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                            <title><![CDATA[ Latest from CinemaBlend in Movies ]]></title>
                <link>https://www.cinemablend.com/movies</link>
        <description><![CDATA[ All the latest movies content from the CinemaBlend team ]]></description>
                                    <lastBuildDate>Tue, 04 Aug 2026 20:30:00 +0000</lastBuildDate>
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                                                            <title><![CDATA[ Brendan Fraser’s The Mummy 4 Just Added Two More Franchise Vets, And I Have A Question ]]></title>
                                                                                                                                                                                                <link>https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/brendan-fraser-the-mummy-4-added-two-more-franchise-vets-beni-question</link>
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                            <![CDATA[ So how is this going to work? ]]>
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                                                                        <pubDate>Tue, 04 Aug 2026 20:30:00 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                <category><![CDATA[Movies]]></category>
                                                                                                                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Erik Swann ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                    <dc:source><![CDATA[ https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rXkznL7DwWNoGfjx998J3Q.png ]]></dc:source>
                                                                <dc:description><![CDATA[ &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The Background&lt;/strong&gt;: Erik Swann is a Senior Content Producer at CinemaBlend. He began working with the publication in 2020 when he was hired as Weekend Editor. Today, he continues to write, edit and handle social media responsibilities over the weekend. On weekdays, he also writes TV and movie-related news and helps out with editing and social media as needed. He graduated from the University of Maryland, where he received a degree in Broadcast Journalism. After shifting into multi-platform journalism, he started working as a freelance writer and editor before joining CB. During his time with the site, he&#039;s been able to cover some excellent TV shows and films and interview some wonderful stars.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What He&#039;s Into&lt;/strong&gt;: Erik is a superhero fan, and his love for comic books began after he first watched Batman: The Animated Series as a child. He also enjoys comedies, action/adventure flicks, dramas and science fiction. He has a love for sports as well, particularly professional basketball. Though he&#039;s a Maryland/Washington D.C. native, he roots for the Boston Celtics. Some of his all-time favorite TV shows are BTAS, Breaking Bad, Sanford and Son, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Better Call Saul and Atlanta. And when it comes to movies, Beverly Hills Cop, A Raisin in the Sun, Toy Story, Iron Man, Star Wars, and Wall Street are among his favorites. He also enjoys a good pizza (preferably with pepperoni and mushrooms) while he&#039;s watching entertaining films and TV series.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What He&#039;s Excited About Right Now&lt;/strong&gt;: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, Reservation Dogs Season 3, Ahsoka, Loki Season 2, Invincible Season 2, Next Goal Wins and Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget.&lt;/p&gt; ]]></dc:description>
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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    <media:description><![CDATA[Rick O&#039;Connell (Brendan Fraser) makes a deal in The Mummy.]]></media:description>                                                            <media:text><![CDATA[Rick O&#039;Connell (Brendan Fraser) makes a deal in The Mummy.]]></media:text>
                                <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[Rick O&#039;Connell (Brendan Fraser) makes a deal in The Mummy.]]></media:title>
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                                <p>After years of questions and speculation, a fourth <em>Mummy</em> movie starring Brendan Fraser and co. is finally being made. The long-hoped-for film <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/the-mummy-4-thrilling-step-forward-and-im-screaming-with-excitement-release-date">took a big step forward</a> earlier this year when it was announced that <em>Scream</em> and <em>Ready or Not</em> helmers Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett (known collectively as Radio Silence) would be directing and, as of late, casting has been underway. It’s now been reported that two more familiar faces are returning for this latest installment, and I have a question regarding one of these characters.</p><h2 id="the-mummy-4-brings-back-more-franchise-ogs">The Mummy 4 Brings Back More Franchise OGs</h2><p><a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/interviews/mummy-4-fans-hoping-oded-fehr-ardeth-bay-return-brendan-fraser-main-cast">Fans have been asking for Oded Fehr</a> to return to the <em>Mummy</em> franchise, so they should be pleased to hear that he’s reportedly signed on to reprise his role as Ardeth Bay in the upcoming fourth movie. He’ll also be joined by Kevin J. O’Connor, who played Beni Gabor in the franchise’s inaugural 1999 film alongside Fehr and more. <a href="https://deadline.com/2026/08/the-mummy-cast-numan-acar-kevin-j-oconnor-oded-fehr-1237017224/">Deadline</a> also reports that the production has also added Numan Acar of <em>Homeland</em> and <em>Jack Ryan</em> fame. As of this writing, Universal Studios has not publicly commented on the castings. </p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:2000px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="sqafDf6U2HosAgH3o6p4q" name="Oded Fehr and Kevin J O'Connor" alt="Ardeth Bay (Oded Fehr) and Beni Gabor (Kevin J. O'Connor) star in The Mummy." src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/sqafDf6U2HosAgH3o6p4q.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="2000" height="1125" attribution="" endorsement="" class="inline"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Universal Pictures)</span></figcaption></figure><p>While details on Acar’s character are surely being locked away like an undead pharaoh, fans should be more than familiar with the characters played by Fehr and O’Connor. The first film establishes Fehr’s Ardeth Bay as the leader of the Medjai, a group of warriors sworn to protect Egypt from supernatural threats. In that movie, Ardeth aids Rick O'Connell (Fraser) and co. against the resurrected priest, Imhotep, and aids them again in 2001’s <em>The Mummy Returns</em>. <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/theme-parks/one-mummy-star-returned-to-franchise-early-thanks-to-universal-orlando-oded-fehr-ardeth">Fehr has long shown his love</a> for this franchise, and I love that he’s returning.</p><p>O’Connor’s Beni is a cowardly thief who works with Rick during their time in the French Foreign Legion. During the film, Beni’s allegiances shift as he seeks out treasure and tries to remain on Imhotep’s good side. The story ends in a somewhat dour way for Beni, which is why I’m both surprised and confused by O’Connor’s casting in <em>Mummy 4</em>.</p><h2 id="i-have-a-big-beni-question-to-ask">I Have A Big Beni Question To Ask</h2><p>At the end of <em>The Mummy</em>, Beni gets what he wants – but not in the way he intended. He ultimately finds himself buried within the infamous City of the Dead, Hamunaptra along with the treasure he was so desperate to find. What’s more is the last time the character is seen, he’s surrounded by carnivorous scarabs after setting off a booby trap. The weasel of a character’s torch ultimately burns out and, as the screen goes dark, he screams when the bugs close in.</p><p>It’s hard to imagine how Beni could survive a situation like that, so I’m wondering who he’ll be written into the fourth movie. Of course, given the supernatural elements of this series, maybe O’Connor’s character didn’t survive, and he returns in this latest film as an undead specter of sorts. That seems like the most plausible way for Radio Silence to handle that because, otherwise, an explanation for him surviving the scarabs could come off as contrived. </p><p>While the directors have <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/the-mummy-4-directors-third-movie-isnt-canon-why-4th">de-canonized 2008’s <em>The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon</em></a>, I can’t see them erasing that last scene involving Beni. Gillett and Bettinelli-Olpin are crafty filmmakers, though, and I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt. On that note, I also <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/cant-wait-to-see-how-the-mummy-4-handles-two-things">can’t wait to see how they handle</a> PG-13-friendly action sequences and curses, considering their prior experience with R-rated horror films. </p><p>Brendan Fraser also seems excited to return, and he’s been getting in shape to play Rick again. Aside from Oded Fehr and Kevin J. O’Connor, returning alongside Fraser is Rachel Weisz – who famously played Rick’s eventual wife Evelyn Carnahan. <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/excited-the-mummy-4-bringing-back-one-favorites-parts-original-movies-john-hannah">Fan-favorite co-star John Hannah</a> is also returning as Evy’s brother, Jonathan. It’s also been reported that Obsession’s Michael Johnston has been cast in an undisclosed role as well. Given these cast additions, I’m even more eager to see what <em>The Mummy 4</em> has to offer.</p><p>The fourth <em>Mummy</em> movie is currently scheduled to be released on October 15 as part of the <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/upcoming-2027-movies-new-release-dates-theaters-streaming">2027 movie schedule</a>. In the meantime, stream the first three films using an <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/television/2570432/subscribing-to-hbo-max-what-to-know-about-the-price-options-and-what-the-streaming-service-offers">HBO Max subscription</a>.</p>
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                                                            <title><![CDATA[ The Housemaid Sequel Just Cast Brittany Snow, And I Love Her Cute Celebration Post ]]></title>
                                                                                                                                                                                                <link>https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/the-housemaid-sequel-cast-brittany-snow-cute-celebration-post</link>
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                            <![CDATA[ I can't wait to see her in the sequel! ]]>
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                                                                        <pubDate>Tue, 04 Aug 2026 19:44:45 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                <category><![CDATA[Movies]]></category>
                                                                                                                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Riley Utley ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                    <dc:source><![CDATA[ https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kXTLd8ja6TbGctTZCbdkce.jpg ]]></dc:source>
                                                                <dc:description><![CDATA[ &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The Background&lt;/strong&gt;: Riley Utley is the Weekend Editor at CinemaBlend. She has written for national publications as well as daily and alt-weekly newspapers in Spokane, Washington, Syracuse, New York and Charleston, South Carolina. She graduated with her master’s degree in arts journalism and communications from the Newhouse School at Syracuse University. Since joining the CB team she has covered numerous TV shows and movies -- including her personal favorite shows &lt;em&gt;Ted Lasso &lt;/em&gt;and &lt;em&gt;The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel&lt;/em&gt;. She also has followed and consistently written about everything from Taylor Swift to &lt;em&gt;Fire Country&lt;/em&gt;, and she&#039;s enjoyed every second of it.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What She&#039;s Into&lt;/strong&gt;: Riley’s range in likes is random and wide, from Marvel to musicals and from&lt;em&gt; Game of Thrones&lt;/em&gt; to the latest Netflix rom-com you can catch her watching just about anything. Her favorite movies include but are not limited to &lt;em&gt;When Harry Met Sally, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse, Finding Nemo&lt;/em&gt; and &lt;em&gt;The Grand Budapest Hotel&lt;/em&gt;. She loves going to the movie theater, consuming copious amounts of popcorn and logging whatever she saw on Letterboxd immediately afterward. She constantly walks around quoting &lt;em&gt;Ted Lasso, SNL&lt;/em&gt; and &lt;em&gt;Parks and Rec&lt;/em&gt;. She has been known to create the occasional PowerPoint explaining the MCU to those who don’t get it. In the non-media realm, Riley is a massive college basketball fan. She is a firm believer that the Gonzaga men’s basketball team is the best team of all time, and she is patiently waiting for the day they finally win a national championship. She grew up in Washington and loves skiing, coffee and making sure that people know she is from the state, not D.C.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What She&#039;s Excited About Right Now&lt;/strong&gt;: Anything Taylor Swift or Andrew Garfield does, finally seeing strong female representation in the MCU and eventually seeing Jonathan Bailey sing his heart out in &lt;em&gt;Wicked&lt;/em&gt;.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; ]]></dc:description>
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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    <media:description><![CDATA[From left to right: Brittany Snow in The Hunting Wives and Sydney Sweeney in The Housemaid. ]]></media:description>                                                            <media:text><![CDATA[From left to right: Brittany Snow in The Hunting Wives and Sydney Sweeney in The Housemaid. ]]></media:text>
                                <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[From left to right: Brittany Snow in The Hunting Wives and Sydney Sweeney in The Housemaid. ]]></media:title>
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                                <p>I realize it’s a bit early to be counting down the days to a December release on the <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/upcoming-2027-movies-new-release-dates-theaters-streaming"><u>2027 movie schedule</u></a>; however, that’s exactly what I’m doing with <em>The Housemaid’s</em> sequel. That’s because the <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/features/upcoming-book-to-screen-adaptations-what-to-read-before-the-movie-or-tv-show"><u>book-to-screen adaptation</u></a> of <em>The Housemaid’s Secret</em> is making big moves, as it recently cast Brittany Snow as Marybeth. And her celebration video has got me very, very excited. </p><p>Not long after <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/sydney-sweeney-shot-amanda-seyfried-lovely-message-after-the-housemaid-beat-box-office-record"><u><em>The Housemaid</em></u><u> had a remarkable run at the box office</u></a>, the sequel was greenlit. Now, we’ve been getting periodic updates about it, and specifically, its newest cast members. Most recently, it was revealed that Brittany Snow has joined the ensemble, as the actress, the film and more posted on Instagram: </p><div class="instagram-embed"><blockquote class="instagram-media"  data-instgrm-version="6" style="width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Dbn72yap3PU/" target="_blank">A post shared by The Housemaid (@housemaidmovie)</a></p><p>A photo posted by  on </p></blockquote></div><p>Well, this is both cute and extremely exciting, and I cannot wait to see <em>The Hunting Wives</em> star in this twisty thriller. Sydney Sweeney is excited about it too, as the Millie actress commented on the post: </p><div><blockquote><p>Couldn’t be more excited ❤️</p></blockquote></div><p>As I mentioned, Snow will be playing Marybeth in this adaptation of Freida McFadden’s novel. According to <a href="https://variety.com/2026/film/news/brittany-snow-the-housemaids-secret-sydney-sweeney-1236826813/"><u>Variety</u></a>, her character is “an unassuming receptionist at” the company run by the man Sweeney’s character, Millie, works for. However, we don’t know many details yet about how her character will be involved in the story. </p><p>The book’s synopsis states that Millie takes a job working for the Garricks, who have some deep and dark secrets. She’s notably not allowed to see Mrs. Garrick or their guest bedroom. However, once she goes in that room, Millie makes a vow to “protect Mrs. Garrick while keeping [her] own secrets locked up safe.” </p><p>Speaking of the Garricks, they will be played by Kirsten Dunst (who was the first <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/the-housemaid-2-just-added-kirsten-dunst"><u>new A-lister added to </u><u><em>The Housemaid</em></u><u> </u><u><em>2’s </em></u><u>cast</u></a>) and Paul Anthony Kelly, who you might recognize from his breakout role as John F. Kennedy Jr. in <em>Love Story</em>. Now that Snow is in the mix, this new ensemble is shaping up to be just as iconic as the first film’s cast. </p><p>Speaking of the first film’s team, Sydney Sweeney will obviously be back to lead the movie as Millie and serve as a producer, and Paul Feig is returning to direct. On top of all that, <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/amanda-seyfried-wants-in-the-housemaid-sequel-how-it-could-happen"><u>Amanda Seyfried said “they’re finding a way”</u></a> to get her back too. </p><p>While <em>The Housemaid</em> follows a toxic family (and its sequel will as well), it’s clear this ensemble is anything but that. They all seem genuinely thrilled to be making <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/will-the-housemaid-get-sequel-sydney-sweeney-director-paul-feig-weigh-in"><u><em>The Housemaid’s </em></u><u>sequel</u></a>, and it was obvious that the original cast adored making that first movie. </p><p>Now, with all that said, you better believe I’ll be ready to see the twisted tale they create on the big screen when <em>The Housemaid’s Secret</em> hits theaters on December 17, 2027. </p>
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                                                            <title><![CDATA[ John Belushi's Animal House Co-Star Said His Death Was A Wake Up Call (And Cocaine Was Involved) ]]></title>
                                                                                                                                                                                                <link>https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/animal-house-tim-matheson-john-belushi-death-wake-up-call</link>
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                            <![CDATA[ What a tragic warning. ]]>
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                                                                        <pubDate>Tue, 04 Aug 2026 19:08:03 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                <category><![CDATA[Movies]]></category>
                                                                                                                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Heidi Venable ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                    <dc:source><![CDATA[ https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/w7HQ9MvRSDd7diNpTmruW9.png ]]></dc:source>
                                                                <dc:description><![CDATA[ &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The Background&lt;/strong&gt;: Heidi Venable is a Content Producer for CinemaBlend. She started freelancing for the site in 2020 and officially came on board in 2021. Her job entails writing news stories and TV reactions from some of her favorite prime-time shows like Grey&#039;s Anatomy and The Bachelor. She graduated from Louisiana Tech University with a degree in Journalism and worked in the newspaper industry for almost two decades in multiple roles including Sports Editor, Page Designer and Online Editor.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What She&#039;s Into&lt;/strong&gt;: Heidi grew up in the 1990s, and her tastes strongly reflect that. She can (and does) quote Friends constantly, enjoys a good West Wing binge, thinks Can&#039;t Hardly Wait was the most influential movie of her life and finds solace in 311 concerts. On Sundays during football season, she can be found cheering on the New Orleans Saints with her husband and two daughters. Who Dat! She loves to read but usually settles for a pop culture podcast, and thinks the best weekends are spent cooking and playing cards with friends and family, preferably with some UFC fights or other sporting event on TV.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What She&#039;s Excited About Right Now&lt;/strong&gt;: Football season, Pumpkin Spice Lattes and everything related to fall and cooler weather. The Game of Roses podcast and all things The Bachelor, and new episodes of Grey&#039;s Anatomy, Love Is Blind, The Voice, OMITB and more.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; ]]></dc:description>
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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    <media:description><![CDATA[John Belushi is shown as Bluto in Animal House.]]></media:description>                                                            <media:text><![CDATA[John Belushi is shown as Bluto in Animal House.]]></media:text>
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                                <p>The world will forever remember John Belushi as one of the <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/television/2481210/snl-cast-the-15-biggest-stars-the-show-ever-produced">biggest stars to come out of <em>Saturday Night Live</em></a> and a hilarious <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/actors-who-almost-starred-in-classic-80s-movies">actor from classic ‘80s movies</a> like <em>The Blues Brothers</em> and 1978's <em>Animal House</em>. We were tragically robbed of his comedy in 1982, when Belushi died at age 33. Tim Matheson, who also starred in <em>Animal House</em>, opened up about his old friend and how the comedian’s overdose gave him a wake-up call about his own drug use.</p><p>John Belushi is one of many <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/hollywood-actors-who-tragically-died-before-turning-40">Hollywood actors who never reached 40</a>, after he died of an overdose of heroin and cocaine March 5, 1982, at the Chateau Marmont. Naturally this had an effect on his friends and fellow actors, including Tim Matheson, who had filmed <em>Animal House</em> with Belushi just four years earlier. Matheson spoke to the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7nDYmVTYV0"><em>Still Here with Hollywood</em> podcast</a>, remembering Belushi as “very supportive and generous and gracious.” He said:</p><div><blockquote><p>He seemed indestructible. He was so strong, and so physically strong and powerful and funny.</p></blockquote></div><p>Tim Matheson admitted he wasn’t necessarily surprised when he got the call about <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/television/snl-stars-who-got-start-second-city">the Second City alum</a>, but it certainly was a warning to Hollywood in regards to the drug use of the era. <em>The West Wing</em> actor said:</p><div><blockquote><p>I think we were stupid. Back in the late ’70s and early ’80s, cocaine was everywhere. I remember first trying it, I was like, ‘This isn’t bad for you? Oh my god. This isn’t bad for you? Oh my god. How could this not be bad for you?’ But I think it was the beginning of the end because it was like John’s death was sort of the harbinger of, ‘This is not OK.’</p></blockquote></div><p>John Belushi’s death at such a young age definitely affected a lot of his friends' behavior, Tim Matheson said, because, “when you see your friends dropping at 33,” it becomes clear pretty quickly that “this is not a good thing.”</p><p>Eddie Murphy has recalled <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/eddie-murphy-recalls-john-belushi-robin-williams-try-coke">John Belushi and Robin Williams offering him cocaine</a>, saying his lack of curiosity was God was looking over him. Belushi’s death didn’t stop everyone from going too far, however. Jim Belushi has said he <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/television/jim-belushi-recalls-bringing-up-brothers-overdose-in-plea-to-get-chris-farley-to-stop-using-drugs">used his brother’s death to try to convince Chris Farley</a> to stop using drugs, though Farley ultimately followed in his idol’s footsteps, dying of an overdose at age 33.</p><p>While John Belushi’s tragic death is part of his story, Tim Matheson couldn’t reminisce about his friend without mentioning his iconic performance as John “Bluto” Blutarsky, saying:</p><div><blockquote><p>John Landis, the director of Animal House, said he’s the Cookie Monster and Harpo Marx together, and that’s who he is. He had hardly any dialogue in the movie. It was all physical comedy. It was a treasure. It was a treasure and a pleasure to know him and work with him.</p></blockquote></div><p>Lots of people have shared similar memories of the comedian. Bill Murray remembers John Belushi as “magnetic” and <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/television/bill-murray-defends-john-belushi-years-after-starring-snl-together">the “best stage actor” he ever saw</a>. Belushi’s fellow <em>Blues Brother</em> <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/dan-aykroyd-explanation-what-made-john-belushi-so-great-kind">Dan Aykroyd also used the word “magnetic”</a> to describe the late comedian, saying he was “a super-mega-wattage personality and very funny and warm and compassionate and kind.”</p><p>You can relive John Belushi (and Tim Matheson) in the classic 1978 comedy <em>Animal House</em>, which is available to stream with either a <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/streaming-news/netflix-subscription-the-plans-the-price-and-whats-included">Netflix subscription</a> or <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/streaming-news/peacock-subscription-the-plans-the-price-and-whats-included">Peacock subscription</a>.</p>
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                                                            <title><![CDATA[ How Ariana Grande’s Team Is (Allegedly) Supporting Her As She Takes A Break Amid Public Scrutiny ]]></title>
                                                                                                                                                                                                <link>https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/how-ariana-grande-team-allegedly-supporting-her-break-public-scrutiny</link>
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                            <![CDATA[ Ariana Grande is taking time away after her tour. ]]>
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                                                                        <pubDate>Tue, 04 Aug 2026 17:50:52 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                <category><![CDATA[Movies]]></category>
                                                                                                                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Corey Chichizola ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                    <dc:source><![CDATA[ https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QyFDQjurXJr5xt5g6DznEN.png ]]></dc:source>
                                                                <dc:description><![CDATA[ &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The Background&lt;/strong&gt;: Corey Chichizola has been with CinemaBlend since 2015, starting as the Weekend Editor before climbing up the ranks and eventually becoming the Movies Editor. Born and raised in New Jersey and an alumnus of Ramapo College, he&#039;s combined his degrees in theater and literature to cover the the way stories are told in TV and film. On top of helping run the news cycle, Corey has been honored to do a variety of on camera interviews with his personal heroes, and has been particularly privileged to speak with actors about their process on set. Before joining the CB team he worked in the New York theater world, and is thrilled to be in such close proximity to the city that never sleeps.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What He&#039;s Into&lt;/strong&gt;: Corey is one of CinemaBlend&#039;s biggest horror nerds, and is happy to cover all thing spooky, especially related to favorite franchises like Halloween and Scream. He&#039;s also taken his passion and education for theater to cover the movie musical beat on the website. While a movies editor, Corey is also a television addict, watching what seems like a billion different shows every year. Aside from scripted programs, he&#039;s got a passion for certain corners of the Reality TV world including Survivor, RuPaul&#039;s Drag Race, and the Real Housewives. He&#039;s also got a passion for the mockumentary subgenre on both the big and small screens, especially projects like Drop Dead Gorgeous, Waiting for Guffman, and The Office.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What&#039;s He&#039;s Excited About Right Now&lt;/strong&gt;: Anything that Jordan Peele will give us, Talk to Me, the Exorcist reboot, the final season of Handmaid&#039;s Tale.&lt;/p&gt; ]]></dc:description>
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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    <media:description><![CDATA[Ariana Grande smiling in the Petal music video. ]]></media:description>                                                            <media:text><![CDATA[Ariana Grande smiling in the Petal music video. ]]></media:text>
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                                <p>Ariana Grande is a global superstar, who has recently established herself as an <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/2025-oscars-a-full-list-of-academy-award-nominees-winners">Oscar-nominated actress</a> in addition to her thriving music career. Her hustle as been real, as she's currently touring and just released her new album <em>Petal</em>. But she's stepping away from the public eye after said tour, seemingly as a result of ongoing <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/ariana-grande-gets-real-catching-flak-supposedly-not-being-committed-acting">public scrutiny about her acting</a> and appearance. And an alleged insider made some claims about how Ari's team is supporting her in the midst of this pivot.</p><p><a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/ariana-grande-real-about-complicated-relationship-fame-pop-career">Grande has spoke about her complicated relationship with the public</a>, and she's been the subject of a ton of backlash related to her appearance and <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/why-ariana-grande-friends-mother-allegedly-dont-think-split-ethan-slater-will-last">breakup from Ethan Slater</a>. Journalist <a href="https://robshuter.substack.com/p/exclusive-ariana-grandes-inner-circle">Rob Shuter's Substack </a>quoted a reported insider who shared how folks close to the "Breathin" singer are reacting to her upcoming hiatus. They were quoted by saying: </p><div><blockquote><p>They’re looking at what comes next. The priority isn’t another album, another movie, or another show—it’s Ariana. Everyone agrees she needs time away from the spotlight.</p></blockquote></div><p>If this quote is to be believed, it'll likely be comforting for Grande's fans who are concerned about the 33 year-old's mental health. She's been extremely busy in recent years, shooting and promoting both <em>Wicked</em> movies as well as <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/ariana-grande-why-filming-focker-in-law-more-physically-taxing-than-wicked">her upcoming role <em>Focker-In-Law</em></a>. And despite her being a moneymaker for so many members of her team, it sounds like they're supporting her in her upcoming break from the public eye.</p><p>Ariana Grande's break manifested by her dropping out of the upcoming West End revival of<em> Sunday in the Park with George</em>. The same alleged insider addressed this choice, claiming: </p><div><blockquote><p>Walking away from a dream project wasn’t easy. But everyone around Ariana knows there are bigger things than opening night. She has nothing left to prove.</p></blockquote></div><p>Given her professional and personal shakeups, I can't blame Ariana Grande for wanting to take a break. I mean, who can forgot how <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/cynthia-erivo-candid-what-thinking-someone-grabbed-ariana-grande-wicked-premiere">she was groped at a <em>Wicked: For Good</em> premiere event</a>? The same insider explained more about the singer/actress' alleged priorities, saying: </p><div><blockquote><p>The hope is simple: finish the tour strong, step away from the noise, and focus on Ariana—not the brand. The industry will still be here when she’s ready.</p></blockquote></div><p>Grande's current tour is expected to end on September 1st, so there's only a few weeks left of belting and flying in front of arenas full of fans. It's unclear if she'll be on the road promoting <em>Focker-in-Law,</em> but given her need of a break, I doubt fans would mind if she excused herself. We'll just have to wait and see what comes next for the "7 Rings" singer as she navigates this reportedly difficult time.</p><p>Ariana Grande's new album <em>Petal</em> is out now and <em>Focker-in-Law</em> is set to hit theaters on November 25th as part of the <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/upcoming-movies-in-2026-new-movie-release-dates">2026 movie release list</a>. As a huge fan of her myself, I hope she finds peace and enjoys a much-needed break from the public eye. </p>
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                                                            <title><![CDATA[ Why Did Brad Pitt’s Once Upon A Time In Hollywood Sequel Go To Netflix, Anyway? ]]></title>
                                                                                                                                                                                                <link>https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/why-did-brad-pitts-once-upon-a-time-in-hollywood-sequel-go-to-netflix-cliff-booth</link>
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                            <![CDATA[ Cliff Booth’s next ride took an unexpected turn, and now we know why. ]]>
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                                                                        <pubDate>Tue, 04 Aug 2026 17:42:46 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                <category><![CDATA[Movies]]></category>
                                                    <category><![CDATA[Streaming News]]></category>
                                                                                                                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Ryan LaBee ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                    <dc:source><![CDATA[ https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XbAXNYeMUxUvrHFt3Cg5KE.jpeg ]]></dc:source>
                                                                <dc:description><![CDATA[ &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The Background:&lt;/strong&gt; Ryan graduated from Missouri State University with a BA in English/Creative Writing.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What He&#039;s Into:&lt;/strong&gt; He loves all things horror. An avid fan of Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon. Lifelong comic book fan.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What He&#039;s Excited About Right Now:&lt;/strong&gt; Ryan&#039;s really excited for House of the Dragon and Hulu&#039;s Hellraiser reboot!&lt;/p&gt; ]]></dc:description>
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                                                            <media:credit><![CDATA[Sony Pictures Releasing]]></media:credit>
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    <media:description><![CDATA[Cliff Booth (Brad PItt) drives in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.]]></media:description>                                                            <media:text><![CDATA[Cliff Booth (Brad PItt) drives in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.]]></media:text>
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                                <p><em>Once Upon a Time in Hollywood</em> was a Sony movie, so seeing Brad Pitt’s Cliff Booth return on the <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/streaming-news/2026-netflix-movie-tv-show-release-dates"><u>Netflix streaming release schedule</u></a> has been a little confusing. Sony distributed Quentin Tarantino’s 2019 film, watched <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2489964/brad-pitt-plans-to-disappear-for-a-little-while-after-2020-oscars-win"><u>Pitt win an Oscar</u></a> for playing the laid-back stuntman and seemingly had every reason to keep the character’s next adventure in-house. Instead, <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/streaming-news/david-fincher-once-upon-a-time-in-hollywood-sequel-wrapped-cliff-booth-elizabeth-debicki"><u>David Fincher’s follow-up</u></a> <em>The Adventures of Cliff Booth</em> is heading to IMAX before landing on the streaming service. So why is it headed to streaming, anyway?</p><p>Sony Pictures chairman Tom Rothman finally explained the studio swap during a recent interview with <a href="https://variety.com/2026/film/news/sony-tom-rothman-spider-man-brand-new-day-box-office-record-1236826285/"><u>Variety.</u></a> According to Rothman, Sony planned to make the <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/upcoming-movies-in-2026-new-movie-release-dates"><u>2026 calendar release</u></a> while Tarantino was attached to direct his own script. As he put it: </p><div><blockquote><p>Because David Fincher is exclusive to Netflix. We were going to make the movie when Quentin [Tarantino] was directing it, but he decided that he didn’t want to do it and changed course. The only other person that he was comfortable directing his script was David Fincher, and David Fincher was exclusive to Netflix, so we were not going to stand in anybody’s way.</p></blockquote></div><p>That clears up the biggest mystery. Sony did not simply lose a bidding war or decide it had grown tired of Cliff Booth cruising around Los Angeles. Tarantino changed his mind about directing, Fincher became the only acceptable replacement and <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/streaming-news/tweet-blasting-david-fincher-recent-work-gone-viral-mindhunter-fan-outraged"><u>Fincher’s relationship with Netflix</u></a> determined where the project could happen.</p><p>The pairing makes plenty of sense beyond the business logistics. Fincher and Pitt have worked together on some of the <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/i-watched-david-finchers-filmography-i-have-a-new-favorite"><u>filmmaker's best films</u></a>: <em>Se7en</em>, <em>Fight Club</em> and <em>The Curious Case of Benjamin Button</em>. Tarantino handed the character to a filmmaker who already has decades of history with the actor playing him.</p><p>Still, Rothman did not pretend he was delighted to watch the project leave Sony. When the outlet asked whether he was disappointed that the studio would not release the sequel, his answer was impressively direct:</p><div><blockquote><p>Yes.</p></blockquote></div><p>I cannot blame him. <em>Once Upon a Time in Hollywood</em> earned more than $377 million worldwide and received 10 Academy Award nominations. Pitt won Best Supporting Actor for his performance as Cliff, making the character an especially valuable piece of the original film’s legacy.</p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:2000px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="tyTGuWfFJBJWEnvunrq8Ln" name="AdventuresofCliffBooth" alt="Brad Pitt as Cliff Boot, sporting a yellow opened Hawaiian shirt and a mustache, starring in Adventures of Cliff Booth (2026)." src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/tyTGuWfFJBJWEnvunrq8Ln.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="2000" height="1125" attribution="" endorsement="" class="inline"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Netflix)</span></figcaption></figure><p>Sony’s decision not to block the move's production also appears to have preserved its relationship with Tarantino. Forcing the project to remain at the studio without the director he wanted would likely have left everyone unhappy and the screenplay sitting on a shelf. At least this way Rothman may be disappointed, but the movie exists.</p><p>In The<em> Adventures of Cliff Booth, </em>Pitt returns to the role in a story set in 1977, several years after the events of <em>Once Upon a Time in Hollywood</em>. This time, he will be navigating a very different version of the movie business. The supporting cast also includes Elizabeth Debicki, Scott Caan, Carla Gugino, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Peter Weller and Corey Fogelmanis. Fincher directs from Tarantino’s screenplay, with Pitt producing alongside Ceán Chaffin.</p><p>Netflix is giving the film a larger theatrical launch than many of its originals. It will begin an exclusive two-week run in IMAX theaters on Nov. 25 before becoming available with a <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/streaming-news/netflix-subscription-the-plans-the-price-and-whats-included"><u>Netflix subscription</u></a> on Dec. 23.</p>
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                                                            <title><![CDATA[ The Violent Night 2 Trailer Looks Bloody, Gross And Ridiculous, I Can't Wait ]]></title>
                                                                                                                                                                                                <link>https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/violent-night-2-trailer-bloody-gross-david-harbour-christmas</link>
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                            <![CDATA[ Ho-Ho...Oh, so so gross! ]]>
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                                                                        <pubDate>Tue, 04 Aug 2026 16:50:06 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                                <updated>Tue, 04 Aug 2026 17:58:28 +0000</updated>
                                                                                                                                            <category><![CDATA[Movies]]></category>
                                                    <category><![CDATA[Trailers]]></category>
                                                                                                                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Kelly West ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                    <dc:source><![CDATA[ https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/GmVxZUu56AEQ4DzUygJ4Vm.png ]]></dc:source>
                                                                <dc:description><![CDATA[ &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The Background&lt;/strong&gt;: Kelly joined CinemaBlend as a freelance TV news writer in 2006 and went on to serve as the site’s TV Editor before moving over to other roles on the site. At present, she’s an Assistant Managing Editor who spends much of her time brainstorming and editing feature content on the site. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What She&#039;s Into&lt;/strong&gt;: Books, movies, TV— The very things that brought her to CinemaBlend as a reader and eventual writer and editor. She loves Harry Potter, books from a variety of genres (sci-fi, mystery, horror, YA, drama, romance -- anything with a great story and interesting characters.), watching Big Brother, frequently rewatching The Office, listening to Taylor Swift, and playing The Sims. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What She&#039;s Excited About Right Now&lt;/strong&gt;: Movie and TV adaptations of the books she loves, including the upcoming adaptation of Andy Weir&#039;s &lt;em&gt;Project Hail Mary&lt;/em&gt;, which she&#039;s confident will be amazing, and Netflix&#039;s planned movie adaptations of Taylor Jenkins Reid&#039;s &lt;em&gt;The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo &lt;/em&gt;and Richard Osman&#039;s &lt;em&gt;The Thursday Murder Club&lt;/em&gt;. She&#039;s also excited for &lt;em&gt;Red, White &amp; Royal Blue 2&lt;/em&gt; and &lt;em&gt;Dark Matter&lt;/em&gt; Season 2. &lt;/p&gt; ]]></dc:description>
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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    <media:description><![CDATA[David Harbour as Santa in Violent Night 2]]></media:description>                                                            <media:text><![CDATA[David Harbour as Santa in Violent Night 2]]></media:text>
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                                <iframe src="https://content.jwplatform.com/players/K1KVtLXt.html" id="K1KVtLXt" title="Violent NIght 2 trailer" width="600" height="338" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" allowfullscreen></iframe><p>I love a happy Christmas movie as much as the next person. I'll take a healthy serving of merry and bright any day. That doesn't mean I'm entirely opposed to my Christmas spirit come with a side of dark and twisty. As such, Tommy Wirkola's 2022 comedy <em>Violent Night</em> was right up my alley. I loved David Harbour's no-nonsense Santa as much as I loved seeing him disrupt what should've been a well-coordinated heist with his intense combat skills. Criminals better watch out once again, because <em>Violent Night 2 </em>is coming to town, and as the trailer reveals, Harbour is back as Santa, this time with Mrs. Claus. Let's go!</p><p>We've known this sequel has <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/david-harbour-violent-night-2-announcement-fans-comments">been coming for quite a while now</a>, and in a matter of months, it'll be here! Helmed by Wirkola with <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/david-harbour-violent-night-2-announcement-fans-comments">a screenplay from Pat Casey and Josh Miller</a>, <em>Violent Night 2</em> is set up on the <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/upcoming-movies-in-2026-new-movie-release-dates">2026 movie schedule</a> for December 4, and has Harbour's Santa on the naughty list, having lost his magic, along with his faith in mankind. He can get one back if he manages to restore the other. Last time he faced a group of mercenaries, this time he's facing gangsters who pose a threat to a mall around the holidays. I almost feel sorry for them. </p><p>Yes, the plot sounds a bit ridiculous, and it is. The trailer plays that up, complete with a sleigh-full of violence and some truly stomach-churning scenes. I'm not sure what grossed me out more, the guy getting a gingerbread-man-shaped chunk of skin cut from his forehead, or getting stuffed into an oven while covered in cookie ingredients that make the smell of him baking smell, as Santa puts it, "amazing." It's stuff like this that reminds me of the scenes from the first movie that I had to watch between my fingers. I even <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/watched-novocaine-through-my-fingers-glad-saw-it-in-theater">brought it up last year when I was talking about watching <em>Novocaine</em> </a>(another movie with some super gross bloody scenes).  </p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:2000px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="2sMA4ftJC5e4RKidSn38pf" name="kristen" alt="Kristen Bell smiling as Mrs. Claus in Violent Night 2" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2sMA4ftJC5e4RKidSn38pf.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="2000" height="1125" attribution="" endorsement="" class="inline"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Universal)</span></figcaption></figure><p>In addition to violence, the trailer gives us a look at a character teased in the first movie: Mrs. Claus! Kristen Bell has stepped into the shoes of Santa's better half, and it looks like she's ready to join the fight. Kristen Bell is such a great pick for Mrs. Claus, as she's the kind of actor who can take on an action role and be super funny about it, which I'm guessing is what's in store here. </p><p>In addition to David Harbour and Kristen Bell, the cast also includes Joe Pantoliano, Daniela Melchior, Andrew Bachelor and Maxwell Friedman aka AEW's MJF.</p><p>As mentioned, <em>Violent Night 2</em> arrives on December 4. Whether or not it's good enough to find a spot on the list of <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/best-christmas-movies-all-time">best Christmas movies</a>, as the first one did, remains to be seen. At the very least, it looks like fine, messy, bloody, sometimes-gross holiday fun and I'm here for it. </p>
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                                                            <title><![CDATA[ Margot Robbie's Harley Quinn Comments About Jared Leto Resurface Amidst Allegations ]]></title>
                                                                                                                                                                                                <link>https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/margot-robbies-harley-quinn-comments-about-jared-leto-resurface-amidst-allegations</link>
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                            <![CDATA[ Leto went viral for his antics while filming Suicide Squad. ]]>
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                                                                        <pubDate>Tue, 04 Aug 2026 16:10:18 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                                <updated>Tue, 04 Aug 2026 18:29:11 +0000</updated>
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                                                                                                                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Corey Chichizola ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                    <dc:source><![CDATA[ https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QyFDQjurXJr5xt5g6DznEN.png ]]></dc:source>
                                                                <dc:description><![CDATA[ &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The Background&lt;/strong&gt;: Corey Chichizola has been with CinemaBlend since 2015, starting as the Weekend Editor before climbing up the ranks and eventually becoming the Movies Editor. Born and raised in New Jersey and an alumnus of Ramapo College, he&#039;s combined his degrees in theater and literature to cover the the way stories are told in TV and film. On top of helping run the news cycle, Corey has been honored to do a variety of on camera interviews with his personal heroes, and has been particularly privileged to speak with actors about their process on set. Before joining the CB team he worked in the New York theater world, and is thrilled to be in such close proximity to the city that never sleeps.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What He&#039;s Into&lt;/strong&gt;: Corey is one of CinemaBlend&#039;s biggest horror nerds, and is happy to cover all thing spooky, especially related to favorite franchises like Halloween and Scream. He&#039;s also taken his passion and education for theater to cover the movie musical beat on the website. While a movies editor, Corey is also a television addict, watching what seems like a billion different shows every year. Aside from scripted programs, he&#039;s got a passion for certain corners of the Reality TV world including Survivor, RuPaul&#039;s Drag Race, and the Real Housewives. He&#039;s also got a passion for the mockumentary subgenre on both the big and small screens, especially projects like Drop Dead Gorgeous, Waiting for Guffman, and The Office.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What&#039;s He&#039;s Excited About Right Now&lt;/strong&gt;: Anything that Jordan Peele will give us, Talk to Me, the Exorcist reboot, the final season of Handmaid&#039;s Tale.&lt;/p&gt; ]]></dc:description>
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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    <media:description><![CDATA[Margot Robbie and Jared Leto in Suicide Squad side by side. ]]></media:description>                                                            <media:text><![CDATA[Margot Robbie and Jared Leto in Suicide Squad side by side. ]]></media:text>
                                <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[Margot Robbie and Jared Leto in Suicide Squad side by side. ]]></media:title>
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                                <p>Actor Jared Leto has been working for a long time, including his <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/new/Dallas-Buyers-Club-Jared-Leto-Wins-Best-Supporting-Actor-Oscars-41922.html">Oscar-winning performance in <em>Dallas Buyer's Club</em></a>. He's known for his extreme method acting, but most recently the actor/singer made headlines after <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/jared-leto-responds-multiple-women-claim-sexual-assault-documentary">Leto was accused of sexual assault </a>by multiple women. Ever since then his co-stars' past comments about working with him have resurfaced, including Margot Robbie's thought about their collaboration in <em>Suicide Squad</em> (streaming with a <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/television/2570432/subscribing-to-hbo-max-what-to-know-about-the-price-options-and-what-the-streaming-service-offers">HBO Max subscription</a>). </p><p>During and after <em>Suicide Squad</em> was filmed, stories came out about <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/new/How-Jared-Leto-Method-Joker-Performance-Affected-Common-Suicide-Squad-Set-122717.html">Jared Leto going method</a>. That includes <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/new/Jared-Leto-Joker-Sent-Really-Creepy-Gifts-His-Suicide-Squad-Co-Stars-72256.html">sending creepy gifts to his co-stars</a> like Margot Robbie. The <em>Barbie</em> star's comments to <a href="https://www.slashfilm.com/545274/suicide-squad-margot-robbie-jai-courtney-interview/">Slash Film</a> about their collaboration as Joke and Harley Quinn have since come back to light, where she was quoted saying: </p><div><blockquote><p>So when I first heard that he was method, and that we couldn't refer to him as Jared and things like that, I started to panic a bit because I'm in an abusive relationship with this guy who thinks he is the character. I was worried I'd get beat up on set.</p></blockquote></div><p>This is definitely an interesting take on Jared Leto's extreme method acting. While <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/jared-leto-going-method-after-allegations-tron-crew-recalls-odd-set-requests">he would walk with a limp around the <em>Morbius</em> set</a>, he was playing a terrifying villain in <em>Suicide Squad</em>. And Margot Robbie was concerned since she had to film so much with him as Harley Quinn. After all, Harley And Joker's relationship is indeed an abusive one.</p><p>To be clear, the <em>Once Upon a Time in Hollywood</em> actress didn't stay "worried" for the entirety of filming <em>Suicide Squad</em>. Later in the same interview she praised Jared Leto's work ethic and process, saying: </p><div><blockquote><p>But he's respectful, professional, and lovely. It is so incredible to watch him work because it is a really bizarre process and kind of fascinating. It's not a process that would work for me but I can see the way he does it and it clearly works for him. It's cool.</p></blockquote></div><p>Obviously these quotes came many years before the recent allegations made against the Thirty Seconds to Mars front man. But folks are looking over interviews about Jared Leto with a fine tooth comb in response to these sobering claims. For his part, the <em>Tron: Ares</em> actor has denied any wrongdoing, saying: </p><div><blockquote><p>I have never sexually assaulted anyone in my entire life. These claims are absolutely and categorically false.</p></blockquote></div><p>Only time will tell how things ultimately shake out with this controversy, and if Jared Leto ends up having to go to court against any of his accusers. The stakes certainly feel high, and smart money says fans will be keeping up with the ongoing situation.</p><p><em>Suicide Squad</em> is streaming on Max and Jared Leto's latest release <em>Masters of the Universe</em> is streaming on Amazon Prime as part of the <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/upcoming-movies-in-2026-new-movie-release-dates">2026 movie release list</a>. </p>
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                                                            <title><![CDATA[ I've Never Seen Anything Like The Sheer Plastic Skirt, Dress Shirt And Gloves Charlize Theron Just Wore For The Odyssey ]]></title>
                                                                                                                                                                                                <link>https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/charlize-theron-sheer-plastic-skirt-dress-shirt-gloves-the-odyssey-fashion</link>
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                            <![CDATA[ This look is next-level. ]]>
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                                                                        <pubDate>Tue, 04 Aug 2026 14:54:44 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                <category><![CDATA[Movies]]></category>
                                                                                                                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Heidi Venable ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                    <dc:source><![CDATA[ https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/w7HQ9MvRSDd7diNpTmruW9.png ]]></dc:source>
                                                                <dc:description><![CDATA[ &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The Background&lt;/strong&gt;: Heidi Venable is a Content Producer for CinemaBlend. She started freelancing for the site in 2020 and officially came on board in 2021. Her job entails writing news stories and TV reactions from some of her favorite prime-time shows like Grey&#039;s Anatomy and The Bachelor. She graduated from Louisiana Tech University with a degree in Journalism and worked in the newspaper industry for almost two decades in multiple roles including Sports Editor, Page Designer and Online Editor.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What She&#039;s Into&lt;/strong&gt;: Heidi grew up in the 1990s, and her tastes strongly reflect that. She can (and does) quote Friends constantly, enjoys a good West Wing binge, thinks Can&#039;t Hardly Wait was the most influential movie of her life and finds solace in 311 concerts. On Sundays during football season, she can be found cheering on the New Orleans Saints with her husband and two daughters. Who Dat! She loves to read but usually settles for a pop culture podcast, and thinks the best weekends are spent cooking and playing cards with friends and family, preferably with some UFC fights or other sporting event on TV.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What She&#039;s Excited About Right Now&lt;/strong&gt;: Football season, Pumpkin Spice Lattes and everything related to fall and cooler weather. The Game of Roses podcast and all things The Bachelor, and new episodes of Grey&#039;s Anatomy, Love Is Blind, The Voice, OMITB and more.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; ]]></dc:description>
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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    <media:description><![CDATA[Actress Charlize Theron attends Universal Pictures &quot;THE ODYSSEY&quot; Seoul a press conference at the Four Seasons on August 03, 2026 in Seoul, South Korea. ]]></media:description>                                                            <media:text><![CDATA[Actress Charlize Theron attends Universal Pictures &quot;THE ODYSSEY&quot; Seoul a press conference at the Four Seasons on August 03, 2026 in Seoul, South Korea. ]]></media:text>
                                <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[Actress Charlize Theron attends Universal Pictures &quot;THE ODYSSEY&quot; Seoul a press conference at the Four Seasons on August 03, 2026 in Seoul, South Korea. ]]></media:title>
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                                <p>Charlize Theron might be part of <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/the-odyssey-major-side-character-problem"><em>The Odyssey</em>’s side character problem</a>, but the Calypso portrayer has been giving main character energy on the press tour, both leading up to and following its release on the <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/upcoming-movies-in-2026-new-movie-release-dates">2026 movie calendar</a>. That’s not exactly easy to do when you’ve also got <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/zendaya-gonna-need-break-from-slaying-after-stunning-odyssey-spider-man-fits">Zendaya slaying (as per usual) in her <em>Odyssey</em> fits</a>. Theron came to play during a press conference in Seoul, South Korea, because I’ve never seen anything like this wardrobe choice.</p><p>Clear plastic is becoming a bigger part of <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/tag/celebrity-fashion">celebrity fashion</a> these days, and Charlize Theron is helping to lead the trend. Her Tom Ford look combined a striped, button-down dress shirt, transparent skirt, black tights and gloves to result in something truly unique:</p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:2000px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:149.95%;"><img id="dU6taqQdJuNHn9cCyrfwng" name="GettyImages-2288823142" alt="Actress Charlize Theron attends Universal Pictures "THE ODYSSEY" Seoul a press conference at the Four Seasons on August 03, 2026 in Seoul, South Korea." src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dU6taqQdJuNHn9cCyrfwng.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="2000" height="2999" attribution="" endorsement="" class="inline"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Photo by Han Myung-Gu/WireImage)</span></figcaption></figure><p>The outfit was designed by Tom Ford creative director Haider Ackermann, who’s been responsible for some of <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/timeline-of-timothee-chalamets-best-red-carpet-looks">Timothée Chalamet’s best red carpet looks</a>. Charlize Theron started with a black slip dress, then layered that with the blue-and-white-striped silk boyfriend shirt. Over that she added the plastic skirt (or more specifically, per <a href="https://wwd.com/pop-culture/celebrity-news/charlize-theron-tom-ford-the-odyssey-seoul-1239091383/">WWD</a>, the skirt made of “black glass-effect technical fabric and exotic printed leather).</p><p>The skirt was held in place with a black leather belt, and underneath it all she showed off black tights monogrammed with Tom Ford’s initials. Gloves have been big recently for Charlize Theron, as the white gloves she wore to <em>The Odyssey</em>’s London premiere took her <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/charlize-theron-dress-high-slit-stunning-but-over-the-top-gloves-i-cant-stop-looking">high-slit dress ensemble over the top</a>, and again in Seoul, she sported a pair in black.</p><p>The layered elements, the use of plastic, and the low-buttoned boyfriend shirt give this the stunning but edgy vibe that Charlize Theron is known for, especially with her flawless glam makeup and wavy bob, parted to the side.</p><p><a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/zendaya-already-full-goddess-mode-law-roach-shows-flowy-the-odyssey-dresses">Zendaya may be in full goddess mode</a> with her own dresses for <em>The Odyssey</em>’s press tour, but Charlize Theron is out here <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/charlize-theron-stunning-the-odyssey-press-tour-fashion-zendaya">reminding everybody that she’s “not dead yet.”</a> That’s not to suggest that these two are in competition, because we are equal opportunity fashion lovers, and there is enough attention to go around. </p><p>Back to the <em>Bombshell</em> star, though, plastic-as-clothes isn’t the only trend Charlize Theron is pushing lately. She also wore a jaw-dropping gown of silver fringe from Louis Vuitton for the China premiere of the Christopher Nolan epic adaptation. That came just one day after <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/florence-pugh-sports-silver-fringe-structured-shoulders-spider-man-premiere-look">Florence Pugh also sported silver fringe</a> at a <em>Spider-Man: Brand New Day</em> event. </p><p>I love how Charlize Theron combines classic beauty with more avant-garde fashion choices, and I can only hope her next mind-blowing look isn’t too far away. I’m also excited to see how celebrities continue to incorporate clear plastic into their red carpet choices. Considering how popular both naked dresses and structured pieces are, this “technical fabric” provides some fun opportunities.</p><p>For now, though, I’m just loving what Charlize Theron is doing. Be sure to catch the Academy Award winner in <em>The Odyssey</em>, which is in theaters now.</p>
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                                                            <title><![CDATA[ Stop The Presses, We Finally Have A Timeline For Bond 26 Getting Underway ]]></title>
                                                                                                                                                                                                <link>https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/we-finally-have-timeline-for-bond-26-getting-underway-casting</link>
                                                                            <description>
                            <![CDATA[ Daniel Craig’s successor could finally step out of the shadows. ]]>
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                                                                        <pubDate>Tue, 04 Aug 2026 14:20:03 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                <category><![CDATA[Movies]]></category>
                                                                                                                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Ryan LaBee ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                    <dc:source><![CDATA[ https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XbAXNYeMUxUvrHFt3Cg5KE.jpeg ]]></dc:source>
                                                                <dc:description><![CDATA[ &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The Background:&lt;/strong&gt; Ryan graduated from Missouri State University with a BA in English/Creative Writing.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What He&#039;s Into:&lt;/strong&gt; He loves all things horror. An avid fan of Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon. Lifelong comic book fan.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What He&#039;s Excited About Right Now:&lt;/strong&gt; Ryan&#039;s really excited for House of the Dragon and Hulu&#039;s Hellraiser reboot!&lt;/p&gt; ]]></dc:description>
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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    <media:description><![CDATA[Daniel Craig as James bond in a black tux and bow tie in No Time to Die (2021).]]></media:description>                                                            <media:text><![CDATA[Daniel Craig as James bond in a black tux and bow tie in No Time to Die (2021).]]></media:text>
                                <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[Daniel Craig as James bond in a black tux and bow tie in No Time to Die (2021).]]></media:title>
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                                <p>It has been nearly <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/its-been-5-years-since-daniel-craig-bond-exit-amazon-boss-why-his-successor-taking-so-long-007"><u>five years since Daniel Craig</u></a> ordered his final martini in <em>No Time to Die</em>, and the <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/bond-26-denis-villeneuve-more-planning-search--next-007-update"><u>search for the next James Bond</u></a> has somehow produced more rumors than actual information. Every British actor under 40 has seemingly been fitted for a tuxedo by the internet, but we may finally know when the real answers are coming. Stop the presses, because we finally have a timeline for when we should <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/what-we-know-upcoming-james-bond-movie"><u>expect Bond 26 to be getting underway</u></a>.</p><p>Producer Amy Pascal told <a href="https://deadline.com/2026/08/spider-man-brand-new-day-amy-pascal-interview-1237016593/"><u>Deadline</u></a> that an announcement about the next 007 could arrive by the end of the <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/upcoming-movies-in-2026-new-movie-release-dates"><u>2026 movie calendar</u></a>. When asked whether that time frame sounded realistic, Pascal called it “a good bet,” explaining:</p><div><blockquote><p>I would say the end of the year is a good bet. We are being really, really methodical. Having worked with Barbara Broccoli at the studio, I mean, Daniel Craig is a hard act to follow. And it’s got to be something really different that is a stirring and exciting and different.</p></blockquote></div><p>That is still not a casting announcement, but after years of hearing some variation of “the process is ongoing,” I will gladly take an actual target. By New Year’s Eve, we may know who will be standing beside an Aston Martin in the first official photo from the post-Craig era.</p><p>Whoever gets the role will have an impressive group waiting behind the camera. <em>Dune</em> filmmaker <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/former-bond-boss-barbara-broccoli-responds-denis-villeneuve-directing"><u>Denis Villeneuve is directing the next Bond film</u></a>, while <em>Peaky Blinders</em> creator Steven Knight is writing the screenplay. Pascal and <em>Harry Potter</em> producer David Heyman are producing, with Tanya Lapointe serving as executive producer.</p><p>That lineup goes a long way toward explaining why the team is being so careful. Villeneuve has already described Bond as “sacred territory” and said he wants to honor the franchise while opening the door for future missions. Amazon MGM Studios has also praised his ability to create immersive theatrical worlds through movies such as <em>Arrival</em>, <em>Blade Runner 2049</em> and the <em>Dune</em> films.</p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:2000px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="B3ayPmRe4XbpZR4gngHfcB" name="James Bond update new" alt="James Bond looking sad, sitting at a bar in Skyfall" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/B3ayPmRe4XbpZR4gngHfcB.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="2000" height="1125" attribution="" endorsement="" class="inline"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: MGM)</span></figcaption></figure><p>Casting Bond is always a huge decision, but this one carries extra weight. Craig played the character for 15 years, beginning with <em>Casino Royale</em> and ending with a film that gave his version of 007 a definitive conclusion. The next actor cannot simply walk into the same continuity and order another drink.</p><p>And based on Pascal’s comments, it sounds to me like the producers understand that. Her emphasis on finding something “different” makes me think they are not searching for an actor that could essentially replace Craig, only younger. The new actor needs to work with whatever Villeneuve and Knight are building, particularly if Bond 26 is meant to start another long-running era.</p><p>Until someone is officially introduced, the <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/rumors-new-james-bond-already-been-cast-greatly-exaggerated"><u>usual names will continue circling the role</u></a>. Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Theo James, Callum Turner and several other actors have all been discussed online, while previous reports suggested that the search had moved into talent testing, with another round of auditions expected in August.</p><p>That does not mean the winner will be one of the famous contenders fans have spent years debating. Bond producers have often benefited from casting someone recognizable without choosing the most obvious movie star available. The next 007 could still be an actor hiding several pages deep in everyone’s prediction list.</p><p>For now, the important news is that the process finally has something resembling a finish line. We may not have Bond, a release date or even a title, but the team appears to be closing in on the person who will carry the franchise forward.</p><p>After this long without 007, the end of the year suddenly feels very close. While we 007 fans wait for more info, now is a great time to revisit the sixty years of films by streaming <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/james-bond-movies-in-order-how-to-watch-all-of-the-007-movies"><u>all of the Bond films</u></a> or renting them with an <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/streaming-news/amazon-prime-subscription-the-plan-the-price-and-whats-included"><u>Amazon Prime subscription</u></a>.  </p>
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                                                            <title><![CDATA[ I Wasn’t Expecting A Sony Exec To Make A Super Bowl Analogy While Talking Tom Holland’s Spider-Man Future ]]></title>
                                                                                                                                                                                                <link>https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/wasnt-expecting-sony-exec-make-super-bowl-analogy-tom-holland-spider-man-future</link>
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                            <![CDATA[ Tom Holland better not go anywhere. ]]>
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                                                                        <pubDate>Tue, 04 Aug 2026 13:32:25 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                <category><![CDATA[Movies]]></category>
                                                    <category><![CDATA[Spider Man]]></category>
                                                    <category><![CDATA[Marvel Cinematic Universe]]></category>
                                                    <category><![CDATA[Superheroes]]></category>
                                                                                                                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Corey Chichizola ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                    <dc:source><![CDATA[ https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QyFDQjurXJr5xt5g6DznEN.png ]]></dc:source>
                                                                <dc:description><![CDATA[ &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The Background&lt;/strong&gt;: Corey Chichizola has been with CinemaBlend since 2015, starting as the Weekend Editor before climbing up the ranks and eventually becoming the Movies Editor. Born and raised in New Jersey and an alumnus of Ramapo College, he&#039;s combined his degrees in theater and literature to cover the the way stories are told in TV and film. On top of helping run the news cycle, Corey has been honored to do a variety of on camera interviews with his personal heroes, and has been particularly privileged to speak with actors about their process on set. Before joining the CB team he worked in the New York theater world, and is thrilled to be in such close proximity to the city that never sleeps.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What He&#039;s Into&lt;/strong&gt;: Corey is one of CinemaBlend&#039;s biggest horror nerds, and is happy to cover all thing spooky, especially related to favorite franchises like Halloween and Scream. He&#039;s also taken his passion and education for theater to cover the movie musical beat on the website. While a movies editor, Corey is also a television addict, watching what seems like a billion different shows every year. Aside from scripted programs, he&#039;s got a passion for certain corners of the Reality TV world including Survivor, RuPaul&#039;s Drag Race, and the Real Housewives. He&#039;s also got a passion for the mockumentary subgenre on both the big and small screens, especially projects like Drop Dead Gorgeous, Waiting for Guffman, and The Office.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What&#039;s He&#039;s Excited About Right Now&lt;/strong&gt;: Anything that Jordan Peele will give us, Talk to Me, the Exorcist reboot, the final season of Handmaid&#039;s Tale.&lt;/p&gt; ]]></dc:description>
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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    <media:description><![CDATA[Peter walking into his apartment at the end of Spider-Man: No Way Home. ]]></media:description>                                                            <media:text><![CDATA[Peter walking into his apartment at the end of Spider-Man: No Way Home. ]]></media:text>
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                                <p>The Marvel Cinematic Universe is always expanding, with new titles arriving in theaters and streaming with a <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/streaming-news/disney-plus-price-plans-and-cost-increases">Disney+ subscription</a>. But folks who spent years watching the <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2467680/a-marvel-movies-timeline-to-watch-from-beginning-to-endgame">Marvel movies in order</a> know that certain franchises are fan favorites, chief among them being <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/superheroes/spider-man/every-spider-man-movie-ranked">the <em>Spider-Man</em> movies</a>. Case in point: <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/box-office/spider-man-brand-new-day-exceeds-projections-nears-billion"><em>Brand New Day</em>'s record-breaking performance</a> at the box office. Fans are wondering how long Tom Holland might play Peter Parker, and a Sony exec made a Super Bowl analogy about that lingering question.</p><p>Fans are always curious about <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/new/upcoming-marvel-movies-release-dates-phase-4-67944.html">upcoming Marvel movies</a>, and have been wondering how long Holland will continue playing Peter Parker. During a recent interview with <a href="https://variety.com/2026/film/news/sony-tom-rothman-spider-man-brand-new-day-box-office-record-1236826285/">Variety</a>, Sony's Tom Rothman addressed how long we might see the <em>Odyssey</em> star in his signature role, offering: </p><div><blockquote><p>I love these questions. It’s like when a coach wins the Super Bowl and he goes to the press conference and they say to him, ‘Are you going to win it next year?’ The honest truth is we don’t know at this point. This has been the focus of our studio for almost two years. I can tell you this: I certainly, certainly hope. I heard Tom say at some point that he wanted to continue, and we would love it if he did.</p></blockquote></div><p>Honestly, I get it. The studio is still celebrating how well <em>Brand New Day</em> is doing, so they're not necessarily looking to the next <em>Spider-Man</em> film just yet. That being said, it seems like Sony would love to keep their collaboration with tits leading actor going for the foreseeable future... even if <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/tom-holland-knows-you-saw-spidey-comments-playing-him-in-his-thirties-responded-peter-parker">Tom Holland originally said he'd be done playing Peter Parker by the time he's in his 30s</a>. He's exactly 30 years old now, but it doesn't sound like he's hanging up the suit right away.</p><p>That being said, <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/tom-holland-cant-stop-wont-stop-dropping-miles-morales-name-when-it-comes-to-spider-mans-future">Holland has expressed interest in being a mentor to Miles Morales</a> in the future. So maybe he could retire as Peter Parker after that's done? Rothman also spoke to <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/spider-man-the-beatles-jumanji-sony-tom-rothman-interview-1236663221/">THR</a> about the actor saying he'd play Spider-Man again. The Sony boss was quoted saying: </p><div><blockquote><p>I can tell you when I heard that Tom said that, I jumped for joy. All I will say is that hope springs eternal. I really hope so.</p></blockquote></div><p>This is definitely a hopeful set of messages for fans who might be nervous that Tom Holland's tenure as Peter Parker was coming to an end. Sony wants to keep things rolling, and <em>Brand New Day</em>'s performance shows that fans have an ongoing passion for the franchise. After recent Marvel <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/superheroes/marvel-cinematic-universe/how-bad-is-the-marvels-box-office-disney-statement-future-reporting">box office bombs like <em>The Marvels</em></a>, these wins feel especially significant. </p><p><a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/spider-man-brand-new-day-post-credits-avengers-doomsday-secret-wars-battleworld-tobey-maguire"><em>Brand New Day</em>'s credits scene</a> seemed to hint at Spider-Man's role in <em>Secret Wars</em>, although it remains to be seen if we'll see Tom Holland's Peter or perhaps the return of Tobey Maguire or Andrew Garfield. Either way it's clear that the web slinger is a character that moviegoers care deeply about. </p><p><em>Spider-Man: Brand New Day </em>is in theaters now as part of the <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/upcoming-movies-in-2026-new-movie-release-dates">2026 movie release list</a>. The next Marvel movie hitting theaters will be <em>Avengers: Doomsday</em> on December 18th.  We'll just have to see if Spidey shows up or not. </p>
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                                                            <title><![CDATA[ After Being Cast As Emma Frost, See Samara Weaving As The Mutant In Epic Marvel Fan Art ]]></title>
                                                                                                                                                                                                <link>https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/after-being-cast-emma-frost-samara-weaving-epic-marvel-fan-art</link>
                                                                            <description>
                            <![CDATA[ The MCU's new X-Men are coming together. ]]>
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                                                                        <pubDate>Tue, 04 Aug 2026 13:03:49 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                <category><![CDATA[Movies]]></category>
                                                    <category><![CDATA[X-men]]></category>
                                                    <category><![CDATA[Marvel Cinematic Universe]]></category>
                                                    <category><![CDATA[Superheroes]]></category>
                                                                                                                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Corey Chichizola ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                    <dc:source><![CDATA[ https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QyFDQjurXJr5xt5g6DznEN.png ]]></dc:source>
                                                                <dc:description><![CDATA[ &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The Background&lt;/strong&gt;: Corey Chichizola has been with CinemaBlend since 2015, starting as the Weekend Editor before climbing up the ranks and eventually becoming the Movies Editor. Born and raised in New Jersey and an alumnus of Ramapo College, he&#039;s combined his degrees in theater and literature to cover the the way stories are told in TV and film. On top of helping run the news cycle, Corey has been honored to do a variety of on camera interviews with his personal heroes, and has been particularly privileged to speak with actors about their process on set. Before joining the CB team he worked in the New York theater world, and is thrilled to be in such close proximity to the city that never sleeps.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What He&#039;s Into&lt;/strong&gt;: Corey is one of CinemaBlend&#039;s biggest horror nerds, and is happy to cover all thing spooky, especially related to favorite franchises like Halloween and Scream. He&#039;s also taken his passion and education for theater to cover the movie musical beat on the website. While a movies editor, Corey is also a television addict, watching what seems like a billion different shows every year. Aside from scripted programs, he&#039;s got a passion for certain corners of the Reality TV world including Survivor, RuPaul&#039;s Drag Race, and the Real Housewives. He&#039;s also got a passion for the mockumentary subgenre on both the big and small screens, especially projects like Drop Dead Gorgeous, Waiting for Guffman, and The Office.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What&#039;s He&#039;s Excited About Right Now&lt;/strong&gt;: Anything that Jordan Peele will give us, Talk to Me, the Exorcist reboot, the final season of Handmaid&#039;s Tale.&lt;/p&gt; ]]></dc:description>
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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    <media:description><![CDATA[Samara Weaving in a wedding dress from her first shot of Ready or Not. ]]></media:description>                                                            <media:text><![CDATA[Samara Weaving in a wedding dress from her first shot of Ready or Not. ]]></media:text>
                                <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[Samara Weaving in a wedding dress from her first shot of Ready or Not. ]]></media:title>
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                                <p>The Marvel Cinematic Universe is an ever-expanding franchise, with the studio bringing fans new titles on the big screen and streaming with a <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/streaming-news/disney-plus-price-plans-and-cost-increases">Disney+ subscription.</a> Fans are always curious about <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/new/upcoming-marvel-movies-release-dates-phase-4-67944.html">upcoming Marvel movies</a>, and that includes <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/interviews/marvel-x-men-director-talks-about-making-mcu-reboot">Jake Schreier's developing <em>X-Men </em>movie</a>. Folks were hyped when <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/samara-weaving-has-joined-x-men-now-i-have-4-ideas-for-who-should-be-cast-next">Samara Weaving was confirmed to be playing Emma Frost</a>, and fan art imagines what she might look like as that iconic mutant.</p><p>The X-Men's absence in the MCU was noticeable for fans who spent years watching the <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2467680/a-marvel-movies-timeline-to-watch-from-beginning-to-endgame">Marvel movies in order</a>, although <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2468596/disney-and-foxs-merger-is-officially-complete">Disney's acquisition of 20th Century Fox</a> finally opened the door for mutants to join the shared universe. Only time will tell what Schreier's <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/superheroes/x-men/all-of-the-live-action-x-men-movies-so-far-ranked"><em>X-Men</em> movie</a> will bring to the table, but folks are excited to see both Sadie Sink and Weaving as part of the cast. Artist Boss Logic whipped up some fan art to show what the latter might look like as Emma Frost, check it out below: </p><div class="instagram-embed"><blockquote class="instagram-media"  data-instgrm-version="6" style="width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DbiucyclIxJ/" target="_blank">A post shared by Kode Abdo (@bosslogic)</a></p><p>A photo posted by  on </p></blockquote></div><p>Just take my money at this point. The <em>Ready or Not </em>star looks truly incredible as Emma, and that's before we even see her in her iconic diamond form. And with a series of acclaimed performances on her resume, Weaving has both the talent and the look to pull off playing The White Queen. We'll just have to wait and see how comic-accurate her costume ends up being when Weaving debuts as her new character on the big screen.</p><p>The X-Men are wildly popular Marvel heroes, so news of Samara Weaving's casting quickly went viral online, especially for the hardcore fandom. And now that <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/superheroes/marvel-cinematic-universe/thunderbolts-director-x-men-learning-curve-working-marvel-heroes-thunderbolts">the <em>Thunderbolts* </em>director</a> is actively casting, his mutant-centric movie has never felt more real. And I can't wait to see who else joins the burgeoning cast of this mysterious movie.</p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:2000px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="RruJgEKJoEcdPTCPV2zwjV" name="EmmaFirstClass" alt="January Jones as Emma Frost in First Class." src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/RruJgEKJoEcdPTCPV2zwjV.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="2000" height="1125" attribution="" endorsement="" class="inline"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: 20th Century Fox)</span></figcaption></figure><p>News of Samara Weaving's casting comes shortly after <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/we-almost-made-it-spider-mans-premiere-without-someone-dropping-possible-spoiler-sadie-sink">Sadie Sink was confirmed as Jean Grey</a> in <em>Spider-Man: Brand New Day</em>. The movie's ending saw her leave NYC and seemingly head upstate, with fans assuming she'll end up as the X-Mansion. But will she find Charles Xavier there or Emma Frost? Only time will tell. </p><p>Emma has a long history in X-Men comics, TV shows, video games, and more. She was played in live-action by January Jones in <em>First Class</em>, although not everyone was happy with her portrayal. Most recently the character appeared in <em>X-Men '97,</em> as well as the video game <em>Marvel Rivals.</em> Now we're getting another live-action version of the character, and it should be interesting to see if she's introduced as a hero or a villain. </p><p>The new <em>X-Men </em>movie is currently expected to hit theaters sometime in 2028, so hopefully we hear more about casting sooner rather than later. The next Marvel movie hitting theaters is <em>Avengers: Doomsday</em> on December 18th as part of the <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/upcoming-movies-in-2026-new-movie-release-dates">2026 movie release list</a>, and will feature a number of OG stars from Fox's <em>X-Men</em> franchise. </p>
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                                                            <title><![CDATA[ Spider-Man’s Jacob Batalon Said Sadie Sink Made Him Feel Old On Brand New Day (And Now I Feel REALLY Old) ]]></title>
                                                                                                                                                                                                <link>https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/spiderman-jacob-batalon-sadie-sink-made-old-tom-holland-brand-new-day-big-yikes</link>
                                                                            <description>
                            <![CDATA[ Wanna feel old? Sadie Sink has you covered. ]]>
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                                                                        <pubDate>Tue, 04 Aug 2026 12:04:03 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                <category><![CDATA[Movies]]></category>
                                                    <category><![CDATA[Spider Man]]></category>
                                                    <category><![CDATA[Marvel Cinematic Universe]]></category>
                                                    <category><![CDATA[Superheroes]]></category>
                                                                                                                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Jessica Rawden ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                    <dc:source><![CDATA[ https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gNi5ipvqyWREFVbs7Ehzx9.png ]]></dc:source>
                                                                <dc:description><![CDATA[ &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The Background:&lt;/strong&gt; Jessica Rawden is Managing Editor at CinemaBlend. She’s been kicking out news stories at CinemaBlend since 2007 and joined the full-time staff in 2014. She oversees news content, hiring and training for the site, and her areas of expertise include theme parks, rom-coms, Hallmark (particularly Christmas movie season), reality TV, celebrity interviews and primetime. She loves a good animated movie.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Jessica has a Masters in Library Science degree from Indiana University, and used to be found behind a reference desk most definitely not shushing people. She now uses those skills in researching and tracking down information in very different ways.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What She’s Into&lt;/strong&gt;: A former soccer player and recent tennis addict, Jessica also enjoys running, both of the distance and sprint variety. When not at the movie theater or in a theme park, her other free time is spent in book clubs, hiking, drinking wine, binge-watching, keeping tabs on celebrity fashion and riding rollercoasters. Has a serious Hallmark habit and an even bigger record-buying habit. Will bake for compliments.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What She’s Excited About Right Now&lt;/strong&gt;: &amp;nbsp;Hallmark Christmas movie season. Wearing socks to bed. &amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; ]]></dc:description>
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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    <media:description><![CDATA[Ned talking to Peter at party in Spider-Man: Brand New Day]]></media:description>                                                            <media:text><![CDATA[Ned talking to Peter at party in Spider-Man: Brand New Day]]></media:text>
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                                <p>Along with <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/spider-man-sadie-sink-has-easier-time-keeping-secrets-tom-holland-brand-new-day"><u>a pitch perfect press tour</u></a>, Sadie Sink has already been praised for her work in <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/spider-man-brand-new-day-reviews-cinemablend-tom-holland-zendaya-mcu"><u><em>Spider-Man: Brand New Day</em></u><u> reviews</u></a>. By all accounts, the cast enjoyed working with the <em>Stranger Things</em> star, too, though co-star Jacob Batalon recently told a story that will doubtless have many of us feeling very old, myself included. </p><p>Apparently, Sink was just hanging around set and minding her own business when she accidentally stepped in a landmine by mentioning Tom Holland was the Spider-Man she grew up with. I know, unless you are Sink’s age yourself, you are probably recoiling and/or doing math right now. She made the comment to Jacob Batalon, who <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/superheroes/spider-man/spider-man-brand-new-day-set-photo-seemingly-confirms-neds-future-after-no-way-home-mit">was there to reprise Ned on set </a>(despite the <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/superheroes/spider-man/spider-man-no-way-home-ending-explained-the-new-marvel-movie-radically-changes-the-life-of-tom-hollands-peter-parker">ending to <em>Spider-Man: No Way Home</em></a>), and it absolutely made him feel all of his 30ish years. </p><div><blockquote><p>It’s like really crazy to say it’s been a decade. Because I thought this was gonna end a long time ago. So, it’s crazy to be here now, and you know, having Sadie come on and really be part of the new thing is really cool… When she said this was her like Spider-Man, like her growing up Spider-Man, I felt like really fucking old. </p></blockquote></div><p>Batalon is 29 for a couple more months. <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/tom-hollands-dad-shared-baby-video-30th-birthday-spider-man-fans-cant-get-enough">Tom Holland turned 30</a> in June. Zendaya turns 30 on September 1st. By most people’s measures, they are nowhere near old. This isn't exactly as harrowing as that time <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/television/wanna-feel-old-macaulay-culkin-is-over-40-now-and-starring-in-a-midlife-travel-show-following-viral-tweet">Macaulay Culkin turned 40</a>. Regardless, <em>Brand New Day</em> is the fourth Spider-Man movie, and it marks 10 years since Tom Holland famously first appeared in <em>Captain America: Civil War</em>.  Time has passed swiftly. </p><p>Regardless, for Sink, who is only 24, Tom Holland is her Spider-man. While she was technically born in the Tobey Maguire era (shoutout to her birth year 2002 being the same year Sam Raimi’s <em>Spider-Man</em> came out), she wouldn’t remember the early movies and was still pretty young during Andrew Garfield’s brief run, so Holland is her guy. There’s no shame in that, but it is a little strange to think about her growing up watching them and now being in the movie herself.</p><p>In fact, it’s been stuck in Batalon’s head in the time since. He told <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reels/Dbd-JOVpnrf/"><u>Zach Sang Show</u></a>: </p><div><blockquote><p>We’re only like 30! Thirty’s like not old, but I’m just saying like if a whole 10-year-old grew up while we were making these movies, it’s really crazy to think that time has passed so fast. </p></blockquote></div><p>I hate to admit it in writing, but my Spider-Man is actually Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man. I still love Tobey as Spidey, but it does make me feel extremely dated at this point, and I’m only a few years older than Batalon is! So, I get it. Time flies when you're swinging from web to wall. As part of <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/new/Weird-Specifics-Marvel-Sony-Secret-Spider-Man-Deal-69718.html">its deal with Marvel</a>, Sony has to make new Spider-Man movies every few years, too, so a lot of people over the last 25 years or so have grown up with a specific Spider-Man in mind. </p><p>It’s been a fairly long run for the web slinger in the modern era, not James Bond long, but long. From everything Holland has said, there are lots of <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/tom-holland-cant-stop-wont-stop-dropping-miles-morales-name-when-it-comes-to-spider-mans-future"><u>directions Spider-Man could go in in the future</u></a>. Here’s hoping for more <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/new/upcoming-marvel-movies-release-dates-phase-4-67944.html"><u>upcoming Marvel movies</u></a> are on the way for his Spider-Man.  </p>
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                                                            <title><![CDATA[ Zoe Saldaña Gets Real About The ‘Challenges’ Of Being A Working Mom And A Hollywood Actress ]]></title>
                                                                                                                                                                                                <link>https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/zoe-saldana-gets-real-about-challenges-being-working-mom-hollywood-actress</link>
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                            <![CDATA[ She does it all, but it's not easy. ]]>
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                                                                        <pubDate>Tue, 04 Aug 2026 00:35:00 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                <category><![CDATA[Movies]]></category>
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                                                                                                                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Liz Konkel ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                                        <dc:description><![CDATA[ null ]]></dc:description>
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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    <media:description><![CDATA[Zoe Saldana in Lioness. ]]></media:description>                                                            <media:text><![CDATA[Zoe Saldana in Lioness. ]]></media:text>
                                <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[Zoe Saldana in Lioness. ]]></media:title>
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                                <p>It's already hard being a working parent but, for a celebrities like Zoe Saldaña, I imagine it can feel impossible. Juggling raising kids and traveling from one new location after the next can be difficult. And, in Saldaña's case, the hard work really speaks for itself, since she holds a <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/could-scarlett-johansson-another-actress-break-zoe-saldanas-box-office-record"><u>box office record</u></a> that makes her the highest-grossing lead actor of all time. Despite the success, though, the A-lister recently talked about not being immune to the "challenges" that come with being a working mom and a Hollywood star.</p><p>The topic came up while Saldaña was promoting the third season of <em>Lioness</em>, which just recently premiered as part of the <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/television/2026-tv-premiere-date-schedule-network-streaming-series"><u>2026 TV schedule</u></a><em>. </em>She with <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reels/DbiPSKqDC6i/"><u>People</u></a> about what she and her character, Joe McNamara, have in common and, now, I can't help but think of the parallels. She explains:</p><div><blockquote><p> It almost feels unfair to try to compare, I would say the challenges that I face as a working mom to the challenges that Joe [McNamara] faces. But there are similarities. The only thing is that mine are more diluted. I am going through, you know, a time when my kids are getting older, and they’re really being vocal about how they want to live and where they want to live. And the life of an artist means it’s a nomadic life. You’re here today, you’re somewhere else tomorrow. And it’s not necessarily for every family.</p></blockquote></div><div  class="fancy-box"><div class="fancy_box-title">More on Zoe Saldaña</div><div class="fancy_box_body"><p class="fancy-box__body-text"><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/zoe-saldana-message-to-husband-his-films-cannes-proves-why-couple-goals">Zoe Saldaña’s Message To Her Husband About His Films At Cannes Proves Why They’re Couple Goals: ‘All My Love, Always’</a></p></div></div><p>While for her the obstacles are more "diluted," this doesn’t make it easier to do a juggling act. She may be focusing on the premiere of <em>Lioness </em>now but, just last year, she was promoting two films. She had a voice part in Pixar’s imaginative <em>Elio</em>, and she did extensive press for <em>Avatar: Fire and Ash</em>, in which she <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/interviews/neytiris-racist-zoe-saldana-reacts-her-arc-avatar-fire-and-ash-character-weighed-on-her"><u>reprised her role as Neytiri</u></a>. And all that came only a year after her whirlwind of a press run for <em>Emilia Pérez</em>, for <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/celebs-oscars-moment-winners-zoe-saldana-mikey-madison-feels-emilia-perez-anora"><u>which she won an Oscar</u></a>.</p><p>It seems Saldaña (understandably) wants to work but also have time for her three children, whom she shares with husband Marco Perego. Speaking of which, her sons <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/why-zoe-saldana-proud-her-kids-avoid-her-movies"><u>don’t watch her movies</u></a>. And it’s not just because they don’t want to see their mom on screen but, as she explained, “They don’t like violence.” </p><p>Going back to her challenges in being a working mom, though, the <em>Guardians of the Galaxy</em> star is fully aware that her circumstances differ from those of other women as well as her <em>Lioness</em> character:</p><div><blockquote><p>And so I can only imagine. I’m only dealing with one decimal of what Joe has to deal with.</p></blockquote></div><p>I’m sure Joe wishes she had fewer bullets to deal with and more late-night shoots. But, while Zoe Saldaña has given the credit to Taylor Sheridan for his creating strong female characters, critics have loved her (and fellow actresses) performance. When the series premiered, critics praised it. The show, which can be watched with a <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/television/2562226/paramount-plus-release-date-price-and-other-things-we-know-about-the-streaming-service"><u>Paramount+ subscription</u></a>, only seems to be getting better, so Saldaña's work hasn't been done in vain.</p><p>Between stunts and knock-out emotional performances, Saldaña makes being a working mom in Hollywood look easy, even if it's anything but. It surely takes a village, but I applaud her for navigating all that.</p>
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                                                            <title><![CDATA[ After Years Of Rumors, Will Ferrell Explains What Happened With Jon Favreau On Elf ]]></title>
                                                                                                                                                                                                <link>https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/will-ferrell-explains-elf-rumors-jon-favreau</link>
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                            <![CDATA[ Buddy's side of the story. ]]>
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                                                                        <pubDate>Mon, 03 Aug 2026 23:30:00 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                                <updated>Tue, 04 Aug 2026 19:31:01 +0000</updated>
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                                                                                                                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Heidi Venable ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                    <dc:source><![CDATA[ https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/w7HQ9MvRSDd7diNpTmruW9.png ]]></dc:source>
                                                                <dc:description><![CDATA[ &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The Background&lt;/strong&gt;: Heidi Venable is a Content Producer for CinemaBlend. She started freelancing for the site in 2020 and officially came on board in 2021. Her job entails writing news stories and TV reactions from some of her favorite prime-time shows like Grey&#039;s Anatomy and The Bachelor. She graduated from Louisiana Tech University with a degree in Journalism and worked in the newspaper industry for almost two decades in multiple roles including Sports Editor, Page Designer and Online Editor.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What She&#039;s Into&lt;/strong&gt;: Heidi grew up in the 1990s, and her tastes strongly reflect that. She can (and does) quote Friends constantly, enjoys a good West Wing binge, thinks Can&#039;t Hardly Wait was the most influential movie of her life and finds solace in 311 concerts. On Sundays during football season, she can be found cheering on the New Orleans Saints with her husband and two daughters. Who Dat! She loves to read but usually settles for a pop culture podcast, and thinks the best weekends are spent cooking and playing cards with friends and family, preferably with some UFC fights or other sporting event on TV.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What She&#039;s Excited About Right Now&lt;/strong&gt;: Football season, Pumpkin Spice Lattes and everything related to fall and cooler weather. The Game of Roses podcast and all things The Bachelor, and new episodes of Grey&#039;s Anatomy, Love Is Blind, The Voice, OMITB and more.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; ]]></dc:description>
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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    <media:description><![CDATA[Will Ferrell as Buddy the Elf in Elf.]]></media:description>                                                            <media:text><![CDATA[Will Ferrell as Buddy the Elf in Elf.]]></media:text>
                                <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[Will Ferrell as Buddy the Elf in Elf.]]></media:title>
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                                <p><em>Elf</em> is considered by many to be one of the <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/best-christmas-movies-all-time">best Christmas movies of all time</a> (it’s even <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/prince-williams-favorite-christmas-movie-is-a-total-classic-and-now-i-need-to-watch-it">Prince William’s favorite</a>). Will Ferrell is absolutely hilarious as Buddy, a human who was raised by elves. It’s such a classic that you’d never think there was tension behind the scenes between Ferrell and director Jon Favreau. Rumors have persisted over the years, and the <em>Old School</em> star has spoken out to explain what actually happened.</p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:2000px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="YbvDCUuYTz4eLEsZKzLtA3" name="elf" alt="Will Ferrell as Buddy the Elf in Elf." src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YbvDCUuYTz4eLEsZKzLtA3.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="2000" height="1125" attribution="" endorsement="" class="inline"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Warner Bros.)</span></figcaption></figure><p>Will Ferrell wouldn’t classify his relationship to Jon Favreau as a feud, but when he touched on their dynamic while filming 2003’s <em>Elf</em>, he did acknowledge that they were coming at the movie from different angles. Speaking with the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuIgtYY1wxI"><em>Happy Sad Confused</em> podcast</a>, Ferrell said:</p><div><blockquote><p>I think there was just…. I was always pushing for sillier comedy at times a little more. Yeah, just let’s explore this out. Jon really wanted us — for it to have a really strong story and heart.</p></blockquote></div><p>I can definitely see Will Ferrell wanting to lean into the silliness of Buddy the Elf — and how that level of absurdity might not mesh with a director who’s concerned with making something heart-warming. Ferrell suggests they each compromised to give the other a little of what they wanted, saying:</p><div><blockquote><p>And so I would kind of go, after we had kind of taken a couple passes at a scene, I'd be like, ‘OK, I see what you're talking about now.’ And then I think Jon would let me do my thing and be like, ‘OK, I see what you're talking about.’ And I think that push-pull is what you see [in the finished film].</p></blockquote></div><p>It is definitely the combination of silliness and heart that makes <em>Elf</em> so special all these years later, so however it came about, I’m glad that both Will Ferrell and Jon Favreau were able to execute their visions. According to reports over the years, though, they never truly saw eye to eye, and that contention may have been <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2555113/we-finally-know-why-elf-2-didnt-happen-thanks-to-james-caan">why <em>Elf 2</em> never happened</a>. </p><p>James Caan, who played Buddy’s father, said a sequel was planned but, “the director and Will didn’t get along very well.” He said the contracts had both Will Ferrell and Jon Favreau attached, but Ferrell “didn’t want the director,” so he walked.</p><p>Will Ferrell gave a different version of that story back in 2021, saying he <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/will-ferrell-explains-why-he-turned-elf-2-and-a-huge-paycheck-down">turned down $29 million for the sequel</a> because of its “rehashed premise.” He said at the time:</p><div><blockquote><p>I would have had to promote the movie from an honest place, which would’ve been, like, ‘Oh no, it’s not good. I just couldn’t turn down that much money. And I thought, ‘Can I actually say those words? I don’t think I can, so I guess I can’t do the movie.’</p></blockquote></div><p>I’m admittedly OK with there not being a sequel to <em>Elf</em>, especially if it would have failed to live up to what has become part of my Christmas traditions. And while Jon Favreau and Will Ferrell were able to make it through one movie with their different approaches, it’s probably for the best that they parted ways afterward. </p><p>They each continue to stay busy, with Jon Favreau writing and directing this year’s <em>The Mandalorian and Grogu</em> and Will Ferrell most recently starring in Netflix’s <em>The Hawk</em>. If you want to revisit their 2003 project, <em>Elf</em> is available to stream with a <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/television/2562226/paramount-plus-release-date-price-and-other-things-we-know-about-the-streaming-service">Paramount+ subscription</a>. </p>
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                                                            <title><![CDATA[ Reacher's Alan Ritchson Just Landed A Huge New Deal That Basically Makes Him The Next Adam Sandler ]]></title>
                                                                                                                                                                                                <link>https://www.cinemablend.com/streaming-news/reacher-alan-ritchson-huge-new-deal-that-basically-makes-him-the-next-adam-sandler</link>
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                            <![CDATA[ More like Bobby Buff-er Jr., amirite? Nobody? ]]>
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                                                                        <pubDate>Mon, 03 Aug 2026 22:22:04 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                                <updated>Mon, 03 Aug 2026 22:22:11 +0000</updated>
                                                                                                                                            <category><![CDATA[Streaming News]]></category>
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                                                                                                                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Nick Venable ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                    <dc:source><![CDATA[ https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TzeQjfZT5cKqHRsEqudtqT.png ]]></dc:source>
                                                                <dc:description><![CDATA[ &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The Background&lt;/strong&gt;: Nick Venable is an Assistant Managing Editor, and the TV Editor. His humble origin story with CinemaBlend began all the way back in the pre-streaming era, circa 2009, as a freelancing DVD reviewer and TV recapper. After rising up through the ranks covering Movies, Nick leapfrogged over to the small screen to cover more and more television news and interviews, eventually taking over the section for the current era. Born in Louisiana and currently living in Texas — Who Dat Nation over America’s Team all day, all night — Nick spent several years in the hospitality industry, and also worked as a 911 operator. And if you ever happened to hear his music or read his comics/short stories, you have his sympathy. His love for his wife and daughters is almost equaled by his love of gasp-for-breath laughter and gasp-for-breath horror. A lifetime spent in the vicinity of a television screen led to his current dream job, as well as his knowledge of too many TV themes and ad jingles.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What He&#039;s Into&lt;/strong&gt;: Nick is one of those people who won’t necessarily insert a Monty Python reference into every conversation, but is still mentally equipped to do so. Beyond such appreciation for surreal UK comedy, Nick also indulges in as much horror splendor as possible, from Stephen King novels to James Tynion IV comics to Freddy Krueger one-liners to all things Mike Flanagan. Throw in a dash of NFL, some 311 and Weird Al, fried crawfish poboys, bourbon, ‘90s-era pro wrestling, crossword puzzles and mystery-driven video games, and baby, you got a stew going. (Nick will insert an Arrested Development reference into every conversation, if possible.)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What He&#039;s Excited About&lt;/strong&gt;: Anything Jeff Lemire, Tom King and W. Maxwell Prince think of, ever. More of Kelly Reilly’s deliriously fierce performances on Yellowstone. HBO’s The Last of Us. Clone High’s return. Colin Farrell’s Penguin being in every movie/TV show/breakfast cereal.&lt;/p&gt; ]]></dc:description>
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                                <p>Alan Ritchson is quickly becoming one of Hollywood’s most bankable stars on the big and small screen, and his widespread popularity will no doubt continue to grow as <em>Reacher</em> Season 4 drops (via <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/streaming-news/amazon-prime-subscription-the-plan-the-price-and-whats-included">Amazon Prime subscription</a>) and <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/wait-fast-11-alan-ritchson-gets-real-obstacles-facing-vin-diesel"><em>Fast 11</em> gets closer to filming</a>. He technically doesn’t even need to use words to win over critics and audiences, as evidenced by the <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/alan-ritchson-motor-city-reviews-no-dialogue-roundup">acclaimed action thriller <em>Motor City</em></a>. So it’s perhaps no surprise that Netflix has secured the actor for a huge deal that likely <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/streaming-news/alan-ritchson-war-machine-sequel-comments-lionsgate-boss">paves the way for <em>War Machine 2</em></a> and more.</p><h2 id="netflix-signed-a-first-look-movie-deal-with-alan-ritchson">Netflix Signed A First-Look Movie Deal With Alan Ritchson</h2><p>On the heels of the massive success of the <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/netflix-war-machine-review">sci-fi action romp <em>War Machine</em></a>, Netflix is staking semi-permanent claims in Alan Ritchson as a viewership commodity. According to <a href="https://deadline.com/2026/08/alan-ritchson-motogp-movie-netflix-1237015614/">Deadline</a>, the streaming giant and the actor's Dancing Skeletons production shingle have partnered for a first-look creative deal for a slate of movies that Ritchson will star in and produce. </p><p>I don't think it's too much of a stretch to think that the <em>Titans</em> vet is more or less becoming the platform's action hero equivalent of Adam Sandler, who has been an audience-amassing value add for Team Netflix since 2014, starring in 15 or so features, a stand-up special, and other projects. Not that they were all comedies, much as I'm sure not all of Ritchson's Netflix projects will be action-oriented. (Which makes this the time for <em>Blue Mountain State</em> to return anew, no?)</p><p>In any case, Ritchson obviously has a ways to go to catch up with the Sandman's streak, but the dude has an uncrushable work ethic that makes me think he could hit 15 Netflix movies in the next 5 years alone. </p><p>Considering <em>War Machine</em> recently broke into the bottom of Netflix's all-time Top 10 movies, with 139.9 million views racked up during the 91-day window post-release, a sequel seems imminent, but has yet to be announced. That said, we already know what to expect first from this new partnership.</p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:2000px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="VcB2wzbF5qzRGFbi2LmTJW" name="War Machine unit" alt="War Machine. (L-R) Jack Patten as 109, James Beaufort as 23, Alan Ritchson as 81, Alex King as 44 and Blake Richardson as 15 in War Machine. Cr. Ben King/Netflix © 2026." src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VcB2wzbF5qzRGFbi2LmTJW.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="2000" height="1125" attribution="" endorsement="" class="inline"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Netflix)</span></figcaption></figure><h2 id="alan-ritchson-s-first-project-under-netflix-deal-is-with-fast-furious-franchise-writer">Alan Ritchson's First Project Under Netflix Deal Is With Fast & Furious Franchise Writer</h2><p>Before this new first-look agreement was finalized, Ritchson was already set to headline the hurricane-set military action movie <em>Maelstrom</em> for Jaume Collet-Serra (whose <em>Carry-On</em> was another huge hit for the platform). After that, he'll be teaming up with another superstar creative in screenwriter Chris Morgan, who has handled storytelling duties for the <em>Fast and Furious</em> franchise since <em>Tokyo Drift.</em> The project also boasts the production power of Jeff Kirschenbaum and Joe Roth of RK Films, with the former being a Universal exec who oversaw <em>F&F</em> development before taking on producer duties. </p><p>The project is a still-untitled heist thriller centering around MotoGP. The narrative follows a group of motorcycle thieves who take their crimes global, targeting priceless relics around the world. Naturally, the only person who can stop them is a former MotoGP would-be-superstar recruited by Interpol to track them down. The harder part comes when he realizes the group is possibly being led by a younger brother that he thought was dead. Cue the dramatic blasts.)</p><p>Sounds like a fun idea, and I can easily see why the project was pitched to Netflix by Ritchson, Morgan & Co. as "<em>Fast & Furious</em> with motorcycles," as well as why Netflix's Powers That Be were quick to agree to it. </p><p>Helping things along is that MotoGP will be fully on board as well. The road-racing brand has signed their own deal with Netflix to serve in a consultation capacity during the development process. It's not everyday a huge company agrees to lend its products to movies where crimes are commited using said products. But that's usually less of a concern when it comes to higher-priced tie-ins like vehicles and resorts.</p><p>It's unclear if this new first-look deal throws a wrench into the works regarding <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/alan-ritchson-reveals-talks-dc-role-fans-great-casting-picks">his talks to play a DCU character</a>, and it's also unclear whether or not this will potentially hinder <em>Reacher</em> beyond the already renewed Season 5, or if it will have an effect on his still-fresh creative deal with Amazon MGM to produce new TV projects. </p><p>Whichever way it goes, I do believe both Alan Ritchson and Netflix both come out of this looking like winners, winners, chicken dinners. Now who's going to be the genius who writes the movie where Ritchson and Adam Sandler play brothers?</p>
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                                                            <title><![CDATA[ Marvel Should Have Found A Way To Stick With Kang Rather Than Pivoting To Doctor Doom. Here's Why ]]></title>
                                                                                                                                                                                                <link>https://www.cinemablend.com/superheroes/marvel-cinematic-universe/marvel-should-have-found-way-to-stick-with-kang-rather-than-pivoting-doctor-doom</link>
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                            <![CDATA[ I still feel like we were cheated out of this storyline. ]]>
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                                                                        <pubDate>Mon, 03 Aug 2026 22:00:00 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                <category><![CDATA[Marvel Cinematic Universe]]></category>
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                                                                                                                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Rich Knight ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                    <dc:source><![CDATA[ https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Enwjd8DHUH6gafodwAU7zD.png ]]></dc:source>
                                                                <dc:description><![CDATA[ &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The Background&lt;/strong&gt;: Rich Knight is a content producer for CinemaBlend who has been off and on writing for the website since 2010. He used to cover video games and DVDs (Remember those?), but now mostly writes about whatever he’s interested in at the moment. He graduated from Rutgers University (Go, R.U.!) and has written for a number of publications, including Complex Magazine, XXL, Weightwatchers, etc. But he considers CinemaBlend his favorite website to write for, mostly because it’s so much fun. And also because they let him write about Godzilla. When he’s not writing for CB, he’s a novelist and a teacher.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What They&#039;re Into&lt;/strong&gt;: Rich loves old movies, video games, and books. Lots and lots of books. His favorite movies of all time are Apocalypse Now, Big Trouble in Little China, and Adaptation, as well as so-bad-they&#039;re-good movies like Troll 2, Batman &amp;amp; Robin, and Freddy Got Fingered. Bring on the awful! He’s also really big into anime, AEW, The Legend of Korra, and pretty much anything connected to the Breaking Bad universe. He’s a Nintendo fanboy for life, loves Deep Dish Pizza, and his Marvel vs. Capcom 2 team is Guile, Strider, and Wolverine. Come get some.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What They&#039;re Excited About Right Now&lt;/strong&gt;: Going through John Carpenter’s entire filmography, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, and the drama that is the AEW locker room.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; ]]></dc:description>
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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    <media:description><![CDATA[Jonathan Majors giving a serious stare in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania]]></media:description>                                                            <media:text><![CDATA[Jonathan Majors giving a serious stare in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania]]></media:text>
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                                <p>Well, folks, we're almost there. <em>Avengers: Doomsday</em> comes out December 18th (the same day as <em>Dune: Part 3</em>, <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/kevin-feige-allegedly-admitted-dunesday-plan-doomsday-dune-3">making it “Dunesday”</a> for many), and I'm pretty excited. </p><p>I mean, how could I not be? <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/superheroes/marvel-cinematic-universe/3-things-this-massive-moon-knight-fan-loved-about-the-disney-show-and-2-things-he-really-disliked">My favorite Marvel “hero”</a> is Moon Knight, but when it comes to villains, it has to be Doctor Doom. And yet…I kind of wish we weren't getting <em>Doomsday</em>. At least not so soon. </p><p>You see, I'm still very much of the opinion that Marvel should have stayed the course with their plans for Kang the Conqueror. Yes, Kevin Feige said to <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/marvels-kevin-feige-fantastic-four-superman-1236324127/"><em>The Hollywood Reporter</em></a> that Kang “wasn’t big enough” after Thanos, and yes, I know Jonathan Majors was <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/superheroes/marvel-cinematic-universe/how-does-jonathan-majors-feel-dropped-by-marvel-letter-kevin-feige">dropped by Marvel</a> after being found guilty of reckless assault and harassment. I still think Marvel should have kept with Kang rather than pivoting to Doctor Doom. </p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:2000px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="zaaNZKJuqbhKJBonPTwGSf" name="Loki" alt="Jonathan Majors sitting in a chair as He Who Remains in Loki" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zaaNZKJuqbhKJBonPTwGSf.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="2000" height="1125" attribution="" endorsement="" class="inline"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Marvel Studios)</span></figcaption></figure><h2 id="kang-could-have-been-big-enough-with-the-right-push">Kang COULD Have Been Big Enough With The Right Push</h2><p>This might not seem like the right time to bring this up, but I want to talk about the first <em>Guardians of the Galaxy</em> movie. Now, when it was first announced that we were getting a Guardians film, my initial thought was, <em>Are you kidding me? </em>Because look, <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/specific-movie-and-tv-memories-im-sure-i-share-with-other-90s-kids">I grew up in the ‘90s</a>, and I can tell you this: If Spider-Man and the X-Men were considered A-tier Marvel back then, then Guardians of the Galaxy was considered <em>F</em>-tier. </p><p>It’s not that <em>Guardians of the Galaxy</em> was a <em>bad </em>series back then, but all of the cosmic stuff (sans Silver Surfer, who was pretty popular even back then) felt pretty obscure in the ‘90s. Nova, ROM, and yes, GotG all felt like SUPER niche characters, and only for the nerdiest of the nerds. So, when we got F-tier Marvel comics as a film… and it was SUPER SUCCESSFUL, well, that just told me <em>any</em> Marvel character was fair game for the MCU… as long as they were handled properly.</p><p>Granted, following<em> Avengers: Endgame</em>, the MCU kind of felt like they dropped the ball when it came to introducing new characters (<a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/superheroes/marvel-cinematic-universe/may-be-alone-still-want-forgotten-marvel-team-avengers-doomsday-the-eternals">Like my beloved <em>Eternals</em></a>). That said, Marvel had it in its capabilities to really do something special with Kang the Conqueror if they just did it right! </p><p>Which, I understand, they DIDN’T get Kang right when he appeared in <em>Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania</em>. However, Kang was <em>so</em> great at the end of Season 1 of<em> Loki</em>, and I feel like Marvel should have kept at it with his character, as he just needed that extra something to push him over the top, even without Jonathan Majors, which I’ll get into next. </p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:2000px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="HYD7eKSCU9PaL8UHzSCiD" name="Loki 1" alt="Jonathan Majors as a stern Victor Timely in Loki" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/HYD7eKSCU9PaL8UHzSCiD.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="2000" height="1125" attribution="" endorsement="" class="inline"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Marvel Studios)</span></figcaption></figure><h2 id="if-jonathan-majors-was-also-a-factor-at-the-time-they-could-have-just-written-him-off-and-made-him-a-variant">If Jonathan Majors Was Also A Factor At The Time, They Could Have Just Written Him Off And Made Him A Variant </h2><p>Going back to that Kevin Feige <em>Hollywood Reporter</em> session and how he said they were already pivoting away from Kang before the Jonathan Majors incident, fine. I’ll take him for his word, as these things definitely take time, and filling the Russo brothers in that the MCU wanted to integrate Doctor Doom couldn’t have just been some spur-of-the-moment decision. That said, I’m also going to believe that  Jonathan Majors' conviction of assaulting his ex-girlfriend had to have at least been a contributing factor to Marvel dropping Kang at the time.</p><p>I mean, just look at <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2453199/james-gunn-has-been-removed-from-guardians-of-the-galaxy-vol-3">how fast Marvel dropped James Gunn</a> from <em>Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 </em>after his controversy, only to bring him back once the internet had cooled off. So, there's definitely a precedent for Marvel getting squeamish when one of their major players gets a negative spotlight drawn on them. However, the thing about the multiverse is that Marvel could have just written off Majors and put somebody else as a variant of Kang, and I don’t think anybody would have minded.</p><p>For example, we got Victor Timely in Season 2 of <em>Loki</em>, and he was a variant of Kang, as well as He Who Remains. And, while sure, these are just different versions of Jonathan Majors, there really wasn’t anything saying that Marvel couldn’t have just gotten another charismatic actor to play a DIFFERENT variant of Kang. Like, instead of David Jonsson playing the next Black Panther <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/black-panther-3-cast-king-tchalla-successor-david-jonsson-2028-release">(which, you know, cool)</a>, perhaps <em>he</em> could have been a variant of Kang. He certainly has the acting chops for it. </p><p>Or, I don’t know, <em>anybody </em>besides Jonathan Majors. It could have been done. Because without Kang’s time travel shenanigans, the whole TVA thing kind of feels pointless. Speaking of which…</p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:2000px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="6i5td7dAuxzb4tAhbLsPyj" name="Loki 2" alt="Tom Hiddleston with his arms outstretched in Loki" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6i5td7dAuxzb4tAhbLsPyj.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="2000" height="1125" attribution="" endorsement="" class="inline"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Marvel Studios)</span></figcaption></figure><h2 id="plus-kang-s-departure-from-the-mcu-cheapens-loki-s-return-in-doomsday">Plus, Kang's Departure From The MCU Cheapens Loki's Return In Doomsday</h2><p>If there was ever a time to cry watching anything MCU-related, I can think of two instances: One was when Spider-Man turned to dust at the end of <em>Avengers: Infinity War</em>, and number two was Loki’s sacrifice in becoming the living embodiment of all of the timelines in Season 2 of <em>Loki</em>, which showed true growth in Hiddleston’s character. </p><p>All of this timeline stuff ultimately connects to Kang the Conqueror, who is known for his many variants and time-traveling capabilities. In fact, he’s what made the whole TVA thing feel interesting and alive, and Loki being a part of that really felt like something special. In a lot of ways, Loki and Kang felt intertwined in their destinies. </p><p>By just dropping Kang, it kind of weakens Loki’s story and the great finality to his role in the MCU. Now, Loki’s coming back in <em>Doomsday</em>, which is kind of weird. Yes, I know Hiddleston has said to <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/tom-hiddleston-loki-pompeii-out-of-time-1236648387/"><em>The Hollywood Reporter</em></a> that his role in <em>Doomsday</em> picks up after his sacrifice in Season 2, but I still can’t vibe with the idea of Kang just being poof, gone, forgotten. </p><p>Kang felt so instrumental to everything involving the multiverses and the timeline, and now none of that seems to matter with Kang gone. And this is all just to move on to Doctor Doom, who I really need to talk about now. </p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:2000px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="fhMqEoxm9TnShR3vDF6WQD" name="doctor doom doomsday" alt="Doctor Doom in full costume in front of cloudy green background on poster for Avengers: Doomsday" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fhMqEoxm9TnShR3vDF6WQD.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="2000" height="1125" attribution="" endorsement="" class="inline"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Marvel Studios)</span></figcaption></figure><h2 id="doctor-doom-really-did-need-more-time-to-cook">Doctor Doom Really Did Need More Time To Cook</h2><p>Kevin Feige has recently <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/kevin-feige-shares-thoughts-after-fans-complain-doctor-doom-having-no-buildup-doomsday">shared his thoughts</a> on Doctor Doom’s lack of build-up, and he’s compared it with Thanos, saying that the big purple dude really didn’t have all that much build-up, either. However, I’d say that was a hell of a lot more than what we got at the end of <em>Fantastic Four: First Steps </em>with Doctor Doom <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/what-if-doctor-doom-wasnt-with-franklin-end-of-fantastic-four-the-first-steps-latverian-witch">(IF that was even him)</a>.</p><p>Honestly, one post-credit scene is nothing, and it feels like it really should be something given the existential threat that Doctor Doom should present. I mean, this is Doctor FREAKING Doom we’re talking about here, and we’re really just going to get him introduced to us in <em>this </em>movie…which is also going to bring the X-Men into the fray?</p><p>For real? I mean, I do have faith in the Russo brothers, but Doctor Doom is a TOP TIER Marvel villain (I’d say even more so than Thanos), and I think he needed to be built up A LOT more before just throwing him against the Avengers, the Fantastic Four, and the X-Men. </p><p>Plus, where do we go from Doctor Doom? He’s like THE big bad guy in Marvel along with Thanos. Kang could have been that nice in-between if done right.</p>
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                                                            <title><![CDATA[ What Really Happened When Robert Pattinson Thought Matt Damon Was Losing It On The Odyssey Set ]]></title>
                                                                                                                                                                                                <link>https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/robert-pattinson-thought-matt-damon-losing-it-on-the-odyssey-set</link>
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                            <![CDATA[ Just what was he doing? ]]>
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                                                                        <pubDate>Mon, 03 Aug 2026 22:00:00 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                <category><![CDATA[Movies]]></category>
                                                                                                                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Liz Konkel ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                                        <dc:description><![CDATA[ null ]]></dc:description>
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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    <media:description><![CDATA[Robert Pattinson and Matt Damon in The Odyssey.]]></media:description>                                                            <media:text><![CDATA[Robert Pattinson and Matt Damon in The Odyssey.]]></media:text>
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                                <p>It’s easy to see the dedication on display from <em>The Odyssey</em>’s cast when checking out their performances in the <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/upcoming-movies-in-2026-new-movie-release-dates">2026 release</a>. But hearing how far Matt Damon went to get Odysseus right kinda blows my mind. Robert Pattinson, who portrays Antinous, dished on just what it took for Damon to become the Greek hero, revealing what really happened when he thought his co-star was totally losing it on <em>The Odyssey</em> set. </p><p>Pattinson got together with castmates Tom Holland and Anne Hathaway to play a game of “Who Even Am I?” for <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kghrUluKOeU">MTV UK</a>. In the midst of one round, Pattinson divulged the way Matt Damon had him in awe with his on-the-day performance, saying:</p><div><blockquote><p>There’s a thing which Matt did when we were shooting something, and he was in the trailer next to me and he was making these noises in the trailer. And I was like, ‘cause he's such a nice guy, and I'm like — I thought he was on the phone — and I'm like, ‘He's a complete psycho.’ [He’s just] screaming and screaming and screaming. I’m like, either like, you’re having a really bad toilet experience [laughs]. </p></blockquote></div><p>Damon's Odysseus is one of the reasons why the movie gave <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/box-office/the-odyssey-christopher-nolan-box-office-crown-toy-story-billion-dollars">Christopher Nolan his box office crown back</a>, so it's probably safe to say Damon's vocal wear and tear was worth it in the end. Not that it was just a loss of voice that the actor endured for the epic role, as he has been open about the dreariness of filming, specifically addressing the scenes on the ship where <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/matt-damon-real-about-rough-conditions-christopher-nolan-the-odyssey">he spent a lot of time wet and cold</a>. </p><p>Despite scenes that required discomfort, the actor has had nothing but lovely things to say about his experience. Damon even says the movie had a “profound effect” on him, and his dedication in turn had a lasting effect on Pattinson, who shares his costar had a good reason for acting like a psycho: </p><div><blockquote><p>He was blowing his voice out just to sound older…. Seeing him on the mast, I'm like, ‘Jeez, like really, you're taking years off your life doing this.’ It’s impressive.</p></blockquote></div><p>Though I admit, while I love hearing the story of Damon's method acting, it's what the actor said to Nolan about his Odysseus performance that made me emotional. When the director complimented the dailies of Damon and Hathaway, the actor instantly gave away the credit: <strong>“I said that was Annie. Because I really just looked into her eyes and she took me away.”</strong></p><p>Sadly, not everyone shares the love the cast has for the movie, especially <em>The Odyssey</em> translator Emily Wilson, who called the Nolan film “underdeveloped” and <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/the-odyssey-translator-defends-criticizing-lack-sex-scenes-food-looking-horrible">then later defended her criticism</a>. However, the cast still defends the choices made, such as Pattinson, who has previously <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/video-robert-pattinson-defending-despicable-odyssey-character-hilarious">defended the actions of his despicable character</a>. He did so by hilariously saying that when it comes to having a step-father, Holland “could do worse.” And while he praises the extremes Damon is willing to go to, it would be amiss to not mention Pattinson is going from one grueling schedule to another. He has <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/robert-pattinson-talks-many-night-shoots-coming-for-the-batman-part-ii">11 weeks of night shoots coming up</a> for <em>The Batman Part II.</em></p><p>But while we wait for his Batman encore, we can enjoy watching Pattinson, Damon, and their costars as they give these classic characters their all. </p>
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                                                            <title><![CDATA[ Jaafar Jackson Just Landed His Michael Follow-Up (And Will Smith Is Involved) ]]></title>
                                                                                                                                                                                                <link>https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/jaafar-jackson-michael-follow-up-will-smith-supermax</link>
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                            <![CDATA[ The rookie/vet team-up I didn't know I needed. ]]>
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                                                                        <pubDate>Mon, 03 Aug 2026 21:17:37 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                <category><![CDATA[Movies]]></category>
                                                                                                                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Emma Lambiaso ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                                        <dc:description><![CDATA[ null ]]></dc:description>
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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    <media:description><![CDATA[Jaafar Jackson dons one of Michael Jackson&#039;s classic looks, a blue stiff-collared jacket with gold embellishments and aviator shades, in the Michael movie, next to Will Smith in a tux in Bad Boys: Ride or Die.]]></media:description>                                                            <media:text><![CDATA[Jaafar Jackson dons one of Michael Jackson&#039;s classic looks, a blue stiff-collared jacket with gold embellishments and aviator shades, in the Michael movie, next to Will Smith in a tux in Bad Boys: Ride or Die.]]></media:text>
                                <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[Jaafar Jackson dons one of Michael Jackson&#039;s classic looks, a blue stiff-collared jacket with gold embellishments and aviator shades, in the Michael movie, next to Will Smith in a tux in Bad Boys: Ride or Die.]]></media:title>
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                                <p>The <em>Michael</em> movie absolutely smashed at the box offices, already making it one of the best <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/upcoming-music-biopics">musical biopics to come out this year</a> and the <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/michael-danced-its-way-major-box-office-milestone-singers-nephew-responded-tj">first musical biopic to ever gross over $1 billion dollars</a>. The film’s lead, Jaaffar Jackson, nephew of Michael Jackson, instantly became a bonafide movie star, with only one movie under his belt. Now, it has been announced that Jackson has landed his <em>Michael</em> follow-up, and Will Smith is involved.</p><p>Per <a href="https://deadline.com/2026/08/jaafar-jackson-joins-supermax-will-smith-1237014489/">Deadline</a>, Jaafar Jackson’s upcoming film is <em>Supermax</em>, an action thriller already set to star Will Smith and AnnaSophia Robb as two FBI agents investigating a seemingly impossible murder inside a maximum security prison. The David Gordon Green-directed film is a collaboration between Amazon MGM studios and Miramax productions, and is set to go straight to streaming. While we don’t know much more about the plot, or deep details about Jaafar Jackson’s character, we do know that the new actor’s role is said to be pivotal to the central story being told.</p><p>I’m quite excited for this project as a sophomore film for Jackson. It will be a real test for the <em>Michael</em> actor in a couple ways. While the <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/complaints-about-new-michael-biopic-not-what-i-expected-critics-reviews">critical reviews for <em>Michael</em> were mixed</a>, more of the negative comments revolved around the plot and the <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/is-michael-jackson-biopic-getting-second-movie-ending-and-reshoots-explained">absence of the more difficult parts of Michael Jackson’s life</a>, including his trial for the child sexual abuse claims made against the king of pop. </p><p>The one aspect of the movie nearly everyone could agree on was that <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/michael-jackson-movie-screened-first-reactions-hyping-movie-up">Jaafar Jackson is uncanny in his impersonation</a> of his famous uncle. From his high pitch voice to his killer dance moves, Jackson was able to perfectly replicate the Michael mania on the big screen for both old and new generations alike. </p><div class="youtube-video" data-nosnippet ><div class="video-aspect-box"><iframe data-lazy-priority="high" data-lazy-src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/e33V9wBPYVI" allowfullscreen></iframe></div></div><p>However, a musical biopic is a hell of a lot different from an action thriller like <em>Supermax</em>, and I think this will be even more telling of Jackson’s acting skills than <em>Michael</em>. This time, he will get a more traditional movie-making experience. Unlike <em>Michael</em>, there are no videos, interviews, or <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/one-thing-jaafar-jackson-had-in-common-uncle-michael-prepare-for-biopic">personal experience to draw from as direct source material</a> for the young actor’s role in this upcoming Amazon MGM flick, which will require him to interpret the fictional character himself. Not to mention, the tone of this film is very different from <em>Michael</em>, seemingly a bit darker and more suspenseful, and I’m quite interested to see Jackson’s performance in this new genre.</p><p>Luckily for the amateur actor, he’s got one of the best vets in the game to guide him. This will be Will Smith’s first feature film since <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/box-office/bad-boys-ride-or-die-big-win-summer-2024-box-office-great-opening-weekend"><em>Bad Boys: Ride or Die</em> in 2024</a>, and his first non-franchise film since <em>King Richard</em>,  which earned him a 2022 Oscar on the same night he got himself <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/will-smiths-oscar-ban-after-the-chris-rock-slap-explained">banned from the award show for slapping comedian Chris Rock</a> on live television. </p><p>Since that infamous moment, we haven’t seen much of the <em>Fresh Prince</em> actor on our screens, but he’s remained busy behind the scenes, executive producing a number of hit shows like <em>Cobra Kai</em> and <em>Bel-Air</em>. However, the <em>I Am Legend</em> has a number of <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2556705/upcoming-will-smith-movies-and-shows-whats-ahead-for-the-bad-boys-star">upcoming acting projects</a> lined up. Could <em>Supermax</em> be the start of a Will Smith renaissance? Only time will tell, so be sure to keep an eye on the <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/upcoming-movies-in-2026-new-movie-release-dates">2026 movie schedule</a> for when a release date is eventually announced.</p>
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                                                            <title><![CDATA[ Lynda Carter Hopped In A Bathtub For Super Troopers 3: ‘You Promised Not To Show That!’ ]]></title>
                                                                                                                                                                                                <link>https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/lynda-carter-hopped-in-bathtub-super-troopers-3</link>
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                            <![CDATA[ Governor Jessman is back.... and in a tub! ]]>
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                                                                        <pubDate>Mon, 03 Aug 2026 20:30:00 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                                <updated>Tue, 04 Aug 2026 15:39:44 +0000</updated>
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                                                                                                                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Erik Swann ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                    <dc:source><![CDATA[ https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rXkznL7DwWNoGfjx998J3Q.png ]]></dc:source>
                                                                <dc:description><![CDATA[ &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The Background&lt;/strong&gt;: Erik Swann is a Senior Content Producer at CinemaBlend. He began working with the publication in 2020 when he was hired as Weekend Editor. Today, he continues to write, edit and handle social media responsibilities over the weekend. On weekdays, he also writes TV and movie-related news and helps out with editing and social media as needed. He graduated from the University of Maryland, where he received a degree in Broadcast Journalism. After shifting into multi-platform journalism, he started working as a freelance writer and editor before joining CB. During his time with the site, he&#039;s been able to cover some excellent TV shows and films and interview some wonderful stars.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What He&#039;s Into&lt;/strong&gt;: Erik is a superhero fan, and his love for comic books began after he first watched Batman: The Animated Series as a child. He also enjoys comedies, action/adventure flicks, dramas and science fiction. He has a love for sports as well, particularly professional basketball. Though he&#039;s a Maryland/Washington D.C. native, he roots for the Boston Celtics. Some of his all-time favorite TV shows are BTAS, Breaking Bad, Sanford and Son, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Better Call Saul and Atlanta. And when it comes to movies, Beverly Hills Cop, A Raisin in the Sun, Toy Story, Iron Man, Star Wars, and Wall Street are among his favorites. He also enjoys a good pizza (preferably with pepperoni and mushrooms) while he&#039;s watching entertaining films and TV series.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What He&#039;s Excited About Right Now&lt;/strong&gt;: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, Reservation Dogs Season 3, Ahsoka, Loki Season 2, Invincible Season 2, Next Goal Wins and Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget.&lt;/p&gt; ]]></dc:description>
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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    <media:description><![CDATA[Governor Jessman (Lynda Carter) addresses the media in Super Troopers 2.]]></media:description>                                                            <media:text><![CDATA[Governor Jessman (Lynda Carter) addresses the media in Super Troopers 2.]]></media:text>
                                <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[Governor Jessman (Lynda Carter) addresses the media in Super Troopers 2.]]></media:title>
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                                <p>The <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/upcoming-movies-in-2026-new-movie-release-dates">2026 movie schedule</a> is filled with legacy sequels, and there’s one particularly irreverent one that’s set to arrive later this month. I’m talking about <em>Super Troopers 3</em>, which sees the members of the Broken Lizard comedy team returning to write and star in the production. Some other franchise alums will also be back in the fray this time as well, including Lynda Carter. The fan-favorite actress seems excited to be back, and she recently expressed that enthusiasm by sharing some pics, including a still in which she’s chilling in a bathtub. </p><p>At this point, <em>Super Troopers</em> fans have surely come to expect comedy-based action from this franchise and, of course, other madcap antics can ensure as well. However, I can’t say I would’ve expected a still from the film to show Carter’s Governor Jessman smiling while soaking in a tub. That’s exactly what Carter revealed in a recent Instagram post, though, along with a couple of behind-the-scenes photos taken on set. Check out the seemingly ageless Carter in the post below: </p><div class="instagram-embed"><blockquote class="instagram-media"  data-instgrm-version="6" style="width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DbV2DF6Eeqp/" target="_blank">A post shared by Lynda Carter (@reallyndacarter)</a></p><p>A photo posted by  on </p></blockquote></div><p>While I’m delighted to see a bit of ST3 content, I’m also just enamored with Carter, who looks downright stunning. The <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/superheroes/wonder-woman-actress-lynda-carter-just-reminded-haters-that-the-dc-hero-is-officially-a-queer-icon">iconic <em>Wonder Woman</em> star</a> has always seemed to have something of a glow to her, and that’s definitely apparent in these fresh pics. Aside from that, though, it’s also just cool to see Carter once again sharing space with some of her longtime co-stars like Brian Cox and Jay Chandrasekhar. The jokey comment she makes pertaining to Chandrasekhar in her caption is also funny: </p><div><blockquote><p>[Super Troopers] Ride Again!!! Follow them and us (returning cast) For a fantastic road romp!! But….wait for it…the last scene! I’m naked in a bathtub???? Oh noooo, [Jay Chandrasekhar] you promised not to show that!</p></blockquote></div><div  class="fancy-box"><div class="fancy_box-title">More on Lynda Carter</div><div class="fancy_box_body"><p class="fancy-box__body-text"><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.cinemablend.com/superheroes/lynda-carter-is-giving-hugh-jackman-a-run-for-his-money-with-this-a-trolling-of-ryan-reynolds">Lynda Carter Is Giving Hugh Jackman A Run For His Money With This A+ Trolling Of Ryan Reynolds</a></p></div></div><p>I’d like to think that Vermont Governor Jessman will do more than sit in a tub when she returns in this upcoming threequel (though I could be wrong, considering how unpredictable this film series can be). Throughout the franchise, Carter’s Jessman has served as a key ally to the titular team and provides them with intel on missions. Jessman’s last appearance was in <em>ST2</em>, in which she unites the troopers to help deal with a land-related situation involving Canada. With all that said, this latest photo does leave room for speculation. I mean, is Jessman done with her political obligations and now living the simple life? We’ll have to wait and see. </p><p>What is known about the plot of <em>Super Troopers 3</em> is that it’ll see the team trying to solve a case involving a drug operation. And, at the same time, Trooper “Thorny” will be wrestling with his sister’s engagement to “Favra” and attempt to break them up. Matrimony-based chaos seems likely to ensue, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. </p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:2000px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="R9oto3iHJaKuH5mAMaME6G" name="lynda carter in super troopers 2" alt="Governor Jessman (Lynda Carter) addresses the media in Super Troopers 2." src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/R9oto3iHJaKuH5mAMaME6G.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="2000" height="1125" attribution="" endorsement="" class="inline"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Fox Searchlight Pictures)</span></figcaption></figure><p>As was the case with the first <em>Troopers</em> sequel, it’s honestly miraculous that a threequel is happening, though I certainly won’t question it. I’m curious to see what the Broken Lizard brings this time around and, of course, I can’t wait to see Lynda Carter return as Jessman as well. Until then, I’ll just be pondering why Carter’s character will be soaking in a tub during one part of the film. </p><p><a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/super-troopers-3-popcorn-bucket-full-mustache-because-of-course">Grab a <em>Super Troopers 3</em> popcorn bucket</a> and check out the film when it opens in theaters on August 7. In the meantime, stream the OG 2001 movie with a <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/television/2570844/subscribing-to-hulu-the-price-whats-included-and-everything-else-to-know">Hulu subscription</a>, and grab an <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/television/2570432/subscribing-to-hbo-max-what-to-know-about-the-price-options-and-what-the-streaming-service-offers">HBO Max subscription</a> to check out the 2018 sequel.</p>
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                                                            <title><![CDATA[ Did Bradley Cooper And Gigi Hadid Just Pull A Tom Holland And Zendaya? ]]></title>
                                                                                                                                                                                                <link>https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/did-bradley-cooper-gigi-hadid-secretly-marry-like-tom-holland-zendaya</link>
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                            <![CDATA[ This would be a massive step for Hadid and Cooper. ]]>
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                                                                        <pubDate>Mon, 03 Aug 2026 19:41:10 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                                <updated>Mon, 03 Aug 2026 20:13:48 +0000</updated>
                                                                                                                                            <category><![CDATA[Movies]]></category>
                                                                                                                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Erik Swann ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                    <dc:source><![CDATA[ https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rXkznL7DwWNoGfjx998J3Q.png ]]></dc:source>
                                                                <dc:description><![CDATA[ &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The Background&lt;/strong&gt;: Erik Swann is a Senior Content Producer at CinemaBlend. He began working with the publication in 2020 when he was hired as Weekend Editor. Today, he continues to write, edit and handle social media responsibilities over the weekend. On weekdays, he also writes TV and movie-related news and helps out with editing and social media as needed. He graduated from the University of Maryland, where he received a degree in Broadcast Journalism. After shifting into multi-platform journalism, he started working as a freelance writer and editor before joining CB. During his time with the site, he&#039;s been able to cover some excellent TV shows and films and interview some wonderful stars.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What He&#039;s Into&lt;/strong&gt;: Erik is a superhero fan, and his love for comic books began after he first watched Batman: The Animated Series as a child. He also enjoys comedies, action/adventure flicks, dramas and science fiction. He has a love for sports as well, particularly professional basketball. Though he&#039;s a Maryland/Washington D.C. native, he roots for the Boston Celtics. Some of his all-time favorite TV shows are BTAS, Breaking Bad, Sanford and Son, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Better Call Saul and Atlanta. And when it comes to movies, Beverly Hills Cop, A Raisin in the Sun, Toy Story, Iron Man, Star Wars, and Wall Street are among his favorites. He also enjoys a good pizza (preferably with pepperoni and mushrooms) while he&#039;s watching entertaining films and TV series.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What He&#039;s Excited About Right Now&lt;/strong&gt;: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, Reservation Dogs Season 3, Ahsoka, Loki Season 2, Invincible Season 2, Next Goal Wins and Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget.&lt;/p&gt; ]]></dc:description>
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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    <media:description><![CDATA[Bradley Cooper stars in Is This Thing On?, while Gigi Hadid is interviewed on The Drew Barrymore Show.]]></media:description>                                                            <media:text><![CDATA[Bradley Cooper stars in Is This Thing On?, while Gigi Hadid is interviewed on The Drew Barrymore Show.]]></media:text>
                                <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[Bradley Cooper stars in Is This Thing On?, while Gigi Hadid is interviewed on The Drew Barrymore Show.]]></media:title>
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                                <p>Much of the past year has seen the public at large speculate on Tom Holland and Zendaya’s relationship status, as the two played coy on <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/tom-holland-zendaya-secretly-gotten-married-according-close-source">whether they were married</a>. However, back in June, <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/tom-holland-grandma-bamboozled-fake-wedding-photos-he-confirms-zendaya-married">Holland finally confirmed their nuptials</a> while explaining that even his own grandmother was fooled by A.I. photos depicting their wedding. While that matrimonial mystery has been solved, it would appear that we now have another involving a different celebrity couple. There’s now reason to wonder whether Bradley Cooper and Gigi Hadid have tied the knot. </p><p>Bradley Cooper (51) and Gigi Hadid (31) mostly keep the details of their relationship private, so there’s a firm chance they wouldn’t make an official announcement in the event they got married. Interestingly enough, though, <a href="https://pagesix.com/2026/08/03/celebrity-news/bradley-cooper-and-gigi-hadid-spark-marriage-rumors-after-stepping-out-with-rings/">Page Six</a> snapped photos of the pair walking in Paris, France this week and, at the time, they were sporting matching rings. The news outlet has since reached out to the stars’ representatives for comments on those bands and, as of right now, there’s been no answer on that front. </p><p>There may be some who are tempted to pump the brakes on any kind of marriage-based theory. However, one need only look to the saga involving Zendaya (29) and Holland (30) to understand why this development involving Hadid and Cooper would be a big deal. In February, <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/zendaya-sported-gold-band-instead-of-engagement-ring">Zendaya was spotted wearing a gold band</a> and sent fans into a frenzy. Obviously, it turned out that she and Holland had indeed exchanged. We may not be able to say the same for Cooper and Hadid just yet but, per this precedent, it’s worth considering. </p><p>Hadid and Cooper have reportedly been dating since 2023, with that news coinciding with claims that they were involved in a <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/gigi-hadid-and-leonardo-dicaprio-not-together-the-model-has-new-man">love triangle with Leonardo DiCaprio</a>. There have since been various reports about <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/insiders-claims-how-serious-bradley-cooper-gigi-hadid-relationship">how firm Cooper and Hadid’s relationship is</a>. As a result of that, engagement rumors have swirled around the pair and, in 2025, it was alleged that <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/is-bradley-cooper-proposing-gigi-hadid-what-insider-says">Cooper was considering proposing</a> and wanted kids with Hadid. </p><p>Both stars already have kids of their own, as Cooper shares 9-year-old daughter Lea with former partner Irina Shayk. As for Hadid, she shares 5-year-old daughter Khai with ex-boyfriend Zayn Malik. </p><p>While the <em>Hangover</em> star and his fashion model girlfriend seem to have a strong bond, marriage is a big step, and that’s especially true when it comes to public figures. Celebrities also have the responsibility of choosing what to share and what to keep to themselves. Holland and Zendaya have long protected aspects of their relationship, and that still seems to be the case now. However, <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/tom-holland-joke-about-marrying-zendaya-answering-odyssey-question">Holland recently joked about their marriage</a> when he was promoting <em>The Odyssey</em>, one of their shared <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/upcoming-movies-in-2026-new-movie-release-dates">2026 movie releases</a>.</p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:2000px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="RhcKpMWAmoHZzEzu38pTc9" name="Tom Holland and Zendaya" alt="Tom Holland stars as Telemachus, while Zendaya stars as Athena in The Odyssey." src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/RhcKpMWAmoHZzEzu38pTc9.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="2000" height="1125" attribution="" endorsement="" class="inline"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Melinda Sue Gordon/Universal Studios)</span></figcaption></figure><p>Only time will tell whether Gigi Hadid and Bradley Cooper really have become man and wife. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t at least curious as to whether they did decide to have a secret wedding like Tom Holland and Zendaya. Of course, like the <em>Spider-Man</em> stars, Cooper and Hadid are entitled to their privacy so, if they are actually married and want to be open about it, they have the right to do so when it works best for them.</p>
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                                                            <title><![CDATA[ Scott Eastwood Details Warring With Shia LaBeouf On Set While Filming: ‘No One's Got Tolerance For That’ ]]></title>
                                                                                                                                                                                                <link>https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/scott-eastwood-details-warring-with-shia-labeouf-while-filming-fury</link>
                                                                            <description>
                            <![CDATA[ Eastwood didn't mince words about the experience. ]]>
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                                                                        <pubDate>Mon, 03 Aug 2026 18:43:10 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                                <updated>Mon, 03 Aug 2026 19:41:12 +0000</updated>
                                                                                                                                            <category><![CDATA[Movies]]></category>
                                                                                                                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Erik Swann ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                    <dc:source><![CDATA[ https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rXkznL7DwWNoGfjx998J3Q.png ]]></dc:source>
                                                                <dc:description><![CDATA[ &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The Background&lt;/strong&gt;: Erik Swann is a Senior Content Producer at CinemaBlend. He began working with the publication in 2020 when he was hired as Weekend Editor. Today, he continues to write, edit and handle social media responsibilities over the weekend. On weekdays, he also writes TV and movie-related news and helps out with editing and social media as needed. He graduated from the University of Maryland, where he received a degree in Broadcast Journalism. After shifting into multi-platform journalism, he started working as a freelance writer and editor before joining CB. During his time with the site, he&#039;s been able to cover some excellent TV shows and films and interview some wonderful stars.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What He&#039;s Into&lt;/strong&gt;: Erik is a superhero fan, and his love for comic books began after he first watched Batman: The Animated Series as a child. He also enjoys comedies, action/adventure flicks, dramas and science fiction. He has a love for sports as well, particularly professional basketball. Though he&#039;s a Maryland/Washington D.C. native, he roots for the Boston Celtics. Some of his all-time favorite TV shows are BTAS, Breaking Bad, Sanford and Son, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Better Call Saul and Atlanta. And when it comes to movies, Beverly Hills Cop, A Raisin in the Sun, Toy Story, Iron Man, Star Wars, and Wall Street are among his favorites. He also enjoys a good pizza (preferably with pepperoni and mushrooms) while he&#039;s watching entertaining films and TV series.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What He&#039;s Excited About Right Now&lt;/strong&gt;: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, Reservation Dogs Season 3, Ahsoka, Loki Season 2, Invincible Season 2, Next Goal Wins and Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget.&lt;/p&gt; ]]></dc:description>
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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    <media:description><![CDATA[Shia LaBeouf stars in Salvable, while Scott Eastwood stars in Fast X.]]></media:description>                                                            <media:text><![CDATA[Shia LaBeouf stars in Salvable, while Scott Eastwood stars in Fast X.]]></media:text>
                                <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[Shia LaBeouf stars in Salvable, while Scott Eastwood stars in Fast X.]]></media:title>
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                                <p>David Ayer’s <em>Fury</em> arguably remains memorable not only for its intense, war-driven narrative but also because of the interactions amongst its cast members. Since the film’s release in 2014, a lot has been said about the on-set dynamic between Scott Eastwood and Shia LaBeouf. <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/shia-labeouf-and-scott-eastwood-had-a-volatile-moment-on-the-set-of-fury-and-brad-pitt-got-involved">Eastwood’s been candid about working with LaBeouf</a> and how the two even got into a tiff that had to be broken up by Brad Pitt. Now, Eastwood is opening up more about being on the outs with LaBeouf when they were filming the period piece. </p><p>While LaBeouf has continued to work in recent years <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/insiders-drop-claims-about-what-caused-shia-labeoufs-recent-controversies">while dealing with various controversies</a>, a host of his personal problems have also received considerable attention. Sobriety and addiction are among the problems the former Disney Channel star has faced and, on his part, he’s acknowledged that and more during interviews. When Eastwood appeared on Dax Shepard’s <em>Armchair Expert</em> podcast (as can be seen on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOW7u5XDp3k">YouTube</a>), he mentioned LaBeouf’s issues while discussing <em>Fury</em>:</p><div><blockquote><p>Look, Shia is clearly tormented and maybe [has] got, you know, some some stuff going on, and…. It was tough. There was sort of an incident that happened that's been... I've talked about it. Brad Pitt sort of broke up a little tense moment….</p></blockquote></div><p>Eastwood, who played Sgt. Miles in the war drama, also went on to discuss the <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/new/Insane-Dangerous-Lengths-Shia-LaBeouf-Went-Prepare-Fury-67556.html">extreme lengths LaBeouf went to</a> in order to prepare for his performance as tank gunner Boyd “Bible” Swan. As part of that, he apparently “pulled out his tooth” and then “cut himself” in order to make his character’s wounds look more realistic. Eastwood recalled what he thought upon seeing how his co-star was conducting himself:</p><div><blockquote><p>I remember thinking, ‘Okay, this guy's crazy. I'm just going to keep clear from this guy ‘cause I don't really play this game.’ This is not — you go and do that, but there's plenty of ways to do a performance in a movie and be professional also, right?</p></blockquote></div><p>The <em>Suicide Squad</em> alum also recalled LaBeouf having an “episode” one day on set, as he apparently took issue with Eastwood spitting tobacco on one of the tanks, as called for by the script. Eastwood also claimed that “everyone had moments with Shia” on set and, as previously revealed, <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/new/Why-Brad-Pitt-Shia-LaBeouf-Punched-Each-Other-Filming-Fury-67698.html">Pitt and LaBeouf even punched each other</a> amid filming. As for Scott Eastwood, he further emphasized why he took issue with his actions:</p><div><blockquote><p>When bad behavior is bad behavior, this is a place of work. The crew got to go home. Everyone wants to be happy. People deserve to be respected. Doesn't matter if you're picking up a piece of trash or if you're saying the lines or if you're holding the camera. Everybody has the same respect, decency. So it's like, when you start infringing on that as a place of work, that's when it gets tough for me, ‘cause I'm like, ‘Beat it. No one’s got tolerance for that.’</p></blockquote></div><p>Other than <em>Fury</em>, it’s also been said that <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/new/True-Story-Behind-Shia-LaBeouf-Tom-Hardy-Set-Fight-113267.html">LaBeouf came to blows with Tom Hardy</a> while they were filming the 2012 film <em>Lawless</em>. The film’s director, John Hillcoat, previously recalled the situation becoming so heated that both actors eventually had to be “restrained.” And, in real life, Shia LaBeouf was charged with three counts of simple battery <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/shia-labeouf-allegedly-been-multi-day-solo-mardi-gras-bar-crawl">after being arrested in New Orleans</a> back in February. He was eventually given two years of probation as well as a six-month suspended prison sentence. </p><p>Scott Eastwood definitely appears to be cognizant of the issues Shia LaBeouf has, though he also admitted during the interview that the performance he ended up giving was “magnetic.” Nevertheless, based on this conversation, I’m still not sure Eastwood would be keen on working with LaBeouf again.</p>
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                                                            <title><![CDATA[ Tom Holland Talked Spoiling Infinity War, And His Memory Of Kevin Feige’s Face Is Classic ]]></title>
                                                                                                                                                                                                <link>https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/tom-holland-talked-spoiling-infinity-war-memory-kevin-feige-face</link>
                                                                            <description>
                            <![CDATA[ There's a reason Holland has a reputation for spoilers. ]]>
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                                                                        <pubDate>Mon, 03 Aug 2026 17:38:13 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                <category><![CDATA[Movies]]></category>
                                                    <category><![CDATA[Marvel Cinematic Universe]]></category>
                                                    <category><![CDATA[Superheroes]]></category>
                                                                                                                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Corey Chichizola ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                    <dc:source><![CDATA[ https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QyFDQjurXJr5xt5g6DznEN.png ]]></dc:source>
                                                                <dc:description><![CDATA[ &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The Background&lt;/strong&gt;: Corey Chichizola has been with CinemaBlend since 2015, starting as the Weekend Editor before climbing up the ranks and eventually becoming the Movies Editor. Born and raised in New Jersey and an alumnus of Ramapo College, he&#039;s combined his degrees in theater and literature to cover the the way stories are told in TV and film. On top of helping run the news cycle, Corey has been honored to do a variety of on camera interviews with his personal heroes, and has been particularly privileged to speak with actors about their process on set. Before joining the CB team he worked in the New York theater world, and is thrilled to be in such close proximity to the city that never sleeps.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What He&#039;s Into&lt;/strong&gt;: Corey is one of CinemaBlend&#039;s biggest horror nerds, and is happy to cover all thing spooky, especially related to favorite franchises like Halloween and Scream. He&#039;s also taken his passion and education for theater to cover the movie musical beat on the website. While a movies editor, Corey is also a television addict, watching what seems like a billion different shows every year. Aside from scripted programs, he&#039;s got a passion for certain corners of the Reality TV world including Survivor, RuPaul&#039;s Drag Race, and the Real Housewives. He&#039;s also got a passion for the mockumentary subgenre on both the big and small screens, especially projects like Drop Dead Gorgeous, Waiting for Guffman, and The Office.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What&#039;s He&#039;s Excited About Right Now&lt;/strong&gt;: Anything that Jordan Peele will give us, Talk to Me, the Exorcist reboot, the final season of Handmaid&#039;s Tale.&lt;/p&gt; ]]></dc:description>
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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    <media:description><![CDATA[Unmasked Peter Parker looking worried in Spider-Man: Brand New Day]]></media:description>                                                            <media:text><![CDATA[Unmasked Peter Parker looking worried in Spider-Man: Brand New Day]]></media:text>
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                                <p>The Marvel Cinematic Universe is known for constantly putting out new content, both in theaters and streaming with a <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/streaming-news/disney-plus-price-plans-and-cost-increases">Disney+ subscription</a>. The massive franchise is also <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/superheroes/marvel-cinematic-universe/guardians-of-the-galaxys-zoe-saldana-jokes-that-marvel-security-is-a-cult">known for its tight security</a>, and the great length it goes to keep spoilers away from fans who spent years watching the <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2467680/a-marvel-movies-timeline-to-watch-from-beginning-to-endgame">Marvel movie in order</a>. But that's easier said than done, especially with stars like <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/superheroes/marvel-cinematic-universe/reminder-times-tom-holland-actually-spoiled-marvel-scenes-handy-compilation">Tom Holland, who have a reputation for spoiling things</a>. And the 30 year-old actor recently talked about the <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2417661/that-time-tom-holland-spoiled-infinity-war-before-a-movie-screening-wasnt-his-fault">time he ruined <em>Infinity War</em>'s ending</a>, and seeing Kevin Feige's reaction. </p><h2 id="that-time-holland-got-in-trouble-for-spoiling-infinity-war">That Time Holland Got In Trouble For Spoiling Infinity War. </h2><p>Tom Holland is super passionate about his ongoing role in the MCU, which sometimes results in spoilers getting out for <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/new/upcoming-marvel-movies-release-dates-phase-4-67944.html">upcoming Marvel movies</a>. Case in point: when he accidentally revealed that Peter got dusted <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2410911/avengers-infinity-war-ending-explained"><em>Infinity War</em>'s ending</a>. During an interview with Complex at the premiere of <em>Brand New Day</em>, he recalled how that happened by saying: </p><div><blockquote><p>I remember when Infinity War was coming out Kevin Feige, the legend, always does this thing where he rents a party bus and we drive around LA and we surprise fans on the first opening night screenings. And I thought we were walking into a room of people who had seen the movie. I thought the movie had ended. </p></blockquote></div><p>Unfortunately, Holland's Spider-Sense (aka the Peter Tingle) wasn't working on this fateful day. Because while he thought he was about to meet fans that had just finished watching<em> Avengers: Infinity War</em>, it turns out they their screening hadn't actually started yet.</p><p>Later in the same interview, the <em>Uncharted</em> actor went on to share what happened when he greeted the Marvel fans for <em>Infinity War</em>'s opening day in theaters. In his words: </p><div><blockquote><p>And I walk on stage and I said, 'Dont worry everybody, I'm still alive!' And there was this huge, collective sigh. And I kind of was like 'Wow, I thought that was gonna get a bigger reaction.' And I look to Kevin and Kevin was like 'Shh!' I wish I could go back and relive that moment. </p></blockquote></div><p>Talk about a big mistake. The end of<em> Infinity War </em>shocked fans when it was released, as Thanos succeeded in collecting the Infinity Stones and eventually snapped away all of life in the universe. That included a ton of beloved heroes including Wanda, Black Panther, Bucky, and (of course) Spider-Man. Luckily they were able be blipped back to life in <em>Endgame</em>.</p><p>You can see Tom Holland share the story about Kevin Feige and <em>Infinity War</em> below: </p><div class="instagram-embed"><blockquote class="instagram-media"  data-instgrm-version="6" style="width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DbUl7NqOPXD/" target="_blank">A post shared by COMPLEX (@complex)</a></p><p>A photo posted by  on </p></blockquote></div><p>Making this big of a mistake in front of your boss is nightmare fuel, but it didn't stop Tom Holland from continuing his tenure as Peter Parker/Spider-Man. Both <em>No Way Home</em> and <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/box-office/spider-man-brand-new-day-exceeds-projections-nears-billion"><em>Brand New Day</em> crushed in theaters</a>, and fans are hoping to see him once again reprise his signature role in either <em>Avengers: Doomsday </em>or <em>Secret Wars</em>.  </p><h2 id="tom-holland-is-getting-better-about-spoilers">Tom Holland Is Getting Better About Spoilers</h2><p>In the <em>Uncharted</em> actor's defense, he seems to finally be getting better about spoilers. He managed not to reveal anything about <em>Brand New Day</em>'s secrets ahead of its release, which is major accomplishment. Plus, he was recently asked on the <em>Happy Sad Confused </em>podcast about his possible role in <em>Secret Wars,</em> and managed to keep it tight-lipped. Check it out below: </p><div class="instagram-embed"><blockquote class="instagram-media"  data-instgrm-version="6" style="width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DbbQ54GxjqM/" target="_blank">A post shared by Josh Horowitz (@joshuahorowitz)</a></p><p>A photo posted by  on </p></blockquote></div><p><a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/spider-man-brand-new-day-post-credits-avengers-doomsday-secret-wars-battleworld-tobey-maguire"><em>Brand New Day</em>'s credits scene</a> seemed to tease Spider-Man having a role in <em>Secret Wars,</em> but we'll have to wait and see if it's actually Tom Holland, or maybe Tobey Maguire or Andrew Garfield. If its the latter two, then the <em>Odyssey</em> actor wouldn't even be lying about not having a role. We'll just have to wait and see how it all shakes out.</p><p><em>Spider-Man: Brand New Day</em> is in theaters now as part of the<a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/upcoming-movies-in-2026-new-movie-release-dates"> 2026 movie release list </a>and making a ton of money. The next Marvel movie hitting theaters is <em>Avengers: Doomsday</em> on December 18th. Only time will tell if/when Holland shows up as Peter Parker next. </p>
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                                                            <title><![CDATA[ Spider-Man: Brand New Day's Gay Jokes Caught Me Off Guard. Why I Love That They Were Included ]]></title>
                                                                                                                                                                                                <link>https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/spider-man-brand-new-days-gay-jokes-off-guard-i-love-that-yelena</link>
                                                                            <description>
                            <![CDATA[ As a queer comic book fan I was thrilled. ]]>
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                                                                        <pubDate>Mon, 03 Aug 2026 14:58:22 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                <category><![CDATA[Movies]]></category>
                                                    <category><![CDATA[Spider Man]]></category>
                                                    <category><![CDATA[Superheroes]]></category>
                                                                                                                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Corey Chichizola ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                    <dc:source><![CDATA[ https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QyFDQjurXJr5xt5g6DznEN.png ]]></dc:source>
                                                                <dc:description><![CDATA[ &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The Background&lt;/strong&gt;: Corey Chichizola has been with CinemaBlend since 2015, starting as the Weekend Editor before climbing up the ranks and eventually becoming the Movies Editor. Born and raised in New Jersey and an alumnus of Ramapo College, he&#039;s combined his degrees in theater and literature to cover the the way stories are told in TV and film. On top of helping run the news cycle, Corey has been honored to do a variety of on camera interviews with his personal heroes, and has been particularly privileged to speak with actors about their process on set. Before joining the CB team he worked in the New York theater world, and is thrilled to be in such close proximity to the city that never sleeps.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What He&#039;s Into&lt;/strong&gt;: Corey is one of CinemaBlend&#039;s biggest horror nerds, and is happy to cover all thing spooky, especially related to favorite franchises like Halloween and Scream. He&#039;s also taken his passion and education for theater to cover the movie musical beat on the website. While a movies editor, Corey is also a television addict, watching what seems like a billion different shows every year. Aside from scripted programs, he&#039;s got a passion for certain corners of the Reality TV world including Survivor, RuPaul&#039;s Drag Race, and the Real Housewives. He&#039;s also got a passion for the mockumentary subgenre on both the big and small screens, especially projects like Drop Dead Gorgeous, Waiting for Guffman, and The Office.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What&#039;s He&#039;s Excited About Right Now&lt;/strong&gt;: Anything that Jordan Peele will give us, Talk to Me, the Exorcist reboot, the final season of Handmaid&#039;s Tale.&lt;/p&gt; ]]></dc:description>
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                                                            <media:credit><![CDATA[Sony Pictures, Marvel Studios]]></media:credit>
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    <media:description><![CDATA[Tom Holland returns in his fourth entry in the MCU Spider-Man franchise in Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026).]]></media:description>                                                            <media:text><![CDATA[Tom Holland returns in his fourth entry in the MCU Spider-Man franchise in Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026).]]></media:text>
                                <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[Tom Holland returns in his fourth entry in the MCU Spider-Man franchise in Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026).]]></media:title>
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                                <p><strong>Minor spoilers ahead for </strong><em><strong>Spider-Man: Brand New Day</strong></em><strong>. </strong></p><p><a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/box-office/spider-man-brand-new-day-exceeds-projections-nears-billion"><em>Spider-Man: Brand New Day</em> is finally in theaters</a>, and making a ton of money at the box office. Fans who spent years watching the <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2467680/a-marvel-movies-timeline-to-watch-from-beginning-to-endgame">Marvel movies in order</a> were thrilled about finally picking up the narrative after<em> </em><a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/superheroes/spider-man/spider-man-no-way-home-ending-explained-the-new-marvel-movie-radically-changes-the-life-of-tom-hollands-peter-parker"><em>No Way Home</em>'s ending</a>, which saw the entire world forget about Peter Parker. I didn't expect any gay jokes to be made throughout its 145-minute runtime, but as a queer Marvel fan I couldn't be more thrilled.</p><p><a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/trailers/first-spider-man-brand-new-day-trailer-brings-punisher-hulk-what-about-sadie-sink"><em>Spider-Man: Brand New Day</em>'s trailer </a>featured Hulk and Punisher, but the movie also featured an A+ appearance by Florence Pugh's Yelena/ Black Widow. Peter meets her at her "office", which is really a city bathhouse. After undressing apart from his mask, Yelena pokes fun at his anonymity, asking if he keeps the mask on...  </p><div><blockquote><p>Even for your girlfriend? Or boyfriend? Or whatever? There's a lot of conjecture online. And super graphic art work. Have you seen the one with you and the ten Mysterios? </p></blockquote></div><p>This quick line of dialogue absolutely took me out, and further shows why Yelena is one of the best characters we've gotten in the post-<em>Endgame</em> phases of the MCU. She typically brings a ton of humor to her roles, including in <em>Hawkeye</em> and <em>Thunderbolts* </em>(both of which are streaming with a <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/streaming-news/disney-plus-price-plans-and-cost-increases">Disney+ subscription</a>). </p><p>As a hardcore Marvel fan who is also a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I also appreciated that this exchange wasn't making fun of queer folks. What's more, Spider-Man didn't seem offended by the idea of folks thinking he might be gay. I thought this was refreshing, given how often being gay has been used as an insult in media throughout the years. Yelena's comment is just a fun moment, and one that acknowledges that yes, there are LGBTQ+ people in the MCU.</p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:2000px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="SMX44j7xARPcyyn7Z6wDgY" name="Florence Pugh The Thunderbolts" alt="Florence Pugh as Yelena, looking worried in The Thunderbolts." src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SMX44j7xARPcyyn7Z6wDgY.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="2000" height="1125" attribution="" endorsement="" class="inline"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Marvel Studios)</span></figcaption></figure><p>Another queer-coded moment in<em> Spider-Man: Brand New Day</em> happened after Peter woke up hanging outside of his apartment in a web. He falls to the ground, and has to steal clothes from his building's laundry room before taking the elevator back to his place. He accidentally grabs a crop top and pants with "juicy" written on the butt, in another one of the movie's funnier moments. And it felt more significant after his conversation at the bath house with Yelena.</p><p>Of course, there have been a handful of LGBTQ+ characters introduced in the MCU. Joe Russo played a gay man during his <em>Endgame</em> cameo, while <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/superheroes/marvel-cinematic-universe/disney-holds-its-ground-refuses-to-cut-lgbtq-scene-from-doctor-strange-in-the-multiverse-of-madness-for-censors">America Chavez has two moms in <em>Doctor Strange 2</em></a>. Additionally, Billy Maximoff was confirmed as gay during <em>Agatha All Along</em>. </p><p><em>Spider-Man: Brand New Day</em> is in theaters now as part of the <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/upcoming-movies-in-2026-new-movie-release-dates">2026 movie release list</a>. The gay jokes happen very quickly, so be careful not to miss them with a bathroom trip! </p>
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                                                            <title><![CDATA[ Dylan Sprouse Tweet Resurfaces As More Stories Come Down The Pipeline About Jared Leto’s Offscreen Behavior ]]></title>
                                                                                                                                                                                                <link>https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/dylan-sprouse-tweet-resurfaces-more-stories-about-jared-leto-behavior-surface</link>
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                            <![CDATA[ The social media post has garnered a lot of attention. ]]>
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                                                                        <pubDate>Mon, 03 Aug 2026 14:27:21 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                                <updated>Mon, 03 Aug 2026 16:08:21 +0000</updated>
                                                                                                                                            <category><![CDATA[Movies]]></category>
                                                                                                                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Erik Swann ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                    <dc:source><![CDATA[ https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rXkznL7DwWNoGfjx998J3Q.png ]]></dc:source>
                                                                <dc:description><![CDATA[ &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The Background&lt;/strong&gt;: Erik Swann is a Senior Content Producer at CinemaBlend. He began working with the publication in 2020 when he was hired as Weekend Editor. Today, he continues to write, edit and handle social media responsibilities over the weekend. On weekdays, he also writes TV and movie-related news and helps out with editing and social media as needed. He graduated from the University of Maryland, where he received a degree in Broadcast Journalism. After shifting into multi-platform journalism, he started working as a freelance writer and editor before joining CB. During his time with the site, he&#039;s been able to cover some excellent TV shows and films and interview some wonderful stars.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What He&#039;s Into&lt;/strong&gt;: Erik is a superhero fan, and his love for comic books began after he first watched Batman: The Animated Series as a child. He also enjoys comedies, action/adventure flicks, dramas and science fiction. He has a love for sports as well, particularly professional basketball. Though he&#039;s a Maryland/Washington D.C. native, he roots for the Boston Celtics. Some of his all-time favorite TV shows are BTAS, Breaking Bad, Sanford and Son, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Better Call Saul and Atlanta. And when it comes to movies, Beverly Hills Cop, A Raisin in the Sun, Toy Story, Iron Man, Star Wars, and Wall Street are among his favorites. He also enjoys a good pizza (preferably with pepperoni and mushrooms) while he&#039;s watching entertaining films and TV series.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What He&#039;s Excited About Right Now&lt;/strong&gt;: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, Reservation Dogs Season 3, Ahsoka, Loki Season 2, Invincible Season 2, Next Goal Wins and Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget.&lt;/p&gt; ]]></dc:description>
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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    <media:description><![CDATA[Jared Leto looks ahead in The Little Things, while Dylan Sprouse looks confused in Beautiful Wedding.]]></media:description>                                                            <media:text><![CDATA[Jared Leto looks ahead in The Little Things, while Dylan Sprouse looks confused in Beautiful Wedding.]]></media:text>
                                <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[Jared Leto looks ahead in The Little Things, while Dylan Sprouse looks confused in Beautiful Wedding.]]></media:title>
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                                <p>Jared Leto is making headlines after the release of a documentary on the <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/jared-leto-finally-found-oscar-he-won-lost-years-later-dallas-buyers-club">Oscar-winning actor</a>. The BBC’s <em>Jared Leto: Hollywood’s Dark Secret</em> – includes interviews with multiple women who make claims of sexual assault and inappropriate behavior allegedly committed between 2002 and 2026. <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/jared-leto-responds-multiple-women-claim-sexual-assault-documentary">Leto has since denied the claims</a>. Meanwhile, a tweet about Leto (54) that was shared by Dylan Sprouse years ago is now resurfacing. That post’s resurgence also coincides with more claims about Leto’s behavior off camera.</p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:2000px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="eT4tcBRbgbutc2q6VXF5f5" name="Jared Leto and Dylan Sprouse" alt="Jared Leto looks ahead in The Little Things, while Dylan Sprouse looks confused in Beautiful Wedding." src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/eT4tcBRbgbutc2q6VXF5f5.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="2000" height="1125" attribution="" endorsement="" class="inline"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures/Vertical Entertainment)</span></figcaption></figure><h2 id="dylan-sprouse-s-social-media-post-gains-attention-again">Dylan Sprouse’s Social Media Post Gains Attention Again</h2><p>The social media message from now-33-year-old Sprouse was originally posted back in 2018 on <a href="https://x.com/dylansprouse/status/996630276242526208">X</a> (then known as Twitter). In it, the former Disney Channel star specifically tagged Leto’s since-deleted account and accused Leto (who was 46 at the time) of having sent direct messages to multiple female models between the ages of 18 and 25. Sprouse’s post can be seen in its entirety below:</p><div><blockquote><p>Yo [Jared Leto] now that you’ve slid into the dm’s of every female model aged 18-25, what would you say your success rate is?</p></blockquote></div><p>Since it was posted, Sprouse’s response has garnered hundreds of comments and, as of this writing, it’s amassed over 37,000 likes. Exactly how many of those comments and likes were just recently added amidst recent allegations against Leto is unclear. However, some are evidently citing the <em>Beautiful Wedding</em> star’s post when talking about Leto now. One X user recently shared a screenshot of Sprouse’s message and along with a since-deleted response from filmmaker James Gunn:</p><div class="see-more see-more--clipped"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet hawk-ignore" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">So Dylan Sprouse and @JamesGunn cooked here. It should not have taken this long for Jared Leto’s downfall. pic.twitter.com/1hdDYaqZI8<a href="https://twitter.com/cantworkitout/status/2082511948608897122">July 29, 2026</a></p></blockquote><div class="see-more__filter"></div></div><p>As of this writing, neither Sprouse nor Gunn have further addressed the comments they posted years ago. In the meantime, claims about the way Leto purportedly conducts himself in his personal life are still coming down the pipeline.</p><h2 id="a-bartender-shares-claims-about-an-encounter-with-jared-leto">A Bartender Shares Claims About An Encounter With Jared Leto</h2><div  class="fancy-box"><div class="fancy_box-title">More on Jared Leto</div><div class="fancy_box_body"><figure class="van-image-figure "  ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' ><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="vM5nzNxdw96b3GhAhvod4N" name="jared leto in tron ares" caption="" alt="Ares (Jared Leto) stares ahead in Tron Ares." src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/vM5nzNxdw96b3GhAhvod4N.jpg" mos="" link="" align="" fullscreen="" width="" height="" attribution="" endorsement="" class="pinterest-pin-exclude"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=""><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Leah Gallo/Disney)</span></figcaption></figure><p class="fancy-box__body-text"><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/darren-aronofsky-doesnt-mince-words-describing-hate-for-method-actors-after-working-jared-leto">Darren Aronofsky Doesn’t Mince Words While Describing His ‘Hate’ For Method Actors Years After Working With Jared Leto</a></p></div></div><p>Bartender Gracelisa Akers recently spoke to <a href="https://pagesix.com/2026/08/01/celebrity-news/jared-leto-got-handsy-creeped-out-bartender-sent-shower-selfie-bombarded-me-with-texts/">Page Six</a> about meeting Leto in April 2011, at which point she was 25. Akers said she met Leto while she was working at a Michigan-based bar known as The Orbit Room. Per Akers, an interaction was initiated after Leto purportedly sent a member of his team to let her know he wanted to talk to her. The Little Things star apparently elbowed Akers, telling her he was a “germaphobe” and, in time, they exchanged numbers, with the star also inviting her to his dressing room. </p><p>Akers eventually went to the room, where fellow bar staffers and Leto’s bandmates were apparently present and, upon seeing her, <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/masters-of-the-universe-reboot-snagged-jared-leto-major-role-and-absolutely-casting-skeletor">the <em>Masters of the Universe</em> star</a> “immediately beelined” for her. It was Akers’ belief that Leto “was looking for a hook up,” but she was not interested in that. Of that evening, the bartender went on to allege:</p><div><blockquote><p>He offered me a drink and I said no. That was the first red flag – he seemed to be irritated, but I said ‘I have to drive home.’ And he was certainly not a germaphobe, he was grabbing at me, playing with my hair, his hands were around my waist and on my hips and he was trying to hold my hand. But it was very one sided, I thought ‘hey buddy, I’m not into you.’ I thought ‘take no for an answer dude, you’re not getting laid tonight.’</p></blockquote></div><p>Akers then alleged that Leto began to get handsy and “irritated” as his crew prepared to leave for Denny’s. Allegedly, Leto “cornered” Akers at her car and tried to convince her to skip the restaurant and just hang out alone. Akers told him she felt “uncomfortable” and eventually left, though she also claimed the actor subsequently sent her texts and photos, including a picture seemingly taken after Leto had taken a shower. </p><p>In addition to claims like Akers’, behind-the-scenes stories involving <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/jared-leto-going-method-after-allegations-tron-crew-recalls-odd-set-requests">Jared Leto’s supposed conduct on movie sets</a> has also made the rounds as of late. Such claims include “odd” requests as well as behavior supposedly linked to <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/new/How-Jared-Leto-Method-Joker-Performance-Affected-Common-Suicide-Squad-Set-122717.html">Leto’s method actor mentality</a>. Whether other claims or past posts like Dylan Sprouse’s or James Gunn’s will resurface remains to be seen.</p>
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                                                            <title><![CDATA[ Sydney Sweeney Has Downtime After Filming Down Under, So She’s Back To Rocking Her Lingerie Line ]]></title>
                                                                                                                                                                                                <link>https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/sydney-sweeney-downtime-filming-syrn-model-scooter-braun-summer-2026</link>
                                                                            <description>
                            <![CDATA[ Gundam has wrapped. Now onto the next thing. ]]>
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                                                                        <pubDate>Mon, 03 Aug 2026 13:57:16 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                                <updated>Mon, 03 Aug 2026 15:31:13 +0000</updated>
                                                                                                                                            <category><![CDATA[Movies]]></category>
                                                                                                                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Jessica Rawden ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                    <dc:source><![CDATA[ https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gNi5ipvqyWREFVbs7Ehzx9.png ]]></dc:source>
                                                                <dc:description><![CDATA[ &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The Background:&lt;/strong&gt; Jessica Rawden is Managing Editor at CinemaBlend. She’s been kicking out news stories at CinemaBlend since 2007 and joined the full-time staff in 2014. She oversees news content, hiring and training for the site, and her areas of expertise include theme parks, rom-coms, Hallmark (particularly Christmas movie season), reality TV, celebrity interviews and primetime. She loves a good animated movie.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Jessica has a Masters in Library Science degree from Indiana University, and used to be found behind a reference desk most definitely not shushing people. She now uses those skills in researching and tracking down information in very different ways.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What She’s Into&lt;/strong&gt;: A former soccer player and recent tennis addict, Jessica also enjoys running, both of the distance and sprint variety. When not at the movie theater or in a theme park, her other free time is spent in book clubs, hiking, drinking wine, binge-watching, keeping tabs on celebrity fashion and riding rollercoasters. Has a serious Hallmark habit and an even bigger record-buying habit. Will bake for compliments.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What She’s Excited About Right Now&lt;/strong&gt;: &amp;nbsp;Hallmark Christmas movie season. Wearing socks to bed. &amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; ]]></dc:description>
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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    <media:description><![CDATA[Sydney Sweeney walks down the hallway with her makeup done and her hair in a lot of little ties in Euphoria Season 2. ]]></media:description>                                                            <media:text><![CDATA[Sydney Sweeney walks down the hallway with her makeup done and her hair in a lot of little ties in Euphoria Season 2. ]]></media:text>
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                                <p>It hasn’t felt like summer in my area over the last few days. Temps cooled. Some plants died overnight, and as the season winds down, I found out Sydney Sweeney is no longer <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/streaming-news/sydney-sweeneys-australia-gundam-filming-scooter-braun-bikinis-picnic-titanic"><u>living her best life down under</u></a>. A few days ago, she was spotted back in California, specifically Santa Barbara, enjoying a day date with Scooter Braun (and <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/streaming-news/kim-kardashian-bought-vintage-bronco-like-sydney-sweeney-high-cost">her beloved vintage Bronco</a>). Now summer is cooling off, she's got some downtime from acting, and is back to focusing on her lingerie line, Syrn. </p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:2000px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="8MJNEYRiEe77jDMsvpgYQh" name="sydney Sweeney" alt="Sydney Sweeney walks down the hallway with her makeup done and her hair in a lot of little ties in Euphoria Season 2." src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8MJNEYRiEe77jDMsvpgYQh.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="2000" height="1125" attribution="" endorsement="" class="inline"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: HBO)</span></figcaption></figure><p>While Sweeney loves reposting her fans trying on some of Syrn’s latest styles, she puts her money where her mouth is, too, and often models some of her collections as they become available. She was back in action on her Instagram Stories this week, rocking a new black look with long mesh gloves, a fuzzy coat, and teased hair. </p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:2000px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:174.65%;"><img id="sinjyxwVnqYqMg25tWarpi" name="sydney stories" alt="Sydney Sweeney models a new black look from her Syrn line, summer 2026." src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/sinjyxwVnqYqMg25tWarpi.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="2000" height="3493" attribution="" endorsement="" class="inline"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Syrn, Syndey Sweeney)</span></figcaption></figure><p>Just a few days ago, she was also <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DbbBv16FEw_/"><u>trying out the lines ice-cream colored new “comfy” looks</u></a>, in this case twist front bralettes and cute button up pajamas. The unisex button down shirts <a href="https://syrn.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoooFlNc2t4zepR4aIram0PDtlLSmFcK9BhZcSAo9Zb_3HXO2brF">run for about $89</a> while the bralettes are a reasonably $39. </p><p>Syrn only debuted earlier this year, and to (honestly) the surprise of no one, <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/sydney-sweeneys-viral-lingerie-line-sold-out-faster-than-she-guessed"><u>the line sold out right away</u></a>. It has since expanded quite a bit, offering different styles for different vibes. So, for example, the black lingerie is part of the “seduction” line, while Syrn also offers a bridal edit, and various collections including comfy, small town girl, my first rodeo and more. Meanwhile, Sweeney has seemingly taken a note from the Kardashians, Selena Gomez and others, and continues to be the ambassador of the brand she fronts. Kim, for example, just did something similar recently, <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/streaming-news/kim-kardashian-modeling-skims-new-micro-fits-drops-photos"><u>modeling SKIMS’ Microfits</u></a>. </p><p>I have never seen a woman look so effortless while so busy. As noted, Sweeney, just wrapped on the film <em>Gundam</em> and spent a huge chunk of the summer in Australia. Her other movie <em>Custom of the Country</em> is also in post-production. In addition, she'd wrapped the <em>Euphoria</em> press tour in late spring, and post-release had to <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/television/sydney-sweeney-finally-asked-euphoria-onlyfans-controversy-nudity"><u>deal with backlash toward her character Cassie</u></a>, to boot.  </p><p>Outside of all this wrapped work, she has several movies in development, including the hotly anticipated <em>The Housemaid 2</em>, aka <em>The Housemaid's Secret</em>. She’s heavily involved with this lingerie line. She’s managed to be in Santa Barbara with beau Scooter Braun, plus she jet setted around for The Knicks playoff games. Oh yeah, and again, <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/sydney-sweeney-returned-australia-whereanyone-but-you-shot-sequel-gundam-netflix"><u>she was in Australia for </u><u><em>Gundam</em></u></a>. The woman clearly plays as hard as she works. </p>
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                                                            <title><![CDATA[ Harry Potter Director Knew It Would Be ‘A Very Long Shoot’ After They Kicked Off The Flying Scene ]]></title>
                                                                                                                                                                                                <link>https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/harry-potter-director-chris-columbus-recalls-actor-issues-with-flying-scene</link>
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                            <![CDATA[ I mean, young actors have to start somewhere. ]]>
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                                                                        <pubDate>Mon, 03 Aug 2026 12:33:42 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                <category><![CDATA[Movies]]></category>
                                                                                                                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Carly Levy ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                    <dc:source><![CDATA[ https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WhWLeh9yrwXXtWqGkJnZuM.jpg ]]></dc:source>
                                                                <dc:description><![CDATA[ &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The Background&lt;/strong&gt;: Carly Levy has been a freelance writer for CinemaBlend starting in 2022 covering mostly movies with a sprinkle of television. After graduating at Florida Atlantic University with a degree in film and theater in 2015, she worked for a year as a journalist for Talk Media covering South Florida news. In 2017, she spent four years as a ghostwriter writing about addiction and mental health for rehab and therapy blogs. Now, she divides her time writing about the subjects of both entertainment and mental health issues.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What They&#039;re Into&lt;/strong&gt;: Carly is an avid cinephile who is always looking for the next best film to watch whether it goes back to the silent film era to what&#039;s playing in theaters. Her analytical mindset enhances her writing as she gains true understanding of the characters and stories that makes a movie great enough to write about. Her passion ranges from following film scavenger hunts on Letterboxd to discover new films and creating watchlists based on the latest trailers. She enjoys the originality and freshness indie cinema brings, particularly A24 films. During her spare time, Carly loves to listen to post hardcore rock music, watch classic television sitcoms, and reads a variety of books. She also likes to challenge her writing by writing essays on various trending topics that draw her eye.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What They&#039;re Excited About Right Now&lt;/strong&gt;: The latest movies hitting the &quot;Big Five&quot; film festivals (especially Venice and Sundance). Anything A24 and Wes Anderson touches. Continuously making my mark through my writing and creating watchlists. &lt;/p&gt; ]]></dc:description>
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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    <media:description><![CDATA[Ron, Harry, and Hermione&#039;s first flying lesson in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer&#039;s Stone.]]></media:description>                                                            <media:text><![CDATA[Ron, Harry, and Hermione&#039;s first flying lesson in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer&#039;s Stone.]]></media:text>
                                <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[Ron, Harry, and Hermione&#039;s first flying lesson in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer&#039;s Stone.]]></media:title>
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                                <p><em>Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone</em> didn't just mark the inaugural installment in a major film franchise. It was also the first movie a lot of the younger <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/news/1587000/harry-potter-then-and-now"><u><em>Potter</em></u><u> cast</u></a> members ever worked on. So many of the young performers playing Hogwarts students were quite green when working with director Chris Columbus all those years ago. As Columbus put it, though, he really knew he was in for “a very long shoot” when he started filming the flying lesson scene.</p><p>At first glance, someone may be tempted to assume the flying lesson scene wouldn’t be too hard to film for <em>Sorcerer’s Stone</em>, as the young wizards only had to catch their flying broomsticks after shouting, “Up!” They didn't do much flying except for maybe Matthew Lewis' Neville and his rogue broomstick. However, in a throwback interview for <em>Harry Potter</em>’s 25th anniversary (shared on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DavFMWHkVnQ/"><u>Instagram</u></a>), Columbus explained why filming that moment made him uneasy about the months of filming that were to come:</p><div><blockquote><p>For the flying lesson, I remember saying, ‘Action,’ and half of the kids started performing, the other half of the kids are staring into space. We had to stop, and I said, ‘You know, “action” means we start shooting.’ And I thought to myself, ‘Oh my…. This is the beginning of a very long shoot.’ </p></blockquote></div><p>Honestly, I can understand the stress. That kind of situation would almost be like being a teacher and getting your students to pay attention in class. On that note, the notion of a directing continuously saying "action" with absolutely no action happening sounds exhausting. Columbus also added the following thought:</p><div><blockquote><p>I don’t think any of the kids will disagree with me when I say that they were extremely trustful in terms of being on a film set and doing film acting.</p></blockquote></div><p>Shooting <em>The Sorcerer’s Stone</em> actually came with plenty of other challenges as well. Per <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2495067/harry-potter-and-the-sorcerers-stone-behind-the-scenes-facts-about-the-magical-movie"><u>BTS facts on the first </u><u><em>Harry Potter</em></u><u> movie</u></a>, the famed Canterbury Cathedral was denied as a filming location due to religious reasons. Also, the Great Hall set had an unpleasant smell after rotted food was left there for days. On top of that, Columbus was frustrated over <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/streaming-news/harry-potter-peeves-absence-still-haunts-director-chris-columbus"><u>having to exclude Peeves</u></a> because of the film’s already long runtime. (No one said creating a magical world would be easy.)</p><div  class="fancy-box"><div class="fancy_box-title">More on Harry Potter</div><div class="fancy_box_body"><figure class="van-image-figure "  ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' ><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="JBqTcpK2f6bEp7KfkhLsH3" name="david holmes 1" caption="" alt="David Holmes is shown doing Harry Potter stunts in the documentary David Holmes: The Boy Who Lived." src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/JBqTcpK2f6bEp7KfkhLsH3.jpg" mos="" link="" align="" fullscreen="" width="" height="" attribution="" endorsement="" class="pinterest-pin-exclude"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=""><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: HBO)</span></figcaption></figure><p class="fancy-box__body-text"><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/harry-potter-stunt-double-documentary-david-holmes-boy-who-lived-tragic-inspiring">I Finally Watched The Harry Potter Stunt Double Documentary, And It Both Crushed And Inspired Me</a></p></div></div><p>As for the child actors, just like the young wizards and witches in the film had to adjust to their first year at Hogwarts, the performers had to overcome a learning curve<em>.</em> While the idea of them not understanding simple on-set etiquette may sound tiring, their naivety is understandable.</p><p>On-camera acting is definitely a whole new experience compared to acting classes or doing a stage production. It’s a matter of filming multiple takes for long hours until the shot comes out right. With the flying lesson specifically, I’ve got to say, I loved hearing Rupert Grint being directed to go to his “other left.” You can watch the BTS video below:</p><div class="instagram-embed"><blockquote class="instagram-media"  data-instgrm-version="6" style="width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DavFMWHkVnQ/" target="_blank">A post shared by Harry Potter (@harrypotter)</a></p><p>A photo posted by  on </p></blockquote></div><p>While it may not have been easy for Chris Columbus to get his young cast's attention during filming the flying scene, I'd say everything worked out in the end. The finished scene -- like the movie as a whole -- is so fun and amazing that you’d never know there were behind-the-scenes hiccups. Hopefully, the new young actors of the upcoming <em>Harry Potter</em> TV series have a better handle on what the word “action” means on a set. </p><p>You can watch all of the films of the <em>Harry Potter</em> franchise, which can streamed with either an <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/television/2570432/subscribing-to-hbo-max-what-to-know-about-the-price-options-and-what-the-streaming-service-offers"><u>HBO Max subscription</u></a> or a  <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/streaming-news/peacock-subscription-the-plans-the-price-and-whats-included"><u>Peacock subscription</u></a>. Also, don’t forget that the forthcoming TV adaptation arrives on the <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/streaming-news/new-and-recent-movies-streaming"><u>streaming schedule</u></a> on Christmas Day. </p>
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                                                            <title><![CDATA[ Why I Prefer Brand New Day's Handling Of MJ's Memory Over Gamora's GOTG Resurrection ]]></title>
                                                                                                                                                                                                <link>https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/prefer-brand-new-day-mj-memory-over-gamora-guardians-of-the-galaxy-resurrection</link>
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                            <![CDATA[ These stories were similar... and yet. ]]>
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                                                                        <pubDate>Mon, 03 Aug 2026 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                <category><![CDATA[Movies]]></category>
                                                    <category><![CDATA[Marvel Cinematic Universe]]></category>
                                                    <category><![CDATA[Spider Man]]></category>
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                                                                                                                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Corey Chichizola ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                    <dc:source><![CDATA[ https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QyFDQjurXJr5xt5g6DznEN.png ]]></dc:source>
                                                                <dc:description><![CDATA[ &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The Background&lt;/strong&gt;: Corey Chichizola has been with CinemaBlend since 2015, starting as the Weekend Editor before climbing up the ranks and eventually becoming the Movies Editor. Born and raised in New Jersey and an alumnus of Ramapo College, he&#039;s combined his degrees in theater and literature to cover the the way stories are told in TV and film. On top of helping run the news cycle, Corey has been honored to do a variety of on camera interviews with his personal heroes, and has been particularly privileged to speak with actors about their process on set. Before joining the CB team he worked in the New York theater world, and is thrilled to be in such close proximity to the city that never sleeps.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What He&#039;s Into&lt;/strong&gt;: Corey is one of CinemaBlend&#039;s biggest horror nerds, and is happy to cover all thing spooky, especially related to favorite franchises like Halloween and Scream. He&#039;s also taken his passion and education for theater to cover the movie musical beat on the website. While a movies editor, Corey is also a television addict, watching what seems like a billion different shows every year. Aside from scripted programs, he&#039;s got a passion for certain corners of the Reality TV world including Survivor, RuPaul&#039;s Drag Race, and the Real Housewives. He&#039;s also got a passion for the mockumentary subgenre on both the big and small screens, especially projects like Drop Dead Gorgeous, Waiting for Guffman, and The Office.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What&#039;s He&#039;s Excited About Right Now&lt;/strong&gt;: Anything that Jordan Peele will give us, Talk to Me, the Exorcist reboot, the final season of Handmaid&#039;s Tale.&lt;/p&gt; ]]></dc:description>
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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    <media:description><![CDATA[Zendaya&#039;s MJ and Zoe Saldana&#039;s Gamora side by side. ]]></media:description>                                                            <media:text><![CDATA[Zendaya&#039;s MJ and Zoe Saldana&#039;s Gamora side by side. ]]></media:text>
                                <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[Zendaya&#039;s MJ and Zoe Saldana&#039;s Gamora side by side. ]]></media:title>
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                                <p><strong>Spoilers ahead for </strong><em><strong>Spider-Man: Brand New Day</strong></em><strong>. </strong></p><p>Fans who spent years watching the <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2467680/a-marvel-movies-timeline-to-watch-from-beginning-to-endgame">Marvel movies in order</a> were recently treated to a long-awaited <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/new/upcoming-marvel-movies-release-dates-phase-4-67944.html">upcoming Marvel movie </a>in Daniel Destin Cretton's <em>Spider-Man: Brand New Day</em>. The blockbuster picked up after <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/superheroes/spider-man/spider-man-no-way-home-ending-explained-the-new-marvel-movie-radically-changes-the-life-of-tom-hollands-peter-parker"><em>No Way Home</em>'s ending</a>, which saw Doctor Strange's spell erase the world's memories of Peter Parker... including Ned and MJ. Much of the new movie is about this disconnect between the characters played by <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/zendaya-tom-holland-relationship-timeline">Tom Holland and Zendaya</a>, and I have to say I much prefer the MJ storyline to how Gamora was handled in <em>Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3</em> (which is streaming with a <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/streaming-news/disney-plus-price-plans-and-cost-increases">Disney+ subscription</a>).</p><p><a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2482446/james-gunn-finally-responds-to-gamoras-avengers-infinity-war-death">Gamora's death in <em>Avengers: Infinity War</em> </a>set shockwaves through the MCU. And while she was resurrected in <em>Endgame</em> by having a past version of her arrive via time travel, that Gamora had never met Peter Quill and the rest of the Guardians. We watched as Star-Lord tried to reconnect with her in <em>Vol. 3</em>, but I think that the Peter Parker/MJ version of this dynamic was more successful. </p><h2 id="i-loved-the-way-mj-rejected-peter-in-spider-man-brand-new-day">I Loved The Way MJ Rejected Peter In Spider-Man: Brand New Day. </h2><p>Both <em>Guardians 3</em> and <em>Spider-Man: Brand New Day </em>saw their movie's respective Peter trying to reconnect with a girlfriend who has no memories of their time together. But I felt way more moved and emotionally moved by the latter, and I think there are a few reasons why.</p><p>To start<em>, </em><a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/superheroes/marvel-cinematic-universe/i-rewatched-the-guardians-of-the-galaxy-movies-just-to-focus-on-rockets-story-and-i-have-thoughts"><em>Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3</em> is ultimately a story centered around Rocket</a>. While we see new Gamora and Star-Lord's relationship (or lack thereof), it's not given quite as much time and focus as Peter and MJ in the new <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/superheroes/spider-man/every-spider-man-movie-ranked"><em>Spider-Man</em> movie</a>.  Additionally, Gamora makes it clear that she has absolutely no interest in trying to get to know Peter Quill. And as a result, their lack of a true reconciliation came and went without me shedding a tear. </p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:2000px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="jHKdFkYgwh7nmmtmUqVnkm" name="ZendayaMJSpidermanBND" alt="Zendaya, hair pulled black and in white blouse, returns as MJ in Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026)." src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jHKdFkYgwh7nmmtmUqVnkm.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="2000" height="1125" attribution="" endorsement="" class="inline"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Sony Pictures, Marvel Studios)</span></figcaption></figure><p>Meanwhile, Peter Parker's longing for MJ (and Ned) is at the heart of <em>Brand New Day</em>. While he's trying to keep a healthy boundary since she no longer knows who he is, that changes when Jean Grey drops her name early on in the movie. Spidey immediately swings into action, and the two are forced to meet and work together as a result. The fake-out of Zendaya's character "remembering" was a true gut punch, one inflicted by an angry Jean who was controlling her mind. Things only got more emotional from there.</p><p>Eventually MJ discovers Peter's letter, learning the truth about their former relationship, and the spell that removed her memories. She unfortunately doesn't have any feelings for him, despite knowing their history. She lets him down plainly but kindly, in a way that feels surprisingly like a regular breakup. Afterward, she still invites him into her apartment to hang with Ned. What's more, we see the drawing she made of them in Peter's hospital room after the final conflict.</p><p>While Star-Lord and Spider-Man didn't get the romantic reunion they were hoping for, I thought that the way <em>No Way Home</em> handled this unrequited love story was far more powerful. Although after Ned's muscle memory seemingly snapped him out of <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/spider-man-brand-new-day-ending-explained-peter-parker-doctor-strange-spell">Strange's spell</a> in the movie's final scene, maybe there's still hope.</p><p><em>Spider-Man: Brand New Day</em> is in theaters now as part of the <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/upcoming-movies-in-2026-new-movie-release-dates">2026 movie release list</a>. Folks who want to re-watch Gamora and Star-Lord's love story can stream the <em>Guardians</em> and <em>Avengers</em> movies on Disney+. </p>
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                                                            <title><![CDATA[ Those Times Seth Rogen Had Superbad Lines Recited To Him ‘Word For Word’ By Kanye West And Eminem ]]></title>
                                                                                                                                                                                                <link>https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/seth-rogen-had-superbad-lines-recitedword-for-word-kanye-west-eminem</link>
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                            <![CDATA[ Honestly, I'd do the same exact thing. ]]>
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                                                                        <pubDate>Mon, 03 Aug 2026 00:05:00 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                <category><![CDATA[Movies]]></category>
                                                                                                <author><![CDATA[ mick.joest@CinemaBlend.com (Mick Joest) ]]></author>                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Mick Joest ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                    <dc:source><![CDATA[ https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4dnBaqggYBopRBZtr5dHzg.png ]]></dc:source>
                                                                <dc:description><![CDATA[ &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The Background&lt;/strong&gt;: Mick Joest is a Content Producer for CinemaBlend with his hand in an eclectic mix of television goodness. Star Trek is his main jam, but he also regularly reports on happenings in the world of Star Trek, WWE, Doctor Who, 90 Day Fiancé, Quantum Leap, and Big Brother. He graduated from the University of Southern Indiana with a degree in Journalism and a minor in Radio and Television. He&#039;s great at hosting panels and appearing on podcasts if given the chance as well.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What He&#039;s Into&lt;/strong&gt;: Most everything Mick reports on because he&#039;s passionate and a fan of the subject. He really loves interviewing people and getting the bigger answers to questions. Outside of work, he&#039;s a sports fan who supports the Indiana Pacers, as well as the New England Patriots.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What He&#039;s Excited About Right Now&lt;/strong&gt;: Mick is excited for the tentative ending of the writer&#039;s strike and for more of his favorite shows like Quantum Leap and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds to finish out their in-development seasons.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; ]]></dc:description>
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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    <media:description><![CDATA[Seth Rogen in Superbad]]></media:description>                                                            <media:text><![CDATA[Seth Rogen in Superbad]]></media:text>
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                                <p><em>Superbad</em> may not be everyone's favorite comedy, but the way it captured a moment in time resonated with many people, no matter their position or status in life. Seth Rogen can attest to that, as he has had both Kanye West and Eminem quote the movie to him on separate occasions. Can anybody else say that? Probably not. </p><p>Rogen <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2552570/seth-rogen-reveals-thoughts-about-superbad-2-and-why-he-thinks-the-original-is-perfect">refuses to make <em>Superbad 2</em></a> despite <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/new/Judd-Apatow-Really-Really-Wanted-Make-Superbad-2-70348.html">Judd Apatow wanting to</a>, and part of that may be because the original movie could potentially lose the aura that made it so quotable to some of the biggest rappers on the planet (along with millions of others around the globe). As the actor shared with <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=feglalm0220">Complex</a>, Ye once crashed his workout to recite lines from the movie: </p><div><blockquote><p>I used to work out with the same personal trainer as Kanye West, and my session was right before his. And he showed up like 20 minutes early, and it’s a room like this like, with gym equipment. It’s in a guy’s garage essentially. And, for 20 minutes, while I worked out with the trainer, Kanye literally just stood right next to me reciting scenes from Superbad word for word.</p></blockquote></div><p>Maybe it was that experience that caused him to have regrets later on about <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/new/What-Seth-Rogen-Regrets-About-Superbad-129167.html">some of the lines he wrote</a> for the movie, or times have changed. It's also funny to hear Seth Rogen has another notable story to share about Kanye West, as the actor famously was one of the first people to listen to West's album Yeezus ahead of its release (via <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/hiphopheads/comments/2opfsw/kanye_rapped_seth_rogen_his_entire_new_album_in_a/">Reddit</a>).</p><p>As mentioned, West isn't the only rapper to quote <em>Superbad</em> to Seth Rogen. He also brought up Eminem, and added there's a couple others beyond that: </p><div><blockquote><p>And I worked with Eminem once and he’s like, ‘I know the entire movie Superbad word for word, literally. I can recite you the entire movie.’ And then he started doing it to prove it. That’s actually happened to me a few times by rappers. [laughs]</p></blockquote></div><p>Eminem had a cameo role in the <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/new/What-Interview-Changed-Avoid-Controversy-Release-69118.html">controversial movie <em>The Interview</em></a>, so I wonder if that's when he talked to Rogen about his love of <em>Superbad</em>. I'd love to hear some of the other rappers who have talked about the movie to him over the years, as I can't even begin to guess which artists were influenced by the shared universal experience of being a teen guy. </p><p>Or at least, it used to be. Younger writers on CinemaBlend have lamented that the <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/i-rewatched-superbad-two-things-i-hate-about-it-some-delightful-silver-linings">movie is a product of its time</a>, so it's entirely possible that it doesn't resonate with a certain type of male these days like it used to. Even so, it maintains a legacy as being one of the <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/seth-rogen-responded-superbad-determined-experts-funniest-movie-all-time">best comedies of all time</a>, though I'd be curious to know the median age of those responsible for giving that title before jumping on board. </p><p>It's all the more reason I'd love to see a follow-up sequel, or maybe even see Superbad remade for a new generation. <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/seth-rogen-says-no-one-has-made-a-good-high-school-movie-since-superbad">Good movies about high school</a> are hard to come by, which may be why movies like <em>Mean Girls</em> and <em>Clueless</em> and <em>Superbad</em> stand the test of time and continue to be a part of pop culture. That said, I'm not sure the other two get as much cred from rappers, though I could be wrong about that. </p><p>Superbad is available to stream right now over on Tubi. The fact it's available to watch for free has me contemplating a rewatch for the first time since my teens, though part of me is afraid it won't hold up. I guess the only way to find out is to watch anyway!</p>
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                                                            <title><![CDATA[ As Pennywise Actor Bill Skarsgård Sparks MCU X-Men Rumors, IT: Welcome To Derry Creator Shares New Season 2 Details ]]></title>
                                                                                                                                                                                                <link>https://www.cinemablend.com/television/pennywise-actor-bill-skarsgard-mcu-x-men-rumors-it-welcome-to-derry-creator-new-season-2-details</link>
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                            <![CDATA[ Need more evil clowns and mutants in my life. ]]>
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                                                                        <pubDate>Sun, 02 Aug 2026 23:38:36 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                <category><![CDATA[Television]]></category>
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                                                                                                                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Nick Venable ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                    <dc:source><![CDATA[ https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TzeQjfZT5cKqHRsEqudtqT.png ]]></dc:source>
                                                                <dc:description><![CDATA[ &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The Background&lt;/strong&gt;: Nick Venable is an Assistant Managing Editor, and the TV Editor. His humble origin story with CinemaBlend began all the way back in the pre-streaming era, circa 2009, as a freelancing DVD reviewer and TV recapper. After rising up through the ranks covering Movies, Nick leapfrogged over to the small screen to cover more and more television news and interviews, eventually taking over the section for the current era. Born in Louisiana and currently living in Texas — Who Dat Nation over America’s Team all day, all night — Nick spent several years in the hospitality industry, and also worked as a 911 operator. And if you ever happened to hear his music or read his comics/short stories, you have his sympathy. His love for his wife and daughters is almost equaled by his love of gasp-for-breath laughter and gasp-for-breath horror. A lifetime spent in the vicinity of a television screen led to his current dream job, as well as his knowledge of too many TV themes and ad jingles.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What He&#039;s Into&lt;/strong&gt;: Nick is one of those people who won’t necessarily insert a Monty Python reference into every conversation, but is still mentally equipped to do so. Beyond such appreciation for surreal UK comedy, Nick also indulges in as much horror splendor as possible, from Stephen King novels to James Tynion IV comics to Freddy Krueger one-liners to all things Mike Flanagan. Throw in a dash of NFL, some 311 and Weird Al, fried crawfish poboys, bourbon, ‘90s-era pro wrestling, crossword puzzles and mystery-driven video games, and baby, you got a stew going. (Nick will insert an Arrested Development reference into every conversation, if possible.)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What He&#039;s Excited About&lt;/strong&gt;: Anything Jeff Lemire, Tom King and W. Maxwell Prince think of, ever. More of Kelly Reilly’s deliriously fierce performances on Yellowstone. HBO’s The Last of Us. Clone High’s return. Colin Farrell’s Penguin being in every movie/TV show/breakfast cereal.&lt;/p&gt; ]]></dc:description>
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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    <media:description><![CDATA[Human Pennywise (Bob Gray) in full clown makeup waves to onlookers from the stage during flashback in IT: Welcome to Derry Season 1]]></media:description>                                                            <media:text><![CDATA[Human Pennywise (Bob Gray) in full clown makeup waves to onlookers from the stage during flashback in IT: Welcome to Derry Season 1]]></media:text>
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                                <p>Comic books and horror go together like questionably chunky peanut butter and runny, blood-red jelly, and actor Bill Skarsgård soon have feet in both camps again after previously appearing in <em>Deadpool 2</em> (and later <em>Eternals</em>) in between Pennywise performances in Andy Muschietti’s <em>IT</em> films. Fans can almost definitely expect to see Pennywise’s return in <em>IT: Welcome to Derry</em> Season 2, which <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/television/why-isnt-it-welcome-to-derry-renewed-season-2-yet-hbo-boss-latest-pennywise-update">HBO boss swears is still in the cards</a> despite the lack of a renewal, and he’s now also rumored for a major <em>X-Men</em> role in the MCU. </p><p>Let’s first put our attention on Skarsgård’s potential return to Marvel before shifting over to <em>IT: Welcome to Derry</em> co-creator Muschietti’s latest update about Season 2, which already sounds more dire and dismal than anything the X-Men might be dealing with in <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/interviews/marvel-x-men-director-talks-about-making-mcu-reboot">Jake Schreier’s impending movie</a>.</p><h2 id="bill-skarsgaard-is-rumored-to-be-up-for-major-x-men-role">Bill Skarsgård Is Rumored To Be Up For Major X-Men Role</h2><p>The <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/box-office/spider-man-brand-new-day-exceeds-projections-nears-billion">box office-shattering release of <em>Spider-Man: Brand New Day</em></a> pointed audiences to the MCU's future with presumed <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/spider-man-brand-new-day-post-credits-avengers-doomsday-secret-wars-battleworld-tobey-maguire">set-ups for <em>Avengers</em> sequels <em>Doomsday</em> and <em>Secret Wars</em></a>, as well as a potential X-Men feature. That release followed many weeks of rumor mill fodder targeting actors allegedly being primed to play rebooted mutants, from <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/x-men-fan-art-adam-driver-magneto-reboot-casting-rumors">Adam Driver as Magneto</a> to Anya Taylor-Joy reportedly being tapped for Magik. With Samara Weaving now seemingly confirmed to play Emma Frost, fans can possibly look forward to an uptick in legitimate updates. </p><p>Enter Bill Skarsgård, who is reportedly up for contention to portray the X-Men's guiding light of a leader, Charles Xavier. This rumor comes from Jeff Sneider's <a href="https://www.theinsneider.com/p/marvel-rumors-xmen-black-panther-3-ghost-rider-secret-wars-spiderman-brand-new-day-review-rankings">The Insneider</a>, which has a good enough track record at this point that the rumor shouldn't be immediately dismissed. </p><p>Though perhaps not the most obvious choice to portray the genius telepath on the big screen, Skarsgård has certainly proven himself capable of falling into roles with extensive makeup and prosthetics. Not just with Pennywise, but also with the 2024 films <em>Nosferatu</em> and <em>The Crow</em>. And just before those, he starred in the bonkers action flick <em>Boy Kills World</em>, so he's also well-versed in over-the-top action sequences just in the past few years. </p><p>Interestingly, the other actor reportedly in consideration for Professor X is Tom Pelphrey, who's seemingly made just as many headlines for being Kaley Cuoco's hubby for his acclaimed roles in dark dramas like <em>Ozark</em> and <em>Task</em>. I don't know that I've seen him deliver any performances as nuanced as Bill Skarsgård, so if that's what Jake Schreier & Co. are looking for with the new Xavier, I think he'll be the go-to pick. Assuming the rumors are even true in the first place. </p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:2000px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="m4L6QXpdws72MtEWLxi7Qb" name="Bill Skarsgard Pennywise" alt="Pennywise with bloody half-face holding a Missing poster in the fog in IT: Welcome to Derry Season 1 finale" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/m4L6QXpdws72MtEWLxi7Qb.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="2000" height="1125" attribution="" endorsement="" class="inline"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: HBO)</span></figcaption></figure><h2 id="what-it-welcome-to-derry-s-creator-is-saying-about-season-2">What IT: Welcome To Derry's Creator Is Saying About Season 2</h2><p>To jump from rumors to words straight from a TV creator's mouth, let's pull focus over to the newest <em>IT: Welcome to Derry</em> update from EP and director Andy Muschietti, who revealed to <a href="https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/it-welcome-to-derry-season-2-update-cultural-themes-1930s-1236825738/">Variety</a> that the writers room is going full-steam ahead, and that they're working hard to bring the second season's 1935 timeline to life, even if it doesn't sound like the most lively setting. As he put it:</p><div><blockquote><p>There’s gonna be a lot of that depression-era hustling in the air in our characters. Everybody’s trying to get by and survive the circumstances. They are gonna do crazy things. And of course, the social, cultural, horrible things that were happening in the era, too. We’re not going to skip those. [They are the] very center and the heart of our story.</p></blockquote></div><p>As previously revealed and hinted at in the <em>IT: Welcome to Derry</em> opening titles for Season 1, the second chapter will center partly on the Stephen King novel's interlude about the Bradley Gang Massacre that turned the small town upside down. The group of outlaws are on the run from the FBI when they take temporary shelter in Derry, where its members do all kinds of looting, killing and then some. </p><p>Those actions speak to the "trying to get by and survive" bit of Muschietti's tease. As if occasional cycles of pure evil weren't enough, the locals gotta deal with roughneck criminals as well? Sheesh.</p><p>Andy Muschietti described more of the desolate times that <em>Welcome to Derry</em>'s characters will experience in Season 2, saying:</p><div><blockquote><p>In this case, on the surface, Derry is a graveyard almost. It’s a carcass of something because people are depleted, poor, tired, jobless, homeless. The kids don’t have a suburban, comforting life. They’re in a very different situation. Some of them are orphans or runaways, and so the environment is pretty bleak. But there’s always the aspect of hope that is always there, burning, and it’s what keeps our new group going.</p></blockquote></div><p>No details were shared about the new group of characters, but he did fully confirm that <strong>"there’s a family tree that appears"</strong> in Season 2 that will serve as a direct connection to the two <em>IT</em> features and/or the first season, which already <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/television/it-welcome-to-derrys-rich-death-hits-harder-combined-marge-richie-mom-fan-theory">set up Marge as the biological mother of Richie</a>. Will we spent time with Marge's parents when they were kids, or will the connections only tie into other characters? Considering the Hanlon family moved to Derry around the time of IT's 1962 cycle, it doesn't seem likely we'll see any more of that family's relatives in the show's future. </p><p>I can't wait to see <em>IT: Welcome to Derry</em> join all the other <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/television/upcoming-horror-tv-shows-scary-series-tv-and-streaming">upcoming horror TV shows</a> that I'll be shoving my face in front of as the months go by. But in the meantime, Season 1 is available to stream via <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/television/2570432/subscribing-to-hbo-max-what-to-know-about-the-price-options-and-what-the-streaming-service-offers">HBO Max subscription</a>. </p>
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                                                            <title><![CDATA[ How Does Megan Fox Feel About Dating Following MGK Split? Here’s What A Source Says ]]></title>
                                                                                                                                                                                                <link>https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/source-drops-claims-megan-fox-feelings-about-dating-after-mgk-split</link>
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                            <![CDATA[ Fox is reportedly standing firm in one major respect. ]]>
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                                                                        <pubDate>Sun, 02 Aug 2026 23:06:00 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                <category><![CDATA[Movies]]></category>
                                                                                                                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Erik Swann ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                    <dc:source><![CDATA[ https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rXkznL7DwWNoGfjx998J3Q.png ]]></dc:source>
                                                                <dc:description><![CDATA[ &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The Background&lt;/strong&gt;: Erik Swann is a Senior Content Producer at CinemaBlend. He began working with the publication in 2020 when he was hired as Weekend Editor. Today, he continues to write, edit and handle social media responsibilities over the weekend. On weekdays, he also writes TV and movie-related news and helps out with editing and social media as needed. He graduated from the University of Maryland, where he received a degree in Broadcast Journalism. After shifting into multi-platform journalism, he started working as a freelance writer and editor before joining CB. During his time with the site, he&#039;s been able to cover some excellent TV shows and films and interview some wonderful stars.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What He&#039;s Into&lt;/strong&gt;: Erik is a superhero fan, and his love for comic books began after he first watched Batman: The Animated Series as a child. He also enjoys comedies, action/adventure flicks, dramas and science fiction. He has a love for sports as well, particularly professional basketball. Though he&#039;s a Maryland/Washington D.C. native, he roots for the Boston Celtics. Some of his all-time favorite TV shows are BTAS, Breaking Bad, Sanford and Son, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Better Call Saul and Atlanta. And when it comes to movies, Beverly Hills Cop, A Raisin in the Sun, Toy Story, Iron Man, Star Wars, and Wall Street are among his favorites. He also enjoys a good pizza (preferably with pepperoni and mushrooms) while he&#039;s watching entertaining films and TV series.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What He&#039;s Excited About Right Now&lt;/strong&gt;: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, Reservation Dogs Season 3, Ahsoka, Loki Season 2, Invincible Season 2, Next Goal Wins and Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget.&lt;/p&gt; ]]></dc:description>
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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    <media:description><![CDATA[Alice (Megan Fox) takes on instructions in Subservience.]]></media:description>                                                            <media:text><![CDATA[Alice (Megan Fox) takes on instructions in Subservience.]]></media:text>
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                                <p>As <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/megan-fox-rocked-little-black-dress-proves-queen-captions">Megan Fox continues to rock chic outfits</a> and share spicy social media posts, she’s also surrounded by continued speculation about her personal life. Fox’s relationship status remains a particularly potent piece of conversation even long after her split from baby daddy and former fiancé MGK (whose real name is Colson Baker). As far as the general public knows Fox remains a single woman, and an insider is now sharing alleged details about her feelings on dating at this point in her life.</p><p>It would be an understatement to say that Fox remains a desirable star, and she could certainly attract a partner if she chose to do so. According to a source for <a href="https://intouchweekly.com/megan-fox-doesnt-want-to-play-the-field-after-machine-gun-kelly-split-focus-is-firmly-on-family/">In Touch Weekly</a>, however, <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/megan-fox-giving-jennifers-body-lighter-talks-about-why-being-bi-icon-favorite">the <em>Jennifer’s Body</em> icon</a> has other priorities on her mind, and one reportedly tops the rest: </p><div><blockquote><p>The issue is that she truly does consider herself to be a mom, a full-time mom, before anything else. She acts when she can and she even has less time for dating.</p></blockquote></div><p>Fox is mother to four children, with the oldest three being sons Noah (13), Bodhi (12) and Journey (9), who she shares with ex-husband Brian Austin Green. At present, <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/how-megan-fox-and-her-ex-brian-austin-green-are-co-parenting-in-the-midst-of-her-relationship-with-machine-gun-kelly">she and Green reportedly continue to co-parent</a> the kids accordingly. Fox also shares 16-month-old daughter Saga Blade with Baker after <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/megan-fox-given-birth-her-mgk-baby-post-welcoming-celestial-seed-world">having welcomed the little one</a> back in March 2025. In Touch’s insider went on to make more claims pertaining to Fox’s devotion to being a mother as opposed to hitting the dating scene:</p><div><blockquote><p>Megan doesn’t want to play the field. She wants to stay at home with her kids. Her focus is firmly on her family, and raising those kids without an army of nannies helping her out. They’re at the age where they need their real mom, not a paid stand-in.</p></blockquote></div><p>Although these insider comments shouldn’t be taken as fact, they seemingly track with sentiments the <em>Transformers</em> star has made throughout the years. Fox has been vocal about spending time with her children and has even been candid about feeling guilty about being away from them when she works. And, in terms of dating, <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/megan-fox-has-advice-ladies-having-single-summer">Fox has also addressed ladies</a> looking for men, advising them to “learn a skill, pick up a hobby, and stop pouring your energy into boys,” who are “just gonna drain” them.</p><div  class="fancy-box"><div class="fancy_box-title">More on Megan Fox</div><div class="fancy_box_body"><p class="fancy-box__body-text"><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/why-megan-fox-mgk-co-parenting-relationship-allegedly-hit-rough-patch">‘Things Have Blown Up Again.’ Why Megan Fox And MGK’s Co-Parenting Relationship Just (Allegedly) Hit A Rough Patch</a></p></div></div><p>On that note, a lot has been said about Megan Fox’s relationship with MGK, who she began dating in 2020 after they met on the set of <em>Midnight in the Switchgrass</em>. The pair became engaged in early 2022, but they broke it off in 2024 amid cheating rumors linked to Baker. But, later that same year, Fox also announced her pregnancy on social media. After Saga Blade’s birth, it was reported that Fox and Baker <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/megan-fox-mgk-allegedly-together-often-insiders-claims-about-possible-reconciliation">had spent a lot of time “together”</a> due to the child but wouldn’t be getting back together.</p><p>Even amid Fox’s busy personal life, she does continue to work and has lined up both movie roles and some recent commercials. Fox is even reportedly slated to return for the <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/happy-amanda-seyfried-finally-talking-about-jennifers-body-2-her-attempt-recruit-adam-brody-great-role">long-gestating <em>Jennifer’s Body</em> sequel</a>. However, the starlet is allegedly aware that her carer could be different he she choose to make changes:</p><div><blockquote><p>Megan knows she could be working twice as much as she actually does.</p></blockquote></div><p>Still, the source also claims Fox lives a “very full life” and is able to “blow off steam” by posting her viral social media posts. Overall, these comments suggest Fox is content with being a devoted mother to her four children, and she’s allegedly not worried about finding another relationship.</p>
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                                                            <title><![CDATA[ Netflix Is Reviving One Of My Favorite 2000s TV Shows For New Movie, And I Hope It Stays As Hilariously Extreme ]]></title>
                                                                                                                                                                                                <link>https://www.cinemablend.com/streaming-news/netflix-is-reviving-favorite-2000s-tv-show-the-inbetweeners-movie</link>
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                            <![CDATA[ It's been so long! ]]>
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                                                                        <pubDate>Sun, 02 Aug 2026 21:45:00 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                <category><![CDATA[Streaming News]]></category>
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                                                                                                                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Nick Venable ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                    <dc:source><![CDATA[ https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TzeQjfZT5cKqHRsEqudtqT.png ]]></dc:source>
                                                                <dc:description><![CDATA[ &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The Background&lt;/strong&gt;: Nick Venable is an Assistant Managing Editor, and the TV Editor. His humble origin story with CinemaBlend began all the way back in the pre-streaming era, circa 2009, as a freelancing DVD reviewer and TV recapper. After rising up through the ranks covering Movies, Nick leapfrogged over to the small screen to cover more and more television news and interviews, eventually taking over the section for the current era. Born in Louisiana and currently living in Texas — Who Dat Nation over America’s Team all day, all night — Nick spent several years in the hospitality industry, and also worked as a 911 operator. And if you ever happened to hear his music or read his comics/short stories, you have his sympathy. His love for his wife and daughters is almost equaled by his love of gasp-for-breath laughter and gasp-for-breath horror. A lifetime spent in the vicinity of a television screen led to his current dream job, as well as his knowledge of too many TV themes and ad jingles.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What He&#039;s Into&lt;/strong&gt;: Nick is one of those people who won’t necessarily insert a Monty Python reference into every conversation, but is still mentally equipped to do so. Beyond such appreciation for surreal UK comedy, Nick also indulges in as much horror splendor as possible, from Stephen King novels to James Tynion IV comics to Freddy Krueger one-liners to all things Mike Flanagan. Throw in a dash of NFL, some 311 and Weird Al, fried crawfish poboys, bourbon, ‘90s-era pro wrestling, crossword puzzles and mystery-driven video games, and baby, you got a stew going. (Nick will insert an Arrested Development reference into every conversation, if possible.)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What He&#039;s Excited About&lt;/strong&gt;: Anything Jeff Lemire, Tom King and W. Maxwell Prince think of, ever. More of Kelly Reilly’s deliriously fierce performances on Yellowstone. HBO’s The Last of Us. Clone High’s return. Colin Farrell’s Penguin being in every movie/TV show/breakfast cereal.&lt;/p&gt; ]]></dc:description>
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                                                            <media:credit><![CDATA[Netflix]]></media:credit>
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                                <p>Netflix has won me over several times over the years by reviving and/or taking over some of my favorite comedic entities, such as <em>Arrested Development</em>, <em>Wet Hot American Summer</em> and the sketch brilliance of Bob Odenkirk and David Cross. It’s happened again, as the streaming service is now getting into bed — wink, wink — with the 2000s <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/television/cringe-worthy-tv-shows-you-can-t-help-but-enjoy">cringe-comedy classic series</a> <em>The Inbetweeners</em> to bring the beloved and hapless quartet of Will, Simon, Neil and Jay back to audiences.</p><p>Reports about a potential return from <em>The Inbetweeners</em> first surfaced in 2025, with series creators Iain Morris and Damon Beesley signing a deal with production company Banijay UK. All four cast members — Jay Cartwright, Simon Cooper, Will McKenzie and Neil Sutherland — were reportedly in agreement to reprise their libidinous and disaster-prone characters as fully grown adults. At the time, it was unclear where the return would end up, and what format it would take. </p><p>Now, Netflix execs are reportedly in the process of locking down all six aforementioned talents for a new <em>Inbetweeners</em> reunion movie, with deals yet to be finalized, according to <a href="https://variety.com/2026/film/global/the-inbetweeners-reunion-movie-netflix-original-lead-cast-1236825532/">Variety</a>. The only unfortunate thing about this in my book is that the streaming giant hasn’t officially announced the news yet, so there aren’t any kind of plot details to go off of. But considering this will be the first time fans get to see the four characters as men presumably in their 30s, I don’t really need details to get excited. Any situation that comes up will be brilliant. </p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:2000px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="6omykMhCamz99LuKr47aT" name="Inbetweeners 2" alt="Will freaking out behind laptop as Jay and Neil look at his mother in video chat in The Inbetweeners 2 (2014)" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6omykMhCamz99LuKr47aT.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="2000" height="1125" attribution="" endorsement="" class="inline"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: FIlm4)</span></figcaption></figure><p>Presuming this project gets slated as a <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/upcoming-2027-movies-new-release-dates-theaters-streaming">2027 movie release</a>, it will end the 13-year gap since the last time the characters shared the screen. (Don’t you dare make any “gap” jokes, Jay.) The original series originally aired on E4 in the UK from May 2008-October 2010, and viewers couldn’t get enough of the sexually charged and often perverse situations the love-lacking teen boys repeatedly stumbled into. </p><p>Following the third season's end, the <em>Inbetweeners</em> brought their gross-out shenanigans to the big screen for 2011's <em>The Inbetweeners Movie</em> and 2014's <em>The Inbetweeners 2</em>. (If you haven't seen either, the first movie's water slide sequence alone is worth the metaphorical price of admission.) It's been a long drought ever since, and the fandom is just waiting to get soaking wet with comedy again. Or something. </p><p>The show's comedy was so popular, in fact, that a regional remake was ordered up by MTV of all places, where it sadly became one of several <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/television/1660630/6-really-popular-uk-tv-shows-that-were-adapted-and-failed-in-the-us">U.S. remakes of UK favorites that failed miserably</a>, and it was canceled after a single season.  So kudos to Netflix for going with the original instead of also trying for a remake. </p><h2 id="what-could-the-inbetweeners-third-movie-be-about">What Could The Inbetweeners' Third Movie Be About?</h2><p>Perhaps the easiest guess to make would be that at least one member of the group is getting married, or even having children. (Wouldn't it be wild if it's all of them?) If that's the case, I could easily see the new movie getting a "bachelor party gone wrong" narrative involving strippers and cops. </p><p>Of course, I could also see all four of them still being hopelessly single all these years later, with everyone reuniting for a last-ditch shot at romance on a singles cruise or a similar location-specific event. I can only hope that anyone who ends up with Jay is the sweetest and most self-confident woman imaginable. </p><p>Hopefully Netflix's involvement is only a boon and not a hindrance in any way. I can't imagine the company would have made the efforts to become the destination for the new movie if the point was to neuter it and cut out everything that made the TV show and film great. But I could also see Iain Morris and Damon Beesley writing something so extreme that someone would ask them to edit it out of the script. </p><p>Sure, Netflix hasn’t nailed all of its continuation efforts. For instance, <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/streaming-news/michael-cera-arrested-developments-netflix-run-disappointing">not everyone loved <em>Arrested Development</em>’s final two seasons</a>, with the fourth being severely disjointed, and the fifth being marred by behind-the-scenes reports, but I still think both are generally funnier than plenty of series that have been created and produced in the past ten years. As such, I have zero worries about whether or not <em>The Inbetweeners</em>’ creatives will deliver on heightened expectations. It’s gonna happen, and I’m gonna love it. </p><p>As we wait to see what kind of horrifying situations the boys…er…men will get into next, the three seasons of the 2008-2010 TV series are available to stream via <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/streaming-news/amazon-prime-subscription-the-plan-the-price-and-whats-included">Amazon Prime subscription</a>, while the first movie can be <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/streaming-news/how-to-watch-tubi-anywhere">streamed on Tubi</a>. </p>
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                                                            <title><![CDATA[ Vin Diesel Dropped A Cute Video With Michelle Rodriguez After Sharing Update On Fast 11’s Script ]]></title>
                                                                                                                                                                                                <link>https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/vin-diesel-dropped-video-with-michelle-rodriguez-after-update-fast-11-script</link>
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                            <![CDATA[ This franchise really has produced a "family." ]]>
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                                                                        <pubDate>Sun, 02 Aug 2026 21:25:50 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                <category><![CDATA[Movies]]></category>
                                                                                                                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Erik Swann ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                    <dc:source><![CDATA[ https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rXkznL7DwWNoGfjx998J3Q.png ]]></dc:source>
                                                                <dc:description><![CDATA[ &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The Background&lt;/strong&gt;: Erik Swann is a Senior Content Producer at CinemaBlend. He began working with the publication in 2020 when he was hired as Weekend Editor. Today, he continues to write, edit and handle social media responsibilities over the weekend. On weekdays, he also writes TV and movie-related news and helps out with editing and social media as needed. He graduated from the University of Maryland, where he received a degree in Broadcast Journalism. After shifting into multi-platform journalism, he started working as a freelance writer and editor before joining CB. During his time with the site, he&#039;s been able to cover some excellent TV shows and films and interview some wonderful stars.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What He&#039;s Into&lt;/strong&gt;: Erik is a superhero fan, and his love for comic books began after he first watched Batman: The Animated Series as a child. He also enjoys comedies, action/adventure flicks, dramas and science fiction. He has a love for sports as well, particularly professional basketball. Though he&#039;s a Maryland/Washington D.C. native, he roots for the Boston Celtics. Some of his all-time favorite TV shows are BTAS, Breaking Bad, Sanford and Son, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Better Call Saul and Atlanta. And when it comes to movies, Beverly Hills Cop, A Raisin in the Sun, Toy Story, Iron Man, Star Wars, and Wall Street are among his favorites. He also enjoys a good pizza (preferably with pepperoni and mushrooms) while he&#039;s watching entertaining films and TV series.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What He&#039;s Excited About Right Now&lt;/strong&gt;: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, Reservation Dogs Season 3, Ahsoka, Loki Season 2, Invincible Season 2, Next Goal Wins and Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget.&lt;/p&gt; ]]></dc:description>
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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    <media:description><![CDATA[Letty Ortiz (Michelle Rodriguez) and Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) ride in a car in F9: The Fast Saga.]]></media:description>                                                            <media:text><![CDATA[Letty Ortiz (Michelle Rodriguez) and Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) ride in a car in F9: The Fast Saga.]]></media:text>
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                                <p><em>Fast & Furious 11</em>’s status has been widely discussed for a few years now, and there have been varying reports about when it’ll finally head into production. Something that’s remained consistent, however, is franchise lead <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/vin-diesel-acknowledges-fast-and-furious-11-delays-reveals-four-words-keep-him-going">Vin Diesel’s enthusiasm for the production</a>. The actor has shared a myriad of social media posts, through which he’s shared updates on the film and, this weekend, he shared some thoughts on the series capper's script. Diesel has since followed that up with a lovely video including co-star Michelle Rodriguez.</p><h2 id="vin-diesel-reunites-with-michelle-rodrigeuz-for-a-cute-video">Vin Diesel Reunites With Michelle Rodrigeuz For A Cute Video</h2><p>As mentioned, Diesel has an affinity for staying connected with <em>F&F</em> fans, and that’s certainly been evident in recent weeks. Many of the actor’s posts involve nods to his blockbuster franchise, while others may include a simple message. The longtime Dominic Toretto portrayer opted for the latter with his most recent post. Diesel took to Instagram to share a video, in which he thanked his followers and wished them a “Happy Creative Sunday.” Also, at the unknown location was Rodriguez, who made a cheeky little cameo:</p><div class="instagram-embed"><blockquote class="instagram-media"  data-instgrm-version="6" style="width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Dbi0IznRWcg/" target="_blank">A post shared by Vin Diesel (@vindiesel)</a></p><p>A photo posted by  on </p></blockquote></div><p>It’s hard not to smile at the sight of Diesel being reunited with Rodriguez, who plays his on-screen girlfriend, Letty Ortiz. Also, I’m chuckling a little at Rodriguez whipping out that sweet camera and preparing to get a snapshot before the clip cuts off. While I’d love more context for this outing between colleagues, what is clear to me is that these two buddies still have love for each other. To that point, <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/vin-diesel-pens-sweet-tribute-fast-and-furious-ride-or-die-michelle-rodriguez">Diesel shouted out Rodriguez</a> in a social media post last fall, in which he referred to her as a true “ride or die.”</p><p>Although <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/michelle-rodriguez-threw-little-shade-recent-fast-and-furious-movies-space">Rodriguez has thrown a little shade</a> at some of the more recent <em>Fast & Furious</em> installments, she, like her co-star, seems set on reaching the end of the proverbial road with Diesel and co. by way of <em>Fast 11</em>. That particular race has definitely taken longer than most likely expected, but Diesel’s latest comments on the project may perk up fans.</p><h2 id="vin-diesel-drops-thoughts-about-the-fast-11-screenplay">Vin Diesel Drops Thoughts About The Fast 11 Screenplay</h2><p>Via social media posts, Diesel has shared a myriad of details on the final Fast movie and, this past January, he <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/vin-diesel-just-reveal-final-fast-and-furious-movie-title">confirmed the official title, <em>Fast Forever</em></a>. The <em>Riddick</em> star garnered significant attention this past Saturday when he posted a trailer for 2001’s <em>The Fast and the Furious</em>, which is set to be re-released in theaters for its 25th anniversary on August 26 amid the <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/upcoming-movies-in-2026-new-movie-release-dates">2026 movie schedule</a>. As part of that <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DbfWp6VhZEG/">Instagram</a> message, Diesel also made a massive claim about the franchise’s closing installment:</p><div><blockquote><p>You have no idea… When March 17th 2028 comes… you will thank God you got to see the First one in the theaters this summer. I just read the Fast Forever script by Mike Leslie. It is the best script I have read in decades. I am still crying…</p></blockquote></div><p>Vin Diesel talks a big game, but for him to call Michael Leslie’s script the best he’s “read in decades” is really something. Based on his comments about “crying,” reading the script was apparently an emotional experience for him as well. No specifics are shared, of course, but this might be just the update some <em>Fast</em> fans have been waiting for. </p><p>There are still plenty of questions to ponder in regard to <em>Fast Forever</em>, though, as the <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/vin-diesel-been-hyping-fast-and-furious-11-sources-share-alleged-reasons-film-stalled">film was in limbo</a> (in great part) due Universal Studios’ seeking to reduce production costs. Even cast member <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/wait-fast-11-alan-ritchson-gets-real-obstacles-facing-vin-diesel">Alan Ritchson acknowledged those “obstacles”</a> during a recent interview. As it stands, the movie is still scheduled to be released in March 2028, but it’s unknown when filming will begin. </p><p>Still, Vin Diesel appears excited, and both he and Universal head Donna Langley <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/fast-and-furious-11-details-kept-under-wraps-exec-confirmed-major-promise-vin-diesel-made">have promised that <em>Fast 11</em></a> will mark a return to the franchise’s street-racing roots. In the meantime, I’d expect Diesel to continue sharing updates online (and I hope Michelle Rodriguez pops up in a few of those theoretical posts as well).</p>
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                                                            <title><![CDATA[ Spider-Man: Brand New Day Swings Way Past Box Office Projections. How Close Is It To $1 Billion? ]]></title>
                                                                                                                                                                                                <link>https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/box-office/spider-man-brand-new-day-exceeds-projections-nears-billion</link>
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                            <![CDATA[ The competition was universally inhibited. ]]>
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                                                                        <pubDate>Sun, 02 Aug 2026 20:08:03 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                                <updated>Sun, 02 Aug 2026 21:35:53 +0000</updated>
                                                                                                                                            <category><![CDATA[Box Office]]></category>
                                                    <category><![CDATA[Movies]]></category>
                                                                                                                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Heidi Venable ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                    <dc:source><![CDATA[ https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/w7HQ9MvRSDd7diNpTmruW9.png ]]></dc:source>
                                                                <dc:description><![CDATA[ &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The Background&lt;/strong&gt;: Heidi Venable is a Content Producer for CinemaBlend. She started freelancing for the site in 2020 and officially came on board in 2021. Her job entails writing news stories and TV reactions from some of her favorite prime-time shows like Grey&#039;s Anatomy and The Bachelor. She graduated from Louisiana Tech University with a degree in Journalism and worked in the newspaper industry for almost two decades in multiple roles including Sports Editor, Page Designer and Online Editor.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What She&#039;s Into&lt;/strong&gt;: Heidi grew up in the 1990s, and her tastes strongly reflect that. She can (and does) quote Friends constantly, enjoys a good West Wing binge, thinks Can&#039;t Hardly Wait was the most influential movie of her life and finds solace in 311 concerts. On Sundays during football season, she can be found cheering on the New Orleans Saints with her husband and two daughters. Who Dat! She loves to read but usually settles for a pop culture podcast, and thinks the best weekends are spent cooking and playing cards with friends and family, preferably with some UFC fights or other sporting event on TV.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What She&#039;s Excited About Right Now&lt;/strong&gt;: Football season, Pumpkin Spice Lattes and everything related to fall and cooler weather. The Game of Roses podcast and all things The Bachelor, and new episodes of Grey&#039;s Anatomy, Love Is Blind, The Voice, OMITB and more.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; ]]></dc:description>
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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    <media:description><![CDATA[Spider-Man flying through the city on the poster for Spider-Man: Brand New Day]]></media:description>                                                            <media:text><![CDATA[Spider-Man flying through the city on the poster for Spider-Man: Brand New Day]]></media:text>
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                                <p>I fear we've all fallen victim to some kind of reverse Doctor Strange spell, because looking at this weekend’s <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/tag/box-office">Box Office</a> numbers, our memories appear to have been erased of everyone <em>except</em> Peter Parker. To say <em>Spider-Man: Brand New Day</em> dominated ticket sales is quite the understatement, as the <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/new/upcoming-marvel-movies-release-dates-phase-4-67944.html">new MCU movie</a> soared past expectations to earn $355 million in its first three days — the second biggest opening weekend in history. And, it’s already approaching $1 billion worldwide.</p><p>We’ve got to break down these Marvel-ous numbers, but I also want to talk about <em>The Odyssey</em>, which held its own after three cycles, especially considering the competition. (Maybe <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/superheroes/spider-man/next-summer-all-about-tom-holland-i-need-everyone-coming-up-cute-spider-man-version-of-barbenheimer">Spidey fans did end up doing a Barbenheimer-esque double feature</a>!) </p><p>Olivia Wilde also had a big weekend, with <em>I Want Your Sex </em>being the only new release other than <em>Brand New Day</em>. First, take a peek at the <a href="https://www.the-numbers.com/weekend-box-office-chart">weekend’s Top 10</a>, then we’ll get into it all. <strong>(* denotes a new release.)</strong></p><h2 id="weekend-box-office-july-31-august-2">Weekend Box Office: July 31-August 2</h2><div ><table><thead><tr><th class="firstcol " ><p>TITLE</p></th><th  ><p>WEEKEND GROSS</p></th><th  ><p>DOMESTIC GROSS</p></th><th  ><p>LAST WEEK</p></th><th  ><p>THEATERS</p></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td class="firstcol " ><p>1. Spider-Man: Brand New Day*</p></td><td  ><p>$355,000,000</p></td><td  ><p>$355,000,000</p></td><td  ><p>N/A</p></td><td  ><p>4,487</p></td></tr><tr><td class="firstcol " ><p>2. The Odyssey</p></td><td  ><p>$51,000,000</p></td><td  ><p>$395,525,000</p></td><td  ><p>1</p></td><td  ><p>3,861</p></td></tr><tr><td class="firstcol " ><p>3. Toy Story 5</p></td><td  ><p>$6,300,000</p></td><td  ><p>$461,696,126</p></td><td  ><p>4</p></td><td  ><p>3,035</p></td></tr><tr><td class="firstcol " ><p>4. Minions & Monsters</p></td><td  ><p>$5,800,000</p></td><td  ><p>$168,355,000</p></td><td  ><p>5</p></td><td  ><p>3,023</p></td></tr><tr><td class="firstcol " ><p>5. Moana</p></td><td  ><p>$5,300,000</p></td><td  ><p>$114,783,124</p></td><td  ><p>2</p></td><td  ><p>3,010</p></td></tr><tr><td class="firstcol " ><p>6. Hadestown: The Musical</p></td><td  ><p>$2,001,239</p></td><td  ><p>$18,202,949</p></td><td  ><p>3</p></td><td  ><p>1,567</p></td></tr><tr><td class="firstcol " ><p>7. The Invite</p></td><td  ><p>$1,244,343</p></td><td  ><p>$22,776,275</p></td><td  ><p>7</p></td><td  ><p>792</p></td></tr><tr><td class="firstcol " ><p>8. I Want Your Sex*</p></td><td  ><p>$600,000</p></td><td  ><p>$600,000</p></td><td  ><p>N/A</p></td><td  ><p>700</p></td></tr><tr><td class="firstcol " ><p>9. Young Washington</p></td><td  ><p>$477,727</p></td><td  ><p>$46,417,517</p></td><td  ><p>8</p></td><td  ><p>623</p></td></tr><tr><td class="firstcol " ><p>10. Obsession</p></td><td  ><p>$470,000</p></td><td  ><p>$262,775,000</p></td><td  ><p>10</p></td><td  ><p>430</p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><h2 id="spider-man-brand-new-day-approaches-1-billion-with-second-biggest-debut-in-box-office-history">Spider-Man: Brand New Day Approaches $1 Billion With Second-Biggest Debut In Box Office History</h2><p>In North America, <em>Spider-Man: Brand New Day</em>’s $355 million puts it in second place all-time for biggest opening weekend behind the $357 million earned in 2019 by fellow Marvel product <em>Avengers: Endgame</em>. The numbers are so close, in fact, that when they're finalized Monday, Spidey might just come out on top. </p><p>It has been surpassing expectations, after all! The highest projections I saw a week ago topped out at $300 million, and even that seemed like a stretch. Until now, no other movie had come close to that mark in its first three days, with the closest being <em>Spider-Man: No Way Home</em>’s now-third-place $260 million domestic debut in 2021.</p><p>The news only gets better for Marvel and Sony Pictures — the international box office added a whopping $572 million for a <strong>worldwide total of $927 million</strong>. It and <em>The Odyssey</em> will become the fourth and fifth movies to cross into 10 digits (more on that further down). Which will get there first, and will it happen this week?</p><p><em>Spider-Man: Brand New Day</em>’s $927 million global opening is the second-highest in that category, too, also behind <em>Avengers: Endgame</em>, which brought in $1.2 billion in its first three days.</p><p>It goes without saying that this is far and away the most successful of Tom Holland’s <em>Spider-Man</em> offerings, but how will its theatrical run compare to the others?</p><div ><table><caption>MCU Spider-Man Movies’ Box Office Totals</caption><thead><tr><th class="firstcol " ><p>TITLE</p></th><th  ><p>DOMESTIC PREMIERE</p></th><th  ><p>GLOBAL TOTAL</p></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td class="firstcol " ><p>Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026)</p></td><td  ><p>$355 million</p></td><td  ><p>TBD</p></td></tr><tr><td class="firstcol " ><p>Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)</p></td><td  ><p>$357 million</p></td><td  ><p>$1.9 billion</p></td></tr><tr><td class="firstcol " ><p>Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)</p></td><td  ><p>$92.6 million</p></td><td  ><p> $1.13 billion</p></td></tr><tr><td class="firstcol " ><p>Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)</p></td><td  ><p>$117 million</p></td><td  ><p>$880 million</p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p>The <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/brand-new-day-producer-explains-why-sadie-sink-role-secret-spider-man">mystery of Sadie Sink’s character</a> was one secret fueling fan interest going into this weekend. I won’t spoil anything here, but you can read all about <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/spider-man-brand-new-day-perfect-if-not-sadie-sink-jean-grey-problem"><em>Brand New Day</em>’s big Sink reveal here</a>. There was also a lot of curiosity surrounding how Doctor Strange’s spell from <em>No Way Home</em> would be handled. How does this work if MJ (Zendaya) and Ned (Jacob Batalon) really have forgotten Peter Parker? (<a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/spider-man-brand-new-day-ending-explained-peter-parker-doctor-strange-spell"><em>Brand New Day</em>’s ending is explained here</a>, discussing that very issue, and don't miss our <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/spider-man-brand-new-day-post-credits-avengers-doomsday-secret-wars-battleworld-tobey-maguire">breakdown of the post-credit scene</a>).</p><p>Even with those topics circulating the Internet now, I don’t think this title will be going anywhere for a while, especially with good reviews only likely to attract any holdouts from this weekend, as well as repeat viewings. Speaking of those reviews ... </p><section class="article__schema-question"><h3>How Did Critics And Audiences Score Spider-Man: Brand New Day?</h3><article class="article__schema-answer"><p>Those of us at CinemaBlend who caught early screenings of the MCU’s latest adventure were thoroughly <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/spider-man-brand-new-day-reviews-cinemablend-tom-holland-zendaya-mcu">swooped up by the fun superhero flick</a>, joining fellow critics in a <a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/spider_man_brand_new_day">Rotten Tomatoes</a> Certified Fresh score of <strong>90%</strong>. Fans were even more impressed, giving it<strong> 98%</strong>. Not surprisingly, CinemaScore gives <em>Brand New Day</em> an <strong>“A.”</strong></p></article></section><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:2000px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="oxyhKQGj2w2KY6rtmCoKkY" name="TomHollandOdysseyTrailer2Beach" alt="Tom Holland on a beach in the Odyssey trailer." src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/oxyhKQGj2w2KY6rtmCoKkY.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="2000" height="1125" attribution="" endorsement="" class="inline"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Universal)</span></figcaption></figure><h2 id="the-odyssey-helps-to-fuel-biggest-collective-box-office-ever">The Odyssey Helps To Fuel Biggest Collective Box Office Ever</h2><p>Is it safe to say that the only actors who matter right now are Tom Holland, Zendaya and Jon Bernthal? OK, probably not, but in addition to the trio starring together in <em>Spider-Man: Brand New Day</em>, they’re also part of <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/christopher-nolan-next-movie-everything-we-know-so-far#section-the-odyssey-cast"><em>The Odyssey</em>’s ridiculous cast</a>. Given how much money Spidey earned this weekend, it’s impressive there were enough people left to give Christopher Nolan’s epic adaptation another $51 million.</p><p>So far <em>The Odyssey</em> has earned $395.5 million in the U.S. and Canada, and $515.9 million overseas, combining for a worldwide total of $911.4 million.</p><p>Through their powers combined, <em>Spider-Man: Brand New Day</em> and <em>The Odyssey</em> have led to the biggest collective box office in history, with all films bringing in a total of over $425 million this weekend, per <a href="https://variety.com/2026/film/box-office/spider-man-brand-new-day-box-office-opening-weekend-1236825953/">Variety</a>). The previous high was led by (naturally) <em>Avengers: Endgame</em> for a weekend of $402 million.</p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:2000px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="BQaCSrp2DEjdbXL6hFCxQ" name="I Want Your Sex" alt="Erika Tracy in leather outfit in I Want Your Sex" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/BQaCSrp2DEjdbXL6hFCxQ.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="2000" height="1125" attribution="" endorsement="" class="inline"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Magnolia Releasing)</span></figcaption></figure><h2 id="olivia-wilde-goes-back-to-back-with-two-in-the-top-10">Olivia Wilde Goes Back-To-Back With Two In The Top 10</h2><p><a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/the-invite-reviews-seth-rogen-olivia-wilde-new-comedy-shook-high-rotten-tomatoes-score">Olivia Wilde’s critically acclaimed <em>The Invite</em></a><em> </em>continues to be an indie hit for the director and star, as it holds strong in the Top 10 after eight weekends in theaters (six in wide release). So far. it’s earned $22.8 million domestically and was approaching $40 million worldwide on a budget of $6 million. But that’s not all.</p><p>Olivia Wilde starred in another of the Top 10 flicks this week — <em>I Want Your Sex</em> — which earned $600,000. That was good enough for 8th place, just below <em>The Invite</em>. The actress has strong <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/olivia-wilde-issue-way-sex-portrayed-movies-lately">thoughts about how sex is portrayed in film</a>, and between this erotic comedy thriller and the Seth Rogen dramedy, she’s definitely got people talking about sex this summer.</p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:2000px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="eb5UsEwtTQ6dov4tGQmT6n" name="Tony A24 New 1" alt="Dominic Sessa in a red shirt and white apron in Tony" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/eb5UsEwtTQ6dov4tGQmT6n.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="2000" height="1125" attribution="" endorsement="" class="inline"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: A24)</span></figcaption></figure><h2 id="looking-ahead-to-next-week-s-releases">Looking Ahead To Next Week's Releases</h2><p>There's no doubt we'll still be talking about <em>Spider-Man: Brand New Day</em> next weekend, but there are some fun new flicks hitting the <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/upcoming-movies-in-2026-new-movie-release-dates">2026 movie calendar</a>. The Anthony Bourdain biopic, <em>Tony</em>, for one, hits theaters on Friday, August 7, and with <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/tony-reviews-a24-anthony-bourdain-biopic-dominic-sessa">positive reviews for Dominic Sessa's portrayal</a> of the late chef, the <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/upcoming-a24-movies">upcoming A24 movie</a> is looking at an opening between $7 million and $10 million, according to <a href="https://www.boxofficepro.com/long-range-forecast-insidious-out-of-the-further-mutiny/">Box Office Pro</a>.</p><p>We're also looking forward to <em>One Night Only</em>, Eli Roth's <em>Ice Cream Man</em>, <em>Super Troopers 3</em> and <em>Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma</em>, starring  Hannah Einbinder and Gillian Anderson. Whichever flick you choose to see, these sound like a blast.</p>
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                                                            <title><![CDATA[ I’m Cracking Up Over Tom Holland’s Take On How He Would’ve Played Timothée Chalamet’s Dune Role ]]></title>
                                                                                                                                                                                                <link>https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/tom-holland-funny-playing-timothee-chalamet-dune-role</link>
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                            <![CDATA[ Somewhere in the multiverse, Paul Atreides just tripped over a sandworm. ]]>
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                                                                        <pubDate>Sun, 02 Aug 2026 18:07:46 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                <category><![CDATA[Movies]]></category>
                                                                                                                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Ryan LaBee ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                    <dc:source><![CDATA[ https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XbAXNYeMUxUvrHFt3Cg5KE.jpeg ]]></dc:source>
                                                                <dc:description><![CDATA[ &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The Background:&lt;/strong&gt; Ryan graduated from Missouri State University with a BA in English/Creative Writing.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What He&#039;s Into:&lt;/strong&gt; He loves all things horror. An avid fan of Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon. Lifelong comic book fan.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What He&#039;s Excited About Right Now:&lt;/strong&gt; Ryan&#039;s really excited for House of the Dragon and Hulu&#039;s Hellraiser reboot!&lt;/p&gt; ]]></dc:description>
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                                                            <media:credit><![CDATA[Warner Bros. Pictures, Sony Pictures, Marvel Studio]]></media:credit>
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    <media:description><![CDATA[Timothée Chalamet, with shaved eyes and blue eyes, in Dune: Part 3 (2026); Tom Holland&#039;s Peter Parker, with a masked rolled up to reveal his face, in Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026).]]></media:description>                                                            <media:text><![CDATA[Timothée Chalamet, with shaved eyes and blue eyes, in Dune: Part 3 (2026); Tom Holland&#039;s Peter Parker, with a masked rolled up to reveal his face, in Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026).]]></media:text>
                                <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[Timothée Chalamet, with shaved eyes and blue eyes, in Dune: Part 3 (2026); Tom Holland&#039;s Peter Parker, with a masked rolled up to reveal his face, in Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026).]]></media:title>
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                                <p>Tom Holland and Timothée Chalamet are <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/tom-holland-like-timothee-chalamet-amid-oscar-quest-made-leonardo-dicaprio-comparison"><u>two of their generation’s biggest movie stars</u></a>, and both of their <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/upcoming-movies-in-2026-new-movie-release-dates"><u>2026 movie schedules</u></a> are packed with highly anticipated tentpole films. Yet their signature roles could hardly be more different. Chalamet’s Paul Atreides spends <em>Dune</em> brooding over visions, power and the possibility of becoming a galactic tyrant, while Holland’s Peter Parker can barely explain himself without tripping over his words or revealing classified Avengers information. But what if the two actors had swapped places? I'm cracking up over the Holland's take on how he would've played Paul.</p><p>Said contrast came up in Holland’s recent appearance on Josh Horowitz’s <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DvB4G2FZ_o"><u><em>Happy Sad Confused</em></u><u> podcast</u></a>. The host imagined an alternate Hollywood timeline where Chalamet became Spider-Man, and he led Denis Villeneuve’s <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/steven-spielberg-glowing-thoughts-dune-movies-somebody-check-denis-villeneuve">(<u>Steven Spielberg-approved) </u><u><em>Dune</em></u><u> trilogy</u></a>. Holland gave Chalamet a genuine vote of confidence as Peter Parker, then offered a much less flattering description of his own Paul Atreides:</p><div><blockquote><p>I think he would make a great Spider-Man. I think he would really bring a lot of emotion. I think he would be a more brooding version of the character, which might be kind of interesting. And you know, maybe I got Dune. And Dune would be this kind of like, blumbering idiot, like running through the sand. That’d be kind of fun, though.</p></blockquote></div><p>The host immediately pushed back and said he did not believe the <em>Brand New Day </em>actor would actually play the role that way, and he is probably right. The star of Christopher Nolan's latest <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/box-office/the-odyssey-christopher-nolan-box-office-crown-toy-story-billion-dollars"><u>box office hit, </u><u><em>The Odyssey</em></u></a>,<em> </em>has done enough dramatic work to prove he could handle Paul’s fear, anger and increasingly heavy sense of destiny.</p><p>With that said, I cannot stop picturing his proposed version. Instead of solemnly walking across the desert while visions of a holy war flash through his mind, Holland’s Paul would presumably tumble down a sand dune, lose one of his boots and accidentally spoil the Fremen’s entire battle plan. His first sandworm ride would feel less like the arrival of a messiah and more like Peter Parker clinging to the side of an airplane.</p><p>It would be a very different performance, but Holland is right that something is interesting there. The <em>Wonka</em> star’s Spider-Man would probably be less likely to greet a villain with an enthusiastic pop-culture reference. He might also make Peter Parker look like he has not slept since Uncle Ben died.</p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:2000px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="BDS8QsrghdxiKkv8diPxiV" name="spider-man bnd" alt="Spider-Man standing atop skyscraper with New York City skyline in the background in Spider-Man: Brand New Day" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/BDS8QsrghdxiKkv8diPxiV.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="2000" height="1125" attribution="" endorsement="" class="inline"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Sony Pictures)</span></figcaption></figure><p>Shortly after the trip into "what if" fancasting land, Holland recalled being only 17 when he began auditioning for the role. Looking back at those old screen tests now, he said he can't help but see himself as a child compared with the actor he is now, leading the recently released <em>Spider-Man: Brand New Day</em>. Playing Peter Parker has taken up “damn near the majority” of his life.</p><p>Holland also explained that his dance background helped define his version of Spider-Man. Because the costume covers his face, he had to communicate through movement. He even developed a physical detail in which Peter’s arms occasionally hang loose in the suit, almost as though he does not fully control them. That small bit became part of how he plays the character.</p><div  class="fancy-box"><div class="fancy_box-title">More on Tom Holland</div><div class="fancy_box_body"><figure class="van-image-figure "  ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' ><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="5RcquUZB7d4un92BBgB6A4" name="tom holland" caption="" alt="Tom Holland is shown in a scene from Spider-Man: No Way Home." src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/5RcquUZB7d4un92BBgB6A4.jpg" mos="" link="" align="" fullscreen="" width="" height="" attribution="" endorsement="" class="pinterest-pin-exclude"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=""><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Sony Pictures)</span></figcaption></figure><p class="fancy-box__body-text"><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/tom-holland-honest-promoting-bad-movies">I Can't Believe How Honest Tom Holland Just Got About How Bad Some Of His Movies Are</a></p></div></div><p>Chalamet would undoubtedly have created a different take on the Web-Head. Audiences probably would have gotten a more withdrawn and brooding Peter Parker, though the actor behind Paul Atreides can be very funny when a role allows it. Chalamet’s recent work hardly suggests he would spend every scene staring sadly from a rooftop.</p><p>I'd say the <em>Uncharted</em> star is being too hard on his possible <em>Dune</em>. He could bring plenty of emotion to Paul, and his physicality might make the desert action terrific. I still would not trust him near the Water of Life without supervision.</p><p>Thankfully, both actors landed the roles that helped define this stage of their careers. Chalamet became the haunted heir of House Atreides, while Holland brought nervous energy and gymnastic movement to Peter Parker. I'd like to think, though, that somewhere in the multiverse, however, Spider-Man is moodily considering destiny while a blundering Paul Atreides runs from a very confused sandworm. That is one heck of a funny image.</p><p><em>Spider-Man: Brand New Day</em> is playing in theaters now but, if you want to revisit Holland's prior turns as Spidey, stream his <em>Home</em> trilogy with a <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2492773/how-to-best-use-disney-tips-to-get-the-most-out-of-the-streaming-service"><u>Disney+subscription</u></a>. As for Chalamet, his first two Dune films are streaming with an <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/television/2570432/subscribing-to-hbo-max-what-to-know-about-the-price-options-and-what-the-streaming-service-offers"><u>HBO Max subscription</u>,</a> with <em>Dune: Part Three</em>, the <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/timothee-chalamet-talks-filming-final-dune-movie-making-end-feel-more-real"><u>third and final entry</u></a>, landing in theaters on December 18.</p>
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                                                            <title><![CDATA[ This Awkward Ryan Gosling Interview Is Going Viral Again After His Ghost Rider Casting ]]></title>
                                                                                                                                                                                                <link>https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/awkward-ryan-gosling-interview-viral-again-after-ghost-rider-casting-2026-project-hail-mary</link>
                                                                            <description>
                            <![CDATA[ Gosling’s poker face nearly went up in flames. ]]>
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                                                                        <pubDate>Sun, 02 Aug 2026 15:11:08 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                <category><![CDATA[Movies]]></category>
                                                    <category><![CDATA[Marvel Cinematic Universe]]></category>
                                                    <category><![CDATA[Superheroes]]></category>
                                                                                                                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Ryan LaBee ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                    <dc:source><![CDATA[ https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XbAXNYeMUxUvrHFt3Cg5KE.jpeg ]]></dc:source>
                                                                <dc:description><![CDATA[ &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The Background:&lt;/strong&gt; Ryan graduated from Missouri State University with a BA in English/Creative Writing.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What He&#039;s Into:&lt;/strong&gt; He loves all things horror. An avid fan of Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon. Lifelong comic book fan.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What He&#039;s Excited About Right Now:&lt;/strong&gt; Ryan&#039;s really excited for House of the Dragon and Hulu&#039;s Hellraiser reboot!&lt;/p&gt; ]]></dc:description>
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                                                            <media:credit><![CDATA[Columbia Pictures, Sony Pictures Releasing]]></media:credit>
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    <media:description><![CDATA[Johnny Blaze, aka Ghost Rider, after his first transformation in the original 2007 film.]]></media:description>                                                            <media:text><![CDATA[Johnny Blaze, aka Ghost Rider, after his first transformation in the original 2007 film.]]></media:text>
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                                <p>Ryan Gosling has spent years openly campaigning to play Ghost Rider, but a past interview suggests the casting may have been further along than he was allowed to admit (at the time). Now that Marvel has officially handed him the flaming skull, one viral interview he made while promoting <em>Project Hail Mary</em> is going viral for the carefully awkward way he answered. </p><p>It's only been a few days since we learned Ryan Gosling will <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/ryan-gosling-unsurprisingly-ghost-rider-mcu-director-my-jaw-drop-shawn-levy">lead a standalone <em>Ghost Rider</em> movie</a> directed by Shawn Levy and scheduled for 2028. The studio hasn't revealed much about Gosling’s <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/new/upcoming-marvel-movies-release-dates-phase-4-67944.html"><u>upcoming Marvel movie</u></a>, but the few details we have are promising. The <em>Notebook</em> actor will play Johnny Blaze, while <em>Deadpool & Wolverine</em> filmmaker Shawn Levy is set to direct. The pair recently worked together on the <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/star-wars/star-wars-starfighter-rumor-jedi-sounds-wild-im-into-it-shawn-levy"><u>upcoming </u><u><em>Star Wars</em></u><u> movie </u><u><em>Starfighter</em></u></a>, and Kevin Feige told CinemaBlend the Canadian actor <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/kevin-feige-finally-getting-ryan-gosling-mcu-ghost-rider"><u>approached Marvel with both a pitch</u></a> and a vision for the character. </p><p>Though these details are new, the possibility of Ghost Rider has been on everyone's minds for quite a bit longer since it was the actor himself who expressed interest in the role. Now, a viral clip from a few months ago has been making the rounds on Instagram and X (Twitter) after the big announcement.  The caption, “Yeah. He knew,” invites everyone to watch the exchange again with hindsight.</p><div class="instagram-embed"><blockquote class="instagram-media"  data-instgrm-version="6" style="width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DbV-bVwxvip/" target="_blank">A post shared by Josh Horowitz (@joshuahorowitz)</a></p><p>A photo posted by  on </p></blockquote></div><p>In the interview, interviewer Josh Horowitz keeps pressing while the <em>Drive</em> star responds with the careful, hilarious vagueness of someone trying not to step on a spoiler mine. It's awkward, it's executed amusingly, and it gave away nothing away in the moment, except looking back, you can pretty much tell Gosling is uncomfortable with the whole thing. </p><p>Horowitz also brings up the actor's wife Eva Mendes, who starred opposite Nicolas Cage in the 2007 <em>Ghost Rider</em> movie. He jokes that she must hold that over Gosling at home, but the actor simply says he is glad one of them got to be part of the franchise. Which is a sweet response, especially given how she's openly supported his casting, saying <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/eva-mendes-how-she-knew-ryan-gosling-would-be-perfect-fit-ghost-rider"><u>she knew he'd be the perfect fit</u></a> for the role.</p><p>Mendes’ connection to the earlier film makes Gosling’s eventual casting even funnier. She entered the world of <em>Ghost Rider</em> nearly two decades before her longtime partner finally got his turn.</p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:2000px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="J8PK7PUziFMhgMFWmC7GNn" name="GhostRider2007" alt="Johnny Blaze, aka Ghost Rider, after his first transformation in the original 2007 film." src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/J8PK7PUziFMhgMFWmC7GNn.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="2000" height="1125" attribution="" endorsement="" class="inline"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Columbia Pictures, Sony Pictures Releasing)</span></figcaption></figure><h2 id="fans-think-gosling-s-body-language-gave-him-away">Fans Think Gosling’s Body Language Gave Him Away</h2><p>The comments under the video are full of fans studying the Oscar-nominated Ken star's response like game-day footage. Several noticed an ear scratching tell, while others believe his eyes and pauses told the story. Here are some of the best responses: </p><ul><li><strong>@drbluejay: “</strong>Keep hope alive” 😭😭😭</li><li>@<strong>Lettraxy</strong>: “The ‘keep hope alive’ part kills me”</li><li><strong>@Joshua_9763:</strong> “I’ve done everything in my power.” I think we underestimated how much power this man had 🤣</li><li><strong>@Hibritneymona:</strong> “I think his lying tic is how he was rubbing his ear while answering lmao.”</li><li><strong>@Theberlindays:</strong> “He’s telling you with his eyes and the whole body language.”</li><li><strong>@Carriehowlter:</strong> “I hope he doesn’t ever play poker.”</li><li><strong>@Erinncrl</strong>: “The way it’s so obvious he knew but couldn’t say anything yet.”</li><li><strong>@Finchely:</strong> "It’s so obvious now 😆"</li></ul><p>Moving forward, I think the next time the <em>Barbie</em> actor denies being involved in a major franchise, I will be checking whether his fingers drift toward that ear. </p><p>Of course, he may not have had a signed deal when the interview was recorded. Saying that discussions were “complicated” leaves room for negotiations, scheduling issues leading to moving pieces with the <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2467680/a-marvel-movies-timeline-to-watch-from-beginning-to-endgame"><u>Marvel movies in order,</u></a> or the studio simply taking its time. What seems clear now is that Ghost Rider was more than a role he casually tossed out during interviews, and awkward as this now-viral moment is, I'm glad it will exist in perpetuity now that we know what came next. </p>
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                                                            <title><![CDATA[ Spider-Man: Brand New Day Would Be Perfect For Me If Not For One Sadie Sink-Related Problem ]]></title>
                                                                                                                                                                                                <link>https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/spider-man-brand-new-day-perfect-if-not-sadie-sink-jean-grey-problem</link>
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                            <![CDATA[ This was almost one of my favorite Spider-Man movies... ]]>
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                                                                        <pubDate>Sun, 02 Aug 2026 15:00:00 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                                <updated>Sun, 02 Aug 2026 19:59:18 +0000</updated>
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                                                    <category><![CDATA[Marvel Cinematic Universe]]></category>
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                                                                                                                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Riley Utley ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                    <dc:source><![CDATA[ https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kXTLd8ja6TbGctTZCbdkce.jpg ]]></dc:source>
                                                                <dc:description><![CDATA[ &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The Background&lt;/strong&gt;: Riley Utley is the Weekend Editor at CinemaBlend. She has written for national publications as well as daily and alt-weekly newspapers in Spokane, Washington, Syracuse, New York and Charleston, South Carolina. She graduated with her master’s degree in arts journalism and communications from the Newhouse School at Syracuse University. Since joining the CB team she has covered numerous TV shows and movies -- including her personal favorite shows &lt;em&gt;Ted Lasso &lt;/em&gt;and &lt;em&gt;The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel&lt;/em&gt;. She also has followed and consistently written about everything from Taylor Swift to &lt;em&gt;Fire Country&lt;/em&gt;, and she&#039;s enjoyed every second of it.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What She&#039;s Into&lt;/strong&gt;: Riley’s range in likes is random and wide, from Marvel to musicals and from&lt;em&gt; Game of Thrones&lt;/em&gt; to the latest Netflix rom-com you can catch her watching just about anything. Her favorite movies include but are not limited to &lt;em&gt;When Harry Met Sally, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse, Finding Nemo&lt;/em&gt; and &lt;em&gt;The Grand Budapest Hotel&lt;/em&gt;. She loves going to the movie theater, consuming copious amounts of popcorn and logging whatever she saw on Letterboxd immediately afterward. She constantly walks around quoting &lt;em&gt;Ted Lasso, SNL&lt;/em&gt; and &lt;em&gt;Parks and Rec&lt;/em&gt;. She has been known to create the occasional PowerPoint explaining the MCU to those who don’t get it. In the non-media realm, Riley is a massive college basketball fan. She is a firm believer that the Gonzaga men’s basketball team is the best team of all time, and she is patiently waiting for the day they finally win a national championship. She grew up in Washington and loves skiing, coffee and making sure that people know she is from the state, not D.C.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What She&#039;s Excited About Right Now&lt;/strong&gt;: Anything Taylor Swift or Andrew Garfield does, finally seeing strong female representation in the MCU and eventually seeing Jonathan Bailey sing his heart out in &lt;em&gt;Wicked&lt;/em&gt;.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; ]]></dc:description>
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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    <media:description><![CDATA[Sadie Sink in Spider-Man: Brand New Day during a clip that was shown on The Tonight Show.]]></media:description>                                                            <media:text><![CDATA[Sadie Sink in Spider-Man: Brand New Day during a clip that was shown on The Tonight Show.]]></media:text>
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                                <p><strong>Major spoilers for </strong><em><strong>Spider-Man: Brand New Day</strong></em><strong> are ahead! If you have not seen this movie, it’s currently playing in theaters. </strong></p><p>For a long time now, a common criticism of Tom Holland’s <em>Spider-Man</em> movies is that there’s always another hero he kind of has to share the spotlight with. From Iron Man to Doctor Strange, he hasn't been able to get a movie to himself. That’s never really bothered me, though. Well, that was the case until I saw <em>Spider-Man: Brand New Day</em>. While I agree with <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/spider-man-brand-new-day-reviews-cinemablend-tom-holland-zendaya-mcu"><em>Brand New Day’s </em>reviews</a>, and I think it’s great, unfortunately, the way they handled <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/superheroes/spider-man/spider-man-4-cast-stranger-things-sadie-sink-wild-theory-playing-jean-grey">Sadie Sink’s character</a>, Jean Grey, is the reason I have a problem with it.</p><h2 id="don-t-get-it-twisted-i-love-this-movie-and-sadie-sink-s-performance">Don't Get It Twisted, I Love This Movie And Sadie Sink's Performance</h2><p>If I don’t think about the MCU as a whole or the <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/new/upcoming-marvel-movies-release-dates-phase-4-67944.html">upcoming Marvel movies</a>, I loved the role Sadie Sink’s Jean Grey played in <em>Brand New Day</em>. The conflict revolving around Spider-Man’s plan to suppress his own powers as well as hers was effective. And I love that Peter realizing he should embrace his evolving powers stemmed from him finding common ground with Jean. </p><p>Overall, I thought Jean’s introduction was a very powerful way to get Peter Parker to realize and deal with his demons and then come out of this isolation he’d put himself in for years. He accepted his powers, started reuniting with MJ and Ned, and that happened as he tried to defeat and then protect Jean. </p><p>I also loved that this film subverted expectations and didn’t have one all-powerful villain. Instead, it flipped the script; while Jean started as the antagonist, the government ended up being the real bad guy, and Peter realized he should actually be helping the young mutant. </p><p>Plus, <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/im-invested-sadie-sink-spider-man-mystery-tom-holland-comments-steal-brand-new-day">Sadie Sink’s performance was amazing</a>. It’s tortured yet delicate, and I am <em>genuinely </em>looking forward to seeing more of her as the iconic X-Men character. However, this is where my problem with this entry on the <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/upcoming-movies-in-2026-new-movie-release-dates">2026 movie schedule</a> lies. </p><h2 id="i-don-t-like-that-spider-man-brand-new-day-feels-like-a-set-up-for-x-men">I Don't Like That Spider-Man: Brand New Day Feels Like A Set-Up For X-Men</h2><p>Yes, <em>Brand New Day</em> is a solid movie. Yes, it does tell a compelling story about Spider-Man. However, for a good chunk, it turns into a Jean Grey origin story. And after it's revealed that the body-jumping antagonist is Jean, it was almost distracting how often I was thinking about what’s next for her. </p><p>I’m certain they’re setting Jean Grey up to be a big player in the MCU, and we know <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/interviews/marvel-x-men-director-talks-about-making-mcu-reboot">Jake Schreier has an <em>X-Men </em>movie</a> in the works. So, as we saw her origin play out in <em>Brand New Day</em>, and we learned about her powers, it didn’t necessarily feel like it was being done for this <em>Spider-Man</em> story. It felt like it was being done to serve the greater universe. </p><p>What I wanted from <em>Brand New Day</em> was a Spider-Man movie about <strong>Spider-Man</strong>. I didn’t want to be distracted by the bigger universe Marvel is trying to construct. Introducing Jean Grey and doing it in the way they did took the spotlight off the webslinger for too long, and that’s why I have a problem. </p><p>It’s not necessarily anything to do with the character herself or Sink’s performance. I actually enjoyed those a whole lot. It was more so the fact that her part in this story felt like a springboard into another chapter of the MCU. I didn’t want <em>Spider-Man: Brand New Day</em> to be a bridge to the greater world. I just wanted it to be a Spider-Man movie. </p>
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                                                            <title><![CDATA[ I Thought Sadie Sink Was Messing Around When She Said We'd Get One Word After Seeing Spider-Man. She Was Not ]]></title>
                                                                                                                                                                                                <link>https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/sadie-sink-messing-around-one-word-scrunchie-best-spider-man-brand-new-day-moment</link>
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                            <![CDATA[ The one word that exemplifies Brand New Day was not the one I would have guessed. ]]>
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                                                                        <pubDate>Sun, 02 Aug 2026 14:15:43 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                                <updated>Sun, 02 Aug 2026 19:57:53 +0000</updated>
                                                                                                                                            <category><![CDATA[Movies]]></category>
                                                    <category><![CDATA[Marvel Cinematic Universe]]></category>
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                                                                                                                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Jessica Rawden ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                    <dc:source><![CDATA[ https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gNi5ipvqyWREFVbs7Ehzx9.png ]]></dc:source>
                                                                <dc:description><![CDATA[ &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The Background:&lt;/strong&gt; Jessica Rawden is Managing Editor at CinemaBlend. She’s been kicking out news stories at CinemaBlend since 2007 and joined the full-time staff in 2014. She oversees news content, hiring and training for the site, and her areas of expertise include theme parks, rom-coms, Hallmark (particularly Christmas movie season), reality TV, celebrity interviews and primetime. She loves a good animated movie.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Jessica has a Masters in Library Science degree from Indiana University, and used to be found behind a reference desk most definitely not shushing people. She now uses those skills in researching and tracking down information in very different ways.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What She’s Into&lt;/strong&gt;: A former soccer player and recent tennis addict, Jessica also enjoys running, both of the distance and sprint variety. When not at the movie theater or in a theme park, her other free time is spent in book clubs, hiking, drinking wine, binge-watching, keeping tabs on celebrity fashion and riding rollercoasters. Has a serious Hallmark habit and an even bigger record-buying habit. Will bake for compliments.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What She’s Excited About Right Now&lt;/strong&gt;: &amp;nbsp;Hallmark Christmas movie season. Wearing socks to bed. &amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; ]]></dc:description>
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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    <media:description><![CDATA[Sadie Sink stares directly at the camera in a pink tee while readying for The Kelly Clarkson show 2026.]]></media:description>                                                            <media:text><![CDATA[Sadie Sink stares directly at the camera in a pink tee while readying for The Kelly Clarkson show 2026.]]></media:text>
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                                <p>A few days ago, before I’d gotten the chance to see the <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/spider-man-brand-new-day-reviews-cinemablend-tom-holland-zendaya-mcu"><u>stunningly reviewed </u><u><em>Spider-Man: Brand New Day</em></u></a>, an interview dropped in which Sadie Sink was asked for one word we’d only understand after seeing the movie. Now, if you know anything about the run up to this <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/upcoming-movies-in-2026-new-movie-release-dates"><u>2026 movie release</u></a>, you should know <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/sadie-sink-spider-man-team-trolling-fans-over-brand-new-day-role-videos"><u>Sadie Sink has been pretty opaque</u></a> throughout this entire process. Despite rumors, this press tour has been misdirect after misdirect over the <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/brand-new-day-producer-explains-why-sadie-sink-role-secret-spider-man">secret character she ultimately is playing</a>, and I honestly thought she was just being weird and throwing us off the scent. In actuality, however, her one-word response was spot-on, and a moment that threw me for an emotional loop while watching. </p><p><strong>First of all, we obviously have to get into spoilers here, so if you haven’t seen </strong><em><strong>Spider-Man: Brand New Day</strong></em><strong>, yet, this is not the story for you. </strong></p><h2 id="the-one-word-sadie-sink-said-we-d-understand-after-watching-brand-new-day">The One Word Sadie Sink Said We’d Understand After Watching Brand New Day</h2><p>Sadie Sink was out and about promoting the then-<a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/new/upcoming-marvel-movies-release-dates-phase-4-67944.html"><u>upcoming Marvel movie</u></a> when she was asked to name something fans will “only understand” after watching <em>Spider-Man: Brand New Day</em>. I saw the interview a couple of days before I went to see the movie, and she had a one-word answer: </p><div><blockquote><p>Scrunchie.</p></blockquote></div><p>At the time, I honestly thought this moment was pretty weird. I thought it was (probably) a non sequitur again meant to throw us off what was coming in the movie. She’d obviously already been attempting to keep the audience at bay for months prior to this interview. (That is, until <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/we-almost-made-it-spider-mans-premiere-without-someone-dropping-possible-spoiler-sadie-sink"><u>her role was spoiled on the carpet</u></a> just days before release.) She’d even said at one point that <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/spider-man-sadie-sink-has-easier-time-keeping-secrets-tom-holland-brand-new-day">avoiding spoilers was “not that hard”</a> for her, unlike Tom Holland.  And it didn’t help this video came straight <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reels/DbUi2j6hn2n/"><u>from the Marvel team</u></a>, making me feel like it was a possible misdirect.</p><p>Then, I saw the movie. </p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:2000px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="csMhi7FCxoDLkDuGogWpCE" name="sadie sink" alt="Sadie Sink blacking out her character in Spider-Man: Brand New Day. She is standing in an office building." src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/csMhi7FCxoDLkDuGogWpCE.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="2000" height="1125" attribution="" endorsement="" class="inline"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Sony/Marvel)</span></figcaption></figure><h2 id="how-a-scrunchie-led-to-one-of-the-most-heart-wrenching-moments-in-brand-new-day">How A Scrunchie Led To One Of The Most Heart-Wrenching Moments In Brand New Day</h2><p>In <em>Spider-Man: Brand New D</em>ay, it’s Jean Grey and her sister Sara against the world after they’ve been kicked out of their home. That is, until the day Sara is unceremoniously taken from a park, and from Jean's life. She leaves Jean with one clue “v-max,” a mysterious word with a meaning that seems unclear to the many people Jean tracks down and asks.</p><p>Some time later, Jean is also taken and left in a high security room, a room that once housed her sister. She eventually finds out Sara is deceased after seeing a sticker on an air unit reading ‘v-max” and noticing an object sitting on a desk across the room: the scrunchie her sister always wore in her hair. The scrunchie moment is heart-wrenching. It makes you empathize with Jean and her part-villainous, part-pure intentions. It makes Jean the perfect antagonist for Spider-Man, who has also faced incredible loss in this movie. </p><p>So, yeah, one word that we all understood, and could only understand after watching <em>Brand New Day</em> is absolutely the word scrunchie. It’s a great tease from the already masterful Sadie Sink, who casually kept us off the scene on what was doubtless a very long press run for her. Just <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/box-office/spider-man-no-way-home-destroys-records-with-its-spectacular-debut-at-the-box-office">like previous Tom Holland Spidey installations</a>, the movie is already resonating with audiences globally, so grab your scrunchie, your xuxinha, your haargummi or シュシュand get to the theater. </p>
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                                                            <title><![CDATA[ I’d Been Wondering What The Odyssey Was Trying To Do With Athena. Someone Asked Christopher Nolan ]]></title>
                                                                                                                                                                                                <link>https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/the-odyssey-zendaya-athena-meaning-someone-asked-christopher-nolan</link>
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                            <![CDATA[ This is classic Nolan! ]]>
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                                                                        <pubDate>Sun, 02 Aug 2026 12:05:32 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                                <updated>Mon, 03 Aug 2026 11:37:51 +0000</updated>
                                                                                                                                            <category><![CDATA[Movies]]></category>
                                                                                                                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Sarah El-Mahmoud ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                    <dc:source><![CDATA[ https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/eDWWFRifXaAj9sBqqk4J59.png ]]></dc:source>
                                                                <dc:description><![CDATA[ &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The Background&lt;/strong&gt;: Sarah El-Mahmoud has been with CinemaBlend since 2018, starting as a freelancer shortly after graduating from Cal State Fullerton with a degree in Journalism. In college, she was the Managing Editor of the award-winning college paper, The Daily Titan where she specialized in writing/editing long-form features, profiles and arts &amp;amp; entertainment coverage, including her first run-in with movie reporting, with a phone interview with Guillermo del Toro for Best Picture winner, The Shape of Water.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What She&#039;s Into&lt;/strong&gt;: Sarah is CinemaBlend&#039;s resident YA enthusiast, often bringing her lifetime love of books and the stories behind their often contentious adaptations to the site. Deeply into when music and movies intersect, from knowing the hype musical tracks of Mamma Mia!, beautiful scores of Michael Giacchino and yes, the absolute banger Twilight soundtrack way too well. She is also passionate about highlighting and interviewing voices within the industry to help open the door for Hollywood to better represent the world through movies and television. Horror, she really loves horror movies. The world of animation as well... OK don&#039;t make her pick one genre.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What She&#039;s Excited About Right Now&lt;/strong&gt;: The continued resurgence of horror and musicals. The next Hunger Games movie, Mike Flanagan&#039;s upcoming shows, the Wicked movies and the final Spider-Verse animated film.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; ]]></dc:description>
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                                                            <media:credit><![CDATA[Universal Pictures ]]></media:credit>
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    <media:description><![CDATA[Matt Damon and Zendaya as Odysseus and Athena walking together on the beach in The Odyssey ]]></media:description>                                                            <media:text><![CDATA[Matt Damon and Zendaya as Odysseus and Athena walking together on the beach in The Odyssey ]]></media:text>
                                <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[Matt Damon and Zendaya as Odysseus and Athena walking together on the beach in The Odyssey ]]></media:title>
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                                <p>I don’t know about you, but I absolutely love when a film can generate a big question for audiences to discuss amongst themselves. It’s <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/the-odyssey-such-christopher-nolan-movie-why-didnt-like">one of the things Christopher Nolan is notorious for</a>, and the filmmaker does again in <em>The Odyssey</em>. Ever since I saw the epic that is already one of the biggest <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/upcoming-movies-in-2026-new-movie-release-dates">2026 movie releases</a>, I’ve been thinking about <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/features/whats-going-on-zendaya-goddess-athena-the-odyssey-conflicted">what’s going on with Zendaya’s Athena</a>. And, someone just asked Nolan about it. </p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:2000px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="tty2pVcsR2LDSpzNv2LXaP" name="odyssey" alt="Matt Damon and Zendaya as Odysseus and Athena walking together on the beach in The Odyssey" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/tty2pVcsR2LDSpzNv2LXaP.png" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="2000" height="1125" attribution="" endorsement="" class="inline"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Universal Pictures )</span></figcaption></figure><p><strong>SPOILERS AHEAD. </strong></p><p>Even though Athena doesn’t have much screen time in <em>The Odyssey</em>, she has a centerpiece moment. Especially when Odysseus is reflecting on the Trojan War to Penelope once they finally reunite. There are many ways someone can interpret Zendaya's character. Is Odysseus really conversing with a god or is she a symbol of his guilt? When he was asked him to clear it up, Nolan provided a diplomatic response: </p><div><blockquote><p>I couldn’t possibly answer that because I learned very early on with Memento that it’s unfair to define the experience for the audience by answering questions like that. Here’s what I will say: For me, what was important was that we view the gods the way that people at the time might have viewed them. So they’re seeing evidence of the gods in nature. They’re seeking and finding gods and the influence of gods in the people around them.</p></blockquote></div><p>Leave it to Nolan to leave one of his movies open-ended. (Don't even <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/new/Inception-Ending-It-All-Just-Dream-71355.html">get me started on the spinning top</a>.) I guess I’m not at all surprised he deflected this question from <a href="https://time.com/article/2026/07/24/christopher-nolan-explains-the-end-of-the-odyssey/">Time</a>. I definitely think that it was an intentional decision from the writer/director. I have a feeling he likes when there are a few different ways to process his work. Nolan also said this in the same interview: </p><div><blockquote><p>Odysseus says to Telemachus, ‘Don’t look for gods in men. You’ll just be disappointed.’ And some of what Odysseus says about divinity, to me, is somebody who’s protesting a bit too much, someone trying to live in denial of their own instincts and their own practices.</p></blockquote></div><p>What’s fun about Zendaya’s Athena character is that she alone makes me want to rewatch <em>The Odyssey</em>. I’d be curious how I might interpret her character upon a second viewing. The fact that she resembles a Trojan priestess who was beheaded in front of Odysseus during the war can lead one to make a number of conclusions. And, since Nolan's adaptation plays around with both realism and the mystical, it’s not clear whether she's real or not. </p><p>No matter how you see Athena in <em>The Odyssey</em>, I think the <em>Drama</em> actress' performance is indisputably a huge highlight of the film. Sure, the film perhaps <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/the-odyssey-major-side-character-problem">struggles with its amount of side characters</a>, but it does nail down the message Nolan sought out to convey via Athena. </p><p>And, wildly enough, Zendaya shot the role <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/zendaya-talked-about-insane-odyssey-filming-schedule-matt-damon-described">at the same time as two other projects</a>. She was also making <em>Dune: Part Three</em> and the final season of <em>Euphoria</em> simultaneously. And lately for the press tour, she’s been <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/zendaya-gonna-need-break-from-slaying-after-stunning-odyssey-spider-man-fits">absolutely stunning us with red carpet fit after fit</a>. All of that aside, though, I’ll definitely be thinking about Nolan’s comments on Athena and taking them into my next screening of <em>The Odyssey</em>, which is still playing in theaters nationwide.</p>
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                                                            <title><![CDATA[ The (Understandable) Conditions Lindsay Lohan Has Before Joining A Parent Trap Sequel ]]></title>
                                                                                                                                                                                                <link>https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/lindsay-lohan-reveals-conditions-before-joining-parent-trap-sequel</link>
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                            <![CDATA[ Will we ever see Hallie and Annie on the big screen again? ]]>
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                                                                        <pubDate>Sat, 01 Aug 2026 23:06:00 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                <category><![CDATA[Movies]]></category>
                                                                                                                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Emma Lambiaso ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                                        <dc:description><![CDATA[ null ]]></dc:description>
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                                                            <media:credit><![CDATA[Walt Disney Pictures]]></media:credit>
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    <media:description><![CDATA[11-year-old Lindsay Lohan as twins Annie and Hallie in The Parent Trap (1998).]]></media:description>                                                            <media:text><![CDATA[11-year-old Lindsay Lohan as twins Annie and Hallie in The Parent Trap (1998).]]></media:text>
                                <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[11-year-old Lindsay Lohan as twins Annie and Hallie in The Parent Trap (1998).]]></media:title>
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                                <p>Lindsay Lohan <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/lindsay-lohan-posted-turning-40-mean-girls-co-stars-wished-happy-birthday-jonathan-bennett"><u>celebrated turning 40 years old last month</u></a>, and it’s hard not to believe how much time has passed since her first feature film, Nancy Meyers' 1998 version of <em>The Parent Trap</em>. The <em>Mean Girls</em> actress has been reflecting on her nearly three-decade career in Hollywood, including the iconic family rom-com that launched her career. Lohan recently had the chance to briefly revisit her <em>Parent Trap</em> characters, twins Annie and Hallie, for a brand deal, and revealed the understandable conditions she has before joining a full-fledged sequel.</p><p>The <em>Freaky Friday</em> actress returned to her roots (literally) in her Reeses-Oreo commercial, once again stirring up wishes for a <em>Parent Trap</em> sequel. While there is no confirmation in the commercial itself, other than a wink from Lohan, it’s highly implied she’s playing Annie and Hallie. Lohan told <a href="https://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/news/lindsay-lohan-reveals-if-shed-ever-revisit-parent-trap-role/"><u>Us Weekly</u></a> she wouldn’t fully return as the mischievous twins without seeing a script first, and revealed the one other condition she has before signing on to a follow-up:</p><div><blockquote><p>And [after I] talk to Nancy Meyers, out of respect to her, because she’s phenomenal and made a great movie in The Parent Trap that we did together.</p></blockquote></div><p>Ever since the <em>Just My Luck</em> actress <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/lohanissance-full-affect-parent-trap-reunion-lindsay-lohan-lisa-ann-walter-elaine-hendrix-freakier-friday-premiere"><u>set the Lohanissance into motion</u></a> with <em>Freakier Friday</em>, a sequel to her 2003 hit <em>Freaky Friday</em> with Jaime Lee Curtis, fans have been clamoring for a <em>Parent Trap</em> reprisal. The beloved '90s film marks Meyers' directorial debut, and boy did she set the bar high. A sequel to the movie, which is a remake of the 1961 movie of the same name starring Hayley Mills, has been brought up before to several cast members to mixed reactions. </p><p>Lisa-Ann Walter, who plays Chessy, <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/lisa-ann-walter-good-pitches-parent-trap-2-think-better-one"><u>previously pitched a sequel idea</u></a> but, like Lohan, she said she would only sign on if Meyers were attached to the project. Given Elaine Hendrix (Meridith Blake) makes a <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/interviews/l-love-the-parent-trap-reunion-in-freakier-friday-ask-lindsay-lohan-how-it-came-together-elain-hendrix"><u>cameo in </u><u><em>Freakier Friday</em></u></a> and is still good friends with Lohan and Walter, I'd also hope that she would be open to returning if a sequel were to come to fruition.</p><p>However, the hesitation for nearly all of the cast, but especially Dennis Quaid (who plays Annie and Hallie’s father Nick Parker), is the <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/lisa-ann-walter-whether-parent-trap-movie-should-happen-after-natasha-richardson-death"><u>absence of Natasha Richardson</u></a>. The actress, who plays the twins’ mother Elizabeth James in the movie, tragically died in 2009 due to a skiing accident. Quaid has said a number of times that while he would love to do a <em>Parent Trap</em> sequel, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=510411245011415"><u>Richardson is "irreplaceable"</u></a> and, therefore, a sequel without her would be impossible. </p><p>Richardson is unfortunately not the only <em>Parent Trap</em> cast and crew to have died in the 28 years since the film came out. More recently, Polly Holliday, who plays Camp Walden leader Marva Sr, died last year, with Meyers, Lohan, Walter, and more <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/nancy-meyers-lindsay-lohan-messages-the-parent-trap-actress-polly-holliday-dies"><u>penning sweet tributes to the late great actress</u></a>.</p><p>As <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/i-decided-to-rewatch-the-parent-trap-and-i-appreciate-these-things-more-as-an-adult"><u>someone who rewatches </u><u><em>The Parent Trap</em></u></a> annually with my <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2492773/how-to-best-use-disney-tips-to-get-the-most-out-of-the-streaming-service"><u>Disney+ subscription</u></a>, I’m hesitant to support a sequel. It’s such a comfort movie for me, and <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/lindsay-lohan-why-playing-twins-parent-trap-wasnt-difficult"><u>11-year-old Lohan’s incredible dual performance</u></a> brings so much life to the film. But so does the chemistry between Quaid and Richardson, and it wouldn’t be the same without the former. It’s one of those instances where I like how the movie stands, as is. Let's be honest, not every movie needs the sequel treatment.</p><p>However, as a fan, I did absolutely love Lohan’s Reeses-Oreo collab, which was the perfect dose of nostalgia for my <em>Parent Trap</em> heart. The ad -- directed by Patricia Arquette and co-starring Lohan and comedian Amy Sedaris -- takes excellent advantage of the infamous dipping of Oreos in peanut butter made famous by <em>The Parent Trap</em>. Check it out:</p><div class="youtube-video" data-nosnippet ><div class="video-aspect-box"><iframe data-lazy-priority="low" data-lazy-src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/tvhmYvkhwss" allowfullscreen></iframe></div></div><p>While I’m not entirely on board for a <em>Parent Trap</em> sequel, I could get behind another modern remake. That seems to be the pattern with this beloved screenplay, and I’m absolutely not opposed to some cameos from Lohan and her 1998 co-stars. Still, with legacy sequels being so popular right now, it wouldn't be surprising if Lohan were to touch base with Meyers and get a follow-up off the ground.</p>
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                                                            <title><![CDATA[ Mason Thames Reacts To Having Movies Called Nimrods And Idiots Coming Out This Month ]]></title>
                                                                                                                                                                                                <link>https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/mason-thames-reacts-movies-called-nimrods-idiots-coming-same-month-sdcc-interviews</link>
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                            <![CDATA[ We're sensing a trend here... ]]>
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                                                                        <pubDate>Sat, 01 Aug 2026 22:06:00 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                                <updated>Sat, 01 Aug 2026 22:58:19 +0000</updated>
                                                                                                                                            <category><![CDATA[Movies]]></category>
                                                    <category><![CDATA[Interviews]]></category>
                                                                                                                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Sarah El-Mahmoud ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                    <dc:source><![CDATA[ https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/eDWWFRifXaAj9sBqqk4J59.png ]]></dc:source>
                                                                <dc:description><![CDATA[ &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The Background&lt;/strong&gt;: Sarah El-Mahmoud has been with CinemaBlend since 2018, starting as a freelancer shortly after graduating from Cal State Fullerton with a degree in Journalism. In college, she was the Managing Editor of the award-winning college paper, The Daily Titan where she specialized in writing/editing long-form features, profiles and arts &amp;amp; entertainment coverage, including her first run-in with movie reporting, with a phone interview with Guillermo del Toro for Best Picture winner, The Shape of Water.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What She&#039;s Into&lt;/strong&gt;: Sarah is CinemaBlend&#039;s resident YA enthusiast, often bringing her lifetime love of books and the stories behind their often contentious adaptations to the site. Deeply into when music and movies intersect, from knowing the hype musical tracks of Mamma Mia!, beautiful scores of Michael Giacchino and yes, the absolute banger Twilight soundtrack way too well. She is also passionate about highlighting and interviewing voices within the industry to help open the door for Hollywood to better represent the world through movies and television. Horror, she really loves horror movies. The world of animation as well... OK don&#039;t make her pick one genre.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What She&#039;s Excited About Right Now&lt;/strong&gt;: The continued resurgence of horror and musicals. The next Hunger Games movie, Mike Flanagan&#039;s upcoming shows, the Wicked movies and the final Spider-Verse animated film.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; ]]></dc:description>
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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    <media:description><![CDATA[Mason Thames in Nimrods]]></media:description>                                                            <media:text><![CDATA[Mason Thames in Nimrods]]></media:text>
                                <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[Mason Thames in Nimrods]]></media:title>
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                                <p>Mason Thames was all over last year’s movie schedule with <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/how-to-train-your-dragon-was-already-amazing-one-thing-story-improves-on">the live-action <em>How To Train Your Dragon</em></a>, <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/interviews/mason-thames-recalls-filming-black-phone-2-scene-intense-producer-ask-mom-if-ok">the <em>Black Phone</em> sequel</a> and <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/interviews/regretting-you-adorable-ending-mason-thames-mckenna-grace-interview-explained"><em>Regretting You</em> with Mckenna Grace</a>. Now, he’s back with two <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/upcoming-movies-in-2026-new-movie-release-dates">2026 movie releases</a> in August alone: <em>Nimrods</em> and <em>Idiots</em>. No, they are not the same movie even though the titles are synonyms of each other. Still, we had to ask Thames about how the funny coincidence happened. </p><p>When CinemaBlend had the chance to catch up with 19-year-old rising movie star Mason Thames during San Diego Comic-Con, we talked about his upcoming movies. Here’s what he told us about having the uniquely named <em>Nimrods</em> and <em>Idiots</em> out this month: </p><div><blockquote><p>I thought it was a joke, cause I found out both of the titles changed around the same time. And, it was around the same time as April Fools [when] I think I found out. </p></blockquote></div><p>It's really funny how the universe makes some things happen, and that's certainly true when it comes to these movie releases. Honestly, I can understand Thames believing the title changes were part of a prank, especially given the April Fools timing.</p><p><em>Nimrods</em> is a comedy about two high schoolers who drive cross-country to go to a Green Day show. They do so after they fall for a prank that the band wants them to open for them in Los Angeles. And <em>Idiots</em> is about two people who are forced to work together to transport a well-off but troubled teen to rehab. How funny is that? Check out the posters below: </p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:1999px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.28%;"><img id="dyZmVXATz64nNzRPDrGroS" name="nimrods/idiots" alt="the Nimrods and Idiots poster side by side" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dyZmVXATz64nNzRPDrGroS.png" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="1999" height="1125" attribution="" endorsement="" class="inline"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Inaugural Entertainment/IFC )</span></figcaption></figure><p>As alluded to, while Mason Thames was making these movies, they both had different titles. <em>Nimrods </em>was originally <em>New Year’s Rev</em> – since the events of the movie take place leading up to New Year’s Eve. Meanwhile, <em>Idiots</em> was set to be called <em>Shitheads</em>. Here’s what <em>Nimrods</em>’ writer/director Lee Kirk said to us regarding the title change: </p><div><blockquote><p>[Nimrods] was called New Year’s Rev. It was decided there would be a summer movie, which I was really excited about, because it feels like a summer movie that I would go to when I was a teenager… And Billy Joe's the one who said, ‘I think we should call it Nimrods.’ And, I [thought], ‘I wish you would've just said that a year ago.’ </p></blockquote></div><div  class="fancy-box"><div class="fancy_box-title">More On Mason Thames</div><div class="fancy_box_body"><p class="fancy-box__body-text"><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.cinemablend.com/interviews/regretting-you-interviews-with-mckenna-grace-mason-thames-dave-franco-allison-williams-and-more"><strong>'Regretting You' Interviews With Mckenna Grace, Mason Thames, Dave Franco, Allison Williams & More</strong></a></p></div></div><p>As far as <em>Idiots</em> goes, I'd imagine the marketing team thought the movie might be less marketable with a curse word in the title. There’s another thread that connects them, too. In <em>Nimrods</em>, Thames <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/interviews/who-should-play-rapunzel-flynn-rider-in-live-action-tangled-i-ask-popular-fancast-mckenna-grace">re-teams with Grace, his reported girlfriend </a>after <em>Regretting You</em>. And, on <em>Idiots</em>, he’s starring again with Dave Franco… also from <em>Regretting You</em>. During the interview, Thames' <em>Nimrods</em> director joked that his next movie, which is a <em>John Wick </em>spinoff, is going to be called <em>Dumbass</em>. </p><p>Regardless of movie titles, it's great to see Thames getting to co-star with familiar actors, and for two fun roles. <em>Nimrods</em> is first, as it hits theaters on August 14. It's based on a story by the iconic band Green Day, along with Kirk, inspired by the “American Idiot” band’s early life on the road. As for <em>Idiots</em>, it'll be out a couple weeks later on August 28. I know I can’t wait to take in a double featuring these two new comedies from Thames. </p>
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                                                            <title><![CDATA[ After Ryan Gosling Joined The MCU, James Marsden Dropped A Notebook Take That Blew My Mind ]]></title>
                                                                                                                                                                                                <link>https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/ryan-gosling-joined-mcu-james-marsden-notebook-take</link>
                                                                            <description>
                            <![CDATA[ If you're a superhero, I'm a superhero. ]]>
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                                                                        <pubDate>Sat, 01 Aug 2026 21:04:23 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                <category><![CDATA[Movies]]></category>
                                                    <category><![CDATA[Marvel Cinematic Universe]]></category>
                                                    <category><![CDATA[Superheroes]]></category>
                                                                                                                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Riley Utley ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                    <dc:source><![CDATA[ https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kXTLd8ja6TbGctTZCbdkce.jpg ]]></dc:source>
                                                                <dc:description><![CDATA[ &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The Background&lt;/strong&gt;: Riley Utley is the Weekend Editor at CinemaBlend. She has written for national publications as well as daily and alt-weekly newspapers in Spokane, Washington, Syracuse, New York and Charleston, South Carolina. She graduated with her master’s degree in arts journalism and communications from the Newhouse School at Syracuse University. Since joining the CB team she has covered numerous TV shows and movies -- including her personal favorite shows &lt;em&gt;Ted Lasso &lt;/em&gt;and &lt;em&gt;The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel&lt;/em&gt;. She also has followed and consistently written about everything from Taylor Swift to &lt;em&gt;Fire Country&lt;/em&gt;, and she&#039;s enjoyed every second of it.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What She&#039;s Into&lt;/strong&gt;: Riley’s range in likes is random and wide, from Marvel to musicals and from&lt;em&gt; Game of Thrones&lt;/em&gt; to the latest Netflix rom-com you can catch her watching just about anything. Her favorite movies include but are not limited to &lt;em&gt;When Harry Met Sally, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse, Finding Nemo&lt;/em&gt; and &lt;em&gt;The Grand Budapest Hotel&lt;/em&gt;. She loves going to the movie theater, consuming copious amounts of popcorn and logging whatever she saw on Letterboxd immediately afterward. She constantly walks around quoting &lt;em&gt;Ted Lasso, SNL&lt;/em&gt; and &lt;em&gt;Parks and Rec&lt;/em&gt;. She has been known to create the occasional PowerPoint explaining the MCU to those who don’t get it. In the non-media realm, Riley is a massive college basketball fan. She is a firm believer that the Gonzaga men’s basketball team is the best team of all time, and she is patiently waiting for the day they finally win a national championship. She grew up in Washington and loves skiing, coffee and making sure that people know she is from the state, not D.C.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What She&#039;s Excited About Right Now&lt;/strong&gt;: Anything Taylor Swift or Andrew Garfield does, finally seeing strong female representation in the MCU and eventually seeing Jonathan Bailey sing his heart out in &lt;em&gt;Wicked&lt;/em&gt;.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; ]]></dc:description>
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                                                            <media:credit><![CDATA[New Line Cinema]]></media:credit>
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    <media:description><![CDATA[From left to right: Ryan Gosling smiling in The Notebook and James Marsden looking hopeful in The Notebook. ]]></media:description>                                                            <media:text><![CDATA[From left to right: Ryan Gosling smiling in The Notebook and James Marsden looking hopeful in The Notebook. ]]></media:text>
                                <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[From left to right: Ryan Gosling smiling in The Notebook and James Marsden looking hopeful in The Notebook. ]]></media:title>
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                                <p>In the two decades since <em>The Notebook</em> came out, Ryan Gosling, Rachel McAdams and James Marsden have cemented themselves as certified stars thanks to their diverse filmographies. However, now, they all have something in common (other than the <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/the-100-best-movies-of-the-2000s"><u>great 2000s movie</u></a>) thanks to <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/ryan-gosling-unsurprisingly-ghost-rider-mcu-director-my-jaw-drop-shawn-levy"><u>Gosling being announced as Ghost Rider</u></a>. Marsden commented on this connection too, and it honestly blew my mind.  </p><p>This connection is that the three major stars from <em>The Notebook</em> are now all, officially, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. </p><p>That’s thanks to two relatively recent developments. First of all, while James Marsden made his Marvel debut four years before the Nicholas Sparks adaptation<em> </em>even came out, he will make his Marvel Cinematic Universe debut when he <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/we-talked-to-james-marsden-how-playing-cyclops-different-27-years-later"><u>returns as Cyclops in </u><u><em>Avengers: Doomsday</em></u></a>. Secondly, Ryan Gosling is now joining this universe as Ghost Rider. Meanwhile, Rachel McAdams entered Marvel's world in 2016 as Dr. Christine Palmer in <em>Doctor Strange</em>. Reacting to this revelation that they’re all in the MCU now, James Marsden told <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmhqEEhJ19k"><u>ET</u></a>: </p><div><blockquote><p>Who would’ve said that? Who would’ve predicted that years ago? …. All of the cast of The Notebook would be in the Marvel Universe. </p></blockquote></div><p>Truly, this is mind-blowing to think about. I think it’s because they all came to Marvel in such different ways at such different times too. </p><p>As I mentioned, Marsden started playing Cyclops in 2000’s <em>X-Men</em>. He then reprised the role in 2003’s <em>X2</em>, 2006’s <em>X-Men: The Last Stand, </em>and 2014’s <em>X-Men: Days of Future Past</em>. Between <em>X2 </em>and <em>The Last Stand</em>, he played Lon Hammond in <em>The Notebook</em>. </p><p>Now, 20 years after <em>The Last Stand</em> and 12 years after <em>Days of Future Past</em>, the <em>Jury Duty</em> star will make his <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/superheroes/x-men/james-marsden-opens-up-returning-cyclops-avengers-doomsday"><u>long-awaited return as Scott Summers</u></a> in <em>Doomsday</em>, which will also be his first foray into the MCU. </p><p>Rachel McAdams didn’t join the MCU until 12 years after <em>The Notebook’s </em>release, and that 2004 movie marked one of her first major leading roles. </p><p>Like McAdams, <em>The Notebook</em> was also a major breakout moment for Gosling. Now, 22 years later, after releasing <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/kevin-feige-finally-getting-ryan-gosling-mcu-ghost-rider"><u>“banger after banger,” as Kevin Feige</u></a> would say, the <em>Barbie</em> star has joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Ghost Rider, a character he’s wanted to play for a long time. </p><p>All of them coming to Marvel made Marsden happy, and it elated me too, especially once the <em>Enchanted</em> actor said: </p><div><blockquote><p>Makes me happy. Maybe there’ll be a scene with all of us someday in our suits doing a recreation of a Notebook scene.</p></blockquote></div><p>Now I have a vision of Cyclops and Ghost Rider saying “if you’re a superhero, I’m a superhero,” and that’s a very fun thing to think about. Plus, the idea of these guys reuniting with Rachel McAdams has always excited me. </p><p>Will it ever really happen? I feel like it’s a bit far-fetched. However, it is wonderful to fantasize about, and pretty soon we’ll get to see both Marsden and Gosling make their MCU entrances. So, mark your calendars, because <em>Avengers: Doomsday</em> will be released on the <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/upcoming-movies-in-2026-new-movie-release-dates"><u>2026 movie schedule</u></a> on December 18, and then in 2028, <em>Ghost Rider</em> will ride on to the big screen. </p><p>In the meantime, you can see Rachel McAdams, James Marsden and Ryan Gosling creating the iconic scenes from <em>The Notebook</em> that the Cyclops actor referenced with an <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/streaming-news/amazon-prime-subscription-the-plan-the-price-and-whats-included"><u>Amazon Prime subscription</u></a>. </p>
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                                                            <title><![CDATA[ I Wasn’t Expecting Gwyneth Paltrow’s TikTok Debut To Include Europe, A Helicopter And A Bath Tub ]]></title>
                                                                                                                                                                                                <link>https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/igwyneth-paltrows-tiktok-debut-include-europe-helicopter-bath-tub</link>
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                            <![CDATA[ This is quite the TikTok debut! ]]>
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                                                                        <pubDate>Sat, 01 Aug 2026 20:12:11 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                <category><![CDATA[Movies]]></category>
                                                                                                                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Carly Levy ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                    <dc:source><![CDATA[ https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WhWLeh9yrwXXtWqGkJnZuM.jpg ]]></dc:source>
                                                                <dc:description><![CDATA[ &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The Background&lt;/strong&gt;: Carly Levy has been a freelance writer for CinemaBlend starting in 2022 covering mostly movies with a sprinkle of television. After graduating at Florida Atlantic University with a degree in film and theater in 2015, she worked for a year as a journalist for Talk Media covering South Florida news. In 2017, she spent four years as a ghostwriter writing about addiction and mental health for rehab and therapy blogs. Now, she divides her time writing about the subjects of both entertainment and mental health issues.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What They&#039;re Into&lt;/strong&gt;: Carly is an avid cinephile who is always looking for the next best film to watch whether it goes back to the silent film era to what&#039;s playing in theaters. Her analytical mindset enhances her writing as she gains true understanding of the characters and stories that makes a movie great enough to write about. Her passion ranges from following film scavenger hunts on Letterboxd to discover new films and creating watchlists based on the latest trailers. She enjoys the originality and freshness indie cinema brings, particularly A24 films. During her spare time, Carly loves to listen to post hardcore rock music, watch classic television sitcoms, and reads a variety of books. She also likes to challenge her writing by writing essays on various trending topics that draw her eye.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What They&#039;re Excited About Right Now&lt;/strong&gt;: The latest movies hitting the &quot;Big Five&quot; film festivals (especially Venice and Sundance). Anything A24 and Wes Anderson touches. Continuously making my mark through my writing and creating watchlists. &lt;/p&gt; ]]></dc:description>
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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    <media:description><![CDATA[A close up of Gwyneth Paltrow in Marty Supreme]]></media:description>                                                            <media:text><![CDATA[A close up of Gwyneth Paltrow in Marty Supreme]]></media:text>
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                                <p>Lately, Gwyneth Paltrow's life has been filled with growth and unexpected chapters. In 2025, <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/gwyneth-paltrow-acting-first-time-since-avengers-endgame-marty-supreme-timothee-chalamet"><u>she returned to acting via </u><u><em>Marty Supreme</em></u></a><em> </em>(which is now streamable with an <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/television/2570432/subscribing-to-hbo-max-what-to-know-about-the-price-options-and-what-the-streaming-service-offers"><u>HBO Max subscription</u></a>), and she's still expanding her Goop lifestyle brand. On top of that, the Oscar winner just created her own TikTok account that already has over 5k followers, as of this writing. Honestly, I didn’t expect the Hollywood A-lister’s debut on the platform to feature Europe, a helicopter and a bathtub.</p><p>With TikTok continuing to be such a popular social media platform, more celebrities seem to be jumping on the bandwagon. Upon Gwyneth Paltrow's arrival on the platform, she shared a her first video that showed her constantly attempting to make a video while being interrupted. As part of that, different shots show the mother of two in different parts of Europe, in a helicopter, and in a bathtub among other places Voici Magazine reshared Paltrow’s inaugural video, which can be seen below:</p>                    <div class= "tiktok-wrapper" style="min-height: 750px;"><blockquote class="tiktok-embed" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@voici_mag/video/7668830883469610262" data-video-id="7668830883469610262" style="max-width: 605px; min-width: 325px;">                        <section>                            <a target="_blank" title="@voici_mag" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@voici_mag">@voici_mag</a>                            <p></p><a target="_blank" title="♬ son original - voici_mag" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/son-original-7668830881659112214">♬ son original - voici_mag</a></section>                    </blockquote></div>                <p>Paltrow's post is quite cheeky, given how it inter-splices clips of her trying to make a video.... in a video. As unexpected as the video may be, I love seeing the Goop founder surrounded by the European mountains, taking in a beach and more while on vacation. If anything, I'm living vicariously through this post.</p><div  class="fancy-box"><div class="fancy_box-title">More on Gwyneth Paltrow</div><div class="fancy_box_body"><p class="fancy-box__body-text"><a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/nobody-said-easy-see-kid-turn-20-gwyneth-paltrow-handling-with-grace">'Nobody Said It Was Easy' To See Your Kid Turn 20, But Gwyneth Paltrow's Handling It With Grace</a></p></div></div><p>I'm also feeling FOMO over the lucky duck getting to fly in a helicopter! Seriously, talk about adventurous. It looks like the <em>Sliding Doors</em> actress knows how to make each getaway an unforgettable experience. Of course, as that shot of her taking a bath shows, she also knows when to unwind a bit. All in all, this video should set the tone for Paltrow's further TikTok posts, and I'm excited to see what she shares next.</p><p>To note, though, the <em>Shakespeare in Love</em> actress has been featured in TikToks before. For example, Paltrow was present in <em>The Art of Being Well</em> podcast episode when <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/gwyneth-paltrow-called-out-on-tiktok-over-her-diet-and-a-dietician-has-weighed-in"><u>she went viral for her intense diet</u></a>. There was also the time she posted on her company’s TikTok about <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2565450/rare-look-at-apple-martin-has-her-poking-fun-at-mom-gwyneth-paltrows-vagina-eggs-in-viral-tiktok"><u>Goop’s new “vagina egg” products</u></a>. So, considering how frequently she's already appeared on the platform at this point, it makes complete sense that she would finally just join it herself.</p><p>Moving forward I’m hoping we get to see more of Paltrow’s travels, which she's shared on Instagram on a number of occasions over the years. When it comes to those IG posts, Paltrow has shed light on activities like <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/gwyneth-paltrow-just-sunbathed-topless-in-italy"><u>sunbathing topless in Italy</u></a> or <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/reese-witherspoon-gwyneth-paltrow-hung-out-with-cameron-diaz-hamptons-summer"><u>chilling in The Hamptons</u></a> with Cameron Diaz and Reese Witherspoon. Should Paltrow keep up this trend on TikTok, she may or may not have me wanting to make some travel plans of my own.</p><p>Of course, I'm also expecting Paltrow to keep us guessing in regard to what she'll post. She seems to be a spontaneous kind of star, and this first post seems to speak to that idea. On that note, welcome to TikTok, Gwyneth Paltrow, and I hope you enjoy it!</p>
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                                                            <title><![CDATA[ Spider-Man: Brand New Day's Ending Explained: What's Going On With Doctor Strange's Spell? ]]></title>
                                                                                                                                                                                                <link>https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/spider-man-brand-new-day-ending-explained-peter-parker-doctor-strange-spell</link>
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                            <![CDATA[ Did someone remember Peter Parker? ]]>
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                                                                        <pubDate>Sat, 01 Aug 2026 20:00:00 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                                <updated>Sat, 01 Aug 2026 21:47:22 +0000</updated>
                                                                                                                                            <category><![CDATA[Movies]]></category>
                                                    <category><![CDATA[Spider Man]]></category>
                                                    <category><![CDATA[Marvel Cinematic Universe]]></category>
                                                    <category><![CDATA[Superheroes]]></category>
                                                                                                                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Heidi Venable ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                    <dc:source><![CDATA[ https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/w7HQ9MvRSDd7diNpTmruW9.png ]]></dc:source>
                                                                <dc:description><![CDATA[ &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The Background&lt;/strong&gt;: Heidi Venable is a Content Producer for CinemaBlend. She started freelancing for the site in 2020 and officially came on board in 2021. Her job entails writing news stories and TV reactions from some of her favorite prime-time shows like Grey&#039;s Anatomy and The Bachelor. She graduated from Louisiana Tech University with a degree in Journalism and worked in the newspaper industry for almost two decades in multiple roles including Sports Editor, Page Designer and Online Editor.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What She&#039;s Into&lt;/strong&gt;: Heidi grew up in the 1990s, and her tastes strongly reflect that. She can (and does) quote Friends constantly, enjoys a good West Wing binge, thinks Can&#039;t Hardly Wait was the most influential movie of her life and finds solace in 311 concerts. On Sundays during football season, she can be found cheering on the New Orleans Saints with her husband and two daughters. Who Dat! She loves to read but usually settles for a pop culture podcast, and thinks the best weekends are spent cooking and playing cards with friends and family, preferably with some UFC fights or other sporting event on TV.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What She&#039;s Excited About Right Now&lt;/strong&gt;: Football season, Pumpkin Spice Lattes and everything related to fall and cooler weather. The Game of Roses podcast and all things The Bachelor, and new episodes of Grey&#039;s Anatomy, Love Is Blind, The Voice, OMITB and more.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; ]]></dc:description>
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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    <media:description><![CDATA[Tom Holland is shown in Spider-Man: Brand New Day.]]></media:description>                                                            <media:text><![CDATA[Tom Holland is shown in Spider-Man: Brand New Day.]]></media:text>
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                                <p><strong>Spoiler alert! Major spoilers ahead for </strong><em><strong>Spider-Man: Brand New Day</strong></em><strong>, so proceed with caution if you haven’t made it to the theater yet!</strong></p><p>As with any <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/new/upcoming-marvel-movies-release-dates-phase-4-67944.html">upcoming Marvel movie</a>, the lead-up to <em>Spider-Man: Brand New Day</em>’s release on the <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/upcoming-movies-in-2026-new-movie-release-dates">2026 movie calendar</a> was full of rumors, theories and big questions. Now we finally have some answers about what happened to Tom Holland’s Peter Parker after Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) cast a spell to make everyone forget he’d ever existed. <em>Brand New Day</em> balanced the emotional story of Peter’s isolation with his battles against a new threat (props if you avoided the <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/we-almost-made-it-spider-mans-premiere-without-someone-dropping-possible-spoiler-sadie-sink">Sadie Sink spoilers</a>), and the ending hinted at a possible crack in Strange’s spell.</p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:2000px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="RoCZH37DWa4bBmgwk5hc4d" name="spider-man no way home" alt="Benedict Cumberbatch as Doctor Strange in Spider-Man: No Way Home." src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/RoCZH37DWa4bBmgwk5hc4d.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="2000" height="1125" attribution="" endorsement="" class="inline"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Sony Pictures)</span></figcaption></figure><h2 id="doctor-strange-s-spell-remained-intact-for-most-of-spider-man-brand-new-day">Doctor Strange’s Spell Remained Intact For Most Of Spider-Man: Brand New Day</h2><p><a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/superheroes/spider-man/spider-man-no-way-home-ending-explained-the-new-marvel-movie-radically-changes-the-life-of-tom-hollands-peter-parker"><em>Spider-Man: No Way Home</em> ended</a> with Doctor Strange being forced to erase Peter Parker from everyone’s memory after a <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/superheroes/spider-man/spider-man-no-way-homes-benedict-cumberbatch-defends-doctor-strange-casting-that-spell-for-tom-hollands-peter-parker">previous spell went haywire</a> and ripped open the multiverse. <em>Spider-Man: Brand New Day</em> didn’t backtrack on that plot point at all, and it was heartbreaking to see Peter keeping tabs on MJ (Zendaya) and Ned (Jacob Batalon) from afar. It wasn’t until the final scene of the movie that we were given hope that Peter wouldn’t have to continue living in such isolation.</p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:2000px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="yh8kpsZBhXiwfeyhMbU3Dj" name="Spidey Ned" alt="Ned talking to Peter at party in Spider-Man: Brand New Day" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/yh8kpsZBhXiwfeyhMbU3Dj.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="2000" height="1125" attribution="" endorsement="" class="inline"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Sony Pictures)</span></figcaption></figure><h2 id="did-ned-s-memories-of-peter-return-in-the-end">Did Ned’s Memories Of Peter Return In The End?</h2><p>While MJ ended up finding the note that Peter decided not to give her at the end of <em>No Way Home</em>, she still didn’t <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/tom-holland-teased-one-person-will-remember-peter-parker-comic-fans-think-they-know-hulk-brand-new-day">remember Peter</a>, telling him she didn’t love him because she didn’t share the same memories as the girl he wrote the letter to. </p><p>In the end, that didn’t discourage Peter from making further efforts, though. After he helped Jean Grey come to terms with her sister's death — and she, in turn, kept him alive after The Punisher accidentally shot him — Peter chose to introduce himself to Ned when he ran into him again. Ned didn’t recognize his old friend until Peter started leading him in their secret handshake from high school. Ned's muscle memory ultimately kicked in, and his face lit up with recognition, as he shouted, “Peter!”</p><p>This would indicate that either Peter and Ned’s bond is so strong that no spell was powerful enough to make one forget the other completely, or it could mean that Doctor Strange’s spell weakens over time or was damaged by something that happened in <em>Brand New Day</em>.</p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:2000px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="8wJ3HpbnQJbmZZZQaeUuPN" name="mj and ned" alt="MJ (Zendaya) and Ned (Jacob Batalon) are shown in Spider-Man: Brand New Day." src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8wJ3HpbnQJbmZZZQaeUuPN.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="2000" height="1125" attribution="" endorsement="" class="inline"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Sony Pictures)</span></figcaption></figure><h2 id="if-doctor-strange-s-spell-can-be-broken-who-else-will-remember-peter">If Doctor Strange’s Spell Can Be Broken, Who Else Will Remember Peter?</h2><p>We only get one fleeting moment of Ned with his Peter Parker memories presumably returned, so we can only theorize what that means for <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/spider-man-brand-new-day-post-credits-avengers-doomsday-secret-wars-battleworld-tobey-maguire">when and where we’ll see Spider-Man next</a>.</p><p>If it was the friends' close bond that broke Doctor Strange’s spell, does that mean MJ’s memories of Peter Parker can also be salvaged? What about the villains Spider-Man has fought? What about Happy or even Doctor Strange himself?</p><p>Did the spell got weaker over time, or was it damaged or altered when Jean Grey was keeping Spider-Man alive? Had enough time passed that if Peter had run into MJ that day in the bodega instead of Ned, he might have been able to awaken her memories?</p><p>Those are questions that may not be answered for a while (unless <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/superheroes/marvel-cinematic-universe/reminder-times-tom-holland-actually-spoiled-marvel-scenes-handy-compilation">Tom Holland drops a new spoiler</a> in the meantime), but I’m certain there will be no shortage of theories as we await <em>Avengers: Doomsday </em>and <em>Avengers: Secret Wars</em>. Until then you can try to gain some new clues about the spell by rewatching <em>Spider-Man: No Way Home</em> with your <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2492773/how-to-best-use-disney-tips-to-get-the-most-out-of-the-streaming-service">Disney+ subscription</a> or catching another viewing of <em>Brand New Day</em> in theaters now.</p>
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                                                            <title><![CDATA[ How Is Johnny Depp Feeling While Promoting Ebenezer Amid Hollywood Return? Here’s What Sources Say ]]></title>
                                                                                                                                                                                                <link>https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/how-johnny-depp-feeling-promoting-ebenezer-hollywood-return</link>
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                            <![CDATA[ Johnny Depp is in the midst of his return to Hollywood. ]]>
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                                                                        <pubDate>Sat, 01 Aug 2026 19:10:35 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                <category><![CDATA[Movies]]></category>
                                                                                                                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Carly Levy ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                    <dc:source><![CDATA[ https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WhWLeh9yrwXXtWqGkJnZuM.jpg ]]></dc:source>
                                                                <dc:description><![CDATA[ &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The Background&lt;/strong&gt;: Carly Levy has been a freelance writer for CinemaBlend starting in 2022 covering mostly movies with a sprinkle of television. After graduating at Florida Atlantic University with a degree in film and theater in 2015, she worked for a year as a journalist for Talk Media covering South Florida news. In 2017, she spent four years as a ghostwriter writing about addiction and mental health for rehab and therapy blogs. Now, she divides her time writing about the subjects of both entertainment and mental health issues.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What They&#039;re Into&lt;/strong&gt;: Carly is an avid cinephile who is always looking for the next best film to watch whether it goes back to the silent film era to what&#039;s playing in theaters. Her analytical mindset enhances her writing as she gains true understanding of the characters and stories that makes a movie great enough to write about. Her passion ranges from following film scavenger hunts on Letterboxd to discover new films and creating watchlists based on the latest trailers. She enjoys the originality and freshness indie cinema brings, particularly A24 films. During her spare time, Carly loves to listen to post hardcore rock music, watch classic television sitcoms, and reads a variety of books. She also likes to challenge her writing by writing essays on various trending topics that draw her eye.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What They&#039;re Excited About Right Now&lt;/strong&gt;: The latest movies hitting the &quot;Big Five&quot; film festivals (especially Venice and Sundance). Anything A24 and Wes Anderson touches. Continuously making my mark through my writing and creating watchlists. &lt;/p&gt; ]]></dc:description>
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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    <media:description><![CDATA[Johnny Depp as Ebenezer Scrooge tipping his hat in Ebenezer. ]]></media:description>                                                            <media:text><![CDATA[Johnny Depp as Ebenezer Scrooge tipping his hat in Ebenezer. ]]></media:text>
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                                <p>In 2022, a <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/a-verdict-has-been-announced-in-the-johnny-depp-and-amber-heard-defamation-trial"><u>verdict was announced in the Depp Vs. Heard</u></a> defamation trial. After back-and-forth allegations made in court, Johnny Depp was awarded more than $10 million while Amber Heard was awarded $2 million. Since then, the actor hasn't been in a major Hollywood movie, but that's changing this year. So, now, a source is sharing claims about how Depp is feeling as he promotes his new film.</p><p>While the trial was going on, <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2558592/after-johnny-depp-was-fired-from-fantastic-beasts-fans-petition-for-amber-heards-removal-from-aquaman-2"><u>Johnny Depp was let go from the </u><u><em>Fantastic Beasts </em></u><u>films</u></a> and reportedly dropped from the <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2460187/johnny-depp-reportedly-being-dropped-from-the-pirates-of-the-caribbean-reboot"><u>potential </u><u><em>Pirates of the Caribbean </em></u><u>reboot</u></a>. However, the actor is making his big Hollywood return in “Ba, humbug” fashion by <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/johnny-depp-scrooge-movie-everything-we-know-ebenezer-a-christmas-carol"><u>starring in Ti West’s </u><u><em>Ebenezer</em></u><u> movie</u></a>.</p><p>To get folks excited about his <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/upcoming-movies-in-2026-new-movie-release-dates"><u>2026 movie release</u></a><em>, </em>the <em>Sleepy Hollow </em>actor showed up at San Diego Comic-Con to <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/see-johnny-depp-play-scrooge-chatting-with-edward-scissorhands-cosplayer"><u>interact with people while in character as Scrooge</u></a>. As for how Depp allegedly felt about his transformative performance at the event, a source told <a href="https://people.com/johnny-depp-hollywood-return-ebenezer-once-in-a-lifetime-opportunity-exclusive-12028061"><u>People</u></a> that the nostalgic moment was reportedly “revitalizing for him”:</p><div><blockquote><p>He had a blast. He’s back in a character role, which he loves. He really comes to life when he’s in those characters — they’re in his DNA.</p></blockquote></div><p>The Academy Award nominee’s talent speaks for itself, not only in <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/new/Johnny-Depp-10-Greatest-Roles-Ranked-Order-69363.html"><u>his best roles</u></a> but even in bringing these characters to life when the cameras are off. Depp once made a <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/new/Johnny-Depp-Randomly-Visiting-Schools-Dressed-Captain-Jack-Sparrow-21059.html"><u>random visit to schools while dressed as Jack Sparrow</u></a> and also <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/new/Johnny-Depp-Surprising-Tourists-Disneyland-Cutest-Video-You-See-Today-130457.html"><u>surprised tourists at Disneyland</u></a> dressed as <em>Alice in Wonderland</em>’s Mad Hatter. So, this transformative Comic-Con moment was very on-brand for him. </p><p>Even though Johnny Depp has done projects since the trial ended, like <em>Jeanne du Barry, Modì, </em>and <em>Three Days on the Wing of Madness, Ebenezer </em>will be his first major studio film in seven years. Another source made claims to the publication about what a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” this reportedly feels like for Depp:  </p><div><blockquote><p>He’s been very excited to film Ebenezer. It’s a very special project for him.</p></blockquote></div><p>I can imagine how “excited” the <em>Pirates of the Caribbean</em> actor allegedly is. The first look of the upcoming Christmas flick showed <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/johnny-depp-ebenezer-a-christmas-carol-first-look-people-cant-get-over-transformation"><u>Depp completely “unrecognizable,”</u></a> looking 20 years older in Victorian garb. With the Golden Globe winner returning to his transformative acting roots, it makes sense why the source claimed that he is “doing well” and “very focused on work.”</p><p>Not only does Johnny Depp have <em>Ebenezer</em> under his belt, but he plans to <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/johnny-depp-looks-like-different-person-first-look-day-drinker-gray-hair"><u>look like a different person</u></a> yet again in the 2027 release, <em>Day Drinker. </em>This <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/johnny-depp-imajor-hollywood-comeback-amazing-spider-man-director-marc-webb-day-drinker"><u>movie will be directed by Mark Webb</u></a>, and it's about a private-yacht bartender who meets a mysterious day drinker onboard. With two dramatically different roles for Depp to add to his filmography, I'm sure fans will be ready to see the versatile actor's signature trademark of absorbing his characters and wowing us with his performances.</p><p>According to inside sources, Johnny Depp is reportedly “happy” and “entering a new chapter” while promoting his title role in <em>Ebenezer. </em>After spending years outside of the spotlight, it’ll be nice to see the <em>Sweeney Todd</em> actor show his fans he’s still got it. Make sure to watch Depp portray Ebenezer Scrooge when the Ti West flick hits theaters on November 13.</p>
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                                                            <title><![CDATA[ After Rewatching Mortal Kombat II, I Have Some Fresh Concerns For The Upcoming Street Fighter Movie ]]></title>
                                                                                                                                                                                                <link>https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/after-rewatching-mortal-kombat-ii-fresh-concerns-upcoming-street-fighter-movie</link>
                                                                            <description>
                            <![CDATA[ Get over here, Street Fighter movie! I have some thoughts. ]]>
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                                                                        <pubDate>Sat, 01 Aug 2026 19:00:00 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                                <updated>Sat, 01 Aug 2026 21:49:35 +0000</updated>
                                                                                                                                            <category><![CDATA[Movies]]></category>
                                                                                                                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Rich Knight ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                    <dc:source><![CDATA[ https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Enwjd8DHUH6gafodwAU7zD.png ]]></dc:source>
                                                                <dc:description><![CDATA[ &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The Background&lt;/strong&gt;: Rich Knight is a content producer for CinemaBlend who has been off and on writing for the website since 2010. He used to cover video games and DVDs (Remember those?), but now mostly writes about whatever he’s interested in at the moment. He graduated from Rutgers University (Go, R.U.!) and has written for a number of publications, including Complex Magazine, XXL, Weightwatchers, etc. But he considers CinemaBlend his favorite website to write for, mostly because it’s so much fun. And also because they let him write about Godzilla. When he’s not writing for CB, he’s a novelist and a teacher.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What They&#039;re Into&lt;/strong&gt;: Rich loves old movies, video games, and books. Lots and lots of books. His favorite movies of all time are Apocalypse Now, Big Trouble in Little China, and Adaptation, as well as so-bad-they&#039;re-good movies like Troll 2, Batman &amp;amp; Robin, and Freddy Got Fingered. Bring on the awful! He’s also really big into anime, AEW, The Legend of Korra, and pretty much anything connected to the Breaking Bad universe. He’s a Nintendo fanboy for life, loves Deep Dish Pizza, and his Marvel vs. Capcom 2 team is Guile, Strider, and Wolverine. Come get some.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What They&#039;re Excited About Right Now&lt;/strong&gt;: Going through John Carpenter’s entire filmography, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, and the drama that is the AEW locker room.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; ]]></dc:description>
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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    <media:description><![CDATA[Karl Urban striking a pose in Mortal Kombat II]]></media:description>                                                            <media:text><![CDATA[Karl Urban striking a pose in Mortal Kombat II]]></media:text>
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                                <iframe src="https://content.jwplatform.com/players/4PO1Puj3.html" id="4PO1Puj3" title="I Did A Deep Dive Into Why 'Mortal Kombat II' Ddin't Make Johnny Cage And Sonya Blade A Couple So You Don't Have To" width="600" height="338" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" allowfullscreen></iframe><p>Is 2026 a big year for gamers/cinephiles, or what? I’ve already talked about how this was probably the biggest year ever for <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2565644/upcoming-video-game-movies-and-tv-shows-the-adaptations-coming">video game movies</a>…but also that <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/could-2026-be-biggest-year-video-game-movies-yes-but-reservations">I had some reservations</a>. </p><p>Case in point, one of those reservations was <em>Mortal Kombat II</em>, which I thought was <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/sorry-mortal-kombat-2-came-close-but-i-still-prefer-1995-mortal-kombat-movie">just okay </a>upon a first viewing. Now, I also had high hopes for <em>The Super Mario Galaxy Movie</em>, which I <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/after-watching-the-super-mario-galaxy-movie-it-just-left-me-wishing-it-was-more-like-the-sonic-sequels">didn’t love at first</a>. However, upon a rewatch, <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/i-rewatched-super-mario-galaxy-movie-hoping-like-it-more-i-did-still-have-some-issues">I liked it</a> quite a bit. So, I was hoping the same would happen for <em>Mortal Kombat II </em>now that it’s streaming with <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/television/2570432/subscribing-to-hbo-max-what-to-know-about-the-price-options-and-what-the-streaming-service-offers">an HBO Max subscription</a>, but nope. Nothing doing. The rewatch didn’t help. </p><p>In fact, it actually now makes me worry about the upcoming <em>Street Fighter </em>movie. Here’s why. </p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:2000px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="oUyV8vKnJW6dY4nMxs8nRi" name="Street Fighter 1" alt="Noah Centineo with his arms outstretched in victory in Street Fighter" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/oUyV8vKnJW6dY4nMxs8nRi.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="2000" height="1125" attribution="" endorsement="" class="inline"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Legendary Pictures)</span></figcaption></figure><h2 id="i-hope-street-fighter-doesn-t-have-the-same-pick-a-damn-protagonist-problem-that-mortal-kombat-ii-has">I Hope Street Fighter Doesn’t Have The Same “Pick A Damn Protagonist” Problem That Mortal Kombat II Has</h2><p>When I first saw the <em>Street Fighter</em> trailer, I was in love. Honestly, it was everything <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/we-finally-got-to-see-what-street-fighter-movie-will-be-like-it-is-everything-i-wanted">I could have ever wanted</a>. It looked goofy, had moves from the game, and characters galore. However, after rewatching <em>Mortal Kombat II</em>, it kind of makes me rethink that last one about the characters, because maybe that’s not such a good thing after all. I’ll explain. </p><p><em>Mortal Kombat II </em>actually has a problem in that it doesn’t seem to know who the main protagonist is. This didn’t really bother me the first time watching it, but it bugged the hell out of me the second time. You could say that Kitana (Adeline Rudolph) is the definitive protagonist of the film, but it really does feel like Johnny Cage (Karl Urban) is who the film is actually leaning toward. In the end, it feels like neither of them really takes center stage. </p><p>I now worry about this for the <em>Street Fighter </em>movie. The trailer makes it seem like Ken is the main character (Noah Centineo), but is he really? Ryu (Andrew Koji) also looks to have a “finding himself” journey going on here, as does Chun-Li (Callina Liang). </p><p>I’ll be impressed if they somehow manage to focus on one character and give the other two actors suitable screen time (like the 1995 <em>Mortal Kombat</em> film did with Johnny Cage and Sonya Blade), but I don’t know. <em>MKII</em> has me kind of spooked on that front now. </p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:2000px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="qm6eWBmWmEkJrkui83KrUA" name="Street Fighter 3" alt="David Dastmalchian appearing annoyed as M. Bison in Street Fighter" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/qm6eWBmWmEkJrkui83KrUA.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="2000" height="1125" attribution="" endorsement="" class="inline"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Legendary Pictures)</span></figcaption></figure><h2 id="at-the-same-time-i-worry-that-some-of-the-best-characters-will-be-relegated-to-the-sidelines">At The Same Time, I Worry That Some Of The Best Characters Will Be Relegated To The Sidelines</h2><p>Now here’s a Catch-22 for you. On one hand, I’m worried that the upcoming <em>Street Fighter</em> movie isn’t going to focus on one particular character. On the other hand, I’m concerned that some of my favorite characters won’t really get their time to shine, <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/cody-rhodes-namechecks-van-damme-filmed-street-fighter-guile-flash-kick">like Cody Rhodes playing Guile</a>. Guile has always been one of my mains (Dhalsim, too) when playing <em>Street Fighter</em>, but I have a feeling that he’ll be more of a background character in this film, sort of like how Jax and Raiden were like background characters in <em>Mortal Kombat II</em>. </p><p>This is a problem for me, because when you have a lot of characters in one movie, you usually run into the “too many” characters issue. Like, what about E. Honda? Is he going to have much of a presence in this film? What about <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/street-fighter-cody-rhodes-he-roman-reigns-not-allowed-cross-paths-guile-akuma">Roman Reigns as Akuma</a>? I mean, this movie has Akuma AND M. Bison. So, who’s the big bad then? </p><p>In <em>Mortal Kombat II</em>, we had both Shang Tsung (Chin Han) and Shao Khan (Martyn Ford), but the former gets completely lost in the story. I don’t want that to happen to Akuma OR M. Bison, but I fear one of them is going to get overshadowed.</p><p>Really, what it all comes down to is that these two movies seem to have more in common than I initially thought, and that’s putting a bit of a pause (button) on my enthusiasm for <em>Street Fighter</em>. Well, I guess I’ll just have to wait until October 16th to see if my concerns were warranted or not. </p>
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                                                            <title><![CDATA[ I Want Spider-Man’s Symbiote Suit To Appear In The MCU, But Tom Holland Also Has A Fair Concern ]]></title>
                                                                                                                                                                                                <link>https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/tom-holland-shares-concern-spider-man-symbiote-suit-appearing-mcu</link>
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                            <![CDATA[ I hadn't really thought about this. ]]>
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                                                                        <pubDate>Sat, 01 Aug 2026 17:04:32 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                                <updated>Sat, 01 Aug 2026 21:50:35 +0000</updated>
                                                                                                                                            <category><![CDATA[Movies]]></category>
                                                    <category><![CDATA[Spider Man]]></category>
                                                    <category><![CDATA[Superheroes]]></category>
                                                                                                                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Erik Swann ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                    <dc:source><![CDATA[ https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rXkznL7DwWNoGfjx998J3Q.png ]]></dc:source>
                                                                <dc:description><![CDATA[ &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The Background&lt;/strong&gt;: Erik Swann is a Senior Content Producer at CinemaBlend. He began working with the publication in 2020 when he was hired as Weekend Editor. Today, he continues to write, edit and handle social media responsibilities over the weekend. On weekdays, he also writes TV and movie-related news and helps out with editing and social media as needed. He graduated from the University of Maryland, where he received a degree in Broadcast Journalism. After shifting into multi-platform journalism, he started working as a freelance writer and editor before joining CB. During his time with the site, he&#039;s been able to cover some excellent TV shows and films and interview some wonderful stars.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What He&#039;s Into&lt;/strong&gt;: Erik is a superhero fan, and his love for comic books began after he first watched Batman: The Animated Series as a child. He also enjoys comedies, action/adventure flicks, dramas and science fiction. He has a love for sports as well, particularly professional basketball. Though he&#039;s a Maryland/Washington D.C. native, he roots for the Boston Celtics. Some of his all-time favorite TV shows are BTAS, Breaking Bad, Sanford and Son, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Better Call Saul and Atlanta. And when it comes to movies, Beverly Hills Cop, A Raisin in the Sun, Toy Story, Iron Man, Star Wars, and Wall Street are among his favorites. He also enjoys a good pizza (preferably with pepperoni and mushrooms) while he&#039;s watching entertaining films and TV series.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What He&#039;s Excited About Right Now&lt;/strong&gt;: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, Reservation Dogs Season 3, Ahsoka, Loki Season 2, Invincible Season 2, Next Goal Wins and Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget.&lt;/p&gt; ]]></dc:description>
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                                                            <media:credit><![CDATA[Marvel Studios/Sony Pictures]]></media:credit>
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    <media:description><![CDATA[Peter Parker (Tom Holland) looks ahead in Spider-Man: No Way Home, while Spider-Man (Tobey Maguire) checks out his new suit in Spider-Man 3.]]></media:description>                                                            <media:text><![CDATA[Peter Parker (Tom Holland) looks ahead in Spider-Man: No Way Home, while Spider-Man (Tobey Maguire) checks out his new suit in Spider-Man 3.]]></media:text>
                                <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[Peter Parker (Tom Holland) looks ahead in Spider-Man: No Way Home, while Spider-Man (Tobey Maguire) checks out his new suit in Spider-Man 3.]]></media:title>
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                                <p>The <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/spider-man-brand-new-day-reviews-cinemablend-tom-holland-zendaya-mcu">much-praised <em>Spider-Man: Brand New Day</em></a> ushers in a new chapter for Tom Holland’s well-crawler within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and it’s as thrilling as it is emotional. While the film could – in some ways – arguably be viewed as a bookend to Parker’s story, there’s still so much that can be done. Something that I (and other fans) have wanted to see is the arrival of the black, symbiote outfit. Holland also seems to share that enthusiasm, but he does have a reasonable and practical concern about bringing it into the fold. </p><p>Sam Raimi’s <em>Spider-Man 3</em> marked the first (and so far, only) time the alien symbiote was shown bonding with Peter Parker in a live-action film. The ooze-like substance has more recently been heavily featured in the <em>Venom</em> trilogy, though having it interact with Peter could create some even more interesting stories. Holland recently appeared on that <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DvB4G2FZ_o"><em>Happy Sad Confused</em> podcast</a>, during which he revealed his love of the black suit to host Josh Horowitz. Yet the actor also pondered the feasibility of creating that suit for the screen:</p><div><blockquote><p>I love the black suit in Tobey's movie. I think that's really cool. I think if we ever got to do a black suit in Spider-Man, I don't know how we would — I don't know how we would tackle that challenge, because they did it so well in the game, right? And I don't know how you make a suit that's similar to the one in the game without having a CG component. …. I don't know how you would [make it tactile].</p></blockquote></div><p>Even though the black suit in Raimi’s film is sleek, it doesn’t have many of the symbiote-based capabilities possessed by the one featured in the video game <em>Marvel’s Spider-Man 2</em>. So the costume designers at Marvel Studios could surely craft an outfit, but there’s definitely a question of how to make one that’s both comfortable for Holland and looks natural on screen. I, of course, want to know how much thought studio president Kevin Feige and co. have put into that at this point.</p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:2000px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="ETqg289ibaYqS97HWB3294" name="black suit in marvel's spider-man" alt="Peter Parker and Miles Morales talk in Marvel's Spider-Man 2." src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ETqg289ibaYqS97HWB3294.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="2000" height="1125" attribution="" endorsement="" class="inline"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Insomniac Games)</span></figcaption></figure><p>Whether the execs have been pondering this or not, it’s evident that fans are ready to see the <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2460672/avengers-infinity-war-almost-gave-spider-man-his-black-suit">black suit, which was nearly introduced</a> in 2018’s <em>Avengers: Infinity War</em>. Awesome <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/tom-holland-gets-symbiote-suit-spider-man-brand-new-day-fan-art">fan art has also shown Holland’s Parker wearing the suit</a>. Fans should also remember that the pieces are also in place for Peter to get the suit at some point. That’s because a <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/superheroes/spider-man/spider-man-no-way-home-end-credits-scenes-explained-what-happens-and-what-it-means-for-the-mcu"><em>Spider-Man: No Way Home</em> end-credits scene</a> shows a piece of the symbiote being left in the MCU after Tom Hardy’s Eddie Brock and Venom are transported back to their universe.</p><p>That development is also intriguing, considering one of the <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/new/upcoming-marvel-movies-release-dates-phase-4-67944.html">upcoming Marvel movies</a> that’s on tap, <em>Avengers: Secret Wars</em>. It was actually in the original “Secret Wars” storyline from the ‘80s that established the origin for Spider-Man’s black suit. Josh Horowitz is aware of this as well, and he shared that information with Holland during their interview. That prompted occasional spoiler leaker Tom Holland to make an appeal:</p><div><blockquote><p>I swear to you that I have no idea what Secret Wars is about. And I think that that is by design, because Marvel know I'm going on this press tour. And that is their biggest asset, and I think it's really important that no one ruins it.</p></blockquote></div><p>Holland even went on to say that he went on vacation with Joe Russo recently, and nothing was said about <em>Secret Wars</em>. So, even if the black suit is meant to appear in that film, Holland isn’t privy to those details (yet). I’m still holding out hope, however, that the alien suit is formally introduced into the MCU at some point, and that the costume designers find an optimal way to craft it.</p><p>For now, check out <em>Spider-Man: Brand New Day</em> which is playing in theaters nationwide alongside other entries on the <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/upcoming-movies-in-2026-new-movie-release-dates">2026 movie schedule</a>. Fans can also check out the first three Tom Holland-led Spidey flicks – and the aforementioned <em>Spider-Man 3</em> – using a <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2492773/how-to-best-use-disney-tips-to-get-the-most-out-of-the-streaming-service">Disney+ subscription</a>.</p>
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                                                            <title><![CDATA[ After The Internet Called Him Out, Michael B. Jordan Responded About His Awkward Red Carpet Pose ]]></title>
                                                                                                                                                                                                <link>https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/internet-called-out-michael-b-jordan-red-carpet-pose-he-responded</link>
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                            <![CDATA[ Put your hands together, everyone! ]]>
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                                                                        <pubDate>Sat, 01 Aug 2026 15:45:27 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                <category><![CDATA[Movies]]></category>
                                                                                                                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Carly Levy ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                    <dc:source><![CDATA[ https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WhWLeh9yrwXXtWqGkJnZuM.jpg ]]></dc:source>
                                                                <dc:description><![CDATA[ &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The Background&lt;/strong&gt;: Carly Levy has been a freelance writer for CinemaBlend starting in 2022 covering mostly movies with a sprinkle of television. After graduating at Florida Atlantic University with a degree in film and theater in 2015, she worked for a year as a journalist for Talk Media covering South Florida news. In 2017, she spent four years as a ghostwriter writing about addiction and mental health for rehab and therapy blogs. Now, she divides her time writing about the subjects of both entertainment and mental health issues.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What They&#039;re Into&lt;/strong&gt;: Carly is an avid cinephile who is always looking for the next best film to watch whether it goes back to the silent film era to what&#039;s playing in theaters. Her analytical mindset enhances her writing as she gains true understanding of the characters and stories that makes a movie great enough to write about. Her passion ranges from following film scavenger hunts on Letterboxd to discover new films and creating watchlists based on the latest trailers. She enjoys the originality and freshness indie cinema brings, particularly A24 films. During her spare time, Carly loves to listen to post hardcore rock music, watch classic television sitcoms, and reads a variety of books. She also likes to challenge her writing by writing essays on various trending topics that draw her eye.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What They&#039;re Excited About Right Now&lt;/strong&gt;: The latest movies hitting the &quot;Big Five&quot; film festivals (especially Venice and Sundance). Anything A24 and Wes Anderson touches. Continuously making my mark through my writing and creating watchlists. &lt;/p&gt; ]]></dc:description>
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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    <media:description><![CDATA[Michael B. Jordan in The Thomas Crown Affair.]]></media:description>                                                            <media:text><![CDATA[Michael B. Jordan in The Thomas Crown Affair.]]></media:text>
                                <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[Michael B. Jordan in The Thomas Crown Affair.]]></media:title>
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                                <p>There’s no doubt that Michael B. Jordan has natural charisma and charm. After all, <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2558933/how-michael-b-jordan-feels-about-being-the-sexiest-man-alive"><u>he was People’s Sexiest Man Alive</u></a> in 2020. However, even one of the most handsome leading men has his awkward moments. So, after the internet called out the Oscar winner for his uncomfortable posing on red carpets, Jordan responded in a funny way.</p><p>Whether Michael B. Jordan is <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/michael-b-jordan-spider-man-premiere-casual-red-carpet-look"><u>sporting a casual look at the </u><u><em>Spider-Man: Brand New Day </em></u><u>premiere</u></a> or <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/men-on-red-carpet-get-less-love-but-shout-out-glen-powell-michael-b-jordan"><u>rocking a classy suit at the Golden Globes</u></a>, the <em>Sinners</em> actor is always stylin’ with an amazing smile. But, funnily enough, Bustle posted a series of red-carpet photos on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DbWfQiKk5sf/?img_index=6"><u>Instagram</u></a><u> </u>showing that the <em>Creed</em> star's signature pose at these elegant events appears to be clasping his hands together like a waiter. </p><p>With social media users joining the bandwagon by commenting about having no problems with the <em>Friday Night Lights</em> actor taking their order, Michael B. Jordan hilariously responded to it all by writing:</p><div><blockquote><p>🤦🏾‍♂️😂</p></blockquote></div><p>Well, it’s nice to know that Jordan’s got a sense of humor about it all. I mean, it may be awkward to pose with your hands together for each photo op. However, I still think he looks like a gentleman as he smiles with grace at the camera. </p><p>Now, not only were Instagram users chiming in on the <em>Black Panther </em>actor's red carpet pose, but so was actor/comedian Kevin Hart. Here was the <em>Jumanji</em> star’s response to Jordan:</p><div><blockquote><p>🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 Hardest thing in the world is finding something to do with your hands on the carpet 😂😂😂😂😂</p></blockquote></div><p>I’m cackling at this! It should come as no surprise that Hart would josh on Jordan, as he once <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2562655/kevin-harts-having-the-best-time-teasing-michael-b-jordan-about-his-sexy-alexa-ad"><u>teased him for getting the Alexa commercial gig</u></a> instead of him. But the <em>Get Hard</em> actor does make a valid point about not knowing what to do with your hands on the red carpet. Should they be at your hips, in your pockets or behind you? Clearly, <em>The Wire</em> actor came up with his own unique place for his hands, and it’s certainly got us all talking. </p><p>Michael B. Jordan isn't the first actor to get called out for uncomfortable posing on the red carpet. <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/streaming-news/the-internet-roasted-ashton-kutcher-for-those-awkward-red-carpet-photos-with-reese-witherspoon-but-he-says-theres-a-totally-reasonable-explanation-why-it-happened"><u>The internet roasted Ashton Kutcher for his red carpet awkwardness</u></a> at the premiere of Netflix’s <em>Your Place or Mine.</em> Even <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/matt-damon-daughter-roast-his-ben-affleck-the-rip-red-carpet-poses"><u>Matt Damon's daughter roasted her dad and Ben Affleck</u></a> for their stiff posing at <em>The Rip</em> premiere. It’s moments like this that we need to remember that we’re all human and even celebrities can have their share of awkward poses even at high-profile events.  </p><p>So, yeah, Michael B. Jordan<em> </em>may look a little waiter-ish, clutching his hands at each red carpet event. However, you can’t deny that he is serving us some classy perfection every time—even if his pose is screaming, "Can I take your order?" </p>
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                                                            <title><![CDATA[ Why Blake Lively’s Legal Fees Request Has (Allegedly) Been ‘Catastrophic’ For Justin Baldoni ]]></title>
                                                                                                                                                                                                <link>https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/blake-lively-legal-fees-request-alleged-catastrophic-effect-justin-baldoni</link>
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                            <![CDATA[ This situation supposedly hasn't been easy for Baldoni. ]]>
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                                                                        <pubDate>Sat, 01 Aug 2026 14:20:03 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                                <updated>Tue, 04 Aug 2026 16:27:18 +0000</updated>
                                                                                                                                            <category><![CDATA[Movies]]></category>
                                                                                                                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Erik Swann ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                    <dc:source><![CDATA[ https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rXkznL7DwWNoGfjx998J3Q.png ]]></dc:source>
                                                                <dc:description><![CDATA[ &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The Background&lt;/strong&gt;: Erik Swann is a Senior Content Producer at CinemaBlend. He began working with the publication in 2020 when he was hired as Weekend Editor. Today, he continues to write, edit and handle social media responsibilities over the weekend. On weekdays, he also writes TV and movie-related news and helps out with editing and social media as needed. He graduated from the University of Maryland, where he received a degree in Broadcast Journalism. After shifting into multi-platform journalism, he started working as a freelance writer and editor before joining CB. During his time with the site, he&#039;s been able to cover some excellent TV shows and films and interview some wonderful stars.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What He&#039;s Into&lt;/strong&gt;: Erik is a superhero fan, and his love for comic books began after he first watched Batman: The Animated Series as a child. He also enjoys comedies, action/adventure flicks, dramas and science fiction. He has a love for sports as well, particularly professional basketball. Though he&#039;s a Maryland/Washington D.C. native, he roots for the Boston Celtics. Some of his all-time favorite TV shows are BTAS, Breaking Bad, Sanford and Son, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Better Call Saul and Atlanta. And when it comes to movies, Beverly Hills Cop, A Raisin in the Sun, Toy Story, Iron Man, Star Wars, and Wall Street are among his favorites. He also enjoys a good pizza (preferably with pepperoni and mushrooms) while he&#039;s watching entertaining films and TV series.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What He&#039;s Excited About Right Now&lt;/strong&gt;: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, Reservation Dogs Season 3, Ahsoka, Loki Season 2, Invincible Season 2, Next Goal Wins and Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget.&lt;/p&gt; ]]></dc:description>
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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    <media:description><![CDATA[Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni star in It Ends with Us.]]></media:description>                                                            <media:text><![CDATA[Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni star in It Ends with Us.]]></media:text>
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                                <p>The dust has mostly settled when it comes to the legal back-and-forth between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, but there’s still a piece of business that needs to be addressed. After <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/following-settlement-justin-baldonis-lawyer-reacted-blake-lively-requesting-damages">Lively (38) sought damages</a> and legal fees from Baldoni (42) <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/blake-lively-justin-baldoni-finally-settled-legal-issues-read-joint-statement">following their legal settlement</a>, she was granted the latter. As a result, the actress is now <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/blake-lively-reveals-major-amount-money-seeking-from-justin-baldoni-legal-fees">seeking almost $8 million in fees</a> from her <em>It Ends with Us</em> collaborator. Insiders are now dropping claims about why this request has supposedly been difficult for Baldoni to deal with. </p><p>After Lively’s request was granted, Baldoni reportedly asked that a judge reduce or deny her petition. However, as of this writing, the <em>Jane the Virgin</em> alum is still faced with the order to satisfy that legal-based bill. Rob Shuter recently reported on this matter as part of his <a href="https://robshuter.substack.com/p/exclusive-justin-baldoni-facing-financial">Naughty But Nice substack</a> and, if his insiders are to be believed, this situation is causing financial strife for Baldoni. One source addressed the notion of Baldoni being monetarily set before sharing an allegation about his financial portfolio:</p><div><blockquote><p>People assume Justin is sitting on a Hollywood fortune because he’s famous. The truth is, he isn’t. He doesn’t have anything close to the cash needed to cover a bill like this.</p></blockquote></div><p>What also reportedly feeds into this money situation is Baldoni’s current career standing. It’s been alleged that he still wants to work and is even <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/justin-baldoni-allegedly-wants-to-make-it-ends-with-us-sequel-would-blake-lively-be-involved">mulling a sequel to <em>It Ends with Us</em></a>. However, <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/studio-execs-thoughts-blake-lively-justin-baldoni-careers-after-legal-battle">studio executives previously opined</a> that both Baldoni and Lively would have trouble finding work moving forward after the damage that had been done to their reputations. As part of this recent report, another source weighed in Baldoni’s purported lack of prospects:</p><div><blockquote><p>The phone stopped ringing. Whether it’s deserved or not, this case made him toxic in the eyes of a lot of studios. People don’t want the baggage.</p></blockquote></div><p>All of that “baggage” stems from <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/blake-lively-sued-justin-baldoni-alleged-sexual-harassment--it-ends-with-us-his-legal-team-responded">Blake Lively filing a legal complaint</a> in December 2024 and later suing Justin Baldoni for alleged sexual harassment and for reportedly launching a smear campaign against her. Baldoni denied those allegations and proceeded to countersue Lively, her husband (Ryan Reynolds) and others for $400 million on the grounds of alleged defamation, extortion and more. Following wins and losses on both sides, the two parties eventually settled this past May. </p><p>Still, questions remain in regard to whether Baldoni will ultimately end up paying Lively’s legal fees. One more insider also had this to say about the state of Baldoni’s financial well-being:</p><div><blockquote><p>This isn’t just a legal loss—it’s becoming a financial collapse. Justin is fighting to protect what’s left, but every new ruling makes that harder.</p></blockquote></div><p>While all these insider comments have to be taken with a grain of salt, what is known is that Justin Baldoni does have financial obligations. That’s particularly true due to him, his wife, Emily (41) having moved from California to Nashville, Tennessee earlier this year alongside their two kids and <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/amid-justin-baldoni-legal-battle-blake-lively-his-family-pricey-move">paid $3.4 million for their new abode</a>. It remains to be seen what the future holds for Baldoni, from a monetary standpoint, and if he ends up paying Blake Lively.</p>
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                                                            <title><![CDATA[ Triangle Of Sadness Isn't A Horror Movie, But It Preys Upon My Greatest Fears. I'll Explain ]]></title>
                                                                                                                                                                                                <link>https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/triangle-of-sadness-isnt-horror-movie-preys-upon-greatest-fears</link>
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                            <![CDATA[ This is supposed to be funny? Try terrifying! ]]>
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                                                                        <pubDate>Sat, 01 Aug 2026 13:00:00 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                <category><![CDATA[Movies]]></category>
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                                                                                                                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Rich Knight ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                    <dc:source><![CDATA[ https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Enwjd8DHUH6gafodwAU7zD.png ]]></dc:source>
                                                                <dc:description><![CDATA[ &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The Background&lt;/strong&gt;: Rich Knight is a content producer for CinemaBlend who has been off and on writing for the website since 2010. He used to cover video games and DVDs (Remember those?), but now mostly writes about whatever he’s interested in at the moment. He graduated from Rutgers University (Go, R.U.!) and has written for a number of publications, including Complex Magazine, XXL, Weightwatchers, etc. But he considers CinemaBlend his favorite website to write for, mostly because it’s so much fun. And also because they let him write about Godzilla. When he’s not writing for CB, he’s a novelist and a teacher.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What They&#039;re Into&lt;/strong&gt;: Rich loves old movies, video games, and books. Lots and lots of books. His favorite movies of all time are Apocalypse Now, Big Trouble in Little China, and Adaptation, as well as so-bad-they&#039;re-good movies like Troll 2, Batman &amp;amp; Robin, and Freddy Got Fingered. Bring on the awful! He’s also really big into anime, AEW, The Legend of Korra, and pretty much anything connected to the Breaking Bad universe. He’s a Nintendo fanboy for life, loves Deep Dish Pizza, and his Marvel vs. Capcom 2 team is Guile, Strider, and Wolverine. Come get some.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What They&#039;re Excited About Right Now&lt;/strong&gt;: Going through John Carpenter’s entire filmography, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, and the drama that is the AEW locker room.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt; ]]></dc:description>
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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    <media:description><![CDATA[Harris Dickinson and another giving their best serious look in Triangle of Sadness]]></media:description>                                                            <media:text><![CDATA[Harris Dickinson and another giving their best serious look in Triangle of Sadness]]></media:text>
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                                <p>The mere idea of even getting on a cruise gives me the heebie jeebies. So, just think of all of the anxiety I get when watching the Palme d’Or-winning <em>Triangle of Sadness</em>, available with a <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/streaming-news/netflix-subscription-the-plans-the-price-and-whats-included">Netflix subscription</a>, which is about everything that could go wrong on a cruise, going wrong. </p><p>I’m going to let you in on a little secret. I can’t swim. Now, this isn’t inherently bad, but it also means that I’m not in any hurry to acquire my sea legs. Seriously, <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/streaming-news/i-thought-netflixs-trainwreck-poop-cruise-was-going-to-be-funny-boy-was-i-wrong">when I watch documentaries </a>like <em>Trainwreck: Poop Cruise</em>, I just can’t. I can’t! <em>Sadness</em> is labeled as a satirical black comedy and was <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/2023-full-list-oscar-winners">up for Best Picture in 2023</a> (it lost to <em>Everything Everywhere All At Once</em>), but I view it as pure horror. </p><p><strong>Oh, and spoilers up ahead. </strong></p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:2000px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="9E9ivEM6u3DrYRKueXc8xJ" name="Triangle of Sadness 3" alt="A passenger getting ready to hurl in Triangle of Sadness" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9E9ivEM6u3DrYRKueXc8xJ.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="2000" height="1125" attribution="" endorsement="" class="inline"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Film i Väst )</span></figcaption></figure><h2 id="the-idea-of-things-going-horribly-awry-in-the-middle-of-the-ocean-is-one-of-my-greatest-fears">The Idea Of Things Going Horribly Awry In The Middle Of The Ocean Is One Of My Greatest Fears</h2><p>Not too long ago, there was a Hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship, and can I tell you that even today, the mere idea of it makes my hair stand up on my arms. Being stuck at sea with no escape is my absolute nightmare, and that’s the scenario we get in <em>Triangle of Sadness</em>.</p><p>The main characters are two models named Carl and Yaya, played by Harris Dickinson and the late Charlbi Dean, respectively. The title actually refers to the wrinkle between the eyes that models sometimes employ to make themselves look serious. Yaya is an influencer and receives an invitation onto a mega yacht in order to build engagement with her followers, and Carl is brought along for the ride as they’re viewed as an online couple. All goes well as they spend time with socialites…until it doesn’t.</p><p>The food goes bad, a terrible storm occurs, everybody starts puking and crapping everywhere, and then, there are PIRATES! I mean, it goes from bad to worse, to, oh, God, I can’t take this anymore! And then, we get to Act III...</p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:2000px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="4hYyKDGaAgeWBvALEAmXGJ" name="Triangle of Sadness 5" alt="A gathered group screaming in Triangle of Sadness" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4hYyKDGaAgeWBvALEAmXGJ.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="2000" height="1125" attribution="" endorsement="" class="inline"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Film i Väst )</span></figcaption></figure><h2 id="being-stuck-with-absolute-strangers-with-no-escape-is-an-absolute-nightmare-of-mine">Being Stuck With Absolute Strangers With No Escape Is An Absolute Nightmare Of Mine</h2><p>Once the yacht sinks from the pirate attack, there are a few survivors left, with many of them being the crew members who had been below deck the whole time. Well, these few survivors find themselves trapped on an island together, where all roles flip, as the rich need the lower class to survive, and the lower class get the upper hand.</p><p>It’s all played for laughs, but I can’t help but feel uncomfortable at the prospect of one person taking complete control when rules and laws get thrown out the porthole. It’s terrifying!</p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:2000px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:56.25%;"><img id="eyiGc8h8qmTEGoqzfjPvFg" name="Triangle of Sadness 4" alt="Dolly de Leon with her hands on her sides in Triangle of Sadness" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/eyiGc8h8qmTEGoqzfjPvFg.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="2000" height="1125" attribution="" endorsement="" class="inline"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Film i Väst )</span></figcaption></figure><h2 id="plus-the-idea-of-one-singular-person-taking-control-on-a-seemingly-deserted-island-is-the-worst-thing-i-could-possibly-imagine">Plus, The Idea Of One Singular Person Taking Control On A Seemingly Deserted Island Is The Worst Thing I Could Possibly Imagine</h2><p>Which leads to the last reason why this “satirical black comedy” terrifies me <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/new/30-Best-Horror-Movies-All-Time-122567.html">like the best horror movies</a>: A single person systematically takes over the entire island, and pretty much everybody has to do her bidding…even if it means giving her sexual favors. Dolly de Leon was nominated for scores of awards for her portrayal as Abigail, who was somebody who worked below deck, but is now the only person with actual survival skills, and thus, the automatic leader. </p><p>While she doesn’t rule with an iron fist, the fact that everybody depends upon her just leads her to take absolute control of the island, which would make me feel claustrophobic since I like being self-sufficient. </p><p>That said, between that, being stuck on a boat, and then trapped with strangers - all of this and more is why this satirical black comedy scares the living daylights out of me. </p>
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                                                            <title><![CDATA[ Like Father, Like Son-In-Law: Chris Pratt And Arnold Schwarzenegger Are Twinning In Birthday Post ]]></title>
                                                                                                                                                                                                <link>https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/father-son-in-law-chris-pratt-arnold-schwarzenegger-twinning-birthday-post</link>
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                            <![CDATA[ Definitely takes after his father-in-law ]]>
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                                                                        <pubDate>Fri, 31 Jul 2026 23:10:00 +0000</pubDate>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                <category><![CDATA[Movies]]></category>
                                                                                                                    <dc:creator><![CDATA[ Liz Konkel ]]></dc:creator>                                                                                                        <dc:description><![CDATA[ null ]]></dc:description>
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                                                            <media:credit><![CDATA[Right: Justin Lubin/PrimeLeft: Christos Kalohoridis/Netflix © 2025]]></media:credit>
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    <media:description><![CDATA[Right: Chris Pratt in The Terminal: Dark Wolf. Left: Arnold Schwarzenegger as Luke Brunner in episode 204 of Fubar]]></media:description>                                                            <media:text><![CDATA[Right: Chris Pratt in The Terminal: Dark Wolf. Left: Arnold Schwarzenegger as Luke Brunner in episode 204 of Fubar]]></media:text>
                                <media:title type="plain"><![CDATA[Right: Chris Pratt in The Terminal: Dark Wolf. Left: Arnold Schwarzenegger as Luke Brunner in episode 204 of Fubar]]></media:title>
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                                <p>Pratt’s even been open about It has to be a lot of pressure to be the son-in-law of The Terminator. And Chris Pratt hasn’t been shy about sharing fun stories regarding his relationship with father-in-law Arnold Schwarzenegger, like how he has <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/chris-pratt-getting-fat-why-its-been-great-for-him-arnold-schwarzenegger-in-law"><u>helped the </u><u><em>Jurassic World</em></u><u> actor stay in shape</u></a>. Clearly there’s nothing but love between the two. </p><p>The actor has been married to Katherine Schwarzenegger for years and together they have three kids (he also has a son with ex Anna Ferris). So it’s not surprising that he’d have plenty of stories to tell about his famous in-law. Truthfully, they get along so well that they’re even twinning in Pratt’s latest birthday post. The actor shares a sweet and cheeky birthday message that’s totally on brand with the actor’s humor. And I love everything about it. Here’s hoping we get more "suspiciously similar outfits" in the future. </p><figure class="van-image-figure  inline-layout" data-bordeaux-image-check ><div class='image-full-width-wrapper'><div class='image-widthsetter' style="max-width:2000px;"><p class="vanilla-image-block" style="padding-top:175.00%;"><img id="E6QVDUidBuiQCTQCWd7vHa" name="chris and arnold ig story" alt="Chris Pratt's birthday post on Instagram." src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/E6QVDUidBuiQCTQCWd7vHa.jpg" mos="" align="middle" fullscreen="" width="2000" height="3500" attribution="" endorsement="" class="inline"></p></div></div><figcaption itemprop="caption description" class=" inline-layout"><span class="credit" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Chris Pratt)</span></figcaption></figure><p>The sweet post was shared on his <a href="https://www.instagram.com/prattprattpratt/reels/?hl=en"><u>Instagram</u></a>, and I don’t believe it was a coincidence at all. We’ve already heard from Pratt the pressure he’s felt to impress his father-in-law. To the extent that <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/family-tradition-chris-pratt-feels-pressure-to-join-in-with-arnold-schwarzenegger"><u>he’s given himself asthma attacks</u></a> after being invited to smoke cigars. Let’s hope matching outfits is an easier way to impress him. </p><p>The sweet relationship between the two has often had fans asking if they’d ever work together on film. And Schwarzenegger is <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/streaming-news/would-arnold-schwarzenegger-work-with-son-patrick-and-in-law-chris-pratt-yes-under-condition"><u>open to a collaboration on one condition</u></a>: it has to be a great script. Perhaps one day we'll see the two on screen, maybe even with Pratt's brother-in-law Patrick ,who has been steadily rising to stardom with his performances. But for now, as Pratt's IG Story post says: </p><div><blockquote><p>Jury's still out.</p></blockquote></div><p>When not coordinating outfits, the actor has kept busy with a filming schedule that almost rivals Zendaya and Anne Hathaway. Currently, he can be heard as Mario in the sequel <em>The Super Mario Galaxy Movie</em>, and seen in McG’s <em>The Way of the Warrior Kid</em>, when it releases in November. Fans will be able to check it out with an <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/streaming-news/apple-tv-subscription-the-plan-the-price-and-whats-included"><u>Apple TV subscription</u></a>. The actor also <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/interviews/chris-pratt-new-movie-reunites-wanted-director-but-has-the-actor-changed-fame-muscles"><u>reunited with </u><u><em>Wanted </em></u><u>director Timur Bekmambetov</u></a> for a new movie, <em>Mercy</em>, which released earlier this year. </p><p>Meanwhile, the actor and the rest of the Guardians of the Galaxy were suspiciously absent from the <em>Avengers: Doomsday</em> trailer. This has me wondering <a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/superheroes/marvel-cinematic-universe/marvel-fans-wondering-chris-pratt-future-star-lord-rumor-about-when-secret-wars"><u>if Pratt will ever return as Star-Lord</u></a>. Though we're still holding out hope that we'll see him and others (fingers crossed for more Mantis) again. </p><p>Maybe he can get his father-in-law on board and the two can wear matching Guardians suits. </p>
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