While Alexander Skarsgård might not be the first name that comes to mind when you think of Hollywood action stars (though perhaps he is after The Northman), if you’re looking for something full of adventure and excitement, then look to Tubi for one of his most underrated blockbusters. It’s been a decade since The Legend of Tarzan hit theaters, but the film is currently making waves on the free-to-stream platform — and it’s about time it’s recognized for its contribution to the character’s 100+ year history.

‘The Legend of Tarzan’ Is the Furthest Thing From the Sanitized Disney Movie

Image via Warner Bros.

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A decade ago, riding high off his success with the last few Harry Potter films, director David Yates attempted a bold re-imagining of one of modern literature’s most famous adventure heroes. The Legend of Tarzan picks up with the former “King of the Apes” years after he has left the African jungle and returned to high British society. But when Tarzan, now known by his real name of John Clayton III, returns to the Congo, he does so seeking to discover the horrors of the slave trade propagated by Captain Léon Rom (Christoph Waltz) — a real historical figure re-imagined for this 19th-century tale. Things go haywire when John’s wife, Jane (Margot Robbie), is kidnapped, and he must once more return to his jungle roots to stop the madman from his sinister activities. You can only imagine the sorts of jungle-fueled action spectacles that ensue, from tribal battles to deep-forest hunts to armies of apes and mercenaries going to war. It’s the sort of adventure epic that would make Edgar Rice Burroughs — the same man who also penned the John Carter novels — proud.

The Legend of Tarzan was largely panned during its initial release, but there’s a fun action movie buried in there. Skarsgård plays the adventurer with a sober restraint, not going full Tarzan until the moment the plot demands it, and offering a more complex and conflicted portrayal of the hero torn between two distinct (and different) worlds. For those only familiar with the Disney version, this Tarzan pulls more from Burroughs’ pulpy adventure novels than it does the House of Mouse, using the character’s cultural popularity to tell an enjoyable adventure tale that’s unlike what Hollywood makes these days. We cannot stress enough how different The Legend of Tarzan is in every respect from Disney’s Tarzan — which is still great on its own, but perhaps not as reverent toward the source material as this live-action take. Not only is the 2016 blockbuster an earnest re-imagining of Burroughs’ material, but it reminds us that there is so much more psychological depth to Tarzan and his multifaceted world than just the typical chest-beating and swinging through the trees. It’s no wonder that Tubi audiences have pushed The Legend of Tarzan into its high-trending collection.

With an Excellent Cast and Stunning Visuals, ‘The Legend of Tarzan’ Is an Enjoyable Movie Night Blockbuster

Aside from Skarsgård, Robbie, and Waltz, The Legend of Tarzan boasts a fine cast that also includes Samuel L. Jackson as historical figure George Washington Williams, a veteran of the American Civil War and Indian Wars who aids the titular hero in his African quest, and Djimon Hounsou as Chief Mbonga, the leader of the fictional city of Opar. With these stars, Yates was able to craft a feature that echoes the pulp adventures of old, with brilliant visuals and excellent battle sequences that will stun audiences years later. Whether you’re familiar with Burroughs’ original novels or a newcomer who has only ever experienced the Disney take on the cultural icon, The Legend of Tarzan leaves no one behind as it meditates on the circumstances that made John Clayton into Tarzan as he learns to embrace all sides of him.

Although it has been forgotten by most after a decade of franchise-focused blockbusters and poor remakes and sequels, The Legend of Tarzan deserves more respect than critics gave it at the time. It may not be a perfect Tarzan adaptation, but it’s a lot closer to the source than most — and it’s no wonder it continues to find streaming success all these years later. It’s also just loads of fun for anyone looking for an adventure film a little bit outside the usual action box.

The Legend of Tarzan is available for streaming for free on Tubi.

Many celebrities showed up to support “Star Wars” creator George Lucas at the opening of the Lucas Museum of Art on Saturday, September 19, in Los Angeles. Many longtime collaborators, including Steven Spielberg, attended, along with “Star Wars” actors like Mark Hamill and Harrison Ford. Other celebrities, like Katy Perry and Queen Latifah, were also in attendance.

Singer Katy Perry was “so excited” to attend the opening of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, joking that she was “dressed like the museum.”

When Variety asked the “Roar” singer to name her favorite “Star Wars” project, Perry named the “Rogue One” series “Andor” as a favorite.

Hayden Christensen Attended With Other ‘Star Wars’ Greats

Planet of the Apes is an iconic piece of media from the 20th century. The original film shows a distant future where humans aren’t the ruling species, where humanity has regressed while apes have taken the reins. The franchise has seen a myriad of interpretations. From the original 1968 film to Tim Burton‘s take on the story, Planet of the Apes has been told dozens of times. Audiences still find themselves drawn to this alternate future, in all its different iterations. But the four film series take what’s iconic about the original story and run in a brand new direction. Familiar and astounding all at once, the trilogy and its most recent installment demonstrate how this franchise still captivates audiences in the 21st century.

The 2011-2024 film series Planet of the Apes does not get enough credit. From the stunning motion capture effects to the outstanding performance given by Andy Serkis, these four films are groundbreaking pieces of media that modern audiences are sleeping on. For fans of Game of Thrones, they might find some similarities within the two stories that would draw them towards this series. There aren’t any dragons or fights for a throne, but Planet of the Apes tells the epic saga of one ape’s fight for his people’s freedom and the many losses he faces while trying to create a better future. The next epic story fans seek might not take place in Westeros, but in San Francisco.

A New Direction for the Franchise

Image via 20th Century Studios

Will (James Franco) is a scientist set on curing his father’s Alzheimer’s disease. When he’s tasked with looking after a young test ape, Will realizes the ape’s intelligence supersedes any others in his kind. Caeser (Andy Serkis) grows up with Will, straddling the line between animal and human. He’s incredibly smart, but doesn’t belong within human society. When Caeser eventually encounters other apes, he realizes that his kind are mistreated and abused by humanity. From test subjects to circus performers, apes have been used for humanity’s wishes, but Caeser calls for an end to it. He unites the apes and brings them together as an intelligent society that rivals the humans. When war breaks out between the two species, Caeser finds himself struggling with peace negotiations, impossible decisions, and a betrayal from within his own community.

By focusing on the character of Caesar, the trilogy frames the story through the eyes of someone other than a human. Each film finds Caesar at a different point in his life. From a young ape growing up with humans to a liberator for his species fighting against humankind, Planet of the Apes is tied to Caesar. Instead of rehashing the original plot from the 60s, the trilogy takes on a new focus to share another side of the story. It’s not just a reboot for the sake of retelling a classic story — it’s a creative twist that provides a brand new perspective.

‘Planet of the Apes’ is More Than Just a Reboot

Fans of the original 1968 film would argue that the 2010s series has little to do with the original source material. There is no central human character, instead relying on an ape as the protagonist. There is no space travel, nor visits to a distant future. Apes have not replaced the inferior, unintelligent human species. The series takes a different direction with the original plot, creating something more grounded in the present and integral to the main character.

Caesar’s journey is brilliantly formatted with the three films. Directed by Rupert Wyatt and Matt Reeves, each installment in the trilogy tackles a different phase of his life or obstacle he’s forced to overcome. As he grows into the formidable leader of the apes, the humans grow more desperate. There’s an interesting switch between the two species, where the humans act more animalistically and the apes become more humane. The change in behavior allows audiences to question where their loyalties lie — with a freedom fighter they’ve seen grow up or humans who display only violence and mistrust.

What is most striking about these films is how much heart they possess. The apes demonstrate a strong communal bond, a dedication to the survival of their species. Caesar himself, while the stoic and unshakable leader, depicts such love for his family that he’s willing to go to extreme lengths to protect them. His legacy lives on in the sequel series Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, where apes in the distant future still live by his words of unity and strength. When Caesar’s story finally concludes in War of the Planet of the Apes, audiences find themselves deeply attached to the ape who they’ve seen relentlessly fight for his agency.

Planet of the Apes will undoubtedly have more reboots, but there’s something special about this series of films. Andy Serkis gives his all with his performance of Caesar, making viewers forget they’re watching a computer-generated animal. This series is brilliantly crafted and shares a side of the story the franchise hadn’t yet explored. For fans of the original, they might be surprised at how these films create a new story while remaining appreciative of what came before. Planet of the Apes was always about apes replacing humans, and this series takes it a step further by placing an ape at the center of the story.

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Release Date

August 5, 2011

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Runtime

105 minutes

Director

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Rupert Wyatt

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Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce made a low-key appearance in honor of their friend Patrick Mahomes’ 31st birthday.

Swift and Kelce, both 36, were spotted at the Kansas City Chiefs tight end’s 1587 Prime steakhouse in now-viral social media footage shared Saturday, September 20. The pop star donned a strapless black midi dress with a coordinating handbag as she held hands with her husband, who twinned with his better half in an all-black ensemble. (Kelce and Mahomes co-own 1587 Prime in KC, named after their respective Chiefs jersey numbers.)

The newlyweds have been married since July, saying “I do” in a star-studded ceremony held at New York City’s Madison Square Garden in front of 1,000 of their nearest and dearest friends and family members.

“[Our] wedding was the best night of my life,” Kelce gushed of the ceremony during a press conference last month. “I appreciate everybody who came out and celebrated and had fun with us. That’s about all I really got from that night. It was a crazy night. It was full of a lot of celebration.”

For Kelce, it was particularly memorable to get married inside the iconic NYC landmark, known for hosting some of the most famed sporting events in history.

“MSG, man, I always told myself I’d go for a playoff game when the [New York] Knicks were rocking, and my wife went when I was stuck in minicamp,” Kelce said, referring to Swift’s attendance at Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Finals. “I didn’t get the opportunity to go then, so it’s kind of cool to get to live out my childhood dream of being in that venue, the mecca of all sports venues, [by] being able to get married in there.”

He continued at the time, “I can’t thank the owners of MSG [enough] for allowing us to get the opportunity to do that, knowing that we wanted a private event and everything. The A/C was cooking, baby. That was the best part.”

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Months after their big day, Kelce returned to the gridiron for his 14th — and potentially last — season with the Chiefs. Swift was present for the team’s season opener on Monday, September 14, where she watched from a private box with her parents, her newly minted in-laws and actor Tom Cruise.

“She was schooling me on football. She was bringing the football [knowledge],” Cruise, 64, revealed while appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon days later. “Oh, she knows her stuff. She’s like, ‘This is like …’ I was like, ‘OK!’ She knew nothing about football when she met Travis. It was like her [saying], ‘What was it like playing against your brother, tackling each other?’ She said, ‘You know, he’s so patient.’ I said, ‘I’m sure he was!’ … She knows [football]. She’s just bringing it. She knows.”

The Chiefs defeated the Denver Broncos 31-10 in their season-opener. They will take the field on Sunday, September 20, for a matchup against the Indianapolis Colts.

It is quite fascinating how a genre built almost entirely on doubt can leave such a permanent mark on the viewer’s memory. Psychological thrillers rarely need huge stakes or explosions to pull you in. Instead, the real hook is simply watching a mind unravel. It makes you wonder if the threat comes from the outside world, or right inside the protagonist’s head.

All this is to say that the psychological thriller has evolved into one of the most exciting cinematic forms of the modern era. These films ask who controls the story, who can be trusted, and how far a person can go before reality itself breaks. They play mind games. Narrowing down such a massive era to just 10 movies is no easy feat. But, thanks to tight storytelling, killer acting, and mind-bending twists, these are the best psychological thrillers released since 2010.

10

‘The Gift’ (2015)

Image via STX Entertainment

Most thrillers start with a blatant threat, but The Gift begins with an ordinary social discomfort. Simon (Jason Bateman) and Robyn (Rebecca Hall) run into Gordo (Joel Edgerton), a man Simon knew in high school. Gordo is too friendly, too available, too eager to enter their polished new life. The early scenes work because the movie understands how politeness can become a prison. Robyn tries to be decent. Meanwhile, Simon just wants to dismiss him.

But this awkward social dynamic quickly starts changing shape. Every time Gordo oversteps, Simon’s quickness to mock and dismiss him ends up revealing way more about his own toxic past than Gordo’s weird behavior ever could. For Robyn, the real horror becomes quietly connecting the dots of the cruel history her husband tried to erase. When that history finally catches up to them, the ending lands perfectly because it attacks Simon through uncertainty. Gordo’s final revenge gives him no closure. For a control freak, it is the ultimate punishment.

9

‘Enemy’ (2013)

Image via A24

Enemy’s premise takes one impossible discovery and refuses to make it comfortable. The film follows Adam Bell (Jake Gyllenhaal), who sees his exact double in a movie and follows that image until his life begins splitting apart. The whole movie feels completely suffocating. It’s just this smoggy, concrete maze where every hallway looks exactly the same.

Trapped inside this maze, what’s really wild is how two guys with the exact same face manage to feel like completely different people just through their posture and energy. Adam is withdrawn, nervous, almost apologetic for existing. Whereas, Anthony (Jake Gyllenhaal) is sharper, more entitled, and sexually predatory. Their resemblance becomes less important than the way each man seems to expose what the other wants to suppress. As their lives crash into each other, the movie abandons reality completely. The spider imagery, the pregnant wife, the mistress, and the final shot all push the film into nightmare logic. The genius of Enemy is how it frames identity. It’s just a bad habit you keep failing to break.

8

‘The Invisible Man’ (2020)

Image via Universal Pictures

Leigh Whannell finds the most vicious modern use for the old invisible-man concept by turning it into a story about abuse after escape in The Invisible Man. The plot kicks off with Cecilia (Elisabeth Moss), who leaves Adrian (Oliver Jackson-Cohen)’s compound and every movement shows how fear has trained her body. She disables cameras, freezes at noise, and barely breathes until she reaches the car.

But even after she gets away and Adrian is supposedly dead, the movie makes empty space terrifying. The camera holds on corners, doorways, hallways, and blank rooms until the audience starts scanning the frame like Cecilia does. All of it proves that she is being hunted by someone who also knows how to make her sound unstable. But what really anchors all this tension is Cecilia herself. Her panic is exhausted, furious, and precise. The invisible suit is just a sci-fi trick. The real horror is knowing your abuser is still quietly ruining your life, and absolutely no one believes you. It’s the ultimate toxic ex nightmare.

7

‘Nocturnal Animals’ (2016)

Image via Focus Features

Nocturnal Animals is a revenge story delivered through reading. Susan (Amy Adams) receives a manuscript from Edward (Jake Gyllenhaal), the ex-husband she wounded years earlier, and the book forces her into a Texas nightmare where Tony Hastings (Jake Gyllenhaal) loses his wife and daughter after a roadside encounter with violent strangers.

That entire highway nightmare is just incredibly hard to sit through. Tony keeps choosing the reasonable response. He tries to calm the situation. He tries to protect his family without escalating. But, it doesn’t really matter. Ray (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) and his men turn every attempt at restraint into another humiliation. By the time Tony is left alone on the road, his helplessness has become the whole point. As she absorbs this trauma, Susan reads this story inside a sterile, expensive life she chose over Edward. Ultimately, every single page acts as an accusation, a confession, a punishment, and a self-portrait. The last few minutes in the restaurant are devastating because Edward wins through complete absence. He never shows up. He just lets Susan arrive beautifully dressed for a confrontation he has already finished. That absolute coldness is why it’s one of the best psychological thrillers.

6

‘Get Out’ (2017)

Image via Universal Pictures

Get Out is built with terrifying discipline. The story starts when Chris (Daniel Kaluuya) arrives at Rose (Allison Williams)’s family home already managing everyone else’s comfort. He laughs politely, absorbs awkward comments, and tries to decide whether the Armitages are weird in the usual liberal way or dangerous in a way he cannot yet name.

The movie completely weaponizes everyday awkwardness. Missy (Catherine Keener)’s teacup, Walter (Marcus Henderson) running at night, Georgina (Betty Gabriel)’s smile cracking into tears, the party guests inspecting Chris, and Logan (Lakeith Stanfield)’s sudden panic after the camera flash, these are all massive red flags hiding in plain sight. The movie sets up its trap flawlessly. Watching it a second time just feels like witnessing a crime. Thankfully, Chris survives by ditching his manners and blocking the hypnosis. He finally listens to the instinct screaming at him to just get out. You really can’t talk about modern thrillers without this one.

5

‘Shutter Island’ (2010)

Image via Paramount Pictures

Martin Scorsese’s Shutter Island is one of those thrillers that becomes a different movie after the ending, and the second version is even stronger. The charade is already set the moment Teddy Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio) arrives at Ashecliffe to investigate a missing patient. The entire island is immediately suffocating, packed with storm clouds, locked doors, and doctors who are clearly hiding something.

Honestly, it just looks like Teddy is trying to outrun a total psychological collapse by staying busy. The case gives him something to chase. The conspiracy gives his grief somewhere to go. Every flashback to his wife, every vision of the dead children, every conversation with Chuck (Mark Ruffalo) pushes him closer to the truth he cannot survive. Consequently, the ending is just really really sad. You realize the doctors faked the whole investigation just to help him face reality. But the craziest part is that final line. He actually did get his sanity back. He just can’t live with the guilt. So, he chooses the lobotomy.

4

‘The Handmaiden’ (2016)

Image via Amazon Studios/ CJ Entertainment

The Handmaiden keeps changing ownership of the story, which is why it feels so alive. At first, Sook-hee (Kim Tae-ri) enters Lady Hideko (Kim Min-hee)’s house as a maid helping a con man seduce and commit her. The plan sounds cruel, simple, and profitable. But just as you settle in, Park Chan-wook rewinds the film. Everything you just watched was a lie.

The movie’s pleasure comes from how exact its deceptions are. Hideko’s performances for the men, the staged innocence, the reading room, the abusive uncle, the forged identities, and the shifting alliance between Hideko and Sook-hee all fit together with stunning control. Every character thinks they are using someone. They are wrong. In reality, the women are the only ones who learn how to turn performance into freedom. The thriller’s emotional payoff is what makes it great. Sook-hee and Hideko escape a system built on possession, pornography, money, and male spectatorship by becoming the authors of the final version.

3

‘Prisoners’ (2013)

Image via Warner Bros.

Prisoners is a nightmare of parental desperation where every decision feels understandable for five seconds and monstrous forever afterward. It all starts when Keller Dover (Hugh Jackman)’s daughter disappears with another little girl, and the investigation leads to Alex Jones (Paul Dano), a suspect with the mental capacity of a child and enough suspicious behavior to destroy everyone’s restraint. Because of this, Keller becomes absolutely terrifying. His violence grows from love, fear, pride, and religious certainty. He abducts Alex, imprisons him, and beats him. He just keeps convincing himself that one more act of cruelty will finally produce the answer.

On the flip side, you have Detective Loki (Jake Gyllenhaal). He is just as obsessed. He’s this twitchy, hyper-focused guy obsessively chasing down every single creepy lead and dead end. At its core, what really makes the movie so intense is that nobody gets to keep their hands clean. Keller is just a desperate dad trying to save his little girl, but he completely turns into a monster in the process. And that final shot with the whistle is just brilliant, Keller’s entire survival just comes down to whether Loki is willing to pay attention to a faint sound after everyone else has packed up and left. If Loki walks away, Keller dies.

2

‘Black Swan’ (2010)

Image via Searchlight Pictures

The pursuit of art is rarely framed as dangerous. Black Swan shatters that illusion, turning artistic perfection into bodily horror. The plot tracks Nina (Natalie Portman), who wants the Swan Queen role because ballet has consumed her identity, her mother has frozen her in childhood, and the company demands that she become both innocent and seductive on command. Crushed under all these expectations, Nina’s performance is devastatingly controlled. She scratches her skin. She studies herself in mirrors. She fears Lily (Mila Kunis). She obeys Thomas (Vincent Cassel). She resists her mother, and as a result, she slowly loses the ability to separate discipline from self-destruction. To capture this descent into madness, Darren Aronofsky keeps the camera close to her body, feet cracking, skin tearing, shoulders changing, blood appearing where pressure has nowhere else to go.

The thriller works because every hallucination grows from a real demand. Nina has been trained to perfect technique while being told perfection is inadequate without surrender, sexuality, danger, and instinct. Her final performance is horrifying. She finally gives them everything. When she whispers that she was perfect, she is absolutely right. She just had to destroy herself to achieve it.

1

‘Gone Girl’ (2014)

Image via 20th Century Studios

Gone Girl is probably the best psychological thriller released since 2010. It takes marriage, the media, resentment, and storytelling, and turns them all into pure ammunition. The chaos starts on their fifth anniversary when Amy (Rosamund Pike) suddenly vanishes. And, Nick (Ben Affleck) smiles at the wrong time. Instantly, the media turns the investigation into a reality show. From there, every single detail is twisted perfectly to make Nick look like a total sociopath. Between the staged living room and his own terrible choices, you just watch him walk right into a trap.

Halfway through, Amy’s “Cool Girl” monologue detonates the movie and reveals the absolute truth about the missing-wife story. It was only the first trap. Amy is childish, disciplined, theatrical, and absolutely committed to punishment. She does more than merely frame Nick. In fact, she authors a reality where every reaction he has can be used against him. When her original plan derails, the Desi (Neil Patrick Harris) section proves how fast she can revise the plot when survival requires it. Somehow, the final act is even colder. Nick and Amy remain together, but obviously not out of love. They stay together because they understand each other too well, hate each other too deeply, and know exactly how the world will read the image they present. It’s a uniquely toxic dynamic, and a solid addition to any modern thriller list.

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Gone Girl

Release Date

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October 3, 2014

Runtime

149 minutes

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Writers

Gillian Flynn

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Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams could be heard screaming in pain after suffering a dramatic non-contact injury, later requiring assistance to leave the field. 

Williams, 24, crumpled to the turf during the 4th quarter against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, September 20, while attempting to scramble when the Bears were in the red zone. 

After trainers helped the quarterback to the sidelines, Williams was placed on a cart and taken to the tunnel. He managed to pump his arm and give a thumbs up to the crowd at Chicago’s Soldier Field while he was being escorted to the locker room.

The Fox broadcast later announced that Williams injured his right hamstring, but no other updates about the severity of the injury or his status were made immediately available. 

Bears’ backup quarterback Tyson Bagent came into the game in Williams’ absence, but was not able to successfully lead Chicago on a game-winning drive. The Vikings won, 9-3. 

Former NFL team doctor David J. Chao, who now assesses football injuries in real time on social media, described Williams’ ailment as “a significant injury.”

“Unfortunately this is a hazard of wet weather,” said Chao, referencing the rainy conditions in Chicago during the game. “Wet weather allows fewer high ankle [injuries], fewer knee injuries. But more muscle injuries. Especially worrisome [in the] early season with acclimation. We’ll have to see how the tear is, but it certainly looks like Caleb Williams is going to miss some time.”

While the weather conditions made it tough for any offense to get going on Sunday, Williams and the Bears were coming off an emphatic 59-37 victory over the Carolina Panthers in Week 1, Chicago’s highest point total in a season-opening game in team history.

“That’s how we want to look each week,” Williams told reporters after the win on September 13. “That’s who we want to be each week.”

Williams added, per The Athletic, “It happens over time, it happens through training camp, [organized team activities], it happens with the week’s preparation that we have. It happens when we have an open communication throughout the week about what works, what doesn’t work, wide receivers and tight ends and all of that.”

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Bears head coach, Ben Johnson, gushed about his third-year quarterback after the Panthers win. 

 “I could kind of tell last night, we were doing our quarterback meeting one last time, and I mean, he was on top of it,” Johnson told reporters.. “Everything he was rattling out, just where Caleb’s eyes need to be, what Caleb’s thinking. I slept really well with that in mind.”

The Bears return to action on Monday, September 28, to host the Philadelphia Eagles.

Saturday Night Live UK took aim at Ed Sheeran and Macklemore’s Loop Tour controversy during the Saturday, September 19, live broadcast.

The British variety series began with a royal family-themed cold open, in which the late Princess Diana was reimagined as an artificial intelligence (AI) robot to assist her ex-husband, King Charles III, that soon escalated into an all-out war with technology.

“Good God. As I predicted, the war between robots and humans has begun,” Larry Dean, playing the 77-year-old king, said. “We must do everything we can to resist.”

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Related: Ed Sheeran Says He’s ‘So Sorry’ at Philly Show After Macklemore Controversy

Ed Sheeran returned to his Loop Tour after opening act Macklemore was dropped from the lineup for making pro-Palestinian remarks onstage. “Before I play some songs tonight, I hope it’s okay if I say a few words about this last week,” Sheeran, 35, told fans during the Saturday, September 19, concert at the Lincoln Financial […]

An actor dressed as Sheeran, 35, subsequently replied, “Or maybe we shouldn’t.”

“I couldn’t help but overhear your conversation. You see, I was just outside sitting on the fence,” faux-Sheeran quipped, rebuffing the king’s attempts to thwart an AI-induced war. “Your majesty, I don’t like to take sides. I don’t want to alienate any of my fans, humans or robots. A lot of my tickets are bought by scalping bots.”

The actor continued, “You know, sometimes when it comes to conflicts, the bravest thing you can do is to say nothing at all.”

Sheeran raised eyebrows after his Loop Tour opener Macklemore, 43, was kicked off the tour for chanting “Free Palestine” during two New Jersey concerts earlier this month. After alleged pressure from stadium owners hosting future concerts, the “Thrift Shop” rapper was dropped before his remaining scheduled eight gigs.

Sheeran, for his part, subsequently issued a statement denying that he was personally responsible for Macklemore’s departure. He also claimed that he was working to “build bridges.”

Sheeran’s comments further divided social media users and fans, with Macklemore’s fellow opening acts leaving the tour in solidarity with the rapper and the Palestinian people. The four-time Grammy winner returned to the Loop Tour solo on Saturday, September 19, at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field, where he apologized for making “mistakes.”

“I’m used to my music being criticized, and I’m always happy to take that because I’m lucky. A lot of you like my stuff, and to be honest, I’m surprised,” Sheeran began the concert, according to footage shared to his official social media pages. “I’m not surprised that I’ve even done it. You know, it’s normal.”

Related: Ed Sheeran Makes Huge Change to ‘Loop Tour’ Amid Macklemore Controversy

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Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour looked very different from what fans may have expected when the singer-songwriter took to the stage in Philadelphia. On Saturday, September 19, multiple fan accounts revealed the staging for that night’s gig at Lincoln Financial Field would not include a B-stage. Sheeran, 35, has traditionally performed fan requests on this secondary […]

He added, “This week, the criticism was about something much more important, and I’ve had to take [it in] and make difficult decisions, and I am making mistakes, and I’m so so sorry. … This has put me in the middle of an important, passionate argument about freedom of speech on the most complex issue on the planet.”

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Sheeran further stressed that he doesn’t want to “disappoint” any fans and vowed to continue making music.

“[My music] has always been a safe space for everyone. That matters hugely to me,” he said. “Honoring my commitment to my fans is also completely essential to who I am. That is why I’m here tonight — on my own — continuing my own tour.”

Saturday Night Live UK airs on Sky One live Saturdays at 10 p.m. BST.