last year, so his casting news was expected. Hawkins will follow in the footsteps of William Pugh, who played Mister’s passive son in the 1985 coming-of-age drama.

Taraji P. Henson

Taraji P. Henson playing the free-spirited singer Shug Avery makes profound sense. Shug’s relationship with Celie and Mister catalyzes a shift in the story. As Johnson’s long-time mistress, Avery and Celie have a rough start before becoming friends. As time moves on, their relationship evolves into a romantic one as Celie begins breaking away from Mister’s controlling ways. Shug shares multiple musical moments with Celie while vamping it up in the fan-favorite tune “Push Da Button.”

Taking on The Color Purple is right up Taraji P. Henson’s alley given her display of musical talent on various occasions. Margaret Avery originated the role in the 1985 film adaptation, which earned her an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

Halle Bailey

Much like her character in grown-ish, Halle Bailey will be her sister’s keeper as Celie’s younger sister Nettie in The Color Purple. Nettie and Celie grow up being sexually and physically abused by their father. Initially the two sisters are reunited after Nettie escapes their abusive father to live with Celie and Mister, but sexual advancements from Mister lead to her being unceremoniously removed from their home. Nettie has very few musical moments due to her early exit outside of her earlier numbers with Celie. She eventually reunites with Celie for her triumphant return in the finale.

Of course, viewers know of Halle Bailey’s work in television and music, and her addition to the cast was approved by Oprah Winfrey. Bailey’s Nettie was originally played by Akosua Busia in the Oscar-nominated film. Before The Color Purple drops, Bailey will play Ariel in the live-action adaptation of Disney’s The Little Mermaid, which the actress celebrated wrapping up last year.

H.E.R.

H.E.R.’s mysterious aura will work two-fold as the silent and spirited Squeak. She enters the picture after Sofia leaves Harpo and begins a romantic relationship with him. Though her presence is small, she plays an important part in raising Harpo and Sofia’s children after Sofia is imprisoned for an altercation with the Mayor. Eventually Squeak finds her voice, and she decides to leave Harpo and pursue a professional singing career. Due to her minor nature in the story, Squeak doesn’t have as many musical numbers.

The musical remake will mark the Grammy and Oscar-winning singer’s feature film debut. Rae Dawn Chong originally played the role of Harpo’s girlfriend in the 1985 film.

With the musical remake set to be released on Dec. 23, 2023, it is unclear when production on the film will commence. Of course, viewers will be singing along as Celie goes through her painful journey to finding her identity. If you want to see what other musicals are on the horizon, you can check out our schedule of 2022 movie releases. To stay updated on any news surrounding The Color Purple, come back to CinemaBlend for the latest developments.

Throughout Hollywood’s history, there’s been a bias toward white audiences that has bled into the industry today. While there is a concerted effort for movies and television to better reflect the experiences of more people than ever before these days, there’s much more progress to be made. In spirit of being perceptive to the need for continued representation, let us celebrate how the most iconic Black voices in film broke through into the Hollywood mainstream. 

From Whoopi Goldberg’s start in the ‘80s to Michael B. Jordan just under a decade ago, let’s talk about some of the unforgettable film performances by Black actors that helped really catapult them into super fame. 

Whoopi Goldberg In The Color Purple (1985) 

Whoopi Goldberg is currently a seasoned performer who co-hosts The View following becoming one of the few entertainers in history to receive an EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony wins). The actress got her start on the stage where The Graduate director Mike Nichols discovered her and assisted in a transition to Broadway which led Steven Spielberg to learn of her and cast Goldberg in The Color Purple. 

At the age of 30, Whoopi Goldberg found her breakthrough with Spielberg’s book adaptation that became commercially and critically successful and earned her a Best Actress Oscar nomination. Since then, Goldberg has been continually successful, also finding many memorable roles in Ghost, Star Trek: The Next Generation and Sister Act. 

Denzel Washington In Cry Freedom (1987) 

Denzel Washington is among the most respected and beloved actors in movie history today. The actor got his start in theater as well after studying acting classically. Shortly after graduating, he nabbed a role in the comedy Carbon Copy alongside George Segal before becoming part of the medical drama St. Elsewhere. In terms of the actor’s breakthrough into the decorated actor he is now, it all started with his role in Richard Attenborough’s Cry Freedom alongside Kevin Kline. 

The 1987 film based on a true story saw Denzel Washington playing Steve Biko, a South African anti-apartheid activist. The movie that opened up a discussion about discrimination and political corruption led to Washington’s first Oscar nomination and a career packed full of challenging and important roles like Glory, Malcolm X, Training Day and many more. 

Laurence Fishburne In Boyz n the Hood (1991)

Laurence Fishburne is another all-time great Black actor who continues to star in incredible movies and TV shows today including his role in the forthcoming John Wick movie. Fishburne got started in Hollywood at the age of 11, finding roles in ABC soaps before being part of Apocalypse Now as a teen. Throughout the ‘80s he found roles here and there, including a minor role in The Color Purple with Whoopi Goldberg. He starred in Spike Lee’s second film, the under-the-radar School Daze, but 1991’s Boyz n the Hood really brought the actor to the forefront. 

John Singleton’s now modern classic Boyz n the Hood starred Cuba Gooding Jr, Ice Cube, Nia Long, Regina King and Angela Bassett in a crime drama that kickstarted all their careers. At the time Fishburne was recognizable for his nearly 20 year career, but Boyz n the Hood was the first mainstream successful movie that showcased Fishburne’s talent when he played the father figure, Furious Styles (one of many performances he should have received an Oscar for).  Following that performance he started receiving acclaim for a number of roles and of course became Morpheus in The Matrix. 

Angela Bassett In What’s Love Got To Do With It (1993) 

Angela Bassett is an icon, full stop. Before the actress assumed that title, she graduated from Yale University with a degree in African-American studies and went back to study acting for her MFA. She then moved to Los Angeles and found early key roles in Boyz n the Hood and Malcolm X. She received attention for playing Malcolm X’s wife in the film, but it was 1993’s What’s Love Got To Do With It that allowed her to breakthrough and become the star she is today. 

Bassett portrayed Tina Turner in the biopic, which became a well-loved film and led Bassett to receive major award attention, along with becoming the first Black woman to win the Golden Globe for Best Actress. She went on to star in other major films including Strange Days, Waiting To Exhale, How Stella Got Her Groove Back and tell Rosa Parks’ story in Ride To Freedom. 

Don Cheadle In Devil In A Blue Dress (1995) 

Don Cheadle is one of the coolest and most interesting actors of our day along with him being notably part of the Marvel family as James Rhodes/War Machine as well. After graduating with a BFA in theater in 1986, he got his start in small roles in Hollywood. He found early roles in movies like Colors and an episode of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air alongside Will Smith. Things started really heating up for the actor when he starred in Devil in a Blue Dress with Denzel Washington. 

The 1995 neo-noir movie based on the Walter Mosley novel instantly got people talking about how Cheadle stole the show in the role of Mouse. The role led Cheadle to level up in Hollywood, leading to roles in Boogie Nights, Out Of Sight and the Ocean’s films leading to a continually illustrious career. 

Gabrielle Union In Bring It On (2000) 

The breakthrough performances we’ve talked about thus far are mainly dramatic performances, making Gabrielle Union’s big moment notable to shed light on. The actress started on TV, finding roles in series such as Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Sister, Sister, 7th Heaven and Friends before finding small roles in teen movies She’s All That and 10 Things I Hate About You. Union became a big name when she starred as Isis in 2000’s Bring It On alongside Kirsten Dunst. 

The cult classic about rival cheerleading teams caught the attention of Hollywood and led the actress to be cast in CBS medical drama City of Angels and find more leading roles, such as in 2003’s Deliver Us From Eva and Bad Boys II. Over twenty years later, she remains a prominent name who is never short of a new role. 

Viola Davis In Far From Heaven (2002) 

Viola Davis is a prolific actress with a number of great performances we love. How did she get here? Davis was a graduate of Juilliard and got her start on the stage, finding her first Broadway role at 31 for an August Wilson play, which has continued to be a notable part of her career. Her early roles were brief in big movies like Ocean’s Eleven, Kate & Leopold and Antwone Fisher. Her breakthrough role was in 2002’s Far From Heaven as Sybil, the housekeeper and confidant to Julianne Moore’s lead character. 

A few years later, Davis’ prominence grew with her role in Doubt and other movies like The Help and Suicide Squad. Nowadays, when a Viola Davis movie comes out, we sit up and pay attention. 

Jamie Foxx In Collateral (2004)

Jamie Foxx got his start telling jokes at a comedy club’s open mic night in 1989 thanks to a girlfriend’s dare. Later, he became part of the cast of In Living Color before nabbing a sitcom of his own called The Jamie Foxx Show. As we know in the '90s, TV and movies were a different game. Foxx broke out into the movie business in 1999 with Any Given Sunday but the movie that really cemented his continued popularity is 2001’s Collateral. 

He starred alongside Tom Cruise in an action thriller that earned him his first Oscar nomination. Just a few months later, his portrayal of Ray Charles led the actor to also nab a Best Actor nomination in the same year and win. 

Taraji P. Henson In Hustle & Flow (2005)

Taraji P. Henson studied drama at Howard University before starting off as a background performer in the early '90s. After finding a first movie role in 1991’s Baby Boy, her breakthrough role was in 2005’s Hustle & Flow, alongside Terrence Howard, Anthony Anderson and Ludacris. The independent film about a hustler and pimp who becomes a rapper was a huge success at the time, putting Henson on the map. 

Henson then received buzz for starring in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button along with starring in big movies including I Can Do Bad All By Myself and The Karate Kid remake. She later reunited with her Hustle & Flow star for the Fox hit series, Empire alongside a vast career in Hollywood. 

Michael B. Jordan in Fruitvale Station (2013) 

One more recent performance by a Black actor that has turned an actor into a big star is Michael B. Jordan’s in Fruitvale Station. The Ryan Coogler film premiered at Sundance in 2013 to high acclaim before making a mark on Hollywood in other ways. Thanks to the movie’s big splash, Coogler and Jordan partnered up again to make Creed alongside Sylvester Stallone and then for 2018’s Black Panther. 

There’s a lot more incredible breakthrough performances we certainly missed, but it’s interesting to see how some of Hollywood’s biggest Black stars got their start. Here’s to celebrating more great actors in the years to come. You never know where the next major star will pop up first in upcoming movies. 

NBC has been producing these live musicals for years now, with The Wiz Live! and Peter Pan Live being just two of them. Now, for this years' new star-studded musical, NBC is bringing a classic Broadway character right to our homes through the wonderful Annie Live!, the story of a little orphan who is suddenly thrown into a completely different world. 

But, who exactly is going to be starring in this new live musical? From newcomers like Celina Smith to familiar faces like Taraji P. Henson and Harry Connick Jr., the Annie Live! cast has plenty of people who you might have seen somewhere else. This is where you may recognize them from. 

Celina Smith (Annie) 

Of course you can’t have Annie Live! without Annie herself. Portraying Annie is Celina Smith, a young actress with a whole lot of talent and a lot to prove. 

Smith isn’t completely new to Hollywood. For two years so far, she’s starred in Tyler Perry’s Young Dylan, a Nickelodeon show about an aspiring hip hop artist, who moves in with his grandmother, uncle, and aunt when his mother doesn’t come home one day. Smith plays Rebecca, Dylan’s older cousin. 

While her list of work isn’t super long, I’m sure playing Annie in Annie Live! will be a great stepping stone into a long career.  

Taraji P. Henson (Miss Hannigan)

You know, for some reason, Taraji P. Henson as Miss Hannigan feels like the perfect casting, and I’m so happy she’s here for Annie Live!. Prior to her role as the legendary caretaker of these “little girls,” Henson has had a prominent career in both film and TV. 

With movies, she’s starred in a variety of different roles, such as the fantastic coming of age movie, Baby Boy, the drama Hustle & Flow, the David Fincher film, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (which netted her a Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role Oscar nomination), the action comedy Date Night, the Jaden Smith-led remake of The Karate Kid, Think Like A Man and its sequel, the awesome movie based on a true story, Hidden Figures, and many, many others. 

Henson has also been in several TV shows. One of her biggest roles was playing Cookie in Empire, but she’s also been a part of TV series like Boston Legal, The Division, Eli Stone, Person of Interest, and many others. 

Harry Connick Jr. (Daddy Warbucks) 

Every Annie always needs her Daddy Warbucks, and for Annie Live!, that character will be played by Harry Connick Jr. The actor is more well known for his prominent music career spanning several decades, and becoming a huge name in the jazz industry. However, he’s also had a successful film and television career for many years. 

In movies, he’s been in many different kinds, such as the great war film, Memphis Belle, the thriller Copycat, the action adventure film, Independence Day, the romantic drama, Hope Floats, alongside Sandra Bullock, Basic, Bug, the iconic romantic comedy, P.S. I Love You, New In Town, Dolphin Tale, and many, many others.

He’s also been a guest star on many TV shows and competitions. For two seasons he was a host on American Idol alongside Jennifer Lopez and Keith Urban, and later on had his own talk show called Harry. For several episodes, he also played Leo Markus on the popular sitcom, Will & Grace. 

Nicole Scherzinger (Grace) 

I don’t personally think I could picture a better Grace for Annie Live! than Nicole Scherzinger. Known for many years as the lead of the hit-making group, The Pussycat Dolls, Scherzinger has been acting for several years, appearing in a couple of movies, as well as on several competition shows on television. 

Scherzigner has had minor roles in movies such as Chasing Papi, Love Don’t Cost A Thing, Men in Black 3, and more. However, she did have a prominent role in Disney’s Moana back in 2016, playing Moana’s mother, Sina. With television, she guest starred on several competition shows, such as Project Runway All Stars, I Can See Your Voice, and more. 

However, Scherzigner has also had far more permanent judging roles on competitions. These include being a judge for The X Factor in the United Kingdom, a panelist on The Masked Singer, a judge on The Sing-Off and many, many others. 

Tituss Burgess (Rooster) 

Next up, we have Tituss Burgess, playing Rooster, the brother of Miss Hannigan and practically as crooked as her - which is why someone like Tituss Burgess playing him is so funny to me, as he’s such a great comedic actor. 

Burgess is well-known for his role as Titus Andromedon in the Netflix original series, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, but has had many other roles as well. In movies, he’s appeared in Catfight, Then Came You, the Eddie Murphy-led film, Dolemite Is My Name, The Addams Family, Respect, and many others.

He’s also had a lot of other TV work as well. He had a recurring role in 30 Rock, and currently has a starring role in the Apple TV+ series, Central Park, where he gets to show off his amazing voice all the time. I know he’ll sing amazingly in Annie Live!

Megan Hilty (Lily St. Regis)

Next up, we have Megan Hilty, who is playing Lily St. Regis in Annie Live!. Hilty is known primarily for her stage presence for many years. She’s played Glinda the Good Witch in Wicked on Broadway, as well as sang in 9 to 5: The Musical, Noises Off, Annie Get Your Gun, Little Shop of Horrors, and more. 

However, Hilty has also had a pretty prominent television career. While she has appeared in films such as the Tinker Bell movies (where she voiced Rosetta), and Rules Don’t Apply, she’s mainly kept her talents to television. On the series Smash, she starred Ivy Lynn. She also appeared in television shows such as Bones, Desperate Housewives, Sean Saves The World, The Good Wife, and more. 

Hilty has also had a vast voice acting career, having major roles in several children’s television shows. This includes, but is not limited to, Sofia the First, Trolls: TrollsTopia, Centaurworld, Dora and Friends: Into the City!, and more. 

Alan Toy (President Roosevelt)

Last but not least, we have Alan Toy, who plays President Roosevelt in Annie Live!. Alan Toy has an acting career that has spanned decades, all the way back to M*A*S*H, so you might have seen him pop up several times in movies or TV shows. 

What makes this role even more special is that Alan Toy is actually the first polio survivor to ever play the role of Franklin D. Roosevelt in Annie Live!, which is amazing to hear and even more exciting to watch. 

While he’s guest starred in several shows, Toy's also had bigger parts as well, including Beverly Hills, 90210 as Professor Patrick Finley, Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction, Airwolf, and more. He’s also had several film appearances, as well, some of them minor, like in The Aviator with Leonardo DiCaprio, and others in bigger roles, such as Kansas or Kandyland. With as many credits as he had, it’s probably not a shock you might have seen him somewhere before. 

These amazing performers were some of the perfect choices for Annie Live!, and I have a feeling I’ll be listening to this soundtrack over and over again. 

The idea of the Muppets spending the night in the spookiest of Walt Disney World’s famous attractions is so brilliantly funny on its own that I am surprised it has never been done before. The fact that the the likes of Will Arnett, former Community cast member Yvette Nicole Brown, Academy Award nominee Taraji P. Henson, and Darren Criss from the Glee cast will be joining them makes me even more excited to see the Disney+ original special. There are plenty of other humans in the Muppets Haunted Mansion cast to look forward to seeing interact with Jim Henson’s iconic creations, but we will begin with our spirited guide.

Will Arnett (Ghost Host)

In Disney’s original attraction, the Ghost Host is a disembodied voice, but in Muppets Haunted Mansion, the felted friends are guided by multi-Emmy nominee Will Arnett, who first skyrocketed to fame in the Arrested Development cast as the despicable Gob Bluth. The Canadian actor might have even gotten this part with his voice alone, which is famous from his role as Batman in both of the LEGO Movie installments and his own spin-off, as well as the animated Netflix original, Bojack Horseman, as the title character. Arnett will next lend his voice to the 2022 monster comedy, Rumble, and you can currently see him on The Morning Show Season 2 on Apple TV+.

Taraji P. Henson (Constance Hatchaway)

One of the most famous (and sinister) entities from the Haunted Mansion attraction is Constance Hatchaway (otherwise known as “The Black Widow Bride”), who will be brought to life in Muppets Haunted Mansion by Taraji P. Henson (no relation to Jim) - best known for her Golden Globe-winning role on Empire as Cookie Lyon, whose own spin-off is now in the works. On the big screen, she earned an Oscar nomination for playing Brad Pitt’s adoptive mother in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, earned praise for the Oscar-nominated biopic Hidden Figures, and earned laughs in movies like Date Night, Think Like a Man, and What Men Want (a gender-swapped update of What Women Want). She will also lend her voice, in 2022, to Minions: The Rise of Gru and is playing Miss Hannigan in NBC’s upcoming Annie Live! broadcast.

Darren Criss (The Caretaker) 

Someone with previous experience performing in musicals is Glee alum Darren Criss, who stars as the Caretaker of the Haunted Mansion in the Disney+ special, which is not too far from qualifying for one of his darkest roles to date. The 34-year-old appeared on American Horror Story: Hotel, won an Emmy as Gianni Versace’s killer in American Crime Story Season 2, and has crossed comic book adaptations off his bucket list by voicing Superman in two animated DC movies, Raphael in Batman vs. the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and playing Music Meister in the Arrowverse shows. The star of Netflix’s Hollywood miniseries has also recently lent his voice to two original anime series for the platform (Yasuke and Trese), and to Rick and Morty Season 5, as well.

Yvette Nicole Brown (The Hearse Driver)

Rick and Morty co-creator Dan Harmon made a star out of Emmy nominee Yvette Nicole Brown (who drives the horse-drawn hearse in Muppets Haunted Mansion) by casting her as Shirley Bennett on Community, despite already achieving sitcom royalty for younger audiences as Helen on Nickelodeon’s Drake & Josh. She was also a series regular on CBS’ The Odd Couple reboot, had a recurring role on Mom, and has been involved with both Marvel movies and DC TV shows with an Avengers: Endgame cameo and by voicing a lighter version of Amanda Waller on DC Super Hero Girls (to name just a couple). Her next big Disney project is Disenchanted - the long-awaited Enchanted sequel.

Chrissy Metz (Harriet)

Muppets Haunted Mansion finally confirms that Harriet (whose name appears on a tombstone in the attraction) is a ghostly opera singer seen near its end, who is played in the special by Chrissy Metz. One of her earliest breakthroughs (not meant to be a pun relating to her part in the 2019 faith-based film Breakthrough, initially at least) was playing Ima “Barbara” Wiggles on American Horror Story in its fourth season, but it was her Emmy-nominated role on This Is Us that made her a household name. She will continue to voice Mei Mei on Season 2 on Amazon Prime’s series spin-off from Kung Fu Panda, and her upcoming drama, Stay Awake, is in post-production.

Alfonso Ribeiro (Fred)

Playing Fred, a man who died when a "great big rock fell on his head,” in Muppets Haunted Mansion is Alfonso Ribiero, whom you may recognize best from the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air cast as Carlton Banks. If you do recognize him by his real name, then you must be a fan of Dancing with the Stars (on which he has appeared as a contestant and guest judge) or of America’s Funniest Home Videos, which he has hosted since 2015. 

Sasheer Zamata (Mary) 

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air was the inspiration for a few funny sketches on Saturday Night Live, on which Sasheer Zamata was a main cast member from 2013 to 2017 before playing a ghost named Mary in Muppets Haunted Mansion. In addition to other comedies like the Amy Shumer movie I Feel Pretty from 2018, the animated Tuca and Bertie, or Netflix’s The Mitchells vs The Machines, the actress has also starred in darker films, such as Blumhouse’s Sleight in 2017 or the Joe Keery-led found footage thriller, Spree, in 2020. She is currently a series regular on ABC’s Home Economics and will voice a role in Disney Channel’s upcoming series Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur.

John Stamos (Himself) 

John Stamos has played many different kinds of characters since he became a star by joining the Full House cast as Jesse Katsopolis (whom he reprised on Netflix’s Fuller House). The actor has been a doctor (on ER, Glee, and You), a suave burglar (on short-lived ABC drama Thieves), a celebrity publicist (on short-lived ABC dramedy Jake in Progress), a playboy restaurateur (on Fox’s Grandfathered), and even a killer (in the 1991 TV movie Captive). However, it seems quite fitting that he is credited as himself in the Muppets Haunted Mansion cast.

Danny Trejo (Huet) 

I would not have been surprised if Danny Trejo was also playing himself in Muppets Haunted Mansion, but I love the idea of him playing one of the attraction’s most famous unseen characters, Huet. The 77-year-old Mexican-American actor and former convict’s breakout acting role was in Heat from 1995, the same year as Desperado - his first of many collaborations with Robert Rodriguez, including From Dusk Till Dawn and the Spy Kids movies. The next of his 400-plus credits will see him re-team with Taraji P. Henson in Minions: The Rise of Gru and, hopefully, his most badass character ever will return in Machete Kills… in Space soon.

Ed Asner (Claude) 

Since starting his career in the late 1950s, seven-time Emmy Award winner Ed Asner became a legend of both the big and small screen, from his role as Lou Grant on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, to playing Santa alongside Will Ferrell in Elf in 2003. The role of Claude in Muppets Haunted Mansion marks the final collaboration with Disney for the Up actor, who passed away in August 2021 at the age of 91. However, he is set to appear posthumously in several more titles, including a documentary profiling Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address and the star-studded animated film, Back Home Again.

Craig Robinson (Singing Bust #2)

One of the five Muppets Haunted Mansion cast members portraying the famous Singing Busts is Craig Robinson, who would evolve into one of the most prominent voices in comedy after his recurring stint in the Office cast as Darryl Philbin became a series regular role. This promotion came following the comedian’s starring roles in hit movies like Zack and Miri Make a Porno from 2007, Pineapple Express in 2008 and 2010’s Hot Tub Time Machine (and its 2015 sequel). The This Is the End star (who also had his own short-lived sitcom on NBC called Mr. Robinson) has also appeared in dramas like 2020’s Songbird and the upcoming thriller, Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon. 

Justina Machado (Singing Bust #4)

Sitcoms, dramas, and reality TV competition shows, as well, have defined Justina Machado’s career, which include recurring roles on shows like Six Feet Under and Jane the Virgin, her acclaimed lead role on the Netflix’s One Day at a Time, and her success on Dancing with the Stars as a contestant. She once worked with Steven Spielberg on A.I.: Artificial Intelligence and is a bit of a Scream Queen, appearing in horror movies Final Destination 2 and The Purge: Anarchy. After playing one of Muppets Haunted Mansion’s Singing Busts, Machado will star in Covid-19-themed anthology film With/in: Volume 1, and has landed the title role in Amazon Prime’s The Horror of Delores Roach.

Skai Jackson (Singing Bust #4) 

So far, playing a Singing Bust in Muppets Haunted Mansion is the closest Skai Jackson has come to starring in a horror movie, but her relationship with Disney goes back a long way, starting with her role on Disney Channel’s Jessie as Zuri Ross, whom she reprised on the spin-off, Bunk’d, after playing Dwayne Johnson’s daughter in G.I. Joe: Retaliation. She has lent her voice to a few animated Marvel TV shows, Dragons: Rescue Riders (Netflix’s series spin-off of How to Train Your Dragon), and an upcoming modern twist on J.M. Barrie’s classic novel called Peter Pan, Land of Forever.

Geoff Keighley (Uncle Theodore) 

The leader of the Singing Busts, Uncle Theodore (voiced by Thurl Ravencroft in the original attraction), is played in Muppets Haunted Mansion by Geoff Keighley, in what is technically his acting debut. His claim to fame is being one of the most high-profile journalists to specialize in video game reporting. In fact, one of his only other real acting credits is voicing an asylum patient in the PlayStation 3 release of Twisted Metal from 2012. 

Pat Sajak (Singing Bust #1) 

While Pat Sajak’s role as a Singing Bust in Muppets Haunted Mansion is not his acting debut, it is one of the few times he is not playing himself on screen, which he first did in Airplane II: The Sequel in 1982, before doing it again on TV shows like The A-Team and even Rugrats. Of course, his best-known “performance” is hosting Wheel of Fortune since 1983.

Seeing the likes of Pat Sajak and Geoff Keighley in the Muppets Haunted Mansion cast is quite a surprise, making one wonder what other surprises (and even scares) are also in store. Find out by watching the special on Disney+ on Friday, October 8, 2021.

Empire was forced to leave its fans sorta high and dry at the end of Season 6, with our growing health crisis leading to the cast and crew having to force a series finale onto the air two whole episodes earlier than previously planned. While the result left a lot to be desired for viewers, as well as those behind the show, spirits picked up quite a bit when word came down in summer 2020 that the long-hoped for spinoff focusing on Taraji P. Henson's bold, say-anything-that's-on-her-mind Cookie Lyon had finally started development. And, Henson just shared an update on the series for those looking to catch up with Cookie soon.

The music-focused drama Empire made a massive splash when it debuted on Fox in January 2015, and a large part of the appeal for many people was Taraji P. Henson and her work as the take no bullshit mother / mogul, Cookie. It had always made sense, with the popularity of the character, to do something more with her, and while plans for a prequel spinoff focused on a younger version of the character were eventually abandoned, when Empire was drawing to a close it was decided that Henson could simply take Cookie elsewhere to lead her own show.

While talking with Entertainment Tonight as she prepares to host the BET Awards this weekend, Taraji P. Henson was asked if work on the spinoff was still going full steam ahead, and she replied:

OK, OK! I know that this is a complete bummer for all of the Cookie fans out there, but let's really look at what Taraji P. Henson said before getting too upset, because she made two very important points about the spinoff. First of all, she said she wants the script to be right before they bring anything to TV, and isn't that something that we all want?

As revealed last summer, the Cookie-centered spinoff was set to follow the funny, determined, and extremely well-dressed woman as she moved to Los Angeles, and might have also featured some of her other family members. The bones of that idea sound great, but if Henson and / or the other creatives behind the proposed show felt the details of the script weren't completely working out, it's better to hold off until, as Henson put it, it's "worthy of the audience."

Secondly, Taraji P. Henson isn't the only person attached to the Cookie spinoff who had ties with Empire, as series co-creator Danny Strong, and Empire veterans Stacy A. Littlejohn and Yolanda Lawrence were all set to act as co-showrunners and writers. Her point about needing "time away" could be implying that they might still be too close to what Empire was to fully envision Cookie's new world, along with her thinking that the viewers could also stand to spend more time without the character before being thrust back into her sure-to-be-wild new life.

Basically, while it sucks that L.A. Cookie (or whatever the series might have been called) is on hold for now, at least Taraji P. Henson and co. have very good reasons for taking a step back.

Hopefully, it won't be too long until we hear a more positive update on Taraji P. Henson's Cookie spinoff, but until then, see what you can watch on the small screen in the form of 2021 summer TV shows!

One of my favorite things about House is that, unlike some other popular medical dramas, it seemed to have a clear stopping point in mind. Yet, the Fox series, starring Hugh Laurie in the Golden Globe-winning title role of a cynical, Sherlock Holmesian diagnostics expert, boasts a hefty amount of guest stars after eight seasons. Not to mention the fact that many of these up-and-comers of the time, such as the talented Elle Fanning or Tony winner Lin-Manuel Miranda, are some of the most recognizable names in Hollywood today.

As it tends to be the case when searching for A-listers whose early appearance on a TV show may have slipped your mind, there were many to choose from among those who can say they had the “pleasure” of having their case investigated by Dr. Gregory House and his team. Of course, to save us all some time, we have narrowed down the list to just 17 of our favorite pre-fame House actors, starting with one of the most charismatic and versatile talents of our generation.

Michael B. Jordan (Will Westwood)

While he had already found a steady career with roles on The Wire, Friday Night Lights, and in the film Chronicle, Michael B. Jordan would not become a household name until Ryan Coogler cast him in 2013’s Fruitvale Station, followed by the title role in Creed, and in Black Panther as Erik Killmonger. Right in between that star-making transition was a guest spot on the final season of House as a blind man who experiences a strangely high sensitivity to sound right as he is about to propose to his girlfriend (The Big Bang Theory’s Margo Harshman).

Jeremy Renner (Jimmy Quidd)

Fellow MCU alum Jeremy Renner was once an underrated Avenger, but fans are already bittersweet over his imminent exit once Hailee Steinfeld’s Kate Bishop takes over in the upcoming Disney+ series Hawkeye. Prior to his role in The Hurt Locker (his first of two Oscar-nominated performances), the actor and musician appeared on House’s fourth season as a punk rocker whose bouts of coughing up blood may be the least of his problems.

Judy Greer (Morgan West)

If you do not recognize Judy Greer as Scott Lang’s ex-wife, Maggie, in Ant-Man or Bryce Dallas Howard’s sister in Jurassic World, you may recognize her as the voice of Cheryl Tunt on Archer. However, you might not have initially recognized the star of 2018’s Halloween as a House patient convinced that the appearance of a strange cat has sealed her death (something even the skeptical doctor almost begins to believe), on the drama’s fifth season.

Randall Park (Brad)

Judy Greer’s Ant-Man and the Wasp co-star Randall Park has a much bigger role on the Disney+ series WandaVision, in which he reprises his MCU character, FBI agent Jimmy Woo. One of the earliest appearances of the comedian (otherwise known from ABC’s Fresh Off the Boat, as a marine biologist in Aquaman, and as Asian Jim on The Office) was on Season 2 of House, as a man who attempted his own circumcision.

Yvette Nicole Brown (Ellen Stambler)

Speaking of House characters making big mistakes, Yvette Nicole Brown starred in another Season 2 episode as an organ procurement agency employee who unwittingly becomes the bearer of bad news for a man previously unaware of his wife’s death. At this time, the actress was already well-known to younger viewers as Helen on Drake & Josh before becoming one of many Community regulars to make an MCU cameo later on.

Evan Peters (Oliver)

Another Marvel movie scene-stealer (but not in the MCU) is Evan Peters, whose first action sequence as Quicksilver in X-Men: Days of Future Past is cited as one of the most dazzling in the entire franchise. Before breaking out on American Horror Story, the then 21-year-old played a teenager taken hostage by a man desperate to receive House’s diagnosis in Season 5.

Lin-Manuel Miranda (Juan “Alvie” Alvarez)

Composing and starring in the Tony winner In the Heights already made Lin-Manuel Miranda a Broadway star, when he brought his rap skills to the two-hour Season 6 premiere of House as the disgraced doctor’s bipolar roommate at Mayfield Psychiatric hospital. Today, the multi-talented actor / writer is internationally known for creating the blockbuster musical Hamilton, and his recent starring role on HBO’s series adaptation of the His Dark Materials book series.

Skylar Astin (Derrick)

Another actor who started out on Broadway is Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist star Skylar Astin, who broke out into the mainstream in 2012’s Pitch Perfect as Anna Kendrick’s pop culture-obsessed love interest. That same year, he appeared on Season 8 of House as a college cheerleader initially brought into Princeton–Plainsboro for nosebleeds and dizziness, but his case becomes more serious when he claims to hear voices that are not there.

Breckin Meyer (Brandon)

Before playing an artist somehow seeing the world as a Picasso painting on Season 5 of House, Breckin Meyer was best known as Travis in Clueless, a college student desperate to retrieve his own mistakenly sent sex tape in Road Trip, and Garfield's owner, Jon, in the critically reviled live action film with Bill Murray as the lazy cat. Since, the Emmy-nominated Robert Chicken producer starred as one half of the titular attorney duo from Franklin & Bash and more recently appeared in Unpregnant, an HBO Max exclusive dramedy feature.

Jurnee Smollett (Tracy)

Speaking of HBO, working on the network's series adaptation of Lovecraft Country and playing Black Canary in DC flick Birds of Prey brought Jurnee Smollet further into the mainstream than her breakout childhood role on Full House did. In a minuscule coincidence, House, on which she played a married assault victim with massive breathing problems, is the third of five medical dramas she has guest starred on, including (unsurprisingly) ER.

Elle Fanning (Stella Dalton)

ER actually marked the acting debut of Dakota Fanning, but instead of following in her sister's footsteps, the equally talented Elle Fanning landed a spot on a different medical drama, House. The then 8-year-old actress appeared on the series' second season as the daughter of a businesswoman (Julie Warner) suffering from uncontrollable muscle spasms.

Mike Moh (Waiter)

Elle Fanning's sister would also grow up to appear in Quentin Tarantino's dark, Oscar-winning love letter to cinema's Golden Age, Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood, which also features Mike Moh, in a memorable performance as Bruce Lee during his years on The Green Hornet. One of the former stuntman's first legitimate acting gigs was as an unnamed restaurant server on Season 7 of House.

Taraji P. Henson (Moira)

Mike Moh would later score a recurring role on Fox's music industry drama Empire, which stars the incomparable Taraji P. Henson in the Golden Globe-winning role of Cookie. The actress also earned an Oscar nomination in 2008 for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, but three years earlier, she appeared on Season 2 of House as the ambitious agent of a star cyclist, in a plot loosely inspired by early allegations of Lance Armstrong's doping scandal.

Jimmi Simpson (Daniel Bresson)

Another notable David Fincher movie veteran is Jimmi Simpson, who appeared as a grown-up survivor of Zodiac in the director’s 2007 film about the search for the elusive serial killer. Hidden within the Westworld star's many memorable TV guest appearances (such as Black Mirror's "U.S.S. Callister" episode) is a spot on House's fifth season as a priest whose admission to Princeton-Plainsboro after claiming to see Jesus eventually leads to suspicions of sexual abuse.

Felicia Day (Apple)

Also famous for a career full of notable guest spots and recurring roles is Felicia Day, who is best known as Penny in Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog, the villainous Kinga Forrester on Netflix's Mystery Science Theater 3000 reboot, and from Supernatural as Charlie Bradbury (and her evil doppelgänger). The Geek Goddess paid reality a painful visit on Season 5 of House as a woman who becomes the latest (and sole surviving member) of many who fell ill years after receiving an organ donation from the same man.

Blake Anderson (Ethan)

Netflix has been the home of many recent projects involving Blake Anderson, who is best known today as the co-creator and co-star of Workaholics, which ran for seven seasons on Comedy Central. Right around the time that gross-out sitcom was taking off, the comedian made an appearance on House as a patient who suspects his grayed fingertips are frostbitten, until Dr. House rightfully assumes this to be proof the young man has been stealing from the cash register from work.

Noah Segan (Sir William)

Speaking of criminal activity, Noah Segan has played his fair share of bad guys in nearly everything Rian Johnson has directed (save Trooper Wagner in Knives Out and his X-wing pilot role in Star Wars: The Last Jedi). Among his notable TV guest spots (including a cameo as a firefighter in the Johnson-directed Breaking Bad episode "Ozymandias") is a Season 6 appearance on House as a Renaissance Fair performer admitted after suffering a painful defeat in a jousting competition.

What do you think? Did House have a magic touch when it comes to treating potential future A-listers? Let us know in the comments and be sure to check back for additional information and updates on this popular medical drama, as well as even more inside looks into what your favorite celebrities were up to before they were stars, here on CinemaBlend.

As all Empire fans know by now, Season 6 did not get the send off that the producers, stars or viewers had hoped for. The season was already set to be the last one from the hit musical drama, but production shut downs in March led to the show having to cobble together a series finale for Episode 18, instead of being able to take fans through Episode 20. The result was that some very important stories didn't get resolved at all (and the finale was more than a bit confusing), but now we know that a spinoff is coming, and I've no doubt that everyone will love who it's going to focus on.

That's right, Empire fans, Cookie is finally getting her full day in the sun, as Fox has actually begun development on the long-rumored spinoff, and it's set to center on the bold Ms. Cookie Lyon, herself. Even better, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed that Taraji P. Henson, who, of course, brought the drama-loving character to life for all six seasons of Empire, is set to star in the proposed series, which is rumored to follow Cookie as she moves to Los Angeles, and could feature some of her other family members.

If you have any worries at all about making sure that Cookie is treated right in this possible new series, you can set your stress aside. The currently untitled project will have co-showrunners in Empire co-creator Danny Strong, and show veterans Stacy A. Littlejohn and Yolanda Lawrence. Littlejohn, Lawrence and Strong will also co-write, while director Sanaa Hamri (Empire, Shameless) has been set to helm the project. All four will executive produce alongside co-creator Lee Daniels and Taraji P. Henson.

It's no surprise that any of these creators were eager to jump back aboard the Cookie train, as Henson and many of the others involved had wanted to do more in the world of Empire anyway, and the actress, especially, spoke out after the finale and revealed how "incomplete" she felt because of not getting to bring audiences the planned ending. Henson also said that she was "pushing" to see if there was a way to get the actual finale filmed and in front of viewers, and it's being said that this spinoff could help fans get the conclusion they were supposed to.

It was as early as August 2015 that Lee Daniels spoke openly about wanting to do more with Cookie in a potential spinoff. The character is obviously one of the major reasons for the fast and furious success of the series, as Taraji P. Henson brought a lot of flash, sass and sarcasm to the role. That first idea was focused on doing a prequel which showed a young Cookie with her family, but some of that was likely due to Empire itself still being on the air. Now that the parent show has moved on to that TV graveyard in the sky, it's the perfect time to give current day Cookie her own show.

Taraji P. Henson's Cookie spinoff is still in the very early stages, so we don't know yet when or if the project will actually hit Fox, or how many episodes we could see, so be sure to stay tuned to CinemaBlend for the latest!

Spoilers ahead for Empire’s series finale, called “Home Is on the Way.”

Due to the production shutdowns that halted filming back in March, Empire was just shy of formally concluding its six-season run. However, the creative and editing teams pulled together a series finale using footage from the Fox drama’s last two completed episodes. Now that the newly constructed finale has aired, Taraji P. Henson recently explained why she feels “incomplete” after this series finale.

It wasn’t the intended series ender, but Empire still managed to wrap up quite a few storylines, while leaving others — such as the flash-forward mystery foreshadowing Cookie and Lucious’ deaths — by the wayside. Suffice it to say, the cuts had to be made, considering the circumstances. However, it doesn’t make the bitter pill any easier to swallow. Taraji P. Henson, for instance, is devastated about not being able to film the original series finale. Here’s what she told EW about possibly getting to do the originally planned conclusion at some point:

It is unfortunate that Empire wasn’t able to wrap up the way it was planned by showrunner Brett Mahoney, but it could’ve been a lot worse, with all things considered. Mahoney held back from revealing too much about the original finale he had in store, primarily with the hopes that the episode will one day be “shot and done properly.” However, he did previously reveal how one of the shocking finale deaths was supposed to play out differently.

Ultimately, both Taraji P. Henson and Empire’s showrunner are hoping that they can pick back up once everything is more settled. For the time being, viewers will have to settle for the series finale that did air.

Empire is over for now, but there are plenty more season enders airing over the next several weeks, so be sure to check out our guide to all the big TV finales coming up this spring and summer. If you’ve got more room in your schedule, be sure to also swing by our 2020 summer premiere guide.

Just about every major TV show has faced a negative impact from the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, with many series having to face the reality that their current seasons won't be allowed to continue. Not every show is feeling the same kinds of woes, however, and Fox's Empire is arguably in a far worse predicament than most others, considering this is the twisty drama's final season. Unfortunately, it was confirmed that Empire will indeed cut Season 6 short without having filmed its intended series finale.

The confirmation was made in a way that viewers may not have even fully grasped in the moment. Following Tuesday night's installment, the promo for the next episode, "We Got Us," kicked off by telling audiences to be prepared for "the shocking final three episodes" of Empire, even though there were originally five more that would have wrapped up the sixth season. However, Hollywood's gradual shutdown for the coronavirus pandemic came when the drama was still in the midst of shooting Episode 19, without any filming being done on what was previously meant to be the finale.

At this point, it's not completely confirmed how Empire will be handling what will now be its series finale, which is set to air on April 21. Episode 18 was the final episode that fully completed filming before the shutdown, and per Deadline, the producers will probably be adding in some of the finished footage from Episode 19. Here's hoping there's enough there for everything to make contextual sense without any problems. Because the Lyons have more than enough problems already.

Some spoilers below for the latest episode of Empire, "Love Me Still."

Empire's big wedding between Andre and Teri went off without a hitch on Tuesday night. Wait, no, that's the complete opposite of what actually happened, with Andre going all Kingsley on the venue after Teri made her exit following her talk with Cookie. It definitely seems like the show is going to push Andre right over the edge, but it remains to be seen how far he'll actually be able go without the official series finale in place.

As fans are well aware, Empire already had to shake up its sixth and final season thanks to all the legal issues surrounding former star Jussie Smollet, whose character Jamal was name-checked in the latest episode. He and Kai were said to be in Nairobi getting a new baby and finalizing the adoption process, but even though the character's story has continued progressing, viewers shouldn't expect to see Smollet back on screen at any point in the final episodes.

While there was a brief window when it looked like Jussie Smollet might still get a chance to return, it was confirmed various times since then that Empire will wrap up without him. That stance has been strengthened lately, with new indictments coming down in February, which the actor's legal team failed to get dismissed.

Of all the shows facing delays, Empire and Supernatural were the only series whose final seasons were disrupted by the coronavirus shutdowns. Supernatural showrunner Andrew Dabb had previously confirmed that the CW drama would officially wrap up its fifteenth year later in 2020 by filming the final two episodes and airing them with another five eps being held for that final run.

While Empire may be ending on Fox, there's always hope that the story will continue on in spinoff form, seeing as how no firm decisions have ever been announced regarding the proposed plan to give Taraji P. Henson's Cookie Lyon a prequel series. The flagship drama has been building the story between Cookie and Candace and other sisters recently, as it has in years past, perhaps with the goal of going deeper into that history with a follow-up series. Of course, Hollywood will need to start up again in order for that to ever happen anyway.

With three episodes left to go in its final season, Empire airs Wednesday nights on Fox at 9:00 p.m. ET.

Major spoilers ahead for Empire’s Season 6 midseason finale, “Cold Cold Man.”

Empire’s Season 6 winter finale escalated what was an already precarious situation and ended on a cliffhanger that saw both Cookie and Lucious staring down the barrel of Tracy’s gun. In the midst of a season that has included flash-forwards alluding to both of the Lyons' deaths, Empire showrunner Brett Mahoney thankfully discussed the midseason ending to let fans know when we will get answers.

Empire’s midseason finale, titled “Cold Cold Man,” left viewers shocked and confused about the episode’s final moments, which seemingly take place before the flash-forwards that have been teasing Lucious and Cookie’s deaths. Based on those sequences involving Cookie's explosion and Lucius' gunshot wounds, does that info take away from the impact of the episode's cliffhanger? Showrunner Brett Mahoney doesn’t think so, though, and here’s what he said regarding when all will be revealed:

Brett Mahoney’s answer sounds a lot like Tracy may not have been responsible for shooting Lucious, or at least not for the gunshot wounds that we're already aware of. It’s not unusual for this show to pull some trickery to fool the audience, only to give up answers in later episode. Plus, this wouldn’t be a very good cliffhanger if the future was 100% already known.

If Tracy didn’t shoot Lucious, arguably the next big suspect on the list is Cookie. Prior to Tracy walking in with the gun, Cookie was just about ready to shoot her husband, who refused to give her the divorce she wanted. In fact, in his interview with TVLine, the Empire exec seemed to imply that Cookie might be the one revealed to have pulled the trigger after all.

All signs seem to be pointing towards Cookie crumbling, and it wouldn’t be surprising if she did shoot Lucious. The pair has had a toxic relationship for many years, and if she got driven to the edge, Cookie may have pulled the trigger on him as a desperate way out of her marriage, or just plain vengeance. While the circumstantial evidence is all there, I imagine the midseason premiere won’t play out the way fans might expect, but perhaps at least one character might get a happy ending.

Empire Season 6 will return to Fox in 2020, and it appears Jussie Smollett’s return has been discussed, though no premiere date has been scheduled yet. For more on what to watch, be sure to check out our midseason guide to see what’s new and returning.

Taraji P. Henson did not think her role as Empire’s Cookie would be the one to make her world famous. Along with her television roles, Henson has had a super successful career in film and received an Oscar nomination in 2009 for her performance in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Henson continues to lead major movies.

Despite all of her movie success, it is her role in Empire that Taraji P. Henson credits for giving her recognition all over the world. Henson shared the insight as a guest on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Asked by Colbert what she got to do on Empire that she never thought she would able too, Henson responded:

Empire has been a well-documented hit in the United States, and the show’s success does not end there. The Fox hit’s popularity has reached across the world with Taraji P. Henson acknowledging that Cookie’s popularity has gone international. But, the film and TV star revealed that television was not where she was expecting to find that level of global recognition.

Empire premiered in 2015 and quickly became a mega-hit for Fox. Taraji P. Henson has been Emmy nominated twice for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her performance as Cookie Lyon, which is a sign of the series’ success with fans and critics alike. Speaking of fans, Henson was asked where has been the most surprising location she has heard “Hello, Cookie,” to which Henson told Stephen Colbert:

Cookie Lyon’s popularity will undoubtedly continue. Sadly, Empire fans only have one new season of the beloved character's journey left to watch. The show is set to end with its sixth season. As of today (September 20), the drama will return to begin its final installment in less than a week on Fox.

Empire’s final season will feature a Lethal Weapon star. Not set to star is Jussie Smollett, who played Cookie’s son, Jamal Lyon. According to series creator, Lee Daniels, Smollett will not be returning for Season 6. Daniels subsequently explained how the series would explain Jamal’s absence next season.

As for what the final season has in store for Taraji P. Henson’s Cookie, there have been some hints. Among the teases is that Cookie will have exited Empire and started a career as a TV personality. Empire executive producer, Brett Mahoney, has teased where Season 6 finds Cookie and how her life is going as she tries to move on from Lucious.

There were some major twists in last season’s finale. It turns out another Empire character was under consideration to be in the casket before the show settled on someone else. As for Cookie, who kept a significant secret in Season 5, she is heading into what is destined to be another eventful season.

You can check out Taraji P. Henson discussing Cookie being the role to make her world famous in this clip from The Late Show with Stephen Colbert below:

Empire returns for its sixth and final season as one this fall’s premieres. Season 6 premieres Tuesday, September 24 at 9 p.m. ET on Fox.

Playing a figure in real life is a minefield of minute details. Everything from speech patterns to hand gestures, as well as wardrobe choices and physical appearance, can be studied and scrutinized in the name of turning yourself into another person. But even with all of that effort, it still isn’t an exact science. That is when the time honored tool of a good prosthetic suit comes in handy, and while playing The Best of Enemies’ civil rights hero Ann Atwater, actor Taraji P. Henson understood this specific point the best.

During CinemaBlend’s recent conversation with Taraji P. Henson, as part of The Best of Enemies’ promotional tour, the subject of just what it took for her to sink into character came up. And in discussing that point, it all came down to the physical transformation that Henson had to make in order to truly embody Atwater’s trademark movements and gestures.

In the effort to make this change as accurate as possible, the suit that Henson wore in the film needed to undergo some specific alterations. And those changes, as explained in our conversation, came down to the following physical attributes:

It’s that sort of dedication that’s been extremely significant in Taraji P. Henson’s evolution as an actor. In preparing for Proud Mary, Henson previously spoke to us about how she prepared to deal with a film that had more action than she was previously used to. That same dedication is what comes through in her description of how she got ready for The Best of Enemies, as everything from how Ann ate to how she walked was put on the table as qualities to be studied and mastered in her portrayal.

The end result was something that everyone on set, and especially Taraji P. Henson herself, noticed during the filming of The Best of Enemies. Even her own personal security detail, whom she hired after their work on Proud Mary, noted to her that she was a totally different person once she’d gotten into her full prosthetic suit. And thanks to her push for a more accurate design, Henson was able to proudly claim this special victory:

It doesn’t matter if it’s getting a prosthetic suit just right, adapting to intense stunt work or whatever other challenges she has faced in the various projects she’s been a part of, Taraji P. Henson has a process when it comes to digging into a role; and it’s a huge part of what makes her specific brand of acting so unique. Tthat process works like a charm, as it allowed her to truly dig into the personal story of Ann Atwater and C.P. Ellis’s friendship, which is at the very heart of The Best of Enemies.

The Best of Enemies will be in theaters this Friday.

Taraji P. Henson opened up about her history with mental illness. The Empire actress confessed that she has a history with both anxiety and depression. And Henson claims her anxiety gets worse with each passing day. As she explained it:

As it was reported by Variety, Taraji P. Henson started an organization called The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation, which is named after her late father. With this newly-instated organization, Henson wants to provide the steps to end the stigma surrounding that she claims is found within the black community. The cause is obviously a deeply personal one for the celebrity. And in the spirit of opening up the conversation and providing a personal point-of-view about this matter, she talked about her own battles with mental illness. Specifically, the Emmy-nominated actress' ongoing troubles with anxiety and depression, which persist to this day.

Taraji P. Henson claims that even though she is wealthy and famous — particularly today — that doesn't eradicate the symptoms that persistently come with anxiety and depression. Despite her fame, fortune and many successes, both personally and professionally, Henson says she suffers — perhaps more so now. She believes it's important to share her story, and to reveal how mental illness can affect anyone.

While Taraji P. Henson is currently on the promotional tour for her latest movie, this weekend's biopic The Best of Enemies, the actress is working hard to promote and campaign this organization, which she believes can be a vehicle for good for men and women who've struggled with their own demons with little help over the years. Specifically, Henson wants to "break the cycle" which has gone on for way too long.

When it comes to her continued battles with depression and anxiety, Taraji P. Henson battles these struggles by seeing a therapist and spending less time on social media. One of Henson's missions is to get more therapists into schools. While it will remain an uphill battle, she is confident that she can make a change. And Taraji P. Henson believes the first step is to open up about herself and the pains she feels, even today. By being open, she hopes other people will be too.

What if you could hear the innermost thoughts of the men around you? Terrifying, right? Well, in the new Taraji P. Henson comedy What Men Want, the uncomfortable honesty that comes with mens’ thoughts also leads to hilarity, especially as Henson tries to get inside the brains of Tracy Morgan, Pete Davidson, Max Greenfield and Shaquille O’Neal. You might not realize that What Men Want is a spin on the Mel Gibson and Helen Hunt comedy What Women Want, from 2000. So when CinemaBlend sat down with the Men cast, we asked them what classic Taraji role would they love to see Mel Gibson tackle, and Henson had an immediate reply:

Didn’t even take her a moment to realize that Taraji P. Henson would love to see Mel Gibson tackle the role of Cookie Lyon from FOX’s hit drama Empire. It would be as much of a role-reversal as Henson slipping into the role of a business executive who is blessed (or is it cursed?) with the ability to hear the thoughts of the opposite sex.

And now we can’t stop thinking about Mel Gibson trading scenes with Terrence Howard as they talked the inner workings of the Hip-Hop world.

When we posed the same question to What Men Want director Adam Shankman and his producer, Will Packer, they both went after some of Taraji P. Henson’s other signature roles. And yet, the effect was equally comedic! They told us:

It has been a while since Mel Gibson has challenged himself in a role, and we couldn’t see him taking on a role like a pregnant prostitute. That’s some Spike Jonze-level insanity. But Gibson is open to comedy, as he recently appeared in the sequel Daddy’s Home Two. It broke up his string of action thrillers like Blood Father and Get The Gringo.

Here’s the cast of What Men Want, career-speculating on the one-time Braveheart director.

And in addition to that, we’ve been offered an exclusive listen to the title track from the What Men Want score, by Brian Tyler. It’s available now on Lakeshore Records. Give this a listen:

Want to see what Taraji P. Henson does with an old Mel Gibson role? Then head to theater to see What Men Want, right now. But hit our review of the film before you go. It will help you prepare for what to expect.

Taraji P. Henson is headed to the big screen this weekend for What Men Want. However, she still has her Empire family at heart, and during a recent appearance on Today she talked to Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb about what she told her co-star Jussie Smollett after his recent attack in Chicago. She said:

The attack, which allegedly occurred last week, reportedly left the actor bruised and battered. Rumors indicate his Empire cast and crew family were told about the attack shortly after and discussions were held to determine whether or not extra security precautions were needed on set. Fox and Empire's team have supported Jussie Smollett since the reported attack and the network even made an official statement after the news broke regarding Smollett, noting:

The show actually shut down production last week due to the polar vortex, so hopefully the actor got a bit of a break before being required to return to work.

Over the weekend Jussie Smollett headed to Los Angeles, where he performed in front of a crowd, telling those at the Troubadour Club in West Hollywood that many of the facts that were reported have been off. His ribs were bruised but not broken, for example. He went to a doctor but was not hospitalized as well. He also says he “fought back” against his attackers.

Taraji P. Henson also mentioned a lot along the lines of what Jussie Smollett mentioned over the weekend. He talked about the “hateful rhetoric” need “to stop.” His co-star also iterated on Today:

Empire is currently airing its fifth season on Fox. The storyline this season for Jussie Smollett’s character, Jamal, has involved him movie back to New York from London with his new boyfriend Kai. Things have not always been smooth between Kai and Jamal, especially after their engagement went public, but we won’t see how their storyline pans out until the show returns to the schedule this spring.

Empire is expected to return for the second half of Season 5 this spring, although Fox has not set an official date yet. In the meantime, take a look at CinemaBlend's midseason schedule to see what else is returning coming up.

The following story contains mild spoilers for the plot of Ralph Breaks the Internet, so if you haven't yet seen Disney's animated sequel, tread lightly.

A lot of people headed to the theaters to see Ralph Breaks the Internet over the holiday weekend. They knew going in that they'd get more time with two beloved leads from the original. But with Ralph (John C. Reilly) entering into the Internet, we got to meet a lot of new characters, starting with the Queen of BuzzTube, Yesss.

Played by Taraji P. Henson, Yesss has to help Ralph become a viral sensation so he can make enough money to pay for Vanellope's missing game part, which they overbid for on eBay. When we spoke with Henson about the role, she explained why she helped change the part as they recorded. Henson told CinemaBlend:

The way she stands now, Yesss is a sassy but knowledgeable character with her finger on the pulse of what's popping online. She tells it like it is, leveling with Ralph (John C. Reilly) that while his initial foray into viral video was a hit, nothing last for long on the Internet, and you have to adjust.

Which is exactly what the Ralph Breaks the Internet team did when the initial pass on Yesss was making her a little too aggressive. It's always interesting for us to find out how characters change over the lengthy production process on an animated feature, especially when bringing in a new actress like Taraji P. Henson was to this film.

Of course, Yesss isn't just up to speed on the viral videos that connect with viewers on the Internet. In a meaningful scene, Yesss teaches Ralph that the Comments section is a bad place to hang out, especially after Ralph reads a series of negative reactions to his videos.

Speaking about that scene, Taraji P. Henson told CinemaBlend:

Watch Taraji P. Henson discuss the work she did on Yesss during the production cycle:

Bringing new characters into the fold can be a challenge. Co-directors Phil Johnston and Rich Moore already knew that audiences were crazy for the chemistry shared by Ralph and Vanellope. But they sidelined characters like Felix (Jack McBrayer) and Calhoun (Jane Lynch) to give more time to new characters like Yesss and Shank (Gal Gadot), the skilled racer.

It paid off. Ralph Breaks the Internet broke the box office over the holiday weekend by posting a healthy $84.4 million for the five-day total. It's already a hit for the studio, and should continue to perform well... at least until Mary Poppins Returns rolls around to steal its family-ticket thunder.

In case you hadn't heard, the rampant Hollywood trend of remakes isn't going anywhere. One of which being a new take on 2000's What Women Want starring Mel Gibson and Helen Hunt. That rom-com followed a misogynist advertising executive who one day gains the ability to hear the thoughts of women. It now serves as an inspiration for the upcoming film What Men What starring Taraji P. Henson, who will be listening in to inner workings of men's minds this time around.

In anticipation for the film's release this February, I spoke with What Men What's director Adam Shankman about the project. Now I'm no mind reader, but amidst news of films based on another, we often wonder how much will be recycled from what we've already seen. Here's what Shankman said:

Whew! As charming as What Women Want was back in its day, seeing it again, just with the genders flipped isn't enough to make it worth the revisit. What Men What is using the same "curse" set-up as the Mel Gibson version, with some completely different circumstances surrounding it.

This time Taraji P. Henson will play a sports agent trying to break the glass ceiling in her male dominated office, where she believes she's earned a promotion. In the comedy, Henson's character drinks a questionable brew of tea from a psychic and bumps her head at a nightclub, waking up with the thoughts of the men all around inside her head.

Director Adam Shankman did notice a distinct difference between the set ups of What Men Want in comparison to the Mel Gibson movie with the film's main characters in his interview with CinemaBlend. In his words:

In an age when female actresses are taking roles previously held by men in movies, this example is an interesting one because it shows that the replacement of gender held an importance in how the lead's story plays out. Take a look at the latest red-band trailer for What Men Want:

While in What Women Want, Mel Gibson's chauvinistic behaviors were put under the microscope due to his new ability, Taraji P. Henson will learn a common misconception between the two genders: they're more alike than we think. What Men Want will perhaps combat the cultural construct of the opposite sex being literal opposites, aside from being an entertaining comedy. Not a bad way to do a remake.

What Men Want comes to theaters on February 8, 2019 and stars Aldis Hodge, Tracy Morgan, Pete Davidson and Max Greenfield alongside star Taraji P. Henson.

What Men Want will be hitting theaters in just a few months, and if you're wondering if it will be a straight-up comedy or more of a romantic comedy, like the movie that it's based on, producer Will Packer has an answer for you. When CinemaBlend spoke with him during roundtable interviews on the film's set in late May, he stressed that this movie would differ from the Mel Gibson original, What Women Want, by focusing way more on comedy than on romance.

So, while What Men Want will absolutely feature a love story, Will Packer is clear to note that it will not be the focal point of the story, or feature any of the "typical machinations" of traditional romantic comedies that we've all come to know and love over the years.

In What Men Want, Taraji P. Henson stars as a sports agent who's trying to get ahead but keeps getting denied opportunities in her male-dominated field. If you've seen the Nancy Meyers-directed original from 2000, you know that the "cool device" Will Packer spoke of is gaining the ability to hear the thoughts of the opposite sex. This magic power ends up allowing Henson's character, Ali (as in boxer Muhammad Ali), to begin to get a leg up on her male competition as she tries to sign a rising NBA star.

The original movie was, indeed, focused on the romance between Mel Gibson's character and that of Helen Hunt. While his character learned, through his gained power, to understand women more and grow as a person, much of that personal growth was really filtered through his burgeoning romance. What Women Want was definitely about a man and woman finding their way to each other in odd circumstances.

Will Packer mentioned that romance isn't completely ignored in What Men Want, even though you don't really see any glimpses of that in the newly released trailer. The film is much more about the comedy that comes from Ali's new gift and how she learns to use it to finally get what she's been after in her life and career for so long. It gives Ali the insight she needs to figure out what the men she works with and the athletes she's trying to sign need from her in order for her to succeed. And, it will probably also come in handy when her love interest arrives on the scene, as an added bonus for Ali's strange new life.

You can see how Ali uses her fancy new skill when What Men Want opens on January 11, 2019. Until then, be sure to check out our 2018 movie premiere schedule to see what's coming to a theater near you through the end of the year.

What Men Want is sure to have a lot of surprises in store for audiences when it hits theaters next year, and you can count on at least one of those surprises being just what many of the movie's male characters are actually thinking. When CinemaBlend visited the film's set in May, star Taraji P. Henson noted that, if, for instance, you figured their thoughts would all be strictly sexual, you might want to think again.

So, it would seem that one thing What Men Want is going to do for audiences is put a spotlight on how men and women can actually be quite similar, at least where our private thoughts are concerned. The idea that men are just as insecure as women, and spend time worrying about how they measure up to others helps to even the playing field a bit and show that we really all want the same things out of life. As Taraji P. Henson mentioned when she spoke to us, even guys can be under-appreciated at work and get salty about it sometimes.

After watching the awesome trailer, you can see that Taraji P. Henson, who plays a sports agent trying to move up in the ranks as she is getting boxed out by her male colleagues in What Men Want, is absolutely correct that the men's thoughts in the upcoming comedy do lend plenty of surprises. By my count, only one of the men featured actually had a sexual thought that her character, Ali, could hear. And, he promptly got a pool cue to the groin thanks to our male thought-hearing heroine, so he might think twice before letting his mind go dirty next time.

Taraji P. Henson gives a lot of credit to those behind What Men Want for making sure the movie has a good variety of male thoughts for us to dig into. Just consider what it would be like to sit through this film, even as a comedy, and hear nothing but men's thoughts "about her tits and her ass." Forget about it not being much fun, it would probably get downright creepy before too long. Luckily for us, What Men Want is more interested in revealing some masculine insecurities than it is sex talk and some gleeful thoughts about strangers walking through fart clouds.

You can get the full scope of men's thoughts when What Men Want opens on January 11, 2019. Until then, be sure to check out our 2018 movie premiere schedule to see what else is coming to a theater near you.

Years ago, Mel Gibson toplined an unexpectedly charming rom-com alongside Helen Hunt titled What Women Want. The idea behind it, simple as it was, gave Gibson's advertising executive -- a textbook alpha male -- the ability all of a sudden to hear the thoughts women around him were having. Naturally, Gibson's character used this gift to get ahead in business, and win the heart of Hunt's competitor. What Women Want had heart and humor, and that same formula looks to be applied to the female remake, What Men Want, starring Taraji P. Henson. The first trailer just dropped. Give it a look:

Thinking she's about to make partner at her firm, Ali (Taraji P. Henson) grows furious at the Boys' Club mentality that leads to her getting passed over. In an effort to get ahead in the cutthroat industry, she visits a psychic... and slams her head into a table during a nightclub visit. Somewhere along the way (be it the tea, or the head slam), Ali wakes up with the ability to hear men's inner-most thoughts. And all hell breaks loose form there.

The hook of What Men Want is that the main character has to go from seeing the newfound power as a blessing, and not a curse. Sure, Ali (Henson) can probably do without knowing that she is walking through a cloud of farts left in her path by a parking attendant. No one needs to know that. But by the end of this initial trailer, Ali is using her gift to get the better hand on a gaggle of celebrity cameo poker players, including Mark Cuban, Tracy Morgan, Grant Hill and Shaquille O'Neal. That looks like it's going to be a fun scene.

There's a huge component of What Women Want, the 2000 Mel Gibson and Helen Hunt version of the story, that isn't prevalent in the trailer for What Men Want... so far, anyway. Gibson eventually uses this power to get into the inner thoughts of his lovely competitor. Will there be a love interest in the cards for Taraji P. Henson's Ali? I'd bet cold hard cash on it happening, but we have months until this one hits theaters in January, so expect a full trailer later on this year.

Here's the biggest thing you need to know about What Men Want. It's being brought to theaters by producer Will Packer, the driving force behind Girls Trip and Ride Along. Pairing his creativity with Taraji P. Henson's go-for-broke comedy seems like a great fit. We'll see what they have come up with when What Men Want -- co-starring Aldis Hodge, Tracy Morgan, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Pete Davidson and Max Greenfield -- opens in theaters on January 11, 2019.

This Mother's Day, Taraji P. Henson got a great gift: a diamond ring. That's right; Taraji P. Henson is preparing to walk down the aisle soon, as the actress is now engaged to her boyfriend, NFL player Kelvin Hayden. As she announced on social media, Henson got a wonderfully romantic weekend extravagance on Sunday evening, and she's revealing the details to all of her followers. Check out Taraji's engagement ring, along with a personal declaration of love from the Empire actress herself, below.

Kelvin Hayden seems to be quite the romantic. Taraji P. Henson can barely contain her excitement in this Instagram post. The actress/athlete couple announced their relationship status in December, although rumors about their coupling had been around since 2015. It will be both Hayden and Henson's first marriage, although Henson does have a son, Marcel Johnson, 24, from a previous relationship.

Although Taraji P. Henson hasn't discussed her relationship with Kelvin Hayden too much, particularly since it hasn't been public knowledge for a long time, the Proud Mary actress did discuss her bond with Hayden during a late 2017 appearance on Essence's Yes, Girl! podcast. In that interview, Henson said the following about her love life with Hayden, and how much she loves being with him.

If Taraji P. Henson is happy, then we're happy! The film and television actress is always a delight to see on the screen, and it's good to know that Henson is ready to embark on this next stage of her life. She's clearly excited about it, and we look forward to hearing more details about her upcoming marriage to Kelvin Hayden as they arrive in the months to come. Many congratulations to the happy couple!

Meanwhile, as an actress, Taraji P. Henson was last seen in Tyler Perry's newest film, Acrimony, earlier this year. As previously mentioned, she also starred in Proud Mary. Next up, she'll be providing her voice to the upcoming Disney sequel Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2. She also recently filmed a role in the biopic The Best of Enemies, which is expected to arrive later this year. Taraji is also signed on to frontline the forthcoming What Men Want, the gender-swapped re-imagining of 2000's What Women Want. She also, of course, reprised her role as Cookie in the newest season of Empire.

For a long time, we were sort of in a period where reboots, remakes and revivals were a hot topic or trend, and a lot of them had started coming down the pipeline. These days we are long past that sort of delivery. Remakes and reboots are aplenty and they run the gamut from straight remakes to gender swaps to long-awaited sequels. I really could go on and on. One of these, the What Women Want remake or what the studio is calling the movie "inspired" by What Women Want, What Men Want, is now moving forward. After signing on Taraji P. Henson as the lead, the flick has now signed on New Girl actor Max Greenfield. Tracy Morgan is also attached.

With Taraji P. Henson already attached, it's no real surprise other casting is coming fast and furiously. Paramount has already given What Men Want an early 2019 release date, meaning that the movie will probably need to jump into production fairly soon, even if it won't need to spend months in the editing bay adding cgi like bigger budget movies often do. Per Variety, Max Greenfield will play one of Taraji P. Henson's coworkers in the new movie. He is described as "arrogant," and should be an interesting foil for Henson's character.

The original What Women Want followed Mel Gibson after an accident allowed him to hear the innermost thoughts of the females around him. The newer version will feature Taraji P. Henson as a sports agent. (Gibson was an advertising executive in his movie.) Henson's character will be trying to move up in a male-dominated corporate world and will be trying to beat her male co-workers to sign a new, popular NBA player. Once she can hear her male coworker's thoughts, she'll have an edge up. It's sounds like more of a straight comedy than the rom-com the original was, but the key tenets of the first movie and hearing the opposite gender's thoughts are definitely going to be a part of the new iteration. We'll have to wait for the trailer to see what the tone of the flick is like.

A couple of years ago, Taraji P. Henson was on fire, coming off a successful run on Person of Interest and signing on for Fox's then-megahit Empire. Those successful runs helped her to land movies she has starred in, including Proud Mary and Acrimony, neither of which were huge box office draws. Hidden Figures, on the other hand, did quite well with at the box office, especially considering its relatively nominal budget, and it raised Henson's profile once more. It's that magic Paramount is likely hoping to hit with What Men Want. We'll have to wait and see how it all plays out, but we won't have too much longer to wait to find out.

What Men Want will officially hit theaters on January 11, 2019. To see what is coming to theaters much sooner, take a look at our full movies schedule for 2018.

It's remarkable to witness how the film industry evolves with marketplace changes and the introduction of innovations, but there is one thing that we can always rely on: if a movie doesn't screen for critics prior to its release, you can all but guarantee it's a remarkable stinker. Reviews are the easiest way for any feature to get publicity and exposure, so there is no reason to avoid them... unless a studio is concerned the reaction will be so bad it stops audiences from attending screenings.

This is a bad black mark to wear, and sadly, it's one that actress Taraji P. Henson has worn twice already in 2018. First there was the dull, lifeless Proud Mary back in January, and now we have Acrimony -- the new romantic drama from writer/director Tyler Perry. And if you haven't figured it out by now, this new film is not the one that totally shatters preconceived notions about movies not screened for critics. It's actually exactly as bad as you think it is, poorly implementing what is actually an interesting premise -- failing to earn any of the twists and turns it presents, and wasting the legitimate talent involved with the production.

The non-linear story centers on Melinda Gayle (Taraji P. Henson), whose entire identity is wrapped up in scorn. Forced to attend anger management sessions, she tells a counselor the story of her relationship with her ex-husband, Robert (Lyriq Bent) -- which began during college shortly after the death of her mother. Robert is an ambitious inventor, determined to create a new kind of battery, but his work forces Melinda to support him, and doing so forces her to spend her entire inheritance on him. Only making the situation worse is that he cheats on her with another woman -- leading to an incident that changes her life dramatically. Her sisters insist that she kick him to the curb, but she instead decides to stand by him.

As the story progresses, it is meant to force a shift in perspective, with the audience forced to question whether or not Melinda is a reliable narrator. Regrettably, I have to say "is meant to" because of Acrimony's failed execution of this central idea. While tricky to discuss without fully diving into spoilers, the reality is that anything meant to be subtle in the first half of the film is painted with a ridiculously bold brush, which totally undercuts any kind of intended progression in the narrative. The idea is that you're supposed to be on Melinda's side at the start and then eventually question that initial impression -- but Tyler Perry makes the character so unlikable and the story so mild that the development becomes nullified.

Also worth mentioning is the extreme tone deafness that the movie demonstrates in our current societal climate. Humanity is in the midst of seeing formerly powerless women rightly stand up and fight back against abuses and endless mistreatment from men, but Acrimony feels like it operates in direct contrast to that movement. It's legitimately the literal opposite, with the pained and angry woman painted as being irrational and uncontrollably emotional, and the man being a little bit flawed but ultimately a candidate for sainthood. This isn't to say that this is a totally off-limits narrative, but the ignorance of the modern context in which the film is being released was certainly on my mind as the story unfolded -- and it's a bad look.

The unfortunate victim in all of this, as implied, is really Taraji P. Henson -- who is a performer far better than the material she's been performing on the big screen in 2018. If the movie written lived up to the concept, Melinda would certainly be a great role to play, as a nimble script would allow for understated evolution of the character, allowing it to become even more and more fascinating on rewatch. But Tyler Perry doesn't prove up to that task. Melinda starts as a protagonist who is angry and endlessly rough around the edges -- with none of it translating as "powerful" or even "interesting" -- and it all ends so pulpy and crazy that it's impossible to take any of it seriously (even when Henson is clearly trying to really bring it).

Compared to, say, Boo! A Madea Halloween, Acrimony actually had a bit of promise -- but it's even more of a disappointment because of the fact that it lives up to absolutely none of it. And while the sun hasn't set on Taraji P. Henson's time as a leading lady, choosing scripts like this one is doing nothing but hurting her cause. Hopefully she'll be able to turn things around in 2018 with the movies she has lined up to come out between now and December, but considering another one of those titles is another Tyler Perry movie, chances are probably not worth betting on.

Traditionally, Disney is fairly gunshy when it comes to theatrically released animated sequels. In fact, Disney Animation Studios has only ever produced one direct sequel to a theatrical release, The Rescuers Down Under, back in 1990. However, the sequels begin to increase in 2018 when Wreck-It Ralph sees a sequel of its own, Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-it Ralph 2.

The first movie brought us into a world that exists inside our favorite video games. The sequel, as the name implies, will expand on that theme and take on the entire internet. With a scope that large, nearly anything can happen, and, based on what we know, quite a lot of it will. Here's everything we know about the sequel to Wreck-It Ralph.

What Is The Wreck-It Ralph 2 Release Date?

There are several "big weekends" on the release calendar, and Disney is frequently associated with all of them. However, there may be no weekend more synonymous with Disney than Thanksgiving weekend. Movies like Frozen, Moana, and Coco have all been released the day before Thanksgiving, and Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2 will be Disney's 2018 representative for the holiday weekend when it gets released on November 21, 2018. Originally, Ralph 2 was going to be released in the spring of 2018. However, likely due to the issues Disney was having producing Gigantic, Ralph was pushed to November. The film will have some competition for that release, as it opens the same day as Creed 2. It also opens the week after Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald.

What Is Wreck-It Ralph 2 Rated?

It's a bit early to know exactly what the release date for Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2 will be. However, the first movie received a PG rating and so it's a safe bet the sequel will fall in line with that. This is Disney that we're talking about, so really a G rating is the only other viable option. At this point, PG is becoming the standard for Disney animation and while the first film likely could have gotten away with a G rating, we expect the tone of the sequel to be on par with its predecessor.

What Have We Seen From Wreck-It Ralph 2?

Lucky for us, after years of waiting to see something from Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2, a trailer was finally released at the end of February 2018. In it, we see that Mr. Litwak, the arcade owner, has installed a Wi-Fi router in his business, which is plugged into the same power strip as the games, making it possible for Ralph and Venellope to go from the game world to the internet. While we still don't get much of the larger story in this two-minute trailer, it's easy to see that this sequel will be a lot of fun.

What Is Wreck-It Ralph 2 About?

The first details about the actual plot of Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2 came out last summer during Disney's D23 Expo. While we already had an idea where the movie would take place due to the title, we have a bit of information as to why. Apparently, the copy of Sugar Rush inside the arcade from the first movie is in need of a replacement part. This leads Ralph and Vanellope to make use of a router that has been installed in the arcade to jump from the arcade onto the internet in order to go looking for it. This will take the pair to, we assume, a number of different worlds, similar to the way that each game in the arcade was unique in the first film.

Exactly how a couple of digital characters are going to pick up a physical replacement part from the actual internet is unclear. Maybe they need to make nice with an Amazon buy box or digitally alter the results of an eBay auction in order to make sure the arcade wins. Either way, we saw how scary going "Out of Order" was for the people inside Fix-It Felix Jr in the first movie, and clearly that possibility happening for Sugar Rush will make this adventure an equally serious one.

The Writers

The story of Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2 comes to us from three Disney veterans who have a strong history behind them. The Head of Story is Jim Reardon, who previously was part of the story team for both Zootopia and the original Wreck-It Ralph. Then we have Pamela Ribon who previously assisted with the story for Disney's Moana. Before that, she had worked on television comedies like Mind of Mencia and Samantha Who? Finally, the third member of the story team for Ralph 2 is Phil Johnston, who co-wrote the screenplay for both Zootopia and the first Wreck-It Ralph. He's also got another big job on this movie, which takes us to our next section.

The Directors

The first Wreck-It Ralph was a solo directorial effort from Rich Moore, who also co-directed Zootopia. He'll be back in the director's chair for Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2, but this time he'll share directorial responsibilities with Phil Johnston. This is Johnston's debut as a feature film director, but considering how intimately he's been involved with this franchise, it certainly feels like he's picked the right film to start with.

Wreck-It Ralph

Long before Wreck-It Ralph 2 was official, we knew that it was coming, mostly because voice actor John C. Reilly likes to talk. The original Wreck-It Ralph was all about a character who had been designed to be a particular way, in this case, a video game villain, who tried to step outside his role and find more in his existence. His quest took him outside of his Donkey Kong-esque 8-bit video game and into other games, including modern first-person shooters and kart racers. Ralph succeeded in finding more, but also made peace with his role as the bad guy. One assumes that we'll find Ralph in a similar state as Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2 begins. The shift away from video games and into the internet will probably be the biggest shift for him. We certainly got the impression in the first movie that the characters were very much a product of their era, and so Ralph, from a game over 30 years old, likely won't know where to start when navigating the web. We've been promised that the friendship between Ralph and Vanellope will be tested in the sequel, though we're not exactly sure what that means.

Vanellope Von Schweetz

Most of Wreck-It Ralph took place in the game of Sugar Rush, the candy go-kart game and home of Vanellope Von Schweetz, voiced by Sarah Silverman. At the end of the first film, we learned that Vanellope was actually the princess of the land, though her time as an apparent glitch made her feel more comfortable in a hoodie than a frilly dress. Sugar Rush will be key to the sequel as well, as Vanellope and Ralph's journey into the internet is undertaken in an attempt to find a part that will fix the Sugar Rush arcade cabinet. This could indicate a slight shift in the character dynamic. Even though the film's title is all about Ralph, he may take a more secondary role in Vanellope's quest to fix her game.

Fix-It Felix Jr.

Fix-It Felix Jr. was the name of the video game that Ralph came from, and Felix was an important supporting character in the first film. While Jack McBrayer was apparently the last person to know that Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2 was coming, it has been confirmed that he'll be back to reprise his role as the guy who fixes everything. It's unclear how big a role Felix will have, but as the character was married at the end of the first movie, there are a lot of opportunities to do some new things with him.

Calhoun

Fix-It Felix Jr's bride at the end of the first movie was the tough-as-nails Calhoun, voiced by Jane Lynch. The actress has confirmed that she will be back for the sequel, and we would expect her part to be on par with that of Felix as far as its size an importance, but that's pure speculation. Calhoun's modern military video game character represented the current generation of more mature games, which are very popular among actual online communities, so, perhaps, she'll be in a better position to navigate the world of the internet than the others.

Mr. Litwak

One character from the first film who has seemingly not been confirmed for the sequel is Mr. Litwak, the owner of the arcade where Ralph and the gang all reside. He was voiced by the hilarious Ed O'Neil and while he wasn't a major character in the first film, with the plot of the game revolving around the Sugar Rush arcade cabinet, there's a good chance that the owner will make another supporting appearance as he did before.

Other Returning Characters

There was a nearly endless number of small supporting characters in Wreck-It Ralph in the form of the Nicelanders of Fix-it Felix Jr. and the additional racers in Sugar Rush. Since this adventure will take our leads out of the arcade, we wouldn't expect any of them to have roles even as large as what they had before. Still, expect the likes of Mindy Kaling and others to appear briefly, if only to keep the worlds feeling lived in and to help give us an idea of what has happened in the intervening years.

Yesss

So far, only one brand new character has been introduced for Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck it Ralph 2. During the D23 Expo last summer, attendees were treated to footage of the character known as Yesss who is voiced by Taraji P. Henson. She plays a digital algorithm for a website known as Buzzaholic, the apparent stand-in for BuzzFeed in this universe. She will be the film's tour guide of sorts as the character who introduces the internet world to our characters and helps them navigate it. No images have been released publicly of Yesss, but she's described as a character with blue hair that dresses fairly hip and has clothes made from fiber optics.

New Voices

Two voice actors have been attached to the movie to play brand new characters that we don't know much about. Ugly Betty's Ana Ortiz was the first name announced for what is being called a "small role," but beyond that, we don't know much. Late night TV host James Corden, who seems to be doing voice acting in everything these days, is also apparently involved in Wreck-it Ralph 2. His casting was revealed by Jane Lynch, so it's possible his role will be involved with whatever Calhoun is up to in the new movie.

Alan Tudyk

There are only about two things you can be sure of when it comes to a Disney Animation Studios movie these days. First, it will open with a shot of a castle, and two, you'll hear the voice of Alan Tudyk at some point. He's been in every animated Disney movie for the last several years, including voicing the major role of King Candy in the first Wreck-It Ralph. Tudyk has confirmed he'll be back for the sequel, though in a different role. It could be another major role like it was last time, though in Moana he voiced a sidekick chicken, so, really, anything is possible.

Disney References

Disney has become a massive entity in recent years and Wreck-it Ralph 2 will actually make reference to this fact with a major scene that they showed off at the D23 Expo last year. The characters will actually go to one of Disney's real homes on the internet, OhMyDisney.com, where they will see elements of Star Wars and Marvel as well as Disney animation. In fact, Ralph and Vanellope will meet all of the classic Disney princesses in one place, in a moment that will be a major joy for all the Disney fanatics out there. All of the original voice actors who are still with us will reprise their roles. With everybody from Snow White to Anna and Elsa making an appearance. Whether this will actually be a scene that is important in the grand scheme of the story or just one for fun is unclear, but it will be a major event either way.

She sometimes goes by the name Proud Mary. He usually goes by the name Madea. But when Taraji P. Henson and Tyler Perry reunite, they tend to create fireworks. After the two did Bad All By Myself and checked in on The Family That Preys, Henson and Perry are joining forces once again for Acrimony, and Lionsgate has given CinemaBlend an exclusive look at the newest poster for the revenge-tinged comedy drama. Take a look at this:

In the film, Taraji P. Henson plays Melinda, a faithful lover who has been standing by her man, Robert (Lyriq Bent), for far too long. She has been wronged by this man, but we don't even know the extent of the damage it has done to their relationship... and to her psyche. Acrimony looks like it's going to trace the early days of their relationship -- with Ajiona Alexus and Antonio Madison playing younger versions of the once-happy couple. But in time, we'll see how Robert strayed... and how Melinda plotted revenge.

If you missed the original trailer for Tyler Perry's Acrimony, we have that below for you, as well. It has a pretty neat twist waiting for you right in the middle. Brace for it:

As mentioned, this is not the first time that Tyler Perry and Taraji P. Henson have swung for the same fences, but there's something about Acrimony that looks extra special. Can you step back and say that it looks like the duo is trying to put their own spin on the classic Fatal Attraction narrative? To a certain extent. But Henson does "wounded and wronged" so well, while the visuals in the Acrimony trailer suggest that Tyler Perry absorbed some of the moods that his Gone Girl director David Fincher brings to a thriller. There's dread and remorse in the frames of that tease above, and the exclusive new poster we're proud to share backs up the fact that Acrimony looks stylish as all get out.

Tyler Perry's Acrimony, starring Taraji P. Henson, will be in theaters on March 30. It's the perfect antidote to the Valentine's Day romances, the Fifty Shades distractions, and the calm before the storm that is the Summer Blockbuster Season. Be sure to bookmark our own 2018 Movie Release Guide to keep track of all the movie reaching theaters over the course of the rest of the year!