The legal war between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni is now creating fallout beyond the actors themselves. 

A showbiz reporter who found himself pulled into the increasingly bitter dispute after his private messages became part of the court record is now suing his former employer. 

James Vituscka claims the Daily Mail retaliated against him after his involvement in the case, while the newspaper strongly rejects his account. His lawsuit adds an unexpected workplace battle to an already sprawling Hollywood feud.

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James Vituscka was covering the “It Ends With Us” controversy as a senior U.S. entertainment reporter when his conversations with people on both sides of the dispute unexpectedly placed him inside the legal battle. 

According to his court documents obtained by Page Six, Blake Lively’s longtime publicist, Leslie Sloane, told him in August 2024 that Baldoni was the source of tension on the film’s set, but Vituscka says she did not tell him that Baldoni had sexually harassed or assaulted Lively.

After the “Gossip Girl” actress filed a sexual-harassment complaint against Baldoni in December 2024, Vituscka says he contacted the director’s crisis manager, Melissa Nathan, about the apparent discrepancy. 

During the exchange, he accidentally used the words “sexually assaulted” rather than “sexually harassed,” but maintains that he subsequently clarified that Sloane had never told him anything about sexual harassment.

Those messages eventually appeared in Baldoni’s legal filings, thrusting Vituscka into the middle of the dispute. 

He claims his comments were selectively quoted and stripped of context, after which he was subpoenaed for documents and testimony.

Blake Lively And Justin Baldoni’s Fight Creates A New Workplace Dispute

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Vituscka’s involvement allegedly became a problem not only in court but also at the Daily Mail. His lawsuit claims that the subpoena triggered a disagreement with the newspaper over how he should respond, eventually leading to changes in the way his work was supervised.

He alleges the newspaper discouraged him from obtaining his own lawyer and instead “pressured” him to sign a declaration containing language he was uncomfortable with, including a statement that he “regretted” the actions that led to his involvement. 

Vituscka claims the treatment ultimately resulted in his termination in June 2025. His lawsuit, filed Monday in Manhattan Supreme Court, accuses the Daily Mail of whistleblower retaliation, sex and disability discrimination, sexual harassment, interference with protected rights and wrongful termination. 

He is seeking damages that include lost wages, emotional-distress damages and punitive damages. The complaint had not yet been reviewed by the County Clerk at the time of publication. 

Lively’s Court Fight Sparks A Fierce Response From The Daily Mail

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The Daily Mail has categorically denied Vituscka’s allegations and rejected his description of how the declaration came about. 

In a statement to Page Six, the newspaper called his lawsuit “an inaccurate account of the circumstances surrounding the declaration he signed in connection with the Lively-Baldoni litigation.”

The outlet specifically disputed the claim that Vituscka was pressured into signing something he believed was untrue. 

“At no point did Daily Mail pressure James to sign a declaration he believed to be untrue,” the newspaper said, adding, “In fact, the declaration he signed was consistent with what he had already told senior management after the Baldoni complaint first came to our attention.”

The Daily Mail also defended its expectations of its journalists, saying, “As a trusted news organization, we expect our journalists to act with honesty and integrity, and we rely upon that important expectation.”

The newspaper went further, rejecting Vituscka’s characterization of himself as a whistleblower who suffered retaliation or discrimination. 

It said his “claims that he is a ‘whistleblower’ who suffered ‘retaliation,’ ‘harassment,’ ‘discrimination’ or other unlawful treatment are entirely meritless and unsupported by the facts, and we are confident they will be soundly dismissed.”

The dispute therefore leaves Vituscka fighting a separate legal battle over what happened after his reporting became entangled with the Blake Lively and Baldoni litigation.

Lively Faces New Deposition Fight Over Legal Fees

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The fallout surrounding Blake Lively’s legal battle has continued to spread into new corners, with another dispute now putting the actress back in the middle of a court fight. 

A few days ago, TMZ reported that Jed Wallace, the Texas-based PR consultant who worked with Justin Baldoni’s team during his legal battle with Lively, was seeking another opportunity to question her under oath. 

The request came as Lively pursued legal fees tied to the litigation, creating a fresh dispute even after Wallace’s own case against her was dismissed. 

Lively’s attorneys strongly opposed the request, arguing that Wallace had already had his opportunity to depose her. 

They characterized the move as “another desperate, meritless attempt by Wallace to go after Ms. Lively,” according to a statement to the outlet. 

Wallace’s request concerned questions surrounding Lively’s bid to recover hundreds of thousands of dollars in fees and costs from him. His attorneys argued that they needed additional information before the money could be released. 

Blake Lively Seeks Nearly $8 Million In Legal Fees

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The dispute over Lively’s legal costs stemmed from a much larger financial request she made after her litigation with Justin Baldoni moved toward a settlement. 

In June, The Blast stated that Lively asked a federal judge to award her approximately $8 million to cover legal fees and expenses connected to Baldoni’s now-dismissed lawsuit against her. 

Her filing sought about $7.5 million in attorneys’ fees, along with roughly $540,000 in additional costs. Those expenses included legal research, travel and meals accumulated during the lengthy litigation. 

Lively’s attorneys also disclosed that lead lawyer Michael Gottlieb billed $2,187 per hour while working on the case, below his standard rate of $2,350. 

The request followed the dismissal of Baldoni’s lawsuit in June 2025 and the eventual resolution of the remaining litigation in 2026.

2026 has been a huge year for Anne Hathaway, and things are only going to get busier in the second half of the year with several new projects on the way. After starring in A24’s Mother Mary from writer/director David Lowery, Hathaway reprised her role as Andy in The Devil Wears Prada 2, which grossed nearly $700 million at the global box office. For most stars, this would be their highest-grossing movie of the year, but Hathaway reunited with director Christopher Nolan for the $1 billion-grossing historical epic, The Odyssey, where she plays Penelope alongside Matt Damon as Odysseus and Tom Holland as their son, Telemachus. Hathaway has contributed well over $1.5 billion to her career box office total this year, and her next film could push this close to $2 billion.

Hathaway stars alongside Ewan McGregor (Obi-Wan Kenobi) in the new dinosaur movie, The End of Oak Street. Produced by J.J. Abrams, the film follows the Platt family, who band together to navigate their surroundings after a cosmic event moves their neighborhood into the middle of prehistoric danger. The first reviews for The End of Oak Street arrived today before the film premieres in theaters on Friday, and the film currently sits at 84% from critics on Rotten Tomatoes. This comes from 58 reviews, and it will likely change as more scores come in.

Collider’s Victoria Luxford gave the film an 8/10 in her review, praising the “fantastic action” and “storytelling” but criticizing the science, which requires viewers to “suspend their disbelief.” ScreenRant’s Molly Freeman wasn’t quite as high on the film, giving it a 7/10 in her review, even going as far as to call it a “worthy spiritual successor” to the Jurassic Park franchise. MovieWeb’s Mark Keizer called The End of Oak Street a “thrilling dino throwback to ‘80s Amblin” in his review, speaking quite highly of the Spielbergian sci-fi thriller.

When Does Anne Hathaway’s Next Movie Come Out?

After she stars in The End of Oak Street, Anne Hathaway is returning to the big screen one final time in 2026 for Verity. Dakota Johnson and Josh Hartnett also star in the romantic crime thriller, which is inspired by the book of the same name by Colleen Hoover. After It Ends With Us earned over $350 million at the box office, Verity can be considered a contender for massive box office success.

Check out The End of Oak Street in theaters everywhere this weekend and stay tuned to Collider for more updates and coverage of the film.

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Release Date

August 14, 2026

Runtime

100 minutes

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Director

David Robert Mitchell

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Writers

David Robert Mitchell

Producers

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Chris Bender, J.J. Abrams, Tommy Harper, David Robert Mitchell, Jake Weiner, Matt Jackson, Joanne Lee

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A friend of Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s widow has launched a fundraiser to support her and the couple’s nine-year-old daughter as she pursues approximately $1.27 million she claims she is owed following the actor’s death. Tenisha Warner recently filed legal actions in Georgia and California involving a prenuptial agreement and a family trust controlled by the late actor’s mother, Pamela Warner.

The filings were made one year after Malcolm-Jamal died at age 54 after being caught in a riptide while vacationing with his family in Costa Rica. Now, Tenisha’s longtime friend Destiny Rael says the widow is contending with legal expenses, damage to her home, and the financial responsibility of raising the couple’s only child alone.

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Rael, who said she introduced the couple, organized the GoFundMe campaign after witnessing Tenisha’s difficult first year without her husband. “I have been Tenisha Warner’s closest friend for 19 years. I am the one who first brought her and Malcolm Jamal Warner together, and I have been beside her through everything since his tragic passing,” the fundraiser reads.

It continued, “I am organizing this campaign because I have witnessed, up close, the depth of Tenisha’s grief and the weight she has had to carry, and because I know she would never ask for this kind of support herself, so I am asking on her behalf.”

At the time of the available report, the campaign had collected nearly $35,000 toward its $40,000 goal.

Tenisha Warner Is Also Rebuilding The Family Home

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Rael said Tenisha has continued homeschooling her daughter while privately coping with the loss. “Every single day she shows up for her child as though her own world had not fallen apart, and still makes sure breakfast is on the table,” she wrote, adding that Tenisha returned home following her husband’s death and discovered that the property had sustained damage from “unexpected flooding.”

“She is rebuilding not only her life without him, but the very home they created together,” the campaign states. “Every room holds their memories, with no space to truly mourn, because the demands have never paused: legal matters that began within weeks of Malcolm’s passing, financial weight carried alone, a house to put back together, and their daughter to care for every single day.”

Rael claimed Tenisha has already depleted resources and borrowed money from loved ones while addressing the mounting expenses.

The Actor’s Widow Seeks Approximately $1.27 Million

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Tenisha claims in her Georgia filing that she and Malcolm-Jamal entered into a prenuptial agreement on May 15, 2022. Under that agreement, she alleges, the actor consented to make her the sole beneficiary of a $1 million life insurance policy. Tenisha claims he did not purchase or maintain the policy before his death.

Her requested total also reportedly includes more than $50,000 in unpaid annual, tax-free marital payments; $30,500 that she says was supposed to be placed in a Roth IRA in her name; and approximately $195,000 in compensation for her work as Malcolm-Jamal’s chief of staff and assistant.

“Plaintiff performed all obligations required of her under the Agreement, including entering into and remaining in the marriage until the Decedent’s death,” Tenisha states in the Georgia filing. “The Decedent died without having satisfied his obligations under the Agreement, and no person or entity has paid or provided the sums due to Plaintiff.”

She is seeking to recover the money from a family trust established by Malcolm-Jamal in 1996 and controlled by his mother. Tenisha has also requested that the trust’s assets be preserved and not distributed while the litigation remains unresolved.

The Los Angeles petition names “The Warner Family Trust, dated October 7, 1996,” and says Tenisha is seeking “at least the total amount of $1,276,042.46 in addition to prejudgment and postjudgment interest, attorneys’ fees, and costs.”

Malcolm-Jamal Warner Was Reportedly Updating His Estate Plan

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Tenisha addressed the litigation in a statement, explaining why she decided to take legal action after attempting to resolve the matter privately. “For the last year, I have attempted to privately settle my beloved husband’s complicated estate and honor his last wishes,” she said. “Malcolm had every intention to provide for our nine-year-old daughter [MacKenzie] and me.”

According to Tenisha, the existing estate plan was created long before the couple met or welcomed their daughter. “He was close to finalizing a new estate plan to replace the stale plan created in 1996 when he was 26 years old, 20 years before we met and well before we gave birth to our beautiful daughter,” she continued. “Sadly, he was unable to do so before we lost him.”

Tenisha said she has “been struggling to care for [her and Warner’s] daughter as a single mom and now as her sole provider,” adding that she “had no choice but to take action to protect our rights before any potential statute of limitations expired.”

Tenisha Warner Says There Is ‘No Moving On’ From The Loss

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The legal battle follows Tenisha’s first televised interview since her husband’s death, during which she spoke with Gayle King about the trauma of losing him.

“The moments of that day, they occupy my body so deeply, so it’s really hard for me to relive what all of that was and to think about it,” she shared. “It just breaks me in a way that makes it hard for me to stay steady… I can’t remember the details. I think [it’s because] my body went through shock.”

Tenisha described the tragedy as “the worst day of my life” and said her immediate focus was on their daughter. “All I can think about is my daughter, and what I needed to do to continue being her mother and be her only parent,” she explained.

Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s Widow Says There Is ‘No Moving On’ From Her Loss

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Despite the painful memories attached to the family home, Tenisha said she does not want to leave it behind. “I can’t be in my own home without feeling the loss, but I can’t walk away,” she admitted.

She also expressed concern that public support may fade even though the loss remains a daily reality for her and her daughter. “The hardest thing about grief is that people move on, but for us, because we’re his wife and child, there’s no moving on,” Tenisha said. “There’s moving with and living with — he will always be a part of our every day and there’s not a moment … in my day that I’m not affected.”

Rael emphasized that the fundraiser is not intended to encourage the public to choose between members of Malcolm-Jamal’s family. “I am not asking anyone to take sides in a family matter that was never meant to be public,” she wrote. “I am asking you to stand with a grieving wife and mother, and her young daughter, so they don’t lose what Malcolm always intended to provide for them.”

Tasia Fortune‘s mother doesn’t believe that her daughter died by suicide. The 29-year-old was found hanging from a tree in Jackson, Mississippi, earlier this month.

RELATED: Illinois Man Third Arrested For Alleged Threats As Mississippi Official Says Circulating Nolan Wells Toxicology Report Is “Fraudulent”

Tasia Fortune’s Mother Rejects Her Theory Her Daughter Hung Herself

The Shade Room previously reported that Tasia Fortune’s body was found on a vacant property on the 500 block of Road of Remembrance in Jackson, Mississippi. Her body was hanging from a tree in the backyard.

Her mother, Christy Spivey, told ABC News that she does not believe Tasia harmed herself.

“She did not do this to herself,” Spivey said. “I know my daughter, and she did not do this to herself.”

Cause Of Death Not Revealed

The State Medical Examiner’s Office reportedly conducted an autopsy on Tuesday, August 11. WLBT. However, the Jackson Police Department claims the Medical Examiner has not advised investigators of an official cause of death.

Additionally, the JPD Police advised the public to wait before drawing conclusions about Tasia’s cause of death. Questions about a Black woman being found hanging from a tree in a state with the racial history of Mississippi naturally drew suspicion from the community.

However, the JDP is asking that the community wait for the facts.

“Unverified information can cause additional pain for Ms. Fortune’s family, friends, and loved ones and can interfere with an accurate understanding of the facts,” JPD said.

The family of Tasia Fortune, the 29-year-old Mississippi woman found hanging from a tree, is speaking out as the investigation into her death continues. @ReporterFaith reports. pic.twitter.com/QIwJkqqcSS

— Good Morning America (@GMA) August 10, 2026

Man Arrested In And Interviewed By Police

A 65-year-old man named Terence Anderson was arrested in connection with the case on a firearm charge, and the police say he is a person of interest, according to WLBT. Per NBC News, Anderson and Tasia share a five-year-old son.

Anderson admitted to having an argument with Tasia, per WLBT. However, he denied having anything to do with her death. Furthermore, his brother, Tony Anderson, reportedly said the same, per NBC News.

Tasia’s mother said that although she doesn’t believe her daughter’s death was suicide, she also doesn’t believe it was racially motivated.

“In my heart, I feel like it’s not racially motivated,” said Spivey. “People are talking about, you know, hate and more violence, and I don’t want my daughter’s name to be affiliated with that. I want it to be affiliated with coming together and love and joy because she was the light of the room.”

Investigators are asking anyone with pertinent information related to the case to contact the JPD at 601-960-1800 or Crime Stoppers at 601-355-TIPS (8477).

RELATED: Cincinnati Woman Reportedly Charged After Allegedly Making Bomb Threats To Mississippi Officials & Jackson County Officers Amid Nolan Wells Investigation

Hannah Waddingham and Octavia Spencer are an unlikely duo in Prime Video’s Ride or Die. The hit action-comedy series premiered last month and quickly rose to #1 on the streaming charts. Now, Prime Video is celebrating its success, and Collider is proud to present an exclusive behind-the-scenes featurette that takes a closer look at the series. Ride or Die centers around Debbie (Spencer), the mild-mannered wife of a British government official, and her best friend Judith (Waddingham), who’s secretly a deadly assassin…and who only kills bad guys, honest.

When one of Judith’s missions goes sideways, it becomes clear that some very dangerous people want both her and Debbie dead; Debbie, meanwhile, gets some shattering personal news that isn’t made any easier when she finds out the truth about Judith. The duo has to go on the run across Europe, with both an army of hitmen and the law vying to find them first. It also stars Ed Skrein, Calam Lynch, and Bill Nighy; it was created by Tessa Coates, and is showrun by Matt Miller (Peacemaker).

In our exclusive featurette, Miller explains that the show is about “second acts.” It’s unusual for two women in their fifties to headline a major TV series, and it’s especially unusual for that series to be an action comedy; the series makes full use of that. Debbie and Judith have been friends for two decades, and the series explores their past friendship and the new shape it’s taking, now that Debbie has to understand (and live in) the side of her friend’s life she never imagined. The featurette also features a highlight reel of the series’ most exhilarating action scenes and its most stunning European locations, ensuring that viewers will have almost as much fun as Debbie and Judith are. You can find out for yourself by subscribing to Prime Video, where Ride or Die is now streaming.

What Are the Critics Saying About ‘Ride or Die’?

Ride or Die currently holds a glowing 98% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, making it one of the best-reviewed series debuts of the year. In her review, Collider’s Meredith Loftus says the series “delivers on both action thrills and heartwarming friendship.” In addition to the central duo, Loftus also praises the show’s supporting cast, whose characterizations are “richer than you’d expect, with their own unique backstories that intersect in interesting ways.”

Ride or Die is now streaming on Prime Video. Stay tuned to Collider for future updates.

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Release Date

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2026 – 2026-00-00

Network

Prime Video

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Showrunner

Matt Miller

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Directors

Peyton Reed, Lauren Wolkstein, DeMane Davis, Allison Liddi-Brown

Writers

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Tessa Coates

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Actress Jenna Ortega is opening up about a dark time in her life as a child star. After rising to fame on the sitcom “Rob” and later landing roles in shows like “Jane the Virgin” and “Stuck in the Middle,” the 23-year-old knows the pressures that come with working on high-profile productions. And to keep her position on said shows safe, Ortega admitted that she developed unhealthy habits that she looks back on with a bit of regret.

Ortega, who now stars in the Netflix original “Wednesday,” spoke with Esquire about life in the spotlight and said that while she’s sure she made mistakes when she first broke into the industry, her primary focus was to be on her best behavior while on set.

“Is that a terrible thing to say? I feel like I make mistakes now all the time, but as a child, I was so grateful and so excited to be there that my game face was on,” she reflected.

According to the California native, Ortega didn’t want to be seen as complicated while working with adults and other professional actors. “I wasn’t asking for a sip of water. I would go all day without eating, drinking, whatever, because I wanted so badly to not be in the way of anybody,” she said.

As she looked back, she said that her rookie mistake “was not actually looking after myself.”

What Motivated Jenna Ortega To Be An Actor?

In addition to the above works, Ortega has snagged roles in “Iron Man,” “Insidious,” “Scream,” and “Hurry Up Tomorrow.”

During her chat with Esquire, Ortega revealed that she was only seven when she realized she wanted to be an actor. Her motivation to make it big was only fueled by the conversation she had with her parents when she told them about her dream.

“My parents laughed at me when I told them that I wanted to do it, and then that kind of was the root of everything. The motivation. And I never really stopped, because I’m very stubborn. And then I never questioned it,” she said.

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Jenna Ortega Looked Up To This Child Star

Luckily for Ortega, she had other child stars to look up to for motivation, such as Dakota Fanning, who was in “I Am Sam” and “Uptown Girls.” Fanning’s work inspired Ortega to push forward and reach for the stars.

“As a young girl, to see a young girl with so much, it felt like wisdom, like she had lived and walked this planet many times before … she kind of taught me what an actor even was when I was a kid,” Ortega revealed.

Ortega Previously Talked About Stepping Away From Kid Roles

Before landing the role of Wednesday in the Netflix black comedy series, Ortega was spotted in “You” alongside Penn Badgley. In the series, she played Ellie Alves, a teenager who befriends Joe but is forced to move to another state because of a predatory neighbor.

Her appearance in “You” was her first more mature role, something she previously revealed was intentional on Kid Cudi’s “Big Bro” podcast.

“When I was a teenager, I’d gotten off a children’s show, and I didn’t know what I was going to do,” she said, per The Blast. “I had to prove myself and meet all these new casting directors who didn’t know who I was.”

Ortega even revealed that her time on the set of “You” made her realize how much she loved the craft. “[Before ‘You’] just felt like a good time to call it quits [with acting] if I was going to. I was starting high school, and, ‘It was a good run’ sort of thing. We had talked about it for a few months with my team. And then, I think I booked that show You, and then I went on that set, and I loved it and had the best time. I thought, ‘Yeah, there’s no way I could let this go,’” she said.

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Ortega Showed Her Respects To Catherine O’Hara

In early February 2026, Ortega honored the late Catherine O’Hara with a two-slide post on Instagram. The iconic actress died at age 71.

“Catherine is one of the most beautiful people I’ve ever had the honor of getting to work with and know,” Ortega wrote, according to The Blast. “I’ll forever cherish the time we shared together, and everything she taught me.”

Ortega and O’Hara worked together in “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” a blockbuster film that grossed $452 million at the box office in 2024.

As she finished, Ortega recognized O’Hara as one of the industry’s greats, calling her a “giant and an inspiration in many ways.”

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Coyote vs. Acme. Batgirl. Scoob! Holiday — What do all of these films have in common? They’re all projects that were shelved by Warner Bros. Discovery for tax write-offs three years ago. Projects that no one thought would ever be released to the public, until Coyote vs. Acme did the impossible when the conglomerate agreed to sell the movie to another distributor, Ketchup Entertainment. It’s been a long road for Dave Green’s comedy, but I’m pleased to report that it was absolutely worth the wait. Whether you’ve been following the film’s tumultuous journey to the big screen for years and participating in the #SaveCoyoteVsAcme campaign, or coming in blind with nothing more than curiosity or some latent Looney Tunes nostalgia, odds are you’re going to be satisfied.

What Is ‘Coyote vs. Acme’ About?

Wile E. Coyote has been trying to capture Road Runner for years through increasingly elaborate traps involving Acme products. Unfortunately for him, all of his schemes have not only proven unsuccessful but dangerous, as he’s suffered countless injuries due to the faulty Acme items. Fed up, he decides to sue the company after seeing a small law firm’s commercial claiming they can help.

There, he meets attorney Kevin Avery (Will Forte), who is simply going through the motions after losing his ambition and passion for helping people. While initially reluctant to take on Wile E. Coyote’s case, as it is far bigger than what he’s used to, his perky niece and intern Paige (Lana Condor) tries to convince him that it’s the right thing to do. After ultimately being backed into a corner, Kevin agrees to represent Wile E. Coyote against Acme’s ruthless lawyer Buddy Crane (John Cena), with whom he shares a complicated history. Acme may have infinitely more resources at their disposal, but Kevin and his team have grit, integrity, and truth on their side. Will it be enough to get Wile E. Coyote the justice he deserves? Or is it a task as hopeless as his endless quest to capture Road Runner?

‘Coyote vs. Acme’ Is Boisterous, Fast-Paced Fun

Image via Ketchup Entertainment

Coyote vs. Acme is one of the funniest comedies of the year. Samy Burch’s clever script is stuffed with a truly impressive number of jokes per minute, and Green’s smart direction has them flying by at a nonstop pace, already presenting you with the next hilarious moment before you’re even done laughing at the previous one. The combination of visual gags and sharp dialogue — often happening simultaneously — means there’s never a dull second. Sure, some of the slapstick shenanigans become a bit redundant toward the end, but they’re never repetitive enough to feel lazy or irritating.

The film is also a visual feast, seamlessly blending animation and live-action. It joins the ranks of beloved upper echelon of movies that have previously employed these techniques, like Who Framed Roger Rabbit and Space Jam, while still feeling fresh and unique. Whether intentional or by happy accident, the latest Looney Tunes pic also has some comedic parallels to Better Call Saul, what with the scrappy Albuquerque law firm, its over-the-top advertisements, and dramatic desert showdowns. The cinematography and costume design both serve to immerse the viewer in the setting, giving it a distinctlive New Mexico flair.

The performances are excellent across the board. Everyone has a clear understanding of the tone and commits 100%, though perhaps no one as fully as John Cena. Cena is not afraid to be seriously silly, and his scenes plotting with (and deferring to) Acme CEO Foghorn Leghorn stand out in a film packed with great moments. The other MVP goes to Martha Kelly, who plays one of Kevin’s associates. Her deadpan delivery had me laughing every time she opened her mouth.

Forte and Condor are equally great as the film’s slightly more grounded forces. Forte makes for the perfect straight man navigating the chaos around him, as well as the film’s reluctant hero. Condor is sunshine personified as Paige, with a positive, can-do attitude impossible not to root for. She acts as the moral center of the film — a bubbly Erin Brockovich figure who’s unafraid to face Goliath.

‘Coyote vs. Acme’ Is Surprisingly Timely and Heartfelt

Image via Warner Bros.

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Coyote vs. Acme’s message is comedically relevant and meta when you take its road to release into account. No punch is pulled when it declares large corporations often work solely in their own best interests, without consideration if consumers are collateral damage for preserving their profits and reputation. The movie impressively goes a step further when it reveals that harming cartoons was always the intention. There is no shortage of marginalized groups that could be substituted in for cartoons, and there’s no doubt that themes of oppression, a lack of regulations, and cover-ups are more timely than ever. Coyote vs. Acme doesn’t shy away from the clear parallels to what’s happening in real life and, in fact, boldly leans into them.

Not only does Coyote vs. Acme have humor and substance, but it also has heart and soul, particularly when it comes to its depiction of unlikely friendships. Wile E. Coyote and Kevin’s unexpected bond acts as the cornerstone of the movie, and several of their scenes are vaguely reminiscent of another great interspecies friendship of 2026: Grace and Rocky in Project Hail Mary. The surprising direction the film takes Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner’s rivalry is another beautiful high point, with both likely to bring a tear or two to your eye. Other Looney Tunes favorites are savvily integrated into the overarching plot, given beats to shine in a way that makes sense without simply feeling like fan service.

Coyote vs. Acme is a rare movie that will truly prove fun and rewarding for the entire family. From classic slapstick antics to clever dialogue, the comedy fires on all cylinders, but the timely message and genuinely compelling relationships bring it to the next level and make for a memorable watch. Coyote vs. Acme’s journey to the big screen proves that good things come to those who wait, but fantastic things come to those who never give up.

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Release Date

August 28, 2026

Runtime

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101 Minutes

Director

Dave Green

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Writers

Samy Burch, Jeremy Slater, James Gunn

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Producers

Christopher DeFaria, James Gunn

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Pros & Cons

• The comedy is strong, and the pacing is excellent, with an impressive number of jokes per minute.
• The themes of corporate cover-ups and greed feel more timely than ever.
• The film has a surprising amount of heart, highlighting unexpected friendships.

• Some of the physical gags can get repetitive at times.

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A former “Top of the Pops” staffer is sharing what some of music’s biggest stars were allegedly like away from the cameras. Gareth Davies, who worked as an assistant floor manager on the BBC music series from the mid-to-late 1990s into the 2000s, recalled backstage encounters with Jennifer Lopez, Janet Jackson, Madonna, and the Spice Girls.

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Speaking to online bingo provider Zingo Bingo, Davies described a surprisingly relaxed environment where international stars spent hours mingling between rehearsals and performances.

Davies said Lopez stood out when it came to backstage requests, particularly because the show’s dressing rooms were relatively modest. “I worked backstage at ‘Top of the Pops’ in the ’90s,” he said. “Jennifer Lopez was a diva but Janet Jackson was down to earth.”

“The dressing rooms were all along this narrow corridor, so nothing special, really, quite old-fashioned. But for that small stretch of space, she made it completely her own,” Davies recalled. “The best way to describe it is that she turned her dressing room entirely white.”

According to the former staffer, the room was not painted for the occasion. Instead, plastic sheeting was reportedly installed throughout the space. “At the time, I’m not sure where the fascination with white came from, but she wanted everything transformed,” he continued.

“The whole room was covered from top to bottom, which was quite unusual,” he added. “She didn’t paint it, she had plastic sheeting put up everywhere instead, so it created this striking, all-white environment.”

Shania Twain’s Entourage Reportedly Made Sure She Never Opened A Door

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Shania Twain allegedly arrived with a memorable system of her own. “Shania Twain has a really large entourage with her, and my lasting memory was watching her walk from the dressing rooms to the studio,” Davies said.

“There was this long line of people moving ahead of her, almost like a relay,” he continued. “Apparently she didn’t open doors, so someone would always be one step ahead holding it open for her. It was like this perfectly choreographed system, all so she could just keep walking.”

Janet Jackson Surprised The Crew With Her Down-To-Earth Behavior

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While some performers made elaborate requests, Davies remembered Jackson for being unexpectedly low-key. The production crew reportedly believed the singer was running late as they waited for her to arrive on the studio floor. However, Jackson and her dancers were already onstage.

“We were all being very casual about it, thinking, well, she’s a major A-lister, of course she’s going to be late,” Davies explained. “So we just waited around. But as it turned out, Janet and all her dancers had been there the whole time, quietly waiting on stage themselves while we were all waiting for her.”

The former assistant floor manager said Jackson wore tracksuit bottoms and a hoodie and did not attempt to separate herself from the dancers. “What really stayed with me was how kind, gentle, and soft she was; everyone was genuinely taken aback,” he shared. “She felt like one of the dancers, really, just keen to be part of the group rather than setting herself apart as the star.”

Madonna’s Missing Wardrobe Reportedly Delayed Production

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Madonna’s appearance became memorable for an entirely different reason after her stylist allegedly left the singer’s outfits behind at a London hotel. Davies said the production schedule was already unusually rushed because the music icon planned to record several songs during the same visit.

“From the moment she arrived, it was straight into the studio, rehearsing, back to get ready, then out on stage,” he explained. “But she and her team had all rushed in from a hotel in central London, and somehow her stylist had left all the outfits behind.”

The mistake reportedly forced the production to pause. “We actually had to delay because Madonna had nothing to wear,” Davies said. “It really felt like she had someone responsible for every tiny detail, so you can imagine whoever was in charge of the wardrobe that day was probably in serious trouble…”

The Spice Girls’ Chemistry Was ‘Not Faked For Cameras’

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Davies also witnessed the Spice Girls early in their rise and said the group’s connection appeared authentic even when cameras were not rolling. “I remember the first time they got on stage for their rehearsals, they were all jumping around and hugging each other,” he shared. “That was a moment where they felt they’d made it.”

According to Davies, the group brought the same lively energy into its dressing room. “The five of them just had this amazing chemistry together,” he continued. “Their personalities worked so well and it wasn’t faked for cameras. You’d go into the dressing room and the energy was electric. They were so fun.”

Another standout moment came while watching the band Texas complete a soundcheck. “It felt quite intimate, almost like a private performance, which made those moments really special,” Davies said.

For Davies, those candid backstage moments remain proof that the real magic of “Top of the Pops” often happened long before the cameras started rolling.

2026 has been a huge year for Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, who has starred in not one, but two of the biggest projects of his career. Abdul-Mateen II began the year by starring in the Wonder Man Disney Plus series in the MCU, which was met with widespread acclaim from both critics and fans. Marvel Studios initially announced that the show had been renewed for Season 2, but just a few weeks ago, the studio went back on its word and confirmed that the show would not receive another season. Abdul-Mateen II also starred in one of the biggest Netflix shows of the year, Man on Fire, which is a remake of the popular Denzel Washington film directed by the late Tony Scott. The series picked up over 40 million views during its time at the top of streaming charts.

After starring in several big shows so far in 2026, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is making the transition to the big screen soon with the premiere of By Any Means, his new true crime thriller coming to theaters on September 4. This morning, Paramount debuted the final breathtaking trailer for the film, which also stars Mark Wahlberg in a leading role. Additional cast members include Nicole Beharie, Josh Lucas, LisaGay Hamilton, LaChanze, Ethan Embry, David Straithairn, and Giancarlo Esposito. Sashca Penn wrote the script for By Any Means and Elegance Bratton directed the film. Bratton recently directed The Inspection, the 2022 R-rated psychological drama starring Gabrielle Union, and he also directed an episode of American Horror Stories, the Hulu series that ran from 2021 to 2024.

What Is ‘By Any Means’ About?

Paramount has also released the official synopsis for By Any Means to go along with the debut of the final trailer, which reads as follows: “Inspired by a true story, a young Black FBI agent (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) is sent into 1960s Mississippi to investigate a wave of brutal killings targeting civil rights leaders. Forced to work alongside notorious mafia hitman Greg Scarpa (Mark Wahlberg), he finds himself pulled into a deadly hunt where justice and vengeance begin to blur.” Abdul-Mateen II recently earned an Emmy nomination for his performance in the first season of Wonder Man, and with his career on the up and up, By Any Means can safely be considered one of the most exciting movies premiering in the second half of the year.

Check out the new trailer for By Any Means and stay tuned to Collider for more updates and coverage of Yahya Abdul-Mateen II’s future projects.

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Release Date

September 4, 2026

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Director

Elegance Bratton

Writers

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Elegance Bratton, Sascha Penn, Theodore Witcher

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