Entertainment
10 Fantasy Movie Heroes More Likable Than Harry Potter
Few fantasy heroes in the current culture are as immediately recognizable as Harry Potter. The Boy Who Lived was at the center of one of the largest and most popular fantasy franchises that dominated both books and film for well over a decade, and it continues to be massively popular. Warner Bros. has invested a staggering amount of money into a new series adaptation of the novels, banking on fans having enough nostalgia for the character to make it worth the time, money, and effort. Whether or not that upcoming series is able to escape the shadow of the immensely successful films remains to be seen, but regardless, Harry Potter will remain an immensely beloved hero — that doesn’t mean he’s the most likable, though.
As portrayed by the very likable Daniel Radcliffe in eight films, the character received a fair amount of depth, portrayed with the emotional volatility of an adolescent going through growing pains but imbued with emotional maturity beyond his years. He could also be a whinging, self-centered muppet who was often given a gargantuan amount of leeway by some of the Hogwarts staff because of his traumatic past. You know who else suffered tragically at the hands of Voldemort yet continually got the crap end of the broom without ever acting like a stubborn jerk? Neville Longbottom. And just like Neville, other fantasy heroes are deserving of more praise than Harry bloody Potter, and these are ten of them.
Wesley (Cary Elwes) – ‘The Princess Bride’ (1987)
Rob Reiner‘s fantasy comedy classic The Princess Bride is filled with likable and memorable characters. Every role is impeccably cast, and every actor gets a moment to shine. When a supporting cast is this colorful, it’s often that the blander hero gets left in the dust, but that’s certainly not the case for Carey Elwes‘ charming rogue Wesley. Quick-witted and even quicker with a sword, Westley is the kind of dashing and devoted hero that fantasy stories are filled with, further elevated by Elwes’ brilliant comedic timing and ability to balance self-awareness with genuine emotion. It’s the same magic that makes The Princess Bride such a timeless classic, and who wouldn’t rather have Wesley come to save them over Harry Potter?
Beginning as a humble farm boy hopelessly in love with the fair maiden Buttercup (Robin Wright), Wesley goes missing and returns years later to find her unfortunately betrothed to Chris Sarandon‘s comically loathsome Prince Humperdinck. He fights with his wits and his brains to save Buttercup, all with a smirk and charm reminiscent of the classic screen heroes played by Errol Flynn and Douglas Fairbanks. Elwes is perfectly cast as Wesley, and while he’d amp up the comedic absurdity to parodic levels for his role in Mel Brooks‘ Robin Hood: Men in Tights, he’s never been more likable.
Inigo Montoya (Mandy Patinkin) – ‘The Princess Bride’ (1987)
You can’t bring up The Princess Bride without talking about its true hero, Inigo Montoya. As a revenge-driven swordsman who goes from criminal to drunken wretch to reinvigorated hero, Montoya is never anything less than compelling, and is made immensely likable by Mandy Patinkin’s iconic performance. He is at the center of some of The Princess Bride’s most memorable scenes, whether it’s his charming first swordfight with Wesley, the comedy gold of haggling with Miracle Max, or his emotionally climactic duel with the six-fingered man who killed his father.
When introduced as one third of the criminal trio that includes Wallace Shawn‘s temperamental and loquacious Vizzini and Andre the Giant‘s gentle giant Fezzik, Montoya seems to be just another roguish swashbuckler. It’s when he reveals his backstory to Westley that we understand the full depth of his pain, which Patinkin plays with absolute sincerity. The character’s famous repeated line is delivered with conviction every time, and the actor brings a different flavor to it every time. He’s ferociously funny, unexpectedly moving, and undeniably likable. In a movie where every character is a classic, Inigo Montoya reigns supreme.
Willow (Warwick Davis) – ‘Willow’ (1988)
Developed by producer George Lucas and directed by steady hand Ron Howard, the ’80s fantasy cult film Willow may not have left a cultural footprint remotely close to the size of the Harry Potter franchise, but it’s beloved by its fans and features a terrific lead performance by the tremendously likable Warwick Davis. The actor originally got his start playing the fan favorite Ewok Wicket in Return of the Jedi and has appeared in all kinds of sci-fi and fantasy franchises, including Harry Potter. The actor is awesome and underutilized, and Willow is one of his best characters.
Willow is a Bilbo Baggins-esque figure from a town of little people referred to as Nelwyn, who has adventure thrust upon him when he discovers a baby prophesied to bring down an evil sorceress. She sends her legions to kill the child, so Willow reluctantly leads an expedition to return the child to safety. In his quest, Willow is joined by the roguish anti-hero Madmartigan (Val Kilmer), and a lesser actor would have been blown off the screen by the movie star. Yet Davis imbues Willow with a decency that makes him infectiously likable. While not a success at the box office, Willow has more than enough magic to take on the star of the Wizarding World.
Edward (Johnny Depp) – ‘Edward Scissorhands’ (1990)
There’s something about pure innocence that makes a character impossible not to like, and there are few fantasy heroes more innocent than the titular character in Tim Burton‘s suburban fairytale Edward Scissorhands. The juxtaposition between Burton’s gothic design of the character, created in collaboration with Stan Winston, and Johnny Depp‘s gentle childlike performance gives Edward an ethereal quality that permeates the entire movie around him. In many ways, Edward is the quintessential Tim Burton protagonist, a tragic hero whose purity was too good for the rest of the world, ultimately dooming him to a life of solitude.
Left alone in a castle after his creator (Vincent Price) dies, Edward is found by Dianne Wiest‘s kindly Avon lady, who brings him to her pastel home in the suburbs. Despite her and the rest of her family’s attempts to integrate Edward into their so-called normal society, jealousy and fear spread among the suburbanites. Burton excels at films featuring misfits who fail to conform, whether it’s Jack Skellington in The Nightmare Before Christmas or the titular character in Pee-wee’s Big Adventure, but Edward is his most clearly autobiographical. Burton treats this misfit with an even greater level of empathy and warmth, and the character is by far his most likable hero.
Babe the Pig (Christine Cavanaugh) – ‘Babe’ (1995)
In fairness to Harry Potter, when it comes to likability, it’s hard to compete with a talking pig. Even so, speech is no guarantee that a pig is going to be likable; just look at the villains from Animal Farm or the titular character of Gordy. That latter had the misfortune of coming out only a few months prior to Babe, and has forever lived in the charming, sheep-herding piglet’s shadow. There’s an alchemy in the combination of animal performers, animatronics, and the voice of Christine Cavanaugh that is special, even among other cinematic talking animals.
The film, which is based on the novel The Sheep-Pig by Dick King-Smith, follows the orphaned piglet as he is brought to Hoggett Farm, where he’s prepped to become a ham dinner before he proves his worth as an unlikely sheep herder. It’s the kind of family-friendly fantasy film that could easily be cloying, but instead is just effortlessly charming, much like the titular pig. Canavanaugh, who is best known for voicing Chuckie in Rugrats and Dexter in Dexter’s Lab, brings a softer tone to the character, imbuing Babe with an earnestness that matches his lovable pink exterior. It’s not recommended that anyone should be trying to own pigs as house pets, but it’s not hard to see why they would want to after watching this little porcine charmer.
Samwise Gamgee (Sean Astin) – ‘The Lord of the Rings’ (2001-2003)
Everybody needs a friend like Samwise Gamgee. This Hobbit from The Lord of the Rings was considered the chief hero of the trilogy by its author J.R.R. Tolkien, and that is reflected in his screen portrayal by Sean Astin in Peter Jackson‘s epic film adaptations. With an unwavering loyalty and moral conviction that even the power of the One Ring can’t corrupt, Samwise is the platonic ideal of a sidekick, but he’s so much more than just that for Frodo. Without Sam, it’s undeniable that Frodo likely would have succumbed to the influence of Sauron and all of Middle-earth would have fallen.
There are a dozen different moments of Sam’s heroism that you could pick out as his best, whether it’s his stubborn refusal to let Frodo go it alone in The Fellowship of the Ring, his inspiring speech at the end of The Two Towers, or his defiant face-off with the giant spider Shelob in The Return of the King. Most fans would likely list his final heroic act of carrying Frodo into Mount Doom at the climax of their journey, but there’s also something quietly special in the moment Sam takes his furthest steps out of the Shire at the beginning. The Hobbit has no idea of what perils await him, but he’s ready to face all of them for his friend. Samwise is one of the best fantasy heroes, and Astin’s inherent likability made him the perfect choice for the character.
Buddy (WillFerrell) – ‘Elf’ (2003)
Will Ferrell is one of the most gifted comedic talents to come out of the ’90s. Beyond his character work on Saturday Night Live, the actor proved a consistently hilarious presence in movies in the 2000s. While most of his characters were of the more arrogant variety, like Ron Burgundy and Ricky Bobby, he also gave audiences an all-time icon with the impossible-to-dislike Buddy in the Christmas fantasy favorite Elf. Fish-out-of-water stories like this often become dull because they repeat the same jokes ad nauseam, but Ferrell has such an infectious and lovable energy to his performance that it makes his antics endlessly entertaining.
Buddy is a human child who hitched a ride in Santa’s bag one Christmas, and has since been raised as an elf in the North Pole. When he discovers his true parentage, he makes a pilgrimage to New York City to meet his real father, played by professional curmudgeon James Caan. Ferrell makes jokes as broad as eating gum stuck to a subway entrance or as simple as pressing all the buttons in an elevator effortlessly, and they all feel tied to who Buddy is as a character. He’s filled with wonder and endlessly curious about the world around him, and we could all stand to be a little bit more like Buddy.
Giselle (Amy Adams) – ‘Enchanted’ (2007)
A character who shares more than a few qualities with Buddy, Enchanted‘s Giselle is a bubbly princess transplanted from her magical kingdom to New York City, where her infectious energy and musical spirit enchant every character she meets. It’s another character that could become grating in the hands of a different actor, but Amy Adams weaponizes her charm to make Giselle lovable and aspirational. She sings and dances across the screen in a manner befitting a Disney princess, and Adams is guileless in the role.
Like many Disney princesses before her, Giselle dreams of meeting her Prince Charming and living happily ever after, but after she’s transported into the real world, she meets a dreamy divorce attorney who challenges her optimism. Like Buddy or Edward Scissorhands, Giselle is a magical character who instigates more growth in those around her than they do in her, but just because she doesn’t have any more dimension than her 2D animated counterparts doesn’t make her any less endearing. Adams is incapable of being insincere as an actress, and she makes Giselle truly feel like she’s stepped out of an animated fantasy.
Hiccup (Jay Baruchel) – ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ (2010)
Hiccup from the How to Train Your Dragon franchise probably has the most outward similarities with Harry Potter. Both are young protagonists who exist in magical worlds and have had extraordinary expectations placed on their shoulders. While Harry wants nothing more than to live up to the example set by his heroic parents, Hiccup finds himself directly at odds with what his father expects from him. It’s that distinction that makes Hiccup all the more compelling in his first adventure. He’s empathetic, courageous, intelligent and awkwardly charming, all of which makes him eminently likable.
Voiced by Jay Baruchel, Hiccup is the antithesis to his heroic Viking father Stoick (Gerard Butler), the leader and dragonslayer of their village. Hiccup is a more intellectual sort who invents weapons to fight the winged beasts, one of which helps him down an infamously dangerous dragon. Upon discovering that the feared Night Fury is a gentle animal, he bonds with it, giving it the name Toothless, and together they try to bring peace between their two species. How to Train Your Dragon was an unexpected masterpiece from DreamWorks, featuring some breathtaking visuals, spectacular action and surprising emotional depth, and it all rests on its unlikely but likable hero.
Mirabel (Stephanie Beatriz) – ‘Encanto’ (2021)
Encanto is a fantasy musical with vibrant visuals and instantly memorable songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda. It explores themes of family identity and generational trauma through magical realism and Colombian culture, which informs all of its characters, including its hero. Voiced by Stephanie Beatriz, Mirabel is an ordinary girl living in a magical world. As the only Madrigal without a magical gift, Mirabel should have a mountain-sized chip on her shoulder, especially given the constant reminders that she isn’t “special.” Instead, the bubbly, quirky character takes it all in stride, even though she feels excluded from her family.
Mirabel’s exclusion is only exacerbated when she begins to see fractures in the magic that built her family’s home and gave them their powers. Her attempts to save her family are thwarted not by some malevolent evil force or character, but by her demanding Abuela. The familial struggle within Encanto is relatable regardless of the cultural specificity of the story, and Mirabel is likewise a relatable hero with all the quirks and flaws inherent to a teenager, even one without magical family members. Beatriz brings both a bubbly energy and an impressive vocal range in her performance, making Mirabel an irresistible character who shows Harry Potter that you don’t need magic to be magical.
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Hair found in Nancy Guthrie’s Arizona home contained no DNA, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said.
“To find DNA on hair is extremely rare. Hair doesn’t produce DNA like touch DNA or bodily fluids,” Nanos told NBC News on Thursday, July 30.
The sheriff added to Fox News, “Yes, there was a hair. We had it and thought, ‘OK, well, we’ll do the DNA first,’ right? You’re going to do DNA before something else. … It came back … there’s no DNA.”
Nanos said the hair sample has been preserved in case it might still prove useful to the investigation.
Questions still remain after Today show host Savannah Guthrie‘s mother, Nancy Guthrie, was reported missing. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department confirmed the news on February 1, 2026, sharing a missing person report via X. Nancy was described as a “vulnerable adult” who was last seen “at her residence” within Arizona’s Catalina Foothills area on the […]
“But does that mean the hair isn’t that of the suspect? We won’t know that ’til we have the suspect’s hair. You don’t just destroy it,” he told Fox News. “There’s other things that hair may prove valuable for, but right now, it was just about, ‘Is there any DNA there?’ And the answer was no. That was just a matter of weeks ago.”
In a brief statement to NBC News, the FBI Phoenix field office confirmed that “all hair had been resolved, and it does not point to a suspect” in Guthrie’s disappearance.
The news comes nearly six months after Guthrie, 84, was reported missing from her home outside of Tucson, Arizona, on February 1. Police are investigating the case as a kidnapping. No suspect has been identified.
Nancy, the mother of Today show cohost Savannah Guthrie, was last seen on the evening of January 31.
New details from the first alleged ransom note for Savannah Guthrie’s mom, Nancy Guthrie, has been revealed nearly six months after she went missing. Journalist Briana Whitney read from the alleged note during the Wednesday, July 22, episode of the “Crime Junkie” podcast. “Hello, Savannah. We have your mother, Nancy,” it began. “She is safe […]
On Monday, July 27, Savannah, 54, issued a fresh plea for her mom’s return via social media.
“I’m coming on today with a very specific message,” she said in an Instagram video. “It has been months since our mom was taken from us. Our family is in agony. We are in a nightmare that will not end. Nothing about our situation has changed. We have done our part, but we will never stop looking for her. We will always ache for her. Feel that hole in our hearts.”
Savannah continued, “The world can be a cruel and unforgiving place, and I know that you have tried to do things the right way. So I’m asking you, begging you, to do the right thing now. Make the right choice. Help us find her. Tell us where to look for her. I truly believe it is never too late to do the right thing. Help us bring this situation to an end. For all of us — no matter where we’ve been and what we’ve done — I believe there is always, always a way home. Please make the right choice.”
She captioned the post, “Bring her home 💛.”
July was a strong month on Netflix, with several shows proving huge hits across the world, including Will Ferrell‘s new comedy series, The Hawk, and the streamer’s latest answer to Taylor Sheridan‘s ever-expanding Yellowstone universe, Ransom Canyon. But the biggest hit across the month was undeniably the Harlan Coben adaptation, I Will Find You, which was just revealed to have become Netflix’s tenth most popular English-language TV series of all time, with a cumulative 101.9 million views earned in just six weeks. Looking ahead to August, how do you make sure it’s as great as July? We’re here to help with this list of three shows you should binge-watch on Netflix.
For more recommendations, check out our list of the best shows and movies on Netflix.
Disclaimer: These titles are available on US Netflix.
1
‘Hannibal’ (2013–2015)
Rotten Tomatoes: 93% | IMDb: 8.5/10
It isn’t just the most exciting new shows that make Netflix worth subscribing to. Every now and then, the streamer gets its hands on a beloved series, adding it to its vast catalog and allowing a new group of viewers to indulge in its genius. That’s exactly what happened in late July, when Netflix officially added all three seasons of the brilliant Hannibal to its library.
This Primetime Emmy-nominated gem delves into the intricate, complex relationship between FBI criminal profiler Will Graham (Hugh Dancy) and psychiatrist Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Mads Mikkelsen), with both men delivering electric performances. Bryan Fuller‘s psychological thriller masterpiece is a show everyone should watch at least once, with its 39 episodes available offering a perfect binge-watch that will last long past this weekend.
2
‘The Crown’ (2016–2023)
Rotten Tomatoes: 81% | IMDb: 8.6/10
Sometimes the most obvious choice is the best. This weekend, if it’s somehow passed you by until now, don’t miss out on one of the most important prestige dramas in Netflix’s history, The Crown. Across six seasons, creator Peter Morgan and co. explore the modern history of the British monarchy, from the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II to some of the darkest times in her reign.
A lavish, utterly immersive period drama that is both ambitious in its grandeur and deft in its detail, The Crown was one of the first major productions for Netflix and, to this day, defines how many see the streamer. Whether it’s Claire Foy, Olivia Colman, or Harry Potter‘s Imelda Staunton, each version of Queen Elizabeth II bursts with reality, with both Foy and Colman’s versions two of the most memorable on-screen interpretations ever.
3
‘Solar Opposites’ (2020–Present)
Rotten Tomatoes: 95% | IMDb: 7.9/10
If the demands of intense dramas such as Hannibal and The Crown aren’t what you’re looking for this weekend, then perhaps a quirky animated sci-fi series is more your speed. Solar Opposites, which first aired on Hulu in 2020, follows a group of aliens who find themselves living in middle America after their planet is destroyed.
Prepare to laugh out loud and fall in love with a strange yet sentimental family of aliens as you dive head-first into the world of Solar Opposites. Sure, the show can often be cringe-inducingly crude, but it also manages to juxtapose this with heartfelt moments as all great adult animations do. Six seasons and 63 episodes are available to watch now.
- Release Date
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2020 – 2025-00-00
- Network
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Hulu
- Showrunner
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Justin Roiland
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Sean Giambrone
Yumyulack (voice)
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Sagan McMahan
The Pupa (voice)
Tom Holland made his debut as Spider-Man in 2016’s “Captain America: Civil War.” Since then, the actor has appeared in four solo movies as the character, with the latest being “Spider-Man: Brand New Day.” Now, amid the film’s release, he’s opening up about one day being replaced as the beloved superhero.
While promoting “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” Holland appeared on the “Happy Sad Confused” podcast in July 2026 for an almost one-hour-long conversation. During it, the topic of him someday no longer playing the role that’s made him a star came up, with Holland stating that there is a plan in place for that to become reality at some point.
He shared, “There’s a whole plan that we have been working on for, I would say, since we finished Spider-Man: No Way Home. It’s laid out. It’s laid out. It’s gonna change for sure, but I have a really clear vision [for] the passing on of the baton, and I think it’s really exciting.”
After that, he stated that the topic of a different actor playing the role does come up in meetings. According to him, “I know I get really excited when we have these meetings and chat about it. But that is the thing I want to do most in this character, for sure.”
The ‘Spider-Man’ Star Says He Feels Pressure For ‘Brand New Day’
While on the “Happy Sad Confused” podcast, Holland also spoke about maturing and now feeling pressure of starring in a movie on the scale of “Spider-Man: Brand New Day.” According to him, “I feel more pressure and more nerves releasing ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ than I did ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming.’”
He continued, “And I think there’s something about that kind of childlike naivety of what was happening to my life at 20 as opposed to finishing that third movie, sharing the screen with Toby and Andrew, being really kind of conflicted as to whether or not my time as Spider-Man had come to an end.”
After that, Holland called “diving into this new movie” a “leap of faith.” After that, the actor stated that he’s “so unbelievably proud of the new film.
Tom Recently Discussed His Desire To Make More Spider-Man Movies
Days before the podcast appearance premiered, Holland spoke to The Hollywood Reporter while on the red carpet for the premiere of “Spider-Man: Brand New Day.” During the short interview, he was asked about his future as the character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The 30-year-old said, “I will do it for as long as they have me.” After that, he discussed the performance of the upcoming movie, saying, “So, if this movie does good, I guess we’ll see.” Regarding the expected box office performance of “Brand New Day,” Deadline reports the movie is expected to debut with around $425 million at the global box office.
Notably, this comes after the previous film, “No Way Home,” earned an astounding $600.5 million in its opening weekend, including international markets. This figure made the Holland-led “Spider-Man” movie the third biggest box office opening in history.
‘Brand New Day’ Has Solid Reviews
“Spider-Man: Brand New Day” officially releases to theaters on July 31 with some advanced showings the day prior. Now, ahead of its release, Marvel has lifted the review embargo for both critics and social media users. Currently, on Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a 91% positive rating from critics, meaning all of Holland’s movies playing the character have a 90% or higher.
Already, more than 1,000 audience members have also reviewed the film, giving it a 98% positive rating on the platform. Both scores easily fall into the “fresh” distinction.
The 30-Year-Old Confirmed His Next Movie
While promoting “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” Holland appeared on “Good Morning America” in July 2026. While on the show, he confirmed plans for his next film, this time a biopic about iconic entertainer Fred Astaire.
According to the actor, “We have Fred Astaire next, that’s what we’re planning on doing. And as soon as I finish with these tours, I’m diving back into the dance studio.”
He added of the yet-to-be-filmed movie’s progress, “I did my first few rehearsals recently, and it both filled me with excitement and absolute dread because I’ve got so much work to do to try and do Fred proud.”
Entertainment
Jennie Garth addresses Tori Spelling’s ‘sad’ surprise exit from “90210” rewatch podcast: ‘We started this together’
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Garth’s third cohost, Amy Sugarman, said the pair were “really bummed and disappointed” by Spelling’s unexpected exit.
Entertainment
Hadestown's Eva Noblezada and Reeve Carney Spill On All the "Behind the Curtain" Stories
Who’s the best duo in Hadestown? Take a guess! Eva Noblezada (Eurydice) and Reeve Carney (Orpheus) are real life husband and wife who star in an epic romance based on the greek myth.
Get a rundown of Us‘ top stories making headlines in celebrity news, sports and entertainment on July 30, 2026. Here are the key takeaways:
• Kylie Kelce shut down pregnancy speculation sparked by photos from her recent Paris trip, telling listeners on the July 30 episode of her “Not Gonna Lie” podcast that commenting on women’s bodies is unacceptable. She reminded fans she and husband Jason Kelce already have four kids and said her body will never fully return to its pre-baby state.
• Jonathan Taylor Thomas made a rare public appearance to reunite with his Home Improvement costars Patricia Richardson and Taran Noah Smith more than two decades after the sitcom’s finale. Richardson shared the new photo of the trio on Instagram on July 29, captioning it “My other boys.”
• Kate Cassidy explained that she is lasering off some of the tattoos she got in honor of late boyfriend Liam Payne because the ink is too thick, not because her feelings have changed, she shared on TikTok on July 29. Cassidy said she plans to have the tributes — including a “444” angel number for Payne — redone by an artist experienced in fine line work.
Edited by Samantha Benitz. Story produced with AI assistance
It’s slightly surprising to realize that Christopher Nolan and Zack Snyder are contemporaries whose paths have crossed in more ways than one. Both filmmakers broke out at around the same time with their respective hits; Snyder directed a remake of Dawn of the Dead and Nolan made the mind-bending thriller Memento. For their first big-budget studio projects, both directors initially focused on Greek epics. Nolan’s project eventually became the movie Troy, but he was moved to Batman Begins instead. The superhero movie was released just two years before Snyder’s adaptation of a Frank Miller comic book, which—like Nolan’s Troy—was developed at Warner Bros. around the same time. Many years later, Nolan returned to Homer’s epic with The Odyssey, which has emerged as a blockbuster for the ages.
In its first week of release, The Odyssey was able to overtake the lifetime global haul of Snyder’s historical fantasy comic book adaptation. The Odyssey has so far grossed more than $650 million worldwide against a reported budget of $250 million. The movie is on track to become Nolan’s third blockbuster to gross more than $1 billion worldwide and to overtake both The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises to emerge as the filmmaker’s biggest-ever hit. Interestingly, Snyder spent several years in the DC stable as well, directing Man of Steel (which was executive-produced by Nolan), Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, and Justice League.
Christopher Nolan Handpicked Zack Snyder to Direct ‘Man of Steel’
Each of Snyder’s DC movies grossed more than his breakout hit, 300, which made around $470 million worldwide against a reported budget of $65 million. The highly stylized adaptation received mixed reviews and is currently sitting at a 61% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes. However, the movie has emerged as a fan favorite; it holds an 89% audience score on the aggregator website, and in the wake of The Odyssey‘s phenomenal run, has sparked a new wave of interest on home video. According to FlixPatrol, 300 was the number one movie on the domestic Vudu chart this week, ahead of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, Disclosure Day, and The Mandalorian & Grogu. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
- Release Date
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March 9, 2007
- Runtime
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117 minutes
- Director
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Zack Snyder
- Writers
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Zack Snyder, Kurt Johnstad, Michael B. Gordon
Entertainment
Ranking the best true crime podcasts of all time, from “My Favorite Murder” to “Criminal”
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The whodunits and deep dives that kept us gripped through twists and turns.
Summary
- Collider’s Perri Nemiroff chats with the showrunners and stars of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power at SDCC 2026.
- The crew discuss Sauron’s role in Season 3, at the height of the War of the Elves.
- They also tease new character details and relationships and highlight the mastery of craft behind the scenes.
At this year’s San Diego Comic-Con, Collider’s Perri Nemiroff had the opportunity to sit down with the showrunners, J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay, and cast members of Prime Video’s hit prequel series, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, to find out what fans can expect from the upcoming Season 3.
On November 11, we return to J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth at the height of the War of the Elves, when Sauron (Charlie Vickers), as the Dark Lord, is ready and determined to craft the One Ring. The sprawling fantasy series welcomes back many returning cast members, and introduces Jamie Campbell Bower as Celeborn, Eddie Marsan as Thráin, Simon Pegg as the voice of the Balrog, and Andrew Richardson as Anárion — plus a couple of others the cast will tease, including a wholly original character.
Check out our two interviews with the cast and showrunners below, in which stars Benjamin Walker, Cynthia Addai-Robinson, Daniel Weyman, Vickers, Owain Arthur, and Ismael Cruz Córdova, along with Payne and McKay, prepare us for what’s to come, and share what it’s like behind the scenes, seeing masters of their craft bring Rings of Power to life, from the actors to the unsung heroes.
Sauron Faces a New Challenge in ‘The Rings of Power’ Season 3
The stars share their characters’ journeys this season.
First up, Payne hints at Sauron’s creative struggles this season, and why what he did to Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards) will come back to haunt him. Vickers, Addai-Robinson, who plays Míriel, Weyman, who plays Gandalf, and Walker, who plays Gil-galad, discuss the strengths and weaknesses of their characters at the beginning of Season 3, and highlight the performances of their new co-stars, Bower, who plays Celeborn this season, and Zubin Varla, who will play Khamûl the Easterling.
For all this and more on what’s to come, check out the video above, with a time index provided below.
- 00:54 – J.D. Payne discusses how Season 3 centers on Sauron’s growing self-doubt and the struggles he faces to forge the One Ring.
- 02:12 – The cast discuss each character’s greatest strength and greatest weakness for Season 3.
- 06:26 – Which cast members delivered impressive and inspiring performances?
- 12:50 – The crew highlight the behind-the-scenes artists who raised the bar with their craftsmanship.
‘Rings of Power’ Season 3’s Biggest Wild Card Is an Orc You Might Actually Root For
Eddie Marsan and Adam Young join the Season 3 cast in exciting new roles!
Finally, Nemiroff spoke with McKay, Córdova, who plays Arondir, and Arthur, who plays Prince Durin IV. During their chat, McKay expands on Sauron’s role this season, explaining how he becomes “full-metal” Sauron, the legendary villain LOTR fans are familiar with. Plus, Córdova and Arthur share details about Rings of Power’s newest characters — Durin’s questionable older brother, Thráin, played by Marsan, and an original character, an Orc named Marnûkh, played by Adam Young, who Córdova calls “an icon in the making.”
You can catch the full interview in the video above, with a time index below.
- 00:33 – Patrick McKay on why Season 3 centers on a darker, “full-metal” Sauron.
- 02:25 – Ismael Cruz Córdova praises Adam Young’s performance as Marnûkh.
- 04:29 – McKay previews the reluctant alliance between Arondir, Galadriel, and Marnûkh.
- 07:17 – Owain Arthur reflects on reuniting with Eddie Marsan as Durin and Thráin.
- 10:37 – The trio spotlight behind-the-scenes crew members who make Rings of Power a cinematic feat.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 3 premieres on Prime Video on November 11.
- Release Date
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September 1, 2022
- Network
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Amazon Prime Video
- Showrunner
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John D. Payne, Patrick McKay, Louise Hooper, Charlotte Brändström, Wayne Yip
- Writers
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Patrick McKay, John D. Payne, J.R.R. Tolkien, Justin Doble, Jason Cahill, Gennifer Hutchison, Stephany Folsom, Nicholas Adams
The late influencer Sara Gilson’s ex-husband, Lyle Landers, has offered to pay for her funeral in the wake of her death in an alleged murder-suicide plot carried out by her estranged second husband, Jeremiah “Shawn” Duffey.
Landers told TMZ on Thursday, July 30, that he promised Gilson’s parents that he would give her the funeral she deserved since he is in a stable financial position. (Gilson and Landers shared two children before divorcing.)
Following Gilson’s death, Landers confirmed to the outlet that he spent his birthday on Tuesday, July 28, picking out a funeral plot for the late TikTok personality. A private ceremony is expected to be held in her honor later this week.
A GoFundMe page that was recently set up to benefit Gilson’s two children has already raised more than $33,000. (Per the fundraising page, donations will go to the children’s “immediate needs, counseling, education, funeral expenses, and other costs that arise as they begin this unimaginable journey without their mother.”)
Influencer Sara Gilson filed three protective orders against Jeremiah Duffey — the first and second were filed five years ago and the third was filed one month before he allegedly killed her in an apparent murder-suicide. According to court documents obtained by Us, Gilson filed her first request in August 2021, claiming she was the […]
Gilson and Duffey were found dead at ages 43 and 48, respectively, by law enforcement officials in their Owasso, Oklahoma, home on July 23. Owasso police officers responded to the residence after receiving a 911 call from “a juvenile caller advising his step-father had shot his mother.” (Police suspect the case was a murder-suicide plot orchestrated by Duffey though the investigation is ongoing.)
The shocking crime was preceded by Gilson taking out an order of protection against Duffey on the same day in June as a local mother asked for her own restraining order on behalf of her teenage daughter. The mother’s petition alleged that Duffey sexually abused her daughter while coaching her basketball team. (Duffey was being investigated for the alleged sexual abuse by Oklahoma police at the time of his death.)
Weeks after she was granted an order of protection, Gilson publicly accused Duffey of pedophilia in a July 11 TikTok video. The hairstylist took part in a TikTik trend where she pretended to be interviewed for a true-crime documentary.
“Preparing for when Netflix drops a documentary about my soon-to-be ex-husband, who I just found out is a pedophile,” she wrote over the clip, while captioning the video, “I wish I was joking.”
@mrsgilson I wish I was joking. #plottwist #netflix #documentary
While the clip has now gone viral with more than 2.3 million “likes,” Landers told TMZ on Thursday that he hopes the video is not how Gilson is remembered.
“The world sees her TikTok video and they assume that’s who she is. That’s not her. She was a mom. That’s the real her,” he insisted.
As for Duffey, his ex-wife, Stephanie Ramsay, revealed earlier this week that the alleged killer will not have a funeral because his family do not want to honor his memory. Instead, Ramsay and Duffey’s five children have chosen to have him cremated so his remains can be put in a private family funeral plot.
Details are emerging about Gilson and Duffey’s troubled marriage, including information about alleged financial and legal issues. Per The Oklahoman, Gilson previously filed a restraining order against Duffey in 2021 but it was dismissed when she did not attend a hearing.
Us obtained court documents showing that Duffey filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2024 and listed a Glock 19 pistol, valued at $450, as one of his assets at the time. He listed Sara as a codebtor and specified her monthly income as a hairstylist and influencer at just over $3,000.
Jeremiah “Shawn” Duffey and Sara Gilson. Courtesy TikTok / Sara Gilson
However, Duffey allegedly told the Owasso Police Department in Oklahoma in March 2024 that his semi-automatic handgun was allegedly stolen from his car. According to a police report obtained by Us, he claimed that his “vehicle had been broken into and items [were] stolen,” including a handgun he valued at $800.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential support. If you or someone you know is experiencing child abuse, call or text Child Help Hotline at 1-800-422-4453.
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