What Kate Winslet Said About Mare of Easttown Season 2

Mare of Easttown was initially released as a mini-series in 2021, but fans wanted more. There has been talk of a second season over the years, but it now appears to be gaining momentum. Winslet told TVLine: “There were proper conversations around a timeframe when it could be possible. And so I think we probably will do it, and that’s the first time I’ve felt that.“

Winslet cautioned that the second season is unlikely to start shooting until sometime in 2027, so there’s still a way to go before this becomes official.

Mare of Easttown stars Winslet as a small-town Pennsylvania police detective who is investigating the death of a teenage mother, all while trying to keep her professional and personal lives separate. The series earned rave reviews upon its release. It also earned 16 Emmy Award nominations and won four, including Outstanding Lead Actress for Winslet. The finale was the most-watched episode on HBO Max at the time.

Kate Winslet and Creator Brad Ingelsby Have Said that They Would Return

After the series wrapped up, Winslet said she would “absolutely love to play Mare again. I miss her. I really do. It’s the strangest thing. I feel like I’m in mourning. It was an absolutely wonderful role… There’s something very addictive about Mare, because she’s so outrageous and lovable and brilliant and real, you know? I loved playing her.“

Series creator Brad Ingelsby also didn’t rule out another season, provided he had a good idea. “It was always conceived as one season. If I had a great idea, I guess, I would consider it. If I was convinced I could do justice to the characters and the world and also the fans who have embraced the show,” he said. “So, it’s never say never. I don’t have that idea right now. But if I had an idea that I was convinced could be great and would allow us to spend time with these people, and also be a great mystery and thriller, then I would definitely consider it. I don’t have that idea at the moment, but I would definitely consider it because I love Mare and I love Helen, and the idea that they get to spend time in my living room again would be hilarious to me.“

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About seven years ago,  it was announced that a reboot of Buffy the Vampire Slayer was in development with Monica Owusu-Breen, co-creator of the TV show Midnight, Texas, writing, executive producing, and serving as showrunner. It was said that the new show would be “contemporary, building on the mythology of the original.” That project never made it into production – and earlier this year, it was revealed that we’re going to be getting a Buffy the Vampire Slayer revival instead, with Sarah Michelle Gellar returning to the role of Buffy Summers and Chloé Zhao (Nomadland, Eternals) directing the first episode. The new show is called Buffy the Vampire Slayer: New Sunnydale and the pilot episode was filmed months ago. Now, during an interview on the Shut Up Evan podcast, Gellar said she wants to make sure this revival is perfect before it’s shown to the world.

Cast and Creative Team

Teenage actress Ryan Kiera Armstrong (Firestarter) has been cast as a new slayer, an introverted high school student named Nova. Also in the cast are Faly Rakotohavana (Unprisoned), Ava Jean (Law & Order: SVU), Sarah Bock (Severance), Daniel Di Tomasso (CSI: Vegas) and Jack Cutmore-Scott (Frasier) are also in the cast, taking on the series regular roles of Hugo, a privileged, likable high-school student who is a geek; Larkin, another student described as a “chronic do-gooder”; Gracie, the ringleader for a group of church-going students; Abe, Nova’s single father who is a photojournalist; and Mr. Burke, a popular high school teacher. Kingston Vernes (The Survivor) has been cast as Nova’s crush, Carson, and will be a guest star in the pilot, but Carson is envisioned as being a major recurring character if the project goes to series. He’s “a Junior Olympian and popular student at New Sunnydale Academy who is the object of Nova’s crush and starts noticing her after a life-changing event.” Chase Sui Wonders (I Know What You Did Last Summer 2025) makes a guest appearance in the pilot. Merrin Dungey (The Lincoln Lawyer), Audrey Hsieh (Found), and Audrey Grace Marshall (The Flight Attendant) are guest stars in the pilot, but they could have recurring roles if the show is ordered to series. Dungey’s character is Ms. LaDuca, the college counselor at New Sunnydale Academy. Hsieh and Marshall play Keiko and Jessica, high school students and members of the academy’s Evangelical Christian group.

Oscar-winning director Zhao, who is a self-professed lifelong Buffy fan, is directing the pilot from a script by Nora and Lilla Zuckerman (Poker Face). The revival is coming our way from 20th Television and Searchlight TV, where Zhao has a first-look deal. Deadline recently said that the revival would be “starting a writers room soon, a sign that Hulu and the studios have high expectations for the project going to series. It is unclear yet whether other original Buffy cast members would return; that is considered likely.”

This is being referred to as “the next chapter in the Buffyverse.” The revival is being executive produced by Gellar, Zhao, and the Zuckermans, as well as the original series’ executive producers Gail Berman of the Jackal Group and Fran Kuzui and Kaz Kuzui of Suite B. Also executive producing the pilot is Dolly Parton, whose company Sandollar was behind the original show. In case you’re wondering, “Buffy creator Joss Whedon, who also wrote the 1992 movie the series was based on, has no involvement in the reboot. He has not worked in Hollywood in any official capacity since facing a slew of misconduct allegations in 2021.”

The Latest from Gellar

During her Shut Up Evan interview, Gellar said (with thanks to our friends at Bloody Disgusting for the transcription), “I never saw how to do (a revival). I never saw how and why it could be as good. I’m not trying to be better, I just want to hold up. I want to hold and honor the memory and what we created. I know sometimes that memory is conflicted for people about how they’re supposed to feel about it, but a lot of people put their blood, sweat, and tears into making what I think is an incredibly great show, and I’m incredibly proud of it. Chloé Zhao came to me – and not just her passion, because I’ve seen people with passion before, but she knew how to go into the world, she knew what the world was, and she knew the why. And that was the first time I said, ‘Maybe, could I possibly do this?’ And this went on for, what, three years now of me and Chloé going back and forth — saying I could do it, saying I can’t — and really spending the time to develop what it is and why it is. We’re still working on that, why and how. We live in a society where we want binging, we want it now, and I know this seems like it’s taking a long time. And it’s because, unless we are sure that it is exactly what we we set out to do and that it makes sense to do it, we don’t want to sully the legacy by not. When I know it’s perfect, it will be out there, but I won’t do it unless I know it can be that.“

Are you looking forward to seeing Sarah Michelle Gellar as Buffy again in Buffy the Vampire Slayer: New Sunnydale, and are you glad to hear that she has high standards for the show? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

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What is the “Conformity Gate” episode supposedly about?

According to online speculation, “Conformity Gate” would retcon “undesirable” plot points from the show’s final episode, including a reveal that Vecna/Henry (Jamie Campbell Bower) did not actually die and was controlling what viewers had seen as the ending in a fourth-wall-breaking experience. “Conformity Gate” rumors continue to spread rapidly on social media, particularly on TikTok, where Stranger Things fans, influencers, and sensationalists insist the episode exists. Some even posted footage of them watching the episode early, claiming the bonus episode “fixes” what was “wrong” with the finale.

How did the “Conformity Gate” rumor get started?

Rumors about the bonus episode began when a video was shared by the Stranger Things official TikTok page, featuring Hawkins science teacher Mr. Clarke (Randy Havens) standing in front of a clock set to 1:07. Groan. I shouldn’t let this bother me, but is this where we’re at with this sort of thing? I understand not wanting the show to be over (I’m more than okay with letting it go), but going so far as to disrespect the ending that the Duffer Brothers and everyone involved worked so hard to create is wild to me. While the finale might not be everything you wanted, what happened to judging something for what it is rather than what you wanted it to be? I know we’re all guilty of skirting that line from time to time, but in the case of Stranger Things, the show went above and beyond to entertain you for almost a decade. Let it rest.

The final episode of Stranger Things is currently streaming on Netflix, with a new documentary, titled One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things, arriving on January 12. Don’t worry, the documentary is real. Huzzah!

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Cast

The cast of Monster season 4 includes Ella Beatty (Feud: Capote vs. The Swans), who landed the role of Lizzie Borden; Rebecca Hall (Godzilla vs. Kong), who’s playing her stepmother Abby; Vicky Krieps (Phantom Thread), who is set to play the Borden family maid, Bridget Sullivan; Charlie Hunnam as her father, Andrew Borden; Billie Lourd (Scream Queens) as Lizzie’s older sister Emma Borden; and Jessica Barden (American Horror Stories), who will portray Nance O’Neill, a stage actress whose close friendship with Lizzie created a rift between her and her sister Emma.

As mentioned, Pollari’s character is John Morse, “the infamous accused axe murderer’s uncle.”

Murphy regular Sarah Paulson will also be showing up as serial killer Aileen Wuornos, who was convicted of killing seven men in 1989-1990. 

Max Winkler, who is married to Barden, is directing the first episode of the season, which is now filming in Los Angeles.

Lizzie Borden

As Variety recently reminded us, “Borden lived in Massachusetts in the late 1800s. In 1892, she was accused of murdering both her father and her stepmother with an axe at their shared home. Borden was eventually acquitted of the crimes, but the brutal nature of the murders attracted nationwide attention and contributed to Borden’s place in popular culture.” She has had such an enduring place in pop culture that Christina Ricci starred in a Lifetime TV movie back in 2014 that was called Lizzie Borden Took an Ax, and that was followed by the 2015 eight-episode limited series The Lizzie Borden Chronicles, a fictionalized look at Borden’s post-trial life. In 2018, Chloë Sevigny starred in the feature film Lizzie, with Kristen Stewart as her lover Bridget Sullivan.

After watching how season 3 fumbled the Ed Gein story, I can’t say I’m excited to see where the series goes from here. Although JoBlo’s own Alex Maidy said in his review that he thought Ed Gein was the best season of Monster yet, I mostly hated it because I was looking for a more accurate version of the story than Murphy, Brennan, and their collaborators wanted to tell. The presentation of Alfred Hitchcock was also pretty atrocious, and the detour into Anthony Perkins’ private life completely unnecessary.

Are you looking forward to seeing what the now-filming Monster season 4 does with the Lizzie Borden story? Are you glad to hear that Joey Pollari has joined the cast? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

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Net-flex

Netflix has a reason to be joyful and flexing for the new year, as the company made a historic purchase late last year that has film fans nervous with rightful concern. However, this morning sees no updates on the Warner Bros. front, but they are showing off what the streaming platform will be offering in 2026 — both in film and TV. The streamer has announced updates for shows like Avatar: The Last Airbender, Star Search, Bridgerton, Man on Fire, Sweet Magnolias and Virgin River. Additionally, the studio has also unveiled new images for their upcoming shows, which offer viewers a first look at their 2026 content.

Upcoming TV shows in 2026

Here are a few of the announcements. For a full list of their shows and additional details, check out their website HERE.

Star Search
Star Search is back! The talent is bigger, the stakes are higher, and the format is more interactive than ever. Each episode will spotlight the best up-and-coming performers across numerous categories — music, dance, variety, comedy, magic, and juniors — as they compete head-to-head for their shot at stardom. With an arced competition structure and weekly eliminations with real-time global voting, the series builds dramatic momentum, making every live episode an unmissable event.
Anthony Anderson hosts this revival.

Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials

England. 1925. At a lavish country-house party, a practical joke appears to have gone horribly, murderously wrong. It will be up to the unlikeliest of sleuths — the fizzingly inquisitive Lady Eileen “Bundle” Brent — to unravel a chilling plot that will change her life, cracking wide open the country-house mystery. A witty, epic, and fast-paced drama from the Queen Of Crime, Agatha Christie, is brought to life in a thrilling new version for Netflix.
The show stars Mia McKenna-Bruce, Helena Bonham Carter, Martin Freeman, Edward Bluemel, Corey Mylchreest and Nabhaan Rizwan.

Sweet Magnolias: Season 5

Sweet Magnolias follows lifelong best friends Maddie (JoAnna Garcia Swisher), Dana Sue (Brooke Elliott), and Helen (Heather Headley) as they juggle relationships, family, and careers in the charming small town of Serenity, South Carolina, and beyond.
The show stars JoAnna Garcia Swisher, Heather Headley and Brooke Elliott.

Avatar: The Last Airbender: Season 2

A live-action reimagining of the beloved animated series following Aang, the young Avatar, as he learns to master the four elements (Water, Earth, Fire, Air) to restore balance to a world threatened by the terrifying Fire Nation. In Season 2, after a bittersweet victory saving the Northern Water Tribe from the invading Fire Nation, Avatar Aang, Katara, and Sokka regroup and set off on a mission to convince the elusive Earth King to aid in their battle against the fearsome Fire Lord Ozai.
The show stars Gordon Cormier, Kiawentiio, Ian Ousley, Dallas Liu, Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, Elizabeth Yu, Miya Cech, Momona Tam Lee with Daniel Dae Kim, Maria Z and Chin Han.

Bridgerton: Season 4

The fourth season of Bridgerton turns its focus to bohemian second son Benedict (Luke Thompson). Despite his elder and younger brothers both being happily married, Benedict is loath to settle down — until he meets a captivating Lady in Silver at his mother’s masquerade ball.
The show stars Luke Thompson, Yerin Ha, Jonathan Bailey, Victor Alli, Adjoa Andoh, Julie Andrews, Lorraine Ashbourne, Masali Baduza, Nicola Coughlan, Hannah Dodd, Daniel Francis, Ruth Gemmell, Florence Hunt, Martins Imhangbe, Claudia Jessie, Luke Newton, Golda Rosheuvel, Will Tilston, Polly Walker, Emma Naomi, Hugh Sachs, Simone Ashley, Isabella Wei, Michelle Mao and Katie Leung.

Man on Fire

Based on A.J. Quinnell’s book series, Man on Fire tells the story of John Creasy. Once a high-functioning and skilled special forces mercenary known for surviving even the most desolate of situations, Creasy is now plagued with intense PTSD. Determined to overcome his personal demons, he sets out on a path to redemption. But before he can adjust to this new life, he finds himself back in the fire, fighting harder than ever.
The show stars Yahya Abdul-Mateen ll, Billie Boullet, Bobby Cannavale, Alice Braga, Scoot McNairy and Paul Ben-Victor.

Virgin River: Season 7

Virgin River is a romance story centered on nurse practitioner Melinda Monroe’s (Alexandra Breckenridge) move to the remote California town of Virgin River. Yearning for a fresh start, Monroe discovered that small-town living isn’t quite as simple as she expected and that she had to learn to heal herself before she could truly make Virgin River her home. The series is based on the New York Times bestseller and beloved Harlequin book series written by author Robyn Carr. The Virgin River collection features more than 20 books, and together they have sold more than 13 million copies. Virgin River was named to the HarperCollins 200 list, which celebrates 200 iconic books of the past 200 years.
The show stars Alexandra Breckenridge, Martin Henderson, Tim Matheson, Annette O’Toole, Benjamin Hollingsworth, Zibby Allen, Colin Lawrence, Sarah Dugdale, Marco Grazzini, Kai Bradbury and Kandyse McClure.

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Stranger Things continues to dominate the charts

If you think the power of Stranger Things influence begins and ends with Season 5, think again. Viewers put Season 1 at No. 3 (7.6 million views) on the English TV list, then slingshotted Season 2 to No. 5 (5.5 million), Season 3 to No. 7 (5 million), and Season 4 to No. 8 (4.8 million), making this the sixth record-setting week that the English series has had all its seasons on the list.

There’s a Stranger Things documentary on the way

The Stranger Things madness doesn’t stop there. Netflix has one more bullet in the chamber, thanks to the newly announced documentary One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things 5, arriving on January 12. Behind-the-scenes clips have been making their way to social media since the finale’s debut, but the documentary promises a more in-depth look at the final season, along with a few surprises along the way.

There’s more fun sci-fi on Netflix to enjoy

If you’re feeling the science-fiction void during your Stranger Things comedown, check out the Korean disaster movie The Great Flood. The movie reached the No. 1 spot on the non-English film list with 11.1 million views. The film, about a mother desperate to keep her son safe amid a flood engulfing their apartment building while discovering her own role in a larger mission to save humanity, also entered the Most Popular non-English film list in its third week on service, debuting at No. 7 with 72.1 million views.

About that additional episode rumor

Are you surprised by the numbers Stranger Things is pulling for its final episode? What did you think about the ending? Do you believe the rumors about there being a secret final episode? I don’t. Not even for a second. The ending is what it is, for better or worse. Plus, the epilogue was already an hour long. Do you need another two-hour episode to explain the fallout from the events in Hawkins? I’ll tell you what. If the Duffers want to explain how Nancy mowed down several military agents with zero repercussions or jail time, I’m all ears.

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The Tomb Raider franchise has seen a few live-action adaptations. The popular exploratory action game was first adapted for the big screen in 2001’s Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, with Angelina Jolie inhabiting the role. That film would get a sequel with Jan De Bont’s 2003 film, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life. Then, Alicia Vikander would step into the role for a 2018 reboot, which didn’t get a continuation. Now, Phoebe Waller-Bridge is dusting off the franchise for a new Prime Video series with Sophie Turner in the title role.

New Cast Announcements

Deadline is now reporting that, after Sigourney Weaver was said to be eyeing a role, she is now confirmed to appear in the new adventure series. Additionally, Jason Isaacs is also confirmed to be added to the cast after his appearance in the latest season of The White Lotus. Per Deadline, “Isaacs will play Atlas DeMornay, one of the canon roles, and Weaver will be Evelyn Wallis, a mysterious, high-flying woman who is keen to exploit Lara’s talents.” Additional cast announcements include Martin Bobb-Semple playing Zip, and Bill Paterson is Winston from the canon. From the Tomb Raider universe, the show will also feature Jack Bannon, who plays Gerry, John Heffernan, playing David, and Celebrity Traitors UK alum Celia Imrie, who portrays Francine. There are also roles for Paterson Joseph, Sasha Luss, Juliette Motamed and August Wittgenstein.

Waller-Bridge stated, “Tomb Raider boasts a plethora of iconic characters. I am thrilled to have been able to bring some personal and fan favourites to the screen while also introducing a few new rascals of our own to the mix. This cast is beyond my wildest dreams.”

Who’s bringing this series to life?

Phoebe Waller-Bridge is the creator, writer, and executive producer of Amazon’s Tomb Raider series. Meanwhile, the project is a collaboration between Story Kitchen, Crystal Dynamics, and Amazon MGM. Chad Hodge (Single All the Way, The Playboy Club, Wayward Pines) and Jonathan Van Tulleken (Shōgun, Dope Thief) are executive producers. In addition to executive producing, Tulleken will direct the production. Waller-Bridge and Jenny Robbins executive produce via Wells Street Productions; Dmitri M. Johnson, Mike Goldberg, and Timothy I. Stevenson through Story Kitchen; Michael Scheel; Hodge; and Legendary Television.

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The Dark Tower is First Priority for Flanagan

Speaking with Empire Magazine (via Deadline), Flanagan likened The Dark Tower to an “oil tanker,” adding, “It’s moving. We’ve got a lot of scripts done for it. It’s the first priority.” Flanagan has previously said that he envisions The Dark Tower story being told over the course of five seasons, followed by two feature films.

The Dark Tower has already had one ill-fated trip to the screen in the form of the critically maligned 2017 feature starring Idris Elba and Matthew McConaughey. Flanagan is well aware of the sour note that the film left with fans. “We can’t let that be the final word,” he said. “We really can’t.”

Why Did The First Dark Tower Movie Fail?

Despite widespread praise for Idris Elba’s take on Roland Deschain, there wasn’t much goodwill directed at the 2017 film itself. King’s The Dark Tower saga spans multiple novels, yet the adaptation somehow attempted to cram that sprawling mythology into a single 95-minute, PG-13 feature. The studio insisted the movie was technically a sequel to the books, with director Nikolaj Arcel explaining, “It has a lot of the same elements, a lot of the same characters, but it is a different journey.”

Fans weren’t convinced. The film tanked, taking any hope of a sequel down with it. In his review, our own Chris Bumbray summed up the disappointment, calling the film “a muddled mess of an adaptation that plays like someone wrote a young adult novelization of a couple of the books, and that was turned into a movie.”

Flanagan’s Other Projects

Aside from The Dark Tower, Flanagan has wrapped production on a TV series adaptation of Carrie for Prime Video, and he’s also set to tackle a “radical new take” on The Exorcist starring Scarlett Johansson.

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The bars are slamming shut on Taylor Sheridan’s intense (and arguably best) drama series, Mayor of Kingstown, with the show’s fifth and final season. Created by Taylor Sheridan and Hugh Dillon, Mayor of Kingstown Season 5 will conclude with an eight-episode arc, instead of the traditional ten-episode run. As you would expect, Jeremy Renner will return for the final batch of episodes, with recent cast addition Edie Falco returning for more sweating of bullets and shady deals gone sideways.

Kingstown gets left out of the loop

Mayor of Kingstown is the first Taylor Sheridan series to set an end date, following a change of leadership at Paramount+. Last August, Skydance acquired the streamer’s parent company, Paramount Global, with new seasons of Sheridan’s Landman, Tulsa King, and Lioness on order.

Don’t call it a comeback

While Sheridan’s projects typically perform well for Paramount+, Mayor of Kingstown got off to a rocky start, with a 33% score on Rotten Tomatoes for its first season. However, the show grew in popularity with both audiences and critics with each subsequent season, culminating in a 100% Fresh score for Season 4. Last year’s installment of the crime series is exceptional. I don’t throw the term “must-see TV” around lightly, but Mayor of Kingstown Season 4 has the juice. The episodes are overwhelmingly intense in ways that can leave you twisted up inside, biting your nails at the thought of the next thing to go terribly wrong for Renner’s Mike McCluskey and the show’s extended cast. Edie Falco brings her own brand of drama to the mix, while wheeling and dealing in the streets and prisons creates new nightmares with each episode.

When Paramount+ began weighing the future of Mayor of Kingstown, the streamer wanted to send the series out with a six-episode arc. The fact of the matter is that the show is expensive to make, and if it’s on the way out, why not mitigate the cost of doing business? Still, Sheridan and Dillon negotiated for an eight-episode farewell, which should please fans of the series.

Sheridan originally planned for 7 seasons

“[Sheridan] has an ending for it in Season 7. Whether it goes that far or that’s where we get [who knows], but he has an ending, and everyone knows about it,” Dillon said while speaking with Screen Rant last year. “Our goal is to get to that Season 7, because that’s as far as we can get, because that’s where he’s always had it. 15 years ago, he had it. 15 years ago, ‘So, here’s how it’s starting, Mitch is going to get killed off in the first 10 pages, and season 7, episode 10, this is where Mike’s going to be.”

Unfortunately, Mayor of Kingstown won’t make it to a seventh season. Hopefully, Sheridan and Dillon can compensate for the loss and send the series off with one hell of a bang.

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One of the most divisive topics getting discussed on social media since the new year is the quality (or lack thereof) of Netflix‘s Stranger Things series finale. While some feel the conclusion to the Duffer Brothers’ epic coming-of-age tale was a pitch-perfect, no notes affair, others, like myself, think it was a heartening if not clunky stumble to the finish line. Before this post devolves into me griping about Season 5’s inconsistencies, ludicrous lack of consequences, plethora of awkward performances, or unearned character development, let’s discuss something that did work, all the way through: Gaten Matarazzo’s Dustin Henderson, the MVP of Stranger Things.

Matarazzo snuck into a Stranger Things screening

Speaking with Variety, Matarazzo opened up to the outlet about the conclusion of Dustin’s Stranger Things journey, a role he’s played for 9 1/2 years and five seasons. Ahead of the interview, Matarazzo says he attended a screening of the finale on New Year’s Eve while visiting family in Jacksonville, Florida. Initially, he dressed as the Grinch to avoid attracting too much attention, but after seeing the size of the theater, he removed his mask, revealing his true identity.

While Stranger Things takes many questionable liberties with its extensive cast of characters, Dustin remains one of the show’s most consistent and interesting subjects. When the series begins, Dustin is an inventive, dorky pre-teen, obsessed with Dungeons & Dragons and various science fiction works. As the series evolves, so does his character, especially after Dustin meets Eddie Munson (Joseph Quinn), the standout character of Season 4 that captured the hearts of Stranger Things fans everywhere. Through his friendship with Eddie (and, by extension, Joe Keery’s Steve Harrington), Dustin transforms into a vastly intelligent, if slightly disaffected, teen with the world at his fingertips. Dustin’s journey is gratifying, earned, and complex in ways that bring out the best of what Stranger Things has to offer. Now, Matarazzo is opening up about the end of Dustin’s journey.

“A lot of shows don’t really give characters the opportunity to kind of just, for lack of a better word, talk shit and air everything out and speak unapologetically about the way they feel,” Matarazzo says of the experience. “I didn’t take for granted how special that opportunity was.”

Matarazzon reflects on Dustin’s journey

While discussing his reaction to Dustin’s achievements by the end of the series, Matarrazo said, “It’s such a relief. They’ve all been through so much, so to see him going forward and taking a breath and finally having a shred of normalcy — it’s all he really could have asked for. And that’s what’s so tragic about the end of Eleven’s story. Normalcy would never be guaranteed for the people that she loves if she was there. She didn’t see it as fair, and I think it was a beautiful choice to end her story the way that they did.”

Matarazzo shares his thoughts on Eleven’s fate

Matarozzo also spoke about whether or not he has ideas about Eleven being alive by the end of the series, saying, “I do, but I want to keep that private. I don’t know if others will, but I think that whatever works for you and makes the show wrap up better for you is correct. You have the right to debate it, but whatever you want it to be for you is great. I think they teeter that line very well, because I’ve already noticed a kind of 50/50 split amongst fans about whether they believe.”

What did you think about Netflix’s Stranger Things finale? Who’s your favorite character from the series? Let us know in the comments section below.

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Rachel Reid Was Diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2023

Reid was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2023, around the same time she began discussions with Jacob Tierney about adapting her novels for television. As it turns out, a recent interview Tierney gave ended up opening an unexpected door for Reid to receive much-needed medical help.

“But an amazing thing that’s come out of this though is Jacob was on CNN a few weeks ago,” Reid told Variety. “For whatever reason, the interviewer asked him about my Parkinson’s diagnosis. I thought it was kind of odd, but then the next day, one of the top Parkinson’s experts in the world reached out to me and asked if he could help me. I’ve never gotten to talk to a Parkinson’s expert. I’ve been on a five-year waiting list here because I live in a very small place. Now he’s found me a Parkinson’s expert, a neurologist, and I have an appointment in a couple weeks. That could change things for me because I’m not really getting the treatment that I should be getting. He also told me how to change my medication so I can sleep because I never slept. That change made me sleep through the night, which really helps with writing.“

Reid added that the disease has made writing difficult. “It’s making it hard to write because I can barely control a mouse,” she said. “I can’t type for very long. It’s hard for me to sit in a chair for very long. I need to figure out new ways to write. I don’t know if that will be voice to text. I don’t know if I can write that way. It doesn’t feel natural, but I need to figure out something because it is taking me a very long time to write now.“

While the success of Heated Rivalry is impressive on its own, it’s even more meaningful that it has helped lead to real, tangible support for the person who created it.

Heated Rivalry Has Been Renewed for Season 2

The series has already been renewed for a second season. In a statement, Tierney and executive producer Brendan Brady said, “Watching our show become an international phenomenon has been extraordinary. We’re profoundly grateful to everyone that has been on this journey with us. Being renewed for a second season so early is a true honor, and we can’t wait to bring you even more of what you love.“

What Did We Think of the Series?

Our own Alex Maidy enjoyed the series, but noted that although the sex scenes seem to be stealing the focus in the media, they are really secondary to the romantic and relationship elements of the story.

“Heated Rivalry is a unique series that succeeds in showcasing same-sex romance without succumbing to preaching on social issues. The series devotes a significant amount of time to developing both main characters and providing the audience with a compelling reason to invest in them throughout the entire season,” Maidy wrote. “A rare series that can transcend labels, Heated Rivalry may not appeal to everyone, but it will likely appeal to a broader audience than many queer-themed series have in the past. Because the series is about a gay romance but organically shows the hurdles and roadblocks in their path, it can be appreciated as much as any on-screen love story. Leave it to Canada to deliver the most accessible queer tale and make it about hockey.” You can check out the rest of his review right here.

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Stranger Things Spinoff Will Be Completely Different

“We tried as much as possible to answer all the questions as it relates to the characters and mythology of Hawkins in the Upside Down. We’re really closing the door and all that,” Matt Duffer explained. “And the spinoff, it relates in some ways, but it really is a completely different story and a completely different location with completely different actors and characters. So it’s its own. It’s really its own entity.“

As for what the Stranger Things spinoff will be about, that’s another mystery, but the Duffer brothers have said that Finn Wolfhard (who plays Mike Wheeler) is the only person who has correctly guessed what it will be about. Wolfhard later said the spinoff would have Twin Peaks vibes.

The Duffers Are Headed to Paramount

Some have wondered if the Stranger Things spinoff will actually happen. The Duffer brothers officially jumped ship to Paramount several months ago with a massive deal encompassing feature films and TV shows. The agreement does allow for them to continue with any future Stranger Things spinoffs, but you would imagine that they will be busy developing new projects.

The pair did tell Polygon that they will “be heavily involved” with the spinoff series. If it happens, someone else will likely serve as showrunner of the new series, with the Duffer brothers lending support when needed.

Stranger Things 5 Volume 2 Tops Netflix Charts

The second volume of Stranger Things 5 dropped on Christmas, and as you might expect, it’s been a big success for Netflix. It has pushed the final season to the top of the English TV list, with 34.5 million views and 284.8 million hours viewed.

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When Will The X-Files Start Streaming on Pluto TV?

The X-Files will start streaming on Pluto TV on January 1. The series will be available on demand, but there will also be a dedicated 24/7 linear channel, which will kick off by running through the entire series chronologically, followed by curated weekend marathons.

Pluto TV already has a handful of dedicated sci-fi channels, including ones focusing on Star Trek, The Twilight Zone, Stargate, and Doctor Who, so The X-Files should fit right in.

What is The X-Files?

Created by Chris Carter, The X-Files is a sci-fi series that follows FBI Special Agents Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) as they investigate unsolved cases involving paranormal and unexplained phenomena.

At its peak, the show was a full-blown phenomenon, expertly balancing standalone “monster-of-the-week” episodes with an expansive mythology centered on a shadowy government conspiracy to conceal the truth about alien life and its plans for humanity. Memorable characters, genuinely creepy monsters, and the electric chemistry between Duchovny and Anderson helped cement The X-Files as a pop-culture landmark.

The series premiered on Fox in 1993 and ran for nine seasons before concluding in 2002. A feature-length film was released in 1998, with The X-Files: I Want to Believe arriving in theaters in 2008. The franchise was later revived for two additional seasons, which aired in 2016 and 2018.

Ryan Coogler is Developing a New X-Files Series

I’ve always loved The X-Files, so I’ve been very curious to see what Ryan Coogler does with the concept. The Black Panther director has been developing a reboot of the series, and now that Sinners is out of the way, it’s expected to be his next project.

Much like the original series, Coogler recently confirmed that the reboot will feature both standalone and myth-arc episodes. “It wouldn’t be X-Files if we didn’t do both,” he said. “We intend on having both monsters of the week and also the overarching conspiracy.” There have been rumblings that Danielle Deadwyler (Till) may be in talks to play one of the leads, but when asked about it, Coogler laughed and said, “I can neither confirm or deny.“

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Manny is a former member of the Fireflies who assists Abby (Kaityln Dever) with seeking revenge on Joel (Pedro Pascal) for the massacre he committed at the Firefly hospital while rescuing Ellie (Bella Ramsay).

Danny Ramirez isn’t The Only One Not Returning for Season 3

The Last of Us video game creator Neil Druckmann also co-created the TV series with Craig Mazin. He wrote and directed several episodes across the first two seasons, but he announced earlier this year that he would be stepping back for the third season.

“I’ve made the difficult decision to step away from my creative involvement in The Last of Us on HBO. With work completed on season 2 and before any meaningful work starts on season 3, now is the right time for me to transition my complete focus to Naughty Dog and its future projects, including writing and directing our exciting next game, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, along with my responsibilities as Studio Head and Head of Creative,” he said in a statement. “Co-creating the show has been a career highlight. It’s been an honor to work alongside Craig Mazin to executive produce, direct and write on the last two seasons. I’m deeply thankful of the thoughtful approach and dedication the talented cast and crew took to adapting The Last of Us Part I and their continued adaptation of The Last of Us Part II.”

Ramirez Has Been Busy in the MCU

Ramirez made his MCU debut as Joaquin Torres/Falcon in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. He returned for Captain America: Brave New World and will also appear in Avengers: Doomsday, which is set to hit theaters on December 18, 2026.

The Last of Us Season 3 Will Shift Focus

The new season will shift the story’s focus toward Abby, which will also mean more of Manny. “I can’t believe that [HBO] let us structure the series in this way,” Druckmaan said earlier this year. “Meaning like we just ended season two, and season three is going to be starring — spoiler alert — Kaitlyn. I was sure that they wouldn’t let us do this when we started adapting this, but they’ve leaned into what makes, I believe, the story special. And allowed us not only the time but the creative freedom to be able to take these swings, and I think the audience really appreciates that.“

Who should take over the role of Manny in season 3?

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What is Ember & Ice?

Ember & Ice is a three-episode audio erotica series telling the sweaty tale of “Dane and Finn, two fae princes from the rival Solari and Lunare kingdoms,” a press release teases. Still, as the saucy series blossoms, it’s clear that the princelings are more than enemies as audiences become “an intimate observer to every moment of tension, longing, and intimacy between Dane and Finn.” “At its core, Ember & Ice is a story about choosing love in defiance of expectation,” the release concludes.

Interestingly, Ember & Ice is taking the Quinn audio drama formula to new territory by focusing solely on the romance between Finn and Dane instead of featuring a self-insert character. The first two episodes of Ember & Ice debut tomorrow, on December 30, giving Heated Rivalry fans something to look forward to before the year’s end.

Williams and Storrie melt ice and hearts in Heated Rivalry

I’ve become a significant fan of Storrie and Hudson over the past few weeks while watching Heated Rivalry. My wife introduced me to the series, and it’s quickly become one of my favorites of 2025. Williams and Storrie play Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, respectively, in Heated Rivalry, two rival hockey players who, off the ice, engage in an enemies-to-lovers dynamic. The show spans several years of the couple’s lives, as they meet in secret, ponder life outside the closet, and strive to discover a way for them to be together without too much professional fallout. Williams and Storrie’s chemistry is off the charts in Heated Rivalry, despite what some reviewers and publications would lead you to believe. It’s all about the longing, baby—the yearning.

While Heated Rivalry Season 2 isn’t likely to take the ice until 2027, with plans to shoot Season 2 in the Summer of 2026, fans of the hockey romance series can rest easy knowing that Williams and Storrie are still getting together to keep the electricity between them ultra-charged.

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The TV series The X-Files was known for having two types of episodes throughout each season: there would be standalone “Monster of the Week” episodes featuring strange creatures and/or phenomena, and there would be “Mythology” episodes, which would focus on the overarching alien conspiracy plot. Ryan Coogler is now developing a reboot of The X-Files – and he has confirmed that his take on the show will maintain that mixture of “Monster of the Week” and overarching conspiracy “Mythology” episodes.

Reboot

Three years ago, The X-Files creator Chris Carter spilled the beans during an interview on the show On the Coast, revealing that a reboot of The X-Files was in the works, with Ryan Coogler at the helm. A while back, Coogler confirmed to Last Podcast on the Left, “I’m working on X-Files. That’s what’s immediately next… I’ve been excited about that one for a long time and I’m fired up to get back to it, and that, you know, some of those episodes, if we do our jobs right, will be really f***ing scary.” Coogler also said that he has spoken with Gillian Anderson, who starred in the original series as Agent Dana Scully, about the project. “She’s incredible, and fingers-crossed there. When I spoke to her, she was finishing [Tron: Ares] up. But, yeah, but we’re gonna try to make something really great… and really be something for the real X-Files fans, you know what I’m saying? And, maybe, find some new ones.”

Coogler has previously let it be known that he was inspired to make Creed because “My father was a big Rocky fan. I’ve been watching these movies as long as I can remember, because he was obsessed with them. We would watch Rocky II and he would cry and stand up and cheer at the same spots, every time.” So when the subject of The X-Files came up during a recent conversation with Variety, he said, “Like my relationship with Rocky with my dad, The X-Files is one of those things with my mom. My mom means the world to me, so this is a big one for me. I want to do right by her and the fans. My mom has read some of the stuff I wrote for it. She’s fired up.“

Structure

It was during an interview with Josh Horowitz on the Happy Sad Confused podcast that Coogler said, “It wouldn’t be X-Files if we didn’t do both. We intend on having both monsters of the week and also the overarching conspiracy.“

He also reiterated, “That show is what I used to watch with my mom. It’s one of the most beautiful American television shows ever made, I think. And for me, that’s what it’s all about. It’s like when you, as an artist, try to capture something that you were influenced by, and you make something totally new. Anytime you watch a TV show or movie where there’s a skeptic paired with a believer, and they’re trying to solve a case, like True Detective Season 1, for instance, it comes up so many times.“

Cast?

During an appearance on This Morning earlier this year, Gillian Anderson said (with thanks to Deadline for the transcription) she has talked to Coogler and teased that she could play a part in the reboot / revival. “I spoke to him, and what I said was, ‘If anyone were to do it, I think you are the perfect person and best of luck, call me.’ At some point, if the phone rings and it’s good and it feels like the right time — perhaps.“ A couple of weeks ago, a rumor emerged that Danielle Deadwyler of Till may be in talks to star in the reboot. When Variety asked Coogler if Deadwyler is involved, he laughed and said, “I can neither confirm or deny.“

Are you glad to hear that Ryan Coogler’s reboot of The X-Files will be keeping the “Monster of the Week” and “Mythology” mixture intact? Share your thoughts on this one by leaving a comment below.

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Development Hell

The Talisman was first published near the end of 1984, and Steven Spielberg has been trying to crack an adaptation ever since. He secured the rights quickly, but one of the first snags it hit was that Spielberg got distracted by making Empire of the Sun – and that movie came out back in 1987. In the early ’90s, screenwriter Richard LaGravenese, who had just been nominated for an Academy award for writing The Fisher King, was hired to write a feature adaptation. In 2000, Mick Garris was going to turn the story into a four-hour ABC mini-series. Then the plan switched back to turning it into a feature. Ehren Kruger wrote a draft. Carlo Bernard and Doug Miro worked on the script. Vadim Perelman was going to direct the film. Then Edward Zwick was going to direct the film. In the mid-2000s, it was set up as a six-hour mini-series at TNT, but then it was decided that it would be too expensive. The plan switched back to making it a feature. Josh Boone wrote a fresh draft of the script in 2017.

Then the Duffer Brothers got involved and started developing the material into a Netflix series. The plan was for the Duffers to executive produce alongside Spielberg, who would be executive producing via Amblin Television. Curtis Gwinn, a writer and executive producer on Stranger Things, was set to serve as showrunner. But, like all previous attempts to bring The Talisman to the screen, this set-up fell apart.

Duffers No Longer Involved

During an interview with CBR, the Duffers revealed that they are no longer involved with The Talisman. Ross Duffer said, “Sadly, Talisman is no longer at Netflix, so we’re not involved.” Matt added, “I think it was probably naive of us to think we could break The Talisman.“

Ross went on to say, “When I interned, when I was really, you know, back in college at Kennedy Marshall, I remember reading, I think it was a movie script for Talisman. So it’s been in development forever, so I’m sorry that we were not the ones to break the curse.“

When Mick Garris heard the sad news, he posted on Facebook, “Man, what is it with the poor luck of The Talisman on its way to a film or TV adaptation? I wrote a four-hour miniseries I was going to direct for Amblin and ABC way back when. Richard LaGravenese had already written an aborted feature version. Ron Howard was going to movies that branched into a TV series. Now the Duffer Brothers version is history. I don’t know how many other attempts were made–or will be made–but I wish this amazing story well.” Garris added that his script for The Talisman is one of his favorites, but we’ll probably never see it.

The Book

The Talisman tells of a 12-year old boy named Jack Sawyer who sets off on an epic road-trip quest in order to save his dying mother’s life. He is in search of the Talisman, a powerful relic that can not only heal his mother but, as he learns, save the world. Sawyer’s journey criss-crosses two realities: the America we know and its dangerous, fantasy-world twin, The Territories.

In 2001, King and Straub reteamed for the sequel Black House, which found an adult Jack Sawyer working for the LAPD and travelling to Wisconsin to bring down a serial killer called The Fisherman. There have been rumblings of a third book in the series for a decade now… and even though Straub passed away in 2022, King is sticking with the plan to finish the Jack Sawyer trilogy. A year ago, he said he was writing the third book in the series – and we’ll probably get to read that book before a film or TV series adaptation of The Talisman gets made.

Are you sad to hear that the Duffer Brothers won’t be making The Talisman for Netflix after all? Share your thoughts on this one by leaving a comment below.

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Creative Team and Source Material

Lisa Zwerling and Karyn Usher, who were behind the Starz drama The Rook, wrote the adaptation and serve as executive producers alongside Sandrine Gros d’Aillon, Wan, and Atomic Monster’s Michael Clear and Rob Hackett. Danielle Bozzone oversees the series for Atomic Monster. Howard is a co-executive producer. The first two episodes of the adaptation were directed by Alethea Jones, whose credits include episodes of Evil, Shining Vale, Mrs. Davis, and Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies.

Written by Howard during the pandemic lockdown in Dublin back in 2020, the book 56 Days is set during that very same lockdown. It tells the story of an intense, erotic romance that turns deadly. It follows two young professionals, striking out on their own in a new city, who are entangled quickly in a charged relationship that leads to a powerful intimacy that is soon cracked open by their secrets … and to murder. Here’s the book description: No one even knew they were together. Now one of them is dead. 56 DAYS AGO: Ciara and Oliver meet in a supermarket queue in Dublin and start dating the same week COVID-19 reaches Irish shores. 35 DAYS AGO: When lockdown threatens to keep them apart, Oliver suggests they move in together. Ciara sees a unique opportunity for a relationship to flourish without the scrutiny of family and friends. Oliver sees a chance to hide who — and what — he really is. TODAY: Detectives arrive at Oliver’s apartment to discover a decomposing body inside. Can they determine what really happened, or has lockdown created an opportunity for someone to commit the perfect crime?

Series Adaptation

The TV series (which was once going by the title Obsession, but has since reverted to the 56 Days title) is not set during the pandemic lockdown, but it does follow Oliver and Ciara, who, after meeting randomly in a supermarket, fall for each other fast, and dangerously hard. Fifty-six days later, homicide investigators arrive at Oliver’s apartment to find an unidentified body—brutally murdered and intentionally decomposed. Did he kill her? Did she kill him? Intercutting between an intense single day in the present investigation and the twisted trajectory of the young lovers’ affair in the past, the series is both a unique crime story and a riveting, sexy, psychological thriller.

Dove Cameron, Avan Jogia, Karla Souza, and Dorian Missick star. As Prime Video puts it, “56 Days features a star-studded ensemble cast led by Dove Cameron and Avan Jogia as Ciara Wyse and Oliver Kennedy, showcasing the chemistry and building tension that drive this toxic love affair. Rounding out the ensemble are Karla Souza as detective Lee Reardon and Dorian Missick as detective Karl Connolly, who anchor the present-day investigation with gripping performances that keep audiences on the edge of their seats.“

Will you be watching 56 Days when it premieres on Prime Video in February? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

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Jacob Tierney is ready to throw hands for Heated Rivalry

“This show wouldn’t work if any of that were true,” Tierney said concerning complaints about the show’s “bad acting” and lackluster plot. “I mean, it just wouldn’t. Nobody would give a shit about this if the acting was bad, or if there was no story. I think this is a show that actually requires you to pay attention. If you’re glib and you’re on your phone the whole time, or you’re looking to not pay attention, then God bless, and do whatever you want. But you have to be there in the moment if you want to watch. This is a show where there’s a lot of communication between the lines. It’s a lot about behavior. It’s a lot about watching. And if you don’t have the attention span for it or the interest, then I’m gonna be super honest with you. I could give a fuck what Deuxmoi’s criticism is of the show. I literally don’t even know who these people are. I don’t give a fuck what they think about anything. But I understand that, from what I have read multiple times now, people say this is a show that is not a co-viewing experience. You can’t be on your phone. If you wanna get what it’s doing, you have to pay attention to it. It’s definitely made to hold your attention. And if it doesn’t, then that’s a good criticism too. This is not for everybody, and that is A-OK. But I think at a certain point, the show speaks for itself, and the reaction to it speaks for itself, and there’s no way that these boys would be on the receiving end of the attention that they’re getting if they weren’t good. The papa bear in me does not like comments like this, obviously, because I know how hard they work. I think they’re fucking amazing. But we also live in a time where everybody gets their opinion, then they get to put it out on whatever platform they have, and so I get it. Keep doing your thing, Deuxmoi!”

A difference of opinion

Personally, I love Heated Rivalry, and do not agree with Alex Maidy’s 7/10 review score. It’s okay, though. Alex and I are best friends so that I can call him out on his madness. The show is superbly acted, with nuance and small moments making characters shine with a surprisingly large amount of depth. The show is hockey-adjacent, meaning it’s primarily about the players and their activities between games. It’s a show about being unable to live your truth because of twisted social constructs, toxicity within the sports industry, and denying yourself pleasure because of other people’s expectations. The show urges audiences to break those chains with powerful stories about people who deserve a chance at true love, just like anyone else. I’m excited for Season 2, which is (presumably) scheduled for sometime in 2027.

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Natasha Lyonne on Poker Face Ending

“We weren’t shocked! Isn’t that funny, how that happens? ‘News to some people,’ is what it should say!” she said. “I’m so grateful that Rian and I directed a finale last season called “The End of the Road” — that should have been a little clue, folks. We literally threw the car off a cliff!“

However, there’s a chance the series could be shopped to other networks with Peter Dinklage taking over the leading role of Charlie Cale. If that happens, Lyonne will be watching. “I adore [Peter] Dinklage,” she said. “Game of Thrones is obviously one of my favorite shows, but Peter is also one of my favorite people of all time. It’s kind of all good news.“

Although we may have seen the last of Lyonne’s Charlie Cale, she isn’t ruling out a possible “good old-fashioned, made-for-TV movie just like Columbo would like to. Stranger things have happened!“

Leaving Poker Face Will Give Lyonne Time to Direct

“For me, baby’s gotta direct some movies,” she said. “I’ve been talking about it long enough. I’m very grateful I got to direct TV and write so much of it. I love what I do very much; I’m so grateful that I get to do it. And the unfortunate thing about a human timeline is that, much like the sand in the hourglass, these are the days of our lives. I gotta get these movies under my belt.“

It was recently announced that Lyonne is set to write, direct, and produce Bambo, a movie which follows a Brooklyn-born boxing-promoter father in the ’80s who tries and fails to become the next Don King, and “takes his kid daughter along for the hurly burly ride of tax evasion, cocaine, race cars, lost dreams and heartbreak.“

What’s Poker Face About?

Poker Face “is a mystery-of-the-week series following Natasha Lyonne’s Charlie, who has an extraordinary ability to determine when someone is lying. She hits the road with her Plymouth Barracuda and with every stop encounters a new cast of characters and strange crimes she can’t help but solve.“

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Tierney didn’t think the Smut Content Would Fly

While speaking on eTalk, Tierney explained that while he loved Reid’s novel series, he “did not necessarily think this was adaptable because of the smut content in it.” I haven’t watched the show for myself, but from what I’ve seen on social media, it does feature some pretty passionate sex scenes, but are they really anything we haven’t seen before?

Although Tierney initially didn’t think those scenes would be able to fly, he “had a moment where… the book was becoming more mainstream, and I read an article about it in a big newspaper and I thought, ‘Oh my God, if somebody else gets to make this, I think I’ll be very upset.’ I followed Rachel on Instagram and she followed me back, and I literally slid into her DMs, and the rest is history.“

Heated Rivalry Has Been Renewed for Season 2

The series has already been renewed for a second season. In a statement, Tierney and executive producer Brendan Brady said, “Watching our show become an international phenomenon has been extraordinary. We’re profoundly grateful to everyone that has been on this journey with us. Being renewed for a second season so early is a true honor, and we can’t wait to bring you even more of what you love.“

What Did We Think of the Series?

Our own Alex Maidy enjoyed the series, but noted that although the sex scenes seem to be stealing the focus in the media, they are really secondary to the romantic and relationship elements of the story.

“Heated Rivalry is a unique series that succeeds in showcasing same-sex romance without succumbing to preaching on social issues. The series devotes a significant amount of time to developing both main characters and providing the audience with a compelling reason to invest in them throughout the entire season,” Maidy wrote. “A rare series that can transcend labels, Heated Rivalry may not appeal to everyone, but it will likely appeal to a broader audience than many queer-themed series have in the past. Because the series is about a gay romance but organically shows the hurdles and roadblocks in their path, it can be appreciated as much as any on-screen love story. Leave it to Canada to deliver the most accessible queer tale and make it about hockey.” You can check out the rest of his review right here.

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Neither Bones nor Sulu appears in Strange New Worlds until their Season 5 debut. Their arrival serves as a timestamp for the OG timeline, rounding out the Enterprise crew before Kirk takes command.

How much more Strange New Worlds can we expect?

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds was renewed by Paramount+ in June for a six-episode arc, capping the fan-favorite series at five action-packed seasons. Premiere dates for seasons 4 and 5 remain a mystery. However, if you’re jonesing for some Strange New Worlds goodness, the first three seasons are available to stream on Paramount+ right now.

Expect fewer “outlier” episodes going forward

Speaking with ScreenRant, co-showrunner Akiva Goldsman said we can expect fewer outliers in the show’s final two seasons.

“I think that it’s fair to say – as we come to the end of the show, because we’re making season 5 now – that we’re trending towards that, which is probably the center line of Star Trek,” he said. “We’re trending now, beginning with season 4 and through season 5 to a much more singular sci-fi, action-adventure with emotional storytelling. The outliers are getting fewer and fewer as we focus on saying goodbye to each other and the fans.“

That’s not to say season 4 will be all serious, as we already know a puppet-themed episode is on the way.

These episodes divide the fanbase, partly because they comprise a significant portion of the season. With only ten episodes per year, even two or three experimental installments can feel like a lot — particularly if you’re not sold on the creative gamble the writers are making that week.

Who stars in Strange New Worlds Season 4?

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 4 stars Anson Mount, Rebecca Romijn, Ethan Peck, Jess Bush, Christina Chong, Celia Rose Gooding, Melissa Navia, Babs Olusanmokun, and Martin Quinn, along with guest star Carol Kane and special guest star Paul Wesley.

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Last Samurai Standing was a Big Success on Netflix

In a statement to THR, Last Samurai Standing star, producer, and action choreographer Junichi Okada said, “I’m pleased to see that Last Samurai Standing has reached global audiences and has been confirmed for a second season. I’m excited to get back into this wild world and once again charge into battle with the production team. We hope to make the next season even more energetic and action-packed. We’d love to have you along for the ride, and please stay tuned for Season 2.“

The six-episode first season of the series debuted on Netflix on November 13 and quickly became a big success. It topped the streaming service’s Global Top 10 (Non-English Series) chart and ranked in the Top 10 in 88 countries. It held the #1 position for four consecutive weeks in Japan. It also boasts a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Director Michihito Fujii said the overseas reception to the series helped persuade Netflix to move forward with a second season. “I’m very pleased and relieved that Last Samurai Standing has been such a big hit outside Japan,” he said. “Thank you so much. I’m also honored to say that the series has officially been greenlit for a second season. It gives me chills just thinking about all the exciting days that lie ahead with this amazing production team led by Junichi Okada. There’s no doubt that Season 2 will be even bigger and better than the first, so I’m going to hold on to my seat and give it my best. I hope everyone will keep their eyes peeled for what we have in store!“

What is Last Samurai Standing About?

“Set in the late 19th century during the Meiji period, Last Samurai Standing thrusts viewers into a relentless life-and-death game,” reads the description. “At nightfall, 292 warriors — including lead character Shujiro Saga (Junichi Okada) — gather at Kyoto’s Tenryuji Temple, each lured by the promise of a massive cash prize. Each donning a single wooden tag, participants must steal the tags of their rivals and race to Tokyo to claim victory. As the signal sounds, the temple erupts into chaos, launching a brutal fight for survival where only one can stand victorious.“

I haven’t had the chance to watch the series for myself (who has the time to actually watch all these shows?), but I’ve got it sitting in my watchlist for some point in the future. Those of you who have watched Last Samurai Standing, are you excited to see that the series has been renewed?

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Runtimes for Final Episodes of Stranger Things 5

According to Duffer’s post, Episode 5, titled Shock Jock, will run one hour and eight minutes long; Episode 6, Escape from Camazotz, will run one hour and fifteen minutes; Episode 7, The Bridge, runs one hour and six minutes; and finally, the series finale, The Rightside Up, will clock in at two hours and eight minutes.

When Will The Final Episodes Premiere?

The fifth and final season of Stranger Things has been split into three parts. The first volume of four episodes debuted on November 26 (check out our review), with volume two (consisting of three episodes) following on Christmas Day, and the epic series finale dropping on New Year’s Eve.

Ross Duffer has previously defended the more spread-out release strategy. “I’m also excited about the first volume because, in season four, we weren’t aware that it was going to get split in two,” Duffer said. “It’s not Netflix’s fault, it’s nobody’s fault. There was the pandemic, and we ended up dividing it in two so we could get episodes out sooner. But this time, we knew we were going to divide it into two, so it really is in two halves. Volume One really exists as its own mega-movie. It has its own climax.“

The series finale will be released in over 350 theaters in the U.S. and Canada; a rare synchronized release for the streaming service. In a statement, the Duffer brothers said, “We’re beyond excited that fans will have the chance to experience the final episode of Stranger Things in theaters — it’s something we’ve dreamed about for years, and we’re so grateful to Ted, Bela, and everyone at Netflix for making it happen. Getting to see it on the big screen, with incredible sound, picture, and a room full of fans, feels like the perfect — dare we say bitchin’ — way to celebrate the end of this adventure.“

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Ryan Murphy is at it again. The prolific TV producer has brought us the likes of Glee, Nip/Tuck, Scream Queens, Ratched, Pose, The Watcher, American Horror Story, American Horror Stories, American Crime Story, American Sports Story, Grotesquerie, 9-1-1, Monster, and much more over the decades. Now, FX has announced that they will be airing the premiere of his international thriller The Beauty on Wednesday, January 21 – and with that date coming up fast, a teaser trailer has dropped online to introduce the show’s main characters to us. You can hear about them in the video embedded above.

The premiere episodes will also be available to watch on Hulu on Disney+ in Canada on January 21st. The series premiere includes the first three episodes, and a new episode of the 11-episode first season will air each following Wednesday, with two episodes in each of the final two weeks.

What is The Beauty?

Created by Murphy and Matthew Hodgson, who have worked together on Glee, 9-1-1, American Sports Story, and American Horror Stories, The Beauty will show us what happens when the world of high fashion turns dark as international supermodels begin dying in gruesome and mysterious ways. FBI Agents Cooper Madsen (Evan Peters) and Jordan Bennett (Rebecca Hall) are sent to Paris to uncover the truth. As they delve deeper into the case, they uncover a sexually transmitted virus that transforms ordinary people into visions of physical perfection, but with terrifying consequences. Their path leads them directly into the crosshairs of The Corporation (Ashton Kutcher), a shadowy tech billionaire who has secretly engineered a miracle drug dubbed “The Beauty,” who will do anything to protect his trillion-dollar empire—including unleashing his lethal enforcer, The Assassin (Anthony Ramos). As the epidemic spreads, Jeremy (Jeremy Pope), a desperate outsider, is caught in the chaos, searching for purpose as the agents race across Paris, Venice, Rome, and New York to stop a threat that could alter the future of humanity. The Beauty is a global thriller that asks: what would you sacrifice for perfection? The show is based on the comic book series written by Jeremy Haun and Jason A. Hurley, who serves as a consultant.

Guest stars include Amelia Gray Hamlin, Ari Graynor, Bella Hadid, Ben Platt, Billy Eichner, Isabella Rossellini, Jaquel Spivey, Jessica Alexander, Jon Jon Briones, John Carroll Lynch, Julie Halston, Lux Pascal, Meghan Trainor, Nicola Peltz Beckham, Peter Gallagher, and Vincent D’Onofrio.

The Beauty is executive produced by Murphy, Hodgson, Peters, Ramos, Pope, Eric Kovtun, Scott Robertson, Nissa Diederich, Michael Uppendahl, Alexis Martin Woodall, Eric Gitter, Peter Schwerin, and Jeremy Haun. The Beauty is produced by 20th Television.

Will you be watching The Beauty? Take a look at the teaser trailer, then let us know by leaving a comment below.

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“Tasked with protecting the town he’s vowed to keep safe, [Remnick] begins to suspect the crash wasn’t an accident, but the first step of a well-crafted plan with far-reaching and devastating implications,” reads the official logline for the series.

What did we think of The Last Frontier?

One person who might be upset by today’s news is JoBlo’s own Alex Maidy, who saw The Last Frontier as having more to offer if Apple could justify the expense. In his review, Alex said, “The Last Frontier is a welcome first season of what should be an ongoing series. Nothing may be sure when a show costs as much as they do these days, but Apple’s deep pockets could have us returning to the wilds of Alaska for additional thrill rides led by Jason Clarke, Haley Bennett, and Dominic Cooper. There are definitely moments in this series that stretch credulity, but they are done in the service of a fun story that hits the right notes. I would have liked Sam Hargrave to direct more episodes and inject the same caliber of action that we see in the premiere episode, but I am happy with what we got. The Last Frontier manages to take a part of the world many of us have never visited and makes it seem simultaneously foreign and familiar. This is a fun show that is well worth tuning in to week after week.”

Who are the creative forces behind The Last Frontier?

Jon Bokenkamp and Richard D’Ovidio created The Last Frontier and served as executive producers alongside director Sam Hargrave. In addition to Jason Clarke, the show also starred Dominic Cooper, Haley Bennett, Simone Kessell, Dallas Goldtooth, Tait Blum, and Alfre Woodard.

Are you disappointed to hear that The Last Frontier is canceled? Let us know in the comments section below.

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Dan Da Dan follows high schoolers Momo Ayase (believes in ghosts, not aliens) and Okarun (believes in aliens, not ghosts) who, after a bet to prove each other wrong, encounter intense paranormal events, leading Momo to awaken psychic powers and Okarun to gain a curse, forcing them to team up to fight spirits, aliens, and other supernatural threats while navigating romance, humor, and bizarre situations.

What’s Dan Da Dan about?

The series adapts Yukinobu Tatsu’s manga, which has sold over 12 million copies and continues to dominate shelves every Tuesday on Shonen Jump+. The first season of the anime is a manic spectacle of unpredictability, outrageous visuals, strange romance, and dramatic encounters with spirits, aliens, and hormones. The second season, while slightly more subdued, brings the adaptation to greater heights with intense danger, somber reflection, and story beats that push the cast beyond their limits.

When do we get more Chainsaw Man?

Meanwhile, MAPPA announced its next chapter of Chainsaw Man, “International Assassins,” which is now in production. The “International Assassins” anime arc will explore what’s next for Denji following the astonishing betrayal he suffered at the hands of the Bomb Devil Hybrid in the outstanding anime film Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc.

“Denji is a young boy who works as a Devil Hunter with the ‘Chainsaw Devil’ Pochita,” Crunchyroll’s description of the series reads. “One day, as he was living his miserable life trying to pay off the debt he inherited from his parents, he got betrayed and killed. As he was losing his consciousness, he made a deal with Pochita, and got resurrected as the ‘Chainsaw Man’: the owner of the Devil’s heart.”

While fans wait for more information about the next Chainsaw Man series, the Reze Arc film is now available for digital purchase and streaming on Apple TV. We loved MAPPA’s Reze Arc film, and can’t wait to learn more about when Chainsaw Man will make its anticipated return.

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When does Saturday Night Live return?

Season 51 of Saturday Night Live will resume on Saturday, January 17, with Finn Wolfhard and A$AP Rocky leading the charge. Previously, Wolfhard appeared in Jason Reitman’s biopic Saturday Night, playing an NBC page.

Bowen Yang waves goodbye to SNL

When Saturday Night Live returns in January, it will include one less cast member, as Bowen Yang completed his final episode on December 20. Yang’s final episode was hosted by his Wicked co-star Ariana Grande, with musical guest Cher. Yang’s final episode was a tear-soaked event as the comedian performed his final skits, including a “Weekend Update” sketch with Aidy Bryant, who made a surprise return to reprise the duo’s fan-favorite characters, the Trend Forecasters. It was the first time Yang and Bryant played the characters since Bryant left the show herself in 2022.

“I just feel so lucky that I ever got to work here,” Yang said, bursting into tears, during his farewells. “I just wanted to enjoy for a little bit longer, especially the people. I’ve loved every single person who works here because they’re done so much for me, especially my boss.”

Then, Cher joined Yang on stage, whom the comedian says is his personal icon and dream SNL guest. “Ma’am, I just want to say it’s been an honor working for you and any success I have after this will be thanks to this place,” he told her, asking, “Before I go, do you have any feedback for me?”

She replied, “Well, everyone thought you were a little bit too gay. But you know what? You’re perfect for me.”

After that, it was Niagara Falls, Frankie. Niagara Falls.

The post Saturday Night Live reveals its first host and musical guest after the holiday hiatus appeared first on JoBlo.

In this era of prestige TV, I think it’s safe to say that many of our favorite action shows from the eighties and nineties don’t really hold up. It might sound harsh, but the quality of TV leapfrogged in a huge way in the mid-to-late nineties, and some of the most popular action shows, in hindsight, seem impossibly cheesy. I tried watching The A-Team and Knight Rider on Pluto the other day and found them largely unwatchable. Yet, one show that (mostly) doesn’t suffer that fate is Miami Vice.

How Michael Mann Turned Miami Vice into Proto-Prestige TV

Probably the reason it holds up is the fact that under the supervision of none other than Michael Mann as its executive producer, it kind of functioned as proto-prestige TV. Sure, it had action, but the production values made it look more like a movie, especially as far as the editing and soundtracks went, both with Jan Hammer’s scores and the hit-driven soundtracks. The show was also anchored by Don Johnson at his most charismatic as Sonny Crockett, along with terrific support by Philip Michael Thomas as Tubbs (way better on this show than some remember), Edward James Olmos as their taciturn boss, Castillo, Olivia Brown, Sandra Santiago, Michael Talbot and, for a while, John Diehl.

Which Seasons of Miami Vice Still Hold Up?

That said, of its five-season run, only the first two seasons of the show really hold up. Mann became more hands-off somewhere around the third season, and the decline in quality was immediately obvious. Season three has some great episodes, but seasons four and five are almost unwatchable. Yet, those first two seasons have many classic episodes that stand up next to the best prestige TV from our modern era, and will be used as reference material for Joseph Kosinski’s upcoming IMAX-shot reboot of the series (although I have a huge soft spot for Mann’s own awesome movie remake).

How Miami Vice Has Survived on Home Media and Streaming

Miami Vice has fared better on home media than other shows of its era, with Universal going to great lengths to keep the soundtracks intact, which are essential. This has carried over into the streaming era — with one notable exception. While the show is easy to find on most streaming services, one of the best episodes ever is missing due to what many assume are music rights issues.

What Is the Missing Miami Vice Episode on Streaming?

The episode in question is the 21st of season one, “Evan.” Many, myself included, consider this among the best Miami Vice episodes ever, with it providing a heartfelt and provocative (for 1985) premise, where Crockett discovers his former best friend, a cop named Evan (William Russ in a performance that would shock people who know him mostly for Boy Meets World) is deep undercover in a cartel as an enforcer. Crockett hates Evan because they had a friend, a fellow cop who turned out to be gay, that was viciously outed by Evan, and the cop later committed suicide. What’s worse is that Crockett, while hating Evan, also hates himself for his own latent homophobia, having not stood up for his friend.

Why “Evan” Is Considered One of the Best Miami Vice Episodes Ever

While most shows would either not tackle the issue at all (homophobia) or turn Evan into a bad guy, in this episode Evan is shown to be highly remorseful, to the point that he’s now so reckless he’s suicidal. It’s also hinted that maybe he also has some unresolved romantic feelings towards Crockett himself, and it ends in a powerhouse moment where Evan sacrifices himself to save Crockett and Tubbs while Peter Gabriel’s “Biko” fills the soundtrack. It’s an unforgettable moment often singled out as the show’s best, but sadly the only way to watch it is on the physical media releases, where it’s intact.

Why Is the Miami Vice Episode “Evan” Missing From Streaming?

So why is it missing? The general consensus seems to be that it’s the use of Peter Gabriel’s “Biko” that keeps it out of circulation. It seems to be a rights issue that — sometimes — appears settled, as the episode has been known to occasionally pop up on streaming, while it’s intact on all physical media releases of the show. Yet, even if you buy the show digitally on iTunes, that episode (as of right now) is missing, so buyer beware.

Is It Better to Remove the Episode or Change the Music?

While that’s a bummer, I must admit I do prefer them simply pulling the episode rather than changing the soundtrack, which is what a lot of companies would probably do, as it would destroy the episode’s impact (the use of “Biko” is absolutely essential). So, if you check out Miami Vice on streaming, just be aware that you’re not getting the full release — and you might be better off buying it on Blu-ray (buy it HERE).

The post Miami Vice is streaming – but the best episode is missing appeared first on JoBlo.

Helena Bonham Carter Could Also Join the Cast

It was reported last week that Helena Bonham Carter was in early talks to star in the new season, but no deal has been reached yet.

The New Season will Take Place in France

From Hawaii to Sicily to Thailand, each season of The White Lotus has transported viewers to a new destination. The latest season is expected to bring the anthology series to France, but it’s unclear exactly where.

The production team has worked exclusively with the Four Seasons hotel chain to double as the fictional White Lotus hotels, although it also uses other hotels. They have several options, including the Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat (located on the French Riviera), the Megève in the French Alps, and the Hotel George V in Paris.

Each potential location would give audiences something different to the resorts they’ve seen in the first three seasons, which were all located on the beach. “For the fourth season, I want to get a little bit out of the crashing waves of rocks vernacular but there’s always more room for more murders at the White Lotus hotels,” teased creator Mike White earlier this year.

We Loved the Last Season

Our own Alex Maidy loved the third season of The White Lotus, saying that it was “as good, if not better, than it has ever been.” He continued, “Not as laugh-out-loud funny as the first season, the new season of The White Lotus continues to mine the darkly dramatic side of secrets and lies that friends and family keep from one another for a masterful season of storytelling. If you loved the first and second seasons of The White Lotus, your jaw will drop when you watch this new season. I don’t know how Mike White continues to improve on an already brilliant series, but season three is the best yet, and I cannot wait to see how it ends.” You can check out the rest of Maidy’s review right here.

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