The Game of Thrones universe is rapidly expanding, as House of the Dragon wrapped up Season 3 and, in the same week, the franchise’s first stage show opened in Stratford-upon-Avon. Performed by the Royal Shakespeare Company, Game of Thrones: The Mad King explores the era when Daenerys’ (Emilia Clarke) father, King Aerys II, ruled Westeros and features many crucial events such as the infamous Tourney at Harrenhal and the lead-up to Robert’s Rebellion. However, House of the Dragon and The Mad King have more in common than timing because one important element of the franchise appears in both stories: the prophecy known as the Song of Ice and Fire.

Game of Thrones fans remember the prophecy that echoed throughout the show. But House of the Dragon gave it even more weight, as an added storyline explains that it came from Aegon the Conqueror and foretells the Targaryens’ legacy. The recent Season 3 finale, in particular, explores Rhaenyra’s (Emma D’Arcy) obsession with fulfilling the prophecy, as she declares herself the Prince That Was Promised. However, Rhaenyra is just one of the many Targaryens to wrestle with those words. The Mad King explores another as Rhaegar (played by Noah Ritter) hopes to fulfill the prophecy. This idea forges a deeper connection between the play and the wider franchise that will only continue to grow.

‘The Mad King’ Goes Deeper into ‘Game of Thrones’ Famous Prophecy

The prediction about the Long Night and the threat of the White Walkers may not come true until the events of Game of Thrones, but long before it is fulfilled, it shapes Westeros. George R.R. Martin‘s books heavily hint at Rhaegar’s interest in the prophecy, though he is dead before the story begins, and the play builds on that. In fact, based on audience reports, both Rhaegar and Aerys (Michael Shaeffer) focus on the words: Aerys, as part of his madness, and Rhaegar as a Targaryen dreamer who has visions of the prophecy himself. Though he fears it could be a sign of his family’s madness, he cannot ignore it. Rhaegar believes himself to be the prophesied figure, because family legend claims he was conceived under a red star, as the prophecy predicts. However, when Aerys reveals that to be propaganda, Rhaegar must find another answer.

The story also features Lyanna Stark (Harmony Rose-Bremner), who has her own opinions about the prophecy. Seemingly possessing Greenseer abilities, like her nephew, Bran (Isaac Hempstead Wright), she also dreams of the prophecy and gives a different interpretation. Lyanna believes that the reference to the “Song of Ice and Fire” is not about dragons and White Walkers, but about the Targaryens and the Starks, who must join their lines. This thought process leads her and Rhaegar to have a child, Jon Snow (Kit Harington), whom they expect to fulfill the prophecy. However, he isn’t the only one the play positions to potentially take that role. Like Rhaegar and Lyanna, Aerys intends to father the Prince That Was Promised, so when a red star appears in the skies, both couples conceive a child, Jon and Daenerys, respectively. This storyline, which seems to be a central focus of the stage show, proves the prophecy’s significance throughout Westeros’ history.

‘The Mad King’ Proves This Prophecy Is the Most Consistent Part of the Franchise

As it proves central to yet another story, the prophecy is quickly becoming the through line of the entire franchise. From being fulfilled in Game of Thrones, to House of the Dragon explaining its origins, to The Mad King highlighting another attempt to interpret the words, this prophecy connects each story, and upcoming spin-offs can continue this tradition. So far, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms has not referenced it, but later in Martin’s story, Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell) becomes fascinated by magic and hopes to revive the dragons, which could lend itself to a tie-in of the prophecy. More directly, the upcoming film about Aegon’s Conquest can explore the prophecy’s origin, making it even more prevalent in the franchise.

The inclusion in The Mad King is fitting, but it seemingly shifts importance away from the events of House of the Dragon. While the prequel’s addition of the prophecy initially intensified the stakes of the war by risking the loss of the message, The Mad King suggests it will survive regardless, since Rhaegar has the same dream (as many other Targaryens might over the years). However, the play emphasizes the idea that the Targaryens have long worked to understand these words and ensure that the Prince That Was Promised is born, further justifying the House of the Dragon‘s change and tying the franchise together even more closely.

House of the Dragon is streaming on HBO Max in the U.S.

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Release Date

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August 21, 2022

Network

HBO

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Showrunner

George R.R. Martin

Directors

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Clare Kilner, Geeta Patel

Writers

Gabe Fonseca

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• 
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  Fabien Frankel

  Ser Criston Cole

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Ashley Callingbull knew going off-script at the Miss Universe Canada pageant could create controversy, but she did not anticipate how ugly the reaction would become. After publicly calling out Indigenous cultural appropriation during the competition, the former titleholder says she has received death threats, racist slurs and messages telling her to kill herself. Still, she refuses to regret speaking up.

Callingbull opened up about the fallout from her unscripted pageant moment in a new interview with PEOPLE, revealing that the criticism has gone far beyond disagreement over her stance.

“I think this is why we need to speak up is after I spoke up, I experienced so much racism and hate,” she told the outlet.

The 36-year-old said she has received death threats, racist slurs targeting her Indigenous heritage and messages urging her to take her own life. Callingbull admitted the response has been “quite surprising,” particularly because she has also spent considerable energy trying to educate people about why the costumes caused offense.

Callingbull, a Plains Cree woman from Enoch Cree Nation, made history in 2024 as the first Indigenous woman to win Miss Universe Canada. She later represented the country at Miss Universe, finishing in the Top 12.

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Despite describing the current situation as “emotionally heavy,” Callingbull said she remains mentally strong.

“I can’t control what life throws at me, but I can control how I react to it,” she explained.

Ashley Callingbull Went Off-Script Over Two Controversial Costumes

The controversy began during the national costume portion of Miss Universe Canada 2026 in Windsor, Ontario.

Callingbull, who was preparing to co-host the Aug. 8 final, saw footage from the earlier costume competition and was stunned by outfits worn by contestants Karisa Haverkamp and Jasleen Kaily.

Haverkamp’s look incorporated a feathered headdress and a red handprint across her face, imagery associated with awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. Kaily appeared in an “Arctic Beauty” ensemble featuring fur clothing, fur boots described as mukluks and braids.

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“It felt like a slap in the face to the Indigenous community,” Callingbull told PEOPLE.

She immediately contacted pageant officials and suggested safeguards, including cultural liaisons who could help prevent similar situations.

However, Callingbull ultimately decided a behind-the-scenes conversation was not enough.

During the live final, the teleprompter unexpectedly stopped working while Callingbull and national director Sonny Borrelli were hosting. She seized the opportunity to address the controversy without warning organizers beforehand.

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Callingbull told the audience that cultural appropriation had occurred before stressing that reconciliation requires people to “educate and learn and understand and move on from these things in a good way.”

Miss Universe Canada Responds And Promises Changes

Rather than distancing itself from Callingbull, the Miss Universe Canada organization acknowledged the controversy and promised changes.

Borrelli said onstage that the organization took responsibility for causing offense and intended to learn from what happened.

The pageant subsequently announced plans for a comprehensive Costume Guide establishing standards for future competitions. Callingbull was also invited to become an official liaison for the costume competition going forward.

Both contestants involved have apologized. Kaily said her intention was never to disrespect or misrepresent Indigenous culture but to celebrate one of Canada’s First Peoples. Haverkamp similarly acknowledged that her costume caused “hurt and offence” and said she appreciated what she learned from the experience.

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Callingbull told PEOPLE that Haverkamp also apologized to her personally.

For the former titleholder, that willingness to listen is ultimately what she hoped her intervention would accomplish. “Accountability is everything,” she explained.

Ashley Callingbull Says Staying Silent Was Never An Option

Callingbull’s decision to commandeer the live moment was not entirely spontaneous in spirit.

She recalled experiencing racism at work when she was just 14 and receiving advice from her grandfather that remained with her years later.

“Ashley, if you never speak up… things will never change,” she remembered him telling her.

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That philosophy has followed Callingbull throughout a career that has repeatedly broken barriers. Beyond becoming the first Indigenous Miss Universe Canada, she previously became the first Canadian and First Nations woman to win Mrs. Universe in 2015 and has used her platform to advocate for Indigenous issues.

Her latest stand also comes amid a turbulent period for the broader Miss Universe world.

As The Blast previously reported, the 2025 international competition became engulfed in controversies ranging from a viral confrontation involving eventual winner Fátima Bosch to accusations surrounding the judging process. The organization later faced further scrutiny after Miss Jamaica Gabrielle Henry suffered a frightening fall during the preliminary competition.

Miss Universe Canada Star Refuses To Back Down After Death Threats

Despite the disturbing messages, Callingbull says the response has not convinced her that speaking out was a mistake.

Instead, she believes the backlash demonstrates why difficult conversations remain necessary.

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The former beauty queen acknowledged that constantly explaining the issue has been “exhausting,” but she hopes the controversy leads to stronger safeguards around cultural representation at future pageants.

She also wants her experience to encourage others who feel pressured into silence.

“Regardless if people try to silence you or you feel like the world is against you, use your voice and speak up because you have no idea the impact it can make,” Callingbull told PEOPLE.

Despite the personal toll, she remains determined to take the heat if it results in change.

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Editor’s Note: The following contains spoilers for Silo Season 3, Episode 7.One of Silo’s greatest strengths as Apple TV’s best sci-fi is its continued ability to make every answer feel like the start of an even bigger mystery, and Episode 7’s “Radio” does exactly that. While Juliette Nichols (Rebecca Ferguson) scrambles with her friends to stop Silo 18’s looming Safeguard before it’s too late, the Before Times storyline delivers its biggest revelation yet as journalist Jessica Henwick’s intrepid journalist Helen Drew and Congressman Daniel Keene (Ashley Zukerman) finally come face-to-face with billionaire Per Stensen (Colin Hanks), whose plan to save the world is as clear-cut as it is alarming.

But what begins as another search for answers about Charlotte’s (Jessica Brown Findlay) missing memories quickly spirals into something far more unsettling for the pair, culminating in the series’ most haunting image of countless silos being drilled beneath America’s farmland. While it’s a dark foreshadowing of the reality Juliette is currently living, for Helen, that reveal isn’t just shocking because of what she’s seeing with Daniel, but rather terrifying for what it means.

Throughout the season, the reporter has believed every lead has brought her closer to the truth. But “Radio” forces her to realize the conspiracy she’s been chasing is actually just one piece of a much larger story. As Henwick says in an exclusive Collider Signature Q&A, Helen reaches the point where she understands “the rabbit hole goes so much deeper,” realizing, “I’m so far behind this story. I’ve come into the middle of a story or the end of a story.”

As the show enters its final episodes for Season 3, Henwick breaks down why Charlotte’s recovered memories are more unsettling than reassuring, how Per quietly challenges everything Helen believes about truth and morality, why her partnership with Daniel reaches a major turning point, and what Helen truly understands in those final moments overlooking the future silos.

Henwick Says Helen Is Willing To Compromise Her Morals for the Truth

COLLIDER: You and Ash [Zukerman] have done such an amazing job as this anchor couple for what the show is. A lot of people say it’s sci-fi, but I really do believe it’s a love story at the core, with these sprinkles of affection and admiration we see from the two of you, which is so nice. You also gave an amazing performance this season.

JESSICA HENWICK: Thank you. That’s really sweet to hear. It’s so nice to hear from someone who’s seen the whole thing and knows the journey that we go on. And yeah, I totally agree. At the end of the day, the whole show is about love. That’s what it comes down to. It’s what sparks Juliette. She was trying to find out what had happened to her love. And to know that the Pez is no longer a mysterious object; it’s just something that Daniel gave to Helen on a non-date. It’s really sweet. And I think ultimately what we need right now are stories that have love at the heart of them.

I totally agree. I know that Helen is so used to being the person always asking questions, but Episode 7 puts her in the room where Per controls what she’s allowed to know. What interested you as an actor in playing that shift in power?

HENWICK: Honestly, what I was attracted to and found interesting in that episode specifically is that when we’re introduced to Helen at the end of Season 2 and all through Season 3, we really come to know her as someone who believes in the truth at all costs. She really believes in the power of the people, the will of the many. Like, give people information, let them do what they will with it, but don’t protect them. And then to discover that she is not quite practicing what she preaches.

Obviously, we discover that she herself has protected a source by pretending that her story was fabricated, and now she’s really having to question: is there such a thing as too much information? Is there such a thing as too much truth? Is it possible that the public shouldn’t know what she’s about to find out? I think it’s a really hard decision for her to make. It remains to be seen how much she regrets it in the long run, but it’s a fascinating transition for the character. I think by this point in the show, she’s so desperate to get to the truth, she’s willing to sacrifice her morals a little bit.

Charlotte remembering Daniel feels like it should be a breakthrough, especially for him. Helen’s been chasing the answers the whole season, but it becomes immediately clear that it’s actually opening the door to something much bigger than the two of them even imagined. Why does that moment end up feeling more unsettling than triumphant for Helen?

HENWICK: Helen respected Charlotte going into this, and I think that they felt that there was a kinship there. So to see Charlotte, and she’s apparently got her memories back, and she’s totally fine, and she’s still saying, “I’m on this side now.” She’s crossed over, and she feels unreachable in a way, and I think that scares Helen even more because she definitely doesn’t trust Per Stensens, but she trusted Charlotte’s judgment, and if Charlotte thinks that she’s doing the right thing, maybe there’s more to this.

Per kind of threatens Helen and Daniel in a way. He treats them, also, like potential recruits. Did you see it that way, too, when you were reading the scripts? Did it feel like this was something where your characters were being very much manipulated into a situation where it would benefit just one faction of people versus the entire community of America?

HENWICK: I think that they don’t really want Helen. They just want Helen to shut up. This is their way of, like, “Come to our side,” and they would essentially muzzle her. They muzzle her regardless. But I don’t think they particularly like her from the get-go. Per could sadly buy many journalists who probably have a better reputation. Helen’s reputation is marred. I think she’s in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Colin Hanks Found the Chilling Mindset Behind Per Stensen

Image via Apple TV

What was it like building that dynamic with Colin Hanks? There’s such a tension that comes from that passive aggressiveness between the two of you. You are both talented actors, but seeing that back and forth was really fun because I love the quick wisecracks that Helen gives to him, but he also tries to put her in her place most times.

HENWICK: I kept joking that Per is short for persnickety. He’s funny, and he can dish it. And I mean, look, Colin is the nicest, most charming, congenial man, and has a penchant for bursting into song randomly, which I found very adorable because I do the same. But when he’s in the zone, as Colin, it’s pretty fascinating.

I remember on his first day, we had been bonding for episodes. The stranger was coming into an established set, which is always really hard, and we were trying to be welcoming and chatty. Then, just before the take goes, I heard him just kind of step to the side — I hope he doesn’t mind me sharing this — and he just said to himself, “You don’t care about any of these people. None of these people matter.” And then it was action, and he went into the take.

It does kind of get to the heart of that character and people who are of that ilk. Not to say all tech billionaires don’t care about people, but when your time is worth so much, I do imagine he looks at us and goes, “Ugh, God, if they could just sign it already. What a waste of my time. They’re burning through millions.” I think he reduces us to a number in his head, or just an obstacle, a thing to deal with. I don’t really think he sees us as people.

You’ve played in a lot of roles that have an eat-the-rich sort of theme, and so I’m wondering what was something about this show that you feel maybe does it differently, especially with Per Stensen, because I feel like he comes off like an Elon Musk character, which is a whole other conversation. But it just feels like something so relevant and so important to actually acknowledge, because there are people who are in the secret shadows, shaping our own government, our lives, etc. For you, what was it like reading that back and figuring out this is a character we’re going to have in the show?

HENWICK: Any time there’s any sort of leak of internal government documents, it’s always not shocking, sadly, but awful to see how much influence external figures have and all the conversations that are happening behind closed doors. We, as the public, get a fraction of the real reason for every single move.

I have done a couple of eat-the-rich things, but I think Silo takes it seriously and is also willing to point out, rather than sort of making it funny and making them evil or just othering them, all the ways that he may be right. Like Helen and Per go head-to-head, and every time she says, “Well, what about this?” He replies, “What about this?” And they both have points. They both are making valid points.

The show does a very good job of not villainizing anyone. It grounds them in humanity, and I think that’s why the show is so relatable. People do love the different characters’ back-and-forth. What you say about Per — he has points, and his points make sense — so I think that’s just very interesting. That being said, though, Helen is normally the person asking questions all the time, but how do you keep those quieter reaction beats active when so much of the performance is now happening internally for her? It does require her to watch and calculate and listen. It’s a lot more internal for you.

HENWICK: I love that stuff. I love the scenes where I’m just listening and just reacting in the moment. I’m such a big fan of cutting my dialogue. [Laughs] It was a pleasure.

Also, the thing I’ve noticed with actors, they always say the hardest thing is either sneezing in a scene or crying or whatever, but I think listening is one of them, because there’s so much internalizing for your expression you have to do, too.

HENWICK: There is internalizing, but what I like about Helen is that she’s also not afraid to just scoff in your face or smirk or laugh openly. When we meet her at the end of Season 2, she’s there in a work capacity, and there is an element of keeping her cards a little close to her chest. But all in all, I think she’s a very emotional person. Not that she’s lacking in logic or external decision-making, but she does kind of wear her heart on her sleeve, which is refreshing. It was fun. It was really fun in the dinner scene in the next episode.

Henwick Had To Ignore What ‘Silo’ Fans Already Know

Image via Apple TV

Episode 7 doesn’t really reward Helen with answers so much as it forces her to rethink the questions she’s been asking all season. When you first read the script, did it completely change your understanding of her journey when you got to that episode?

HENWICK: I read everything at once, so I knew exactly where we were going, and obviously the audience knows where this goes. The audience knows this is all about a silo. At the end of the day, it’s all about a silo. You can’t play that. You have to play it that she thinks, “Okay, so there’s a conspiracy about a bomb,” and then, “Oh, okay, so it’s a conspiracy about memory.” But her expectation is the closest to reality each time. There’s no world where she ever would have been able to imagine, “This is what this has all been about? It’s been about a guy with too much money and time, obsessed with doomsday bunkers?” She couldn’t have imagined it. So, I just tried to stay true to where she was rather than where the show was, or the audience was.

‘Silo’ Episode 7’s Final Scene Makes Helen Realize It May Already Be Too Late

Image via Apple TV

Helen and Daniel built their relationship through this shared risk and this gradual trust in one another. How does what they experience in Episode 7 strengthen or even complicate their partnership as the story moves towards the final episodes?

HENWICK: We had that beautiful bottle episode for us entirely in the car. I think Helen is forced to confront the fact that she hasn’t even begun to scratch at the surface. She’s so used to meeting people and immediately filing them away in a box. Like, she meets him in the bar, and she goes, “Okay, politician. Probably a douchebag.” And then she meets him, and he’s kind of funny and charming, and she’s surprised. Then he gives her this Pez, which is so tender, and that takes her aback. She doesn’t know how to respond to that. Then in the car, to discover, “Well, he actually doesn’t have these grand aspirations to be a politician. It’s not what he got in. He didn’t get into it for the fame or the glory.” I think she’s at a crossroads where she’s starting to realize there’s so much more here, potentially. But obviously that’s messy because work/play — don’t shit where you eat. [Laughs]

Yeah, I totally understand. That final image of Helen and Daniel looking out at the enormous silos being built across the farms is very haunting. I feel like it’s foreshadowing everything we know is going to happen, but we don’t really know the stuff in between. What does Helen understand at that moment that she didn’t understand when she stepped onto that plane?

HENWICK: The rabbit hole goes so much deeper, and there’s a possibility that it’s too late. I think a lot of what she was doing was, “Let me blow this open before it progresses.” And to realize, “I’m so far behind this story. I’ve come into the middle of a story or the end of a story,” is just beyond her grasp.

Silo streams Fridays on Apple TV.

Hey, General Hospital fans. We have all seen Anna Devane (Finola Hughes) manipulated by the ghost of Peter August (Wes Ramsey), who is living rent free in her head and actively urging her to kill Britt Westbourne (Kelly Thiebaud). And that’s because Peter warned Anna that Britt will try and kill her if she doesn’t take her out first.

We’re going to talk about Anna making murderous plans for Britt. Who’s going to be the one to stop Anna from killing Britt and what consequences Anna might face as a result of trying to kill Britt?

General Hospital: Peter Pushing Anna Closer to the Edge

So, Peter’s being quite convincing. He’s made Anna believe she’s not safe and won’t be until all of Cesar Faison’s (Anders Hove) kids are dead. That means Britt’s got to go. And of course, Peter’s dead and gone, and Anna is just brain scrambled. Ross Cullum (Andrew Hawkes) scrambled her gray matter. She’s not okay.

Anna lied and told Felicia and the French therapist what they needed to hear. She just wanted out of the European psych facility. And so, she manipulated her shrink and family, but Anna is far from being in a good place mentally. So, very soon, especially after that intense scene we had with Britt and Anna at General Hospital this week, I think Peter is going to convince Anna to go ahead and take action against Britt.

So, this week, Peter told Anna to use Felicia Scorpio (Kristina Wagner) to get information on Britt. And at first, Anna didn’t want to do it, and she told ghost Peter that she doesn’t want to use her family. But he convinced Anna that she has to do it or the consequences will be dire.

So, Anna went ahead and she got a little info out of Felicia. She told Anna that Britt is on probation at GH but is doing all right. More importantly, Felicia told Anna where Britt lives because Felicia organized a sublet from another doctor. Now, Anna knows exactly where to find Britt outside of General Hospital and then Anna can go after her at home.

Anna Plays Britt on GH

With Peter writing shotgun in Anna’s head, Britt was asking Anna to use her WSB connections to help her find out about how Cassius Faison (Ryan Paevey) has died and where’s his body to give Liesl Obrecht (Kathleen Gati) some closure and some peace of mind. And initially Anna refused, but then Peter convinced Anna to tell Britt she changed her mind and said that way she’ll owe Anna something.

So, it looks like we’re getting closer with Peter pushing Anna to making a move and targeting Britt, trying to kill her because Peter’s not going to stop pushing. However, when Anna goes after Britt, people are going to realize that Anna needs help and that she’s been lying. So, let’s talk about who may save Britt and at the same time save Anna from herself because if she harms Britt, that means Anna is throwing her life away.

General Hospital: Who Will Save Britt from Anna’s Murderous Plot

There are people who care about Britt or Anna and at least one who cares about both Britt and Anna that could intervene even if it’s risky. So, one person I think would definitely get between Britt and Anna is Valentin Cassadine (James Patrick Stuart).

He’s actually my top choice because he loved Anna for decades. Even though Valentin moved on with Carly Spencer (Laura Wright), he’s never going to not care about Anna. And of course, Valentin doesn’t care that much about Britt, but he adores Anna.

And we just saw Valentin recently tell Carly he thinks something isn’t right with Anna. And with their long history, Valentin knows Anna very well. He can tell something’s off. Valentin’s not sure what it is. But there’s a chance he may stumble upon Anna trying to kill Britt and then he intervenes.

Valentin may not especially care if Britt lives or dies. He’s not exactly a family Faison fan, but he’s not going to want Anna to wreck her life this way. So Valentin, I think is a strong possibility of the person who gets involved and gets between them and hopefully it won’t cause him any issues with Carly if it is Valentin that intervenes.

 Jack Dies Saving Britt on GH

I feel like though there’s a bigger chance it could be Jack Brennan (Chris McKenna) that gets between Anna and Britt because we know Chris McKenna is leaving General Hospital this fall and his character Jack is going to be killed off and knowing Brennan’s time is running out. You know, he might die because of this Anna thing. I could see Jack getting involved when he sees Anna going after Britt. Not that Jack is that attached to Anna, but he knows the WSB did her really dirty.

And he’s also someone who’s been in her life a long time, even though they’re not close now. And of course, Jack still wants info out of Britt. And this would be especially perfect because Jack and Nina Reeves (Cynthia Watros) are getting really close. And Britt is part of Nina’s family. She loves and cares about Britt. So, Nina would be eternally grateful for Jack saving Britt’s life. And no matter how Jack dies, Nina’s going to be absolutely crushed. Especially if by the time he dies, Jack and Nina have fallen in love. That would be super soapy.

General Hospital: Jason Morgan a Strong Possibility

But another person that might intervene in this Anna versus Britt thing is Jason Morgan (Steve Burton). He could be the one who saves Britt because Jason is Britt’s boyfriend and they’re in love, at least for now. So, of course, Jason would jump into any situation to save Britt’s life.

But at the same time, Anna is a very good friend of Jason’s, and at one point, it looked like Anna was going to be a love interest for Jason. General Hospital was hinting at it, but aside from that kiss, it never really went anywhere.

So, Jason’s still going to want to help Anna, and he’s also going to want to protect Britt from her. And Jason may realize something’s very wrong with Anna and in the end he may convince Britt, you know, no matter what she did, don’t press charges.

General Hospital: Joss & Britt Come Full Circle

So, basically, there’s three different guys that might save Britt. Valentin, Jack, and Jason, but also in case Britt can’t save herself from Anna, there’s somebody else that might actually save her. Could be Super Agent Josslyn Jacks (Eden McCoy). She might be the one who rescues Britt from Anna’s murder plot.

If you remember, Britt saved Joss’s life from a hook killer, Heather Webber (Alley Mills).  That’s how Britt supposedly died, but then the WSB saved her and put her back to work and convinced her she had Huntington’s. So, if Joss winds up saving Britt’s life, that’s a life for her life. It would be very full circle. So, I could definitely see that happening.

And it would make sense because Joss has been worried about Anna really ever since she saw the literal writing on the wall when Joss was held in the same room below Windermere where they had Anna locked up before they shipped her off.

General Hospital: Anna Locked Back Up

So, knowing that she’s going to go after Britt and do something murdery because she’s still unhinged and Peter’s in her head, the next question is what then? Because I doubt that Anna’s going to kill Britt. I’m sure somebody’s going to intervene, but then there’s fallout and consequences. I absolutely expect to see Anna put into a psychiatric facility somewhere local like Shadybrook.

That way Felicia, Emma Scorpio-Drake (Brayden Bruner), and other friends and family can be there for Anna because she needs help getting Peter out of Anna’s head. And that means that she’s likely going to lose her badge, at least for a while. And Dante Falconeri (Dominic Zamprogna) might have to step back in as police commissioner at the PCPD, at least until Anna gets the help she so desperately needs and gets Peter out.

Hopefully, it’ll be ShadyBrook and not Ferncliff where they keep those that are more criminally insane. I guess it depends on whether Anna is arrested for trying to kill Britt or if they can handle it outside the justice system. Like Britt agrees, okay, no charges as long as Anna checks in and gets help so this doesn’t happen again.

We’ll see how it plays out with Anna getting murdery with Britt. But I don’t think it’ll be too long before Peter pushes Anna to take drastic action. And she attacks Britt. And I think a murder attempt would forever change both Anna and Britt’s lives and maybe the life of whoever gets between them.

Action movies are awesome. Sci-fi movies are awesome. Put them together, and you’ve got the most irresistible combination since H.B. Reese put peanut butter in a chocolate cup. There’s a particularly potent chemical reaction between these two genres that tends to bring out the best of both. Many of the greatest sci-fi action movies of all time could comfortably rank among the greatest in either genre and often do.

In the interest of variety, and as a natural result of subjectivity, this list will be limiting franchises to their single greatest action-packed entries. Directors, with one very notable exception, will also be kept to singular examples from their filmographies, so just know that if your personal favorite sci-fi actioner isn’t listed here, in some alternate universe it ranked number one. Otherwise, buckle up for the ten best sci-fi action movies in film history.

10

‘Predator’ (1987)

Image via 20th Century Studios

Only on a list like this could an action classic like Predator rank so low. Or maybe lower if you’re among the snobbish critics who reviewed the film when it was first released. Take a random sampling of those reviews, and you’ll notice that the majority of them wrote this iconic film off as a dumb, dull action movie. Reading some of the downright hostile reviews makes it almost seem like they stopped paying attention to the film after 30 minutes. For that first act, the film does seem like any other ultra macho 80s action movie, like Rambo or star Arnold Schwarzenegger’s own Commando, but once its alien antagonist makes its presence known, it evolves into something else entirely.

The premise of Predator is superficially similar to Aliens, with a group of highly trained soldiers taking on an extra-terrestrial threat. The difference is that these aren’t the Vietnam-coded Colonial Marines, these are hypermasculine Reagan-era mercenaries. They take out a compound full of bad guys like an R-rated A-Team, but when they come face to face with Kevin Peter Hall under Stan Winston appliances, they get their asses handed to them. Schwarzenegger spends half the climactic fight running away, with his voice pitched so high through Predator vision, he sounds like a scared little boy. Predator isn’t some cerebral thriller, but John McTiernan definitely didn’t make a dumb, dull movie.

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‘Inception’ (2010)

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

There’s some debate over how good a director of action Christopher Nolan is. There’s no debate that he can handle spectacle, and his editors have certainly played a heavy role in keeping the tension taut in his films, but if there’s any decent argument to the contrary, it’s Inception. Some critics and viewers have opined that a film set almost entirely in dreams should be far more surreal, like the animated Paprika which shares more than a few similarities with Inception. The reality is that Nolan’s dreams are merely an architectural design for him to a build a big ass heist thriller meets James Bond adventure.

For all the mind-bending theatrics of the film, it’s a very basic premise of a professional thief trying to pull off one last job so he can get back to his family. Everything else is window dressing of the mind, and it looks damn good. The zero gravity fight sequence is one of the most memorable setpieces of the 21st century, and the mechanics of the film really lock into place in the climax. Inception adds several layers of action and sci-fi elements to the heist film template. The action in Nolan’s films may not be as fluidly choreographed or as tightly framed, but it’s on a scale that far too few filmmakers are even able to attempt.

8

‘Ghost in the Shell’ (1995)

Image via Manga Entertainment

There are a number of awesome animated sci-fi action films that deserve some recognition. Superheroes qualify here, so The Incredibles and the Spider-Verse get some love. The Animatrix never gets enough love, and Redline is wild fun, but really there are only two films vying for the spot here. Akira is the first, and it’s a gorgeous anime that continues to influence, and the other is Ghost in the Shell, an equally iconic film which hits a little harder in the action department. It’s a kinetic, cyberpunk thriller that really highlights the specific strengths of its medium. Though there have been sequels, remakes, and different series, all of varying quality, there’s something about the stripped-down simplicity of the original that still hits hard.

Ghost in the Shell is dense with sci-fi ideas and philosophical concepts but damned if it isn’t a movie that doesn’t feel the need to explain itself. The central narrative, about a group of cyber cops hunting down a dangerous hacker, is straightforward enough in a tech-noir sort of way. Everything else, from the setting to its technology and the implications thereof, is implicit. With a runtime of less than 90 minutes, as well, the film absolutely whips by. It’s a tight, captivating sci-fi action movie with big visuals and big ideas. That’s why it’s been so influential to many films that came after, including at least one more on this list.

7

‘Minority Report’ (2002)

Image via 20th Century Studios

Tom Cruise is his own breed of action hero. He’s been actively engaged with the genre since the 80s, but has always stood apart from it almost as his own brand. None of his films follow a clear trend, other than Cruise’s increasing insanity and willingness to put his body in danger. Even his signature franchise, Mission: Impossible, went through a few identity changes before settling in by the fifth film. Those movies all feature some very sci-fi technology, but don’t officially qualify as sci-fi action movies. His firmly fixed efforts are, ranked in ascending quality, Oblivion, Edge of Tomorrow, and Minority Report.

The 2002 sci-fi thriller benefits from the direction of Steven Spielberg, who simply knows how to stage the hell out of an action sequence. From a jet-pack fight, to a chase on automated cars, and Cruise hiding from robot spiders like kids from raptors in a kitchen, Minority Report is what an Alfred Hitchcock movie looks like in sci-fi noir clothes with 21st century technology. It’s got a wrongfully accused man on the run, but instead of being paired with a platinum blonde who Hitchcock can abuse behind-the-scenes, he’s teamed up with Samantha Morton giving an incredible performance as a child-like psychic. There are still some traces of the themes from Philip K. Dick’s short story, and the film’s tech was surprisingly prescient, but it’s a true thrill ride.

6

‘RoboCop’ (1987)

Image via Orion Pictures

Paul Verhoeven made three pretty damn perfect over-the-top sci-fi action movies. Total Recall was another Philip K. Dick adaptation turned into a blockbuster, albeit a far more violent one. Starship Troopers was a deliberately satirical adaptation of Robert Heinlein’s sci-fi military novel that took some time for critics and audiences to warm to. They are both classics in their own right, but RoboCop is his superior invention. It exists in its own genre entirely, playing intestinal jump rope with tone and sincerity. Even awesome films like Upgrade and Dredd, which owe a blood-soaked debt to RoboCop, aren’t able to achieve its strange alchemy.

The action of RoboCop, on a surface level, isn’t anything brilliantly staged or particularly fast-paced. Robo is about as fast as a backhoe in traffic, and generally moves in a straight line to annihilate his targets with his oversized gun. What the action does have, is an absolute ridiculous brutality to it. Unlike the throat rips and exploding arrows of other 80s action movies, the violence in RoboCop knows it’s absurd. The sheer quantity and size of the squibs put on the actors in this movie turns them into bloody chum, and that’s even before a melting man gets liquified by a car. If you want fancy footwork or complex choreography, look somewhere else. If you want an entire factory turned into a cloud of cocaine, bullets and blood, watch RoboCop.

5

‘Children of Men’ (2006)

Image via Universal Pictures

Alfonso Cuarón is another filmmaker that couldn’t be listed as an action director. He’s made films that have scenes of incredible tension and suspense like Gravity, or even chaos and violence like in Roma. Both of those films were predicated on the work Cuarón had done on the only film of his that could be considered an action movie, the dystopic sci-fi thriller Children of Men. The action in Children of Men is of a visceral nature, much of it captured through digitally assembled long takes. It makes it more white-knuckle than fist-pumping like some of the action on this list. Children of Men is an action movie the same way Saving Private Ryan is, there’s a reality to its violence that makes it hard to enjoy, but easy to be impressed by.

There’s a version of Children of Men that could have been made without any action. The novel it’s based on, by P.D. James, has no action to speak of and is focused on ore in philosophical and political debates. It could’ve made a very talky but possibly interesting sci-fi film. Cuarón is far more interested in having audiences experience the violent social upheaval that might result from the world of the novel. The political themes are broadened, based more closely on post-9/11 fearmongering and aggressive nationalism, and the plot is streamlined into the format of a thriller. It’s a breathless film that doesn’t have time to contemplate for too long, but which is far more effective for how harrowing its action is.

4

‘The Matrix’ (1999)

Image via Warner Bros.

An action sci-fi movie that certainly wants to be contemplative is The Matrix. The Wachowski’s breakthrough film, which became a true pop culture phenomenon, is a mélange of philosophical debates, spiritual themes, and trans allegories. The film isn’t focused on any one of those things enough to express anything specific, but the implications certainly tickled many people’s cerebrums more than the average action movie. It definitely opened people up to the many philosophical influences that the Wachowskis had in crafting their film and launched a million different interpretations of its meaning. In that way, it also introduced many to the martial arts films and cyberpunk anime that were coded in its DNA.

Movies like Ghost in the Shell and directors like John Woo all inspired The Matrix, much in the same way Christopher Nolan and Inception would be by it. The film brought action techniques like wire-fu, that had been mainstays in industries like Hong Kong for decades, to mainstream American audiences. It also perfected bullet-time, which had been toyed with as a concept in previous disparate films, anime, music videos and even commercials. The Matrix funneled all its influences into one leather-clad action film that defined a generation of action films.

3

‘Terminator 2: Judgment Day’ (1991)

Image via Tri-Star Pictures

Top 3 spots are reserved for the big guns, and nobody likes a big sci-fi gun like James Cameron. The Canadian filmmaker has only made two films that don’t fall into science fiction and only one of those, Titanic, isn’t an action movie. While that historical drama may have brought him prestige and Oscar gold, it’s not his best film. His two best films, in fact, are both sci-fi action movies, and they are masterpieces of the subgenre. The first belongs to Cameron’s own franchise, with the totemic blockbuster sequel Terminator 2: Judgment Day.

Where The Terminator was a more exploitation-adjacent sci-fi action movie wrapped over a slasher endoskeleton, the sequel was designed from the ground up to be a blockbuster. It’s got a more family-friendly Terminator, with Arnold’s iconic villain reprogrammed as a hero this time around to protect a kid protagonist who’s about as based in reality as Bart Simpson. It’s a corny movie, no doubt, but it’s got amazing setpieces, Linda Hamilton as a kick-ass action heroine, and Robert Patrick as the ultimate artificial villain. The landmark CGI is still impressive, and it’s mixed with incredible practicle effects and stunt work that make Terminator 2: Judgment Day a chrome-clad classic.

2

‘Aliens’ (1986)

Image via 20th Century Studios

Cameron’s best film is a sequel to a movie he didn’t direct. As fun as it would be to list Piranha II: The Spawning here, it has to go to Aliens. More so than the escalation that Terminator 2 brought, Aliens completely changes genres from its predecessor. The most discussed aspect of Cameron’s sequel is how he jettisoned the horror of the first film and inserted a thrilling war movie into its sci-fi setting. It’s almost taken for granted now, but it was a big risk that paid massive dividends, and set the scales for many future sequels. Also, often discussed is the film’s expansion of the character of Ripley, who truly becomes the full iconic character as fans know and love her.

Sigourney Weaver certainly gave a committed performance in the first film, but her character is fairly thinly written, enough that her actual gender was completely arbitrary. Cameron, as he is wont to do, fleshed her out with a backstory involving a daughter (in the director’s cut) and gave her new purpose with a surrogate one. Aliens is about mothers, and that’s what Cameron brought to it. The soldiers were already there in the almost non-existent outline given to him by the producers. What could’ve been a cheap follow-up where a few soldiers are picked off by another alien, instead became an epic action movie featuring the mother of all sci-fi showdowns.

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‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ (2015)

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

While there’s some debate on whether post-apocalyptic stories always qualify as sci-fi, it’s still a speculative as hell subgenre and the original Mad Max was a dystopian film so Mad Max: Fury Road gets to smash through to the top spot. It’s a film that’s been endlessly hyped by action fans, cinephiles and critics alike, but which didn’t even crack the top ten highest grossing films of the year it was released. Financial success has no bearing on its quality, it just speaks to how monumental the entire Mad Max franchise is while still remaining slightly cultish.

Miller’s first film was a seminal Ozoloitation revenge thriller. One which helped bring Australian cinema international attention, except from most of America. The states were so out of the loop that the sequel Mad Max 2 was released under the title The Road Warrior. The film was a big success regardless, especially thanks to its relatively minuscule budget of $2 million. Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome was the most mainstream entry of the franchise, with a PG-13 rating, a musical superstar as a co-lead, and a gang of kid characters. It would be three decades before Max returned, and he came back in the most streamlined, pulse-pounding, visually astonishing, sci-fi action movie ever made.

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Mad Max: Fury Road

Release Date

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May 15, 2015

Runtime

121 minutes

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Director

George Miller

Writers

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Brendan McCarthy, George Miller, Nico Lathouris

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Jenna Jameson has taken the reins of love by the horns!

The former adult entertainment creator has reportedly sealed the deal with the love of her life over two years after she parted ways with her former partner, who accused her of not being honest before their commitment.

Jenna Jameson and her ex-wife, Jessi Lawless’ marriage reportedly broke down when the former picked up her once-reckless drinking habit without feeling remorseful about backsliding.

Jameson has given marriage another chance, tying the knot with her partner, Milagros Ocampo. The former adult film star, who has since transitioned into business, married Ocampo in Miami, Florida, on July 25, 2026. 

Online records show the couple had obtained a marriage license several weeks before the ceremony. Jameson and Ocampo reportedly began dating in March 2025, shortly after Jameson filed for divorce from her estranged wife, Jessi Lawless.

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As TMZ reported, Jameson and Lawless married in May 2023, but their relationship unraveled less than a year later, with the pair separating in April 2024.

Jessi Lawless Placed Broken Promises At The Heart Of The Failed Marriage

The Blast shared that Jameson’s ex-wife pushed to have their marriage completely annulled in court after informing the judge that she entered the union based on misleading promises from the former content creator.

Lawless claimed Jameson portrayed herself as financially secure and free of debt before their May 2023 wedding, while also promising to contribute financially to their household. She further alleged that Jameson had committed to remaining sober throughout their marriage.

According to the filing, Lawless later discovered that Jameson allegedly owed around $500,000 in tax debt and had not maintained her sobriety. Lawless claimed that the misrepresentations were material and constituted fraud in her decision to marry Jameson.

Despite the serious accusations, Lawless appeared determined to keep the legal split relatively uncomplicated. She reportedly did not seek spousal support, and because the former couple shares no children, there were no custody matters to resolve.

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They had also reportedly already split up their community property, eliminating another potential source of conflict as Lawless sought to end their legal entanglements.

Jenna Jameson’s Marriage Reportedly Crashed Due To Lack Of Remorse Over Drinking Habit

In her emotional TikTok video detailing her painful split, Lawless shed more light on what she claimed ultimately destroyed her marriage to Jameson. She pointed to the former adult film star’s alleged drinking as the breaking point.

According to Lawless, alcohol had been a firm boundary from the beginning of their relationship because of the problems she believed it had previously caused in Jameson’s life. Things allegedly unraveled after Jameson traveled alone to an event in Chicago, something Lawless said had not happened since they tied the knot.

She claimed Jameson began drinking during the trip despite their understanding about sobriety. However, Jameson initially denied drinking and only admitted it after she was led to believe there was evidence proving otherwise. 

What hurt Lawless most, however, was what she described as Jameson’s complete lack of regret. She recalled becoming emotional and pleading for some sign of remorse, only for Jameson to allegedly insist that she did not feel sorry for what happened.

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Lawless also claimed the conversation took another turn when Jameson seemingly shifted the blame onto her. In hindsight, she said she might have held herself to a very high standard in the relationship, but it was the last straw in her decision to pursue an annulment of the marriage.

Despite the painful split and the accusations surrounding it, Lawless made it clear that she still cared deeply for Jameson and wished her well moving forward.

The Businesswoman Hinted At Second Chance With Her Ex While Dismissing Abuse Claims

Two years ago, shortly after Lawless filed for annulment of the marriage, Jameson posted another social media update, informing fans that they were taking steps to fix the marriage.

As reported by The Blast, Jameson addressed speculation about the state of their union and their split, insisting that she never considered Lawless abusive.

Jameson tagged the circulating narratives on social media as unfair to Lawless’ image. She added that they have decided to put in the work to ensure that their relationship stays on track.

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The former adult film star spoke warmly about Lawless, stressing that she still cared deeply for her and did not want her dragged into further controversy. 

She reiterated that affection in the caption by tagging Lawless and publicly declaring her love, and Lawless returned the gesture with a heart emoji. The apparent reconciliation drew plenty of encouragement from followers, with several fans saying they simply wanted Jameson to be happy. 

Some had recommended the couple avoid airing their differences through social media. Other commenters questioned Jameson’s latest defense of Lawless and accused her of contradicting earlier claims surrounding their breakup.

Jenna Jameson Highlighted The Role Of Motherhood In Her Dating History

Prior to her marriage to Lawless, Jameson had been in relationships with men and welcomed children with them. PEOPLE noted that the television personality welcomed her twin sons with UFC legend Tito Ortiz in 2009, and after they broke up in 2013, Ortiz was awarded full custody of the boys.

Jameson moved on with Lior Bitton in 2015, welcoming a daughter in 2017 after a very intense 12-hour labor. A year later, Jameson admitted that her daughter, Batel Lu Baton, had yet to meet her older siblings, but she remains hopeful for a better outcome.

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In 2023, Jameson revealed that she still has legal custody of Batel. However, she did not live with her at the time, four years after she announced her relocation to Hawaii to raise her daughter in a healthy environment.

The media personality also touched on her previous relationships with men, emphasizing that her desire to become a mother influenced those romances. 

Eventually, the former adult entertainer gained a clearer understanding of herself and fully embraced the selfish decision because it led to a beautiful result: her kids.

Happy married life to Jenna Jameson and her heartthrob!

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Jenna Bush Hager has spent nearly two decades building a career at NBC, but one uncomfortable comment from the beginning of her “Today” tenure apparently stayed with her.

The daughter of former President George W. Bush has never denied that her famous family helped open doors.

However, she recently revealed just how quickly colleagues questioned whether she had earned her place, recalling a blunt remark that tapped directly into what she calls “everybody’s fear” for people born into prominent families.

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Bush Hager joined “Today” as a correspondent in 2009, but she admitted she was still learning the basics of broadcast journalism when a fellow correspondent confronted her with an uncomfortable observation.

“I remember — and I’m not gonna say who — but month two where I’m just trying to learn … oh, I mean, I didn’t know anything,” she recalled per PEOPLE during “Today with Jenna & Sheinelle.”

Then came the remark. “We just thought they hired you because of your dad,” Jenna remembered the unnamed correspondent telling her.

Rather than insist her family had nothing to do with the opportunity, the 44-year-old acknowledged the obvious advantage.

“I’m sure — and I haven’t asked my boss, and I’d rather not — I got this interview … I was on the show because my dad was president,” she explained.

Bush Hager noted that appearances promoting books she had written alone and with her mother, Laura Bush, helped establish her relationship with the morning show before NBC eventually offered her a job.

She admitted that she “wouldn’t have been given that opportunity” without her parents.

However, she ultimately described her career using two truths that can exist simultaneously.

“I feel lucky to be here,” Bush Hager said, “and I’ve also felt like I’ve needed to prove it.”

Famous Family Connection Created Pressure To Prove Herself

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Acknowledging privilege did not eliminate the insecurity that came with it.

Jenna Bush Hager described the colleague’s remark as “everybody’s fear” for someone with famous parents because it raised the possibility that no amount of subsequent success would completely silence assumptions about how they got started.

Her response was to overcompensate.

“What we do to get over that is work like crazy, work beyond to where we’re working ourselves too much,” Bush Hager explained.

That is not the first time she has addressed the complicated reality of being labeled a “nepo baby.”

In February 2025, Bush Hager called the experience a “double-edged sword,” admitting that she and twin sister Barbara Pierce Bush had become “serious workaholics” partly because they wanted to prove that their lives had not simply been handed to them.

At the time, she acknowledged eventually needing to tell herself, “Okay, I did it. I proved it.”

Jenna Bush Hager Initially Turned Down ‘Today’ Opportunity

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There is another wrinkle in the assumption that Bush Hager eagerly capitalized on her family name. When NBC initially approached her, she did not immediately accept.

Bush Hager was working as a teacher and said she continued teaching for several years before eventually interviewing for the correspondent position. She had previously recalled seeking advice from her grandparents when the opportunity arose in 2009, as she was uncertain about abandoning her education for television.

What followed became considerably larger than that first correspondent role.

She eventually joined Hoda Kotb as permanent fourth-hour co-host in 2019 after Kathie Lee Gifford’s departure. When Kotb left “Today” in January 2025, Bush Hager carried the hour through “Today with Jenna & Friends,” working alongside more than 60 rotating celebrity co-hosts before Sheinelle Jones became her permanent partner in January 2026.

Jenna Bush Hager Has Expanded Far Beyond Her Original ‘Today’ Job

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Bush Hager’s attempts to establish an identity outside her political family have also expanded beyond morning television.

Her Read with Jenna book club, launched in 2019, became a significant publishing platform. By its sixth anniversary in 2025, nearly two-thirds of its selections had reached The New York Times bestseller list, while more than half had been optioned for screen adaptations.

She subsequently expanded into publishing with Thousand Voices Books, an imprint established in collaboration with Random House Publishing Group to champion emerging writers across genres.

Now, Bush Hager is moving deeper into scripted television. She serves as an executive producer on NBC’s upcoming drama “Line of Fire,” which draws in part on her unusual childhood experience of growing up under Secret Service protection.

Bush Hager recently explained that watching agents leave their own families to protect hers helped inspire the show’s exploration of what such work costs families behind the scenes.

‘Today’ Role Is Entering Another Closely Watched Chapter

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Jenna Bush Hager’s confession arrives as her current “Today” partnership is attracting scrutiny of a different kind.

As The Blast previously reported, an insider claimed that Bush Hager and Sheinelle Jones have experienced tension both on and off camera, with executives allegedly monitoring viewer reaction to their fourth-hour chemistry. Those claims remain unconfirmed by NBC.

The pair have also continued sharing warmer moments publicly, and NBC is still airing “Today with Jenna & Sheinelle” as its established fourth-hour pairing.

The Challenge family is honoring former contestant Tyler Duckworth after his death was confirmed by his family.

“My son, Tyler, passed away earlier this week. Cause of death has yet to be determined,” Joni Duckworth wrote via Facebook on Thursday, August 13. “I will post on Facebook about services as soon as his dad and I figure it out.”

Tyler’s death comes nearly two weeks after he appeared at The Challenge Mania event in Minneapolis.

In his final social media post before his death, the 44-year-old reality star expressed how excited he was to interact with fans and meet with fellow competitors.

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“So proud to represent my hometown of Minneapolis along with these other Challenge legends,” Tyler wrote via Instagram on August 2. “The fans are what keep us coming out! Hearing your stories of courage, inspiration & joy that you’ve got being a fan of the franchise is humbling each and every time.”

Fans met Tyler when he appeared on MTV’s The Real World: Key West in 2006 shortly after graduating from Tufts University. He went on to compete on six seasons of The Challenge, including The Duel, The Gauntlet III, Cutthroat, Rivals, All Stars 2 and All Stars 3. He was crowned the champion on Cutthroat and Rivals.

As family and friends mourn his death, Us is combining all the heartfelt tributes from members of The Challenge. Keep reading to see how Paulie Calafiore, Derrick Kosinski and more stars are honoring a fierce competitor:

Paulie Calafiore 

“Life is crazy. RIP Mighty Duckworth! You were so vibrant two weeks ago,” The Challenge star Paulie Calafiore wrote via Instagram after spending time with Tyler at The Challenge Mania event in Minneapolis. “It’s so wild to imagine your vibrant energy no longer here. Sending prayers and love to your family and friends. The Challenge fam lost a legend ❤️#rip #prayersforhealing.”

Brad Fiorenza

“Absolutely heartbroken to hear about Tyler. We shared something special being part of The Challenge family,” veteran and champion Brad Fiorenza wrote via Instagram. “I’ll always be grateful for the memories we shared; especially at this last event just a couple weeks ago. Tyler will be deeply missed by so many. May his amazing soul live on in the lives he’s touched. RIP my dear friend 🕊️🙏”

Rachel Robinson

“May your memory be a blessing for us all,” three-time champion Rachel Robinson wrote via her Instagram Story. “We love you @TheMightyDuckworth.”

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Tina Barta 

“Some friendships are measured in years. Others are measured in memories, laughter, shared experiences and the way someone makes you feel when they are in the room,” The Challenge star Tina Barta shared via Instagram. “@themightyduckworth you are one of those special people. A true friend and confidant.💔… Tyler, thank you for being part of my story. I’m grateful our paths crossed in this crazy life and that I get to carry those memories with me. Rest peacefully, my darling friend 🕊️.”

Derrick Kosinski

“We shared a room on All Stars 2 and he was an amazing human being. His passing is so sad,” Challenge Mania cohost and The Challenge alum Derrick Kosinski told People. “He was always such a bright light and incredible joy to be around. He also kicked my ass in elimination on the original Cutthroat. And that was after he eliminated Johnny Bananas in the famous Bananas backpack elimination, ‘Back Up Off Me.’ He went toe to toe with CT for 40 minutes! He doesn’t get his flowers often enough for that. And he won that season. And then won again with Johnny on Rivals.”

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Katie Cooley

“Heartbroken to hear about Tyler. He was so funny always making everyone laugh, and sweating profusely for absolutely no reason,” Katie Cooley wrote via Facebook. “He was truly one of a kind. Sending love to everyone who knew him. Rest easy, friend.”

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Hollywood mourned the deaths of some of its most legendary stars in 2026. In June, legendary music executive Clive Davis also died at age 94 following a hospitalization for an upper respiratory infection. The following month, G.R.L. member Lauren Bennett died at age 37, while Bonnie Tyler died at 75. Emergency!‘s Randolph Mantooth and Police […]

Johnny Bananas

“When it rains it pours💔🦆,” The Challenge veteran Johnny Bananas wrote via X.

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Wes Bergmann

“Tyler was a remarkable man and a great friend to many. He made fantastic television. He was a great challenger. He was a very good swimmer. And eater,” champion Wes Bergmann wrote via X. “This is a really tough loss. Call your friends people.”

Jemmye Carroll

“Completely heartbroken over the unexpected loss of Tyler. He was the first Real World alum Knight & I hung out with after filming our season, before it even aired,” The Challenge star Jemmye Carroll shared via X. “He was the one who officially welcomed us to this family. A TV icon, Challenge beast, and truly one of the good ones.”