Entertainment
10 Best Facts About Making the Lord of the Rings Trilogy
Every movie has stories and fun facts about their makings, but none has a community as devoted and engaged as The Lord of the Rings. Fans of Peter Jackson‘s film trilogy often go to incredible lengths to learn new things about them and tell everyone about it, resulting in some of those facts and trivia often becoming fandom jokes and memes, or even going viral.
Considering how all three installments were filmed back-to-back over several years, there is no shortage of great behind-the-scenes factoids about The Lord of the Rings trilogy, from the most inconsequential ones to actual injuries and even life-or-death situations. Here’s a list of the most incredible of such facts for next time you’re watching the movies and want to flex some Middle-earth knowledge — I mean, who wouldn’t, right?
10
Ian McKellen Bumps His Head on the Ceiling in Bag End
‘The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring’
Starting off small, when Gandalf (Ian McKellen) first visits Bilbo (Ian Holm) in Bag End in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, the wizard bumps his head on the chandelier and the ceiling. According to legend, that bump was unscripted, and McKellen really knocked his head on the wood by accident, as the Bad End set was made to proportion for Hobbit characters, and he was bigger than everything around him.
There is some controversy about this, however. Peter Jackson confirmed it as an accident in The Fellowship of the Ring DVD extras, saying that McKellen hit his head and stayed in character. Later, McKellen claimed he actually planned the bump before shooting, believing it would add an element of fun to the scene. Regardless of who you believe, that bump must’ve hurt.
9
Hugo Weaving Dubs Isildur’s Only Line in the Trilogy
‘The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring’
Played by Harry Sinclair, Isildur has only one line in the trilogy: “No.” That’s in a flashback scene, when Elrond (Hugo Weaving) is telling him to destroy the One Ring and “cast it into the fire.” Unfortunately, Peter Jackson didn’t like how Sinclair’s own voice sounded, and had Weaving dub over it later. So, in that scene, Weaving is voicing two characters: himself as Elrond and Isildur.
Funnily enough, Jackson cast Sinclair as Isildur because Sinclair was the most “corrupt-looking” person he knew, but later claimed Sinclair’s voice didn’t sound “corrupt enough” for that scene. Indeed, Sinclair’s voice isn’t as deep as Weaving’s and anyone barely even notices, so, in the end, it was for the best.
8
A Background Elf Became an Actual Character Thanks to the Fans
‘The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring’
During the Council of Elrond scene in The Fellowship of the Ring, there’s an unnamed Elf played by Bret McKenzie sitting beside Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen). When Frodo (Elijah Wood) stands up to say he will take the One Ring to Mordor, everyone stares at him, including this Elf, who’s at the far right of the frame. Thanks to his good looks, he quickly became a meme among the fans, and even got his own name: Figwit.
Everything about Figwit is funny and unexpected because of his behind-the-scenes story. His name is the acronym for “Frodo is great… Who is THAT?”, the reaction of the fan who first spotted him. She even made him a website, and the buzz grew enough to draw Peter Jackson’s own attention, who then called McKenzie back for The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King and then for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, only, this time, with actual lines.
7
Viggo Mortensen Deflects a Real Knife Filming a Fight Scene
‘The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring’
At the end of The Fellowship of the Ring, Aragorn fights the Uruk-hai Lurtz (Lawrence Makoare). When he stabs the monster to no effect, Lurtz simply grabs the dagger and throws it back at Aragorn, who deflects it with his sword just in time. That was a real throw, and Viggo Mortensen really deflected it himself. Aragorn later finds it within himself to defeat Lurtz, despite the monster’s overwhelming strength and resistance.
Legend has it that the stuntman playing Lurtz at that moment couldn’t see properly and threw the knife at full force, with Mortensen deflecting it out of sheer reflex. In the DVD commentary, Peter Jackson praised Mortensen, who “did it first take.” Years later, however, other accounts surfaced, claiming that the moment was actually rehearsed. Be that as it may, it was a real knife and a real throw, making Mortensen a real badass.
6
Viggo Mortensen Broke His Toe by Kicking an Orc’s Head
‘The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers’
This one has been shared so much, it’s arguably among the most famous behind-the-scenes facts ever. In The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, Aragorn, Legolas (Orlando Bloom), and Gimli (John Rhys-Davies) track Merry (Dominic Monaghan) and Pippin (Billy Boyd) to an Orc camp at the border of Fangorn Forest. Frustrated, Aragorn kicks an Orc’s decapitated head and lets out a scream. That scream was real, as Viggo Mortensen actually broke two toes kicking the prop.
That wasn’t the only injury on set, though. Bloom and Brett Beattie, Gimli’s scale stunt, had a cracked rib and a dislocated rib, respectively, after falling from a horse. All three actors were injured when filming the epic running scenes, with Peter Jackson calling them “real troopers” in the DVD extras. They’d power through the shoot and then go back to limping and groaning as soon as Jackson yelled “cut.”
5
The Massive Uruk-Hai Chant Was Recorded Live at a Stadium
‘The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers’
When Saruman (Christopher Lee) riles up his Uruk-hai army to send them to battle at Helm’s Deep, the response is loud, as the thousands-strong force chants back to him in Black Speech. In reality, that chant was recorded live at a cricket stadium with Peter Jackson himself directing the crowd. The sounds were then adjusted in the studio to properly fit into the scene, as they didn’t want to use a single chant and simply multiply it.
The whole thing was recorded during halftime of a New Zealand-England match in Wellington in February 2002. The home team was winning by halftime, so, when Jackson showed up to direct the crowd, they were already in pretty good spirits, and he didn’t have much trouble. He got them to chant, stomp their feet, and beat their chests, and all those sounds were used.
4
The Riders of Rohan Are Mostly Played by Women
‘The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers’
Éowyn (Miranda Otto) is among the best characters in the trilogy, but she isn’t the only woman fighting for Rohan — at least not behind the scenes. Whenever the Riders of Rohan appear, there are more women than men among them. That’s because production required many expert riders who could bring their own horses, and most of them were women. “There are some very good woman riders in New Zealand, and it’d be silly not to take advantage of them,” said Viggo Mortensen.
During filming, each of these women had to wear fake beards and messy long hair matching J.R.R. Tolkien‘s description of the Riders. You simply cannot tell that most of the Rohirrim are women, and the horse-charging scenes in The Two Towers and The Return of the King are so iconic, it actually elevates Éowyn’s own story when you learn about it.
3
Aragorn Trained in Sword Fighting With Darth Vader
All trilogy
By the end of production, Viggo Mortensen had become a competent swordsman, given all his work as Aragorn. That’s all because Mortensen trained for the role with Bob Anderson, a British Olympic fencer and sword master in many Hollywood productions, including playing Darth Vader in the fighting scenes of the original Star Wars. So, you could say that, in a way, Aragorn actually trained with Darth Vader.
Their training quickly paid off. Mortensen was cast after filming had already begun, and his very first scene was the fight against the Nazgûl at the Weathertop in The Fellowship of the Ring. While Anderson didn’t do the fighting choreography, his training did allow Mortensen to translate it into actual combat movements, making it feel much more realistic.
2
The Last Movie Wrapped Filming After Winning the Oscar
‘The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King’
On February 29, 2004, The Return of the King made its legendary clean sweep of the Oscars, winning all 11 of the categories it was nominated for. Days later, Peter Jackson was back filming more footage for the extended edition, comprising skull and tunnel shots for the Paths of the Dead sequence, as he still wasn’t satisfied. In the DVD commentary, he joked about it, saying: “It’s nice to win an Oscar before you’ve even finished the film.”
The third movie wasn’t the only one to be properly finished like that, however. Principal photography for the whole trilogy took place between October 1999 and December 2000, but Jackson went back to shoot more footage for each film after its release. Boromir’s (Sean Bean) flashback scenes in The Two Towers, for example, were shot after production had wrapped on that movie’s theatrical version. A true labor of love.
1
Peter Jackson Has Cameos in All Three Movies
All trilogy
One of the most treasured traditions in The Lord of the Rings is to spot director Peter Jackson’s cameos in the films. He shows up as background characters or minor ones in every movie of the franchise. In The Fellowship of the Ring, he plays Albert Dreary, a carrot-munching individual in Bree. In The Two Towers, he plays a soldier of Rohan who throws a spear at the Uruk-hai in the battle of Helm’s Deep. Finally, in The Return of the King, he plays a Corsair of the Umbar who gets shot by Legolas as a warning.
It’s such a fun tradition, Jackson repeated the dose in The Hobbit, where he plays a Dwarf fleeing Erebor in An Unexpected Journey, Albert Dreary Sr. munching a carrot in Bree in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, and appears as Bilbo’s (Martin Freeman) father, Bungo Baggins, on a portrait in Bag End in The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies. Here’s hoping he’ll even have a cameo in The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, too.
Continue Reading
By Chris Snellgrove
| Published
These days, reboots have a bad reputation, and rightfully so. Hollywood keeps cranking out bad remakes of classic movies like RoboCop and Total Recall, and Disney has created an entire cottage industry of turning its classic animated films into lazy, live-action abominations. On the small screen, reboots ranging from Gossip Girl to The Munsters have accomplished nothing but make audiences want to watch the original show. Everyone watching at home keeps asking the same question: why remake a classic show if you can’t make it better than the original?
However, former Star Trek scribe Ronald D. Moore squared this circle by rebooting a middling TV show into a modern masterpiece. The original Battlestar Galactica has a fairly dedicated fandom, but it only lasted one season before fizzling out with a crappy, low-budget spinoff. But in 2004, Moore rebooted the show into the greatest sci-fi show of the last quarter-century, one that changed genre storytelling forever. It’s a series that has lost none of its edge over the years, and you can now experience its brilliance for free by streaming it on Pluto TV.
Humanity Is On The Brink
The premise of Battlestar Galactica is that humanity has colonized multiple worlds and made amazing technological advancements, including building robot servants called Cylons. Unfortunately, they rebelled and started a bitter war with humanity that resulted in them disappearing, seemingly forever. But the Cylons come back and use their technology to destroy every human-occupied world in a galactic-scale genocide. Now, all that’s left of humanity are a relative handful of civilian ships, all of which must be protected from constant Cylon attacks by the brave men and women of the Battlestar Galactica, the last bastion of human military might in the entire galaxy.
Part of what makes Battlestar Galactica so compelling is that it’s the polar opposite of Star Trek. In Trek, everyone lives in a state of constant abundance: replicators can make whatever you want or need, and everyone more or less gets along while exploring the final frontier. In BSG, resources are constantly limited because every human world has been wiped out, forcing the crew to scavenge and salvage what they can. Moreover, there is constant tension between (and amid) military forces and civilian government, all of whom are on edge because they are the last of humanity and could die at any time.
The Sexiest Cast In Sci-Fi
It’s a bleak premise and a bleak show, but the cast really rises to the occasion. Tricia Helfer is particularly captivating as a sexy Cylon who uses her buxom beauty as her most reliable weapon in the fight against humanity. Katee Sackhoff, meanwhile, is all swinging swaggering as a hotshot pilot who is only really at peace in the cockpit of a Viper. James Callis captivates as a scientist whose brilliance may either save or doom all of humanity. But nobody is quite as compelling as Edward James Olmos, whose cool, gravelly confidence holds the entire fleet (not to mention the show) together.
While Battlestar Galactica is styled as the anti-Star Trek show, it does have one important thing in common with Gene Roddenberry’s killer sci-fi franchise: almost every episode is devoted to exploring the crunchiest philosophical questions facing mankind. For example, the show constantly examines whether religion is a valid way to provide hope to humanity or just a way to grift and prey upon the weak-minded. BSG also questions many post-9/11 arguments, including whether sacrificing freedom for security is worth it and the morality of both occupation and occupied resistance. Hovering over all of it is an eerily prescient exploration of mankind’s relationship with AI and the dangers of relying on technology we cannot fully understand or control.
Top Gun In Space
If all of this sounds too philosophical and abstract, don’t worry: Battlestar Galactica is famous (and rightfully so) for its killer action sequences. Ground-based battles are more exciting than almost anything in Star Wars, showcasing how terrifying it would really be to get hunted down by killer battle droids. But where BSG really shines is its space battles, which use Newtonian physics (another major departure from Star Trek) to showcase human Viper pilots completing one life-and-death maneuver after another against relentless Cylon Raiders. These battles are a microcosm of BSG as a whole: tension and heartbreak punctuated by moments of buoyant, triumphant joy.
While Battlestar Galactica is rightfully dubbed a modern sci-fi masterpiece, it’s not a completely perfect show. I have often joked that it has about three perfect seasons within its four-season runtime. Some parts of Season 3 and 4 are plodding, especially if you’re not a superfan of Baltar, whose character gets more or less reinvented every season. Plus, the series finale is controversial enough that fans are still griping about it to this day (and with good reason). But the ratio of good episodes to bad is nearly unparalleled in genre storytelling, and every sci-fi fan owes it to themselves to watch this groundbreaking show at least once.
Whether it’s your first time streaming it or you’ve lost count (it’s not just me, right?), Battlestar Galactica is always worth watching. Better still, it’s currently streaming for free on Pluto TV, where you can watch every episode on demand. It’s a show unlike anything else in science fiction, and after more than two decades, we haven’t had anything nearly as brilliant. Plus, we live in an age where the robots have won and AI has taken over almost everything. Why not watch a show where humanity learns how to put those clankers in their place?
So say we all!
By Brian Myers
| Published
Stephen King is anything but shy about his opinions. Whether it’s politics, current events, or cinematic adaptations from his own massive body of work, the publicly acclaimed “Master of Horror” typically leaves little to the imagination when it comes to his thoughts. So, when the bestselling writer gives kudos to the Netflix Thriller Lord of the Flies, his words are seen as a giant stamp of approval.
The Salem’s Lot author took to X to post his stamp of approval for the limited series. “I had my doubts, but it’s remarkable. Captures all the horror and mystery of lost children descending into… well, you decide,” King tweeted on May 5. And when new audiences dig into the episodes, they’ll quickly catch on to what he was alluding to.
The story begins when a group of adolescent boys finds themselves stranded on a deserted island following a plane crash into the Pacific Ocean. With no adult survivors, the band of boys organizes itself into a makeshift society in order to overcome the harsh conditions thrust upon them. A fundamental difference of ideas between two of the older boys leads to a schism in the group, pitting the two factions against each other. As the society they build begins to evaporate into fear and violence, it’s a battle between the virtues of intellect and civility and the base animal instincts of dominance and survival.
The four-part series is based on the 1954 novel by William Golding. The 2026 adaptation stays loyal to Golding’s source material, save for the series taking creative liberties with several of the characters’ backstories and some rearranging of the timeline of events that unfold.
With a cast of virtually unknown British actors, Lord of the Flies is able to bring a sense of horrific realism to the small screen that an ensemble cast could not. When watching, it’s as though these young men and boys could pass as ones we know in our everyday lives, working to make the tragedies they have faced all the more harrowing and the social deconstruction they work to survive even more terrifying.
The 2026 series was produced by the filmmakers at Eleven for the BBC. It was released in early February in the United Kingdom, before debuting in the United States on May 4 on Netflix. Soon after its debut, fans and critics alike weighed in, leading to the new release holding a Rotten Tomatoes score of 95%.
The BBC show isn’t the first time Lord of the Flies has been adapted for the screen. In 1963, British director Peter Brook led a cast of unknown performers in a critically acclaimed film that was listed as one of the top films of the year by the National Board of Review. In 1975, the Filipino release of Alkitrang Dugo served as a loose adaptation of the novel and went on to secure several award nominations in the Philippines.
Fifteen years later, Lord of the Flies was released in theaters by Castle Rock Entertainment. The American adaptation received mixed reviews from the critics of its era, and hasn’t fared much better in retrospect. Bringing in $13M over a $9M budget kept it from being a box office flop, but the short theatrical run and lower-than-expected ticket sales held it back from being a success.
You can stream the 2026 Lord of the Flies series with a subscription to Netflix.
By Chris Snellgrove
| Published
Most television spinoffs are, by definition, very similar to the original show. For example, Star Trek: The Next Generation gave us new characters and a new ship, but it still had all the fundamentals of The Original Series: an intrepid crew seeking out new life and exploring strange new worlds.
Meanwhile, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and the other countless spinoffs of Law & Order retain the original show’s killer combination of police investigative work and courtroom drama. The logic behind this is, of course, that you shouldn’t rock the boat too much with a new spinoff, and it should deliver the formulaic comfort food that audiences crave.
And then there’s Angel (1999), the spinoff of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. While the original show was about a happy-go-lucky group of young people fighting both external and internal demons, Angel was a grim neo-noir centered on a centuries-old vampire with a soul.
If that’s not bold enough, this show reinvented itself almost every season, keeping its most fervent fans on their toes. For this and many more reasons, this decades-old show remains the most ambitious spinoff in television history.
Angels and Demons
Angel was introduced in Season 1 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and he quickly became a fan-favorite character. Not only did audiences dig looking at hunky David Boreanaz, but they ate up the premise that he was a tortured vampire with a soul who inexplicably fell in love with a vampire slayer. Star-crossed lovers with a supernatural twist, the Buffy/Angel pairing would (for better or for worse) go on to inspire literature ranging from Twilight to A Court of Thrones and Roses. Sadly, their union wasn’t meant to be, and at the end of Buffy’s third season, Angel left Sunnydale to hang a shingle in Los Angeles.
He becomes a private detective seeking to “help the helpless,” and he is soon joined by Buffy’s former frenemy, Cordelia. The spinoff’s cast changes over time, introducing brand-new characters like Charles Gun and Winifred Burkle along with returning character (and former Watcher) Wesley Wyndham Price. While the faces and locations changed over time, one thing remained the same: Angel continued to expand everything we know about the beloved universe of Buffy. The final season completely changed things up, giving our heroes the keys to an evil law firm they hope to redeem with the help of Spike, who is inexplicably alive again after his heroic death in the final episode of Buffy.
New Enemies, New Allies
Ironically, Angel’s greatest strength is that it’s almost completely different from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Sure, there are some familiar elements, including colorful characters and quirky, Whedon-esque dialogue. But the show takes its tonal cues from its title character: while Buffy was as silly and quippy as its titular Slayer (Season 6 notwithstanding), Angel is as dark and brooding as its titular vampire.
Additionally, doing the right thing always comes at a price in Angel. Sure, your favorite characters save the city and save the world, but this often comes at the cost of their souls and even their lives.
While Buffy the Vampire Slayer notoriously has an ultra-depressing, ultra-edgy sixth season, Angel evenly spreads its existential despair throughout the entire series. That’s why the show isn’t for everyone: if you’re expecting something as bright, happy, and funny as Buffy, you’re going to be disappointed.
However, if your vampire tastes are a little darker (more like Nosferatu than Dracula: Dead and Loving It), you’ll likely appreciate this more mature take on supernatural storytelling. It helps, of course, if you’re a big fan of neo-noir. Even if you don’t care that much for the deep Buffyverse lore, you can enjoy the show for its episodic, mystery-of-the-week stories.
Call Your Friends And Watch It Together
Without giving too much away (seriously, you need to watch this show for yourself), part of what makes Angel unique in television history is its constant reinvention. There are multiple cast shake-ups, and the show goes from being a small-time detective procedural to morality play to family reunion to bonkers legal drama. This can admittedly be off-putting if you prefer static TV shows. Personally, I really enjoyed the fact that, quite literally, I had no idea where this show was going to go from its humble beginnings to its unhinged finale.
While the rest of the cast is great (I particularly enjoyed Alexis Denisof and the late, great Andy Hallett), Angel only works because of David Boreanaz. He has gone on to headline multiple successful shows, but Angel remains his best work. Boreanaz doesn’t have the most range as an actor, but he is pitch-perfect as a vampire with a soul: he broods with the best of them, he’s a convincing action star, and he has charisma to spare. He’s absolutely compelling in this role, and Angel remains proof that Boreanaz can be (with the right material) one of the most captivating leading actors in television.
Obviously, Angel isn’t for everyone, especially if you want something more in the vein of Buffy’s earlier seasons. But it remains the most ambitious spinoff in TV history, fleshing out the borders of this universe while stretching the boundaries of genre storytelling.
Fortunately, you don’t have to give up your soul to experience this show for yourself. Angel is currently streaming for free on Tubi, meaning you’re just one click away from watching the coolest, creepiest, and absolute craziest show on television. With this vampiric masterpiece, the storytelling stakes (pun full and bloody well intended) have never been higher!
Entertainment
Dua Lipa sues Samsung for $15 million for using her image to sell TVs without her consent
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/Dua-Lipa_BRIT-Awards-051026-0aa6f509cc1d4afd8f15a986f145d130.jpg)
The singer, whose face has been featured prominently on packaging for the products, has accused the company of profiting from an endorsement she hasn’t given.
Us Weekly has affiliate partnerships. We receive compensation when you click on a link and make a purchase. Learn more!
Florals are cute, but nothing screams ‘Hamptons rich mom’ like gingham print. Whether you’re running errands, grabbing brunch or working at the office, gingham instantly elevates your aesthetic. Many gingham-print pieces cost hundreds, but we found a secret hub with picks starting at just $5.
Equally sleek and playful, these classy blouses, dresses, pants and skirts look much more expensive than they are, and it doesn’t matter how you style them. Our favorites add character to any outfit, including the basics you already have in your closet. Read on to find your new go-to spring-to-summer pieces!
13 Gingham-Print Pieces to Nail the Trend — From $5
Gingham-Print Blouses
1. Pretty Peplum: With a classic peplum shape, this puff-sleeve blouse has a naturally flattering silhouette for every figure. The sleeves add soft drama.
2. Fun Flutter: Sleeveless tops make you feel exposed, but full sleeves run hot. This flutter-sleeve number hits the sweet spot, covering the upper arms and leaving the rest bare.
3. Square-Neck Stunner: This square-neck blouse gives your wardrobe a different shape to work with, and it does so while highlighting your collarbone. Yellow is optional, but not really!
4. Office-Friendly: Bell sleeves and a crisp collar take this button-front shirt beyond basic. The structured fabric holds its shape through long meetings.
5. Trendy Queen: Toss this beachy blouse in your vacation tote and you’ve got a poolside cover-up and dinner top in one. It’s $5 well spent.
Take one trip to the Hamptons and it becomes clear: Lilly Pulitzer dresses are part of the rich mom summer uniform. If you want the look without the triple-digit price tag, these 17 Lilly Pulitzer-style dresses deliver the same billowy silhouettes, preppy details and eye-catching color palettes, yet start at just $8. You’ll look like […]
Gingham-Print Dresses
6. Classy Act: Maxi dresses often need shapewear, but this slimming smocked maxi does the work for you. It cinches the waist while skimming everywhere else.
7. Rich Mom: Channel country club energy in this collared midi dress that screams ‘East Coast money.’ It takes you from the beach to brunch without a wardrobe change.
8. Center of Attention: Picture this flouncy maxi dress at a vineyard or rehearsal dinner. People will think you dropped hundreds, but no, just $33 on Amazon.
9. Sporty-Chic: Pair this long-sleeve mini dress with white sneakers for errands or chunky sandals for weekend shopping. You’ll look like a Pilates mom either way.
Gingham-Print Pants and Skirts
10. Bye, Jeans: Jeans have no place in a warm-weather wardrobe. These billowy wide-leg pants are the secret to staying cool, delivering airflow and a put-together look at once.
11. Frills and Fuss: 100% cotton fabric and an elastic waist make these ruffle-hem pants incredibly comfortable. The frilly hems add a flirty finish.
12. Boutique Find: Pair this A-line gingham skirt with a tucked white shirt for the office or a basic tee for date night. The utility pockets make it look like a pricey boutique find.
13. Wardrobe Staple: These classic gingham pants feature a smocked waist that stretches while still defining your middle. You’ll reach for them at least twice a week.
Stiff trousers had their time in the sun, but the office dress code is finally shifting. Corporate queens are ditching tight trousers for loose, flowy jumpsuits that deliver all of the polish with none of the squeeze. Better yet, our favorites start at just $13 on Amazon! The chic jumpsuits we found take the decision […]
What was supposed to be a once-in-a-lifetime cruise quickly turned into an international health scare after concerns surrounding the Hantavirus. All we know is that it left passengers stranded at sea and sparked a massive multi-country emergency response. Now, after days of uncertainty and growing fear onboard, travelers are finally beginning to leave the ship.
RELATED: Hantavirus Cruise Deaths Spark Fear As Officials Push Back On Panic & The Internet Has Flashbacks
Deadly Hantavirus Outbreak Linked To Cruise Ship Arrives In Spain
The Dutch-flagged cruise ship MV Hondius reportedly arrived in Spain’s Canary Islands early Sunday morning following a deadly hantavirus outbreak linked to the vessel. Health officials confirmed at least nine suspected or confirmed cases connected to the spread, including three deaths involving a Dutch couple and a German woman. Despite the alarming situation, authorities said no additional passengers currently onboard were showing symptoms as evacuation efforts officially began.
Passengers Evacuate As Officials Urge Public Not To Panic
According to Oceanwide Expeditions, the ship is carrying nearly 150 passengers from more than 15 countries, including 17 Americans. Officials launched a carefully coordinated evacuation plan using small launch boats before transporting passengers directly from buses to flights out of Tenerife. American passengers are expected to return to the U.S. aboard a specialized medical repatriation flight coordinated by the CDC and Department of Health and Human Services before entering quarantine in Nebraska for monitoring.
Health experts have stressed that the public should not panic, with both the World Health Organization and CDC emphasizing that the risk of widespread transmission remains low. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesusstated that this outbreak is “not another COVID.” He further explained that hantavirus typically spreads through contact with infected rodents and that human-to-human transmission is considered extremely rare. Officials believe the outbreak may trace back to a Dutch couple. They reportedly traveled through parts of South America on a bird-watching trip before boarding the cruise in Argentina.
Health Agencies Investigate Cruise Ship Virus Outbreak
As investigations continue, more details have emerged about the terrifying timeline onboard the ship. Several passengers reportedly became seriously ill during the voyage. Furthermore, multiple emergency medical evacuations took place across different countries as the cruise continued its route through remote South Atlantic islands. The outbreak has now triggered international coordination involving the WHO, CDC, and several health agencies. Ultimately, authorities are working to determine exactly how the virus spread aboard the vessel.
RELATED: Disney Cruise Staffers Among 28 Detained In Child Exploitation Investigation Amid Federal Probe (PHOTO + VIDEO)
What Do You Think Roomies?
After Marshals revealed that Monica died off screen, another Yellowstone OG addressed if they are worried about their own character getting killed off.
Gil Birmingham weighed in on Yellowstone fans being worried about his character’s injury in the Marshals premiere, exclusively joking to Us Weekly, “I’m going to make sure they put that in my contract [that Thomas Rainwater can’t get hurt].”
Birmingham recalled how “dramatic” the reveal about Rainwater was.
“It still makes me laugh when people think I got shot,” he noted. “I took on shrapnel from the explosion.”
Yellowstone‘s spinoff Marshals killed off Kelsey Asbille‘s character Monica, but what was the reason for her onscreen death? The Sunday, March 1, episode of Luke Grimes‘ new CBS show revealed that Kayce Dutton’s wife previously died after she got cancer as a result of toxins dumped onto the Broken Rock reservation. Amid a strong reaction […]
Despite Rainwater surviving the accident, the moment was meant to set the scene for something bigger, with Birmingham explaining, “What we’re letting the audience know is that the responsibility of Rainwater now has increased to the point where he’s now a target exactly where John Dutton was.”
He continued: “So anybody that’s going to be a hindrance in terms of these outside forces that want to come in and utilize extract resources — be they people or minerals. That’s the politics and that’s the violence of the West. I’m glad I survived but it’s a new story line for Rainwater.”
The actor was interested in seeing how showrunner Spencer Hudnut evolved the stories introduced in Yellowstone.
“Spencer is entering — in terms of the Native communities — as not quite as familiar with it as Taylor [Sheridan] was. He didn’t live on the reservation with the Native community when he was younger like Taylor did. So kudos to him,” Birmingham said. “It’s a realistic portrayal too. There is a lost and there’s a lot of grief on our reservation and some of these things are very much tied into toxins that are being allowed to be dumped on to the reservation.”
Birmingham recalled being “crushed” when he found out that Monica was dead in the spinoff, adding, “At the same time, these things really hit you in the heart and they’re real things in real life.”
Paramount Network’s Yellowstone, which aired from 2018 to 2024, introduced Us to Kayce (Luke Grimes) and Monica (Kelsey Asbille), who remained at the center of the show until the finale. After teaching at a local school on the Broken Rock Indian Reservation, Monica went on to become a professor at Montana State University while navigating life with Kayce, who moved them back to the Yellowstone Ranch following his past tension with dad John (Kevin Costner).
Following John’s death, Kayce, a former U.S. Navy SEAL, became the new owner and operator of the Yellowstone Ranch. Kayce and Monica ended the show alive — and were still together — before Marshals began.
When the series premiered in March, fans were shocked to learn that Monica died after battling cancer.
“Kayce really needed — not that it wouldn’t have been great to have Monica back — but it kind of isolated him more akin to what his father was. He’s a single father trying to raise his family,” Birmingham said. “The kind of emotional trauma that must have been there for Kayce sets up not knowing what his purpose in life is. It was a great setup for going down that trail of how Kayce is going to redeem himself or find purpose in his life, which very much allows the integration of Rainwater and Mo.”
Birmingham also told Us about how Marshals has attempted to platform the Native community, saying, “It’s a delicate balance to run because we don’t want to be a show of messages. We really want to engage an audience and we want to entertain.”
He concluded: “But let’s use the opportunity to educate so it’s being handled so respectfully and honorably. Mo [Brings Plenty] is the Native consultant and he really has a hand in guiding it that way. He brings in his brother Joe as well. It’s important that we portray the importance of what traditional grievance is for us and how we honor those that have passed on.”
Marshals airs on CBS Sundays at 8 p.m. ET.
Entertainment
‘The Office’ Meets ‘The Sopranos’ in Hulu’s Hidden Gem Returning for Season 2 on May 28
Hulu has numerous hit comedy shows, whether they’re originals like Only Murders in the Building or co-productions with FX like The Bear. A successful Hulu show is usually part of the awards conversations, and as the streamer anticipates the next major hit in Mindy Kaling‘s Not Suitable for Work, a different sleeper hit with a 96% Rotten Tomatoes score is set to return in less than three weeks. The dramedy premiered in 2025, and while it did not reach the heights of shows like The Bear, it still drew enough viewership to warrant a second season, which premieres on May 28.
The series is a workplace comedy like The Office, but no one is pushing paper here; they’re pushing hard drugs. It centers on an Indian family, the Dars, whose sons, Mir (Asif Ali) and Raj (Sagar Shaikh), inherit the business after the patriarch dies. However, they never knew what their father did, thinking he was another American success story with his deli chain. It turns out it was more of a Sopranos situation, as the delis were a front for a major drug organization. Two polar opposites, Mir and Raj find themselves entangled in the business under the guidance of their father’s sister, Lucky Auntie (Poorna Jagannathan).
In Deli Boys Season 2, Mir and Raj are facing a different kind of problem. They have the criminal lifestyle nailed, but like many drug dealers, they find themselves with a money problem — too much of it. This makes them targets of other criminals and the U.S. law enforcement apparatus. However, they might have a solution in Max Sugar (Fred Amisen), a seasoned casino owner who also launders money. Oh, and Lucky Auntie has a crush on him, which makes their situationship incredibly complicated. Meanwhile, Raj and Mir have different aspirations in the business, but they are not the only ones. Andrew Rannells appears this season as DA Andrew Chadwater, who hopes to build his mayoral career on a major drug bust. Bringing down the Dars would grant him a landslide victory.
Who Is Behind ‘Deli Boys?’
The series was created by Abdullah Saeed, with Michelle Nader serving as showrunner. Deli Boys was developed by Jenni Konner and Nora Silver. Ali, Shaikh, and Jagannathan lead a cast that also includes Alfie Fuller, Amit Rao, Brian George, and more. This season features new faces, including guest-star appearances by Kumail Nanjiani (Danyal), Lily Singh (Aisha), and Robin Thede (Dr. Iverson). Season 1 guest star and Queer Eye icon Tan France will also return as Zubair.
Watch the first season of Deli Boys on Hulu in the U.S. before the new season on May 28. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
- Release Date
-
March 6, 2025
- Network
-
Hulu
- Writers
-
Michelle Nader
Euphoria‘s long-awaited return has been met with major backlash due to numerous explicit — and controversial — scenes.
The HBO series, which premiered in 2019, has always been known to push boundaries while following teenager Rue’s (Zendaya) attempt to remain sober after struggling with addiction.
While the first two seasons were set in high school, Euphoria ultimately introduced a time jump, allowing season 3 to check in on the main characters as adults. But just because everyone got older didn’t mean they were making better decisions — with season 3 introducing topics such as drug smuggling, sexual assault and more dangerous situations.
Viewers, meanwhile, have blasted the show for pushing boundaries episode to episode with racy — and sometimes triggering — moments. Creator Sam Levinson has stood by his vision for the show despite possible offscreen criticism.
Euphoria fans have watched the cast change on and off screen since the series first debuted. Based on the Israeli series of the same name, Euphoria follows troubled high school student Rue (Zendaya) as she struggled to remain sober after rehab. The series also explores topics including mental illness, toxic relationships, sexuality and more. After […]
“We have a motto of: Evolve or die,” he told The Hollywood Reporter in April. “We wanted to make sure we were changing things up.”
He continued: “We’re seeing them out in the world, in the wider world, and allowing the actors to communicate emotionally through the performance as opposed to in the past, when we did it moreso through camera. We wanted to see them fending for themselves.”
Keep scrolling for a guide to every controversial season 3 scene that wasn’t received well:
The Drug Smuggling Scenes
In the season 3 premiere, Rue was reintroduced after a five-year time jump, which showed her new life as a drug mule. A scene minutes into the premiere depicted Rue and Faye (Chloe Cherry) using lube to swallow large quantities of balloons filled with drugs.
They then had to smuggle the balloons from Mexico to the United States without getting caught. Rue made it home just in time to poop out the balloons, but Faye had “an accident” and feces were seen running down her leg before a dog tried to lick some of it off.
Cassie’s OnlyFans Arc
Many viewers weren’t thrilled by Cassie’s entire arc being an attempt to find success on OnlyFans with sexual photoshoots. From topless photos to pretending to be a baby or a dog, Sydney Sweeney’s scenes verged too close to cringe for some. OnlyFans creators, meanwhile, weren’t thrilled with how their line of work was portrayed on screen.
The Nazi Memorabilia
While Faye’s love interest Wayne (Toby Wallace) wasn’t meant to be a good guy, the numerous Nazi flags and memorabilia featured in his scenes threw viewers off.
Anna Van Patten’s Introduction as Kitty
After joining the strip club as a new dancer, Euphoria pushed Kitty’s story line along by having Rue watch her have sex with multiple men in a graphic group sex scene. While Kitty agreed to the arrangement, she had to take ketamine beforehand and was visibly shaken up after the sexual encounter, which hinted at her being painfully penetrated with a champagne bottle as well.
Whew, Roomies! Bhad Bhabie wasted no time clapping back after trolls accused her of changing her appearance over the years to look Black. She dropped a series of messages on social media after resurfaced photos compared her teenage looks to her current appearance.
RELATED: Bhad Bhabie Shares Message Setting The Record STRAIGHT On Her Recent Surgeries & Weight Gain Amid Her Cancer Treatment
Bhad Bhabie Addresses Criticism About Changing Her Appearance
In a series of now-deleted posts, Bhad Bhabie addressed criticism about her looks after photos started circulating comparing her teenage appearance to how she looks now in her 20s. The rapper said she was tired of people expecting her to still look the same as she did back then, now that she’s grown. She said she matured and explained that her red ponytail era came from her management at the time. Still, she kept it real and said she only got a little lip filler over the years and went outside to get some vitamin D.
“Y’all weird. All I did was grow up, change my hair color, sit in the sun instead of spending all day inside and get a syringe of lip filler like who the f**k else didn’t???” Bhabie wrote.
Bhad Bhabie Shuts Down Claims About Wanting To Look Different
Bhabie’s clap back didn’t stop there. She made it clear that she never altered her appearance to try to look like another race. She admitted that she’s tired of folks accusing her of trying to look Black when that was never the case. Bhabie said she thinks people constantly categorize things by race and assume certain looks or styles belong to one culture.
“I never a day in my life said I wanted to be any other race but the race that I am. She continued, “It is a mental illness to think you can magically know what someone else wants for themselves especially when they’ve never said that and they have denied it but you keep forcing it on them and that is sick.”
Here’s What Bhad Bhabie Previously Said About Her Surgeries & New Look
As TSR previously reported, Bhabie addressed changes in her appearance after an Instagram user said they were confused about why folks think she got a BBL. Bhabie peeped the comment and set the record straight about her recent procedures. She told the IG user she actually gained weight and had doctors fill her hips dips. She also made it clear she didn’t go into surgery without a derriere, she already had the same body type she has now, she just made a few adjustments.
“@sgt1stclassgrover this is false. I’ve been rich since 13. I had to get a** shots bc I didn’t have enough weight for a bbl. I got my a** shots removed then I had medication to gain weight and got lipo and fat transfer . I grew my a** myself I only had my hip dips filled and some added to the side profile area for side projection. I already posted the pictures of me before surgery. I didn’t go into surgery with a flat a**. My abdominal muscle detached from the rapid weight gain and since I had a baby I gained more around my midsection then i usually do when I gain weight naturally. The muscle issue was causing me to look pregnant so I had to get that fixed as well as the hernia on my belly button that had been there since I had Kali. I didn’t go into surgery with a muffin top and a flat a**. I already had the same body type that I do now that explains why my legs match my a**. I just made a few adjustments to please myself. That’s all,” she wrote.
RELATED: Hol’ Up! Social Media Continues To Speculate Whether Bhad Bhabie Underwent Surgery Amid Her Apparent Weight Gain (PHOTOS)
What Do You Think Roomies?
NewsBeat12 seconds ago
Pensioner confronts ‘tooled-up’ youth threatening tourist in Edinburgh
Business1 minute ago
Polen International Growth Q1 2026 Portfolio Activity
Entertainment2 minutes ago
The Best Modern Sci-Fi Series Is Now Free To Stream
NewsBeat2 months ago
Manchester United reach agreement with Casemiro over contract clause amid transfer speculation
Politics4 weeks ago
US brings back mandatory military draft registration
NewsBeat1 month ago
Steven Gerrard disagrees with Gary Neville over ‘shock’ Chelsea and Arsenal claim | Football
-
Crypto World2 days agoHarrisX Poll Found 52% of Registered Voters Support the CLARITY Act
-
Crypto World3 days agoUpbit adds B3 Korean won pair as Base token gains Korea access
-
Fashion2 days agoWeekend Open Thread: Marianne Dress
-
Tech6 days agoImage AI models now drive app growth, beating chatbot upgrades
-
NewsBeat3 days agoNCP car park operator enters administration putting 340 UK sites at risk of closure
-
Business1 day agoIgnore market noise, India’s long-term story intact, say D-Street bulls Ramesh Damani and Sunil Singhania
-
Politics1 day agoPolitics Home Article | Starmer Enters The Danger Zone
-
Crypto World7 days agoBlackRock Buys $284M In Bitcoin On May 1 As The Best Crypto To Invest In For 2026 Sits Below A Pending Binance Listing
-
Entertainment7 days agoOlivia Wilde Reacts To Viral ‘Corpse’ Comparison
-
Sports7 days agoInter Milan Win Serie A Title After Victory Over Parma
-
Sports7 days agoLa Liga: Vinicius Jr scores twice as Real Madrid win to keep Barcelona waiting for title
-
Sports7 days agoEvery word of Arne Slot’s heated rant after Manchester United win vs Liverpool
-
Crypto World5 days agoUAE Free Zone Deploys Blockchain IDs to Verify Registered Firms
-
Entertainment7 days agoOther Bennet Sister Love Triangle Cast: Ella Bruccoleri, Donal Finn
-
Sports7 days agoJoel Embiid urges Sixers fans not to sell playoff tickets to Knicks fans
-
Sports6 days ago2026 NHL playoff picks: Second-round predictions, series odds, Stanley Cup bracket
-
Entertainment7 days ago
Jennifer Lawrence’s Mary Jane Sneakers Are Spring’s It-Girl Shoe
-
Entertainment7 days agoMoroccan Reacts To Nick Cannon’s Dating Rules For His Sister
-
Entertainment7 days ago
Kylie Jenner and Timothee Chalamet Hold Hands in NYC Outing
-
Crypto World4 days agoBlackRock CEO Larry Fink Discusses a New Asset Class
You must be logged in to post a comment Login