By Chris Snellgrove
| Updated 23 seconds ago

At the Annecy Animation Film Festival, one thing has become abundantly clear: this is the year of the bat. We already knew Warner Bros. was going to show footage of Batman: Knightfall, their multi-part, R-rated adaptation of Batman’s most famous ‘90s comic story. The studio then announced Dynamic Duo, a theatrical film focused on two of Batman’s sidekicks and animated like Into the Spider-Verse. What else could a fan of the Caped Crusader want? More TV series, of course!

Recently, WB announced that we would be getting not one but two new cartoons set in the world of the Dark Knight. The first is Absolute Batman, which adapts the best-selling comic from rockstar comics writer Scott Snyder. The buzzworthy comic is a complete Batman reboot, and its cartoon announcement drew huge cheers at the film festival. Arguably, though, it was WB’s other big announcement that sent fans into a frenzy. The studio confirmed we will be getting Joker: Laugh Riot, an anime where the Joker becomes obsessed with finding the villain who killed Batman.

The Joke’s On Us

Joker: Laugh Riot is already set to make history as DC’s first anime project. Why the heck are we getting a supervillain anime? This is likely due to the influence of Jason DeMarco: the Toonami guru is senior VP of action and anime development at Warner Bros. Animation, who produced the surprisingly fun anime film The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim. That movie was animated by Yasuhiro Aoki, who will be the showrunner for Joker: Laugh Riot. Based on the show’s description, it sounds like we’ll be exploring a side of the Clown Prince of Crime rarely seen in comics, shows, or film.

The official logline for Joker: Laugh Riot reads as follows: “When Batman is murdered, the Joker launches a ruthless crusade through Gotham’s underworld to find the killer who took away his greatest adversary. But as his violent quest for answers pushes him closer towards vigilante than villain, Joker is forced to confront the truth that without Batman, he doesn’t know who he is.” Reading between the lines, it seems like Joker will actually become a Batman-style vigilante in his relentless quest to find the man who killed his oldest enemy.

Not Exactly A Kid’s Show

While the premise of Joker: Laugh Riot is relatively unique, it has been explored before by other writers. One of the most notable examples is the Batman: The Animated Series episode “The Man Who Killed Batman,” where Batman is seemingly killed by a small-time gangster. Upon hearing the news, Joker laments that “crime has no punchline” anymore and even holds a funeral for the Caped Crusader where he tries to murder Batman’s killer. Of course, it’s later revealed that Batman faked his own death, but this episode is a powerful example of how Joker’s life would lose most of its meaning if Batman were to die.

Additionally, a four-issue storyline in Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight featured Joker seemingly killing Batman. When this happened, he actually went sane, got a job, and even fell in love as he became a relatively normal guy. As soon as he realized Batman was still alive, though, he became his old self. Of course, both this storyline and the aforementioned cartoon were relatively short tales. It sounds like Joker: Laugh Riot will offer a more prolonged look at the titular clown’s codependent relationship with Batman. Plus, it’s a given that Joker will have some fun battles with familiar foes like Penguin, Two-Face, and maybe even Harley Quinn in his quest to find Batman’s killer.

Other than the announcement about its plot and that it’s in production, there are no other details about Joker: Laugh Riot. No release date has been set, and we don’t yet know if it will stream exclusively on HBO Max or if it will be released on Toonami. Whenever and wherever it releases, though, this anime is sure to be a hit with Batman fans who are looking for something new. Plus, it might just tide over fans of the Clown Prince of Crime before he makes his inevitable debut in the DCU in a movie we can only hope is better than Supergirl.

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 19 seconds ago

One of the reasons that it’s hard to make a modern superhero film is that you have to please two very different audiences. The first is made up of hardcore comics fans who will be scrutinizing the movie to see how well the writer and director knew their comic book lore. The second audience is made up of general moviegoers who have never so much as cracked an issue and just want to be entertained for a couple of hours. Recently, Supergirl tried its hand at pleasing both groups at once.

The results were somewhat mixed. Judging by its relatively modest opening weekend and equally modest Rotten Tomatoes score, Supergirl didn’t really have mass appeal with general audiences. However, it really resonated with comics fans who are impressed at just how many references and homages are stuffed into this short film. Fortunately, you don’t need laser eyes to uncover them; just keep reading to discover the coolest and downright weirdest Easter eggs you missed in Supergirl!

Everyone Thinks Jor-El Is A Weirdo

One of the major canon changes in last year’s Superman was the revelation that Superman’s parents sent him to Earth to be a conqueror. When this news breaks out, it instantly tanks the Man of Steel’s reputation. Considering that the message from his parents was translated by Lex Luthor, many fans believed that it was a lie and that Superman’s parents were essentially good people. This was despite everyone from Mr. Terrific to James Gunn confirming that the message was authentic.

In a flashback, however, Supergirl revealed that Jor-El really did want his son to go conquer the Earth. Interestingly, though, the movie also emphasizes how Jor-El is seen as a bit of a weirdo by those who know his plan. Specifically, we see Supergirl’s mother disdainfully refer to Jor-El’s plan to turn his “sweet little boy” into a “conqueror of worlds.” It’s a brief moment, but one that verifies Jor-El’s sinister nature while clarifying that not all Kryptonians share his barbaric mentality.

Supergirl, The Pop Culture Fiend

In Supergirl, the title character is celebrating her 23rd birthday. We learn that she spends a lot of her time partying off-planet, and it’s not made explicitly clear how much time she’s actually spent on Earth. However, based on her dialogue and clothing, we have one answer: she’s been on the planet long enough to absorb the pop culture! One example of this is when she orders a band to keep playing during a barfight because “it’s like the Titanic.” This means she’s familiar with Earth’s most famously doomed ship, most likely from watching James Cameron’s Titanic.

Additionally, she calls one of the many ugly aliens in the film “Squidward,” confirming that she’s a fan of (or at least, aware of) SpongeBob SquarePants. Speaking of fandoms, Supergirl spends most of the movie wearing a Blondie shirt, signifying her love of the musician. She’s probably also a fan of Jimmy Eat World, as a slowed-down version of their iconic song “In the Middle” plays during the climactic final fight scene. If Supergirl does like that band, it’s probably her cousin’s influence; previously, James Gunn added the song to Clark Kent’s official playlist on Spotify.

Homages To Star-Lord

While James Gunn directed last year’s Superman, Supergirl was helmed by Craig Gillespie. Watching the film, though, it’s clear that Gillespie cribbed more than a bit from Gunn’s previous work on Guardians of the Galaxy. You can see that in many surface-level aspects, including the snarky characters, exotic aliens, and colorful worlds on display. Beyond that, though, there are some more specific homages. For example, Supergirl spends much of the movie listening to music on her orange headphones. This is very similar to Star-Lord, who uses orange headphones to listen to his beloved cassette music from Earth.

Additionally, Supergirl tries to reassure her kid sidekick at one point by saying, “I have a plan…kind of.” This may be a stretch, but it’s hard to hear this and not think about Star-Lord in the first Guardians of the Galaxy movie. When Rocket questions whether Star-Lord actually has a plan, the Earthman responds, “I have part of a plan.” When pressed to answer what percentage of a plan he has, Star-Lord responds, “12 percent.” Fortunately, Supergirl has something else in common with this Marvel hero: even when her plans are half-baked, they usually work. 

Secretly Introducing A Notorious Villain

My favorite Supergirl Easter egg occurred near the end of the film, when our titular hero is talking to Superman. He doesn’t yet know the specifics of her most recent adventure, but he knows that it started out as a birthday celebration that went sideways. In an attempt to commiserate with her, Superman tells his cousin how his own birthdays have been tricky, but doesn’t really go into any details.

Now, this could mean all sorts of things. As a longtime comic nerd, though, I believe it’s a reference to Mongul, a powerful alien villain that Superman has tangled with before. In the iconic comic story “For the Man Who Has Everything” (written by Watchmen creator Alan Moore), the villain breaks into the Fortress of Solitude and attacks Superman with a plant called “The Black Mercy,” which puts him into a coma of pleasant dreams. Fortunately, he is ultimately freed by Batman, Robin, and Wonder Woman, all of whom came by to wish him a happy birthday. If this Supergirl quote was referencing Mongul, here’s hoping we see him and Superman throw down in a future movie!

For many fans, starring in one of Nickelodeon‘s biggest shows would seem like a guaranteed path to lifelong financial security. But according to Josh Peck, the reality was far different. The former child star recently opened up about his earnings from “Drake & Josh,” revealing that despite starring in the hit sitcom for four seasons, he walked away with far less money than many people assume.

During an appearance on the June 25 episode of the “Financial Tea with Mrs. Dow Jones” podcast, Peck reflected on his early days at Nickelodeon and how his salary evolved throughout his television career. “We started out making $3,000 an episode on ‘The Amanda Show,’” Peck explained. By the time “Drake & Josh” concluded in 2007, he said his average salary had increased to roughly $15,000 per episode.

According to Peck, the series produced around 60 episodes in total, resulting in approximately $900,000 in earnings over four years. While that number may sound impressive on paper, the actor said the amount he actually took home was significantly lower.

Peck explained that after accounting for taxes, agents, and managers, his earnings were drastically reduced. “We probably, between agent, manager and taxes, we cleared half of that,” he said. The actor estimated that he effectively earned about $125,000 annually during the show’s run.

Peck acknowledged that many people would still consider that a substantial income, but he said fans often assume child stars earn enough money to never work again. “The only reason I say it is because people always assume that it’s so much more and why would you ever have to work again?” he explained.

Peck compared the income to that of many successful professionals, noting that while it was a good living, it wasn’t the kind of money that could sustain someone indefinitely.

Fame Left Josh Peck With Financial Anxiety

Beyond the paycheck itself, Peck revealed that growing up with financial uncertainty had a lasting impact on him. “If you have it ingrained in you that you never want to be broke again, you will run like your pants are on fire for as long as you can,” he said.

The actor admitted that a deep fear of financial instability fueled many of his career decisions long after “Drake & Josh” ended. “And I saw that in myself forever, just a deep financial insecurity that drove everything I did.”

Following his Nickelodeon years, Peck continued building a successful career through acting, hosting, podcasting, social media, and film projects.

‘Drake & Josh’ Became One Of Nickelodeon’s Biggest Hits

Created by Dan Schneider, “Drake & Josh” premiered in 2004 as a spin-off of “The Amanda Show.” The sitcom followed unlikely stepbrothers Drake Parker, played by Drake Bell, and Josh Nichols, played by Peck, as they navigated life under one roof.

The cast also featured Miranda Cosgrove, Nancy Sullivan, and Jonathan Goldstein, while recurring appearances from fan-favorite characters helped turn the show into a staple of 2000s children’s television.

The series quickly became one of Nickelodeon’s most successful programs, attracting millions of viewers and helping launch the careers of several young stars.

The Nickelodeon Series Has Faced Renewed Scrutiny In Recent Years

Peck’s comments arrive as interest in Nickelodeon’s early-2000s programming remains high following the release of the 2024 documentary series “Quiet On Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV.” The series featured emotional revelations from Peck’s former co-star Bell, who publicly identified himself as the unnamed minor victim in the criminal case involving former Nickelodeon dialogue coach Brian Peck.

Bell detailed the abuse he suffered as a teenager and later spoke about the overwhelming support he received after sharing his story. “I was sleeping on the couch where I would usually sleep. I woke up to him, I opened my eyes, I woke up and he was sexually assaulting me. I froze and was in complete shock and had no idea what to do or how to react, and I have no idea how to get out of this situation,” Bell said.

Bell was 15 at the time and said he felt trapped by the situation. He explained that the abuse became a secret because he feared people would start asking questions if he suddenly stopped visiting Brian.

Brian was arrested in 2003 and later pleaded no contest to charges related to the sexual abuse of a child. He was sentenced to 16 months in prison and required to register as a sex offender.

Josh Peck Publicly Supported Drake Bell After ‘Quiet On Set’

In the wake of the series, Peck addressed criticism that he had not immediately spoken out publicly, revealing that he had privately reached out to his former co-star while also expressing support for other survivors who shared their stories.

“I finished the ‘Quiet on Set’ documentary and took a few days to process it,” Peck wrote in a statement shared on Instagram at the time. “I reached out to Drake privately, but want to give my support for the survivors who were brave enough to share their stories of emotional and physical abuse on Nickelodeon sets with the world.”

Peck, who is not related to Brian Peck, went on to call for greater protections for child actors working in the entertainment industry. “Children should be protected,” he continued. “Reliving this publicly is incredibly difficult, but I hope it can bring healing for the victims and their families as well as necessary change to our industry.”

Now, Peck’s candid comments about money offer another glimpse into the realities behind one of Nickelodeon’s most successful shows.

“The Real Housewives of Rhode Island” star Kelsey Swanson is clapping back at a fan who claimed she used to sell her body for money. In a sneak peek clip of Part 2 of the “RHORI” reunion, Swanson, 31, tells host Andy Cohen that the claims are flat-out false. Elsewhere in the special clip, Swanson speaks a bit more about her past relationship with one of Rhode Island’s wealthiest residents, stating that she didn’t believe he was the one spreading the lies.

“I’ve never sold any of my holes for money,” Swanson told Cohen in a special clip of the upcoming reunion, shared by Us Weekly. “Let’s just get that straight.”

Swanson’s statement was in response to a fan who said the reality star used to “charge $29,000 for dinner and dessert” dates.

Swanson told Cohen and her co-stars that she was being harassed by someone who edited photos to make it appear as though she was an escort.

She went on to say that the unnamed person was stealing her photos and creating fake pages in her name, adding that she had “no idea” who it was.

“All of a sudden it stopped,” she said. “I know it was some, I think, actual escort in Boston, who was hanging around the same crew of people that I was hanging out with.”

Swanson Opens Up About Her Previous Relationship With One Of Rhode Island’s Wealthiest Residents

Cohen asked Swanson whether she believed her ex-boyfriend (who wasn’t shown in the series but was mentioned) could be behind the rumors, to which she replied, “I don’t think so.”

Regardless, Swanson said she didn’t care who was behind it because the rumors were false. “I’ve never been an escort and I would never be an escort,” she said.

In a previous interview with Us Weekly, Swanson got candid about her relationship with her ex-boyfriend, who, during the time of filming season 1, was in Florida with his other girlfriend.

“My relationship is very unorthodox. This man dates multiple people,” she said in April 2026. “For the first half of the year, my boyfriend is in Miami. When he’s in Miami, he’s with somebody else.”

Swanson Has Moved On From Her Ex And Is Now In A Relationship With New Partner, Bill L’Europa

Part of Swanson’s season 1 storyline was about her navigating life without her ex-boyfriend’s resources. And while they’re no longer together, she made it clear that even when they were, she never identified as a “sugar baby.”

“Nothing close to it,” she said. “The only man I ever dated with money [is] my boyfriend.”

Season 1 also showed Swanson moving on with her new boyfriend, Bill L’Europa. “I’m only in one relationship now,” Swanson said. “You’ll see as the season progresses where that goes, but I am in a relationship. [I have a] boyfriend, I will label it that, but not married, and no kids.”

Swanson Got Into It With Her ‘RHORI’ Co-Star, Rosie DiMare

In Part 1 of the “RHORI” reunion, Swanson bumped heads with her nemesis, Rosie DiMare. Earlier in the season, the pair feuded over relationship rumors and alleged lies about money.

According to a previous report from The Blast, the pair’s beef reached the point of no return when Swanson appeared at DiMare’s home with a bullhorn and poked fun at her new renovations.

I couldn’t even wrap my head around this was happening,” DiMare said about the incident. “And she’s like, ‘What? It was funny.’”

For those who missed the episode, DiMare physically pushed Swanson out of her home after her comments, creating an even bigger divide amongst the group.

Swanson shared her thoughts on the matter, too, saying she was only joking with DiMare about her home renovations.

“Take a joke,” she said. “It’s not that serious.”

Swanson went on to say that she only joked about her co-star’s home because she thought they were in a much “better place” than before.

She said, “I’m gonna bust her balls a little and make light of the situation.”

DiMare wasn’t on the same page as Swanson, though, stating, “You just wanna make fun of me, and now you’re coming to my house, and you’re gonna do it again? Seriously, it’s f-cked up.”

Part 2 of “The Real Housewives of Rhode Island” airs on Bravo on Sunday at 9 PM ET.

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie has no shortage of memorable moments, but one of its biggest surprises barely belongs to Mario at all. Fox McCloud’s appearance, voiced by Glen Powell, immediately stole scenes with the kind of confidence and charisma that reminded audiences why Nintendo’s ace pilot was once one of the company’s biggest stars. Two months later, Nintendo followed that up with its first new Star Fox game in years, and the critical response has been overwhelmingly positive. Either moment would have been encouraging on its own. Together, they suggest Nintendo may finally have the momentum to turn Star Fox into one of its biggest franchises.

For years, Star Fox has occupied an awkward place within Nintendo’s lineup. Fox and his crew have remained recognizable thanks to Super Smash Bros., but the series itself has struggled to reach the same heights as Mario, The Legend of Zelda, Animal Crossing, or even Kirby. Nintendo has spent years experimenting with different ideas, often changing the formula instead of building on the arcade-style action that made the series popular in the first place. Now, Nintendo has something it hasn’t had with Star Fox in a very long time: people are excited about it again. If the company wants another franchise capable of standing alongside its biggest names, it may not have to invent one. It just has to finally commit to the one it already has with a spin-off.

Fox McCloud Has Never Been the Problem

Image via Nintendo

It’s easy to forget just how important Fox McCloud once was to Nintendo. During the Nintendo 64 and GameCube eras, Star Fox was one of the company’s flagship franchises, and Fox himself stood alongside Mario, Link, Samus, and Donkey Kong as one of Nintendo’s defining heroes. The series delivered cinematic space battles years before most console games could even attempt them, while memorable characters like Falco, Peppy, and Slippy gave the Star Fox team a personality that separated them from other action games. The problem was never Fox McCloud, it was Nintendo’s inability to decide what Star Fox should be. Rather than refining the formula that players already loved, later games introduced motion controls, experimental mechanics, and entirely new gameplay styles that often overshadowed the fast-paced aerial combat people actually came for. The franchise slowly lost its identity, and each new release felt like another attempt to reinvent something that didn’t need reinventing.

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie reminded audiences of something Nintendo seemed to forget: Fox is an incredibly likable character. Instead of treating him like a nostalgic cameo, the movie presents him as someone who immediately commands attention. Powell brings an effortless confidence to the role without making Fox feel arrogant, creating the kind of charismatic action hero audiences naturally want to spend more time with. For plenty of younger fans, Fox McCloud wasn’t a Nintendo legend, he was simply one of the coolest new characters in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. That’s an incredibly valuable position for Nintendo to be in.

Nintendo Finally Has Proof That Star Fox Still Works

Image via Nintendo

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Movie excitement only goes so far if the games don’t deliver. Fortunately for Nintendo, the newest Star Fox has done exactly that. Released June 25, the latest entry has already earned some of the strongest reviews the franchise has seen in years. More importantly, much of that praise centers on the same idea: Nintendo stopped trying to turn Star Fox into something it isn’t. The series has always thrived on tightly designed missions, replayability, cinematic dogfights, and the thrill of weaving an Arwing through impossible odds. It doesn’t need sprawling open worlds or dozens of RPG systems to justify its existence. Sometimes, players simply want an action game that understands its strengths and executes them exceptionally well.

That’s important because Nintendo doesn’t really have another franchise like Star Fox. Mario owns platformers, Zelda delivers a fantasy adventure, Animal Crossing offers cozy life simulation, while Splatoon has become Nintendo’s multiplayer powerhouse. Star Fox occupies a lane that none of those series do: science-fiction action built around memorable characters and exhilarating space combat. The newest game proves there’s still plenty of room for that kind of experience. Rather than feeling like a nostalgic throwback, Star Fox suddenly feels relevant again.

Nintendo Can’t Afford To Waste This Opportunity

Image via Universal Pictures, Illumination, and Nintendo

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Successful franchises aren’t built from one great game or one memorable movie appearance. They’re built by recognizing when audiences are ready for more. For the first time in years, Nintendo has momentum coming from multiple directions at once. Movie audiences walked away wanting to see more of Fox McCloud, critics are praising the newest game, and Powell has become closely associated with the character after a standout performance. Instead of trying to manufacture excitement through marketing, Nintendo suddenly has something much harder to earn: genuine interest. That creates opportunities well beyond another sequel. Star Fox has the kind of universe that naturally lends itself to movies, animated series, merchandise, theme park attractions, comics, and future crossover appearances. Nintendo has made it clear that it wants to build an entertainment ecosystem around its biggest properties, and Star Fox feels uniquely positioned to become part of that future.

Perhaps the biggest reason is that it fills a gap in Nintendo’s portfolio. While the company’s other flagship franchises each dominate their own genres, none of them scratch the same science-fiction itch that Star Fox does. Fox McCloud and his team have always offered something different, and that difference is exactly what makes the series valuable. Nintendo has spent years searching for the next franchise that can stand alongside Mario, Zelda, Animal Crossing, and Splatoon, but they may not need to search anymore. Between The Super Mario Galaxy Movie reminding audiences why Fox McCloud is such a compelling hero and Star Fox‘s latest game proving the series still has plenty of life left, Nintendo has already done the hard part. Now it just has to keep going.

Taylor Swift has a dream of having kids where “the whole block [is] lookin’ like” future husband Travis Kelce — and he’s seemingly on the same page.

“Do I sense a Kelce family reunion in the works? We really don’t have a big family,” Travis’ older brother, Jason Kelce, said on a recent episode of the siblings’ “New Heights” podcast, during an ad break for WhatsApp. “It might be nice to meet some of the Kelce relatives that we don’t know.”

Travis, 36, replied by noting that he “sees it in our future.”

“For sure,” he continued. “It’s time for WhatsApp. Download WhatsApp now.”

Related: Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift ‘Absolutely Want a Family’: Source

Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift are thinking about their future as they gear up to tie the knot. “They absolutely want a family,” a source exclusively tells Us Weekly. “Their dream is to have kids.” The insider adds that Kelce and Swift, both 35, might “not wait too long” when it comes to family planning. […]

Jason, 38, further revealed that future family reunions will be perfect “once we get some kids that all look the same on the block,” quoting Swift’s song “Wish List.” (Jason already shares four daughters with his wife, Kylie Kelce.)

“There you go,” Travis quipped, laughing off Jason’s Easter egg. “I’ll add it to my wish list.”

“Wish List,” stylized with dollar signs in place of the letter “s,” is one of the songs written about Travis on Swift’s 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl.

“I just want you, huh / Have a couple kids, got the whole block lookin’ like you / We tell the world to leave us the f*** alone, and they do,” Swift sings in the chorus. “Got me dreamin’ ’bout a driveway with a basketball hoop / Boss up, settle down, got a wish.”

According to the pop star, the song is her favorite track from the record.

“It was the song where after we finished it, I was like, ‘Oh, we’re done. Like, we’re good. We’re done with this. This is the final piece,’” Swift said on the U.K.’s Heart Radio in October 2025. “It’s a really dreamy song. It’s a really romantic song.”

She continued, “It details all these different things that people aspire to have in their lives and all the wishes that people are making all over the world.”

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After listing a variety of wishes, Swift shares her dreams for her life with Travis.

Related: Everything Travis Kelce’s Family Have Revealed About Taylor Swift Wedding

While the Kelce family has largely declined to share specific details about Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift‘s wedding, a few family members have shared some insight into the famous couple’s upcoming nuptials. From Jason and Kylie Kelce to mother Donna Kelce, every member of the tight-knit family has been peppered with questions about the couple’s […]

“It is one of my favorite songs on the album, by far. It’s so romantic,” Swift said in an Apple Music description of the song. “It’s got such great imagery in the verses about what kinds of lives people want and just, kind of, living in this state of acceptance of whatever way anybody wants to live in the world as long as you get to live the way you want to live. It was just a blast, as a lyricist, to come up with the pictures of different lives people want. Different goals, different wishes.”

Swift and Travis have been together since 2023, and they are reportedly set to tie the knot later this summer.

By Jennifer Asencio
| Updated 34 seconds ago

Supergirl is coming out in theaters on June 26, 2026, and audiences are underwhelmed. However, according to star Milly Alcock and a lot of slop eaters looking forward to the movie, if it flops at the box office, it is definitely not because the plot bears a striking semblance to Guardians of the Galaxy (as I called it when the first trailer came out) and not because of lackluster acting or oversaturated special effects. If Supergirl doesn’t perform at the box office, it is clearly because audiences are not ready for a female-led action film, much less a superhero movie. At least, according to its star.

This comment bears a striking resemblance to one made by actress Jennifer Lawrence after starring in The Hunger Games, in which she insisted that she was the first female action hero. Both Lawrence and Alcock were rightfully called out for such ridiculous statements, because not only did female heroes and superheroes exist well before either The Hunger Games or Supergirl, but many of them are iconic.

Did all the Supergirl shills that are backing Alcock’s assertion forget about Princess Leia, the original American action hero? Did they forget about Ellen Ripley or Sarah Connor, two badass science fiction heroines who faced overwhelming odds to fight relentless villains who wouldn’t stop until they had killed the two women? Did they forget about video game superstar Lara Croft, intelligent and elegant as she parkours through ancient archaeological sites? Did they forget that Samus of Metroid WAS A GIRL, as the game incredulously exclaims after the big reveal?

There are also more recent examples of female-led success in action and superhero movies. Wonder Woman performed well in theaters, although its sequel wasn’t as good. In the same manner, Fury Road also took home box office bank, but the prequel Furiosa also didn’t land as well with audiences. However, the first movies in these sequences did extremely well and relied specifically on Gal Gadot and Charlize Theron rather than their male co-stars to both propel the plot and serve as the main characters. Theron repeated her Fury Road success with Netflix’s The Old Guard, which was extremely popular upon its release, while its sequel flopped compared to the original.

Another element to the debate raised by comments about misogyny over Supergirl is what would become of heroines like Ellen Ripley or Sarah Connor if their films had been made today instead of the 1970s and 80s. Ripley and Connor are not unbelievably overpowering: Ripley needs her dock training to use heavy equipment to defeat the Xenomorph, while Sarah Connor goes from damsel in distress to rebel badass after 14 years of jaded training that loses her the most important thing in her life. Even Ripley’s Marine colleague in Aliens, Vasquez, wasn’t an unrealistic female character, despite being so masculine in appearance and demeanor that another Marine calls her out as a man.

These days, these women would have no vulnerabilities, no PTSD from past experiences, and no mistakes to ever learn from. All the men around them would be either incompetent buffoons or evil supervillains. Female characters today are often very powerful or strong, able to perform all the same feats as the men around them. In essence, they are simply male characters in female bodies. And sure, Supergirl is supposed to be phenomenally strong, but Milly Alcock not only asserted that Supergirl is stronger than her male cousin, but that he’d let her win because she’s a girl.

Wonder Woman was likewise super-strong in her movie, with a prancing optimism that ill-prepared her for failure and loss. Audiences weren’t bothered that Wonder Woman was far stronger than Steve Trevor (Chris Pine), because she was not a “Mary Sue,” that is, a charmed and perfect person for whom there is no conflict and everything goes right. Characters like that are flat, boring, and rightly called out when they appear in fanfiction and fiction. Many female characters today would be considered Mary Sues, except that these characters have become the norm, and their lack of any real flaws is overlooked by producers and slop-eating audiences.

The reaction to Supergirl is evidence that audiences are getting tired of Mary Sue characters, and this iteration of Kara Zor-El seems to be exactly that. The fact that Milly Alcock is preemptively deflecting this criticism by accusing the movie’s critics of misogyny follows the pattern of other fandoms that have blamed the fans for the failure of a property. We saw it with The Acolyte, we saw it with Doctor Who, and most recently, we saw it with Starfleet Academy. Even last year’s Superman release wasn’t exempt from people who disliked the movie being called bigots by the people who did.

And just like with the other fandoms, the accusations of misogyny against female-led action and superhero films are not only baseless but have a lot of history rebutting them. It is yet another example of filmmakers trying to escape accountability for making a bad film by blaming fans for “toxic” behavior when they won’t accept subpar storytelling in lieu of a product that does justice to their fandom. The fact that Supergirl hadn’t even been released yet before the blame game began doesn’t bode well for this movie being any good, and this time, even its promoters know it.

Supergirl is in theaters as of June 26, 2026. Is she really the Woman of Tomorrow, or just “whatever”?

Days of Our Lives prediction edition that covers July Sweeps, which runs from June 25th to July 20th, including Cat Greene (AnnaLynne McCord) making a shocking confession about her side job. And we may see Lexie Carver (Renée Jones) succumb to her symptoms and dying again.

We have got predictions for EJ DiMera (Dan Feuerriegel), Sarah Horton (Linsey Godfrey), Lexie, Sydney DiMera (Olivia Rose Keegan),Cat, Chad DiMera (Connor Floyd), Roman Brady (Josh Taylor), Marlena Evans (Deidre Hall), Joy Wesley (AlexAnn Hopkins), Alex Kiriakis (Robert Scott Wilson), for Chanel Dupree (Raven Bowens) and Johnny DiMera (Carson Boatman). We’re going to talk about what we could see during the four weeks of sweeps in Salem.

Days of Our Lives: EJ Fires Sarah Over DiMera Enterprises Pharmaceuticals Investigation

Our very first prediction, EJ fires Sarah for investigating DiMera Enterprises Pharmaceuticals. Summer spoilers confirm that EJ fires Sarah with the explanation that he doesn’t need her help. Not a lot of context except that Holly Jonas (Ashley Puzemis) and she does have some pill drama already starting.

So, I suspect EJ is using that as some sort of cover because Sarah has both Brady Black (Eric Martsolf) and Xander Cook Kiriakis (Paul Telfer) poking into DiMera Enterprises Pharmaceuticals. And we know EJ doesn’t like people meddling in his business, especially his dirty dealings.

The suspicious deaths of Clea and Destiny Rowland (Sarah Bartholomew) have Sarah and Brady investigating DiMera Enterprises Pharmaceuticals. And although Brady doesn’t like it, Xander is also helping. And this week, Rita gives EJ a heads up that there may be trouble. And it looks like there was a bad batch of pills that had arsenic in them and they wound up buried out near the Horton cabin because it’s very hard to get rid of arsenic because it’s really hard to destroy.

There’s only certain ways to do it and all those ways are registered. So, even worse, EJ’s son, Johnny, co-CEO of DiMera Enterprises, has also joined in the deep dive into the tainted pill mystery, and firing Sarah isn’t going to stop the investigation, and it might actually make it worse.

Lexie’s Final Chapter on DOOL

Our second prediction, Lexie dies again. The big summer promo has Lexie in the hospital with Abe Carver (James Reynolds) and Theo Carver (Tyler Joseph Andrews) at her side, and Abe is raging at EJ to get out. That’s when he comes to see his beloved sister. So, I suspect during July sweeps, we see Lexie’s health taking a serious downturn. She might even die during sweeps. Dr. Wilhelm Rolf (Richard Wharton) ran some tests. He gave Lexie another dose of the miracle serum.

But it may not be enough of a miracle. Actress Nikki Crawford’s run on Days may be coming to an end. Theo, Abe, and Lexie will all be devastated that her new lease on life gets cancelled. And EJ’s distraught, too. I’m guessing Dr. Rolf will want to freeze her again in a cryogenic pod to try another time to bring her back, but I bet Lexie is going to say no to that.

Days of Our Lives: Sydney’s Return and Danger

Our third prediction, Sydney returns to Salem and her life is at risk. We’ve heard EJ saying that Sydney is coming to see him once school is out in Italy. So that means any day now we could have EJ and Sami Brady’s (Alison Sweeney) daughter Sydney arriving in Salem to shake things up for the teen and college-age scene.

Her brother Johnny will be thrilled to see her and so will the other DiMeras. Plus, Sydney’s sneaky aunt Kristen DiMera (Stacy Haiduk) recently called her out of the blue. And she may have been asking Sydney to spy on her dad for her. Or Kristen might try and kill her like she did with Johnny. Or Kristen might kidnap her to hold her as leverage against EJ.

Days of Our Lives: Cat’s Shocking Confession to Chad

Our fourth prediction. Cat tells Chad she’s a spy this summer. In the promo, Cat faces an enraged Chad who’s furious she held back on him, but it seems to be about her role as EJ’s assistant and maybe access to info on his brother’s sins. We know Cat’s been spying on EJ for the ISA for a while, and Andrew Donovan (Colton Little) just told her not to honeypot EJ, but Cat hasn’t listened. And Andrew flat out said, “Cat better not sleep with EJ.” And we know that Cat’s putting her life in danger playing with EJ like this. We know that the DiMera that Cat really wants is Chad.

And when he confronts Cat in Horton Square this summer, ranting about covering up and hiding things, I suspect she might confide in Chad that she’s an ISA agent, but swears him to secrecy. I actually think he would keep Cat’s promise and Chad might be okay with Cat investigating EJ once she tells Chad some of the heinous things that EJ’s been up to, especially if people are dying and he is covering it up.

Roman’s Heart Returns to Marlena on DOOL

Our fifth prediction, Roman splits with Kate Roberts (Lauren Koslow) and pursues Marlena. We saw Roman Brady livid and raging that Kate lied to him and was setting up his grandson Johnny with the plagiarized book lawsuit. And right now, Roman is actually so mad that he and Kate are sleeping in separate beds. And she’s angry that Roman’s leaning on his ex-wife, Marlena.

You know, when John Black (Drake Hogestyn) was alive, Kate wasn’t threatened by Roman and Marlena’s ongoing friendship. But with John gone a year now, Kate has to realize there’s a legit threat there. Roman and Marlena have a past. They have twins together. And Roman’s angry at Kate for betraying his family. So, Kate’s feeling vulnerable right now and she could do something else stupid that pushes Roman towards Marlena. The other day when Julie Williams (Susan Seaforth Hayes) and Marlena were talking, she encouraged Julie to open her heart and said Doug Williams (Bill Hayes) would want Julie to be happy. And the same could be said about John where Marlena is concerned.

Days of Our Lives: Kelsey’s Medical Crisis Brings Joy and Alex Closer

Our sixth prediction, Kelsey’s medical emergency brings Joy and Alex closer. The summer promo has Alex and Joy in the hospital and he’s worried and Alex asks Joy, “Where’s Kelsey?” And then Joy falls into Alex’s arms for comfort. So, there’s already tension in his marriage because Stephanie Johnson (Abigail Klein) took a pot shot at Joy. Luckily, she missed and now Joy won’t let Stephanie around Kelsey, which means Alex will be spending time with Joy alone so that he can see Kelsey.

So, it looks like Alex’s daughter is going to have some kind of health scare, and that crisis could pull Joy and Alex closer together. Close enough maybe to drive Stephanie away. You remember how exes Sarah and Xander were bonding when their daughter had pneumonia? It could be something like that. We know Joy came to Salem hoping to steal Alex from Stephanie and planning to use the baby to make it happen. However, if Kelsey is sick, I don’t think Joy’s agenda will be foremost on her mind. But it could work out that way anyway on Days of our Lives.

Chanel’s High-Risk Pregnancy Takes a Turn on Days

Our seventh and final prediction. Chanel and Johnny’s baby comes premature, and Chanel and the baby may both be at risk. The summer promo shows her in a hospital bed, and Kayla Johnson (Mary Beth Evans) is checking her out. Chanel’s bleeding and terrified as Kayla rushes everybody else out of the room.

Chanel just got her port installed to start her chemo while pregnant. And both early labor and hemorrhages are known complications of chemotherapy during pregnancy. So we know for sure that Chanel’s going to be bleeding and she may go into early labor as well. Johnny and Chanel knew from the start that this was going to be a high-risk pregnancy.

But her breast cancer diagnosis and treatment is going to amp up the risk. Thankfully, Chanel and Johnny have a lot of support and they have little Tate Black (Leo Howard) to keep their mind off the unknown. But given the glimpse from the promo, their new little one could be born premature, which brings complications. And the hemorrhage, the chemo, the cancer, and the pre-term labor could all put Chanel at risk for complications, too.

Real Housewives of Rhode Island star Kelsey Swanson is setting the record straight on rumors that she was an escort.

“I’ve never sold any of my holes for money,” Kelsey, 31, told Andy Cohen in Us Weekly’s exclusive clip from the second part of the RHORI reunion, set to air on Sunday, June 28. “Let’s just get that straight.”

Her “interesting” choice — as pointed out by costar Rosie DiMare — was in response to a rumor written in by a viewer, claiming that Kelsey would “charge $29K for dinner and dessert.”

Kelsey claimed she has “proof” that she was “harassed by somebody” who made it look like she was an escort. (Kelsey previously denied these rumors in an April Instagram comment.)

“Stealing my photos, making fake pages of me,” Kelsey explained, noting that she has “no idea” who was doing this to her.

“All of a sudden it stopped,” she clarified. “I know it was some, I think, actual escort in Boston, who was hanging around the same crew of people that I was hanging out with.”

Andy, 58, didn’t want to “float conspiracy theories” but he couldn’t help wondering if it was someone connected to Kelsey’s ex-boyfriend who wanted to “mess” with her.

“I don’t think so,” she responded. “But I’ve never been an escort and I would never be an escort.”

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Kelsey’s relationship with her ex-boyfriend was a story line on the show during the early episodes of RHORI. While he didn’t appear on the Bravo series, their 10-year relationship was discussed at length when it was revealed that five months out of the year he lived with another woman in Florida.

“My relationship is very unorthodox. This man dates multiple people,” Kelsey told Us exclusively in April. “For the first half of the year, my boyfriend is in Miami. When he’s in Miami, he’s with somebody else.”

She made it clear to Us that she’s not a “sugar baby,” despite rumors saying otherwise.

“I am not a sugar baby. Nothing close to it,” she said. “The only man I ever dated with money [is] my boyfriend.”

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Kelsey and the unnamed man have since split and Kelsey is in a relationship with William “Bill” L’Europa, who appeared on the show.

“I’m only in one relationship now,” she told Us. “You’ll see as the season progresses where that goes, but I am in a relationship. [I have a] boyfriend, I will label it that, but not married, and no kids.”

Part 2 of The Real Housewives of Rhode Island reunion premiere via Bravo on Sunday, June 28, at 9 p.m. ET and will stream via Peacock the next day.

TLC star Deon Derrico broke his silence in an exclusive interview with Us Weekly after ex-wife Karen Derrico was arrested for threatening him and their 14 kids.

“I still love her as a mother of my children. But I do not like her at all. I don’t like what she’s done,” Deon, 54, told Us on Thursday, June 25. “I don’t like how the children are involved, they’re in the middle of it, and I’m forced to defend my position.”

He added, “I still have to maintain the presence of mind for my innocent children, ’cause no matter what, they’re innocent. When they’re fighting within, no one wins. No one wins. No matter who looks to have won, no one wins and that’s the part that’s most disturbing.”

Karen was recently arrested in Las Vegas and charged with harassment, violating a restraining order, preventing a witness from testifying through threat of violence and aggravated stalking.

She was arraigned on Tuesday, June 23, and pleaded not guilty. Karen’s attorney Jess Marchese confirmed that her client was released on a $2,000 bond and outfitted with an ankle monitor. Karen’s next hearing is set for August 6.

“She had done threatening things to me and things that made me question my life,” Deon told Us.

Deon claimed he told his mother earlier this year that if anything happened to him, they should “look at Karen.” He was still living with Karen at the time, but they had separate bedrooms. (Deon and Karen announced in June 2024 that they were getting divorced.)

“That’s the level of anger and hatred I was feeling from her,” he added, noting that their daughters were apparently concerned about Deon’s safety and would stay in his room.

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Karen Derrico is known for her role as a TLC star, but she’s also been making headlines for a recent arrest. Karen made her TLC debut in 2020 when Doubling Down With the Derricos premiered. The reality show followed Karen and her then-husband, Deon Derrico, along with their 14 children. Doubling Down With the Derricos […]

Karen and Deon are the parents of Darian, 18, Derrick, 13, twins Denver and Dallas, 12, quintuplets Deniko, Dariz, Deonee, Daician and ​Daiten, 10, Diez and Dior, 6, and triplets Dawsyn, De’Aren and Dyver, 4.

Deon told Us that Karen filed a temporary protection order against him on April 14.

“I couldn’t believe it,” he said. “I’m not in love with her, and I’m not crazy, so I’m not stalking her. I’m not harassing her. I’m not doing any of those things.”

Karen’s TPO was dismissed, so Deon filed his own. Karen allegedly started sending Deon emails asking her to drop the request.

“I just ignored her emails, and then they kept getting more and more aggressive,” he claimed. “And she had already been threatening the children about killing them.”

Audio from a phone call between Karen and some of her kids was released by TMZ on Thursday, where Karen could be heard scolding, “Don’t ever do that again. Because you make me regret it. Don’t play with me.”

As for whether he’s concerned for Karen’s mental health, Deon told Us the entire situation is “unfortunate” for the family.

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“I don’t want to do anything to provoke that, to poke the bear, so to speak,” he added. “I pray for her.”

Karen shared a statement with Us on Friday, June 26, regarding the situation.

“We are in the process of proving that these emails are crude forgeries by the supposed victim and never sent by my client,” Marchese said. “We have retained a forensic expert who is uncovering vast inconsistencies in the his story.”