We love any opportunity to temporarily leave our reality and escape to places beyond our own. It’s why we adore fantasy stories. Many of our favorite tales started on the page before finding a home on the screen. And some new books are so good, we know that day is inevitably arriving. To celebrate the year in fantasy across all media, we have picked 10 titles that you must read this year. Why? A plethora of reasons!
The titles on this list reflect new books that have made waves in the literary world and books that have been adapted into films and series. The new titles are a range of brilliant tales from extraordinary storytellers that deserve to be on your reading list. The novels range from epic classics by Homer to modern classics by Alice Hoffman, all of whom have found their works coming to a screen near you. Reading them will not only prepare you for the adaptation, but it’ll also give you a different perspective when you watch.
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‘Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter’ by Heather Fawcett
The book cover for ‘Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter’ by Heather Fawcett.Image via Penguin Random House
Some people believe that low-stakes, cozy stories aren’t worthy of praise. If that’s the case, you certainly have yet to read Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter by Heather Fawcett. In this 2026 book set in 1920s Montreal, Agnes Aubert, an organized, type-A cat-rescue manager, uses her daily lists to cope with grief after losing her husband. She is forced to move her shelter into an affordable building, only to discover her landlord, Havelock Renard — a disorganized, charmingly grumpy, notorious former Dark Lord — is running an illicit magic shop in his basement lair. As enemies from Havelock’s shadowy past resurface, putting both the magical artifacts and the rescue cats in grave danger, Agnes must team up with him to save her cats from looming threats. And yes, the potential of romance looms along the way. Fawcett’s story has everything and more, giving you a delightful reading experience.
Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter is a truly charming book. Fawcett succeeds through her blend of a heartwarming cat rescue, witty banter, and a delightful grumpy-meets-sunshine romance between an unlikely duo. Fawcett crafts a whimsical atmosphere where her characters roam freely. The early 20th-century Montreal setting is filled with potential for magic, artifacts, and more. If you’re a cat person, you’ll adore the fun feline scene-stealers, including His Majesty and Banshee. Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter marries lighthearted magical shenanigans with a comforting, emotional center about healing and second chances. You can’t help but imagine how this cozy story could one day translate to a live-action adaptation.
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‘Death of the Author’ by Nnedi Okorafor
The book cover for ‘Death of the Author’ by Nnedi Okorafor.Image via William Morrow
Striking a balance of fantasy and science fiction comes Nnedi Okorafor’s award-winning book, Death of the Author. The book tells the story of Zelu, a disabled Nigerian-American writer in Chicago who gets fired from her teaching job and writes a breakout sci-fi novel called Rusted Robots about a post-human future that becomes a massive blockbuster and movie. Zelu struggles to maintain ownership of her identity and work as a fickle public, media outlets, and an intense fandom consume her life. Meanwhile, she accepts an experimental exoskeleton from an MIT scientist that lets her walk, sparking debate and friction with her judgmental family and disability activists. The metafictional story explores the chaotic nature of sudden fame, disability, family expectations, and how an artist’s identity intertwines with their creation.
Okorafor’s latest is another example of an Africanfuturist masterpiece. It cleverly blends messy human drama with a fantastical post-apocalyptic sci-fi story about robots. Death of the Author serves as a book-within-a-book. It is interspersed with chapters that tell the story of Rusted Robots, tracking machine factions — Humes and NoBodies — and the last human, Ngozi, whose fate eventually mirrors the real-life struggles of Zelu. Okorafor’s twists and turns brilliantly blur the line between reality and fiction. This year, the book was awarded the Locus Award and the NAACP Image Award. Now, she awaits the results of the highly anticipated Hugo Award. If that’s not a good reason to read it this year, I don’t know what is!
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‘Sunrise on the Reaping’ by Suzanne Collins
Image via Scholastic Corporation
One of the most highly anticipated films of the year is The Hunger Games prequel Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins. Concluding the massive media franchise, the adaptation lifts Collins’ gripping dystopian thriller, set about 24 years before the events of the first novel. The story centers on the 50th annual Hunger Games, the Second Quarter Quell, following a 16-year-old Haymitch Abernathy from District 12 as he is forced into the brutal arena where double the usual number of tributes compete. The novel depicts how a totalitarian government uses the media, narrative control, and public spectacle to manipulate society while providing a raw look at how political systems exploit and destroy the lives of the young and powerless.
Sunrise on the Reaping wonderfully highlights the early, dangerous sparks of defiance against tyranny in Panem, building Collins’ world even further. It answers long-held fan questions by exploring Haymitch Abernathy’s tragic past while deepening the themes that made the original trilogy so profound. The book holds emotional weight by putting Haymitch through devastating trials, making his later survival and trauma feel earned and deeply tragic. Whether you’re a loyal reader of Collins’ series or not, adding Sunrise on the Reaping to the reading list is perfect before the November 20th cinema debut. It will offer you the chance to spot book-only details as you watch the action unfold. The film, directed by Francis Lawrence, stars Joseph ZadaasHaymitch and Mckenna Grace as Maysilee Donner, as well as Jesse Plemons, Elle Fanning, Kieran Culkin, and Ralph Fiennes as younger versions of Plutarch Heavensbee, Effie Trinket, Caesar Flickman, and President Coriolanus Snow, respectively.
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Collider Exclusive · Game of Thrones Personality Quiz Which Game of Thrones House Do You Belong To? Stark · Lannister · Targaryen · Baratheon · Tyrell
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Five great houses. Five completely different answers to the same question: how do you hold power in a world that will take it from you the moment you stop paying attention? Eight questions will determine where your loyalties — and your nature — truly lie.
🐺Stark
🦁Lannister
🐉Targaryen
🦌Baratheon
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🌹Tyrell
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Someone powerful is acting dishonourably and everyone knows it. What do you do? In Westeros, the answer to this question has ended more than one great house.
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What is the source of your power? Every house endures because of something. What is it for yours?
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Who do you truly fight for? Strip away the banners and the words. The honest answer tells you everything.
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How do you deal with your enemies? A house’s method reveals its character as clearly as its words ever could.
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What kind of ruler do you believe in? Westeros is full of answers to this question. Most of them end badly.
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You suffer a devastating loss. How does your house respond? How a house handles defeat tells you more about it than how it handles victory.
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Which of these truths about Westeros do you most believe? Every house has a philosophy. This is yours.
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The Iron Throne is within reach. What do you do? The answer reveals not just your ambition — but your character.
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The Maester Has Spoken Your House Is…
Your answers point to the great house whose words, values, and way of surviving in Westeros match your own. Bend the knee — or don’t. That’s very much up to you.
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Winterfell · The North
🐺 House Stark
Winter is Coming — and you have always known it. You prepare not out of fear but out of duty, because the people who depend on you deserve someone who takes the long view.
You lead with honour even when it costs you, because you understand that a reputation built on integrity is the only one worth having.
Your loyalty to family and people runs deep — not as sentiment but as a code that doesn’t bend when things get difficult.
The North endures because Starks endure — not by being the cleverest players in the game, but by being the kind of people others are willing to follow into the cold.
You are that kind of person. The pack survives. The lone wolf dies. You already know which one you are.
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Casterly Rock · The Westerlands
🦁 House Lannister
You understand the game — its rules, its exceptions, and exactly when the rules become the exception. You play it without illusions and without apology.
You are sharper than most people realise, and you have learned to use that gap to your advantage.
A Lannister always pays their debts — and you always keep your word, because your word is an instrument of power, and instruments must be kept in working order.
You love your family with a ferocity that sometimes blinds you, and you know it, and you do it anyway.
The lion doesn’t concern itself with the opinion of sheep. Neither, in the end, do you.
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Dragonstone · The Iron Throne
🐉 House Targaryen
You carry a sense of destiny that is difficult to explain and impossible to ignore — the feeling that you are not simply participating in the world but meant to reshape it.
You are capable of extraordinary things, and you know it, and that knowledge is both your greatest strength and your most dangerous quality.
Fire and blood are not just words to you — they are a philosophy about what change requires and what it costs.
The Targaryens at their best were transformative rulers who broke chains and defied the limits of what anyone thought possible.
At your best, so are you. The dragon has three heads. You are one of them.
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Storm’s End · The Stormlands
🦌 House Baratheon
You are a force — direct, powerful, and difficult to ignore when you enter a room or a conflict. You do not negotiate with challenges. You meet them.
Ours is the fury — and yours is a kind of intensity that commands attention, respect, and occasionally fear from those who underestimate what’s behind it.
You value strength and straight dealing. You’d rather know where you stand in a fight than navigate a web of courtly whispers.
The Baratheons built their house on the back of one of the greatest military victories in Westerosi history — and then struggled with what came after.
The lesson of your house is that winning is not the end of the story. Governing is. You are learning that too.
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Highgarden · The Reach
🌹 House Tyrell
You understand that power does not always announce itself — that sometimes it arrives with flowers, good wine, and a smile that doesn’t quite reach the eyes.
Growing strong is your house’s motto, and you live it: patiently, strategically, always investing in the relationships and resources that will matter most when it counts.
You are charming by choice and calculating by nature — a combination that makes you one of the most effective players in any room you enter.
The Tyrells fed King’s Landing and shaped its politics without ever sitting on the Iron Throne — and they were arguably more powerful for it.
You know that the person who controls the food controls the kingdom. And you always know where the food is.
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‘Tales of Dunk and Egg’ by George R.R. Martin
The book cover for ‘Three Tales of Dunk & Egg’ by George R.R. Martin.Image via Radom House
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It’s been quite a few years since the end of Game of Thrones, but the series has lived on in our hearts and on screen. For the first time ever, the calendar year of 2026 featured not one but two Game of Thrones spin-offs, and it all kicked off with A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. The hit series is based on George R.R. Martin’s novellas Tales of Dunk and Egg, a collection of novellas set in Westeros about 90 years before A Game of Thrones. It follows Ser Duncan the Tall, known as Dunk, a kind and towering hedge knight, and his young bald squire, Egg, who is secretly Prince Aegon Targaryen in disguise. The stories follow the pair as they travel across the Seven Kingdoms, taking odd jobs, entering local tournaments, and protecting common folk. Compared to the massive political scale of A Song of Ice and Fire, these tales are more personal, focusing on friendship, chivalry, and the daily struggles of ordinary people in Westeros.
The draw into the series is the brilliant bond between a towering, lowborn knight and a royal prince hiding his identity. Their connection drives the story, serving as the beating heart. For those diehard fans of Martin’s flagship series, Tales of Dunk and Egg provides a wealth of Westeros history as told through a different perspective. It’s through these tales that Martin offers a closer look at the Targaryen dynasty during a time of peace before their final decline. Martin has written big and bold characters; here, it’s all about the banter. Dunk and Egg’s constant bickering and mutual respect bring genuine heart and humor to the page. It’s the ultimate buddy story Westeros has ever known. The HBO series is everything you could dream of and more. Peter Claffey and Dexter Sol Ansell do a steadfast job of bringing the iconic characters to life, with the former providing the charm that makes you believe in hope in Westeros. The first season of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms covered The Hedge Knight, so reading ahead lets you explore The Sworn Sword before Season 2 drops.
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‘The Book of Magic’ by Alice Hoffman
The book cover for ‘The Book of Magic’ by Alice Hoffman.’Image via Simon & Schuster
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Practical Magic defined the fantasy genre in the ’90s. And now, 28 years later, fans of the Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman film are rejoicing as the sequel is set for this fall. The film is based on Alice Hoffman’s 2021 novel The Book of Magic. The final book in the spellbinding Practical Magic series follows three generations of Owens women as they use their unusual magical gifts to try and finally break a 300-year-old family curse that causes anyone an Owens loves to die. Aunt Jet Owens foresees her own death in seven days, signaling that the family love curse is actively targeting them. When a young man falls into a coma after a confession of love, teenager Kylie Owens takes up the search for a hidden magical grimoire. The Owens family and a long-lost brother travel across Paris, London, and the English countryside, where their ancestor Maria Owens first practiced magic, to seek a way to lift the spell. A wonderful celebration of love between mothers, daughters, sisters, and brothers, The Book of Magic examines how true love requires profound sacrifice and how family history echoes through generations.
The Book of Magic is a wonderfully satisfying piece. Hoffman employs lyrical prose that evokes the spirit of the series. Hoffman’s signature magical realism creates a cozy, bewitching world that pulls readers right into the emotion of the moment. The high-stakes plot digs deep into the roots of the family’s witchcraft and the secrets hidden by older generations. It’s then a story of fate as Hoffman presents the characters with a decision about how far they will go to change their destiny and protect each other. The Book of Magic thoughtfully explores how to face grief and make every day count when time is short. Though this book marks the end of a series, Hoffman’s world extends into Practical Magic 2. In addition to Bullock and Kidman returning, they’ll be joined once again by Dianne Wiest and Stockard Channing, as well as newcomers Joey King as Kylie, Maisie Williams as Antonia, and Lee Pace as Ian Wright. The film is destined to tie together all the shimmering narrative threads from the entire Practical Magic universe.
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‘The Faraway Tree’ by Enid Blyton
The book cover for ‘The Magic Faraway Tree’ by Enid Blyton.Image via Newnes
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Though it may be meant for a target demographic, there’s no reason not to revisit Enid Blyton’s beloved children’s book The Faraway Tree series as a whimsical companion to the recent film, coming to the United States this August. Comprised of a quartet of books, Blyton tells the story of Joe, Beth, and Frannie, three children who move to the country and discover an enchanted wood containing a giant, magical tree. At the top of the tree are changing magical lands that lead the children and their quirky tree-friends on exciting and dangerous adventures. As a new, different magical land appears at the very top of the tree every week, the children climb up to explore these strange worlds, often having to escape before the cloud moves on and traps them. A series that helped to ignite young imaginations, The Faraway Tree series provides pure joy.
In a highly stressful time in the world, The Faraway Tree offers a low-stakes, enjoyable reading experience. The stories focus on the joy of discovery rather than heavy danger. Blyton offers a wonderful escape into a world only our mind can concoct. She allows you to experience ever-changing magical worlds at the top of the tree, connect with quirky friends like Moonface and Silky, and enjoy a nostalgic, screen-free adventure that complements the major live-action film adaptation. Directed by Ben Gregor from a screenplay written by Simon Farnaby, the 2026 film The Magic Faraway Tree features a star-studded ensemble, including Andrew Garfield, Claire Foy, Nicola Coughlin, Jennifer Saunders, Jessica Gunning, Rebecca Ferguson, Michael Palin, Simon Russell Beale, and Judi Dench.
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‘The Lord of the Rings’ by J.R.R. Tolkien
The book cover for ‘The Lord of the Rings’ by J.R.R. Tolkien.Image via Allen & Unwin
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One of the most beloved fantasy series of all time is The Lord of the Rings. After Peter Jackson dreamed up the perfect adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s sweeping epic, devoted fans always wished for more. It came in the Prime Video dark fantasy series The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. The series chronicles the rise of the Dark Lord Sauron, the creation of the magic rings, and the history of Middle-earth thousands of years before The Hobbit. But where does the series pull from? It is based on the history of Middle-earth, primarily material from the appendices of the novel. So, now’s the best time to go back and fully engulf yourself in the Tolkien classic. While Tolkien’s posthumous book The Silmarillion covers the era in detail, Amazon acquired the rights specifically for The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, including its extensive appendices. As a result, the showrunners use the historical summaries, lore notes, and timelines found in the appendices as the foundation for the series.
The series draws from Tolkien’s exploration of Middle-earth’s Second Age. Because the appendices provide more of an outline than a traditional narrative novel, this read is more of a textual study of the greater myths and lore that serves as a companion to the book you already adore. No matter how deep you go into The Lord of the Rings, the novel is ripe for those with active imaginations. Tolkien forces you to paint the landscapes and creatures in your own mind, creating a deeper personal bond with the story than any film can provide. Though Jackson certainly rivals that sentiment. The Lord of the Rings remains a timeless tale because the themes help us look at our own mundane world with fresh, unclouded eyes. If you’re caught up on The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, then prepare yourself for a time jump, as Season 3 will take viewers into the height of the War of the Elves and Sauron.
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‘The Odyssey’ by Homer
The book cover for ‘The Odyssey’ by Homer.Image via Penguin Classics
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Unless you’ve been living under a rock, stranded on a mythical isle, or stuck inside a Trojan horse, chances are you have been inundated by the summer blockbuster epic The Odyssey. While Christopher Nolan is a visionary genius, this is one story that didn’t come from his brain. In fact, you likely had to read it at some point in your schooling. Homer’s epic poem depicts Odysseus, king of Ithaca, and his 10-year journey home after the Trojan War. It covers his perils at sea, his son Telemachus’s search for news of him, and his wife Penelope’s struggle against rowdy suitors. Filled with magic and mystery, true grit and determination, it is a journey you must read to believe. Written nearly 2,700 years ago, The Odyssey has served as the basis of many modern stories and archetypes, so it’s important to learn the root of the epic.
The Odyssey combines a thrilling, creature-filled adventure with a deeply moving story about a person trying to get back home. With a plethora of foes, including a one-eyed Cyclops, magical witches, and dangerous sea sirens, you’re left on the edge of your seat with fast pacing, narrow escapes, and high stakes. Odysseus is a relatable hero. He makes mistakes and lets his ego get the better of him, making him feel real and flawed rather than perfect. And yet, his great desire to return to family and safety depicts how people deal with suffering, temptation, and making mistakes. With many easy-to-read adaptations, The Odyssey is quite accessible and perfect to compare and contrast with the Hollywood masterpiece. Reading Homer’s story is a great opportunity to see the changes Nolan implemented to make his piece resonate more with a modern audience.
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‘The Pendragon Cycle’ by Stephen R. Lawhead
The book cover for ‘Pendragon’ by Stephen R. Lawhead.Image via Baen Books
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There’s no better time than now to read Stephen Lawhead’s seven-novel series, The Pendragon Cycle. The epic historical fantasy book series retells the Arthurian legend. Through each novel, Lawhead blends myth, history, and Christian themes, following the fall of Rome in Britain, the destruction of Atlantis, and the rise of King Arthur. The series begins with Princess Charis escaping the destruction of Atlantis and her romance with the British bard Taliesin, laying the mythological groundwork. It then centers on Myrddin, better known as Merlin, a prophet and warrior, who navigates a fractured, post-Roman Britain threatened by Saxon invaders. It then shifts to the emergence of Arthur as the high king meant to unite the warring tribes of Britain, his reign, battles, and the spiritual quest to protect the Holy Grail.
The Pendragon Cycle remains a well-regarded historical fantasy series thanks to Lawhead’s seamless ability to blend the gritty historical realism of post-Roman Britain with the myth of Atlantis and a profound Christian worldview. Marrying Atlantis to the Arthurian lore served as the hook that kept readers coming back for each subsequent book. It captures the mud, dirt, and tribal conflicts of Britain after the Roman legions leave, straying from standard medieval tropes to present a raw, ancient world. One bold omission is the traditional dark sexual intrigue and adultery, like Lancelot’s affair, found in other Arthurian tales, in exchange for a powerful backdrop where druidic paganism meets the dawn of Christianity.
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‘The Kingdom Will Not Kill Me’ by Ilona Andrews
The book cover for ‘The Kingdom Will Not Kill Me’ by Ilona Andrews.Image via Tor Books
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The powerhouse author team known as Ilona Andrews has a new series underway that has officially kicked off with the 2026 novel This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me. The epic fantasy novel follows Maggie, who wakes up naked in a gutter inside Kair Toren, a city from an unfinished dark fantasy book she loves. Armed only with her deep encyclopedic knowledge of the plot, character fates, political structures, and the fact that she cannot be killed, Maggie avoids staying on the sidelines as she tries to save the characters and stop a cataclysmic war just as the timeline begins to move off script. A masterpiece in portal-fantasy storytelling, This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me combines high-stakes political maneuvering, sharp world-building, and a resourceful heroine you can’t help but love.
This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me is a love letter to the fantasy genre. Ilona Andrews writes a batch of compelling characters that are utilized in expert world-building. The story features a mature, intelligent protagonist alongside a thoughtful yet striking male lead with high emotional maturity, and a memorable supporting crew including a former lady’s maid, an assassin, magical creatures, dukes, villains, and dueling princes. For a casual fantasy reader, be warned: there is some dense world-building and information dumps as Maggie processes her environment, but once the action gets moving, it’s balls to the wall. Yes, there is romance, but unlike traditional romantasy, the romance subplot focuses heavily on slow-burn yearning rather than immediate, explicit focus. Maggie has other priorities. Like many of Ilona Andrews’ novels, the potential for adaptation is ripe. Add This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me to the list.
Sam Neill red carpet imageImage via Hahn Lionel/ABACA/INSTAR
The world is still mourning the tragic passing of Sam Neill, who passed away at St. Vincent’s Private Hospital in Sydney, Australia on July 13 after a battle with pneumonia. Best known for his role as Dr. Alan Grant in the Jurassic Park movies, Neill spent the better part of the last 30 years delivering iconic performances in movies and TV shows. He also earned widespread acclaim for his role as Inspector Chester Campbell in the first two seasons of Peaky Blinders. More recently, Neill had a key role alongside Eric Bana in the Netflix original crime thriller, Untamed, which was renewed for Season 2. It’s been confirmed that he will not reprise his role in Season 2, even though it was filmed earlier this year before his passing.
When any high-profile actor passes away, it’s only natural for fans to begin wondering what will be their final on-screen role. This afternoon, it was finally revealed when fans will see the late Sam Neill in a movie or TV show for the last time, when news broke that he will be part of the cast for The Legend of Zelda movie coming to theaters on April 30, 2027. Details about who he’ll play are unclear at this time, but it’s also been reported that both Yvonne Stahovski and Dichen Lachman have joined the cast in undisclosed roles as well. Strahovski is best known for her role opposite Elisabeth Moss in the Hulu original sci-fi series, The Handmaid’s Tale, and Lachman is famous for starring as Ms. Casey in Severance. She also played Soyona in Jurassic World: Dominion, which was the final time Sam Neill played Alan Grant in a Jurassic movie.
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Collider Exclusive · Sci-Fi Survival Quiz Which Sci-Fi World Would You Survive? The Matrix · Mad Max · Blade Runner · Dune · Star Wars
Five universes. Five completely different ways the future went wrong — or sideways, or up in flames. Only one of them is the world your instincts were built for. Eight questions will figure out which dystopia, galaxy, or desert wasteland you’d actually make it out of alive.
💊The Matrix
🔥Mad Max
🌧️Blade Runner
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🏜️Dune
🚀Star Wars
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01
You sense something is deeply wrong with the world around you. What do you do? The first instinct is often the truest one.
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02
In a world of scarcity, what resource do you guard most fiercely? What we protect reveals what we believe survival actually requires.
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What kind of threat keeps you up at night? Fear is useful data — if you’re honest about what you’re actually afraid of.
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04
How do you deal with authority you don’t trust? Every dystopia has a power structure. Your approach to it determines everything.
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05
Which environment could you actually endure long-term? Survival isn’t just tactical — it’s physical, psychological, and very much about where you are.
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06
Who do you want in your corner when things fall apart? The company you keep is the clearest signal of who you actually are.
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Where do you draw the line — if you draw one at all? Every survivor eventually faces a moment that tests what they’re actually made of.
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What would actually make survival worth it? Staying alive is one thing. Having a reason to is another.
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Your Fate Has Been Calculated You’d Survive In…
Your answers point to the world your instincts were built for. This is the universe your temperament, your survival instincts, and your particular brand of stubbornness were made for.
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The Resistance, Zion
The Matrix
You took the red pill a long time ago — probably before anyone offered it to you. You’re a systems thinker who can’t help but notice the seams in things.
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You’re drawn to understanding how the system works before figuring out how to break it.
You’d find the Resistance, or it would find you — your instinct for spotting constructed realities is the machines’ worst nightmare.
You function best when you have access to information and the freedom to act on it.
The Matrix built an airtight prison. You’d be the one probing the walls for the door.
The Wasteland
Mad Max
The wasteland doesn’t reward the clever or the well-connected — it rewards those who are hard to kill and harder to break. That’s you.
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You don’t need comfort, community, or a cause larger than the next horizon.
You need a vehicle, a clear threat, and enough fuel to outrun it — and you’re good at all three.
You are unsentimental enough to survive that world, and decent enough — just barely — to be something more than another raider.
In the wasteland, that distinction is everything.
Los Angeles, 2049
Blade Runner
You’d survive here because you know how to exist in moral grey areas without losing yourself completely.
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You read people accurately, keep your circle small, and ask the questions others prefer not to answer.
In a city where humanity is a legal designation rather than a feeling, you hold onto something that keeps you functional.
You’re not a hero. But you’re not lost, either.
In Blade Runner’s world, that distinction is everything.
Arrakis
Dune
Arrakis is the most hostile environment in the known universe — and you are precisely the kind of person it rewards.
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Patience, discipline, and political awareness are your core strengths — and on Arrakis, they’re survival tools.
You understand that the long game matters more than any single victory.
Others come to Dune and are consumed by it. You’d learn its logic and earn its respect.
In time, you wouldn’t just survive Arrakis — you’d begin to reshape it.
A Galaxy Far, Far Away
Star Wars
The galaxy far, far away is vast, loud, and in a constant state of violent political upheaval — and you wouldn’t have it any other way.
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You find meaning in being part of something larger than yourself — a cause, a crew, a rebellion.
You’d gravitate toward the Rebellion, or the fringes, or whatever pocket of the galaxy still believes the Empire’s grip can be broken.
You fight — not because you have to, but because standing aside isn’t something you’re capable of.
In Star Wars, that willingness is what makes all the difference.
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Who Else Stars In ‘The Legend of Zelda’?
Starring in the lead role of Princess Zelda in The Legend of Zelda is Bo Bragason, who recently had small roles in Sterling Point and King & Conqueror. Starring opposite Bragason as Link is Benjamin Evan Ainsworth, who can also currently be seen playing Daeron Targaryen in House of the Dragon Season 3. Derek Connelly wrote the script for The Legend of Zelda movie with Shigeru Miyamoto, T.S. Nowlin, and Takashi Tezuka, and Wes Ball directed the film. Ball is best known for his work on the Maze Runner trilogy, and he even helmed Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.
Stay tuned to Collider for more updates and coverage of The Legend of Zelda, which opens in theaters everywhere next year on April 30.
Alec Baldwin‘s daughter Ireland Baldwin spoke out about Perez Hilton‘s hospitalization following their complicated history.
“Perez Hilton has publicaly [sic] humiliated my family for years, sexualized me from a young age, commented on my weight and body [as a child], made unforgivable comments about people in my family, drew j!zz coming out of my mom’s and friend’s mouths, and has always been a despicable human being,” Ireland, 30, wrote via her Instagram Story on Wednesday. August 5.
She added: “But his children deserve better and a healthy father and I am so sad for all of them. I hope he gets the help he needs and heals.”
Hilton, 48, was hospitalized after he appeared to engage in self-harm behavior during a TikTok livestream on Tuesday, August 4. According to 911 dispatch audio obtained by Page Six, first responders were called to Hilton’s home in Miami for an alleged “suicide attempt.”
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“The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office received multiple calls regarding an individual who was live-streaming acts of self-harm on social media,” the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office told Us in a statement on Wednesday. “Deputies quickly located the individual’s residence, where they spoke with family members on scene, and confirmed he was alone inside.”
The statement continued: “In many incidents involving a person experiencing a mental health crisis or actively harming themselves, deputies prioritize deescalation by creating time, distance and opportunities for communication. At this time, deputies have tactfully disengaged while continuing to monitor the situation.”
In an additional update, authorities confirmed that the individual was “safely recovered” and transported to a nearby hospital. (Hilton was not directly named.)
“He is receiving medical attention,” the second statement read. “The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office Crisis Response Unit and Licensed Mental Health Professionals are also on scene providing support and resources to the individual’s family.”
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Hilton’s agent later told Us that there was no “additional confirmed information to share regarding Perez Hilton’s condition,” asking for “privacy while he receives the care he needs.” Hilton’s family also issued a statement after the livestream.
“Our family wants to once again thank everyone who has reached out with prayers, kind messages, and support for Perez. Your compassionate humanity during this profoundly heartbreaking time has meant more than words can express,” read a message shared via Hilton’s website on Wednesday. “This has been incredibly difficult and emotional for us, made even harder because very little information has been made available to our family. While we continue to wait for further updates, we remain hopeful.”
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The statement revealed that Hilton was “able to communicate” while receiving treatment in Florida.
“[This] has given our family hope,” his family continued. “We respectfully ask for your continued prayers, understanding, and grace as Perez continues to recover. We will share additional updates as we receive confirmed information and are able to do so. For now, we’re taking things one step at a time and keeping our focus where it belongs, on Perez and his recovery.”
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.
A new lawsuit claims that Ne-Yo‘s dog attacked a woman delivering a package to his home in Georgia. The incident reportedly took place on or near Saturday, July 12, 2025.
Lawsuit Alleges Singer’s Dog Attacked Woman Delivering Package
A new lawsuit filed in Georgia claims that Ne-Yo’s dog viciously attacked a woman trying to deliver a package to his residence, according to TMZ. The lawsuit alleges that Dominique Bridgett was severely injured while delivering a package to the ‘Because Of You’ artist’s home. Bridgett was allegedly attacked by the dog and sustained “severe bodily injury, pain, shock, and distress” as a result. Not only that, she claims she’s already spent $9,039.50 on medical bills. Furthermore, in the complaint, Bridgett is seeking damages and coverage of her medical expenses.
Ne-Yo Shared Footage From Tour With Akon
Meanwhile, Ne-Yo is currently on tour singer Akon, and Rolling Stone Canada shared footage from their ‘Night Like This’ tour on Monday, August 3 on Instagram. The footage includes clips from the tour’s stop in Toronto. Ne-Yo reportedly performed his 2008 hit ‘Miss Independent,’ while Akon performed hits such as ‘Smack That.’ Furthermore, the post was captioned:
“Toronto got a double dose of nostalgia and hits as @neyo and @akon took over the city for a night that felt like a 2000s time capsule. From ‘Miss Independent’ to ‘Smack That,’ the crowd knew every word, and the energy never let up. 🎥 @david.dgt57.”
Chris Brown Was Also Sued Over Dog Attack
The amount of the lawsuit against Ne-Yo wasn’t shared, but it could be costly. Singer Chris Brown was also sued after his dog, Hades, reportedly disfigured his former housekeeper, Maria Avila. The housekeeper alleged that the 200-pound guard dog attacked her outside of Brown’s home in 2020. The incident occurred at his home in Tarzana, California, and she filed a multi-million-dollar-lawsuit against the ‘Loyal’ singer. The recording artist argued that he wasn’t responsible because he’d advised the housekeeper not to go outside without security. A Los Angeles jury ultimately found Brown and his company liable for negligence and awarded Avila nearly $13 million in damages.
Former Kardashian nanny Leah Barrs broke her silence on the assumption that the client dad she hooked up with was Travis Barker.
“No. This is when I first moved to Los Angeles,” Leah, 31, clarified during the Wednesday, August 6, episode of Harry Jowsey’s “Boyfriend Material” podcast. “I was 22. So that is why it’s so crazy, [since] I am now 31.”
Leah shut down the speculation that the hookup story overlapped with the time she spent working for Travis’ now-wife, Kourtney Kardashian, adding, “Oh, my gosh, no.”
Before being front and center on Million Dollar Nannies, which premiered on Hulu in June, Leah gained a following while documenting her time as a nanny for Kourtney’s family. Leah surprised viewers on season 1 of the new show after revealing she previously slept with a dad who was her boss.
Million Dollar Nannies introduced viewers to former Kardashian nanny Leah Barrs, who quickly found herself at the center of a scandal after she revealed she previously slept with a dad who hired her to watch his child. The show, which is streaming now on Hulu, follows a young group of elite nannies as they head […]
“I was young — I was 22 at the time,” Leah told People. “And I shouldn’t have done that.”
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Leah clarified that the father was a “friend” before he hired her to be his nanny. She also maintained that the unnamed man was single when they slept together, adding, “I was working for him that night, so I shouldn’t have crossed that line.”
“But I’m not that person today,” she noted. “[Now], he’s happily married. Pack it up.”
Travis, meanwhile, shares two kids, son Landon, 22, and daughter Alabama, 20, with ex-wife Shanna Moakler. He is also a father figure to Shanna’s daughter Atiana, 27, whom she shares with Oscar De La Hoya.
While Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker’s relationship came as a surprise to many, the pair knew each other for years before their whirlwind romance. After Barker spent time with Kardashian at her mom Kris Jenner’s Palm Springs, California, home in January 2021, Us Weekly confirmed that the pair were dating. “Kourtney and Travis are officially […]
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Travis and Kourtney, 47, tied the knot in 2022 and expanded their family the following year with their baby boy, Rocky. (The reality star also shares kids Mason, 16, Penelope, 13, and Reign, 11, with ex Scott Disick.)
During Wednesday’s podcast appearance, Leah briefly touched on the time she spent working for Kourtney — without sharing many details. When asked whether Kourtney was “the best,” Leah replied, “Yeah … well, sorry, I can’t really talk about them.”
Leah also played coy about whether Kourtney watched the show but said her former boss was supportive following her viral 2022 TikTok sharing a glimpse into her life as a high profile nanny.
The past few years have not only given us truly great sci-fi films like Dune, Everywhere All at Once, Project Hail Mary, as well as great Kaiju films. Be it the MonsterVerse’s Godzilla x Kong franchise or Takashi Yamazaki’s Oscar-winning Godzilla Minus One, which took the world by storm and fueled a new love for the monsters. The fans are winning on all sides.
Later this year, fans are gearing up for Dune: Part Three, which will be the last installment of Denis Villeneuve’s magnum opus. The giant will clash with the MCU’s own sci-fi entry Avengers: Doomsday, which will unravel the multiverse. But before those, there is a bigger giant that’ll have the fans’ attention: Godzilla Minus Zero, the highly anticipated sequel to Yamazaki’s Oscar-winning feature.
The film is a direct sequel set two years after the events of Godzilla Minus One, as we follow the Shikishima family in a recovering Japan, as a fully regenerated, larger, and more ferocious Godzilla returns. After dropping the first teaser for the film earlier this year, Toho followed it up with a breathtaking first trailer to hype the fans, and this time around the scope is massive given the bigger budget, and it’s even made for IMAX. Godzilla Minus One was a surprise hit, as the word-of-mouth praise made the movie highly intriguing for fans, who were taken by an incredibly humane story with brilliant spectacle.
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Collider Exclusive · Sci-Fi Personality Quiz Which Sci-Fi Hero Are You Most Like? Paul Atreides · Captain Kirk · Princess Leia · Ellen Ripley · Max Rockatansky
Five iconic heroes. Five completely different ways of facing an impossible universe. One of them shares your instincts, your values, and your particular way of refusing to back down. Eight questions will tell you which one.
🏜️Paul Atreides
🖖Capt. Kirk
✊Princess Leia
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🔦Ellen Ripley
🔥Max Rockatansky
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01
How do you lead when the stakes couldn’t be higher? The way you lead under pressure is the most honest thing about you.
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02
What is your greatest strength in a crisis? The quality that keeps you alive when everything else fails.
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03
What is the thing you’d sacrifice everything else for? Your deepest motivation is your truest compass.
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04
How do you relate to the people around you? Who you are to others under pressure is who you really are.
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05
You’re facing a threat that no one else believes is real. What do you do? How you respond when you’re the only one who sees it defines everything.
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06
What has your heroism cost you personally? Every hero pays. The question is what — and whether they’d pay it again.
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07
How do you feel about the rules of the world you’re in? Every hero has a relationship with the system. What’s yours?
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08
When everything is on the line, what keeps you going? The answer is the most honest thing about you.
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Your Hero Has Been Identified Your Sci-Fi Hero Is…
Your answers point to the iconic sci-fi hero who shares your instincts, your values, and your particular way of facing the impossible.
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Arrakis · Dune
Paul Atreides
You carry a weight most people would crumble under — the knowledge of what you’re capable of, and the burden of what you might have to become.
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You see further ahead than others and you plan accordingly, even when the vision frightens you.
You are driven by loyalty to your people and a sense of destiny you didn’t ask for but can’t escape.
Paul Atreides is not simply a hero — he is someone who understands the cost of power and chooses to bear it anyway.
That gravity, that willingness to carry what others won’t, is exactly you.
USS Enterprise · Star Trek
Captain Kirk
You lead with instinct, warmth, and an absolute refusal to accept a no-win scenario — because you’ve always believed there’s a third option nobody else has thought of yet.
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You take the mission seriously without ever taking yourself too seriously.
Your crew would follow you anywhere, not because you demand it, but because you’ve earned it.
Kirk’s genius isn’t tactical — it’s human. He reads people, bends rules with purpose, and wills outcomes into existence through sheer conviction.
That combination of warmth, audacity, and relentless optimism is unmistakably yours.
The Rebellion · Star Wars
Princess Leia
You are the kind of person who holds the line when everyone else is losing faith — not because you’re fearless, but because giving up simply isn’t something you’re capable of.
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You lead through conviction. Your voice carries because your belief is unshakeable.
You gave up everything ordinary the moment you chose the cause, and you’ve never looked back.
Leia is not a supporting character in her own story — she is the moral centre of the entire rebellion.
That same fierce, principled, unbreakable core is what defines you.
The Nostromo · Alien
Ellen Ripley
You are not reckless, not grandiose, and not particularly interested in being anyone’s hero — you just refuse to stop when it matters.
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You see threats clearly, you document the truth even when no one listens, and when the time comes you handle it yourself.
Ripley’s heroism is earned, not performed. She doesn’t have a speech — she has a flamethrower and a plan.
You share her composure under the worst possible pressure, and her refusal to pretend the monster isn’t there.
When it counts, you don’t flinch. That’s everything.
The Wasteland · Mad Max
Max Rockatansky
You have been through fire that would break most people — and what came out the other side is something the world underestimates at its peril.
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You don’t ask for help, don’t need validation, and don’t wait for anyone to tell you the rules no longer apply.
Your loyalty, when it finally arrives, is absolute — but it’s earned in silence and tested in action, not in words.
Max is not a nihilist. He is someone who lost everything and found, against his will, that he still has something worth protecting.
That bruised, stubborn, ultimately human core is exactly yours.
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Godzilla Minus Zero Is the Second-Longest Movie in the Franchise
Starring Ryûnosuke Kamiki as Kōichi Shikishima and Minami Hamabe as Noriko Ôishi, Godzilla Minus One made $116 million worldwide on a $10 million budget and earned a 99 percent Rotten Tomatoes rating. So, the bar is in heaven for Yamazaki and team to triumph their previous work. However, one element of the film is certainly garnering the attention of fans: its runtime, Godzilla Minus Zero is 2 hours and 15 minutes long, making it the second-longest movie in the 70-year-old franchise. In contrast, Godzilla Minus One was 2 hours and 5 minutes long, while the longest movie is Roland Emmerich’s Godzilla,released in 1998, starring Matthew Broderick, Jean Reno, Maria Pitillo, and more. Its runtime exceeds Minus One by a small margin, standing at 2 hours and 19 minutes. This officially makes Godzilla Minus Zero the longest Japanese-produced film in the entire franchise.
Godzilla Minus Zero roars into theaters starting November 6 in the US. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
Double Lives of Suburban Wives proves once again that there’s always more that meets the eye.
In Us’ exclusive sneak peek of the Sunday, August 9, premiere of TLC’s newest reality show, viewers meet Missouri resident Tammy as she attempts to maintain her “double life.”
“For the last couple of years, I’ve been doing something a little unconventional. I’m not exactly hiding it, but some people might judge me for it,” she explains in the clip. “I am known as Tammy to a lot of my friends and family, but a lot of people in our online space know me as Erica Swings.”
Erica Swings is the online alias Tammy uses when creating and sharing adult-only content.
As OnlyFans made a name for itself as an online subscription service for content creators, many established stars took advantage of their large audience by joining the website. OnlyFans allows people to put out any sort of content, including nude photos, at a price they think their followers will pay to view them. From monthly […]
“Adult content creation is anything from texting with fans, to selling pictures, to selling worn clothing items, to making more explicit videos,” she shares. “It wasn’t until doing adult content that I really came into my confidence.”
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TammyCourtesy of TLC
Tammy’s lover, Drew, recalls the day he posted a photo of his once-insecure partner posing in underwear online. Although people couldn’t see her face, the image “blew up” — and the next chapter of her life began to unfold.
“When I met Drew, I was very, very shy. I definitely was very self-conscious about my body,” Tammy explains. “I did not consider myself attractive at all.”
Drew adds of his partner’s past mindset, “She had no self-confidence. She kept telling me, ‘No, I don’t want to wear that because I don’t feel like I could pull that off.’ I said, ‘Babe, you are so hot.’”
Courtesy of TLC
As Tammy continues exploring the adult content space, there is one thing always in the back of her head — her strong Christian faith, which has her questioning if adult content is an appropriate way for her to make a living.
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“I thought maybe I can make money by doing this, but that was a huge struggle, especially with my faith,” she explains. “Being a Christian and being in the adult content world, it’s just as it sounds. It is very clashing. I do struggle with that, like, ‘Yeah, I’m contributing to somebody lusting.’”
Tammy and Drew are just one of six couples in the St. Louis area documented on Double Lives of Suburban Wives, TLC’s new reality show highlighting the complexities of their marriages, lives as parents and suburban lifestyles while making a mark in the adult content world.
Double Lives of Suburban Wives premieres on TLC Sunday, August 9 at 10 p.m. ET.
Perez Hilton had been publicly reckoning with the cruelty that defined his early career before being hospitalized following a disturbing TikTok livestream. The celebrity gossip blogger, whose real name is Mario Lavandeira, rose to fame by turning celebrities’ private struggles and public mistakes into content for millions of readers.
Hilton eventually acknowledged that his approach caused genuine harm, apologizing for everything from targeting celebrity children to outing people without their consent. Earlier this year, he said he felt “deep shame and regret” over his past behavior. Now, amid his hospitalization, that complicated history has influenced how some members of the public are responding to his health crisis.
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Hilton was taken to a hospital late Tuesday after concerned viewers contacted authorities about his TikTok livestream. The Miami-Dade County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that deputies responded to Hilton’s residence after receiving multiple calls about his well-being. Authorities “spoke with family members on scene, and confirmed he was alone inside,” the sheriff’s office told CNN.
Deputies reportedly attempted to de-escalate the situation before Hilton was transported for medical treatment. The department explained that its response to mental health emergencies often involves “creating time, distance, and opportunities for communication.”
A statement posted to Hilton’s website Wednesday evening offered a cautiously hopeful update about his condition. Hilton is “able to communicate, which has given our family hope,” his team and family said, while acknowledging that it had been a “difficult” period because “very little information has been made available to our family.”
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An earlier statement confirmed that Hilton was “receiving medical care” and that his “family’s focus right now is on his well-being.”
Hilton became one of the internet’s most influential and notorious celebrity bloggers during the 2000s. His website attracted millions of readers, but its success was fueled largely by a confrontational approach to celebrity coverage. Hilton mocked stars, assigned them insulting nicknames and published invasive stories about their personal lives.
Several prominent entertainers publicly condemned his conduct. Demi Lovato accused Hilton of being a “bully,” while Lady Gaga accused him of stalking her in 2013.
Mila Kunis offered a particularly harsh assessment of his impact during a 2018 interview, calling Hilton the “first person that created ugly news, that literally just spread filth.” According to Kunis, his success “allowed people to be mean.”
As attitudes toward celebrity journalism changed, Hilton began distancing himself from the persona that made him famous. In his 2020 memoir, the blogger acknowledged that the aggressive tone was not necessary for building his career. He wrote that he “never needed to be so mean or cruel.”
Hilton also identified his treatment of celebrity families as one of his greatest regrets. One of the “many things I regret is that I hurt so many people by giving them nasty nicknames, and above all that I was unkind to the children of celebrities,” he wrote.
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The blogger additionally reconsidered his history of publicly outing celebrities. Hilton acknowledged that he “no longer” believed the practice was acceptable.
Hilton repeatedly apologized for crossing boundaries and acknowledged that some of his celebrity coverage had gone too far. Certain people accepted those efforts, while others remained unwilling to forgive him.
A Daily Mail reporter who has known Hilton for more than 25 years stressed that forgiveness cannot be demanded, particularly when his work caused real emotional damage. The reporter nonetheless rejected suggestions that Hilton’s current suffering should be viewed as deserved punishment.
His past conduct may explain why some people have struggled to extend sympathy, but it does not make his health crisis less serious or eliminate the fear being experienced by his children and family. Accountability for Hilton’s actions and compassion for his current distress do not have to be mutually exclusive.
Hilton’s latest hospitalization comes several months after he spent three weeks receiving treatment for sepsis. In March, Hilton explained that he had developed the flu and failed to take his medication with food as directed. According to the blogger, he subsequently developed an ulcer that perforated and required emergency surgery.
“The day before I was hospitalized, I was in so much stomach pain. I was like, ‘This is weird, but it’ll go away,’” Hilton recalled in a social media video. The following day, he said he “couldn’t walk.”
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Hilton later described the life-threatening experience as spiritually transformative. “God presented himself to me and then did something. Something I can only call miraculous,” he said. The father of three added that he would “start taking the kids to church every week.”
In another video shared days later, Hilton said he had started reading the Bible and felt “deep shame and regret” about his conduct throughout his gossip career, per Forbes.
Hilton’s apologies cannot undo the personal damage caused by his reporting, and the people he targeted are under no obligation to forgive him. However, his hospitalization has forced a broader conversation about whether compassion should depend upon a person’s past behavior.
Justin Howard and Danielle McKinnon, two Texas customers, are suing Popeyes for over $1.5 million after allegedly finding a “condom-like foreign object” in their chicken.
Texas Customers Sue Popeyes For Over $1.5M After Allegedly Finding “Condom-Like Foreign Object” In Chicken
According to CHRON, Justin Howard and Danielle McKinnon are reportedly seeking more than $1.5 million from Popeye’s parent company, Restaurant Brands International, Inc., Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, Inc., and franchise operator, AAMANA Businesses, Inc.
Per the outlet, the pair purchased chicken from the Popeyes located at 7416 South Sam Houston Pkwy W. The date of their purchase reportedly was on July 25, 2026. And when Howard bit into a piece of chicken, he allegedly found a “condom-like foreign object embedded within the chicken itself.”
“The meal appeared ordinary. It was not,” they recalled of their experience, per PEOPLE. “The discovery instantly transformed what should have been an ordinary family meal into a deeply disturbing and frightening event. They were horrified by the possibility that they had already ingested contaminated food before discovering the object.”
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More On Justin Howard & Danielle McKinnon’s $1.5M Lawsuit
Per the outlet, Howard and McKinnon immediately stopped eating and allegedly became nauseous. Furthermore, when they informed the Popeye’s staff, the employees allegedly “laughed and humiliated them.”
“Instead of promptly investigating the contamination, preserving evidence, or recognizing the seriousness of the complaint, management repeatedly attempted to replace the contaminated chicken rather than issue a refund. But only after persistence by the plaintiffs were they finally refunded,” the lawsuit reportedly reads.
Per the outlet, the pair is seeking over $1.5 million “in damages relating to past and future medical/healthcare expenses, past and future physical pain and suffering, mental anguish, lost wages, attorney’s fees, court costs, and prejudgment and postjudgment interest.”
Popeye’s Reportedly Responds To Discovery Of “Condom-Like Foreign Object”
According to PEOPLE, Popeyes responded to the alleged incident in a statement sent via email.
“We have looked at extensive internal video and saw no evidence to validate this claim. Regardless, it is unacceptable, and the Franchisee immediately issued a refund to the guest and, out of an abundance of caution, closed the restaurant early for re-training,” it reportedly stated.
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Lastly, PEOPLE notes that Justin Howard and Danielle McKinnon are also demanding a jury by trial.
According to a new report from Deadline, Kit Connor has emerged as the studio’s choice to play Cyclops in Marvel Studios’ upcoming X-Men reboot. While Marvel has not officially confirmed the casting, Deadline’s report states that director Jake Schreier and Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige selected Connor following months of meetings and screen tests with multiple actors.
If finalized, Connor would become one of the first major members of Marvel’s next generation of X-Men alongside Sadie Sink, who recently made her debut as Jean Grey in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and Samara Weaving, who was previously reported to have landed the role of Emma Frost.
Connor, best known for his breakout performance in Netflix’s Heartstopper, has quickly become one of Hollywood’s fastest-rising young stars. In recent years, he has expanded his resume with roles in Alex Garland’s Warfare, the upcoming Elden Ring adaptation, and a successful run on Broadway in Romeo + Juliet.
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[Getty]
Cyclops has long been considered one of Marvel’s most important mutant characters. Introduced in X-Men #1 in 1963, Scott Summers serves as the field leader of the X-Men, balancing powerful optic blast abilities with the responsibility of leading Charles Xavier’s team through countless battles.
The report also notes that Marvel considered numerous actors for the role before settling on Connor, making him another unexpected casting choice during the studio’s ongoing search for its new X-Men lineup.
Marvel Studios has yet to announce an official cast for the reboot, and, as with previous casting reports, neither the studio nor Connor’s representatives have publicly commented. However, Deadline has correctly reported several recent Marvel castings before they became official, giving this latest report significant credibility.
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With Jean Grey and Emma Frost reportedly locked in and Cyclops now seemingly selected, anticipation continues to build for Marvel’s long-awaited mutant era. Fans are also expecting additional casting announcements in the near future, with many speculating Marvel could reveal more of the team during D23.
2026 has been a busy year for Russell Crowe, starring in action features like Beast and The Get Out, but each film was only released in limited theaters in the U.S., so it never quite found a niche in theaters. Both movies are now available to watch at home on VOD platforms like Prime Video and Apple TV, and each has had short-lived runs into the top 10. Crowe did debut a massively successful movie in 2025 with Nuremberg, his WWII passion project that he spent years trying to get off the ground. While he has released new movies this year, Crowe has primarily been focused on shooting scenes for Henry Cavill’s new Highlander reboot movie — Crowe even shared a new image of himself training for the film earlier this week.
Russell Crowe still has plenty of exciting projects in the works, but that doesn’t mean he’s not always on the hunt for another hit. News broke this afternoon that Crowe is returning to the sci-fi genre for a new thriller, Bluefly, co-starring Priyanka Chopra Jonas from The Bluff and Citadel. Stranger Things director Nimród Antal is directing the sci-fi feature with a script from David Frigerio, William and Carlyle Eubank. Pre-sales for the project are set to launch soon at TIFF, and the official synopsis reads as follows:
“Deep in the Congo, a grieving UN translator is pulled into a black-ops mission to recover a downed aircraft that isn’t supposed to exist. As a Special Operations team pushes upriver through militia-held territory, the recovery becomes a descent — and the closer they get to the craft, the clearer it becomes that they were never meant to bring it home.”
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Collider Exclusive · Sci-Fi Survival Quiz Which Sci-Fi World Would You Survive? The Matrix · Mad Max · Blade Runner · Dune · Star Wars
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Five universes. Five completely different ways the future went wrong — or sideways, or up in flames. Only one of them is the world your instincts were built for. Eight questions will figure out which dystopia, galaxy, or desert wasteland you’d actually make it out of alive.
💊The Matrix
🔥Mad Max
🌧️Blade Runner
🏜️Dune
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🚀Star Wars
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01
You sense something is deeply wrong with the world around you. What do you do? The first instinct is often the truest one.
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02
In a world of scarcity, what resource do you guard most fiercely? What we protect reveals what we believe survival actually requires.
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03
What kind of threat keeps you up at night? Fear is useful data — if you’re honest about what you’re actually afraid of.
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04
How do you deal with authority you don’t trust? Every dystopia has a power structure. Your approach to it determines everything.
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05
Which environment could you actually endure long-term? Survival isn’t just tactical — it’s physical, psychological, and very much about where you are.
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06
Who do you want in your corner when things fall apart? The company you keep is the clearest signal of who you actually are.
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07
Where do you draw the line — if you draw one at all? Every survivor eventually faces a moment that tests what they’re actually made of.
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08
What would actually make survival worth it? Staying alive is one thing. Having a reason to is another.
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Your Fate Has Been Calculated You’d Survive In…
Your answers point to the world your instincts were built for. This is the universe your temperament, your survival instincts, and your particular brand of stubbornness were made for.
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The Resistance, Zion
The Matrix
You took the red pill a long time ago — probably before anyone offered it to you. You’re a systems thinker who can’t help but notice the seams in things.
You’re drawn to understanding how the system works before figuring out how to break it.
You’d find the Resistance, or it would find you — your instinct for spotting constructed realities is the machines’ worst nightmare.
You function best when you have access to information and the freedom to act on it.
The Matrix built an airtight prison. You’d be the one probing the walls for the door.
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The Wasteland
Mad Max
The wasteland doesn’t reward the clever or the well-connected — it rewards those who are hard to kill and harder to break. That’s you.
You don’t need comfort, community, or a cause larger than the next horizon.
You need a vehicle, a clear threat, and enough fuel to outrun it — and you’re good at all three.
You are unsentimental enough to survive that world, and decent enough — just barely — to be something more than another raider.
In the wasteland, that distinction is everything.
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Los Angeles, 2049
Blade Runner
You’d survive here because you know how to exist in moral grey areas without losing yourself completely.
You read people accurately, keep your circle small, and ask the questions others prefer not to answer.
In a city where humanity is a legal designation rather than a feeling, you hold onto something that keeps you functional.
You’re not a hero. But you’re not lost, either.
In Blade Runner’s world, that distinction is everything.
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Arrakis
Dune
Arrakis is the most hostile environment in the known universe — and you are precisely the kind of person it rewards.
Patience, discipline, and political awareness are your core strengths — and on Arrakis, they’re survival tools.
You understand that the long game matters more than any single victory.
Others come to Dune and are consumed by it. You’d learn its logic and earn its respect.
In time, you wouldn’t just survive Arrakis — you’d begin to reshape it.
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A Galaxy Far, Far Away
Star Wars
The galaxy far, far away is vast, loud, and in a constant state of violent political upheaval — and you wouldn’t have it any other way.
You find meaning in being part of something larger than yourself — a cause, a crew, a rebellion.
You’d gravitate toward the Rebellion, or the fringes, or whatever pocket of the galaxy still believes the Empire’s grip can be broken.
You fight — not because you have to, but because standing aside isn’t something you’re capable of.
In Star Wars, that willingness is what makes all the difference.
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When Will ‘Bluefly’ Come Out?
There’s no word yet on when Bluefly will be released, but production on the film is expected to begin later this year off the coast of Australia. Should it secure distribution at TIFF, it could be as soon as 2027 before it comes out, whether it be in theaters or on streaming. It will speak volumes about the project whether there’s a bidding war for it come time at the Toronto International Film Festival. The premise for the film certainly sounds intriguing, but a movie needs a lot more than a cool premise to make it across the finish line.
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Stay tuned to Collider for more updates on the new sci-fi thriller, Bluefly, as well as future coverage of Russell Crowe’s future projects.
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Release Date
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2016 – 2025-00-00
Network
Netflix
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Directors
Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer, Andrew Stanton, Frank Darabont, Nimród Antal, Uta Briesewitz
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Writers
Kate Trefry, Jessie Nickson-Lopez, Jessica Mecklenburg, Alison Tatlock
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