Entertainment
13 Stylish Flowy Pants for Summer You Can Shop at Walmart
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If your social media feeds look anything like ours, you’ve probably noticed one trend popping up everywhere lately: flowy pants. From breezy linen-inspired styles paired with tank tops to wide-leg silhouettes styled with oversized button-downs, these effortless bottoms have become the unofficial uniform of summer. They’re comfortable, flattering and somehow manage to make even the simplest outfit look thoughtfully put together.
The only downside? Many of the pairs dominating Pinterest boards come with price tags that can make your cart feel a little less appealing. That’s why Walmart’s selection is such a pleasant surprise. The retailer is stocked with easy, expensive-looking flowy pants that capture the same relaxed aesthetic for a fraction of the cost. Whether you’re heading on vacation, running errands or simply trying to survive a heat wave in style, these affordable finds deserve a spot in your rotation.
13 Flowy Pants That Look Like They Came From a Boutique
1. Pinterest Favorite: Barrel-leg pants have completely taken over fashion feeds lately, and this pull-on pair is one of the easiest ways to try the trend. The high-rise fit, tapered ankle and structured seam details create that cool, fashion-editor silhouette everyone seems to be wearing. Plus, stretchy scuba fabric makes them so comfortable for all-day wear.
2. Coastal Escape: These striped gauze pants look like they belong in a vacation photo dump from Nantucket. The relaxed wide-leg shape feels breezy and effortless, while the beaded side ties add a playful, beachy touch. Just add a white tank and sandals for instant coastal-granddaughter energy.
3. Linen-Look Luxury: Every summer wardrobe needs at least one pair of easy linen-blend pants. This flowy, wide-leg style delivers that expensive-looking resort aesthetic without the designer price tag. They’re the kind of bottoms you’ll throw on for brunch, errands, flights and beach vacations alike.
4. Boho Dream: Statement pants are big this season, and this eyelet harem pair definitely stands out. The embroidered fabric creates a gorgeous layer of texture on the airy, voluminous silhouette. Pair them with a fitted tank and let the pants do all the talking.
5. Tailored Ease: These wide-leg cotton trousers strike the perfect balance between polished and relaxed. The high-rise waist and fluid silhouette create a long, lean look that feels elevated enough for the office but still comfortable enough for weekend plans. They look especially chic with a tucked-in tee and leather slides.
Linen pants promise breezy summer comfort, but somehow they always end up wrinkled by lunch, riding up in all the wrong places and needing constant readjusting. Sure, they look effortless in theory . . . just not always in real life. It’s why we went on a hunt for a better alternative. As it turns […]
6. Beach Club Vibes: The crochet waistband is what makes these beach pants feel special. Lightweight and flowy, they’re ideal for tossing over a swimsuit during the day or styling with a cropped tank for sunset dinners. The laid-back silhouette gives off effortless vacation energy.
7. Sporty Chic: Track pants are trending, and this wide-leg pair feels especially fresh. The bold side stripes give them a cool retro vibe, making them look more street-style-inspired than gym-class throwback. Wear them with sneakers and a fitted tee for an easy off-duty look.
8. Fashion Insider: If your Pinterest board is full of elevated basics, these pleated barrel pants belong in your cart. The tailored details give them a polished finish, while the curved-leg silhouette feels fresh and fashion-forward. They instantly make simple tops look more interesting.
9. Model-Off-Duty: These relaxed, tailored pants capture that effortless “just threw this on” look. Front pleats and a slouchy fit create beautiful movement, and the elastic waistband keeps them comfortable enough for everyday wear. They’re destined to become a wardrobe staple you’ll reach for all the time!
10. Tropical Mood: Palm prints always feel like a mini vacation, even if you’re just running errands around town. The relaxed wide-leg shape of these pants flows beautifully as you walk, and the lightweight feel makes them a great choice for hot, sticky summer days. Expect compliments every time you wear them.
11. Everyday Palazzo: There’s a reason palazzo pants never truly go out of style. This flowy drawstring pair creates that long, sweeping silhouette that looks elegant with almost zero effort. Dress them up with wedges or keep things casual with flat sandals and a tank.
12. Vacation Ready: Comfort is the name of the game here. A stretchy smocked waistband offers a flattering fit, and the wide-leg shape creates gorgeous movement. These are exactly the kind of pants you’ll pack for beach trips, cruises and warm-weather getaways.
13. Rich-Looking Trousers: These flowy, wide-leg trousers have the polished appearance of a much pricier pair. The side-button accents add visual interest, and the stretchy back waistband keeps the fit comfortable throughout the day. They’re sophisticated enough for work, but also relaxed enough for dinner on the patio afterward.
There’s a certain kind of summer outfit that feels straight out of the Hamptons — iced coffee in hand, beach breeze, not a single thing clinging where it shouldn’t. Loose, flowy pants are the foundation, keeping things easy, polished and somehow always pulled together, even without trying. It’s the kind of look that appears expensive, […]
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One of Quentin Tarantino‘s favorite movies of 2026 is The Rip, starring Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. The movie was released on Netflix in January, and it went on to amass more than 135 million views thanks to mostly positive reviews. Even though the film didn’t get a theatrical release, Tarantino praised it for reminding him of the cop movies he grew up on in the 1970s and 1980s. In a piece for Sight and Sound magazine, Tarantino praised The Rip as “an exciting cop thriller with a novel premise that manages to deliver the goods in really clever ways.” The movie was directed by Joe Carnahan, who recently made a crime film that drew heavily from the work of Tarantino.
The movie in question received a limited theatrical run in 2021, but tanked at the box office with just around $7 million against a reported budget of $43 million. The movie played like a feature-length extension of one of Tarantino’s trademark face-off scenes. It starred Gerard Butler as a hitman who deliberately gets arrested and sent to the same jail as the con artist he’s tracking. Locked in their respective cells, the two men engage in a tense stand-off. The movie received mostly positive reviews, but it remains rather overlooked because of its unfortunate release.
When To Watch the Quentin Tarantino-Inspired Neo-Noir Movie on Peacock
We’re talking, of course, about Copshop. The film now holds a “Certified Fresh” 83% score on the aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, where the consensus reads, “It doesn’t add many new ingredients to the genre, but action fans in the mood for an old-school thriller will be happy to buy what Copshop is selling.” The film will be added to Peacock on August 1, where fans of Tarantino-style neo-noir crime movies can check it out. The filmmaker is working on his first stage production in London. After he completes work on that project, he’ll begin putting together his long-awaited 10th and final feature film. According to his longtime cinematographer Robert Richardson, the hotly anticipated film will likely be announced some time in 2027. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
- Release Date
-
September 9, 2021
- Runtime
-
108 minutes
- Director
-
Joe Carnahan
- Writers
-
Joe Carnahan, Kurt McLeod, Mark Williams
- Producers
-
Frank Grillo, Gerard Butler, Tai Duncan, Alan Siegel, Warren T. Goz, Mark Williams, James Masciello, Eric Gold, Joe Carnahan
It might not have come as a surprise to many, but most were still taken aback by the recent news that Doctor Who had been put out to competitive tender. This came following a disastrous second tenure for now-former showrunner Russell T. Davies, which saw an ambitious partnership with Disney end in controversy. Ncuti Gatwa‘s new titular Time Lord showed plenty of promise, but off-screen issues cut his time on board the TARDIS short in one of the most divisive finales in the timey-wimey show’s history.
Sadly, news of Doctor Who‘s spiritual cancellation, which “was not taken lightly,” according to a BBC statement, also revealed that the once-promised 2026 Christmas special and hunt for a new star were never true, further hurting the show’s reputation with its die-hard fanbase. But Doctor Who fans are no strangers to controversy, especially considering that the second Davies era, which saw many beloved faces return to the show, was an attempt to rectify the ratings-killer few years under the helm of Broadchurch creator Chris Chibnall.
Following the recent news regarding Doctor Who‘s immediate future, Chibnall himself broke his silence during an interview with BBC Radio Wales. He admitted that the decision was “definitely disappointing,” adding, “I probably had the same reaction as everybody else did. I think it’s a shame that it’s not going to be on for a while.” However, Chibnall has hope that the show will return in a better place, saying, “I hope they’ve got good plans to bring it back. It’s an amazing idea. It’s an amazing series. Hopefully, they’ll find people who, you know, reinvent it for the next generation of kids.” He continued:
“I feel sad for the kids who are not going to have a Doctor for a little while because I think that’s always the amazing thing, when you work on the show, you cast a Doctor and you know that that Doctor is going to be quite a lot of people’s first Doctor. And your first Doctor is a bit like your first love. I think if you watch Doctor Who, it’s a real connection and it’s there for life. So I think it’s a shame it’s not going to be on the air. It’s not the best thing but hopefully people are going to be working to bring it back.”
The BBC Has Finally Responded to ‘Doctor Who’s Cancellation
Although Chibnall’s opinion on the matter is definitely eye-opening, given that he has felt the fury of Whovians before, it was the BBC’s reply that many were waiting for. Incoming Director General of the BBC, Matt Brittin, finally spoke on the issue last week, saying, “That’s a show that has regenerated multiple times in its 60-plus year history, and we’ll do so again.” He added, “I think that’s one of the great things about the 100-year history of the BBC. We can do that, and we can creatively renew shows that people love, and we’ll be working hard on that right now.”
You can stream the most recent Doctor Who seasons on Disney+. Stay tuned to Collider for the latest updates.
- Release Date
-
2024 – 2025-00-00
- Network
-
BBC One
- Directors
-
Alex Pillai, Peter Hoar, Ben Chessell, Julie Anne Robinson, Jamie Donoughue, Amanda Brotchie, Dylan Holmes Williams
- Writers
-
Steven Moffat, Pete McTighe, Kate Herron, Inua Ellams, Juno Dawson
- Franchise(s)
-
Doctor Who / Whoniverse
Looksmaxxing influencer Clavicular was wrestled to the ground and warned he was under a “citizen’s arrest” in shocking viral footage of an alleged altercation in Miami.
A 5-minute video posted by his friend Drago on Friday, July 24, seemingly showed Clavicular (real name Braden Eric Peters) and his pal involved in a scuffle with security workers or bodyguards outside Miami’s City Hall. TMZ reported that the confrontation arose after Clavicular and his friends had a disagreement with other people inside a nearby nightclub.
The footage begins with Clavicular seemingly grappling with a guard before he’s tackled to the asphalt and placed in a headlock.
“You’re under a citizen’s arrest,” the guard shouts at Clavicular.
Looksmaxxing influencer Braden Peters — better known online as Clavicular — has been at the center of several controversies. Peters gained a substantial internet following after joining the “looksmaxxing” community, described as a group of men who “obsess over physical self-improvement in the hope that it’ll improve their dating odds,” according to a February 2026 […]
Clavicular’s friend repeatedly tries to intervene but he’s held at bay by another guard. All four men get physically entangled even though the guard maintains his grip on Clavicular through it all.
At one point, the video shows Clavicular complaining that he is having trouble breathing with the guard’s arm locked around his throat. Police arrived on the scene to separate the parties around three minutes after Clavicular first grappled with the guard.
The video ends with Clavicular sitting in the back of a squad car, though TMZ reported that there is no record of Clavicular having been arrested.
Us has reached out to the Miami-Dade Police Department for clarification on Clavicular’s legal status.
Clavicular’s friend and fellow influencer, Drago, initially shared the startling footage of the incident on Friday, writing via X, “Citizens arrest my ass.”
Clavicular walks the runway during the 424 Menswear Spring/Summer 2027 show. Francois Durand/Getty Images
Shortly after the incident, Clavicular tweeted, “Drago is my right hand man, absolute legend. W Drago.”
Clavicular responded on Saturday, July 25, when fellow manosphere influencer HSTikkyTokky mocked him for “getting chokemaxxed by an old age pensioner [and] taking it like a good boy.”
“Id like to anyone hating to try to have the leverage required to wrestle while wearing 3 inches of height inserts. We arent playing the same game,” Clavicular quipped.
In March, Clavicular was arrested in Fort Lauderdale and charged with misdemeanor battery due to his alleged involvement in a fight between girlfriend, Violet Marie Lentz, and Jenny Popach. At the time, he posted a $1,000 bond and was released from the Broward County Jail.
Us confirmed on April 14 that Clavicular “suffered a suspected overdose” during a livestream and was hospitalized.
Looksmaxxing influencer Clavicular confirmed that his two YouTube channels have been shut down. “Very sad news this morning. My YouTube channels @ LiveWithClav & @ ClavLooksmax were terminated this morning with no warning or explanation,” the 20-year-old internet personality wrote via X on Thursday, April 23. “The channels consisted of livestream VODs and free courses […]
“That was brutal,” he later wrote via X. “All of the substances are just a cope trying to feel neurotypical while being in public, but obviously that isn’t a real solution.”
He has since claimed on the “Hang Out with Sean Hannity” podcast that he passed out because he “literally had not eaten that day, consumed too much alcohol, and [was] just knocked out a little bit.”
“People are acting like they’ve never passed out from drinking a little too much at 20 years old,” Clavicular insisted. “It happens literally all the time in college. It wasn’t a big thing.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
Steven Spielberg has been one of the kings of big-screen science-fiction movies for several generations, as he spent years turning ambitious ideas into major cinematic events, from E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial to Ready Player One. So his return to the genre was eagerly awaited, and it generated plenty of conversation when it arrived in cinemas, with critics divided over its blend of conspiracy thriller, sci-fi and human drama. But now, barely a day into its digital release, the film has already found a sizable new audience.
Disclosure Day is currently the No. 1 movie on the Apple TV Store in both the United States and Canada, according to FlixPatrol, while the film is also charting in several international markets, including Australia, Brazil, Mexico and New Zealand. Released on June 12, 2026, Disclosure Day grossed $236.1 million worldwide against a reported $115 million budget. The film became Spielberg’s highest-grossing release since Ready Player One and delivered the biggest opening for an original Spielberg and Amblin Entertainment title not based on existing intellectual property.
The story follows television meteorologist Margaret Fairchild and cybersecurity analyst Dr. Daniel Kellner as they attempt to expose evidence of extraterrestrial life while facing resistance from a government determined to keep the truth hidden. It’s classic Spielberg with racing against time, an epic John Williams score, and a stunning conclusion.
Who Stars in ‘Disclosure Day’?
The cast of Disclosure Day includes Emily Blunt (A Quiet Place) as Margaret Fairchild, Josh O’Connor (Challengers) as Daniel Kellner, Colin Firth (The King’s Speech) as Noah Scanlon, Eve Hewson (Bad Sisters) as Jane, Colman Domingo (Rustin) as Hugo Wakefield, and Wyatt Russell (Monarch: Legacy of Monsters) as Jackson.
Collider’s Nate Richard hailed the film as a return for Spielberg, and he wrote that Disclosure Day “gave me exactly what I wanted from his return to the alien movie.” Richard also felt that the film didn’t end up being that kind of “alien invasion” movie that some viewers may have been expecting, instead describing it as closer in spirit to Minority Report and A.I. Artificial Intelligence than E.T. or Close Encounters of the Third Kind.
Disclosure Day is available to own on digital right now, with 4K UHD, Blu-ray and DVD editions arriving on August 25.
- Release Date
-
June 12, 2026
- Runtime
-
145 Minutes
Only five days remain until the launch of one of the most anticipated game reboots in recent memory, and the excitement is palpable. Fans will be even more thrilled to learn that they can start playing ahead of the official release, although there is a catch.
As you may already know, Halo is celebrating a major milestone with the release of Halo: Campaign Evolved, which marks the 25th anniversary of both Halo and the Xbox platform. Developed by Xbox Game Studios, the game is a modern reimagining of Halo: Combat Evolved, the first entry in the franchise. While it retains much of the original game’s iconic campaign, it also introduces new gameplay mechanics, weapons, and story content. Among the biggest additions are three new prequel missions that take place before the events of Combat Evolved, following Master Chief and Sergeant Johnson on a mission behind Covenant enemy lines.
Halo: Campaign Evolved launches on July 28, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S. However, players who purchase either the Premium or the Collector’s Edition can begin playing with Early Access as of July 23.
Will Paramount+ Ever Revive the Live-Action ‘Halo’ Series?
Premiering on March 24, 2022, Halo ran for two seasons and 17 episodes before Paramount+ canceled it in July 2024, reportedly due to its high production costs relative to its viewership. Following the cancellation, producers, along with 343 Industries and Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Television, began shopping the series to other platforms in hopes of securing a third season. Many fans were outraged by the cancellation such that they created petitions calling for the series to be saved. Interest in the show also surged after it arrived on Netflix in October 2025, where it climbed the streamer’s charts and introduced the adaptation to a wider audience. Despite that renewed popularity, there has been no official update on a potential third season of Halo.
Halo: Campaign Evolved Early Access began July 23 for players who own the Premium or Collector’s Edition. Stay tuned to Collider for more news about the Halo franchise.
- Release Date
-
2022 – 2024
- Network
-
Paramount+
- Showrunner
-
Kyle Killen
- Directors
-
Jonathan Liebesman, Craig Zisk, Dennie Gordon, Roel Reiné, Debs Paterson
- Writers
-
Justine Juel Gillmer
2026 has been a good year for Solo Leveling fans, as the franchise continues to expand, proving that it is still alive. One of these projects is a live-action adaptation of the popular South Korean WebToon novel that’s currently in production. While a release date has yet to be revealed, fans were given a little taste of what to expect.
Solo Leveling follows the story of Sung Jinwoo, an E-Rank hunter deemed the weakest of all humankind, who is selected by the System to level up his abilities, thus turning him into an S-Rank Hunter. The anime adaptation first came out in 2024 and has released two seasons so far. Following its success, it was announced that a live-action adaptation is in the works and will star Byeon Woo-seok as Sung Jinwoo and Gyeongseong Creature‘s star, Han So-hee, as Cha Hae In. Also confirmed in the live-action cast list is Kang You-seok, set to play Yoo Jin-ho, Sung Jinwoo’s friend.
Over on social media, GQ Korea has revealed that Byeon will be featured on the cover of its August issue. The magazine showcased four images of the South Korean actor, with some hinting towards his lead live-action role. Byeon started his career in 2010, first debuting as a model before becoming an actor. Before he was cast as Sung Jinwoo in Solo Leveling, Byeon starred in numerous K-dramas, such as Lovely Runner, Moonshine, Flower Crew: Joseon Marriage Agency, and Record of Youth. At the moment, the plot of the Netflix adaptation has yet to be revealed.
‘Solo Leveling’ Has Also Confirmed a Movie Is in the Works
Alongside the Netflix live-action adaptation, Sony has confirmed that a film adaptation of Solo Leveling has also entered production. Solo Leveling — Beyond the System — The Movie will be a continuation of the anime adaptation, taking place after the events of Season 2 and following in the footsteps of Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle and Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc‘s box-office success. At the moment, the plot for the feature has yet to be revealed, and a release date has yet to be announced, but there were reports that it could come out in 2027 or 2028. At the same time, the concept trailer for Solo Leveling — Beyond the System claimed that this will serve as the anime’s third season.
Netflix’s live-action Solo Leveling has yet to announce a release date. In the meantime, you can stream Seasons 1 and 2 on Crunchyroll. Follow Collider for more updates.
- Release Date
-
2024 – 2025-00-00
- Network
-
Tokyo MX, Gunma TV, BS11, Tochigi TV
- Directors
-
Tatsuya Sasaki, Toru Hamasaki
- Writers
-
Shigeru Murakoshi, Shingo Irie, Fuka Ishii
-
-
Genta Nakamura
Yoo Jin-ho
When Apple TV+ renewed Dark Matter for a second season, one question immediately followed: how do you continue a story that had already adapted Blake Crouch’s entire bestselling novel? The first season left very little on the table, meaning the creative team suddenly found themselves venturing into completely original territory for the first time. As it turns out, though, they weren’t simply thinking about Season 2.
Season 2 sees Joel Edgerton (The Boys in the Boat) return as Jason Dessen alongside Jennifer Connelly (Top Gun: Maverick) as Daniela, Alice Braga (Queen of the South) as Amanda Lucas, Oakes Fegley (The Fabelmans) as Charlie Dessen, Jimmi Simpson (Westworld) as Ryan Holder, Dayo Okeniyi (The Hunger Games) as Leighton Vance, Amanda Brugel (The Handmaid’s Tale) as Blaire Caplan and Zoë Soul (Prisoners) as Denise.
Speaking with Collider’s Steve Weintraub at San Diego Comic-Con, creator Blake Crouch and executive producer Jacquelyn Ben-Zekry revealed they’d already mapped out a third season alongside the second, with the intention of telling a complete trilogy, and no more than that. Asked how much he was thinking beyond Season 2 while writing entirely new material, Crouch admitted stepping away from the novel was a daunting prospect.
“It’s one of those things that you have to sort of be on both sides. You have to write something that has a definitive ending, but you also have to lay some breadcrumbs in case you continue the story. But being off-book for the second season literally scared the shit out of me, because we didn’t save anything in the book. We blew through everything. We were like, ‘I don’t know if we’re going to do any more of this. Let’s not hold anything back.’ So, usually when I stare at the blank page, it’s for a novel, which I can take years and years and years to do, but this blank page was asking to be filled very, very quickly.”
‘Dark Matter’ Season 2 Will Lead Directly into Season 3
While Season 2 will tell a complete chapter of its own, Ben-Zekry confirmed the writers were already looking beyond it while breaking the story, while Crouch confirmed to Weintraub with a resounding “yes” when asked if they saw the series ending at Season 3, in a perfect world.
“When we were designing Season 2 and pitching it, we actually did Season 3 kind of at the same time, because we imagined it as a trilogy. We really wanted to do the beginning, middle, and end of a story. So, you’ll see when you see this season. It’s definitely set up for more.”
Dark Matter Season 2 premieres on Apple TV+ on September 12.
- Release Date
-
May 7, 2024
- Network
-
Apple TV+
- Directors
-
Jakob Verbruggen, Alik Sakharov, Roxann Dawson, Logan George
- Writers
-
Blake Crouch
Entertainment
Netflix’s Monumental Western Woos Taylor Sheridan’s Audience with 100 Million Hours Viewed
With Ransom Canyon having returned for a second season and Little House on the Prairie still dominating the viewership charts, fans of the Yellowstone franchise have plenty to choose from on Netflix. The streamer has been trying hard to woo fans of Taylor Sheridan‘s work away from Paramount+, after having infamously passed on Yellowstone back in the day. The franchise has emerged as a culture-defining hit at Paramount+, spawning several sequels and drawing huge audiences to this day. Sheridan’s two Yellowstone prequels, 1883 and 1923, also received excellent reviews. However, Netflix’s Little House on the Prairie offers another viewing alternative.
The show is based on the popular children’s books by Laura Ingalls Wilder, which were previously adapted into a long-running NBC series in the 1970s, and then into an ABC limited series in 2005. The new version is spearheaded by Rebecca Sonnenshine, with Luke Bracey, Crosby Fitzgerald, Alice Halsey, and Skywalker Hughes in supporting roles. Little House on the Prairie has received excellent reviews, with Collider’s Maggie Lovitt calling it a “must-watch masterpiece.” The eight-episode series holds a “Certified Fresh” 79% score on the aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, where the consensus reads, “Little House on the Prairie dusts off the ’70s and enters a new era of conscious creation and adaptation, striking the right balance between nostalgia and inspiration to craft a new and enlivened path for itself.”
Here’s Where ‘Little House on the Prairie’ Stands in Terms of Viewership
Netflix appears to be bullish on the series, having renewed it for a second season even before its premiere on July 9. Viewership data shared by the streamer reveals that this was probably a good call. Little House on the Prairie amassed 6.4 million views and 42 million hours viewed in its first week, finishing third. In its second week, the show jumped to the number one spot with 9.8 million views and 65 million hours viewed, replacing the holdover hit I Will Find You at the number one spot worldwide and outperforming the second season of Avatar: The Last Airbender. This puts the show’s total at 16 million views and over 100 million hours viewed in two weeks. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
- Release Date
-
2026 – 2026-00-00
- Network
-
Netflix
- Directors
-
Kat Candler, Julie Anne Robinson, Sydney Freeland, Sarah Adina Smith, Erica Tremblay
- Writers
-
Adam Starks, Eleanor Burgess, Adam Starks, Tom Hanada, Francesca Butler
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Mandalorians, young Jedis, Clone Wars, oh my!
Entertainment
Prime Video’s Most Expensive Fantasy Gamble Is Officially Adapting the Best Part of the Books
All the way back in 2022, approaching Prime Video’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power with skepticism made sense. The entertainment world’s current era of reboots is arguably more frequent, less thoughtfully produced, and less well-received by general audiences. A prequel to the events depicted in director Peter Jackson‘s revered The Lord of the Rings trilogy could’ve easily been a derelict attempt to capitalize on nostalgic iconography, no matter how much lavish beauty the show mined from its astronomical budget. Fast-forward to 2026, and overwhelming success emerged from that leap of faith. The Rings of Power has defied expectations to become a sterling example of contemporary high fantasy television, and it’s as thrilling an adaptation of J. R. R. Tolkien‘s Legendarium as legally possible — capturing his defining philosophies with heartfelt grace, contemplative nuance, and a visible passion for its, well, legendary source material.
Although showrunners J. D. Payne and Patrick McKay‘s decision to spend the first two seasons of their five-season plan establishing assorted narrative set-ups was necessary to achieve maximum long-term payoff, the installments received valid critique regarding how certain storylines were paced. Following the events of Season 2’s tremendous finale, Rings of Power is finally able to turn its Great Eye (terrible pun intended) toward the Legendarium’s weightiest, meatiest material: Sauron (Charlie Vickers), undisguised and unrepentant, forging the One Ring, and Gandalf (Daniel Weyman), once a confused wanderer dubbed the Stranger, claiming his formidable identity. Payne and McKay recently shared how those substantial developments reframe and elevate their already impressive accomplishment to another level.
Introducing the True Gandalf and Sauron Fundamentally Changes ‘The Rings of Power’ Season 3
The Rings of Power Season 3 opens five years after its predecessor. Sauron has secluded himself inside his volcanic fortress of Barad-dûr while the peoples of Middle-earth prepare for the Second Age’s most momentous war. While speaking with Empire magazine, Payne, McKay, Vickers, and Weyman promised that Sauron and Gandalf will enter this upcoming season with fresh clarity and reignited purpose. Weyman paraphrased Payne and McKay’s goals for the character: “We want to see that Gandalf has arrived. We want to see him as the wizard we all love from Tolkien’s writings.” That means a personality similar to Ian McKellen‘s beloved turn with the wardrobe to match, but not before the inexperienced Wizard undergoes a steep learning curve.
Where Sauron’s concerned, Payne teased an immense paradigm shift. “We have a full-on villain this season,” he explained, in a way that contrasts with the slippery Dark Lord having concealed his true intentions behind two separate alter egos. He’s still seeking the elusive three Rings he lost to the Elves, and he’s still a deceptive seducer who aims to weaken his enemies. This time, however, Sauron is openly fashioning his greatest weapon. Reaching this historical turning point significantly raises The Rings of Power‘s stakes and “changes the tone of the show,” according to McKay. “This third season is darker, more dangerous.”
There’s a fantastic symmetry to having these specific characters reach similar developmental points at the same time. If Rings of Power‘s interpretation of the ancient Sauron rarely wavers from his chosen identity, then Gandalf, a semi-newborn Wizard, commits to fulfilling his duty after a self-discovery journey. Tolkien doesn’t engage the two in anything resembling physical combat, but he positions them as opposing ideological forces created by the same supreme deity. Sauron, a profoundly powerful and immortal Maiar, is essentially a fallen angel. Gandalf, another Maiar and one of the wisest Wizards, is sent to Middle-earth in response to Sauron’s reign and remains devoted to preserving goodness; he’s a beacon of hope designed to keep mortal hearts from collapsing into despair.
‘The Rings of Power’s Ambitions Are Higher than Ever in Season 3
The Rings of Power‘s Season 3 evolution has already been a rewarding challenge for the actors. Weyman and Vickers raved about the “unbelievably spine-tingling” and awe-inspiring “privilege and honour,” respectively, of finding themselves charged with immense responsibility. They aren’t the only ones shouldering a mighty task, either. McKay teased the One Ring’s creation as “the single most ambitious, technically challenging sequence we’ve ever done on the show”; Vickers reported that filming the scene encompassed two weeks.
Minor and easily correctable imperfections aside, The Rings of Power needed Seasons 1 and 2. Without those foundations, Payne and McKay couldn’t tee up the massive moments that fans (toxic naysayers need not apply) never expected to see onscreen, and therefore have been anticipating with especially bated breath. The series’ track record with magnificent set pieces that balance astonishing cinematic spectacle and breathtaking character-driven intimacy — look no further than Season 2’s siege of Eregion — all but guarantees Season 3 will prove worth the four-year wait.
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