Back in 2004, English journalist and author Christopher Booker took inspiration from Carl Jung‘s work to write The Seven Basic Plots, an analysis of the psychological meaning of stories. In it, he identified seven basic kinds of plots, and he argued that every story ever told fell into at least one of those categories. One of the most common plots to see in cinema is the Voyage and Return plot, where the protagonist goes to a strange land and, after overcoming the threats it poses and learning important lessons, returns home with newfound skills, experiences, or treasures.

Not at all dissimilar from Joseph Campbell‘s Hero’s Journey archetype, the Voyage and Return plot has offered audiences several of the greatest films of all time. In order to qualify for this list, a movie must contain both the voyage and the return, leaving films like the Lord of the Rings trilogy as a topic for another day. That still leaves us with ten movies that people would gladly count among the best of their time.

10

‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse’ (2018)

Back in 2018, Sony Animation took the world by storm with Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. What looked like a fun enough Spidey project instead turned out to be the greatest adventure the Wall-Crawler had had on the big screen up to that point, and even up to this day, it wouldn’t take you too long to find a few people who would call this their favorite superhero movie ever.

Into the Spider-Verse, one of the best superhero movie masterpieces of the last 100 years, puts a delightfully modern twist on the traditional Voyage and Return structure. Here, it isn’t Miles Morales who travels to the strange land, it’s the strange land itself that invades Miles’ world. This provides the groundwork for an interesting coming-of-age transformation, making Miles’ eventual return to normalcy carry particularly strong emotional resonance.

9

‘Orpheus’ (1950)

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The story of Orpheus and Eurydice was one of the specific examples that Christopher Booker referenced in The Seven Basic Plots when talking about the Voyage and Return archetype, and there has never been a better film based on the classic Greek myth than Jean Cocteau‘s French classic Orpheus. Partly based on Cocteau’s own 1926 stage play of the same name, it sets this legendary tale in contemporary Paris.

Slow-burning, beautifully poetic, and masterfully surreal, Cocteau’s Orpheus is one of the best movie classics of the 1950s. Labyrinthine in its mind-bending approach to the story, yet never confusing, Orpheus is one of the most profound and thought-provoking studies of the life of the artist that the Seventh Art has ever had to offer. Its leveraging of the Voyage and Return plot as a template to pull audiences in right off the beat is nothing short of brilliant.

8

‘The Lion King’ (1994)

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Praised by many as the greatest animated film that Disney has ever produced, The Lion King is the peak of the period now known as the Disney Renaissance. With its colorful and vibrant visuals, its engrossing story based on both Shakespeare‘s Hamlet and Western African folklore, and one of Hans Zimmer‘s best movie scores, it’s no wonder why it’s one of the most highly acclaimed animated movies of all time.

The story of Simba’s exile from his kingdom after his father’s death, his coming-of-age by the side of his friends, and his return to take his rightful position as king away from the scheming Scar falls as neatly into the Voyage and Return archetype as any film possibly could. This shows that sticking by a tried-and-true story template can be the perfect way to tell a story that’s universally compelling and remains timeless pretty much forever.

7

‘The Third Man’ (1949)

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Film historians and scholars have never been able to agree on whether film noir was a genre, a film movement, or simply a style of filmmaking; but regardless of what’s true, The Third Man will always be one of the best noir movies ever made. Made shortly after the end of WWII and responding directly to the mood that reigned across Europe at the time, it’s one of the best British movies of the era.

The strange world that American writer Holly Martins enters in The Third Man is actually just regular ol’ post-war Vienna, but director Carol Reed truly makes the space feel “other” while delivering one of the best-looking noir movies ever. This is another story that was directly referenced by Booker as a Voyage and Return plot, and it’s a perfect example of how the return can result not in growth and catharsis, but rather in disillusionment and emotional failure.

6

‘Interstellar’ (2014)

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Christopher Nolan is a master of making movies that stick close to basic story archetypes, which makes his adaptation of The Odyssey, perhaps the most quintessential Voyage and Return story ever, all the more thrilling. Nolan has already made a Voyage and Return movie, however: 2014’s Interstellar, which still remains many fans’ favorite Nolan outing ever.

It is, at the very least, one of the best space movies of the last 20 years. The “Voyage” part here results in one of the most engrossing space adventures in the history of modern science fiction, and the “Return” part twists the boundaries of Booker’s theories on their head. By the time Cooper’s adventure is over, he doesn’t have an Earth to return to; instead, his return is to what turns out to have been “home” for him the whole time: his daughter, Murph. It’s a deeply moving rendition of the Voyage and Return plot whose emotional power simply can’t be resisted.

5

‘Spirited Away’ (2001)

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There are few fantasy films that stick more neatly to the Voyage and Return archetype than Spirited Away, so it’s probably no coincidence that it’s widely considered not only Hayao Miyazaki‘s best movie of all time, but perhaps even the greatest animated film ever made. Part slow-burning fantasy adventure, part coming-of-age drama, it’s one of the most beautiful animated movies of the 21st century thus far.

The audience’s experience of the bathhouse and the spirit world is much akin to Chihiro’s: One of wonder, excitement, and constant awe. The world-building here is flawless, which is a big part of why this is one of the most perfect fantasy movies of the 21st century. And once Chihiro finally returns home to her parents, it’s not only her that feels like an entirely different character—It’s the audience that has been profoundly changed, too.

4

‘Back to the Future’ (1985)

Image via Universal Pictures

Back to the Future is another example cited by Booker as a classic Voyage and Return film, and it’s not at all difficult to see where he’s coming from. The Back to the Future series as a whole is one of the most perfect movie trilogies for a weekend binge, but thankfully for those looking for a single Voyage and Return movie that contains both elements within its runtime, Back to the Future works as a standalone project every bit as well as it does as a trilogy opener.

The strange world that Marty McFly travels to here is 1955 Hill Valley, and what ensues there is one of the most entertaining stories of any ’80s movie. There are no grand, artsy themes here, nor do there need to be. Instead, Back to the Future is perfect, classic old-school storytelling that works exceptionally in virtually every sense, including as a flawless example of the Voyage and Return template.

3

‘Stalker’ (1979)

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The great Soviet auteur Andrei Tarkovsky was one of the greatest and most influential arthouse filmmakers in history, a poet with a camera who left behind some of the best movies of the 20th century. This includes Stalker, one of the best sci-fi movies of the last 75 years, where man guides a Writer and a Professor through The Zone to a place called The Room, said to grant visitors’ innermost wish.

The voyage here is one of the most visually stunning, beautifully slow-paced, and profoundly meditative sci-fi adventures in the history of cinema. As for the Stalker’s return home after the Writer and Professor refused to enter The Room, it’s the most thought-provoking ending in all of Tarkovsky’s filmography. This is no traditional Voyage and Return story, and those who prefer faster-paced science fiction will probably struggle with Stalker as a whole, but those who love arthouse sci-fi ought to check it out at least once in their lives.

2

‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ (1946)

Image via Liberty Films

Frank Capra was a filmmaker who was constantly ahead of his time throughout the entirety of Hollywood’s Golden Age, making timeless classics of the stature of It’s a Wonderful Life. Though best-remembered as one of the best Christmas movies of all time, Christmas actually plays only a small role in the story of George Bailey. Instead, this is a surprisingly mature and complex study of men’s mental health and one of the most powerful anti-suicide movies in Hollywood history.

The interesting part about this particular Voyage and Return film is that while the first two acts of the story are all set-up, both the Voyage and the Return are contained within the third act of the narrative. It’s during this latter part of It’s a Wonderful Life that an angel takes George on a tour of an alternate reality where he never existed. Upon his return, George has a newfound appreciation for life, his family, and everything that they’ve been through together. The ending alone would be enough to make this one of the best crowd-pleasing fantasy movies of all time.

1

‘The Wizard of Oz’ (1939)

Image via MGM

Cinema has never given us a Voyage and Return story as iconic and influential as The Wizard of Oz. It’s one of the most revolutionary and genre-defining movies of Hollywood’s Golden Age, a masterpiece that counts as both a huge cult classic and an even bigger mainstream classic. It works on virtually every level: as a musical, as a family adventure, as a colorful fantasy movie, and—of course—as a Voyage and Return tale.

It’s through the simplicity of the Voyage and Return archetype that Wizard of Oz finds room to become one of the fantasy movies that define the genre the most. Dorothy’s voyage to one of the most fun, endearing, and visually striking fictional worlds in movie history is packed with vibrant colors, catchy tunes, and memorable characters; and her return home is one of the few “it was all a dream” endings in movie history that actually work wonderfully well.

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The Wizard of Oz

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Release Date

August 25, 1939

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Runtime

102 minutes

Director

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Victor Fleming

Writers

Edgar Allan Woolf, Florence Ryerson, Noel Langley, L. Frank Baum

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  Judy Garland

  Dorothy Gale

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  Ray Bolger

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  “Hunk” / Scarecrow

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Labrinth continues to stand up for himself in his ongoing ‘beef’ with “Euphoria.”

The music producer had previously taken to social media to slam the show and declared that he was done with Hollywood. The popular HBO drama has also been saddled with reports of other strained relationships, with the show’s current third season subject to mixed reviews online as well.

Labrinth Escalates ‘Euphoria’ Beef

Labrinth recently confirmed that he would not be producing any more music for “Euphoria,” but now appears to be taking the fallout to another level altogether. He had served as lead composer for the first two seasons of the show.

The singer has once again returned to social media to express disgust at a suggestion he should release a song every Sunday, at the same time “Euphoria” airs. While the suggestion may have been an attempt to take his side in the dispute, the musician did not seem to have much time for it.

“Reduce my music to online fodder,” he wrote in a now-deleted post on Instagram. “I wanted to continue so I can readjust my relationship with music, figure out how to present and take in the joy of connecting with people who care about my work, but it comes with an exchange… become a fame-thirsty idiot.”

Fans React To Labrinth’s Fallout With ‘Euphoria’

Several social media users understood the frustration that appeared to be hidden in Labrinth’s text.

“You can almost feel his frustration through the screen,” one Reddit user said. “I can see how invalidating it could be having people only tie you to a TV show that you’re not really a part of anymore when you have a whole -ss, full -ss, expansive -ss career behind you.”

On the other hand, there were those who questioned why he had framed the message so aggressively.

“Yeah, I get his frustration and not wanting to release music purely for the sake of pettiness, but putting out these angry all-caps messages is just drawing more attention to yourself,” another user wrote.

‘Euphoria’ Cast And Crew Struggling With ‘Strained Relationships’

Labrinth’s latest comments come after more than a month of speculation following a scorched-earth Instagram post where he declared he was “done with this industry,” and directed expletives at the hit show and his record label.

“F-ck Columbia. Double F-ck Euphoria. I’m out. Thank you and good night,” he wrote.

At the same time, the series has been hit with rumors that some of its cast members are not on good terms. These reports particularly apply to lead actresses Zendaya and Sydney Sweeney. Both stars noticeably didn’t pose for pictures together after it was alleged that Zendaya didn’t like Sweeney’s Republican outlook and support for Donald Trump.

Sam Levinson Explained ‘Euphoria’ Season 3 Delays

During the season premiere for the third season of “Euphoria,” creator Sam Levinson gave reasons for the delays that had plagued the production, and ultimately, the release of that installment.

The filmmaker explained how the actors’ strike that happened some years ago, as well as the demise of several actors on the show, had negatively impacted the process.

“Some people asked why it took so long between seasons two and three… The fact that we’re actually here and we’re able to pull this season off, that’s nothing short of a miracle,” he added per Vanity Fair.

Fans Call For ‘Euphoria’ To Be Cancelled

In the midst of Labrinth’s and other recent reported disputes, viewers are finding even more reasons to call for the cancellation of “Euphoria.”

The series has already drawn backlash over how Levinson morphed Sweeney’s character, Cassie, into an OnlyFans creator. On the show, Cassie is portrayed as a love interest to Jacob Elordi’s character, Nate.

In the recent episode titled “America My Dream,” fans were left appalled as the actress filmed her most sexually graphic scene so far, with one sequence featuring ice cream dropping down her exposed cleavage. In another, she left little to the imagination in a soaking wet see-through American flag, followed by a baseball-themed shoot where she only wore a thong.

Fans have slammed Levinson for the scene, arguing that he has lost the plot with his “disturbing” and “misogynistic” storyline for this season, per the Daily Mail.

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If you’re refreshing your summer wardrobe, don’t overlook what goes underneath. The 24/7 T-Shirt Bra is the kind of foundational piece you’ll reach for again and again.

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Alexandra Daddario is ready to step into one of the most iconic roles in comic book history. In a recent conversation with Screen Rant, the actress shared that she would love the opportunity to play Wonder Woman in the evolving DCU.

Daddario’s interest in the role instantly caught the attention of fans, many of whom have already started imagining what her version of Diana Prince could look like. Known for her commanding screen presence and emotional range, she has built a career that blends intensity with vulnerability, two traits that define Wonder Woman at her core.

She also made it clear that she would welcome the chance to collaborate with James Gunn, saying:

“Of course, working with James Gunn would be amazing in any capacity.”

While no official casting decisions have been announced for the DCU’s future Wonder Woman, the timing of Daddario’s comments is interesting. With DC Studios reshaping its cinematic universe under new leadership, speculation around who will take on the mantle next is heating up. The role carries massive expectations, following years of success and cultural impact.

Daddario did not go into specifics about how she would approach the character, but her enthusiasm alone has fueled conversations across the fan community. Casting Wonder Woman is not just about physical presence, it is about embodying strength, compassion, and leadership. Daddario has shown flashes of all three throughout her career.

For now, it remains purely hypothetical, but it is the kind of casting idea that gains traction quickly. If the DCU is truly looking to redefine its heroes, bringing in a fresh yet recognizable face like Daddario could be exactly the kind of move that sparks a new era.

One thing is clear. Fans are paying attention, and Alexandra Daddario just entered the conversation in a big way.

For the past two weekends, Justin Bieber has been shutting it down at Coachella, leaving fans in a frenzy over his set. And it looks like the Bieber fever reached Yaya Mayweather, too, as she hopped on X to share an interesting tweet.

RELATED: Yaya Mayweather Shakes Up Timelines After Revealing What Justin Bieber & Selena Gomez Were Like At Her Parties

Justin Bieber Showed Up And Showed Out At “Bieberchella”

Leading up to “Bieberchella,” many of Justin Bieber’s fans, known as Beliebers, couldn’t contain their excitement. They took to the internet, wondering what surprises he had in store for his highly anticipated performance. Some fans even caught glimpses of his soundcheck, which included throwbacks that built even more excitement ahead of the show.

On April 11, he hit the stage and opened with songs from his latest ‘Swag II’ album. Mid-performance, he switched things up by hopping on his computer, taking fans back to where it all started. He performed hits like ‘Baby,’ ‘All That Matters,’ and ‘Beauty and a Beat’ featuring Nicki Minaj. He also played clips of his viral moments and of his early YouTube covers, from before he became a global star.

During the performance, he brought out special guests including The Kid Laroi, Tems, Wizkid, and others. He wrapped up the set with additional tracks from ‘Swag II,’ leaving fans wanting even more

Weekend two of Coachella kicked off on April 18, and before the night began, Justin revealed he had more surprises in store. And he did not disappoint. Following a similar layout to weekend one, he performed more songs from ‘Swag II’ and nostalgic hits like ‘One Time.’ He also performed “One Less Lonely Girl,” bringing back a fan favorite moment from his earlier concert tours.

Additionally, during that performance, he brought Billie Eilish on stage for a special and memorable moment. He serenaded her just like he used to do with fans during his earlier shows. In the crowd, his wife, Hailey Bieber, was seen enjoying and capturing the moment. Lastly, other artists, including Sexyy Red, SZA, Big Sean, and Dijon, also made appearances.

Yaya Mayweather Takes To X With Some Regrets Following Justin Bieber’s Performances

On the heels of “Bieberchella,” Yaya Mayweather took to her socials to share throwbacks of her and Justin Bieber. She made it clear she is a longtime Belieber and is ready for Justin to go on tour. Additionally, she stated that she hopes to get a chance to be ‘One Less Lonely Girl’ after reacting to his moment with Billie.

Yaya continued showing love, later tweeted, “justin bieber should’ve been my bd ughh i’m irritated.”

Social Media Reacts 

Folks quickly gathered under The Shade Room Teens as they reacted to Yaya’s latest tweets. Since she shares a child with NBA YoungBoy, many of his fans chimed in as well. Some users called her out, while others admitted they could relate to what she said.

Instagram user @_amureee wrote, “You know what yaya … for the first time in life i might have to agree with you 🥴 🌚”

Instagram user @aahmoraa added, “Hell ion blame her me too sis 😂”

While Instagram user @organicallyherr wrote, “she want YB to react so bad”

Instagram user @marithegoddessss wrote, “Mind you, this disrespectful cause he is MARRIED just like her bd 😭😭😭😭😭 ✋🏾”

Instagram user @laurenbtv added, “Lmaooooooo yb so petty he a go make a song with him”

While Instagram user @sashasleigh wrote, “she know she love her baby daddy Imao just like her mama love floyd 😭”

Instagram user @imm_naee wrote, “not ‘husband’ just ‘bd’ 😒”

Instagram user @misharm_ added, “Discussing a married man? Trife”

While Instagram user @primadon wrote, “yall laughing but his wife got him by being a superrrr belieber so”

RELATED: NBA YoungBoy’s Sister Weighs In After Yaya Mayweather & Arcola Call Him Out For Allegedly Neglecting His Sons (PHOTOS)

This article covers a developing story. Continue to check back with us as we will be adding more information as it becomes available.

This article covers a developing story. Continue to check back with us as we will be adding more information as it becomes available.

Running Point has found innovative ways to surprise viewers with star-studded onscreen cameos — including Scott Disick and Macaulay Culkin.

The hit Netflix series, which premiered in 2025, follows Kate Hudson as a reformed party girl who gets the chance to prove herself when she is left in charge of her family’s pro basketball team.

In addition to Hudson, Running Point stars Scott MacArthur, Fabrizio Guido, Chet Hanks, Toby Sandeman, Justin Theroux, Drew Tarver, Brenda Song and Uche Agada. The sports comedy has also prided itself on its star-studded cameos.

While speaking to Us Weekly ahead of season 2, several cast members showed support for a potential appearance from Hudson’s stepfather, Kurt Russell. Us suggested Russell play the late Gordon patriarch back in April 2026, which the cast happily cosigned.

MacArthur, who plays Ness, joked that he “always thought” of Russell as his dad anyway, adding, “So I’m all in.” Guido, who portrays Gordon family newcomer Jackie, said he would also love to share the screen with Russell.

“I’ve been around, and I didn’t even think of that. Wow!” he noted, while season 2 guest star Ken Marino added in his own interview with Us, “That’d be fantastic! Yes, that’s perfect. Get that out there!”

Executive producer Jeanie Buss was just as thrilled at the possibilities.

“Oh, that would be amazing. Are you kidding me? Like, that’s a good idea!” Buss noted. “I totally support that.”

The pitch also got the stamp of approval from executive producer David Stassen, who hinted that there have been discussions.

“That’s a great idea,” Stassen said. “And it’s been balled about. We’ve talked about it. If we ever do see him, we could not do better than Kurt Russell.”

Keep scrolling for a comprehensive glimpse into the onscreen cameos:

Brian Austin Green

The actor played a version of himself in season 1.

Scott Disick

Season 1 featured an appearance from Scott Disick, who played himself in a scene opposite Kate Hudson.

Macaulay Culkin

Brenda Song’s husband, Macaulay Culkin, made a blink-and-you-miss-it cameo as a basketball fan.

Related: Most Surprising TV Show Cameos Ever: Ed Sheeran, Taylor Swift and More

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While many TV shows have made household names out of their star players, occasionally showrunners have been able to corral some of Hollywood’s biggest names to drop in for a surprising cameo during a complete episode or a single scene. Perhaps one of the most polarizing cameos belonged to Ed Sheeran on HBO’s Game of […]

Octavia Spencer

The season 2 trailer for the hit Netflix series teased Octavia Spencer’s appearance — potentially as a fictional character.

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Nicole Richie

Season 2 will likely introduce Nicole Richie in a scripted role.

Lisa Rinna

Similar to Scott Disick, reality TV icon Lisa Rinna is seen in the sophomore season of Running Point.

Scott Speedman

In addition to RJ Decker and Grey’s Anatomy, Scott Speedman will make a cameo on Running Point.

This article covers a developing story. Continue to check back with us as we will be adding more information as it becomes available.

Anne Rice‘s Immortal Universe is about to undergo a rocking transformation. In just under two months, on June 9, Interview with the Vampire will return to AMC and AMC+ for Season 3 with a new name to celebrate a new era — The Vampire Lestat‘s era. Based on the second book in Rice’s The Vampire Chronicles series, it’ll shift the perspective to that of Sam Reid‘s charismatic blood-sucker as he leaves New Orleans behind to begin his new chapter as the first-ever immortal rock star on a multi-city tour that will never be forgotten. With his interview opposite Daniel Molloy (Eric Bogosian), he’ll look to both set the record straight and set hearts ablaze with his tale that’s both electric and haunting.

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Ahead of the premiere, AMC has now officially pulled back the curtain with a full trailer showing exactly what to expect from Lestat’s big spotlight. He has a lot to offer Daniel, having seen everything from the French Revolution to the atomic bomb, but for now, he wants to focus on his era. Lestat hit his prime on the stage, drawing thousands of adoring fans as he rocked out to both original tunes and classics like Billy Idol‘s “Dancing with Myself” as heard in the footage. However, he was never satisfied, seeking to draw not just millions, but billions to his shows, all in the name of rewriting the book on who he is. What he may instead find, however, is a bloody reckoning as he’s haunted by the “muses” of his past and his own immortality comes back to bite him.

The new teaser makes one thing certain above all else: This will be IWTV‘s most explosive season to date. Now sitting in the spot once occupied by his former lover, Louis (Jacob Anderson), he’ll be forced to confront his monstrous actions in addition to his heights as a rock god. AMC has gone all out for the occasion, too. Already, AMC Global Media and Lakeshore Records have released two very real singles from the fictional artist’s catalog, “Long Face” and “All Fall Down,” sung by Reid himself and with lyrics and music by the show’s composer, Daniel Hart. Both can be found on the official Vampire Lestat artist page on major digital music platforms, with new tracks rolling out throughout the coming months that will further shape his musical legacy.

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Release Date

October 2, 2022

Network

AMC

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Directors

Levan Akin, Alan Taylor, Craig Zisk, Emma Freeman, Keith Powell

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Writers

Jonathan Ceniceroz, Coline Abert, Eleanor Burgess, Ben Philippe

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  Jacob Anderson

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  Louis de Pointe du Lac

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This article covers a developing story. Continue to check back with us as we will be adding more information as it becomes available.