Entertainment
How Adam Driver’s ‘Star Wars’ Role ‘Changed Animation Forever’
Actor Adam Driver brought some serious star power to the “Star Wars” sequel trilogy. He embodied a certain intensity as the villainous Kylo Ren that is hard to replicate, and it ultimately changed animation. In an interview to promote the new Pixar film “Hoppers,” on “The One Show,” actor Dave Franco revealed that there is actually an “Adam Driver bar” that was installed in the recording booth for voiceover work just due to the intensity of his vocal performance.
Article continues below advertisement
Adam Driver Needed Extra Support For His ‘Star Wars’ Role As Kylo Ren
In a clip from BBC’s “The One Show,” Dave Franco revealed how the “Star Wars” actor got “the Adam Driver bar” installed on recording booths. In his words:
“So, when I first went into the recording booth, I remember stepping in and there was this metal bar in front of me. I was like, ‘Guys, what’s the bar all about?’ And they were like, ‘If you wanna lean on it, you can.’ And I was like, ‘I don’t think I’m going to lean on the bar.’ Cut to the end of the session, I am gripping that bar with all my might. I’m dripping sweat.”
Article continues below advertisement
Later, Franco revealed that the bar was seriously called “the Adam Driver bar” by people in the industry. Fellow guest Wyatt Russellseemingly confirmed the name and admitted to hearing the rumors. He added, “I’ve heard of this! I was gonna say something, and I didn’t say anything.”
Franco explained that the bar apparently had its origins in Driver’s “Star Wars” role. “Yeah, so I guess when he was playing Kylo Ren, there was some voice stuff that he did in the studio, and I guess he just needed something to hold on to.” He added, “And he invented this thing that changed animation forever.”
“Adam Driver’s a genius,” Russell added, noting that the bar “really works.”
Article continues below advertisement
Adam Driver Wanted To Return To A Galaxy Far, Far Away

Last year, the notoriously private actor revealed that he was interested in returning to a galaxy far, far away. In the events of 2019’s “The Rise of Skywalker,” Kylo Ren was redeemed, and he returned to his identity as Ben Solo, the son of Leia Organa and Han Solo. Unfortunately, he died after defeating Emperor Palpatine with the help of Rey (Daisy Ridley).
Although his character faded into the Force and seemingly passed away, Driver always held out hope that he could return and even developed a script with Steven Soderbergh that he took to Lucasfilm. Although the idea was initially approved and a script was written, Disney execs later shot down the idea, claiming that Ben Solo was dead and they didn’t see how he could be brought back to life.
Article continues below advertisement
Adam Driver Reveals Lost ‘Star Wars’ Film ‘The Hunt For Ben Solo’

While promoting his film “Father Mother Sister Brother,” Driver told the Associated Press that he and Soderbergh had spent about two years developing the film, which they had called “The Hunt For Ben Solo.”
“I had been talking about doing another one since 2021. Kathleen (Kennedy) had reached out. I always said: With a great director and a great story, I’d be there in a second. I loved that character and loved playing him,” Driver revealed.
He, Soderbergh, and Rebecca Blunt then outlined a story that they pitched to Kennedy, Cary Beck, and Dave Filoni. With their approval, they tapped Scott Z. Burns to write the script, which Driver called “one of the coolest (expletive) scripts I had ever been a part of.”
Article continues below advertisement
Bob Iger and Alan Bergman Reportedly Axed The Ben Solo ‘Star Wars’ Film
According to Driver, Bob Iger and Alan Bergman decided not to move forward with the film. “We presented the script to Lucasfilm. They loved the idea. They totally understood our angle and why we were doing it,” Driver said. “We took it to Bob Iger and Alan Bergman and they said no. They didn’t see how Ben Solo was alive. And that was that.”
In a statement, Soderbergh said, “I really enjoyed making the movie in my head. I’m just sorry the fans won’t get to see it.”
Steven Soderbergh Opens Up On Axed ‘Star Wars’ Film

In February 2026, while speaking to BK Mag, Soderbergh said that everyone was “frustrated” by the film’s cancellation.
“We were all frustrated,” Soderbergh said. “You know, that was two and a half years of free work for me and Adam and [writer] Rebecca Blunt. When Adam and I discussed him talking about it publicly, I said, ‘Look, do not editorialize or speculate about the why. Just say what happened, because all we know is what happened.’ The stated reason was, ‘We don’t think Ben Solo could be alive.’ And that was all we were told. And so there’s nothing to do about it, you know, except move on.”
Article continues below advertisement
“I’d kind of made the movie in my head, and just felt bad that nobody else was going to get to see it,” he continued. “I thought the conversation was strictly going to be a practical one—where they go, what is this going to cost? And I had a really good answer for that. But it never even got to that point. It’s insane. We’re all very disappointed.”
Entertainment
Brooke Shields Recalls JFK Jr. Fling Amid FX’s Love Story
Brooke Shields can still remember her ever-so-brief romance with the late John F. Kennedy Jr. — and she’s willing to spill the tea.
“I wonder if JFK Jr. was a good kisser?” Shields’ daughter Rowan Henchy wrote over a Friday, March 6, TikTok video, while lip-synching to Charli XCX’s “Boom Clap.”
The camera then panned to Shields, 60, who also mouthed the lyrics.
“‘One of the best,’” text overlaying the video read.
Rowan, one of Shields’ two daughters she shares with husband Chris Henchy, further acknowledged her mom’s relationship history in a TikTok caption.
“But don’t forget … they never dated,” Rowan, 22, wrote.
Shields was briefly romantically linked to JFK Jr., son of President John F. Kennedy and wife Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, in the 1980s.
@rowanhenchy But don’t forget… they never dated☝️#jfkjr @Brooke Shields
“He kept saying I looked like his mother, which was really interesting and a compliment, [but] I also was like, ‘I don’t know how to feel about this,’” Shields recalled on The Howard Stern Show in 2023. “And then, we did have a real date. I wouldn’t sleep with him because I kind of loved him too much.”
According to Shields, she shared a kiss with JFK Jr. on their one-off date.
“It was beyond not-disappointing,” she recalled to radio host Howard Stern. “I froze though because he was so precious to me. I was like, ‘Oh, my God, you’re falling in love, and if you sleep with him he may not talk to you again — and you can’t handle that.’”
The actress continued, “I wasn’t playing a game. I really was just so afraid of being really hurt, because if I slept with him I would’ve given him my entire universe, my heart, my everything.”
Shields later married tennis star Andre Agassi in 1997, two years before calling it quits. She tied the knot with now-husband Chris, 61, in 2001 before they welcomed Rowan and her sister, Grier Henchy.
As for JFK Jr., he was married to longtime love Carolyn Bessette from 1996 until their tragic deaths in a 1999 plane crash. Their romance has recently been immortalized in FX’s Love Story anthology.
“We had Elizabeth Beller’s book for reference, but we did face challenges [capturing certain moments],” executive producer Brad Simpson exclusively told Us Weekly in February of adapting the political couple’s story. “They died so young, but we had enough information from people around them to know what the problems were in their marriage, what the tensions were, what the highs were, what the lows were.”
JFK Jr. and Bessette are played by Paul Anthony Kelly and Sarah Pidgeon, respectively.
Entertainment
18 Years Before He Took Over the Franchise, Dave Filoni Directed the Worst Star Wars Film
When Dave Filoni was announced to take over from Kathleen Kennedy as head of Lucasfilm, many would have felt that Star Wars was being given to the correct successor. After all, while Ahsoka and The Book of Boba Fett may not have captured the hearts and minds of many Star Wars fans, The Mandalorian reinvigorated excitement in the live-action side of the franchise, and the Star Wars: The Clone Wars animated series, along with Star Wars: Rebels, are still rightfully considered some of the best Star Wars content ever produced.
However, there was a time when Filoni was not the biggest name in Star Wars. Before 2008, few would have known Filoni for anything other than his involvement in the first season of Avatar: The Last Airbender, and many would come to initially know him for directing the worst film in the Star Wars universe: Star Wars: The Clone Wars. The film and the show had the same name, meaning many would wipe the awful former from their memories, but that doesn’t change the fact that The Clone Wars film is not only poorly structured, but feels thoroughly underbaked in terms of both animation and characters.
‘Star Wars: The Clone Wars’ Feels Like a Set of Disjointed Episodes
Star Wars: The Clone Wars film is meant to serve as the introduction to the series, yet the series’ non-linear structure snuck its way into the film, creating a disjointed, meandering plot. The Clone Wars film begins on Christophisis, where Anakin (Matt Lanter) and Obi-Wan (James Arnold Taylor) face a droid army as The Republic tries to gain a foothold in the Outer Rim. Facing dire circumstances, Anakin is sent a padawan in the form of Ahsoka Tano (Ashley Eckstein), and the trio defeats the army. This is where the story takes a sharp pivot in setting, goal, and tone. Jabba’s (Kevin Michael Richardson) son, Rotta (David Acord), is kidnapped, and the trio is sent to Tatooine to save the Huttlet and return him to his father to barter an alliance with the Hutts, confronting Count Dooku (Christopher Lee) along the way.
However, this pivot does not feel natural, and instead creates a jarring sensation where what feels like a war film on Christophisis, with several clones brutally dying in the pursuit of victory, becomes a silly adventure to find Rotta, who makes normal baby noises yet isn’t cute, but unnerving. From both Filoni’s comments on the Force-Cast: Clone Wars Roundtable podcast and how George Lucas talks about deciding to create a Clone Wars feature as “an afterthought” after seeing the first episodes on the big screen, it appears the Clone Wars film was originally going to be the first episodes of the series, but they were edited together. Considering the odd combination of settings and plots, this explains a lot, as many beats in the film feel like the beginning or end of a new episode, rather than a three-act structure, such as when the mission on Christophisis is completed, and the turn towards Tatooine begins.
‘Star Wars: The Clone Wars’ Animation and Character Dynamics Are Amateurish at Times
When most think of The Clone Wars, their minds will drift to the beautiful animation that only a few TV shows can compare to, especially in Season 7, along with the lovable dynamic between the charismatic Anakin and wise-beyond-her-years Ahsoka. However, in the Clone Wars feature, the animation is incredibly clunky. While there are some great action scenes on Christophisis with the clone troopers, it is scenes when characters are merely talking that we are merely given mid-shots with no movement in the camera, such as when Ahsoka, Anakin, and Obi-Wan discuss their plan on Christophisis or Obi-Wan’s meeting with Jabba, with characters moving far too smoothly compared to the more natural movement seen in later seasons.
Additionally, these stilted animations don’t help the lackluster character dynamics between Ahsoka and Anakin. Throughout the film, they bicker back and forth, with Anakin being at times nasty to Ahsoka and the young padawan feeling incredibly naive and arrogant, with lines such as “technically, I outrank you,” to Rex (Dee Bradley Baker), or “I’m the one with enthusiasm!” to Anakin over-emphasizing the fact that this is a child in a war. While this would become a key point of Ahsoka’s character and the commentary on war, in the Clone Wars feature, it merely feels like a jarring tone because she is overly naive, which led many to dislike her characterization at first, before Filoni would develop the character to act more maturely later on.
For many, including myself, the Star Wars: The Clone Wars film is a part of their childhood, and there is nostalgia in watching the battle on Christophisis and Anakin’s confrontation with Dooku. But that doesn’t distract from the 18% Rotten Tomatoes score, which is thoroughly deserved considering the film’s flaws. However, there is also a lesson in patience here. While the Clone Wars film is truly awful, it spawned a show that would become iconic, making the initial growing pains of Filoni and Lucas’s brainchild more than worth it in the end.
Star Wars: The Clone Wars is available to stream on Disney+ in the U.S.
- Release Date
-
August 5, 2008
- Runtime
-
98 Minutes
- Writers
-
Scott Murphy, Steven Melching, Henry Gilroy
Entertainment
Victoria Beckham Thanks David, Youngest Kids for Support
Victoria Beckham had the support of most of her family at her 2026 Paris Fashion Week show.
“Thank you for always being there to support me. I love you all so much xxx,” Beckham, 51, wrote via Instagram on Friday, March 6, after her eponymous fashion brand’s Fall/Winter 2026-2027 show during Paris Fashion Week.
Victoria was joined by her husband, David Beckham, and their youngest three children: Romeo, 23, Cruz, 20, and Harper, 14. (Cruz’s girlfriend, Jackie Apostel, was also present.)
“We are always so proud and astonished about what you achieve every single season raising the bar and continuing to live the dream that you have worked so hard for,” David wrote via Instagram, praising his wife’s designs. “You and your team really are incredible and we are proud to be here to witness the beauty that you continue to bring to each collection. We love you.”
The former Spice Girls singer and David, 50, are also parents of son Brooklyn, 27, from whom they are currently estranged.
“I do not want to reconcile with my family. I’m not being controlled, I’m standing up for myself for the first time in my life,” Brooklyn claimed in a lengthy social media statement shared in January. “The performative social media posts, family events and inauthentic relationships have been a fixture of the life I was born into.”
Brooklyn further alleged that his parents had “been trying endlessly to ruin” his relationship with Nicola Peltz Beckham before they tied the knot in 2022.
“I have been controlled by my parents for most of my life. I grew up with overwhelming anxiety. For the first time in my life, since stepping away from my family, that anxiety has disappeared,” Brooklyn alleged. “I wake up every morning grateful for the life I chose, and have found peace and relief. My wife and I do not want a life shaped by image, press or manipulation. All we want [is] peace, privacy and happiness for us and our future family.”
Neither Victoria nor David publicly responded to their son’s claims. Us Weekly reached out for comment at the time.
While Brooklyn has since stopped speaking to his parents and siblings, David and Victoria both publicly marked his 27th birthday earlier this week.
“Happy 27th birthday Brooklyn. I love you so much,” Victoria wrote via her Instagram Stories on Wednesday, March 4, sharing throwback family photos.
David also shared a birthday tribute to his eldest son, writing via his account, “Happy Birthday Bust. Love you x.” (David and Brooklyn had long called one another “buster” as a nickname.)
Brooklyn, however, didn’t publicly acknowledge his parents’ messages.
“Brooklyn ignored David’s attempt at getting his attention with that birthday post,” a source exclusively told Us. “He thinks it’s just another way for them to save face with the public and that it did not feel meaningful.”
According to the insider, Brooklyn was “still keeping his distance” from the Beckhams and rang in his birthday with Nicola, 31.
“He had a lovely day celebrating with Nicola, and she made him feel special,” the insider added to Us. “He is not letting any of the nonsense bother him.”
Entertainment
“Pulp Fiction”'s Rosanna Arquette blasts Quentin Tarantino's use of N-word in films: 'It's not art, it's just racist'
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/Quentin-Tarantino-Pulp-Fiction-30726-b1471a2c697b4e9186c5ca06b3bc07d6.jpg)
The actress says she “cannot stand” that the director “has been given a hall pass” to use the slur.
Entertainment
14 Years Later, the 130-Minute Thriller That Angered ‘Reacher’ Fans Is Streaming Free
Before he was crowned the savior of Hollywood for refusing to give in and insisting that Top Gun: Maverick be released in theaters, Tom Cruise was trying his best to score a franchise that he could count on. He had the Mission: Impossible movies, of course. But there was clearly intent to secure a back-up plan in case things went south. Cruise was weighing the possibility of doing another Top Gun film, but Maverick wouldn’t be put together until a few years later. Together with his former producing partner Paula Wagner, Cruise decided to finally fast-track a property whose rights they had purchased in 2005. This was around the same time as Mission: Impossible III‘s tumultuous production.
The movie in question was released in 2012 to relatively positive reviews, but its greatest contribution was heralding director Christopher McQuarrie‘s return. McQuarrie had worked as a writer on numerous projects with Cruise, but it was only after proving his chops with the 2012 film that he was hired to essentially spearhead the next era of Mission: Impossible movies. He ended up directing four in a row — Mission: Impossible — Rogue Nation, Mission: Impossible — Fallout, Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning, and Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning. The movie in question has left a rather uneven legacy, with the author of the novel series it was based on retroactively voicing his dissatisfaction with it.
Collider Acrostic — The Collider Movie Quiz!
Can you answer these movie questions, wherein each correct response begins with a successive letter of the word “Collider”?
Here’s the Tom Cruise Thriller That Caused an Uproar
We’re talking, of course, about Jack Reacher. Author Lee Child initially supported Cruise’s casting, even though the character is famously supposed to be a towering, tree-trunk-sized man. But he later admitted that Cruise simply didn’t fit the bill. Reacher is now played, much to the fans’ appreciation, by Alan Ritchson in Prime Video’s hit series Reacher. The show has aired three seasons so far, and is scheduled to return for a fourth. Cruise’s movie was quite successful; it grossed nearly $220 million worldwide against a reported budget of $60 million. It holds a 64% score on the aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, and was followed by a sequel titled Jack Reacher: Never Go Back. The second film wasn’t as successful, both critically and commercially. Cruise effectively abandoned the property, which was rebooted in 2022 with Ritchson’s show.
You can watch Jack Reacher for free this month on Pluto TV, and see for yourself what all the fuss was about. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
- Release Date
-
December 21, 2012
- Runtime
-
2h 10m
Entertainment
Man Dies After Cutting Off Own Penis in Downtown Los Angeles
Downtown Los Angeles
Man Dies By Self-Mutilation …
Cuts Off Own Penis
Published
A man in Los Angeles died Friday night after cutting off his own genitalia … TMZ has confirmed.
The Los Angeles Police Department received a call about a man harming himself in Downtown Los Angeles around 3:40 AM.
After arriving on the scene, they set up a white tent to keep onlookers from seeing the man’s body … though a videographer at the scene captured pools of blood staining the sidewalk.
Law enforcement sources tell TMZ … the man cut off his penis, sliced his throat and stabbed himself with a sharp instrument. We’re told he also tried to cut off his arm.
It’s unclear at this time what he used to harm himself. Officers also do not know the man’s motivation … or if he was on drugs at the time.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.
Entertainment
MGK fan falls through hole in stage during London show: 'The coolest thing you could have ever f—ing done'
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/MGK-performing-030726-d7f7039a7ccd483186a8679140e0891a.jpg)
The rapper later gave the concertgoer his cap, telling her, “I wear this hat every f—ing day. It’s special, but f— that, it’s yours.”
Entertainment
Jeffrey Epstein Guard Googled Him Less Than An Hour Before Death
Jeffrey Epstein
Googled By Guard Mere Minutes Before Death
Published
A correctional officer working in the wing where Jeffrey Epstein was incarcerated the night he died searched his case on the internet less than an hour before his death … this according to Department of Justice records.
Tova Noel — a former guard at Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC) in Lower Manhattan, New York City — did a couple Google searches about Epstein’s case on August 10, 2019 around 5:43 AM. The convicted pedophile was found dead around 6:30 AM.
Noel searched “latest on Epstein in jail” and clicked on an article about documents related to Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, her newly released search history reveals.
Worth noting … Epstein wasn’t the only inmate who drew Noel’s interest — after looking up Epstein, she searched for the latest info on Omar Amanat.
Amanat was convicted of wire fraud and conspiracy in 2017 … and he was locked up alongside Epstein at the time of his death.
Noel also googled a variety of other subjects that morning … including discounts through Verizon for law enforcement.
Remember … Noel and another guard on duty — correctional officer Michael Thomas — were fired after Epstein’s body was found. Prosecutors accused them of not completing their 30-minute rounds as mandated. Criminal charges against the pair were filed and later dropped.
Noel has denied having anything to do with Epstein’s death. When asked about googling him by the DOJ, she told the department she didn’t recall doing so.
Entertainment
“Harry Potter” actress explains why she 'would not want to go back' to her days shooting movies
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/Katie-Leung-Harry-Potter-Goblet-of-Fire-010826-a257af82d8a94485901b9aa9ad6e9de8.jpg)
“I was so young at the time,” franchise alum Katie Leung said. “I was so easily influenced by what people would say about me.”
Entertainment
3 Months Later, Disney’s $35 Million Failure Barely Clings to Streaming Charts
Although some movies proved popular at the 2025 box office, many more struggled to earn financial success. The likes of Captain America: Brave New World and the live-action Snow White were notable failures in the first half of the year, with the Jared Leto-led Tron: Ares, Edgar Wright‘s The Running Man, and more fading into box office obscurity in the second half. However, few films were as unpopular with theatergoers as James L. Brooks‘ latest directorial effort, Ella McCay.
So poor was Ella McCay‘s initial U.S. run that it reportedly was pulled from the French theatrical lineup ahead of its scheduled January 7 release. This is all despite having an eye-catching central cast, with the likes of Academy Award winner Jamie Lee Curtis, Woody Harrelson, Spike Fearn, Jack Lowden, Kumail Nanjiani, Ayo Edebiri, and more, supporting star Emma Mackey of Sex Education fame. Alas, the movie bombed, earning just $4.5 million worldwide against a reported $35 million budget and becoming one of Disney’s most disappointing commercial efforts of the year.
Since its release on streaming, Ella McCay has found redemption and been a mainstay in the charts. Having made its debut on February 5, the film rose up the ranks and managed to fight off popular rivals in a way its theatrical run never could. However, all good things come to an end, and Ella McCay has found itself clinging to the bottom place on the Hulu charts in the U.S., at the time of writing. A synopsis for the movie reads:
“Ella McCay follows an idealistic young woman juggling her less-than-perfect family with her passion for her work. From writer-director James L. Brooks, this fresh and heartwarming comedy is about the people you love and how to survive them.”
The People’s Choice Awards-iversary — The Collider TV Quiz!
On this date in 1975, the first-ever People’s Choice Awards ceremony was held. Here are some notable PCA television winners from the last 51 years.
Critics Were Not Fond of ‘Ella McCay’
Part of Ella McCay‘s box office misfortune was certainly the initial critical response, with the film earning just 24% on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. Jeff Ewing of Collider awarded the movie just 3/10 in his review, saying, “It’s actually a little difficult to say if there’s a better version of Ella McCay buried somewhere inside this movie, given that it’s hard to pin down what the intended target of this movie is at the end of the day.”
Ella McCay is streaming on Hulu. Make sure to stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
- Release Date
-
December 11, 2025
- Runtime
-
115 minutes
- Director
-
James L. Brooks
- Writers
-
James L. Brooks
- Producers
-
Julie Ansell, Richard Sakai, James L. Brooks, Jennifer Brooks, Francine Maisler
-
Politics5 days agoAlan Cumming Brands Baftas Ceremony A ‘Triggering S**tshow’
-
Business1 day ago
Form 8K Entergy Mississippi LLC For: 6 March
-
Tech7 days agoUnihertz’s Titan 2 Elite Arrives Just as Physical Keyboards Refuse to Fade Away
-
Fashion1 day agoWeekend Open Thread: Ann Taylor
-
NewsBeat6 days ago‘Significant’ damage to boarded-up Horden house after fire
-
Tech3 days agoBitwarden adds support for passkey login on Windows 11
-
Entertainment6 days agoBaby Gear Guide: Strollers, Car Seats
-
Sports2 days ago499 runs and 34 sixes later, India beat England to enter T20 World Cup final | Cricket News
-
NewsBeat7 days agoEmirates confirms when flights will resume amid Dubai airport chaos
-
Politics7 days ago
FIFA hypocrisy after Israel murder over 400 Palestinian footballers
-
NewsBeat5 days agoIs it acceptable to comment on the appearance of strangers in public? Readers discuss
-
Tech7 days agoViral ad shows aged Musk, Altman, and Bezos using jobless humans to power AI
-
Sports3 hours agoThree share 2-shot lead entering final round in Hong Kong
-
Fashion6 days agoOn the Scene at the 57th Annual NAACP Image Awards: Teyana Taylor in Black Ashi Studio, Colman Domingo in Yellow Sergio Hudson, Chloe Bailey in Christian Siriano, and More!
-
Video6 days agoHow to Build Finance Dashboards With AI in Minutes
-
NewsBeat6 days agoUkraine-Russia war latest: Belgium releases video showing forces boarding Russian shadow fleet oil tanker
-
Business4 days agoGuthrie Disappearance Enters Fifth Week as Family Visits Memorial
-
Crypto World7 days agoUS Judge Lets Binance Unregistered Token Class Action Proceed
-
Crypto World5 days agoWhy Nexo Is Reentering the US After the 2023 Crypto Lending Crackdown
-
NewsBeat2 days agoPiccadilly Circus just unveiled ‘London’s newest tourist attraction’ and it only costs 80p to enter




