When it comes to science fiction, J.J. Abrams has a knack for giving audiences gold. 2008’s Cloverfield was no exception. The producer hit pay dirt once again in 2016 with Dan Trachtenberg‘s 10 Cloverfield Lane. The franchise was made complete in 2018 with Netflix’s The Cloverfield Paradox. Each film in the series is vastly different, but ultimately they all take place in the same universe. From a found footage monster movie, to a psychological horror flick, to a sci-fi space travel film, the “Cloververse” has something for all audiences to enjoy.

Don’t get it twisted, these aren’t just your everyday B-horror movies. The original Cloverfield boasts a hefty cast including Lizzy Caplan, T.J. Miller, and Mike Vogel. The sequel features Mary Elizabeth Winstead and John Goodman, with a voice-over cameo from Bradley Cooper. And The Cloverfield Paradox pulled no punches in putting together its cast including David Oyelowo, Daniel Brühl, Elizabeth Debicki, and Chris O’Dowd. The list of superstars involved in the franchise doesn’t end there. Oscar-winning director and nominated writer Damien Chazelle collaborated on the screenplay for 10 Cloverfield Lane. Matt Reeves directed the original, Trachtenberg directed the sequel, and Julius Onah directed the third installment. The creators involved in making these films are some of the best at what they do.

Image via Paramount Pictures

When a going-away party in New York City is jolted by an interdimensional monster attack, chaos ensues. Party-goer Hudson (Miller), who had originally been filming goodbye testimonials, keeps the camera rolling as the night turns into a struggle for survival. Unlike its found footage predecessor, The Blair Witch Project, Cloverfield never feels like a formal documentary. In fact, the film pulls the rug fairly quickly. Matt Reeves does a great job of making audiences care about his characters in a short amount of time, and then he throws them to the wolves (so to speak.)

Cloverfield is filmed in such a way that the audience feels like they’ve been dropped into the action. For a sci-fi/horror movie, Reeves chooses his moments of suspense wisely. In that light, most of the fear stems from the frantic camerawork and constant motion throughout a crumbling and terrorized New York City. In a refreshing escape from horror archetypes, there really is no twist ending to this film and for good reason. The movie follows a formula that works wonderfully. There is a monster. The monster attacks humans. The humans destroy the monster by any means necessary. A viral marketing campaign prior to its release led to $172 million worldwide at the box office. Cloverfield would set the tone for what this franchise and universe could be.

‘10 Cloverfield Lane’ Proves That a Sequel Can Exist as a Stand-Alone Film

At its core, the second installment is nothing like the first. 10 Cloverfield Lane ditches the found footage cinematography, and instead relies heavily on the good, old-fashioned claustrophobia that comes with being stuck in a doomsday bunker. After Michelle (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) wrecks her car, she wakes up in a cement room with her injured leg chained to the wall. The audience soon finds out that Howard (John Goodman) owns the property and is responsible for retrieving Michelle from her accident.

John Gallagher Jr. rounds out the cast as Emmett, another occupant of the bunker. Although the threat of aliens and monsters is hinted at, the real terror is whether Howard is telling the truth about why the three characters have to stay hidden underground. Again, the beautiful thing about this movie is that it can be viewed within the Cloverfield universe or on its own. 10 Cloverfield Lane leans about as far as it can go toward horror without becoming an all-out slasher. Michelle does, however, take on the characteristics of a final girl. And even though she escapes one monster, she immediately falls into the clutches of another.

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Dan Trachtenberg recently signed a first look deal with Paramount.

‘The Cloverfield Paradox’ Strays Even Further From the Original, and It Totally Works

Image via Netflix

The third installment of the series was released by Netflix in 2018. A bigger production company meant a bigger budget, and it showed. The film is set in the year 2028 aboard the Cloverfield Space Station. When testing a particle accelerator goes awry, the crew of astronauts find themselves dealing with a multiverse. The Cloverfield Paradox is not a horror movie by any stretch of the imagination. If anything, the all too familiar mission of getting back to Earth is a callback to dramas such as Armageddon. The film does an incredible job of masking its true antagonist until the final frame.

This series does what other trilogies can’t do. It allows audiences to start with any movie they want. It doesn’t need to be watched in order. And most importantly, the series doesn’t concern itself with genre labels. Sure, broad strokes, this is a sci-fi series. But each movie in the franchise offers something different for audiences to enjoy.

That makes what J.J. Abrams created even more impressive. He produced a cohesive franchise that included three stand-alone films, each leaning into different aspects of the sci-fi genre, including a monster movie, a psychological thriller, and a multiverse space travel epic. It’s safe to say that science fiction has no boundaries.

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Release Date

February 4, 2018

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Runtime

102 Minutes

Writers

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Doug Jung, Oren Uziel

Franchise(s)

Cloverfield

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Buckle up, because season 15 of the “Real Housewives of New Jersey” is set to begin production in the coming weeks. Bravo announced today, March 24, that three of the show’s marquee players had signed on to return to the small screen for the iteration’s next batch of episodes.

The news about the next season of the “Real Housewives of New Jersey” comes shortly after Margaret Josephs, one of the show’s former veterans, announced her departure from the series after seven seasons.

Bravo Announced A Portion Of The ‘Real Housewives Of New Jersey’ Season 15 Cast … Who Is Returning?

Is “back” better? According to Bravo’s Daily Dish, Teresa Giudice, Melissa Gorga, and Dolores Catania are the three familiar faces returning to “Real Housewives of New Jersey” when the show comes back to the network in the coming months. Production on the upcoming season is scheduled to begin this spring and follows a nearly two-year hiatus after the conclusion of season 14 in August 2024.

Gorga And Giudice Were Feuding For Years On ‘Real Housewives Of New Jersey’

Giudice and Gorga’s return to “Real Housewives of New Jersey” may come as a surprise to some members of the Bravoverse, considering the pair had been estranged for years before their reconciliation in November 2025.

In the season 14 premiere, Gorga actually turned down a producer who asked her to speak about the state of her relationship with the New Jersey OG.

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“I really don’t want to answer any questions about Teresa this year,” Gorga replied.

Before that, the two reality stars made headlines after a dramatic feud in season 13 resulted in Gorga and her husband, Joe Gorga, skipping Giudice’s fairytale wedding to Luis Ruelas.

Things seemed to have reached the point of no return at the season 13 reunion when Joe Gorga asked Giudice to leave him and his family alone.

“You know what the best thing to do is?” he asked. “Forget about me, I will forget about you. That’s it. Do your thing, leave me alone, leave everybody alone, live your f–king lives.”

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Gorga Clapped Back At Giudice After The Latter Predicted She’d Be Fired

At the time, Giudice implied that she was more than happy to be done with the Gorgas, saying, “It’s going to be over after tonight, I can’t wait.”

“Why? Where are you going?” Gorga replied, to which Giudice said, “You’re leaving. She’s gonna be out of my life after tonight.”

In a 2024 interview with PEOPLE, Gorga opened up about how it felt to return to Bravo after Giudice incorrectly predicted her firing.

“You know what? It was fun coming back,” she said. “I mean, what do you do if you don’t have fun with it a little bit, right?”

At the time, Gorga said she was keeping her distance from Giudice and Ruelas in order to maintain her peace.

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“I don’t need to talk about it. … It’s something I just, I don’t want to say don’t care about, but I just don’t anymore. That ship has sailed, and I’m okay with it, my family’s okay with it — so why do I need to talk about it? There’s absolutely nothing to talk about. So I’m not answering a question because it’s just going to be a dead-end question anyway. Keep it moving and let’s talk about something else,” she said.

Gorga And Giudice Reconciled Just Before BravoCon 2025

That is, until BravoCon 2025. According to The Blast, Giudice reconciled with the Gorgas after reflecting on the state of her relationship with her family after filming Fox’s “Special Forces” with her daughter, Gia Giudice.

Gorga also commented on their newfound relationship, saying the pair were “in a different place” these days. “Let’s just say that… everybody’s working on it. We’re working on it. We’re trying to move forward and we’ve, you know, hashed a lot of things out privately without all of this. And I think that’s a good thing.”

What Other Changes Are Coming To ‘Real Housewives Of New Jersey’?

In other “RHONJ” news, mainstay and veteran pot-stirrer, Josephs, announced her sudden departure from the show in a lengthy Instagram video.

“Hi guys, it’s The Marge, I’m dialing in. I have to tell you something that might come as a little surprise to you, but not for me,” she said. “I’ve been thinking about a lot of different things, and I am moving on from The [Real] Housewives of New Jersey.”

Josephs went on to say that she’s been blessed to work on other projects and noted that the timing of her Jersey exit felt right.

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“I think the timing is right. A lot of things have changed in my life. I’ve been blessed to work on a different project. I’m on the set right now,” she said. “I realized I have to spend more time with my family, work on my designing, and just take a break and move on.”

It’s still unclear who else will join Giudice, Gorga, and Catania in season 15 of “RHONJ.” However, according to Bravo, additional names will be announced in the coming weeks.

Authorities have deemed Alan Ritchson’s alleged physical altercation with a neighbor as self-defense.

According to a report by Entertainment Weekly, published on Tuesday, March 24, the Reacher star was cleared of criminal charges as a result of a video that seemingly depicted him beating up another person in a residential neighborhood. The footage, released by TMZ on Sunday, March 22, was accompanied by a statement from Ritchson’s alleged neighbor Ronnie Taylor, who said that he was the victim.

“After reviewing available evidence, including video footage and witness statements, authorities determined that no criminal charges will be pursued. Mr. Ritchson’s actions were found to be in self-defense,” Brentwood Police Captain Steven Pepin told EW.

Us Weekly has reached out to Brentwood Police Department for comment.

Pepin added that a “reckless endangerment charge” was considered, however the actor “declined to pursue charges.”

The law enforcement official concluded, “With the agreement of the District Attorney’s Office, the case is now closed, and no further action will be taken.”

TMZ reported that a dispute erupted over excessive noise, according to Taylor. It detailed that the neighbor initially spoke with the actor about riding his motorbike — specifically going at excessive speeds and revving his engine — through their Nashville suburb. Taylor then allegedly flipped Ritchson off, who returned the gesture.

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Related: Reacher’s Alan Ritchson Recalls Suicide Attempt After Sexual Assaults

Reacher actor Alan Ritchson opened up about his difficult time in the modeling industry and how sexual assault affected his mental health. “There are very few redeeming qualities to working in that industry. Let’s be honest, it’s like legalized sex trafficking,” Ritchson, 41, said in a new interview with The Hollywood Reporter, which was published […]

According to the outlet, Ritchson allegedly began speeding on his bike again later that day with two children, seemingly his own. (The actor and wife Catherine Ritchson share three sons: Calem, 13, Edan, 12, and Amory, 10.)

After Taylor asked the actor to stop, the situation became physical, with Taylor reporting the situation to authorities after he was allegedly punched and kicked in the face.

One day after the incident occurred, Ritchson took to Instagram to share a cryptic text post with fans that read, “Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake.” The script was a quote from French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte and no caption was offered by Ritchson.

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Related: Man Trying to Serve Taylor Swift Papers Arrested at Travis Kelce’s Home

A man trying to serve Taylor Swift deposition papers on behalf of Justin Baldoni’s legal team was arrested at Travis Kelce’s home, multiple outlets reported. According to a police report first obtained by Star, Justin Lee Fisher was caught at Kelce’s gated property in Kansas on September 15 around 2 a.m. local time. Fisher — […]

His fans, however, shared their own opinions on the released footage, with one fan commenting, “Imagine pushing JACK REACHER in front of his two boys,” and another writing, “They thought he was just an actor but he’s a real life Reacher.”

Ritchson’s onscreen character Jack Reacher, is the protagonist of a crime thriller novel series by Lee Child that was turned into a TV show by Amazon Prime. The character was also portrayed by Tom Cruise in the 2012 film Jack Reacher.

Just when you thought you were through with chunky knits for the season, Rihanna steps out in a chocolate-brown sweater that looks as sweet as it does luxurious. Spring may have sprung, but the singer is subtly sending out a PSA with this fit. She’s going to keep things cozy-chic until further notice (that is, at least, while she’s on the East Coast), and it’s easy for Us to do the same, so long as we have this Amazon alternative handy.

The singer was spotted wearing the oversized sweater (and sporting a millennial tuck, we might add) as she and A$AP Rocky exited a building in New York City. Rihanna expertly paired her comfy turtleneck with a black bomber jacket, and opted for dark blue jeans that were exaggeratedly cuffed just below the knee – a strategic choice to ensure her white snakeskin stiletto boots were on display. Her accessories included a simple statement gold necklace and bold, oversized sunglasses, while the mom of three styled her hair in waves.

Get the PRETTYGARDEN Women’s Turtleneck Long Sleeve Sweater for $44 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.

Related: Rihanna’s Denim Bomber Jacket Is the Elevated Layer We’re Eyeing

If anyone can make Us think about spring style in January, it’s Rihanna. The fashion icon stepped out in a denim bomber jacket style that instantly shifted our mindset from heavy winter layers to transitional staples. Her $2,800 version may be out of reach, but we found a $43 alternative that nails the same effortless […]

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While it’s unclear which brand of sweater the Fenty founder is wearing, PrettyGarden’s chunky-knit pullover offers the same aesthetic. The loose-fitting sweater comes in a rich brown shade (among others) and boasts a high turtleneck. And while it may feel sacriligious to purchase a fall staple (let alone wear one) as we enter spring, customers say it appears heavier than it is.

One reviewer’s testimony waxed poetic about their love for the sweater, highlighting that it’s “very soft but light” and added, “It’s not bulky so wearing a coat over it is a synch!” Others commented on the color, specifically, claiming it’s exactly as photographed: “I bought the dark brown and the color was true to the online photo, a beautiful dark espresso.”

Oversized turtlenecks don’t exactly scream “spring,” but Rihanna’s chunky knit sweater is persuading us to be unfaithful to the season and hold on to cozy feels for a little bit longer. You can snag the businesswoman’s aesthetic with this option on Amazon for under $45, and work, work, work it until it actually feels like spring outside.

Get the PRETTYGARDEN Women’s Turtleneck Long Sleeve Sweater for $44 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.

Looking for something else? Explore more sweaters here and don’t forget to check out all of Amazon’s Daily Deals for more great finds!

Kristin Cavallari has some advice for the girlies regarding red flags in partners who use social media.

The TV personality shared on a recent episode of her podcast that men who constantly like the pictures of random women may be a red flag.

Kristin Cavallari also drew from her own dating experiences, recounting how she once noticed a married man frequently liking her posts despite having a picture of his wife on his profile.

The TV Personality Says Men Who Repeatedly Like Random Women’s Posts Are Red Flags

On Tuesday’s episode of her “Let’s Be Honest” podcast, Kristin Cavallari opened up about what she considers red flags women should watch for in partners who are active on social media.

She advised women not to overreact if their partners follow random girls, but stressed that it becomes a concern when there’s consistent engagement, such as repeatedly liking their posts.

“Following girls [is] not a big deal,” the 39-year-old said, per US Weekly. “Don’t stress it. But the ‘liking’ of the pictures is a bit of a red flag.”

The TV personality also noted that, in a “perfect world,” men in relationships would unfollow every random woman on their accounts. However, since this isn’t the current reality, she urged women not to be restrictive about who their partners follow, claiming their partners will ultimately lose interest in the allure of the act.

“Let the man follow some hot girls [and] get it out [of their] system,” the actress shared further.

Kristin Cavallari Claims The Married Men Who Like Her Posts Are Usually Athletes

After sharing her advice, Cavallari shifted the conversation to her “personal experience” of being pursued by men on social media.  

“The guys we really need to be careful of is the married men who are ‘liking’ every story but not ‘liking’ a feed post,” she shared.

“I have those men constantly. Those guys are trash,” she added about the men.

According to the actress, most of the men in this category were often “athletes,” “married,” and, oddly, didn’t even follow her account.

Kristin Cavallari Branded The Men Who Like Her Photos ‘Scumbags’

The reality TV star went on to recall a man in particular who had his wife in his profile picture, and expressed her wish that she could somehow make the partners of these individuals aware.

“I’m like, ‘The only reason you’re doing that is to try and get my attention. To me, you’re a f-cking scumbag,’” Cavallari said of the married man she referenced.

She added, “I wish I could just call these people out or DM the wife and be like, ‘Here’s the activity that your husband is doing. Look at all these likes.’ You’re trash!”

The Actress Recently Revealed She Is Back On The Dating Scene

Cavallari was previously married to Jay Cutler for seven years before ending their marriage in 2020 and finalizing their divorce in 2022.

She later dated Mark Estes in 2024, though the relationship was short-lived.

After taking a break following that split, she revealed earlier this month that she is back in the dating scene and has even tried a few dating apps. However, she noted that she hasn’t committed to meeting any of her suitors yet, as she wants to focus all her attention on her tour.

“So I was supposed to go on two dates, and I was like, ‘You have to wait until after my podcast tour,” Cavallari revealed during a live taping of her show, per US Weekly.

At the time, she also confirmed that the individuals were” known people,” but didn’t reveal their identities.

“These ones are. But I mean, I’m trying to stay out of headlines while I’m on the podcast. Then, after I’m going quiet,” Cavallari added.

Kristin Cavallari Reflected On Her Single Life Post Divorce

Elsewhere in the recording, Cavallari opened up about how she has fared romantically since ending her marriage to Cutler.

“The last five years have been the first time in my life I’ve been single, and I’ve dated,” she explained.

The actress went on to note that these past years have been “good” to her, especially as they have come with lessons for her about her preferences in men.

“Every guy I’ve even talked to, I learn more about what I do and don’t want. And that’s been instrumental because I’ve made some mistakes in the past,” she said of the past years. “So we’re learning right now. We’re in a learning phase.”

Kyle Cooke flipped a switch on the latest episode of Summer House, calling wife Amanda Batula all sorts of names — and raising eyebrows with everyone in the house.

At the beginning of the Tuesday, March 24, episode of the Bravo series, Kyle, 43, and Amanda, 34, were on good terms following a night out with their housemates. However, after Amanda went outside by the pool and left Kyle alone with his DJ switchboard he turned on her.

“F*** you,” Kyle told Amanda after he shamed her for allegedly not being “supportive” of him while their friends Ciara Miller, Ben Waddell and West Wilson looked on.

Amanda quickly told the group to just pretend nothing happened and go to bed.

“What is the point of talking about this? It’s only going to make things worse,” Amanda told the cameras. “I know that it’s wrong the way that he speaks to me. … I just know having a conversation about it isn’t going to go anywhere.”

While Amanda wanted to brush it under the rug, West chose to console her while agreeing that he would overlook the incident if that was what she really wanted.

“Objectively, nothing just happened. That’s bizarre to me,” West, 31, confessed. “That’s the first time where I’ve ever seen something where 100 percent [it] was unprovoked.”

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Related: Amanda and Kyle’s Most Cringe Moments on ‘Summer House’ Season 10

Kyle Cooke and Amanda Batula’s relationship tension was obvious from the moment they first appeared on screen during Summer House season 10 — and it only got more awkward between them from there. “Alright, don’t forget about me this summer,” Kyle told Amanda during the February 3, 2026, episode, which was filmed in July 2025, […]

Amanda, meanwhile, claimed that was “a calm version of Kyle” and something she’d been dealing with for 10 years. (Kyle and Amanda began dating in 2015 before tying the knot in September 2021. They announced their split in January.)

“There was a part of me that was like, ‘This is the best I’m ever going to do. And he loves me so much,’” Amanda told West as she started to cry. “[I was] constantly making excuses.”

As Amanda continued to get ready for bed, West went out and tried to convince Kyle to apologize for coming at Amanda seemingly out of nowhere.

Kyle, who was visibly intoxicated, claimed to West that Amanda “gave me f*** you eyes,” but West immediately denied that happened.

“I’m sorry for saying f*** you, I just feel like you don’t pay attention to me,” Kyle eventually told Amanda, claiming she doesn’t “make an effort” with him.

Kyle proceeded to accuse Amanda of spending all her time with their friends while he is ignored out at bars or even in their shared house.

When Amanda clapped back, telling Kyle that she only spends time with their crew because he’s with random people, he got even more upset.

“You’re a f***ing dumbass bitch,” Kyle called Amanda as she walked out of their room. She gave a thumbs up to West and Ben, who were in the kitchen, replying, “Oh yeah, I’m a dumbass bitch, Kyle.”

West was outraged by Kyle’s reaction, so he tried again to figure out what was going on with Kyle.

Kyle claimed that Amanda ignored her “all night long with our friends,” telling West, “It’s always a ‘F*** you, Kyle.’”

“But it’s not! This is your head,” West argued. Kyle, however, continued to claim that Amanda “hates” him and proceeded to go to bed without a true apology.

Kyle later admitted in a confessional interview that he was wrong to attack Amanda.

“There’s no excuse to drop the F-bomb and say F-you to your wife,” Kyle told the cameras. “But I can only go so long getting the cold shoulder. Getting the small but steady jabs.”

He alleged that Amanda’s digs about his life and DJ career had been “piling up” and it didn’t help his confidence that Amanda appeared to be “having a blast with everyone but me” amid their marriage troubles.

Amanda, for her part, told Lindsay Hubbard the next morning that Kyle is going through his own “s***,” but it is “no excuse” to call her names.

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Related: Kyle Cooke Claimed Amanda Batula Smoked Weed ‘Every Night’ Before Split

Kyle Cooke aired his and estranged wife Amanda Batula’s dirty laundry on Summer House months before their split made headlines. “There are so many things that Amanda and I need to talk about,” Kyle, 43, told pals West Wilson and Jesse Solomon during the Tuesday, February 10, episode of the Bravo series. Fans previously saw […]

Elsewhere in the episode, Kyle confessed, “I’m like the worst version of myself this summer. I’m just not able to articulate anything.”

The Loverboy founder noted that it felt “very isolating” that no one was seeing his side. “It makes me feel like I should just give up,” Kyle added.

The explosive episode between Kyle and Amanda was filmed in late July 2025, six months before the couple officially separated.

Summer House airs on Bravo Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET.

Next year, Jason Statham returns in the highly anticipated sequel to The Beekeeper, which just got a new release update months after filming wrapped. Starring the English actor as Adam Clay, a highly skilled assassin, The Beekeeper 2 is directed by Timo Tjahjanto and written by Umair Aleem, a major change from its predecessor, which David Ayer produced and directed, while Kurt Wimmer wrote. Wimmer is also a co-producer on the upcoming thriller.

As part of next year’s Amazon MGM slate, The Beekeeper 2 is scheduled for worldwide release (including in the US and the UK) on January 15, 2027. However, new reports confirm that the sequel has landed an early release, arriving a day early, January 14, in theaters across Germany. This is because the country’s leading independent, Leonine Studios, has acquired distribution rights in German-speaking Europe, excluding a Pay-1 window on Prime Video, to the film.

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The Battle of the Chrises — The Collider Movie Quiz!

If you’re Pine-ing for a Pratt-fall, or thinking “Evans to Betsy! I wish I knew the value of that stitching (the Hem’s worth),” we’ve got you covered.

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Who Else Returns in ‘The Beekeeper 2’?

In addition to Statham, the next Beekeeper installment will see the return of Oscar-winner Jeremy Irons as Wallace Westwyld, Emmy Raver-Lampman (The Umbrella Academy) as FBI agent Verona Parker, Bobby Naderi (The Better Sister) as Matt Wiley, and Jemma Redgrave (Doctor Who) as US President Jessica Danforth. Newcomers include Yara Shahidi, Pom Klementieff, and pro wrestler and actor Adam Copeland. The Beekeeper 2 is produced and financed by Miramax, while Amazon and MGM Studios handle distribution outside German-speaking Europe. Statham’s Punch Palace Productions and Chris Long’s Longshot Productions also produce.

Released on January 12, 2024, The Beekeeper was an instant hit with critics, earning generally positive reviews and grossing $162.6 million worldwide against a $40 million budget. It also earned a Verified Hot rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with a 92% audience score, and now holds a 71% Tomatometer rating. Meanwhile, it’s worth noting that the first film was distributed theatrically by Leonine in Germany, where it was a smash hit — debuting at number one at the box office. The action hit drew over 800,000 admissions locally and generated more than 1 million digital transactions, making it Germany’s most successful TVOD title of that year.

The Beekeeper returns with a sequel in 2027. Stay tuned to Collider for further updates ahead of its release.

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Release Date

January 15, 2027

Director

Timo Tjahjanto

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Writers

Kurt Wimmer

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Landing the role of Michael Scott became a defining moment in Steve Carell‘s career, but it almost didn’t happen. Before auditioning for “The Office,” he received unexpected advice from fellow actor and friend, Paul Rudd, who thought it was a bad idea. It offers a glimpse at how different things might have been had Carell heeded his advice and missed out on the now-iconic role.

Paul Rudd Had Doubts About The Series

Carell was a guest on the podcast “Good Hang with Amy Poehler,” where he talked about one of his most iconic roles: Michael Scott. At the time of the auditions, Carell was shooting the movie “Anchorman” with Rudd, when the latter advised him against trying out for the role.

“Rudd pulled me aside and was like, ‘Don’t do it, man. Don’t audition.’ It was like, ‘There is no way’.” Carell said, adding that Rudd basically urged him to steer clear of the project.

“The Office” is the American remake of the British sitcom created by comedian Ricky Gervais, who also starred as David Brent, the UK counterpart to Michael Scott. From the beginning, many thought creating an American version of the show was a bad idea, especially since Gervais had done an excellent job portraying the brash and cringey manager. Anyone stepping into that role would face comparisons.

Poehler said she agreed with Rudd’s thinking at that time, saying, “No one can be as good as Ricky Gervais, no one can do that show.”

Steve Carell Did Not Watch The UK Version

Despite Rudd’s advice, Carell pushed forward with the audition. However, he purposefully didn’t watch Gervais show. “I watched a minute of one and he was so good and so specific and so funny,” Carell said. He didn’t continue watching, fearing that he would try to audition with Gervais’ acting in mind.

Instead, he wanted to create a different character rather than imitate what Gervais had done with Brent. Scott, though as cringe-worthy as Brent, was more childish and goofy.

According to casting director Allison Jones, they initially had Paul Giamatti or Philip Seymour Hoffman in mind to play Scott, but they didn’t think they would agree to do a comedy show. Other actors who auditioned for the role include Bob Odenkirk, Patton Oswalt, and Rainn Wilson, who was eventually cast as Dwight Schrute. The role ultimately went to Carell, who Jones said was always a top choice.

The Pilot Tested Poorly

Carell told Poehloer that the pilot did poorly, saying, “Our pilot was the lowest testing pilot in the history of NBC. People really hated it. They actively hated it. And I don’t quite know how it got legs after that,” he revealed. “The Office” first aired in March 2005, with the first season consisting of six episodes. The reviews were mostly poor to mediocre, with many critics comparing it to the British version.

In an interview with Vox, “The Office” writer Michael Schur said that after they shot the final episode of season 1, everyone thought the show was going to be cancelled. NBC executive Kevin Reilly fought for the show, and they were given a second season.

Steve Carell’s Popularity Helped ‘The Office’

As Schur noted, Carell’s popularity after the first season aired boosted “The Office.” At that time, the actor starred in “40-Year-Old Virgin” before the premiere of season 2. “They partially gave us the second season because they had Steve under contract. So. Network executive sticks his neck out. The guy who’s the main character becomes a movie star,” Schur explained.

Furthermore, Greg Daniels, who developed the show, made some changes in regard to Scott’s character. Instead of following the British version, they wrote new material that resonated more with the American audience.

With the changes made, “The Office” found its footing, and the second season became a massive success.

Steve Carell Left ‘The Office’ Before It Concluded

Carell left “The Office” after season 7, and at the time of his departure, the explanation was that he wanted to spend more time with family. A decade later, however, it was revealed that the actor didn’t want to leave, but NBC hadn’t approached him about renewing his contract, as reported by Parade.

Carell said that shooting his final scenes for the show was “emotional torture,” but it allowed him to have a proper farewell to his show and castmates. However, he returned for a brief moment in one of the series’ final episodes.

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“The Office” concluded in 2013 after nine seasons, and it remains one of the top sitcoms of all time. In 2025, the show’s spin-off series, “The Paper,” premiered on Peacock, and it has been renewed for a second season.

Editor’s note: The below recap contains spoilers for Invincible Season 4 Episode 4.

The first three episodes of Invincible Season 4 were jam-packed with build-up, introducing new villains such as Dinosaurus (Matthew Rhys) and Universa (Danai Gurira), teasing the looming threat of Thragg (Lee Pace), and setting up the Viltrumite War. Nolan (J.K. Simmons) and Allen (Seth Rogen) are also working alongside Thaedus (Peter Cullen) to build up the Coalition of Planets, Atom Eve (Gillian Jacobs) is pregnant, and Mark Grayson (Steven Yeun) is getting a little too comfortable killing. It’s safe to say, thus far, Invincible Season 4 has been all killer, no filler — that is, until the fourth episode, “Hurm,” which sends the titular superhero to Hell, literally.

Damein Darkblood Returns in ‘Invincible’ Season 4 Episode 4

Image via Prime Video

As Episode 4 begins, Mark arrives at Art’s (Mark Hamill) costume shop. Mark is overcome with guilt over his actions, telling Art that he has become just like his father, and tries to return his black-and-blue suit. Art tells Mark that he doesn’t have to wear that suit and reveals that he has been working on an updated version of his classic yellow and blue outfit. At that moment, Mark receives a call from Eve, informing him of a new call from Invincible Inc.

Then, the episode takes a turn to Hell (or the UnderRealm, as its inhabitants call it). Damien Darkblood (Clancy Brown), his sister Domina (Kate Mulgrew), and the Darkblood Clan take on the lava-skinned warrior Volcanikka (Indira Varma), who wants an artifact known as the Vial to enact Hell on Earth. Damien says they should have waited longer and tried a ritual again, but Domina notes that Volcanikka would have triumphed had they waited any longer. Volcanikka proves to be a worthy opponent, knocking out Damien and leaving Domina as the only one standing. Domina attempts to take on Volcanikka on her own, but her regeneration powers prove to be too much, and she is supposedly killed in battle. Damien awakens and brings his sister’s corpse to his father, the Great Beast (Bruce Campbell). Contrary to the name, the Great Beast doesn’t look very great nor beast-like.

The Great Beast’s ritual slowly begins to resurrect the Darkblood Clan, but unfortunately, in his frail state, he doesn’t have enough power to complete it. Damien then conducts a ritual of his own, using his trenchcoat and a vial containing Nolan’s blood. The ritual doesn’t go as planned, and instead of Omni-Man, Mark arrives, still in his black-and-blue suit. This begs its own question: why would Episode 4 begin with Mark getting an upgraded version of his classic suit back, only to appear in this bottle episode with his black-and-blue one? Season 4’s marketing has already revealed that he’s going to go back to his original color scheme, so teasing the audience at the beginning is a questionable choice. Apparently, the call Mark received at the beginning of the episode had nothing to do with Damien. Instead, he was called to supposedly protect Riley (Chloe Bennet) from the reawakened ancient Egyptian Ka-Hor (Brown). Now stranded, Riley thinks Ka-Hor was behind Mark’s sudden disappearance, but Ka-Hor tells her that wasn’t the case. He wants a male host to possess, having no interest in inhabiting the body of a woman. Regardless, he realizes he’s out of options and decides to possess Riley’s body anyway.

Mark Learns the Truth About Hell in ‘Invincible’ Season 4 Episode 4

Damien attempts to introduce a confused Mark to the Great Beast, who we now know is Satan. Thinking he’s an enemy, Mark immediately attacks Satan, but Damien stops him, saying that’s not why he was summoned to Hell. Mark apologizes, and Damien proceeds to give him the lowdown on what he needs to do, while also revealing to Mark that Cecil (Walton Goggins) exorcised him back to Hell; he did not return on his own accord. Damien tells Mark that Volcanikka has stolen the throne of Hell from Satan, and he needs his help. Mark is reluctant, telling Damien that he’s in a dark place at the moment and that he should call upon other heroes to help, but Damien rejects the idea. He’s also reluctant to help demons, since he was raised to believe that Satan was the bad guy, but Damien tells him that it’s all myths made up by the “surface dwellers.” In fact, humans exist because of Satan. Invincible is already a show that constantly pushes the edge, but bringing in theology isn’t really something the series needed.

Mark ultimately agrees to Damien and Satan’s pleas for help, but warns them that he is not interested in hurting anyone. Mark and Damien are tasked with retrieving Satan’s Molten Crown, which will restore him to his true monstrous form. While on their journey, Damien tells Mark that he was expecting Omni-Man, but it’s revealed that Mark believes his father is dead, executed at the hands of the Viltrum Empire. Regardless, Mark doesn’t think his father would have helped, but Damien says he thought he could convince him with self-interest. What follows is arguably the most entertaining moment in the episode, as Mark and Damien fall down a “bottomless” pit, where the former constantly asks the latter questions about how he talks with his helmet on and the shocking revelation that Heaven doesn’t actually exist. It’s a fairly simple scene, but after spending so much time with Mark at the lowest points of his life, it’s nice to see him confused in a more comedic fashion, instead of reacting in sheer rage.

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Upon arriving at the bottom, Mark faces off with Cerberus, the former three-headed guard dog of Hell. Mark is easily able to retrieve the Molten Crown and carries Damien out of the pit. They present Satan with the crown, who then transforms into his true form and speaks exactly how you’d expect a Bruce Campbell character to talk. It’s delightful. Mark waits outside of Satan’s cavern as he performs his ritual to resurrect Domina and the Darkblood Clan. When Damien joins him, he says, “I helped you get the crown, now send me back.” Of course, Damien tells Mark he still needs his help.

Satan has successfully resurrected the Darkblood Clan, but Domina is still gravely wounded and unable to battle, telling her brother to take her battleaxe in the fight against Volcanikka. The battle culminates in Volcanikka and her Magmaites defeating most of the Darkblood Clan, leaving only Mark, Damien, and Satan standing. Her regenerative powers make her a tough opponent, but Mark ultimately defeats her, causing her to melt. But as she evaporates, she warns him that she will never truly go away. Just as the battle appears to be done, a gang of demonic creatures, known as the Vial, arises from the lava, only to be quickly defeated. It’s revealed that the Darkblood Clan has survived the encounter, and Domina is on her way to recovery. Satan thanks Mark for his assistance and prepares to send him back home, telling him, “We owe you a debt. Make us proud.”

Omni-Man Returns to Earth in ‘Invincible’ Season 4 Episode 4

Image via Prime Video

Back on Earth, Eve tells William Clockwell (Andrew Rannells) about her pregnancy, admitting that while she wants to have children with Mark at some point, she isn’t ready to be a mother yet. In fact, she hasn’t even told Mark yet. William comforts Eve, telling her that she sounds “unsure” and that she really needs to talk with Mark about this, not him. Upon his return, Mark finally dons his upgraded yellow-and-blue suit and flies back to the Grayson household, where Debbie (Sandra Oh) and Oliver (Christian Convery) await his arrival. Debbie tells her sons that Paul (Cliff Curtis) has bought a new house and that they’ll be moving. Instead of being excited about a new beginning, Mark and Oliver are conflicted about the move. Seeing that he doesn’t want to hurt his mother’s feelings, Mark tells her that he’ll support her no matter what and that Paul is a great guy.

The episode ends with Mark sitting next to Eve on the roof, telling her about his complicated feelings about the move as well as his trip to Hell, saying, “I’m not OK. But maybe, I’m getting there.” Eve decides that she finally needs to tell him about her pregnancy, but as soon as she opens her mouth, Nolan and Allen arrive, telling Mark, “The time for war is upon us.” A post-credits scene reveals that Damien has made his return to Earth and that Volcanikka is still pursuing a war on the surface world.

“Hurm” isn’t a bad episode of Invincible, but it comes at the worst possible time for the season. Creator Robert Kirkman previously revealed that this subplot never made it into the comics, and upon watching this episode, you can understand why. It just doesn’t feel like the Invincible we know and love. This is a story with superheroes, intergalactic wars, aliens, and human drama, and really digging deep into the supernatural elements, through the character of Damien Darkblood, doesn’t feel needed. If this episode were to have come during the second or third season, it may have been more effective, but the detour for this particular story in Season 4 is more jarring than effective.

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Release Date

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March 26, 2021

Network

Amazon Prime Video

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Franchise(s)

Invincible

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Pros & Cons

• The bottomless pit moment is funny.
• Mark’s classic suit returns!

• Episode 4’s story doesn’t fit with the rest of the season.
• The episode’s supernatural elements add unnecessary lore to an already crammed world.

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