Emma Roberts shared one of the most emotional moments of her wedding day with her five-year-old son, Rhodes. The “American Horror Story” actress married Cody John during an outdoor ceremony in Idaho on July 25, with her son proudly accompanying her down the aisle. While Rhodes played a special role in the ceremony, Emma’s father, actor Eric Roberts, did not attend. He has since defended his daughter’s right to celebrate the wedding exactly as she wanted.

Photographs published by Vogue show Rhodes holding hands with his mother as they made their way toward the groom. The five-year-old looked dapper in a white suit while Emma wore a flowing custom Monique Lhuillier gown in a vintage-inspired pink shade.

One image captured the mother and son from behind as they walked toward Cody. Their closest friends and family watched from outdoor seats, with several guests using umbrellas to protect themselves from the sun. The intimate aisle moment gave her son an important role in the celebration and produced some of the most memorable photographs from the day.

Emma welcomed Rhodes with her former partner, Garrett Hedlund, in December 2020.

Actress Wanted Her Wedding Dress To Feel Vintage

Emma collaborated with Monique Lhuillier on two custom looks for the wedding. For the ceremony, she wore a gown created in a specially developed shade called Vintage Rose. The flowing design was paired with a sheer shawl and a long white veil.

During her final fitting, Emma admitted that she initially had difficulty determining exactly what she wanted to wear. “I didn’t really know what I wanted,” Emma told Vogue. “I just knew that I wanted it to feel very vintage-inspired. I’m obsessed with antique books and treasure hunting, and I love collecting old ephemera, so I really wanted that to shine through in the dress.”

The custom color referenced Emma’s middle name while also contributing to the aged, romantic quality she envisioned.

To create the gown’s “tea-stained effect,” 25 yards of pink fabric were reportedly dipped into an ecru shade. The process gave the material an antique appearance rather than the bright white traditionally associated with bridal gowns.

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Eric Roberts Did Not Attend His Daughter’s Wedding

Emma’s father confirmed before the ceremony that he would not be among the guests in Idaho. “I love my daughter, always have, always will,” Eric told Page Six in a statement. “It is perfectly wonderful for her to celebrate however she wants, with whomever she wants.”

The 70-year-old actor welcomed Emma with his former partner, Kelly Cunningham, in 1991. He later lost custody of her when she was a baby amid his past struggles with drug addiction. Eric has acknowledged that he was not emotionally prepared to be a dependable parent at that point in his life. During an April appearance on “Really Famous with Kara Mayer Robinson,” he described himself as “not to be depended on emotionally whatsoever” when Emma was born.

However, he challenged the perception that he and his daughter are estranged or that their relationship can be easily understood by people outside the family. “It’s only complicated through outside eyes because they don’t get any of it,” Eric said.

Julia Roberts And Celebrity Friends Supported The Bride

Although Eric was not present, Emma was surrounded by other relatives and friends during the outdoor ceremony. Her aunt Julia Roberts attended with her husband, Danny Moder. Several of Emma’s famous friends also traveled to Idaho for the wedding, including “American Horror Story” co-star Sarah Paulson and Demi Moore.

Emma and Cody were first romantically linked in 2022. The couple kept much of their relationship private before announcing their engagement in July 2024.

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Emma Roberts Broke Bridal Tradition With Black Reception Look

Emma exchanged her romantic ceremony gown for a dramatically different outfit at the reception. The actress wore a black two-piece ensemble inspired by a design from Lhuillier’s Fall 2004 collection.

The “boudoir saloon” look featured a custom strapless corset made from Chantilly lace and a tea-length skirt constructed with layers of black silk organza. “I love the idea of wearing black for the afterparty,” Emma explained.

The unconventional color allowed her to move away from bridal tradition while maintaining the vintage aesthetic that shaped her ceremony gown. “We love doing something that’s a little unexpected,” she added. “This looks like it could be totally vintage from 100 years ago, or from now.”

Still, the most personal detail from the wedding had nothing to do with Emma’s two custom dresses. By walking his mother down the aisle, Rhodes became an unforgettable part of the day as she began her marriage to Cody.

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WWE superstar Nikki Bella is opening up about her dating and sex life like never before. In a new interview, the “Total Divas” star revealed she hasn’t been sexually intimate with anyone in quite a long time despite her sister, Brie Bella’s, best efforts.

A year ago, Nikki Bella was linked to NFL star Cooper DeJean after the pair were seen getting cozy during her trip to the City of Brotherly Love last fall. After their alleged romance made headlines, Nikki added fuel to the fire when she uploaded pictures of herself in front of the Philadelphia Eagles star’s locker.

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Speaking with Us Weekly, Nikki said she’s not been sexually active with anyone in quite some time. “I’m pretty much like a nun at this point,” she said about her love life. “Super celibate. I should just put on a ring.”

But just because she’s getting any action, it doesn’t mean she isn’t interested. “I wish I was out there getting wild. I just don’t have energy for it,” she said.

Nikki Bella’s Sister, Brie Bella, Is Trying To Set Her Up With Someone Special

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Nikki’s twin sister, Brie, is fighting for her, though, telling Us Weekly that she’s tried her hardest to connect her sister with someone special. Despite her efforts, things just haven’t worked out.

“She’s too busy, and I get it,” Brie said. “Matteo is her world right now. She’s like, ‘I have no time between being on the road, our wine company and our podcast, and then Matteo. I try. But she’s like, ‘No, no.’ This is the thing with her: If she has a free night, she wants to Netflix and chill. She’s like, ‘I don’t want to go on a date. I don’t have to dress up.’”

Brie, who rose to fame alongside her sister as one of WWE’s most notable Divas, said that even if things aren’t going Nikki’s way right now, she would always keep her head on the swivel for her twin.

“I still keep my eyes open,” she said. “There’s been some prospects.”

Nikki Bella Was Linked To A Super Bowl Champion Just Last Year

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Nikki was recently linked to Super Bowl champion Cooper DeJean. The 23-year-old plays for the Philadelphia Eagles.

According to a previous report from The Blast, speculation began swirling around the pair last fall after Nikki shared pictures of herself with DeJean merch on in Philly.

A source shot down the rumors, though, saying Nikki was keeping things casual between the pair. The source went on to say that while Nikki was “smitten” by DeJean, she was simply having fun and living her best life.

In June 2026, DeJean confirmed his romance with Dallas Cowboys cheerleader Abby Summers, and responded to critics who claimed their relationship was a conflict of interest.

“I don’t really think it’s a conflict of interest,” he said, according to PEOPLE. “I mean, it’s not like we both play football. She’s a cheerleader. There is going to be no insider information given either way.”

Nikki Bella Divorced Her ‘Dancing With The Stars’ Ex-Husband

Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi is documenting her recovery after undergoing a hysterectomy as part of her ongoing treatment for cervical cancer.

“Today’s the surgery day,” Snooki, 38, said in Instagram footage uploaded Saturday, August 1, documenting her pre- and post-op experience. “I’m heading to the hospital to get my hysterectomy. My kids just left with Jionni [Lavalle], so I got nice warm hugs and I love them so much.”

Snooki, who shares three kids with 39-year-old Jionni, was diagnosed with stage I cervical cancer in April. As part of her treatment, the reality TV star decided to have a hysterectomy to remove her uterus and cervix.

While Jionni stayed with their kids during Snooki’s procedure, the Jersey Shore: Family Vacation star’s parents accompanied her to the local hospital.

Related: Snooki Shares Must-Haves for Hysterectomy Recovery After Cervical Cancer Diagnosis

Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi is gearing up — literally — for her upcoming hysterectomy amid her battle with cervical cancer. The Jersey Shore: Family Vacation star, 38, took to TikTok on Tuesday, July 28, to share the must-have items she bought from fans’ recommendations in preparation for her surgery, which she said is happening “soon.” Included […]

“You always need your parents, I don’t care what age you are,” Snooki stated in her upload. “I need my mom and dad. … Here we are strolling into surgery. I’m literally terrified at this point.”

In the next slide, Snooki revealed that the surgery was a success while sharing more recovery images.

“It’s starting to get dark. [I think] my surgery ended at 9:30 or 10:00. I’m going to be honest with you: not great,” she explained. “I told you guys, in general, I’m not good with pain, and I’ve really been trying to be tough, but it’s not great. The reason is because we did that C-section cut, and [my doctor] ended up taking out the uterus, my cervix and some parts of my vagina just to make sure we get everything.”

Snooki further noted that her surgeon did not remove her fallopian tubes or ovaries, the latter which she said was so she “doesn’t go into pre-menopause.”

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Related: Snooki Was ‘Planning’ Her Funeral During ‘Breakdown’ After Cancer Diagnosis

Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi recalled having “a breakdown” after receiving her stage I cervical cancer diagnosis. “Like, ‘Oh, my God, what am I gonna do? Gotta get my will in place. What’s gonna happen?’ Planning my funeral. I was being so dramatic,” Polizzi, 38, said during a Tuesday, May 19, appearance on the “Let’s Be Honest” […]

“It’s been a lot,” Snooki continued, wiping away tears. “But, the good thing is, obviously I’ve had three kids, so when you have kids your abs disconnect. … [My doctor] ended up putting them back together, which is nice, because they were totally separated from my three kids.” (Separated abs during pregnancy, known as diastasis recti, is experienced by at least 60 percent of people who get pregnant and can be fixed with special exercises or surgical intervention, per the Mayo Clinic.)

While trying to look on the bright side with her newly stitched up abs, Snooki was still primarily overwhelmed by the pain she was experiencing post-surgery.

“Just dealing with all the pain, it’s not great,” she tearfully added. “I’m doing my best and I’m trying to stay optimistic. I hope I sleep tonight. I have a heating pad, so that’s helping. We got my fan, I have a ton of ginger ale and, yeah, we’ll see what happens tomorrow. … The first couple days is hell, and then it’s going to get better, so I’m trying to stay in good spirits.”

A Minnesota teacher is facing consequences after a classroom incident during a lockdown drill left students and their families searching for answers. Now, Jason Lowell Rogers has learned his fate after the case moved through the court system.

RELATED: OnlyFans Model Courtney Clenney Reportedly Gets Plea Deal After Stabbing Boyfriend Christian Obumseli To Death

Jason Lowell Rogers Receives Court Decision

On Tuesday, July 28, Rogers, 49, received a stay of adjudication in Otter Tail County District Court after pleading guilty. Under Minnesota law, the move allows a defendant to avoid a formal conviction if they successfully complete court-ordered probation. Rogers was sentenced to two years of probation, during which he must surrender his teaching license in Minnesota and is prohibited from teaching in any state.

The case stems from a March 2025 incident in which Rogers was charged with malicious punishment of a child. Prosecutors later added two additional charges after allegations surfaced involving multiple students.

Student Details The Alleged Classroom Incident

According to the complaint, one sixth-grade student said he was lying on his stomach during a lockdown drill when Rogers, who weighed more than 350 pounds at the time, stepped on his back with both feet for about 10 seconds. The student reportedly yelled out in pain, began crying, and said his back hurt so badly that he thought something was broken. The student described the moment as feeling like he was being used as a “stepping stool.”

Authorities later interviewed Rogers, who admitted to stepping on students. Police said the teacher explained he believed students were not taking the drill seriously and that he was attempting to get their attention.

Teacher’s Sentencing Includes Multiple Conditions

Rogers also admitted to stepping on two other students, according to reports. In one instance, he said he “might have” used both feet on a student. Meanwhile, he described another situation as walking over a student. Following the allegations, Rogers was placed on administrative leave by the Underwood School District.

As part of his probation, Rogers must complete an anger management assessment, perform 90 hours of community service, write apology letters to each victim, and pay $2,250 in fines and fees. If he completes all requirements, the case will be dismissed under the terms of the stay of adjudication.

RELATED: Student Who Accidentally Killed Teacher In High School Prank Reportedly Speaks Out As Family Weighs Charges

It’s hard to believe, considering he has been a consistent part of Hollywood for most people’s lives, but it seems Clint Eastwood’s career has finally come to a close at the early age of 96. One of the most famous names to ever step foot either behind or in front of a camera, Eastwood has delivered some of the greatest movies of all time, including the genius Unforgiven, the surprisingly sad Gran Torino, and, of course, as the so-called “Man with No Name” in Sergio Leone‘s Dollars Trilogy of spaghetti Westerns.

The great man’s final movie came just two years ago, where he directed the likes of Nicholas Hoult (Superman) and J.K. Simmons (Invincible) in Juror #2, a legal thriller that would earn plenty of positive attention. On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film earned a near-perfect average rating of 93%, with Collider’s Jeff Ewing writing in his review that, “The caliber of performances, smart cinematography, and some excellent directorial choices elevate the material.” Of all his many modern movies, perhaps none were as successful across the board as the moving 2004 sports story, Million Dollar Baby.

Considered one of the best boxing movies of all time, despite Eastwood himself declaring the film to be misunderstood, Million Dollar Baby was an enormous hit in 2004, and proved so alluring to the Hollywood veteran that it even pulled him out of acting retirement. “I think I started saying that back a few years ago, I said, ‘I don’t think I’ll act anymore, I’ll stay behind the camera,’” Eastwood said in a previous interview, adding, “but then Million Dollar Baby came along, and I liked that role.” For those who love the film as much as Eastwood, you’ll be able to stream Million Dollar Baby on Paramount+ starting this August.

‘Million Dollar Baby’ Won Several Major Awards

For a veteran like Eastwood, picking up a major award is just another day at the office. But picking up two Oscars on one night is a hugely impressive achievement, even for him. At the Academy Awards, Million Dollar Baby won an incredible four Golden Statues, with Eastwood personally picking up trophies for Best Director and Best Actor. The other two prizes went to Swank and Freeman as Best Actress and Best Supporting Actor, respectively.

Million Dollar Baby is streaming on Paramount+ now. Stay tuned to Collider for more.

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Release Date

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December 15, 2004

Runtime

132 minutes

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Writers

Paul Haggis

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Emma Roberts is revealing intimate details about her wedding day after her father, Eric Roberts, confirmed that he did not attend his daughter’s special day.

Emma, 35, was walked down the wedding aisle by her son, Rhodes, 5, during her July 24 wedding in Sun Valley, Idaho, to Cody John, according to photos published by Vogue the next week.

In one portrait, Emma held onto Rhodes’ arm as they made their way to John, 36, at the end of the aisle. (Emma shares Rhodes with her former partner Garrett Hedlund.)

“A picture is worth a thousand words — and in this case, a million,” the American Horror Story star captioned an image of the mother-son moment.

Related: Inside Eric Roberts and Daughter Emma Roberts’ Private Relationship

Eric Roberts and Emma Roberts’ father-daughter relationship is far from ordinary. In addition to both being public figures after finding success in Hollywood, the actors have faced some highs and lows that have been documented for the world to see. During an April 2026 appearance on the “Really Famous With Kara Mayer Robinson” podcast, Eric […]

Emma and John exchanged vows in an intimate ceremony held on the groom’s family ranch just outside of Sun Valley, which the Aquamarine star called her “happy place.” Just one day prior, the now-newlyweds held a welcome dinner at the town’s iconic Roundhouse eatery on top of Bald Mountain, where attendees rode up the mountain via gondola.

“All of the guests took a gondola up to the top. I rode up with Cody, my mom [Kelly Cunningham], and my son Rhodes, which was such a nice moment of calm before stepping into the party,” Emma gushed to the outlet of her pre-wedding festivities. “Everyone left with a L.L. Bean goodie bag customized with ‘hitched’ on the side with a Wythe custom hat inside. It was so fun to see people sporting both the rest of the weekend. Some even at the wedding!”

Emma and John were toasted by the celebrity friends and loved ones throughout the weekend, including the actress’ mom and her aunt Julia Roberts.

“I love you, Aunt Julia,” Emma captioned a Vogue portrait with the Erin Brockovich star, 58, who attended the occasion with her husband, Danny Moder.

Julia is one of Eric’s sisters, alongside Lisa Roberts Gillian. Eric, 70, has long had a complicated relationship with his daughter and did not attend the ceremony.

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“I love my daughter, always have, always will,” Eric said in a statement to Us on Monday, July 27, about missing Emma’s nuptials. “It is perfectly wonderful for her to celebrate however she wants, with whomever she wants.”

Emma has not publicly addressed her apparent estrangement from her father or his absence from her wedding, which she told Vogue felt “like it was out of a book.”

“I feel like I’m always in a rush,” Emma noted. “All my friends are always in a rush. My family, we’re always in a rush, so to feel like people really got off their phones, were present, and that everybody I love was in one room, I can’t even capture the feeling of that. I couldn’t have dreamed it better.”

The likes of Curry Barker‘s record-breaking new horror hit, Obsession, and Christopher Nolan‘s historical epic, The Odyssey, might go down as 2026’s most defining movies, but it’s hard not to still consider the sci-fi masterpiece Project Hail Mary as the face of this year in cinema. The Phil Lord and Christopher Miller-directed epic, which stars Ryan Gosling in one of his best roles yet, earned an enormous $682 million worldwide during an extended box office run, although that total has already been sailed past by The Odyssey in less than two weeks.

Project Hail Mary is an adaptation of the 2021 novel by Andy Weir, and manages to transform his literature into a cinematic spectacle for the ages. Dubbed “the first great film of 2026” in a 9/10 review from Collider’s Ross Bonaime, there is a very good chance that Project Hail Mary could leave victorious at next year’s Academy Awards. But when it comes to the most successful Oscar-winning sci-fi movies of this century, it has a long way to go to beat the 10 nominations and 7 wins of 2013’s Gravity.

Directed by the great Alfonso Cuarón and starring Sandra Bullock and George Clooney, Gravity is an expansive space-set movie that stunned audiences 13 years ago. Ambitious in scope and personal in its story, the film was a huge hit with critics and at the box office, where it earned an enormous $723 million, becoming one of the highest-grossing original movies of all time in the process. If you’re a Project Hail Mary fan looking for your next fix of off-planet spectacle, you can now stream Gravity on Paramount+.

Ryan Gosling Is Joining the MCU

Following Project Hail Mary and his work alongside director Shawn Levy on the upcoming Star Wars: Starfighter, Gosling is finally taking the MCU plunge, as was announced during Marvel Studios’ Hall H presentation at San Diego Comic-Con 2026. On stage, Marvel Studios Producer and President Kevin Feige confirmed that a new Ghost Rider film was officially in development, with Gosling taking the lead in a role he’d long suggested an interest in. Little is known about the film, apart from the fact that it teams Gosling back up with director Levy, so keep your eyes peeled for more updates in the future.

As of August 1, you can stream Gravity on Paramount+. Stay tuned to Collider for more stories.

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Release Date

October 3, 2013

Runtime

1h 31m

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Director

Alfonso Cuarón

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Whew, Roomies! The internet is in full detective mode once AGAIN after Yaya Mayweather dropped a cozy video with Kai Bandz. The viral clip has folks bringing up Jaidyn Alexis because she previously looked real boo’d up with Kai during a livestream.

RELATED: Whew! Jaidyn Alexis Seemingly Hard Launches New Boo As Blueface Gets Dragged Into The Conversation (VIDEO + PHOTOS) 

Fans Bring Up Jaidyn Alexis After Yaya Mayweather Pops Out With Kai Bandz

Yaya Mayweather popped out and said, “New month, new boo!” She dropped a dark video on her Instagram Story showing her getting extra cozy with Kai Bandz while he appeared to enjoy a hookah with her at a spot. Yaya called Kai her friend in the caption, but fans felt the energy was giving more than bestie vibes after she kissed him on the cheek several times. At one point, Kai looked like he was leaning in for his own smooch as he got real close to her face. Once folks got a good look at the clip, they immediately went into detective mode and started asking, “Wayment! Isn’t this Jaidyn Alexis’ man?” 

Social Media Calls For Jaidyn To Enter The Chat After Yaya & Kai Link Up

Fans kept tagging Jaidyn Alexis in The Shade Room Teens’ comment section. Some folks joked that she needs to start putting her boo’s on a leash, while others said they were happy to see Yaya outside and living her life away from NBA YoungBoy.

Instagram user @queenbreeee____ wrote, “I’m really happy for her. she needed this.” 

Instagram user @maririchforeverr wrote, “I don’t care who she with long as she moved on 😂😂😂😂”

While Instagram user @finewinedenise wrote, “Not Jaiden man! I knew he was clout chasing smh 🤦🏾‍♀️” 

Then Instagram user @bodegasteppah00 wrote, “Someone check on @officialjaialexxis pls 😂😂💔” 

Another Instagram user @badbihtiaaa wrote, “yk what? hell yea tho.” 

Instagram user @livi_jadore wrote, “@officialjaialexxis at this point just stop dating for awhile and focus on on the LORD🙏🏾🤦🏾‍♀️” 

While another Instagram user @jamie_desno wrote, “Jaiden gotta start putting leashes on her men 😂” 

Instagram user @_paaccooooo wrote, “he played in Jaidyn face 😮‍💨” 

Finally, Instagram user @minabanks_ wrote, “Noooooooooooooooooooo 😂😂😂😂 Jaidyn.” 

Here’s Why The Internet Is Mentioning Jaidyn

If you’re wondering why folks are asking Jaidyn Alexis to enter the chat, it’s because she previously popped out with Kai during a livestream. Back in July, Jaidyn and Kai hopped on a Twitch livestream where she cooked in the kitchen while Kai kicked back and enjoyed the view. At one point, he playfully gave her a little smack on the derriere and smiled at the camera. They looked really comfortable with each other, leaving fans to think Jaidyn was leaving the circus behind and kicking Blueface to the curb. Jaidyn also had fans thinking she was officially hard-launching a new chapter after she dropped photos with Kai on Instagram that gave major dinner-date vibes.

Jaidyn Alexis started getting wild with her new man Kai Bandz on stream last night after officially moving on from Blueface 👀 pic.twitter.com/PGgJ3qUTaI

— keeno (@ayekeeno) July 18, 2026

RELATED: Oop! Yaya Mayweather Shuts Down Claims She’s “Obsessed” With NBA YoungBoy Or Wants Him Back 

“Ted Lasso” co-creator Brendan Hunt has opened up about the major reset awaiting fans when the series returns for Season 4. The new chapter will follow AFC Richmond’s effort to establish a women’s team while navigating financial pressure and fan skepticism.

Hunt and fellow co-star Jason Sudeikis also talk about why the show is finally making a comeback after three years since the last episode aired.

Brendan Hunt says “Ted Lasso” Season 4 is trading the Premier League’s glitz for the far less glamorous world of second-division women’s football.

In a recent interview with TV Insider, the co-creator explained that AFC Richmond’s newly formed women’s team will sit at the center of the show’s biggest creative shake-up yet. Unlike the men’s side, the new squad starts with limited resources, modest facilities, and no deeply rooted fan base.

Hunt said the team will play where the men train rather than in Richmond’s main stadium. They will also operate on a separate budget, despite being connected to a Premier League club.

Winning over supporters could prove just as difficult as winning matches. Some Richmond fans fear the women’s team will drain resources from the men’s side, leaving the newcomers treated like outsiders in their own community.

Hunt Explains How The Three-Year Time Jump Reshaped ‘Ted Lasso’

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Speaking about the three-year gap since “Ted Lasso” was last on air, Hunt explained that the break gave every major character room to grow beyond the events of Season 3. Instead of picking up immediately after Ted left Richmond, Season 4 asks a different question: who have these people become after years apart?

“On some level, it has been time, so let’s not pretend it hasn’t,” Hunt said. “We saw all these characters really go through something, and they’ve had time to let it settle inside them.”

That approach also allowed the writers to introduce fresh dynamics without abandoning what made the series popular. Hunt noted that while none of the characters have changed completely, each of them is “a little bit different” because of the experiences they shared before Ted’s departure.

Jason Sudeikis Says Ted’s Story Was Already Over

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According to “Ted Lasso” leading man Jason Sudeikis, the series stayed off the air for more than three years because he genuinely believed the story had already reached its natural ending.

Long before Season 4 became reality, Sudeikis said the plan had always been to tell Ted’s journey across three seasons. After the Season 3 finale sent the coach back to Kansas City to be with his son, he wasn’t interested in undoing that ending simply to extend the show’s success.

“The story was told,” Sudeikis told The Hollywood Reporter. “Ted went home… I wasn’t going to have Ted uproot their life to justify the money truck. It made no sense to me.”

Despite reportedly earning around $1 million per episode by the third season, Sudeikis insisted his hesitation had nothing to do with negotiations. Instead, he said he only agreed to return once a fresh direction emerged, with Ted taking charge of AFC Richmond’s new women’s team.

Looking back on the decision, the actor admitted the character ultimately pulled him back as much as the audience. “I know I needed this,” he said, adding that Ted’s optimistic outlook was something he wanted in his own life again.

Brendan Hunt Teases Coach Beard’s Troubling Transformation

Hunt has also hinted that his character, Coach Beard, will return in a noticeably different state, and the change may point to trouble behind the scenes.

The writer said viewers will immediately recognize that something has happened to Beard since they last saw him. Hunt suggested the shift does not appear to come from a particularly healthy place.

“When we see Beard, he’s definitely had some kind of change since last we saw him,” Hunt said to TV Insider. “And you can tell by looking at him, it’s probably not from a positive place.”

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Hunt left the cause deliberately unclear. He questioned whether Beard’s condition stems from problems in his home life or from spending years without Ted beside him.

The character ended Season 3 by marrying Jane Payne, whose turbulent relationship with Beard had already raised concerns throughout the series. Hunt told Entertainment Weekly that answers about their marriage are certainly addressed throughout the season.

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Richmond Women’s uphill battle closely reflects where English women’s football has been until very recently. While the Women’s Super League has enjoyed rapid commercial growth, clubs below the top flight have long faced limited resources, part-time squads, and a constant fight for investment.

Things only began improving before the 2025-26 season, when WSL2 turned fully professional. Until then, plenty of players juggled full-time jobs with football, rushing from work to training and repeating the cycle the next day.

Ipswich Town star Sophie Peskett told BBC Sport that players once lacked basics like dedicated changing rooms, regular gym access, and even food after training.

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The financial reality also mirrors Hunt’s comments about Richmond Women operating on a separate budget. Many Women’s Super League clubs still rely on loans or financial backing from their affiliated men’s teams. The ladies’ game also continues to trail its male counterparts in ticket sales and broadcast deals.

Science fiction gets exciting when the big idea stops being the whole point. Aliens, artificial intelligence, time travel, genetic control, gender, empire, technology, and revolution can all grab attention. The books people keep returning to are the ones that connect those ideas to choices a real person has to make.

That is the standard here. Each book changes how the reader looks at something outside the story, whether that is faith in progress, the need to belong, political loyalty, race, power, love, or the stories societies tell to excuse cruelty. You can come for the concept and end up arguing with the book years later. Here are 8 sci-fi books that are masterpieces in my opinion.

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‘The Three-Body Problem’ (2008)

Image via Tor Books

The Cultural Revolution is a brutal place to begin an alien-contact story, but it explains the decision that drives everything after it. Netflix’s adaptation wasn’t as good because it missed several nuances. Liu Cixin’s original 2008 novel follows Ye Wenjie watching her father die. She loses faith in humanity, and later sends a message into space that invites another civilization toward Earth. Her choice comes from experience rather than cartoon villainy. She has seen people destroy knowledge, family, and each other in the name of ideology. When an alien warning tells her to stay silent, she answers anyway.

The present-day mystery follows Wang Miao through scientific suicides, impossible countdowns, a strange virtual-reality game, and growing evidence that human science is being deliberately disrupted. The ideas are huge, yet the most disturbing one is simple. First contact may arrive through someone who has already decided humanity is beyond saving. The English translation appeared in 2014 and later won the Hugo Award, helping The Three-Body Problem reach a massive international audience. That success is understandable. Few books make physics, politics, and total existential panic this hard to put down.

7

‘Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?’ (1968)

Image via Doubleday

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep follows Rick Deckard who earns money by hunting androids and “retiring” them. The language is deliberately clean for a job that is obviously killing. Earth has been damaged by nuclear war, most healthy people have left for Mars, and owning a real animal has become a sign of empathy and social worth. Rick wants enough bounty money to replace his electric sheep with a living creature. That desire sounds harmless until the book starts questioning whether people have turned compassion into another status symbol.

The androids are supposed to lack empathy, yet the humans keep behaving in cold, selfish, and violent ways. Rick gradually loses confidence in the test that separates one group from the other. Rachael Rosen complicates the issue even further, both emotionally and morally. Philip K. Dick’s novel inspired Blade Runner, though the book spends far more time on religion, animals, Mercerism, and the uneasy business of proving humanity through approved behavior. Rick finishes his assignment with less certainty than he had at the start. That discomfort is exactly what stays with you.

6

‘Hyperion’ (1989)

Image via Doubleday

Seven pilgrims travel toward the Time Tombs, knowing the Shrike may kill them, ignore them, or grant one of them a request. Instead of rushing straight toward that confrontation, Dan Simmons’s Hyperion lets each traveller explain why they came. Those personal histories change the book’s genre again and again. One section reads like military science fiction, another becomes a detective story, another deals with religion, while Sol Weintraub’s account of his daughter Rachel is one of the most painful uses of time in the genre.

Rachel begins aging backward after visiting the Tombs. Each day removes part of her life and eventually part of her memory. Sol has to introduce himself to his own daughter every morning while deciding whether the Shrike truly wants her as a sacrifice. That story alone could support a complete novel. Around it, the Hegemony, the TechnoCore, farcasters, the Ousters, and an approaching war keep widening the picture. Hyperion won the Hugo Award, but its lasting strength comes from something less official. Every pilgrim reaches the same destination with a completely different reason to fear it.

5

‘Neuromancer’ (1984)

Image via William Gibson / Ace Books

This is William Gibson’s finest work arguably. Case has lost access to cyberspace, and life outside it barely interests him. He used to be a gifted hacker until his employers damaged his nervous system after he stole from them. A mysterious employer offers to repair him in exchange for one more job. Molly, a mercenary with implanted lenses and retractable blades, keeps him alive while he tries to understand who hired them and what the real target is.

What shocks new readers is how much modern technology language seems to come after this book. Cyberspace, digital identity, corporate power, artificial intelligence, virtual environments, and bodies modified for work are all packed into a story published before the modern internet became part of daily life. Yet Neuromancer never reads like a tidy prediction exercise. Case is an addict, Molly has her own history, and the artificial intelligences Wintermute and Neuromancer are pursuing goals humans barely understand. The novel won the Hugo, Nebula, and Philip K. Dick Awards. Its influence is enormous, but the sweaty criminal energy keeps it from becoming a museum piece.

4

‘Kindred’ (1979)

Image via Beacon Press/Octavia E. Butler

Kindred hails from Octavia E. Butler and it follows Dana as she is celebrating her twenty-sixth birthday in 1976 when she is suddenly pulled into antebellum Maryland. A white boy named Rufus is drowning, and she saves him. The trips continue without warning, always placing her near Rufus whenever his life is threatened. Dana soon realizes that he is one of her ancestors. She needs him to survive long enough to father the child who will continue her family line.

That setup forces Dana into an unbearable position. Rufus grows from a frightened child into a slave owner who wants affection while using ownership, violence, and threats to get it. Dana knows what he becomes, yet her own existence depends on protecting him. Her white husband Kevin is also pulled into the past, though the world treats him with freedoms Dana can never access. The time travel has no technical explanation, and the book is stronger for leaving it alone. The real focus stays on how slavery changes relationships, language, safety, and moral choice. Dana returns home alive, but history has taken something physical from her. Nobody walks through that system untouched.

3

‘The Left Hand of Darkness’ (1969)

Image via Ace Books

The Left Hand of Darkness comes from Ursula K. Le Guin. Genly Ai arrives on the planet Gethen as an envoy from the Ekumen, hoping to persuade its nations to join a wider alliance of worlds. Gethenians are ambisexual and usually have no fixed sex. Genly understands the biology before he understands the people. His own assumptions about gender keep interfering with his political judgment, especially in his relationship with Estraven, the official who has done more than anyone to support his mission.

Politics pushes them apart before survival forces them together. Their journey across the Gobrin Ice takes up a large part of the novel, and the slow pace is essential. Genly finally has to trust the person he repeatedly misread. The cold, hunger, isolation, and daily work remove the distance created by diplomacy. The book earned both the Hugo and Nebula Awards and became a landmark discussion of gender in science fiction. Its ideas remain debated, which is a sign of how much it opened rather than how neatly it solved the subject. Genly arrives hoping to change a planet and leaves with a painful understanding of how much the planet changed him.

2

‘The Dispossessed’ (1974)

Image via Avon Books

This one also comes from Ursula K. Le Guin. The novel circles Shevek, a physicist from Anarres, a moon settled by anarchists who rejected the capitalism and hierarchy of the planet Urras. He grows up believing his society has escaped ownership and oppression. Daily life slowly exposes another problem. A culture built around equality can still punish disagreement, protect informal power, and treat individual ambition as betrayal.

His journey to Urras offers comfort, resources, and scientific freedom, but the wealth depends on class division and state violence. Neither world gets presented as the easy answer. Anarres has solidarity and shared responsibility, along with conformity and scarcity. Urras has abundance, beauty, and academic opportunity, along with exploitation hidden beneath polished institutions. Shevek wants his theory of time to belong to everyone, so he refuses to let either society claim it. The subtitle calls The Dispossessed “an ambiguous utopia,” and that description is exact. It asks readers to keep questioning any political system that declares itself finished. Revolution here is a habit of criticism, not a flag planted once and admired forever.

1

‘Dune’ (1965)

Image via Chilton Books

Frank Herbert’s Dune takes the lead on this list and it follows the story of Paul Atreides arriving on Arrakis as the heir to a powerful family and the product of generations of political and genetic planning. His father has been ordered to govern the planet that supplies spice, the resource supporting interstellar travel and imperial power. Everyone knows House Atreides is walking into a trap. The tension comes from watching each person prepare for it while still underestimating how complete the betrayal will be.

After the family falls, Paul and Jessica take refuge with the Fremen. Paul learns their culture, gains power, and begins using a prophecy that the Bene Gesserit planted long before his birth. This is where Dune becomes much more than a revenge story. Paul sees a future filled with war carried out in his name, yet every victory moves him closer to it. Ecology, religion, colonialism, economics, and political myth are built into the same conflict. The novel won both the Hugo and the inaugural Nebula Award for Best Novel. Its greatest achievement is less comfortable. The hero can understand the danger of becoming a messiah and still choose the path that puts millions under his banner.