Marvel Studios has already assembled one of the biggest superhero casts ever for Avengers: Doomsday, but apparently, we still don’t know everyone who will appear.

During a Q&A following a screening of Avengers: Endgame Encore, co-director Anthony Russo revealed that Marvel has yet to announce the complete cast for the upcoming Avengers film.

“The cast is so large, and we’ve announced some of the cast, and we haven’t announced some of the cast,” Russo said. “I get confused myself over who we’ve announced and not announced, so I have to just slow down.”

That’s an interesting tease considering just how enormous the confirmed lineup already is.

Robert Downey Jr. will lead the film as Victor Von Doom, alongside returning MCU stars including Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans, Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan, Tom Hiddleston, Paul Rudd, Letitia Wright, Florence Pugh and Simu Liu.

The Fantastic Four are also joining the fight, with Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn and Ebon Moss-Bachrach appearing as Marvel’s First Family.

Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom [Marvel Studios]

Then there are the returning X-Men.

Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, James Marsden, Rebecca Romijn, Alan Cumming and Kelsey Grammer are among the veteran Marvel stars confirmed to appear, while Channing Tatum will return as Gambit.

Hayley Atwell has also been confirmed to return as Peggy Carter.

Despite that massive lineup, several major Marvel names remain noticeably absent from the announced cast. Tom Holland, Hugh Jackman, Ryan Reynolds and Benedict Cumberbatch are among the characters fans have speculated could potentially appear, although Russo’s comments don’t confirm any of them.

For now, Marvel appears to be keeping at least a few surprises under wraps.

With Avengers: Doomsday bringing together the Avengers, Fantastic Four, X-Men and other corners of the MCU against Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom, there may still be some significant names waiting to join the battle.

Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters December 18, 2026.

TV fans today complaining about slow burns must have missed out on The X-Files craze of the 1990s and early-2000s. The series was infamous for teasing a romance between its two protagonists — Agent Fox Moulder (David Duchovny) and Dr. Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) — without ever defining their relationship. In fairness, the agents had other things to worry about. In fact, they were right in the middle of the show’s biggest serialized storyline when the producers finally allowed them to share a kiss on screen. This should have been a relief to fans, but many found it maddening. For one thing, the kiss came without much fanfare or commentary, and for another, it happened at the end of the show’s most ambitious installment to date.

Mulder and Scully’s first kiss on screen came in Season 7, Episode 4, “Millennium,” which first aired on November 28, 1999. At the time, the status of the X-Files as an official FBI assignment was unclear, but the duo were definitely supposed to be working on other issues for the bureau. While they continued trying to uncover conspiracies, this episode shoehorned them into a crossover with the series Millennium, which had recently been canceled. The result was a massive TV event that felt slightly out of place, and has left fans scratching their heads for over two decades.

‘Millennium’ Was Not Where Fans Expected the Mulder-Scully Kiss

Image via FOX

The chemistry between Duchovny and Anderson made it inevitable that fans would interpret Mulder and Scully as a romantic pairing, and The X-Files writers definitely encouraged that over the years. Still, by Season 7 many were beginning to doubt that the show would ever take a romantic turn and make their relationship canonical. “Millennium” was the 143rd episode of the series overall, and it seemed like too great a change to introduce at this point. The timing was also unexpected — a long-awaited kiss would most likely come in a season premiere or finale, or even in a movie, since the series had just gone to the big screen for the first time.

On top of that, “Millennium” was an episode where Mulder and Scully had to share their screen time with former FBI agent Frank Black (Lance Henriksen) for a crossover with the series Millennium. The X-Files and Millennium were both created and executive produced by Chris Carter, and both aired on Fox. Millennium was canceled abruptly in 1999, so Carter intended to use this X-Files episode to wrap up the show after the fact.

All in all, the episode was regarded as a failure by fans of both shows. It didn’t do much to tidy up the ending of Millennium, and Henriksen himself later admitted he was disappointed in it. It also pulled The X-Files off of its serialized story arc for a monster-of-the-week style episode, which felt like an interruption. To top it off, the Mulder-Scully kiss caught fans completely off-guard. It happened in a hospital in the aftermath of their adventure, with Millennium characters and other FBI agents all around them. The story took place on New Year’s Eve, and the two were watching the ball drop on TV in silence when they leaned in for a kiss.

“World didn’t end,” Mulder remarked in a reference to the episode and the Y2K panic. The kiss was not chaste or unromantic by any means, yet the lack of commentary here made some fans furious. They could no longer say that Mulder and Scully had never kissed, but this could also be dismissed as a New Year’s Eve moment with no real meaning. For those that wanted the show to resolve this relationship into a true on-screen romance, this was worse than nothing.

‘The X-Files’ Kept Its Romance Mysterious

Image via Fox

The fans who felt let down by this episode had a lot more heartache coming. Later in this same season, the episode “All Things” opened on Mulder and Scully in bed, having apparently spent the night together. Even worse — once again the hook-up went uncommented-upon, indicating this wasn’t their first dalliance. Their relationship continued in this manner through the rest of the series and the revival as well. The series matter-of-factly showed us where Mulder and Scully were at from moment to moment, without ever lingering on their relationship or stopping to talk about it very much.

Love it or hate it, this phenomenon likely has a lot to do with the behind-the-scenes drama impacting the show in Season 7. The X-Files was a massive hit at this time, and its cast commanded massive influence. Starting in Season 6, the production moved from British Columbia, Canada to Los Angeles at Duchovny’s request. The actor wanted to stay closer to his home and his wife during the filming season, and he also wanted the chance to pursue other work when timing permitted. Anderson and others on the cast and crew agreed with him, but Carter opposed the move.

It turned out that there was bad blood brewing between Duchovny and Carter in Season 7. The actor sued 20th Century Fox during this time, claiming that the studio had undersold the rights to The X-Files, severely impacting his pay. This lawsuit was settled in Duchovny’s favor. According to the book Examinations: An Unauthorized Look at Seasons 6-9 of The X-Files by Tom Kessenich, the lawsuit revealed that Carter had known what Fox was doing all along, and chose not to warn Duchovny. Duchovny announced his intention to leave the show after Season 7, though he ended up taking a recurring role and eventually returned to the series full-time.

The X-Files was never a straightforward show in any way — including the romance between its protagonists, which was a central part for so many viewers. However, in the years since the original series ended, many online fandom communities have celebrated the show’s unique approach to romance and have relished the hunt for subtext and clues throughout its 200+ episodes. The X-Files is streaming now on Hulu in the U.S., and is also available on PlutoTV for free with ads.

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Release Date

June 19, 1998

Runtime

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121 minutes

Director

Rob Bowman

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  Mitch Pileggi

  Assistant Director Walter Skinner

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  William B. Davis

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  The Cigarette-Smoking Man

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Britney Spears is facing renewed criticism after a revealing dance video showed an apparent worker in the room while she performed for the camera. The clip, which was originally uploaded earlier this month before resurfacing across X, showed the pop star dancing in a revealing outfit as a man worked from a ladder behind her. At several points, Spears appeared to expose herself, with emojis strategically placed over parts of her body.
The unusual scene prompted some viewers to question whether the man was comfortable being present, while others went further and accused Spears of behaving inappropriately toward an employee.

Britney Spears Dances As Worker Stands In The Room

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In the 45-second video, Spears, 44, danced around what appeared to be a room inside her home while wearing a sparkling silver dress with mesh details. A man could be seen standing on a ladder near the windows as the singer moved around the room and occasionally approached the chair positioned beneath him. The man briefly looked back at Spears while she continued dancing. News.com.au described him as an apparent worker but could not confirm his identity or employment status. Spears disabled comments on the original Instagram post, but that did not prevent the footage from spreading elsewhere. A repost from Pop Fusion HQ attracted more than 1.4 million views as users debated whether the interaction was merely awkward or crossed a professional boundary.

Britney Spears Told She ‘Desperately Needs Help’

The video quickly generated concern about Spears’ behavior, with one particularly harsh commenter claiming that she “desperately needs help.” Another viewer asked why Spears continues posting similar dance videos and wondered what she is attempting to communicate through them.

“What’s she sick with? Because it’s not normal to do that,” a third user wrote. Others pushed back against the crueler reactions and argued that mocking Spears or attempting to diagnose her from a social-media clip was not helpful.

“Of course she needs help. She’s seriously unwell. But your disgusting comments aren’t helpful at all,” one supporter wrote, criticizing the degrading language used against the singer. Another user argued that placing Spears under another restrictive conservatorship would not constitute appropriate help. The conflicting reactions turned the discussion into a broader argument about where concern ends and online cruelty begins.

Viewers Debate Harassment Accusation

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Some users characterized Spears’ behavior as possible harassment because the apparent worker remained in the room while she exposed herself and performed suggestively. One Reddit commenter argued that an employer behaving that way around a staff member could create an uncomfortable power imbalance. Another noted that confidentiality agreements would not excuse illegal workplace behavior. However, other users rejected the accusation as an overreaction.

“How is this harassment?” one commenter asked.

Another pointed out that no one knows what arrangements may have existed before the video was filmed or whether the man was bothered by Spears’ behavior.

Fans Question What The Worker Was Doing

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Beyond the more serious accusations, viewers were also curious about why the man appeared to be covering or working near the windows while Spears filmed. One Reddit user wondered whether he had been completing legitimate work at the property or whether Spears wanted the windows covered for privacy. The same person speculated that he might be a housekeeper who had previously appeared in the background of her videos.

Some commenters attempted to make light of the uncomfortable-looking situation, joking about what the worker might have told his family when he returned home. The man largely appeared focused on the task in front of him, although he occasionally seemed to glance toward Spears as she moved around behind him.

Britney Spears Has Faced Similar Claims Before

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The resurfaced video also prompted users to revisit earlier allegations involving Spears and members of her staff. In 2010, former bodyguard Fernando Flores filed a lawsuit accusing the singer of repeatedly exposing herself and behaving inappropriately around him. Spears’ representatives denied his allegations at the time, and the case was later reportedly settled. In 2022, Spears sparked debate after sharing nude pool photos in which her assistant, Vicky T, held her “like a baby.” The Blast reported that fans joked about wanting Vicky’s job and its “employee benefits,” although Vicky never suggested that she felt uncomfortable.

The latest video has revived that discussion, but the apparent worker at the center of the footage has not spoken publicly. For now, the backlash is based entirely on what viewers believe they witnessed. Some saw a celebrity behaving inappropriately around someone working inside her home, while others saw another example of strangers making serious assumptions about Spears from a brief and context-free Instagram video.

Sydney Sweeney appears to be making her feelings about Scooter Braun clear after reports claimed she had been advised to end their relationship. The “Euphoria” actress included an intimate photograph of herself kissing Braun in a new end-of-summer photo dump, offering fans another glimpse into their increasingly public romance. The affectionate update arrives shortly after claims that a powerful Hollywood agent allegedly told Sweeney she needed to dump the former music executive if she wanted to be taken seriously as an actress and businesswoman.

Sydney Sweeney Shares Intimate Kiss With Scooter Braun

Sweeney closed out the season by sharing a carousel filled with highlights from her summer. The collection featured moments from camping, scuba diving, wakeboarding, and the Venice Film Festival. However, the photograph attracting the most attention showed Sweeney, 29, locking lips with Braun, 45. The intimate snap made it clear that he was part of the memories she wanted to share publicly, despite the scrutiny surrounding their romance.

“One last summer dump,” Sweeney reportedly captioned the collection. Although the actress did not directly address any breakup rumors or outside criticism, the photograph suggested that she and Braun remain firmly together.

Sydney Sweeney Was Reportedly Told To ‘Dump’ Scooter Braun

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The romantic update comes after claims that Sweeney was advised to reconsider her relationship with Braun. The Blast previously reported that Hollywood agent Ari Emanuel allegedly told the actress she needed to end the romance if she wanted to be viewed seriously within the entertainment industry.

“Ari was telling her that if she wanted to be taken seriously as an actress and businesswoman, she needed to break up with Scooter,” a source claimed. Representatives for Emanuel strongly denied that the alleged conversation ever occurred. The warning was said to have been delivered before Sweeney left Paradigm Talent Agency and signed with Creative Artists Agency. Braun reportedly played a role in that career move by arranging a dinner between Sweeney and CAA agent Kevin Huvane. Whatever concerns may have been raised about the relationship, Sweeney’s latest post indicates that she has not allowed them to dictate her personal choices.

Scooter Braun Has Publicly Declared His Love For The Actress

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Sweeney’s photograph follows Braun’s own highly public show of affection. The former talent manager celebrated her 29th birthday with a romantic tribute featuring footage of them dancing and kissing.

“Happy birthday to the woman who is the exception to every rule,” Braun wrote. He praised Sweeney for showing him what a “true partnership” could look like and said she made him “smile harder, laugh louder, adventure more, and dream bigger.”

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Braun ended the message by declaring, “I love you,” and expressing his excitement about celebrating more milestones together. That tribute already presented the couple as happy and committed. Sweeney’s decision to include him in her latest carousel now adds another public display from her side of the relationship.

Sydney Sweeney And Scooter Braun’s Romance Has Grown Serious

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Sweeney and Braun have reportedly been romantically involved since 2025, following her split from former fiancé Jonathan Davino. Their relationship initially attracted attention because of their 16-year age difference and Braun’s controversial reputation in the entertainment business. Braun previously managed stars including Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande before stepping away from talent management.

Despite the criticism, the romance has continued to become more serious. The pair has made several public appearances together, including during the Venice Film Festival, and Braun has reportedly introduced Sweeney to his children. Sources close to the couple have claimed that they are secure in their relationship and largely amused by the negative commentary surrounding it. One insider previously said Sweeney had “never been happier,” while another claimed Braun found speculation about their romance “comical.” Neither Sweeney nor Braun has indicated that the outside pressure has caused problems between them.

Sydney Sweeney Continues To Make Her Own Career Moves

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The kiss photo also arrives as questions continue to surround Braun’s possible influence over Sweeney’s expanding career. The actress recently changed talent agencies and has continued building a business portfolio outside acting. Her lingerie company, SYRN, has generated significant attention through a string of provocative campaigns, while her partnership with sports prediction platform Novig sparked another major controversy. Braun has reportedly supported those ventures and helped connect Sweeney with powerful figures in Hollywood. However, observers remain divided over whether his involvement strengthens her career or risks overshadowing her accomplishments.

Sweeney’s latest post does not settle that wider debate. It does, however, undermine any suggestion that she is preparing to distance herself from Braun because of the criticism. Rather than hiding the romance, the actress chose to include their kiss among the defining moments of her summer. The intimate photograph suggests that whatever Hollywood insiders or online critics may think about the relationship, Sweeney and Braun are continuing it on their own terms.

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Five seasons is no small miracle for a sitcom that feels like one of TV’s best-kept secrets. Fox’s Animal Control continues to blend the deliciously funny workplace chaos of Brooklyn Nine-Nine with the easy ensemble chemistry of Parks and Recreation. But amid the wild animal calls and shenanigans that give the series its own brand of nonsense from showrunners Bob Fisher, Rob Greenberg, and Dan Sterling, it’s also delivering one of its best seasons to date. After all, where else can you find a show that makes a puppy mill raid look like a Michael Bay movie, but ends with a $63 citation fee?

And maybe that’s the single-camera sitcom’s best part. The ensemble series led by Joel McHale is still very good at creating that sharp turn of humor, proving it’s one of TV’s greatest underrated comedies. With the first two episodes of its newest season made available for review, Animal Control wastes no time reminding us how it continues to be one of the funniest, most genuine comedies on network television. While all the adorable creatures, great or small, still cause trouble for Seattle’s Northwest Seattle Division, it’s the wonderfully dysfunctional crew that will keep you watching.

What Is ‘Animal Control’ Season 5 About?

Image via Bettina Strauss/FOX

With Animal Control Director Emily (Vella Lovell) suspended after her relationship with Officer Shred (Michael Rowland) came to HR’s attention last season, the Northwest Seattle Division begins Season 5 short on patience and stuck with a boss nobody wants. Emily is still in the trenches, and by trenches, we mean hitting the highs of baking like it was the pandemic all over again. Her hearing is weeks away, but in the meantime, Templeton (Gerry Dee) is making himself comfortable in her office. It’s obviously bugging TF out of Frank (McHale), who leads the team in a work stoppage, though his determination to oust the new lead is tested when the Seattle Seahawks’ mascot goes missing.

Despite being told he is barred from the rescue operation and Templeton enlists Daisy (Kyla Pratt), the job brings out Frank’s best instincts and his worst impulses. But as the office curmudgeon tries to work with Templeton’s lackey, he realizes the team has a bigger problem ahead of them in the form of short king, Roman Park (Ken Jeong), whose private animal control agency is moving into city territory. Suddenly, things like low service scores carry more weight than they usually would, sending the team into a panic in Episode 2’s “Crows and Lizard Legs.” But as the season progresses, the others have their own distractions, like Patel (Ravi Patel) dealing with his daughter’s new boyfriend or Victoria (Grace Palmer) trying to pass along a piglet she found.

Across its first two episodes back, Season 5 lets those personal stories stay delightfully messy while giving the whole precinct a shared concern: Argue over who’s in charge later, but first, make sure there’s still a precinct to run. It’s also a sharp way to spotlight McHale’s Frank as the team’s lead as the milestone season nudges him into a more selfless, altruistic mission to put not just the animals first, but the team he will never admit he loves.

‘Animal Control’s Ensemble Is Still One of TV’s Best

McHale knows exactly how much dignity Frank needs to lose before a scene gets funny. In the premiere, he guides the team through, basically, a work strike that feels like a righteous cause, but then lets his character’s excitement over the Seahawks’ missing mascot cut straight through it. As we see with his comedic timing, that balance in humor is best seen in the “Seahawks and Piglets” premiere’s cold open or the laugh-out-loud moment of him in Episode 2 screaming at the top of his lungs while cornered in a crawlspace with a furry creature. It’s also McHale’s signature dry humor that holds those extremes together while opening up another side of Frank audiences love.

Stepping up to what feels like a bigger role this season is Dee, who’s a strong match for McHale as he plays Templeton’s authority with absolute conviction — even when his latest precinct addition is a utility belt Daisy can barely carry. One of the premiere’s highlights is the hilariously bare-chested, grease-covered fight that is downright ridiculous, with squelching sounds that you can’t unhear. Meanwhile, Pratt levels up Daisy from spectator this season with an eager, sharp pace that gives her partnership with Frank and the others its own prickly rhythm.

Lovell is especially funny in the quieter scenes, giving Emily’s scone delivery such an earnest warmth that everyone’s strained politeness becomes the joke — even if there’s more to it than meets the eye. As the others find themselves juggling more than usual this season, Rowland lets Shred’s anxiety build in small steps as he finds an absorbing balance of being the supportive boyfriend still doing his job.

Similarly, Palmer continues to sharpen that easy wit and carefree vibe, landing every joke through dry responses that never interrupt a scene’s rhythm. Patel continues to give his namesake character an endearingly stressed edge that brings a comically commanding intensity to scenes with his daughter Addy’s (Dayah Brar) boyfriend. Last but not least is Jeong’s Roman, who he plays with such a cheerful self-belief that his nonchalance feels like an asset to the character and one that adds another dimension of comic relief to every situation, especially as the precinct locks him as their target. With Roman being back, it’s clear everyone has a different way of getting a laugh, and they’re each as good at giving one another room to land it.

‘Animal Control’ Season 5’s Writing Is Funnier

Image via Bettina Strauss/FOX

One of the more interesting aspects of Animal Control this far into its network TV plunge is how there are real stakes that give room for its characters to really develop. Season 5 gives the precinct something more pressing than its usual arguments and shenanigans: The possibility that the team could lose its place to Roman’s private agency. What’s more grounded is how that threat has a foothold in reality, as cities can hand animal control services to outside organizations. This gives the precinct’s fight a little more bite than the usual workplace rivalry.

Not only does that threat change how the characters see their jobs and one another, but it’s clear they can’t afford to ignore what’s happening around them. Even with Emily trying her best to help where she can, the writing this season lets these loyalties show through all the bickering without prompting a big speech about friendships. Instead, the jokes do double duty, showing how much these people depend on one another even if they drive each other up the wall.

But better yet, the comedy has gotten funnier. The jokes come faster this season and still align with that signature slapstick style sprinkled in with a few sight gags. But the show still knows when to leave space for a deadpan reaction or an uncomfortable pause. The nearly 22-minute episodes move easily between an animal call, a workplace dispute, and someone’s personal crisis, with each plot reaching a charming end before the next begins.

Best of all, there’s more energy here than in a sitcom simply enjoying the company of familiar characters, thanks to some bonkers pairing that elevates the humor. Animal Control knows this crew well enough to put them under pressure and find fresh reasons for them to drive each other mad, and that’s a lovely place for a fifth season to be.

Animal Control airs Sundays on Fox at 8:30 p.m. EST and streams the next day on Hulu.

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Release Date

February 16, 2023

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Network

FOX

Writers

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Dan Sterling, Tad Quill

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Pros & Cons

• McHale’s dry timing makes Frank both ridiculous and easy to root for.
• The comedy is faster and funnier, with room for deadpan beats.
• Roman’s agency gives the precinct a shared threat with real stakes.

• Emily’s suspension keeps her away from the precinct, limiting the time Lovell gets to play off the full ensemble.

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It’s the season of crime on streaming, with the recently released Unabomber movie jumping to the top of the Netflix viewership charts. Meanwhile, the latest seasons of Guy Ritchie‘s The Gentlemen and MobLand are enjoying continued success on their respective platforms, while another face-off unfolds on MGM+. The Westies, a crime drama series headlined by J.K. Simmons and Titus Welliver, had been enjoying relative freedom for the past several weeks, facing competition only in the form of the sci-fi series From. More recently, however, a new crime series has offered a fresh challenge to The Westies, replacing it as the number-one series domestically on MGM+.

The new show is a limited series based on a popular podcast; both the source material and the TV spin-off are fronted by Jon Hamm. The show appears to be following in the footsteps of Ryan Murphy‘s popular anthology series American Crime Story, American Horror Story, and American Sports Story. Based on a real incident from the 1970s, the new series follows the standoff between a disgruntled man and the authorities after he takes a mortgage broker hostage following a dispute. The hostage taker, played by Giovanni Ribisi, demands to be interviewed by a radio host played by Hamm.

Titus Welliver and Jon Hamm Worked Together on a Crime Classic

The series in question is American Hostage, and according to FlixPatrol, it’s now the most-watched title on the MGM+ charts. Also featuring Mireille Enos, the series has aired three episodes so far, and has pushed The Westies down the leaderboard. American Hostage now holds a stellar 93% score on the aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, with Collider’s Meredith Loftus describing it in her review as “a crime thriller you don’t want to sleep on.” Meanwhile, The Westies appears to have settled at a 78% score on Rotten Tomatoes, where the consensus reads, “What The Westies lacks in originality, it makes up for with a sturdy crime story, compelling characters, and a cast that knows how to handle the genre.” Incidentally, Hamm and Welliver played pivotal supporting roles in Ben Affleck‘s critically acclaimed heist movie The Town, which was released in 2010. Recently, Hamm has been acclaimed for his central performance in Apple TV’s Your Friends & Neighbors, while Welliver has become a household name thanks to Prime Video’s Bosch, which could be eyeing a return. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.

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Release Date

September 20, 2026

Network

MGM+

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Directors

Adam Arkin

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Writers

Abby St. Clair, Eileen Myers, Shawn Ryan

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Tom Cruise playing Jack Reacher eventually became one of the most controversial casting decisions in modern action movies, but here’s the weird part: he wasn’t originally attached to play him at all. According to Lee Child, Cruise’s involvement with Jack Reacher began behind the scenes, years before he decided he wanted to step in front of the camera.

Speaking exclusively with Collider ahead of his new Reacher novel, Child revealed that Cruise initially became involved through Cruise/Wagner Productions as an investor. He already knew the books and believed a movie adaptation had potential, but playing Reacher wasn’t initially part of the plan. “Cruise was not attached to it as an actor or producer,” Child told Collider. “He was an investor. He knew the series. He thought, ‘Yeah, this will probably fly.’ He wanted to be an investor, and Cruise/Wagner was the production company.”

So what changed? Christopher McQuarrie. After years in development, McQuarrie wrote the screenplay that would eventually become Jack Reacher. Child remembers being hugely impressed by the script, and Cruise apparently had the same reaction. “After six years, a screenplay was written by Christopher McQuarrie, who’s a shit-hot guy,” said Child, in something of an understatement. “| mean, a great, great writer, great movie man. The screenplay was so good, and it was circulated amongst all the interested parties. Obviously, I got a copy. Cruise got a copy as an executive producer, and so on. Cruise read it and thought, ‘Wow, this is great. I want to play this guy.’ And that’s where it started rolling.”

Tom Cruise Wasn’t Supposed To Be Jack Reacher

Image via Paramount Pictures

The backstory behind how the movie got made makes the whole thing a lot more interesting. This wasn’t a series that Cruise had earmarked for himself the whole time; he just found a series he wanted to see become a movie franchise. But the script was just too good to turn down, and when Tom Cruise says he wants to play a part, he usually gets what he’s after. Of course, that created a problem nobody involved could ignore, because Child’s Reacher is described as a physically enormous man, while Cruise very obviously isn’t. The decision nevertheless paid enormous dividends for the books, which helped build the franchise into a worldwide phenomenon. Cruise was one of the world’s biggest movie stars, and Jack Reacher introduced Child’s character to audiences who had never picked up one of the novels. Child recalled that shortly after the first movie arrived, eight of his older paperbacks simultaneously landed in the Top 10.

Jack Reacher is available to rent or buy digitally. Lee Child was speaking exclusively to Collider in support of Chain Reaction, the latest Jack Reacher novel, which arrives October 20. Child will also co-write Zero Margin, the first Frances Neagley novel, with Yasmin Angoe, arriving in spring 2027. Sign up for a free trial of Audible to listen to the Reacher novels and more.

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Release Date

December 21, 2012

Runtime

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2h 10m

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Sylvester Stallone is recalling a past stay at a mental institution as a teenager.

“In my age group, the teenagers, if you ever snuck out to see a girl or do something like that, you’d be reprimanded by being taken to a place called Park Lodge or the Snake Pit,” Stallone, 80, told The New York Times in a profile published Saturday, September 26, repeating claims mentioned in his new memoir, The Steps, about his experience at Devereux Manor High School. “On the outside it looked like a big, old Tudor home from the ’20s, and then you walked inside and you entered the heart of insanity.”

He continued, “The smell, the filth, people running around naked, clawing, hands tied, drooling. This is what they thought would impress you never to break the rules again.”

According to Stallone, he was once remanded to a psychiatric ward for “a couple of weeks.”

Related: Sylvester Stallone Details Robert Patrick Reunion on ‘Tulsa King’ Season 3

Sylvester Stallone and Robert Patrick’s past working relationship made for an “easier” time on the Tulsa King season 3 set. “Because we know each other, we can speak in shorthand,” Stallone, 79, told Us Weekly exclusively ahead of the Paramount+ show’s premiere on Sunday, September 21. “Robert is one of these actors — which I […]

“It was wild, but this to me, was one of the better things that happened, too,” the action star recalled. “I said, ‘I know they’re going to try to break me.’ I was attacked there. They tried to rip my groin off.”

Stallone claimed that he was sent to the facility alongside a fellow student nicknamed Jay Bird.

“He was big, had no hair, always naked, rotten teeth. They called him Jay Bird because he was always naked as a jaybird,” he told The Times. “And I go into the bathroom on the way to the food mess hall, and he comes in and comes around me and he’s like ripping on my throat and he is going into my pants and grabbing my groin.”

Stallone continued, “Then, the two guards come in and they’re beating the crap out of him with razor straps. I go, ‘What the hell is wrong with him?’ And they say, ‘You’re in a crazy house, boy. Nothing’s wrong with him. He’s crazy.’”

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Related: Sylvester Stallone Talks Donald Trump’s Hollywood Ambassador Appointment

Sylvester Stallone is addressing President Donald Trump’s surprise decision to appoint him as a special ambassador to Hollywood. “Well, it just happened. I was watching TV one night, and they go, ‘So Stallone and Mel Gibson and Jon Voight will be …’ And I went, ‘What?’” Stallone, 80, recalled to The Sunday Times in an interview […]

Following the alleged attack, Stallone said he took “a much better lesson” from the incident.

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“When I came out of there and was standing before the school principal and he said, ‘You learned your lesson?’ I said, ‘I learned a lot more than that lesson. A much better lesson: You can’t break me,’” he stated. “So when I got to [New York City in my 20s] and everything that came after that, I always felt I was unbreakable in that way. My heart could be broken, like every human being, but I’m talking about will.”

Stallone attended Devereux Manor High School, an educational institution in Pennsylvania run by Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health foundation. A rep for Devereux told The Times that they respect Stallone’s “right to tell his story his own way” and are “sorry for any trauma he remembers experiencing” without directly commenting on the accusations.

The Steps hits bookstore shelves Tuesday, September 29.