“Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” star Angie Katsanevas is getting real about the challenges she’s faced in her friendship with co-star Mary Cosby. In a new interview, the hairstylist-turned-breakout reality TV star said the upcoming season of “SLC” will focus a lot on “deep friendship” and showcase how the group of women makes it through the storm.

While speaking with Us Weekly, Katsanevas, 52, got candid about her friendship with Cosby. For those who may be unfamiliar, the pair became an unlikely duo during “RHOSLC” season 5. Their connection was shocking not only to the group, but to the audience, considering Cosby and Katsanevas clashed during season 4.

Over the years, the pair have hit bumps in the road, but somehow, they always seem to find their way back to each other. When the upcoming season airs, though, it seems fans may be in for a surprise, as Katsanevas said they go through another challenging period.

“I think that it’s just very real and raw challenges that friends deal with,” she said. “She’s going through a lot, and I’m going through a lot.”

Angie Katsanevas Says The ‘Honeymoon Phase’ With Cosby Is Officially Over

Now that Katsanevas and Cosby have been close friends for over two years, it appears they’re reaching the point in their relationship where things aren’t always peaches and cream. “There’s a lot of ups and downs. I think that’s every year. It’s not all fun,” Katsanevas said about their last year together.

“The honeymoon phase is over as your bond deepens,” she continued, adding that as friends grow, they become more honest and vulnerable with one another. “You’re more honest with each other, and you say what you’re really feeling and thinking. We love each other. We love each other deeply.”

It’s unclear exactly what may have gone down between Katsanevas and Cosby, but according to an earlier report from The Blast, an insider claimed the pair got into an explosive fight while cameras were rolling.

The source said that Katsanevas got into quite the argument with Bronwyn Newport and allegedly tried to pull Cosby into it, prompting the latter to allegedly reply, “‘Keep my name out of your mouth, worry about your own friends and your own family.’”

After that, Katsanevas reportedly said something so “shocking” to Cosby in front of the rest of the group that fans “won’t believe.”

Angie Katsanevas Reveals Why She Thinks ‘The Real Housewives Of Salt Lake City’ Is So Popular

There’s no premiere date set yet for the upcoming season of “RHOSLC,” but Katsanevas teased that there will be a heavy focus on “deep friendships.”

As she continued, the mother of one said she’s reflected on why their show is so popular amongst the Bravosphere, and according to her, it’s because of the cast’s real connections with each other.

“Everyone is so funny in their own way, but the relationships are real. The friendships, there’s a lot of love and mutual respect with all the women, and the dynamics in this group are so interesting,” she said. “It’s like an NBA team where every player is required, and the relationships are getting deeper, the bond is getting deeper, and I think you feel that.”

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What Else Can Fans Expect From The Upcoming Season Of ‘RHOSLC’?

The upcoming batch of episodes will feature a lot of tears, according to Katsanevas. But with that, she said there will also be “more joy” and “more fun.”

“I just think that you’re going to see a lot more of everyone’s authentic self. I just really feel like everyone has hit their stride, and we’re seeing everyone in their truest form,” she continued.

Tragedy Hit Close To Home This Season

According to a previous report from The Blast, the first part of the season will focus on Cosby and the death of her 23-year-old son, Robert Cosby Jr.

He died just before production began at the beginning of the year, and as Lisa Barlow put it, it was a “bonding moment” for everyone involved.

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As for Katsanevas, sources recently revealed that she split from her husband, Shawn Trujillo, after 27 years together.

Pamela Anderson is addressing the likelihood of one day donning her iconic red swimsuit for Fox’s Baywatch reboot.

“No one’s reached out to me. I don’t know much about it,” Anderson, 59, revealed to Deadline in an interview published on Friday, July 24. “I know that they were talking to my sons [Brandon Lee and Dylan Lee] at some point about producing, but I don’t think they had a meeting of the minds. I’m not sure what happened there, but I wish them well.”

She went on, “It was a great job, and I loved going to work every day on the beach. I would have been there anyway. At the time, it taught me a lot, and it gave me worldwide exposure. Everything I’ve done has led me to here, which is a blessing. But I have no plans of going back to Baywatch.”

Anderson skyrocketed to fame while starring on the classic ‘90s action TV series as lifeguard C. J. Parker. She last reprised the role for a cameo in Dwayne Johnson and Zac Efron’s 2017 movie reboot.

Related: Will Pamela Anderson and David Hasselhoff Appear in the ‘Baywatch’ Reboot?

After booking the lead role on Fox’s Baywatch reboot, Stephen Amell broke his silence about possible cameos from OGs Pamela Anderson and David Hasselhoff. “Of course we could [have them],” Amell, 44, exclusively told Us Weekly at the Baywatch red carpet on Wednesday, February 18, after prospective actors auditioned for roles at an open casting […]

Fox’s latest incarnation of Baywatch is led by newcomers Brooks Nader, Shay Mitchell and Noah Beck, though Anderson’s ‘90s costars David Chokachi, Michael Bergin and Erika Eleniak will also reprise their roles from the classic show.

Asked whether she was curious about what her character C.K. was up to now, Anderson replied, “If my kids were involved, I probably would have listened to them. I think I’ve just got to keep on seeing what else is out there.”

“I get that there’s a lot of really great TV out there right now, but I’ve already done that. Now is my time to really play with different characters,” she added. “I don’t want to just fill my time until the end of the year. I have options, and some things I’m thinking about, including some theater again. I want to make really bold choices. I want to surprise people. I want to surprise myself. And so I’m trying to do things I haven’t done in the past.”

Anderson is in the middle of a career renaissance, having received award season buzz for her 2024 comeback movie The Last Showgirl. Last year, her reboot of cult classic comedy franchise The Naked Gun with Liam Neeson made more than $100 million at the box office.

The actress is now promoting the comedic thriller Rosebush Pruning, in which she plays the matriarch of a wealthy, dysfunctional family. Her upcoming drama Place to Be — starring opposite Ellen Burstyn and Taika Waititi — will premiere at the Venice International Film Festival in September.

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Meanwhile, Fox’s reimagining of Baywatch has faced some backlash for casting models and influencers alongside established actors. Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue covergirl Nader, 29, strongly defended the new Baywatch cast shortly after the project was announced.

“I think that the times are different and everyone is so multi-hyphenate now, and you can be both an actor and an influencer and have influence,” she told the Daily Mail earlier this year. “And that’s the beauty of the culture that social media has created.”

Baywatch was given a straight-to-series order and is expected to premiere on Fox during the 2026-2027 TV season.

One of the biggest horror films of 2026 is dominating streaming. Made on a low budget, the feature not only received high praise but also huge box office numbers, to the point that people online are wondering whether there will be a follow-up or spin-off based on its concept. Not to mention, it was directed by a young filmmaker who also has a YouTube channel with millions of subscribers, joining other content creators, like Markiplier and Kane Parsons, dominating Hollywood through their creativity, passion for the craft, and loyal audience.

The film in question is Obsession, a horror movie produced under Blumhouse and directed by Curry Barker, who runs the YouTube channel “That’s a bad idea” with 1.55 million subscribers. The film stars Michael Johnston as Bear, a guy who uses a magical item called a “One Wish Willow” to wish his friend, Nikki (Inde Navarrette), to “love him more than anyone in the f***ing world”, which works… but also leads to dire consequences. Obsession has a reported budget of $750,000, but became a box office success, generating $443 million worldwide. Now, the feature is pulling audiences once more over on streaming.

Obsession has dominated Peacock’s streaming charts, sitting at #1 in the Top 10 in the United States after it entered the platform’s library this week. Additionally, the film has found a place on Vudu’s Top 10 Movie Charts in the U.S., sitting at #6, in between Backrooms and Petty Woman. During its theatrical run, Obsession competed with many major blockbusters. One of them, Pedro Pascal‘s Star Wars feature The Mandalorian and Grogu, didn’t even crack the Top 10, while Obsession has become the 7th highest-grossing film in 2026.

Is ‘Obsession’ Worth Watching?

Since its release, Obsession has received high ratings, earning a 94% Certified Fresh critics’ score and a Verified Hot audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, as well as a 4.1-star rating on Letterboxd. Critics praised Obsession‘s concept and premise, as well as how Barker communicated with his target audience through the feature. Some critics noted that Obsession “rehashes” the monkey’s paw trope, which has been done many times before. However, audiences praised Obsession for its originality, for being a horror film that kept them on edge, and for Navarrette’s star-making performance. Collider’s Hannah Hunt gave Obsession an 8/10 in her review, praising Navarrette’s acting, and the film’s pacing and sound design. Her only criticism was how “underdeveloped” the side characters were.

Obsession is available to stream on Peacock.

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Release Date

May 15, 2026

Runtime

108 minutes

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Director

Curry Barker

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Bret Michaels has undergone emergency surgery after powering through three concerts while suffering from a debilitating kidney stone. The 63-year-old Poison frontman revealed that he spent seven days in “intense” pain before being admitted to the hospital immediately following a private performance. Although Michaels is now out of postoperative recovery, his statement indicates that he is waiting for a complete clean bill of health before returning to the stage.

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Michaels revealed his health scare in a Facebook update accompanied by a photograph from his hospital bed. The “Rock of Love” star smiled broadly while wearing his signature cap and making an “all good” hand gesture toward the camera.

According to the singer, the kidney stone would not pass despite causing seven days of excruciating pain. However, Michaels was determined not to disappoint fans attending his scheduled performances.

He completed a July 4 concert in Charleston, West Virginia, followed by a July 11 show in Grantville, Pennsylvania. Michaels then performed a special private concert at Fairchild Air Force Base in Spokane, Washington, on July 18. “But immediately, the next day following that show, I was admitted to the hospital, as the pain became too much when the stone would not pass,” Michaels told his followers.

The Poison Singer Is Recovering After His Operation

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Michaels confirmed that doctors successfully completed the procedure and that he had moved beyond the initial postoperative recovery stage. “The operation has been done and is complete & I’m out of post-op recovery, and I’m doing everything within my power to feel better and continue playing great shows for great fans when I’ve got a complete clean bill of health,” he wrote.

The musician expressed “complete gratitude” for the doctors and nurses who cared for him during the emergency. “Just want to say on this #WisdomWednesday that I am wise enough to know how important family, friends, fans, doctors and nurses play such a vital role in our everyday health,” Michaels added.

He also joked about arriving at the hospital directly from his concert without stopping to change. “Also just know, they eventually forced me out of my clothes & into a hospital gown lol as I had gone straight from the show to the hospital,” he shared.

Fans Urge Bret Michaels To Prioritize His Health

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Michaels’ followers flooded the post with supportive messages, with many expressing relief that his operation was successful. “Glad the operation was successful! Feel better soon!!!!” one person wrote.

Another fan urged the rocker to stop pushing through severe pain for the sake of his performances. “You need to listen to your body! You can reschedule your concerts! But you have only one body to take care of!” they commented.

Others shared their own frightening experiences with kidney stones. One follower recalled visiting an emergency room with pain so intense that she could not speak, adding that even morphine failed to provide relief. “Kidney stones are HORRIBLE!!!!! I went to an ER with such intense pain that I couldn’t speak! I just handed my driver’s license to the receptionist. 8 hours of pain and vomiting. Even morphine didn’t work!” the fan wrote.

Another person described suffering septic shock twice within one month and spending 21 days in intensive care before undergoing five months of dialysis. “Kidney stones are no joke. I gave birth to two children and kidney stones can really match up to the labor pain,” the follower wrote. “Take care of the stones. I’m so glad you’re doing much better. Again, take care.”

Bret Michaels Has More Concerts Scheduled

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The singer is currently touring as a solo artist while performing music from his career with Poison. His upcoming schedule includes a July 30 concert in Interlochen, Michigan, followed by a July 31 performance in Belleville, Illinois. Michaels also has additional dates booked throughout August and September.

His statement did not explicitly confirm whether those performances will proceed as scheduled. Instead, he emphasized that he wants to resume performing once he receives full medical clearance.

Michaels previously canceled an appearance at the President Donald Trump-supported Freedom 250 concert on May 29. At the time, he cited increasing political divisiveness and security concerns as the reasons for withdrawing. His latest interruption, however, stems from the kidney stone and subsequent emergency operation.

Poison’s Planned 2026 Reunion Tour Fell Apart

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Alongside his solo schedule, Michaels has been discussing the possibility of reuniting Poison for another tour. The hair-metal band last toured with Def Leppard in 2022 and had reportedly considered returning for a run of major headlining shows in 2026. However, those plans were ultimately abandoned.

Poison drummer Rikki Rockett claimed that the proposed tour fell apart because Michaels wanted the “lion’s share” of the money. Michaels has pushed back against the idea that ongoing drama will prevent the band from reuniting. Instead, he has identified 2027 as a potential year for Poison’s comeback.

During an appearance on SiriusXM’s “Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk,” the singer expressed confidence that the band could return to the road. “We’re hoping for ’27, ’cause I know it’s a big question,” Michaels said. “I think. I really strongly think ’27, without going into details yet, is going to be a good reunion year for Poison. I think it’s gonna be awesome.”

For now, Michaels’ immediate priority is recovering from surgery and receiving the medical clearance necessary to continue his solo tour safely.

Tom Morello has paid a heartfelt tribute to his late mother with a major memorial project named in her honor.

The initiative aims to raise funds for organizations that were deeply meaningful to her, supporting causes ranging from medical care to assistance for children in need.

Fans praised the Rage Against the Machine guitarist for the tribute, with many saying his mother would have been proud of the impact the project is set to make.

Taking to Instagram on July 20, Morello announced plans for a memorial project celebrating his mother’s life and legacy while honoring the profound influence she had on him.

The post invited her friends, family, and everyone whose life she touched to donate to the memorial project, which is centered on “caring,” “service,” and “action.”

“Donations to the Mary Morello Memorial Project will support organizations that were deeply meaningful to Mary throughout her life, and reflect the causes she passionately believed in and was proud to work alongside,” the post read. Beyond donating, Morello also encouraged people to “do something” meaningful for the world and share their efforts online to continue his mother’s lifelong commitment to peace, equality, and justice.

Morello Reveals Charities Backed By Memorial Fund

Elsewhere in the post, Morello tagged the organizations that will receive donations from the memorial project, seemingly to provide transparency about where the funds will go.

The organizations support a wide range of nonprofit causes, including assistance for at-risk youth and children, as well as medical aid for those in need.

The groups named include the UFW Foundation, Doctors Without Borders, The Midnight Mission, Jail Guitar Doors, Orphans of the Storm, All Chicago, Corazón for Cuba, the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, and the Center for Native American Youth.

The post also noted that additional organizations may be added in the future to benefit from the donations raised through the memorial project.

Fans Praise Tom Morello’s Emotional Tribute

The Guitarist Shares Emotional Video Of His Mother

Morello further honored his mother by sharing a heartfelt throwback video highlighting some of the special moments they shared over the years.

In one clip, Mary is seen attending one of his concerts during the early days of his career.

Another scene features Morello reflecting on his upbringing, saying he once took it for granted that everyone’s parents were like his mother before realizing that no one else’s parent was quite like her.

In another touching moment, Mary expressed her pride in her son’s career, saying: “I am proud that he has done exactly what he wanted every minute of his life. I have been proud of him every minute, and I love him with all my heart forever.”

Mary Morello Died At 102

The memorial project comes just days after Morello revealed that his mother had passed away in an Instagram post.

“Mary Morello is forever with the Rebels of Light & Song. (1923-2026),” he wrote at the time.

The retired history teacher lived to the remarkable age of 102 before her passing. While the circumstances surrounding her death have not been disclosed, Morello had previously canceled a series of European shows to return to the United States after his mother was hospitalized so he could be by her side.

Star Trek, as we know it, owes its legacy to a fanbase that has never stopped showing up, especially for its best moments, most notably in The Next Generation. Star Trek: The Next Generation was a true turning point for the franchise, seeing as it modernized Gene Roddenberry’s universe and set a new standard for modern sci-fi television.

Originally airing from September 28, 1987, to May 23, 1994, the space epic is the franchise’s second live-action series and took heavy inspiration from the first-ever Star Trek entry, The Original Series. Unlike its predecessor, however, The Next Generation moved away from relying strictly on a central trio, Kirk, Spock, and McCoy. Instead, it built a true ensemble cast featuring professional Enterprise crew that acted more like representatives of a utopian future than cowboys in space.

Nearly three decades after The Next Generation went off the air, another similarly phenomenal entry arose: Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Often regarded as the spiritual successor to TNG, Strange New Worlds has consistently won over critics and lifelong fans alike with every passing season, proving that the franchise’s episodic, character-driven storytelling still works today. Now in its fourth season, the show has refined The Next Generation’s classic formula for a modern audience in ways few thought possible.

‘Strange New Worlds’ Won Over Critics From the Start

Image via Paramount Television

Right from its premiere in 2022, Strange New Worlds was met with critical acclaim, earning a Certified Fresh rating of 98% on Rotten Tomatoes for Season 1, which immediately placed the series among the highest-rated in the franchise. To date, it hasn’t gone below 80% across every season on the review aggregator website; even the latest Season 4 debuted to a perfect 100% score.

By comparison, The Next Generation, which holds a 92% Tomatometer score, is remembered far more for its evolution than its debut. While later seasons produced some of the greatest episodes in Star Trek history, the show’s uneven first two years remain a frequent talking point among Trekkies. That difference matters because first impressions shape a series’ reputation. Strange New Worlds, which sits at 90%, never had to overcome an inconsistent beginning and understood exactly what made the franchise special.

‘Strange New Worlds’ Perfected the Star Trek Formula

Much of Strange New Worlds‘ success comes from how effectively it balances old and new. Like The Next Generation, it embraces classic Star Trek episodic storytelling and adventure-of-the-week structure while still developing its characters across the seasons. But unlike many modern streaming dramas that rely heavily on serialized plots, the four-season series refines the franchise’s formula without feeling dated.

In one episode, Strange New Worlds unexpectedly delivers a musical, the very first in Star Trek history, “Subspace Rhapsody.” And in the next, it’s exploring courtroom drama in “Ad Astra per Aspera,” before seamlessly crossing over with Star Trek: Lower Decks in “Those Old Scientists,” effortlessly balancing the distinct tones of both series.

No matter how ambitious its genre experiments become, every episode of Strange New Worlds remains unmistakably Star Trek at its core. Under Captain Christopher Pike, the series never loses sight of the optimism, curiosity, and humanity that have defined the franchise, values that The Next Generation helped popularize. Still, the difference is clearer when compared with the older series: although it excelled at exploring ethical dilemmas, it rarely ventured this boldly across genres, and when it did experiment, the results were far more uneven and divisive.

‘Strange New Worlds’ Features Fewer Weak Episodes

Image via Jan Thijs/Paramount+

Looking at the critical reception of Strange New Worlds and The Next Generation, it stems directly from how both series were constructed. The classic drama operated under the draining 22-26-episode syndication model of the late 1980s and ’90s, forcing writers to prioritize quantity over consistent quality. So with 178 episodes across seven seasons, the inconsistency was almost unavoidable.

While The Next Generation gave fans all-time classics like “The Best of Both Worlds” and “The Inner Light,” it also produced its fair share of misfires. Early episodes such as “Code of Honor” remain among the most criticized in the franchise, while “Sub Rosa” has become infamous as one of Star Trek’s most divisive and frequently hate-watched episodes. Even many longtime fans admit there are entries they simply skip on rewatches.

Those uneven early years are reflected in the show’s critical reception. The first season struggled with frequent writer turnover and an uncertain creative direction. At the same time, the strike-shortened second season holds a lukewarm 57% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes, ending with the widely panned clip-show finale “Shades of Gray.” Moreover, it wasn’t until Season 3, particularly the highly memorable “The Best of Both Worlds,” that The Next Generation truly found its footing.

Meanwhile, Strange New Worlds benefits from a tighter 10-episode season, giving each story more room to be carefully crafted without the need for filler. As a result, the series has produced very few episodes that critics or audiences consider weak. One of its finest is the Season 1 finale, “A Quality of Mercy,” which cleverly reimagines The Original Series episode “Balance of Terror.” By exploring how Pike and Kirk would handle the same crisis differently, the episode offers a compelling meditation on leadership, sacrifice, as well as destiny, and it is widely regarded as one of the strongest episodes of modern Star Trek.

The Next Generation will always be one of the most important series in Star Trek history. But when it comes to consistent critical acclaim and overall storytelling, Strange New Worlds may have quietly outdone the classic. Even so, it doesn’t replace TNG‘s legacy; instead, it builds on it, proving that Star Trek can still evolve while staying true to everything that made the franchise great.

Both Star Trek shows stream on Paramount+.

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Release Date

2022 – 2027-00-00

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Network

Paramount+

Showrunner

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Henry Alonso Myers, Akiva Goldsman

Directors

Dan Liu, Amanda Row, Maja Vrvilo, Akiva Goldsman, Dermott Downs, Eduardo Sánchez, Jeffrey W. Byrd, Jonathan Frakes, Jordan Canning, Leslie Hope, Valerie Weiss, Sydney Freeland, Christopher J. Byrne, Rachel Leiterman

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Writers

Onitra Johnson

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There’s a running joke that most of Matt Damon‘s filmography has him playing characters who are trying to get home. It’s a joke with some truth to it: from the gritty, war-torn landscape of Saving Private Ryan to being stranded on another planet in The Martian, Damon more often than not plays someone struggling against impossible odds. The Odyssey takes things to a new extreme, thanks to the double-header of being based on an iconic Greek myth and being directed by Christopher Nolan, but there’s another epic starring Damon that’s flown under the radar and is completely free to watch.

That movie is The Great Wall, which debuted in 2016. Directed by legendary filmmaker Zhang Yimou, The Great Wall follows a pair of mercenaries, William Garin (Damon) and Pero Tovar (Pedro Pascal), who learn a startling secret about the Great Wall of China: it was built to keep a race of serpentine monsters called Tao Tei from devouring everything in their path. To combat the Tao Te, Garin and Tovar join forces with a group of elite warriors. The Great Wall is currently available to stream on Tubi, meaning that fans can check out one of the more outlandish movies of Damon’s career.

‘The Great Wall’ Was Hit With Controversy Prior to Its Release

Image via Universal Pictures

While moviegoers might not remember much of The Great Wall‘s plot, they probably remember that the series was at the center of a brief controversy due to casting Damon in the lead role. Many felt that the movie was dipping into the “white savior” stereotype, but the opposite turned out to be true. Apart from Damon, Pascal, and Willem Dafoe, the majority of the cast is of Chinese descent while the production took place entirely in China. Zhang Yimou would even put a pin on the controversy during an interview, saying that Damon was never meant to be playing a Chinese character.

“In many ways, The Great Wall is the opposite of what is being suggested. For the first time, a film deeply rooted in Chinese culture, with one of the largest Chinese casts ever assembled, is being made at tentpole scale for a world audience. I believe that is a trend that should be embraced by our industry.”

True to his word, Yimou tends to put most of the focus on the “Nameless Order,” the group of warriors that have dedicated their lives to battling the Tao Tei. This lets him deliver some incredible visuals, both in terms of costuming and fight scenes. Lin Mae (Jing Tian), one of the members of the Nameless Order, is a standout thanks to the royal blue armor she’s wearing and the deadly grace with which she moves. Yimou is no stranger to crafting incredible fight scenes, thanks to his work on martial arts classics including Hero and House of Flying Daggers, which means that The Great Wall definitely isn’t lacking in terms of craft.

‘The Great Wall’ Was Part of A Long-Running Hollywood Trend

Another thing that stands out about The Great Wall was that it was released at a time when Hollywood saw China as one of its biggest markets. Legendary Pictures, the production company behind The Great Wall, was even bought out by the Chinese conglomerate Wanda Group in 2016. This meant that movies like The Great Wall and Skyscraper could be filmed entirely in China, while also having their narratives take place in the country, and often relied on the Chinese box office to turn a profit. Ironically, The Great Wall wasn’t a success in the U.S. or China, with Matt Damon later revealing that his daughter mocked him for starring in it.

The Great Wall might not be on the same level as The Odyssey or The Martian, but it’s far from Matt Damon’s worst movie. If you’re looking for a Saturday night movie or a visually stunning experience, it’s worth a watch.

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Release Date

December 16, 2016

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Runtime

103 minutes

Director

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Zhang Yimou

Writers

Tony Gilroy, Carlo Bernard, Edward Zwick, Doug Miro, Marshall Herskovitz, Max Brooks

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Producers

Alex Gartner, Charles Roven, E. Bennett Walsh, Jon Jashni, Peter Loehr, Thomas Tull, Jillian Share, Zhang Zhao, La Peikang

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Beloved seven-time Jeopardy! champion Dr. Courtney Shah has died. She was 52.

“My mom died today, at 4:57am on July 22, 2026, in the comfort of her home,” Shah’s daughter, Maya Shah, wrote via CaringBridge, announcing her mother’s death after battling brain cancer. “I don’t know what you believe about death, but I like to think that she’s at peace now. We loved her in this world, and we loved her out of this world, and we’ll go on loving her.”

Maya continued via the same online tribute, seemingly addressing her late mother’s many fans, “Thank you for your grace in all of this. It hasn’t been easy, it will continue not to be easy. Hug your loved ones. Tell stories about my mom. Light a candle, say a prayer, pour out a drink — find something that feels meaningful to you to honor the gift that was her presence. Tell us about it on here, or hold it in your heart just for yourself.”

In February 2026, Maya announced via the same CaringBridge site that her mother had been diagnosed with brain cancer.

Related: Stars Rally Around Sheinelle Jones After Death of Husband Uche Ojeh

The Hollywood and news communities are supporting Sheinelle Jones in the wake of her husband Uche Ojeh’s death. Savannah Guthrie announced on the Friday, May 23, episode of Today that Ojeh recently died at age 45 after a private battle with the brain cancer glioblastoma. “There are no words for the pain that we feel […]

“My mom has a brain tumor,” she wrote at the time. “Around the second week of January this year, my mom was experiencing some numbness and weakness in the left side of her face.”

On March 14, 2026, the family announced that Courtney was not responding to the chemotherapy and, as a result, decided to forgo any additional treatment.

“I’m sad to share that we didn’t get the news we were hoping for this week. Courtney’s brain cancer hasn’t been responding to radiation or chemo in the way we hoped,” an update on the website read in part. “With careful consideration, she’s made the brave, clear-eyed decision to stop treatment and transition to hospice. It’s not what any of us wanted, but only she knows her experience, and we trust her with that.”

The emotional update continued, “So are we sad? Of course.. Devastated? Absolutely. But also just… with her. Behind her. Fully.”

In her final update prior to announcing her mother’s death, Maya described what her new reality was like as she watched her mother receive hospice care.

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“From my understanding now, hospice medicine focuses on providing comfort, quality of life, and symptom relief for patients with life-limiting conditions. One of the hospice nurses who came by our house called it ‘comfort care’ which helped me make sense of it,” she wrote in March. “Hospice has been great. A nurse comes to our house once a week to check in with my mom, see how things are going, address any discomforts, and work with a doctor to make changes in her care as needed.”

She added, “Mom has told me she’s comfortable, and she seems more at-ease and content than I’ve seen her in months. Although there’s no more treating the cancer with chemo or radiation, there’s comfort, time together, and lots of glimmers to be found.”

Courtney first competed on Jeopardy! in 2021, earning a total of $118,558 across a seven-game winning streak. The former Lower Columbia College professor also competed in the 2022 Tournament of Champions, where she placed third in her quarterfinal match and earned a $5,000 consolation prize as a quarterfinalist, per Jeopardy!.

Influencer Sara Gilson was reportedly shot and killed by her estranged husband, Shawn Duffey, two weeks after she accused her former spouse of pedophilia.

Gilson and Duffey were found dead in their Oklahoma home on Thursday, July 23, according to Tulsa’s ABC affiliate. Per the local outlet, local police officers were called to the scene after a reported shooting left two people dead.

Upon their on-scene arrival, law enforcement officials pronounced Gilson and Duffey dead and interviewed a family member who was present at the time. The unidentified family member alleged that the separated couple died by murder-suicide. An investigation into the fatal incident is ongoing.

Just two weeks earlier, Gilson claimed via TikTok that her marriage was over and that Duffey was guilty of pedophilia. (Duffey never publicly addressed the accusations before his death.)

Related: Influencer Deaths of 2026

Social media is paying tribute to many influencers who died in 2026. While recording a private New Year’s Eve livestream, Sergio Jiménez died at age 37. Days later, content creator Athira Auni died on January 3 at age 21 after a motorcycle accident. In February, Chinnu Papu died by suicide at age 24. In March, […]

“Preparing for when Netflix drops a documentary about my soon-to-be ex-husband, who I just found out is a pedophile,” Gilson wrote over a July 11 TikTok video of herself sitting in a chair and pretending to get mic’ed up, following the viral social media trend.

Without further clarifying the accusations, Gilson captioned her post, “I wish I was joking.”

Gilson, who is survived by her two children from a previous relationship, filed for a protective order against Duffey last month. The Oklahoman reported that Duffey was immediately ordered out of their home and to stay 100 yards away from Gilson. The order was extended through August 24.

Gilson was a hairstylist with 38,000 TikTok followers at the time of publication, often posting about fashion and other lifestyle content.

In the weeks prior to her death, Gilson thanked her followers for their support amid her divorce.

“Thank you for the army. Your thoughts, prayers and gift cards have meant more than you know,” she wrote via TikTok on June 20. “While I’m grieving and trying to process the worst thing imaginable, I’m solely focused on my children and their well-being. Their safety and mental health is my only concern at this time.”

She added at the time, “We are not OK and I’m not sure I’ll ever be the same, but God has been so faithful in this process and I feel his presence in everything I do.”

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