Gisele Bündchen has so much love for her husband, Joaquim Valente, on Father’s Day 2026.

“Happy Father’s Day @joaquimvalente! Thank you for leading by example, and for the values you embody, love, humility, integrity, discipline, kindness and consistency,” Bündchen, 45, wrote via Instagram on Sunday, June 21, alongside rare family photos of the couple and their infant son. “You are an incredible role model. We are all so grateful for you, and we love you so much.”

Bündchen and Valente, 38, welcomed their first baby together in February 2025. (The supermodel also shares son Benjamin, 16, and daughter Vivian, 13, with her ex-husband, Tom Brady.)

In Bündchen’s Sunday roundup, she also uploaded photos of Valente cuddling his son and two stepchildren.

Related: Inside Gisele Bundchen and Joaquim Valente’s Romance

Before Gisele Bündchen and Joaquim Valente began their romance, the duo were just friends first. “Joaquim was there for Gisele through her divorce, as a friend, and they turned romantic this past summer,” a source exclusively tells Us Weekly. Bündchen, 43, and Valente share “similar lifestyles” and are both “dedicated to fitness and nutrition,” the […]

“And dad, thank you for your unconditional love, wisdom and support through every stage of my life,” she concluded her post, referring to her own father. “Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there. ❤️.”

Bündchen married Valente in December 2025 after nearly three years together. They started dating one year after Bündchen’s 2022 divorce from Brady, 48.

“This is the first time I am seeing someone that was a friend of mine first,” she recalled to The New York Times in 2024 of her then-newfound relationship with the jiu-jitsu instructor. “It’s very different. It is very honest, and it’s very transparent.”

At the time, Bündchen firmly denied any overlap between her relationships.

“That is a lie. This is something that happens to a lot of women who get blamed when they have the courage to leave an unhealthy relationship and are labeled as being unfaithful,” she stated, referring to then-rampant affair speculation. “They have to deal with their communities. They have to deal with their family. Of course for me, it just happens to be a little bit amplified.”

Bündchen and Brady, meanwhile, now coparent Benjamin and Vivian. (Brady is also the father of son Jack, 18, whom he shares with ex Bridget Moynahan.)

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Related: Gisele Bundchen Shares 1st Photo of Her and Joaquim’s Baby

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Gisele Bündchen is one proud mama to all three of her kids, including her newborn with boyfriend Joaquim Valente. “I’ve been quiet over here but very busy living life. Sometimes, the most beautiful moments aren’t shared — they’re simply lived,” Bündchen, 44, wrote via Instagram on Sunday, May 11. “Lately, I’ve been embracing the slower […]

“Tom and Gisele only communicate when it comes to the kids,” a source exclusively told Us Weekly in March. “The dust has settled, but he tries not to meddle in her personal life. He hears things from the kids here and there, but tries to stay neutral. They have a good coparenting schedule.”

As for Brady, he rang in Father’s Day by thinking of his own dad.

“Happy Father’s Day to my hero,” the retired NFL quarterback wrote via his Instagram Stories on Sunday. “The best example I could have ever asked for. We love you, Dad. Don’t worry, I’ll let you win a few [golf] holes this week. 😉.”

Robert Irwin has reportedly found a new partner in wildlife photographer Ashleigh Scully, more than two years after his split from Rorie Buckey.

Fresh off his sensational Mirrorball Trophy win on season 34 of “Dancing With The Stars,” Irwin previously lamented the difficulty he has faced trying to date, as his every move ends up being scrutinized on social media.

The 22-year-old Australian conservationist also recently revealed that he lives among the wildlife in his own quarters at Australia Zoo, adding that his “alarm clock” is the roar of tigers.

Robert Irwin appears to be off the market, as reports suggest he is now quietly dating wildlife photographer Ashleigh Scully.

According to Us Weekly, sources say Scully has been “traveling all over” with Irwin “for months,” and that they have made “some stops on the Dancing With the Stars Tour” together.

The pair first met in 2019 through their shared passion for wildlife photography, but it was not until March of this year that they sent the rumor mill into overdrive. At the time, they were seen arriving together at the production set of “DWTS: The Next Pro” in Australia, a spin-off series Irwin is hosting to scout the next generation of professional dancers, per TMZ.

Irwin And Scully Fuel Dating Rumors

Eagle-eyed fans later hinted at their romance when they noticed the pair had gone on a deep-sea scuba diving trip with fellow “DWTS” alum Dylan Efron, who became friends with Irwin on Season 34 of the show.

“Our underwater Jive is coming soon @robertirwinphotography,” Efron playfully captioned the photos on Instagram, which included a group shot of Irwin and Scully in scuba gear.

Scully is an accomplished wildlife photographer in her own right and has been practicing since she was just eight years old. She specializes in North American apex predators, birds of prey, and Arctic underwater life.

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According to her official website, she grew up in New Jersey but is now based in Jackson, Wyoming.

“My photography journey has taken me all over the world, from Tanzania to British Columbia, Svalbard, Norway, and Tonga,” she writes in her bio. “I specialize in shots of bears, owls, and foxes, and have just begun my underwater photography journey!”

Robert Irwin Previously Dated Rorie Buckey

Irwin’s reported romance with Scully comes more than two years after his split from Rorie Buckey.

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The pair made their red-carpet debut in July 2023 at the premiere of “Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part 1” in Sydney.

Buckey later announced in 2024 that she and Irwin had broken up, although she did not elaborate on the cause of their split.

“We wanted to share that we have decided to go our separate ways but profoundly appreciate all of the time spent together and wish one another all the very best into the future,” Buckey wrote in an Instagram Story statement, which they both signed.

“We wish to express the gratitude and respect we have for one another as we continue on our journeys to different paths,” they added.

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Irwin Previously Said Dating In The Spotlight Is Tough

Finding love with Scully did not come without its own challenges, as Irwin previously opened up about how difficult it is to date when the entire internet is watching your every move.

After emerging victorious on “Dancing With The Stars,” he gained a new level of popularity that he had not been used to before. However, he quickly realized that the attention also had a downside.

“Holy moly, that’s so challenging to navigate,” Irwin said in a recent profile with The New York Times, noting that “Anything you do will be on TikTok the next day.”

Robert Irwin Jokes He Is Like A Zoo Exhibit

Irwin also recently opened up about just how literally wild his life is, revealing that he stays in his own quarters at Australia Zoo and wakes up to tigers roaring every morning.

He made the revelation during an appearance on the “Jase, Lauren and Clint” radio show on Tuesday, June 16, sharing that tigers act as his alarm clock.”

“Seriously, like I live in the middle of it all. It’s really quite cool — My alarm clock in the morning is the tigers next door roaring,” he explained, per PEOPLE.

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Host Lauren Phillips then asked him, “Do you walk around the Australia Zoo and go, ‘That’s Robert Irwin’s house?’”

“Yeah, there’s like a little fence up and glass, and you can come and watch as I have my morning coffee,” he joked, before they quipped that he is like “an exhibit” at the zoo.

Boxer Tyson Fury’s 16-year-old daughter, Venezuela Price (née Fury), is ready to start a family with her new husband Noah Price just weeks after saying “I do.”

“I want as many as we are blessed with,” Venezuela told The Sun in an interview published Saturday, June 20, of her desire to have children. “If you are tortured with one, you may as well have more. It’s part of married life when you love someone like we do.”

As for Price, 19, he told the outlet that he hopes to have eight or nine kids with his bride.

Venezuela, the eldest of Tyson and wife Paris Fury’s seven children, and Noah got married in May.

“I am not normally the type of person to cry, but I couldn’t stop. I even cried myself to sleep,” she told the outlet of her wedding day. “It was the best day of my life, but so full of emotion. That’s why [my] dad and I wore sunglasses. I only took them off at the altar because I couldn’t say my vows in sunglasses.”

Noah was equally overcome with emotion on the big day.

“It knocked me back into sense, to hold in my tears,” the aspiring boxer recalled. “It was a big day, marrying the person you love [and starting] a whole new life, a new chapter.”

After a sun-filled honeymoon in Marbella, Spain, Venezuela and Noah moved into a static chalet home in their native England.

“He took me to the factory to see it being made. I love it. I’m very proud of him, he’s done well,” the influencer said, confirming Noah bought the property himself. “We have a Smeg kettle, lovely soft Dorma bedding, a sofa from M&H Living [that we got] off Instagram.”

Related: Inside Tyson Fury’s 16-Year-Old Daughter Venezuela’s Dreamy Wedding

Tyson Fury and his wife, Paris Fury, watched as their eldest daughter became a bride ahead of her 17th birthday. Tyson and Paris’ first of seven kids, Venezuela, married aspiring boxer Noah Price on Saturday, May 16, surrounded by their friends and family. “What a day,” Venezuela’s soon-to-be aunt Molly-Mae Hague wrote via her Instagram […]

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While both Venezuela and Noah do want a family eventually, for now they’re content focusing their newlywed bliss on their relationship and own home.

“It’s my own little doll’s house,” Venezuela gushed to The Sun. “I am traditional. I use bleach on the floor, in the fridge and washing-up bowl. Just not the glasses. Noah was horrified at first and thought I might kill him, but he’s fine.”

She continued, “My house is maybe tidier than my mam’s because there’s no little hands moving things. I am enjoying making it our home.”

Noah and Venezuela’s young marriage has raised eyebrows over their decision to tie the knot as teenagers, though the pair aren’t bothered by the criticism.

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Related: Tyson Fury‘s 16-Year-Old Daughter Wore Crocs Under Her Wedding Gown

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Tyson Fury’s 16-year-old daughter, Venezuela Fury, got married her way. Venezuela wore a strapless, lace mermaid gown by designer Ava Rose Hamilton during her Saturday, May 16, wedding to now-husband Noah Price. The teen bride completed her look with a pair of coordinating white Crocs. “I’ve had to come to terms with it,” Venezuela’s mom, […]

“When you’ve found the one you love, there’s no point waiting,” Venezuela stated to the outlet. “Dad told me not to listen to what others say or let anybody get involved in our marriage. And there’s no divorce. Mam says to be respectful, stand your ground, but be kind.”

Tyson and Paris, who also got married at young ages, had blessed the union.

“She’s 16, but Venezuela has always been a woman. She’s always been the oldest of all [my and Tyson’s] kids,” Paris said on the “Great Company” podcast in April. “She’s always been very confident in herself, and she has met the person that she wants to be with. To me, my child has met the person she wants to be with. If she moved in and lived with this person, no one would bat an eyelid. It wouldn’t be any problem. She wants to get married, to me which is a celebration of their relationship, [and] it’s beautiful and that’s what they want to do. She is happy, he is happy and they want to commit to each other that way. I don’t see the problem.”

Las Vegas runs on bright lights, but some of its boldest moments happen in the dark while many are sleeping.

Spiegelworld’s “Bang Out” brought its anything-goes energy back to the Atomic Saloon for another unforgettable late-night takeover on Saturday night/Sunday morning. Known for its raw, unpredictable vibe, the one-night-only event invites performers to take risks, test out new ideas, and deliver the kind of off-the-cuff moments you won’t see on any polished Vegas stage.

The Blast got in on the chaotic late-night fun on Saturday night. The party started way past most people’s bedtime (including mine) at 11:54 p.m. but was totally worth staying up late for. 

If you’re looking for something wild and crazy to do for the plot, “Bang Out” is it! This once-in-a-blue-moon event by Spiegelworld, known for “Absinthe” and “Atomic Saloon,” is a late-night Vegas party like no other.

It’s part circus, part party, and completely unfiltered, set inside a rowdy roadhouse atmosphere where cocktails flow and the unexpected is the main attraction.

If you’re looking for a night that breaks all the rules, this is it. But you have to catch it while you can, because it’s not a regularly scheduled show. It’s a pop-up style experience that happens occasionally throughout the year so you just have to stay tuned in to find out when the next one will be.

‘Bang Out’ Has Quickly Become A Fan Favorite

The circus-industry party welcomes everyone for the fun. According to a press release sent to The Blast, “Since its debut last year, Bang Out has quickly become a fan favorite for those in the know, with more than 1,300 insiders attending the three rowdy, ridiculous hoedowns. Every edition has brought all-new acts to the stage, with additional surprises unique to each event.”

This show is for any performer looking to showcase a new act in front of an audience. Selected performers get the opportunity to work with Spiegelworld’s creative team to bring it all to life on the Atomic Saloon stage. We’re talking high-skill acrobatics, comedy, magic, burlesque with a twist, and novelty music acts. The more outrageous, the better, according to Spiegelworld.

What Attending ‘Bang Out’ For The First Time Was Really Like

If you’re lucky enough to go to a “Bang Out” event, be ready for anything. These occasional late-night parties are built part club vibe, part old-time saloon feel, and wild acts that will leave quite the impression on you.

A DJ gets the crowd energetic before the show begins and much of the room spends the night dancing and singing along. Once the show begins, there are a few acts before the DJ returns, and then more acts. The night is filled with lots of amazement, awe, and wonder. This is something you must experience to fully understand.

Atomic Saloon is quite the venue all in itself. When you walk in, you feel transported back to a time when the saloon was the hottest spot to be. Everything from the decor to the set up screams old-time saloon, which adds to the late-night vibe perfectly.

If you’re in Vegas and up late the next time they host a “Bang Out” event, it’s absolutely something worth checking out before calling it a day.

‘Absinthe’ By Spiegelworld Recently Celebrated 15 Years On The Strip

Just a few months ago, the hit show “Absinthe” celebrated 15 years on the Las Vegas Strip.

This daring show evolved from a tent production to a full-fledged entertainment phenomenon right outside of Caesars Palace. Known for its risqué humor and amazing acrobatics, the show pushes boundaries while staying true to its roots. People from near and far are often heard talking about how amazing this show is.

Just before the big anniversary, a press release was sent to The Blast and shared a little of the backstory on how “Absinthe” came to be.

“When I flew into Vegas as just another hopelessly optimistic producer with an idea 15 years ago, I was met by an intimidating roster of competitors and a skeptical casino industry,” Ross Mollison, founder of Spiegelworld said. “I will never forget the first preview, our little spiegeltent filled with friends I had made through working with Cirque du Soleil for about a decade, and a bunch of casino entertainment execs out on what they expected would be another ‘terrible show night.’”

Mollison said that when the lights went out following the performance, the audience celebrated in a big way.

“My friend Jennifer Dunne who was CMO at Wynn came over and said to me ‘WTF Ross — this is going to be a smash,” he continued.

More About Spiegelworld

Spiegelworld has multiple shows and restaurants in Las Vegas.

“Atomic Saloon Show” is at The Venetian, and “The Party” at Superfrico Las Vegas is at The Cosmopolitan. Plus, Diner Ross Steakhouse is at The LINQ Hotel and Casino, and No Pants is located at Caesars Palace near “Absinthe.”

If you’re just seeking a fun atmosphere and a unique cocktail, the Ski Lodge is at The Cosmopolitan, 99 Prince Bar is at The LINQ Hotel and Casino, and The Cow Hide is at The Venetian.

For more information on Spiegelworld and all the Vegas options, visit their website.

Karlissa Saffold Harvey is standing on business after social media popped OFF with reactions to a video of her disciplining Blueface’s daughter, Journey Porter, aka Pinkface. Blueface’s recent livestream showed Karlissa checking Journey after she threw hands at her. Now, Karlissa is speaking out, claiming folks have been blowing up her DMs and sending her threats over the way she handled the situation with her granddaughter.

RELATED: Yikes! Karlissa Saffold Harvey Reacts After Chrisean Rock Calls Out Blueface For Getting Three Women Pregnant (VIDEOS)

Viral Clip Shows Karlissa Saffold Checking Pinkface For Throwing Hands

If you’ve been out of the loop, let us put y’all on game. Karlissa Saffold Harvey has the internet going OFF after a clip from Blueface’s livestream showed her putting Journey Porter in check. The moment kicked off after Journey told Karlissa, “Get out of my house.” Karlissa then responded saying, “This isn’t your house. You don’t pay no bills here.” Journey then hit Karlissa on the arm, prompting Karlissa to correct her and remind her not to speak her that way. From there, she geve her a little pow on the derriere after Journey hit her again.

Karlissa Sends Message To Trolls Amid Reactions To Discipline Video

Karlissa made it clear that she’s not ducking any smoke wen it comes to how she disciplines her grandchildren. She hopped on Instagram and shared a screenshot showing a ChatGPT search about the rules surrounding how parents or legal guardians can discipline a child in California. The response explained that guardians can use non-injurious physical discipline, but warned that things can turn into a legal issue if the punishment becomes excessive or causes injuries or bruising. In her caption, Karlissa reminded folks that she raised three children of her own and knows exactly what she’s doing.

“I raise three kids I know exactly what to do and what not to do now stay the hell off my page and off my name before I report y’all for starting and threatening about my choice for discipline or leading anyone on this Internet to threaten or harass me,” Karlissa wrote.

The Roomies Stand Ten Toes Behind Karlissa

Although Karlissa claimed she was receiving negative messages on social media, the Roomies made it clear that they on her side over in The Shade Room’s comment section. Plenty of folks gave Karlissa props for putting Journey in her place and teaching her how to respect adults.

Instagram user @hey_itsjademonet wrote, “About time 👏” 

Instagram user @bigfreedia wrote, “These kids need true discipline grandma did right.” 

While Instagram user @trendytopictiff wrote, “Grandma is right.” 

Then Instagram user @thycolourgod wrote, “Go ahead and take that one upstairs grandma. I think she needs a few more.” 

Another Instagram user @caramel.killaa wrote, “somebody gotta do it lol.” 

Instagram user @cajun_cravingsdfw wrote, “She’s 3 talking and acting like this…. Imagine 13. 😮😮” 

Then another instagram user @sexyslim404 wrote, “It’s about time somebody discipline her👏👏👏” 

While another Instagram user @jidejoi wrote, “The mom and dad are sitting there allowing it so she doesn’t think anything is wrong. Sad.” 

Finally, Instagram user @madamestylistzw____ wrote, “Finally! An adult who doesn’t enable ill manners👏👏👏” 

Pinkface Makes Peace With Karlissa

More clips from Blueface’s livestream popped up online, with one showing Journey apologizing to Karlissa. The video captured Journey walking downstairs and making her way back to Karlissa, who asked, “Can we kiss and make up?” Journey then sat on Karlissa’s lap and responded, “I’m sorry.”

RELATED: Whew! The Internet Sounds OFF After Blueface’s Savage Response To Pinkface About Jaidyn Alexis Flowers (VIDEOS) 

Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers continue to win! Although they compete against each other in the WNBA, the two superstar athletes have joined forces as the faces of a new Coach campaign titled “&Coach.” According to a press release, the iconic fashion brand has launched a Gen-Z-focused campaign that represents diverse communities, creators, and voices.

Coach is looking to change the game with their new campaign, pushing back on the long-running narrative of who consumers should be and instead challenges them to create a framework that shapes who they want to be.

“With &Coach, we’re exploring a new model for how brands build relevance and participate in culture,” said Joon Silverstein, Chief Marketing Officer at Coach. “This generation doesn’t want to inherit a prescribed version of aspiration—they want to shape identity for themselves, and they want to be part of the process. &Coach was built by bringing Gen Z creatives, cultural voices, and hundreds of consumers into the work from day one. It’s a fundamentally different brief, and it changes everything: the stories we tell, the voices we center, and how the platform evolves over time.”

Who Is Taking Part In This New Coach Campaign?

In addition to Reese and Bueckers, the new “&Coach” campaign stars popular Gen-Z personalities, including Charli XCX, Malala Yousafzai, Toni Breidinger, Azzi Fudd, PinkPantheress, Avantika, Iga Świątek, and KiiiKiii.

“At Coach, we believe luxury should inspire confidence without conformity,” Silverstein added. “For this generation, self-expression is personal and constantly evolving. A Coach bag doesn’t define identity—it supports people through the moments that shape it.”

Reese posted about the new campaign on Instagram, sharing a snap of her and Bueckers smiling together and holding their Coach Tabby bags. “In each other’s corner,” the Atlanta Dream star captioned the post.

Angel Reese Has Partnered With Major Fashion Players Before

This isn’t the first time that Reese has teamed up with a powerhouse fashion brand. According to a previous report from The Blast, Reese became the first professional athlete to become a Victoria’s Secret Angel, walking in the company’s popular VS Fashion Show.

“I literally could not stop smiling!” Reese said about the moment she learned she earned her wings. “It’s such a surreal and full-circle moment — just last year I was in the audience manifesting being on that runway, completely inspired and in awe of all the powerful women walking down the runway, and now I get to return as an Angel. This will be an unforgettable night that I’ll forever be grateful for.”

Reese, a trailblazer in women’s sports, said her work with Victoria’s Secret was bigger than she was. She explained that her role as the first pro athlete featured on the show was meant to inspire those who looked up to her.

“I hope I can inspire women and girls everywhere and remind them that we can dominate in our field but also chase our goals outside of it — and for me, that’s getting to walk down fashion and entertainment’s most iconic runway,” she said.

Angel Reese Is Riding A High Right Now

Reese has been riding a wave over the last few days, defeating Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever twice in two days. She scored an impressive 21 points and hauled in 11 rebounds on Thursday, June 18. On Saturday, June 20, she had another standout performance, recording 18 points and grabbing 8 rebounds.

Reese’s wins occurred during Juneteenth weekend, and during a post-game interview, the 6’4″ LSU alum discussed the importance of playing during the significant weekend.

“It was just one of those moments of where I was and how it felt and how it hit and that things that I’ve had to experience over the past couple of years,” she said, per The Blast. “It hasn’t always been great, but my ancestors walked so I could run.”

Reese Sets Rebounding Record

During Reese’s second matchup against the Fever, the Maryland native etched her name in the WNBA history book, reaching 1,000 rebounds in the fewest number of games (79). She surpassed Tina Charles, who previously reached the feat in 89 games.

According to ESPN, Reese is currently averaging 15.3 points, 11.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.3 steals per game. Her next matchup is against the Toronto Tempo on June 22 at 7:30 PM ET.

For every book that successfully reaches the screen, dozens get lost in translation or simply remain trapped on the page. Many books seem tailor-made for a big-screen adaptation, and some others thrive on the silver screen despite their somewhat complicated premise. However, not every book is as lucky.

Indeed, plenty of classic novels would be borderline impossible to adapt into good movies, whether that’s due to experimental language, fragmented structures, or simply a story intended only for the book format. With that in mind, this list looks at these adaptation nightmares, the novels that most defy the Hollywood treatment, ranging from labyrinthine modernist masterpieces to metafictional mind-benders and philosophical epics.

‘Timequake’ (1997)

Image via Putnam Publishing Group

“You were sick, but now you’re well again, and there’s work to do.” Timequake is a truly challenging, rambling hodgepodge of a book, so much so that author Kurt Vonnegut himself described it as a “stew.” Indeed, it barely functions as a conventional novel at all. Instead, Timequake is a blend of fiction, autobiography, essays, philosophical musings, and metafictional experimentation, delving into themes like free will, determinism, authorship, depression, and ennui; not exactly the kind of stuff that screams “blockbuster.”

The book’s appeal comes from Vonnegut’s voice: his humor, melancholy, wisdom, and ability to make seemingly unrelated observations feel profound. Remove that voice, and the whole thing falls apart. Consequently, not even the combined powers of Stanley Kubrick, Steven Spielberg, James Cameron, and Ridley Scott could make Timequake work on screen.

‘Hyperion’ (1989)

Image via Doubleday

“The universe is not only stranger than we imagine; it is stranger than we can imagine.” This sci-fi classic takes place in a far-future interstellar civilization and focuses on seven pilgrims journeying toward the mysterious world of Hyperion, where they hope to confront the terrifying creature known as the Shrike. Along the way, each traveler tells their life story, revealing how they became connected to the pilgrimage. It’s a pulpy riff on The Canterbury Tales, but with advanced tech and interdimensional beings.

The book’s scale and structure pose immediate adaptation problems, as does its dense philosophy. Hyperion is challenging and opaque, with a lot to say about religion, mortality, artificial intelligence, poetry, suffering, and the nature of time itself. It would be hard to make these elements work on screen without sacrificing key parts of the novel’s identity.

‘Blood Meridian’ (1985)

Image via Random House

“They rode on.” Numerous filmmakers have expressed interest in adapting this Cormac McCarthy classic, yet the book has remained stubbornly resistant to the screen. The plot revolves around a teenage runaway known only as “the Kid” who joins the Glanton Gang, a real historical group of scalp hunters operating along the U.S.-Mexico border in the mid-nineteenth century. What follows is a relentless descent into violence, brutality, and existential horror as the gang commits atrocities across an increasingly nightmarish landscape.

A bold director could certainly adapt the events of Blood Meridian, and the landscapes, gunfights, and historical setting are all inherently cinematic. But capturing the novel’s soul is another matter entirely. What makes the book extraordinary is not the story it tells, but the way McCarthy tells it and the philosophical weight that hangs over every page. It’s not clear who could pull that off.

‘Finnegans Wake’ (1939)

Image via Viking Press

“Three quarks for Muster Mark!” If James Joyce‘s Ulysses is difficult, his experimental opus Finnegans Wake is another thing entirely. The novel abandons conventional narrative, presenting a dreamlike stream of text that blends dozens of languages, puns, myths, historical references, and invented words. Explaining the plot is nearly impossible because even literary scholars continue debating what exactly happens within the text.

Indeed, characters shift identities, historical figures merge together, and language itself becomes fluid and unstable. The book is also extremely internal. There are scenes, conversations, and recurring motifs, but much of the reading experience involves interpretation rather than observation. Readers search for patterns, decode symbols, uncover hidden meanings, and make connections across hundreds of pages. This intellectual engagement is difficult to replicate in a visual medium, to say the least.

‘The Silmarillion’ (1977)

Image via Harper Collins

“Thus ended the Silmarils and the Trees of Valinor.” The Silmarillion poses a much more daunting adaptation challenge than any of the other Lord of the Rings books. It’s much drier and more academic than the other Middle-earth books, with a structure more akin to a mythological history than a traditional novel. There is no single protagonist guiding readers through events. Instead, the book introduces dozens of major characters, civilizations, and conflicts across centuries.

Admittedly, there is a wealth of colorful worldbuilding on offer here, yet that density of information is also part of the problem. A film adaptation would have to simplify enormous portions of the mythology, but doing so could strip away much of what makes the work special, and would invariably annoy at least some section of the fanbase. For that reason, a faithful movie adaptation of The Silmarillion would likely be impossible.

‘In Search of Lost Time’ (1913–1927)

Image via

“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.” Marcel Proust‘s monumental In Search of Lost Time is widely regarded as one of the greatest literary achievements in history. Across seven volumes and more than four thousand pages, it follows an unnamed narrator reflecting on childhood, memory, love, art, jealousy, society, and the passage of time. The famous madeleine scene, in which a taste triggers a flood of memories, has become one of literature’s defining explorations of consciousness.

In other words, the adaptation hurdles are legion. There’s the colossal length, the meditative atmosphere, and a focus on sense impressions. There’s the prose, too. Here, Proust writes in extraordinarily long, intricate sentences that mirror the movement of thought itself, but are pretty low on, well, anything actually happening. Likewise, the book’s treatment of time is tricky, with past and present constantly intermingling.

‘Gravity’s Rainbow’ (1973)

Image via Penguin Classics

“If they can get you asking the wrong questions, they don’t have to worry about answers.” Set during the final months of World War II, Gravity’s Rainbow follows an enormous cast of characters connected in various ways to Germany’s V-2 rocket program. Among them is Tyrone Slothrop, an American soldier who discovers disturbing connections between his life and the locations where rockets strike. Although widely hailed as a literary masterpiece, much of the story is deliberately chaotic, fragmented, and elusive.

People appear and disappear without warning. Storylines branch into tangents that may or may not connect to the central narrative. The novel contains hundreds of characters, dozens of interconnected storylines, songs, conspiracy theories, historical references, scientific discussions, hallucinations, sexual absurdities, and philosophical digressions. The tone is surreal and unstable, moving from slapstick comedy to existential terror within a few pages.

‘House of Leaves’ (2000)

Image via Pantheon

“This is not for you.” This cult classic horror book would never truly work as a movie because its literary structure is intrinsic to its appeal. House of Leaves begins as an analysis of a documentary about a family whose house contains impossible interior dimensions. However, that’s just the beginning of the work’s strangeness. The novel is a labyrinth of nested narratives, footnotes, annotations, typographical experiments, and unreliable narrators.

Part of the reading experience involves physically interacting with the text: words spiral across pages, paragraphs appear upside down, footnotes lead to other footnotes. Entire sections require readers to rotate the book or navigate unusual layouts. Basically, House of Leaves makes full use of the fact that it’s a book as opposed to any other medium. A film could stick to the same basic plot, but it would no longer be House of Leaves.

‘Infinite Jest’ (1996)

Image via Little, Brown and Company

“I am in here.” David Foster Wallace‘s magnum opus, Infinite Jest is one of the most ambitious novels of the late twentieth century. Set in a near-future North America, it follows a sprawling cast of characters connected to a prestigious tennis academy, a rehabilitation center, and a mysterious film so entertaining that anyone who watches it loses all desire to do anything else (evoking uncanny parallels with the endless doomscroll of social media today). Along the way, the book tackles addiction, entertainment, depression, family dysfunction, achievement, and loneliness through hundreds of interconnected storylines.

On top of all that, Infinite Jest‘s famous endnotes alone run well over one hundred pages and often contain essential information. Readers constantly move between different characters, timelines, and perspectives, gradually assembling meaning from fragments. Finally, Wallace’s unique style is the main attraction, giving us a front-row seat to the complicated workings of his mind.

‘The Catcher in the Rye’ (1951)

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“Don’t ever tell anybody anything. If you do, you start missing everybody.” Unlike many books on this list, The Catcher in the Rye does not seem obviously unfilmable. The plot is relatively straightforward: after being expelled from school, teenager Holden Caulfield wanders around New York City for several days, interacting with teachers, strangers, old friends, and family members while struggling with grief, alienation, and the transition to adulthood.

Yet the novel has remained famously unadapted for more than seventy years, in part because its reclusive author didn’t want it adapted, and partly because of how difficult it would be for a movie to replicate the experience of being in Holden’s head. His humor, insecurity, contradictions, cynicism, vulnerability, and loneliness are what make this a classic. It’s hard to see what a film would add to the experience.

Cassie gave fans a rare glimpse into her private family life over Father’s Day weekend as she honored her husband, Alex Fine, with a heartfelt social media tribute. Cassie and Fine, who married in 2019, share daughters Frankie and Sunny as well as a baby son.

The singer, whose real name is Cassandra Ventura, shared a series of Instagram Stories praising Fine’s role as a father to their three children. “Happy Father’s Day,” Cassie wrote alongside multiple photos. “We love you so much!”

The posts featured candid moments of Fine spending time with the couple’s children, including outdoor adventures and family activities, as well as a sweet photo of the husband and wife posing together.

A Look Back At Cassie And Diddy’s Relationship That Spanned More Than A Decade

The Father’s Day tribute comes after Cassie welcomed the couple’s third child and months after she delivered emotional testimony in Sean “Diddy” Combs‘ federal sex trafficking trial.

Before becoming one of the key figures in the case against Sean “Diddy” Combs, Cassie was best known for her longtime relationship with the music mogul. The singer first signed to Diddy’s Bad Boy Records label in the mid-2000s after finding success with her hit single “Me & U.” Their professional relationship eventually turned romantic, and the pair dated on and off for more than a decade before officially splitting in 2018.

For years, the couple was a fixture at high-profile events and red carpets, with Diddy frequently praising Cassie publicly. However, rumors of turbulence behind the scenes often followed the relationship.

Cassie’s Lawsuit Changed The Narrative Around Her Relationship With Diddy

In November 2023, Cassie filed a bombshell lawsuit against her ex-boyfriend, accusing him of years of physical abuse, sexual misconduct, and coercive behavior during their relationship. Combs denied the allegations, and the lawsuit was settled just one day after it was filed.

Despite the quick settlement, the filing sparked intense public scrutiny and opened the door for additional accusations against the music mogul. Months later, CNN released hotel surveillance footage from 2016 that appeared to show Diddy physically assaulting Cassie in a Los Angeles hotel hallway. Following the video’s release, Combs publicly apologized for his actions shown in the footage, calling his behavior “inexcusable.”

The lawsuit and subsequent video marked a major turning point in public perception of the former couple’s relationship and ultimately became part of the broader legal and criminal scrutiny that followed.

Alex Fine Stood By Cassie During Diddy Trial

Throughout the legal proceedings, Fine remained a constant source of support for his wife as she detailed allegations of physical and sexual abuse during her relationship with the music mogul. Over four days on the witness stand, a visibly pregnant Cassie recounted what she described as years of trauma during her on-again, off-again relationship with Combs. The rapper denied the allegations.

Despite the difficult testimony, Cassie later acknowledged that her feelings toward her former partner remain complicated. “I don’t hate him,” she said during the trial. “I have love for the past, and what it was.”

Following the trial, Cassie’s lawyer released a statement, telling the world, “I hope that people still see what Cassie did and think that she really made a difference.”

“I think that the story’s not over because there are all these other civil claims out there,” he continued. “I mean, we’ll recall the O.J. Simpson case. I mean, he was obviously found not guilty in his criminal trial, only then to be found liable in the civil case. And then for the rest of his life, he was trying to avoid judgments and leading a very untoward life of nobody accepting him anymore.”

Cassie Has Embraced A More Private Life

According to sources close to the singer, Cassie has intentionally stepped away from the spotlight in the aftermath of the highly publicized trial. “Cassie is doing really well and prefers a low-key life out of the spotlight now,” a source previously told Us Weekly.

The insider noted that while the testimony was an important part of her healing journey, it also forced her to relive painful experiences. “It was emotionally draining for her to testify in Diddy’s trial, and she is glad that chapter is behind her,” the source explained.

Now, with the trial behind her and a new baby at home, Cassie appears focused on family, healing, and the quieter life she has built alongside Fine.

V.C. Andrews released a novel in 1979 that became a massive bestseller, and its premise was nastier than the old “children trapped in a mansion,” or a scary woman teaching children the hard way, like in Nanny McPhee. It dug into inheritance greed, religious cruelty, family shame, neglect, and betrayal, all locked inside one attic. Then it had a 2014 film adaptation, which showed fans why that premise still works. And now, in 2026, that film adaptation is charting on streaming in the U.S.

The movie entered the U.S. Netflix Top 10 this week and immediately showed real traction, landing at No. 2 on June 17, holding No. 2 by June 18, and sitting at No. 3 today (June 19). That is a solid stay for a 2014 Lifetime-style adaptation that just landed on Netflix on June 15, 2026. The movie is Flowers in the Attic, Deborah Chow’s 2014 adaptation of V.C. Andrews’ 1979 gothic novel. Kiernan Shipka, Mason Dye, Ava Telek, and Maxwell Kovach play the Dollanganger children, while Heather Graham and Ellen Burstyn bring the adult poison as Corrine and Olivia. The film follows four children who are hidden away after their father dies; their mother starts choosing money over them, and their grandmother turns the house into a punishment chamber.

The 2014 Movie Quietly Fixed the Biggest Complaint About the 1987 Adaptation

Chow’s Flowers in the Attic installment was sold largely as the more faithful screen version compared to the 1987 movie, which softened or removed some of V.C. Andrews’ most controversial material. This frustrated readers because the book’s whole reputation rested on how ugly, taboo, and psychologically warped the Dollanganger story became. Lifetime’s version leaned closer to the novel’s darker spine, especially the Cathy/Chris material, while still toning it down for TV. That choice also mattered because the film became the launchpad for a full Dollanganger screen cycle: Petals on the Wind followed in 2014, then If There Be Thorns and Seeds of Yesterday aired in 2015. So Netflix is really surfacing the start of Lifetime’s complete gothic family saga, and if it keeps performing well, it might invite the other sequels to the streamer too.

Flowers in the Attic is currently trending on Netflix in the U.S. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.

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Release Date

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January 18, 2014

Runtime

90 minutes

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Director

Deborah Chow

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