Kanye West’s long-running legal battle with former Donda Academy Employee Benjamin Provo is heating up ahead of trial. Provo is asking the court to stop the rapper from relying on an “Unsound mind” argument when the case reaches a jury.

The former staffer is reportedly turning West’s own words against him. He’s pointing to the rapper’s own deposition testimony where he said he was “close to me being myself” during the period at the center of the lawsuit.

Provo’s legal team argues that the remark undercuts any attempt to suggest that the rapper was not of sound mind at the time.

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Per TMZ, which obtained the new court filing, Provo is making an attempt to block West from using an argument regarding his mental state at the trial.

The former security employee claims the rapper failed to produce evidence during the discovery process that would support such a defense.

Provo reportedly argues that West did not provide medical records, expert testimony, or other evidence to establish that he truly was of “Unsound mind” during the period in question. His legal team believes that should prevent the rapper from using the argument once the case reaches a jury.

No ruling has been made on the request at this time.

Kanye West’s Own Deposition Testimony Could Complicate That Defense

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Beyond the alleged lack of medical evidence, Provo is also pointing to West’s own sworn testimony as another reason the mental state argument should be kept out.

During his deposition, the rapper was reportedly asked whether he felt he was “not yourself” during the period in question. “No. I think that was close to me being myself,” West allegedly replied. The rapper also reportedly remarked, “Sometimes I intend to do good and still end up in deposition.”

Provo’s legal team is now citing those comments as evidence that West’s own description of his mental state is in direct conflict with any attempt to argue the opposite. Whether the court agrees with that interpretation of events remains to be seen.

This New Motion Comes Just Before Their October Trial

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The latest filing comes as West and Provo prepare to take their years-long legal dispute to trial in October. As The Blast previously reported, Provo sued the rapper back in 2024 after working as a security employee for Donda Academy and other properties connected to West.

In his original lawsuit, Provo accused West of discriminating against Black employees and alleged that they were treated differently from their white counterparts. He also claimed that West demanded he cut off his dreadlocks, and later proceeded to fire him after he refused the order.

So far, West has denied any wrongdoing in the case. The new filing does not introduce another allegation against the rapper, but rather focuses on what West will be allowed to argue in his defense once the case reaches a jury.

Kanye West Wants His Controversial Social Media Posts Excluded from Trial

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West is making his own effort to limit some of the material that could eventually be presented to the jury. According to a separate TMZ report, the rapper’s legal team has asked the court to prevent Provo from introducing a large collection of West’s controversial posts on social media at the trial.

The rapper’s attorneys reportedly argue that the posts could unfairly influence the jury against West and are not relevant to the former employee’s specific claims. Provo, on the other hand, wants to introduce some of the material as evidence to support his case further.

This gives the judge another major issue to settle before the October trial. The court will have to determine the relevance of the posts, weighed against their potential to create any prejudice on the part of the jury.

Bianca Censori Could Potentially Be Called As A Witness

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Kanye West’s wife, Bianca Censori, could also be drawn into the courtroom drama when the trial begins in October. She was previously reported to be among 22 potential witnesses who may be called in connection with the case.

She has been closely connected to the rapper’s business world in addition to their marriage, making her knowledge potentially relevant to certain parts of the dispute. West himself and Former Yeezy chief of staff Milo Yiannopoulos is also reportedly among the potential witnesses identified.

However, despite being listed as potential witnesses, there’s no guarantee that any of them would actually be called to testify.

Director Kenneth Lonergan is defending Mark Ruffalo after the actor was accused of being antisemitic.

“Mark Ruffalo has been talking about Israel since long before the Gaza war,” Lonergan, 63, wrote in a letter to The Hollywood Reporter published on Monday, August 31. “Apart from some routine social media ping-ponging, nobody serious I know of had accused him of antisemitism. Now Paramount has done just that, in the face of his sustained attacks on David Ellison and the upcoming Paramount merger.”

On Friday, August 21, Ruffalo, 58, took to Instagram to criticize the proposed Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger while tying billionaire Larry Ellison — father of Paramount CEO David Ellison — and Oracle to Israel’s military actions in Gaza. In his post, he shared a recent clip of Safra Catz, Oracle’s executive vice chair and a Paramount board member, speaking about “profoundly scary technologies” Oracle shared with the Israeli government following the October 7 terror attacks in 2023. (Over 70,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel launched military operations in the region, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, including more than 20,000 children.)

Paramount Skydance responded to Ruffalo’s public criticism with a statement the corporation later denounced as antisemitic.

Related: John Cusack Responds to Mark Ruffalo’s Statement to Claims He’s Antisemitic

John Cusack is standing in solidarity with Mark Ruffalo after the actor addressed claims he’s antisemitic. “Solidarity — well said,” Cusack, 60, wrote via X on Saturday, August 22, quote-tweeting Ruffalo’s recent statement after coming out in fierce opposition to Paramount Skydance’s executives’ ties to the Israeli government. “The accusation that I am antisemitic is […]

“We are, as always, troubled when antisemitic tropes are invoked in purported service of a business dispute,” a Paramount spokesperson said in a statement on Friday. “Words like ‘genocide’ and ‘apartheid,’ applied to a corporate transaction, aren’t just wrong — they’re a bridge too far, and they cheapen the very real suffering those words are meant to describe. This doesn’t deserve a response in kind — and to be clear, we don’t tolerate prejudice of any kind, against anyone.”

In his letter defending Ruffalo, Lonergan continued, “While I hope I share Mark’s basic humanitarianism, and likewise deplore the conduct of the war as I understand it, I disagree profoundly with many of his positions on the Middle Israel, Gaza, and Iran’s constellation of fanatical Islamic fundamentalist proxies. I think we share an equally dim view of fanatical Messianic Zionist fundamentalism.”

Lonergan, who worked with Ruffalo on the 2000 drama You Can Count on Me, added that he and the Marvel actor have been friends for 30 years.

“The notion that he is antisemitic is overtly preposterous, and the accusation itself a cynical and disgusting lie. I wish the Simon Wiesenthal Center, at least, would review his remarks and their own response, and clarify where exactly they detect any antisemitism,” he noted. “A similar indictment of Mark for his latest social media screed — a screed, mind you, as it was characterized this week by K.J. Yossman of Variety — comes from Ari Infel and the Creative Community for Peace. It is likewise evidence-free, scurrilous and shameful. Shame on its authors and signers — especially those few signatures who know Mark, have worked closely with him and know better.”

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Lonergan concluded, “I have no problem with anybody who wants to contest Mark’s – or anyone’s – ideas. But like all such deflections, the tissue-paper accusations levied at him by his targets lead directly back to the soft places in their own positions, which they can’t or won’t defend by actually addressing what he has to say. It’s an old trick, and a sorry one.”

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Ruffalo previously defended his remarks in an X post on Saturday, August 22.

“The accusation that I am antisemitic is appalling and fundamentally dishonest,” the 13 Going on 30 actor wrote. “Criticizing the actions of the Israeli prime minister, a military technology contract, or the executives who supply it is not the same as criticizing Jewish people. This critical and necessary dialogue is then dishonestly framed as being anti-Israel.”

He continued, “To be clear, my views come from my own political convictions and should never be interpreted as hostility toward Jewish people, for whom I have deep love and respect. Everything I know about acting, activism, and humanism has been profoundly shaped by the Jewish friends, colleagues, and loved ones who have been integral and family throughout every point of my life.”

Pastor John-Paul Miller found himself at the center of a headline-making cyberstalking case after his estranged wife, Mica Miller, died by suicide in April 2024.

As Netflix’s August 2026 docuseries Death of a Pastor’s Wife reintroduces viewers to the controversial faith leader and the disturbing details of the tragic case, many are asking one urgent question: Is John-Paul currently behind bars?

The short answer? No. Despite federal charges and a looming trial, John-Paul remains a free man — and Us has the full breakdown of where his case stands today.

Is John-Paul Miller in Jail?

John-Paul is not currently in jail. He was arrested in November 2024 and later indicted by a federal grand jury in December 2025 on charges of cyberstalking and making false statements to federal investigators. However, he was released after posting a $100,000 bond.

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He has pleaded not guilty to all charges and continues to live in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, where he preaches to a small congregation while awaiting his day in court.

What John-Paul Miller Is Accused of Doing to Mica Miller

Prosecutors allege that John-Paul cyberstalked his estranged wife from November 2022 until her death in April 2024. The allegations are extensive and, according to investigators, escalated over time.

Among the most serious claims are that John-Paul allegedly contacted Mica more than 50 times in a single day, placed tracking devices on her vehicles, interfered with her finances and daily activities and posted a nude photo of her online without her consent. Prosecutors also say he lied to federal investigators during the course of the probe.

John-Paul has offered his own explanation for monitoring Mica’s whereabouts. He has claimed he tracked her to “protect Mica from purchasing firearms” because of concerns about her mental health.

In the months before she died, Mica went to police at least four times to report she was being stalked. One month before her death, she told authorities she was “afraid for her life” after discovering a tracking device on her car.

What Happened to Mica Miller?

Mica was 30 years old when she was found dead at Lumber River State Park in North Carolina on April 27, 2024. Medical examiners officially ruled her death a suicide.

At the time of her death, Mica and John-Paul were in the middle of a contentious separation. She had filed for divorce in February 2024, but the divorce was never finalized. Speculation about the circumstances surrounding her death intensified when the extent of her earlier stalking reports came to light — and when investigators identified John-Paul as the person behind the harassment.

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Before the case was reopened, John-Paul addressed his Solid Rock Church congregation about Mica’s death, calling it “self-induced.”

“Y’all knew that she wasn’t well mentally,” he said, according to the Netflix docuseries. “And that she needed her medicine that was hard to get to her…just keep our family in your prayers.”

In Death of a Pastor’s Wife, Mica’s siblings offered a portrait of a marriage marked by control. They claimed John-Paul had Mica involuntarily committed to mental health facilities multiple times during their relationship. Mica was diagnosed with bipolar disorder while engaged to John-Paul, and as her spouse, he was designated to oversee her care.

Her siblings alleged that her final hospitalization was involuntary and that John-Paul contacted a mental health facility and made false claims about her mental state to have her committed. According to the family, Mica later told police that during that final stay, John-Paul took her car, phone and laptop — both devices, they said, contained nude photos of her.

When Is John-Paul Miller’s Trial?

John-Paul’s trial has been rescheduled multiple times. Originally set for spring 2026, it was pushed several times before it was scheduled for October 2026. A court-ordered continuance filed in mid-August 2026 confirmed the latest delay.

“It was supposed to happen back in the spring. It got pushed in June, to August, and now it’s October,” Death of a Pastor’s Wife codirector Michael Gasparro told Netflix’s Tudum.

If convicted, John-Paul faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for cyberstalking and two years in prison for making false statements to federal investigators. He could also be ordered to pay a fine of up to $250,000.

Mica’s brother, Nate Francis, told Netflix’s Tudum that he doesn’t believe the charges reflect the full scope of what his sister endured. “These charges only reflect a fraction of what he did to her,” he argued.

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Where Is John-Paul Miller Now?

While he waits for trial, John-Paul is living a strikingly different life from the one he led before Mica’s death. The Solid Rock Church building in Myrtle Beach has been sold, but John-Paul has continued to serve as a pastor. Those interviewed in Death of a Pastor’s Wife said he now preaches to a congregation of about 15 to 20 people at pop-up gatherings around Myrtle Beach.

He has also remarried. In June 2025 — roughly one year after Mica’s death — John-Paul wed Suzie Skinner, who now leads the worship portion of his services. Skinner is his third wife. He was previously married to Alison Williams for 16 years before filing for divorce in 2016.

Suzie’s own history has drawn scrutiny in the Netflix docuseries. She was previously married to Chris Skinner, whom she met while working as his physical therapist after a car accident left him paralyzed from the neck down. The couple married in 2004 and welcomed twins in 2007.

Suzie and Chris met John-Paul when they moved to Myrtle Beach and began attending Solid Rock Church. In the docuseries, Chris’ sister, Tamara, claimed her brother had grown uncomfortable with the church in the months before his death.

“The last three or four months of his life, he started telling me he didn’t like that pastor and that he wanted to stop attending the church and to find a new church,” Tamara said. “But Suzie didn’t want to stop attending. She would go without him.”

Chris was found dead in a community pool in September 2021, and he died of asphyxiation due to drowning. Throughout Death of a Pastor’s Wife, Mica’s loved ones speculated that John-Paul and Suzie had been having an affair before Mica’s death.

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For now, John-Paul remains free on bond, preaching to his small circle of followers and awaiting an October 2026 trial that has already been rescheduled more than once.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.

This story was compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists.

The Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, one of the 23 annual prizes handed out by Columbia University in New York City, was one of the original Pulitzer Prizes. It was originally called the Pulitzer Prize for the Novel in 1917, and its name wouldn’t be changed until 1948. Since then, an American author has been rewarded every year for having written a piece of fiction so remarkable, so unforgettable, and so reflective of the high standards of American literature that they proved themselves worthy of such a prestigious honor.

In the 2020s, eight books have made their way to a Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, and they’re all absolutely remarkable works that deserved every last bit of that love. They deal with a vast array of subjects and themes, covering all manner of tones and genres and written in all sorts of different styles. Indeed, reading the Pulitzer winners of the last six years is a perfect way of getting a feel for the remarkable contemporary state of American literature.

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‘Night Watch’ (2023)

Image via Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.

Winner of the 2024 Pulitzer, Jayne Anne Phillips‘ Night Watch is one of the most remarkable pieces of historical fiction to have come out of the American publishing space throughout the last decade. In it, a traumatized mother and her young daughter find refuge at a West Virginia asylum after the Civil War, discovering ways to restore their scarred identities. Phillips has said that she didn’t outline the plot in advance, and that the characters and their stories instead kept coming to her as naturally as if they had been real.

It was precisely that realism, as well as the harrowing way in which Phillips deals with such complex subject matter, that allowed Night Watch to become a Pulitzer recipient. Combining some beautifully lyrical prose with a level of historical, emotional, and thematic scope that only a Pulitzer-winning novel could have possibly hoped to contain, Night Watch may be a bit too dense and melodramatic to really stand out as one of the best Pulitzer winners of the 2020s, but it’s a must-read nonetheless.

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‘The Netanyahus’ (2021)

Image via New York Review Books

The full title of Joshua Cohen‘s winner of the 2022 Pulitzer for Fiction is The Netanyahus: An Account of a Minor and Ultimately Even Negligible Episode in the History of a Very Famous Family, and it’s just as complex and layered a novel as that title would have you hope. The book is a fictionalized account of the encounter between American critic and Yale Sterling Professor of Humanities Harold Bloom, and Benzion Netanyahu and his family at an upstate New York college in the late ’50s. Needless to say, it’s daunting subject matter, which only makes it more remarkable that Cohen handled it well enough to earn a Pulitzer.

Is The Netanyahus one of the best American book masterpieces of the 21st century? Perhaps not, seeing as some critics have pointed to its structure as odd and to Cohen’s prose as somewhat pretentious. What, then, earned it a Pulitzer? Perhaps it’s the exceptional balance between sharp humor, well-researched history, and powerful drama. Perhaps it’s the ways it blends genres more consistently and intelligently than most 21st-century American books. Perhaps it’s the way Cohen confronts two competing visions of Jewish identity in a post-Holocaust society. Either way, The Netanyahus is a fascinating read.

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‘Trust’ (2022)

Image via Riverhead Books

There has only ever been one tie in the history of the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, and that was 2023. However, saying that Argentine-American author Hernan Diaz‘s Trust is the lesser of that year’s two winners barely means anything at all, because it’s still one of the most acclaimed American books of the decade so far. The story centers on a powerful Wall Street tycoon and his wife in New York City in the ’20s, as he’s accused of having caused the 1929 stock market crash after he makes a fortune from it.

Composed of four fragmented texts that at times contain mutually conflicting information, leaving it up to the viewer to determine the truth (and wonder who controls it), Trust is narratively, formally, and thematically genius. Its delectably meta novel-within-a-novel format allows Diaz to deconstruct the very nature of truth and interrogate the way personal myths are manufactured, while also serving as a potent critique of greed and a powerful celebration of women who have been rendered invisible by history. The framing device inevitably sacrifices some character depth and narrative momentum, but it’s difficult to even notice when Diaz’s writing is so enrapturing.

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‘Angel Down’ (2025)

Image via Atria Books

Best known for his work in horror and pitch-black thrillers, Daniel Kraus has collaborated with creatives of the stature of George A. Romero and Guillermo del Toro, but Angel Down (whose Pulitzer was handed out last May) is his most ambitious creative endeavor to date. It’s one of the best historical fiction books of the decade so far, a World War I novel written as a single, unbroken sentence about a cynical draft dodger and con man who unexpectedly finds a fallen angel on the battlefield. It’s not exactly a horror novel, but then again, what’s scarier than a 300-page book that’s written in a single sentence?

That may sound like an incredibly daunting prospect, but that’s the entire point of Angel Down. Kraus wanted to find a way to explore the psychological horror and existential dread of World War I and its inescapable cycle of death, and the solution he came to was so inventive and effective that its Pulitzer victory seems entirely unsurprising in retrospect. Is it a relentlessly exhausting novel? Sure, but its grittiness, surreal tone, and genre-bending style are absolutely irresistible, offering a novel whose artistic and thematic depth American literature has very rarely seen throughout the last six years.

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‘The Night Watchman’ (2020)

Image via Harper Perennial

Louise Erdrich of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians of North Dakota is widely recognized as one of the leading voices of the second wave of the Native American Renaissance, which has been completely revolutionizing American fiction since the ’60s. She herself was a Pulitzer finalist back in 2009 for The Plague of Doves, but it was The Night Watchman that finally made her a Pulitzer winner in 2021. It’s about Thomas, a night watchman at a factory in North Dakota, leading his community’s fight against a 1953 US government bill seeking to take their land.

The plot may at times feel a little overstuffed or overly slow, but Erdrich balances those issues out with a perfectly researched and deeply moving period piece written with such profound humanity that the stakes really do feel sky-high throughout. It’s an epic filled with hard-hitting political activism, righteous rage, and Erdrich’s love for her community and her roots, which is nothing if not infectious. Her writing is beautifully compassionate and complex, because while The Night Watchman certainly has moments of injustice, it’s the moments of joy and humor that end up sticking out the most.

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‘Demon Copperhead’ (2022)

Image via Harper

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Along with Trust, it was Barbara Kingsolver‘s Demon Copperhead that went on to win the 2023 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, and there’s a very strong argument to be made that it’s the stronger novel of the two. Inspired by Charles Dickens‘ David Copperfield, it’s a historical fiction coming-of-age set in the impoverished mountains of Southern Appalachia in the late ’90s and early 2000s, following a boy thrust into a system seemingly designed to make him invisible.

The result is nothing short of one of the best American books of the 21st century. Kingsolver’s voice may at times feel a little didactic when going into explanations of modern American socioeconomic issues, but that often only adds to the book’s unique sense of personality. The way the author translates the general spirit of David Copperfield to a tale about the opioid crisis and structural poverty in rural Appalachia is so brilliant that Demon Copperhead should be considered essential reading for pretty much anyone, regardless of whether they’re from the US or not.

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‘James’ (2024)

Image via Random House

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It seems that the Pulitzer Prize Board went out of 2023 and into 2024 still with a love for novels based on old English-language classics on their mind, because the 2025 Pulitzer recipient was Percival Everett‘s James, a reimagining of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, one of the best American books of all time. The book is told from the perspective of Huck Finn’s companion and protector, the escaped former slave Jim.

For one, Everett proves that creativity can come from even the most unexpected of places, because even though James takes an already-existing text as its scaffolding, what it builds around it feels entirely unique and fresh in every sense imaginable. Subversive in its look at Antebellum America, unapologetically scathing in its satirical sense of humor, and razor-sharp in how it blends genres to bring a whole new dimension to a strong contender for the title of The Great American Novel, James will likely only get better as it ages.

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‘The Nickel Boys’ (2019)

Image via Doubleday

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There’s really no question about it: Colson Whitehead‘s The Nickel Boys, recipient of the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, is not only the best of the last eight winners of the award, but even a strong contender for the title of best American novel of the last decade. With Whitehead also having won the Pulitzer in 2017 for The Underground Railroad, Nickel Boys made him the fourth (and latest) author ever to win two Pulitzers for Fiction. Based on the hugely abusive Dozier reform school in Florida, the story follows a young Black teenager in Jim Crow-era Florida who is wrongfully sent to a reformatory similar to Dozier School.

Whitehead’s style and voice are absolutely devastating in how they unflinchingly explore and dissect this gut-wrenching subject matter, examining America’s long history of systemic racism with a surprisingly restrained yet powerful prose. It’s perfectly paced, absolutely masterful in its level of character and thematic depth, and potently rooted in real history that everyone should know about. It’s also structurally flawless, with a final twist that completely recontextualizes everything that came before. That would make a re-read irresistibly tempting if it didn’t sound like such a gut-punch of an idea.

Normally, when movie-licensed video games come out, they come off as a quick cash grab, usually meant to coincide with the release of the film. They’re not usually very good, though there are a few notable exceptions. Lately, however, there has been a bit of a trend in that horror games are coming out years or even decades after the release of the films upon which they were based. This gives the game more time to flourish, blossom, and establish itself as something actually enjoyable rather than a money-making device.

These horror games have come as marvellous homages to some of the greatest and most classic horror films, and pay respect to the long-established fans while also raking in newcomers. All in all, these games provide fans with a new way to experience their favourite franchises, in a whole new medium that is evolving more and more by the day.

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‘World War Z’ (2019)

World War Z is actually based on the original novel, but takes place in the same universe as the film, so it still technically counts. In this zombie shooter, players are placed into a team of four who must work together to fend off the rising army of the undead in various locations around the globe. With eight different classes to choose from, each with their own distinct advantages and disadvantages, and five thrilling game modes, there’s never a dull moment in this co-op shoot ’em up.

The reason it isn’t the best is that it doesn’t really bring anything new to the table in terms of mechanics, and feels fairly similar to many other games that exist. But it’s still a really fun experience, one involving strategy as players must consider which classes their team should consist of based on the location, and which objectives they ought to complete first. If you’re a fan of zombie movies or games, this is one that is definitely worth playing.

9

‘Saw’ (2009)

Image via Konami

Have you ever watched a Saw film and thought that it would probably be really fun to solve all the puzzles minus the risk of getting killed or seriously injured? Well, with the Saw video game, you can! The game stars a police detective who is thrown into a derelict asylum by the serial killer known as Jigsaw. This detective must then use their skills to navigate a series of deadly traps and puzzles in order to escape unharmed.

The game was actually really good, allowing players to pick and choose which specific routes to take, some of which led to different traps or obstacles, and even included a few combat aspects. But perhaps most importantly, it still had that morbid sense of creativity that comes with implementing the most brutal Saw traps imaginable, which will spell death if not solved properly or in the given time limit. This is a must-play for fans of the Saw franchise, and even earned itself a sequel, though it wasn’t as good.

8

‘Blair Witch’ (2019)

Image via Lionsgate Games

The Blair Witch game picks up two years after the events of The Blair Witch Project, with a small search party being sent out into the woods to find a missing person. Players assume the role of a traumatized military veteran named Ellis, accompanied by his loyal dog, Bullet, who can be customized as the players see fit. As with many who enter the woods, though, Ellis begins to experience some weird occurrences, with many paranormal events happening.

The game was received mostly well by fans, but was criticized for how its ending tends to drag on and on and on. Sure, it could have been a lot better, but overall, it is a wonderfully nostalgic and spooky experience for fans of the original film with many callbacks to the original, even if some elements of the game felt a bit underdeveloped.

7

‘Paranormal Activity: The Lost Soul’ (2017)

Image via VRWERX

Paranormal Activity: The Lost Soul is an experience that is exclusively in VR, which kind of limits the pool of people who get to play it, because not everyone is going to be willing to dish out hundreds of dollars for a VR headset, never mind the fact that some players cannot tolerate it due to motion sickness. But if you do have a VR headset and are a fan of horror, this is one that you simply cannot miss.

Many reviews have claimed that this is by and large the most frightening game ever produced in the VR format, and was commended for how it lets players go at their own pace and explore the house as they see fit. The Paranormal Activity film franchise has seen a string of box office bombs, so this game could have breathed new life into the franchise had it been made to appeal to a broader demographic. But that’s about its only flaw—everything about the gameplay is absolutely stellar.

6

‘A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead’ (2024)

Image via Saber Interactive

A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead just came out in October 2024, and is a single-player game set in the same terrifying world. As with the A Quiet Place trilogy of films, the villains are an alien species that hunt through sound, meaning any tiny noise could attract their attention. Players must be careful, utilizing stealth and keeping aware of their surroundings. It also comes with a really brilliant mechanic where, if the player so desires, the game can use a microphone to pick up surrounding noise, meaning the player must actually be careful of any noise they make in the real world, too.

So far, the game has received reviews that are good, but not great. Fans of the franchise are finding it a wonderful addition to the IP, and are praising it for how immersive it is. It’s the perfect game to play for fans of survival horror, and may even warrant a movie adaptation of its own one day due to how close it comes to the source material.

5

‘The Thing’ (2002)

Image via Black Label Games & Konami

The Thing is a third-person shooter at heart, but it’s unlike any typical shooter. Like the film, the game follows a group of people sent to Antarctica who come into contact with an alien life form that had previously been frozen in a research base, and has now been unleashed. Only this time, the player is a soldier and is fully capable of defending themselves against the alien threat. It sounds like a pretty standard ordeal on the surface, but don’t let that fool you.

See, the player encounters various NPCs throughout the journey, and can have these people join their squad. The player can order them around or have them perform specific duties based on what their job is. The catch is that the alien life forms may infect one of these NPCs without you knowing it, and they can abruptly turn on you without any warning. Players must constantly watch their back in this action-horror game, which gives it a similar feel to John Carpenter’s original film. There’s no telling who could be the wolf in sheep’s clothing, much like the film.

4

‘The Texas Chain Saw Massacre’ (2023)

Image via Gun Interactive

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is a multiplayer horror game based on the ’70s slasher series of the same name, in which two teams compete to finish their various objectives before the other. One team plays as victims, who must free themselves from the clutches of the villainous Leatherface and his family before finding an escape route. But this is very much easier said than done.

The other time is, of course, Leatherface and his family, who are tasked with hunting the town’s victims to feed their grandfather. If the grandfather isn’t fed in a specific amount of time, he will actually reveal the positions of the victims to the family. So the players who are victims can’t always rely on hiding. This game is tense and exciting, but sometimes lacks a bit of variation, as some things are in the same place every single time. But that’s okay because it’s still fun and is a faithful adaptation of the films.

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‘Evil Dead: The Game’ (2022)

Evil Dead: The Game is a multiplayer experience in which teams of human survivors must perform a series of objectives to fight off the horde of the living dead and banish them back to Hell. Some of these survivors are established characters from Sam Raimi‘s Evil Dead franchise, while there are some fresh faces as well. The best part of this game is that it forces everyone to work as a team to get the job done, utilizing their own customizable weapons and skills to fend off the villains.

But the survivors are only one half of the game: the other half is that the opposing team can actually play as various forms of demons to combat the survivors, and must do everything in their power to avoid being sent back to Hell. The game is a nostalgic and insanely fun throwback to the original indie-horror film, coming with all of the guts, gore, and humour that made the original so great. It was lacking in a few aspects, but overall, it gets the job done.

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‘Friday the 13th: The Game’ (2017)

Image via Gun Media

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Friday the 13th: The Game is a multiplayer-based horror game that offers a really unique and interesting experience unlike that of any other multiplayer game. In each game, players are thrown into the woods surrounding Camp Crystal Lake, and must collect various machine and engine parts distributed randomly across the map to fix up an old car and escape. But they are not alone. One player in each game assumes the role of the iconic slasher series’ antagonist, Jason Voorhees, and is tasked with killing each and every one of the players.

The players can do very little to fight back, so must focus on hiding and running away from the threat if they encounter it. It actually delivered a really fun Friday the 13th experience, with Jason being able to pull off some really gory and unconventional kills reminiscent of the films. And with different objectives and supplies being randomized with each game, it never gets boring and leaves players constantly on edge throughout the whole match.

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‘Alien: Isolation’ (2014)

Image via Sega

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Alien: Isolation follows the adventures of Amanda Ripley, the daughter of the main protagonist of several Alien films, Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver). While perusing space, Amanda and her ship crew stumble upon a distress beacon sent out from Sevastopol station, and go to investigate. Following in the footsteps of her mother, Amanda encounters the Xenomorph aboard the Sevastopol. This vicious alien species is the apex predator and is out for blood.

Things pick up a little slowly, but eventually, the alien reveals itself to the player. Once the alien is seen for the first time, the hunt is on, and it never lets up, not even for a second until the game ends. Alien: Isolation captured the essence of the original film so well, perfectly encapsulating the fear of the unknown and the dread of knowing that the thing is out there, waiting for you. It doesn’t rely heavily on jump scares, focusing instead on the oppressive weight of knowing that you are the prey in this situation. It is by far the best video game adaptation of a horror movie, and honestly deserves a movie of its own with how well it recreates the original film’s atmosphere.

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Alien: Isolation

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Released

October 7, 2014

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood, Strong Language, Violence

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Developer(s)

Creative Assembly

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Engine

Cathode

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A man formerly on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list has been returned to Philadelphia following his arrest in connection with the rape and murder of a 5-year-old girl in 2000, according to authorities.

Alexis Flores, 51, was wanted for the killing of Iriana DeJesus when he was apprehended in Honduras in February after several years on the run, WTFX-TV reported.

Now he’s been extradited to Philadelphia and will face criminal charges in connection with the girl’s death, according to the TV station.

“The return of Alexis Flores to Philadelphia demonstrates our unwavering commitment to pursuing fugitives wherever they may run, no matter how much time has passed,” Wayne A. Jacobs, the special agent in charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia office, said in a statement, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Related: Man Captured for Rape, Murder of 5-Year-Old Girl After 25 Years on the Run

A man who was once named to the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list has been captured 25 years after he allegedly raped and murdered a 5-year-old girl in Philadelphia. Kash Patel, the director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, announced via X on Thursday, February 12, that officials apprehended fugitive Alexis Flores in Honduras for […]

Flores is facing multiple charges, including kidnapping, murder and rape, authorities said, per the newspaper.

Irina was reported as missing in Philadelphia in July 2000, the newspaper reported. A few days later, her body was found in an empty apartment located above a local store in Philadelphia, authorities said, with evidence indicating the girl was raped and strangled.

Flores was named the suspect in her death about seven years later in 2007 and was sought by the FBI, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.

He was linked to her killing after DNA had been collected during a separate arrest in Arizona and tied him to the 2000 crime scene, WTFX-TV reported.

When Flores’ name appeared on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list in June 2007, he was in Honduras, where he had been previously deported to, according to the TV station.

Related: Man on FBI’s 10 Most Wanted List, Accused of Killing Ex-GF, Is Captured

A man who spent nearly 10 years on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitive list after allegedly killing his ex-girlfriend and dumping her body in a ravine outside of Charlotte, North Carolina, has been detained south of the border. Alejandro “Alex” Rosales Castillo is in police custody in Mexico, where he was captured on Friday, […]

Following his arrest in the country in February, Iriana’s mother, Lizasuain DeJesus, described her daughter as an “angel,” the TV station reported.

“I know she’s an angel,” DeJesus said. “She was an angel before. She became an angel the minute that she was murdered and she will continue to be my angel watching over us.”

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“For more than 25 years, Iriana’s family has lived with an unimaginable loss while waiting for this day,” Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel said in a statement, per WTFX-TV. “Alexis Flores may have crossed borders and spent decades trying to escape responsibility, but our commitment to Iriana and her family never stopped. His return to Philadelphia is the result of extraordinary persistence by our homicide investigators and the FBI, together with our international partners in Honduras.”

“We are deeply grateful to everyone who helped bring him back to face justice,” Bethel’s statement continued. “Iriana was only five years old. We have never forgotten her, and we never will.”

It was not immediately clear whether Flores had retained legal representation.

It may have been over a decade since The Girls Next Door first aired on E!, but it still hasn’t been forgotten quite yet.

The Girls Next Door — which ran for six seasons from 2005 to 2010 — gave viewers an inside look at the eventful lives of the late Hugh Hefner’s three main girlfriends: Holly Madison, Bridget Marquardt and Kendra Wilkinson. In the show’s final season, however, the focus was shifted towards Heftner’s new girlfriends: Crystal Hefner and twins Kristina Shannon and Karissa Shannon. (Hugh and Crystal eventually tied the knot in 2012 and stayed together until Hefner’s death in 2017.)

While their lives may have seemed glamorous on the show, some of the girls have come out with claims that their lives in the Playboy Mansion were not as great as they may have seemed.

“Life in the mansion wasn’t the fairy tale I had once hoped it would be,” Crystal wrote in her January 2024 memoir, Only Say Good Things: Surviving Playboy and Finding Myself. “From the outside, sure, it had all the trappings of a fairy tale. But it wasn’t, and everyone who lived there knew it.”

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In the book, Crystal also shared that there were various “unspoken rules” after moving into the Playboy Mansion including having to always adore Hugh and another was that the girls were pressured to get plastic surgery, which Crystal claimed made the women in the house “competitive.”

“It was unspoken but also very clear that there was no other option if I wanted to stay,” she explained.

Keep scrolling to learn what happened to The Girls Next Door cast members:

Blake Lively appears to be moving on from her lengthy legal battle with “It Ends With Us” co-star Justin Baldoni.

The actress was recently spotted in high spirits enjoying some quality family time with her husband, Ryan Reynolds, just days after a judge ruled on her multimillion-dollar request for legal fees.

Lively had asked for more than $8 million in attorneys’ fees and costs from Baldoni. However, she ultimately received just over $400,000, with Baldoni’s lawyer celebrating the significantly reduced amount as a victory for his client.

Billie Eilish is facing accusations of hypocrisy after her role in her brother Finneas O’Connell’s lavish California wedding brought one of her own past statements back into the spotlight. 

The singer had previously spoken forcefully about immigration and America’s history, but critics seized on the location of Saturday’s celebration to question whether her actions matched her public views. 

The backlash has since widened, with social media users also challenging Eilish over wealth, capitalism and the lifestyle surrounding the star-studded event.

The criticism surrounding Billie Eilish centers largely on where her brother’s wedding took place rather than the ceremony itself. O’Connell tied the knot with Claudia Sulewski at San Ysidro Ranch in Montecito, California, on Saturday, with Eilish taking part in the celebration alongside a crowd of celebrity guests.

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Among those attending were Justin and Hailey Bieber, Jason Sudeikis, Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard, adding to the high-profile nature of the occasion.

However, the location quickly became a talking point because the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians has identified Montecito as part of territory that once encompassed roughly 7,000 square miles of its ancestral lands.

That detail brought one of Eilish’s previous statements back into the conversation. At the Grammys in February, she criticized immigration enforcement while declaring, “no one is illegal on stolen land.”

Critics subsequently argued that participating in a lavish celebration on land with that history created an uncomfortable contradiction. 

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One user wrote per the Daily Mail, “Hypocrisy much? She lectures everyone about “stolen land” then hosts a lavish wedding ON that exact same land! Words ≠ actions!” Another mocked the situation with the question, “Oh did they have it in… AMERICA?”

Eilish’s Wealth Sparks A Separate Wave Of Criticism

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The backlash soon expanded beyond the question of Native American land, with some users using the wedding’s extravagant setting to revisit Billie Eilish’s views about money and capitalism.

One commenter pointed to her previous criticism of billionaires, writing, “Same girl that said billionaires shouldn’t even exist,” while arguing that the Grammy award winner herself was “pushing pretty close to having a quarter of a billion dollars.”

Another social media user was even more scathing, describing Eilish as “Of all the tone deaf hypocrites in Hollywood” and predicting she would continue benefiting financially from the very systems she has criticized.

“Watch this “anti-capitalist” sell more sweatshop junk to her fans tomorrow too,” the commenter added.

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Other critics focused specifically on what they believed Eilish should do regarding the wedding location. One suggested that the 24-year-old “should publicly apologize to the native Americans and give a land acknowledgment.”

Another commenter accused Eilish of presenting herself as a “cosplay struggle artist” while benefiting from the very things she publicly protests. The user ultimately argued that people should not “take these people seriously or seek their advice or opinion.”

Billie Eilish Draws Elon Musk’s Attention Before Her Brother’s Wedding

@grok please roast Eilish’s hypocrisy in hating on capitalism and “stolen land” while selling perfume and living in luxury on that same land

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 29, 2026

Before Eilish’s role in her brother’s August 29 wedding became the subject of a fresh controversy, she was already caught up in another headline-making clash involving Elon Musk. 

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The episode began after the “Lovely” singer promoted her latest fragrance, Eilish Intense, on X on August 27. 

Musk responded to the post by asking Grok, his AI chatbot, to attack what he characterized as a contradiction between Eilish’s criticism of capitalism and her luxury lifestyle. 

Musk specifically instructed Grok, writing, “Please roast Eilish’s hypocrisy in hating on capitalism and ‘stolen land’ while selling perfume and living in luxury on that same land.” 

Grok initially produced a relatively restrained response, arguing that Eilish’s criticism of capitalism appeared inconsistent with her perfume business and wealth.  

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Musk apparently wanted something harsher. After reading Grok’s first response, he replied, “That is far too short and boring. Be at least a little vulgar, longer and wittier.” Grok subsequently produced a more aggressive roast aimed at Eilish. 

More From The Blast

Eilish Faces Backlash After Saying Eating Meat Is ‘Inherently Wrong’

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The controversy involving Elon Musk was not the only instance in which Billie Eilish found herself in hot water over her comments. 

Earlier this year, the singer sparked a separate debate after giving an uncompromising answer about eating meat during an Elle interview. 

Asked what “hill” she would die on, Eilish warned, “Ya’ll ain’t gonna like me for this one,” before stating, “Eating meat is inherently wrong.” 

Eilish, who has been vegan since she was 12, explained that she struggled to reconcile a person’s love for animals with continuing to eat them. “Two things cannot coincide: ‘I love all animals so much and I eat meat,’” she said. “Sorry — you could eat meat, go for it, you could love animals, but you can’t do both.” 

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Her comments prompted criticism online, but Eilish did not soften her position. Instead, she posted graphic footage depicting animal mistreatment and challenged people who disagreed with her to learn more about the meat industry. 

She wrote, “Go watch a documentary or two and some footage of what is done to the animals u claim to love and what it does to the planet u pretend to love as well.” 

She also expressed frustration that showing empathy toward animals had become controversial, writing, “I am so tired of standing up for/having empathy for living beings being controversial.” 

Billie Eilish Explains Why She Keeps Speaking Out On Politics

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That willingness to speak her mind extends beyond animal rights. In the same interview, Eilish also addressed why she continued to use her enormous platform to discuss political and social issues, despite knowing it could make her controversial.

Asked about activism, Eilish explained that her approach was shaped by how she was raised. “I was raised like this,” she said, describing the instinct to intervene when she sees people being mistreated. 

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The songwriter questioned why celebrities should be expected to remain silent simply because their political opinions might generate controversy. 

“When you have this insane platform that you can use to advocate for people, but you’re not advocating for people because you don’t want to be controversial?” she stated. 

Eilish then challenged the premise that speaking up should be considered problematic in itself. In her words, “Why is it controversial to step in when someone’s getting bullied and try to stop it?”

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One of the hardest things about television is that, sometimes, shows get canceled far before their story is told, or before fans are ready to let it go. This commonly happens in superhero television, and this has led to a lot of shows where fans are desperately wishing to see another season of these shows, as they most rightfully deserve.

Whether it’s a Spider-Man series, or a more niche character like The Tick, there are plenty of superhero shows out there that more than deserve more time in the sun—running for a good four seasons or only one. Series get canceled for plenty of reasons, but regardless of what they are, there’s no denying that some never get what they truly deserve.

‘Cloak & Dagger’ (2018–2019)

Image via Freeform

Two characters that have not gotten the love they deserve—until they were included in Marvel Rivals, that is—are none other than Cloak and Dagger. However, they did have a great run—a two-season series—in 2018 through 2019 with Cloak & Dagger. Starring the likes of Olivia Holt and Aubrey Joseph, this show both had great performances, and very cool action.

While it had a lower viewership than the studios and network would have liked, those who did see it genuinely enjoyed it, and were sad to see it die out so soon. Now that shows like the ones from the Netflix era are making a comeback in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, there’s a decent chance that Cloak & Dagger could also make a comeback, and fans of the show are hoping for it. The series provided a fun and unique coming-of-age story that had great writing, especially for the two main characters and their dynamic.

‘The Tick’ (2016–2019)

Image via Prime Video

One of the more niche superheroes who simultaneously has a profoundly dedicated fanbase is none other than that of The Tick. He has had a good few adaptations over the years, but one of the best comes in the form of The Tick from 2016. When The Tick (Peter Serafinowicz) discovers that his city is owned by a supervillain, he and Arthur Everest (Griffin Newman) team up to expose the conspiracy.

This hilarious television series offers a great satirical look at the superhero genre in a way that other shows that do the same, like The Boys, don’t. However, despite how gut-wrenchingly funny it is, The Tick also offers a deep look into trauma and mental health when it takes a moment to bring more drama into the mix. This leaves the show feeling layered and complex. Unfortunately, it only lasted two seasons and should have gotten more recognition when it was airing. Another unfortunate case of low viewership in comparison to a high production budget.

‘Moon Knight’ (2022)

Moon Knight had one of the most inconvenient release eras that it could have. With Bob Chapek being CEO of Disney and enforcing a quantity-over-quality business model, this miniseries wound up being released at a time in which Marvel fans were getting pretty sick of the company’s lackluster performance.

Jeremy Slater‘s Moon Knight, though, is an extremely well-done series. While not perfect, this project explores a corner of the MCU that had never been explored prior and was very unique in comparison to any other MCU movie or television show. The way it explores mental health, however, using the split personalities of the hero and exploring his deep trauma, made Moon Knight (Oscar Isaac) one of the most layered MCU heroes of the post-Avengers: Endgame era.

‘Teen Titans’ (2003–2006)

Image via Warner Bros. Animation

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Of the most beloved DC Comics-based television shows, Teen Titans most definitely lands in the top 5. There were a lot of issues behind the scenes, most likely regarding licensing, financial issues—the typical works—that led to Teen Titans not getting the green light for a sixth season. It’s safe to say, based on any kind of fan discussion found on the internet regarding this show, that people were absolutely devastated at the cancellation.

Teen Titans did a wildly good job with its tonal balancing, being able to go from goofy, anime-style fun to dark and dramatic emotional development at the flip of a switch. Fans genuinely got invested in these characters, and it led to them genuinely hating on Teen Titans Go! for being the show to come after it. For two decades now, audiences have been begging for a revival of this series, and for good reason.

‘Green Lantern: The Animated Series’ (2011–2013)

Image via Cartoon Network

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There’s zero question that Green Lantern has had a rough go in non-comic book media. With his most notorious outing being the 2011 Green Lantern movie, starring Ryan Reynolds. In fact, that exact project is what most likely caused the death of the animated series airing the same year, Green Lantern: The Animated Series. The most unfortunate part of all this is that this animated bout is actually really good. With well-written characters, an engaging plot, smooth animation, and great vocal performances, this series really had something special.

The CG-animated television show was incredibly well-done, thanks to directors Sam Liu and Rick Morales, and the absolutely astounding performance by Josh Keaton as Hal Jordan. Without a doubt, if Green Lantern: The Animated Series was released in any other era of the character, it would have had a much larger chance of success. Of any DC Comics animated show out there, Green Lantern: The Animated Series was the most screwed over, and, therefore, is the most deserving of another chance.

‘The Punisher’ (2017–2019)

Image via Netflix

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If the success of the recent Disney+ special, The Punisher: One Last Kill, is any indication of fan desires, then it’s clear that people want to see more of the character and, specifically, his own series, The Punisher. Even if it’s a somewhat sequel series like how Daredevil: Born Again is for Daredevil, people genuinely want more Punisher (Jon Bernthal).

The Punisher wasn’t as appreciated in viewership as the likes of the other Netflix shows, but it was still incredibly good, belonging right next to them. It’s not perfect, no—having some issues with pacing at some points—but audiences love Jon Bernthal as Punisher (if Spider-Man: Brand New Day is any proof) and want to see more of him. Bringing the original team behind The Punisher back, like they did for Daredevil: Born Again, would be a perfect opportunity to bring forth a whole new group of people to watch Punisher on television that may not have caught its first two seasons.

‘X-Men: Evolution’ (2000–2003)

Image via Marvel Animation

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If there’s any X-Men property that people want Marvel Studios to take from for their upcoming X-Men franchise, it’s X-Men: Evolution, an animated series from 2000 that lasted until 2003. What the four seasons of this X-Men adaptation do is bring the core cast into their younger years, making them students at Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters—unlike the most popular iteration of the team from X-Men: The Animated Series and X-Men ’97.

What makes X-Men: Evolution so special is this change, which supplies the wonderful character drama at play, feeling more like a coming-of-age story with classic teenage drama and angst, rather than a group of adults teaming up. This not only made it more relatable for its younger viewers, but it truly made the team feel so engaging and interesting.

‘The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes’ (2010–2012)

Image via Disney XD

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Of Marvel Animation’s many canceled animated series that deserve a comeback, one of the highest on the list is The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. This is one of two major series that got hit hard by many shifts at Disney around this time, with this iconic show being canned for a new show, Avengers Assemble, which looked like, had characters, and featured plot lines far more in line with the MCU.

Nobody was happy about this, though, as many on the internet have considered The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes as one of the greatest adaptations of the Marvel Comics universe of all time. Few series have adapted Marvel comic book stories better than the writers and directors behind The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes did. Many people who worked on the show, like Christopher Yost, Josh Fine, and Thomas Perkins, have spoken heavily about what a third season would have entailed.

‘Swamp Thing’ (2019)

Image via DC Universe

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One of the most underrated comic book shows of all time is easily 2019’s Swamp Thing. This show had absolutely astounding reviews when it was airing on the fledgling DC Comics streaming service, DC Universe, which was quickly demolished for HBO Max. Many attribute this to being why the show ended so soon, but that is not the case. The showrunner, Mark Verheiden, spoke to Multiverse of Color to deny that the show was “too expensive” and rather stated, “There may have just been a fundamental misunderstanding about the show we were making versus the show they were expecting…”

Swamp Thing, as stated, had phenomenal reviews when it was released. This may truly be one of the most well-received live-action DC Comics shows of all time, based off of comparing review numbers. Now that James Gunn‘s DCU is around and kept characters like Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie) from the old universe, there’s ample opportunity to bring Swamp Thing back and give this show another chance.

‘The Spectacular Spider-Man’ (2008–2009)

Image via Disney XD

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If one were to ask pretty much any Marvel Comics fan online what the most beloved modern Marvel animated series is, they’d probably tell you that the most common consensus is The Spectacular Spider-Man. This is for very good reason, too, with the show containing some of the most beloved Spider-Man writing of his many adaptations. With excellent drama, a fun art style, and great voice acting—Josh Keaton back at it once again—this show has gone down in history as one of the best Spider-Man iterations, period. With around five seasons—65 episodes—and some movies supposedly planned, and it only getting two, people were pretty sad to see this one go.

The petition—social and literal—for the third season of this show has been running strong for a whopping 17 years. #SaveSpectacularSpiderMan is a commonly used hashtag that fans have utilized to show their desire for the show’s return. It’s simply not that easy, though, as the cancellation of The Spectacular Spider-Man was that of legality. With Disney getting the short-form television rights for Spider-Man within their acquisition of Marvel Comics in 2009, and Sony Pictures Animation retaining the rights for The Spectacular Spider-Man, the show is legally unable to return. That is, unless the two companies were to come together to make a deal of some sort. The likelihood of that is stronger in the 2020s than ever before, but still a long shot, sadly.

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The Spectacular Spider-Man

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Release Date

2008 – 2009-00-00

Directors

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Victor Cook, Jennifer Coyle, Dave Bullock, Troy Adomitis, Dan Fausett, Kevin Altieri, Michael Goguen

Writers

Greg Weisman, Kevin Hopps, Matt Wayne, Andrew Robinson, Randy Jandt, Nicole Dubuc

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Franchise(s)

Marvel

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