By Robert Scucci
| Published 25 seconds ago

Christopher Nolan has spent the last 30 years going bigger and better, and I’m starting to wonder how much further he can push the medium of filmmaking. Having followed his career from Memento (2000) all the way through 2023’s Oppenheimer, there’s one pattern that’s become crystal clear: each production has to outdo the last. His first film, 1998’s Following, was produced for a modest $6,000, and it shows on screen. Meanwhile, his upcoming adaptation of The Odyssey tops out at $250 million.

Knowing how Christopher Nolan makes films, it’s safe to say not a single cent is wasted. When he wants to go epic, he goes epic. He’s so committed to scale and scope that I’m surprised he didn’t actually shoot Matthew McConaughey into space on an unsanctioned mission in order to prepare him for Interstellar (2014).

What goes up must come down, though, and I wonder how much bigger Christopher Nolan can realistically make another Christopher Nolan film. Like every privately owned company that demands to see a consistent increase in revenue and shareholder value quarter after quarter, Nolan keeps upping the ante. Most people would probably say the logical next step is to continue pushing the envelope and going even bigger.

Maybe after The Odyssey, Nolan decides he wants to make a film about Old Faithful and will only consider his vision fully realized once he causes the geyser to erupt prematurely, ushering in a new ice age. Or maybe, and feel free to call me crazy here, Nolan could go back to his roots, take a breather, and belt out another generation-defining thriller like Memento or Insomnia.

I’m Not Trying To Give Christopher Nolan Advice, He’s Much Smarter Than Me

While it would be easy to frame a piece like this as “Christopher Nolan Needs To Do This One Thing To Save His Career,” that’s not what I’m trying to do here. Christopher Nolan has made a career out of being Christopher Nolan, and I have not. I’ve been a fan of his filmmaking since his second film. While I can’t in good conscience say anybody can play Batman better than Michael Keaton, his Dark Knight trilogy is still the most cohesive Batman saga we’ve gotten so far, and often cited as responsible for redefining the superhero genre. Christopher Nolan has proven himself as an auteur and filmmaker who doesn’t need advice from anyone (especially me), and he has the clout and freedom to do whatever he wants, probably for the rest of his life.

What I keep thinking about, though, is what would happen if instead of scaling up again, he scaled back. The Odyssey will go down in history as the first major studio film shot entirely on IMAX film cameras. That’s cool and impressive. You know what else is impressive? Memento, one of the greatest psychological thrillers of all time, which was made possible with a $9 million production budget. It’s a perfect movie.

Insomnia takes that same energy and adds some serious star power to the mix in the form of Al Pacino and Robin Williams. It also had five times the budget, but given the talent roster, I’d imagine a healthy chunk of that went toward securing the cast. Even if you take a quick look at his first film, Following, it’s rough around the edges, but it’s still a tight thriller that holds up today despite being made with virtually no budget while Nolan still had to work various day jobs between shoots. 

Christopher Nolan thrives in the psychological thriller space. He’s an expert at showing how troubled and conflicting personalities interact when they’re together, and how they act when they’re alone and ruminating. He also knows how to turn those character moments into tension once motives become clearer and the characters are forced to confront not only their demons, but their antagonists. He understands how to pace a man’s fall from grace as external forces beyond his control clash with the circumstances he can control. And he can do all of this for less than $50 million.

Not Asking For A Career Pivot, But Rather A Side Quest

Recently I’ve been thinking about how movie studios could benefit from putting out more titles with shorter runtimes and smaller budgets. My argument is that a movie like Zach Cregger’s Weapons (2025) cost $38 million to make and has already pulled in more than $270 million worldwide. It’s just over two hours long, and it’s a self-contained story. You don’t need to do homework or study history to enjoy what Weapons has to offer. Weapons just happens to you, and you either get it or you don’t.

Memento and Insomnia are cut from a similar cloth. They both clock in under 120 minutes and, in the grand scheme of things, didn’t cost a hell of a lot to make. Imagine the kind of film Christopher Nolan could make today with, say, $100 million. Strip the whole thing down so it’s shot through more conventional, readily available means, and use the budget to secure the appropriate A-list talent, if needed, for the project.

Meanwhile, films like 2023’s The Flash, which cost more than $200 million to produce, didn’t even break even once marketing and distribution costs were factored in.

The problem Christopher Nolan has, and it’s a good problem to have, is that he’s been in the freakin’ zone for nearly 30 years. He takes massive creative risks, and they’ve all paid off up to this point. He can literally do anything he wants. If he wanted to bring back LaserDisc for a one-off feature, he could probably secure an investor willing to make it happen. If he wanted to make a time travel flick, he could probably snap his fingers and somebody would materialize out of thin air to help him track down an entire lot of functional DeLorean DMC-12s.

I’m a dreamer, though, and I’d love nothing more than to see Christopher Nolan take everything he’s learned and perfected since bursting onto the scene, scale things back, and go smaller instead of bigger after The Odyssey. This isn’t an indictment of his filmmaking or creative direction, but rather a celebration of it. I can’t say Nolan has ever missed. What I can say is that I’d love to see him make something more reminiscent of his roots now that he’s older, wiser, and influential enough to do whatever he wants whenever he wants, and see what that kind of wisdom could do for the genre that launched his career.

And no, I’m not asking for Memento 3D. But a tight, lean, dark, gritty thriller made today with Christopher Nolan’s talent and passion for the craft would absolutely pop off if he ever decided to give it a shot. He’s already done so much more with less, so just imagine the kind of thriller he could make now with the resources currently at his disposal.

If there’s anything productive you need to do today, let it be to shop a sale this good. The Macy’s One-Day Sale is here, and you can score up to 60% on tons of gorgeous summer fashion essentials. Far from being a sad seasonal leftovers situation, you’ll find a curated lineup of fashionable and functional pieces you’ll wear on repeat all summer long.

From bright summer dresses, quiet luxury-style blouses and breezy shorts and skirts, there’s a little something for everyone in this act-now event. And not to add to the pressure, but there are hours left to grab your well-deserved summer upgrades before they jump back up to full price. Below, shop our favorite summer-approved picks — including denim, linen fabrics and more — all up to 61% off!

Best Finds From Macy’s One-Day Sale

Loose and Slimming Dresses 

1. Our Favorite: Macy’s shoppers are obsessed with this bestselling Avec Les Filles dress. Reviewers say the belted, puff-shoulder piece is “elegant,” “lightweight,” and an absolute “conversation-starter” — was $188, now $113!

2. Stock Up: If there’s a dress we’re tempted to buy in every color, it’s this Tommy Hilfiger linen dress. Airy, polished and full of rich-mom details, it’s a shirdress that reads quiet-luxury the moment you button it up — was $129, now $90!

3. Luxe For Less: Get that Anthropologie energy for way less in this cotton eyelet maxi dress. The slimming empire-waist essential comes in black and white — perfect for elevated everyday dressing — was $90, now $54!

4. Denim Demure: Capsule-collection wearers won’t be able to resist this tiered denim midi. Lightweight, belted at the waist, and versatile, it has that summer-styling power to match basically anything in your closet — was $90, now $54!

5. Stand-Out Print: Stand out in a sea of monochrome in this Karl Lagerfeld floral print dress. Elegant, summery and lightweight, the fit-and-flare frock highlights the best of the feminine figure with floaty, romantic ease — was $170, now $107!

6. Office Approved: Put a polished spin on traditional workwear with this belted tiered midi dress. Conservative but still flirty, the Calvin Klein dress balances professionalism with playfulness in the best way possible — was $149, now $80!

7. Beloved Beauty: It’s no surprise this Donna Karan fit-and-flare dress is a Macy’s bestseller. The belted A-line midi highlights your figure beautifully, while offering a little extra ease through the midsection — was $189, now $113!

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Flattering Skirts and Shorts

8. Our Favorite: Breathable, flattering and cozy, these Levi’s cotton shorts are a summer essential. The mid-thigh-length shorts won’t ride up, giving you stay-put comfort that moves with you from mom duties to morning coffee runs without a single tug — was $65, now $55!

9. Vacation-Ready: Color Us surprised, but we’re totally on board with these linen Bermuda shorts. The pleated, high-waist shorts are so chic we’d wear them to the office with a white blouse and matching blazer for a boardroom-ready ensemble — was $65, now $39!

10. Easy-Breezy: Give your denim a well-deserved break with these chambray cargo shorts. Easy to slip on and fuss-free, they’re the kind of breathe-easy piece that still lets you look chic with a button-up or well-worn tee — was $45, now $25!

11. Matching Set: Youthful but elevated, this eyelet midi skirt lets you add play, poise and a breezy femininity to every summer outfit. Even better, it has a matching top that’s well worth the purchase for the refined head-to-toe look — was $105, now $63!

12. Country-Club Chic: You’ll look like you stepped right into the Hamptons in this striped midi skirt. Adorned in a signature blue-and-white, it looks just as stunning with a tee and sneakers as with a blouse and pumps — was $90, now $45!

13. Statement Style: Add a bit of bounce and a lot of beauty to your wardrobe with this pull-on ruffled-hem skirt. Adorned in a vibrant green, the Vince Camuto skirt will turn heads wherever you go — was $118, now $89!

Breezy Blouses 

14. Our Favorite: Sweet, simple and chic, this CeCe scalloped puff-sleeve blouse leans into femininity without the frill. The go-to summer shirt comes in bright hues, like lemon drop, azalea, lush meadow and fiery red — was $69, now $42!

15. In Style: If high-fashion runways and capsule collections are any indication, polka dots are majorly trending. This gorgeous sleeveless polka-dot peplum blouse lets you tap into the trend, with plenty of functional flair you can actually wear — was $65, now $39!

16. Compliments Guaranteed: We’re getting Oscar de la Renta vibes from this pintuck floral blouse. It’s a bold print that pairs beautifully with everything from denim, skirts, trousers — you name it — was $75, now $52!

17. Rich Mom-Approved: Not going to lie, this short-sleeve chambray shirt is a style we can picture on quiet-luxury fashionistas like Meghan Markle. A crisp wash, impeccable tailoring and elevated details give the Tommy Hilfiger top a custom-made look — was $65, now $52!

18. Elegance Achieved: Fitted but forgiving, this tie-front linen-blend shirt defines your waist while still feeling relaxed throughout. It’s that one-and-done blouse that flatters a range of shapes and sizes — was $65, now $32!

Related: Shh! Amazon‘s Chic Wedding Guest Dresses Are on Sale for Under $50

Wedding season is quickly picking up, bringing a slew of invitations with it. And while there’s nothing like celebrating true love, buying a new dress for every occasion can get expensive fast. That’s why shopping on a budget is key — and Amazon currently has tons of wedding guest dresses for under $50. I found […]

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By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 1 hour ago

Whenever people talk about the best Marvel series on Disney+, they never mention Moon Knight. That’s a shame, though, because this show was like nothing else in this sprawling cinematic universe. It kept fans on their toes from beginning to end, and the entire thing was anchored by an amazing performance from lead actor Oscar Isaac. When the credits rolled on Season 1, everyone wanted to know if he was going to come back and portray this unstable hero ever again. Almost half a decade later, though, and most of the fandom has concluded that Isaac is never coming back to this show despite it racking up an impressive nine Emmy nominations.

However, in a recent interview, Moon Knight creator Jeremy Slater revealed that Isaac signed a very special contract with Marvel in which he would only come back to the show if Marvel could develop “stories that he is creatively excited to tell.” Some might think the Star Wars actor is just being a prima donna and refusing to return to genre storytelling. Taken at face value, though, Isaac is primarily interested in the creative integrity of his character. Meanwhile, the contract he signed is a great example of how other actors can collectively do the impossible: fix the MCU.

In The Name Of The Moon, He Will Punish Disney

In an interview with ComicBook.com, Jeremy Slater revealed that Oscar Isaac made a very unconventional deal with Disney when he agreed to do Moon Knight. “The contract Oscar Isaac signed was very much like, we will do more stories when we find stories that he is creatively excited to tell,” he said. “They can’t just sort of snap their fingers and summon him back for another adventure.” The reason for this is simple: according to Slater, Isaac is “really creatively involved in the future of that character.”

Of course, this puts additional pressure on Slater and other Marvel gurus to up their storytelling game. Slater claims that “part of the challenge, and part of the joy over there, is finding what stories does Oscar want to explore, and how does he want that character to be used? What’s something that would entice him to get back and play in that sandbox one more time?” Unfortunately, since we haven’t gotten any new Moon Knight episodes in over four years, it’s clear that Slater and the rest of his team have failed (so far, at least) to come up with a story that Isaac found creatively compelling.

The Marvel Slop-o-Matic Universe

Still, hope springs eternal, and Slater spilling the tea about Isaac’s contrast may provide Marvel fans with hope for the actor’s eventual return. However, this surprising news has me asking a more fundamental question: why aren’t more Marvel stars negotiating these kinds of contracts? Historically, the biggest MCU stars have been tied down to decade-long contracts that require they appear in a certain number of films and shows regardless of quality. That’s how Chris Hemsworth ended up doing the hated sequel Thor: The Dark World, and how Brie Larson came back from the blockbuster success of Captain Marvel to do The Marvels, the biggest cinematic failure of the entire franchise.

Whenever fans complain about the declining quality of the MCU, what they’re really complaining about is the declining quality of the writing. Bad writers can turn even the most beloved heroes into walking (or flying) punchlines, and even good writers get ground down by the requirements of major executives like Kevin Feige. In fact, studio pressure is the primary reason why so many Marvel movies follow the same, bland formula: execs look at what worked before in movies like The Avengers (armies of generic goons, endless quips, an inexplicable blue light in the sky), and try to apply it to as many films as possible in an attempt to recapture lightning in a bottle.

Our Favorite Lunar Psycho

It never really works, which is why we have so many awful, phoned-in sequels like The Marvels, Thor: Love and Thunder, and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. Previously, the actors have always been relatively helpless when it comes to fixing the movies they are attached to. But Osar Isaac is quietly demonstrating an option most of these stars have never considered: negotiating a contract where he doesn’t have to come back if he’s not happy with the project. It’s the right call for Moon Knight, of course. Personally, I’d rather have only one excellent season of this Emmy-nominated show than watch it descend into pure slop.

But it’s the right call for Marvel shows and movies across the board. We all know that the real cure for superhero fatigue is good writing, just as we all know that the studio and especially its parent company will cut corners whenever possible to meet deadlines and maximize profits. Oscar Isaac’s Moon Knight contract is more than a sweetheart deal; it’s a way for future MCU actors to break the cycle of sloppy storytelling and only appear in works they are passionate about. For this to happen, though, these actors will have to emulate their onscreen characters and become real-life heroes ready to fight the biggest supervillain of them all: The Walt Disney Company.

By Robert Scucci
| Published 13 seconds ago

Conan O’Brien, like most Golden Era Simpsons writers, is a rare breed. He’s made a career out of a unique brand of low-brow humor that somehow could only come from an Ivy League education. Between his upbringing, education, and naturally unhinged comedic sensibilities, he’s brought us “Marge vs. the Monorail,” the best Hot Ones interview of all time, and decades of late-night television that, in hindsight, makes me realize he was always at his best when broadcasting after midnight.

I could spend the rest of my life talking about every hilarious Conan O’Brien moment, but there’s one from 2007 that may very well be the crowning jewel of his entire career: his interview with overtly enthusiastic and egregiously eccentric bread expert Steven Kaplan. For years, the segment was so perfect that I genuinely thought it had to be staged.

It wasn’t staged, but I’m about to unpack why it feels like it was, and why it may very well be the funniest moment in television history.

Good Bread Is Back, Baby!

In 2007, Late Night with Conan O’Brien brought Steven Kaplan on as a guest for one of its segments. Kaplan is an Ivy League scholar with multiple degrees from Princeton University, Université de Poitiers, and Yale University. He has spent decades studying (and teaching) multiple aspects of the French Revolution, with a primary focus on bread, grain trade, and provisioning. In other words, he’s a total bread nerd.

Conan O’Brien, who served as president of The Harvard Lampoon during his college years, clearly didn’t know what he was getting into when a man who was arguably more educated than him sat in the interview chair to talk about his one burning passion: good bread. Kaplan was there to promote his then-new book, Good Bread Is Back, but instead we got a masterclass in improvisational comedy.

At first, the interview starts out as normally as it possibly could. O’Brien asks Kaplan why he got into bread studies, and Kaplan immediately sets the tone for the rest of the segment. He explains that if you want to understand a country’s history, you need to understand its dietary habits and the way people congregate around food, pointing to breadmaking as a perfect entry point.

Things completely go off the rails after Kaplan compares the breadmaking process to a sexual act, explaining that you need to mount the dough, fondle it, and yes, even inseminate it with live yeast. Conan, being the formally trained comedian that he is, immediately leans into Kaplan’s eccentricities, and Kaplan, an Ivy League academic who very clearly shares similar comedic instincts despite his career path, catches on almost instantly and commits to the bit as aggressively as humanly possible.

What starts as O’Brien antagonizing Kaplan quickly turns into Kaplan getting the upper hand, especially once they start comparing loaves of bread and Kaplan produces a comically large bread knife that he just so happens to carry on his person at all times.

That Is The Tautology In Which Non-Believers Are Locked Into!

What makes the Steven Kaplan interview feel so surreal is that it plays out exactly like the kind of written sketch you’d see on SNL or I Think You Should Leave. Kaplan walks on set, Conan asks what he’s about, Kaplan passionately explains bread, Conan pokes fun at him, Kaplan leans into sexual innuendo, Conan becomes visibly horrified, Kaplan starts aggressively fondling loaves, and Conan completely loses control of the interview.

After all the buildup, they finally taste the bread, which prompts Conan to shrug and admit, “Yeah, it’s good bread.” The final punchline comes when they explain that professional bread tasters are categorized as either spitters or swallowers. A visibly defeated O’Brien, who only learns this terminology after already gulping down his bite, quietly realizes he’s a swallower.

It’s a masterclass in escalation that only two incredibly smart guys with a shared love for absurdity could pull off. O’Brien, one of the funniest men alive, immediately recognized the opportunity to create something memorable with a fascinating guest, and Kaplan, armed with an intimidating academic resume and surprisingly sharp comedic instincts, recognized exactly what Conan was doing and ran with it completely unprompted. It becomes a battle of wits devoted entirely to going as low-brow as possible.

It’s been nearly 20 years since Late Night with Conan O’Brien aired the Steven Kaplan segment, and not a single week goes by that I don’t think about it. To this day, it still might be the funniest moment in television history.

Today’s Sheinelle Jones was blown away by the unexpected item she found while recently cleaning.

“I found this old suitcase, and I unzipped it, and it was my wedding dress,” Jones, 48, shared on the Thursday, May 14, episode of TODAY With Jenna and Sheinelle. “I remember everybody telling me that you’re supposed to get them preserved and I didn’t. I remember Uche and I took pictures all over the streets of Philadelphia so the bottom of it is [dirty].”

After cohost Jenna Bush Hager praised how “beautiful” the dress was, Jones admitted that she now sees the outfit in a new way after her husband, Uche Ojeh, died in May 2025 at the age of 45 after being diagnosed with a brain cancer called glioblastoma.

“Now, obviously, I see it differently. I’m like, ‘Oh my goodness! I never had it preserved. Do they do that? Is it too late?’” she asked. I remember people were like, ‘Oh, one day your daughter may want to wear your dress.’”

During the candid chat, Bush Hager, 44, recalled the moment she went searching for her wedding dress. In her situation, it was for a very specific reason.

“I wanted to do this party, which I think we should still do,” the morning show host shared. “It’s called ’Seven year itch.’ Everybody wears their wedding dress. Mine won’t fit so I guess I have to go to, like, vintage or David’s Bridal or whatever. At my seven year anniversary, I said, ‘Mom, where is my wedding dress?’ She said, ‘I have it.’ I said, “I want to try it on because I want to do this party.’ She was like, ‘OK, sure, we can try it on.’ It didn’t fit.”

Jones was visibly shocked that her cohost couldn’t fit into her wedding dress. Bush Hager, however, quickly reminded her friend that things have changed after giving birth to three kids.

@jennasheinelle

Finding the wedding dress = instant time machine 😍🤍 #JennaandSheinelle

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♬ original sound – TODAY with Jenna & Sheinelle

“When you’re 26, there’s certain things,” she joked. “This don’t fit over my left thigh.”

All jokes aside, Jones has been open about the highs and lows of her life as she grieves the loss of her husband.

On Monday, May 11, the author of Through Mom’s Eyes opened up about the challenge of celebrating Mother’s Day without her husband for the first time.

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“I’ll be honest with you, it was kind of tough for me,” she admitted on Today. “I think when you have firsts — and Mother’s Day was a first for me since Uche passed — you fortify your heart, right? Christmas and Easter, you kind of fortify yourself. But there’s some holidays that you don’t see coming that are harder than you think. Mother’s Day was brutal.”

Ultimately, the mother of three stayed busy as her children all had activities during the day.

“My little guy had a game at 9 a.m., Kayin had a game at 7 p.m., Clara had dance, so I couldn’t stay in bed,” she said. “I’m like, ‘OK, it’s gonna be OK.’”

Vivica A. Fox is proving that longevity in Hollywood is all about reinvention. In a new interview, the actress reflected on everything from her dramatic transformation in the revenge thriller “Is God Is” to the lessons she’s learned after spending more than three decades in the entertainment industry.

Fox stars in “Is God Is” as Ruby, a burn-scarred mother seeking revenge after surviving a devastating house fire set by her estranged husband. The role required the actress to undergo hours of prosthetic makeup, creating a look that left many fans stunned when the trailer dropped.

“When I did the film ‘Why Do Fools Fall in Love,’ I [aged] from 16 to 60,” the 61-year-old told AARP’s Movies for Grownups. “But I had never played a character that was injured or severely burned as Ruby was. This was like the hands, the neck, the face… Four hours of prosthetics.”

The actress admitted she loved the reaction from viewers who barely recognized her. “The one thing that I really, really loved when the trailer was [released] and it went viral, everyone kept saying, ‘Oh, my God, is that Vivica Fox?’” she shared. “They’re just not used to seeing me that way. I love surprising people. I love challenging myself.”

Hollywood Is Finally Embracing Black Women’s Stories

Fox also reflected on the impact of films centered around strong Black women, noting similarities between Is God Is and her beloved 1996 film “Set It Off.” Thirty years after starring alongside Queen Latifah, Kimberly Elise, and Jada Pinkett Smith in the iconic crime drama, Fox said she’s encouraged to see more opportunities finally opening for Black actresses.

“I think, finally, people are getting to appreciate African American female stories and to give them opportunities to play out their stories,” Fox explained. “Our stories are being embraced and being told and being funded and being acted out by some amazing actresses.”

Vivica A. Fox Reflects On Career Longevity In Hollywood

Beyond acting, Fox also opened up about becoming a producer and learning how to evolve in an industry that often moves quickly. “I’ll be honest with you; producing fell into my lap,” Fox admitted while explaining how her team encouraged her to take more ownership behind the scenes.

The actress said staying relevant in Hollywood means learning how to adapt over time. “This is a journey, and there are different chapters,” she said. “You can’t play one character. You’ve got to mature and play another character. Then sometimes, you step behind the camera. Then you’ve got to learn what your brand is.”

Advice For Young Actors Chasing Fame

Looking back on her decades-long career, Fox admitted there’s one thing she wishes she had done more often in her early years: slow down. “The main thing for me is that now I’ve taken the time to smell the roses,” she shared, admitting she once became consumed by the “treadmill of success.”

Fox also had a message for younger actors hoping for overnight success in the social media era. “Nowadays, everybody thinks that they can just swipe to fame,” she said. “Don’t have a moment. Build a career.”

Vivica A. Fox Says Pam Grier Inspired Her To ‘Pass The Baton’

Fox also reflected on the importance of mentoring the next generation, revealing that legendary actress Pam Grier played a major role in shaping how she approaches Hollywood.

The “Kill Bill” star shared that she once had the opportunity to interview Grier, whom she considers both a role model and inspiration behind the name of her production company, Foxy Brown Productions. “She was the first super-strong, beautiful African American woman that I saw,” Fox said of Grier.

According to Fox, the encounter became an emotional moment after Grier encouraged her to lead with kindness and generosity. “She said to me, ‘Vivica, it’s how I’m supposed to be, and I challenge you to do the same,’” Fox recalled.

Now, after decades in Hollywood, Fox says she tries to do exactly that by supporting younger talent and helping open doors where she can. “I’ve been passing the baton to the [next generation], and I’m always kind, because I believe a happy set is a productive set,” she explained.

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 14 seconds ago

Comic lovers enjoy arguing about the most insane things, like whether Batman could beat Goku or what the heck a Kryptonite condom would do to Superman’s other “man of steel.” One thing older fans can agree on, though, is that the ‘90s were the absolute worst decade for comic books. This is when the market was absolutely flooded with foil-embossed alternative covers filled with stories from writers all trying to be the coolest little edgelord. Heck, this was the decade where DC used a rock-faced monster man to kill Superman, but not before giving our high-flying hero the weirdest, wildest mullet this side of Alabama.

However, another DC hero thrived during this time period. Batman absolutely dominated the ‘90s. Not only did we get three different films featuring the Dark Knight, but his comics writers decided to take some major risks. This included the Knightfall story arc where Batman was defeated by Bane and replaced by a psychopath who wasn’t afraid to hurt or even kill his enemies. While The Dark Knight Rises brought Bane to the big screen, we’ve never had a proper cinematic adaptation of this legendary ‘90s story until now. Great news, Bat fiends: DC Studios confirmed they are adapting Knightfall into multiple animated movies.

The Biggest Bane Of Batman’s Life

What was the original Knightfall comic about? Bane breaks all of Batman’s biggest foes out of Arkham Asylum so that the Caped Crusader must face a relentless gauntlet of chaos. Later, Bane sneaks into the Bat-Cave and does the unthinkable by breaking Batman’s back. In the subsequent Knightquest storyline, the unstable Jean-Paul Valley (also known as Azrael) takes over as the Dark Knight while Bruce Wayne focuses on recovery. The new Batman becomes a violently lethal thug, and in the Knightsend arc, Wayne confronts his troubled successor, reclaiming the mantle of the bat once and for all.

So far, we know very little about DC Studio’s plans to adapt this fan-favorite ‘90s storyline. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Warner Bros. Animation and DC Studios have simply confirmed they are working on a multi-part adaptation of Knightfall and that more details about this and other cartoon projects will be revealed at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in June. If the studio wants to be completely true to the original comics, it would be best to release this as three films covering the three aforementioned arcs: Knightfall, Knightquest, and KnightsEnd. If necessary, though, it would be easy enough to condense the whole thing into two films to save time and money.

Bat On Bat Violence

As a huge fan of the original Knightfall and a general fan of DC animated adaptations (minus The Killing Joke), I’m very hyped to see these upcoming films. However, I can’t help but wonder if it’s effectively too late to bring this classic story to life. The movie will appeal to older, hardcore Bat fans like myself, but it may not have much of an appeal to younger fans who were born long after Bane broke Batman’s back. Moreover, those fans already have multiple big-screen projects to look forward to (including Matt Reeves’ The Batman II and James Gunn’s The Brave and the Bold), so a direct-to-video ‘90s adaptation may be dead on arrival. 

The studio won’t know until they try. In this ancient fan’s opinion, there’s no time like the present to bring this iconic story to life, and after years of subpar DCEU storytelling, it’s great to have a few Batman movie options. If nothing else, Knightfall is true comic history that gave us an unforgettable Caped Crusader tale and cemented Bane as one of his deadliest villains. Every Batman fan worth his utility belt should read these comics at least once. But since Zoomers don’t read anymore, we’re getting the next best thing: a multi-film adaptation of the greatest ‘90s Batman story that fans will be able to stream on demand.

By Joshua Tyler
| Published 14 seconds ago

Prometheus is one of the most well-known figures in Greek mythology, probably because he was one of the few gods who actually seemed to like people. He defied the king of the gods, Zeus, by stealing fire and giving it to humans so civilization could advance. As punishment, Zeus chained him to a mountain where he was tortured forever, making Prometheus a symbol of rebellion, sacrifice, and the pursuit of knowledge.

So it makes sense that science fiction writers might like using that name for their starships. If you want to write a story about a group of humans pursuing knowledge by exploring space, then naming your ship after the mythological figure who made it possible makes you seem like you’re smart.

Unfortunately, ships named Prometheus, like the god himself, never come to a good end. Naming a starship Prometheus has become a way to signal certain doom.

USCSS Prometheus In Prometheus

Ridley Scott’s movie Prometheus takes its name from the film’s starship, the USCSS Prometheus. In theory, it’s carrying a crew out into the unknown on a mission of discovery. That mission of discovery turns into a disaster, and what the crew of the Prometheus finds may be humanity’s end. Prometheus isn’t a name Ridley Scott uses lightly.

It’s also the end of the ship, which is destroyed when the crew deliberately crashes it into the massive alien Engineer ship to stop it from reaching Earth. Don’t worry, most of the crew was dead already, and the rest will be dead soon.

EAS Prometheus On Babylon 5

The Babylon project was the galaxy’s last best hope for peace, created in the shadow of an Earth/Minbari war which never would have happened at all if not for an Earth starship named Prometheus.

In the year 2245, an Earthforce Hyperion-class heavy cruiser, named the EAS Prometheus, was the first to encounter a Minbari cruiser. The Minbari approached the Earth ship with their gunports open, a move that in their culture is meant as a sign of respect.

The Prometheus’s captain, one Michael Jankowski, misinterpreted those actions as a threat. He ordered his crew to open fire on the Minbari cruiser, killing their leader Dukhat, and plunging humanity into a war that would kill billions and bring it to the brink of extinction.

USS Prometheus NCC-71201 On Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

In the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode “Second Sight,” a ship named the Prometheus is used to carry a brilliant scientist to his doom.

In theory, the mission is one of discovery. Professor Seyetick plans to use his discoveries to re-ignite a dead star. But Seyetik’s personal life is unhappy, and his wife, Nidell, a mysterious alien, longs to be free of him. Nidell is stuck, her species mates for life, and there is no way out. Seyetik, who still loves his wife, becomes determined to free her from the prison he’s built for her.

In a final desperate act, Seyetik launches a shuttle from the Prometheus and flies it into the dead star. As his life ends, Seyetik shouts “let there be light!” and the once dead sun blazes with fire, consuming him in its rebirth.

Prometheus On Stargate SG-1

Of all the ships named Prometheus to have made their way through science fiction, this one had the most successful career. Built by humans and enhanced with alien technology, the Prometheus was humanity’s first interstellar ship, and served for years as a permanent part of Earth’s defense against all aggressors. After years of successfully surviving conflicts, though, this Prometheus would also meet its doom.

The ship was destroyed in early 2006, a casualty of battle over the alien planet Tegalus. After taking multiple hits, the ship split at the neck and exploded, taking 39 members of the crew with her to the grave.

USS Prometheus NX-59650 On Star Trek: Voyager

Instead of their savior, The Doctor finds an experimental Federation starship that has been successfully hijacked by the Romulans. Using the ship’s new weapons against her creators, the Romulans are able to escape with the vessel and are only prevented from returning to the Romulan Star Empire through the efforts of the Doctor in concert with the ship’s native EMH.

General Hospital delivers Jack Brennan (Chris McKenna) is lying in a hospital bed in bad shape, and Nina Reeves (Cynthia Watros) is staying close, trying to check on him because she is worried what Jack will say when and if he wakes up. But with his recent breakup with Carly Spencer (Laura Wright), things are changing a lot.

So, we’re going to talk about whether Nina and Jack are going to kick off a revenge romance as he rebounds from his ugly split from Carly. Now, let’s get into what could be coming as we have some more romantic shakeups on GH.

Jack Is Angry And Heartbroken Over Carly on General Hospital

So, Jack’s angry and he’s heartbroken because Carly cheated on him with Valentin Cassadine (James Patrick Stuart). Plus, he doesn’t know it yet, but Carly and Val were plotting to destroy Jack for payback because he recruited Josslyn Jacks (Eden McCoy) into the WSB. So, Jack is absolutely devastated and once he recovers from the artificial stroke from being shot up with Drew Cain‘s (Cameron Mathison) drug, he might be looking to get some revenge on both of them.

Now, initially, you’d also think Jack may target Nina because she stabbed him with the syringe, but I’m sure that she will explain right away to Jack that she was trying to take down Valentin, not him. Nina was actually trying to protect Jack. So then he may turn his attention from wanting any sort of revenge on Nina to wanting payback on Valentin for starting the fight that led to the fake stroke and also on Carly for cheating.

Nina after Revenge on GH

Meanwhile, Nina may want a little payback of her own when she finds out Carly is now with Valentin. Plus, Nina and Carly have such a long, messy track record. And never forget, General Hospital tends to overlap them with partners. They have both been with Drew and Franco Baldwin (Roger Howarth) and Jasper Jacks (Ingo Rademacher) and Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard).

So, Nina dating Jack makes sense because she seems to love chasing Carly’s sloppy seconds. And in the case of their other mutual lover, Valentin, it’s Carly who’s getting Nina’s sloppy seconds. And we may see Jack and Nina doing some bonding and getting closer while he’s at General Hospital.

Carly And Nina Were Bickering At General Hospital

Carly and Nina were bickering. If you remember when they had recent scenes up at the hospital, Carly was talking about how Wiley shouldn’t be at Willow Corinthos‘ (Katelyn MacMullen) house. It may be toxic because two different men had a stroke there. Carly started talking about lead paint and whether there’s black mold when she knows exactly what happened.

But then she told Nina she thinks maybe Drew and Jack should get blood tests to see if there’s something in common. And Nina panicked and clapped back at Carly that Valentin and Jack were arguing when he had his stroke. Nina brought up how stressful Jack’s job is. And then her memory kind of kicked in and she told Carly, “Oh yeah, they were actually arguing about where is Josslyn.” And then Nina said maybe she should tell Ross Cullum (Andrew Hawkes) about them fighting over Josslyn.

So Carly did, I think, a pretty good job at playing dumb about Valentin and pretending that she doesn’t know where he’s been. She even suggested to Nina that Willow might have been helping hide Valentin since he was at her house. So basically, the ladies were sort of playing chicken with each other.

And then Carly told Nina that she and Jack broke up. I suspect that Nina will visit Jack when he wakes up, assuming Cullum doesn’t kill him or anything. And I bet Nina tells Jack that she heard he and Carly broke up and she may offer him condolences or whatever. I can see Jack telling Nina that Carly cheated and at some point he may even admit it was with Valentin.

Nina Will Flip When She Finds Out About Carly And Valentin

Clearly, Nina is going to find out at some point that Carly is with Valentin. And I think Nina is going to flip after all the things that Carly said about Nina dating her exes. And eventually Jack should recover so long as nobody doses him again and Cullum doesn’t smother him or something. Once Jack is out of General Hospital, I can see Nina stopping by often to make sure he’s not going to take action against Willow.

I also think Nina will be stunned that Valentin wound up with Carly and that she had the nerve to question whether Willow was hiding him when it was Carly doing it. If you remember, Nina married Valentin once and she almost married him a second time. And they had a deep love that lasted for quite a while. So, I just don’t think Nina is going to like that Valentin has fallen for her number one enemy, Carly.

General Hospital: Jack & Valentin Go Way Back

And we definitely know how Jack feels. He and Valentin used to be really good friends. They had decades of history. They started at the WSB together. Then they were at Pikeman and then things twisted around and they wound up on opposite sides of things and after that Jack fell hard for Carly. He actually wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. So this is kind of a double betrayal and I’m sure that Jack is going to be looking for a little revenge once he recovers.

And what better way to get revenge on Carly than to start a romance with the woman in Port Charles that she hates most. And Jack would also be slapping back at Valentin because you know he won’t like it. Nina and Jack are actually perfectly matched as a revenge romance rebound duo.

Cynthia Watros Hints At Nina And Jack Romance on GH

Plus, actress Cynthia Watros, who plays Nina, recently did an interview about what’s going to happen and the fallout after her character accidentally injected Jack with Drew’s paralytic. Cynthia said that Nina is afraid for her freedom and for Willow’s, scared they’ll go to prison, but at the same time, Nina is also horrified that she hurt Jack. And the thing is that, you know, Nina and Jack don’t have the best history.

They have very confrontational interactions. They aren’t friends and you know, sometimes they’re conspiring together, but usually insulting each other and working at odds. So, Nina’s sympathy for him is pretty surprising. And Cynthia Watros also said this incident gives Nina more compassion for Jack. So, Nina’s going to soften up a little bit towards Jack and that’s definitely a hint that we might see them headed for romance.

Cynthia Loves the Idea of a Nina & Jack Pairing on General Hospital

And in another interview, the Nina actress talked specifically about the chance of a romance between Jack and Nina. Cynthia Watros said she thinks Jack and Nina have a lot in common and they have a common problem with Willow because she’s bribing Jack and she’s blackmailing Nina.

And Cynthia said she loves the idea of Jack and Nina coming together to figure out a way out of this mess. Cynthia also says she cannot imagine how much Carly and Valentin’s romance is going to trigger Nina when she finds out because she’s always going to love Valentin even though they never got back together. And the actress said that Nina is going to be really hurt, which is exactly what Jack is feeling right now.

Jack & Nina May Get Closer on GH

So, we could see Nina showing up to take care of Jack once he’s out of General Hospital because Nina feels so bad about accidentally causing his stroke. So, Jack may begin to see Nina in a new light if she’s caretaking him. And I mean, heaven knows nobody else is going to show up to help Jack.

I think Carly was mostly up at General Hospital just to find out if Valentin had been exposed and just to get the 411. She doesn’t really care. So, we’ll see what happens, but I’m kind of here for a Nina and Jack rebound romance. And of course, I remain a hardcore shipper for Carly and Valentin. So, we’ll see how it all plays out.

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 23 seconds ago

Right now, Greek mythology is hotter than ever before. The reason for this is that the most recent trailer has fans all around the world hyped for Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey. The director has plenty of bangers under his belt, including The Dark Knight, Inception, and Oppenheimer, so audiences are eager to see how well he adapts this ancient Greek epic for the big screen. As hype for The Odyssey grows, more and more movie lovers have been revisiting Troy, a 2004 film that serves (spiritually, at least) as a prequel to Nolan’s upcoming epic. 

After analyzing trailers with a fine-tooth comb, keyboard warriors are already engaging in spirited debates over which film is more historically and mythologically accurate. Obviously, we won’t know the exact answer to that until Christopher Nolan’s next film drops. However, I feel quite confident that both Troy and The Odyssey will never beat a certain raunchy comedy show when it comes to one mythic aspect. Here it is, and I’m gonna give it to you straight: Letterkenny uses the Greek mythological tradition of oral-formulaic storytelling far better than Troy, The Odyssey, and any other adaptation of Homer’s epic writing.

Sing, O Muse

So, here’s a literary lesson wrapped in a history lesson. Movies like Troy and The Odyssey adapt ancient Greek stories that were originally shared orally by singers rather than printed. As you might imagine, it could be difficult for the singers to remember such long stories from memory, and it could be especially difficult for those listening to keep up with the tale. Because of this, the singers used what is now known as the oral-formulaic method to add certain repeated phrases. These were often attached to important characters, hence the repetition of phrases such as “swift-footed Achilles.” Just like that, everyone remembers Achilles and something important about him: namely, that he’s fast!

What does this have to do with Letterkenny and films like Troy and The Odyssey? As you might imagine, most screenwriters don’t like to use repetitive phrasing. It can mess with the pacing of a film and often seems superfluous. After all, actors can look at their scripts between takes, and audiences can rewind and rewatch various scenes when watching on home video or streaming. As a result, Troy has no real examples of oral-formulaic storytelling, and based on the trailers, neither does The Odyssey. Ironically, these ambitious literary adaptations are missing a staple of Greek storytelling, which happens to be alive and well in Letterkenny.

Greek Style, Canadian Humor

Letterkenny is a show set in its titular small, Canadian town, and it focuses on the hijinks of some down-to-Earth farmers and their interactions with other locals (including two demented swingers, a closeted preacher, two gym bro hockey players, and a small band of drug dealers). The raunchy show has plenty of “observationals humor” (as Squirrelly Dan might say), all of which is elevated by whip-smart writing filled with unexpected punchlines and hilariously out of pocket comments. Weirdly enough, though, each script is also filled with many examples of the oral-formulaic storytelling made popular via Greek mythology. 

Every major Letterkenny character has one or more phrases that they utter on such a reliable basis that it’s impossible to separate the expression from who is saying it. Group leader Wayne, for example, loves to motivate everyone with the homey phrase “pitter patter, let’s get at’er.” The airheaded hockey players celebrate victories by exclaiming, “Wheel snipes celly, boys!” When someone makes claims about what two locals may or may not have done to an ostrich, Squirrelly Dan chimes in with a gentle “allegedlies.” Both Wayne and Daryl are known to confirm questions asked of them with a simple “That’s a Texas-sized 10-4, good buddy.”

It’s Not What You Say, It’s How You Say It

This is just a small sampling of the quirky dialogue in Letterkenny, a show that every comedy lover needs to check out at least once. The lines are funny enough the first time you hear them, but, incredibly enough, just get more hilarious through the repetition. It adds an air of anticipation to any scene when you’re just waiting for your favorite to say one of their signature phrases. For that matter, these beautifully bizarre expressions also help you learn who everyone is in Letterkenny, which is important because this small town has a lot (and I mean a lot) of colorful characters.

Weirdly enough, Letterkenny is the only show I have ever seen embrace the kind of oral-formulaic storytelling made popular by ancient Greek myths like The Iliad and The Odyssey. Eventually, I began to welcome hearing Wayne’s charming phrases (including “give your balls a tug”) as much as I welcomed hearing “swift-footed Achilles” from my Iliad audiobook. Surely enough, these phrases help the Letterkenny actors remember the many lines packed into the show’s fast-paced, off-kilter dialogue. They also transform fans into the modern-day equivalent of Greek singers as we shout out pieces of the show’s surprisingly complex dialogue, one raunchy line at a time.

In most ways, comparing Letterkenny to movies like Troy or The Odyssey would be like comparing apples and oranges. That’s why it is so funny that this silly Canadian comedy manages to carry on an ancient Greek tradition better than the blockbuster movies designed specifically to bring these venerable myths to life. As an added bonus, this use of oral-formulaic storytelling might just add a few amazing new phrases to your daily vernacular. Don’t like it, or maybe you just don’t like this infectiously funny comedy show? Well, in the immortal words of swift-footed Wayne, let’s get this man a f*cking Puppers!

Letterkenny is streaming on Tubi.