Celebrity chef and cookbook author Ina Garten is defending her decision to live a child-free life with her husband, Jeffrey Garten.

“I think it would have been difficult, and I think Jeffrey and I would have had a different life together,” Ina, 78, revealed in an interview with The New York Times published on Saturday, August 29. “I’m not saying it’s a better life or a worse life, but there were times when Jeffrey decided that he wanted to start a business in Japan, so he moved to Japan.”

She continued, “I was in East Hampton, we went back and forth and we figured it out. I think that probably couldn’t have happened if we had kids, and I couldn’t have stayed long hours at the store, doing catering and running the store.”

Ina and Jeffrey got married in 1968 — at a time, much like today still, when women were expected to marry and have children. (U.S. birth rates have reached a historic low, with less teens having babies and more women in their 30s and 40s deciding to have children when they’re ready, willing and able.)

In lieu of having children, Ina left her government job at age 30 after seeing a classified ad for a gourmet food store in West Hampton Beach, New York, named The Barefoot Contessa. The author transformed the speciality store into a lifelong brand and nickname before selling the physical restaurant in 1996 and going on to publish nearly a dozen bestselling cookbooks while hosting various successful Food Network series.

“I think it would have been much harder,” Ida told The New York Times of what life would have been like if she had decided to have children. “I’ve never looked back on the decision and thought, I should have done it differently. I understand how my friends have wonderful families, and they really enjoy being parents, but it’s just not something I ever wanted to do.”

She concluded of deciding not to become a mother, “I’m really happy that I didn’t.”

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Related: Rachael Ray Says She Was ‘Bashed’ for Choosing Not to Have Kids

Rachael Ray is a proud mother to her fur babies. Ray, 56, and celebrity trainer Bob Harper opened up about their respective decisions to not have kids on the Tuesday, November 12, episode of her “I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead” podcast. “I choose never to have children. God love all the people that have kids,” […]

The cooking guru’s most recent comments are not the first time she had publicly discuss her private family planning decisions. In 2017, Ina told former Today show cohost Katie Couric that the choice not to have kids wasn’t a particularly difficult one.

“We decided not to have children,” she told the journalist at the time. “I really appreciate that other people do, and we will always have friends that have children that we are close to, but it was a choice I made very early.”

She continued, “I really felt, I feel, that I would have never been able to have the life I’ve had [with children].”

Pop star Taylor Swift is reportedly “frustrated” with her husband, Travis Kelce, after their short honeymoon. The couple tied the knot on July 3, 2026, at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Although they both have busy work schedules, it seems that the “Delicate” singer is frustrated that Kelce has already returned to the Kansas City Chiefs as they begin training for another NFL season.

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Swift and Kelce spent time together in Laguna, California, among other places, following their Madison Square Garden wedding ceremony. Unfortunately, in late July, just a few weeks after they tied the knot, Kelce had to head back to Missouri in order to train with his Kansas City Chiefs teammates.

“She is frustrated because football is taking up so much of his time – he works overtime – causing them to not see each other a ton, and she would like more,” an insider told the Daily Mail in a new report published on Sunday, August 30.

“Travis being in training camp has meant she has had to go out alone,” the source continued. “They do not see each other every single day, but they see each other every single week – they are very dedicated to that.”

The source revealed: “She refuses to complain to him about his absence, because she knew what she signed up for, she knew he would be at practice after they got married. She knew the honeymoon would be short so she can’t complain at all, and she doesn’t want to guilt Travis. That is not her deal, she never shames or complains.”

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While Kelce is training in Missouri, the insider reveals that the couple has been taking steps in order to bridge the distance.

“They talk on the phone all the time, and text, FaceTime, all of it. He sends her flowers too when she is out of town, her favorites like roses and orchids,” the insider shared, noting that they “just deal with it” when they have to.

“They know they both have massive careers, and they love what they do, so they give each other freedom,” the source added.

Taylor Swift Has ‘Tons of Energy’ Following The Wedding

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While Kelce is focusing on football, Swift has been spending her time in New York City, Los Angeles, and London with her famous friends.

“That girl does not really sit still, she has tons of energy,” the insider shared. “She had to hit parties, perform and do interviews without her husband by her side.”

In mid-August, the “Wood” singer was seen promoting her Eras Tour documentary, which has received five Emmy nominations. She also went to the Grammy Museum and sang her latest single, “I Knew It, I Knew You,” from the “Toy Story 5” soundtrack.

Will Taylor Swift Attend The Emmys?

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It remains to be seen if Swift will attend the Emmy Awards, which are being held on Monday, September 14. That same night, Kelce will be facing off against the Denver Broncos in Kansas City for their first game of the NFL season.

The insider said that Swift is “making all the right moves to support the documentary,” adding, “She received recognition as both a performer and producer for the Disney+ special.”

Although Kelce won’t be able to join Swift at the Emmys if she does attend, this isn’t the first time that the couple has spent time apart. Their busy schedules have challenged their relationship ever since they started dating in 2023. At the time, Kelce continued to play in the NFL while Swift traveled the globe during her wildly successful Eras Tour.

Swift Has ‘Not Seen’ Her Husband ‘A Ton’ Since Tying The Knot

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The insider said that the distance is “harder now” that they’re married because the singer “wants more, for sure.”

“They have been married almost two months, but she has not seen him a ton. She misses their morning workout sessions and cooking together,” the insider shared. “She loves having her hunky man by her side, holding her hand and opening doors for her, watching out for her. He makes her feel not just loved, but also protected. She is so madly in love that she wants to spend more time with Travis.”

However, they added that she “understands he is putting in the hours because he wants to be his very best this season.”

Taylor Swift Is Working On New Music

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The source also shared some good news with Swifties. They divulged that although she “loves being a WAG,” the pop star has been “busy working on new music and a new documentary for the future.”

Since getting married, the source revealed that she has been feeling “very creative” and looking to the Haim sisters for inspiration and “vibes” because they are “great at guiding her.”

The insider went on to say, “Taylor has not posted on Instagram in almost three months, and it has been a while since she has been on a red carpet, so she is letting her hair down a bit and loving it.”

Alex Garland made a name for himself with genre classics such as 28 Days Later and Sunshine, but his directorial debut in 2015 stands apart. The frequent Danny Boyle collaborator set off on his own, creating the modern sci-fi classic, Ex Machina. Garland wrote and directed the film that forced viewers to consider many issues of the day. Starring Domhnall Gleeson, Oscar Isaac, and Alicia Vikander, Ex Machina follows an up-and-coming programmer, Caleb (Gleeson), who gets invited to eccentric billionaire Nathan’s (Isaac) estate, where a state-of-the-art experiment is being conducted.

Nathan is the head of the company Caleb works for and is on the verge of cracking AI. Caleb wins a lottery in taking part in an experiment that will prove if Nathan’s new project is actually sentient or not. This new project goes by the name of Ava (Vikander), a female presenting robot whom Nathan created. Caleb’s role is to interact with her while Nathan measures her responses to determine if she has achieved the goal of self-actualization. Ex Machina had a strong setup on its own, but what follows in the hour and 48 minutes of screen time is a brilliant take on gender and the ethics of AI.

‘Ex Machina’ Is More Than Meets the Eye

Image via A24

When Ex Machina first premiered, it was topical, but now it is more relevant than ever. Artificial Intelligence has been in the conversation for quite some time, and the consequences of such an invention are being discussed. Going back as far as Dune and the machine war within its pages, Frank Herbert made his feelings about computers that could think incredibly transparent. Alex Garland had similar concerns as Ex Machina delves into the ethics of bringing something like this to life. Breaking the barriers of technology like this has been done before, and not always for the better. J. Robert Oppenheimer is used as an example in the film of how good intentions can go awry. The theoretical physicist was responsible for the creation of the atomic bomb, which destroyed Hiroshima and Nagasaki in World War II. It was supposed to be the war that ended all wars, but this technology only opened the door to more conflict.

Bringing someone like Ava to life is similarly irresponsible. Nathan created something he had no control over —a being that did not ask to come into existence. His intentions were simply to see if he could, not – as Jeff Goldblum says in Jurassic Park – because he should. Nathan unleashes Ava upon the world and deeply feels the repercussions of his actions. This theme dovetails perfectly with the feminist ideas present in the film. Garland uses Ava’s lack of bodily autonomy as a method of exploring how women are treated in reality.

Even when they are not robots created for the pleasure of men, women are often treated as such. Ava came into the world because some power-hungry inventor wanted to see the extent of his own talents. It had nothing to do with her. While she becomes sentient, she is confined to a cell and posed how Nathan wants her to. Even though Nathan doesn’t view her as human, her circumstances help her understand how women are treated in society. Even Caleb, who seems to treat Ava with concern, is also guilty of defining her by her femaleness. He puts her on a pedestal and only gives her value because of how she makes him feel. He doesn’t put stock in her for any other reason.

All of these facts culminate in the ending of Ex Machina that is terrifying as well as earned. Garland envisions a world where technology has gone too far and humanity needs to be careful about how it proceeds. When it first came out a decade ago, Ex Machina was a warning, and it has become eleven more resonant because no one seemed to listen.

Ex Machina is now streaming on Hulu.

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Ex Machina

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Release Date

April 24, 2015

Runtime

108 minutes

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Director

Alex Garland

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Alex Garland

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Influencer Kate Cassidy is honoring what would have been have been the late Liam Payne’s 33rd birthday two years after his sudden and shocking death.

“It’s August 29, which is a very special someone’s birthday,” Cassidy, 27, began a TikTok video shared Saturday, August 29, as she placed Bischoff cookies atop a single-layer cake. “This will now be Year 2 of Liam not being here physically to celebrate his birthday.”

She continued, “Someone once said when a person dies, they die twice. So, they die the first time and then, the second time when you stop talking about them. I’m never gonna stop talking about him. He was a huge part of my life.”

Payne dated Cassidy from 2022 until his untimely 2024 death. The former One Direction singer suffered a fatal fall from the third-story balcony of a hotel at the age of 31 while under the influence. Payne’s cause of death was later attributed to severe internal and external injuries, with traces of alcohol and various drugs found in his system.

In addition to Cassidy, Payne is survived by his parents, his two older sisters and his 9-year-old son, Bear, whom he shared with ex Cheryl Cole.

For Cassidy, she honored Payne’s heavenly birthday by purchasing a white cake topped with sprinkles.

“He made me grow into the person that I am today. Bischoffs were, like, his favorite cookie ever,” she said of her decision to add biscuits to the cake. “I used to make him little Bischoff cupcakes all the time.”

The content creator added, “For those of you who don’t know Liam, let me tell you, he was the most funniest, most handsome, smart [and] most kind soul that you’ll probably meet in your life.”

@kateecass

happy birthday Liam❤️

♬ original sound – Kateecass

According to Cassidy, she remembers how “simple” Payne always was despite his mega-celebrity status and world-renowned career.

“On Liam’s last birthday two years ago, we went bowling and we had cake in bed,” Cassidy recalled, while lighting a birthday candle on the cake. “It was just a simple morning.”

Before blowing out a candle, Cassidy offered a message to Payne himself.

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Related: Liam Payne and Kate Cassidy’s Relationship Timeline

One Direction alum Liam Payne had been dating influencer Kate Cassidy for two years before he died at age 31 in October 2024. Payne and Cassidy were first linked in October 2022, and Cassidy posted the singer on her Instagram page just one month before Us Weekly confirmed news of his death on October 16. […]

“Happy birthday, Liam, I hope you are celebrating in heaven today,” she wished. “Just know that you are so loved down here.”

Payne’s family, meanwhile, enjoyed their own celebration across the pond in the late singer’s native England.

“Celebrating your birthday for the second year without you will never feel right,” Payne’s sister Nicola wrote via Instagram. “We do it the best way we know how with a little bowling, just like we did for your last birthday. I hate how much you’re missing out on and how life has had to carry on without you here. It still doesn’t feel fair, and I don’t think it ever will. We miss you more than words could ever say.”

Dolly Parton may have left fans far more new music than the mysterious recording scheduled to emerge on what would have been her 100th birthday. Following the country legend’s death at age 80, insiders claim Parton maintained a heavily protected private archive containing potentially hundreds of unreleased songs. Some reportedly exist as demos, while others have lyrics and melodies that were never fully produced. The singer is also said to have left careful instructions for how her hidden music should be managed and released after her death.

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One insider told the Daily Mail that Parton kept her unreleased work inside a secure archive known to her inner circle as “The Vault.” “The songs are hidden very safely in ‘The Vault’; that is what she called her secret storage place for her music,” the source claimed. “They are protected and very secure. There could be as many as 200 songs, no one really knows, because Dolly was very secretive.”

The source said the unreleased songs have “lyrics and melodies,” with some already recorded in an early form. “Some are demoed, but they have not been produced yet,” the insider added.

A second source claimed Parton was deliberately preparing material that could be shared following her death. “She was working on posthumous music for after she was gone,” the source explained. “It’s a music catalog that will live on forever.”

Songwriting Was Part Of The Singer’s Daily Routine

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Parton’s extensive collection would be consistent with a songwriting routine she reportedly maintained throughout her six-decade career. “Dolly would write music every day,” the first insider said. “She told friends that after she had her morning coffee, she would ‘pray and write,’ that is what she always said. She loved writing music. It made her happy because she was so creative.”

According to the source, Parton had a large private recording studio at her Tennessee compound where she could transform her ideas into songs away from the public. However, she did not depend on the studio to write. Parton was known to develop lyrics and melodies whenever inspiration arrived.

Her songwriting catalog includes “Jolene,” “9 to 5,” “Coat of Many Colors,” and “I Will Always Love You.” Whitney Houston later turned the latter into a global hit, but Parton wrote and originally recorded the song herself.

Dolly Parton Allegedly Planned For Posthumous Releases

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The sources claim Parton did not leave the future of her unreleased music unresolved. “Dolly was really smart. She laid everything out for her family, and there are careful instructions with the music,” the first insider said. “Nothing has been left to chance. That means she hired people to look after her music.”

The second source echoed that account, saying, “She’s made plans for that music to be released after her death.”

No official release schedule for the reported vault recordings has been announced. Details about which songs could emerge first, how finished they are, or who controls them have also not been made public.

The source said Parton’s secrecy was intended to protect those closest to her. “She has been secretive about it for the benefit of her family,” they said.

Parton reportedly relied upon a trusted group that included longtime publicist Marcel Pariseau. Her goddaughter, Miley Cyrus, is also among the close relatives and collaborators who understand the importance of her songwriting legacy. “Dolly had a solid group of people around her,” the insider said. “She has trusted them for a very long time. She has no bad apples in her circle.”

One Secret Song Cannot Be Heard Until 2046

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Unlike the larger alleged archive, Parton publicly confirmed the existence of one unreleased recording titled “My Place in History.” She revealed in her 2020 memoir, “Songteller: My Life in Lyrics,” that the song had been placed inside a time capsule beneath Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa in 2015.

Physical copies were reportedly stored on cassette and CD, along with equipment capable of playing both formats. The chestnut “Dream Box” is not supposed to be opened until January 19, 2046, which would have been Parton’s 100th birthday.

A placard included with the time capsule explains that the recording was intended to be her final release. “As a final tribute, Dolly placed a song which she has written to be released as her last. Entitled ‘My Place In History,’ only Dolly will know its melody and content until 2046.”

The wooden box also honors Parton’s uncle and early mentor, Bill Owens, who worked to preserve the American chestnut tree.

The Country Icon Worried The Recording Might Not Survive

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Parton discussed the unusual project during a 2022 appearance on “The Kelly Clarkson Show.” She acknowledged that she might not live long enough to hear the recording finally released but jokingly refused to rule out the possibility. “They weren’t expecting me to be there at all,” she said. “I’m just saying, I might be there. Who knows? But the point is, there is a song – I figure it’ll probably disintegrate; probably nobody ever hears it.”

Parton admitted that the possibility of the recording deteriorating inside the box genuinely bothered her. “That’s what bothers me, to think that it’s gonna be a song that nobody’s ever gonna hear if it rots in there before they open it.”

She then poked fun at the decision to keep the song sealed for three decades. “I don’t know whose damn idea that was.”

Anne Hathaway’s casting as the leading lady in the second installment of “Days of Thunder” alongside Tom Cruise isn’t sitting well with everyone.

Randy Quaid, who was one of the original cast members of the 1990 sports movie, publicly opposed the idea due to his political affiliations.

However, fans don’t seem to have that opinion, praising Hathaway for staying extra busy and booked.

Roomies! Joe Budden and Shadée Monique just gave fans a major reason to celebrate as they step into a brand-new chapter together. The longtime couple had a sweet surprise waiting for everyone during what appeared to be an early birthday celebration for Joe, and baby news quickly became the center of attention.

RELATED: Congrats! Joe Budden Proposes To Longtime Girlfriend Shadée Monique During His Birthday Celebration (VIDEOS)

Shadée Monique Reveals Their Sweet Baby Girl Surprise

Videos obtained by LiveBitez show Shadée Monique announcing that she and Joe Budden are expecting a baby girl. In the clip, the Houston businesswoman tells the crowd, “We have a little surprise,” before revealing, “Joe’s going to be a girl dad.” Cheers immediately erupted as those around them celebrated the exciting news.

ICYMI, Joe Made It A Double Celebration

The pregnancy announcement came just before Joe got down on one knee and proposed to Shadée. As previously reported, in another circulating video, Joe can be seen placing a gorgeous ring on her hand before asking, “We doing it or what?” Shadée happily responded, “Of course we are!” making the celebration a double dose of good news for the couple.

The TL Is Going UP!

Fans quickly ran to the Live Bitez comment section and lit it up with reactions to Joe Budden and Shadée Monique’s big news. While some commenters shared that they were genuinely happy for Joe and celebrated the couple’s new chapter, others took a more critical stance and accused him of creating “broken homes.” Meanwhile, a few folks kept it simple, flooding the comments with fire emojis to show their excitement.

One Instagram user @jukeyy said, “He ALWAYS wanted to be a girl dad. This is so precious and I’m so glad this is who he chose.”

This Instagram user @esignerdiscipline added, “I’m so happy for them. ❤️”

And, Instagram user @god_doeslikeugly shared, “He be talking all that sh*t how he don’t make girls 😂😂😂”

Meanwhile, Instagram user @__cashxb.4l commented, “Real sh*t congratulations fr👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾”

While Instagram user @locs2die4 wrote, “Yess I love this for them!! Congrats all around ❤️👏🏾🙌🏾”

Then Instagram user @justm0nique said, “Awww i love that for them ❤️❤️❤️❤️”

Instagram user @nerak2510 shared, “🔥🔥🔥🔥congrats”

Lastly, Instagram user @errythinpinka added, “Joe be having kids and all of them end up in broken homes.”

RELATED: Whew! Joe Budden Steps On Drake’s NECK With Heated Rant About His UMG Petitions

It looks like Blueface and Nevaeh Akira are staying unbothered amid Jaidyn Alexis’ comments about their relationship and their newborn son, Jonathan Jamal Porter Jr. Nevaeh popped up during Blue’s livestream, and he immediately started hyping up her post-baby snapback and new look. The chat agreed that Nevaeh should’ve popped out because she was looking good while flexing her bounce back!

RELATED: It’s His! Nevaeh Akira Claps Back After Jaidyn Alexis Questions Paternity Of Her & Blueface’s Newborn Son (VIDEOS)

Nevaeh Akira’s Post-Baby Glow Had Blueface & The Chat Taking Notice

Recently, Blueface was chilling on a livestream when Nevaeh Akira popped in and showed off her new look. She came through with a fresh buss down, rocking a dark blue matching set as she held their baby, Jonathan Jr. Blue looked shocked when he saw how she was coming, and asked, “You looked pretty. Where you going?” Nevaeh kept flexing her snapback during the stream, so she played with him and said she was going out before hading Jonathan Jr. to him. Blue immediately started flooding her with questions, and Nevaeh eventually told him she was just playing she wasn’t popping out. That led the rapper to mention that he planned on going out too, but seeing Nevaeh looking so good made him change his mind.

The Roommates Also Gassed Nevaeh UP

Once The Shade Room Teens dropped the clip of Nevaeh and Blue, folks also hyped her up in the comment section. Plenty of TeaMates said Nevaeh’s post-baby snapback was giving, while others joked that she should’ve stepped out to give Blue a taste of his own medicine.

Instagram user @fly.heroes wrote, “She looks beautiful 😍❤️❤️” 

Instagram user @ro_geez wrote, “He’s more nicer when she’s put together lol.” 

While Instagram user @darealashhm_ wrote, “So refreshing to see him saying some nice to her 😍😍😍👏” 

Then Instagram user @_nailplug wrote, “She look good here 🔥” 

Instagram user @_nellly_nell wrote, “as a single mama Girllll he would’ve got the babyyyy so daymmm fast from me😂😂cuz i’m outsideeee😭😭😭✌🏽” 

Then another Instagram user @babarbie.ro wrote, “Nevaeh if you don’t actually go OUT!😭😭” 

Finally, Instagram user @dai.da.donn wrote, “She really is naturally pretty.” 

Nevaeh Responds After Jaidyn Alexis Made Comments About Her Newborn Son

Nevaeh and Blueface have been taking over timeline ever since they welcomed their son earlier this month. Their moments together caught Jaidyn Alexis’ attention, and she made it clear that her two children with Blue, Journey and Javaughn Porter, won’t meet his newborn son with Nevaeh until they confirm paternity. Nevaeh appeared to peep Jaidyn’s comments and quickly clapped back, letting her know Jonathan Jr. is definitely Blue’s son. She also addressed Jaidyn’s comments about her decision to name their baby boy after Blue. “How the f**k can I take a child’s middle name if that’s the n***a whole full f*****g name.” Nevaeh added, “See I’m not a bitter a** b***h, but I get you is. It’s okay, though. Love to all. Love all!”

RELATED: Social Media Reacts After Jaidyn Alexis Says Her Kids Won’t Meet Blueface’s New Baby Until Paternity Is Confirmed

Tom Cruise is officially getting back behind the wheel as Cole Trickle, and he’ll have Anne Hathaway alongside him when Days of Thunder returns to theaters.

Hathaway has joined Cruise as the co-lead of Paramount Pictures’ upcoming Days of Thunder sequel, nearly four decades after the original NASCAR racing film hit theaters in 1990.

Cruise will reprise his role as hotshot driver Cole Trickle, while Hathaway is set to play a race team owner and engineer. Paramount has also officially set the film for a June 2, 2028 theatrical release.

The project will be filmed for IMAX and receive an exclusive theatrical release that will also include premium formats such as Dolby Cinema and 4DX.

Cruise helped make the news official with a promotional image featuring himself and Hathaway together at Daytona International Speedway alongside a Days of Thunder race car.

Jonathan Levine, whose credits include Long Shot and Warm Bodies, will direct the sequel from a screenplay by Will Staples. Cruise will produce alongside longtime collaborator Jerry Bruckheimer and Tommy Harper.

Days of Thunder [paramount pictures]

The original Days of Thunder was directed by Tony Scott and followed Trickle as he entered the world of NASCAR and attempted to transform his raw talent into success at the sport’s highest level. The film also starred Robert Duvall, Nicole Kidman, Randy Quaid and John C. Reilly.

Released in 1990, Days of Thunder went on to earn nearly $158 million worldwide and has developed a significant following among racing fans in the decades since its release.

The sequel also gives Cruise another opportunity to revisit one of his most recognizable early films following the enormous success of Top Gun: Maverick. That film reunited Cruise and Bruckheimer more than three decades after the original Top Gun and ultimately became one of the biggest box office hits of Cruise’s career.

Hathaway, meanwhile, continues an incredibly busy stretch that has included The Odyssey, The Devil Wears Prada 2 and several other major projects.

Plot details for the new Days of Thunder remain under wraps, including exactly where Cole Trickle finds himself nearly 40 years later.

But one thing is official: Cole Trickle is heading back to the track.

Days of Thunder will race back into theaters on June 2, 2028.

Although it was once one of Konami‘s flagships, the halls of Castlevania have lain still for a while now. The last new game from the gothic horror action-platformer series was over a decade ago in 2014, when Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 released to middling reviews before Konami briefly shifted its focus towards the mobile market. Netflix’s animated series kept some interest in the Belmonts alive during this dormancy, and collections of games from throughout the console generations assured the franchise was never fully gone from modern platforms, but movement on a new whip-cracking adventure was slow. That finally changed this year with the announcement of Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse at a State of Play presentation back in February.

Instead of moving forward, Belmont’s Curse goes back in the family tree and follows Rose Belmont, daughter of Trevor Belmont and Sypha Belnades. Set 23 years after Trevor, Sypha, Grant Danasty, and the dhampir Alucard killed Dracula in Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse, the story takes place in a Medieval Paris overrun by monsters, where the titular castle has reformed. A bishop calls the legendary vampire hunter to get to the root of the evil, only he brings Rose along with him, granting her the family’s sacred weapon, the Vampire Killer whip, to beat back the forces of darkness and unravel the conspiracy at the heart of this invasion. It will be a fast-paced return to the Metroidvania playstyle the series helped popularize with Symphony of the Night, but a recent trailer also confirmed an intriguing voice cast will help bring the adventure to life.

The new video, which debuted at Gamescom Opening Night Live, was primarily a spotlight for the actors entering the booth for the journey to Paris, headlined by prolific Demon Slayer and DanDaDan voice actress Abby Trott as Rose and Arcane alum JB Blanc as Trevor. In a big surprise, however, the Belmont family was rounded out by none other than Alejandra Reynoso, reprising her role as Sypha from the Netflix series. She’s not the only actor crossing over from the screen to the games, either, as, towards the end of the trailer, Outlander, House of the Dragon, and general fantasy icon Graham McTavish was revealed to once again be lending his voice to the big bad vampire, Dracula, with a sinister laugh. They’re also joined by, among others, Ray Chase as The Fallen, Erica Lindbeck as Joan of Arc, Aaron LaPlante as Death, and Liam O’Brien, who also returns to the role of Isaac over 20 years after Curse of Darkness.

Who Is Behind ‘Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse’?

The trailer also functions as another look at the haunting environments players will traverse in Belmont’s Curse, the abilities they’ll unlock, and the fearsome bosses to come as they navigate the castle. Konami isn’t developing this installment themselves, though, instead handing off the license to Evil Empire and Motion Twin. The former most recently worked on another acclaimed Metroidvania in The Rogue Prince of Persia, while the latter is best known as the developer of the beloved roguelike Dead Cells. Both developers previously collaborated on a DLC expansion for Dead Cells that brought in an entire Castlevania-themed area, weapons, and bosses, making them the perfect developers to join forces for the long-awaited return of the franchise.

Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse releases on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Nintendo Switch on October 15. Check out the new trailer in the player above.

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Release Date

2017 – 2021-00-00

Showrunner

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Warren Ellis

Writers

Warren Ellis

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Franchise(s)

Castlevania

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