Awkwafina has become very known specifically for her voice across the past decade, and with that comes some pros and cons. The pros is she’s consistently gotten a lot of awesome roles in animated movies and TV shows. One con that she’s noticed is that she’s starting to get typecast as birds.

When CinemaBlend had the chance to speak to Awkwafina, I brought up her impressive history with voice work. When I asked if she wants to pitch her next role in the animation world, she’s the one that brought up the topic, saying this:

Awkwafina has played a total of three birds in animated movies. It started with 2016’s Storks in her very first voice-acting role. She was a female quail named Quail. Then, in 2023 she played two different bird roles: she was Scuttle in the live-action The Little Mermaid and Chump in Migration.

Funny enough, she was also in The Angry Birds Movie 2 (as a pig), in a movie called Swan Song (which has nothing to do with birds and is in live-action) and had a cameo role in Netflix’s Tuca & Bertie, which is about two anthropomorphic female birds. I totally get why she might be getting tired of it, and is ready to move on.

The 38-year-old actress’s latest role on the 2026 movie schedule, Wildwood, breaks that trend, given she plays a rat named Septima. The film is an impressive stop-motion movie that’s been in the works at Laika for sixteen years. During our interview, we also talked about how 140k facial expressions were made by the production team to bring the fantasy story to life.

Septima’s design in particular is quite interesting because the character stands less than two inches tall on these practical sets. In order to animate the character to scale, as shared on Instagram, the team had to build the smallest animation armature to achieve this technical feat.

Awkwafina may have lent her voice to this character, but she told us that she and the other actors didn’t really get to see the magic be made firsthand. Either way, all the work is certainly being appreciated by the masses given its incredible Rotten Tomatoes scores average out to a near-perfect 98 percent.

While Awkwafina may often be an animated bird, and be ready to end that phase of her career, she certainly has had a diverse career outside of that. From teaming up with Sandra Oh on the hilarious Quiz Lady to being one of those comedians who proved to be great in a dramatic role for The Farewell, there’s always something new up Awkwafina’s sleeve and we can’t wait to continue to follow her career. Wildwood is in theaters now.

Blake Lively filed her legal complaint against It Ends with Us co-star/director Justin Baldoni back in December 2024, and it ultimately sparked a legal battle that concluded this year. At the center of the skirmish were claims made against Baldoni, who Lively accused of sexually harassing her on set. In the time since this all began, a handful of crew members from the movie have shared their takes on what happened. Now, some of that crew is taking part in a documentary, and the director is making claims about their feelings on Lively and Baldoni.

It Ends With Justice: Blake Lively vs Justin Baldoni is a four-part docuseries directed and produced by Andy Signore that explores the production of the Colleen Hoover adaptation and the fallout. Signore recently appeared on NewsNation’s The Scoop to discuss his work on the upcoming documentary. He also described his discussions with crew members and, per Signore, their experiences with Baldoni run counter to the claims of inappropriate and “combative” behavior alleged by Lively:

Signore – who was fired from Defy Media in 2017 over sexual harassment claims – said he and his crew spoke to both women and men for the documentary and that they were “shocked” when the allegations against Baldoni (which he denied) came down. Lively has received her share of support since coming forward with her allegations. However, Signore said that while interviewing subjects, there wasn’t much overt support for the Rhythm Section star:

Blake Lively specifically accused Justin Baldoni of improvising physical intimacy and making inappropriate comments about her body. Additionally, the actress accused Baldoni of advocating for a birth scene to be filmed naked and for purportedly showing up to her trailer while she was undressing or breastfeeding. Back in February 2025, a crew member defended Baldoni against the accusations, and another IEWU crew alum spoke out during that April. In the latter’s estimation, “The Justin that I know isn’t capable of doing the things that he’s accused of doing because he truly sees himself as this feminist.”

In time, Lively filed suit against Baldoni, his production company, (Wayfarer Studios) and more for alleged sexual harassment and for purportedly launching a smear campaign against her using a PR firm. Baldoni later countersued Lively, her husband (Ryan Reynolds) and more for alleged defamation and extortion. After victories and setbacks on both sides and considerable amounts of money were reportedly spent, Lively and Baldoni opted to settle the case in May.

As for It Ends With Justice, Andy Signore said he was inspired to make the doc after wishing he’d done so during the defamation case between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard. Signore was also subpoenaed while reaching out to crew members for interviews. The interviewees apparently didn’t hold back when sharing their thoughts and, according to Signore, they were also willing to be explicitly identified while sharing their takes on Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni.

I’ve been excited for Wildwood’s place on the 2026 release schedule ever since I saw the first look. If you’ve seen any of Laika’s movies, I don’t have to explain much why. The studio handcrafts its films shot by shot using stop-motion on practical sets. They’ve created some real gems, including Coraline, Paranorman and Kubo and the Two Strings. While I was expecting the epic fantasy film that it turned out to be, I was caught off guard by one big topic the movie spoke to: infertility, and I want to highlight how beautifully I thought it was handled. SPOILERS are ahead for Wildwood. Proceed with caution.

Wildwood’s Infertility Plotline Was Unexpected

The movie is one of this year’s book-to-screen adaptations from a novel written by Colin Meloy and Carson Ellis. It quickly establishes the sister/brother relationship between 13-year-old Prue and her infant sibling, Mac. While her parents tell her not to take her baby brother outside, she defies them because she wants to show him around their home in beautiful Portland, OR. Then he’s mysteriously kidnapped by a murder of crows. Prue then spends the rest of the movie trying to rescue Mac from his darkly magical abduction.

Later in the film, Prue comes home at first after being unsuccessful in finding her brother. That’s when her parents come clean about something. In order for them to have kids, they sought some mysterious witchcraft from the Wildwood forest. They made a deal with the movie’s villain, the dowager governess, Alexandra, after trying everything to have kids and being unsuccessful. The terms of their deal were that their second-born belonged to Alexandra, which they agreed to because they thought they would just have one child. But then Mac came along.

Why I’m Grateful It Talks About It

Typically, when I’ve seen the topic of infertility tackled in a movie, it’s some dark R-rated drama that’s kind of depressing, but Wildwood is a PG-13 wonder-filled fantasy that was clearly made with mass audiences in mind. It’s a topic worth talking about because infertility is a very common struggle. The World Health Organization reports that approximately one in six people of reproductive age experience it in their lifetime. Yet, it’s just not talked about enough, and therefore the public perception of having kids is normalized as something everyone can readily achieve once they are ready to.

I appreciated Wildwood in particular covering this topic because it was learned from the perspective of the child. Prue had no idea of the struggles her parents went through for her and her brother to exist. I hope this is the kind of movie that inspires some conversations among parents and kids, or among friends, about how there often isn’t a clear-cut path to parenthood.

Obviously, the grounds of how Prue’s parents were able to have their kids is fantastical, but the pain, shame and hurt associated with their efforts to become parents. So often fantasy films focus on the loss of the child losing their parents, but this movie kept the parents alive and allowed space for their experience as parents to be felt. I imagine a lot of people who can relate to the McKeels are going to really appreciate Wildwood for the subject matter, not just for its inspiring stop motion.

It's been a tough time to be a Star Trek fans, as a number of icons from the beloved franchise has passed away recently. Shortly following the death of Chekov actor Walter Koening, the iconic science-fiction community has lost another legend. Because unfortunately the great Sir Patrick Stewart has died at age 86.

This news is sure to shock the public, especially since Stewart talked about not retiring over the summer, and he's set to appear in the upcoming Marvel movie Avengers: Doomsday. His family issued a statement about this death on social media, which reads:

This is only part of a longer announcement, including encouraging the late actor's many fans to donate to the Johns Hopkins Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center Fund and Alzheimer’s Foundation of America Caregiver Resources. The comments is section is filled with comments from fans, sharing how much his legacy of work has meant to them.

Later in announcement, more context was given for Sir Patrick Stewart's final days. It reads:

As shocking as Patrick Stewart's death might be this statement is sure to give some comfort to the fandom who followed his work on the stage and screen for decades. That's to say nothing of the family, friends, and colleagues that he leaves behind.

Tributes to the late actor are sure to start rolling in shortly, and the public will no doubt be looking forward to hearing from folks like Sir Ian McKellen, as the two stars of the X-Men movies had a long and beautiful friendship. Luckily we'll get to see them share the screen together yet again this December in Doomsday.

Indeed, Stewart's death does seem to add extra weight to The Russo Brothers' new Avengers movie. Fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order were excited to see him get more MCU crossovers, following a brief but memorable cameo in Doctor Strange 2.

Our thoughts are with Sir Patrick Stewart's friends, family, and fans during this difficult time. They can see his final film role when the late actor once again plays Professor X in Avengers: Doomsday, hitting theaters December 18th as part of the 2026 movie release list.

Celebrity couples have a way of fascinating the public, just look at Zendaya and Tom Holland. Fans are always invested in the love life of the Kardashian-Jenner clan (whose reality show The Kardashians is streaming with a Hulu subscription). Recently Kendall Jenner and Jacob Elordi have been linked, breaking the internet in the process. But does the Euphoria star's connection to the reality TV icon hurt his chances at playing the next James Bond? Here's the latest.

Daniel Craig's Bond movies ended with No Time to Die, and there's been a ton of chatter about who will replace him in the years that followed. Jacob Elordi has been one popular choice online, but an alleged insider spoke to Naughty But Nice and made a claim about his Bond odds. In their words:

What a bummer. There are plenty of fans who want to see the recent Oscar nominee in the role of 007, given his tall stature, good looks, and age. Although if this alleged insider is to be believed, Elordi's relationship with Jenner might be excluding him from being considered as the next James Bond.

We should probably take this report with a grain of salt for the time being, but this does paint a picture about how Jacob Elordi's romantic life could be impacting his career. He's still a wildly popular movie and TV star, but we'll have to see if there are any concrete reports about him being in the running to play James Bond. The same anonymous insider was also quoted claiming:

This is only the latest report about what the studio might be planning for the next James Bond. There are rumors the studio was looking for a younger actor, and some claimed that the goal was an unknown who could bring mystery to 007. Just last week there were claims that screen testing had started, and that Jacob Elordi was no longer in the running. It's truly dizzying trying to keep track of all the discourse, so hopefully some real answers come sooner rather than later.

The James Bond franchise is streaming with an Amazon Prime subscription. There's currently no indication as to when the 26th movie will arrive, but hopefully updates will come after Denis Villeneuve's Dune 3 hits theaters in December.

I'm doing my best to keep my hopes and expectations about the announced Red Rising movie in check. For one thing, it can take a while for a book-to-screen adaptation to come to fruition. And for another, this particular series is going to be tricky to adapt (for more than one reason). However, from what author Pierce Brown recently said about the people behind the movie, it sounds like the series is in good hands... or paws?

HugenDubel shared an interview with Pierce Brown on TikTok from the Bookstock Festival in Germany this month, where Brown spoke about director Francis Lawrence and the trust the studio has in them. That in itself is good to hear, but it's what he says about the execs that has me howling in delight:

True fans of Pierce Brown's beloved dystopian sci-fi series call themselves Howlers. It's a nod to the House Mars sigil from the very first book, and has a special connection to several characters (I'd like to avoid spoilers here, so I'll leave it at that). That there are Paramount executives who count themselves among the growing legion of Howlers is extremely comforting to me.

The author also spoke fondly about Francis Lawrence, whom he's known for years, and whom he notes was the director behind a post-apocalyptic music video for Britney Spears' "I'm a Slave 4 U," which Brown humorously states was "very important" to his early development. He also praised I Am Legend another sci-fi adaptation directed by Francis Lawrence.

One other thing Brown mentioned about Lawrence that gives me even more confidence about the Red Rising movie is:

I'm interpreting that to mean that Lawrence isn't the type to let ego drive his decisions. A good idea is a good idea, even if it isn't his. Assuming I have that right, it's another thing that brings me comfort as my excitement only continues to grow about this adaptation.

Going back to what Brown said about knowing Francis Lawrence for years, the director also said as much recently to IGN. As he noted, he was attached to the Red Rising adaptation when it was in development for a Netflix TV series. They apparently had pilots written for it, but it never got past that stage at the streamer, and the rights eventually went back to Brown. Now it's at Paramount, and Lawrence sounds very pleased that it'll be adapted as a film, and sees its potential for the big screen (and IMAX!). He went on to say:

I love to hear the word "priority." Of course, we've been waiting for this adaptation for literal years, so I'll probably wait for more updates before I get my hopes up that this movie will happen in the nearish future. The 2027 movie schedule seems unlikely to the point of impossibility, given how close we already are to the new year, but I'd love to hear 2028 or 2029 as a targeted release date timeframe. We'll have to wait and see. In the meantime, to my fellow Howlers, as well as Howler 1 himself (Pierce Brown), Francis Lawrence and the execs Brown referenced at Paramount: Awooooooo!

The public has always loved Hollywood couples, with folks currently obsessed with newlyweds like Zendaya and Tom Holland and Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce. Few pairs have had the pop culture impact as Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck, whose reunion and wedding in Vegas broke the internet. Bennifer's divorce was finalized in January of 2025, so we'll soon be at the two-year mark of this event. Although an alleged insider made some claims about the pair actually getting closer nowadays.

Affleck and Lopez used a famous lawyer to settle their divorce out of court, and it seems like they've remained on good terms in the time that's passed. They posed together at Kiss of the Spider Woman's premiere, and have reportedly helped keep their kids in contact. An anonymous source spoke to Ok! Magazine about why the two Gigli stars have been talking more lately, claiming:

It sounds like both Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez are going through a transitional period in their lives. As the source mentions, Affleck lost both of his parents during 2026, just two months apart from each other. One can only imagine how hard that has been for the acclaimed actor/director/writer/producer.

Meanwhile, Jennifer Lopez recently sent her twins off to college, and is embarking on empty-nesting the way so many other parents do. The anonymous source claims these two changes have helped keep the former couple in contact. Given how long the A-listers have known each other, this rumor would be understandable if true.

This report is sure to be thrilling for fans who are still shipping Affleck and Lopez after all these years. As previously mentioned, the A-listers broke the internet when it was revealed that they had reunited after so many years apart. When they finally got married it was a relationship that folks had followed for literally decades. Of course, it's also possible that this rumor doesn't end up going anywhere. Plus if the former pair are in contact, that doesn't mean that they're going to actually get back together.

Indeed, there have been reports about JLo being romantically involved with Brett Goldstein, her co-star from Office Romance. As for Affleck, there haven't been any rumors about him dating anyone. Although the minute this changes for either celebrity its sure to promptly go viral.

Office Romance is streaming now with a Netflix subscription, as is Affleck's latest movie Animals, which just arrived as part of the 2026 movie release list.

The internet is a wild place, as there's no predicting what will go viral and when. Case in point: back in 2024 Dune 2's popcorn bucket broke the internet, with folks thinking it looked like a sex toy. It quickly went viral, and the discourse got loud enough that it got a digital short on Saturday Night Live (which is streaming with a Peacock subscription). I didn't think there was any way Denis Villeneuve's third book to screen adaptation could top that bucket, but I was so wrong. Let's break it all down.

Dune 2's NSFW bucket helped to make popcorn buckets a popular trend in the film world, with many new releases getting their own collectables. Fans have been curious about what's Part Three would bring to the table, and our questions have finally been answered. AMC Theaters posted the new merch for Dune 3, and the viral popcorn bucket it back with a twist. Check it out for yourself below:

We are so back, fam. Dune's popcorn has stayed part of pop culture for years, with Timothée Chalamet addressing it while promoting Marty Supreme. The merch for Part Three definitely didn't disappoint. Not only are we getting two more Sandworm-themed buckets, but one of them also includes the thumper device that's used to summon the massive creatures on Arrakis. I truly can't get enough of the footage of the thumper going up and down, which is an awesome new twist on the viral receptacle.

As you can see in the video above, fans of the Dune franchise (which is streaming with a HBO Max subscription) will get the chance to buy a few new popcorn buckets when the third movie hits theaters this December. In addition to the wild new bucket with a thumper, there's another with two different Sandworm mouths. The latter is the perfect choice for moviegoers who like to split popcorn with their friends. Although I think think the thumper one is top tier, and I have to assume that it'll end up becoming a hot collectible item.

While some folks think that these Dune popcorn buckets resemble sex toys, I have to give them their flowers. So many collectible popcorn buckets don't actually hold all that much popcorn. But the Sandworm ones look like you can actually dump your full order into them, and chomp on some salty snacks in your screening of the forthcoming threequel. Considering the pop culture impact of the last Dune buckets, I'm so glad that we're getting even more for Part Three.

Dune: Part Three will hit theaters on December 18th as part of the 2026 movie release list. All eyes are on what will happen with Dunesday, as Avengers: Doomsday arrives on the same day. We'll see what happens at the box office, but Dune is definitely going to win the popcorn bucket battle.

It's a very exciting time to be a Marvel fan. Because in addition to the weekly episodes of VisionQuest that are dropping with a Disney+ subscription, we're also looking forward to upcoming Marvel movies. Namely Avengers: Doomsday and its developing sequel Secret Wars. Chris Hemsworth recently posted a bunch of photos looking swole AF, and I think that might be a hint about his role in the latter movie.

What we know about Avengers: Doomsday is limited, but even less is confirmed about what The Russo Brothers have up their sleeves for Secret Wars. Fans have been worried Thor might die in the movie that's hitting theaters this December, but if the 43-year-old actor's physique is any indication, he's staying superhero fit. Hemsworth posted a bunch of images of his Instagram stories, and he's looking absolutely huge. Check out one of them below:

Holy biceps. While Hemsworth has been playing Thor since back in 2011, he's stayed ripped in the decade and change that has passed. This is probably a smart idea considering he's portrayed the God of Thunder in nine movies so far (as well as a few cameos). Clearly he knows how to maintain his superhero physique, which I'm hoping is a hint that he'll survive the upcoming battle against Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom.

Hemsworth was confirmed with Doomsday's cast announcement, and he's seemingly going to have a big role in that blockbuster. The Russo Brothers hinted that the character will go back to his fallen warrior status from Infinity War, but the big concern was about if we'll see him in Secret Wars. If the actor's body is any indication, he's keeping in Thor shape. Check it out:

The stakes are always high for the Avengers movies, especially considering how many major character deaths we've gotten throughout the crossover-heavy franchise. The original killed off Coulson, Pietro died in Age of Ultron... and then Infinity War happened. That title saw the death of Gamora, Vision, Loki, Heimdall, and eventually half of all life. Those who got dusted returned in Endgame, but we lost both Black Widow and Iron Man. As such, fans are expecting character deaths in Doomsday.

Avengers: Doomsday's trailer showed Thor facing off against the titular villain alone, so the stakes feel high. Luckily, Hemsworth treated us to yet another shirtless photo, showing that he's not slowing down at the gym anytime soon.

Obviously this isn't any real confirmation about his role in Secret Wars, but I'm taking it as a hopeful update. There are only a few OG Avengers still showing up in the movies, and I think we need to keep the God of Thunder around for at least the next two titles. Fingers crossed.

All will be revealed when Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters on December 18th as part of the 2026 movie release list. Secret Wars is currently expected to release one year later on December 17th, 2027.

One of the biggest questions I’ve had since I first saw You Can See Everything is why Elizabeth Holmes and her partner Billy Evans chose Lance Oppenheim and Nathan Fielder to make the new A24 release. As Fielder himself asks, had they ever seen anything Fielder has done before? Fielder and Oppenheim are as befuddled as I am. They’ve answered the question before, but Fielder’s latest answer has me as confused as ever as to why Holmes and Evans brought in the duo.

While taking part in the Savannah Film Festival, Fielder and Oppenheim were asked about it again, and Fielder admitted that it was weird. The director said (via Parade):

Of course, one of the core questions asked by the movie is: What kind of manipulation is going on? Who is manipulating whom and why? Fielder is famous for the way he can get answers out of people that audiences don’t expect, but it’s also made clear in the movie that the whole idea behind shooting a documentary about Holmes’ last weeks before reporting to prison came from her and Evans. They approached A24 at first.

So what kind of game was the notorious fraudster running? Fielder wonders that too:

Now that the movie has been released and has become a massive hit at the box office since it hit the 2026 movie schedule a couple of weeks ago, it made sense for the interviewer to ask if Fielder has any more "clarity" on the question. His answer was blunt:

I honestly couldn’t have said it better myself. I don’t know why Holmes and Evans were ok with Oppenheim and Fielder. I’m a fan of both, but I don’t think I’d ever trust them in this situation. Obviously, the former Theranos CEO and her partner were trying to make Holmes look more sympathetic, but just the smallest amount of research would probably show anyone why Fielder may not be the best choice as a director for doing that.

You Can See Everything is the best movie of the year, at least in my opinion (and the opinion of others around here). I really hope it becomes the first documentary to get a Best Picture nomination at the 99th Academy Awards, but that doesn’t mean I want Nathan Fielder making a movie about me.

When I think about Jennifer Lawrence playing Mystique in the X-Men movies, the high-maintenance transformation process is the first thing that comes to mind. I mean, she had to sit on a bicycle seat and be painted blue. However, it wasn't just the makeup that was a lot to deal with, as the Oscar winner revealed another crazy detail about the process.

The Hunger Games star has been working towards the release of her hair care brand Mes° (pronounced “mess”) and has been adamant about creating safe products. I can only imagine this dedication comes from the blue era of her career, which had her hair changing colors sometimes two or three times in a year. The actor spoke with Nylon about her upcoming line, and when asked about the longest experience getting her hair done, she came up with an answer quickly:

When she was asked if that was "four different times," the actress confirmed it was, explaining:

From 2011 to 2016, JLaw went between dying her hair red for four X-Men movies, dying it brown for four Hunger Games movies, and then the occasional blonde for movies like American Hustle (2013). These roles had a great impact on the action genre, but it came at quite the hairy cost. The strands of her hair would sizzle and even smoke whenever spray hit the straightening iron, which is as harmful as it sounds when it comes to hair health. It certainly didn’t help when she had her hair dyed four different colors just for an X-Men screen test.

Her hair was reportedly fried after shooting Catching Fire in 2013, and really, I can’t believe it took that long. This ultimately led to her donning a pixie that, at the time, she thought “looked dope,” but the constant changes in hair color would spark something else in the actor: a desire for better products.

This led her to Jasmina Aganovic, a biologist and beauty-industry vet, who takes a biology-first approach when it comes to developing products like the ones Lawrence wanted for her hair care line. Part of this new path came from a loss of control over her hair. She shares with The Cut that as a teenager, she just accepted whatever stylists wanted to do to ensure she was camera-ready:

Lawrence has definitely become more outspoken since then, and now possesses a lack of caring for what people think that’s envious. She went through a similar experience to Rebecca Romijn, who played Mystique in the original X-Men trilogy, and whose return to the role came with less time in makeup.

Though I don't know if this would inspire Lawrence to return to the Mystique hair regime. Now, while the actor has stepped away from the X-Men world, she is returning to another character (and potentially her brown hair). JLaw confirmed that she is reprising Katniss for Sunrise on the Reaping. Though she hasn't given any details about her hair. My guess is she'll be rocking a bunette wig. However, her return can be seen when the film hits the 2026 movie schedule in November.

Meanwhile, her “biodesigned haircare” launched October 27 with three products: a volumizing mist, a repair mask, and a restyling serum. Currently, they don’t have any dyes, but Lawrence is hoping that one day they’ll have a safe lavender color so she can finally live out her dreams.

Until then, this is for all you curly girlies out there in need of frizz control.

For this week's movie quiz, we're thinking all about John Hughes movies. If you're a neo-maxi-zoom-dweebie when it comes to classic comedies from the '80s (and beyond), as I am, this crossword puzzle is right up your alley (hint, hint). We're going to give you the character and the movie that was either written or directed by John Hughes (or both), and you just need to name the actor who played the character.

It’s always a delight when Americans discover their favorite actor is actually British. I’ve seen it happen with not one, but two Spider-Men. Although people seem to be confused about where a certain scene-stealer is actually from. Florence Pugh quickly proved that Yelena is far from being just Natasha’s little sister, and part of that has to do with her accent choice. For some reason, fans still seem to think she’s from the States. (Perhaps this is a subconscious choice behind her full Victorian fashion choices for promoting East of Eden?) However, Pugh would love for you to know that she’s not American.

The actor was visiting The Graham Norton Show to promote the new series, which just hit the streaming schedule, when the topic turned to the frustration she has over everyone’s confusion over her accent. Even Tom Cruise chimed in, with the trio saying:

• Florence Pugh: They think that I fully don’t, like they think I’m American. Whenever I speak in interviews, they’re like, ‘Oh, stop doing the British accent!’ I’m like, ‘No, it’s me!’
• Tom Cruise: That’s a really good British accent.
• Graham Norton: It is good, isn’t it?

Pugh does more than a "good British accent" as we’ve gotten a variety of performances from the actor, including an American-coded accent for Dune. Reportedly, she chose an Old American influence for the way Princess Irulan talks to embody how human speech would evolve. This is one of the reasons why Pugh is known for her "method" choices when it comes to changing up a character’s accent to give them a little more spice.

We know she did this when she was first cast in the MCU, revealing she made a change with Yelena by switching her from English to Russian. Pugh states that when first reading the script, Yelena “sounded so boring,” and it’s safe to say she made the right choice. Surprisingly, when Norton asked about her first role the Dune actor took us all the way back to the nativity. In her words:

I never thought I’d have the same wish as Cruise, but I wholeheartedly agree that, “I’d like to see a video of that.” If Pugh’s impression of her younger self is any indication, then I can only imagine how hard six-year-old her went with that performance. Although her most recent (as of this month) performance won’t help with the accent confusion. The actor has chosen a more deliberate mid-Atlantic leaning accent for her take on Cathy Ames, which helps capture the mood and time period of the John Steinbeck adaptation. You can hear her with a Netflix subscription.

However, things will only get more confusing for fans when "Dunesday" approaches. Not only does Pugh have two films in theaters on December 18, she has two different accents in them, which will create a fun linguistic whiplash that I’m "hear" for.

Ever since the upcoming X-Men reboot was announced, there is one big question I haven’t been able to get out of my mind, and I know I’m not the only one. Will Rogue have an accent, and will Inde Navarrette be able to nail the Southern twang? The actor has previously shared her desire to get her character’s accent right by channeling her own Texan roots. Now, she's given us a sweet sample, but while her take on Rogue’s accent is charming, I’m excited to see more so I can get a better feel for it.

While she was at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival for “Dialogues: The Obsession" panel, Navarrette spoke with eTalk about her new role. Of course, they couldn’t resist asking her about her accent progress, and who could blame them? As someone who hears varying degrees of twang (depending on how far into the woods you go) on a regular basis, I’m excited to see the Obsession star really have fun with the Southern accent. When asked to give a little ‘sugar,’ she didn't disappoint:

The spirit is definitely there, and if she could just lean into the ‘God bless me,’ Navarrette will be good to go. Though seeing her attempt has my curiosity officially piqued. The X-Men movie is already the upcoming Marvel movie I’m most excited about (No offense, Doctor Doom), so getting even a little taste of one of its characters has me ready for a trailer.

Also, this isn’t the first time Navarrette has been asked about the accent. She previously shared a desire to go to Mississippi (where Rogue is from) and get a first-hand listen. However, it’s unknown if such a trip has fit into her schedule. What we do know for sure is that she and the rest of the cast have been hard at work figuring out their takes on the characters. Given Anna Paquin’s Rogue was a significant part of the first two movies, and the fact that Rogue is an important character overall, I love seeing Navarrette going all in, which you can see for yourself below:

My hope is that Thunderbolts* director Jake Schreier will take note from the success of X-Men ‘97 and lean into the humanity of the superpowered people. Especially since the reboot seems to be focusing on expanding characters that took a back seat to Wolverine in the original movies. In addition to Inde Navarrette playing Rogue, the new movie stars Kit Connor as Cyclops, Sadie Sink as Jean Grey, Samara Weaving as Emma Frost, Maya Boyd as Storm, Christopher Abbott as Professor X, and Adam Driver as Mr. Sinister.

Meanwhile, a handful of original X-Men actors are reprising their roles for Doomsday, which makes me as excited as I am confused about how this will tie into the reboot plot. Hopefully, we’ll find out on December 18 when the next stage in MCU evolution hits the 2026 movie schedule.

A sneak peek at Rogue and the other X-Men shouldn’t be too far behind, and maybe we'll even get to hear a little 'sugar' before the year is gone.

There’s always more upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows on the way, but the next big actor to take on the next iconic role in the franchise has yet to be cast. I personally love that Ted Lasso’s Hannah Waddingham put her name in on national TV this week. While she made it clear that she’s not picky, there’s one idea she threw out there that is really making me scratch my head.

Hannah Waddingham’s Star Wars Pitch

Waddingham has been all over the 2026 TV schedule this year, between her action comedy series Ride or Die and being in the fourth season of Ted Lasso. She knows where she wants to head next in her career, as she pitched:

Hannah Waddingham shared her deep interest in being in Star Wars during a clip from The Jennifer Hudson Show's YouTube. You gotta love her looking right in the camera of the daytime talk show to address Jon Favreau like this:

As a fan of Waddingham, I’m so happy she’s shooting her shot, because she’d be excellent in a Star Wars movie or TV show. Since she’s already super jacked and is friends with Tom Cruise, I could see her taking a stunt-heavy role, and she’d look amazing wielding her own lightsaber. Someone over at Lucasfilm needs to make this happen for her, stat.

The Questions It Brings Up For This Star Wars Fan

Obviously the Ted Lasso star needs to jet off to the galaxy far, far away in the near future, but can we talk about one aspect of her comment? Grogu’s mom?!! I’ve always wondered where Grogu (aka Baby Yoda) comes from, so Waddingham’s pitch totally speaks to me. Then I realized something. Does Grogu even have a mom? We have no information about where Grogu came from, and we don’t know if Yoda, who is the same species, has parents either.

Both Grogu and Yoda are the same species, but it’s never been defined what species they are and how the species procreates – if it does at all. The question of where Yoda and Grogu come from and who their species are might be the biggest Star Wars mystery we have.

I don’t know if I want Hannah Waddingham to actually play Grogu’s mom. He already has a dad, and his name is Pedro Pascal’s Din Djarin, after all. I’m still totally into her being in the universe, and the fact that she brought up Grogu’s lineage.

The next Star Wars movie is set to be Star Wars: Starfighter starring Ryan Gosling, which Lucasfilm is already betting big on with its budget. It's coming out on May 28, 2027 a few months after the new season of Ahsoka premieres on Disney+ on January 20. In the meantime, Lucasfilm, Hannah Waddingham is waiting by the phone for your call!

Since Elle Fanning was cast as Effie Trinket for Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, I’ve been looking forward to seeing her wear all the Capitol fits. While we still have more time to wait until my most highly anticipated book adaptations come out, I love seeing all the press tour fashion. Fanning just took Effie energy to the red carpet of a UK fan screening, but Mckenna Grace’s latest method dressing moment actually captured my attention even more.

Let’s start with Elle Fanning. The 28-year-old turned up to a glitzy screening of Sunrise on the Reaping in London in something Effie Trinket would absolutely have in her closet. Take a look:

Yes, she’s wearing a mirror on her head – with a dancing ballerina to be precise! As one does. This baby pink dress snatched up from Robert Wun's Fall 2026 fashion show is so whimsical, weird and delicate in all the best ways. I love the ruffle-like bodice, the full tulle skirt and that jaw-dropping headpiece I won’t forget Fanning wore anytime soon. But then I saw McKenna Grace’s gown...

Can you even believe this dress? She’s literally wearing the arena from Sunrise on the Reaping. The details are so gorgeous. I feel like I’m looking at a painting, but it’s wearable! The gown from Almée has a swirling sky, purple mountains, a grassy open space and the entire bottom of the dress is covered in purple flowers. For comparison's sake, check out this image of the arena from the new Hunger Games movie itself.

Grace’s latest Hunger Games fashion moment is one of many she’s been rocking in recent weeks. The 20-year-old also wore one of Jennifer Lawrence’s Oscar dresses and paid homage to Katniss’s iconic white dress recently, too. This week, she also stepped out in a minidress that served as a deep-cut reference to what Rue wore during her interview.

While I would have thought Fanning would be the queen of all the red carpet fashion during the Sunrise on the Reaping press tour, it does make sense to me that it’s Mckenna Grace. Her character, Maysilee Donnor, is much more instrumental to Haymitch’s Hunger Games, while Fanning has a more supporting role in the movie. And they're not done yet with this press tour! I'm sure there are many more to look forward to.

Maysilee is one of the other District 12 tributes next to Haymitch, and two others who are Wyatt Callow and Louella McCoy. There may not be a lot of Elle Fanning red carpet moments in the press tour thus far, but I know Effie will have a lot in the movie. And I’m totally here for all of Grace’s method dressing slays as of late.

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is just about three weeks away, and I’m counting down the days. You can see the movie in theaters on November 20. I’ll certainly be looking out for more fashion moments as we wait for it to come out.

The wild saga of Danny Kilby continues as the Survivor contestant received a big compliment from James Gunn. Kilby hopped online to share his thoughts about how much he loved Clayface, and Gunn responded by signaling that he loves his gameplay on the CBS series.

Those watching Season 51 on the 2026 TV schedule may want to also make time for Clayface, as Kilby's praise adds to the polarizing reviews of this body horror film. Looks like Kilby wasn't too phased by the gore and gruesomeness, and Gunn hopped on Threads to thank him for his opinion:

I'll forever love that the guy in charge of upcoming DC movies is such a big reality television fan. As someone who is becoming a big Survivor fan myself, I would also be honored if Kilby complimented something I was involved in. The wild vote he was able to execute with the help of Maggie's power was so awesome to witness and will be a memorable moment of the new era.

This latest interaction just adds to the lore of Kilby, who only gets more interesting the more I read about him. From paying a guy in beer to teach him how to swim to his enthusiastic thoughts about pooping in the ocean, I'm just waiting for him to announce a podcast. Maybe Dina tribe member Eric Macksoud can be his co-host, and Survivor fans can just be flies on the wall of their wild conversations.

Kilby's bold move, in which he pressured the rest of Dina Tribe to vote out Linnea over Lewis by threatening to "go to Rocks" to pick who was eliminated, won him another chance to turn things around in his game. If he can get Eric on board with Lewis, those three can run Dina Tribe at least until another merge, assuming they all stick together. The "permanent uncertainty" of this season really kills the typical predictability of a Survivor season.

All this to say, I do hope we see a tribal merge soon. We've seen a lot of shakeups with lots of contestants ever since the split into three tribes, and I would love to see what happens once all of these people get back together. So far, the "alpha" players seem to keep getting tricked by the underdogs, but I wonder if that would keep happening if they're all banded together here soon.

We can only wait and see, as new episodes of Survivor hit CBS on Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m. ET. Stick with CinemaBlend as we continue to keep an eye out for updates from the players and react to all the wild stuff going on this season.

The Hunger Games franchise has been a beloved part of pop culture for decades now, starting with Suzanne Collins' novels and then becoming a wildly popular movie property. Luckily for fans, we're close to the next book-to-screen adaptation coming with Francis Lawrence's Sunrise on the Reaping. Actor Joseph Zada plays a young Haymitch Abernathy, and spoke to CinemaBlend about on word he said over and over again while trying to nail this dialect.

What we know about Sunrise on the Reaping all depends on whether you read the book, and know about the brutal deaths that will come with the blockbuster. As you can see in the video above, I asked Zada about becoming Haymitch, specifically his impressive dialect work. He told me:

Points were made here. While Zada didn't work directly with Woody Harrelson, the OG Haymitch has a legacy of work to study. That includes his work in the previous Hunger Games movies, as well as his long and storied career on TV and film. The Sunrise on the Reaping trailer showed off the fruits of the actor's labor, but seeing the full movie is another experience. I was honestly floored during moments of my press screening at how much he sounded like the Cheers icon.

In our conversation about his transformation, I asked Joseph Zada if he had any specific phrases he'd use to find Haymitch's accent. This is a common practice with dialect coaches, serving as an entry point to wrap one's mouth around an accent. The We Were Liars actor shared his:

This is one of Haymitch's most iconic lines, uttered early in the first Hunger Games novel and its corresponding movie. In his first scene Woody Harrelson's character says this talking to Katniss and Peeta, decades into preparing the District 12 tributes for their death in the titular Games. Now we see the origin of his trauma in the new prequel.

During our chat, Zada also recalled one word that he repeated over and over again to himself. It's one that Haymitch uses a number of times throughout the original trilogy, as he told me:

This pressure makes a great deal of sense, as sweetheart is essentially Haymitch's catchphrase. Its his sarcastic nickname for Katniss throughout the first three movies, and we see its origin in Sunrise on the Reaping. He calls fellow District 12 tribute Louella McCoy sweetheart early, solidifying their bond ahead of going into the Quarter Quell.

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping will hit theaters on November 20th as part of the 2026 TV schedule. I have to admit he's not the only newcomer who's expertly channeling a younger version of a beloved character. I'm looking at you, Kelvin Harrison Jr., who sounds EXACTLY like Jeffrey Wright.

It’s officially the best time of the year to watch a scary movie, but not enough new ones hit the 2026 movie schedule in the month of October for my taste. So, I decided it was finally time to check out the latest Scream movie since it just became available to stream with an Amazon Prime Video subscription. It took me a long time to check it out, but wow, was I missing out!

Why I Ran Away From Scream 7

I love the Scream franchise, but I decided to skip out on Scream 7 when it came out back in February because it felt like I was hearing nothing but horror stories about it. We gave it a staggering 1.5 out of 5 stars in CinemaBlend’s Scream 7 review, and other critics were similarly brutal in other reports on the film. In fact, it got the worst reviews of any Scream movie.

The disappointing Scream news also came with other things I’d heard about the film, too. After a bunch of exciting casting announcements came out involving the likes of Matthew Lillard, Scott Foley and David Arquette returning, I was very curious about it. Then I heard there was a bummer A.I. plotline that really didn’t interest me. As if I don’t worry about A.I. in my daily life already. I just figured I’d put a stake through the heart of this one Scream movie and be better off rewatching one of the other ones at home.

The Jump-Scare Of A Good Time I Had

But, guys… I was dead wrong. Scream 7 was so much fun! My No. 1 favorite thing about it has to be Neve Campbell’s return as Sidney Prescott. After she skipped the last movie, it was so refreshing to see her back in her rightful place as a final girl. And, while I wasn’t particularly excited for the tired trope of famed characters passing down things to their kids in nostalgia-filled sequels, this wasn’t the case of Scream 7.

The movie did a great job of keeping the focus on Sidney and finding clever ways for us to see her as a mother for the first time. There’s one standout scene towards the end when she has to walk through with her daughter how to use a gun to try to get Ghostface, and it had me on the edge of my seat.

I won’t give away the details of the Ghostface mystery in Scream 7, but seven movies in, I was pretty impressed with how unsuspecting the whole thing was for me. Yes, there’s an A.I. plotline (eyeroll), but honestly, it made sense in the context of the movie. Ghostface has always been a character who hides behind a mask, and I wasn’t mad at some of the original cast coming back even if they weren’t truly alive in the storyline.

In retrospect, I see why critics didn’t like this one. It’s not doing anything groundbreaking with the Scream franchise. That doesn’t mean it still wasn’t a great time, however. Anyways, if you too were scared away by the reviews, I would definitely recommend checking it out anyways. It was clearly made for fans like me.

I’m of the generation for whom Friday nights in the late ‘80s meant one thing: Miami Vice. I didn’t love the 2006 reboot, but I am psyched for Miami Vice ‘85 starring Michael B. Jordan and Austin Butler as Tubbs and Crockett, respectively. We haven’t gotten a ton of updates on the movie, which is expected to be released in May of 2028, but we did finally see a couple of photos from the set, and I have to say, Jordan looks perfect as Ricardo Tubbs, the role first made famous by Philip Michael Thomas.

The gray suit, black shirt, and white tie are peak ‘80s fashion, but it’s also the beard. The beard! MBJ is really channeling the Tubbs created by Thomas. Let’s be real, Thomas’ beard is one of the best of the era, and Jordan’s looks just as cool. Plainly: he looks like a badass, just as Tubbs should look. It's worth noting that the photo was snapped on a set in Brooklyn, presumably before Tubbs transferred to Miami, in keeping with the character's bio from the show (he was an NYPD detective before teaming up with Crockett in Miami).

However, one of the reasons that this movie excites me more than the 2006 version starring Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx is that this new movie is set in 1980s Miami, which is such a unique time and place. Honestly, I’m kind of obsessed with it. I mean, my favorite video game of all time is Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, and I’m praying that there is a great ‘80s radio station in the upcoming GTA: VI. And there are my aforementioned Friday nights of my youth.

Now that we’ve finally seen some set photos from Miami Vice ‘85, my excitement level is only growing. Even though, as a Gen Xer, I often cringe at Gen X nostalgia, this one is really scratching an itch. Not only is the talent involved top-notch, but you just can’t pick a better time and place for a buddy-cop movie than two guys in the vice squad of the Miami police department at the height of the cocaine trade through the city.

The Talent Involved Has Me Confident

The film is being written by Dan Gilroy and directed by Joseph Kosinski, who has already proven he can take a classic ‘80s franchise and turn it into a modern classic when he helmed Top Gun: Maverick. Joining Jordan and Butler are actors like Alden Ehrenreich, Camila Morrone, Whitney Peak, Walter Goggins, and John Leguizamo. Leguizamo’s first acting gig was a guest spot on Miami Vice in 1986. I’m a fan of pretty much everyone involved, so while I would normally be skeptical of a movie like this, I’m not at all here.

We’re still a long way out from Miami Vice ‘85, though I’m amazed we’re already talking about 2028 movies! I know there are some things I’d love to see in the movie, from the iconic Ferraris to possible cameos (the original show was legendary for having musicians like Miles Davis and Frank Zappa appear). No matter what, I’ll be among the first in line to see it when it finally hits theaters!

It’s the time of year again when we see who’s putting their Christmas decorations up the day after Halloween and who’s letting Thanksgiving happen first. Meanwhile, Sydney Sweeney’s the kind of gal who’s got us thinking about the holidays while the spooky season is still in full swing. But hey, there are few better ways to get us in the mood than a little ode to one of the best Christmas movies, Home Alone. I just didn’t think I’d ever see the family favorite cross over with the world of celebrity fashion and a lingerie ad.

Sydney Sweeney launched her lingerie brand SYRN early this year, which quickly sold out of panties and bras. Now, she’s just launched her holiday collection, and she’s completely channelling Kevin McCallister. Check out the new ad:

This is so fun, and unlikely to cause the kind of backlash her last big campaign got. Sweeney’s brand new SYRN ad starts with her looking into the mirror just like Kevin did after putting aftershave right on her face. Though, as you’d expect from a lingerie ad, she's showing off a gorgeous bra paired with a cable knit cardigan set while looking at her reflection. Honestly, she crushed this Home Alone tribute. Just look at the original moment here:

The famous scream isn’t the only reference to Home Alone in the ad. Sydney going for a huge plate of ice cream while watching TV is totally giving Kevin McCallister, too. Plus, when she’s looking out the window, it’s definitely a play on that scene where Kevin tricks his home invaders by making it look like it's full of people. Funny enough, this ad comes about a year after Macaulay Culkin revived Kevin McCallister for his own Christmas campaign.

The commercial cleverly introduces the celebrity’s holiday collection that’s called “Hibernation Nation,” and I love how cozy it looks. The new line has some super flattering bralettes and thongs, as you might expect from SYRN, but the collection is actually predominantly cable-knit cardigans and short sets in colors like navy blue, red and "sugar cookie". The ad is perfect because it makes me want to buy a set and sit at home in front of the TV with some holiday snacks.

While Kevin’s perils in Home Alone were a conflict for him, I would happily be stuck at home for a few days. And that very much seems to be Sweeney’s intention with her new line. She also previously dressed up as Cindy Lou Who from The Grinch to tease the line for the first time last week. But now this Home Alone nod comes as Hibernation Nation is officially online.

Another nice touch is that the line includes cable knit dog sweaters, too! Imagine matching with your best friend while being comfy at home together? Sweeney really made this one with the girls in mind, and I’m adding to my Christmas wishlist stat.

We’ll be curious about what’s in store for Sweeney’s holiday season, especially after those recent engagement rumors. However, one thing that is clear is that she has the perfect outfits to really harness the immaculate, comfy vibes of the season.

I've watched plenty of new horror movies twice because I missed something the first time, but Curry Barker just gave me a completely different reason to revisit Obsession. The low-budget breakout became one of the wildest success stories on the 2026 movie schedule, and apparently there's a filmmaking mistake hiding in plain sight that Barker couldn't afford to remove. Now that he's pointed it out, I'm pretty sure I'll spend my next viewing staring out the car windows.

Speaking with Collider, the writer-director recalled struggling with the film's driving sequences, which were shot using an LED wall to simulate scenery passing outside the vehicle. That let his crew film without putting actors and cameras on the road, but it also created an editing problem. The footage behind the windows kept repeating, and one particular building apparently makes multiple appearances. As he explained:

That will definitely change how I watch those scenes. I've been so focused on what happens between Bear (Michael Johnston) and Nikki (Inde Navarrette) that I haven't paid much attention to the buildings outside their car. Given how unsettling Nikki becomes after Bear wishes to win her love, I suspect I'm not the only one who missed the accidental neighborhood tour.

The funny thing is, those car sequences were already a clever solution to a limited budget. Instead of relying on a moving vehicle, Barker and his crew could control the setting and lighting on a soundstage. In an earlier interview, he discussed how reflections and rain helped sell the illusion. Of course, when you're working with prerecorded scenery, you can only drive so far before the neighborhood starts looking suspiciously familiar.

The production really was working with limited resources. Barker has said the movie initially had about $650,000 to work with, plus additional funds for later photography. That's remarkably little considering how successful Obsession became. He even turned down an offer of more money that would have required major changes to his script. Knowing that, I can't blame him for letting one stubborn building make a few extra cameos.

I also love how candid Barker has been about the whole filmmaking process. In his Obsession commentary, he pointed out another accidental continuity issue involving the clock in Bear's bedroom. Apparently, eagle-eyed viewers can catch plenty beyond the movie's intentional clues.

Barker told the outlet he's watched the finished film more than 200 times, although revisiting it after several months away helped him appreciate what he'd accomplished. Spend long enough staring at the same footage, and every imperfection probably starts to feel enormous.

Obsession is currently streaming with a Peacock subscription, which makes this easter egg easy to investigate. I already wanted another viewing, and now I have a mission: figure out just how many times that poor building goes past the window.

Minor book spoilers ahead for The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping

It's an exciting time to be a fan of the Hunger Games franchise. While the original movies are streaming with a Hulu subscription, we've returned to Panem with two new book to screen adaptations of Suzanne Collins' recent prequels. Sunrise on the Reaping is almost here, and will feature the return of Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen. The Oscar-winning actress recently confirmed her forthcoming appearance, and it's triggering all the nostalgic feels.

Fans who read Sunrise on the Reaping were expecting this cameo, as Katniss and Peeta appear briefly at the end of the novel. Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson were confirmed back in December of 2025, and in a recent appearance on the Call Her Daddy podcast, she described the experience. The Girl on Fire said the following:

How heartwarming is that? While years have passed since Jennifer Lawrence ended her tenure at Katniss back in 2015, the same crew, director Francis Lawrence, and producer Nina Jacobson have continued working on the prequel movies. So on top of slipping back into character alongside co-stars Woody Harrelson and Josh Hutcherson, she also got a full family reunion with various other collaborators offscreen.

If the movie follows Sunrise on the Reaping's book, Katniss and Peeta will appear at the end of the story, revealing that Haymitch finally shared the full story of his Hunger Games to his fellow District 12 victors. In the same interview, Jennifer Lawrence spoke more about her relationship with Woody Harrelson, revealing:

Clearly there's a bunch of love between these two actors, and Hunger Games fans will no doubt be tickled by the way their characters' dynamic seems to extend into the real world. I'm also dying to see any footage of this trio messing around on the set of Sunrise on the Reaping, so hopefully the studio will give us a look behind the curtain sometime in the future.

Lawrence talking about being back as Katniss makes her role in Sunrise on the Reaping feel all the more real, and luckily we're less than a month away from its wide theatrical release. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes did well at the box office, so hopefully if this new movie follows suit we'll keep getting prequels from Suzanne Collins and company.

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping will arrive in theaters on November 20th as part of the 2026 movie release list. We'll just have to wait and see how much screen time Jennifer Lawrence snags as the beloved hero of the franchise.

One of the most fascinating behind-the-scenes Back To The Future details I recently learned is that Michael J. Fox’s Marty McFly was the result of a recast. Eric Stoltz originally earned the role and even played Marty for over a month with the rest of the cast before the swap was made. As you can imagine, the experience was “heavy” for everyone involved. Christopher Lloyd, aka Doc Brown, just revealed what it was like for him when Stoltz left and Fox was brought in.

Lloyd just turned 88 years old last week, and is marking the Back To The Future-themed milestone (remember the DeLorean gets to 88 miles per hour to work) with an autobiography that’s now on bookshelves. While promoting his book In My Own Time, he reminisced about the moment on set when he learned Michael J. Fox was going to replace Eric Stoltz. As he said:

In the new chat with the Family Ties actor for Interview Magazine, Christopher Lloyd recalled the moment he learned that Fox would take over Marty. It’s what he said next that I found quite interesting. In his words:

I mean… imagine getting done with a month’s worth of work, and then being told you have to start from scratch with a completely new coworker you’ve just met. It’s frustrating news to receive, even if Steven Spielberg is the one giving it. But, as Lloyd also shared, “it all worked out” because Michael J. Fox was just perfect for the role. He offered a new burst of energy to the set Stoltz didn’t have, and what we got in turn is one of the best '80s movies ever.

I would have thought that Lloyd would be worried about working with a whole new actor on Back To The Future. However, the reason instead was a fear from the actor’s side that he might not be able to replicate the performance he’d given thus far.

Stoltz was reportedly replaced on Back To The Future because the actor was “a little more Shakespeare” than the filmmakers wanted, per Fox. It couldn’t have been easy for Fox to start playing Marty after the cast and crew had gotten into the swing of things on the set of Back To The Future. Plus, Fox got the role after making a deal that he would shoot the movie and Family Ties at the same time. It resulted in the young star not getting much sleep during the shoot, but it also helped make Back To The Future the beloved film it is.

Back To The Future just crossed its 40th anniversary last year, and I love knowing there are always more stories to learn about the iconic film. I'm curious what other nuggets are in Lloyd's brand-new autobiography.

Spoilers for Wicker are ahead! You can catch the movie in theaters right now.

You know, Wicker leaves you with a lot to think about. Does the Wicker Husband give the Fisherwoman splinters when they’re having sex? (The answer is no.) What’s up with the marriage traditions in this town? Did that thorny wicker lady destroy all the villagers? The list goes on. However, at the end of the movie, what I was wondering most was: “WTF happens to that wicker baby?” Well, we asked Olivia Colman, who plays the Fisherwoman, and Alexander Skarsgård, who plays the beloved Wicker Husband.

Now, there’s lots you can wonder about the wicker baby. Are they OK? Do they grow up like a normal kid? Those were big questions on my mind walking out of this project on the 2026 movie schedule. They both came up when CinemaBlend’s Hannah Saulic spoke to Colman and Skarsgård too. When she asked, “What happens to the baby?” Colman said:

So, we now know the baby is all good. However, when Saulic started to follow up, the actress clarified that the baby doesn’t literally grow up. Instead, maybe it needs upgrades from Peter Dinklage’s Basketmaker. Speaking of that, Colman and Skarsgård had the following back-and-forth:

• Olivia Colman: Doesn’t grow up. Maybe it gets a little upgrade every year.
• Alexander Skarsgård: Can you imagine? It learns to talk, and be an adult, and it’ll be like, ‘Mom, what’s up?’ [Like this big.]
• Olivia Colman: Oh no, I don’t like that.
• Alexander Skarsgård: It starts to drink and gamble. That’s the sequel. We’ll save that for the sequel.
• Hannah Saulic: That sounds great. Peter Dinklage can come in and just like add—
• Olivia Colman: Yeah, I think Peter maybe…maybe the baby does [gestures to growing]

Listen, in a movie where a lot of wicker anatomy and biology is seen and discussed, it’s hard not to wonder if that wicker baby has the ability to literally grow up or if it’ll just stay a baby forever. That’s because, in the film, it’s implied that the Wicker Husband wasn’t going to change or age until after he got burned and his wicker was damaged. Now, he’ll deteriorate and, in a way, age. So, it stands to reason that the wicker baby would not grow up; it’d just be a baby forever.

However, I like the idea that the Fisherwoman and Wicker Husband could take it to the Basketmaker to have him make modifications that would help it grow up into a full-grown wicker person. Skarsgård likes that idea too, as he said:

Colman then wrapped up by saying the baby’s “soul is still there, but the baby grows.” Meanwhile, Skarsgård joked that he was taking notes for the sequel.

Anyway, with that out of the way, I think we can assume that the wicker baby is totally fine and growing up with two parents who love them dearly. And maybe, with each passing year, they take them back to the Basketmaker so they can grow up into a wicker person.

I like to think that’s what happened, and that’s how I’ll think about Wicker’s ending and the baby from here on out. Now, if you’d like to see this baby, you can grab one of those wicker popcorn buckets and catch the critically acclaimed Wicker in theaters now.

I've got a soft spot for the era when superhero movies were still figuring themselves out. Looking at the 2026 movie schedule and all the upcoming superhero movies, it's wild to think how far the genre has come since 2003, when we had Ben Affleck in a red leather suit, Jennifer Garner wielding sais, and enough Evanescence on the soundtrack to make the whole thing unmistakably early-2000s. I've watched Daredevil more times than I care to admit, but I had no idea how goofy Affleck was while shooting some of those fights with Garner. Apparently, even the Man Without Fear worried about embarrassing himself.

During Variety's "Does Ben Affleck Know His Lines?" video, the actor was asked to identify dialogue from his past movies. When shown a line Matt Murdock says to Elektra about how difficult it is to learn her name, the Argo filmmaker initially questioned whether it was even from Daredevil. Once he realized it was, he remembered how much fun he had working with Garner, along with one pretty funny concern about their action scenes:

I can't get over that mental image. Here's the guy playing one of Marvel's most intimidating street-level heroes, wondering if he's about to pull off something cool or look like a total dork next to Jennifer Garner. Honestly, watching the movie now, I understand where he was coming from.

Remember the playground fight? Matt and Elektra turn what should be a straightforward introduction into a full-on martial arts demonstration in front of a bunch of children. There's flipping, kicking and some very strange flirting, all taking place around equipment that definitely wasn't designed for superhero combat. It's one of those scenes I can't imagine a modern Marvel movie getting away with quite the same way.

Garner, meanwhile, had already spent time kicking serious butt as Sydney Bristow on ABC's Alias, and she's since joked about the knife-fighting skills she picked up from those action roles. She was comfortable with the choreography, and her experience shows throughout Daredevil. Affleck had certainly made action movies before, including Armageddon and Pearl Harbor, but battling a trained assassin in a public playground is a different assignment.

It wasn't exactly a walk in the park for the 13 Going on 30 star, either. The actress previously recalled that her hands swelled during the extended shoot for Elektra's memorable training sequence, forcing a crew member to cut off her rings. Between those stories and Affleck's worries about channeling The Matrix, I'm starting to appreciate the effort behind all that leather-clad choreography.

Of course, the Reindeer Games actor hasn't always been kind to Daredevil in hindsight. In a separate recent interview, he even admitted he wishes he'd turned to Kevin Feige for more guidance while making the movie. I get it. The 2003 film has some genuinely bizarre creative choices, although I still have a good time revisiting it.

Garner went on to headline Elektra in 2005 and eventually returned to the character for 2024's Deadpool & Wolverine. The former spouses have also spoken warmly about working together, and they recently considered reuniting for Affleck's film Animals before deciding that playing a married couple might bring too much real-life baggage.

Personally, I'd love to see them share the screen again, preferably in another action movie. Just let Garner handle the fighting and give Affleck a little reassurance before the cameras roll. Also, maybe keep them away from the playground equipment this time?

I am a Jane Austen fan. Pride and Prejudice is one of my favorite books of all time. Additionally, I have seen many adaptations based on Austen’s books. They are amazing movies based on classic novels. However, I have never been bewitched by Sense and Sensibility.

I read the novel in college and watched the 90s version soon after. I just didn’t connect with it. It was missing something to spark my romance-loving soul. However, the 2026 Sense and Sensibility adaptation completely changed my mind about the novel.

Warning: Sense and Sensibility spoilers are ahead. Proceed with caution.

The Latest Sense And Sensibility Adaptation Makes A Strong Case For Passion And Practicality

From my understanding, the novel asks whether the goal is practical romance or passionate romance. Should women yearn for a practical partner or one with passion and fire? Marianne (Esmé Creed-Miles) wants passion. She thinks love without it isn’t worth having. Elinor (Daisy Edgar-Jones) is the sensible sister and doesn’t dare to dream when it comes to love.

They clash on their different ideals of love and romance. For some reason, my younger self interpreted the movie and book as an argument for practical love. It is, but it’s also fighting for passion. Elinor and Marianne both end up falling for men who represent passion and practicality.

Colonel Brandon (Herbert Nordrum) is a lot more serious than Marianne expected, but he fights for her. He’s full of passion, even if he approaches it more sensibly. Elinor and Edward (George MacKay) are quiet with their love. However, it’s full of longing and doing whatever it takes to find a way to be together. Sense and Sensibility isn’t about either passion or practicality. It’s about having both.

It wasn’t until this movie that my brain connected the dots. In my defense, sometimes I am not the smartest. This made me glad that Sense and Sensibility wasn’t what I expected from my encounters with the source material. It was more.

Both Love Stories Are Swoon-Worthy In This Adaptation

I am a huge Alan Rickman fan. I also think he was attractive, but I am so used to him playing villains that his Colonel Brandon didn’t make me swoon. It’s a great performance by him, but I just wasn’t moved. Herbert Nordrum’s Colonel Brandon made me swoon.

I am also a huge Hugh Grant fan and a lover of all his romantic roles. However, I would argue George MacKay is a better Edward. MacKay and Nordrum gave performances that made them a fitting match for Marianne and Elinor.

Sense and Sensibility Inspired Me To Finally Finish Reading All Of Jane Austen's Books

The finishing Emma saga continues. Before the upcoming year, I will finish that novel. I've been more than halfway done for years. It’s time. I need to retreat again to the world of Jane Austen. Sense and Sensibility reminded me how much I love her romances and writing. Therefore, it’s time to not only finish Emma, but all the other Austen novels. It’s Austen fall in my house.

Then I will likely watch every film or TV show adaptation. I also can’t wait to see Netflix’s Pride and Prejudice. It’s one of the upcoming book adaptations I am most looking forward to watching.

It now has to live up to the greatness of this adaptation of Sense and Sensibility.

In Wicker, nothing about the Wicker Husband is left to the imagination. You can see everything, and let’s just say there’s a reason the poster for this movie was made to look like a Harlequin romance novel. The cast could also see everything, and one of Alexander Skarsgård’s co-stars explained the funny and relatable reaction she had when she saw him as the naked Wicker Husband while filming the project on the 2026 movie schedule.

To clarify, Skarsgård wasn’t naked as himself; he was naked as the Wicker Husband, which meant he was fully covered in wicker. However, he was still “stark naked as wicker,” as his co-star Elizabeth Debicki put it. So, how does one react to a sight like that? The Crown actress recalled her reaction during an interview with Variety:

Now, in the film, Wicker Husband goes full frontal in one scene, he’s in the water, and he’s pretty far away from the camera. However, you can see everything from his wicker abs to his wicker penis. Personally, I don’t know how I’d react to a sight like that if I were on this set. And I think Debicki, who played The Tailor’s Wife in the movie, had a very valid and relatable response to seeing her co-star in naked Wicker Husband mode.

I have to say, though, considering Wicker reviews highlight just how horny the movie is, I guess seeing all the wicker on set shouldn’t have come as a shock.

Anyway, this movie really is very romantic and spicy. Skarsgård’s Wicker Husband and Olivia Colman’s Fisherwoman have multiple sex scenes together. In fact, Colman explained that when they filmed those moments, it was actually helpful that the wicker suit was between them. She also said her trust in Skarsgård, their intimacy coordinator and the movie's directors, who are married, made the whole situation “so much fun.”

Overall, Wicker does not shy away from the intimate and sexual elements of the story. It also leans into the tender and sweet side of Wicker Husband and Fisherwoman’s relationship, and all around, this movie truly is a lovely romance.

Women are loving Wicker Husband too. Yes, he’s good-looking and fit. However, in a different interview, Colman and Debicki also noted that Skarsgård’s character is so attractive because he’s also a good listener. He’s very attentive, too, he cares deeply about the people he loves, and he won’t give you splinters. So, he’s the full package.

Well, with all that said, it was quite funny and relatable to hear how the cast reacted to seeing a fully naked Wicker Husband. It’s also been fun to see everyone else reacting to Wicker in all its horny and heartfelt glory. So, if you’d like to watch Wicker, you can catch the movie in theaters now.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a well-oiled machine at this point, consistently treating fans to new content in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. Anticipation for the next upcoming Marvel movie Avengers: Doomsday is sky high, and there are countless theories and rumors about what The Russo Brothers have up their sleeves. Fans are especially curious about what characters might appear, and some think they've found evidence of Ryan Reynolds' Deadpool being included. Let's break it all down.

What we know about Avengers: Doomsday is super limited, which is why moviegoers are filling in the blanks with theories and rumors. The Doomsday cast announcement confirmed a ton of characters, but fans are still hoping for some surprise appearances. They have been wondering if Deadpool will appear in either of the next two Avengers flicks, and some fans think they got a hint at his role thanks to new merchandise.

There's plenty of tie-in merch coming out ahead of Doomsday, and that includes a collaboration with designer sunglasses Ray-Ban. The brand just released a variety of Marvel designs, including a pair of Deadpool sunglasses. Some people online are seeing this as a hopeful update that Wade Wilson might get in on the crossover fun of the forthcoming blockbusters.

This is just a theory at this point, so we should probably take it with a grain of salt. Still, there's been chatter about Deadpool being in Doomsday for months now, with Ryan Reynolds personally adding fuel to the fire. The character is wildly popular, so why wouldn't the studio want to bring the Merc with the Mouth into an Avengers movie or two?

Wade Wilson finally joined the MCU with Deadpool & Wolverine, which broke box office records when it hit theaters. Given the movie's success, folks assumed that both Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman would be continuing to play their signature characters for the foreseeable future. It would be thrilling to see them pop up in an Avengers movie, but only time will tell if that actually happens.

To be fair, it's possible the Ray-Ban Deadpool glasses are a response to the character's popularity, rather than being directly connected with Doomsday. Although Kevin Feige teased that more characters would be in the movie, so this chatter will likely continue until its release this December. Fans are also wondering about whether or not Spider-Man will pop up as well, especially after Brand New Day's credits scene.

All will be revealed when Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters on December 18th as part of the 2026 movie release list. I'd love to see Deadpool included now that he's in the shared universe, so I'll keep my fingers crossed that he gets that long-awaited crossover moment.

Please be warned (I do this every time) that there is a MAJOR SPOILER for You Can See Everything, the latest hit movie from A24 on the 2026 movie schedule. If you haven’t seen the movie and don’t want to be spoiled, I urge you to see it ASAP!

One of the best-kept spoiler secrets of the fall movie season is the surprise appearance by Amanda Seyfried in the documentary You Can See Everything from directors Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim. In fact, her appearance in the movie might end up costing the movie an Oscar nomination for Best Documentary, but I think it is almost certain to get nominated for an even bigger award: Best Picture. Seyfried is also being talked about as a legit candidate for a Best Supporting Actress nomination, too.

Seyfried has been keen to keep her appearance a secret, just like the rest of us who have seen the movie, and that has led to some awkward interviews lately. However, in an interview last year, she very subtly teased that she had returned to the role of Elizabeth Holmes (with an assist from Emma Stone). It’s a role that won her an Emmy for The Dropout (available with a Hulu subscription). Here’s what happened in that older interview.

She Dropped Into That Famous Voice

About a year ago, in November 2025, Seyfried was promoting her hit The Housemaid in an interview with Ben Mankiewicz on CBS Sunday Morning. Mankiewicz asked her about doing accents, and at first, she admitted that Holmes’ voice is “a little higher now.” That might not send up a red flag right away, until you realize that Holmes had not made any public appearances or given any interviews since her trial for fraud that landed her in federal prison. How would Seyfried know?

A few moments later, Seyfried gave more away. After Mankiewicz complimented her on the voice, the Mean Girls star said to him:

She’d had some practice lately! Interesting, Mankiewicz didn’t follow that up by asking why she’d been practicing, which isn’t a dig at the reporter. He, like the rest of the world, had no idea that she had been working with Fielder and Oppenheim on You Can See Everything, so it would be easy to overlook that subtle comment. It’s only now, now that the movie is out and it’s a hit, that a comment like that would stand out.

We’ve talked a lot about this movie since its release, but talking about Seyfried’s wonderful performance has been tricky, as no one, myself included, wants to spoil anything for audiences. It’s fun to see Seyfried from a year ago revealing this little nugget of info and providing no further context. It’s an easter egg of sorts, and I’m glad CBS dug it up.

It's a good time to be a Hunger Games fan. Those who loved the original movies (which are streaming with a Netflix subscription) will soon be treated to another book to screen adaptation with the movie version of Sunrise on the Reaping. Actress Mckenna Grace has been method dressing while promoting her role as Maysilee/ Merrilee Donner, and I have to give her flowers for the latest subtle reference to the franchise's history.

Mckenna's celebrity fashion has been on point as she promoted Sunrise on the Reaping, and her latest nod to the previous films is a bit more subtle. While appearing on Today, she rocked a vintage Betsey Johnson that seriously resembles what Rue wore in the first movie when being interviewed by Stanley Tucci's Caesar Flickerman. Check it out for yourself below:

At first glance this dress might just look like a pretty blue dress from Betsey Johnson. But hardcore fans of the Hunger Games clocked that it resembles that Amandla Stenberg's Rue wore in her televised interview with Flickerman. As a reminder, you can see a shot of her in that scene from the movie below:

While plenty of folks credit Law Roach for starting the method dressing trend in Hollywood, plenty of celebrities have embraced it while doing those long and grueling press tours. Mckenna Grace and her stylist embraced this for Sunrise on the Reaping, with plenty of looks inspired by costumes from the original movies. She's clearly got a love for The Hunger Games, which will no doubt affect her dual performance in the prequel film.

I love this subtle look from Grace, but not all Hunger Games fans agree. Some still thing it's "too soon" to reference Rue's death, despite the movie hitting theaters back in 2012. Fans are still upset about the way she perished in the games, mostly thanks to her young age and small stature.

Rue's death has always been a sore point for Hunger Games fans, and the scene went viral again a few years ago when they realized The Boys star Jack Quaid was the one who killed her while playing District 1 tribute Marvel.

Rue is a fan favorite character from the original Hunger Games, and book fans can also say the same thing for Maysilee in Sunrise on the Reaping. The pressure is on for Mckenna Grace to deliver, but if her press images are any indication she'll be able to to do just that. Luckily the wait for the movie is nearly over.

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping will hit theaters on November 20th as part of the 2026 movie release list. We'll just have to wait and see if Grace gives us any more iconic method dressing looks until then.

Many animated films are innovative, beautifully drawn or designed, and full of rich storytelling. They’re true works of art. However, I think as adults we often skip the genre, especially if we don’t have children. There is an assumption that these films will only appeal to kids. Wildwood goes against that argument.

It begs to be seen by adults. This dark fairy tale is visually stunning and has a storyline that may make Wildwood one of the best fantasy movies of all time. I saw the film at an early fan screening. That show included an introduction by Wildwood director Travis Knight. He explained the film’s process and gave a shocking detail. It stuck with me and inspired me.

The 16 Year Wildwood Process Shows Sometimes Things Need Time To Reach Greatness

Films often take years to film, edit, and reshoot, but it’s rare that a film takes almost two decades to complete and release. The stop-motion process is time-consuming because of all the details necessary to make it work, so it’s understandable that it took a long time to create and release. However, I was shocked to learn that it took 16 years to make, but I felt a sense of power in this detail.

I think as humans, we often worry about not living our lives to the fullest. We worry that our time is fading, and that we won’t leave anything of greatness on this earth. I think artists and creatives especially feel the pressure of time. However, Wildwood is a reminder that yes, time on earth is short, but sometimes mesmerizing art needs time to develop.

This could apply to the art or the artist. We shouldn’t see time as this suffocating thing but as something that we’re lucky enough to get to use wisely (and sometimes unwisely). The Wildwood initial box office numbers may not be stellar, but everything about the movie is a masterpiece.

High box office numbers are nice, but long-lasting, impressive art will always be more powerful.

Wildwood's Long Development Inspired Me To Take My Time On Projects

I am an entertainment reporter and freelance writer by trade. My goal is to be a successful fiction writer. Other fellow writers may know how daunting the idea is of putting pen to paper and continuing long enough to complete a story.

Hopefully my next project doesn’t take 16 years to complete. However, if a project isn’t completed in a few weeks, months, or even a year, Wildwood helped me get comfortable with the idea of the long-haul project. We live in an instant gratification society, but that’s not necessarily the best way to create everlasting art. Immortalization takes time.

Without Explicitly Being An Anti-AI Movie, It Is One

So many decisions and details are put into Wildwood. You feel that in every frame of the movie. It’s a movie made with precision and love. Something AI cannot do. Wildwood feels like an anti-AI movie in how it shows that man-made art is needed and beautiful when given the chance.

In an interview with Variety, Travis Knight spoke about his feelings towards AI. This quote sums up why AI should never replace human-created art.

Make sure Wildwood is one of the 2026 movies that you add to your must-watch list.

Aside from her resume of acting gigs, Megan Fox is also known for her Halloween costumes. Even though Fox has gotten in hot water over her costumes choices, fans love to see what she dresses up as every year. She delivered early this time around, going full Twilight with a vampy photo dump on social media. Let's break it all down.

The Twilight movies were a sensation when they were in theaters, and are one of the most popular book to screen adaptations ever. Characters like Edward and Bella remain popular Halloween costumes all these years later, and Fox put her own spin on them a series of steamy gothic images. You can check them out for yourself with the link below:

Megan Fox is known for posting striking images of herself on social media, and this latest early Halloween photo dump is no exception. The images are quickly making their way around the internet, including her caption "who’s going to be the Bella to my Edward?"

She posted for her whopping 23.9 million followers on Instagram, many of whom took to the comments section. The responses are a mixture of compliments, jokes, and Twilight references. Some of which read:

• "& so the lion fell in love with the lesbian"
• "As if you could outrun me…🧛🏼‍♀️🩸💅"
• "Meeee I’ll be your Bella 😩😍"
• "Jennifer’s body 2 shoot or we’re delusional?"
• "PERFECTION 😍"

Fans regularly re-watch Twilight, and it looks like Megan Fox does the same thing. Instead of wearing a costume that replicates the ones worn by the likes of Edward, Alice, and Rosalie the Transformers actress continued the sheer dress trend with a see-through white number that shows her red undergarments. She's surrounded by candles, one of which she uses to light a cigarette. I wonder what the Cullen family would think of this look.

Megan Fox didn't appear in the Twilight films, but she's no stranger to spooky vibes in her career. She famously played the title role of Jennifer's Body, which might finally be getting a sequel from Diablo Cody. She also starred as a killer robot in Subservience, and voiced the vampiric Nitara in Mortal Kombat 1. She's got experience a blood sucker, even if it wasn't in live-action. I have to wonder if this also inspire her latest Halloween costume.

As previously mentioned, Twilight fans regularly re-watch the film franchise despite it ending back in 2012. The same cant be said for the books, especially since author Stephenie Meyer released Midnight Sun back in 2020, which tells the story of the first novel through Edward's perspective.

The Twilight movies are streaming now with a Netflix subscription. We'll have to wait and see what acting projects Megan Fox picks up; I'm personally hoping she gets another cameo in Overcompensating Season 2.

There are few movie franchises with the cultural impact of the Star Wars movies. Generations grew up with the galaxy far, far away, both on the big screen and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. Actress Natalie Portman famously played Padmé in the prequel trilogy, and recalled a big lesson she learned when The Phantom Menace got panned by critics.

The pressure was on for Star Wars' prequel trilogy when it hit theaters, given it was the franchise's first time back on the big screen since George Lucas' originals. In an interview with Harper's Bazaar, the Oscar-winning actress spoke about why she was "lucky" for the The Phantom Menace's poor reviews. In her words:

Portman grew up in front of our eyes, and was introduced to professional challenges as a young person. As she pointed out, both The Professional and Star Wars: The Phantom Menace got ripped apart upon their release, even though the latter made a ton of money at the box office. Indeed, it took years for fans to start appreciating Episode I. One can only imagine how challenging this must have been at the time, especially when the cast's acting talents were put into question.

Later in the same interview, the Black Swan actress shared why this experience was actually helpful to her as she continued to work. As she put it:

Honestly, I see her point. Rather than letting poor reviews defeat her or diminish her career, Natalie Portman just kept working. She refused to show that the critics upsetting her, and instead kept racking up major movie roles. Indeed, the Jackie actress has remained an A-lister in the years since starring as Padmé Amidala.

Portman would reprise her role in both of The Phantom Menace's sequels, titled Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith. She's been away from the franchise since 2005, but there are plenty of fans who have been hoping to see her reprise her role on the silver or small screens. Only time will tell if that ever happens.

Star Wars will return to the big screen when Starfighter hits theaters on May 28th, 2027. Since it's not part of the 2026 movie release list, fans will have to re-watch the previous movies on Disney+.

Wicker is gradually becoming one of the most talked-about titles on the 2026 movie schedule, and there are plenty of reasons for that. However, chief among those details is the fact that it sees Alexander Skarsgård play a benevolent man made of wicker. (Have we finally seen morally-gray vampires and ethically questionable antiheroes replaced as the "perfect guy"?) Skarsgård's co-stars, Olivia Colman and Elizabeth Debecki, shared their takes on why women had been fawning over his character, and I understand their viewpoints.

I'd argue that Skarsgård’s rare outing as a "good" guy might have people labeling him the "best" guy after a Wicker screening. The Fisherwoman herself, Colman, and Debicki (who plays the Tailor’s Wife), spoke with Entertainment Weekly about just what it was about a wicker man that has women ready to weave a basket, and they're giving a lot of the credit to Skarsgård:

• Olivia Colman: I mean, it’s the whole package, isn’t it?
• Elizabeth Debicki: [He’s] built on a very nice canvas. Let’s just be honest. It’s a good starting place, right?

That "canvas" is definitely something to be envious of. (However the wicker appearance didn’t make filming the intimate scenes less embarrassing for Colman who gives credit to the intimacy coordinator.) All that aside, it’s actually about what’s inside the basket that matters. The premise, based on Ursula Wills-Jones’ short story “The Wicker Husband,” sees all the wives in a village getting jealous of the ATTENTION the Fisherwoman receives from the unique man. While there is some oddly appealing charm woven into the character's physical appearance, that’s not what has the other wives paying attention.

Due to the relationship, the other wives question everything (and I’m not talking about the splinter debate). I’m talking about the fact that when the Fisherwoman has the Basket Weaver (played by Peter Dinklage) make her a perfect husband, what he gives her is a man who is tentative and listens. This is what Colman and Debicki agree makes the Wicker Husband so "hot":

• Colman: It’s the soul of the Wicker Husband, which is what I think does it for everyone.
• Debicki: You know what I think it is about the Wicker Husband that people maybe are going slightly feral for? He is a really good listener. He listens.
• Colman: [That’s] hot.
• Debicki: That is pretty hot, I will say. And by listening, he’s listening to her, but he’s picking up on cues. He’s doing things without being asked. He’s making suggestions. These are the things that women like.
• Colman: It’s pretty simple, really.
• Debicki: Yeah, it’s not that complicated. And he’s very kind.

They’re not wrong. Part of what makes Skarsgård so dreamy is not the fine craftsmanship of the subject of Wicker’s risqué popcorn bucket. It’s that he’s doting and treats his partner like a queen (and not a fisherwoman). Such attributes are very attractive, in my humble opinion, in a movie and in real life.

Wicker seemingly began drumming up buzz after the Harlequin adaptation of the movie poster teased the epic romance. Directors Alex Huston Fischer and Eleanor Wilson have truly created something special, and the fresh reviews of the lusty fantasy flick have earned it a 95% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes along with a 93% audience rating, as of this writing.

Critics seem to appreciate the movie’s “fairy tale quality that's aimed at an adult audience.” Others are complimenting the movie for taking a story about a wicker man and creating something “about trust, autonomy, and finding a relationship that works for you.” Overall, the movie delivers a dreamlike romance that is as hot as it is sweet, but it should also be applauded for making Alexander Skarsgård's character not only swoonworthy but trustworthy as well.

Those who haven't seen the film may be wondering if the movie end with the other wives getting Dinklage's character to weave them new partners or if their husbands take some advice from the wicker man? You'll just have to get that answer by checking out Wicker in theaters now.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is known for constantly expanding, thanks to new projects arriving in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. Fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order have seen a variety of post-credits scenes introduce characters and ideas we never saw again, including Daniel Destin Cretton's Shang-Chi. The filmmaker knows fans still have questions, and recently made a vow related to his MCU debut.

Cretton had his second Marvel movie with Spider-Man: Brand New Day, but there are still lingering questions about Shang-Chi's credits scenes. During an interview with The Wrap, the filmmaker brought up those scenes while discussing Brand New Day's mysterious credits sequences. In his words:

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings hit theaters back in 2021, so fans have been sitting in the dark regarding its ending for years now. Luckily Daniel Destin Cretton hasn't forgotten this, and is still committed to following-up on those lingering narrative threads. Hopefully that happens sooner rather than later.

Shang-Chi crushed at the box office, and is also one of the most critically acclaimed movies in the post-Endgame phase. Unfortunately we still haven't gotten a sequel, or answers regarding the movie's intriguing credits scene. In the same interview, the director shared his perspective on why, saying:

Simu Liu has expressed similar frustrations about not getting a sequel, but luckily the actor will reprise his role as part of the Avengers: Doomsday cast. Hopefully we get answers about Shang-Chi's credits sooner rather than later.

At the end of the 2021 movie, Shang-Chi and Katy are summoned by Wong after returning to San Francisco. They go through his portal and meet both Captain Marvel and Bruce Banner. The group of heroes discuss how the rings were seemingly acting as a beacon, with fans theorizing at the time that this was setting up Kang. As we know, Jonathan Majors' firing resulted in that character being dropped altogether.

There hasn't been any follow-ups to this cliffhanger, but maybe we'll get some references when Shang-Chi appears in Doomsday. Either that or w'ell have to keep waiting for a sequel.

Avengers: Doomsday will hit theaters on December 18th as part of the 2026 movie release list. For now, fans can re-watch Shang-Chi over on Disney+, complete with its unanswered questions.

With one notable exception, Quentin Tarantino has avoided writing and directing sequels in his career. Now, Once Upon A Time in Hollywood is getting the sequel treatment, at least spiritually. Counting Kill Bill as one project, as Tarantino does, this will be the first time the legend will be part of a continuing story. The movie, The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth, is written by Tarantino and directed by David Fincher. Surprisingly, it was a comment in a review that convinced the Pulp Fiction director to bring back Brad Pitt’s character from Once Upon a Time.

Booth Is A Resonating Character

Over the weekend, Tarantino made an appearance at the AFI Fest in LA for a screening of OUATIH and a 17-minute preview of the new Cliff Booth movie. He talked about the upcoming sequel, which will hit the 2026 movie schedule on November 25 before being able to be streamed with a Netflix subscription on December 23, and why he decided to write it. It all came from a positive review of the first movie. Tarantino commented (via THR):

I wasn’t just audiences who really connected with Booth and Pitt as Booth. Tarantino went on to explain that he loved the character too, saying:

That led to The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth, which Tarantino was originally reported to be directing in addition to writing, before he decided to step back from directing and bring in Fincher. Tarantino is also writing a novelization of the movie, turning Booth into a literal paperback hero. I have to wonder if there is more ahead from the character, assuming this movie ends up a hit. Tarantino wonders too, adding:

Given that Tarantino has expressed that he plans to direct just one more movie in his career, could there be a future where he writes a series of paperbacks about Cliff Booth? I have to admit, I’m intrigued by the idea.

If you've ever tried explaining Donnie Darko to someone who hasn't seen it, you know how quickly things get complicated. And while the 2026 movie schedule has plenty to offer, Richard Kelly's sci-fi cult classic celebrates its 25th anniversary on Oct. 26. As the anniversary approaches, the cast has been looking back on the movie that inspired countless theories about time travel, alternate realities and a very unsettling rabbit. Now, Noah Wyle, whose character had to explain some of that stuff, has joked that he still isn't entirely sure what happened.

That's pretty funny coming from an actor who's spent so much of his career making complicated medical jargon sound natural on ER and, more recently, The Pitt. In fact, Wyle has previously joked about just how much medical knowledge he's picked up playing doctors. In an interview with People, Wyle reflected on Darko's devoted following and the unlikely amount of recognition he still gets for his small role. He's grateful for the attention, though he'd probably prefer someone else handle the plot summary:

I love that answer, especially considering Wyle played Dr. Kenneth Monnitoff, the high school science teacher who fields Donnie's questions about time travel and parallel universes. If anyone in the movie should have a handle on what's happening, you'd think it's him. Apparently, 25 years hasn't made the explanation much easier.

Wyle also talks about getting involved in the 2001 film, which stars Jake Gyllenhaal as a troubled teenager who begins seeing a mysterious figure wearing a frightening rabbit costume. It turns out Drew Barrymore, who helped produce Donnie Darko through her Flower Films company and played English teacher Karen Pomeroy, helped bring the Enough actor aboard. As Wyle explained:

That sounds about right for Donnie Darko. Kelly's screenplay jumps between teenage angst, questions about fate and increasingly strange science-fiction territory. Even after several viewings, there's plenty to debate, and fans have spent decades doing exactly that. The confusion apparently started before the cameras even rolled.

As for Wyle's actual experience making the movie, he remembers it being pretty painless. He wasn't on the production for long, although his character's conversations with Donnie became some of the film's more memorable moments:

Darko's journey after filming was considerably bumpier. In fact, Christopher Nolan helped save the flick from going straight to television before it eventually opened in limited release on Oct. 26, 2001, just weeks after the Sept. 11 attacks. A film featuring an airplane engine crashing into a teenager's bedroom was understandably a difficult sell at the time. It made roughly $517,000 during its original domestic theatrical run before finding a much larger audience through home video and subsequent releases.

The Falling Skies alum told the outlet that the movie still gives him considerable "street cred," possibly more than his other work. That's saying something for an actor who spent years playing Dr. John Carter on ER and is now leading one of TV's most talked-about medical dramas.

And with Kelly planning to expand the Donnie Darko story through a sequel novel and potential films, fans may eventually have even more material to puzzle over. As for Wyle, I think he's earned the right to enjoy the movie's legacy without having to explain every last detail of its timeline. Frank the rabbit can deal with that.

The road to production for The Batman: Part II has been a long and winding one, as Matt Reeves’ highly anticipated upcoming superhero movie has had to navigate unexpected circumstances. Production was paused a few weeks ago when it was announced that Reeves unfortunately had to step away to handle a family matter. Over a week ago, though, it was reported that filming would continue with Steven Soderbergh overseeing the shoot. It now seems production is back on, and leading man Robert Pattinson is weighing in.

For a significant portion of the year, Pattinson and co. had been filming the Batman sequel in the UK, and he’d provided some insight into how he’d been getting in shape to play the Caped Crusader. The British star was recently promoting his latest 2026 movie schedule entry, Primetime, when he was asked for his take on Soderbergh stepping in to finish the film shoot for Reeves. With that, Pattinson didn’t hold back his praise for the Erin Brockovich helmer while speaking to GamesRadar+:

To be clear, Reeves isn’t actually leaving the movie entirely, as he’s merely stepping away while roughly the last third of the DC Studios flick is filming. He’ll reportedly be in close communication with Soderbergh during that time and, when the movie enters post-production, Reeves will retake the reins. I can’t help but agree with Pattinson that it is incredibly kind of Soderbergh to oversee the last stretch of filming and see Reeves’ vision through. On that note, it would appear that Pattinson will be back on set soon:

Although it’s unfortunate that Matt Reeves is in the position to have to deal with a deeply personal situation, Steven Soderbergh feels like the perfect filmmaker to help him out. The Oscar-winning director has a specific style that’s more than apparent in his work, though a number of his sensibilities align with Reeves’. From the outside looking in, I feel like this will be a seamless changing of hands between two gifted filmmakers.

Pattinson’s enthusiasm for the movie certainly matches that of Reeves, who’d been hyping up the film before stepping away. The Dawn of the Planet of the Apes helmer first started teasing The Batman: Part II production around this past May, when he shared snapshots of a Batmobile snow test. In September, Reeves also celebrated Batman Day by dropping another behind-the-scenes photo, which showed the Dark Knight’s silhouette against an interesting backdrop.

My hope is that with production now back in full swing, the proceedings will go smoothly for Robert Pattinson, Steven Soderbergh and co. And, of course, hopefully, Matt Reeves has the time he needs handle his family matter.

As of this writing, The Batman: Part II is still set to open in theaters on February 18, 2028. In the meantime, fans can stream the original 2022 film as well as the spinoff series, The Penguin, now using an HBO Max subscription.

The name You Can See Everything means different things for the hit A24 release from directors Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim. The surprise hit of the 2026 movie schedule is still tearing up the box office in its second week, and it’s getting talked about around the water cooler (or, you know, Reddit and X or whatever the new water cooler is). One meaning is that you can literally see everything, including Elizabeth Holmes’ partner in the shower. And not just from the waist up. It turns out that scene was Evans’ idea.

We can’t talk about everything we saw without some SPOILERS, so be warned: there are spoilers below!

Evans’ Shower Scene Didn’t Come From Fielder

If you’ve seen the movie, you know what I’m talking about. There is a scene with Billy Evans taking a shower where we not only see him in all his glory, but the camera lingers for a bit on his private parts. A wider-angle shot shows Nathan Fielder filming the scene, and he turns the camera and gives a sly smile.

For a movie that is a character study (or, really, an examination of what “truth” is), do we need the shot? It’s quite startling, to say the least. Even more surprising is that the directors didn’t have to convince Evans to do it, he volunteered. Co-director Lance Oppenheim explained how it came about in an interview with GQ:

Naked he was! As to why Billy offered to shoot the scene, that is more a matter of opinion. It’s not like the scene was crucial to the story, although it does give the name of the movie one more meaning, that’s for sure. As to why, Oppenheim himself isn’t sure, but he opined:

It beats me too. I could go into an in-depth opinion on Evans as a person, but all I know about him, pretty much, is what I “learned” from You Can See Everything, so that’s not fair. I can say that in a movie full of WTF moments, this has been one of the most talked-about. It’s not as consequential as when Holmes and Evans lay out the Theranos machine and discuss the meaning of “can” and “could” with Fielder, but it’s certainly as startling to a viewer.

You know, there was once a time when I waited with bated breath for Quentin Tarantino's tenth, and supposedly final, movie. In fact, I even dreamt about what it could possibly be, manifesting a Kill Bill Vol. 3 as his swansong.

In a recent appearance on The Graham Norton Show, Tarantino discussed how he’d written a new script that he “really, really like[s]”, but that he still needs to “do the play” (That being The Popinjay Cavalier), and then afterwards, he plans on spending time with his family and “live.”

Like, cool. Do you, Tarantino. Do you. You’ve certainly earned the right to take a victory lap, but honestly, I’m getting kind of annoyed. I’m talking, George R.R. Martin Winds of Winter annoyed, in that I’m done being excited for this “final” film. Let’s talk.

I Honestly Wanted To See A Movie For His Previous Script, The Movie Critic

Call me petty, but I’m still pretty upset that Tarantino scrapped the script for what would have been his final movie, The Movie Critic, for a variety of reasons. In a nutshell, I thought The Movie Critic sounded like the PERFECT way for Tarantino to end his career, and it just bugs me that it never took flight. The cast sounded great, the concept sounded great, and the time period sounded great. So, why didn’t he make it?

Tarantino is the genius here, and if he didn’t think the script would make a good final film, who am I to judge? That said, what could Tarantino close out his career on that would make him happy? There have been rumors for years of other potential projects that he could end on, like a Star Trek film (which, I’m sorry, sounded terrible), or a horror movie (which sounded interesting), but honestly, none of those really sounded like Tarantino movies. They sounded like Tarantino ideas.

The Movie Critic was actually written, and it genuinely sounded like a Tarantino production, so honestly, I’m still hung up on that. It’s not the only reason why I’m no longer excited.

He Said He Likes This New Script, But He Hasn't Committed To Making This Film

This goes to my last grievance, but Tarantino genuinely sounds even less committed to this new script than he did for The Movie Critic. This does not give me hope. For one thing, how many other scripts has Tarantino written that never made it past the screenplay stage? For another thing, why should we think that this will have a better outcome than The Movie Critic?

Honestly, the older I get, the less hyped I get about things. And while I’ve enjoyed every one of Tarantino’s movies (Yes, even his “worst” film, Death Proof), I don’t have the energy anymore to care about another Tarantino film unless I’m CERTAIN that it’s going to get made. I have a hard time believing that Tarantino will ever be satisfied with a film that he believes to be his final one.

Which is another thing, really. He seems to be making a big deal out of this, and it is a big deal. But…

I Can't Think Of Any Other Director Who Has Made Such A Big Deal About Their Final Film

Look, again, I love Tarantino. I don’t just think Pulp Fiction is the best movie of the ‘90s. I think it’s one of the best movies ever made, and definitely his best movie.

Even so, this whole “final movie” business is kind of annoying now that I think about it. Like, if he had made a film and said, “That was my final movie,” I’d be cool with it. But announcing it in advance, and then dropping hints that his next script MIGHT be his last? I’m just done.

I can’t see Spielberg doing something like that. I can’t see Scorsese doing it, either. So, why then is Tarantino doing it? I don’t know, but I’m done getting excited. How about you?

The DCEU (which is streaming with a HBO Max subscription) has been in the rear view for a few years now, with co-CEO James Gunn crafting a new shared universe. The first slate of projects is titled Gods and Monsters, and has featured a unique mixture of TV and film titles. Although Gunn wants fans to know he's not trying to recreate the MCU, even when it comes to Superman and upcoming DC movies.

Folks who have been watching the DC movies in order alongside the TV series know that each project has been quite different than its predecessors. Fans recently wondered on social media what the DCU is building toward, prompting Gunn to respond on Threads about his vision for the shared universe.

Honestly, I get his perspective. While Gunn and Peter Safran are indeed creating a new interconnected franchise, he also wants each new title to stand on its own. This can be seen in how unique each DCU title has been so far, even with some connective tissue between each one. The shared universe isn't focused on crossovers, although these will eventually happen in movies like Man of Tomorrow.

Clayface hit theaters over the weekend, reaching #1 in a body-horror infused movie that feels very different to what Craig Gillespie with Supergirl. Only time will tell if/when Tom Rhys Harries's title character pops up, with hardcore DC fans hoping to see him face off against the shared universe's version of Batman.

James Gunn regularly shuts down rumors on Threads related to the DCU, which is super satisfying for fans who are looking for some real indication of what he's got up his sleeve. Given how many questions and rumors are swirling about the shared universe, there are countless theories about what's coming next. Luckily the Guardians of the Galaxy filmmaker is super generous online with fans.

As previously mentioned, Man of Tomorrow is expected to be an exciting DCU crossover moment, with the Superman sequel set to include Lanterns star Aaron Pierre as John Stewart, as well as the return of Xolo Maridueña's Blue Beetle. Whether or not Clayface is included remains to be seen, but it is seemingly in the same universe.

Clayface is in theaters now as part of the 2026 movie release list. As for Man of Tomorrow, that's expected to be released on July 9th 2027. We'll just have to see how many rumors Gunn shuts down before then.

Christopher Nolan doesn't mess around when it comes to making movies. While his movies famously amass big budgets, the money always is meant to go back into the film and not a dollar is wasted. That’s why when actors make a movie with the acclaimed filmmaker, they know they aren’t getting a comfortable living experience or a big paycheck, they do it for the experience. So, when it came to making Oppenheimer, the stars of the 2023 dramatic biopic didn’t exactly have fancy living quarters, which wasn’t exactly up to snuff for what Marvel star Robert Downey Jr. was used to.

During an interview from a classic episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, a few Oppenheimer cast members -- Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt and Downey -- opened up about the living conditions that took place while they were working on the film. Because they shot in places like the deserts of Los Alamos and New Mexico, they weren’t exactly offered the nicest places to stay in. Emily Blunt even described where they were staying to be a bit scary. She said:

It sounds like a less than ideal situation, though most of the cast was willing to put up with for the sake of making the best movie possible. Robert Downey Jr., however, has been very self aware about what he can and can’t handle. He revealed that he honestly stayed somewhere else nicer apart from the cast and ended up using his own money to do it:

RDJ's clearly kidding in his delivery of this information, but I believe he is being completely honest in saying he used his own money to pay for different hotel accommodations. I mean, I can imagine that coming from a cushy position, thanks to making Marvel movies, he wasn’t exactly ready to rough-it in the desert. He, of course, has the money to do all this, as Jimmy Kimmel pointed that out as being one of the reasons actors do Marvel movies. And Downey didn’t deny it.

While some may say this is a bit of diva behavior, I think it actually makes a lot of sense. Downey paid for it himself, and therefore, his need to be comfortable didn’t affect the production or his other co-stars. Plus, him being separate from the other actors makes sense for the character he plays in Oppenheimer. He plays the antagonist, Lewis Strauss, and him not being a part of the camaraderie that being in cabins with the other cast members brings creates a natural divide.

Additionally, his luxury accommodations didn’t do anything to dampen his performance, as Downey ended up winning the Oscar for the role. Marvel Studios pays RDJ a lot of money, and it seems like using the Marvel salary for his benefit was absolutely worth it.

You can revisit Robert Downey Jr’s critically acclaimed performance in Oppenheimer, which is now streaming with a Peacock subscription. Fans of the actor can also see him in his buzzy Marvel film on the 2026 movie schedule, Avengers: Doomsday, which hits theaters on December 18th.

Edward James Olmos is without a doubt one of our most respected actors, and for good reason. The man’s body of work is extensive and, for his efforts, he’s received various honors, including an Emmy award and an Academy Award nomination. One of his most beloved roles is that of Commander William Adama in the reimagined version of Battlestar Galactica. It’s an iconic role, and it alone would solidify Olmos’ position within the pop culture zeitgeist. However, he also attributes that TV show, in particular, to Blade Runner.

Back in the early ‘80s, Olmos famously shared the screen with Harrison Ford in Ridley Scott’s aforementioned 1982 sci-fi film. The actor took on the role of Gaff, a detective who shadows Ford’s Rick Deckard amid a deadly investigation into Replicant activity Olmos reprised the role in 2017’s Blade Runner 2049. Around the time that Scott’s Final Cut of the film was to be released to mark its 25th anniversary, Olmos spoke to SFX Magazine on CinemaBlend. It was during that chat that Olmos weighed in on BR’s relationship to BSG:

Olmos seemed to suggest that the theatrical re-release of Scott’s film could be chalked up to the popularity of sci-fi content at the time, which was in great part due to BSG. The Stand and Deliver star, however, also made it clear that the ‘80s flick helped paved the way for his version of BSG, which was a fresh take on the short-lived ABC show of the same name. Olmos does make a fair point, especially considering that Scott’s initially misunderstood masterpiece did spark quite a bit of interest in sci-fi. He also said this about the film:

Olmos’ stint as Adama began with the 2003 Battlestar Galactica miniseries, which spawned the 2004 series. After five seasons and a TV movie in 2009, Olmos’ tenure ended, though his work endures. Not only is his performance as Bill still lauded by fans, but he also still has the respect of his co-stars. Kara “Starbuck” Thrace actress Katee Sackhoff has been candid about getting advice from Olmos, and she and Tahmoh Penikett (who played Karl "Helo" Agathon) initially rejected his wisdom.

All in all, both BSG and Blade Runner have firm footprints in sci-fi culture’s consciousness. Just a few years ago, Peacock was even set to reboot Battlestar Galactica, though the show was scrapped. Now, Scott’s franchise is set to return amid the 2026 TV schedule in the form of a miniseries, Blade Runner 2099, which stars Michelle Yeoh and Hunter Schafer. While it’s very likely that Edward James Olmos will not be appearing on the show, I love how passionate he’s remained about the film’s impact on pop culture and his own career.

Those who want to revisit 2004’s Battlestar Galactica can stream it with a Paramount+ subscription. Also, anyone with an active Prime Video subscription can stream Blade Runner 2099 when it drops on November 25.

The Frozen movies (which you can stream with a Disney+ subscription) have had many mind-blowing accomplishments, from producing hit songs to winning two Oscars to scoring over $2 billion at the box office. The totally unique characters should also be considered an accomplishment, and we have Kristen Bell to thank for making Anna the relatable and iconic princess that she is.

There’s a reason why Anna is one of Kristen Bell’s best characters. Based on what she told Bustle, it was a collaborative effort for the talented actress to incorporate improv and character tweaks to make her princess a relatable character. To take that relatability up a notch, she told the publication one note she had that really made the character:

I love that! Even the princess (later queen) of Arendelle needs some human moments. We’ve seen throughout the series that Anna can be fearless, but also clumsy with her words and actions.

She shows traits many young girls can relate to, like waking up with bedhead, speaking her mind, and wanting to finish a man’s…sandwiches. With a Disney character like this, young girls can learn that it is perfectly normal and amazing, in fact, to be quirky, confident and 100% themselves.

You can thank Kristen Bell for her Frozen character’s clumsiness and drooling while asleep. Here’s another defining trait of Anna’s that the Nobody Wants This actress told the writers to incorporate:

Spoken like a true queen herself. No wonder Anna is the true hero of the Frozen movies. Sure, she doesn’t have icy superpowers like her sister, Elsa. However, the Disney character’s affection allowed her to continue to find her sister even when she pushed her away and was even willing to sacrifice herself for her. It was through her own superpower of love that she was willing to stand by her loved ones no matter the obstacles.

Fortunately, we’ll have the chance to see Anna and the rest of the Frozen family in a third movie. What we know so far about Frozen 3 is that it will take place around Anna and Kristoff's wedding, and a portal will open up that Anna, Elsa and co walk to. There, a new ice-powered character appears!

According to Cinema Express, Anna and Kristoff will finally get married and join Elsa on a new adventure with a “mysterious new member.” With Anna now the new Queen of Arendelle, it’ll be exciting to see the animated character taking on this new role with all of the relatable awkwardness we can expect.

It’s heartwarming to know that Kristen Bell contributed to the quirky, loving nature that made us love Anna so much. After all, if a little girl aspires to be a princess one day, they need to know that a little awkwardness and having a big heart can go a long way. Make sure to hear Bell voice Anna again when the upcoming Disney movie, Frozen 3, hits theaters on November 24, 2027.

When it comes to famous couples, Sydney Sweeney and Scooter Braun still seem to be sparking interest while in the public eye. The pair have been dating since 2025 and, in that time, they’ve rarely discussed each other. Yet, as they two continue to participate in fun-looking date nights and even nod to each other in subtle ways, insiders claim their romance is relatively solid. There have also been engagement rumors that have not been confirmed but, in the meantime, there are claims about how Braun and Sweeney are doing.

Considering the proverbial wall of privacy that typically surrounds Sweeney (29) and Braun (45), it’s difficult to pinpoint exactly what’s going on with the two at a given time. However, that hasn’t stopped sources from making allegations about what’s going on with them. Just recently, an insider spoke to Us Weekly about the theoretical prospect of the pair getting engaged sometime in the near future. If this person is to be believed, that’s not going to happen just yet:

Braun shares three children with ex-wife Yael Cohen, who he was married to from 2014 to 2022. The Anyone But You star’s relationship with her new beau’s kids has also been a topic of speculation since they began dating. Per the source, that dynamic with the kids is proving to be quite strong amid Sweeney and Braun’s romance:

Braun and Sweeney’s relationship allegedly dates back to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’ wedding, which took place in Italy back in June 2025. It was there that the pair supposedly became acquainted and, in the months that followed, they were spotted hanging out in Florida and in other locales despite rumors that Sweeney wasn’t looking for love. For Sweeney, the relationship came about months after it was reported that she’d split from then-fiancé Jonathan Davino.

The two have since gone Instagram official and, during an interview this past May, Scooter Braun opened up about Sydney Sweeney (without mentioning her by name). At the time, he specifically said that he’d “met an extraordinary woman, kind and generous and smart, and real and down to earth — and one of the biggest surprises ever.” Reports suggest that Sweeney is also infatuated with Braun and that she may even been nearing her own Nobody Wants This moment if she converts to Judaism (Braun’s religion) upon marrying him:

All of that remains to be seen at this point, of course. It’s honestly hard not to wonder if Sydney Sweeney and Scooter Braun will end up tying the knot, considering how close they seem to be. Nevertheless, for now, the public can only go by the rare comments and social media posts as concrete evidence that Braun and Sweeney are still enjoying each other.

It’s hard to believe that Mean Girls is over 20 years old now. For me, the film is one of the best movies of the 2000s, and it’s nice to know that Lindsay Lohan holds the project close to her heart, too. In fact, she was just spotted visiting the iconic Heron home from the film, but before anyone gets their hopes up as I did, her reason for being there wasn't for a direct sequel to the hit 2004 flick.

As much as I would love to see Lohan return to the role of Cady Heron and give us an actual sequel to the beloved film instead of the musical reboot released in 2024 (or the ABC Family sequel), the Freakier Friday star was spotted at the Toronto house because it’s a filming location for her upcoming Netflix film, Return to You. Aside from sharing a film location with Mean Girls, the new project will also share director Mark Waters (who also directed Lohan in Freaky Friday). In fact, it was Waters who captured the moment the two reunited with the house, sharing the photo on his Instagram:

It’s not often you see actors return to exact filming locations for an entirely different project, but I can definitely see why the location scouts for Return to You would have chosen to do so. To put it simply, the house is gorgeous! Plus, the Netflix film is apparently set to take place in the noughties, and the home has a distinct look from that era.

Not only will Lindsay Lohan star in Return to You feature opposite Crazy Rich Asians star Henry Golding, but she’ll also be producing. Set in 2008, the film follows a successful but lonely attorney (Lohan) who accidentally receives an emotional DVD from a dying woman addressed to the woman’s husband. With only the DVD as her guide, she sets out to find the woman’s spouse (presumably Golding’s character) and give him the video.

Based on the premise, the film is going to be more of a romantic drama than a romantic comedy, which will be a bit of a new venture for Lohan, who typically stars in the latter. However, Golding has experience with tear-inducing romance, having appeared in Last Christmas opposite Emilia Clarke. I know I’ll definitely be snuggling up on my couch with a full box of tissues when the time comes.

With production on the romance film just starting, it’s safe to assume that Return to You will not be making the 2026 movie schedule; but at least we romance fans have something to look forward to in the new year. In the meantime, I'll continue to bask in the nostalgia of seeing Lindsay Lohan and Mark Waters in front of Cady Heron's old stomping grounds.

Fans can revisit the magic Lohan and Waters create and see the beloved house by streaming Mean Girls with an active Paramount+ subscription. Or, if you’re in the mood for romance, check out one of her Netflix's romances — I suggest Our Little Secret.

In a field of 10 nominees for Best Picture, it’s hard to imagine a situation where You Can See Everything isn’t on the list at the 99th Academy Awards in March 2027. There are still a couple of months left on the 2026 movie schedule, so we haven’t seen all the favorites yet, but plenty of people are calling it one of the best movies of 2026. I’m among those people. It’s been two weeks since I saw the A24 release from directors Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim, and I’m still thinking about it all the time.

All that said, while it seems a shoo-in for a Best Picture nomination and maybe some other categories, it might not get nominated at all in another, more obvious category: Best Documentary Feature. That is hard to believe, I know.

No Documentary Has Ever Been Nominated For Best Picture

In the 98 years of Academy Award nominations, no documentary has ever made its way into Best Picture. That includes legendary (and well-received) documentaries like The Thin Blue Line, Bowling for Columbine, An Inconvenient Truth, Woodstock, and others. That doesn’t include Fahrenheit 9/11, which, despite being the highest-grossing documentary of all time at the box office, was ruled ineligible because it was aired on TV before being released in theaters.

That streak will likely end on January 21st when the nominations are announced. You Can See Everything is on basically every early prediction list that has come out since the movie was released last week. It’s also sitting at 98% “Fresh” on Rotten Tomatoes, with a 97% from audiences, and it is continuing to win big at the box office. Oh, and there have been hundreds of articles, YouTube videos, and podcasts talking about the movie. It’s the buzziest movie of 2026, so I think it's certain to be nominated, and I wouldn’t rule out it actually winning.

It Might Not Get Nominated In Best Documentary

Normally, you’d think that any documentary nominated for Best Picture would be the odds-on favorite to win the category it most naturally fits in, Best Documentary. However, on many of those same predictions, it’s not even among the prospective nominees. This is mind-blowing to me, but I do understand the arguments against it. Or, well, the argument against it. That basically comes down to how much the movie blurs the lines between reality and creative license.

You Can See Everything isn’t a standard documentary. The movie purposely makes you question everything you see, despite its title. You spend the whole movie questioning everything, including who is manipulating whom, and what that all means. It’s meant to get the audience gasping and asking more questions than it answers. It’s brilliant in that way, but it’s also nothing like a “standard” documentary. Most documentaries are explicitly trying to answer a question or show you its version of the truth. You Can See Everything is less interested in the truth than it is in questioning truth itself.

There is speculation that the documentary wing of the Academy may not reward You Can See Everything because it blurs that line too much, and they may not consider it a true documentary. That’s not the only uphill battle it faces. In recent years, the Best Documentary category has leaned heavily into foreign documentaries and documentaries that focus on war and strife. That includes the last three winners: 2025’s Mr. Nobody Against Putin, 2024’s No Other Land, and 2023’s 20 Days in Mariupol.

There are at least two favorites in the category that fall in line with those: Naza, about the ongoing military action in Palestine, and Rehearsals for a Revolution, about the history of Iran from the 1979 Revolution through the current war. Naza has been the most-talked-about upcoming documentary among awards watchers. At least before You Can See Everything dropped its trailer in September.

Could It Be Nominated For Other Oscars?

Last week, A24 announced it would mount an awards campaign for the movie and listed several categories it would submit the movie for. In addition to Best Picture and Best Documentary, Variety reported that A24 would be submitting for Best Director (Fielder and Oppenheim), original score (Ari Balouzian), cinematography (David Bolen), film editing (Adam Locke-Norton), sound (Paul Hsu and Richard Carlos), production design (Alex DiGerlando and Rebecca Meis), costume design (Katina Danabassis), and makeup and hairstyling (Stephanie Pasicov and Kerrie Smith). Oh - and Best Supporting Actress (SPOILER), which I won’t get into because it’s impossible to talk about (Spoiler) until everyone has seen the movie. IYKYK.

I don’t think it’s going to take home 11 nominations, but I do think at least a handful of those are possible, like Best Director, Best Editing, Best Score, and Best Cinematography. No comment on Supporting Actress (though I do think this is a stretch). A documentary getting nominated in five or six categories would be historic, and while I think it’s so unprecedented, I’m not ready to say with any confidence that it will get all those. It’s worth noting that Variety believes it could get as many as five, including Picture, Director, Cinematography, Editing, and Supporting Actress. One category Variety isn’t predicting is Best Score, which I hope it is nominated for. The music is critical to the whole presentation.

It Might Walk Away Empty-Handed

To be sure, the film faces an uphill battle. Weirdly, the one nomination I’m truly confident in is Best Picture. Not only is it the one category with 10 slots, but it also doesn’t matter if the movie blurs that line between reality and...unreality (I’m really trying to avoid calling it “fiction,” because it’s never fiction, it's just an unconventional presentation of non-fiction). As a fan of documentaries, I appreciate the argument against its inclusion in the Best Doc category, but I strongly disagree. I think it’s one of the best movies of 2026 and one of the best documentaries of all time.

That makes it all the more remarkable to me that, despite that, it may very well walk away from the 99th Academy Awards with no Oscars at all. One thing is for sure: host Conan O’Brien will be making a lot of jokes about it. That I can predict confidently.

Jumanji: Open World wrapped up filming in March and is set to be released on Christmas Day. The film is the final installment in the beloved franchise, which means it’s time to say goodbye to our favorite video game characters, including Karen Gillan's Ruby Roundhouse. The character can dance-fight, showcase her acrobatics, and awkwardly flirt all while wearing a crop top and shorts. Speaking of her wardrobe, Gillan gave her character’s infamous costume a funny, final farewell in a recent post.

When Jumanji 4 wrapped up, Karen Gillan got a little “emotional,” saying how grateful she was to get to star in one of her favorite film franchises with her three co-stars -- Jack Black, Kevin Hart, and Dwayne Johnson. With the 2026 movie release heading to theaters soon, the Scottish actress highlighted Roundhouse's the crop top and shorts with a photo and hilariously perfect caption:

I was already impressed with Gillan’s abs in one Jumanji 4 set photo, but the talented actress proves she still knows how to wow me with this latest photo from recent content shoot. I love how confident the Marvel star looks in her costume. Not only do I love her character’s warrior outfit, but those laced brown boots are the cherry on top of a kick-ass costume.

What's particularly great -- aside from seeing Gillan back in the crop top and shorts for Open World -- is the caption on the attire is absolutely hilarious:

Clearly, Gillan knows she’s gotta bring it one more time in style for her action-adventure flick. It’s hard to believe she ever got “weird” flak for the action video game outfit. As she said, it’s supposed to be commentary on the male gaze of gamers. It's a satirization, if you will, of the styles of female video game characters like Lara Croft, who would feel the need to wear cleavage or a skin-tight outfit to fight.

Even when teenage Martha is sucked into Jumanji and forced into the video game character of Ruby, she herself is not happy with what she has to wear. But it’s a good reminder that the child-size outfit doesn’t make the warrior wearing it. Ruby Roundhouse still has the strength to fight her enemies without her wardrobe limiting her abilities. It’ll be awesome to see my favorite avatar come back to the world of Jumanji for this fourth movie.

With this being the final hurrah, it's certainly fitting that Gillan would bid farewell to her “tan and boobs” one more time. While fans may miss Ruby Roundhouse and her crop top and shorts ensemble, she had a great run in this franchise and may maintain a place in fans' hearts.

Don’t get to catch Jumanji: Open World in theaters on Christmas Day. You can also refresh yourself on the franchise’s previous films with Welcome to the Jungle with a Paramount+ subscription and Next Level using a Hulu subscription. And, of course, Netflix subscription holders can stream the 1995 OG film starring Robin Williams.

As expected, it was a big weekend both for Clayface and You Can See Everything, as the two movies had a close race for the top spot at the box office. Ultimately, as buzzy as the Elizabeth Holmes and Nathan Fielder doc is, superhero movies, even when they're about villains, can reign supreme at the box office.

Granted, Clayface's top spot at the box office was only assured by a few million, with a $24,000,000 domestic haul this weekend. You Can See Everything finished with $19,500,000 here in the states. That's a jump in the doc's take from last week, thanks to more theaters picking up Fielder and A24's film. All that said, I feel there's an even bigger story to talk about given the colossal drop Street Fighter experienced after opening at number one last week. Take a look:

For Street Fighter, that's a 72% drop from its first week, likely meaning far fewer people bought those Guile popcorn buckets. At a time when studios are announcing a ton of upcoming video game adaptations, this is a movie to look at and ask what the lesson is.

I don't think gaming movie fatigue is to blame here, only because Resident Evil is hanging on at number ten with $153,681,000 for its total domestic take in thirty-eight days. I would say people are still enthusiastic about seeing video game adaptations, but obviously, there are certain factors to consider.

While RE opened to critical acclaim, Street Fighter dealt with some rough reviews. Such reactions may have deterred consumers and convinced them that this one is best watched when it hits streaming. It's also hard not to wonder whether Paramount Pictures and Legendary put this flick into development with the thinking that it could spawn a new film series.

I also think it's worth noting that You Can See Everything and Clayface are both simply hot movies right now, with one centering around a businesswoman convicted of fraud and another expanding the much-discussed DCU. In any case, I'm curious how much longer SF will remain in theaters, especially with such a steep drop in returns.

I do wonder, as word continues to spread about You Can See Everything and more people speak out about it, whether it'll finally clinch a top spot in its third week. It wasn't that far off from conquering Clayface this week, and with nothing big slated to premiere on the upcoming movie schedule amid Halloween weekend, I don't think it's out of the question.

We'll see what studio execs have to say about Street Fighter, and all these other movies, as the week unfolds. For now, I'm still just hoping we get an announcement that a You Can See Everything popcorn bucket is on the way.