Entertainment
‘Starfleet Academy’ Actor Explains How Darem’s Story Honors 60 Years of ‘Star Trek’ History [Exclusive]
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article contains spoilers for Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, Season 1, Episode 7, “Ko’Zeine.”
The latest episode of Starfleet Academy gives audiences a glimpse into a new species in a grand tradition that echoes through the last 60 years of Star Trek history, with interplanetary lore and themes of identity and duty at its core. As the cadets arrive at their first school holiday, the episode sees George Hawkins‘ Darem Reymi ceremonially kidnapped back to Khionia for an arranged marriage to his royal childhood sweetheart. When Jay-Den (Karim Diané) boldly follows him through the portal, Darem is forced to re-evaluate whether the destiny that was chosen for him at birth is something he’s ready for or if his real future lies among the stars.
I recently sat down with Hawkins to dive deep on this episode and break down Darem’s Khionian culture, duty, and sacrifice. During our conversation, he spoke about what it’s like to walk in the footsteps of Star Trek legends like Leonard Nimoy and Michael Dorn as he introduces a new species to the franchise. We also spoke about the deliberate choices he makes as an actor to portray the layers Darem and the duality of the two worlds he’s torn between. This episode also further explores the burgeoning relationship between Darem and Jay-Den, and Hawkins revealed how he and Diané have been able to craft such compelling and magnetic chemistry between their characters. Hawkins gave major props to the costume department for the stunning new outfits Darem wears in this episode and revealed how they also worked to inform his character choices. Finally, he shared some forward-looking moments to keep an eye out for in the Season 1 finale and the soon-to-be-wrapped Season 2. You can read our full conversation below.
George Hawkins Did His Homework Before Joining Star Trek
“You’ve really got to understand Star Trek to understand the value of that moment.”
- Image via Brooke Palmer/Paramount+
COLLIDER: I’m so excited to talk to you about this episode. It was such a good one for your character. Star Trek is such a massive franchise that’s been around for so long. What was your relationship with the franchise before you got the part?
HAWKINS: Wow. It was very little. I had very little experience with Star Trek. I was not a Trekkie. I was not part of that part of this world. But I was aware of it. I was very aware of it. And it’s quite hard not to be aware of it. Which gives it testament, right? It has its own Emoji. It’s crazy. So I had a lot of work to do when I came onto this project. And the most important thing was to know the value of things. Something happens in this season, at the end of this season, where you’ve really got to understand Star Trek to understand the value of that moment, to be like, wow, that’s really impressive. That’s really important. So I think that was my homework, to know the significance of things, to know, “Oh, that’s really important. That person’s really important. Their relationship is really important, or that’s not important.” So yeah, I had a lot of homework to do.
You and a few of your co-stars on Starfleet Academy are introducing entire races of aliens to the franchise for the first time. In this episode, we get a little glimpse into Darem’s species and community. What’s it like to sort of walk in the footsteps of Leonard Nimoy and Michael Dorn, to be introducing an entire race of aliens to Star Trek, and that, hopefully, they’ll refer back to you in another sixty years when the franchise is still going?
HAWKINS: Oh, wow, wow. No one’s ever made that sort of reference before. I would — yeah. That’s incredible. It’s amazing. It’s such a privilege. It’s such a privilege to introduce a species not just to Star Trek, but just as a performer. Right? Just general. Even outside of Star Trek, it’s actually a freeing thing. It’s very freeing. I can imagine it was very difficult for some of our cast members or past cast of previous shows to pay homage to already existing species that you’re not actually a part of. So you’ve got to really invest in it. I think it was very freeing. It’s a very freeing experience to know that what I do sort of paves the way for that species. You’ve got to just let go. I think just let go, be truthful to the character, be truthful to the circumstance that the scene finds you in, and enjoy it. I think when you watch on screen, you want to watch someone enjoying themselves, and you want to watch a performer really commit to the world that our showrunners have so wonderfully made. So it’s a testament to our showrunners, to be honest, and our writers’ room, who have done an amazing job on this character.
Absolutely. I think this show is absolutely firing on all cylinders at all times. And I love that.
HAKWINS: Thank you so much, Samantha, thank you.
Playing Darem Pushed Hawkins Out of His Comfort Zone Early on in ‘Starfleet Academy’
“If someone walks into the room, their energy doesn’t have as much of an effect on Darem as it does on me.
We get a lot of Khionian in the lore in this episode with the kidnapping ritual and the matrimonial moon. What’s something that we don’t necessarily see on screen, but you maybe did in your character work for Darem, that fuels your performance?
HAWKINS: Oh, yes! Actors love to talk about their own process. I really had to work on slowing down, I think, which is really funny because I feel like I talk quite quickly, and I’ve got quite an intensity to myself. Darem is a lot slower; he turns to see something a lot slower than I do. Or if someone walks into the room, their energy doesn’t have as much of an effect on Darem as it does on me. So I did a lot of physical work on the king caricature, where they are slower in temperament, and they move, they cut through the air. Something I really loved about playing with Darem is when he moves, it’s almost like he cuts through the air. So I just wanted to slow down. I think I wanted to slow down and allow status to rise and to inflate in someone’s ego. And what does that feel like, to be full of confidence in a moment? You see Darem in a few moments in this season, like when he becomes the captain, and he’s being paraded around on the chair. That for me was really hard. That was really difficult for me to do. Having loads of people just staring at you, and you have to, like, flaunt yourself like that. I had to really, really build some adrenaline up for that. It was just about taking up space. How do you take up space and feel confident in that, and like, really breathe into that? Yeah. Not the easiest thing to do for sure.
I love the insight that we get into Darem in this episode. As a queer person and also a people pleaser myself, I found him very relatable. For you as an actor, when you’re diving into these two sides of who he is, how did you go about reconciling this sort of double life he’s been living?
HAWKINS: I think, firstly, there’s nothing to reconcile. I think there’s something that we all see in ourselves where we live in a certain sense, like a double life, where we believe this thing and we say this thing. I want to say this, but I do this. And we have these two minds, and I think that’s where anxiety comes from, is these two places, like a conflicted mind. I think it’s about being kind and compassionate towards Darem. I think that’s sort of why I was cast as Darem, is that I didn’t really want to approach him as just this surface level, sort of cocky guy that’s just going to have sex with everything that moves and sort of just wants to be worshiped by everyone, but actually to understand that where that deep ambition comes from is a longing and a running away from something. So in every moment where I saw Darem show these huge moments of confidence and bravado, I wanted to fill that with some sense of humanity. And to know that no matter how confident someone comes off and no matter how assured and comfortable someone comes off in a scenario, there’s an equal sense of anxiety, and fear, and running that they’re doing at the same time.
You do such a good job of that duality because both parts of his personality are true. You’ve woven it in very beautifully through the season.
HAWKINS: I appreciate that.
Another thing that I really loved about that storyline was that even though marrying Kyra isn’t what’s right for him anymore, you can see why he would feel such a strong sense of duty to her and to his people. Because there’s so much love there. How do you think abdicating will affect his relationship with his parents and his people moving forward?
HAWKINS: I think you see it. You see it in the moment where Kyra gives Darem permission to live the life that he wants to live, or live the life that feels truer to him. Because I can imagine for Darem, there’s a sort of purpose, and there’s fulfillment in actually being the king and actually living the life with Kyra and leading that life out. But it’s just that moment where you see everyone turn around, where Kyra expresses to everyone and sort of lets everyone know what’s happened. And you see his parents turn, and that’s the moment. That’s what I was envisioning when in Episode 3, where we talk about the moment where he’s playing the Belaklavion, and he misses a note, and then his parents leave. That sort of judgment that he gets from his parents, where his value was found in what he could do and what he could achieve and uphold and be, instead of living, for being alive, for being who he was. This episode is really special. It’s really, really special. And it’s really important for Darem’s story, to see what he’s running away from. And what he’s trying to define himself as.
How Hawkins and Diané Crafted Darem and Jay-Den’s Will-They-Won’t-They Chemistry
“He’s an answer to a lot of empty space for Darem.”
I also really love the burgeoning relationship between Darem and Jay-Den. The tension between those two is really good, and it feels like there’s a little thread of jealousy between Darem and Kyle.
HAWKINS: [Laughs] Just a little bit.
I would love to hear about how you and Karim went about crafting that dynamic.
HAWKINS: Karim is such a beautiful human being, and we get on really, really well. We come from such different backgrounds, and it’s such a lovely thing to see two completely different people come together and sort of create chemistry. Karim was the first person I had chemistry reads with to do this project, to play this character. And he was the first person I met in my auditions who was playing another character. So he is sort of the person I held onto, and he’s like a staple in this job for me. Karim is a sweetheart. Karim is such a sweetheart. So it’s quite hard not to, he’s just a great person. My family loves him. My friends love him. He’s a sweetheart. And he’s an incredible actor. He’s incredible to work off of. And actually watching Karim create Jay-Den, and then seeing the end result…Jay-Den is so powerful because of his stillness. It’s like he’s rooted to the ground, I think, and that’s just an admirable thing. I think that’s a really admirable thing for Darem to witness, is someone standing still, confidently saying what they love, saying what they want, and saying what they believe. Because that’s just such an absence of what Darem has had in his life. He’s like an answer. He’s an answer to a lot of empty space for Darem.
I love that so much. We have to take a minute to talk about the incredible costumes that you guys got to wear in this episode. What was it like to finally get out of the cadet uniforms and into such stunning looks?
HAWKINS: You know what — the costumes, big up to Avery [Plewes], our costume designer. She’s incredible. And the robe that I get to wear in this episode was incredible. The way it pins your shoulders back, your head up, your neck up, so you can’t help but hold some sort of regality to it. And that’s what the cadet uniforms do as well. They do half the job for you, because they pin you in this position, and you can’t really pull your arms up, but you feel the authority, you feel the status. You feel what you’re trying to uphold. And there wasn’t much difference in the Khionian wedding costumes because they were heavy. Like, oh, my gosh, this thing has alligator skin on it. It’s deep, deep fabrics, thick fabrics. It was incredible. So you’ve just got to let it do its work. You’ve got to allow the costumes to play a part in the story themselves. They’re a character in their own right. It was beautiful. It was a beautiful experience.
I think it was a bit of a surprise, both for Jay-Den and the audience, when we got to Khionia’s moon, and it’s a very dry climate. I know they have the explanation that it dried up, but I am curious if, at some point, we will get to see Khionia in its aquatic glory or if we’ll see Darem’s fish form again in Season 2, perhaps?
HAWKINS: You know what, I can’t say anything about Season 2, because I’ll get sniped. Man, Khionia is such a beautiful place. And it’s such a perfect opportunity to show a different culture. So, I hope so. I really, really hope so. I really hope we get to dive deeper into the Khionian culture, because it’s a beautiful thing to be a part of. And it’s a beautiful thing to play. I really hope so.
I know you can’t share spoilers, but you guys were gearing up to film the finale when I spoke with you guys last, at the beginning of January. Have you wrapped yet?
HAWKINS: We wrap on Saturday. […] We’re almost there.
Working With Holly Hunter on ‘Starfleet Academy’ Was a Tremendous Honor for Hawkins
“For me to collaborate with Holly is a really big thing.”
- Photo Credit: Nino Munoz/Paramount+
Also in this episode, just a little thing that I caught onto potentially coming back in the future, we learned that Darem can be sort of knocked unconscious with a little boop to the forehead. Is that going to come back at any point? That seems a little dangerous for him!
HAWKINS: I know! They’ve given him a secret, it’s like Kryptonite. I would like to believe that that’s only a Khionian warrior sort of thing that can happen that they can do to people. It’s not necessarily something you can just happen to Darem, but it’s something that Khionians can do. So I actually want to see Daram use it. I want to see Darem use against other people.
Like the Vulcan nerve pinch!
HAWKINS: Exactly. That would be good.
Star Trek is such a wide-ranging thing in terms of tone and genre. You can be doing hard sci-fi and drama one week and be doing camp and comedy the next. What’s something in Starfleet Academy that pushed you as an actor and allowed you to grow and your craft further?
HAWKINS: Wow. Wow, wow, wow. I can’t speak for all actors, but I think something that’s really powerful and really fulfilling is being a part of a story that means so much to people and has something to say. And there’s a lesson. I think what’s helping, and what I’ve learned and what I’m learning, is a lot of doing this show is how to hold a message. It’s almost like Shakespeare, really. As an actor, you want the text to sort of do its job for you. Or to do its job for you, but to do its job. And there are deep lessons, psychological lessons, and moral lessons in our show. So it’s about giving yourself over to a story. That’s what I’ve loved doing, is knowing that there’s something so much bigger going on than me, and I’m a part of a franchise that really cares about its audience and really cares about the message that it’s giving. So yeah, just being subservient to a story and being subservient to a message has been a really, really lovely lesson. How to give myself over.
Lastly, is there a particular moment, either in this episode or in the season in general, that you are especially proud of? Maybe it was challenging to get there, or just something that, when you got there, it just unlocked something for you.
HAWKINS: Oh my gosh. Yeah. Something that comes to mind is that there is a moment in Episode 10. It’s not really it’s not really a scripted moment, but there’s a moment between my character, Darem, and Nahla. It’s just a lovely moment of connection. It wasn’t really in the script, but it made so much sense. And Holly Hunter is who she is, right? She holds the authority that she has every right to hold. And for me, who does not have the same authority, for me to collaborate with Holly is a really big thing. That’s a huge thing for me. And I had an idea for one of our scenes, and she was so receptive to it. It was risky, because she could have very easily been like, “Who are you talking to? Who do you think you are?” But she was so, so receptive, and it was such a beautiful lesson of sharing ideas, sharing personal beliefs.
In that moment, in that scene, it shows a moment of courage and unity, and we get to see Nahla Ake being who she is, and why she’s such a good captain is because she comes down to the cadets’ level and really — she, like, kneels. It’s almost like when you meet someone who’s really great with kids, they get down to the child level, and they become an equal with that child. In a, in a sense, sort of like a holistic, symbolic way, I think that that interaction with Nahla in that scene really feels like she’s like a humble leader, I guess. […] I really hope they keep it in. I haven’t seen Episodes 9 and 10, so I really, really hope. Because I was at dinner with Holly the other night, and we were speaking about it. I really, really hope it’s in the show, because it’s a beautiful moment.
Episode 7 of Starfleet Academy is now streaming on Paramount+. Stay tuned at Collider for more.
- Release Date
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January 15, 2026
- Network
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Paramount+
- Showrunner
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Alex Kurtzman, Noga Landau
- Directors
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Douglas Aarniokoski
- Writers
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Alex Taub, Tawny Newsome, Kirsten Beyer, Jane Maggs, Kiley Rossetter
Jeffrey Epstein’s Former Assistant
Scores Massage Table, Art in Divorce From NASCAR Driver
Published
Sarah Kellen — one of the women authorities believe was part of Jeffrey Epstein’s inner circle — got a massage table and several Israeli artifacts as part of her divorce settlement, TMZ has learned.
Sarah and her ex-husband, NASCAR driver Brian Vickers, inked the deal back on December 18, 2025.
Per the agreement, Sarah got to keep five Israeli artifacts selected by her ex from among items including a sword, glass tear jar, small oil lamp, small vase, large jar, medium cup, large oil lamp and a metal arrow tip. She also got to keep half of a collection of Israeli coins.
Sarah also got a “massage table and three leather cutouts framed in Thailand.” Per the court docs, she also scored a DJ deck, game table and two small stones statues of a man and woman in Bali.
Per the docs, the exes agreed the embryos created via in-vitro process will be destroyed. Sarah and Brian will be responsible for any debts in their name … Brian also agreed to pay Sarah $200,000 once the divorce became final … another $200,000 six months later, and a final payment of $200,000 six months after that.
Both waived rights to receive spousal support, but Brian agreed to pay $20,000 toward Sarah’s legal fees.
After her alleged friendship with Epstein, Sarah wed the NASCAR driver on September 16, 2023, in a ceremony in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Per courts docs, Brian filed for divorce on February 25, 2025, as the Epstein scandal continued to grow.
He said the marriage was “irretrievably broken.” The race car driver said they had no children and were not expecting any.
TMZ.com
Sarah was named by authorities as a potential co-conspirator in Epstein’s 2008 criminal case in Florida. She was reportedly Epstein’s assistant and worked with Ghislaine Maxwell.
Entertainment
A Year Before ‘The Godfather,’ Robert Duvall Gave an Unforgettable Performance in George Lucas’ First Movie
One of the most admirable qualities about the late, great Robert Duvall was that he was a true “actor’s actor” who would take parts that may have otherwise seemed undesirable. Although Duvall gave an amazing performance in To Kill A Mockingbird as his first screen role, it would be a decade until he received his major breakthrough and first Academy Award nomination for The Godfather. A year before he created an all-time great character in Tom Hagen, Duvall worked with Francis Ford Coppola’s best friend, George Lucas, on an experimental science fiction thriller based on a short film of the same name. Lucas had made a 15-minute student film called Electronic Labyrinth: THX 1138 4EB when he was studying at the University of Southern California, and it was so popular that he and Coppola decided to expand it into a feature film for their burgeoning company, American Zoetrope.
Although Lucas would later revolutionize science fiction by creating the ultimate space opera with the Star Wars franchise, THX 1138 was a dark, cynical dystopian thriller that epitomized the paranoia of the 1970s about a totalitarian state. Set in a future in which sexual intercourse, emotion, and any forms of art have been outlawed, THX 1138 stars Duvall as the titular factory worker, who begins to dream of a future beyond the mundanity of the present after falling in love with the enigmatic woman LUH 3417 (Maggie McOmie). Lucas has been occasionally criticized for his ability to write dialogue, but THX 1138 succeeded in painting a dismal portrayal of a terrifying alternate reality thanks to the brave, experimental performance by Duvall.
Robert Duvall Humanized an Unusual Hero in ‘THX 1138′
THX 1138 envisioned a future in which all designs of society, both literal and figurative, were reduced to their most stark and primal. The future is all white, making it impossible for anyone unique to escape, and the technological advances have somehow made incredible leaps forward in science that feel dull and taxing. Duvall had the challenge of playing a character who has had no experience with culture because he hasn’t been exposed to anything other than the propaganda that has been fed to him by the government. It’s an incredibly physical performance that required Duvall to show only the most subtle of emotions, as the police state had enforced zero tolerance for anyone who acted out of line. However, portraying a character who hasn’t been encouraged to experience emotion is different than not having feelings altogether; after his romance with LUH leads him to dream about escaping from the urbanized community that he has spent his entire life in, THX unlocks something inside himself that he has been told to repress. It’s a classic hero’s journey arc that would reappear within the leads in all of Lucas’ films, including Curt (Richard Dreyfuss) in American Graffiti and Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) in Star Wars.
Dexter Jettster, meet Jett Lucas.
Although THX 1138 was a low-budget film that found creative ways to build its universe, Duvall expanded his range as an actor. The romance he shares with LUH is surprisingly potent, as there’s a childlike sense of astonishment that both characters feel from being intimate with one another for the first time. However, Lucas was already proving himself as a great director of action, and Duvall made for a convincing presence during the film’s thrilling chase scenes, in which THX escapes from the police droids. Given that the effects were being developed on set, and could have very easily looked unconvincing, it was impressive that Duvall was able to sell the reality of Lucas’ vision.
‘THX 1138’ Was Ahead of Its Time
There haven’t been many box office disasters that have had as significant an influence asTHX 1138.Despite being so financially ruinous that Lucas was convinced tomake something more commercial for his second film,THX 1138 helped to develop a style of prophetic, dystopian neo-noir thrillers that would grow more popular in the subsequent decade thanks toBlade Runner andEscape from New York. Yet, the visuals for the film wouldn’t be as impactful if Duvall hadn’t brought such surprising depth to the character; despite speaking in overly formal, technical language, THX is a character who represented an entire generation who had felt silenced and forgotten about. The film’s message about individuality and the power of personal choice required an actor who could bring that process of self-actualization to life, and Duvall was able to find qualities in THX that were both entirely imaginative and universally relatable.
THX 1138 is a fascinating film to revisit because it exists as a showcase for two legendary artists who were coming into their own. Lucas would obviously grow more imaginative and ambitious with his subsequent work, but THX 1138 also showed that Duvall was willing to make bold acting choices that may have been divisive at the time; despite how underwhelming it was in its initial window of release, THX 1138 has evolved into a bona fide cult classic that is essential viewing for any serious science fiction buffs. Ironically, Duvall played a purposefully anonymous character who couldn’t have been portrayed by any other actor; THX 1138 was a look into the future that now functions as a time capsule for the New Hollywood era. It won’t be the first film mentioned when discussing the legacy of either Duvall or Lucas, but THX 1138 is a work of artistic genius that has stood the test of time.
THX 1138 is available to rent or buy on VOD services.
- Release Date
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March 11, 1971
- Runtime
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86 Minutes
- Director
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George Lucas
Mia Goth is reportedly “concerned” for her estranged husband, Shia LaBeouf, following his recent run-in with the law.
The “Transformers” actor was arrested after he allegedly assaulted a bar employee in New Orleans. He was released shortly after but hit the streets again, posing with his jail release paperwork in his mouth.
It comes amid reports that Shia LaBeouf uprooted his life from L.A. in hopes of a fresh start in New Orleans following a quiet split from Mia Goth.
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Mia Goth Is ‘Concerned’ For Shia LaBeouf
Shia LaBeouf’s marriage to Mia Goth seemingly hit the rocks early last year, leading to the actor’s subsequent relocation from L.A. to New Orleans in search of a fresh start.
However, there appears to be no animosity between them as they continue to co-parent their daughter, Isabel.
Following LaBeouf’s recent trouble with the law, where he was arrested, sources close to the “MaXXXine” actress told TMZ that she remains deeply “concerned” for the father of her child, even though she has since gotten over him.
They seem to have maintained a cordial relationship amid their marriage problems, with sources noting that they sometimes talk when he wants to connect with their daughter.
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The estranged couple first got together in 2012 on the set of “Nymphomaniac: Vol. II,” after which they started dating on-and-off until they tied the knot in 2016. However, their marriage reportedly got strained in 2018, which led to a temporary split.
Goth and LaBeouf appeared to have reunited in 2020, after which they welcomed Isabel in 2022. They were last seen together when they stepped out for a walk in L.A. in January last year.
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Shia LaBeouf Moved To New Orleans To ‘Reset And Refocus’ After Split From Mia Goth
Following their split, the 39-year-old actor bought a 3-bedroom, 3.5-bath Uptown cottage that’s just about 20 minutes from the French Quarter for just over $1milliom.
He reportedly made the decision with family in mind, as he’s very close to his dad, Jeffrey, who lives in the area. LaBeouf has been living alone in the area and seems to be relishing his time in the Big Easy, telling people he came there to “reset and refocus.”
Reports suggest he has been telling people he’s sober and plans to focus on keeping things straight.
Locals in the area also know him for his black and gray Ram truck, as he frequently cruises around town in the big automobile.
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The Actor Was Arrested Following A Brawl In New Orleans
News about his marriage troubles comes amid LaBeouf’s recent run-in with the law that saw him arrested and charged on two counts of simple battery and a misdemeanor.
According to the New Orleans Police Department, LaBeouf was taken into custody around 12:45 a.m. on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, as officers were called to a business on Royal Street due to claims of “a simple battery where two victims (two adult males) reported being assaulted.”
“Investigators say a man identified as 39-year-old Shia LaBeouf was reportedly causing a disturbance and becoming increasingly aggressive at a Royal Street business,” the police report claimed.
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It continued, “A staff member attempted to eject Mr. LaBeouf from the establishment. Once removed from the building, the victim reported being struck by LaBeouf, who used his closed fists on the victim several times.”
More About Shia LaBeouf’s Bar Brawl And Arrest Incident
The police statement also noted that “the victims reported that LaBeouf left, but then came back, acting even more aggressively,” as several people attempted to pacify him.
Cops said, “Multiple people attempted to hold him down — he was eventually let up in hopes that he would leave — but he reportedly again struck the same victim with closed fists to the victim’s upper body. LaBeouf then reportedly assaulted another person, punching him in the nose.”
A viral video containing the altercation LaBeouf was involved in has since hit the internet, in which he can be seen getting beaten up by a man amid attempts to restrain him.
“We gon’ beat the f-ck out of you, boy. Chill!” the man told him as the actor attempted to stand up, only to be knocked back down again.
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He was then taken to the hospital to treat an unknown injury he sustained before police carted him away.
Shia LaBeouf To Appear In Court Again
LaBeouf was released on his own recognizance on Tuesday afternoon and was later spotted dancing and partying at a festival before police shut it down.
According to local news outlet WGNO, the actor was wearing Mardi Gras beads around his neck and holding blue-and-white jail release paperwork in his mouth.
He then took to his X account, where he broke his silence after what seemed like a three-day hiatus, writing, “Free me.” LaBeouf is set to appear in court again on March 19.
Entertainment
Heath Ledger knocked out “A Knight's Tale ”director's tooth while fake jousting with a broom
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“After the movie came out, we were demonstrating how to joust to his agent,” director Brian Helgeland reveals for the film’s 25th anniversary.
Marilyn Monroe
Former Palm Springs Home Lists For $3.3M!!!
Published
If you ‘Like It Hot’ and ‘Prefer Blondes’ — and have $3.3 million — boy do we have the house for you! Marilyn Monroe‘s former Palm Springs home just hit the market.
Located in the iconic Vista Las Palmas neighborhood of Palm Springs, California … this internationally recognized architectural residence — known as the Marilyn Monroe Doll House — occupies a rare elevated lot with sweeping mountain views.
This majestic pad encompasses just under 3,000 square feet, featuring 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, vaulted ceilings, multiple entertaining spaces and a private pool.
And the neighborhood is swanky! Residents enjoy immediate access to acclaimed restaurants, boutique shopping, art galleries and resort amenities.
Marilyn lived at the property in the early 60’s, but it’s currently owned by the founder of M Star Studios Nick Adler.
The property is listed by David Emerson at Coldwell Banker Realty.
TMZ.com
David tells TMZ… “Marilyn Monroe remains one of the most recognized figures in the world, and this home connects people to that legacy in a tangible way. It is a place where Hollywood history and Palm Springs lifestyle meet, framed by timeless Midcentury architecture, expansive mountain views, and the iconic setting of Vista Las Palmas.”
Entertainment
Amanda Seyfried didn't know she was an executive producer on “The Housemaid”: 'I didn't do s‑‑‑'
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The actress admitted to receiving a “vanity credit” and added, “I don’t want people to get it twisted.”
Former Prince Andrew
Arrested By British Police Amid Epstein Ties
Published
Former Prince Andrew is under arrest by police in England following news of his longtime friendship with convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
The disgraced ex-royal, who now goes by the name Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, was apprehended by Thames Valley Police officers at his home today on his 66th birthday.
The police department issued a press release, saying a man in his 60s was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office, and that officers are currently searching two addresses in Berkshire and Norfolk, which are located in the eastern part of England. The release noted police “we will not be naming the arrested man, as per national guidance.”
As you know, Andrew had close ties with Epstein over the years while the notorious pedophile was still alive and allegedly sexually abusing underage girls. Andrew’s name is all over the Epstein Files, which were released by the Department of Justice after President Trump signed a bill requiring them to be made public.
In the Epstein Files, Andrew is pictured kneeling over an unidentified woman sprawled out on a floor, touching her stomach over her shirt. Last October, Andrew was stripped of his royal titles due to his association with Epstein.
In 2019, Epstein died by suicide in his cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.
This is a developing story.
Nancy Guthrie Kidnapper
You May Have Left Your DNA At The Crime Scene, Sheriff Says
Published
Nancy Guthrie‘s kidnapper could be identified from DNA left at the crime scene in Arizona, according to Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos.
Nanos sat down for a TODAY Show interview Wednesday about the Guthrie case and, at one point, discussed the DNA found at Nancy’s home in Tucson.
The sheriff said, “We believe we may have some DNA there that may be our suspect, but we won’t know that until that DNA is separated, sorted out.”
Nanos added, “To me, that’s more critical than any glove I found two miles away.”
Pima County Sheriff investigators found gloves 2 miles from Nancy’s house and submitted them to the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) for testing, but the results came back negative for a match.
During his TODAY Show interview, Nanos also said he believes Nancy — the mother of TODAY show host Savannah Guthrie — was targeted by her abductor.
He said, “I think this was an individual who had a target for whatever reason, and he has made it tough, but I’ve got some pretty tough investigators too.”
The FBI, which is assisting the sheriff’s office, released doorbell camera footage from Nancy’s house, showing the masked kidnapper wearing gloves and a holstered pistol on his waist while lurking around the porch during the commission of the crime.
FBI agents have fanned out to Arizona gun stores to try to match the unique holster seen in the doorbell video with a purchase at one of the shops.
Nanos also addressed rumors that the kidnapper was wearing a ring underneath his glove, confirming that he “sees it” too and will have his team of detectives look into it.
As you know, the 84-year-old Guthrie was ripped from her home in the wee hours of February 1. Since then, investigators have been desperately looking for Nancy, particularly after learning she’s in poor health and needs her daily medications.
The common consensus as of late is that DC Comics is on the up and up as of late, thanks to their recent success in theaters and currently on HBO Max, as well. The future is looking bright for the DC Universe, but it’s best not to forget that the brand has been in cinema for quite some time, on and off the theater screen, live-action and animated.
Before James Gunn truly delves into his DCU, it’s fun to look back on films of DC’s past and how people responded to them. There are the obvious ones, yes, but some silent hitters are part of DC’s highest-rated films, according to Letterboxd, a social media platform where people can review films and see how their friends are reviewing their own. Letterboxd is one of the best ways to analyze what fans and general audiences think in the modern day.
15
‘Watchmen’ (2009)
Letterboxd Rating: 3.7/5.0
While Zack Snyder‘s more recent time in the DC Comics universe is relatively controversial (thanks to the mixed reviews for most of his projects following Man of Steel), one of his biggest hits comes in the form of Watchmen in 2009. This gritty and very stylized DC movie is extremely memorable for a plethora of reasons, with Snyder’s directing prowess being one of the primary ones.
One Letterboxd user emphasizes this in their review: “while it’s still one of my favorites just for the sake of how great it looks.” The visuals of this movie are exceptional, and this trait would move forward to be a highlight of his later DC Comics movies, too. The plot and cast are great, but the visuals really drive this one home.
14
‘Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker’ (2000)
Letterboxd Rating: 3.8/5.0
Batman has gotten pretty lucky when it comes to animated projects, specifically in the television space. One of the most popular of them all is none other than Batman Beyond. Understandably, the popularity spawned a film for the franchise, coming to audiences in 2000, titled, Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker.
“The flashback scene is up there with some of the best Batman stories ever told, and it’s only 10 minutes long,” is what one review says, and it’s a prime example of the love and care put into Batman: Beyond: Return of the Joker. The story has such a profound heart and soul within it, and moments like the flashback scene prove that the team behind this project really cared.
13
‘Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1’ (2012)
Letterboxd Rating: 3.8/5.0
The Dark Knight Returns (1986) is one of the most popular and well-beloved DC comic books of all time. So, it only makes sense when, in 2012, audiences were finally treated to an animated film adapting it. However, it wasn’t all covered in one movie. To ensure the story was adapted correctly, director Jay Olivia split the movie into two. The first part of the project, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1, set the standard that the second would have to compete against, and is a great example of how to adapt a comic book accurately.
Bringing an older, elderly Bruce Wayne (Peter Weller) back to the Batman fold, this movie features a protagonist unlike any other Batman movie’s own. He’s changed a lot since he was last the Caped Crusader, and one user jokes about it, putting it very well, in their review: “old man wants entirety of Gotham off his lawn.” While funny, it’s also showcasing that age definitely has changed Batman and made him more gritty and cynical.
12
‘Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox’ (2013)
Letterboxd Rating: 3.8/5.0
If DC Comics has anything, it’s an amazing animated landscape in both the film and television departments, and a strong argument for this is 2013’s Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox. Adapting one of the coolest DC Comics crossover events of all time, director Jay Olivia delivers a super emotional Flash movie.
That’s right, despite it having “Justice League” in the title, this film is a Flash story through and through. Surrounding the repercussions of the Scarlet Speedster saving his mother from dying — shifting the timeline completely — Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox is a story that covers grief and loss, which makes it emotionally compelling beyond most other DC animated flicks. One fan states it best in their review: “Visually incredible, classic butterfly effect story, and phenomenal voice acting.”
11
‘Batman Begins’ (2005)
Letterboxd Rating: 3.8/5.0
With Batman being DC Comics’ most popular character, it should come as no surprise that most of the highest-rated films for the company on Letterboxd are Batman movies. It should also come as no surprise that the Christopher Nolan trilogy surrounding the superhero has most of its films in the top ten. Among the three movies, the first one, Batman Begins, stands out as the one that is closest to the comic book source material.
Despite being part of the same trilogy, the tone here is very different from the two movies that will come after. It includes the fan favorite Scarecrow (Cillian Murphy) as one of the main antagonists, was the first live-action Batman film in quite some time, and introduced the ever-beloved Christian Bale as the iconic Caped Crusader. “In terms of origin stories, this is A-Tier,” is a great depiction of people’s thoughts on the movie, stated by a fan in their review on Letterboxd.
10
‘The Dark Knight Rises’ (2012)
Letterboxd Rating: 3.8/5.0
With how abundantly popular Christopher Nolan’s trilogy is, it makes total sense why all three are found in the top 15 DC movies on Letterboxd. After such a successful second movie (more on that later), the pressure was on for The Dark Knight Rises to land the plane and solidify the trilogy as one of the best in superhero cinema. One user states a similar claim in their review: “3rd best out of one of the greatest trilogies of all time, is still pretty great!”
Bringing the one and only Bane (Tom Hardy) — one of the most famous Batman comic book villains — into the fold, Nolan did a lot of work in bringing Bruce Wayne the greatest physical threat he’s ever faced. While the plot isn’t as strong as the first two, the spectacle is huge, Bruce’s character arc is compelling, and it brings everything full circle in a satisfying manner.
9
‘Joker’ (2019)
Letterboxd Rating: 3.8/5.0
Of course, the most popular DC hero has one of the most popular DC villains—one of the most popular villains of all time, really—so it felt inevitable that the one and only Clown Prince of Crime get a movie of his very own. Despite being a DC Comics film, some people don’t even consider Joker a “superhero” movie, because of how extremely different it is and less action-oriented it finds itself. Joker finds itself providing more drama, crime, and psychological thriller elements, giving commentary on modern society and how it treats the mentally ill.
While it initially was met with a lot of positive reception, it didn’t take long for cinephiles to quickly smack the film for trying to be deeper than it really was. Nothing could beat Joaquin Phoenix’s absurdly good performance, though. Whether one agrees with the negative conceptions of the film, some reviews on Letterboxd show that the positives usually outweigh the negatives, with one saying: “The film pushes its characters’ emotions and narrative tension to an astonishing frenzy, reaching an almost absurd extreme. The male lead’s performance undoubtedly becomes the film’s greatest flourish.”
8
‘V for Vendetta’ (2005)
Letterboxd Rating: 3.9/5.0
Many people may actually not know that V for Vendetta is a DC Comics property, and therefore, a DC Comics film. Many consider V for Vendetta a cult classic, and for very good reason. The thriller film finds itself becoming more and more beloved as time goes on, as it continues to be incredibly relevant to today’s society. Quite a few reviews on Letterboxd point this out, with one simply stating: “Anarchy has never looked so well-spoken.”
V for Vendetta is all about defying oppression and what freedom means in the modern day. It also begs the question of whether change can be accomplished without some sort of anarchy. It being relevant isn’t just what makes it good, though; it’s also a simply well-made movie. The directorial choices of James McTeigue allow this project to achieve a tone that fits its plot perfectly and enhances its messaging to a whole new level.
7
‘Batman: Under the Red Hood’ (2010)
Letterboxd Rating: 3.9/5.0
Despite not being theatrically released or seen by much of the “general audience,” Batman movies don’t get a lot better than Batman: Under the Red Hood. If someone is having an argument regarding whether Batman should break his no-kill rule, Batman: Under the Red Hood is the perfect film to show them. At the end of the day, this animated flick almost perfectly adapts one of the best comic book stories surrounding the Caped Crusader.
Taking what is commonly known as the hero’s “greatest failure,” Batman: Under the Red Hood challenges the iconic DC hero in ways no other movie does. One fan on Letterboxd agrees based on their review: “The perfect balance between nail-biting action sequences and exploring the depths of Batman’s character complexity.”
6
‘The Lego Batman Movie’ (2017)
Letterboxd Rating: 3.9/5.0
If you asked someone a few decades ago that one of the best Batman movies (and DC Comics projects in general) would end up being an animated film set in the Lego universe, no one would have believed it. Well, it’s impossible not to believe it now, as The Lego Batman Movie is one of the most adored Batman films of all time.
Despite being more of a satire, it perfectly captures the true heart and soul of the Batman character. “Amazing love letter to everything Batman, no less!” is what one fan said in their Letterboxd review, and that’s truly a great way to put it. The Lego Batman Movie genuinely understands what makes the character so human and relatable for many, regardless of his dark past and personality.
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The 21-year-old was the overwhelming favorite for the gold going into the Milan Cortina Games, but ended up placing 8th after a devastating free skate.
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