Disney has been trying to find animated shows that can travel the way anime travels, and this new soccer-fantasy series is an obvious swing. Soccer already gives the story a global language, while the magical power system gives it the kind of exaggerated sports energy fans usually associate with anime rather than traditional Disney Channel animation. However, as per ComicBook, that same series was reportedly canceled in the Middle East.

It launched on the Disney Channel on June 9, 2026, and quickly became one of Disney’s more talked-about new animated titles as a sports saga with rivalries, special abilities, team ambition, and a world where the game itself feels larger than ordinary competition, instead of a traditional Disney title. For Disney, that is valuable because it gives the company a franchise lane that can work across TV, streaming, merchandise, and international markets.

The series is Dragon Striker, and reports initially suggested that the show had been blocked from airing in the Middle East. Online speculation was pointing toward the relationship between Odward Stonegarden and Casper Ferreiro as the possible issue, and it wasn’t merely speculation, because this isn’t the first time such a thing has happened with a Disney release. Disney Television, however, has since clarified that the series will air in the region at a later date, which turns the situation from a confirmed permanent ban into a delayed release problem. Even so, it is still a major warning sign for a show clearly designed with global reach in mind.

Disney Isn’t Facing Regional Limitations in the Middle East for the First Time

The bigger issue here is that Dragon Striker is facing a problem that already hit another animated release this year. The Amazing Digital Circus: The Last Act also ran into trouble in the Middle East after failing to clear the region’s theatrical requirements. That release was a feature-length theatrical event for the show’s final episodes, combining Episodes 8 and 9, and it had strong demand elsewhere, including an expanded U.S. run after major presales. In the Middle East, however, reports said the release stalled after regional approval requirements called for unspecified content changes. The exact material was never publicly confirmed, though.

Dragon Striker was released on the Disney Channel on June 9, 2026. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.

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Release Date

June 9, 2026

Network

Disney XD

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Directors

Charles Lefebvre

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Cast

• 
• 

  Rebecca LaChance

  Ssyelle (voice)

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  Waylon Jacobs

  Odward (voice)

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  Evanna Lynch

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  Ameline (voice)

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The back half of 2026 is shaping up to be an embarrassment of riches for drama fans. Westeros is going back to war, the Bennet sisters are getting yet another glow-up, and somehow Timothy Olyphant is in not one, but two shows on this list. Who’s #Blessed? We are.

From prestige juggernauts wrapping up their runs to splashy literary adaptations stacked with movie stars, here are the eight dramas we can’t stop thinking about, ranked from “we’ve cleared our calendars” to “we’ve been seated since January.”

8

‘The Five-Star Weekend’ (July 9)

Pour the rosé. Jennifer Garner stars as Hollis Shaw, a food influencer reeling from a devastating loss who decides the cure is a picture-perfect girls’ trip to Nantucket. The guest list pulls friends from different chapters of her life, and the ensemble assembled to play them is a delight: Chloë Sevigny, Regina Hall, Gemma Chan, and D’Arcy Carden, with Olyphant and Harlow Jane rounding out the cast of this eight-episode adaptation of Elin Hilderbrand’s bestseller, developed by Bekah Brunstetter.

Streamers have been chasing the beach-read boom ever since Netflix’s The Perfect Couple became a sensation, and Hilderbrand’s brand of sun-soaked secrets practically begs for the treatment. Add Garner, whose girl-next-door warmth makes her the ideal anchor for a story about grief hiding under a shiny veneer, and you have the kind of summer show tailor-made for TikTok’s clipping era. The trailer already has our book club group chat buzzing.

7

‘The Good Daughter’ (November 12)

Image via Peacock

Karin Slaughter is adapting her own novel for this one, which should tell you how protective she is of it. Rose Byrne and Meghann Fahy play Samantha and Charlotte Quinn, sisters who have spent twenty years trying to rebuild lives shattered by a single night of violence. When a new attack rocks their small town, Charlotte, now a lawyer like her father, is the first witness on the scene, and the case starts prying open every secret the family buried. (Brendan Gleeson is also in this thing.) Byrne and Fahy as trauma-bonded sisters? Someone in casting deserves a raise.

Fahy has been on an absolute tear since The White Lotus, and Byrne remains one of the most underrated dramatic actors working. All episodes drop on November 12, which means this crime thriller is built for a single, gut-wrenching weekend binge.

6

‘Pride & Prejudice’ (Fall 2026)

Image via Netflix

Yes, another one. No, we’re not complaining. Dolly Alderton penned this six-part take on Jane Austen’s most beloved novel, with Heartstopper director Euros Lyn at the helm. Emma Corrin steps in as Elizabeth Bennet opposite Jack Lowden’s Mr. Darcy, and the supporting cast is stacked: Olivia Colman, Rufus Sewell, Jamie Demetriou, Daryl McCormack, Freya Mavor, and Louis Partridge among them.

Every generation gets its Lizzie and Darcy, and the internet has been litigating this pairing since the casting news broke. The February teaser only poured gasoline on the discourse. Alderton understands modern romance and its humiliations better than almost anyone writing today, which makes her the most exciting person to take a crack at Austen in years. Expect yearning. Expect hand flexes. Expect think pieces. A lot of think pieces.

5

‘The Gilded Age’ Season 4 (Late 2026)

Image via HBO

Bertha Russell changed society, and now the bill is coming due. Season 4 finds Carrie Coon’s social titan reckoning with the cost of her triumphs while Christine Baranski’s Agnes van Rhijn seizes a chance to claw back her old position. Marian (Louisa Jacobson) forges a new path, and Peggy (Denée Benton) fights to win over her future in-laws. Cynthia Nixon, Morgan Spector, Taissa Farmiga, and Audra McDonald are all back too for this next eight-episode season.

But the new arrivals are half the fun here. Dennis Haysbert, Jim Gaffigan, Elizabeth Marvel, and Tony winner Bonnie Milligan are all joining the party, and Jordan Donica has been promoted to series regular. This show has steadily transformed from a polite curiosity into appointment television, and the petty warfare of old New York money has never been more delicious. Late 2026 cannot come soon enough.

4

‘Lucky’ (July 15)

Anya Taylor-Joy: con artist, on the run, working the hell out of a blunt blonde bob. Sold yet? In this limited series based on Marissa Stapley’s bestselling novel (a Reese’s Book Club pick, naturally), Taylor-Joy plays Lucky, a grifter forced to flee when a multimillion-dollar heist goes sideways. Jonathan Tropper (Banshee) created the series, Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine produces along with Taylor-Joy, through her own banner.

The supporting cast is basically a heist crew of character actors: Annette Bening, Timothy Olyphant (him again), Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Drew Starkey, William Fichtner, and Clifton Collins Jr. The explosive trailer promises a pulpy, propulsive ride, and frankly, Taylor-Joy has been owed a great TV vehicle since The Queen’s Gambit. Count us in.

3

‘East of Eden’ (Fall 2026)

Image via Netflix

Florence Pugh as one of American literature’s great monsters? We are, as we said earlier, seated. Zoe Kazan spent years shaping this seven-episode adaptation of John Steinbeck’s sprawling classic, retold through the eyes of Cathy Ames, the manipulative antihero whose life entangles generations of the Trask family. Christopher Abbott and Mike Faist play brothers Adam and Charles Trask, with Ciarán Hinds, Tracy Letts, Martha Plimpton, and Hoon Lee filling out the ensemble.

Garth Davis (Lion) directed the first four episodes and Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre took the final three, and the May teaser, in which Pugh murmurs about wanting to disappear, already looks gorgeous and devastating in equal measure. Pugh doing capital-V villainy is uncharted territory for her, and centering Cathy reframes a novel that has been adapted before but never quite like this. Sorry to Austen, but this is the literary event series of the fall.

2

‘House of the Dragon’ Season 3 (June 21)

Image via HBO

The Dance of the Dragons stops dancing around its promised destruction and goes straight to open war. Season 3 picks up right where the finale’s mobilizing armies left off, headlined by the long-awaited Battle of the Gullet, a naval bloodbath between the Velaryon fleet and the Triarchy. Emma D’Arcy’s newly emboldened Rhaenyra gains the North as Cregan Stark’s Winter Wolves march south, Matt Smith’s Daemon emerges from Harrenhal fully committed to the cause, and Ewan Mitchell’s Aemond keeps making choices that should prompt his mother, Alicent (Olivia Cooke) to have him committed.

Book readers know the carnage that awaits, and with showrunner Ryan Condal confirming the series ends with Season 4, every episode of these eight counts.

1

‘The Bear’ Season 5 (June 25)

Image via FX

Last call at The Bear. The fifth and final season opens after Sydney (Ayo Edebiri), Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach), and Sugar (Abby Elliott) learn that Carmy (Jeremy Allen White) has walked away from the industry entirely, leaving the restaurant in their hands. With no money, a possible sale looming, and a literal torrential storm bearing down on Chicago, the new partners have to rally the whole crew for one last service and one last shot at a Michelin star. White, Edebiri, Moss-Bachrach, Elliott, Lionel Boyce, Liza Colón-Zayas, and Matty Matheson all return, with Oliver Platt, Will Poulter, and Jamie Lee Curtis also popping up in and out of the kitchen.

No show wrecks us quite like this one, and knowing it ends here makes the anticipation almost unbearable. FX confirmed in May that this is the final season, and all eight episodes hit Hulu on June 25. Will Carmy find peace? Unclear. Will we be crying into a bowl of risotto by the finale? Yes, chef

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The Bear

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2022 – 2026-00-00

Network

Hulu

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Showrunner

Christopher Storer

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Directors

Ramy Youssef

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Sure, we’re only halfway through 2026, but there are so many K-dramas that are already trying to ruin people’s sleep schedules. There are revenge thrillers, time-jumping superhero comedies, workplace romances that somehow make auditing look hot, and—I am not making this up—a military fantasy about a recruit who levels up through cooking.

The past few months have been absurdly stacked with Korean television, and the year just plans to be bigger and bigger with many other brilliant shows. So when we discuss the perfect K-dramas you should watch in 2026, it’s dramas that respect your time and your intelligence that have come out recently and made everyone clear their weekend plans. Brush up on your ‘saranghae’ and ‘joayo,’ and let’s jump in.

10

‘If Wishes Could Kill’ (2026)

Image via Netflix

If you’ve ever wondered what would happen if a classic Japanese horror a la The Ring and Final Destination had a baby, If Wishes Could Kill is your answer. This is Netflix’s first young adult horror K-drama, and it follows five high school students and friends who discover “Girigo,” an app that grants wishes with a horrifying twist: once your wish comes true, a supernatural 24-hour countdown to your death begins. It’s an exciting, tense, and high-quality series that will win you over in the first 5 minutes.

The YA horror series centers around Se-ah (Jeon So-young), a track athlete secretly dating her friend Geon-woo (Baek Sun-ho); the popular girl who’s been in love with Geon-woo for a long time, Na-ri (Kang Mi-na); and the stoic genius Kang Ha-joon (Hyun Woo-seok), who tries to crack the app’s code and put a stop to it. Soon, the youngsters realize that they might need help from someone more apt—Ha-joon’s sister, the shaman Haetsal (Jeon So-nee). Its eight episodes are tightly written and plotted; If Wishes Could Kill is a perfect entry-level horror for those who like their dread delivered with a side of high school melodrama. Just don’t download any suspicious apps afterward.

9

‘The WONDERfools’ (2026–Present)

Image via Netflix

The writer of Extraordinary Attorney Woo reunites with star Park Eun-bin to make The Wonderfools (stylized as The WONDERfools), a superhero comedy set near the end of 1999, when the Y2K fears of apocalypse affected many people. The Wonderfools is one of the most chaotically fun shows of the year; it landed on Netflix in May 2026 and quickly became a word-of-mouth hit. If you like Stranger Things, this is a pretty decent replacement for it.

Park marvelously plays Chae-ni, a 27-year-old town “trainwreck” with a congenital heart condition who, after a chemical explosion at the local dump, gains the uncontrollable power to teleport anywhere in the world. She isn’t the only one, though: her best friend Ro-bin (Im Seong-jae) gets super strength, while their older-brother-like friend, Mr. Son (Choi Dae-hoon), becomes sticky and stuck to things and people. The trio becomes the worst superhero team imaginable, led by the mysterious “Wunderkind,” Un-jeong (Cha Eun-woo), who has the power of telekinesis. They fight the local church that harbors a lab where scientists experiment on people like our foolish trio, and Un-jeong helps them destroy the place. It’s weird, scrappy, and genuinely hilarious—the perfect antidote to overly serious caped dramas.

8

‘Can This Love Be Translated?’ (2026)

Image via Netflix

If YA horror or goofy superheroes aren’t your thing, you might just prefer a beautiful, globe-trotting romance that understands love is a language of its own—Can This Love Be Translated? Kim Seon-ho plays Joo Ho-jin, an emotionally restrained multilingual interpreter hired to work for a global dating show. Enter Go Youn-jung as Cha Mu-hee, a world-famous actress who is impulsive, dramatic, and lonely—and a participant in the dating show. Having worked together before, the two struggle (but eventually manage) to find a mutual language that doesn’t require interpretation or translating.

The Hong sisters (Hotel Del Luna, Alchemy of Souls) return with another hit series, and Can This Love Be Translated? is like a throwback to old-school romance, with Kim and Go displaying an electric chemistry in every shot. The series was shot across multiple countries, showcasing the stunning cityscapes and landscapes of Japan, Italy, Canada, and South Korea, and it has been a consistent top-ten performer ever since it came out in January 2026. It’s warm, witty, and emotional, touching enough to get you in touch with your romantic side once again.

7

‘Teach You a Lesson’ (2026–Present)

Image via Netflix

Teach You a Lesson is a very, very fresh release; it’s the cathartic revenge fantasy everyone who was bullied in high school has been waiting for. Based on the popular webtoon Get Schooled, this Netflix action series follows a fictional “Education Rights Protection Bureau,” a team of inspectors who step in when schools fail to discipline their worst bullies. Led by Education Minister Choi Gang-seok (Lee Sung-min), who believes the bureau exists to fight against “monsters,” he works with the inspectors—played by Kim Mu-yeol, Jin Ki-joo, and Pyo Ji-hoon (Block B‘s P.O.)—to knock some sense into entitled students who bully others.

Released just last week (June 5, 2026), Teach You a Lesson immediately debuted at No. 1 on Netflix’s non-English show chart, ranking in the top 10 across 85 countries and getting Kim Mu-yeol to the top of the drama charts. It was received with mixed impressions among real-life teachers, with some criticizing its fantasy-like discipline and vigilante justice, while others praised it for its depiction of declining problems in South Korea’s school system. As pure, brutal entertainment, Teach You a Lesson is an absolute knockout. Watch it now while it’s still hot, and you might just have the freshest K-drama knowledge out of anyone in your group.

6

‘Filing for Love’ (2026)

Image via tvN

Workplace rom-coms are a dime a dozen, but Filing for Love elevates the formula by setting its romance inside the audit department of a major conglomerate. The incredible and highly versatile Shin Hye-sun plays Joo In-ah, the tough-as-nails head of the audit team who hides a secret, while Gong Myung plays Noh Ki-jun, the department’s ace who gets suddenly demoted to handle internal misconduct. Their interactions and the plot twists introduce a delightful mix of corporate intrigue, chaebol succession drama (featuring Kim Jae-wook as the conflicted vice chairman), and genuinely swoony romantic tension that makes filing papers feel incredibly romantic.

The 12-episode series aired on tvN between the end of April and May 2026, and it’s currently trending on Viki. It’s sharp, stylish, and understands that the sexiest thing two people can do is audit a suspicious balance sheet together at 2 a.m. Reviews call the series beautiful and, most importantly, deep—being able to balance romance, some light comedy, and seriousness, showing its two protagonists that they also need to add balance to their busy lives. Shin is having one of the best years of her career, and Filing for Love is Exhibit A.

5

‘The Art of Sarah’ (2026)

Image via Netflix

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What if Inventing Anna was Korean, moodier, and a mystery thriller that is at times genuinely unsettling? Netflix’s first Korean thriller of 2026, The Art of Sarah, follows Sarah Kim (Shin Hye-sun in Exhibit B), a Korean-American woman who builds a fake luxury brand called “Boudoir” from scratch, targeting Seoul’s wealthy elite. When a body is found and her story keeps changing, Detective Park Mu-gyeong (Lee Jun-hyuk) tests every version of her elaborate deception, trying to figure out who Sarah Kim really is.

The Art of Sarah is an eight-episode limited series, a sharp, slow-burn dissection of elitism, narcissism, and the desperate desire to be famous, seen, and recognized. It premiered on February 13, 2026, to positive reviews from fans and critics alike, though some parts warrant a suspension of disbelief. It’s wildly entertaining in all of its plot twists and delicious turns, while Shin becomes absolutely mesmerizing as a woman who has lied so much she might no longer know the truth herself. It’s a binge-watch that wastes none of your time, and it’s a deeply rewarding watch.

4

‘Bloodhounds’ (2023–2026)

Image via Netflix

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Three years after the brutal first season, Netflix’s grittiest, most exciting action noir returns, and somehow, it’s even better than before. While one episode shorter, Bloodhounds Season 2 is a stunning watch that will keep you on your toes throughout its entire run. Woo Do-hwan and Lee Sang-yi reprise their roles as boxing brothers Kim Gun-woo and Hong Woo-jin (calling themselves Gun-woo-jin), now trying to live legit lives as a pro boxer and a coach. But an underground boxing league run by Im Baek-jeong, played by K-pop legend Rain in his first-ever villain role, drags them back into violence after Baek-jeong insists on fighting Gun-woo.

The action in Bloodhounds Season 2 is absolutely stunning; it’s longer, more brutal, and shot with visceral, documentary-style realism that makes every punch hurt off-screen. The fighting form of the main cast is incredible, and they move with such intent and speed that you’ll admire them and want to become like them. Despite all that, the heart of the show remains the Gun-woo-jin bromance—their friendship is so loyal that they feel like actual brothers who owe each other everything. One note, though, it ties back to Season 1, so this is the perfect excuse to watch every single episode of Bloodhounds. It’ll only take a couple of days, and you won’t be the same after it.

3

‘The Legend of Kitchen Soldier’ (2026–Present)

Image via CJ ENM

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The biggest surprise of the year is a military fantasy-comedy about… cooking. The Legend of Kitchen Soldier was based on a popular web novel of the same name and stars Park Ji-hoon (of Weak Hero fame), who plays Kang Sung-jae, a recruit who accidentally discovers a hidden talent in the kitchen during his mandatory military service. But there’s a twist: a mysterious game-like system appears, giving him increasingly impossible cooking missions that enhance his skills every time he completes them. It sounds absurd, and it is, in the best way possible.

The Legend of Kitchen Soldier is the only show on this list that is still ongoing; it’s a 12-episode series that has quietly become a global streaming hit, and it (somewhat unexpectedly) airs on HBO Max. Yoon Kyung-ho, Han Dong-hee, and Lee Sang-yi (his second appearance on this list) co-star, and the show is wholesome, weird, and deeply addictive. You didn’t know you needed a show about a soldier who must cook his way through hardship, but trust me: you do.

2

‘The Scarecrow’ (2026)

Image via ENA

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The Scarecrow is a stunning mystery thriller that comes close to being the best K-drama of 2026 so far. Park Hae-soo stars as Kang Tae-joo, a disgraced former ace detective who returns to his hometown of Kangseng to investigate a serial murder case that mirrors the infamous real-life Hwaseong serial murders (the same case that inspired Bong Joon-ho’s Memories of Murder). Forced to work alongside his former rival, prosecutor Cha Si-young (Lee Hee-joon), the two men must overcome a thirty-year grudge to catch a killer who has never stopped.

The 12-episode run is tense and shot beautifully, with some incredible choices in camerawork, especially as the killer is revealed. The Scarecrow starts off slow, but when it warms up, it’s really hard to let go; it’s a chilling watch that avoids sensationalizing the case. Just like in real life, in the series, the killer isn’t discovered until 2019, but the show doesn’t take real life for granted—all of its characters and plots are fictional, drawing attention to police brutality against innocent suspects, and taking shots at public officials burying the truth for personal gain. The Scarecrow offers a conclusive and satisfying answer, and it’s genuinely thrilling and a must-watch.

1

‘We Are All Trying Here’ (2026–Present)

Image via Netflix

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We Are All Trying Here is a black comedy slice-of-life melodrama from JTBC and Netflix and, moreover, a triumphant return of Park Hae-young, the writer of My Mister and My Liberation Notes, two of the most powerful and touching dramas that delve deep into life, existence, and purpose. We Are All Trying Here hits harder than the previous shows, immediately drawing us to Hwang Dong-man (Koo Kyo-hwan), an aspiring director who has spent twenty years trying to make his debut film while watching all his film school friends find success. The themes of envy, jealousy, and desperation of watching everyone else win while you’re still waiting for your turn weave through, but depression, anxiety, and anger are prevalent emotions of the show, seeking a reckoning for all the people who complain loudly and leave “all their doors open.”

Koo is fantastic here, and he’s joined by an even more ethereal Go Youn-jung (pulling double duty on this list), who co-stars as an overwhelmed film producer helping Dong-man rediscover his self-worth. They appear alongside an absolutely stacked ensemble, including Oh Jung-se, the busiest man in K-drama, and Park Hae-joon, the quiet pillar of the drama whose role here is incredibly poignant. Like all other shows written by Park, this one, too, is a slow, meditative burn that finds profound humanity in failure and frustration. If you’ve ever felt like everyone is moving forward except you, this one will hit straight to the dome, but it’ll still make you feel seen.

Jason Momoa is finally getting the chance to play one of his favorite DC characters, but if the actor ever headlines a solo Lobo film, he already has one non-negotiable demand.

While speaking with Collider, Momoa made it clear that he has no interest in a watered-down version of the infamous intergalactic bounty hunter.

“It’s all I want, and I promise — I’m just going to put this out there right now — I do not have any interest in making a Lobo PG-13 movie. So, will he be a part of some other movies? If they want me, I’ll be there. But if I make a solo movie, I’m not doing it unless it’s rated R.”

The statement is likely to be welcomed by longtime DC fans. Since his debut in the comics, Lobo has earned a reputation as one of the publisher’s most outrageous antiheroes. Known for his brutal violence, dark humor, and complete disregard for authority, the character has often been viewed as a natural fit for an R-rated adaptation.

Momoa has spent years expressing his desire to play the Main Man. Long before his casting was officially announced, the actor frequently mentioned Lobo as a dream role and one he felt personally connected to. That dream finally becomes reality with his upcoming appearance in Supergirl, where audiences will get their first look at the new DC Universe’s version of the character.

The casting has generated significant excitement among fans, many of whom believe Momoa’s larger-than-life personality, physical presence, and love of the source material make him an ideal choice for the role. Unlike many comic book castings that take fans by surprise, Momoa’s portrayal of Lobo feels like a pairing that has been years in the making.

Although DC Studios has not announced a standalone Lobo movie, Momoa’s comments suggest he is more than willing to continue playing the character across multiple projects. However, he drew a clear line when it comes to a solo adventure. While he is open to appearing in other DCU films, he believes a proper Lobo movie should embrace the character’s mature roots rather than tone them down for a broader audience.

The idea may not be as far-fetched as it once seemed. Under the leadership of James Gunn and Peter Safran, DC Studios has shown a willingness to explore projects aimed at different audiences. With R-rated comic book films continuing to find success both critically and commercially, an adult-oriented Lobo film could fit comfortably within the evolving DC Universe.

For now, fans will have to wait and see how audiences respond to Momoa’s debut in Supergirl. But if the actor ultimately gets his wish, the Main Man’s first solo outing will likely be every bit as loud, violent, and unapologetically over-the-top as fans have always imagined.

Second Lady Usha Vance is opening up about her husband Vice President JD Vance’s faith and failed attempts at conventional mental health therapy.

“It’s not that therapy doesn’t work for other people,” Usha, 40, told CBS’ Sunday Morning national correspondent Robert Costa on the Sunday, June 14, episode of the news program, confirming that she once told her husband, “Therapy didn’t work for you, church does.”

“JD just didn’t have the right kind of trust in that [therapy] process,” Usha continued. “He just didn’t feel at home in it, really exploring some of the feelings that he had in trying to figure out how he wanted to be the person that he wanted to be for the rest of his life.”

The vice president, 41, who converted to Catholicism in 2019, says part of his constant and relentless search for something that makes him feel “rooted” and “grounded” comes from his tumultuous upbringing in Middletown, Ohio, with divorced parents who split when he was a toddler and a mother who struggled with substance abuse issues.

Related: Vice President JD Vance’s Wife Usha Addresses Wedding Ring Speculation

A spokesperson for Usha Vance is clarifying the status of the second lady’s marriage after she was spotted without her wedding ring. “[She is] a mother of three young children, who does a lot of dishes, gives lots of baths, and forgets her ring sometimes,” a rep for Vance, 39, told People in a Saturday, […]

“I grew up in some ways in a very non-traditional household,” JD explained in the same Sunday interview. “Revolving door of people coming in, people coming out. Raised by my grandparents at some points and my parents at some points — my mom, my dad. So there was a certain movement and chaos to my youth. And I do think that I was searching for something that, again, was a little more rooted and a little more stable.”

Despite his faith bringing him a sense of self-understanding and direction, JD has found himself at odds with the leader of his Catholic faith, Pope Leo XIV, over his alliance with President Donald Trump’s and his controversial administrative priorities, including immigration and the war in Iran.

“When it comes to disagreements with the Vatican, we’re going to have disagreements from time to time,” the vice president told Fox News back in April. “I think it’s a good thing, actually, that the Pope is advocating for the things that he cares about. But we’re always going to have disagreements on matters of public policy.”

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JD added at the time, “The Pope has been critical of our immigration policy, but ultimately the immigration policy of the United States is set by Donald Trump. The Pope is going to have disagreements on other issues. We certainly respect the Pope, we certainly have a good relationship with the Vatican.”

Related: Fox News’ Dana Perino Thinks Couples Don’t Have to Agree on Faith, Politics

Fox News host Dana Perino firmly believes that Americans are more alike than they are different. “We are in a period of pretty extreme polarization, but once you strip away social media and you actually meet people, it doesn’t matter where they are in the country,” Perino, 53, exclusively shared with Us Weekly while promoting […]

Despite the vice president’s claims that the Trump administration is on good terms with the leader of the Catholic faith, the president himself has taken public and seemingly personal aim at Pope Frances.

“[The Pope] talks about ‘fear’ of the Trump administration, but doesn’t mention the FEAR that the Catholic Church, and all other Christian Organizations, had during COVID when they were arresting priests, ministers, and everybody else, for holding Church Services, even when going outside and being ten and even twenty feet apart,” Trump claimed via his social media platform, Truth Social, on April 12, going on to call the Pope “weak on crime and terrible for foreign policy.”

“The Princess Diaries 3” may finally be closer to reality. More than two decades after audiences first watched Mia Thermopolis transform from awkward teen to royal icon, producer Debra Martin Chase says the long-awaited third installment is actively moving forward.

Chase, who produced the first two “Princess Diaries” films, recently shared an encouraging update while attending the Black Women on Broadway Awards in New York City.

Speaking with PEOPLE, the longtime producer said momentum on the highly anticipated sequel is building. “We are more than hopeful,” Chase said. “We are moving in that direction. We’ve done a lot of groundwork.”

The producer added that the team had originally hoped cameras would begin rolling this year. “We had hoped to be shooting this year. So, it’s coming. We’re intent upon making it happen. And we’re excited that the people are excited,” she said. “Every time something happens and we get the thing, it’s like, ‘Yay, okay, keep going!’ ”

Anne Hathaway Is Expected To Return As Mia Thermopolis

Though plot details remain tightly under wraps, Anne Hathaway is expected to reprise her beloved role as Mia Thermopolis. Fans last saw the character in 2004’s “The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement,” where Mia officially stepped into her role as Queen of Genovia.

The third installment was officially confirmed in 2024, sending longtime fans of the Disney franchise into celebration mode.

Garry Marshall’s Daughter Recently Shared Another Encouraging Update

Earlier this year, Kathleen Marshall, daughter of late “Princess Diaries” director Garry Marshall, also hinted that the project was making real progress. While attending the opening night of Beaches on Broadway in April, Kathleen shared an optimistic update about the film’s future.

“We’re working on ‘Princess Diaries 3,’” she said, adding that she’s “excited to be a part of anything” connected to the franchise. “It’s working out,” Kathleen added, noting that they hope the movie is “the next thing” for Hathaway.

“We’re moving it along,” she continued. “I mean, there’s just an incredible team in place. So it’s coming. It’s coming.”

Anne Hathaway Previously Admitted She Wants To Return

Long before Disney officially announced the sequel, Hathaway made it clear she was eager to return to Genovia. Speaking to Vanity Fair in April 2024, the Oscar winner described “The Princess Diaries” as “the film that changed my life.”

“It’s so weird to watch it, I haven’t seen this movie in maybe 20 years, and it’s, I’m a little bit speechless with this one,” she continued. “Actually, it’s very emotional to see it.”

She also addressed fan anticipation during a 2023 interview with PEOPLE, admitting the long wait for a third movie could understandably feel frustrating. Still, Hathaway reminded fans that movie development takes time. “It’s a process that requires patience … this is how long it actually takes to make things,” she said.

Anne Hathaway Previously Reflected On Julie Andrews’ Lasting Influence

Also during her April 2024 Vanity Fair cover story, the actress looked back on filming 2001’s “The Princess Diaries,” where she starred opposite Julie Andrews, who famously played Queen Clarisse Renaldi. “I’ve learned that I want to handle myself in a way that I’m going to be proud of at a later date,” Hathaway said while recalling Andrews’ kindness on set.

According to Hathaway, Andrews made a point to stay behind after filming each day to sign autographs for fans, something that left a lasting impression on the actress. “She respected that they had a relationship to her work that spanned their entire lives and made it a beautiful experience for them,” Hathaway said of the Oscar-winning “Mary Poppins” star.

While fans eagerly await her return to Genovia, Hathaway has remained booked and busy in Hollywood. More recently, the Oscar-winning actress returned to another fan-favorite franchise, reprising her role as Andy Sachs in “The Devil Wears Prada 2.” The highly anticipated sequel brought Hathaway back alongside original stars Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci, more than 20 years after the beloved 2006 film first hit theaters.

“The Devil Wears Prada 2” proved to be a major box office hit, earning an impressive $675.9 million globally against its $100 million production budget. Of that total, approximately $217 million came from domestic ticket sales in North America, while international markets contributed an additional $458.6 million.

Former The Ellen DeGeneres Show child star Sophia Grace Brownlee is pregnant with her third baby.

“We are so excited to meet you 🤍,” Brownlee, 23, wrote via Instagram on Sunday, June 14, alongside footage of herself showing her son River, 3, and daughter Athena, 18 months, holding ultrasound photos.

Brownlee also added “Pregnant,” “Pregnancy,” “Mom of 3” and “3 Family Siblings” hashtag to her announcement.

Brownlee, who rose to fame as a child dancing to Nicki Minaj’s “Superbass” on DeGeneres’ now-defunct talk show, welcomed River in March 2023. Athena followed in December 2024. (Brownlee has never publicly identified the father of her children.)

“I was quite young when I had River. I was 19, which I do feel like is quite young,” the social media star recalled on the “Private Story” podcast in February, recalling her experience as a young mother. “I don’t regret, like, doing anything because I’m quite happy with where I am now. When I had Athena, I was 21, which is a bit more older.”

She continued at the time, “It’s obviously young to have kids, but I don’t really think there’s a right age to have kids as long as you’re ready and you’re mature enough, that’s all that matters.”

For Brownlee, she stated that she felt “financially stable” enough to have a family because of her childhood fame and salary.

“If I wasn’t, like, I would have been struggling a lot,” she acknowledged. “So, yeah, I’m blessed to have been in that situation.”

While Brownlee has enjoyed motherhood, it has taken her awhile to feel comfortable after an admittedly scary childbirth experience.

“It actually went quite bad with River. It wasn’t a nice experience,” she recalled on the podcast. “I went into labor naturally, and I was just a week early, which is common. That’s not a problem, and everything was fine. It just, kind of, got bad when you’re actually trying to push the baby out. He was getting really stressed out, and he just wouldn’t come down properly like how [babies] are supposed to.”

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Brownlee added, “Loads of different doctors and surgeons [came into my room], which is so scary. I was, like, ‘What’s happening?’ They were, like, ‘We think we’re going to have to do a C-section because the baby’s getting distressed.’ I was just so scared that they were going to put me to sleep ‘cause that is one of my biggest fears because I think I’m not going to wake up.”

Related: Sophia Grace Reveals Name She Gave Newborn Daughter

Courtesy of Rosie McClelland/Instagram Two weeks after announcing the birth of her second child, Sophia Grace Brownlee is sharing an update. On January 5, Brownlee announced that her second child, a baby girl, was born on December 29. Now, Brownlee is announcing her infant daughter’s name. On January 19, the social media star, who became […]

Brownlee, who found her emergency C-section to be “one of the scariest times” in her life, later had a vaginal delivery — also known as a VBAC, or vaginal birth after C-section — with baby No. 2.

“Because I had a C-section, they were like, ‘We’re going to book you in for another one,’” she said in February of welcoming Athena. “That’s what they like to do, but the midwives were, like, ‘No, we think you can have her naturally, so at least try.’ I did, and it went so quickly. … I was so proud of myself, and I was glad I got to experience a natural birth, which I would choose every time over a C-section.”

It’s been nearly a year since one of America’s favorite British detective series last aired, yet anticipation for its return remains as strong as ever. The previous season’s eight episodes aired on PBS Masterpiece in the U.S. from June 15 to August 3, 2025, while the season was broadcast on ITV in the UK from January 7 to February 19, 2026. Fortunately for American viewers, the new season arrives in just a few days and will feature several new faces, including a fan favorite from another beloved British drama, All Creatures Great and Small.

According to new reports, Grantchester returns on June 14, 2026, for its 11th and final season, with Nicholas Ralph set to make a memorable appearance. Ralph is best known for playing veterinary surgeon James Herriot in All Creatures Great and Small, which was renewed for seventh and eighth seasons last November. In Grantchester, the Scottish actor will appear in the July 12 episode as John Planer, a clergyman who has recently returned to England after serving on a mission in Africa. Showrunner Daisy Coulam revealed that the Grantchester episode was inspired by the award-winning film Conclave, with the idea of “getting loads of religious men together and seeing what happens.” However, she noted that the episode is considerably funnier than the acclaimed film.

What Happens When ‘Grantchester’ Returns?

In Ralph’s episode, Alphy (Rishi Nair) encounters John during a visit to Bishop Grey’s (Stuart Bowman) palatial home, where a group of vicars has gathered for a weekend retreat. Nair, who made his Grantchester debut in Season 9, had nothing but praise for his new co-star, describing Ralph as “a great actor to work with” and someone he got along with very well.

As for what unfolds in the episode, the gathering takes a dark turn when the vicars, all eager to curry favor with the bishop, become suspects in the death of a man whose body is discovered nearby. With the victim found clutching a Bible, detectives Geordie Keating (Robson Green) and Larry Peters (Bradley Hall) enlist their resident crime-solving clergyman to help with the investigation. Matters become even more complicated for Alphy when he realizes that some of his fellow men of the cloth are not being truthful, further fueling his ongoing struggle with his faith. Also returning for Grantchester Season 11 is Alphy’s love interest, Meg (Christie Russell-Brown), whose father, as viewers may recall, is Bishop Grey.

Grantchester Season 11 premieres this month on PBS.

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2014 – 2024

Network

ITV1

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Directors

Harry Bradbeer

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Writers

Daisy Coulam, Richard Cookson, Tolula Dada, Tumi Belo

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  Robson Green

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  Geordie Keating

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  James Norton

  Sidney Chambers

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When JJ Maybank (Rudy Pankow) died at the end of Season 4 of Outer Banks, fans were dealt a major blow. However, creators Jonas Pate, Josh Pate, and Shannon Burke have actually made the best decisions for the show’s upcoming and final season. For the first four seasons, JJ was a great character who helped move the storyline forward, but his own personal character arc fell flat, leaving little room for the Pogues to grow as individuals or as a group. It was often the Pogue’s altercations with the Kooks — namely, Rafe Cameron (Drew Starkey) — led to countless twists and turns for all the characters in Season 4.

Now, with JJ dead, it’s clear that Rafe is one of the best replacements. Yes, Rafe is known for his volatile relationships, especially with his Kook-Turned-Pogue sister Sarah (Madelyn Cline). Although Season 4 had a ton of flaws, it still set the stage for a reformed version of Rafe to emerge. Rafe’s interactions with the Pogues could create just enough drama to make Season 5 the Outer Bank’s best season yet. And there’s no reason Rafe’s proposed redemption character arc can’t make this happen.

Rafe Joining the Pogues Will Change the Show’s Entire Dynamic

Whether it’s television or a movie, character arcs set the tone for the entire performance, and Rafe is primed to fill this role. He’s demonstrated himself to be a person of highly questionable morals, especially when you consider his despicable actions towards his sister. But throughout Season 4, audiences saw a lighter side of Rafe. He reached out to Sarah, trying to fix the bond he had broken, even if indirectly. He even helped the Pogues toward the end of the season, securing them a boat for their next venture. Sure, it wasn’t altruistic, as Rafe had ulterior motives. However, these are signs that signal that all hope is not lost for him.

With a less-than-stellar father figure (and that’s putting it lightly), Rafe and Sarah were forced to forge their own paths. Sarah found the Pogues, while Rafe continued to run with the Kooks. At times, Rafe was absolutely one of the most selfish men on TV, but his relationship with Sofia (Fiona Palomo) has softened him, and the loss of his father has made him question his life decisions. Even after finding out about Sofia’s betrayal, it’s possible that he could form some alliance or friendship with Kiara (Madison Bailey) and reconcile the bad blood between them that came from when they were captured by Carlos Singh (Andy McQueen).

New Character Arcs Teach Valuable Lessons

If Season 5 continues to follow Sarah’s pregnancy (instead of fast-forwarding), audiences may get to see the siblings bonding over a new family member instead of constantly rehashing the past. There are opportunities for John B (Chase Stokes) to overcome his aggression towards the Kooks, with Rafe providing crucial insight that may bridge the gap between the two groups. No, there doesn’t need to be a completely harmonious relationship between them, but John B and Rafe burying the hatchet shows that people are capable of change, allowing Outer Banks to have some uplifting moments and show that these two groups can break the cycle of prejudice.

And while it doesn’t excuse his behavior, Rafe has also overcome several obstacles that open the door for honest discussions about unresolved trauma from his childhood. By allowing Rafe to assume JJ’s empty space on Outer Banks, creators allow the show to reach its conclusion with a fresh perspective. Redeeming Rafe makes sense, but it has to feel earned. Rafe’s unique position between the Kooks and the Pogues could also help the show bridge the gap between the two groups. Rafe might help find common ground between the two groups. It would be exciting to see Rafe actually acknowledge the trauma he’s dealt with and find a place among the Pogues. Let’s be honest, JJ’s antics were beginning to feel repetitive, Rafe joining the group could help the Pogues in a way JJ never could.

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Outer Banks

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Release Date

2020 – 2026-00-00

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Showrunner

Jonas Pate

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Directors

Jonas Pate

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There are two important reasons why Ryan Murphy’s bloody new series setting its release date is important for psychological-gore fans. The first is that it’s Bret Easton Ellis’s story, and his horror stories usually come dressed as money, taste, youth, parties, beautiful people, expensive rooms, and the awful feeling that everyone is performing normality a little too well. The second is that while the film is helmed by Max Winkler, the development of it all and exec-producing credit go to Murphy, who is the brains behind American Horror Story.

When Ellis’s writing and Murphy’s work are combined, you kind of get a modern American Psycho. And the synopsis of the upcoming Murphy film basically tells that it is “a dark, coming-of-age horror thriller set in Los Angeles in 1981 and follows a group of privileged prep school seniors, whose reality is shattered by a serial killer.” That’s almost American Psycho, but instead of the corporate world, it’s the world of school seniors.

The series is The Shards, and it premieres August 5 on FX and Hulu, with international streaming through Disney+. Igby Rigney stars as a 17-year-old version of Ellis, while Homer Gere plays Robert Mallory. The cast also includes Kaia Gerber, Hayes Warner, Graham Campbell, Wes Bentley, Evan Rachel Wood, and Jordan Roth. Ellis’ novel first appeared as a serialized audiobook before its 2023 publication, and now Wrinkler and Murphy, among others, get to turn it into a full television nightmare about adolescence, class, beauty, and blood in Reagan-era Los Angeles.

‘The Shards’ Has a Nuanced Hook Rather Than a Simple-Rich-Kids-in-Danger Thriller

The story of The Shards goes back to Ellis’ own teenage mythology, taking place in 1981 Los Angeles at an elite prep school, where wealthy seniors are already drowning in jealousy, obsession, image, and sexual tension before the murder angle fully takes over. So the show might have some of those Netflix’s Elite-ish vibes in there too. Then Robert Mallory (Homer Gere) shows up, and his arrival happens to coincide with the terror caused by a serial killer known as The Trawler. That is where the series gets its classic Ellis pressure.

The Shards is coming to FX and Hulu starting August 5, 2026. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.

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Release Date

August 5, 2026

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Cast

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  Igby Rigney

  Bret Easton Ellis

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  Homer Gere

  Robert Mallory

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  Graham Campbell

  Thom Wright

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  Hayes Warner

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  Debbie Shaffer

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