Inde Navarrette is already thinking about one of the most recognizable elements of Rogue as she prepares to join Marvel’s X-Men: her unmistakable Southern accent.

Speaking with Entertainment Tonight, Navarrette revealed that her own upbringing in Texas will provide some inspiration for her portrayal of Rogue. The actress spent a significant portion of her childhood in Corpus Christi and remembers the Southern women she grew up around as an influence on how she is approaching the character.

“I grew up in Texas for a good majority of my life,” Navarrette said. “So honestly, those Southern women are really my favorite. Corpus Christi is the city specifically.”

However, Navarrette knows that a Texas accent isn’t necessarily Rogue’s accent.

In Marvel Comics, Rogue, also known as Anna Marie, comes from Mississippi, and Navarrette wants to spend time there before stepping into the role.

“But specifically, Mississippi, Rogue is from Mississippi,” Navarrette explained. “So, I’m really just — I want to go there. I really want to do her justice.”

Rogue X-Men 97′ [Marvel Studios Animation]

Rogue’s Southern Voice Is Part of the Character

Getting Rogue’s voice right could be particularly important for longtime X-Men fans.

Rogue’s Southern drawl has become one of the character’s defining traits, especially through Lenore Zann’s performance in X-Men: The Animated Series and, more recently, X-Men ’97. Navarrette’s comments suggest Marvel’s new live-action interpretation won’t abandon that aspect of the character.

Navarrette was officially announced as Rogue during D23 in August. She joins a growing X-Men ensemble that includes Sadie Sink as Jean Grey, Kit Connor as Cyclops, Maya Boyd as Storm, Christopher Abbott as Professor Charles Xavier, Samara Weaving as Emma Frost and Adam Driver as Mister Sinister. Asa Germann was also recently added as Angel.

Thunderbolts filmmaker Jake Schreier is directing Marvel’s new take on the mutant team.

While audiences will have to wait to hear exactly what Navarrette’s Rogue sounds like, the actress appears determined to make the character’s Mississippi roots part of her performance rather than simply adopting a generic Southern drawl.

Marvel’s X-Men is currently scheduled to hit theaters May 5, 2028.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds‘ fourth and penultimate season is warping to its conclusion. It’s going to conclude with a bang in “Tomorrow’s Enterprise,” a season finale that sees the USS Enterprise of the present and future in collision. The episode will premiere exclusively on Paramount+ on Thursday, September 24, but before that stardate, Collider is proud to present an exclusive sneak preview clip from the episode, as we see the future Enterprise crew begin to take shape.

Strange New Worlds is a prequel to Star Trek: The Original Series, the Trek show that begat them all. It features the familiar Enterprise, and some familiar crew members, like Uhura (Celia Rose Gooding), Spock (Ethan Peck), Christine Chapel (Jess Bush), and Montgomery “Scotty” Scott (Martin Quinn), but under the command of Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount), whose ultimate destiny is well-known to Trek fans, and to Pike himself. As the series goes on, the crew who’ll serve under James Kirk (Paul Wesley) are starting to come into focus.

That’s showcased in our exclusive sneak peek of the finale, which is apparently set in the show’s future. Kirk now commands the ship, stalking the bridge with a William Shatner-ian ease as he discusses the results of last week’s poker game with Spock, Scotty, and Uhura; the latter is now sporting a hairstyle very similar to that worn by Nichelle Nichols when she originated the role. Also present is Dr. Phil Boyce (Brian Markinson), who eagle-eyed Trek fans will recognize from a key moment in the franchise’s history. The ship is about to conduct an experiment that will require some fancy flying, and Kirk’s called in someone he calls “the best pilot in Starfleet.” That raises two questions: is the show about to introduce another Trek legacy character? And if so, what happened to the Enterprise‘s previous ace pilot, Erica Ortegas (Melissa Navia)? You’ll have to tune in to find out.

Who Is Dr. Phil Boyce?

Dr. Phil Boyce was played by John Hoyt (Spartacus) in “The Cage,” the original pilot for Star Trek, which takes place before the events of Strange New Worlds. “The Cage” was rejected by the network, and Boyce was replaced by Dr. Mark Piper (Paul Fix, The Rifleman) in the show’s second pilot, and then by the familiar Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy (DeForest Kelley) for the rest of the series. However, Boyce did appear in the two-part episode “The Menagerie,” which was made by combining “The Cage” with new footage. Sixty years later, Boyce returned on the Strange New Worlds episode “Off-Hour,” having transferred back to the Enterprise from his previous posting, the USS Sunita.

“Tomorrow’s Enterprise,” the Season 4 finale of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, premieres on Paramount+ tomorrow, September 24. Stay tuned to Collider for future updates.

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Release Date

2022 – 2027-00-00

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Paramount+

Showrunner

Henry Alonso Myers, Akiva Goldsman

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Directors

Dan Liu, Amanda Row, Maja Vrvilo, Akiva Goldsman, Dermott Downs, Eduardo Sánchez, Jeffrey W. Byrd, Jonathan Frakes, Jordan Canning, Leslie Hope, Valerie Weiss, Sydney Freeland, Christopher J. Byrne, Rachel Leiterman

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Writers

Onitra Johnson

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President Donald Trump had terse words for CNN correspondent Kaitlan Collins after he recently banned the news outlet from the White House.

Collins, 34, attempted to quiz Trump, 80, about the Iran war outside a United Nations General Assembly event in New York City on Tuesday, September 22, when Trump said, “I’m surprised that CNN is here covering me.”

Collins responded, “The United Nations allowed us in here, sir.”

“You should not be here,” Trump hit back at the reporter. “You should not be here covering me. You said you weren’t going to cover me.”

Related: President Donald Trump Criticizes CNN’s Kaitlan Collins for Not Smiling

President Donald Trump once again criticized CNN’s chief White House correspondent Kaitlan Collins during an Oval Office press conference on Wednesday, June 3. Trump, 79, called CNN “a very corrupt organization” before taking aim at Collins, 34, who was in attendance for the press briefing. Pointing to Collins, he described the journalist as “a corrupt […]

In a Truth Social post late Tuesday, Trump again lashed out at Collins, writing, “All of the SLEAZEBAGS, like Third Rate ‘Reporter,’ Kaitlan Collins, of Fake News CNN, a truly unhappy person, said they weren’t going to be covering me.”

“Then why were they ranting and raving like Lunatics, in the Press Area, at the United Nations? Why was she there? She’s got a ‘TRUMP’ addiction, and so does CNN and MSDNC. They’re all sick, treasonous, and demented!” he continued.

On Friday, September 18, Trump announced a White House ban on CNN, MSNOW and Politico “effectively immediately … as a result of their constant ‘reporting’ FAKE NEWS!”

“Media Outlets shouldn’t be able to constantly write or report FICTION and LIES when they’re covering the President of the United States, the Trump Administration, or the United States of America. Other Fake News Media Outlets to follow. Thank you for your attention to this matter,” he wrote via Truth Social.

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Related: Dylan Mulvaney Seemingly Supports Kaitlan Collins Amid Donald Trump Attacks

Trans actress Dylan Mulvaney is seemingly lending her support to CNN reporter and anchor Kaitlan Collins after President Donald Trump compared the two women during the rescheduled White House Correspondents’ Dinner. On Saturday, July 25, Mulvaney, 29, shared an inspirational quote attributed to former first lady Eleanor Roosevelt via her Instagram Stories — the same […]

The three outlets filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration on Monday, September 21, “to protect our First Amendment rights and defend the principle that the government does not decide what the press reports or publishes,” they said in a joint statement after reporters were barred from White House grounds two days prior.

“Without notice or process, the White House revoked our journalists’ credentials because it objected to our reporting. Left unchallenged, this threatens press freedom and the public’s right to independent journalism free from government interference,” the outlets said.

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Trump has previously targeted Collins, including comparing her to trans actress Dylan Mulvaney during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in July.

Collins reacted to the incident during an appearance on The Daily Show, saying, “I’ve always felt this, regardless of who’s the president … it’s really not about me, and I don’t want it to be about my reaction. If you let it become about that, then it becomes a back-and-forth between the two of us.”

“Instead, I think it’s more important to remind people in those moments when he is insulting me, he is criticizing me … it’s important to put the reminder back on the work, on the question, and on the non-answers that we get,” she added.

Editor’s note: The following contains major spoilers for Lioness Season 3.

After that shocking reveal in the Season 3 finale of Lioness, finally making the individual behind the kidnapping of Joe (Zoe Saldaña) known to viewers, her fate as well as that of her entire team hang in the balance. On top of that, Joe was forced to return home, only to find it empty, her husband (Dave Annable) and their two daughters gone, and just a note left behind. And with Kaitlyn (Nicole Kidman) already wanting to discuss Joe’s future, there are a lot of questions left unanswered, including whether there will be a Season 4.

Collider recently got the opportunity to chat with Saldaña about her reaction to learning that Aaliyah Amrohi (Stephanie Nur) was the one behind everything with Joe, how she found out about the twist, the ramifications it could all have moving forward, what could be next for her marriage, who Joe is if she’s taken out of the field, her favorite scene to shoot, the gift she’s been given in working alongside all the Lioness women, and the need for a Season 4.

Zoe Saldaña Was Excited About the Season 3 Finale Reveal That She Says Turned the Action Series Into a Saga

“I was so happy.”

Image via Paramount+

COLLIDER: My jaw was on the floor with this finale. That reveal was wild and I didn’t see it coming. How did you find out where this season would end and that it was Aaliyah that was responsible? What was your reaction?

ZOE SALDAÑA: With Season 3, Taylor [Sheridan] was literally writing and finishing the scripts a week before we were prepping them to shoot. That’s how big his world has become, but also, that’s how in demand he is with all the shows that he’s currently writing on. He personally wrote all of our seasons, and I’m so incredibly grateful because that meant that we always had direct and fast access to Taylor and he’s a really great storyteller.

I was finishing up Episode 6 when I got the script, probably two days before anybody else got it. Jill [Wagner] also gets them because she’s the producer and she’s one of the creators of the show, so she gets them in real time. He sends them to her and she reads them, and then they send them to me. And I was so happy. I was excited. It felt to me like a novella. All of a sudden, it went from this paramilitary operative show that’s high-octane and action and thriller and suspense to a saga, and I like that. I really do.

What ramifications do you think that will have moving forward? At this point, there has to be another season.

SALDAÑA: We would be so grateful if we’re able to come back. I think that this cliffhanger is so jaw-dropping that if we get canceled after this positive reception, I am going to be a little vocal about it. Paramount is thrilled. 101 is thrilled. Bosque Ranch, which is Taylor’s production company, is thrilled. We all, as producers, are super excited. I know Nicole [Kidman] and I are very excited. It would be a dream come true, to come back. The thing that I always want to remind people of is that, though the show draws inspiration from real world elements to build tension and suspense, it’s ultimately a fictional narrative that’s designed to entertain. Current events may naturally lead audiences to draw their own comparisons, but Lioness was not created as a response to any one geopolitical event news cycle.

That said, I think that history has shown us that when innocent people lose their homes and they’re displaced, they lose their families and they lose essential parts of themselves as a consequence of war and as casualties of war. These people are basically losing their innocence, and their lives are changed forever. So, I think that Aaliyah is going to represent something bigger and much more familiar in today’s geopolitical era. Obviously, on a much more fictional, fantastical scale because let’s pray and hope that many of these people don’t have the physical financial ability to come back and seek answers for what happened to them, but it would be naive to think that these lives are unchanged forever. It would be horrible and quite wrong to think that these lives aren’t marked forever. I commend Taylor for exercising that hypothesis.

Zoe Saldaña Isn’t Surprised That Joe’s Husband Finally Reached His Limit in the ‘Lioness’ Season 3 Finale

“Put yourself in Neal’s shoes. There’s only so much he can do to support his wife and partner.”

Image via Paramount+

We also know at the end of the finale that Joe’s husband has emptied the house, packed up, and left with their daughters. He’s supported her in the past, at times when it really has taken a heavy toll on him, so has he just reached his limit? What are the questions that you are most interested in getting answers to when it comes to their marriage and how they move forward?

SALDAÑA: I’m not saying that I influenced this move from Neal because Taylor ultimately makes his own choices, and I do believe that it’s not even up to Taylor. I think that these characters dictate where they’re going, and Taylor just has to make sure that he never gets in their way. If you are a good writer and you’re a great storyteller, you don’t manipulate the story. You just have to follow the natural course of what these characters would take. Put yourself in Neal’s shoes. There’s only so much he can do to support his wife and his partner.

If the violence and the darkness of her world comes knocking at their doorstep and it threatens the lives of his family, it’s funny that we say what makes a marriage work is because a wife chooses the kids and the husband chooses the wife, and that’s how you get a harmonizing family. Well, I love the fact that this Neal character broke that and he’s choosing the safety and the security of his life and his children, and he no longer can put Joe first. That has to rock Joe. As long as he’s her lighthouse, she’s going to continue to chip away at her own life and then inherently at his life with her because he’s always going to be there.

After she gets rescued, she avoids going home. But when she gets home and the house is empty, she can no longer avoid that reality. She can’t avoid that she was kidnapped because she’s missing a toe as proof of that. And obviously she has to have a conversation about her future with Kaitlyn at some point, even if she wants to avoid doing so right now. Who is Joe if she has to work a desk and if she can’t be who she is in this moment?

SALDAÑA: She’s a soldier. This show is not a love song. It’s not a joyful reality. But it does pay homage to the people that innately put themselves last for the sake of other people’s lives. She’s a soldier, and she doesn’t know how not to be that. She’s the same as Kyle. She’s the same as Kaitlyn. She’s the same as Tucker, Two Cubs, Randy, Tag, Bobby, Cruz. She’s a soldier. Did Neal rock her now? Yeah. Now, Neal has her attention.

What was your favorite scene to shoot this season?

SALDAÑA: What I like about this show and Taylor writing it is that, yeah, he is hard to get on the phone, but when he’s in a creative process and you are in that creative process as well, you’re synced in that process. You just have to meet him where he’s at. I love the fact that, as he was writing the episodes, I am so in the trenches in Joe world that sometimes I would have these epiphanies or these insights, and I would text him like, “Oh, this is what’s happening, right?” And he would either respond like, “Yep,” or he’ll call me. Even if I’m on set, I’ll be like, “I need to walk away. I’m going to talk to Taylor right now.” And he’ll help me break something down, or we will further discuss something, or we work something out. He ultimately has the final decision on how things unfold, but I’m so tapped into Joe that I can figure things out while he’s writing them.

There was one time when I was just struggling with a scene. I was like, “I just don’t know. If she’s a soldier and she’s done this and this, and she broke Cruz in Season 1 and sent her through all these camps to survive and become resilient, that means that she’s resilient herself.” And he was like, “Yeah, she’s going to save herself, and her team is going to come meet her in the middle.” The fact that he would say that, I have such appreciation for the fact that he truly values Joe. If he comes across a decision that he’s going to write for Joe that may weaken her character, he will not do it. Yes, her team is looking for her. Praise them for wanting to save her. But Joe is a rock. She’s a soldier. She’s going to find a way to get far enough so that then her team can come and meet her in the middle. I loved that. So, when I figured that out, and he had already written that, it just felt great.

Zoe Saldaña Says Working With the Incredible ‘Lioness’ Women Is the Biggest Gift in Making the Show

“[Taylor Sheridan is] going to write characters that are complex, that are honest, that are human, and then you have to figure out if you like them or not.”

I love that this is a show where not only are you playing this badass, strong woman in a very heavily male world, but you’re doing so with such great women around you. From Joe to Kaitlyn, to Bobby, Cruz, and Josie, there are a lot of strong, smart, and capable women in this world. What is it like to be alongside so many other women through all of this?

SALDAÑA: The biggest gift of all is that I get to be around these incredible women that are talented as fuck and devoted and passionate and opinionated, but also funny and vulnerable and spicy. We’re not being forced to become more masculine because we’re living in these customarily masculine spaces. Take Cruz, for instance. Cruz fell in love. Cruz discovered that she was gay, whilst also receiving the opportunity of her life, when she was asked to be a part of the Lioness program in Season 1. That’s not a masculine role. That’s a woman. This woman is strong and capable and a survivor and a thriver and a heart that’s beating.

Look at Kaitlyn. Kaitlyn has to always practice putting her experience, her wisdom, her ability, her talent to create this program first, over her heart. Nobody is as heartbroken as Kaitlyn when Joe is blown. Nobody. Nobody is as fucking desperate to get her back as Bobby. I feel these women. These women reveal themselves to you if you give yourself the opportunity to watch them, season after season. That’s the good thing about good writing. He’s not going to spoon-feed you all the answers. He’s going to write characters that are complex, that are honest, that are human, and then you have to figure out if you like them or not, but it’s on you.

Lioness is available to stream on Paramount+.​​​​​​

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Release Date

July 23, 2023

Network

Paramount+

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Directors

John Hillcoat, Anthony Byrne, Paul Cameron, Stephen Kay, Taylor Sheridan

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  Laysla De Oliveira

  Cruz Manuelos

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Editor’s note: The following contains major spoilers for Season 3 of Lioness.

Even as a star and executive producer for the Paramount+ action series Lioness, Academy Award winner Nicole Kidman, who plays CIA Clandestine Service supervisor Kaitlyn Meade, thought that gut-punch Season 3 finale ending was a mic drop moment. After tracking Joe (Zoe Saldaña) down following two kidnapping attempts and finally returning her to what ended up being a home emptied by her husband and their two daughters before leaving, it was revealed to viewers that Aaliyah Amrohi (Stephanie Nur) was the one behind the order. All of this means that there are a lot of questions left unanswered, including whether there will be a Season 4.

Collider recently got the opportunity to chat with Kidman about her reaction to the twist, her hope and desire to keep playing Kaitlyn for another season, her shared passion for horses with show creator Taylor Sheridan, who she revealed is very tight-lipped about story secrets, Kaitlyn’s relationship with her husband, and how all of this could change the dynamic with Joe. She also gave an update on where things are at with Big Little Lies Season 3.

Nicole Kidman Admits She Was Shocked by the ‘Lioness’ Season 3 Finale Reveal

“[Taylor Sheridan] did not tell us.”

Image via Paramount+

COLLIDER: This season made me so anxious and nervous. When the end of your third season ties back into your first season, some groundwork has clearly been getting laid out for a while.

NICOLE KIDMAN: Isn’t that insane? When we read it, it was a mic drop. It was like, “What?! Taylor, you are brilliant.” He did not tell us. It was just like, “Oh, God, of course, this is how you do it.” But that’s a great writer.

How did you find out that it was Aaliyah that was the one responsible for Joe’s attempted kidnapping? Did you just get the script and find out as you were reading it?

KIDMAN: Yeah. We always go to Taylor and go, “What the hell? Taylor, come on, give us info.” And he’ll drop little hints every now and then, or he’ll text me certain things because I always have a lot of questions. He and I just have a second language where I can text him or call him and within about two minutes he’s given me some groundbreaking understanding of a particular scene, particularly the scenes with my husband. A lot of times, I’m like, “Okay, what’s really going on here,” because those scenes are very complex. But then, he sent through the last episode, the finale, and we were all salivating. And then, it was that and we were like, “What?!” So, if the audience has the same reaction we did as a cast, that’s good.

What ramifications do you think that will have moving forward?

KIDMAN: I honestly have no idea. I’m like, “Okay, what would this do, if we go a Season 4?” I know we’d love to.

Nicole Kidman Is Hoping for Season 4 of ‘Lioness’

“I don’t want to leave it there.”

You can’t leave it where you did and not come back now.

KIDMAN: Then shout that out to him. Taylor, are you listening? No. I don’t want to leave it there. And also, for me, this is just such a great character to play and there’s so much to come, if we get the chance. They’ve only tipped the iceberg of her, you know. Kaitlyn is an incredibly complicated, extraordinary leader, and she’s a leader. It’s fantastic playing the boss. She’s the most strategic, brilliant strategist, in terms of containing emotion, looking at the consequences, seeing 10 steps ahead, and being able to handle every part of her own conscience, psyche, moral code and always put what she’s pledged, which is allegiance to her nation, first. She will not waver.

I think that’s why people come up to me and they go, “She’s so badass.” She sits there and she’s the coolest customer in the room, besides Morgan [Freeman]. Morgan gets stressed, though. Kaitlyn doesn’t. She’s been trained military-wise because she was a lioness, and she has a military brain. She’s wired in a particular way now. It’s so fascinating. I think it’s an extraordinary way to lead. You don’t see women like that a lot on TV. A lot of times, they break down, crying and cracking. That’s not Kaitlyn. She just doesn’t. She’s not capable of it.

When you work with Taylor Sheridan, does he say things to you like, “Oh, we’ll get to that next season,” or is he extremely tight-lipped and never talks about what could be coming next for the show and your character?

KIDMAN: He holds his cards close to his chest. I know him very well, so I can get little tidbits from him. He’s also just fun to hang out with. He and I share a passion for horses, so we have a whole different sidebar relationship. I have a farm, a ranch, and he has a vast one. We have a whole different way to relate, besides the show, which is great. I love land and I love horses and I love riding.

I would be interested in watching episodes dedicated just to what Kaitlyn’s life with her husband is like when we don’t see them because there’s always so much tension going on every time there’s a scene with them. It just feels like there is so much to their relationship that we don’t see and don’t know. What do you think their relationship is like when we don’t see them?

KIDMAN: It’s deeply loyal and committed, strangely enough. It’s not based on sex. It’s based on a love of each other’s minds and a massive amount of protection of each other, and respect and admiration and care. They spar, and they help each other. It’s a fascinating marriage. It’s a different form, I feel, of a love that is still a very warranted union. You see her in the second season when he talks about his prostate cancer. They’ve been through things together. They’ve both been through an enormous amount together. I think that’s why people would like to see that.

They’re workaholics, both of them. There’s an agreement there, but there’s an enormous amount of protection and loyalty to each other too, which I think you see. Half the time, people go, “What are they talking about?” That’s why I have to call Taylor and go, “What?” Martin [Donovan] and I have worked together. We vibrate very differently because Martin and I did Portrait of a Lady together, with Jane Campion, so we knew each other when we were young. We’ve known each other for decades now. It’s brilliant to be able to use that from when we were young. We have that basis and that foundation.

That’s amazing, especially when you don’t have time to establish that. It makes your history so much more valuable.

KIDMAN: We’re unbelievably comfortable with each other and we have this innate sense of each other. When you’ve known someone for decades, and you’ve known them when they were really, really young, you don’t have to work for that relationship. It’s just there. And I implicitly trust Martin. He’s a brilliantly good actor. When he was first cast, Taylor was in awe of Martin. He loves his acting.

Nicole Kidman Says That Kaitlyn Is Aware of the Cracks in Joe After the Events of ‘Lioness’ Season 3

“She’s aware of the vulnerabilities. She’s aware of the breaking point.”

Image via Paramount+

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Joe has never experienced something like what she’s gone through this season. It feels like Joe hasn’t even dealt with anything yet, and I don’t know if Kaitlyn even knows how much it’s all going to affect her. How do you think all of that will change the relationship between Joe and Kaitlyn in another season?

KIDMAN: She’s collecting data. Kaitlyn is watching. She knows Joe’s family. She knows her intrinsically. Kaitlyn is a brilliant instinctual reader of people. It’s how she’s been trained. Kaitlyn does know. She’s aware of the cracks. She’s aware of the vulnerabilities. She’s aware of the breaking point. But Joe is so valuable to her and to the team, so you have extraordinary conflict, in terms of the character. That’s what makes it exciting. She has deep care for Joe. How she shows it is not the typical way of, “Oh, let me hug you.” She’s not tactile. That’s not her. Can she care for her by strategically protecting her and saving her life? Absolutely. She goes, “But you’ve also committed to this higher form of protection of a country and of service, and I have to hold you accountable to that.” It’s a really, really, really difficult relationship for both of them, but they have unbelievable care and admiration for each other, and protection. It’s Lioness.

I love this show, but I especially love all the incredible women in the show. That starts with you and Zoe Saldaña at the center of it, but Bobby, Cruz, and Josie are also very interesting characters.

KIDMAN: Yeah, they’re great women. These women are really formidable, wonderful women. Because we’ve gotten to spend so much time over the course of making three seasons, there’s an ease, there’s an understanding, and there is that lioness protection of each other.

Nicole Kidman Says That ‘Big Little Lies’ Season 3 Is Heading Towards Becoming a Reality

“Reese [Witherspoon] and I live next door to each other, so that helps.”

You have so many great projects with so many great characters that you are playing. You’ve played a lot of memorable characters in your career, but you’ve recently played some great characters across a number of different TV series. Do you know what you’re going to shoot next, especially while you’re waiting to find out about whether you’ll get to do a Season 4 of Lioness? Is a Season 3 of Big Little Lies coming sometime soon?

KIDMAN: Reese [Witherspoon] and I live next door to each other, so that helps Season 3 of Big Little Lies and the way it’s being formed. That’s heading towards the actual shooting date. We’ve set it. At the same time, I see myself as a repertory actor, in a way. When you do repertory theater, a lot of times, you’re doing two shows at once. I’m not doing two shows at once, but in terms of rep theater, which is how I initially started working, you would do a Shakespeare play and then you’d do Ibsen. Actors who are trained theatrically and also who love the art form of acting, that’s what we do. We’re in rep. If you have the opportunity, it’s an extraordinary opportunity to have.

In terms of film and television, if I didn’t have these opportunities, would I be doing rep theater? Probably. Will I do it? Probably. It’s what makes it so exciting. I have no interest in playing myself, over and over again. It’s not how I was formed, initially, as an actor. I was always taught to look for everything that is different, new, and exciting. That’s why my taste is so diverse, and there is nothing too big or too small. We’re working actors. That’s what we do.

Lioness is available to stream on Paramount+.

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Release Date

July 23, 2023

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Network

Paramount+

Directors

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John Hillcoat, Anthony Byrne, Paul Cameron, Stephen Kay, Taylor Sheridan

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  Laysla De Oliveira

  Cruz Manuelos

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‘Love Island USA‘ fans have been wondering what led to the end of Clarke Carraway and Taylor Williams’ relationship. The two built a fan base that followed their relationship after leaving the villa, leaving many supporters with questions when news of their split surfaced.

Two months ago, a source close to Clarke told PEOPLE that she made the difficult decision to part ways with Taylor. At the time, few details were shared about the breakup.

Now, Clarke is opening herself up and giving fans more insight into the final moments of their relationship.

RELATED: Issa Wrap! ‘Love Island USA’ Star Clarke Carraway Announces Decision To End Relationship With Taylor Williams

Clarke Reveals The Breaking Point In Her Relationship With Taylor Williams 

Clarke Carraway sat down with fellow ‘Love Island USA’ alum Kaylor Martin on her ‘Kaylor’s Crash Out’ podcast to discuss her breakup with Taylor Williams, their relationship, and what’s next for her. While getting into some girl talk, Kaylor asked Clarke about the moment she knew her relationship with Taylor was over. Clarke alleged that the breaking point came during a trip to Oklahoma. She claims the two got into a heated discussion while traveling together before she asked Taylor to pull over.

After getting out of the car, Clarke says that Taylor drove off, leaving her stranded at a gas station. She reportedly reached out to his family for help, and one of his relatives picked her up and took her to a hotel.

Clarke admitted that despite their disagreement, she still expected to hear from Taylor that night. However, she says he didn’t contact her until the following day. According to Clarke, Taylor was more concerned about how she would explain what happened than about checking on her well-being.

“’Don’t tell people that I left you, ’cause you asked me to pull up and leave you. So tell them the whole story,’” Clarke recalled Taylor telling her.

She explained that his response changed the way she viewed their relationship.

“That bothered me the most ’cause I felt like in that moment you’re not as much worried about my well-being, but your character. And I think that’s when the switch flipped for me. Like, unfortunately, you’re just not who I thought that you were,” she explained.

Clarke says the two went a couple of days without speaking before she eventually reached out, allegedly after hearing additional information while she was still in Oklahoma. She says she confronted Taylor and gave him an opportunity to explain himself, hoping he would take accountability.

Instead, Clarke claims the conversation turned into a disagreement over text.

“I expected accountability, and I wasn’t met with that. So, you know, we got into it over text, and I just was like, ‘This ain’t it. Like, this ain’t it,’” she recalled.

Clarke also recalled Taylor allegedly telling her, “I mean, I don’t have to prove my innocence to you if we aren’t together,” which further confirmed her decision to walk away. Despite how things ended, Clarke says she still wishes Taylor the best as they move forward separately.

Taylor Reacts To Online Backlash Following Clarke’s Interview

Amid all the discourse surrounding Clarke speaking out, Taylor Williams took to his Instagram Story with a message.

“Enough with all the negative DM’s, she obviously didn’t tell the full story and what she did to lead up to everything. But imma get it all straightened out, the right way, soon,” he wrote.

While Taylor didn’t share his full side of the story, he suggested there was more to what happened between them that had yet to be addressed. The reality star also showed some of the backlash he has received since the conversation surrounding their breakup picked up online. Taylor shared a screenshot of a disturbing comment left under his TikTok that read, “I think you need to be lynched.”

Social Media Weighs In

Many social media users quickly gathered under The Shade Room Teen’s post. This, to share their thoughts on the situation between Clarke and Taylor. Some sided with Clarke after hearing her perspective, while others came to Taylor’s defense.

Instagram user @kyradthestylist wrote, “ lol idc how mad I am 😂if you let me get out of a car and leave me you never cared anyways!! Ain’t no real man gone leave a women at a gas station by herself!”

Instagram user @iambriyanak added, “He needed to check on her and should not have left her. HOWEVER you got out of a car at a gas station. Baby i wasn’t getting out til I got to the airport.”

While Instagram user @rosescantlie wrote, “Honestly what did we expect. He said he wanted a little kid feeling with her”

Instagram user @famoussjt wrote, “she said pullover he did that, he didn’t say get out she did that & somehow it’s still his fault 😂😂😂”

Instagram user @s3nsi_li added, “Grl don’t blame him you literally told him to pull over and let you out you expected to be chased ??as a grown woman ?? Take some accountability as well”

While Instagram user @telekennices added, “All the females defending him in comments 🦜🦜🦜🦜”

Instagram user @therealcorey._ wrote, “not he doing exactly what she said protecting his image instead of worrying about her wellbeing”

Instagram user @glams_of_beauty added, “Don’t care don’t leave her at no freaking gas station!! You Didn’t protect her at all left her stranded idc to hear his side .. thank God she was okay!”

While Instagram user @gottalovenye wrote, “Oh olandria dodged a bullet !!!”

RELATED: Spinnin’ The Block?! Nic Vansteenberghe Speaks As The ‘Net Questions His Relationship Status After He’s Spotted With Olandria

Simone Biles‘ husband, Jonathan Owens, is embracing letting his wife’s famous name take center stage despite having a thriving football career of his own.

The gymnast married her husband in 2023, and months later, Owens found himself embroiled in online controversy following comments he made concerning his wife and her international popularity. 

Still, the noise did not change the decorated athlete’s feelings toward her spouse, even as she navigated her own thriving career.  

Simone Biles Husband, Jonathan Owens, Reacts To Being Called ‘Mr. Biles’

Years after the saga played out on the internet, Owens spoke about being called “Mr. Biles,” saying he had no problem with it.

“I take it as respect; you see who my wife is. Says a lot about me as well,” he disclosed. “Like, my confidence, and who I am as a person that she chose to be with me. It’s respect, because as a man in this field, [one of the] things they judge you on is who your significant other is. That says a lot about your confidence.” 

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The NFL player received a lot of backlash in 2023 when he disclosed during a podcast appearance that he did not know who his wife was before meeting her.

This caused fans to question how, since Biles is one of the biggest gymnasts in the world. He then went on to refer to men as the prize. 

“I didn’t have my notifications on, and Simone was like, ‘Have you been on your Instagram?’” Owens recalled to The Athletic. “That was my first time of really, really being in the public eye and people trying to hate on you — ‘Oh, you’re Mr. Biles!’ — and stuff like that.”

The athlete said it was a tough time for him, especially since he is a quiet, private person. “It almost makes you a shell of yourself, at first, because of all the criticism,” he said.

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Luckily, his wife supported him and urged him to take it as nothing but noise. “You take the good with the bad, and at the end of the day, I’m living my dream,” Owens declared. 

Simone Biles Instinct Told Her Jonathan Owens Was Forever After Their First Date

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Her unwavering support is unsurprising, as the Olympic champion felt an instant connection with Owens from the start. 

Almost a year ago, she touched on how she felt something she could not explain after her first date with the footballer, something beyond butterflies and excitement.

“I don’t know the term for it, but as soon as I met Jonathan, I remember coming home and telling my friends because they were at my house getting ready with me for that little date,” she recalled. “I came back, and I was like, ‘Oh, I think I’m going to marry him.’” 

The Blast reported that, having had only one previous relationship, Biles was caught off guard by the declaration because it was not in her nature. Little did she know it would manifest.

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Simone Biles Shared Motherhood Plans With Jonathan Owens 

Biles has stayed open about her relationship, from knowing he was the one to sharing future plans. 

At last year’s Kentucky Derby, she spoke about the possibility of her and Owens’ children becoming sports stars. 

“We are obviously gonna put them in sports in the beginning so they get their bearings and learn, but other than that, we don’t really care what they do as long as they find their passion.”

The Team USA star made it clear there was no pressure to follow in their parents’ footsteps, and if they wanted to be musicians, that was also totally fine.

She also confirmed that she and Jonathan both wanted to be parents, calling it “really exciting,” per The Blast.

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Simone Biles Debated  2028 Olympics While Prioritizing Her Mental Health 

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Away from her love life, Biles continues to face questions about whether she would be adding another title to the long list. 

After Biles announced she would be taking a break from competing,  supporters wondered whether she would participate in the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. 

Previously, the 29-year-old said she would be present in some capacity. However, she later offered more insight into her thought process, saying it was a time crunch and she had to decide quickly. 

Nevertheless, the sports icon confessed that her mental health was a huge hurdle that had to be overcome, as she had coaches who could whip her into shape physically, according to The Blast.

Simone Biles Hinted At Possible Gymnastics Return 

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Four months later, however, Biles caused a stir in the sporting world with a special visit. 

The 29-year-old went to the World Champions Center, owned and operated by her parents, Ron and Nellie Biles. This was where the gymnast had trained for years while becoming the most decorated gymnast in history. 

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She shared photos of the gym, including a snapshot of her old locker, which had remained untouched since her pre-Olympics prep.

This caused widespread speculation on whether she was secretly laying the foundation for another competitive run, according to The Blast.

Dolly Parton’s nephew, Bryan Seaver, her one-time head of security, has been accused of engaging in “threats, intimidation and coercion” in a lawsuit filed by her longtime manager seeking a temporary restraining order.

TMZ and People reported the contents of the lawsuit on Tuesday, September 22, filed by She’s Alive, LLC, the company that was designated by Parton to look after her business interests after her death in August, and her manager Danny Nozell.

Nozell and the estate claimed in the documents that Seaver invoked “his self-proclaimed military-contractor experience, access to weapons, and capacity for violence to extort [Parton’s estate] into giving into his demands for money.”

The alleged intimidation began in the weeks leading up to Parton’s death on August 25 at age 80, the docs said.

According to People, citing the filing, Seaver described himself as “literally an international arms dealer and mercenary.”

Seaver allegedly wrote in one message, “Her money better be bigger than I can make elsewhere or I’m going to f*** everyone. I am about to become the hand of retribution for my entire family.”

Another allegedly said, “I’m going to set up a podcast dedicated to ruining Dolly’s brand partnership and telling the violations these people have done on us.”

“I am [seeking] vengeance for my people for the next 50 years. I have no debt. I only own swords and guns,” Seaver allegedly told Nozell. “All I have is animosity and memory. But I’m going to spend the next times I have on earth ratf***ing anyone that has ever betrayed my family… All I do is warfare… Everyone needs to be worried about what I might do.”

In a statement to TMZ, Seaver, who was appointed by Parton to publicly announce her death in August, said his messages were taken out of context.

“I am a career soldier and military contractor and do conduct arms deals for foreign governments. I am a security professional and I am a killer,” Seaver told the outlet. “However, nothing in this lawsuit were threats and most of the comments I stand by.”

“I was talking frankly in a private way with Danny, who I thought was my friend and he fancies himself a gangster,” Seaver continued. “A lot of these messages are two guys having rage talk and crying on the phone together while we were grieving.”

Regarding the “ratf***ing” comment, he claimed, “I was talking about people that have done bad to Dolly in business — a specific company that scared her and intimated her. Those comments were about specific, horrible business partners that have done wrong to her and I stand by that.”

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Related: Dolly Parton Posthumously Accepts Award in Video Recorded Before Her Death

Dolly Parton posthumously received the Americana Lifetime Achievement Award nearly one month after her death at age 80. “Well, hey, it’s Dolly. I’m honored to be receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Americana Music Association,” Parton said in a prerecorded video message shared during the ceremony on Wednesday, September 16. “I mean, roots music, […]

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Earlier this month, Seaver and his various security companies were notified that they had been terminated from providing services for Parton’s properties.

Seaver and his team told TMZ that they were “dismayed by the unexpected and, so far, unexplained actions” taken by Parton’s estate since her death.

“We remain unshakably resolved to fulfill her final directive to protect her family, and we refuse to be intimidated by those whose actions we believe are being taken in bad faith and with the intent to profit from the life of someone who willingly gave so much,” Seaver’s camp said.

Brad Bird is one of the most renowned and prolific filmmakers, specifically in the animated space. Since the massive success of his directorial debut in 1999 with The Iron Giant, he’s been nominated for four Oscars (winning two for Best Animated Feature for The Incredibles and Ratatouille) and has emerged as the mastermind behind some of the most beloved, acclaimed movies ever made.

His frequent collaborator, composer Michael Giacchino, is just as revered and impactful, earning two Academy Award nominations of his own (winning one for Up) and nine Grammy nods, taking home three trophies from the Recording Academy for Up and Ratatouille. His resume includes everything from animated films like Inside Out and Zootopia 2 to superhero movies like The Batman and Tom Holland’s Spider-Man series.

The two are once again teaming up, this time for a Netflix film called Ray Gunn. Directed and co-written by Bird along with Matthew Robbins (a frequent collaborator with Guillermo del Toro), with a score by Giacchino, the film follows the titular private detective (Sam Rockwell) in a futuristic world inhabited by humans and aliens alike. Things get especially complicated when he gets caught up in a case involving the alluring but enigmatic singer Venus Nova (Scarlett Johansson).

Collider got the chance to visit Netflix Animation Studios and get a sneak peek of the highly anticipated project, including a sizzle reel and the first 30 minutes of the film. From drawing lessons with Storyboard Artist Clarisse Chua to a trip to the recording booth with Animation Director Jason Ryan, we were treated to a truly immersive experience, as well as insightful conversations with Bird, Giacchino, VFX Supervisor Adel Abada, and Art Director Wendell Luebbe. Here’s everything we learned.

Brad Bird Has Wanted to Make ‘Ray Gunn’ for Over 30 Years

Ray Gunn has been a long time in the making, with Bird having written the original script in the ‘90s. Turner Broadcasting System’s merger with Time Warner in 1996, however, kept the project from coming to fruition, though he never forgot about it — or gave up on bringing it to the screen. Giacchino recalls Bird first telling him about the idea way back in 2003 when the two were working on The Incredibles.

During that project, the duo quickly developed an efficient and fulfilling working relationship, which has only gotten stronger with time. Giacchino says this is due to their shared language rooted in a love of cinema that spans all genres and puts characters and their emotional journeys first. That, and fun. “This is meant to be a good time at the movies,” Bird says. “Anything in addition to that is a bonus.”

Michael Giacchino Knew ‘Ray Gunn’ Was Special From the Start

Image via Netflix

Though he uses a wide array of instruments in the final product, Giacchino reveals that he always starts with the piano to find a fitting melody. The sound of Ray Gunn came relatively easily, as he started getting ideas “almost immediately” upon hearing the concept, taking inspiration from films like The Maltese Falcon. Still, he says that it’s not until the orchestra comes in that you get the full depth of “emotions and humanity” a score can provide.

Giacchino works hard to ensure that, when it comes to the music of Ray Gunn, you’ll never have heard anything quite like it. There’s something special, he says, about working on a Brad Bird movie that makes him want to get particularly specific and innovative. “When I’m writing for his movies, I only want it to fit this movie. I don’t want you to be able to take this score and throw it on anything else. I don’t want it to work for anything else.” Bird then jumps in to help — and tease — with an analogy that’s evidence of their long, close friendship. “‘Giacchino’ means ‘little jacket,’” he informs us. “So it better be tailored right.”

‘Ray Gunn’s Target Audience Feels Groundbreaking

Image via Netflix

Animation usually falls into two categories: sweet, G-rated stories and raunchy, over-the-top R-rated films. Ray Gunn, however, does something different by landing somewhere in the middle. Bird says he set out to “broaden what an animated movie could be,” striving to create something that’s “not just for six-year-olds.” Though rated PG for violence, action, language, some suggestive material, and thematic elements, the footage we were treated to seems to skirt the line of being PG-13. This makes it a great choice for both adults and older kids who aren’t often catered to with animation, hopefully showing them that the medium is truly for everyone.

The craftsmanship and care that went into creating Ray Gunn is immediately obvious when watching the footage and again when hearing Abada and Luebbe speak about how they captured it. In an age dominated by busy special effects and rushed CGI, it’s refreshing to hear them talk about their approach, highlighting the “elegance of simplicity” to give the film a mature, sophisticated feel. From using 21mm and 28mm lenses to showcase the grand scope of the world the filmmakers built to techniques to give certain scenes a handheld feel, the level of artistry is undoubtedly impressive, putting Ray Gunn in a league of its own.

‘Ray Gunn’ Has a Wide Range of Visual Influences

Image via Netflix

Besides being deeply rooted in noir (more on that later), there are a plethora of visual and tonal influences. The combination of gritty crime and glamorous theatricality feels vaguely reminiscent of Chicago to me, while Abada and Luebbe cited both Mad Men and Columbo among their influences on the TV side of things.

With the film taking place in 1939, the New York World’s Fair was also a major influence for the team when crafting the film’s fictional city of Metropia, but with a twist. Instead of focusing solely on the brochure-ready utopian vibes, they wanted to dig into the darker, seedier underbelly simmering beneath the shiny Art Deco surface.

The buildings in Metropia are defined by retrofuturism (which might bring to mind another one of Giacchino’s recent projects, Fantastic Four: First Steps). Abada and Luebbe combined Hugh Ferriss’ famous architectural style, characterized by square, tall buildings, with the curves of Streamline Moderne to create unique rounded skyscrapers that also took inspiration from glassblowing.

‘Ray Gunn’ Is a Love Letter to Noir

Image via Netflix

Ray Gunn pays homage to the noir genre, whose staples include morally grey characters — usually a cynical detective and seductive femme fatale — and a gloomy environment. Venus Nova is described as “Lauren Bacall meets Veronica Lake,” two women who defined 1940s noir through films like This Gun for Hire, The Glass Key, The Big Sleep, and Key Largo. The 1974 film Chinatown, which is considered one of the greatest neo-noir films — and one of the greatest films, period — also heavily influenced Ray Gunn.

The film also acts as a tribute to the aesthetic elements of noir films, playing with lights and shadows. Whether it’s moonlight creeping into an office through the blinds or being introduced to someone by their dramatic silhouette alone, there’s a highly stylized and specific feel to the visuals of the genre. Ray Gunn integrates this in a way that feels particularly fresh due to its animated nature.

‘Ray Gunn’ Is Grounded In Realism

Image via Netflix

Ray Gunn may be animated, but make no mistake: it’s still firmly grounded in reality. The artists took a great deal of care to make sure each and every hair on the characters’ heads felt realistic. From making their locks look appropriately wet when it’s raining outside to having them look tousled after, well, a tussle, the animators did numerous experiments to see how each element “behaved” to make sure everything looked as authentic as possible. This is quite a feat when you consider this also applies to each piece of clothing the characters wear, with Ray racking up 10 costume changes and Venus having a whopping 23 throughout the film.

But this is still a sci-fi movie, after all, so those looking for some cool creatures need not fear, as there are aliens aplenty. The artists approached many of its creature designs by mixing elements of more classic monsters with machinery to complement the technological bend of the environment in which they’re living. I have a feeling that Eye-Ra (Tom Waits), with his singular droopy eye, oversized coat, and green skin, will be an instant favorite for many.

After three decades, Ray Gunn finally premieres on Netflix on December 18th. From everything I’ve seen so far, I have a good feeling it will have been worth the wait.

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Release Date

December 18, 2026

Runtime

119 minutes

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Director

Brad Bird

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Writers

Matthew Robbins, Brad Bird

Producers

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Alex Schwartz, Brad Bird, Connie Nartonis Thompson, Dana Goldberg, David Ellison, Hannah Minghella, John Lasseter, Karen Rupert Toliver, Lisa Beroud

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The cast of Dancing With the Stars brought their best moves to the ballroom for night three of season 35 — but for one couple, it still wasn’t enough.

The third episode of the season aired on Tuesday, September 22, with both the male and female celebrity contestants dancing to popular social media songs as part of Viral Hits Night.

Jenna Dewan and Val Chmerkovskiy kicked off the night with a performance of Katseye’s “Animal,” which received praise from judges Bruno Tonioli, Carrie Ann Inaba and Derek Hough. Tonioli told Dewan that she was a “fast and furious sexy beast” and that she “did not miss a beat.”

Later on in the night, Ezra Frech was praised for his cha-cha with pro Daniella Karagach. Inaba told the Paralympian that he demands “us to watch and you demand excellence for yourself,” while Hough said he was “blown away” by the performance. They were given a score of 21, tying for first place with Dewan and Chmerkovskiy.

Olympian Amber Glenn and pro partner Pasha Pashkov made the top score a three-way tie when they also earned a 21 points. Tonioli declared it was the “best tango of the night,” and Inaba said that the performance was “phenomenal,” leaving her with “shivers” and “full body chills.”

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However, the judges weren’t quite as complimentary to all of the contestants. Tonioli told Giada De Laurentiis that her salsa with pro partner Alan Bersten had “no spice,” with Inaba admitting she found the number to be “shaky.” They were given a score of 12 — matching Guillermo Rodriguez and pro partner Witney Carson as the lowest score of the night — and were ultimately sent home.

“I tried my best and it wasn’t best enough. But I tried my best,” De Laurentiis following her elimination.

Dancing With the Stars airs on ABC and Disney+ Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET. Scroll down for a complete breakdown of each couple’s scores from the third episode of season 35: