Finding a go-to summer dress can feel like a full-time job. The piece can’t be tight, fancy or fussy, but rather comfy, flattering and expensive-looking. Well, the search is over! We found the Goldilocks of dresses, one that screams “I summer in Capri” even when you’re just running to brunch. It’s only $30!

This Anrabess Summer Maxi Dress is the floral sundress shoppers (over 16,000, to be exact) choose for vacation photos, patio parties and date nights. It’s the easiest way to look polished and put together without even trying. Plus, the breezy shape skims right past your midsection, genius for concealing love handles, while the relaxed neckline manages fuller busts. It’s a no-brainer!

Get the Anrabess Summer Maxi Dress for $30 (was $35) at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate at the date of publication but are subject to change.

Better yet, this sleeveless maxi dress feels like loungewear. The fabric is lightweight and flowy, so it moves with you instead of clinging in all the wrong places. Sweat-wicking action is a cherry on top.

Related: Jennifer Garner‘s Colorful Sundress Nods to a Divisive But Chic Retro Style

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Jennifer Garner rarely leans into polarizing styles, but her latest colorful sundress left the internet chatting. The verdict is in: With Garner’s approval, ombré is making a comeback. We found her retro look for only $30 on Amazon! Garner wore a flowy gradient-style sundress, a simple black cardigan and a structured leather tote. The dress […]

Although we adore the dreamy blue version, this dress comes in dozens of rich mom varieties: think soft florals, dreamy neutrals and a few statement patterns that look straight off a boutique rack in Positano.

Shoppers say this flowy dress checks every box, highlighting the buttery-soft fabric, cute prints and mega flattering design. One happy shopper wrote, “I like how the neckline is, and it covers up my armpit fat in the front and side — you know what I mean ladies. Love the slit up the side for a little sexy. Cellulite is not visible from behind.”

Another five-star fan shared, “It hid my love handles, and the length was perfect. Also loved the pockets. The top fits nicely. I have wider shoulders and a big chest and it was just right.”

Pair this dress with woven slides and a straw tote and people will assume you spent a fortune. Throw on white sneakers and a denim jacket, and suddenly it’s a perfect weekend errand dress. This maxi dress earns its closet space all summer.

The sale price won’t last forever, so if you see your size, snag it ASAP!

Get the Anrabess Summer Maxi Dress for $30 (was $35) at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate at the date of publication but are subject to change.

Looking for something else? Explore more summer dresses and don’t forget to check out all of Amazon’s Daily Deals for more great finds!

Related: These 17 Flowy Rich Mom Sundresses Hide the ‘Mommy Tummy Well‘ — From $5

Kiddos are a beautiful thing, but bodies (and self-esteem) can take a hit. If your tummy is your primary concern, there’s a flattering sundress for that! These loose, breezy picks are designed not only to conceal your belly but also to elevate your aesthetic tenfold. Even better, these reviewer-loved finds start at just $5! Think rich mom energy […]

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 19 seconds ago

Gene Roddenberry is a geek icon for a reason. The man created Star Trek, the best sci-fi franchise in the world. To the biggest fans, The Original Series and spinoffs like The Next Generation weren’t just great TV shows: they were visions of a better world, one that gave hope and inspiration to those who most needed it. Because of this and so much more, Roddenberry is downright revered. He was a talented writer, a gifted visionary, and a kind of adoptive father to fans all over the world. But he was also something a bit more down to Earth: one of the randiest men to ever walk the planet.

Roddenberry worked for the LAPD before working on TV shows, and he was notorious for having affairs with secretaries. This continued when he began working on Star Trek, and at one point, he tried to keep an open relationship with Nichelle Nichols (who played Uhura) and Majel Barrett (who would become his second wife). Basically, Roddenberry loved to play the field, and this occasionally resulted in changes to his most famous show. Specifically, he cast a young woman in Trek’s second pilot so he could have sex with her. When that didn’t pan out, her role went to Grace Lee Whitney, who became one of Star Trek’s earliest female icons.

Even Captains Need A Secretary

This story goes back to the earliest days of Star Trek. Gene Roddenberry had gotten some good news, bad news from NBC. The bad news was that they didn’t like his original pilot for the show, “The Cage,” which featured Captain Pike commanding the Enterprise. The good news was that they liked the concept of the show enough that they offered Roddenberry the unprecedented chance to do a second pilot episode. That episode was “Where No Man Has Gone Before,” which featured entirely new actors (like William Shatner), an actor Roddenberry had wanted all along (DeForrest Kelley), and one returning actor from the original pilot (Leonard Nimoy). 

The aforementioned actors all played major roles throughout the entirety of Star Trek: The Original Series. But the show also had plenty of smaller roles. According to studio executive Herb Solow (as recorded in Inside Star Trek: The Real Story), Gene Roddenberry went out of his way to cast Andrea Domm as Captain Kirk’s yeoman. She was a model and fit the mold for the part. In the original pilot, Kirk also had a beautiful female yeoman, one who was played by Laurel Goodwin. This was Domm’s first acting job, but her role was nonetheless intended to become an ongoing character.

The Captain Doesn’t Always Get The Girl

At least, that was the case on paper. According to Solow, the role of yeoman was a “non-part.” He claimed that, “during the casting process, director Jimmy Goldstone overheard Gene say, ‘I’m hiring her because I want to score with her.” While Solow didn’t have any direct confirmation (after all, this was already secondhand information), he felt pretty confident that things didn’t work out for Roddenberry. “It was not only a non-part, I’m sure it was a non-score as well.” 

After “Where No Man Has Gone Has Gone Before,” Dromm never appeared in Star Trek again. Is it because she didn’t hook up with Roddenberry? Nope. She left of her own accord to star in The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming. Later, she felt some regret at exiting a sci-fi franchise that got wildly popular in favor of starring in an obscure movie. Solow had no regrets about her exit, though: after watching the episode, he created a hilariously mean fake news bulletin that read, “SEXY YEOMAN ANDREA DROMM FAILS TO SIZZLE! SLIPS INTO SUSPENDED ANIMATION!”

After this, Andrea Dromm’s only real impact on the franchise is that NBC inexplicably put her and William Shatner on the front cover of a brochure advertising their upcoming 1966-1967 television season, even knowing she had already exited the franchise. Fortunately, everything worked out: Dromm was replaced by Grace Lee Whitney, whose Yeoman Janice Rand became a beloved minor character on The Original Series and even made minor appearances in several films and even Star Trek: Voyager. Now, was Whitney the third beautiful, blonde yeoman in a row, after Laurel Goodwin and Andrea Dromm? Well, yes. But nobody ever accused Gene Roddenberry of not having a type!

Whew! Jaidyn Alexis is once again finding herself at the center of online chatter after a recent livestream moment sparked new conversation across social media. The influencer and entrepreneur, known for frequently addressing rumors head-on, made it clear she wasn’t here for the speculation as questions about her personal life started circulating during the live session.

RELATED: Yikes! Karlissa Saffold Harvey Reacts After Chrisean Rock Calls Out Blueface For Getting Three Women Pregnant (VIDEOS)

Jaidyn Alexis Shuts Down Pregnancy Rumors On Live

In a clip making rounds this week, Jaidyn Alexis goes live as someone off-camera asks why people keep questioning whether she’s pregnant. Visibly irritated, she quickly shuts the rumor down, responding, “I’m not pregnant, let’s just clarify. I’m not pregnant…” before going off on critics, adding, “I don’t know why weird crackhead people think that they need to go on the internet and talk about me when they need to figure out the definition of physical therapy and Fisher Price, sorry. Let’s just leave it at that.” The brief exchange fuels more online discussion as fans debate the intensity of her response while others point out how often she addresses similar rumors. Watch the clip, here.

Here’s What Sparked Jaidyn Alexis To Clear The Air

Now here’s what sparked her comments — during a recent live, Chrisean reacted to questions about Blueface allegedly reaching out to her about their child, but said she feels his messages have been “doing the most.” She pointed to his rumored situation with multiple women expecting children as part of the reason she thinks his energy has shifted. “He got three girls pregnant right now, and that’s why, he doing what he doing, how he doing it,” she said in the clip, tying his personal life to the ongoing tension between them. Chrisean went on to stress that she’s trying to stay out the way and avoid further drama, adding, “I don’t like the drama. I don’t like being on the scenes with any of that stuff for real. I really don’t,” as she made it clear she’s focused on keeping her distance from the chaos.

Blueface’s Mom Enters Chat Amid Online Drama

As previously reported, even Blueface’s mom, Karlissa, has entered the chat after clips from Chrisean Rock’s recent livestream started circulating online. The moment gained traction after LiveBitez reposted the footage, sparking fresh commentary and bringing Karlissa into the conversation with her own pointed reaction.

Karlissa jumped straight into the comment section, suggesting Chrisean only decided to speak out because of Jaidyn Alexis. In her view, the timing of Chrisean’s comments may be tied to circulating rumors that Jaidyn could be open to giving Blueface another chance—claims Jaidyn herself has not publicly confirmed. Karlissa didn’t hold back in her response, writing, “Here we go 😂 He don’t want her and the only reason she coming is because the devil told her Jaidyn is thinking of giving him another chance. Watch what I tell y’all,” adding even more fuel to the already ongoing back-and-forth between all parties involved.

RELATED: Clocked It? Chrisean Rock Speaks Out After Going Viral For Spending Time With Blueface (UPDATE)

After a major development like a divorce, whispers of the root cause usually swamp the media, and Jelly Roll and Bunnie Xo are no exceptions!

Fresh reports suggest the couple’s split may have been years in the making, despite their public displays of affection and support.

Jelly Roll and Bunnie Xo have faced speculation about their marriage before; however, new claims now suggest deeper issues may have been brewing behind closed doors.

The news of Jelly Roll and Bunnie Xo’s divorce may have shocked fans, but a source suggests the split had been building for some time. The country star filed for divorce after nearly a decade of marriage, citing irreconcilable differences.

A source close to Jelly Roll revealed that the pair had “always had a complicated dynamic” dating back to the early days of their relationship. Before becoming a couple, the two shared a platonic friendship that eventually developed into a romance.

The insider explained that both Jelly Roll and Bunnie were in very different places when they first met. Their relationship endured years of ups and downs as they worked to build a life together despite personal and financial challenges.

The Couple Reportedly Wanted Different Futures

Despite their history together, sources suggest the couple gradually grew apart. The insider explained that there was no single moment that caused the marriage to collapse.

Instead, the source claimed the pair were no longer on the same page about certain aspects of their future. PEOPLE reported that Jelly Roll’s growing focus on his health, career, and long-term goals contributed to the shift.

Although the marriage has reportedly come to an end, the source stressed that the pair still care deeply about each other. Behind the public appearances and social media posts, however, challenges were unfolding away from the spotlight.

Jelly Roll’s Life Took A Different Direction

As speculation surrounding the divorce continued, new reports suggested the couple’s personal evolution may have contributed to the split. The pair overcame years of challenges together, but sources claimed they eventually found themselves on different paths.

One major point of difference reportedly centered on Jelly Roll’s growing faith. The Daily Mail reported that the singer’s embrace of Christianity became a significant part of his public image and personal journey. Sources claimed the shift no longer aligned with some aspects of Bunnie Xo’s lifestyle and public persona.

Insiders also suggested disagreements over expanding their family created additional strain. The couple had previously spoken openly about their efforts to have children together. However, sources claimed ongoing tensions and differing priorities made it difficult to move forward with those plans.

The divorce filing continued to attract attention as fans closely monitored the couple’s social media activity. Interest in the split intensified after several online changes were spotted shortly after the news became public.

Jelly Roll appeared to acknowledge the situation when he removed Bunnie Xo’s name from his Instagram bio. The change came just days after reports surfaced that he had filed for divorce in May. The Blast noted that fans quickly noticed the update and began discussing its significance online.

Neither Jelly Roll nor Bunnie Xo publicly addressed the filing at the time. However, the singer’s social media activity fueled fresh speculation about the state of their relationship. For many fans, the subtle change spoke louder than an official statement ever could.

Jelly Roll’s Daughter Defended Her Family Amid The Rumors

Bailee Ann was among the first family members to react after news of the divorce began dominating headlines. The 18-year-old addressed the growing speculation on social media and made it clear she was unhappy with the public scrutiny surrounding the situation.

Bailee slammed people for becoming invested in what she described as a private family matter. The teenager wrote that she was “disgusted” by the attention the divorce was receiving and urged people to focus on their own lives instead.

Although she acknowledged the public interest, she stopped short of discussing the split itself. Her reaction drew even more attention because of her close relationship with Bunnie Xo.

Over the years, the podcast host has frequently spoken about helping raise Bailee and often referred to her as her daughter. As speculation continues to surround the divorce, Bailee’s response serves as a reminder that the headlines involve a real family navigating a difficult chapter.

Lil Nas X has been largely absent from social media since early 2025. During his time away, the rapper also made headlines following his August 2025 arrest in Los Angeles after allegedly walking through the streets wearing only underwear and boots before eventually becoming fully nude. Now, the singer has officially returned to the internet, sharing an update on his mental health journey, personal growth, and what he’s been working on during his time away.

RELATED: Lil Nas X Speaks Out As His Lawyer Seeks To Move His Felony Battery Case To Diversion Program (UPDATE)

Lil Nas X Returns From Social Media Hiatus With A Mental Health Update

On Wednesday, Lil Nas X returned to the internet with a post that read, “welllll HELLLO!” In his video, the rapper shared an update on his mental health journey, revealing that he has spent the last few months in rehab while focusing on his healing and personal growth.

While spending time between Atlanta and Los Angeles, Lil Nas X said he’s been prioritizing time with friends and family while learning how to get out of his own head. He also opened up about accepting his bipolar disorder diagnosis after years of struggling with it. He shared:

“When I got my bipolar disorder diagnosis, I feel like I had known for the past three years but I didn’t want to admit to it because I didn’t want to take medication… or have people think different of me. Like I’m already Black and gay… Damn God gave me like… Black, gay, bipolar. I’m living life on extreme hard mode. But on a serious note, I’m doing much better. I’m feeling better and I’m creating freely. It’s less fear in my heart. I’m smelling the roses.”

Lil Nas X Teases His Next Music Era

The rapper also reflected on his music career and the growth he’s experienced over the past seven years. While Lil Nas X confirmed that new music is on the way, he shared that he’s not quite ready to get into the details just yet. However, he said he’s excited to bring fans along for this next chapter of his journey. The singer added:

“We’ve been through so much together. Thank you guys for holding it down. I love you and all I want to do is continue to try to make you proud and make myself proud. So let’s go, Dreamboy. Let’s go.” 

Social Media Reacts 

Many supporters gathered across social media to send Lil Nas X encouraging messages and well wishes following his update. 

Instagram user @syck.sydd wrote, “He looks wonderful. Im so happy hes feeling better”

Instagram user @queenie_nirvana added, “It’s so many adults walking around with mental disorders but don’t know it.Because we just pass things off like oh this person got an attitude or mean. Or hype, but no something be really wrong with people. Blessings to him tho 🔥”

While Instagram user @originall. deee wrote, “It takes a lot of courage to identify that you O need help and act on it.#mentalhealthmatters”

Instagram user @back.2.bored wrote, “Shout out him for being so transparent with • the internet even after being judged so harshly. Being able to talk about hardships, mental health and mental HELP is not only important but admirable. Love Nas even more.”

Instagram user added Instagram @trevorjarod wrote, “Happy men’s mental health month! Praying for his healing and recovery”

RELATED: Real Deal! Lil Nas X’s Dad Speaks On Son’s Viral Arrest & Shares Message Rapper Wants “Everybody” To Know

By Robert Scucci
| Published 11 seconds ago

If you’re into randomly selected death lotteries, then Circle is just the film for you. This tense science-fiction psychological horror-thriller will make you question your own morality and sense of humanity, and for that reason it became an instant cult-classic upon its release in 2015. But like many movies that get the video-on-demand treatment before fading into obscurity on the streaming market, Circle was tragically overlooked, and that’s why we’re here to talk about it.

Sudden Death Elimination

Circle takes place in a single room, and boasts a considerably large cast of 50 relatively unknown actors. In fact, a quick glance on the movie’s Wikipedia page will show you that there are hardly any blue links on the actor’s names, and most characters don’t even get proper noun treatment.

Normally this does not bode well for a film, because more often than not, you need some star power to sell a movie. But in the case of this harrowing tale, the artistic choice to keep the audience from getting too attached to the characters makes sense because a lot of them die.

Inspired by 12 Angry Men, Circle has a simple, yet menacing plot. 50 strangers wake up in a mysterious room, standing in two rows of circles. It doesn’t take long to find out that somebody will get killed every two minutes, and their body will be dragged out of the room. To make matters worse, if anybody tries to escape, they will also get killed, and the clock is always ticking.

The Monster Inside Us All

What makes Circle so effective in its storytelling is that there is no visible antagonist or monster. But when we find out that the surviving participants can actually cast votes over who meets their demise next, we learn that there’s a monster inside of each and every individual subjected to this test.

The monster comes in the form of rationalizing who is less worthy of surviving based on race, age, preexisting illnesses, and other factors, and it doesn’t take long for the group to break off into blocs who disagree over how to navigate their way out of such a torturous situation.

Circle’s storytelling illustrates one of those psychological experiments that is hard to watch play out, but will keep you engaged throughout the entirety of its tight, 87-minute run time. And what makes the entire nightmare scenario so real to viewers is the fact that the victims in this experiment aren’t necessarily bad people, but ones who have potential to make heavy-handed decisions about other people’s lives while in a heightened state.

But still, we watch sympathetically and with horror as they not only try to figure out how to buy time to stop their fellow captors from being systematically killed off, but also try to spare themselves.

Circle Has Officially Fallen Through The Cracks

Some difficulties came about during the production of Circle. Filming a movie with a small ensemble cast across various settings is one thing, but requiring all 50 cast members to be available every day to shoot on a small set made for a tense filming experience.

Michael Nardelli, the star and producer of the film suggested that the psychological extremes that were faced while filming made it difficult for the cast to wind down after a long day of shooting.

Despite having a relatively soft release, Circle fared relatively well on the critical front with a 57 percent critical score on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics compared the thematic elements of the film to The Twilight Zone for its overarching moral conundrum, and more recent reviews suggest that some themes run parallel to 2021’s Squid Game in regard to its “kill-or-be-killed” plot.

Circle was shot in its entirety within a two-week period, and this kind of immediacy only adds to the suspense. You’ll find yourself sitting at the edge of your seat wondering who will be next to meet their fate, as well as wondering what kind of evil force is orchestrating the entire experiment in the first place.

In Circle no one is safe, and this form of storytelling makes for inherently compelling drama. You’d think that a movie set in a single room would be a drag, but directors Aaron Hann and Mario Miscione knew the assignment. The pacing is so deliberate, and life-or-death decisions are made at such an alarming rate, that you can’t help but get sucked in.

As of this writing, the only way to watch Circle is through physical media purchases, which are few and far between. Since its departure from Netflix in October, 2025, no other platform has acquired the streaming rights.

Mike Myers is setting the record straight about the possibility of “Austin Powers 4,” a sequel fans have been hoping for since the release of the third movie, “Austin Powers in Goldmember,” in 2002. More than two decades later, Myers offered a one-word response that has ignited excitement among fans, though he stopped short of sharing any other details about the franchise’s future.

It has been almost 30 years since Mike Myers first graced the silver screen as groovy British secret agent Austin Powers, and fans of the franchise have been waiting for a fourth film after the third installment came out in 2002.

Recently, Myers was a guest on “Trevor Noah’s World Cup Watch Party,” and the host read some questions from fans, one of them being, “Are we ever going to see an Austin Powers 4?” Noah barely finished the question when Myers swiftly answered, “Yes.”

“Wow, that was a quick yes,” Noah noted. Despite confirming that “Austin Powers 4” is happening, Myers didn’t divulge any other details about the project.

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Some Cast Members Reunited For A Verizon Ad

On June 16, Verizon released a new advertisement featuring some of the most beloved characters from “Austin Powers,” including Myers as Dr. Evil, Seth Green as his son Scott Evil, Rob Lowe as Young Number 2, and Mindy Sterling as Frau Farbissina. Jay Roach, who helmed all three “Austin Powers” movies, also directed the commercial.

The ad has Dr. Evil sharing his latest idea, Menace Mobile, a communications company. “We’ll have the most confusing pricing and plans of all time,” the villain says.

In an interview with Adweek, Verizon’s SVP of creative and brand design, Ricardo Aspiazu, said, “Dr. Evil is a permanent fixture in modern culture: the memes, catchphrases, and GIFs still flood social media across all generations. The choices weren’t about tracking decades, they were about tracking relevance.”

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Mike Myers Talked About The Possibility A Fourth Movie In The Past

In 2024, Myers was asked about the possibility of a fourth movie, but he refused to answer directly, only saying he could “neither confirm nor deny” the project. He did, however, say that there were “absolutely” more stories to tell in the franchise.

Speaking with IGN in 2012, Myers said he already had a “fully conceived idea” for what the fourth movie could be about, teasing that it would be from Dr. Evil’s perspective rather than Austin Powers’. “So if you balanced how much of it was Austin with Dr. Evil, it’s more about Dr. Evil than Austin,” he explained.

The actor shared the same sentiment in 2019. Myers said, “It’s likely to be from Dr. Evil’s point of view. But again, I can neither confirm nor deny such existence. That’s all I’m going to say.”

Cast Member Speaks About Movie’s Delay

Clint Howard, who played Radar Operator Johnson Ritter in all three “Austin Powers” movies, told The Hollywood Reporter that he would absolutely agree to appear in another movie if asked. The actor also shared the possible reason for the fourth movie’s delay.

“I heard that when Verne passed away, Mike said he would never do another ‘Austin Powers’ movie without Verne. Maybe time heals that wound,” Howard said.

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Verne Troyer, who played Dr. Evil clone Mini-Me in the second and third installments, died in 2018. His cause of death was alcohol intoxication, and the manner of death was determined to be a suicide.

Director Jay Roach spoke to The Independent in 2019 and said that Troyer’s Mini-Me was a character he and Myers wanted to explore further in the fourth film. “If Mike cracks it and figures it out, we would definitely do some kind of tribute to him,” he added.

Mike Myers Created Austin Powers As A Tribute To His Father

In 2017, Myers shared the inspiration behind creating “Austin Powers.” The actor told The Hollywood Reporter that his father was influential in his love for comedy and introduced him to James Bond, The Beatles, Dudley Moore, and Peter Sellers. His father passed away in 1991.

Myers wrote a draft of the script in 1995 and showed it to Roach, who helped develop it. “Jay and I would sit around and think, ‘What if Austin Powers were based on an obscure British comic book that we were turning into a movie?’”

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The Austin Powers franchise has grossed more than $676 million across three movies: “Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery” (1997), “Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me” (1999), and “Austin Powers in Goldmember” (2002).

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 1 hour ago

Marvel fans have a lot to look forward to this year. In December, we’ll get Avengers: Doomsday, an ensemble blockbuster that will bring Chris Evans and Robert Downey Jr. back to the MCU along with plenty of marvelous multiversal cameos. And on July 31st, we’ll be getting Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which has its titular web-head teaming up with the Punisher to fight everyone from the Hand to the Hulk. However, some fans are understandably nervous that these movies will disappoint because Marvel has had a very spotty record for the last half-decade or so.

Those fans will likely breathe a sigh of relief when they watch the latest trailer for Spider-Man: Brand New Day. The trailer gives us our closest look yet at some of Spidey’s foes, including Scorpion, Hulk, Hand ninjas, and Sadie Sink’s psychic character that’s almost certainly Jean Grey. All of it looks very exciting and might be enough to convince you that Marvel finally has the juice again. But what, exactly, has fans so excited about this trailer? Below, you’ll get our definitive breakdown of every punch, kick, and (most importantly) every thwip. 

A newer, angrier Spider-Man

The latest Spider-Man: Brand New Day trailer begins with Spider-Man fighting Scorpion, who’s looking downright terrifying in his new gear. The fight goes a little too well; Spidey kicks his butt and even slams the supervillain into an approaching cop car. Meanwhile, Spidey provides narration about how he’s losing his mind and feeling out of control. This is almost certainly tied to one of the movie’s bigger plots: Spider-Man’s DNA is mutating, giving him new abilities (like organic webbing) and a serious attitude problem.

That sends him to seek help from Bruce Banner, who has suppressed his Hulk side through a kind of nullifier device. As Peter Parker, our hero wonders if such a device could help him suppress parts of his own DNA, but Banner wonders how the young man could separate the good and bad parts of himself. 

Is Jean Grey The Big Bad?

We see Spider-Man being briefed about a new villain who can take over people’s minds, freeze their bodies, and generally remote control anyone to have creepy conversations with Spider-Man. Our hero’s Spidey-sense gives him some kind of immunity to her abilities, making him the only man who can stop her. But that gets a lot harder when the bad guy unleashes the monster inside Bruce Banner, freeing the Grey Hulk persona. Hulk then attacks Spider-Man, either because he is being mind-controlled to do so or simply because he is filled with uncontrollable rage. 

Quick sidebar here: ever since Sadie Sink was cast in the MCU, fans have speculated that she would be playing Jean Grey, one of the earliest members of the X-Men. Marvel and Sink have demurred on this point, frequently claiming that she could be playing any number of possible characters. Given all of the telepathic and telekinetic abilities on display, many fans think this trailer confirms the Stranger Things star is playing the marvelous mutant. Why is she the bad guy, though? Chances are this is all a bit of major misdirection (more on this in a bit).

Old Friends And New

The Spider-Man: Brand New Day trailer also has quieter scenes featuring Peter Parker meeting Ned and MJ. At first, he digitally stalks them from afar thanks to Ned’s quirky livestreams. Later, he meets them in person in a scene that confirms that neither of them remembers who he is. Later, though, MJ trusts Spider-Man to swing her to safety, indicating that there may still be a spark of attraction inside Peter’s former girlfriend.

To keep her safe, Spider-Man brings MJ to the Punisher, who is apparently a kind of frenemy. Nonetheless, Big Pun gets recruited into Spider-Man’s battle, one that looks like it will be filled with enemies. In addition to Scorpion, Sadie Sink’s character, and Tombstone (who doesn’t even appear in this trailer), Spidey will be fighting a small army of Hand ninjas inside a prison. We get a cool battle scene with them (two words: web tornado!), some bittersweet narration from the deceased Aunt May about power and responsibility, and a final gag where Spider-Man is discussing the importance of stretching to a prison security guard he is about to fight.

A Multiverse Of Misdirection

This Spider-Man: Brand New Day trailer does a great job of building hype for the movie, showing us a mixture of cool scenes and over-the-top action. However, the trailer plays very coy about what the overall plot will be. Beyond Spider-Man trying to fix his mutating DNA, what’s up with the people he is fighting? And if Sadie Sink really is playing Jean Grey, why is she the bad guy in a Spider-Man movie of all things? The answer is misdirection. You see, the trailer only gives us a brief glimpse of Scorpion, and we don’t see the movie’s other two villains (Tombstone and Boomerang) at all.

In all likelihood, Jean Grey isn’t the real villain, but she is a threat to the city government. The Wonder Man series showed us how Damage Control is starting to round up rogue superhumans. That might include mutants or just anyone the government finds sufficiently threatening. Jean is likely on the run from Damage Control and maybe seeking to actively liberate mutants they are holding. That’s likely why Spider-Man is fighting ninjas in the prison: he is liberating someone from jail, either Jean or someone unfairly imprisoned.

Caught In The Spider’s Web

Overall, the Spider-Man: Brand New Day trailer proves that Marvel still has the juice. It looks like this film could be the best of both worlds: a killer standalone Spidey film and a cameo-filled blockbuster with major repercussions for the MCU. How major are we talking? No matter who Sadie Sink’s playing, we already know she’s going to pop back up in Avengers: Secret Wars. At this point, I’m all in on her playing Jean Grey.

But will the actual movie live up to all this hype? Is the trailer proof that Marvel has a great film on its hands, or just proof they have a talented editor? We’ll find out in just a little under a month and a half when Spider-Man: Brand New Day swings into theaters on July 31. Come for the organic webbing and stay for the knockdown, drag-out fight between Spidey and Hulk!