Taylor Hicks is clarifying the seemingly flirty message he had for Kelly Clarkson.

“I think that’s manifested, not by Page Six or by us, but by somebody else,” the American Idol season 5 winner said in a Wednesday, July 1, interview with SiriusXM’s Page Six Radio.

Earlier this year, Hicks, 49, raised eyebrows when he flirtatiously responded to Clarkson’s revelation that she did not receive a car after winning the inaugural season of American Idol.

“I am a big fan of Kelly Clarkson and consider her one of the most incredible voices to emerge from American Idol,” Hicks told Page Six in March. “I would be more than happy to help her find a new Mustang.”

Related: ‘American Idol’ Winners: Where Are Fantasia Barrino and More Now?

American Idol paved the way for reality competition shows to help everyday people achieve their dreams of music stardom. The series premiered in 2002 on Fox with a star-studded judging panel consisting of Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson. American Idol‘s freshman season introduced Kelly Clarkson, who would become the show’s first breakout star. […]

Hicks explained on Wednesday that he genuinely meant he wanted to pay it forward to Clarkson, 44, as she helped catapult the success of American Idol, paving the way for Hicks and other winners.

“As the show got bigger, Kelly, she was the first [winner]. She was the pioneer. So there [weren’t] that many sponsors. But when they got to my season, Carrie [Underwood]’s season … It was huge. It was such a big juggernaut. So there were a lot of sponsors,” the singer said. “We got a car, we got a Ford Mustang and Kelly didn’t. So I was like, ‘Let’s take Kelly shopping’ and they took it from there. But she’s a doll.”

During a March episode of Clarkson’s eponymous talk show, the “Since U Been Gone” singer revealed that the prize she got for winning American Idol was different from what she expected.

“I literally was on the show, and they were like, ‘Oh, you win a million dollars’ or whatever. No, you didn’t. It was, like, a million dollars worth of investment in you,” she said. “And then they said you get a car, and I needed it cause my car was bashed in, and I couldn’t afford the deductible. I did not get a car. And then Clay Aiken, who didn’t win the second season, got a car and his mom [also got a car]!”

While Clarkson did not get the American Idol prize she envisioned, her career has since flourished. Clarkson has earned three Grammys and 12 Daytime Emmys for her talk show, which will be coming to an end this fall.

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Related: How ‘American Idol’ Prizes Have Changed Through the Years

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Winning American Idol has been a dream come true for many singers, but the prizes have changed a lot over the years. Kelly Clarkson was crowned the singing competition’s inaugural winner in 2002. She reportedly walked away with a $1 million prize and a record deal with RCA Records, per Parade. In addition to the […]

As Clarkson has balanced a successful career, she is also the loving mother to daughter River Rose, 12, and son Remington, 10, whom she welcomed with late ex-husband Brandon Blackstock. (Blackstock died in August 2025 following a private battle with cancer. He was 48.)

Hicks applauded Clarkson for her “really great work ethic” as she has balanced everything that has been thrown at her.

“It’s not easy filming television, having two kids and then being able to mother without her ex-husband. Which is tough,” he said on Wednesday. “It’s a tough gig all around. But what a great run she had.”

Ashley Tisdale is reportedly hoping to turn her experience with a toxic mom group into a smash hit. The Disney Channel star is said to be partnering with Netflix to develop and executive produce a new half-hour comedy, “Toxic Moms,” loosely inspired by her real-life friendship breakup with a group of celebrity mothers, including Hilary Duff and Mandy Moore. Tisdale, known for her roles in “High School Musical” and “The Suite Life of Zack & Cody,” made headlines earlier this year when she opened up about leaving her group of moms after feeling excluded from their outings.

According to Deadline, Tisdale, in partnership with Sabrina Jalees and Ali Wong, will help create a new dark comedy series called “Toxic Moms” for Netflix.

It’s said to follow a “sleep-deprived” mother who’s recruited by a group of “cool, wealthy mothers.” Throughout the series, the lead character is said to discover her new clique’s “darker side,” prompting her to ask, “How far would you go to taste community?”

While the series hasn’t been greenlit just yet, if Netflix does pick it up, it would become the next production in the streamer’s lineup of series featuring female leads, including “Running Point,” “Nobody Wants This,” “The Survival of the Thickest,” and “North of North.”

This Could Be Ashley Tisdale’s Newest Project

Tisdale has been in the spotlight since the early 2000s after starring in several Disney productions. In addition to the aforementioned works, Tisdale also snagged a role as Candace in “Phineas & Ferb.”

Over the years, Tisdale starred in “Hellcats,” “Merry Happy Whatever,” and “Carol’s Second Act.” The mother of two also appeared in ABC Family’s “Young & Hungry” and, as of February 2026, secured a role in CBS’ new sitcom “You’re Only Young Twice.”

The latter is in early development and focuses on Emily (Tisdale) and Alex, a young couple who got pregnant and married in high school, and, at 35, have a child starting college.

“That means they can get divorced and start life all over again while they’re still young enough to enjoy it. Newly divorced empty-nesters, they stumble through dating, co-parenting, and maybe a second chance at love,” the show’s description reads, per Deadline.

More About Ashley Tisdale’s ‘Toxic’ Mom Group

Tisdale’s latest collaboration with Netflix comes after the actress and singer penned a personal essay for “The Cut,” detailing her decision to leave her “toxic” group of mom friends in the dust.

According to a previous report from The Blast, Tisdale wrote about being excited to initially connect with a group of high-profile moms. However, her joy quickly faded as she said she felt they began acting differently toward her over time.

She claimed that she noticed they were hanging out together on social media without her, adding, “Another time, at one of the mom’s dinner parties, I realized where I sat with her — which was at the end of the table, far from the rest of the women. I was starting to feel frozen out of the group, noticing every way that they seemed to exclude me.”

Ashley Tisdale Wrote Her Personal Essay To Offer Support

Tisdale said that she tried not to take the alleged snubs to heart, but revealed it was challenging not to. Eventually, the 41-year-old sent a text message to her group of friends, revealing she was leaving them behind.

Regarding her essay, Tisdale said she wrote it to offer support to other mothers facing similar drama.

“Motherhood has enough challenges without having to wonder if the people around you are on your side,” she wrote. “You deserve to go through motherhood with people who actually, you know, like you. And if you have to wonder if they do, here’s the hard-earned lesson I hope you’ll take to heart: It’s not the right group for you. Even if it looks like they’re having the best time on Instagram.”

Who Was Reportedly Part Of Tisdale’s Toxic Mom Group?

While she didn’t mention names, the internet deduced that Tisdale was speaking about celebs Mandy Moore and Hilary Duff.

While speaking with Andy Cohen, Moore responded to Tisdale’s essay, expressing disappointment that the Disney star made their issues public.

“It’s wild to have anybody talk about your life, and I know Hilary [Duff] has sort of mentioned this too,” Moore said. “It’s like we both have grown up in this business and had people dissect who we are and the choices we make and all of that, but this was something altogether different and decidedly way more upsetting.”

As excitement continues to build for Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Sadie Sink has opened up about joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe and what it was like stepping onto the set alongside Tom Holland.

Speaking in a recent interview, Sink admitted that entering one of Hollywood’s biggest franchises was both exciting and intimidating. While she understood the massive popularity of Spider-Man before signing on, she quickly realized just how enormous the production truly was.

“I knew that Marvel was a big deal and had a big brand, especially Spider-Man,” she said. “I know there’s a huge fan base, but it feels really big. I think these blockbuster movies are a whole different beast.”

Joining a cast that had already spent years working together also left Sink feeling like an outsider at first, but she said Holland and the rest of the production made the transition incredibly easy.

“It was interesting stepping into that space and being a little bit of an outsider in that way, but he could not have been more welcoming, and just the whole crew in general.”

She went on to praise Holland’s personality, saying:

“He was just so relaxed and open, and I felt very at ease.”

While Marvel Studios continues to keep Sink’s role under wraps, the actress admitted that watching fans speculate about her mystery character has been an interesting experience. Many fans continue to believe she could be portraying Jean Grey, though neither Marvel nor Sink has confirmed those rumors.

Tom Holland [credit: Sony Pictures]

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The actress also revealed that Marvel handled her casting with its trademark secrecy. Rather than auditioning for the role, Sink was reportedly offered the part directly following her previous collaboration with director Destin Daniel Cretton. She also wasn’t given the full script until she arrived in London to begin filming.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day picks up after the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home, with Peter Parker navigating a world where no one remembers his identity. The film stars Tom Holland, Zendaya, Jacob Batalon, Jon Bernthal, Mark Ruffalo, and Sadie Sink, with the next chapter of Spider-Man’s story set to arrive in theaters on July 31.

With Sink praising Holland’s welcoming attitude and offering a glimpse into the scale and secrecy surrounding Marvel productions, anticipation for Spider-Man: Brand New Day continues to build as fans eagerly await the reveal of her mysterious role.

India Arie shared her opinion about Yung Miami‘s song ‘Spend Dat,’ and now the song’s producer is weighing in on the viral comments with a new video.

Controversy about the song erupted due to the track’s lyrics about scamming folks. It also advocates for spending money in abundance. After a fan called for a boycott of the song, ‘The Truth’ artist shared her opinion, and it sparked a debate after going viral.

RELATED: India Arie Clarifies Her Stance On Yung Miami’s ‘Spend Dat’ After Going Viral For Speaking On The Song’s Influence (UPDATE)

‘Spend Dat’ Producer J. White Did It Mixes Track With India Arie Record

India Arie responded to a fan on Threads saying the song should be boycotted. The artist advised folks to make wise choices while choosing what music to listen to.

The singer sparked an online debate about the track’s influence on the culture, and she later clarified that she was not calling for a boycott. The song’s producer also weighed in on the drama. 

On the evening of July 1, ‘Spend Dat’ producer J. White Did It shared a video on his Instagram page. The footage featured him dancing in a music studio to a blend of two of the artists’ songs.

White mixed Yung Miami’s ‘Spend Dat’ with Arie’s jam ‘Video,’ the it captures him singing along as he exclaimed, “Hey, heeeeey.”

Fans Spoke Out About The Video As Celebs Spoke Out About ‘Spend Dat’

Fans responded to White’s video, and the reactions were mixed.User @kmlstyling wrote, “Provoking and trolling ppl over an opinion is actually weird, to me.”@rahjawilliamss replied, “I’m still just intrigued at how ‘Spend Dat’ is where y’all draw the line…. But do yall thing I guess.”

user @tushay_ wrote, “This kinda proves her point .. idk though.”

@dijouncruz replied, “this was kinda corny, especially at his old age.. not the response J white was looking for 👎🏼.”

Over on Threads, @dreamstreamtelevision noted, “We so behind as a group of ppl it’s not even funny anymore… I call this genre of music bubblegum rap carry on.”

Singer Keri Hilson shared her opinion on the matter as well, allegedly. The ‘Knock You Down’ artist wrote a message on X on July 1, but she didn’t name names.

“If music can heal, music can harm too…”

White Was Unbothered While Responding To Folks After Catching Heat Online

Lil Wayne has finally addressed the controversy surrounding his missed performance after leaving thousands of concertgoers waiting without an explanation.

Fans were disappointed when the rapper didn’t appear at a much-anticipated performance, prompting many questions after the show. In his absence, rumors started to circulate regarding the incident.

Lil Wayne is now attempting to clear the air after publicly apologizing to disappointed fans. At the same time, fresh reports continue to shed light on what happened before and after the canceled appearance.

Lil Wayne broke his silence by apologizing directly to fans in Maine after failing to appear at his scheduled concert. In a message shared on his Instagram Story, the rapper told fans he was “so sorry” and confirmed that the performance had been rescheduled for July 28.

He advised ticket holders not to lose their tickets, as they will be valid for the new date. Lil Wayne also stated that more info would be sent directly to attendees via email as organizers ironed out the new plans.

The rapper concluded by expressing gratitude to the fans for their patience and assuring them that they would receive the justice they deserved. “I ain’t sh-t without you,” he wrote, adding that he looks forward to coming back to give Maine fans “the show you deserve.”

Fans Lashed Out After The No-Show 

Lil Wayne was supposed to do the headliner act at the Bangor Waterfront, but fans were surprised at the rapper’s absence. The rapper was supposed to follow 2 Chainz on the night, but instead the fans were told the show had been canceled after waiting much longer than the start time, as reported by The Blast.

Some of the attendees resorted to social media to vent their frustration over the organizers’ failure to let them know that the performance would not take place.

While some said the DJ was still hyping up Wayne’s arrival at the venue, others said the rapper didn’t make it to Maine and had even skipped rehearsals before the event.

A number of fans called the incident “unprofessional and disrespectful” and said the concert should have been canceled earlier on. This quickly made the rounds on the internet, and many asked, “Has the rapper let his fans down yet again?”

Lil Wayne Has A History Of Missed Shows

The latest cancellation also reignited discussion about Lil Wayne’s past concert no-shows. It was also noted that the rapper previously postponed a Toronto performance in 2025 due to illness and walked off stage during a Los Angeles show after becoming frustrated with the crowd.

Wayne had a history of missing events longer than that. Over the years, fans had been reminded of several canceled shows in Minneapolis, including one in the past due to security fears, and another that was said to have been axed because of mechanical problems with his plane.

While Wayne has apologized after a few earlier cancellations, many concert-going fans have expressed that the repeated interruptions have undermined respect for the rapper, making the Maine incident even more difficult to swallow.

White Party Sighting Deepens The Rapper’s Backlash 

Fans were further outraged after TMZ reported that the rapper went to Michael Rubin’s annual White Party in the Hamptons just hours after they learned he hadn’t made it to his planned appearance in Maine. Wayne was part of the cast of celebrities that graced the lineup, which included DJ Khaled, Kevin Durant, Jake Paul, and Alicia Keys.

Although it was noted there is no confirmation that the exclusive gathering was the reason behind the canceled concert, the timing sparked fresh criticism online. Many fans questioned how Wayne could skip a scheduled show without explanation, only to be seen celebrating at one of the summer’s biggest celebrity parties.

The report also pointed out that the missed Maine concert was not an isolated incident. With previous no-shows in Toronto, California, and Los Angeles still fresh in fans’ minds, many are now hoping Wayne follows through on his remaining tour dates after rescheduling the Maine performance for July 28.

Lil Wayne And Denise Bidot’s Relationship Ended In Public Allegations

Wayne’s personal life also made the news much longer than his current concert controversy. In May 2025, model Denise Bidot publicly accused the rapper of breaking up with her via a text message on Mother’s Day while she was still recovering from surgery.

According to The Blast, Bidot alleged that Wayne forced her and her daughter out of the home they shared and claimed he had been physically and emotionally abusive during their relationship. She also suggested other women had experienced similar treatment, though those allegations have not been publicly substantiated.

The couple’s relationship since going public in 2020 had been tumultuous, with some heartbreaks and reconciliations. The rapper didn’t publicly respond to Bidot’s accusations, but they brought a new level of controversy to his public persona.

Netflix just announced a scripted show about the murder of JonBenét Ramsey that might sound familiar after the series was originally meant to premiere at Paramount.

In July 2026, Netflix announced the new limited series The Murder of JonBenét Ramsey would be released later that year.

“The series centers on one of the most infamous unsolved murder cases in American history, and the devastating personal and public reckoning that followed the death of JonBenet Ramsey on Christmas night in 1996,” read the official synopsis.

True crime fans, however, remember that the series was previously referred to as Unspeakable: The Murder of JonBenét Ramsey when it was set for a release at Paramount+. According to Deadline, David C. Glasser’s 101 Studios had been in turnaround with the show since its original platform opted not to proceed with it late last year.

Related: Most Anticipated Scripted True Crime TV Shows Coming Out Soon

Getty Images (3); MEGA From the murder of JonBenét Ramsey to convicted killer Ed Gein, there’s several scripted true crime shows coming our way soon. Paramount+ recently announced a limited series that will cover the Ramsey family before and after JonBenet’s murder in 1996. The unnamed JonBenét Ramsey series specifically centers around parents John and […]

The show was commissioned by Paramount and got greenlit in March 2024. After casting commenced, the series was officially picked up by Paramount+ in September 2024 as production kicked off.

Filming wrapped in January 2025 — months before Paramount Global was acquired by Skydance Global. As a result, new leadership reviewed The Murder of JonBenét Ramsey and there were concerns after a version of the show was screened.

Deadline reported that a defamation lawsuit previously filed against CBS by Ramsey’s brother, Burke, could have played a role. (The lawsuit was previously settled.)

Amid the evaluation, 101 Studios closed a deal in late October 2025 to move from Paramount to NBCUniversal at the start of 2026. The production company then took their limited series and started shopping it, which is how it was acquired by Netflix.

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Related: Where Is JonBenet Ramsey‘s Brother Burke? Inside His Life After Her Murder

Burke Ramsey was thrown into the public eye after his sister, JonBenét Ramsey, was murdered in 1996 — but where is he now? Ahead of Netflix’s Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey, which premieres on Monday, November 25, a Ramsey family member exclusively told Us Weekly about Burke’s whereabouts these days. “Burke had a very […]

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Unspeakable: The Murder of JonBenét Ramsey was previously teased to be centered around parents John and Patsy dealing with the loss of their child as an investigation questions their involvement in her death.

“At the heart of the series, it is the story of Patsy and John Ramsey,” read a September 2024 press release. “Exploring the unbreakable partnership of these two complex people — as husband and wife, as mother and father — who had committed themselves and their children to building the narrative of a perfect, privileged life only to have it destroyed one Christmas night in 1996.”

Patsy and John are set to be played by Melissa McCarthy and Clive Owen, respectively. The series also stars Garrett Hedlund, Alison Pill, Owen Teague, Shea Whigham and Will Patton. The role of Burke has yet to be announced.

By Robert Scucci
| Published 9 seconds ago

If there’s one thing I love more than a reluctant hero who’s clearly a master of their craft, it’s the exact opposite: a bunch of willing participants in a heist who are absolutely terrible at what they do. Both character archetypes scratch the same itch because the situational humor pretty much writes itself. Killing Mary Sue (2025) is beautiful because its hero is actually a sleeper agent, but all she wants to do is play video games, party, and pass out. 1996’s Bottle Rocket, on the other hand, features some of the dumbest criminals you’ve ever seen, and they sincerely believe their 75-year plan involving small-time, poorly planned robberies will be enough to sustain them until retirement.

Kicking off Wes Anderson’s career two years before Rushmore started making its rounds, Bottle Rocket is a tight comedy thriller in which its protagonists constantly have to adjust their plans. It greatly benefits from Owen and Luke Wilson playing best friends because their familiarity as brothers makes for natural, seemingly effortless chemistry as they continually shoot themselves in the foot for the love of the game.

From The Loony Bin To Planning Heists

It doesn’t take long for Bottle Rocket to establish its bumbling protagonists. Dignan (Owen Wilson) shows up at the mental institution where his best friend Anthony (Luke Wilson) is staying. Anthony isn’t committed, but is there voluntarily because of his ongoing “exhaustion.” Against medical advice, Dignan has Anthony released into his custody and immediately makes his intentions clear.

The two of them, with the help of Dignan’s friend Bob Mapplethorpe (Robert Musgrave), plan a practice heist at Anthony’s house, stealing a list of predetermined items and assessing their efficiency when it comes to breaking and entering. Even this operation, while not sloppy enough to get the law involved, goes terribly wrong because Dignan is already skimming off the top, revealing just how weak their dream team really is.

Heck, the only reason Bob’s involved in the first place isn’t even a matter of trust. He just happens to be the only person they know with a working car.

Dignan’s main goal in Bottle Rocket is to reconnect with his former accomplice, Mr. Henry (James Caan), who he hopes will help him build his criminal enterprise. Along the way, after robbing a bookstore of all places and laying low at a motel, Dignan and Anthony are stranded when Bob, who I need to remind you is the only person with a car, bails to help his brother after the authorities discover their marijuana crop; something he should have probably let them know about before associating with him.

During their brief stay, Anthony falls in love with a motel maid named Inez, who doesn’t speak a lick of English. Before leaving the motel and stealing a car that immediately breaks down, Anthony gives all the money from their previous robberies to Inez as a parting gift, which naturally causes tension between him and Dignan.

It goes on like this …

The Ultimate Comedy Of Errors

In some ways, Bottle Rocket reminds me of 2013’s Blue Ruin for one specific reason. In that film, a man seeks revenge for the death of his parents, but he’s just an average guy, not some jacked up John Wick type. He’s not dumb, and the film isn’t a comedy; he’s simply never lived a vigilante lifestyle and never stopped to think through every possible consequence before kicking off his violent odyssey. “What could go wrong when you slash a tire but the car it’s attached to becomes your only getaway vehicle?” or “I just punched through a window and now my hand is really messed up,” are exactly the kinds of problems Macon Blair’s Dwight Evans runs into in Blue Ruin.

Bottle Rocket operates on that same internal logic, except it’s played for laughs. These guys are so shortsighted that it’s tragic, but they’re also such a walking, talking embodiment of the Dunning-Kruger effect that it makes for inherently fantastic comedy. It all culminates in an elaborate cold storage facility heist that goes exactly how you’d expect, but you’ll still be surprised by just how badly they screw everything up in every conceivable way.

It’s almost poetic just how bad the criminals in Bottle Rocket are at crime, and it’s a must-see, especially if you’re a fan of Anderson’s work but don’t often revisit his earlier films.

As of this writing, you can stream Bottle Rocket for free on Tubi.

If the reports are indeed correct, Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce won’t be the first couple to get married inside New York City’s Madison Square Garden.

Swift and Kelce announced their engagement in August 2025, subsequently playing coy about plans for their big day.

“I think the wedding is what happens after [my Life of a Showgirl promotional tour] in the scheme of the planning, but I’m so excited about it,” Swift said on the Graham Norton Show in October 2025. “I know it’s gonna be fun to plan because I think the only stressful weddings are the ones where you have a small amount and people are on the bubble.”

In the months that followed, speculation swirled that Swift planned to walk down the aisle inside MSG over the 4th of July weekend in 2026. The rumors reached a fever pitch days before the would-be nuptials when dozens of supply trucks were spotted dropping off decor and food at the arena.

Related: Breaking Down Easter Eggs of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s MSG Wedding

The countdown is seemingly on for Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding — and fans believe the big day will indeed take place at Madison Square Garden. Swift and Kelce, both 36, have been together since 2023, getting engaged two years later. The couple, however, never publicly divulged any details of their wedding plans. “I […]

Even so, Swift and Kelce’s “whimsical” wedding is hardly the first time that couples have exchanged vows at MSG. Keep scrolling to look back at the venue’s history of marriage ceremonies:

Sly Stone and Kathy Silva

The “Everyday People” singer married model-actress Silva inside Madison Square Garden in June 1974 during Stone’s concert in front of a crowd of 23,000.

“When you are as much in love as Sly and I are, you just go to extremes and get married,” Silva gushed to Vogue at the time.

As for Stone, he told the outlet that they decided to get married during his show because of son Sylvester Jr.

“I have a little boy now, and I don’t want him to be a liar when he says ‘dada,’” he quipped.

Stone and Silva, who had initially postponed their nuptials amid her pregnancy with their son, each wore custom Halston for the ceremony.

The Unification Church’s Mass Wedding

The Unification Church hosted a group wedding in July 1982, where 4,000 followers were matched and married by Reverend Sun Myung Moon.

The New York Times reported at the time that the arena floor had been carpeted in white and all 2,000 couples donned identical outfits. The grooms wore blue suits, with the brides donning matching lace-and-satin gowns made by the church.

“It was wonderful. The marriage vows were very impressive,” groom Bruce Burris told The Times, noting he planned to move in with his new bride, Sanae Tsuchida, following the church’s 40-day waiting period. “I think so, yeah, I’m pretty sure.”

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Burris was matched with Tsuchida by the church leaders, only meeting a “few hours” before the ceremony.

The couples marked their 40th wedding anniversary in 2022.

“The men and women gathered here for this wedding have dedicated themselves to the highest standards of love and service to God, to each other, and all mankind,” Moon said in a press release, noting some of the couples’ kids were recently “blessed” in marriages of their own this year.

For eight seasons, Nina Dobrev and Paul Wesley played one of the hottest couples on television in the 2010s in The Vampire Diaries. The complicated romantic entanglement between the former’s Elena Gilbert and the latter’s good-hearted, over-a-century-old vampire Stefan Salvatore was the beating heart of The CW’s hit teen drama, even though the duo ultimately didn’t end up together. Yet, even after Stefan’s death and the death of TVD itself, the duo recently found their way back to each other when Dobrev and Wesley were cast in another book adaptation, You Deserve to Know, at Hulu. According to Dobrev, this wasn’t just happenstance, either.

The star recently sat down for an interview with Collider’s Maggie Lovitt for her new film, The Get Out, where the topic of her recently announced new role was brought up. She revealed that the mystery series came about for the duo because of the real relationship they built working together on The Vampire Diaries and their desire to collaborate again ever since the finale in 2017. “We have been plotting this behind the scenes for many years now, to be completely honest with you,” she said. “Paul and I have been wanting to… We’re really close, and we spend a lot of time together, and we have since the show ended, and we’ve talked about wanting to find the right thing.”

You Deserve to Know is based on Aggie Blum Thompson‘s 2025 novel of the same name, following three suburban couples whose tight-knit friendship with each other is upended when one of their husbands is murdered. With the idyllic peace of their cul-de-sac shattered, the cracks in the wives’ friendship become visible, and their dirty secrets and long-simmering tensions bubble to the surface. Dobrev plays Gwen, the member of the trio who lost her spouse and now has to weigh whether she can rely on her friends or face the harsh reality that their bond isn’t as airtight as it seemed. She’s bound to collide with Wesley’s character, Scott, another neighbor who’s on the opposite side of the murder investigation.

The choice to tackle such a story wasn’t made lightly, as Dobrev said her and Wesley’s goal was to find something that genuinely excited them that wasn’t an excuse to hang out, but instead something that honors their growth since TVD.

“Originally, we wanted to do a movie together, but we kept finding material or having things sent to us, because once we put it out there that we wanted to find something to do together again, a lot of things were sent to us, and we kept passing on everything. Nothing felt like the right thing. And we didn’t want to reunite just for the sake of reuniting for nostalgia’s sake. We really wanted it to be something that we both were really excited about that was elevated and different than the show, but also pays tribute in some way to the show as well, but with a fresh take and reflects who we are as people, as artists now 10 years later.”

Brian Tanen, who has previously written for Ugly Betty, Devious Maids, and Desperate Housewives, was tapped to adapt Smith’s book into a series, with a pair of production giants in Alex Cooper‘s Unwell and Aaron Kaplan‘s Kapital Entertainment backing the project. Ultimately, what got the pair involved and thinking this was the long-awaited idea they’d been searching for was Wesley actually cracking open the book himself. “I was slower to get to reading,” Dobrev continued. “It was sent to both of us, but he read it first, and he called me, and he was like, ‘You need to read this. I think this is it.’ And he kept on me — it was so annoying, to be honest with you — to read it. And then I was like, ‘Okay, I’ll get to it.’” Once she finally dug in, she instantly understood what her old on-screen boyfriend was so enamored by, and it quickly spurred them both to start gathering the right team to make their on-screen reunion finally happen.

“Then finally, once I did get to it, I finished the book in maybe a day or two, I couldn’t put it down, and I agreed with him that this was our next thing together. And so then started the long process of developing it and getting the team together and then finding the writer and creating the pitch and then pitching the studios. And so it’s been some time in the making. So it was really exciting for us to finally share it with the world that we were reuniting.”

Making the project even more exciting was the fact that they were more than just actors. Both Dobrev and Wesley are executive producing You Deserve to Know as well, getting them in on the ground floor of the adaptation process. “Not just as actors, but also that we’re executive producing it, and we’re bringing the story to life from both sides of the camera is extra exciting and special, especially after such a long journey together over the last however many years,” the actress ended.

What Is ‘The Get Out’ About?

Image via Vertical Entertainment

While her new Hulu series gets to work, Dobrev is currently busy enjoying a return to theaters with The Get Out. She plays the unhinged partner in crime of Aaron Paul, coming together to rob nightclub owner Marco Kapak (Russell Crowe), who’s nearing retirement. Directed by Derrick Borte, based on Thomas Perry‘s novel Strip, the film follows Marco’s attempts to leave his dangerous past behind him, though masked robbers are the least of his issues in that process. He’s also at the mercy of ruthless cartels and is trying to sway a mysterious buyer (Luke Evans) for his business, forcing him into a web of deception that makes escaping with his girlfriend, Sunny (Teresa Palmer), nigh impossible.

While the film is a silly crime comedy with Marco and Sunny’s relationship as its beating heart, there’s more depth than initially meets the eye. That’s especially true of its ending, which Dobrev explains is tied to the symbolism of California bears introduced in Marco’s journey for freedom. This idea of characters being driven from their homes and finding new starts applies just as much to her character, though the actress believes that Carrie is more deserving of getting a clean slate and, hopefully, grows from her experiences in a new life on the straight and narrow.

“Yeah, I mean, it symbolizes… Well, bears historically, especially in California, have been driven out of California, and they’ve had to go north and escape, and quite literally the title of the movie, The Get Out, it’s what we’ve done to them, and it’s what almost every character in this film… I think more so for Russell’s character, he’s been driven out of his home to seek asylum elsewhere and safety elsewhere like the bears in bear country, which is the National Bear of California. That was the original title of the film, and it still is the title in some territories, which is a little confusing, but that’s the main symbolism. In my character’s case, I mean, she’s sort of the only one who has a chance to start over, albeit by lying her way out of trouble, hopefully, but we don’t really see exactly what happens to her in the end, if she actually gets away with it or not. But I’d like to hope that she does, and maybe she learns something and grows and tries to start fresh on a more calm path for her future if she wants to have longevity.”

When asked about when the bear idea first resonated with her, Dobrev cited the first scene of Marco explaining the history of the bear, which admittedly baffled her upon first reading. “I remember being so confused,” she added. “Why are you telling this long monologue story about this?’ And then it finally comes together at the end, which I thought was really beautiful. And it’s that reminder for Carrie, she comes face to face with the bear, and it gives her that opportunity that it could destroy her, but it lets her go. And so it gives her the chance for a fresh start, like everyone in the film is looking for that.” She appreciated that The Get Out was willing to go a bit out there with an idea and trust audiences to follow along until it pays off in the end and beautifully ties into the story being told.

Dobrev’s ‘The Get Out’ Role Is “Unlike Anything” She’s “Ever Done Before”

Carrie is practically from a whole other planet compared to Dobrev’s role as Elena. The trailer alone paints a chaotic portrait of the character, who can be a bit of a literal shoot-first, ask questions later type, down to go along with her partner Jeff’s (Paul) plan. “She really wreaks a lot of havoc in this film, which is exciting and fun for me to play as an actor,” Dobrev told Lovitt. Having so much freedom to explore with this very different part, with some brilliant screen partners like Crowe and Palmer, as well as an old friend in Paul, proved to be a refreshing change of pace. “And that’s what drew me to wanting to play this character because it’s so unlike anything I’ve ever done before, and doing it in that environment with Aaron, who’s a longtime friend, allowed for me to have that comfort and safety to go big and try things and have that freedom and safety to explore in a way that I don’t know if I would have if it was with someone else. So I’m really grateful to him for that.”

Like the ending of the film, there’s a greater depth to Carrie that Dobrev wanted to capture. Her questionable decisions are rooted in a very identifiable feeling of restlessness in a world that has become even harder to get a leg up in. Dobrev approached the role with “a lot of sympathy for somebody, that I’m sure you’ve seen in the news, that millennials nowadays were not afforded what the boomers and what their predecessors had, and the opportunities, and with the inflation and housing going up, it’s not the same golden era that they were promised. And so she’s living not the life that she wants to live, it’s very mundane, and she’s looking for excitement in any way that she can, albeit without a lot of thought or foresight, it’s all very impulsive.”

The most critical part of selling Carrie as a character with a conscience was ensuring that those moments of clarity, where the reality of her actions set in, are played with real gravity. Another boon to The Get Out was that Dobrev was able to give her input on how to best get that point across and make her less of a “caricature.”

“And I know those people. I know the people that speak before they think, that act before taking some time to really consider what the consequences will be, and you get to see that moment for Carrie where she’s impulsive, impulsive, impulsive, and then reality sets in once she goes one step too far, and she realizes what she’s done and finally has a wake-up call and a conscience. And that scene actually in the car with Aaron when she’s throwing the money out of the car, that wasn’t scripted that way. Initially, they were just celebrating that they got away with it, and I was like, ‘I don’t know, I feel like this should be a wake-up call for her, for her character arc to ground her and make her a real person instead of a caricature.’ I really felt like it was important to make sure that for her arc that she comes to her senses.”

Derrick Borte Made ‘The Get Out’ a Collaborative Experience

Image via Vertical

Getting that level of agency within a role comes with “time and experience,” Dobrev says. “When I first started, I was just happy to be there and have a job. As I get older, I’m getting much pickier, and it’s so important to me the material, the character, who I’m working with, personalities. Life’s just too short at this point to not be creatively fulfilled, but also just have fun and be around good people, and enjoy yourself.” Borte, in particular, sold her on The Get Out, as she immediately knew from their first meeting that “he was a collaborator” and not merely a director. “He was very open to letting us bring these characters to life.”

Dobrev wasn’t the only one whose role evolved thanks to Borte’s openness to suggestions. Crowe was also critical in shaping who Marco was and, in turn, how his journey unfolded to best portray him as a layered character. “I don’t know if I mentioned this already, but Russell Crowe, for example, it wasn’t scripted that he was Albanian,” she continued. “He decided he wanted to bring that layer to the role. And a lot of those decisions and little things elevated the script, and we all added our little things to each of our characters to help strengthen

it and make it what it ultimately became. And so I’m so grateful to Derrick for giving us that creative freedom and being open to collaboration and letting us improv on set.”

The Get Out‘s atmosphere of collaboration came to a head at the very end of the movie in a sequence involving Carrie that came largely off the top of Dobrev’s head. “I mean, the end credit scene where I’m sitting at the police station, that was almost entirely improv. So he just kept the camera rolling, and he was like, ‘Go for it.’” By all indications, Borte intimately understood who his cast was and what their level of comfort was when asked to take the reins of a scene. Thus, the final product that came to screens is a monument to the confidence he had in everyone to play their parts to perfection, from the Oscar-winning Crowe to Dobrev, and the rest of the cast of crooks inhabiting his world.

“And a lot of the scenes had an element of that, which was really great. And like I said before, I think it takes a lot of time and experience to be comfortable enough when you’re given that opportunity to improv and to play, and when a director asks you what you think about something to have not just the integrity, but the confidence to express your opinion and know that it will be received positively.”

The Get Out is now in theaters and available through video on demand. Stay tuned here at Collider for more on Dobrev’s new series, You Deserve to Know, as it continues development at Hulu.

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Release Date

June 26, 2026

Runtime

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96 minutes

Director

Derrick Borte

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