Entertainment
5 Greatest Julia Roberts Movie Masterpieces
Rom-com superstardom can make people weirdly lazy about Julia Roberts. They remember the smile, the laugh, the posters, the box-office heat, and then act like the whole career was built on charm alone. That misses the real thing. Roberts became massive because the charm had fight in it. Even when she was being funny or romantic, there was usually impatience, pride, hurt, or survival sitting right under the surface.
These five films prove how strong that screen presence can get when the material knows what to do with it. Roberts can be cold, magnetic, furious, and so much more. That range is why the movie-star label actually means something with her.
5
‘Closer’ (2004)
Mike Nichols lets everyone in Closer sound intelligent while behaving terribly, which is exactly why the movie still stings. Anna Cameron (Julia Roberts) gets pulled into the emotional wreckage between Dan Woolf (Jude Law), Alice Ayres (Natalie Portman), and Larry Gray (Clive Owen), and she never feels like the safe “adult” in the room. Anna is controlled, yes, but the control often looks more like exhaustion than wisdom. She knows desire can humiliate people, and she still keeps stepping into it.
Roberts strips away the easy warmth audiences usually expect from her. Anna’s face often looks guarded, almost tired of being wanted by men who turn attraction into possession. Her scenes with Larry are especially brutal because the marriage has turned into a contest of confession, punishment, and sexual power. Closer uses Roberts against her own romantic image, and that choice gives the film real bite. She is no fantasy here. She is a woman trying to stay composed while everyone keeps demanding access to the parts of her she would rather keep private.
4
‘Ocean’s Eleven’ (2001)
A casino heist movie packed with Danny Ocean (George Clooney), Rusty Ryan (Brad Pitt), Linus Caldwell (Matt Damon), Basher Tarr (Don Cheadle), Frank Catton (Bernie Mac), and Reuben Tishkoff (Elliott Gould) could easily reduce Tess Ocean (Julia Roberts) to “the ex-wife prize.” Steven Soderbergh’s Ocean’s Eleven avoids that trap by making her taste matter. Tess is the reason Danny’s confidence has a weakness. He can plan around vaults, cameras, guards, timing, and Terry Benedict (Andy Garcia)’s empire, but he cannot treat Tess like another piece of the job without exposing how badly he still wants her respect.
Roberts does a lot with stillness here. Tess has heard Danny’s charm before, which makes her the rare person in the movie who is almost immune to the sparkle. That changes the rhythm whenever she appears. The heist is sleek and funny, but the romantic thread gives Danny’s cool-guy routine a bruise. Tess is not impressed by the performance of being clever and wants proof that he understands the consequences. In a film full of perfect timing, Roberts brings the one thing Danny cannot simply steal back.
3
‘Erin Brockovich’ (2000)
The miracle of Erin Brockovich is how messy it lets its hero be. Erin Brockovich (Julia Roberts) is broke, unemployed, raising three kids, angry at being dismissed, and tired of people treating her clothes, voice, and attitude like evidence against her intelligence. Then she starts digging into medical records tied to Pacific Gas and Electric’s contamination of Hinkley’s water, and the film becomes a legal drama powered by outrage that feels completely personal.
Erin talks fast because she has spent her life fighting to be heard before someone shuts the door. She dresses the way she wants, flirts when she wants, swears when she wants, and still does the work better than the people looking down on her. The case matters because the victims matter to her as people, not files. Roberts earned the Oscar here through more than charisma. She made Erin’s anger useful, specific, and impossible to patronize.
2
‘My Best Friend’s Wedding’ (1997)
Julianne Potter (Julia Roberts) is a disaster, and that is the whole thrill of My Best Friend’s Wedding. She finds out her best friend Michael O’Neal (Dermot Mulroney) is marrying Kimmy Wallace (Cameron Diaz), panics, and turns a romantic comedy setup into a sabotage mission against a woman who has done almost nothing wrong. That could have made the movie unbearable. Roberts saves the whole thing by letting Julianne be funny, jealous, charming, insecure, mean, and painfully aware of her own bad timing.
The genius is that the film refuses to reward her selfishness with the usual fantasy ending. Kimmy is sweet without being stupid, Michael is not some secret soulmate waiting to wake up, and George Downes (Rupert Everett) keeps pointing out the emotional truth Julianne wants to dodge. Roberts lets the audience love Julianne while also knowing she is wrong. That is a harder trick than it looks. Julianne, in the end, has to accept that love sometimes arrives too late, and the person you want may still belong with someone else. But the film keeps you hooked and invested throughout.
1
‘Notting Hill’ (1999)
Notting Hill understands movie-star fantasy better than almost any romantic comedy of its era. Anna Scott (Julia Roberts) is famous enough to make ordinary life impossible, and William Thacker (Hugh Grant) is ordinary enough to make her feel, briefly, like she can breathe. The setup sounds light, almost impossible to mess up: a Hollywood star walks into a London bookshop and falls for the awkward owner. The reason it lasts is that the film keeps remembering how strange and painful that fantasy would be for the person everyone is staring at.
Roberts brings her own celebrity history into Anna without turning the role into self-pity. The dinner scene with William’s friends matters because Anna is allowed to be funny, bruised, competitive, and honest in a room that slowly stops treating her like an image. The “just a girl” line became famous for a reason, but the real power sits in everything around it: the failed timing, the public exposure, the fear of being loved as an idea rather than a person. Notting Hill is the Roberts classic that knows exactly why people adore her and exactly how lonely adoration can become.
Notting Hill
- Release Date
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May 28, 1999
- Runtime
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124 minutes
- Director
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Roger Michell
- Writers
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Richard Curtis
Entertainment
13 Writer-Approved Tailored Trousers That Are Better Than Jeans
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Jeans will simply never go out of style. They’re truly a wardrobe classic, but sometimes, you just want to throw on sweatpants and call it a day. Unfortunately, certain occasions require a bit more polish than fleece-lined bottoms can offer. Enter: tailored pants.
The clean lines, flattering fit and billowy silhouette are rooted in the tailored pants style, making them sleek yet comfortable. And although they’re often associated with formal and professional attire, today’s fashion people are reinventing them with a cool-girl edge. Labels like Aritzia, Spanx and Gap are even jumping on board, so of course, I had to round up my favorite finds on the internet. Ahead, discover the coolest tailored pants, and maybe even ditch those jeans.
13 Writer-Approved Flattering Tailored Pants
1. My Favorite: If comfort is your main priority, then don’t skip these yoga-inspired dress pants, which feature a relaxed fit, cooling fabric and moisture-wicking capabilities.
2. Trending Color: These chocolate brown PrettyGarden bottoms are an instant ‘add to cart.’ I love the high waist, flowing design and soft pleating. Style them with an eyelet-trim blouse and strappy sandals for a rich mom look.
3. Under $15: Looking for a classic fit you can return to time and time again? Then secure the Pohista trousers in a versatile camel hue. The pants are currently on sale for under $15, so you can say they’re a must-buy.
4. Eye-Catching Detail: An asymmetrical waistband adds a fashion-forward element to these onyx-colored Jluxelabel pants. They’re begging to be worn with crop tops and handkerchief blouses.
5. Cool-Girl Find: Achieve the model off-duty look with the lululemon Daydrift Trousers. The slow-slung design looks effortlessly cool with a simple tank and low-profile sneakers.
6. Accessories Included: For a limited time, Nordstrom is slashing 50% off the Halogen wide-leg pants. Featuring a polished mini belt, it’s hard to say no.
7. Fan Favorite: Aritzia is one of my go-to clothing destinations for a reason, delivering timeless designs that are refined and elevated. The Effortless Pants fall right in line; they’re tailored and are made with a Japanese crepe fabric.
8. Inclusive Sizing: The Halara Flex Pants take comfort seriously with a pull-on design and two-way stretch. Choose from various inseams, including extra petite, extra tall and more.
9. Capsule Wardrobe-Approved: Picture these cream-colored wide-leg palazzo pants with a crisp white tee and elegant loafers. Need I say more?
10. Optical-Illusion Find: Don’t love the wide-leg look? Then reach for these straight-leg Lenago pants. The clean design elongates the figure while staying extremely versatile.
11. From Day to Night: Whether you’re headed to the office or happy hour, these soft, stretchy Gap trousers deliver. Wear them with a button-down shirt for a professional look, or swap it with a lace-trim cami for a sultry finish.
12. Just Trust Me: Spanx is the O.G. for a reason, delivering fan-favorite designs that stand the test of time. Secure the brand’s comfortable wide-leg pants for a style you’ll reach for again and again.
13. Instant Yes: Chic and unfussy, these Open Edit twill trousers are the definition of classy. Choose from a deep black or muted olive.
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Entertainment
Brad Pitt Requests Angelina Jolie Discloses Movie Earnings
Brad Pitt is requesting that Angelina Jolie disclose financial information, including film earnings, amid the pair’s ongoing legal battle over their former French winery.
According to documents obtained by Us on Tuesday, August 4, lawyers for Pitt, 62, requested during a Friday, July 31, court hearing that Jolie, 51, provide “documents sufficient to show her income” after their 2016 split, particularly the period from 2017 to 2019.
Lawyers for Jolie, who had previously provided financial records of her earnings between 2020 and 2021, have argued that the requested financial information is not relevant to the former couple’s legal dispute over their French winery Château Miraval, which they owned together from 2008 to 2021.
Us has reached out to representatives for Pitt and Jolie for comment.
Per the documents, Pitt’s legal team is “not even seeking all of her profit statements … just seeking statements that show for films they are already in the money and she is receiving payments.”
After Jolie had previously stated during the legal battle that she had “largely put her career on hold, forgoing years of compensation in the process,” Pitt’s team argued that the disclosure of their request will put Jolie’s allegations of Pitt’s “coercion” and “economic leverage” into “context.”
In a legal response to Pitt’s request, Jolie’s team stated that “the entire basis for Pitt compelling these answers is a made-up theory that Jolie did not allege.”
The response continued, “Pitt claims that Jolie has put her entire financial condition at issue going back to 2017 because of her allegation that she was seeking ‘financial independence.’ But Pitt’s selective quote misleadingly fails to include the entirety of her allegation. Jolie does not allege that she was seeking financial independence in the abstract; she alleges that she was seeking ‘financial independence from her ex-husband.’ Separating from one’s ex-husband is categorically different from an allegation that one is suffering general financial distress.”
IMDB shows that Jolie starred in 2019’s Maleficent: Mistress of Evil among other film projects between 2017 and 2021.
Pitt and Jolie were together for 12 years and married from 2014 to 2016. They share six children: Maddox, 24, Pax, 22, Zahara, 21, Shiloh, 20, and twins Knox and Vivienne, 18.
Their divorce was finalized in December 2024 while their winery dispute remains ongoing after Jolie previously claimed in a countersuit to Pitt’s initial lawsuit that no two-party consent agreement existed and that she attempted to arrange a buyout with Pitt, who allegedly refused unless she signed an NDA.
Entertainment
Keke Palmer Lands NBC Pioneering Hosting Gig
Keke Palmer is joining NBC in a brand new role!
The Nickelodeon alum has been revealed as the host of the first celebrity edition of “The Voice” with an equally iconic array of coaches to shape up everyone’s vocals and performances.
Keke Palmer has, over the years, ventured into several sectors of the entertainment industry, leaving her footprints and even walking away with awards like an Emmy in 2024 for hosting an NBC game show.

The actress, dressed in matching pink sets, tried out her hosting voice with the viral four-step challenge on Instagram. The prompt on the video asked that the media personality repeat “This is The Voice” in a disappointed, happy, sarcastic, and flirty tone, which she aced at every point.
Most importantly, the television star confirmed the rumors that she would be the host with the most for the celebrity edition of the singing show, which also doubles as its 31st season on television. Palmer declared her excitement to see a fully packed studio with an audience waiting to be entertained.
Palmer exuded radiance in the short clip, rocking her short curly hair in shades of auburn and chestnut paired together with a softly made-up face and pearly white teeth.
The video, shared on NBC The Voice’s official Instagram page, was followed with the caption, “You already know who it is! Keke Palmer hosts The Voice Season 31 coming in 2027 on NBC.”
Palmer began her career in Hollywood as a child star and earned early fame via her role in “The Wool Cap” in 2004 before going on to appear in the equally successful “Akeelah and the Bee” in 2006.
The teen star’s good news was well received by fans in their hundreds who praised her generational run, clinching those gigs in the industry. She even earned the “KEKE KEEP A JOB PALMER!!!” title from this commenter.
Fabletics’ Instagram page did not forget to remind the actress just how excited they are for the news, as another commenter noted that Palmer and former NBA star Shaquille O’Neal are one of the most booked personalities in the industry.
Several long-time fans of the actress also promised to tune in to the show once it kicks off in 2027 simply because she would be handling the hosting microphone. “Sounds like I might tune in; I love her as a host on PASSWORD,” one Instagram user noted.
Comments like “Queen of being employed,” “There’s literally no job she can’t do,” and “Extended her record for keeping a job,” all sat under the post.
‘The Voice’ Season 31 Is Set To Be The First Celebrity Edition In The History Of The Franchise

As shared by Variety, NBC revealed on Tuesday, August 4, that production will start very soon with eyes set on a date in 2027 to air the show. Palmer will host, while a packed team including Queen Latifah, Joe Jonas and Riley Green will coach the contestants.
While celebrity appearances are not alien to earlier seasons of the show, this will be the first time anywhere in the world that a season will be solely dedicated to celebrity contestants.
Various personalities across all sectors will fight for the bragging rights of “The Voice” winner, including actors, influencers, comedians, reality TV stars, athletes, and many more.
It will not be Palmer’s first rodeo as a host for TV shows, including NBC, as she currently handles the game show “Password.” The media guru is also the star of Peacock’s “The ‘Burbs” and has previously served as a guest mentor on “American Idol.”
The 32-Year-Old Broke A Daytime Emmy Record In 2024

Palmer, two years ago, broke the glass ceiling in the Primetime Emmy universe when she became the first woman in nearly two decades to win an Emmy for hosting a game show. Deadline noted that she took the Emmy for Outstanding Host for a Game Show for “Password.”
She wrestled with four men in the category, including Steve Harvey, Pat Sajak, Ken Jennings and Mayim Bialik, to win the title, becoming the first Black woman to be nominated in the category and even win it. It was also the first time in 50 years that the NBC show had been nominated or won in that category.
Palmer got to add that Emmy to the one she won in 2021 for the Outstanding Actress in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series category courtesy of her role in “Turnt Up With The Taylors.”
Palmer’s NBC show has Jimmy Fallon at the wheel as an executive producer, and he duly earned his flowers in the actress’ acceptance speech at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles.
“I’m really just so thankful; I’m almost speechless. I want to thank the people who allowed this to happen, thank you to Jimmy Fallon, thanks to NBC,” Palmer declared in 2024.
Keke Palmer Highlighted Her Hollywood Legacy In Clapback Response Against Colorism

In 2022, an internet conversation erupted following Palmer’s performance in “Nope,” a box office flick directed by Jordan Peele. As noted by BET, some social media users had claimed that it was Palmer’s breakout role, a statement the media personality strongly refuted by stating facts about her Hollywood journey.
In the rebuttal, Palmer stated that colorism fueled the reasoning behind comparing her to anyone, adding that attempting to reduce her decades of success to a single film overlooked her long list of artistic achievements.
Palmer duly informed the public that she has achieved several milestones in her career, including becoming the youngest talk show host. Her resume also has her as the first Black woman to lead her own Nickelodeon series, and the youngest and first Black actress to play Cinderella on Broadway.
The TV star, who insisted she was an incomparable talent, reminded naysayers that she has been a leading actress since age 11 with over 100 acting credits to her name. She noted that the release and success of “Nope” have only extended the long list of her accomplishments in the entertainment industry.
Entertainment
The 15 best comedy movies on Hulu
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Uplifting Oscar winners and endless time loops are a few of the experiences in store in this list of comedy films that are must-watch.
Entertainment
Perez Hilton Taken to Hospital After Self-Harm on Livestream
Perez Hilton has been transported to a Florida hospital after a disturbing livestream in which he appeared to commit self-harm, according to police.
“The individual has been safely recovered and transported by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue to a local hospital, where he is receiving medical attention,” the Miami-Dade County Sheriff’s Office told TMZ, CNN and more in a statement late Tuesday, August 4.
“The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office Crisis Response Unit and Licensed Mental Health Professionals are also on scene providing support and resources to the individual’s family,” the statement added.
While the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office did not name Hilton, 48, neighbors at the scene told NBC6 that they believe the person is Hilton.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office confirmed it had “received multiple calls regarding an individual who was live-streaming acts of self-harm on social media.”
“Deputies quickly located the individual’s residence, where they spoke with family members on scene and confirmed he was alone inside,” the sheriff’s department said in a statement to outlets including TMZ.
The statement continued, “In many incidents involving a person experiencing a mental health crisis or actively harming themselves, deputies prioritize deescalation by creating time, distance, and opportunities for communication.”
“At this time, deputies have tactfully disengaged while continuing to monitor the situation,” the statement concluded.
During a TikTok livestream on Tuesday, Hilton appeared naked, covered in blood and seemingly committing acts of self-harm. His account has since been taken down.
“We are aware of the concerning content circulating online involving our client, Perez Hilton. At this time, we have not been able to make direct contact with him, despite our ongoing efforts to reach him. Our primary concern is Perez’s health and well-being, as well as the well-being of his family. Until we have confirmed information, we will not speculate or comment further,” Hilton’s managers, Golden Artists Entertainment co-CEOs Dante Rusciolelli and Rebekah Kochan, said in a statement to TMZ and Variety. “We appreciate everyone’s concern and ask that his privacy be respected during this time.”
Us has reached out to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office and Hilton’s management for further comment.
Hilton (real name Mario Armando Lavandeira Jr.) found fame as a celebrity blogger in the mid-2000s. He has three children, Mario, 13, Mia, 11, and Mayte, 8.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.
Entertainment
Spider-Man’s Mary Jane Watson Officially Gets Her Time To Shine in New Spin-Off
Peter Parker’s great love has always been Mary Jane Watson. Even Spider-Man: Brand New Day highlights the pain of them not being together with Peter (Tom Holland) struggling in a world where MJ (Zendaya) and Ned (Jacob Batalon) do not remember their former friend. But it is often a classic tale of male superhero’s love interest when it comes to MJ’s comic storylines. She isn’t always the center of the story but a new comic run allows Mary Jane Watson the time to shine.
In Mary Jane: Face It, Tiger #1, fans get to see MJ as we rarely get to see her. There have, in the past, been comic runs and storylines with MJ as the main character, but for the most part, she’s a supporting player in Peter Parker’s life. Now, Peter gets sidelined for MJ to have her moment. Coming face to face with Chameleon, hanging with her own symbiote, taking on Haze, and more, the issue puts MJ in a series of comics from all different artists who really understand what makes Mary Jane Watson so captivating.
The stories within Mary Jane: Face It, Tiger #1 include “Faces in the Crowd” by J.M. DeMatteis with art by Andrew Broccardo. The story centers around Mary Jane coming to terms with the fact that Chameleon came into their home and pretended to be Peter and what that means for her relationship moving forward. In “Vamp #9,” by Ann Nocenti, MJ is on set as a zombie/vampire on a movie when she has to be the hero Peter often is. With art by Alina Yerofieieva, it is a return to MJ’s acting roots! We round out the issue with Ashley Allen‘s “Redux” with art by Phil Noto that features MJ and Haze back in action together. But one issue in particular brings us back to MJ’s first appearance in Peter Parker’s world.
Including a Heartbreaking Use of Her First Ever Appearance
In Soft Words at Sunset, we get to see Mary Jane Watson at a very different time in her life. Detailing her life with Peter Parker, the comic takes us back to their first introduction. Mary Jane was first introduced in The Amazing Spider-Man #42 in November of 1966. She sees Peter, and one of the first things she ever said to him is “Face it, tiger…you just hit the jackpot!” The new comic, written by J. Michael Straczynski with art by Luigi Zagaria, fans get to see Mary Jane as the center of her own story. This time, exploring her grief and love for Peter Parker while doing it.
Soft Words at Sunset is a beautiful exploration of how dedicated Peter Parker and MJ have always been to each other. She understood what it meant for him to be a superhero, and she understood that he was never going to stop. And Stracynski uses MJ’s first line in comic history in a breathtaking and heartbreaking way.
You can celebrate Mary Jane Watson by watching Spider-Man: Brand New Day and purchasing Mary Jane: Face It, Tiger #1, out now.
- Release Date
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July 31, 2026
- Runtime
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145 Minutes
- Director
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Destin Daniel Cretton
- Writers
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Chris McKenna, Erik Sommers, Steve Ditko, Stan Lee
- Producers
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Amy Pascal, Kevin Feige, Rachel O’Connor, Avi Arad
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Spider-Man / Peter Parker
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Entertainment
Gregg Sulkin on Mason’s Wizards Beyond Waverly Place Plot Twist
More than a decade after saying goodbye to Wizards of Waverly Place, Gregg Sulkin was more than ready to step back into one of his most beloved roles — but his return wasn’t exactly what fans were expecting.
Warning: Major spoilers below for the final season of Wizards Beyond Waverly Place.
The actor, 34, reprised his role as fan-favorite werewolf Mason Greyback in the four-part Wizards Beyond Waverly Place finale, which aired on Disney Channel Tuesday, August 4. But the highly anticipated comeback came with a twist few saw coming: Alex Russo’s (Selena Gomez) first love died sometime before the events of the sequel series.
While the revelation surely came as a shock to viewers, Sulkin approached Mason’s fate the same way he would any other role — by trusting the creative team to deliver the best story possible.
“For me, I focus on what I think every actor does: on the script and turning the scene into the best it possibly can be,” Sulkin exclusively told Us ahead of the series finale. “The rest I left up to the writers. The writers are very capable, very talented. I think the Disney brand is one of the most successful in the world for a reason. And so, when they come up with story lines or when they go into specific directions with characters for many different reasons, it’s one of those where I just put my hands up, respect the decision, and then do my best with that.”
The original Wizards of Waverly Place aired from 2007 to 2012, with Sulkin joining in season 3 as Mason, the witty werewolf who quickly became Alex’s most popular boyfriend. More than a decade later, the Disney Channel franchise returned with Wizards Beyond Waverly Place, bringing back several familiar faces while introducing a new generation of young wizards.

The four-part finale followed teen wizard Billie (Janice LeAnn Brown) as she searched for Alex after discovering the pair are mother and daughter. Trapped in an alternate universe with amnesia, Alex reunited with her best friend Harper (Jennifer Stone) and Mason.
At first, it appeared Mason and Alex had found their way back to each other, with the werewolf even preparing to propose. But Alex eventually regained her memories and realized the life she was seeing couldn’t be real — because Mason had already died.
Although Sulkin fully trusted the creative team with Mason’s fate, the actor did have a few ideas of his own when bringing the character back.
“There were certain callbacks that I wanted to make, and there were certain things that I thought the fans would appreciate if they heard out of my mouth,” Sulkin said with a smile. “A couple of line changes and a few little Easter eggs for the original fans. It definitely was a collaborative experience and a collaborative effort.”
Sulkin also clarified that while Mason is gone at the moment, he may not be gone forever.
“That’s not to say that there cannot be a spinoff in the future of potentially a prequel of all the years leading up to [his death],” Sulkin teased. “So, you know, I wouldn’t say Mason is [totally gone]. I mean, he’s dead for now.”
Whatever the future may hold, saying yes to a Wizards return was never really in doubt for Sulkin.
“I was really happy to be part of the original show. I mean, the original show meant so much to me,” he told Us. “It opened up so many opportunities, so many doors, and it was a show that I was always grateful for.”
While he knew the revival was in the works before it was publicly announced, Sulkin says he always felt his return needed to happen organically.

“I always knew that they wanted me to come back. I think it was just a matter of finding the perfect moment, the perfect time, the perfect storyline,” he explained. “Also, respecting the old characters, respecting the original show, but also giving space for this new show to breathe.”
Ultimately, returning allowed him the chance to thank everyone who helped shape those formative years of his career.
“It was an opportunity for me to say thank you to all the fans that supported me on the original show,” Sulkin continued, adding, “It was an opportunity to close a very beautiful chapter in my life. … And also to say thank you to the crew for being such an amazing support system at a very pivotal point in my own personal life.”
Despite the years between projects, stepping back into Mason’s shoes — and being back opposite Gomez — came naturally. “I think it took me about three seconds,” Sulkin joked. “It was a really surreal experience. It took Selena and me simply looking at each other on set and it was like, ‘OK, we’re back.”
Sulkin wasn’t even dismayed by the short amount of prep time before filming. “I can prep this all day long, but the feelings that I feel once I go back to set, working with Selena, working with Jen, it’s going to sort of all go out the window because there are so many emotions,” he said.
“I think some things in life you can’t force, and I think Selena and I’s professional chemistry since the start of the show was so strong that, and so natural that I felt that I just felt at ease,” he added of his special dynamic with Gomez, 33. “To come back many years later, nothing really had changed. Maybe I had a few more lines on my forehead, but apart from that, it was pretty much the same.”
Although Alex ultimately moved on from Mason, Sulkin doesn’t believe their love story ever truly ended — and urged viewers who may be disappointed to do the same.
“When you say Mason and Alex didn’t end up together, yes, in a way they didn’t,” he told Us. “But I do believe that, in Mason’s heart, anyway, they did in a way. Because I think there is so much love between them.”
“Whether or not they ended up with different partners and went on different approaches, I think the love that they have for each other is so deep and so real,” Sulkin added. “I couldn’t say that they didn’t end up together because I think in their heart they will always hold on to each other deep down.”
Wizards Beyond Waverly Place is streaming on Disney+ now.
Entertainment
Jennifer Stone Details Wizards Return, Harper’s Future
The Wizards Beyond Waverly Place series finale went out with a bang — and the episode wouldn’t have felt right without the return of OG star Jennifer Stone.
Warning: Spoilers below from the Wizards Beyond Waverly Place series finale.
“I had kind of mourned the fact that I was not going to be a part of the reboot just because you know I talked to David Henrie [who plays Justin Russo]. It’s about a totally different family,” Stone, 33, exclusively told Us ahead of the Tuesday, August 4, finale. “Like Selena [Gomez] kind of pops in and out, and so [David was] like, ‘It doesn’t really make sense for you to come in.’”
The actress, who portrayed Alex Russo’s (Gomez) BFF Harper Finkle on Wizards of Waverly Place from 2007 to 2012, had come to terms with the fact that there wasn’t a place for her in the highly anticipated spinoff— but that all changed when she was asked to appear in the finale.

Jennifer Stone on ‘Wizards Beyond Waverly Place.’ Disney/Eric McCandless
“I’m just really protective of her,” Stone told Us of her character and the only “hesitation” she felt personally when approached with the possibility of returning for one, very special episode. “I just wanted to be really sensitive of, like, she’s not the butt of a joke. We’re not making fun of her. Like she’s very confident and self assured.”
She noted that during the episode, fans see Harper back in action and fully herself, which ultimately made the decision to return an easy one.
“I just wanted to honor the character that I grew up with and loved so much,” Stone added.
During the four-part finale, teen wizard Billie (Janice LeAnn Brown) was on the search for Alex after learning that the pair are mother and daughter. Alex, meanwhile, was trapped in an alternate universe with amnesia, where she reunited with Harper, now her roommate, and her first love Mason Greyback (Gregg Sulkin).
While fans initially thought that Alex and Mason were happily back together, when Alex regained her memories she realized that Mason had already died prior to the events of the sequel series. (Harper, for her part, told Alex that they should look each other up back in the real world, hinting their friendship would be rekindled down the line.)
Despite Alex’s heartbreak on screen, Stone told Us that her reunion with Gomez, 34, behind the scenes and then working side by side was like a dream come true.

Selena Gomez and David Henrie on ‘Wizards Beyond Waverly Place.’ Disney/Eric McCandless
“I was a mess. The waterproof mascara ran amok,” Stone recalled of watching Gomez step behind the camera for the pivotal episode. “Literally, the table read, I cried getting to see her direct. I cried. I was a mess.”
She remembered checking in with Gomez before filming and telling each other, “OK, this is probably it. This is probably the last time we’re ever gonna play Alex and Harper with each other.”
Stone added that it was “this beautiful thing of saying goodbye to these characters” while also celebrating how her and Gomez’s lives have grown and changed since they first met.
“I find it really poetic that we said goodbye to these characters as Jen and Selena, but … we’re still going to meet in each other’s lives,” she added. “We’re still [going to] live on you past what’s on camera.”
When it comes to how Harper’s story ended, Stone told Us that there was a lot left unsaid, so she has her own ideas as to where she is now — and will be in the future.
“I picture her because she’s so giving and sweet, and loves to nurture. I think that I can see her being like a teacher at Parsons in New York,” Stone shared. “I think she’s some kind of fashion teacher. That or she has to have her own fashion line.”

Jennifer Stone and Selena Gomez on ‘Wizards of Waverly Place.’ Bruce Birmelin/Disney Channel/Everett Collection
Stone explained that she’s not sure whether Harper would be married to Zeke Beakerman (Dan Benson), her high school sweetheart, since there’s a big “dating pool” in New York.
“I do think she probably calls him every now and then for the Velociraptor dance,” she said with a laugh and before telling Us that perhaps Harper is now bisexual.
Stone said a shift in Harper’s sexuality is “something that I can definitely see because, I mean, Harper’s so open and creative and I can just see her loving the person.”
Wizards Beyond Waverly Place is streaming on Disney+ now.
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“The O.C.” cast, then and now: See what the stars of the popular 2000s teen drama are doing today
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Rihanna Stuns in Barely-There Carnival Costume With Cutouts
Rihanna has lit up Barbados Carnival, stepping out in her hometown in dazzling style.
The “Diamonds” hitmaker, 38, wowed onlookers while attending Grand Kadooment Day on Tuesday, August 4, as part of the annual celebrations. A shimmering rainbow of glittering jewels and feathers, she rocked a barely-there one-piece as she walked in a parade.
In photos captured and shared via Instagram by Backgrid, Rihanna was seen standing posing for snaps with fans and local authorities as a giant set of fluorescent wings towered over her from behind.
She completed the incredible ensemble, sported on the final day of the annual Barbados Carnival’s Crop Over Festival, with face jewels set beneath her eyes, a fuchsia lip and mesh shoes.
According to the photo agency, Rihanna partied with her brother, Rorrey Fenty, and his Carnival band, Aura.
According to Harper’s Bazaar, Rihanna’s spectacular outfit was a custom creation by Lauren Austin. Austin, a designer who lives and works out of Barbados’ Christ Church, took to her Instagram Stories on Tuesday to share snaps of Rihanna in her work of art.
“Lauren Austin design #5 for the queen,” Austin wrote over a photo of Rihanna in one Instagram Story. “Thank you for always choosing me @badgalriri. Beautiful woman.”
Additional Instagram Stories showed Rihanna dancing in her costume on the streets and clapping her hands to applaud performers on a moving bus as she giggled among friends and party goers. As fellow Barbados artist Spice, real name Grace Hamilton, danced seductively while hanging off the vehicle’s upper framework, Rihanna didn’t hold back in cheering her on.
Footage shared via Spice’s Instagram on Tuesday also captured Rihanna dancing seductively herself while aboard the vehicle, delighting Spice by wiggling her backside for the camera.
The appearance comes amid a week of celebrations for Rihanna. On Saturday, August 1, the singer and partner ASAP Rocky marked their son Riot’s third birthday with a Spider Man-themed party. In glimpses of the party shared via Instagram by Rihanna’s sister-in-law Nadia King, balloons, banners and treats created the ultimate space for their toddler. (Rihanna and Rocky are also parents to son RZA, who they welcomed in 2022, and daughter Rocki, who they welcomed in 2025.)
At the end of King’s social media footage, the crowd was seen singing “Happy Birthday” to Riot, including his dad, 37, who rocked a white T-shirt and baseball cap, and his mom, who opted for a flowy dress.
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