Entertainment

There’s Even More to Al-Hashimi’s Most Crushing Scene in ‘The Pitt’ Season 2 Finale That You Won’t See

Published

6 hours ago

17 April 2026

Sepideh Moafi in The Pitt Season 2 finale

Editor’s note: The below interview contains spoilers for The Pitt Season 2 finale.

With Noah Wyle and R. Scott Gemmill‘s hit HBO medical drama The Pitt reaching its Season 2 finale this week, the thought of the doctors and nurses working this Fourth of July shift finally getting to enjoy some fireworks should be cause for celebration, right? Unfortunately, the season’s final hour, “9:00 P.M.,” doesn’t feel all that festive even once the staff is hanging out on the roof with lawn chairs and beer (except for that delightful mid-credits karaoke scene); everyone’s made it through a brutal gauntlet, and the future only holds more uncertainty.

Nowhere is that precariousness more evident than for Dr. Baran Al-Hashimi (Sepideh Moafi) in particular. Last week’s episode saw the new attending pull Dr. Robby (Wyle) aside in the closing minutes to assess the chart of a patient with a seizure disorder — and Robby’s keen eye immediately put two and two together about the patient’s identity: “Baran, is this you?” When the finale picks up where their conversation left off, Al-Hashimi’s admission that she’s had several seizures during today’s shift creates a perfect storm alongside Robby’s inner turmoil, and the resulting conflict spirals into an ultimatum from one doctor to another: if Al-Hashimi doesn’t report her seizures to hospital admin by Monday, Robby will do it for her, upcoming sabbatical be damned.

Ahead of the episode’s premiere, Collider had the opportunity to speak with Moafi about her character’s most pivotal moments in the finale, including when she learned about Al-Hashimi’s seizure disorder, the research she did to accurately portray the character’s seizures throughout Season 2, why Al-Hashimi goes to Robby for his opinion (and why his reaction confirms all her worst fears), which part of that crushing parking lot breakdown scene was left on the cutting room floor, and much more.

COLLIDER: When were you informed that Dr. Al-Hashimi had this seizure disorder?

SEPIDEH MOAFI: I found out right before I tested for the role. I had my initial self-tape that was three scenes, and then they added a scene for my callback. I haven’t tested for anything in person, flown out to LA to do an in-person thing, since 2015. I thought after that Zoom session that they would make their decision. Apparently, for every character, they’ve done a live testing thing, which I love. I love being in the room. So, they brought me to LA, and before that, they added one more scene, and that was a scene where I’m basically describing my condition, talking to Robby, in a casual way. Certainly not the way that you see in Episodes 14 and 15.

I knew early on. I did double-check with [creator R. Scott Gemmill] at the beginning of the season to make sure that that was still what we were playing, and that that last moment with the baby at the end of Episode 1 was indeed a seizure. When I got confirmation, then I knew how to work my way backwards from that final moment where I didn’t know what it would look like, but I knew there would be a reveal somewhere later in the season, and I understood how to pace myself throughout the season.

‘The Pitt’s Sepideh Moafi Explains Why the Last Three Episodes of Season 2 Were “Emotional” for Her

“The thing that matters to me the most is the accuracy…”

How much research did you personally do about the types of seizures that she’s having so that you could bring the necessary physicality to it?

MOAFI: A lot, a lot, a lot. The thing that matters to me the most is the accuracy, and I’m grateful that the show also places importance on medical accuracy, but for me, it’s doing right by a community. A lot of people don’t even realize what’s happening or the struggles that people who suffer from this condition, what they manage and have to navigate. I spoke to epileptologists. I spoke to the doctors that we have available to us. I spoke to every doctor that I knew, basically, and then also talked to specialty doctors. I had them send me medical journals about how these patients’ symptoms manifest. I watched videos of children seizing, of adults talking about their experiences with seizures or how they evolved throughout their lives. I listened to and read a lot of interviews with people who are talking about not just the event itself, not just the seizures themselves, but the fear and the moments leading up to them. It was a lot of collecting, hunting, gathering information.

As with most aspects of this character, you fill the tank, and then you put the walls up, and you hide. The seizures are so subtle. You’ll see people in real life who, when it’s happening, they’ll be in conversation just naturally, and then all of a sudden, they’ll kind of look off to the side. They’re still blinking. It’s like what Samira was saying to Doctor Al-Hashimi in the first episode, like, “Dr. Al, is everything okay?” It’s not like she’s staring off into space and looks like a zombie or something. She looks like she’s living and breathing. Unless you know what is happening, that it can be a seizure, you wouldn’t know.

The subtlety is everything with this. Every movement of the eye and how she’s coming out, and the blinking, it’s so subtle. I was on our doctors about, “If you don’t believe even a second of this, you have to tell me because it’s so important for me to get this right.” And it’s scary. It’s scary to do and go through that whole… The last three episodes for me were very intense. Very emotional.

There’s something interesting about the fact that Al-Hashimi goes to Robby with this. Is it doctor-to-doctor, “I need a different set of eyes on this, someone else to look at this that isn’t me”? Does she feel like she can be more honest with him at this point in the shift?

MOAFI: I think it’s all the reasons that you said. Most important is, in order to get closer to someone, you reveal part of yourself to someone. From the very beginning, they have been fascinated with each other. They recognize how talented and committed and devoted they are to the practice and to delivering the best care for patients and being the best doctors they can be with their respective backgrounds. They’re cut from the same cloth.

I think she is scared. She’s hid her whole life, her entire career, and there is part of her who thinks that maybe Robby has a genius intuition. Maybe he has some insight. “I do need an outside perspective,” she says. But more than the outside perspective, I think that she hopes that it will bring them closer and that he will humanize her a little bit. Because he’s been pretty dismissive of her, and yet it’s clear he admires her in ways, and it’s clear she admires him in ways. It’s kind of an opportunity to get them aligned with something, and get them on the same page.

It goes south. It’s not the outcome I think she hoped for, but I think it is a desperate attempt at being closer in some way. And she does hide in ways, but she doesn’t shy away from confrontation or from pain or difficulty, and she’s noticing she spent the last two hours hiding from him, basically, and she doesn’t recognize herself. She’s like, “What is this? I can’t lead by example if I’m hiding, and that’s the example that I’m setting.”

There’s something beautiful and kind of antithetical to the way that Robby deals with his trauma, which is that he continues to remove himself and withdraw. She recognizes this human impulse to withdraw, and something that’s very natural in a case like this, but it’s the childlike instinct to go and hide. Then the adult steps in, and she’s like, “No. You have to step up. You have to confront what is happening with you. This is an opportunity to express and embody vulnerability by example, and leadership with vulnerability.”

‘The Pitt’s Sepideh Moafi and Noah Wyle Had to Hug It Out Before Their Most Intense Season 2 Finale Scene

“There were variations, but it stayed at that level, 12 out of 10 intensity, for every take we did…”

Noah Wyle and Sepideh Moafi in The Pitt Season 2 finale

The first time they talk about her seizures, Robby’s getting pulled in a million different directions, and there are people interrupting them, so it’s not really resolved. The second conversation has a very different tenor than the first. At any point, were there off-script moments where you were improvising in the fight, or was that all written?

MOAFI: It was scripted as a confrontation, but the first time we read through it, and we walked through it, it got so intense and so heated to the point where the crew started clapping. So what you see on camera in the reactions was genuinely everybody being like, “What the fuck is happening in there?” And after that first rehearsal, Noah and I just hugged each other like, “I love you. I’m sorry.” There were many takes, and I haven’t seen the episode yet, so I don’t know which take was used, but she’s trying to keep the conversation private and bring him into the room, but then the fucking switch flips, and he’s yet again undermining her, undercutting her. So that’s what flips in that moment, in the scene, and takes it into a really intense, dark direction.

We didn’t know that it would get that heated, but it did, and it stayed there. There were variations, but it stayed at that level, 12 out of 10 intensity, for every take we did, which was, in a way, also kind of cathartic, as the character, because she’s zipped up so much all season and he’s been so condescending. He’s cut her down in so many different ways, and to finally be able to just let it rip, to not be so concerned about being seen as a hysterical woman or whatever. I think a lot of women hold that fear of, like, you have to contain your emotions, or else people aren’t going to take you seriously, or they’re going to discredit you as being overly emotional or hysterical, and she spent her whole career doing that.

That wasn’t just a climax of the day, it was a climax of her career, of, “How much fucking harder do I have to work? How much more perfect do I have to be?” She is terrifyingly high-achieving, and that’s not enough. It’s never enough. She can’t be human. She can’t be flawed, but everyone else can, which is why the whole Langdon thing also sets her off. It’s like, “You were going to cover for him, but I’ve been validated by neurology that it’s okay for me to be here, and you were threatening me still?” It is crazy. It makes my blood boil when I think about it.

There’s that ultimatum that Robby leaves the conversation with, which is essentially, “If you don’t go to hospital admin about this, I’m going to do it for you.” The last scene that you have after that hits me every time I watch it, in the parking lot. Al-Hashimi gets in the car and only gets as far as backing out of the spot before breaking down. I’m curious about how you wanted to approach that scene with the deeper emotions that are at play for her.

MOAFI: So many emotions. Actually, prior to that emotional climax, there was a scripted portion. Because I think she’s acting out of character. It’s out of character for her to be confronted about something and run away and hide, as she did for an hour and a half or two hours. It’s out of character for her to know that she seized twice in the day and get behind the wheel. And I think part of that is reclaiming her own power and agency, and like, “Fuck you. You can’t tell me what to do.” Getting behind the wheel, she stops, and she realizes, or she has this image of driving her son, and that is what makes her think, “What am I doing?”

The part that didn’t end up in the edit was that she calls her ex-husband, and, basically pretending everything’s okay, she says, “Is it possible for him to stay overnight? I have some car troubles.” She is stifling tears as he says, “Do you need me to pick you up?” There’s a moment where she’s desperate to ask for help, and she cannot. She doesn’t trust anyone. Part of that is these paranoias that we carry throughout our lives from childhood: If I reveal this part of myself, then I will not be loved, then I will not be accepted, then I will be shunned, then I will be betrayed. She wants to say, “Yes, I need you,” and she cannot. Part of that is connected to Robby. He’s proof that if you show some of who you are, you will not be accepted. So, she gets off the phone with him and has that sort of meltdown, the breakdown.

‘The Pitt’s Biggest Secret to Success Started With a Note From Noah Wyle

Director Damian Marcano sits down with Collider for an in-depth chat about his journey to ‘The Pitt’ and Season 2 Episode 10’s biggest moments.

There’s a lot in that. It’s that you’ve worked so hard to uphold this exterior of competence and diligence and proficiency and intelligence and compassion, and all of these things that she is, and yet what’s inside is this five-year-old girl who feels cold hands on her back from a spinal tap, a five-year-old girl who’s seeing her mother sob while she’s on the hospital bed, and that never leaves your body. That experience of being that little girl who is sick, who is a burden, who is not good enough, who is seen in her father’s eyes as special needs because of it, and fighting that your whole life, and 35 years later, that fight means nothing because somebody who doesn’t like you or who feels threatened by you can just take it all away.

It’s not just her own personal frustrations and grief. It’s systemic frustrations and grief that, “No matter what, I am trapped in this container, and no matter how good I am, no matter how hard I work, no matter how much I prove myself repeatedly, there is always a way for somebody to undercut me and try to get me down.” There’s this saying of “I’ll let it spoil my dinner, but not my breakfast,” and I think this is, “I’ll let it spoil my week, but not my life.” I think this is much more consequential and heavy than anything she might have experienced personally in this way. Of course, she’s experienced grief and all of that, but just feeling sorry for herself in this way, she doesn’t give herself that time. But this is a moment of true grief for everything that you’ve worked for, and somebody just threatening you, and knowing that these are impossible hurdles to overcome. She will continue to fight and continue to overcome hurdles, but in this moment, it’s just a pure unraveling of the soul and self.

‘The Pitt’s Sepideh Moafi Discusses Her Future on the Show

“Do you resolve, do you keep that tension and the suspension alive for an episode, or for a season?”

Noah Wyle and Sepideh Moafi in The Pitt Season 2 Episode 14

This season, so many of the doctors are being put through the wringer. Looking at the fireworks, it should be a moment of celebration, but it feels like they’ve all gone through this gauntlet, your character included. I know that there’s probably nothing you can tell me about what the future has in store for Al-Hashimi at this point, but given where Season 2 leaves her, do you hope that there’s more to come for her?

MOAFI: I don’t know what’s going to happen. I don’t know what they have planned. I think they’re in the writers’ room now discussing that. I don’t know what’s in store for her next season. I’m very curious. I haven’t seen it, but based on the scripts and based on what I did on set, what we captured, nothing is resolved, so how do you pick up from that? Do you resolve, do you keep that tension and the suspension alive for an episode, or for a season? Who knows?

With everybody, and with Robby, everything is just so up in the air. Personally, I would love to see how that dynamic continues to evolve and move forward, potentially, in another season. Thank you so much for taking the time out of your day to share your insight on this episode, because it’s such a great one for your character. Honestly, it makes you look back on the whole season and changes your whole perspective of everything that we’ve seen leading up to that point.

MOAFI: That’s so cool. It’s cool from a character perspective, and I think it’s so gratifying from an artist’s perspective because it does the thing that I love more than anything about acting, which is you shatter people’s perceptions or expectations. You think you know someone on the surface, and we’re so quick to judge, and when you just scratch past the surface, you realize, “I don’t know anything.” Even your partner or your mother or your sister or your best friend, we don’t know what’s happening inside.

To have an arc like Dr. Al-Hashimi’s, where, in the beginning, everybody was so quick to judge, and everybody was so quick to be like, “Oh, I know that person. I’ve seen that person. I’ve dealt with that person,” and then see what it takes, actually. Instead of starting from the beginning with her condition and then working our way up to this hard exterior, it’s the opposite, which is deeply humanizing, and should be a reminder for us that this is how we should relate to everyone that we encounter — the grumpy coffee shop worker or the grumpy teacher, or the grumpy parent, or whatever. Something is going on, and it’s rooted so deeply inside of each person. Hopefully, that can help us be a little bit more compassionate and understanding of one another.

Both seasons of The Pitt are available to stream on HBO Max.

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Lindsay Hubbard Slams Comparisons to Amanda and West

Published

6 minutes ago

17 April 2026

NewsAdmin

Lindsay Hubbard is over comparisons between her past with Southern Charm star Austen Kroll and the current drama surrounding Amanda Batula and West Wilson’s budding romance.

Instagram account Unhinged and on Camera got her attention this week by suggesting that “Lindsay kind of did the same” to Ciara Miller when they were both interested in Austen, 38, during the filming of Winter House in 2021. In this case, Lindsay had history with Austen before Winter House and the drama erupted when Ciara also developed feelings for him.

Lindsay, 39, later accused Ciara of holding a grudge over how things turned out with Austen when they returned to shoot Summer House.

Flash forward nearly six years, and Lindsay had no patience for her past with Ciara being brought up for debate in light of a new love triangle with Amanda, 34, confirming her relationship with West, 31, so soon after her split from estranged husband Kyle Cooke.

“No no no … let’s stop right there,” Lindsay replied to an Instagram account referencing Austen on Thursday, April 16. “If you remember correctly, I’m the one who had history with Austen. And then I came into Winter House late, not knowing what I was walking into. Get your facts straight before you start reporting how things went down.”

The Summer House star added that “nothing bothers [her] more than bad reporting.” Unhinged and On Camera responded that they were “not reporters but they do know the facts.”

Lindsay Hubbard Slams Comparison of History With Austen Kroll to Amanda Batula and West Wilson — Lindsay Hubbard on “Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen.” Charles Sykes/Bravo

“It was just an observation of another time in Summer House where there was a love triangle and Ciara felt ‘unseen,’” the social media account’s response read. “It wasn’t that deep or meant to be a direct comparison to Amanda. Appreciate that this is your real life and if you don’t think the situations are at all similar, that’s fair! All love.”

Lindsay wasn’t ready to drop the issue yet, firing back, “The situations are not similar in any way. And, in fact, I was the one with history with Austen, not the other way around. You don’t have to be ‘reporters’ to report the facts straight, so thank you for acknowledging that you have no ethical standards in this statement where you are attacking character (from 6 years ago) without factual information.”

The drama with West and Amanda will certainly be a main topic of discussion at the Summer House season 10 reunion. Ahead of the showdown, Lindsay opened up exclusively to Us Weekly about what she’s expecting when the Summer House cast reconvenes.

“I don’t know if I have anything to be nervous about. I thought it was a really good season so far for me,” Lindsay declared. “I know we still have half of a season left to go on Summer House and then a whole other show [In the City] after that, so there’s still a lot to come.”

Us reported on Thursday that the Summer House cast is coming into the reunion with a game plan on how to approach Amanda and West’s relationship.

“They are all going [to the reunion],” a source told Us. “The plan is they will be talking about everything and the timeline of Amanda and West hooking up.”

The insider teased, “Everyone on the cast wants [Amanda and West] to admit on camera when this all started and how serious it is.”

Summer House airs on Bravo Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET. The season 10 finale air date has not been announced.

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5 Most Important Action Shows That Define the Genre

Published

19 minutes ago

17 April 2026

NewsAdmin

Crockett and Tubbs stand next to one another in Miami Vice.

When it comes to the action genre on the small screen, it was often regulated to a tier below the police procedurals and Westerns that often dominated the airwaves. But, as TV evolved over time, action shows evolved with it. The stakes were higher, the protagonists were more complexed, and, instead of focusing on the “case of the week” formula that had been the genre’s bread-and-butter for years, action shows now closely follow their big screen counterparts, where the action is the heartbeat of the narrative, not just a set piece to move the plot along.

Action shows are now in a much better place than they were, and it is all thanks to the shows that dared to rewrite the playbook of what an action show could be. From the neon-soaked streets of Miami to the real-time pressure of modern counterterrorism, the following action shows have made their impression on the genre as shows that traded in safe formulas for high-octane risks, and they showed that action shows could deliver the same big thrills as their big-screen counterparts. So, without further ado, here are the most important action shows that disrupted and defined the genre.

‘Miami Vice’ (1984–1989)

Before Miami Vice premiered on NBC in 1984, action shows followed a format that didn’t do anything spectacular, and the action was seen more as a set piece than central to the storyline. That all changed when Anthony Yerkovich created a crime drama that fitted the times and pushed the boundaries of what an action cop drama could be. In essence, Yerkovich, along with executive producer Michael Mann, made the cop show look cool.

Miami Vice centers on James “Sonny” Crockett (Don Johnson) and Ricardo “Rico” Tubbs (Philip Michael Thomas), two vice detectives who work undercover to disrupt drug trafficking and prostitution in Miami. Right off the bat, Mann set forth to bring a new dynamic to Miami Vice, bringing film-quality and dynamic, colorful visuals that would set the bar high for action shows going forward.

Miami Vice was still a police procedural that worked on the “case of the week” format the genre worked with at the time, but the series was extremely fast-paced and full of energy, thanks to the music and aesthetic that were ingrained in the show’s DNA, which made Miami Vice feel more like a high-octane action music video than a traditional cop show. This was a show that was made for and defined pop culture in the 1980s, and introduced tropes that would become a staple of the action genre in subsequent years, from looking at the futility of the “war on drugs” to the moral ambiguity of the protagonist. Miami Vice remains one of the genre’s most popular cop shows, and it’s also one of its most important.

‘Starsky & Hutch’ (1975–1979)

Hutch (David Soul) and Starsky (Paul Michael Glaser) share a laugh in Starsky & Hutch.

Today, it seems like buddy-cop shows and movies are a dime-a-dozen, but not enough praise is heaped on the show that launched the formula: Starsky & Hutch. Created by William Blinn, the series follows detectives David Michael Starsky (Paul Michael Glaser) and Kenneth Richard “Hutch” Hutchinson (David Soul), two cops who are different in personality, but find out they work well together in solving cases in fictional Bay City, California, defining the modern-day “buddy cop” formula as the two cops had a deep level of camaraderie that made viewers fall in love with the characters.

Starsky & Hutch were the pioneers of the “us against the world” partnership, with the show focusing a lot on the two’s banter and chemistry. Today, it’s normal for audiences to see two male leads show emotional vulnerability and a “bromance” toward one another, but in the 1970s, masculinity on television was often restrained.

That changed with Starsky & Hutch, as it was common to see the two showing emotional growth within their partnership, which shattered the restraints on male bonding on television and gave the show an emotional depth not really seen in cop shows. But, as emotional as the show was, make no mistake, this was an action show through-and-through, and the action was intense and fast-paced. Starsky & Hutch would become legendary with its spectacular car chases, which rivaled its film counterparts at times. All in all, Starsky & Hutch shifted the police drama from focusing just on cases, to a more character-driven style that would become the influence of countless cop shows and movies.

‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ (1997–2003)

If you laid eyes on Buffy Summers (Sarah Michelle Gellar) for the first time, vampire hunter would probably not be the first thing that comes to mind. That, however, is what makes Buffy the Vampire Slayer such a groundbreaking action horror series. The TV adaptation of the 1992 film of the same name, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, subverted the “blonde girl in an alley” trope, while, instead of making Buffy a character that would constantly need to be rescued, made her a feared hunter of monsters.

Buffy is the epitome of female empowerment. She was powerful and witty while retaining her femininity, showing that women were just as strong and powerful as men without resorting to making her more “masculine.” But, above all else, what makes Buffy the Vampire Slayer such an important action show is the way it used it. The action within this genre-bending series was there just to keep the audience entertained, but was used as metaphors for the challenges and societal pressures that teens faced then (and now). The supernatural threats Buffy encountered on a weekly basis were a representation of real-life anxieties, which gave the show more depth than one would find in a show such as this. Buffy the Vampire Slayer had a major impact on the supernatural action genre, and it redefined how strong female leads were portrayed within the action genre.

‘NCIS’ (2003–Present)

Michael Weatherly as Tony, Cote de Pablo as Ziva and Mark Harmon as Gibbs in NCIS.

It is quite a rarity that a parent series is overshadowed by its spin-off, but that’s exactly what happened to JAG, the action drama that has been upstaged by NCIS, which took the military action series to new heights. The creation of Donald P. Bellisario and Don McGill, the show follows the Major Case Response Team within the NCIS as they work to investigate high-visible crimes within the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. While other procedurals treat its main protagonists as equal-but-separate members, the team within NCIS is looked at as more of a “family” than a group of agents.

This makes the viewer more invested in the protagonists, as the office in which the NCIS agents operate is mostly composed of lighthearted office humor, a far cry from the typically serious nature of police offices in other crime procedurals. When you watch NCIS, you get the sense that the show follows more of a “sitcom” narrative, with intense and complex cases often solved within its time slot. This makes the show not only high-octane, but also more comfortable to watch. In short, NCIS is the pioneer of the “situation drama” that has given birth to other “comfort” procedurals such as ABC’s The Rookie; but, what makes NCIS so important to the action genre is its longevity. In over 20+ seasons and a cast shake-up, the show has, remarkably, kept its core identity and popularity, showing that an action show can enjoy the same longevity as comedy and dramas.

’24’ (2001–2014)

Jack Bauer pointing a gun in the Fox series '24' — Jack Bauer pointing a gun in the Fox series ’24’

While the theme of this piece is each show’s importance to the action genre, Fox’s 24 is in another tier entirely. The show wasn’t just important to the genre, it was revolutionary, as it gave the genre a necessary refresh and brought movie-like quality to the small screen in ways we hadn’t seen on television at the time. Created by Joel Surnow and Robert Cochran, 24 follows Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland), a counterterrorism agent with the FBI who takes an “end justify the means” approach to defuse terrorist attacks within 24 hours.

As the title implies, each episode within a season is one hour ticked off the clock, leading to a season ending where the clock ticks to zero and often ends on a cliffhanger. This method of storytelling is called “real-time,” and, as you probably surmised by now, 24 was the pioneer of this format. By using “real-time” storytelling, it made the plot incredibly tense, and the pace made it hard for viewers to come up for air. Add in the “ticking clock” and split screens, and 24 had a sense of urgency that was rarely seen in action shows prior to the series premiere. It made 24 feel more like an action-movie blockbuster than a regular television show, and, today, the series feels like it was made for bingewatching, with its relentless action supercharging the crises that Bauer had to solve before the clock struck zero. 24 was a revolutionary action show that influenced modern-day thrillers such as Homeland and The Night Agent, and helped usher in a new era in storytelling within the action genre. While the other shows listed here are extremely important in creating the genre we have today, 24 was a show that put them all together to bring the genre into the platinum age of television.

24

Release Date: Advertisement

2001 – 2014-00-00
Showrunner: Robert Cochran
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Directors: Robert Cochran
Writers: Robert Cochran

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Tom Cruise Drives ‘Top Gun 3’ As Major Update Emerges

Published

32 minutes ago

17 April 2026

NewsAdmin

After years of speculation, “Top Gun 3″ is finally gaining real momentum, and fans are starting to see the bigger picture take shape.

While the sequel is still in its early stages, recent updates have revealed key behind-the-scenes decisions, including how Tom Cruise is shaping the film’s direction in ways that could define its legacy.

Tom Cruise Set To Reunite As ‘Top Gun 3’ Takes Shape

The long-awaited third installment in the “Top Gun” franchise is officially moving forward, with Paramount confirming that development is actively underway.

During CinemaCon, Paramount film co-head Josh Greenstein revealed per The Hollywood Reporter, “Top Gun 3 officially in development with a script underway, reuniting Tom Cruise and Jerry Bruckheimer.”

The update instantly reignited excitement around the franchise, especially after the massive success of “Top Gun: Maverick.”

While no director has been announced yet, the confirmation of Cruise’s involvement signals continuity for a series that has thrived on his presence.

Behind the scenes, the script has been in development for some time, with “Maverick” co-writer Ehren Kruger reportedly working on it for the past two years.

Though details remain under wraps, the groundwork for another high-stakes aviation story is clearly being laid.

Tom Cruise Legacy Looms Large After ‘Maverick’ Success

Tom Cruise at the 'Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning' Mexico Premiere — ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA

The pressure surrounding “Top Gun 3” is immense, largely because of what came before it.

“Top Gun: Maverick” was more than just a sequel. It became a global phenomenon, earning $1.5 billion at the box office and reigniting enthusiasm for theatrical releases.

The film’s success even drew praise from industry legends. Steven Spielberg famously credited Tom Cruise with helping to revive cinema attendance during a challenging period for theaters.

That legacy now hangs over the third installment, raising expectations for both storytelling and spectacle.

Paramount’s leadership appears fully aware of this, with producer David Ellison previously naming “Top Gun 3” as a top priority for the studio’s future.

Ellison also made it clear that Cruise remains central to those plans, emphasizing his long-standing collaboration with the actor and the importance of continuing to build stories around him.

Tom Cruise Steals Spotlight With Surprise CinemaCon Moment

Tom Cruise at F1 The Movie premiere, London — JOR/Capital Pictures / MEGA

Although Tom Cruise did not appear on stage for the official “Top Gun 3” announcement, he still made a powerful impression during Paramount’s CinemaCon presentation.

In a pre-recorded segment filmed atop the studio’s iconic Melrose Avenue water tower, Cruise delivered a voiceover celebrating Paramount’s history while hinting at its future.

The video featured appearances from numerous major stars and highlighted the studio’s biggest cinematic achievements.

The moment concluded with Cruise delivering a simple but optimistic message, declaring, “The future looks pretty great from here.”

It was a fitting statement, not just for Paramount, but for the “Top Gun” franchise itself, which continues to evolve decades after its original debut in 1986.

AI Debate Surrounding Val Kilmer Sparks Strong Reaction

Val Kilmer at Batman Begins premiere UK — ©2005 RAMEY PHOTO / MEGA

While excitement builds for the sequel, one behind-the-scenes debate has already drawn attention and revealed just how strongly Tom Cruise feels about certain creative decisions.

Following the passing of Val Kilmer in April 2025, early discussions reportedly explored the idea of bringing his iconic character Iceman back using artificial intelligence. The suggestion, however, was quickly shut down.

“Someone suggested bringing Val Kilmer back via AI,” one insider told the Daily Mail. “Tom jumped to his feet and let rip, leaving the entire room silent for literally minutes. You could almost hear a pin drop and see steam coming out of his ears.”

Cruise’s reaction reportedly stemmed from a deep respect for Kilmer, both as an actor and as a friend.

Insiders claim he strongly opposed any attempt to digitally recreate the late star, viewing it as crossing an ethical line.

Cruise Draws Firm Line On Honoring Val Kilmer

For Tom Cruise, preserving the integrity of Kilmer’s legacy appears to be non-negotiable.

Sources suggested he believes artificial intelligence could undermine the emotional weight of Kilmer’s final appearance in “Top Gun: Maverick.”

“Val only managed to make a brief appearance in Maverick due to his long battle with cancer,” one source explained. “Tom knew it would be Val’s screen farewell and wanted to give him the honorable send-off he deserved.”

Another insider reinforced this perspective, saying, “The moment he shared with Val in Maverick was such a beautiful experience, that when an AI Val was brought up, he wasn’t happy and quickly killed it because that would just bastardize everything.”

As a result, any future references to Iceman will remain respectful and grounded in reality.

“Will the movie reference Val? Yes, but Maverick is the last time we’ll see him,” the source confirmed.

With development still ongoing, Top Gun 3 is shaping up to be more than just another sequel. It is becoming a carefully crafted continuation of a beloved story—one that balances innovation with respect for the past, guided by a star determined to get it right.

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What happened to the “Desperate Housewives ”cast? See the ladies of Wisteria Lane, then and now

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46 minutes ago

17 April 2026

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Get the latest on Teri Hatcher, Felicity Huffman, Marcia Cross, Eva Longoria, and their costars.

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Gina Carano feels 'real peace' returning to MMA after “Mandalorian” firing

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59 minutes ago

17 April 2026

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Carano was fired from the “Star Wars” streaming series after sparking backlash with politically charged social media posts in 2021.

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Lisa Hochstein All Smiles After Release From Miami Jail

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1 hour ago

17 April 2026

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“Real Housewives of Miami” star Lisa Hochstein was all smiles in the first video of her after being released from the Miami-Dade County Jail. The reality star and her boyfriend, Jody Glidden, are facing one felony charge of interception of communication after her ex-husband, Lenny Hochstein, accused them of planting listening devices in his car in 2023. The pair were engaged in a contentious divorce battle when Lenny claimed he spotted a recording device in the floorboard of his Mercedes Benz. Now, things are getting even worse.

Lisa Hochstein All Smiles In First Video Since Being Released From The Miami-Dade County Jail

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How The Voice Winner Alexia Jayy Will Spend Her $100K Prize

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1 hour ago

17 April 2026

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After winning season 29 of The Voice, Alexia Jayy can finally enjoy the fruits of her labor and decide what she’s going to do with her $100,000 prize money.

“We haven’t really thought about it, but I think we want to buy a house,” Alexia, 31, exclusively shared with Us Weekly on Thursday, April 16, while celebrating her big win. “I think that’s where we’re going. We’ve been working really, really hard since I was a kid, and I just want something really special for my family.”

Alexia — who is a mother of two children — lives in Mobile, Alabama, and doesn’t plan on moving straight to a major city. Instead, she envisions a “little” relocation.

“We might move down the road,” she said, “but still in the south.”

For now, it’s all about celebrating a historic victory. Alexia became the first Black woman to win the NBC singing competition series on Tuesday, April 14.

While all three coaches — Adam Levine, Kelly Clarkson and John Legend — turned their chairs for Alexia in the Blind Auditions, it was the Maroon 5 singer who landed the soulful songstress and helped her advance to the finals.

“Being from a small town in Irvington, Alabama, and being able to make history for them is amazing,” Alexia shared about her win. “I’ve been singing since I was 2 years old, and so I never in a million years thought I would make history. But I’m glad that it’s me, and I’m glad I’m in the number.”

The Voice Winner Alexia Jayy Reveals What She Plans to Do With Her 100K Prize Money — Alexia Jayy Griffin Nagel/NBC

Since her win on The Voice, Alexia has already released a new single called “Rent Free.”

In the future, she hopes fans will be able to hear an inspiring album with more than a few hits.

“We’re gonna keep working. We’re gonna put an album out, and I hope y’all love it,” she shared. “I’m all about empowerment. I want to focus there, and I’m just gonna keep trying to get on these big stages and keep recording, keep working.”

One person she remains extra grateful for is her coach. For all the fans who ask her what it’s really like working with Adam, 47, behind the scenes, Alexia is happy to sing her praises for the rockstar.

“He’s really cool, calm and collected, because I’m really cool, calm and collected,” she told Us. “Our personalities match really well, and I like that. He doesn’t like too much, and I don’t do too much. So we really, really worked well together.”

The Voice season 30, which will include Adam as one of the celebrity coaches, is expected to premiere in fall 2026 on NBC. Catch up on old episodes via Peacock.

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3 Near-Perfect Netflix Movies To Watch This Weekend

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2 hours ago

17 April 2026

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A new arrival has overtaken the Netflix movie charts, as the survival thriller Thrash defies poor reviews to hold the top spot. Starring Bridgerton‘s Phoebe Dynevor as you’ve never seen her before, this sharksploitation flick channels the likes of Steven Spielberg‘s iconic Jaws and Jai Courtney‘s underrated hit Dangerous Animals, although to a much worse reception. With the movie earning just 41% from critics and 27% from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes, those who have yet to catch Thrash may want to give it a miss. With that in mind, what else should you be watching? To help you decide, here’s a look at three movies you should stream this weekend on Netflix.

For more recommendations, check out our list of the best shows and movies on Netflix.

Disclaimer: These titles are available on US Netflix.

1

‘Roommates’ (2026)

The must-watch movie on Netflix this weekend for comedy fans is a brand-new arrival, sure to brighten up your April. Filmmaker Chandler Levack‘s latest project, Roommates, debuted on Netflix this past Friday and follows college freshman Devon (Sadie Sandler) as her unlikely friendship with new roommate Celeste (Chloe East) spirals into all-out war.

Get ready to laugh yourself to the floor with this exciting new Netflix comedy, ready to tap into the anxiety and joy of the first year of college. Alongside Sandler and East, Roommates features an eye-catching cast, including Billy Bryk, Sarah Sherman, Natasha Lyonne, Nick Kroll, Aidan Langford, Josh Segarra, Martin Herlihy, Janeane Garofalo, Carol Kane, and more.

2

‘Beast’ (2022)

Rotten Tomatoes: 68% | IMDb: 5.6/10

After taking over Apple TV with the second season of his thriller series Hijack, Idris Elba turned his attention to the Netflix top 10 as this 2022 action flick became an unlikely chart topper. Directed by Baltasar Kormákur, Beast follows a widowed father, Nate (Elba), who takes his two daughters to a South African big game reserve, only for chaos to ensue when they are attacked by a man-eating lion.

Sure, Beast doesn’t reinvent the wheel in the action thriller genre, but nor is it trying to. Instead, it succeeds in bringing tension and thrills aplenty throughout a tight 93-minute runtime. Also featuring Sharlto Copley, the movie failed to make much of a mark in theaters during its run in 2022 but marks the perfect appetizer before Elba eventually returns to action in Extraction 3 alongside franchise star Chris Hemsworth.

3

‘Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle’ (2017)

Rotten Tomatoes: 77% | IMDb: 6.9/10

If you’re looking for an adventure for the whole family this weekend, look no further than Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle. A long-awaited sequel to the 1995 favorite starring Robin Williams and Kirsten Dunst, the film follows four teenagers who are sucked into the magical world of a video game. However, with their lives quickly endangered, they must learn to work together to escape.

Featuring a star-studded cast including Kevin Hart, Dwayne Johnson, Karen Gillan, and Jack Black, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle has a classic adventure movie feel that acts as a perfect ode to the beloved 1995 original. Charming and hilarious, the film was followed by Jumanji: The Next Level in 2019, with a third installment set to debut in theaters on Christmas Day 2026.

Release Date: December 9, 2017
Runtime: 119 minutes
Director: Advertisement

Jake Kasdan
Writers: Chris McKenna, Jeff Pinkner, Scott Rosenberg, Erik Sommers
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Producers: Matt Tolmach, William Teitler

Kevin Hart
Franklin ‘Mouse’ Finbar

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QVC, HSN Owner to File for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection

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2 hours ago

17 April 2026

NewsAdmin

QVC Group, which consists of home shopping TV brands HSN and QVC, is making big moves behind the scenes.

According to an annual report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Tuesday, April 14, the company revealed that it intends to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas after reaching a restructuring agreement with creditors.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Chapter 11 allows a company to continue operating while it is restructured. As a result, no immediate changes are expected for QVC and HSN shoppers.

“Today marks a big step for us as we shape the future of live social shopping,” QVC and HSN said via Instagram on Thursday, April 16. “QVC Group is taking action to strengthen our company for the long term, and we’re determined to come out of this even stronger — so we can keep bringing you innovative products, compelling content & unforgettable moments. We’re operating as usual across all our channels & platforms.”

The networks also encouraged shoppers to learn more about the restructuring process online.

QVC, which stands for “Quality, Value and Convenience,” was founded in 1986 by Joseph Myron Segel. The network has thousands of items consistently available on-air and online in various categories, including jewelry, fashion, beauty, electronics, kitchen and home.

Both HSN and QVC attract several celebrities and their brands, such as Jennie Garth, Giuliana Rancic, Curtis Stone and Stacy London.

In March 2025, QVC Group announced they were laying off approximately 900 staffers as they plotted a shift to live shopping on social platforms like TikTok.

“Linear TV is a highly engaging, highly profitable platform and it remains our cornerstone. However, as traditional TV declines and a mix of video platforms takes a greater share of customer attention, we must hurry our expansion beyond TV to find growth,” the company wrote in its annual report to shareholders at the time. “We are fundamentally redefining who we are as a company and the role we play for our customers and in retail. We enter this next phase of our turnaround with rigor and excitement.”

In June 2025, HSN filmed its final live broadcast in Florida before moving its studios to Pennsylvania, where QVC is based.

Three months later, six talented women joined HSN as new program hosts after several familiar faces said farewell to the network.

“Seeing the genuine excitement and commitment from our new hosts to not only learn more about the HSN brand but to also forge relationships directly with our customers has been impressive to see,” QVC and HSN executive Stacy Bowe gushed to Us in December 2025. “They are eager to help bring the stories to life behind the products they share in an authentic and trustworthy manner that resonates with our customers. Getting to watch our seasoned hosts take them under their wings to share their personal knowledge and experience has been a joy to see.”

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