The Kentucky Derby is already one of the most high-profile events in sports, drawing global attention every year. But this time around, the buzz isn’t just about the horses or the odds. A wave of speculation surrounding Taylor Swift has added an unexpected celebrity twist, putting even more eyes on her relationship with Travis Kelce heading into race day.

Speculation is heating up ahead of the 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, after a viral post claimed Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce may be tied to one of the race’s contenders.

According to a post circulating on X, the couple is rumored to have taken a 10% ownership stake in Derby horse The Puma. “Source tells me that Travis Kelce & Taylor Swift are now 10% owners of Kentucky Derby starter The Puma,” the account wrote.

The claim has not been confirmed, and no official statements from ownership groups, racing insiders, or verified sources have supported it.

Rumor Spreads Beyond Social Media

Despite the lack of confirmation, the speculation has gained serious traction, and it’s not just online. Reports suggest the chatter has made its way to Churchill Downs itself, where trainers, jockeys, and owners are allegedly discussing the possibility of celebrity involvement in the race.

Even without proof, the buzz is only adding to the intrigue of an already high-stakes event. “T. Swift saves horse racing,” one X user wrote as another chimed in with, “big day for for swifties with gambling addiction (me).”

Others, however, note that the Met Gala is the following day, making them skeptical of the rumors.

Co-Owner Fuels Speculation With Cryptic Response

Adding fuel to the fire, Michael Iavarone, a co-owner of The Puma, addressed the rumors in a way that only intensified the conversation.

According to Heavy, Iavarone shared a photo on Instagram, writing, “Ok people. Everyone asking me if Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are partners on The Puma… all I can say is I signed an NDA so I can’t confirm or deny,” adding a winky face emoji. However, it seems the post has since been deleted.

Iavarone, who previously gained national attention as the majority owner of 2008 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Big Brown, stopped short of confirming anything, but his response has only added to the mystery.

Kentucky Derby Spotlight Extends Beyond The Track

While the race itself remains the main event, this year’s Kentucky Derby is also playing a major role in NBC’s milestone celebration. As the network approaches its 100th anniversary, it’s using the high-profile race as the launchpad for its latest NBC100 campaign.

Dubbed “Summer on NBC,” the 30-second promo will air during Derby coverage on both NBC and Peacock, while also rolling out across digital, social, and streaming platforms. The spot highlights the network’s lineup of live programming and major tentpole events, reinforcing its focus on must-watch, real-time viewing.

From fan-favorite competition series like “America’s Got Talent” and “American Ninja Warrior” to live sports coverage including Major League Baseball, the promo also teases major seasonal moments like the Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks and the Summer Olympics, positioning the Derby as more than just a race, but a centerpiece in NBC’s broader summer strategy.

Full Field Revealed As Favorites Begin To Emerge

As of Thursday, the full lineup for the Kentucky Derby is set, with 24 horses officially entered into the race:

Renegade, Albus, Intrepido, Litmus Test, Right To Party, Commandment, Danon Bourbon, So Happy, The Puma, Wonder Dean, Incredibolt, Chief Wallabee, Potente, Emerging Market, Pavlovian, Six Speed, Further Ado, Golden Tempo, Fulleffort, Great White, Ocelli, Robusta, and Corona De Oro.

Heading into race weekend, a few contenders are already separating themselves from the pack. Renegade leads as the early favorite at 5/1 odds, followed closely by So Happy at 6/1. Commandment, The Puma, and Further Ado are also drawing attention at 7/1, positioning them as strong challengers in what’s shaping up to be a highly competitive field.

With the Kentucky Derby set to take place in Louisville as the first leg of the Triple Crown, all eyes will be on how the favorites hold up as odds continue to shift heading into race day.

Erika Kirk is calling out “comedians in whiteface,” Candace Owens, and the media days after the shooting at the White House Correspondent Dinner last weekend. Kirk’s comments come weeks after the internet claimed Druski used her as the inspiration for his viral skit mocking conservative women. In her response, Candace claimed that Charlie Kirk would’ve enjoyed the comedy and said jokes fall under the First Amendment.

RELATED: Wait, WHAT?! President Trump Seemingly Tells Erika Kirk To Sue Druski Over His “Conservative Women” Skit (VIDEO)

Erika Kirk Addresses Candace Owens & Comedians In Clapback Video

On Wednesday (April 29), Erika shared a nine-minute video claiming the United States has become unrecognizable and that the truth is being “perverted.” She spoke about attending the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, the alleged assassination attempt on President Trump, and how she’s perceived online and in the media.

As far as attending the dinner, Erika Kirk said she wanted to meet journalists who have allegedly “attempted to dehumanize” her and she wanted to “meet some of them face-to-face.” She added, “Why have a conversation about me when you can have a conversation with me?” 

In another part of her video, Erika spoke on comedians and “white face.” She didn’t name Druski, but over a month ago, he had the internet in shambles when he dropped a skit about “conservative women.” Scenes in the skit seemed to mirror real-life events, facial expressions and even outfits linked to Mrs. Kirk. At the time, even President Trump suggested she should sue over comedic skits. As for Candace Owens, following Charlie Kirk’s death in September, she’s shared critiques about the incident and his wife.

“I have comedians dressing up in whiteface, I have people saying I’m not fit to be CEO and I have Candace Owens claiming I murdered my husband and the list goes on…” Erika Kirk said.

Erika Kirk calls out Druski and other impersonators:

“Every morning I wake up to a new headline lying about me… I have comedians dressing up in whiteface” pic.twitter.com/l4Fjge3NlQ

— Pop Base (@PopBase) April 29, 2026

Candace Owens Claims She Never Said Erika Murdered Charlie, Text Screenshot Circulates

On Thursday, one day after Erika’s video, Candace Owens responded on X. She explained how she handled Dave Chappelle previously mocking her. Then, she recalled Charlie Kirk’s reaction to a South Park episode about him.

“Were Charlie alive and the subject of the Druski skit, he would have laughed. Whether regarding Jimmy Kimmel, South Park, Chappelle or otherwise–any personl attempting to criminalize jokes is the enemy of free speech. Not one inch,” Candace Owens wrote.

When Dave Chappelle did a skit mocking me during BLM, I responded that I was flattered that he even knew my name.
When South Park did an episode mocking Charlie Kirk, he played it on repeat on his show.
Were Charlie alive and the subject of the Druski skit, he would have…

— Candace Owens (@RealCandaceO) April 30, 2026

Later, Owens reposted a video in a separate tweet as proof. In the video, the late Charlie Kirk says that conservatives need to have “a good spirit about being made fun of,” and keep thick skin, calling all conversation about them a win.

Charlie Kirk’s response to South Park—
He was the real deal and like I told you guys, he really did have the best sense of humor about everything, always. https://t.co/h6QpnOnVSw

— Candace Owens (@RealCandaceO) April 30, 2026

Candace Owens also commented on Erika Kirk’s video as a whole, calling it a “very uncomfortable watch” and a “painful prompter read.”

“A speech CLEARLY written by someone else. Objectively terrible so they will now pay for people to tell us otherwise. Also, of everything I’ve said about Erika she chooses to respond to something I never said. They always lie,” she added in a tweet.

Erika only response at this point appears to be a report of a text screenshot a representative of Turning Point USA shared on X. In the screenshot, a contact labeled as Candace Owens wrote, “I’m asking EVERYTHING. First question: Why did you murder your husband?”

Funny, you said exactly that to my former employee Aubrey. Yes, Aubrey took a screen grab of your chats and bragged about it to her friends. https://t.co/bebossdK93 pic.twitter.com/3VYultSyP9

— Andrew Kolvet (@AndrewKolvet) April 29, 2026

To this point, Candace’s most recent tweet continues to dwell on the First Amendment protection of jokes. And to say THAT, she reposted a 2024 tweet from Charlie Kirk.

RETWEET. 🇺🇸 https://t.co/PGMmbSojIp

— Candace Owens (@RealCandaceO) April 30, 2026

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Why Is Jimmy Kimmel In The Mix? 

Days before a schoolteacher fired shots at the White House, Jimmy Kimmel joked about Melania Trump’s looks. On TV, the ABC host pretended to be hosting the Correspondents’ Dinner. During that, he joked about the First Lady looking like an “expectant widow.” Following the real-life shooting by Cole Tomas Allen, Trump and Melania have called out Jimmy Kimmel and ABC, demanding the host be fired. Trump and Kimmel have had a rivalry for years, though. Additionally, in response, Jimmy said the joke had nothing to do with the shooting, and clarified that it was a dig at the president’s age, which is 79.

RELATED: Whew! Candace Owens Reacts After Erika Kirk Addresses Conspiracy Theories Surrounding Her Husband’s Death (VIDEOS)

The Valley’s Jesse Lally is speaking out after his ex-wife, Michelle Saniei, was recently spotted holding hands with hip-hop icon Dr. Dre.

“Michelle’s divorced and she’s single, and whatever makes her happy is cool,” Jesse, 45, told TMZ while out in Los Angeles on Tuesday, April 28.

“I did not get a heads-up,” the reality TV star added. “I saw it on social media the same way as everybody else.”

“The Dr. Dre thing — didn’t see that one coming!” Jesse said, adding that he never witnessed Michelle, 37, “listen[ing] to rap music, so dating Dr. Dre, good for her.”

Related: The Valley’s Janet Thought Photos of Michelle and Dr. Dre Were ‘AI’

Janet Caperna had to do a double take when she saw photos of her The Valley costar Michelle Saniei holding hands with Dr. Dre. “The first photo I saw was, like, kind of blurry and grainy,” Janet, 40, exclusively told Us Weekly on Wednesday, April 29, referring to the now-viral pics of Michelle, 37, out with Dre, […]

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Jesse noted, however, that the first cassette tape he ever bought was an N.W.A record in 1988 — the year Michelle was born.

Jesse and Michelle were married from 2018 to 2023 and share daughter Isabella, 6. Following their split, Michelle dated Aaron Nosler, from whom she split in July 2025 after a year of dating.

According to Jesse, Michelle’s split from Aaron was particularly hard on their daughter.

“I hope she continues to be a great mom to Isabella and has Isabella’s best interests at heart, because I don’t think we can deal with the same collateral damage that we dealt with Aaron and Michelle breaking up,” the Bravolebrity said. “I just hope she’s really focused on Isabella right now. Other than that, she can do whatever she wants.”

“She’s happy. She’s single. She can do whatever she wants,” Jesse reiterated. “I just want her to really focus on making sure that Isabella doesn’t have to go through what Isabella went through with the Aaron breakup, because it was really difficult on all of us.”

Michelle and Dr. Dre, 61, were seen holding hands in pictures published recently by social media gossip account DeuxMoi, which reported that the pair were leaving a Nobu restaurant together.

Related: ‘The Valley’ Stars Jesse Lally and Michelle Saniei Settle Their Divorce

The Valley stars Jesse Lally and Michelle Saniei have officially settled their divorce, Us Weekly can exclusively report. On Wednesday, October 22, Lally, 43, filed court docs informing the court the divorce deal had been executed by both parties. “The parties have entered into a written agreement regarding their property and their marriage or domestic […]

Neither Michelle nor Dr. Dre has publicly addressed the photographs or dating speculation.

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On the Wednesday, April 29, episode of the “Two Ts in a Pod” podcast, Bravo alum Teddi Mellencamp revealed that she reached out to Jesse after the pictures dropped online.

“You realize I couldn’t help myself but text Jesse?” Teddi, 44, told cohost Tamra Judge. “[I wrote], ‘Dr. Dre?’ And he was like, ‘I was wondering why Isabella got a new pair of Beats.’” (Dr. Dre launched the Beats headphone brand in 2006.)

“I want to know how long has Dr. Dre been around this group,” Teddi pondered on her podcast. “Does he live in Santa Clarita? … But also, like, Michelle and Dr. Dre holding hands walking into Nobu? I couldn’t. I need more pictures, [and] I need more sightings. I need to understand. I mean, how do you go from Jesse to Dr. Dre?”

Star Wars fans are on top of the world right now — it isn’t every year that the franchise delivers two new projects before Summer arrives. The first big Star Wars project to break the internet so far this year has been Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord, the Darth Maul-focused animated spin-off that’s set to conclude with two more episodes next Monday. Fans need not fret, though; Disney has already renewed Shadow Lord for a second season, and while no potential release date has been announced, it’s not out of the question for the show to return as soon as next year. Star Wars fans will also venture to the theater to see their favorite franchise on the big screen for the first time since 2019 when The Mandalorian and Grogu arrives next month on May 22.

One of the more exciting Star Wars projects that’s been in development for years now is Star Wars: Galactic Racer, the upcoming arcade racing game set in the Galaxy’s Outer Rim after the fall of the Empire. The game will feature multiple pilots and classes of spacecraft, along with podracers, landspeeders, speeder bikes, and more. Not only will fans have the opportunity to line up in the blocks opposite their friends online to see who crosses the finish line first, but Star Wars: Galactic Racer will also feature an immersive single-player campaign with story-driven cutscenes. This afternoon, Fuse Games released a new trailer for Star Wars: Galactic Racer, confirming that the game will launch worldwide later this year on October 6. It will be available on several platforms, including PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S, and even PC.

What Other Star Wars Projects Are in the Works Right Now?

Beyond the first season of Maul – Shadow Lord and The Mandalorian and Grogu lies Star Wars: Starfighter, the original new Star Wars film written by Jonathan Tropper and directed by Shawn Levy. Ryan Gosling will headline the new space epic along with Amy Adams, Aaron Pierre, Matt Smith, and Mia Goth, and it’s currently set for release in theaters on May 28, 2027. Lucasfilm is even developing a new Star Wars movie around Daisy Ridley’s Rey, which has been tentatively titled New Jedi Order, but updates about the project have been sparse for a while now.

Check out the new trailer for Star Wars: Galactic Racer and stay tuned to Collider for more updates and coverage from A Galaxy Far, Far Away.

Pressure is mounting around Taylor Frankie Paul as her legal battle with ex-boyfriend Dakota Mortensen heads toward a decisive courtroom moment. 

With both sides filing competing claims and new evidence surfacing, the situation has grown increasingly complex. 

Now, support from within her circle is becoming more visible, as co-star Jessi Draper steps in with a formal statement. 

As the hearing approaches, the case is no longer just about accusations, but  about credibility, custody, and what happens next.

Taylor Frankie Paul is not facing this legal fight alone. Jessi Draper, her “Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” co-star, has officially supported her by submitting an affidavit tied to the case. 

The filing, made on April 29, is part of the ongoing dispute between Paul and Dakota Mortensen over protective orders.

According to court documents obtained by PEOPLE, Draper’s declaration was submitted in direct support of Paul, adding another voice to her side of the story. 

Her younger sister, Aspen May, also filed a similar statement backing Paul. 

The reality TV star herself added to the growing list of filings by submitting her own affidavit along with exhibits labeled “Kicking Admission” and “Abusive Texts.”

Paul And Dakota Mortensen Head To Court

Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortensen are scheduled to appear in a Utah courtroom on April 30, where a judge will review their competing protective order filings. 

The hearing is also expected to address custody arrangements for their two-year-old son, Ever.

This marks the first time the former couple will appear together publicly since multiple domestic violence investigations involving both parties came to light earlier this year. 

The case has quickly grown more complex, with each side presenting conflicting claims about what happened during their relationship. 

Meanwhile, Mortensen has submitted additional evidence and a formal response to Paul’s request for protection.

Taylor Frankie Paul Legal Battle Includes Serious Allegations

Paul has accused Mortensen in court filings of stalking her and engaging in violent behavior, including an incident where she claims he slammed her head into a vehicle dashboard. 

The real estate agent, however, has countered with his own evidence, including photos that he says show injuries he sustained during alleged altercations with Paul.

Earlier this year, separate investigations were launched by the Draper City Police Department and the West Jordan Police Department following multiple claims of domestic violence from both individuals. 

Despite the seriousness of the accusations, prosecutors ultimately declined to file charges against Paul in April, citing a lack of sufficient evidence.

However, during an earlier hearing on April 7, a judge granted Mortensen temporary custody of their son, allowing Paul limited supervised visitation until the next court date.

Paul Faces Ongoing Fallout Beyond The Courtroom

Taylor Frankie Paul’s legal troubles have also impacted her professional life, as controversy surrounding her past resurfaced in recent months. 

As The Blast reported, footage from a 2023 incident in which she was accused of throwing chairs during an altercation, reemerged online, bringing renewed scrutiny.

Following the video’s release, ABC pulled her already-filmed season of “The Bachelorette” just days before it was set to air. 

At the same time, production on “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” was temporarily paused after some cast members reportedly refused to film with her.

Filming later resumed without both Paul and Mortensen, although sources say she still has the option to return. 

According to an insider, she is currently prioritizing her children and focusing on her mental health while navigating the aftermath of what has been described as an abusive relationship.

Taylor Frankie Paul Sparks Dating Buzz With Doug Mason Amid Ongoing Controversy

Amid the drama, new reports suggest Paul may be reconnecting with former suitor Doug Mason. 

While neither has officially confirmed a relationship, insiders say the pair are spending time together and exploring what their connection could become amid the fallout surrounding her recent challenges.

According to The Blast, sources say Paul and Mason are currently “seeing each other” and “trying to make it work.” 

Their relationship originally developed during her unaired season of “The Bachelorette,” where Mason was believed to be her final pick and even proposed before things fizzled out.  

Despite renewed interest in their connection, uncertainty still surrounds the pair. Earlier reports noted they remained in contact even after their split, with insiders saying “it’s unclear what will happen now.”   

In addition, Mason has publicly shown support, previously sharing that he was “sending out prayers to Taylor” and urging positivity during a difficult period.  

Tim Allen‘s big comeback to ABC in a new sitcom was highly trumpeted by the network and, despite a lot of hype, the freshman season of Shifting Gears was, to put it lightly, a moderate success. Just enough to get it a second season, but nothing more. A year down the line, and ABC has finally made its official decision on the fate of the third in Allen’s storied line of sitcoms.

Allen is staying in the ABC garage a little longer, because the network has officially renewed Shifting Gears for the 2026-27 season, taking the comedy into Season 3 after two seasons on the network. The pickup arrives alongside the renewal of the Scrubs revival, which will officially return for its second season. Somewhere, the ABC comedy department has presumably allowed itself one controlled exhale. According to Deadline, both renewals were widely expected, with Shifting Gears and Scrubs each earning their pickups off the back of strong ratings performances. Shifting Gears ran 10 episodes in Season 1, and 13 in Season 2, so expect similar numbers this time around.

Who Stars in ‘Shifting Gears’?

The series follows Matt, a widowed classic car restoration shop owner whose life gets complicated when his estranged daughter and her kids move back in with him. Because obviously, nothing says “quiet next chapter” like chaos in the workplace while your adult daughter needs to get her sh*t together.

Alongside Allen, the show stars Kat Dennings (Thor, 2 Broke Girls) as Riley, Seann William Scott (American Pie, Goon) as Gabriel, Daryl Mitchell (Galaxy Quest, NCIS: New Orleans) as Stitch, Maxwell Simkins (The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers, Kim Possible) as Carter, and Barrett Margolis (The Kids Are Alright, Grey’s Anatomy) as Georgia.

Allen executive produces alongside Michelle Nader, Marty Adelstein, Becky Clements, Richard Baker, Rick Messina, John Pasquin, Jim Patterson, Bob Daily, and John Amodeo. Dennings is also a producer on the series. Both Shifting Gears and Scrubs are produced by 20th Television, part of Disney Television Studios. Allen will next be seen (or heard) reprising his role as Buzz Lightyear in this summer’s Toy Story 5.

Shifting Gears will return for Season 3 during the 2026-27 season. Stay tuned to Collider for all the latest updates as we enter renewal season.

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Release Date

January 8, 2025

Directors

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John Pasquin, Victor González

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Evangeline Lilly is not holding her silence about Disney’s recent firing spree.

The “Ant-Man” Star has called out the entertainment conglomerate for letting go of a huge number of their staff, including the artist behind the design of the “Wasp” costume. She expressed that replacing the humans who brought the Marvel empire to life via their animations with artificial intelligence was horrible.

Evangeline Lilly stepped away from Hollywood and acting indefinitely after two decades of actively being in the industry. She’s known for her major roles in “Lost,” “The Hobbit,” and the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Lilly shared an Instagram video where she spoke about the recent headlines about Disney staff who were let go as the use of advanced technology progresses. The actress started off playing a clip that disclosed that approximately 1000 employees and nearly the entire visual development team at Marvel were let go. The voice-over described the incident as “a bloodbath at Disney,” and Lilly shared in those thoughts. She stated that she had to verify the authenticity of the news before speaking on it by reaching out to her good friend, Andy Park.

In the actress’s words, Park was the genius behind creating the original Wasp supersuit and the original Wasp concept drawings for the film Ant-Man and the Wasp.” He confirmed the news, adding that he was part of the 1000 staff Disney had let go. Lilly shared that she found it unbelievable that the entertainment franchise had let go of the talented artists who invented and designed most of the characters.

“I am so sorry, Andy, and I am so sorry to every single one of the artists who were let go,” she noted before emphasizing the entire team at Marvel who were now “considered obsolete.” Towards the end of the video, she urged her listeners who were Marvel fans to take a moment to send prayers and honor the fired artists. “I stand with all the artists and Andy, I’m so sorry, and I love you guys,” Lilly concluded.

The Actress Called Disney And ‘Disgusting’ Lawmakers Out 

Lilly’s speech in the video was not the end of voicing out her feelings about the layoffs. She also wrote a lengthy caption praising the artists she saw work tirelessly to bring the Marvel characters to life during her years at the MCU.

She then sent a message directed at the entertainment franchise. tagging Disney’s official Instagram account, she wrote: “SHAME ON YOU for turning your back on the people who built the power you are now using to throw them away.”

The actress also took a jab at California lawmakers, asking, “Where are the laws that REMOVE all human art from the AI bank?!?” Lilly added that the artists’ works should be protected so that the executives would not be able to steal their brilliant work born out of their imagination and feed it to A.I. The “Ant-Man and the Wasp” star further cited an imbalance in the system when those at the top enrich themselves while the workers go hungry.

Marvel Took A Major Hit In The Massive Disney Layoff

Josh D’Amaro, CEO of Marvel parent Disney, confirmed earlier this month that up to 1000 employees across different divisions of the company will be laid off. Marvel has reportedly been greatly affected, with about 8% of its workforce laid off.

Deadline reports that the staff reductions are in both the offices of Marvel Entertainment in New York and Marvel Studios in Burbank. Staff have been fired from most departments, including film and TV production, finance, franchise, legal, and comics.

Across all the departments, the cuts in the visual development area are said to be very significant. The new plan involves Marvel Studios retaining a small team to oversee the hiring of artists on a project-by-project basis, who will be outside contractors in the future. Prior to this huge cut down in staff, Marvel underwent a small round of layoffs in 2024.

Disney’s CEO Revealed The Reason Behind The Layoffs

D’Amaro sent out a memo to employees on April 14 disclosing that the media company would be eliminating about a thousand roles due to their intentions to “streamline [their] operations,” to ensure they deliver world-class creativity and innovation to fans.

He noted in the memo that the rapid growth and spread of their industries call for a more “agile and technologically-enabled workforce to meet tomorrow’s needs,” hence their decision to eliminate so many roles in several parts of the company. Variety reported that a source familiar with the situation disclosed that this move is primarily a result of Disney’s formation of a consolidated enterprise marketing division under Asad Ayaz. Ayaz is the current chief marketing and brand officer.

D’Amaro acknowledged that firing a thousand workers was a hard decision, stating that they had done meaningful work for the company. He added that the decision to let go of those roles was neither a reflection of the staff’s contribution to Disney nor the overall strength of the entertainment company. Instead, it was a reflection of continual evaluation of how to reinvest in their business and manage Disney’s resources effectively.

Evangeline Lilly Let Fans In On Her Health Struggles

Lilly got vulnerable with fans sharing her medically surprising condition. She disclosed that she has persistent fainting episodes, but the shocking part was that after a series of tests, doctors could not find any problems with her body. The “Lost” actress also shared that she had experienced fainting spells from a young age, and even got tested for epilepsy.

Later on, she started believing she suffered from hypoglycemia. Mayo Clinic defines hypoglycemia as a condition in which your blood sugar (glucose) level is lower than the standard range. Some of the symptoms include dizziness, headaches, and lightheadedness. Lilly discovered with time that she did not have the condition after noticing her glucose levels never dropped, even after a 12-hour fast.

The Blast shares that the actress has turned to view her fainting spells as beyond ordinary. She said that they were a result of her body going past its limits and her soul searching for peace. She, however, did not tie her retirement from the screens to her health; instead, she said she wants to shift focus to her personal life, writing, and humanitarian works.

By TeeJay Small
| Published 1 minute ago

Netflix has a long and storied history of canceling fan-favorite shows long before their time. That’s what happened with the hit Netflix original Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities, despite fans demanding the show get a second season after the exemplary outing of its first batch of episodes.

The series initially dropped its first eight episodes in October of 2022, and was never mentioned again by the streaming giant. But it’s one of the best things Netflix has ever done, and a must-see for fans of the genre.

As the Netflix original series’ title would suggest, Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities was created and developed by legendary filmmaker Guillermo del Toro. The show features a series of horror vignettes, each jam-packed with del Toro’s trademark blend of practical effects, off-beat humor, and gothic elements.

Over the course of the first eight episodes, the show showcased such massive stars as F. Murray Abraham, Rupert Grint, Kate Micucci, Crispin Glover, Martin Starr, and The Walking Dead‘s Andrew Lincoln.

Netflix first announced the creation of Cabinet of Curiosities in 2018, with Guillermo del Toro, J. Miles Dale, and Gary Ungar attached as executive producers. Guillermo del Toro provides a brief introduction to each of the stories, in an homage to legendary filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock’s 1962 variety show. The Hellboy 2: The Golden Army filmmaker also served as a writer for each of the episodes, and hand-picked directors for the project, including The Babadook‘s Jennifer Kent, Mandy‘s Panos Cosmatos, and Twilight‘s Catherine Hardwicke.

Despite Netflix’s disinterest in producing new episodes, Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities received near-universal praise from critics and audiences alike. The series holds a staggering 93 percent certified fresh critic score on the review aggregate site Rotten Tomatoes and has received nominations for a wide array of prestigious awards.

Among the awards, Cabinet of Curiosities has taken home major wins from the Art Directors Guild Awards and Primetime Emmys, in the categories of Excellence in Production Design for a Television Movie or Limited Series and Outstanding Production Design for a Narrative Period or Fantasy Program respectively.

Of course, one key issue that may be preventing Netflix from green-lighting additional installments of Cabinet of Curiosities is Guillermo del Toro’s own busy schedule. Del Toro is listed as a director for at least 3 upcoming projects, and serves as a producer for several more, making him one of the busiest working filmmakers today.

Regardless of del Toro’s calendar, and no matter how long has passed since the first season, Netflix subscribers worldwide would be overjoyed to see additional seasons of Cabinet of Curiosities on the horizon.

Still, hope isn’t completely dead. Guillermo del Toro seems to have a very positive working relationship with Netflix’s decision-makers, meaning he could likely pick the show back up whenever he has the time. Send them a message by streaming episodes of Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities today.

In 1979, Ridley Scott directed Alien, one of the greatest sci-fi horror movies ever made. Written by Dan O’Bannon, Alien was a terrifying film that altered Hollywood forever. In one fell swoop, Ridley created an iconic new heroine with Sigourney Weaver‘s Ellen Ripley, along with a creepy monster in the form of the spine-tingling xenomorph.

Alien was a huge success, but, when it was time for a sequel seven years later, Ridley didn’t return for Aliens. Instead, the action-heavy follow-up was both written and directed by James Cameron, who was coming off the phenomenal success of The Terminator. Replacing Scott was a huge risk which could have ended in disaster. Instead, Cameron’s Aliens ended up being every bit as good, if not better, than the original.

Ridley Scott Wasn’t Asked Back to Direct ‘Aliens’

Moviegoers flocked to theaters to see Alien in 1979. With its near $79 million haul, it was the fifth-biggest movie of the year. Critics adored it, as well. Roger Ebert gave it a perfect four stars, writing, “Alien has been called the most influential of modern action pictures, and so it is.” You can’t get any better praise than that. It wasn’t hyperbole, either. Alien wasn’t like other alien-centric sci-films. You know the type, where bad acting and horrible man-in-a-suit special effects must be overlooked. Alien was gritty and raw, a slow-burning haunted house film where a sickening Michael Myers-like monster is waiting at the end.

With the impact Alien had, not only altering the course of sci-fi and horror, but launching Sigourney Weaver’s career into the stratosphere, you would think that Fox execs would be knocking Ridley Scott’s door down to make a sequel. They did not. Worse, no one even called and asked him. Scott explained why in 2019, telling The Hollywood Reporter:

“Interestingly enough, I was never asked to do the sequel. Maybe because I was such a tough guy when I was doing it, they didn’t want me back. But I was also in the habit of not wanting to do a sequel then either. So I would never have done it.”

Ridley Scott was just fine without Aliens. Although he did eventually return to the franchise several decades later for Prometheus and Alien: Covenant, Scott put together a phenomenal career with films far away from rampaging xenormophs like Blade Runner, Gladiator, and Black Hawk Down.

James Cameron’s ‘Aliens’ Turned Everything up a Notch for a Wild Sequel

With Ridley Scott not even approached to make a sequel to such an important movie, it meant that Fox needed to find someone just as good. Enter James Cameron. In 1986, he’d only made two movies, but the second was a little sci-fi action flick called The Terminator. It was similar to Alien in its own way, with a badass heroine, Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton), and a solo, horrific monster in the form of a killer cyborg (Arnold Schwarzenegger) on a path to kill her unborn son before he can grow up to save humanity.

With Alien, Ridley Scott was directing another person’s screenplay. Not so with Aliens. Cameron both wrote and directed this sequel, just as he had done with The Terminator (which he co-wrote with Gale Ann Hurd). Alien was a much more straightforward film: A lone alien is on a ship, the humans are on the run for their lives, and in the end, only one remains to battle the monster. Aliens goes deeper. Cameron crafted a compelling dual story about motherhood, with Ripley now more fleshed out as a mother figure to the orphaned Newt (Carrie Henn). This choice adds to the tension because Ripley is no longer only responsible for saving herself. The choice also draws a comparison to the formidable alien queen, who simply wants to save her babies and attacks after Ripley burns her eggs.

As he did with The Terminator and the subplot around Skynet, Cameron creates a bigger world in Aliens, which explores how Weyland-Yutani operated and what they wanted. Paul Reiser‘s Burke is one of the most despicable bad guys in movie history. Cameron’s saving grace doesn’t stop at the screenplay, either. There’s also the directing itself, of course. As he did with The Terminator, Cameron crafts big set pieces with plenty of fight scenes and gun play in Aliens. Once it gets going, Aliens is a high octane thrillride in a way the original never attempted.

James Cameron didn’t try to recreate what Ridley Scott accomplished. He succeeded by doing the opposite. Instead of a quietly building dread with a monster kept hidden for as long as possible, Cameron went for loud and fast-paced action, with creatures thrown right in our faces at every turn. Rather than showcasing more grounded characters, he created over-the-top Marine tropes fit for the wild plot. Whether Aliens is better than Alien is debatable, but it’s certainly bigger and badder like all the best sequels are. In 1986, James Cameron was the perfect choice to pull it off.

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Release Date

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July 18, 1986

Runtime

137 minutes

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Director

James Cameron

Writers

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James Cameron

Producers

Gale Anne Hurd

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By Robert Scucci
| Published 8 seconds ago

I’ve gotta knock it off with the dystopian thrillers because no matter what year they come out, and what kind of future they’re depicting, I’m reminded of how close waking life is to these works of fiction. 2023’s The Kitchen is no exception, but unlike its contemporaries, it’s a story about making the best of the worst situation and keeping your head down while you figure out your next moves. It’s a story about community, perseverance, and looking out for your neighbor, even if it means getting yourself killed in the process.

The Kitchen doesn’t beat around the bush. The future it lays out for its viewers is beyond bleak, but like a small potted plant, those living in this reality hope to one day blossom into a mighty oak that looks down on the environment that once tried to destroy them.

It Starts With a Corpse And A Tree

The Kitchen kicks off in a tranquil environment, in a futuristic funeral home known as Life After Life. Here, those who can’t afford proper cremation or burial services are given the opportunity to have their deceased loved ones turned into a tree, and they’re allowed to come back and visit whenever they want until it’s time to be planted at some undisclosed location. This is where we meet Izi (Kane Robinson) and Benji (Jedaiah Bannerman). Izi works at Life After Life as a consultant and salesperson, and he’s spotted by Benji, who’s grieving the loss of his mother and wondering why Izi is visiting her memorial service.

Izi, when he’s not working, lives in a ghetto community known as “The Kitchen,” where the residents live in constant fear of being evicted by heavily armed police officers, and can’t reliably tell what days they’ll have running water or a sustainable food supply. Everybody is under constant government drone surveillance, but despite the chaotic nature of their community, it’s just that: a community. Everybody looks out for each other in The Kitchen. Morale is low, and everybody walks around in a state of heightened awareness, always anticipating another raid, but they get by one day at a time.

Benji, feeling an inexplicable connection to Izi, shows up at The Kitchen, asking if he can live with him for a few days. Izi is reluctant at first, but you can tell he enjoys Benji’s company. Together, they form an inseparable bond, but Benji doesn’t yet know that Izi has been saving his money to finally move out of the ghetto and upgrade to the luxury apartment he feels he deserves after living simply to survive for so long.

As the social structure continues to break down and the police keep causing collateral damage to the only place he’s ever been able to call home, even though he thinks it’s a “sh*thole,” Izi has to make a game-day decision about what kind of person he wants to be, not only for himself, but for Benji, whose youthful exuberance and optimism are giving him second thoughts about leaving The Kitchen and the only life he knows behind. Their relationship is one of tough love, like the older brother who relentlessly makes fun of his lesser-experienced sibling but always has his back when it matters most. 

A Sprawling, Dilapidated Metropolis 

While The Kitchen is a slow-burn dystopian thriller about found family, community, and all the kind of stuff that could be incredibly boring in a lesser film, there’s never a dull moment. The city skyline is one of the best parts of the movie because it shows just how far gone society has become. The surrounding communities are pristine showcases of disproportionately beautiful architecture, while The Kitchen itself is a condemned, run-down, and borderline brutalist environment. The smog that surrounds the community is incredibly localized, and those who manage to make their way into more affluent areas for work are absolutely dumbfounded by how much better the other side lives.

Everybody is aware of the imbalance in The Kitchen. Some people choose to live with it and make the best of the power structure they’re trapped in. People like Izi and Benji, though, want something better. They know they’re exactly where society thinks they belong, but they refuse to let the powers that be keep them under their thumb. Through their bond, their struggles, and their hope for a brighter future, it’s up to them to carve out the life they truly want for themselves, and they know it’s not going to be easy, not even on their best day.

The Kitchen is a Netflix Original and can be streamed with an active subscription.