It’s been well over a decade since Christian Bale last donned the cape and cowl to play Batman in Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy, but many still discuss his performance. As far as live-action Batman actors go, Bale is still praised for his portrayal of Gotham City’s defender and his alter ego, Bruce Wayne. Bale is a smart performer and he seemed to truly commit himself playing the iconic DC character. And, now, I need to rewatch one particular installment after hearing about one funny method he used to get through a scene.

2012’s The Dark Knight Rises sees the Bat going up against the imposing Bane, who’s played by Tom Hardy. The two characters share some tense scenes in the film, which are exciting to watch. I don’t think I’ll ever forget the first time I saw Hardy’s muscle-bound antagonist beat down the Caped Crusader and break his back. However, not all of that material was easy for both of the seasoned actors to film, as they weren’t always able to hear each other. Bale recalled:

First off, this behind-the-scenes detail reframes the way I look at some of those epic moments but, when I really think about it, it makes sense that the two stars wouldn’t be able to hear each other’s dialogue. During their confrontation scenes, there’s a lot going on, especially during that final battle for Gotham at the end of Dark Knight Rises. Nolan is obviously a clever filmmaker, but it was his actors who managed to find a solution to this little issue, as Bale explained to Heart:

I’m trying my best to imagine Hardy and Bale – all decked out in their costumes – and raising their fingers in order to cue each other. Considering Nolan works with some sharp editors, I’m not completely sure I’d be able to find a moment in which either of the actors actually use the signal. However, I’m more than eager to throw on the film again in the slight hope that I might find something. That aside, though, I’m just glad the two co-stars were able to work through that dialogue-related snafu.

While some viewers may have their nitpicks with Christian Bale’s version of The World’s Greatest Detective (like his Batman voice), he does an excellent job of portraying the duality between Bruce and the Bat. Believe it or not, Bale has actually taken issue with his performance, opining that he “didn’t quite nail it.” Of course, I’m not surprised by such a comment, considering how seriously the Oscar winner takes his work.

Bale has, of course, played a plethora of other roles since playing the famed superhero, though he is willing to play the character again. However, the one condition he has for a Bat reprisal is that Christopher Nolan be involved and, given the filmmaker has moved on, I’d say it’s likely that Bale has hung up the costume for good. Still, if he were to come back, I wouldn’t be surprised if he’d use that same trick in order to be cued to deliver dialogue.

If you’re like me and now have a desire to rewatch The Dark Knight Rises, grab an HBO Max subscription to stream it alongside the other films in the Dark Knight Trilogy. And anyone looking for new fare should read up on upcoming superhero movies.

A major spoiler for Rolling Loud: The Movie lies ahead, so read on at your own discretion, comedy lovers.

There are plenty of R-rated comedies that truly earn their ratings, and Rolling Loud: The Movie proves itself to be among them. Writer/director Jeremy Garelick’s 2026 movie schedule entry sees a father and son head to the titular hip-hop festival, and the results are truly raunchy. Much of that lewdness can be attributed to Christine Ko’s character, Linda, who really gets a wild moment to shine near the end of the film. CinemaBlend has since spoken to Ko about the backstory of that crazy scene.

In the film, Linda serves as a volunteer at the festival and gets caught up in the mix as concerned father Hank (Owen Wilson) tries to find his 13-year-old son, Zion (Christian Convery) at the festival. Linda’s biggest moment, however, comes when she creates a distraction near the climax of the film by going full nude. Ko opened up about that scene while speaking with CinemaBlend alongside Garelick and admitted how “proud” she was of it. With that, Ko went on to reveal her own inspirations for the scene:

Ko had the idea, and she knew it could be accomplished with a merkin. But, as she explained, finding the right one proved to be easier said than done:

Many actors have indeed gone nude, especially for comedic purposes. As Ko mentioned, Jennifer Lawrence went all in on that while shooting 2023’s No Hard Feelings and didn’t use a body double. And, yes, who could forget Will Ferrell’s streaking scene in 2003’s Old School? Ko can now say she’s followed in her predecessors’ footsteps and, as she explained during our interview, she’d never felt more “empowered” on a set than she did when she got to help pick out the merkin. She also said this:

Ko didn’t just want to do the bush scene for the sake of earning raunchy glory, though. She further opined that “with comedies, you have to really push the edge, and that's what makes it funny.” The actress makes a good point in that some of the funniest R-rated flicks tend to push the envelope, and Superbad, Bridesmaids and The Hangover are among the best to do that. So now Ko can relish in the fact that her decision to “push the bush” is now forever immortalized on screen.

There are, of course, plenty of other wild scenes in Rolling Loud that are worthy of mentioning, and what’s wild is that Garelick’s teenage son, Zion, has a story credit on the film. Believe it or not, that’s because the film is inspired by Jeremy and Zion’s own experience at the festival when the latter was 13 years old. So, while the film may be full of raunch, it’s born from a father’s sweet memory of a close experience with his child.

So anyone looking for a wild music-related film should head over to their local cinema and check out Rolling Loud: The Movie, which is playing nationwide. And, if you haven’t seen the flick yet but still read through this story, you still won’t be prepared for Christin Ko’s wild scene.

Obsession came out of nowhere this year and basically kicked the door off its hinges. Curry Barker’s twisted horror movie cost around $750,000 to make, shattered box office expectations to become Focus Features’ highest-grossing film ever and currently sits at 93% with critics and 94% with audiences on Rotten Tomatoes. I already considered the YouTuber-turned-filmmaker one of the most exciting new horror filmmakers working right now. Then Seth Rogen had to go and raise my expectations for his next movie into dangerous territory due to his major claims.

Rogen wrote Barker’s entry for the 2026 TIME100 Next list, where he recalled finally seeing Obsession after the hype had already become difficult to ignore. Six weeks into its theatrical run, Rogen said his Tuesday-night screening was still sold out, with an audience “laugh-screaming” its way through the movie. Apparently, that experience was enough to turn him into a Barker believer. More importantly, Rogen has already seen Anything But Ghosts, and he didn’t exactly temper expectations:

Excuse me? Calling Anything But Ghosts “even better” would already be enough to get my attention. Rogen then casually throws in that the filmmaker behind the surprise horror hit is apparently just as impressive in front of the camera. I am uncomfortable now, Mr. Rogen. Mission accomplished.

Part of what made Obsession such a blast was how confident Barker was in his vision. The young director took the fairly simple idea of a guy using a magical object (after partially being inspired by The Simpsons) to make his crush love him and kept twisting the wish until it became increasingly grotesque. The movie also knew exactly when to be funny without losing any bite.

Rogen apparently noticed the same thing, praising Barker's “cinematic intuition” and calling the film technically impressive, beautifully performed and expertly written. Coming from somebody who has spent years writing, directing and producing his own movies and TV shows, that endorsement carries some weight. Thankfully, we do know a little about what Barker is doing next.

Anything But Ghosts follows wannabe ghost hunters who make a living conning people with fake paranormal activity until they stumble into something very real. Barker co-wrote the movie with longtime collaborator Cooper Tomlinson, and the two also star alongside Violet McGraw, Chris Reinacher, Bryce Dallas Howard and Aaron Paul. Focus Features has already set the movie for May 7, 2027.

Barker has said the premise naturally pushes this one further into comedy than Obsession (which is streamable with a Peacock subscription). He described the leads as con artists who know how to make tables shake and lights flicker before they encounter an actual dangerous entity. That sounds extremely up my alley.

There is even a tiny connection between the movies (aside from their director, of course). Barker previously revealed that Anything But Ghosts exists in the same universe as Obsession, with a news report referencing the aftermath of his first film. So, apparently, we are getting the beginnings of the Curry Barker Horror Cinematic Universe before the guy has even had time to get comfortable.

After Obsession, I was already going to see Anything But Ghosts. However, Rogen’s endorsement and declaration that it is somehow up-and-comer Curry Bark'ers next movie has changed the appointment from “probably opening weekend” to “leave me alone, I have plans.”

The 2027 movie schedule suddenly feels very far away, but I'm more than willing to wait. In the meantime, read up on other upcoming horror movies.

I have seen Avengers: Endgame enough times that Natasha Romanoff and Clint Barton fighting over who gets to throw themselves off Vormir seems obvious, and it doesn’t quite have the emotional weight it once did. Black Widow wins the terrible argument, Hawkeye gets the Soul Stone, and I spend the next hour wondering why Natasha never got the same kind of extended farewell Tony Stark received. Apparently, that outcome wasn't always locked in, and Hawkeye nearly was the one killed off.

During an Avengers: Endgame Encore Q&A (via Forbes), contributor Tim Lammers and screenwriter Stephen McFeely revealed that they actually tried a version where Hawkeye died instead, but some women at Marvel reacted immediately, and it changed the writers’ thinking. The writers were understandably nervous about killing one of the MCU’s most prominent women, so they tested the opposite outcome, but it didn’t land with the women in the office. McFeely explained:

I love that somebody apparently intercepted McFeely in a hallway over this, and I get their argument. Killing Hawkeye could have spared Natasha, sure. Still, it also would have handed Clint the huge redemptive sacrifice after Endgame spent much of its opening turning him into the murderous Ronin. Natasha had spent years trying to balance her own ledger. Letting her choose the Avengers over herself gives her agency in how that story ends, even if I still wish Marvel had given everyone more time to deal with losing her.

That remains my biggest frustration with the Vormir sequence. Ultimately, Natasha’s Endgame story culminates in her death; the surviving Avengers mourn her briefly, but Endgame has roughly a thousand other things to accomplish before the credits roll, so the film moves on quickly. McFeely knows it. He continued:

The writers did try to keep Natasha present after Vormir, but Avengers: Endgame ultimately builds toward Tony Stark’s sacrifice, with his death becoming the emotional centerpiece of the finale. By that point, there's simply not much room left to give Natasha a bigger farewell.

She eventually got a solo movie that works, in many ways, as a belated swan song. Still, I would have preferred a more substantial goodbye in the final major Marvel movie she appeared in chronologically by release.

Now, seven years later, I still think Natasha deserved more space. But knowing Marvel seriously considered killing Hawkeye instead makes the Vormir sequence even more interesting. Somewhere along the way, people at Marvel watched Clint fall from that cliff and basically told the writers, “Absolutely not.” And Natasha still got her sacrificial moment.

For better or worse, Clint kept his appointment with television, starring in his own series titled Hawkeye, which is streamable for everyone with a Disney+ subscription. Also, check out Avengers: Endgame using that same subscription to prepare for the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday, which opens in theaters on December 18 amid the 2026 movie schedule.

Ever since the Barbie press tour, method dressing has been all the rage. Margot Robbie dressed with a Victorian flair for her Wuthering Heights press tour earlier this year, and Zendaya always kills it with her Spider-Man-inspired gowns on red carpets. At this point, it feels like an expectation for stars to be in-theme when they are promoting a movie. Yet it seems like Daisy Edgar-Jones is subverting that expectation while she is promoting her latest period drama film, Sense and Sensibility. She showed up to the red carpet wearing something a little less sensible, but I still dig it.

Edgar-Jones recently arrived at the premiere of her Jane Austen book-to-screen adaptation in Australia wearing something a bit unexpected. The Normal People star followed the nude-dress trend and rocked a sheer, embellished Miu Miu gown on the red carpet. She kept the look incredibly simple, wearing no visible jewelry and understated shoes, allowing the dress to truly be the star of the show. You can see the look below:

I can’t deny the dress is absolutely stunning and perfect for Edgar-Jones’s silhouette. All in all, it fits her perfectly and is a great balance between sexy and elegant. However, it kind of takes out the “sensible” from Sense and Sensibility. It is incredibly modern, moving away from the kinds of corsets that a person would likely see on a press tour like this. Choosing a brand like Miu Miu, which has roots in '90s fashion, feels like a unique choice when promoting a Georgian era historical piece of cinema.

Even though it may not exactly be on-the-nose, I do understand the vision. Even though the sheer gown doesn’t scream “time-capsule,” there is still something Jane Austen-inspired about it. The soft color palette and styling is understated and romantic, like a lot of Austen’s heroines. The loose corset around Edgar-Jones’s midsection feels like a nod to the source material, without being overly referential. It’s a unique way to approach method dressing, and makes the look feel more like the actress instead of her character. It feels like Edgar-Jones, which is why I think she looks so great in this look.

Press tours have become a way for stylists to play costume designer in recent years. There’s an expectation for stars to take inspiration from their characters when promoting a film, and create headlines with fashion moments. Someone who immediately comes to mind is Lili Reinhart, as she sported rom-com-inspired looks while promoting The Love Hypothesis.

However, it’s exciting to see someone go in a different direction. Edgar-Jones’ stylist has opted for looks that aren’t quintessentially Elinor Dashwood, but are quintessentially Daisy with a Jane Austen flair. I personally can’t wait to see how the actress makes Sense and Sensibility her own, as she has with these fashion looks while promoting the film.

You can see Daisy Edgar-Jones in Sense and Sensibility, which hits theaters on October 16th. It may just be an Oscar contender, so make sure to check it out on the big screen when you can. Also, be sure to consult the 2026 movie release schedule for information on other sweet films headed to cinemas before the end of the year.

With Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil getting almost unanimous praise (though, some have a minor gripe with it), one might think that the talented director should maybe adapt another video game movie next (May I suggest Clock Tower?).

However, according to Deadline, Cregger's next picture is a sci-fi movie titled The Flood starring Jennifer Lawrence. So, oh, well. I guess no Scissorman for me. Be that as it may, even though Cregger will likely henceforth be referred to as “The director of Weapons and Resident Evil,” I just want to make sure that nobody forgets that he's also “The director of Barbarian.”

Because his debut solo picture still freaking rocks. Here's why.

Oh, and major spoilers up ahead.

Barbarian Is Still Just As Tense As You Remember It Being

Though we didn't include it on our list of directors who made a really good movie on their first try, Zach Cregger is definitely up there, as 2022's Barbarian - which is his solo directorial debut - is just as tense and ambitious (and yet small) as you would ever want from a first-time director.

The story is actually both easy and difficult to describe. Georgina Campbell plays a character named Tess (who, wouldn't you know, is a Black character who actually makes it to the end…barely) who travels to Detroit and rents out an Airbnb. That said, somebody else named Keith (Bill Skarsgård) somehow also rented out the same house on the same night. What luck!

Now, upon a first viewing, we're led to believe that something is shady about Keith, as he just seems too nice, which of course builds tension. However, by the next day, Tess finds a sort of labyrinth in the basement, and the true “villain,” a naked woman simply known as “The Mother,” emerges and bashes Keith's brains in. By this point, we're left wondering what the heck could possibly happen next. The film has a number of twists and turns like this, keeping the viewer tense throughout.

It Also Might Be Even Funnier Than You Remember It Being

As I alluded to earlier, one gripe some people have with Cregger's horror movies is that they're actually funny. That said, is that really a surprise when Cregger was once a member of the comedy troupe The Whitest Kids ‘U Know? Honestly, even though Cregger is unique in his own way as a director, I like to think of him as a mix between Jordan Peele (the humorous side) and Ari Aster (the tense, unsettling side) when it comes to making horror.

Because even though Get Out hits hard (especially if you're a Black man), a lot of the tension is relieved with humor by the end (though it really could have been much bleaker). And even though SOME people say movies like Hereditary and Midsommar are darkly humorous, what makes them really stand out is just how tense and on edge they make you feel.

Barbarian is that great in-between, and actually feels like two separate movies. We have the super tense and creepy first half with Georgina Campbell, and then we have the much more comical section with Justin Long (who gets what he deserves by the end). It's the perfect mix!

Zach Cregger Should Continue Making Horror Movies Forever

I know Cregger's next movie is sci-fi, but it's also labeled as being sci-fi HORROR, and I'm cool with that, since Cregger should make horror forever.

While I know I keep comparing Cregger to other directors (I really should stop, since he's definitely in his own lane), I would be perfectly happy if Cregger became a Wes Craven-type, i.e., somebody who almost exclusively made horror movies. Because he's just so good at it!

In fact, I'm especially looking forward to The Flood since it seems like such a departure from everything he's done before (might he skip the humor next time and go PURE horror?) However, whatever The Flood ends up being, I just want people to remember that it's coming from the director of Weapons, Resident Evil, AND Barbarian. And don't you forget it!

We all knew this wasn’t going to be the best box office weekend of Tom Cruise’s career. Digger, despite its Oscar aspirations and the talent involved both in front of behind and the camera, hasn’t been tracking well for weeks, and the extremely divisive critics reviews weren’t going to help. It was always going to be a struggle, to the point where recent estimates have predicted Digger would barely break $10M its first weekend. Unfortunately, the numbers are now out, and even that revised $10M prediction was too much.

The exact number will get finalized once the weekend is officially over, but taking into account actual grosses from Friday and Saturday, the new prediction has Digger making $8M. From a creative standpoint, that’s disappointing, considering how big of a swing the film takes. From a financial standpoint, it’s catastrophic, considering its budget has been reported as being anywhere between $120M and $160M.

For Verity, however, the story was the exact opposite. The latest adaptation of a Colleen Hoover book, which has gotten mixed reviews, put up a huge number this weekend and is the latest bit of evidence that the author is becoming a great person to bet on financially. Behind the scenes issues aside, It Ends With Us made more than $300M at the global box office, but even the lesser entries in her catalog like Regretting You and Reminders Of Him made close to $100M at the box office. Verity seems destined to be the second biggest hit of her career, thanks in part to this opening north of $30M.

You can check out the full top ten below with estimates from The Numbers…

As you can tell, there were more notable movies to talk about than just Digger and Verity and Resident Evil which seems to be on cruise control with another solid weekend. Let's start with Heart Of The Beast. I'm sure the survival thriller expected bigger numbers from its first two weekends thanks to Brad Pitt and a budget that allegedly pushed $80M. With good reviews and a great dog performance, you would have expected it to make a bigger impact than this, but it's hanging in there thanks in part to good word of mouth. This could end up being a movie that lingers for awhile and has high viewership numbers on streaming.

It slightly beat out Primetime, but you'd have to imagine those involved with the A24 movie are pretty pleased with what they're seeing. The artsy and divisive movie, which is pretty aggressive toward Chris Hansen, has been a major topic of conversation in the film community. Those in the target audience are clearly getting out to see it too, as the film is doing quite well for one reportedly made on $15M.

The other notable here is the re-release of Avengers: Endgame, which fell exponentially from its huge re-opening weekend. That was to be expected, however. Marvel pushed hard that fans should make an effort to see it thanks to added material that was relevant for the MCU. The plan worked, but clearly, the type of fan who cares enough to see a re-release for a few minutes of new footage is the type of fan to see it ASAP. The second week drop off was always going to be big here.

We'll be back next weekend for another box office round-up. I'll be interested to see how Social Reckoning performs, as well as how Digger holds up and whether Forgotten Island can continue to linger and slowly find its audience.

Tom Cruise loves movies. This is a man who will happily spend his limited free time attending somebody else’s premiere, posting about 2026 movie releases he personally thinks audiences should see and then (of course) piloting his own helicopter to his own film release. So I was not exactly surprised to see him celebrating Digger after Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s strange, ambitious new satire finally arrived in theaters. What caught my attention was director Ron Howard showing up in the replies.

Cruise shared a collection of behind-the-scenes photos on X, thanked the people who helped make the movie, and told fans how proud he was of the finished product. He wrote:

Then Ron Howard, who directed Cruise in Far and Away, jumped in with his own reaction, and the Oscar-winning filmmaker’s comments about Tom's performance have me even more curious about a movie critics cannot seem to agree on. That division is exactly why his response interests me. Howard did not simply drop a “Congrats, Tom!” underneath the post. The Apollo 13 and A Beautiful Mind filmmaker had apparently seen the movie, and he had plenty to say about the Mission: Impossible star’s work. He wrote:

That tracks with basically everything the Top Gun franchise helmer has said about making Digger. The movie represents a pretty dramatic detour from the franchise-heavy stretch of his career, putting him in heavy prosthetics as Digger Rockwell, an obscenely wealthy oil tycoon whose actions help trigger an environmental catastrophe. Iñárritu surrounded him with a ridiculous cast, too. Riz Ahmed, John Goodman, Sandra Hüller, Jesse Plemons, Michael Stuhlbarg and Emma D’Arcy all appear in the film, which was shot entirely in VistaVision.

Reviews have been all over the place. Digger currently sits around the halfway mark with critics on Rotten Tomatoes, with reactions ranging from people calling it wildly inventive to others finding the whole thing exhausting and self-important.

Howard, who has been directing movies for nearly 50 years, lends significant credibility to his endorsement. He has a deep understanding of performances, and I appreciate that his praise isn't generic. When he says Cruise’s work needs to be “thought about and discussed” after viewing, it implies something more intriguing at play than just another instance of the actor excelling at being himself.

That lines up with some of the more positive reactions to Digger. Even critics split on the movie have singled out Cruise for throwing himself into a deliberately obnoxious, exaggerated character far removed from Ethan Hunt or Pete “Maverick” Mitchell. Cruise praising his own movie might be a bit expected, but Ron Howard showing up unsolicited to call the performance “one of those rare ones,” though? Yeah, that moves the needle for me.

Digger is playing in theaters now, and given how violently divided people seem to be over it (and even Guillermo del Toro defending it against haters), this feels like one I need to see before the internet decides what I’m supposed to think.

When I watch a new horror movie, the last word I expect to use to describe it is “relatable.” However, that’s what I was thinking about as I walked out of Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil. I think this entry on the 2026 movie schedule is worthy of that word too, because at the center of it is just a normal dude who is put into a situation that he has no idea how to handle. And I gotta say, as someone who is also just a normal person, if I were him, I probably would have acted the exact same way.

I Do Fear I Am As Jumpy As Bryan

While people are jumpy in plenty of horror movies, there was something about the terror Austin Abrams’ Bryan felt that really hit home. At no point was he trying really hard to be the hero or act like he was fearless. He was simply a terrified guy who was trying to deliver a package and survive. So, he didn’t hold back his fear, as highlighted by many high-pitched screams and exasperated reactions.

Now, I am easily spooked. So, like Bryan, if I were being chased by zombies, I’d be screaming, running as fast as I could and jumping literally anytime anything moved. This is what made Cregger’s video game adaptation of Resident Evil so entertaining to me, and I loved that I was able to relate to how scared Bryan was.

As Someone Who Does Not Play Video Games, I Related Too Hard To Bryan’s Incompetence

I’ve read that watching Resident Evil made people feel the same way the games make them feel. While I’ve never played the video game, I can confirm that watching Bryan traverse this world made me feel the same way I feel anytime I play a video game too, which is clueless and fairly incompetent.

Now, it’s been said that Bryan represents gamers, not necessarily the heroes we see in video games, and I agree with that. However, he also represents those of us who have no idea what we’re doing when we grab a controller. So, yes, while the character literally is a gamer who has no clue how to use a gun, he also is a representation of how I feel anytime I try to shoot a fake gun in a video game.

Bryan not knowing how to switch off the safety to use his weapons, and his constant attempts and failures at trying to get past a lock were hilarious. As a button-smasher and truly inept gamer, this movie felt like a representation of what me playing Resident Evil would look like, as well as what I would be like if I were actually put into this zombie-filled situation.

Now, while I do relate to Bryan and his actions, I have to note that I 100% would have been smart enough to not throw away my ladder in that barn. However, otherwise, in almost every other scenario, I likely would have been as clueless and horrified as our leading man. And that’s why Zach Cregger’s critically acclaimed take on Resident Evil is such an unexpectedly relatable horror movie.

Have you ever wanted to go on an adventure in the Amazon? Welp, the latest of new horror movies, Beware Boiúna, might change your mind. In a similar vein to 1997’s (highly rewatchable) Anaconda, this new film about a group of people who find themselves terrorized by a big snake while in the South American rainforest. But, one especially nasty scene has nothing to do with fictional snakes. It’s about a real bug that can literally get under your skin, and CinemaBlend found out how the moment was pulled off.

When CB spoke to Beware Boiúna director Mike P. Nelson about his tastes regarding gross-out moments, he pointed to the making of one memorable scene. In his words:

A botfly belongs to a family of flies whose larvae live as internal parasites of mammals, and I’m shuddering even thinking about it. Anyways, in Beware Boiúna Will Close’s Callum gets some in his back and Jessica Rothe’s Alli extracts them out of him. As Nelson shared, the scene was accomplished practically. The filmmaker added:

Eww! But, that’s kind of the point though right? Nelson and co. deserve a lot of credit for pulling off such a scene using practical effects, though. The director also said this about deciding to have the scene in the film:

What's also unsettling is that Botflies are much more common than giant snakes, so people may really want to watch themselves if they're venturing into the rainforest. You’ll mostly find them in specific tropical regions like Central and South America like where the team on the humanitarian medical mission is in Beware Boiúna.

Of course, though, the main creature in Nelson's movie is a one-hundred foot long mythical serpent who’s famously talked about in Amazonian folklore. It’s depicted in this new film as a terrifying force of nature that seeks to protect the jungle.

Not only is the film led by Jessica Rothe (who recently shared a Happy Death Day 3 update), but it also stars Kiana Madeira from the Fear Street trilogy and another horror mainstay, Upgrade’s Logan Marshall-Green. Beware Boiúna is Mike P. Nelson’s fourth feature film following 2018’s The Domestics, 2021’s Wrong Turn and last year’s Silent Night, Deadly Night, each of which dwell within the horror genre. And he’s not leaving the genre as he’s been hired to make the next Saw movie with Blumhouse and Atomic Monster.

You can check out Beware Boiúna in theaters now. And, horror fans, it’s the perfect time to check out the 2026 movie schedule given so many are coming out this month.

The era of Megan Fox and MGK is officially over, as it’s been reported for a while now that the pair are no longer an item. Nevertheless, the pair remain linked due to sharing a daughter (the uniquely named Saga Blade) and have reportedly established a firm co-parenting relationship. All the while, MGK has been at the center of dating rumors involving Dakota Johnson, and neither he nor she have confirmed or denied the chatter. All the while, it’s being alleged that Fox has a few concerns.

A recent report echoes the claim that MGK – formerly known as Machine Gun Kelly – (36) and Fox (40) “have a good coparenting relationship,” and she allegedly “does care about him.” In Touch Weekly’s source even goes as far as to claim that the Jennifer’s Body icon has “heard lots of good things about Dakota” and has “got no issues welcoming her to the tribe.” However, the unnamed person also says the purported romance between Johnson (36) and the “Bloody Valentine” performer gives Fox pause for a key reason:

Fox and MGK – whose real name is Colson Baker – met and began dating in 2020 after meeting on the set of Midnight in the Switchgrass. In 2022, Baker and Fox became engaged, and that engagement was later called off in 2024 amid rumors of infidelity on the former’s part. But, later in 2024, Fox confirmed that she and MGK were expecting their first child together, and she was born in March 2025. The little one’s birth was followed by claims that Fox and Baker’s co-parenting relationship had broken down.

While that situation has allegedly cooled off and Megan Fox supposedly has no beef with Johnson, the source claims the Transformers alum is unsure of the stability of her ex’s purported new relationship. They say:

Rumors have been swirling around Johnson and Baker for weeks now. In September, the pair were spotted in New York together near Taylor Swift’s apartment and, shortly after, Johnson was present when MGK walked the runway at Milan Fashion Week's Vogue World 2026 show. Sources have since claimed that MGK and Johnson met at Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding in July and hit it off. As for what’s really going on with Johnson and MGK, they apparently won’t label it. As for Fox, she allegedly has these thoughts:

There are still more than a few unknown variables when it comes to Johnson and MGK’s supposed relationship. While Johnson hasn’t specifically discussed the rapper publicly, she is cognizant of the media attention surrounding her love life in general. Johnson recently addressed those interested in her relationships, saying that the speculation gets “ridiculous.” While she also said she didn’t care, Johnson opined that such people should “get a life.”

It’s anyone’s guess as to whether anything concrete might come of the chatter surrounding MGK and Dakota Johnson though, if they are an item, it sounds like Megan Fox may not be opposed. And, as for Fox herself, reports suggest she’s not all that interested in dating right now.

The looks Florence Pugh has been rocking in the lead-up to East of Eden’s release on the 2026 TV schedule have been ones for the record books. From bold colors to edgy homages to older times, she’s been pushing boundaries and wearing outfits that I’ll probably never forget. Her latest fashion moment fits right in with that statement, as she wore a clinging nude gown for a trippy photoshoot.

In a BTS photoshoot from the London premiere of Zoe Kazan's book-to-screen adaptation of East of Eden, Florence Pugh can be seen posing for a mirror-like image that shows her in this skin-tight and nude gown six times. Take a look:

Now, let’s dive into the details of this fit. The Dune: Part Two actress is wearing Rodarte’s PS27 Pink Iridescent Slip Gown with Rhinestone Details, according to Kate and Laura Mulleavy’s Instagram. She was styled by Rebecca Corbin-Murray, and per her post, the actress’s look is complemented by Bvlgari jewelry.

Personally, I’m obsessed with the matching scarf she has looped around her neck that goes with the dress perfectly and juxtaposes the form-fitting garment. I also adore the updo Pugh is rocking with this fit, because, to me, it helps give the ensemble a really cool Old Hollywood vibe.

Along with this ensemble being fabulous by itself, it’s also such a cool entry into the catalog of looks Florence Pugh has been curating for the East of Eden press tour. As the countdown to this show’s release ticked down, the actress went out there with a chartreuse corset number, and she went classic with a beautiful, voluminous black gown. Overall, her outfits have shown off her range, and they’ve also all come together to create a classic yet edgy set that helps highlight her new project.

I mean, Pugh has done everything from going full Victorian for one look to rocking statement colors like bright green and butter yellow for others. She’s always been fearless and bold with her fashion (I mean she is a queen of the sheer trend, for example), and she’s proved that in so many ways on this press tour. This nude fit highlights that point as well.

With all that said, if you’d like to see the project she wore all these outfits for, you can stream Zoe Kazan's take on East of Eden with a Netflix subscription now. In it, Pugh plays Cathy Ames, and you can see her performing alongside actors like Christopher Abbott, Mike Faist, Hoon Lee, Ciarán Hinds and Joseph Zada.

Then, prepare yourself for more iconic looks from Florence Pugh. That's because she’ll be back out and promoting her releases on the 2026 movie schedule soon, as both Avengers: Doomsday and Dune: Part Three will be hitting theaters on December 18.

Spoilers for Verity are ahead! You can catch the book-to-screen adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s novel in theaters now.

When Verity premiered on the 2026 movie schedule, the debate about its ending continued. Much like the conversation sparked by its source material’s conclusion, this movie leaves you wondering what the truth is. That happens in part because of a letter from Verity that Dakota Johnson’s Lowen finds at the very end of the film that flips what we’ve learned from Verity’s manuscript on its head. So, when I chatted with the cast, I had to ask Johnson how that letter changed her character’s feelings in the final seconds of the movie.

To break down what happens in the film, the majority of it follows Lowen as she moves into Verity (Anne Hathaway) and Jeremy’s (Josh Hartnett) house to write a book. While there, she finds a manuscript written by Verity that paints herself as a total villain. In it, Hathaway's character even admits that she was responsible for the death of one of her children.

However, at the very end of the film, Lowen finds a letter where the titular character admits the manuscript was a writing exercise and none of it was true.

So, that leaves audiences wondering what the actual truth is. Plus, this letter is revealed after Lowen and Jeremy kill Verity, and as they are moving out of the house. Oh, and Lowen is pregnant. Therefore, there’s lots to unpack with the discovery of the letter. However, nothing is. Johnson’s character keeps it to herself and leaves the house with Jeremy.

Obviously, I had to ask The Materialists actress about all of this and how the discovery of the letter changes things for her character. Here’s what she had to say:

I think both things Johnson described are in play. Lowen must be in some kind of denial after finding that letter, considering it implies that all the reasons she had to believe Verity was a villain aren’t actually true. Therefore, her and Jeremy killing her becomes even worse. Plus, she’s pregnant, presumably with Jeremy’s child, and comprehending a letter like this amid that massive life change has to be nearly impossible.

No matter how you shake it, though, Lowen is not reacting to it in a good way, as Johnson explained:

It seems to me that Lowen is trying to get a clean slate after Verity’s death, and that letter makes that even harder to do. Johnson thinks that despite its discovery, her character is going to keep moving forward and try to block out what she just found. To her, that’s “sociopathic.” To me, it further proves that Lowen is just as potentially evil as Verity.

Overall, this ending certainly gives folks more reason to talk about Verity, and the letter changes literally everything we’ve spent almost all of the movie’s runtime learning. Lowen’s reaction to it makes the conclusion even more convoluted. However, Dakota Johnson’s explanation helps provide a bit of clarity as to why her character decided not to immediately say anything about what she found.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day has webbed up a considerable amount of success since its release on the 2026 movie schedule this past July. The Destin Daniel Cretton-directed superhero flick has not only broken box office records but also earned acclaim from critics. What’s also notable about this particular flick is that lead actor Tom Holland contributed a significant amount of ideas compared to his previous Spidey flicks. Still, I wasn’t expecting him to cite The Lego Batman Movie when explaining one of his pitches.

Much of Brand New Day centers on Holland’s web-slinger being heralded by the people of New York due to his success in combating crime in the city. However, as Peter Parker, he lives a relatively isolated life following the ending of 2021’s No Way Home, in which the world forgets who he is. That ultimately causes Peter to become depressed, especially when he sees the full lives his former friends – MJ and Ned – are living. As Holland explained, this was something that was greatly informed by Lego Batman:

Chris McKay’s Lego Movie spinoff sees the Dark Knight earning serious praise from the citizens of Gotham City, who assume he’s living it up with celebrities in super models in his spare time. In reality, the Bat goes home to an empty cave and has a deep sense of loneliness that he initially tries to deny. While the film makes fun of Batman at times, it’s also quite sentimental. While I’ll admit that I wouldn’t have immediately pegged the funny flick as an inspiration for Brand New Day, it makes sense. Holland also said this about his pitch:

The Lego Batman Movie was very well reviewed and, quite frankly, it’s just a fun film. I love that it now has a small creative link to Tom Holland’s Spider-Man franchise. Also, kudos to Holland for finding varied sources of inspiration for his new movie. I’d say it all paid off, given the position responses to Brand New Day. Of course, there’s also now talk regarding what the future may hold. While a fifth film is far from confirmed at this point, Sony head honcho Tom Rothman suggests the future could be bright.

Now, a high bar has been set by Brand New Day, since it deftly balances the superhero thrills with the grounded character elements. And I love that we can thank Lego Batman for (inadvertently) contributing to that approach. McKay’s movie deserves its flowers, and this new revelation from Tom Holland serves as a small, but neat, addition to its legacy.

Check out Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which is currently playing in theaters nationwide. Also, grab an HBO Max subscription and stream The Lego Batman Movie now.

Anne Hathaway might be the most booked and busy person in Hollywood. The actress, who has always been selective about her projects, ended up in a situation where she had five different movies come out all on the 2026 release schedule. In the midst of five different press tours, she also announced that she was pregnant with her third child. After such a wild and busy time, Hathaway told the press that she’d be taking a break and disappearing for a little while. As a joke, she made a video that is a part of her “disappearing,” and I can’t get enough of her sense of humor!

The Interstellar star may be used to being the center of attention after being an A-list star for over 20 years, but this year truly took things to the next level. After Hathaway expressed her intention to move away from the spotlight for a bit, she poked fun at the media’s reaction to the news in this silliest way possible: by posting a video on Instagram of her literally disappearing into a puff of smoke. You can see the video below:

This video takes place as the Oscar winner is literally getting ready for the premiere of Verity, her new book-to-screen adaptation that also stars Dakota Johnson and Josh Hartnett. It's honestly hard not to appreciate Hathaway's cheeky response to the chatter. Overall, it feels like the perfect way for her to cap off her excellent year.

What I also love is that after the faux vanishing and news reports, Hathaway also shows love to others who have big movies playing or either on the way, including The Odyssey co-stars Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson and Zendaya (who's also going to disappear after her big year). And Florence Pugh is also name-dropped, as she'll star in Dune: Part Three with Pattinson and Zendaya as well as Avengers: Doomsday. And, of course, the Holland and Zendaya-led Spider-Man: Brand New Day is also still crushing in theaters.

It can't be understated just surreal it's been to watch Anne Hathaway promote all of these films. Her press run started with the release of Mother Mary back in April, and it slowly bled into the press tour for The Devil Wears Prada 2, which was a huge spectacle that required a lot of reasons to get dressed up. Then she had to promote The Odyssey, followed by The End of Oak Street, with Verity now capping off the year.

All in all, Hathaway has kept a keen mindset when it comes to her whirlwind of a 2026. The Princess Diaries icon has consistently expressed gratitude for the opportunities she's been privileged to have. She's also openly (and humbly) admitted that such a year probably won't happen again.

I think if anyone deserves a break, it’s Hathaway, especially considering she’s about to welcome a new baby. Overexposure is a real thing, and sometimes audiences can get sick of seeing the same person in movies over and over. But I personally can’t imagine getting sick of Hathaway, considering she’s been great in every movie this year. Her break won't last too long, though, as she'll be filming the officially announced Days of Thunder sequel with Tom Cruise in 2027, so I hope her downtime proves to be fruitful.

You can see Anne Hathaway in her latest film, Verity, which is currently playing in theaters nationwide, along with The Odyssey, which is rounding out its own theatrical run. Her other big hits this year can be seen on streaming, with Mother Mary, currently available with an HBO Max subscription, and The Devil Wears Prada 2 streaming now with a Hulu subscription.

As book fans and thriller lovers head to theaters this weekend to check out the book-to-screen adaptation of Colleen Hoover's Verity, which has finally arrived on the 2026 movie schedule, there's another highly anticipated adaptation of a buzzy book on the way: Caro Claire Burke's Yesteryear. As Anne Hathaway is set to star in and produce the upcoming film, we had to check in with her about it when we had the opportunity to interview her for Verity. Specifically, we wanted to know if there's any word on who might play Caleb, the main character's husband. While Hathaway wouldn't give much away, her Verity co-star, Josh Hartnett, did toss out his own preference, but he's probably a bit biased.

🟡 If you haven't read the book, I will post a warning when it's time to get into book spoilers in this article, so keep an eye out for that. However, everything up to that point is safe. 🟢

Who Will Play Caleb In The Yesteryear Movie?

When we found out CinemaBlend's Riley Utley would be sitting down with Anne Hathaway to talk about Verity, some of us at the site were very hopeful she bring us an update on Yesteryear. We were especially curious to know if there was anything she could tell us about casting for her character Natalie's on-screen husband, Caleb. And here's what Hathaway said:

So... basically she's not saying anything yet. Completely fair! We had to ask. But the conversation didn't quite end with that. Josh Hartnett, who was also in the interview, offered up his own response, saying:

My first reaction to his response was to laugh, not only because Hartnett seems to be joking in the way he throws his hat into the ring for the Yesteryear role, but also because he's literally there to promote a movie where he plays Hathaway's character's husband. "We can scare audiences again!," is how Hathaway responds to her Verity co-star with a grin. It was a cute bit, and then I actually thought about Hartnett playing the character, and now I really do think it'd be amazing casting -- and not just because I want to see Hartnett and Hathaway team up again.

Yesteryear centers on Natalie, a social media influencer who proudly shows her followers her life as a "traditional" wife and mom, living on a ranch. The twist comes when she awakes to find herself living in the 1800s on a ranch with a family she doesn't recognize. Understanding Natalie in both her regular life and this surreal situation she's found herself in, while also following her as she tries to figure out what is actually going on is what makes the book so hard to put down.

I've already gone on record as saying that Anne Hathaway is perfect casting for the movie adaptation, and now I want to talk about the idea of Josh Hartnett as the husband, because I'm here for it! The thing is, I can't do that without getting into spoilers, so this is your time to stop reading if you haven't read the book yet! Spoilers beyond this point! 🛑

Like Natalie, Casting For Caleb Needs To Be JUST Right (And Hartnett Would Be A Great Option)

🛑Spoiler alert: I'm about to get into major spoilers from the Yesteryear novel. Read no further if you haven't read the book! Seriously, don't spoil yourself.

Casting is always a big topic when it comes to book-to-screen adaptations, but the subject of who will play Caleb is even more interesting in this case, when we factor in the twist in the book. There are two versions of Caleb in the book, the one in her life as an influencer, and the older one in her 19th Century life. Whoever plays the role of Caleb will have the challenge of portraying the character two very different ways.

The passive, privileged man Natalie meets at college and starts a family with is, in many ways, very different from the gruff and aggressive husband she's married to in her frontier life. Whoever plays him has to be someone who can carry off both sides of that coin, and I really think Josh Hartnett is the kind actor who can pull it off well.

As Riley noted when she posed the question to Anne Hathaway, Burke mentioned a "Jesse Plemons vibe" being good for the character (in an interview with Variety). He'd be another great option, as he's proven he can play a timid character as well as he can play someone with a darker side.

Whether or not either Plemons or Hartnett are actually in any kind of discussions for the role remains to be revealed, but I do hope they find someone who can bring all of the layers of the character to life well. In the meantime, it's fun to speculate and consider who might play well opposite Anne Hathaway in this film while we wait fore more updates on the adaptation.

The Skywalker Saga, once thought wrapped up with the conclusion of 2019’s The Rise of Skywalker, appears to be alive and well after The Hollywood Reporter reported that a brand new Star Wars trilogy is in the works. The latest trilogy, which has still not been officially greenlit by Disney and Lucasfilm, is set to be written by Simon Kinberg, with the first film being directed by the same man who brought us the Spider-Man Home trilogy, Jon Watts. Not much is known about the movies, of course, but there is one bit of encouraging news: it will (presumably) be written by one person.

The Last Trilogy Turned Into A Hot Mess

Like all Gen Xers, I was excited when Disney released Star Wars: The Force Awakens in 2015. I, like many Gen Xers, was mostly disappointed by the movie, and even more by the movies that followed, The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker. It’s not that the movies were bad, and it’s unfair to compare anything to the first trilogy, but it was still a bummer, mostly. That said, I think the biggest mistake that Disney made was not allowing one voice to tell the whole story.

I won’t get into every detail about the production of Star Wars VII, VIII, and IX, but a lot was going on behind the scenes. The Force Awakens was written basically by committee, with Michael Arndt taking the lead at first. Once J.J. Abrams was hired to direct. Abrams and Lawrence Kasdan took over and completed the script. The problem is, neither Abrams nor Arndt nor Kasdan would be writing the scripts for the following two movies. Rian Johnson wrote and directed The Last Jedi, and later Abrams replaced Colin Trevorrow as the director of the concluding film in the trilogy, which Abrams then also co-wrote, changing the original plan again.

The result, in my opinion, is a jumbled mess of a plot that feels like too many cooks in the kitchen pushing and pulling for their own ideas over who the characters are at their core. Plot ideas are introduced, then abandoned, then changed and re-introduced. There is no cohesion at all, and it’s really frustrating. I hope Disney has learned their lesson. Star Wars is big enough to confidently greenlight a full trilogy if the story is worth it, so here’s to hoping the story Kinberg writes is worth it. Telling with one voice and one person’s vision would make a world of difference here.

There isn’t much upcoming for the franchise at the moment, with only one new upcoming Star Wars project on the books: Star Wars: Starfighter, with Ryan Gosling. That is scheduled to hit the 2027 movie schedule in May. The Mandalorian and Grogu, this year’s big release, is currently available with a Disney+ subscription. A new trilogy could be the best thing to happen in a long time, but I’ve been burned by Star Wars before. I remain cautiously optimistic.

Sure, it’s been a couple of months now since Zendaya traded slaying red carpet looks for a hard-earned break from the spotlight. But, we’re still thinking about all the method dressing she did with Law Roach so far while promoting her numerous 2026 movies. They really brought it for The Odyssey press tour, and one look actually has an especially touching story behind it.

Remember when Zendaya wore those Sophia Webster gladiator sandals? She rocked them with a white and gold mini dress just before the New York premiere of The Odyssey. Check this already memorable look out:

These are perfect, aren’t they? Well, since the shoes are vintage Sophia Webster from about twelve years ago the designer was having trouble finding them. Here’s what happened according to the woman who ended up loaning them to Zendaya (via NBC Washington):

Her name is Yvette Harrison, who is a Maryland resident who saw Sophie Webster’s post on her Instagram stories and answered the call. Webster needed them in a size 40 and Harrison had them in size 39.5. In return, Webster promised her a complimentary pair of heels in exchange for the ask. Webster recalled what happened next (via Instagram):

Yvette’s dream shoes are a Sophia Webster Pink Chiara Embellished Sandals priced at $1225 on her website. They were initially out of stock, but once they were packaging up Yvette’s shoes after Zendaya had used them, they were back in stock. So Webster added in a pair alongside a butterfly necklace from her jewelry line to go with the heels that have butterflies on the back of them. Harrison’s reaction to the shoes is so emotional, too:

How lovely is that? Rather than having an entirely new piece go into production for an event, Law Roach often goes for vintage pieces. And that practice made room for this lovely exchange to happen between Harrison, Webster and Zendaya. Now, Harrison not only has shoes worn by Zendaya, she got to connect with a favorite designer of hers, who gifted her two pairs of shoes and a piece of jewelry.

Aside from Zendaya killing it in those gladiator sandals, that same day she wore an ethereal winged dress that was held by the designer for her to wear for two years. She also wore a gorgeous curve-hugging corset and flowy dresses in London. We will look forward to Zendaya’s next press tour this holiday season for Dune: Part 3 coming to theaters on December 18.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is always expanding, thanks to exciting titles arriving in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. The latter brought us Daredevil: Born Again, which will be ending with its upcoming third season. I'm super bummed that the series is ending so soon, but Matthew Lillard's comments about Season 3 are making me feel a little better.

Season 2 of Born Again introduced Lillard's Mr. Charles, who was revealed to be working for Julia Louis-Dreyfus' Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. He'll be back for the third and final chapter of the show, and during an interview with ComicBook the Scream icon hyped up what's to come. In his words:

Lillard dropped the name of showrunner/creator/producer Dario Scardapane, who has been at the head of Daredevil: Born Again since it debuted on Disney+. When it was revealed that the show was ending in Season 3, it came with the news that Scardapane was not going to be involved in the post-production process. It's still unclear how that might affect the show's final season on the air.

Despite the questions surrounding the showrunner's involvement, Matthew Lillard's comments may help to quell the concerns of critics who are worried about how Born Again's third season will go down. Specifically calling it "explosive" and hyping up how it'll shatter fan expectations. Bring on all the Marvel goodness!

Despite the show's ending being in sight, there's been a ton of hype surrounding the third season of Daredevil: Born Again. Namely because the show will include the reunion of The Defenders, aka the heroes from the Marvel Netflix shows. Fans were thrilled when Krysten Ritter returned as Jessica Jones last season, and then Mike Colter got a cameo as Luke Cage. They'll both be back for Season 3, alongside Finn Jones' Iron Fist. So it certainly seems like the new Daredevil show will be going out on a high note.

As much as I'd like to see Born Again continue for a long run on Disney+, Matthew Lillard's above comments about the third season are giving me hope that it'll end with a bang. It was already tough when Netflix cancelled all of its Marvel shows back in the day, and I'd hate to see The Man Without Fear's story end unceremoniously once again.

It's currently unclear when Daredevil: Born Again will return for its third and final season, but it would make sense if it happened sometime in 2027. For now, fans can re-watch the first two season over on Disney+.

Tom Cruise’s big 2026 movie release, Digger, is here, and for once we’re not talking about the actor’s daring stunts and action set pieces. This time it’s all about Cruise’s performance as a wealthy oil tycoon, and I had to ask the movie’s co-stars about what it was like to see the movie star take on the character in real time.

In Digger, Cruise plays an aggressive, egotistical and eccentric fictional character – which is very unlike Tom Cruise’s own reputation. I mean, he famously gives out coconut cakes to just about everyone he knows during the holiday season. During CinemaBlend’s interview with Riz Ahmed and Sandra Hüller, I asked Ahmed if Cruise was checking in with him in between takes, because during their scenes there’s a lot of intense yelling in his direction. In Ahmed’s words:

It sounds like Tom Cruise absolutely lived up to his name on the set of Digger despite his very different leading role. As Riz Ahmed told us, the actor gave him a round of applause even though he had just messed up. Ahmed also went as far as to say his co-star was “insanely positive”. Hüller shared her own take on working with Cruise with these words:

In Digger, Tom Cruise completely changes his typical on-screen persona by wearing prosthetics, a bodysuit and going for a Southern accent. The performance has inspired some polarizing reactions, which Warner Bros. has been embracing head-on for its marketing.

Riz Ahmed plays Dr. Nirav Ganesh, who is Digger’s head of environmental safety. When Digger’s offshore drilling rig located near Greenland cracks a massive glacier that threatens to cause environmental disaster, Ganesh is the one to share the bad news and advise him on what to do next. As you can imagine, Digger doesn’t listen to the doctor much. Hüller plays the role of Emma Rockwell, Digger’s half-sister and business partner.

Tom Cruise came to Digger with a storied career already under his belt, but it sounds like one of the reasons for his continued success is the way in which he treats the others around him. It’s great to hear from Riz Ahmed and Sandra Hüller that he was a pleasure to work with even when he was playing a real piece of work on set.

The movie also features the talents of John Goodman, Michael Stuhlbarg, Jessa Plemons, Emma D’Arcy and Sophie Wide. You can check out Digger yourself in theaters now.

Ben Affleck is no stranger to rumors, especially when they’re about his relationships. Case in point: his public split with Jennifer Lopez after two years of marriage and famously after rekindling the relationship they had in the early ‘00s. So naturally, the Hollywood rumor mill is rampant with who the A lister will date next and Affleck just reacted to the rumor that Ana Navarro tried to set him up with Shakira.

The rumor in question allegedly occurred when Ana Navarro stopped by The View and shared that she attempted to set up Affleck with pop sensation Shakira. An idea that she supposedly pitched to Affleck’s best friend and frequent co-star Matt Damon. Though apparently Affleck missed the memo. So imagine his surprise when he visiting Entertainment Tonight to promote his Netflix movie Animals, that he learned about the rumor. His reaction:

The actor proceeded to call out how “stuff gets made up,” and I’m sure he knows better than anyone about how quickly rumors spread. Especially if they have to do with his relationships. This particular gossip came after both his and Shakira’s high-profile splits. She split with Gerard Piqué after 11 years following cheating rumors. Obviously this creates the perfect storm for rumors to circulate about the two love lives. It doesn’t take much for celebrities to be linked.

So this isn’t the first (and certainly won’t be the last) time that Affleck’s relationships will be the subject of rumors. He was last talked about when he revealed that he initially cast his ex-wife Jennifer Garner in his upcoming movie Animals. The role was originally meant to be alongside Matt Damon but when he dropped out, Affleck took over the part and Garner decided to step away from the project. This was something that Jennifer Lopez allegedly had strong feelings about, and yes, for those keeping track, that's another rumor. So it makes sense that Affleck would be quick to clarify whether or not people try and set him up on dates:

The biggest priority in his life right now seems to be his three children, who he shares with Garner. He states that he is happy and comfortable with where he is in life. These are words that an insider close to the actor has previously shared, stating that he's happy with where he is in life. Furthermore, Affleck isn't currently pursuing a romantic relationship. He clarifies, "I'm open to it but I'm not trying to chase anything."

In addition to his children, his focus is on his career. Currently he has been promoting Animals which is a project that he both stars in (alongside Kerry Washington) and directs. The movie is coming to the 2026 movie schedule on October 9 and can be watched with a Netflix subscription.

While I'm sure there's another rumor not far in Affleck's future, for now we know for sure that he and Shakira are not being set up.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is still going strong nearly two decades in, with new projects arriving in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. Right now fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order are counting down the days until Avengers: Doomsday arrives in theaters this December. As we wait for the upcoming Marvel movie's arrival, Chris Evans picked his ultimate lineup for Earth's Mightiest Heroes. I've got to say he made some solid points.

What we know about Avengers: Doomsday is limited, but the Captain America teaser confirmed that Evans is returning to his signature role. In a clip from Fan Expo Boston's Instagram, the 45-year-old actor revealed the Avengers team he'd personally put together, offering:

Honestly, he made some excellent choices. Evans wasn't fooling around when choosing his own Avengers lineup, and he went for some of the biggest names in the entire shared universe. Honestly, this is a group I'd love to see team up and kick some villain butt in the MCU.

Chris Evans started with my favorite hero: Elizabeth Olsen's Wanda Maximoff. During WandaVision she became The Scarlet Witch, with her chaos magic capable of altering reality. She's been missing since Doctor Strange 2's ending, but fans are hoping she ends up popping up in Doomsday or Secret Wars.

Looking to assemble the biggest hitters in the MCU, Evans also named Chris Hemsworth's God of Thunder in his dream Avengers lineup. Thor is expected to be a major presence in Doomsday, although some fans are worried he might end up being killed off in the battle against Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom. Either way, he's a big hitter who belongs in most Avengers lineups.

The Materialists actor rounded out this picks with the original Marvel hero: Iron Man. Although rather than wanting Tony Stark for his abilities in battle, Evans joked that it was mostly because he'd know where to go on vacation after their mission was completed. That and his A+ taste in shawarma.

It should be fascinating to see what Chris Evans' Steve Rogers is up to when he appears in Avengers: Doomsday. Fans are wondering how he'll be brought into the story after finally getting his dance with Peggy in Endgame, as well as how he might react when discovering Doctor Doom resembles his old friend Tony Stark.

All will be revealed when Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters on December 18th as part of the 2026 movie release list. We'll just have to see if he gets any scenes with Thor and Wanda throughout its mysterious runtime.

When my friends found out I was seeing Verity this week, I was honestly shocked at the number of people who reached out to me with the same question: “Is Taylor Swift’s ‘Patient Zero’ in the new movie?” I hadn’t seen this rumor right away when the new music video dropped for Swift’s single, so at first I was confused about what was going on. Then I got into the hype, and I needed to know the answer myself.

Let’s dive into the Swift rumors related to this book-to-screen adaptation, why they happened, and the movie itself.

Why Are Fans Asking About “Patient Zero”?

So, the proximity of the release of Swift’s single from Encore, “Patient Zero,” and Verity’s premiere on the 2026 movie schedule, and the fact that Dakota Johnson is in both, fueled this speculation. Then, the pop star's music video was dropped at the VMAs on September 25, and the subject matter of it is eerily similar to the plot of Verity. That led to fans posting things like this on X:

In “Patient Zero,” Taylor Swift plays a wife who was killed by her husband, and she’s warning his next partner about him. In Verity, Anne Hathaway’s Verity is incapacitated and seemingly evil, and Dakota Johnson’s character, Lowen, comes into the life of Verity’s husband, Jeremy (Josh Hartnett), to finish a book. However, as romantic feelings come into play, major twists and violent acts happen.

So, the parallels are paralleling, as many other fans pointed out on X. Plus Johnson’s involvement – especially since she plays the second woman in both projects – makes them undeniable. And chatter about whether "Patient Zero" was in Verity got so loud that it got to Anne Hathaway, who reacted to the speculation while chatting with SiriusXM:

All things considered, I do think it would have made sense for “Patient Zero” to be in Verity, and the reasons for that don’t end with what fans were focused on.

The It Ends With Us Reason This Actually Would Have Made Sense

Notably, Taylor Swift’s music was featured in a different Colleen Hoover adaptation, It Ends With Us. “My Tears Ricochet” was in the film starring Blake Lively. So, there is a precedent for her music being used in movies based on Hoover's books.

Plus, she was very close with Lively at the time of the film’s release (rumors suggest they aren’t as tight now following the It Ends With Us legal battle between the actress and Justin Baldoni). And Swift is also good friends with Dakota Johnson, who is one of the leads of Verity.

All in all, it would not have been surprising if Swift’s “Patient Zero” was used in Verity. There were so many reasons to back it up.

So, after all that, is “Patient Zero” in Verity? No, it’s not. However, I kind of wish it was. Although, even though they’re not technically connected, the parallels are fun, and both projects are worth watching. To do just that, you can watch “Patient Zero” on YouTube, and you can catch Verity (which people have lots of feelings about) in theaters now.

We've learned yet another detail about the upcoming Star Trek movie, and how we could have a "dark" film on the way. The screenwriters shared their latest opinion of their script, and I think I now have a read on the type of trope they're leaning into with this adventure.

With no active shows in development, it's all eyes on John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein as they work to bring Trek back to theaters for the first time in a decade. We already know the movies it's based on, and that it will take place deep into the future, so why does this have me convinced we're getting a "Badmiral" story? Let's dive in.

The Star Trek Movie Writers Say Its Their Darkest Script Yet

Daley and Goldstein spoke to Empire recently about their Star Trek movie and hinted it's going to be darker than anything they've ever done. Daley, specifically, mentioned a military tie to it on a trip they took for their film Mayday (via TrekMovie.com):

It's good to hear there will be some levity, though I'm sure every Star Trek fan cringed at the idea of a "dark" movie. Typically, creator Gene Roddenberry wanted the franchise wanted to push more toward an optimistic future, but I'll just add that doesn't mean Starfleet hasn't faced some dark situations in its past. Personally, I'm not reading too much into it being a dark movie, but I do feel like I've zeroed in on the trope this movie will touch on.

I Think They're Writing A "Badmiral" Story

First, we learned that this movie is heavily influenced by Training Day and Crimson Tide. Now we're hearing it's going to be a dark movie, and John Francis Daley likened it to his experience visiting an aircraft carrier. Call me crazy, but I think it's clear they're working on a classic "Badmiral" Star Trek story.

For those unfamiliar with the term, "badmiral" is the name for when Star Trek does a story that features a high-ranking Starfleet officer with bad intentions. Maybe they're corrupted by outside forces, using Starfleet protocol to justify a personal vendetta, or just a standard villain. In any case, these episodes usually feature someone in a position of great power, and lower-ranked officers struggling with how to reconcile respecting the chain of command and doing what's right.

There are numerous Trek episodes one can stream with a Paramount+ subscription that have done this plotline over the years, with the latest being Strange New Worlds. There is a part of me that wonders how fans will respond to this storyline, seeing as it's something we've seen Star Trek cover quite extensively over the years.

Another part of me recognizes that the goal of this movie is to appeal to a mainstream audience. These people have not watched every Star Trek series, and they may never. Appealing to a broad audience is going to mean making something that may not be as new and inventive for the fans, but entertaining for the masses to watch.

Here's hoping the world at large embraces it, and it leads to many more years of Star Trek in both movies and television. As it stands, this is the only project for the franchise in active development, so until we have something else to focus on, fans are locked in on every update.

It's a wild time currently for the TV and film industry. For months now, folks have been following as Paramount attempted to acquire Warner Bros. and its properties. This process was far from simple and was met with quite a bit of backlash. Over the summer, the merger was temporarily blocked by a judge, and there have also been antitrust lawsuits in play. It looks like the acquisition will indeed happen, and even Universal's head honcho recently spoke about it being "bad" for business. Let's break it all down.

Plenty of critics have come out with foreboding comments about how this merger will influence the industry, such as Netflix's co-CEO Ted Sarandos. Now Donna Langley, who is the chairman of NBCUniversal Entertainment, has spoken out. Deadline reports that she said, "I think it's bad for everything" before expanding upon her thoughts at a Q&A at the Bloomberg Screentime conference. She was quoted saying:

There are lots of questions about how the Warner Bros. and Paramount deal will impact the entire industry. Paramount is reportedly expecting things to go through as early as October 6th, with the new entity being named Skydance Corp. The burgeoning studio made a number of agreements to buoy the theatrical experience, pledging to release at least 30 movies in theaters for 2027 and 2028. What's more, it pledged to guarantee a 45-day exclusive theatrical release for those titles before they eventually go to streaming.

Later in the same Q&A Langley referenced Disney's acquisition of 20th Century Fox in 2019. She spoke about there being less studios overall, offering:

This is only the latest example of major film names sharing their disapproval of the Paramount and Warner Bros. deal. For instance, actors like Mark Ruffalo and Kristen Stewart signed an open letter against the merger, prompting a response from the powers that be at Paramount. There are concerns that the newly formed company would have a monopoly over the industry, resulting in fewer jobs and less choice for moviegoers. The deal would result in there being just four studios in the entire U.S., and there being less of a sense of competition for the industry.

As previously mentioned, the Paramount and Warner Bros. deal is expected to go through on October 6th. We'll just have to see how other figures in the industry respond if/when that happens.

I’ve seen a bunch of remarkable sheer looks, and I’m always here for a little black dress moment. Now Zoe Saldaña has given us the best of both worlds. She wore a beautiful sheer flapper-inspired dress to an event in Paris recently, and I really think it might be one of my favorite dresses of the year.

The dress in question is by YSL, according to Saldana’s stylist, Petra Flannery, and the actress rocked it at the Saint Laurent fashion show in Paris. It’s also completely sheer and features stunning and intricate patterns. While the image below does not show this, she paired the dress with a black jacket that she wore off her shoulders, strappy heels and a slicked-back hairdo. Truly, she looks stunning. Take a look:

I really think this might be one of my favorite dresses of the year. I adore how it plays into the little black dress trend, and I think it’s such a fabulous take on the naked dress. Plus, I’ve always loved fits that look like they could have been worn by a flapper in the 1920s, and this outfit certainly feels like that. It’s an ultra-modern take on the look; however, it fits the vibe, and I love it.

Obviously, I’m here for the unique and one-of-a-kind outfits Florence Pugh has been rocking for the East of Eden press tour. Plus, there’s something to be said about JLo ushering in fall with a fur coat and a sheer black dress. And how can I forget the legendary looks being turned out by actresses like Zendaya and Anne Hathaway as they went on global press tours for multiple movies? However, sometimes it’s the simplest fits that make the biggest impact, and I think that’s what the Avatar actress is doing here.

Plus, I’ve always been a big fan of Zoe Saldaña’s style. It’s always been elegant, powerful and classy, and this look further proves that (even though it is also a bit edgy). I’m also taking this look in and really highlighting it, because the actress doesn’t have many projects coming out this year. So, her appearances on red carpets aren’t as frequent.

She did release Season 3 of Lioness on the 2026 TV schedule (you can stream that with a Paramount+ subscription). However, other than that, she’s not expected to release another show or movie this year.

So, I’m taking the fashion moments where I can get them. I’m thrilled she’s spending time in Paris for Fashion Week, and I’m obsessed with this black flapper-like dress. Now, hopefully she goes to more shows so we can see more looks.

In the meantime, I’ll be appreciating this sheer black dress and anticipating the next fashion moment from Saldaña that could very well be one of the best of the year.

Tom Cruise is a once-in-a-lifetime talent with generations of fans. The accomplished actor has wide respect in the industry, with Steven Spielberg crediting him for saving post-COVID movie theaters with Top Gun: Maverick. That title introduced him to Glen Powell, and the pair of actors have made a habit of supporting each other's movies over the years. That includes Cruise's new 2026 movie Digger.

First reactions to Digger are mixed, so it should be interesting to see how audiences react now that it's officially in theaters. Tom Cruise famously supported Glen Powell's Running Man, and now his Top Gun co-star is returning the favor. Powell posted a photo of their pair (shown above) at the US premiere on his Instagram, with the caption reading:

Talk about a rave. Obviously Powell enjoyed Cruise's latest acting venture, and he's not the only one. For instance, Guillermo del Toro also defended Digger amid bad reviews. Regardless, it's heartwarming to see the way the Top Gun: Maverick stars continue to support each other. Clearly, they bonded on the set of that long-awaited sequel.

As previously mentioned, these two actors have made a point out of publicly supporting each other's new movies. In addition to coming out for The Running Man, Cruise also attended the European premiere of Powell's Twisters (which is streaming with a Hulu subscription). Luckily for fans they managed to snap a pic together at Digger.

The movie might have been getting middling reviews, but Digger is already firing back with A+ videos on social media. We'll just have to see how audiences respond to Alejandro G. Iñárritu's new movie, as well as Tom Cruise's performance in the title role.

Top Gun: Maverick was a wild success and helped to make a household name out of Glen Powell. He's been super busy in the years since its release, and Tom Cruise has been there to celebrate his co-star throughout it all. It's heartwarming to see the Anyone But You co-star returning the favor, especially with an accompanying photo from the Digger premiere. Fingers crossed that Top Gun 3 eventually happens so we can see them back on the big screen together.

Digger is in theaters now, and it should be interesting to see how it performs at the box office and with moviegoing audiences. Folks who want to rewatch Top Gun: Maverick can do so by streaming with a Paramount+ subscription.

Without giving away spoilers, I physically jumped multiple times while watching Verity. Many of those scares happened because of Anne Hathaway’s titular character. So, when I interviewed the cast of the book-to-screen adaptation, I asked if she ever made them jump. In response, Josh Hartnett and Hathaway told me how the actress scared the heck out of him while he was filming a scene that involved him kissing Dakota Johnson.

When I asked Anne Hathaway, Josh Hartnett and Dakota Johnson about jump scares on set ahead of Verity’s release on the 2026 movie schedule, the Oppenheimer actor was quick to recall the time The Odyssey actress got him good. Noting that he had been filming a scene that involved him making out with Johnson, Hartnett said:

Hartnett, who plays Jeremy in the movie, went on to say that while he and Johnson, who plays Lowen, were kissing in the scene, Anne Hathaway was looking for a place to hide so she wouldn’t be caught on camera. That’s when the actress stepped in to tell the next part of the story and explain why she needed to hide during the scene:

A lot of Verity is built on the suspense of Johnson’s character, Lowen, thinking she’s seeing Hathaway’s Verity -- who is, as far as they know, incapacitated -- move. So, behind the scenes, The Devil Wears Prada actress had to scurry out of the frame on occasion so they could pull off these suspenseful moments.

Before they filmed it, Hartnett thought that meant Anne Hathaway would just step off set and go to her chair. Or, in her words, “just be a normal person.” However, that is not what happened, as The End of Oak Street star explained:

Listen, if Anne Hathaway hissed at me, I’m certain she would scare the living daylights out of me. Well, that’s exactly what happened to Josh Hartnett too, as he explained to me:

Hathaway chimed in here to reiterate that her co-star was “so scared,” before he came back into the conversation to say:

What an iconic story. Now, I’m wondering if the actors Hathaway worked with on her other four 2026 releases (The Devil Wears Prada 2, Mother Mary, The End of Oak Street and The Odyssey) got spooked by her. Or, when she starts filming the Days of Thunder sequel with Tom Cruise, will she make him jump? Clearly, she has a knack for it, and really got Josh Hartnett, as she explained:

Well, along with Hathaway having great jump-scare skills, it sounds like Hartnett should get some appreciation for how he reacted. That’s because, while he got spooked worse than he’s been spooked in years, he still reacted in a cool, calm and collected manner.

Now, if you’d like to see how Josh Hartnett and Dakota Johnson’s characters react to Hathaway’s Verity scaring them, you can catch Verity (which is getting mixed reviews, but I enjoyed it) in theaters now.

The horror genre has been thriving for years now, to the delight of hardcore fans like me. Some consider the best horror movies in recent memory to be Obsession and Backrooms, which both crushed at the box office. I finally got to see the latter title when I binge-watched three new horror movies over the weekend. Surprisingly, it was my least favorite of the bunch. Let's break it all down.

I missed Backrooms in theaters, and have been patiently waiting for it to arrive on streaming. Luckily, that's finally happened, as folks can watch it with an HBO Max subscription. I put it on after seeing Resident Evil in theaters and streaming Evil Dead Burn, and unfortunately it failed to impress me as much as its predecessors.

I Preferred Resident Evil And Evil Dead Burn Over Backrooms

I simply had to watch Resident Evil in theaters, given how much I adored Zach Cregger's work on both Barbarian and the Oscar-winning Weapons. He once again did not disappoint, and I love how Cregger continued to pivot between horror and comedy throughout the video game movie's 94-minute runtime. Seriously, give me a bunch of sequels.

The next day I streamed Resident Evil Burn, which scared TF out of me just like its predecessors. On a nerdy horror movie high, I decided to dive right into Backrooms after, but unfortunately I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would.

Backrooms isn't a typical horror movie. It's weird and cerebral, and takes a bit of confusion before its true nature is revealed. Even then, Backrooms' ending leaves some questions, but since I had a hard time connecting to it, I found myself less engaged in the online discourse than I was with Resident Evil's ending. While there were a handful of genuine scares during its runtime, I thought that it failed to pack the same punch as the other two horror movies I watched over the weekend.

I really wanted to like Backrooms, especially after hearing so many fellow horror fans rave about it, as well as seeing how well it performed in theaters. I was surprised that I wasn't as obsessed as the rest of the internet, and I have to admit that watching both Resident Evil and Evil Dead Burn might have skewed my perception of it. Maybe I'll give it another chance, on a weekday when I haven't already binged several other scary movies. It is spooky season after all.

Resident Evil is in theaters now as part of the 2026 movie release list. As for Backrooms and Evil Dead Burn, they can both be watched on HBO or streamed on HBO Max. We'll just have to wait and see if the genre ends up having another year during Awards Season after the success of Sinners and Weapons.

It’s officially October, which means for many we’re starting to buy our pumpkins for carving and cooking, or getting ready for what upcoming horror movies might spook us out. Not for Ana de Armas. The actress is still hanging on the beach and getting her tan in her latest update.

De Armas has been doing a lot of travelling and resetting lately, ahead of plans to get back on set with a list of big actors for a number of big projects. Check out her latest photo dump:

How peaceful, picturesque and simply beautiful/ De Armas likes to keep things private (especially after previous high-profile stints with Tom Cruise and Ben Affleck). She even decided to move out of L.A. back in 2021 to live that unplugged life. As far as her relationship status now, Ana de Armas was photographed in Spain’s Formentera Island early last month with her new beau Beto Montenegro, who's a Venezuelan singer (via People). De Armas has been linked with him for the past few months.

This new update comes after previously sharing ab-baring photos of herself enjoying the Swiss Alps, now she’s rocking a black bikini in an unknown location with infinity pools, gorgeous sunsets and chocolate croissants. The FOMO is real!

You really can never go wrong with a black bikini, even if most of us here in the U.S. are changing out our wardrobes for sweaters the colors of the autumn leaves right about now. I imagine she’s soaking up every moment ahead of starring in a number of upcoming movies in the coming months.

Ana de Armas is a Cuban-Spanish actress who broke into Hollywood about a decade ago with movies like War Dogs and Blade Runner 2049. Her most famous movies these days are Knives Out (which is the perfect fall watch), being a Bond girl in No Time To Die and being in The Gray Man with Chris Evans and Ryan Gosling.

De Armas’ last movie was last year’s John Wick spinoff Ballerina, which was sadly a box office flop. But hey, she learned how to assemble a gun in 14 seconds as a result of it. She also got to work with Ron Howard on Eden, which received mixed reviews from critics, but audiences liked it a lot more.

Next, she’s got a thriller called Sweat lined up where she’ll play a fitness instructor who’s forced into a dangerous arrangement with a fan. She’s also attached to another thriller called Reenactment with Benicio del Toro and Cameron Diaz and yes… yet another thriller with Kate Hudson called Palm Grove.

I know, I’m not wearing a black bikini right now but I love this energy De Armas is sharing on social media amidst what looks to be a fun-filled summer.

Musical-related films remain quite popular as evidenced by the continued influx of excellent concert flicks and those upcoming music biopics. Now, the 2026 movie schedule is set to play host to a hip-hop-infused title, Rolling Loud: The Movie. As people can probably guess, at the center of the wild and raunchy flick is the titular music festival, which will serve as the backdrop for some wild shenanigans. Interestingly enough, a teenager has a story credit on the movie, and CinemaBlend asked the director about that.

Rolling Loud: The Movie comes from the mind of filmmaker Jeremy Garelick, who is known for directing films like The Wedding Ringer and Murder Mystery 2. His latest film, which stars Owen Wilson and Christian Convery, among others, sees a father take his teenage son to the aforementioned festival, and wild time ensues. When CinemaBlend spoke to Garelick – alongside cast member Chrstine Ko – we questioned him about his oldest son, Zion, supposedly having a writing credit on the comedy flick. Garelick then clarified that:

Honestly, it’s not all that often that you see a teenager get a story credit of some sort on a film, though Garelick was happy to give Zion the credit. That’s because the film’s plot is loosely inspired by the father and son’s own real-life experience at Rolling. Jeremy took Zion to the concert in 2022 when he was 13 years old and even briefly lost the boy. Considering the experience, the older Garelick felt it was only fitting that his son receive that credit. The Plan B producer further explained:

Those are truly sweet sentiments and emphasize the love this father has for his son. On the subject, Garelick also said:

Anyone who wants to know just how much the film’s story aligns with the Garelicks’ should know that just like Zion’s counterpart in the film, he made a PowerPoint to convince his folks to let him go to Rolling Loud. (Talk about really going the extra mile to get what you want.) The only difference between the presentation in the film and the real one is just “two or three” slides, according to Jeremy. The director also shared this:

And now that memory is immortalized on film, with Wilson playing Jeremy Garelick’s counterpart and Convery. Joining them in the film alongside Ko are also Matt Rife, Olivia Luccardi and Henry Winkler along with real-life hip-hop artists like Travis Scott, Sexyy Red and Ty Dolla Sign.

For over a decade now, RL has served as the basis for some major moments, like Kanye West’s unexpected dance performance and Nicki Minaj’s not-so-smooth set from 2023. So it makes all the sense in the world that Jeremy Garelick would want to make a movie that takes place at the festival, and what makes it even sweeter is that it’s something he can share with his son for years to come. Check out Rolling Loud: The Movie when it opens in theaters on October 2.

The James Bond franchise took on a very different tone when Daniel Craig took over the role in 2006’s Casino Royale, which you can watch with a Prime subscription. Bond was more damaged and flawed than any of the versions portrayed by the other men who have played Bond. There is one scene at the end of Casino Royale where audiences watched the moment Craig’s Bond went from a raw, “blunt instrument” to a stone-cold professional spy with a license to kill. It’s a powerful scene, but one thread on Reddit is way more obsessed with the knee pads his victim is wearing in the film.

The Actor Was Ready For The Fall

The scene, shot outside a villa in Lake Como, Italy, features Bond assassinating the ultimate villain of the movie, Mr. White, played by Jesper Christensen. The scene opens on Mr. White taking a call from Bond before his leg is shot out from under him, landing him on the deck. Bond then, for the first time in the Craig era, delivers that famous introduction, “Bond. James Bond.” It’s an awesome moment, and I still remember the burst of applause in the theater when I first saw it. It's impossible to see anyone else in the role today, by the way.

However, in a Reddit thread on r/JamesBond, the most popular comments were about something else entirely: the knee pads Christensen is wearing under his suit. Honestly, I have watched Casino Royale quite a few times over the last 20 years, and I had never noticed it before, but now I will never be able to unsee it. I’m pretty sure he’s wearing elbow pads, too, but they aren’t nearly as obvious:

Here are just a few examples people commenting on the knee pads:

• Those giant ass knee pads under Mr White's suit always make me chuckle. Completely understandable though. - u/NicParvisMagna
• Couldn't they have used different pants, a different shot, edited it in post, etc? One of my favorite scenes and now I can't unsee it 😂 - u/Relative-Knee7847
• Yeah that's the biggest gripe I have about this scene are those damn knee pads. - u/bartz824
• Wow, this shows just how calculating and farsighted Mr. White was. - u/Separate-Standard626
• I've seen this about a thousand times and somehow missed them. One of my all-time favorite scenes has become parody. THANKS REDDIT - u/blastronomical

It’s worth noting, as u/jcdevoe26 points out in the thread, that they probably weren’t just there to protect Christensen’s knees in the fall. When you watch it, it's very clear that it is where they hid the “squib” on the actor’s costume. A squib is a small explosive charge used to mimic the look of a bullet hitting his leg.

It’s a fun bit of movie trivia, and it's worth noting as well that Ana de Armas has talked about wearing knee pads on the set of No Time to Die, so it's a trend in Bond World.

While my eyes will always be drawn to the knee pads whenever I watch Casino Royale, it’s not like it ruins the movie. It’s still one of the best Bond movies of all time.

Earlier this year we watched the love story of Catherine and Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights, and now we’re going to get to see the Dashwood sisters face poverty. The upcoming book-to-screen adaptation of Sense and Sensibility has every classic lit lover re-reading Jane Austen. When I go to the movies, it feels mandatory to have popcorn even though I’m not a huge fan. (I know, it’s scandalous.) So, obviously I’m not normally a popcorn bucket girlie, but the Sense and Sensibility bucket rocks for book lovers.

Honestly, it’s one of the cutest things I’ve ever seen, and I’m already thinking about how it matches my bookends. So I’m positive that other book lovers and Austen girlies are going to be adding this to their shelves. Even the Regal Movies Instagram knows its audience, captioning the post: “For the romantics, the readers, and the popcorn people.” Fair warning: once you check out the Book Stack Popcorn Tin below, you’re definitely going to want it.

If you think the Book Stack Popcorn Tin is giving Regency era, then you should watch the latest trailer for Sense and Sensibility. It gives you a first look at Daisy Edgar-Jones as Elinor Dashwood as she and her sisters discover that they’re facing poverty after their father’s death. Once you've watched the trailer, you’ll see that Georgia Oakley understood her assignment. It has Keira Knightley’s Pride and Prejudice (2005) vibes, and I’m here for it. The movie will finally hit the 2026 movie schedule when it comes to theaters in America on October 16, but you can start getting the bucket on October 14.

Clearly, I’m not the only one the Book Stack tin has hyped for the upcoming historical romance. Many fans sound off in the comments about how badly they need it, and they’re not wrong. Here are a few of the best reactions:

• OMG take my money!!! Can you ship it to Sweden, pls?! - @linnjbookis
• A story shot and set in the UK but in the UK we can't get a bucket 😭 - @maddie_madame
• They’ve done it. They’ve made a popcorn bucket appeal to me - @notedbychloe
• GIMME GIMME GIMME - @lassoedmoon
• I don't have space for this but I want it. 😂 - @nbk_mari

These reactions say it all. By watching the trailer, it’s clear that the movie is going to accurately capture the drama and romance of Austen’s work, as you see the reactions of the three sisters when they discover there is no money and the meeting between Edgar-Jones’ Elinor and George MacKay’s Edward.

By the looks of it, the movie should be a charming follow-up to the hot melodrama of Wuthering Heights we saw earlier this year with Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi. Austen fans can also check out the British series The Other Bennet Sister, which is based on the novel by Janice Hadlow. The book serves as a continuation of Pride and Prejudice and follows the overlooked sister Mary as she embarks on a journey of romance and self-discovery.

Raise your hand if you're as excited as I am to check out the Book Stack tin? The classic literature vibes will make for the perfect companion to Sense and Sensibility, and I can't wait!

The downside to going into a book-to-screen adaptation having already read the source material is that you know most (if not all) of the twists and turns in store. I knew that going into Verity, having read Colleen Hoover's novel. However, I was still excited to see the movie, and part of that had to do with how conflicted I was about the ending of the book. Perhaps the movie would help me decide where I stand on the ending. Welp... that didn't happen, but like some of my coworkers, I do have a lot of feelings about the Anne Hathaway movie and want to talk it out.

🛑Major Verity spoilers ahead! If you haven't read the book or seen the movie, which has arrived on the 2026 movie schedule, read no further! 🛑

What Happens At The End Of Verity

After Lowen (Dakota Johnson) shows Jeremy (Josh Hartnett) the manuscript, which reveals to him that Verity (Hathaway) was responsible for their daughter Harper's death in the lake, he grows angry and confronts Verity, who abandons her incapacitated performance and pleads for him not to hurt her. He attacks Verity, and Lowen urges him to stop... because he needs to make it look like an accident. Jeremy suffocates Verity, and they drop her body into the lake. It's all chalked up to an accidental tragedy.

The movie jumps months into the future when Jeremy, Crew and a pregnant Lowen are moving away from Vermont. Lowen discovers a letter written by Verity to Jeremy, which explains that the manuscript was just a writing exercise for her to get into the villainous mindset, and that none of the dark things she wrote about herself were true. She did not intentionally kill their daughter.

Lowen doesn't show the letter to Jeremy, so there is no discussion between them about whether or not it's true. The implication, as the movie ends, is that she's choosing to believe the letter was just one more way for Verity to be manipulative. To believe the letter would not only mean Lowen had encouraged Jeremy to kill an innocent woman, but she would also have to face the fact that Jeremy knew about the manuscript when she showed it to him, and that he'd previously tried to kill Verity and stage it as a suicide.

Team Manuscript vs. Team Letter

As readers of the book, and now watchers of the movie, we don't need to worry about the truth potentially being devastating to our personal futures as Lowen does. However, we are still left to wonder what the truth is, and it's been an ongoing debate. While some believe Verity was telling her total truth in the manuscript, and the letter was meant for her to find, others believe the letter was the genuine truth. The book's letter goes into more detail about the fear Verity claims to feel after Jeremy tried to kill her and make it look like suicide.

If the letter is the truth, Verity was planning to take Crew and leave at some point and wanted Jeremy or whoever found it to understand what happened. However, if the letter isn't the truth, then I'm assuming she intended for someone else to find it. The letter was written to Jeremy, but he'd obviously know whether or not he tried to stage his wife's suicide after discovering the manuscript.

I Hoped The Movie Would Help Me Decide

After reading the book, I remember thinking that the letter felt like a story being told for an audience rather than a letter from one partner to the other. Granted, Verity is an author, so that could explain the style and detail she put into her account of the events. Though I was mostly undecided, I was leaning Team Manuscript. I can also see that being the "easier" conclusion to come to, not only because Verity was painted as the villain throughout the book, so I was already comfortable with that narrative, but also because it creates a less disturbing conclusion for Lowen's story (relatively speaking).

Like the book, the ending of the movie is intentionally ambiguous. Also, like when I finished the book, I left the movie leaning toward Team Manuscript. It actually felt like that's how I was supposed to feel, but that may have been because the ending felt a bit rushed to me, given what had just transpired.

Apart from that issue, I can't tell if the reasons I'm leaning one way are the same -- Team Manuscript's side has the slightly softer ending, as there's hope that maybe Lowen and Jeremy will be able to start over and put this horrible situation behind them. Plus, it paints Verity as the villain she describes in her manuscript, which is easier to stomach than if she were being blamed for and killed over something she made up as a writing exercise.

It's Horrible Either Way

I don't know that I'll ever fully settle on one "Team" or the other. The closest thing I've come to putting this story to bed in my mind is to say that it's a dark ending, whichever way you slice it. Either Verity was a victim, or she was a villain. Regardless of the truth, it's a horrible situation.

The same goes for Lowen. The best-case scenario here is that the letter was the lie, and even if that's accurate, that still doesn't absolve Lowen of her part in Verity's death. I could also get into my thoughts about the growing intensity of Lowen's interest in Verity, which seems evident throughout the movie, and is impossible for me to separate from her romance with Verity's husband, but that's an entirely different rabbit hole, I suppose.

Back to the original point, what do you think was the truth? Was the manuscript the real story, or was Verity telling the truth in her letter?

Tom Cruise has been delivering great performances in film for decades, and he doesn't seem to have any plans to stop anytime soon. With Digger arriving in theaters on the 2026 movie schedule, now seems like a great time to dedicate a movie quiz entirely to Tom Cruise movies. If you're a fan of the actor's body of work, you should have no trouble solving all of the clues in this crossword puzzle.

If you’re a fan of the South Korean zombie horror Train To Busan, you’ll definitely want to check out director Yeon Sang-ho’s latest contribution to the subgenre, Colony.

A genius scientist triggers the release of a toxin that causes those who come into contact to morph into frantic creatures hell-bent on infecting others. These people aren’t undead, and they’re not out to feast on brains. Instead, they’re part of a new evolution of humanity: a hive mind. We follow a group of quarantined survivors trapped inside a high-rise building, fighting for survival as the rapidly mutating virus transforms those infected into a seemingly unstoppable new lifeform. SFX’s reviewer said “there’s some fabulous imagery”, describing the film as “slick”, “intelligent” and “thrilling”.

Colony is available to buy on 4K, Blu-ray and DVD now. Extras-wise, you get three featurettes, running for about eight minutes total. We have five Blu-rays to give away. To put your name in the hat for the chance to win one, simply answer the question below. PLEASE NOTE: THIS COMPETITION IS OPEN TO UK ENTRANTS ONLY.

Movie theater popcorn buckets have gotten increasingly ridiculous over the last few years, and I remain an embarrassingly easy mark. Give me a container shaped like a monster, spaceship or some wildly impractical piece of movie history, and suddenly I’m trying to figure out where I would put the thing in my house. The latest Rocky collectible might be one of the simplest ideas yet, but it also may be one of my favorites.

As part of the original film’s 50th anniversary celebration, participating theaters will sell a limited-edition Rocky 50th Anniversary Staircase Popcorn Bucket modeled after the famous steps outside the Philadelphia Museum of Art. As you can see from the Instagram post from the fan account Inspectorstory below, it recreates Rocky Balboa’s triumphant moment at the top of the steps, complete with a tiny gray sweatsuit Rocky standing with his arms raised while your popcorn fills the area behind him. Honestly, I saw it and immediately heard the opening horns from “Gonna Fly Now.”

What I love most is that the design doesn't have to reach far for the joke. It basically turns one of the most famous training montages in movie history into a tiny concession-stand diorama. Rocky is standing there celebrating years of discipline, cardio and pushing his body beyond what he thought was possible, while I’m looking at him over a small mountain of popcorn covered in butter-flavored topping. The contrast alone sells it to me. It also feels instantly recognizable in a way a lot of movie merch does not. You could remove the title entirely, and many movie fans would still know exactly what they were looking at. Those stairs and that pose have become Rocky shorthand.

Plenty of famous movie locations exist, but few have escaped the screen quite like those steps. In Rocky, Stallone’s Philly underdog struggles his way through training before finally charging up all 72 steps outside the Philadelphia Museum of Art. He reaches the top, throws his fists into the air and, thanks to Bill Conti’s score, suddenly makes running stairs look like the greatest possible human achievement.

The moment became inseparable from the franchise. When people visit Philly, many will go to the museum to run up the steps and recreate Rocky’s pose, and the location remains one of the city’s most recognizable movie landmarks. That makes turning the whole thing into a popcorn bucket wonderfully literal.

Most collectible buckets pick an object from the movie, take the 2026 movie calendar releases Resident Evil (an organ transfer bag) or Digger (the character’s boot). This one lets you dump approximately 900 calories of buttered carbohydrates onto one of cinema’s great monuments to physical fitness. There is something grotesquely beautiful about that.

Even a tiny Rocky stares triumphantly over all that popcorn, presumably unaware that I’ll be eating it while sitting perfectly still for two hours. A 130-ounce round Rocky popcorn tin and a 44-ounce collectible drink cup will join the staircase bucket. All three will only be available at participating theaters, with availability and purchase limits varying by location.

The merch accompanies a five-day theatrical return for Rocky, which will play nationwide from November 7 through November 11 in a newly remastered 4K presentation. If you can’t make it to the theater, the movie is streaming with a Paramount+ subscription.

Tom Cruise’s Digger has become one of those movies where the wildly split reviews are almost as entertaining as the film sounds. Some critics think Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s environmental satire is audacious and hilarious. Others have called it obnoxious, exhausting and flat-out unpleasant. Warner Bros. has already turned that divide into marketing material, so apparently everybody has chosen violence, but now Guillermo del Toro has entered the chat.

The Frankenstein filmmaker responded to an IGN post about Digger on X and took immediate issue with how the story was framed. Calling the headline “Entirely Petty,” del Toro reshared IGN’s post and made it clear that, love it or hate it, he personally digs the movie and admires its scale, ambition and reach.

The interesting part here is that del Toro was not simply objecting to somebody disliking the movie. His points are about a deeper conversation regarding the industry as a whole.

IGN critic Michael Calabro gave Digger a 6 out of 10, praising its performances and finding plenty of laughs while criticizing the satire. His full review actually says the theater is “undoubtedly the best way to experience it,” thanks to the production resources and artists working at that scale. Where things get pricklier is the recommendation that skeptical moviegoers save their money and catch it later on streaming, with an HBO Max subscription. That appears to be what got under Del Toro’s skin.

And I get it. A critic is completely entitled to tell readers a movie is bad, mediocre or not worth the ticket price. That is literally the job. Del Toro is equally entitled to look at a movie made by one of his peers, shot entirely in VistaVision and designed for IMAX, and say maybe reducing the conversation to “wait for streaming” misses something about the experience.

The debate is almost perfectly suited to Digger, because everybody seems to be seeing a different movie. Cruise plays Digger Rockwell, an enormously powerful oil tycoon whose drilling helps unleash an environmental catastrophe. He is buried under prosthetics, sporting a Southern accent and playing considerably further from Ethan Hunt than we are used to seeing. Riz Ahmed, Sandra Hüller, John Goodman, Jesse Plemons and Michael Stuhlbarg round out the cast.

Critics have been all over the place. Its Rotten Tomatoes score has hovered around the low-50% range as more reviews have arrived. Warner Bros. apparently looked at that divided reception and decided to bottle it. A new ad flashes contradictory reactions like “unpleasant” and “masterpiece” before cutting to Digger himself saying, “F--- those people.”

Del Toro, meanwhile, has been defending the movie since before this latest dust-up. When the internet briefly became convinced Digger was secretly a musical, he stepped in to say it was not, while also calling the film “great.”

So his latest defense should not be particularly surprising. I still have to see Digger for myself, and with reactions this scattered, that now feels like half the fun. Maybe I’ll love it. Maybe I’ll hate it. But if Guillermo del Toro is standing outside the theater, metaphorically pointing at the door and telling everybody to go inside, I’m at least curious enough to buy the ticket.

Digger hits the 2026 movie calendar, opening in theaters and IMAX on Oct. 2.

The wildly popular novel Verity by Colleen Hoover is the latest book-to-screen adaptation on the 2026 movie schedule, and like the book itself, the movie seems to be polarizing (even in one cast member’s own family). It certainly seems to be here around the CinemaBlend offices, where a few people on our staff have seen the film starring Anne Hathaway, Dakota Johnson, and Josh Hartnett. We all liked (or disliked) the movie in varying ways, but we all agree on thing, the ending is a weak point.

It Comes Down To The End

Personally, I thought the movie was just ok. There are times when it feels like a Lifetime movie, despite the talent involved. It feels rushed, especially towards the end. Hathaway, Johnson, and Harnett are good, and the fairly straightforward direction from Michael Schowalter is solid. It’s probably the script that took me out of the most often, with some clunky dialogue. It does clearly adapt the story, which could’ve been tricky, given the nature of the source material, but ultimately, it’s the ending- something that will surely be hotly debated- that felt hacky to me. It's rushed and isn't ambiguous enough.

Others around here disagree with me on some of this. Managing editor Jessica Rawden says:

She did think the movie was missing something, however, as she added:

Like me, weekend editor Riley Utley has a similar take on the ending of the movie, though she enjoyed the movie quite a bit, especially the performances from the film’s stars. Riley says:

No doubt some discussion and disagreements will come from people who have read Hoover’s novel and those who haven’t. I have not read it, but assistant managing editor Kelly West has read the book and enjoyed the movie more than I did, though she also took issue with the way the ending went down. She says of Verity:

Elsewhere on the web, critics were much like us. The movie is currently hovering between 40-45% “Fresh” on Rotten Tomatoes, and a 42 or so on Metacritic. However, even many of the positive reviews are still pretty middling. It's the ending that will be the most polarizing, for sure.

I do think, given the popularity of the Hoover novel and the anticipation of its fans, the movie will end up a hit, though of the five Anne Hathaway movies in 2026, this is my least favorite.

It's an exciting time in the MCU, as we're only a few months away from the release of the upcoming Marvel movie Avengers: Doomsday. Fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order are psyched about seeing the Doomsday cast united against Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom, but they're also curious about what surprise actors might appear. There are rumors about Hailee Steinfeld's Kate Bishop appearing, and apparently even her husband Josh Allen doesn't know the truth.

Steinfeld and Allen are a hot celebrity couple who recently welcomed their daughter into the world. Obviously they're a dynamic pair, but apparently not even marriage and parenthood can get in the way of Marvel's tight security. The Sinners actress recently appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, where the host tried to get her to reveal if she's going to appear in the next Avengers movie. Fallon said he didn't see her chair in the cast announcement, and she responded with:

I guess the "Love Myself" singer takes her NDA seriously. Because apparently not even her famous husband gets all the information about her future in the MCU. Josh Allen is apparently so in the dark about what's next for Kate Bishop that he had to call Steinfeld and ask.

While I'm not buying that the Hawkeye actress herself doesn't know if she's in Doomsday, I love that she's kept her husband in the dark about it. Marvel actors are expected to guard the shared universe's secrets, and she's clearly doing a good job. You can see Hailee Steinfeld's conversation with Fallon below, where she refuses to give away anything.

What we know about Avengers: Doomsday is super limited, which is why there are so many rumors and theories about what The Russo Brothers have up their sleeves for the blockbuster. Kevin Feige confirmed that the cast list didn't include every actor, a sentiment that was confirmed when the Doomsday Captain America trailer confirmed that Chris Evans was returning. Anything can happen in the multiverse, so why not bring Kate Bishop along for the fun?

Hailee Steinfeld debuted as Kate in the Hawkeye series, where she was trained as the title character's protégée. Fans really responded to her performance, as well as her chemistry with Florence Pugh's Yelena. After a few years away Kate returned to the shared universe during The Marvels' ending, which saw Kamala Khan starting to assemble the Young Avengers. It's currently unclear if/when we'll see that team; Iman Vellani was also included in the Doomsday cast announcement.

All will be revealed when Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters on December 18th as part of the 2026 movie release list. Fingers crossed that we get to see Kate Bishop appear on the big screen sooner rather than later.

The news that Star Wars is apparently heading back into the Skywalker Saga caught me a little off guard. After The Rise of Skywalker closed out nine numbered movies in 2019, Lucasfilm spent years exploring everything from Mandalorians and High Republic Jedi to whatever beautifully strange corner of the galaxy Andor occupied. I figured the studio might leave Episodes I through IX alone for a while longer. However, on second thought, there is probably one big reason fans should have maybe seen this news we're about to talk about coming.

Reportedly, the Skywalker Saga is going to continue, with the Spider-Man: No Way Home filmmaker Jon Watts set to direct the first installment of a new trilogy written by Simon Kinberg. Daisy Ridley is expected to return as Rey in some capacity. Nothing has been formally greenlit yet, and plenty about the movie remains unknown. Still, a comment from Dave Filoni’s D23 appearance shared by Star Wars Holocron on X suddenly feels a lot more interesting in hindsight. He said:

During a Disney Worldbuilders panel at D23 in August, Filoni talked about the challenge of running a franchise with multiple generations of fans who didn't necessarily grow up loving the same version of Star Wars. He went on to explain what he thinks about how Lucasfilm can serve those different interests while also finding ways to bring them together. He also talked about balancing nostalgia for what came before with pushing the franchise forward.

To be clear, I do not think Filoni was standing on that D23 stage secretly teasing Jon Watts’ movie. The comments were made during a broader discussion about storytelling, fandom and even how Star Wars works inside the Disney parks. But they do reveal something about how Lucasfilm’s new creative boss is thinking. Plus, with the Watts news now out there, his comments make the strategy look a little less mysterious.

Look at what Lucasfilm has on the board right now. Shawn Levy’s Star Wars: Starfighter is headed to theaters May 28, 2027, with Ryan Gosling leading a story built around new characters and a section of the timeline Levy has described as largely untethered from the existing saga. Ahsoka continues Filoni’s corner of the franchise, drawing heavily from The Clone Wars and Rebels. Then you potentially have Watts and Kinberg going straight back to the Skywalker Saga.

That is pretty much Filoni’s D23 philosophy playing out in real time. Some fans want something completely new. Others want Rey back. Some still want Luke, Leia and the mythology surrounding the original trilogy to remain central to whatever new Star Wars movies and shows come next. Lucasfilm does not seem interested in picking one of those groups and telling everybody else good luck. Instead, it may be trying to build different lanes.

Watts is also an interesting choice for the Skywalker lane. Beyond directing Tom Holland’s first three MCU Spider-Man movies, he already has Star Wars experience from co-creating Skeleton Crew. Kinberg, meanwhile, co-created Star Wars Rebels with Filoni and previously consulted on The Force Awakens. These are not filmmakers walking into the galaxy cold.

Whether returning to the Skywalker Saga is the right creative move is another question entirely. After nine mainline movies, I am still interested in seeing Star Wars wander somewhere weird and unfamiliar. But am I surprised Lucasfilm is going back to the well of nostalgia? After hearing Filoni explain how he views the fandom, absolutely not.

All the Star Wars films and shows are streaming with a Disney+ subscription.

Some of the best Christmas movies are various versions of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. We're getting another book to screen adaptation with Ti West's Ebenezer, which is Johnny Depp's big return to Hollywood following the Amber Heard defamation trial verdict. We just got a new trailer for the movie, and I was shocked at how much I laughed at Depp's performance. Let's break it all down.

Ebenezer Scrooge is an iconic literary villain, one who learns the error of his ways after being haunted by ghosts on Christmas Eve. I've seen plenty of versions of this character throughout the years, with my favorite being Michael Caine's performance in A Muppet Christmas Carol (which is streaming with a Disney+ subscription). He might have some competition now, as Johnny Depp is wildly charismatic and mischievous in the above footage.

The laughs came very early into this trailer for Ebenezer. It opens with him throwing a snowball at a couple and laughing maniacally in their face. Afterward he's shown mocking people who can't see him, including blowing a raspberry when they wish each other a Merry Christmas. Add in his delighted reaction and phony smile when rejecting charity collectors, and it looks like Johnny Depp was having a blast playing Scrooge. As a result, I felt a ton of joy watching this trailer.

Of course, there are going to be some scary moments as well. After all, A Christmas Carol features a set of ghosts that are there to scare Scrooge into changing his ways. The design of those ghosts is pretty impressive, too. First up is Jacob Marley, played by the great Sir Ian McKellen. We also see glimpses of the three ghosts, some of which are looking terrifying.

The Ghost of Christmas Past (portrayed by Andrea Riseborough) has chilling white eyes, pale skin, and a creepy veil. The Ghost of Christmas Present is played by Severance breakout star Tramell Tillman, and appears to have a face full of scars. Then there's the Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come, who is cloaked with bone-like fingers. The latter is usually always scary, but I was shocked that the the first two were also given chilling designs.

Regardless, it's clear that Ebenezer is going to bring the funny, especially where Johnny Depp is concerned. I'm sure he'll bring hear to the role in order to properly bring his redemption to life, but seeing him chew the scenery in this trailer was a lift that I didn't know I needed. Welcome back to Hollywood, Mr. Depp!

Ebenezer will hit theaters on November 13th as part of the 2026 movie release list. Only time will tell how this movie is received, and if it helps to reintroduce the actor to moviegoing audiences. It look like a total blast to me.

So, Forgotten Island didn't set the box office on fire (and seriously, stop sleeping on this movie!), but I'm just happy it exists. It's because my children finally have a movie that represents the other side of them.

My children, you see, are mixed-race. My wife is Filipino, and I'm Black. While there are a number of movies that represent my side of their bloodline (from major studios, no less), they really don't have many movies that represent their Filipino side.

Until now, because Forgotten Island fills that gap for them. Here's how.

This Is By Far The Most Filipino Movie From A Major Studio That I've Ever Seen

I mentioned my children in the intro, but my wife found a lot to love about this film as well. My wife was actually born in the Philippines, and she came to America at a young age. That said, it's been very important for her to never forget where she came from. She can't speak Tagalog, but she can still mostly understand it.

All throughout the film, she kept informing us of what certain words meant, as there are snatches of Tagalog throughout the story. It doesn't stop there, either. The way the Lolas (grandmothers) talk (with one even throwing her slipper), the way families congregate and sing karaoke. The fact that one of our protagonists drives a Jeepney. I mean, this whole movie is honestly the most Filipino thing I've ever seen that's not connected to TFC (The Filipino Channel).

I just love that my family has this. Last year, I had Sinners, which felt like it was speaking directly to Black audiences. Even as an outsider looking in, I feel like Forgotten Island is directly for Filipino audiences. Even my son said, “You didn't understand half of what was going on in that movie, did you?” once it was over, which, of course, was incorrect. I've been entrenched in my wife’s Filipino culture even before my son was born, but I'm happy that my son feels like he has a movie that speaks directly to HIM. That makes my heart glad.

I'm Also Glad That So Many Different People Will Be Exposed To This Wonderful Culture

I honestly thought I would be the only non-Filipino person in the theater when I saw Forgotten Island this past weekend, but I found that there were several different races present at the showing that my family and I went to.

Then I thought, "duh, Rich." Yes, this is a movie that revels in Filipino culture (even the scary bits), but it's also from DreamWorks, the home of Shrek and Kung Fu Panda. So, OF COURSE a general audience would come out to see this movie.

Which also makes my heart glad, because it means that people who have no knowledge of Filipino culture whatsoever will get a crash course for 109 minutes. People will learn about the folklore, the food, the quirks, and everything in between, which is wonderful. Americans love Japanese, Korean, and Chinese culture, but I would love to see more Americans get into Filipino culture. That would be really awesome.

My Children Now Want To Know Even More About Their Mother's Side

The last great thing about this film is that my kids now want to know more about Filipino culture, namely the mythology. While they know all about the food, celebrities, and some of the history, they don't know ANYTHING about the mythology. Forgotten Island has made them interested in their own history. Can you get any better than that?

There was a period of time when I thought you’d be able to pry my skinny jeans off my cold, dead body. Of course, I quickly flipped the script when Abercrombie & Fitch and other brands started making wide-legged jeans in petite sizes. Still, as a millennial woman I’ve hung onto some of my skinnies, you know, just in case. Apparently this was something Jennifer Lawrence did for a while, too. Until what I’ll call “the skincident” occurred.

Every generation has differences in tastes, but it’s only been over the last few years that Gen Z has started treating Millennials like we’re old that's to things like skinny jeans and pumpkin spice lattes. It’s been humbling to be sure, and it’s humbling even when it’s happened to Millennials who are a-listers, like the aforementioned Lawrence. During an appearance on Amy Poehler’s podcast, where she revealed she was not having a “Good Hang” one time with her assistant.

I mean, this was brutal for her, but it's also giving me my own set of millennial flashbacks. I can remember still wearing flared jeans when I went to college and my roommate and I (being from Southern Indiana before fashion trends rolled around quickly) and everyone else in our dorm was already wearing skinny jeans. I felt deeply uncool then and I feel deeply uncool about how much I miss my skinny jeans now. The only thing that gives me solace is the fact the actress’ assistant is going to be feeling the same things about her baggy jeans in just a few years' time.

Amy Poehler went on to talk to Jennifer Lawrence about knowing exactly how she must feel given she’s in her mid-thirties right now. (The actress just turned 36 in August.) The comedian’s hypothesis was that the Silver Linings Playbook star is dealing with the phenomenon of feeling “old” for the first time. She confirmed.

Denim trends have run the gamut from barrel jeans (as rocked by JLo) to low-rise jeans (as rocked by it girls like Sydney Sweeney). Let’s also not forget the sweatpants that look exactly like jeans that have been around recently. Lawrence herself has ditched the skinny jeans now, so it’s not as if she’s an unfashionable lady just because she's over thirty now.

Lawrence was even cool with giving Poehler, who at 55 has seen more celebrity fashion trends come and go, her own personal life advice: You can’t go tight-tight or baggy-baggy. Still, I see how things in your closet linger that you once were obsessed with. Give it 20 years and I’m sure skinny jeans will roll back around. Just please don't bring back the dress over jeans trend (again).

I think I’ve seen every Marvel movie in the order they came out, and I’ve kept up with most of the Disney+ shows. (OK, I didn’t watch Moon Knight.) I like to think of myself as a casual-but-invested MCU fan. I’m not someone who is skipping movies or (usually) complaining about the franchise. I honestly even really liked the critically panned The Marvels! However, I just can’t deal with this Avengers Endgame: Encore situation.

The Russo brothers, in my opinion, have done a great job drumming up interest in Doomsday after Marvel kicked things off with that big, live chair announcement. They’ve been doing the rounds. They’ve had a lot of fun and emotional posts about their history with the franchise. Plus, they’ve made some comments heavily teasing the upcoming movie, particularly when it comes to Encore additions. It’s this latter part where they are losing me.

For example, they were asked by Empire about one of the additional sequences that was added to Encore specifically for the release. It’s a post credits scene set in the TVA where we learn Earth-10005 (Fox’s X-Men’s Universe) and Earth-1127 collide, leading to a chain reaction and Ke Huy Quan stating “the multiverse is collapsing.” Per Joe Russo, this is going to have a “great level of importance” moving forward.

It’s been clear given all of the casting the multi-verse was going to collide for a while. I just really hate that this scene is coming out months before the release of the actual movie I want to see. It's supposed to be super important, but if I want to see it in person I have to go pay to see another version of a movie I’ve already seen in theaters. If it was of such “great” “importance” to the upcoming Marvel movie, why has it been dumped into the lore like this?

Look, I know there’s a rundown of all of the scenes all over the Internet already. I have read them, obviously, and these scenes have been confirmed to have been shot during the production of Doomsday. So, I can go in with the info without having seen the four minutes, and I probably will.

I also get why Marvel wanted to bring back Endgame; it’s a great movie. I understand why they wanted to add some new stuff to entice people to come to theaters and for the superfans to get jazzed. I get even with only four minutes of extra footage the re-release did big dollars and has been good business for theaters overall.

I just have no interest in re-seeing a slightly different version of this movie, and I also don’t want to have to consume even more Marvel content before I go to the theater this December. It's already been a lot to take in, and it bums me out there's stuff that could be THAT important that feels like it is being inserted into an old movie. If it's not so important I need to see it ahead of time, then it feels like we're really overselling everything, and if it that important it kind of feels weird and inappropriate to make people go see an old movie to see it inserted in there. It's bumming me out.

Dan Aykroyd and Bill Murray chasing each other on police motorcycles on the set of Ghostbusters II sounds amazing. Doing it on the closed streets of Central Park makes it more insane (and awesome). It wasn’t even for a scene in the movie! They just got to do it for fun! I’m not often jealous of actors, but come on, who wouldn’t want to do this? After Murray was supposedly tricked into doing the movie, it's only fair they have a little fun.

Aykroyd took to Instagram last week to celebrate Murray’s birthday (he turned 76 on September 21), and he used this untold story (to my knowledge)to do it. Here’s what one fellow Ghostbuster said to another:

I lived in New York City for a long time, and I’ve spent a lot of time walking around those paths and roads in Central Park. They are full of twists and turns and ups and downs, and yeah, I used to wonder what it would be like to be a race car driver on those streets. While I’m not a big motorcycle rider, I’d obviously jump at the chance to tear around the park like a madman with police lights and sirens blaring. Who wouldn’t? Central Park is featured in a lot of movies, but behind the scenes, it's even better when you can play cops and robbers with real police bikes.

Shooting Ghostbusters II Must Have Been A Blast

I’m a staunch defender of Ghostbusters II. While nothing will ever touch the original, which I think is one of the best comedies of all time, and Ghostbusters II definitely has problems, I think the sequel is really good, too. Both have equally over-the-top endings, as well. I especially love the addition of Peter MacNicol to the cast, but it’s the core characters who look like they are absolutely having the most fun. Murray and Aykroyd, along with Harold Ramis, Ernie Hudson, Sigourney Weaver, Rick Moranis, and Annie Potts, are all at the height of their comedic powers, as is director Ivan Reitman.

When I hear stories like this, with two of the biggest stars in the world at the time having the time of their lives behind the scenes, it only solidifies how much I appreciate the movie. It’s just flat-out good, clean fun. I’ll admit that while I’ve watched the original (which is available with a Netflix subscription) recently, it’s been years since I watched Ghostbusters II, and now it seems as good as any to revisit it, looking for joy in the faces of Aykroyd and Murray because of their shenanigans.

It’s no surprise that Halle Berry is already rocking her 60s as she continues to challenge Hollywood aging stereotypes, and each time, I just have to applaud her. The actor has always been an advocate for women, and in recent years has focused on speaking out about aging and menopause. She has certainly defined Hollywood’s concept of aging by going all-out to celebrate her 60th birthday at a resort in Los Cabos, Mexico, with her fiancé Van Hunt. So obviously, Berry doesn’t hold back about the lessons she’s learning at 60.

She brought these lessons when she spoke at the Create & Cultivate event in Los Angeles on September 20. The Monster’s Ball actor gave the keynote conversation entitled On Her Own Terms: Halle Berry on Menopause, Aging, & Women’s Health. Berry certainly proves she lives life “on her own terms” with a lot to say about age expectations and what she’s learned in this new era of her life. She states (via People):

We’ve definitely seen Berry rocking the confidence, and not just in how she celebrates her birthdays. While promoting the character drama Crime 101, she called out fans for compliments that said she looks good (for her age). When one of her cards had a fan comment that called out her age when calling her gorgeous, her response was blunt: “My age is always talked about with women.”

This bluntness has only grown with Berry constantly advocating and speaking out about her age, and it’s refreshing. However, the actor isn’t a stranger to speaking her mind. She has recently shared about the time she confronted Bryan Singer on the set of X-Men 2, before flying home in her costume. She described the moment as “one of the greatest days on a set,” and I love that that energy hasn’t faded. During her keynote conversation, she elaborates on this growing confidence that aging has given her, stating:

The Create & Cultivate event isn’t the first time we’ve seen Berry speaking out about menopause or how aging has given her confidence. Last year, she had a campaign about getting older, with an appearance on An Oprah Winfrey Special: The Menopause Revolution. During her appearance, she spoke about women educating and advocating for themselves and their health. In 2024, the actor famously declared “I’m in menopause!” during a visit to Capitol Hill.

Additionally, she’s also helped introduce the bipartisan Advancing Menopause Care and Mid-Life Women's Health Act. This act seeks to allocate $275 million toward a variety of women’s issues and more, such as medical provider training, public health awareness, and federal menopause research.

But wait, there’s more! Berry has also founded Respin Health, an online platform and care community that focuses on helping women with menopause symptoms and connecting them with proper medical support.

Not only does she share what she’s learned at 60, but she’s an amazing voice for women, and I can’t wait to see what she does next.

This week, former Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Chapek put out a memoir, which covers his for the 30 years working at the company. In 2022, the media executive was notably ousted from his CEO job after just under three years in the position, and that came amid reported tension between him and Bob Iger since. Now, new reports claim Disney isn’t worried about the book but is allegedly already taking legal action for a different reason.

Disney Reportedly Isn’t Worried About Bob Chapek’s New Book

Bob Chapek’s Behind The Castle Walls: My Thirty Years at the Happiest Place on Earth just hit bookshelves this past Tuesday and is reportedly quite exhaustive. However, per an insider’s comments, the book is being looked at as “a bit of a yawner” by Disney's top brass and isn’t causing any concern from inside the company’s walls. Per a report from Page Six, the House of Mouse isn’t panicked at all by the new book, with the source alleging that “the Chapek thing is done and dusted” as far as the company is concerned.

Aside from outlining Chapek’s thirty-year journey with Disney, the book also apparently references Iger’s purported interference amid his tenure as CEO. Amidst the book’s release, Chapek recently said he doesn’t “have a beef with Bob Iger”, but he does have “beef with what Bob Iger did when he desired to get his job back.” Chapek claimed that when Iger took over his job, he wasn't acting on behalf of the company or the shareholders.

The Other Reason Why The House Of Mouse Is Lawyering Up

While Chapek’s memoir isn’t reportedly causing concern to The Walt Disney Company, another upcoming book is. The Wall Street Journal’s Robbie Whelan has a book on the way called The House of Mouse: Bob Iger and the War of Succession at Disney, which is set to come out on December 1. Per Puck News, Disney has hired Hollywood anti-media litigator Charles Harder, who famously represented Donald Trump in a defamation lawsuit filed by Stormy Daniels. Over the years, Harder has also represented numerous celebrities for cases regarding misappropriation of their names and likeness.

Per the book's synopsis, The House of Mouse will track Bob Iger’s rise in power at The Walt Disney Company and go “inside the rooms” where he negotiated four massive mergers for Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm and 21st Century Fox. Some believe that Bob Chapek is one of Whelan’s many sources for the book’s material.

Allegedly, Harder has been sending a series of “threatening letters” to the book's publisher, HarperCollins, asking for information about its contents. They are reportedly asking the publisher to see the book beforehand to fact check it. Previously, the WDC refused to be part of the book.

While we wait for more information on The House of Mouse, you can check out what new Disney movies and upcoming Walt Disney World attractions are on the way under the management of current CEO Josh D’Amaro.

Jennifer Lawrence spent years without a public social media account, and I respected the commitment. If I were famous enough that millions of strangers had opinions about the way I walked down a sidewalk, I might throw my phone into a lake. Then Lawrence finally joined Instagram earlier this month, and I started wondering what kind of content we would actually get from her. Well, we have our answer: JLaw eating a corn dog at Disneyland Paris while somebody films her, and it's peak content.

The Hunger Games star took some time off her busy 2026 movie schedule to share a seven-slide carousel from her recent trip to Paris, mixing some very glamorous Fashion Week photos with considerably less glamorous Disney shenanigans. The final slide, shared on Lawrence’s Instagram account, catches her mid-corn dog before she notices the camera and starts laughing. As you can see in the post below, the whole thing lasts only a few seconds and is hilariously relatable.

The No Hard Feelings actress only joined Instagram on Sept. 9 after avoiding a public account for most of her career. She wound up with the handle @jlaw because, hilariously, @jenniferlawrence was already taken. Her first Reel came with one very clear warning: if anyone was mean to her, she would quit immediately.

She later clarified the stakes on her Instagram Stories by asking people to remember that aggressive comments can hurt "the baby." Followed by: "It's me. I'm the baby." So far, everybody appears to be behaving, which is fortunate because Lawrence has quickly figured out the exact kind of celebrity Instagram I enjoy. Odd, but wonderfully less glamorous than most celebrity accounts.

Her Paris photo dump starts with Lawrence attending Dior's Spring/Summer 2027 show in a pale blue dress. There are more polished fashion shots, a goofy pose during what appears to be an art museum visit and then, suddenly, Disneyland Paris ride photos.

Lawrence rode a few iconic park attractions such as Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast and The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, and the latter apparently made quite an impression. Her caption includes the extremely specific thank-you: "Thank you Tower of Terror for… everything."

Then comes the corn dog, and honestly, it's perfect sequencing.

Maybe I am easy to please, but there is something deeply funny about an Oscar winner dropping a video of herself destroying a theme park corn dog after some Fashion Week glamour shots.

Amy Schumer jumped in the comments to agree. The comedian commented, "Corn dogs by @dior," while Kylie Jenner went with the considerably sweeter, "ur so cute !!!!!!!!" You know, they're both correct.

It also feels remarkably on-brand for Lawrence. Long before she had an Instagram account, part of her appeal was how easily an awards-season interview could turn into a story about falling, eating something she probably shouldn't have eaten before wearing couture, or eating grilled cheese between nude scenes. This is, after all, the woman who once served Robert Pattinson food from the trash.

The Disneyland Paris visit also came at a pretty good time. The resort has been having a busy year, including World of Frozen’s new Olaf and now kicking off the Halloween festivities on Sept. 26, bringing seasonal decorations, villains and some appropriately spooky attractions back to the parks.

Lawrence joined Instagram, warning that one mean comment might send her running from the app forever. Three weeks later, she is posting Dior gowns, theme park ride photos and herself getting caught mid-bite with a corn dog. Please, everybody, continue being nice. We cannot afford to lose this account now.

Actress Blake Lively has been a public figure for a long time, starting when she played the lead of the Gossip Girl cast. She's remained household name thanks to her acting gigs and marriage to Ryan Reynolds, but most recently she's become associated with drama surrounding It Ends With Us (which is streaming with a Hulu subscription). Now that Lively and her-costar Justin Baldoni have settled their long legal battle, she's making a big change to her team.

When Blake Lively filed a complaint against Wayfarer Studios, it started a years-long legal fight between herself and It Ends With Us director/actor Justin Baldoni. Fans have been following the drama for years, with the book to screen adaptation synonymous with the beef. She and Baldoni seem to be moving on form it all, and now she's dropped her longtime publicist.

This news comes to us from Page Six, which claims that three sources confirmed Lively has separated from publicist Leslie Sloane. She'd been with the actress since back in the Gossip Girl days, so this is a major change. One can assume that it has to do with the It Ends With Us saga, which seems to have negatively impacted the public's perception of the 39 year-old actress. Since Sloane is given credit for helping make lively a household name, this change is turning heads.

Page Six reached out to both Blake Lively's manager and Leslie Sloane for a comment, but neither has issued one at the point of writing this story. The outlet reports that Lively dropped her because of the It Ends With Us drama, which continues to make headlines to this day. Despite both she and Justin Baldoni issuing a joint statement and settling their legal drama, new developments continue happening. Case in point: Lively is still requesting damages to cover legal fees and more.

Prior to the issues with Baldoni, the Shallows actress started getting backlash related to It Ends With Us. Folks took umbrage with her encouraging moviegoers to wear florals to the theater, given the movie's serious message about domestic violence. What's more, a journalist shared how Lively made her uncomfortable during an interview. It's all seemingly a PR nightmare, which might explain why she's dropped Sloane.

Only time will tell how Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni's careers continue to be affected by the It Ends With Us saga. The Simple Favor actress has a few upcoming projects coming down the line, while Wayfarer Studios will be producing Gina Rodriguez's directorial debut. Neither of the stars have anything else coming out on the 2026 movie release list, but things do seem to be looking up. Perhaps Lively's change in publicist will also be a boon for her career as a whole.