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7 Low Fantasy Books With the Greatest Magic Systems
The term “low fantasy” refers to magical stories that take place on Earth rather than a totally separate world like Middle-earth or Narnia. These tales inject whimsy and enchantment into otherwise mundane settings, which actually makes the fantastical elements hit even harder.
Magic systems, meanwhile, come in a spectrum ranging from “hard”—meaning magic with clear rules and mechanics, like those in the Mistborn series—to “soft”—which refers to magic that is mysterious and ambiguous, like some of the spellcraft in Game of Thrones. With those points in mind, this list looks at the most memorable and ingenious magic systems in all of low fantasy, the ones that stand out because of their creativity, structure, and dynamism.
‘Skulduggery Pleasant’ (2007)
“Magic belongs to those willing to master it.” Skulduggery Pleasant is a great YA urban fantasy that follows twelve-year-old Stephanie Edgley after she inherits her eccentric uncle’s estate and becomes the partner of the skeletal detective Skulduggery Pleasant, a bag of bones animated by raw magic, capable of casting spells and hurling fireballs. He’s just one of many colorful inhabitants in a hidden magical society operating alongside contemporary Ireland.
Through Stephanie’s eyes, readers slowly learn about a system in which practitioners generally devote themselves to a single branch of magic, like elemental manipulation, developing genuine expertise through years of study. Magic here isn’t limitless or easy; it requires a ton of intelligence and experience. Author Derek Landy bundles all this within an enjoyable package of sharp humor and fast-paced plotting.
‘Storm Front’ (2000)
“Magic always demands preparation.” Another story about a magical detective, though a darker, grittier one. Storm Front is the first installment in Jim Butcher‘s Dresden Files, centering on Harry Dresden, Chicago’s only professional wizard-for-hire. In this one, he investigates a series of gruesome supernatural murders while balancing his responsibilities to both the magical and ordinary worlds. The magic Harry uses is pretty “hard,” grounded in rules and unbending principles.
For instance, spells demand physical and mental effort, leaving practitioners drained, and are strictly governed by the body of wizards known as the White Council. Mages require concentration, symbolic tools, and preparation to cast spells effectively, and violating certain magical principles carries severe consequences. In other words, in the book, wizardry feels more like a demanding craft involving staves, blasting rods, circles, potions, enchanted objects, and a lot of practice.
‘The Magicians’ (2009)
“Magic is harder than anyone imagines.” Most fantasy novels portray magic as empowering, but The Magicians takes a far more complicated view. In it, author Lev Grossman presents spellcasting as an extraordinarily demanding academic discipline requiring immense intelligence and precision. Even more strikingly, the students who master it still find themselves wrestling with depression, ennui, loneliness, and nihilism.
In this regard, The Magicians is a kind of anti-Harry Potter, replacing wonder and enchantment with stress and competition, and portraying magic as a power that corrupts those who wield it. Protagonist Quentin Coldwater enrolls at a magical university expecting fulfillment, only to encounter exhausting studies and endless danger. On top of that, interpersonal problems still abound. Ultimately, while the characters’ spells may be mighty, they can’t solve their emotional issues or undo their trauma.
‘Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire’ (2000)
“The magical world is far larger than Hogwarts alone.” Practically any Harry Potter book could make this list, though the one with the most striking explanation and depiction of its magic systems might be Goblet of Fire. It broadens the scope of the story and world, with Harry’s unexpected selection for the Triwizard Tournament introducing us to magical schools beyond Hogwarts, as well as all sorts of new spells and items. There’s just so much colorful stuff here: grindylows, merpeople, arcane cups, dragons, and even resurrection rituals.
Importantly, a lot of this stuff isn’t just entertaining set dressing but integral to the plot itself. For example, near the beginning of the book, Harry and Ron use a Portkey, an ordinary object that has been enchanted to transport those who touch it to another location; this magic is what later teleports Harry and Cedric to the graveyard when they both touch the Triwizard Cup. Finally, Goblet also explains the Unforgivable Curses, which, too, make a dramatic reappearance in the third act.
‘Piranesi’ (2020)
“The House gives everything, but only to those who truly observe it.” A gorgeous, lyrical novel by the great Susanna Clarke. The plot revolves around a character nicknamed Piranesi who lives within a strange dimension he calls “the House.” It’s an endless labyrinth of halls, statues, tides, and clouds that appears to exist outside ordinary reality. As Piranesi carefully documents the rhythms of this impossible place, he slowly begins uncovering secrets about both the House and his forgotten past.
The magic in the book is mysterious, and we never really understand how all of it works, like how or why the House alters people’s consciousness and distorts their memories. Different characters also have contrasting beliefs about its nature and how it works. For example, two of the supporting characters take an academic approach, using rituals and scientific tools to try and extract power from this odd alternate world, while Piranesi treats the House like a living thing meant to be understood rather than exploited.
‘Babel’ (2022)
“Translation itself becomes a source of power.” This book from R.F. Kuang (author of The Poppy War) boasts a very cool, original magic system rooted in translation. Set in an alternative nineteenth-century Oxford, the novel follows Robin Swift as he studies at the Royal Institute of Translation, better known as Babel (a reference to the biblical tower where everyone spoke a different language and no one could understand each other).
At Babel, scholars harness magic through specially engraved silver bars that exploit the subtle differences between words in different languages. Those tiny gaps in meaning become sources of supernatural energy capable of reshaping the physical world. Kuang fleshes this novel system out into an entire discipline, showing how it influences politics and conflict all across the globe, and supports both empires and rebels in pursuing their aims. Thematically, she uses these ideas to comment on colonialism, language, scholarship, power, and identity.
‘Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell’ (2004)
“Magic has a history every bit as important as its power.” While Piranesi is great, Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell remains Susanna Clarke’s masterpiece. It’s set during the Napoleonic Wars in an alternative version of nineteenth-century England and follows the country’s only practicing magicians, the cautious Gilbert Norrell and the brilliant but impulsive Jonathan Strange, as they attempt to restore English magic to its former glory.
Along the way, Clarke constructs an entire scholarly tradition complete with centuries of forgotten history, rival schools of thought, legendary practitioners, and academic debate. Footnotes, fictional books, ancient folktales, scholarly disputes, and long-forgotten magical traditions create the impression that English magic has existed for centuries before the novel begins. Some of the magic is systematized and academic, while other parts of it are dark and dangerous, like the arcana wrought by the Raven King, a stolen human child raised in the faerie world.
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Matthew Rhys weighed in on the chance of working with Keri Russell on Widow’s Bay — or any other project — after their beloved collaboration on The Americans.
“Well, Keri and I discussed that. And then I discussed coming on The Diplomat and then playing Tom Loftis on The Diplomat, which is usually met with silence,” Rhys, 51, joked during an exclusive interview with Us at Brooklyn Bridge Marina on Tuesday, August 18, for the Brunswick Boat Group Event.
Rhys enjoyed the idea of sharing the screen with Russell, 50, again.
“There’s the danger [though] if you’re trying to recreate something,” he told Us about the couple not being in a rush to work together unless it felt like a good fit for both of them creatively. “If the right project came about and that made sense for us to be both in it. Because I think there’s a degree of, ‘Oh, you know why they’re doing it.’”
Life imitating art. Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys played a married couple on The Americans — and then they fell in love in real life. The Felicity alum and the Welsh actor played undercover Russian spies Elizabeth and Philip Jennings on the FX drama, which aired from 2013 to 2018. When Russell landed the role, […]
Rhys added: “If it made sense, absolutely. I’d love to.”
The Americans, which ran from 2013 to 2018, followed Elizabeth (Russell) and Philip Jennings (Rhys) as two Soviet KGB intelligence officers posing as an American married couple living in a Virginia suburb of Washington, D.C.
Rhys and Russell met while working on the critically acclaimed FX series and have been together ever since. They both branched out to different roles since their days on The Americans, with Russell being nominated for her work on The Diplomat and Rhys for his efforts on Widow’s Bay.
“I was fortunate enough to produce on Widow’s Bay and they were very gracious enough to include me,” Rhys told Us about being involved behind the scenes as well. “So I enjoy that inclusion. It feels like you’re an adult being asked to the adult’s table. But I also love the shock of reading and going, ‘Oh my God, I wasn’t expecting that.’”
While Rhys doesn’t know what comes next after Widow’s Bay got renewed for season 2 — and scored 19 Emmy nominations — he doesn’t mind speculating wildly.
“The question I’ve been asking Yana Grebenyuk Katie [Dippold] the most is, ‘What is the curse? The monster? The island? What is it?’ he noted. “So I’m so intrigued as to whether it’s something physical and tangible to be reasoned with or something inside us. I have no idea. I just know I’m glad I’m not writing it.”
He continued: “There’s a part of me that wants Hamish Linklater’s character, Richard, to come back. So I kind of want that to be the curse. He keeps knocking on my door and I’m always like, ‘What?’ And he is the curse and always ever present. I think there could be a lot of fun with that.”
As Rhys awaits the scripts for season 2, he is keeping busy by partnering with Brunswick Corporation in honor of the company’s latest innovations across boating, propulsion, navigation and marine technology.
“I remember thinking how calm it was. I think how calm water is in general and just thinking, ‘Oh, it’s just such a lovely way to spend some time,’” Rhys recalled how he fell in love with boating. “You’re just looking at the water.”
He added: “After a hectic day, there’s literally nothing I prefer more than coming to Brooklyn Bridge Park and ultimately Brooklyn Bridge Marina and just looking out at the water. That I think is the gold of what we have as New Yorkers is you are so close to looking at the water. It’s the greatest asset and to me is one of the most calming.”
Rhys spoke with Us while enjoying the views on the NAVAN C30. Brunswick also has other options including the Boston Whaler 405 Conquest, 210 Guardian and 330 Outrage, the Sea Ray SLX 360, the Elite, the Mercury Racing x MTI 440X Catamaran, the Textron TSUNAMI 25′ and more.
“I have no idea why but I had the mad idea of owning a boat, which is ridiculous. What you need are friends with boats. That’s what you should aim for,” Rhys joked. “Or what we try and offer here with Brunswick is an accessibility to the water without necessarily boat ownership, which is far more reasonable.”
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Christie Brinkley knows how to show up and show out, and yes, we’re referring to the gorgeous coastal-chic outfit she flaunted for a ‘fit check.’ Her look gives instant Hamptons rich mom style, thanks to a few staple pieces that are flowy, comfortable and downright flattering. We’re obsessing over the entire ensemble, but her striped top really seals the nautical deal.
The supermodel was on her way to a Solving Kids Cancer benefit when she stopped to give fans a glimpse at her outfit of the day. For the rainy weather, Brinkley styled a yellow waterproof jacket over a Jean Paul Gaultier maxi skirt, adding a wicker tote bag, rope belt and Loewe sandals. However, what gave the star’s outfit that quintessential beachy look was her top, which she calls “a classic French T-shirt.” We may not know where she got her exact shirt, but we found a near-identical option that transitions so well from summer to fall.
Get the LilyCoco Striped Long-Sleeve Shirt for $10 (was $29) at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.
The LilyCoco Striped Long-Sleeve Shirt is relaxed yet polished, giving the same vibes as Brinkley’s top for (probably) much less than her actual style. In fact, this shirt is 66% off right now on Amazon, bringing the price down to only $10 — although no one would ever think you got this elevated-looking pick for such a steal.
Meghan Markle will forever be a style icon in our eyes. She has a knack for effortlessly piecing together fashion essentials that feel elevated, relaxed and California cool. Yes, it’s totally a tall order! While we’re usually looking at her clothes, this time, we’re eyeing an accessory the star has been wearing constantly: a garden […]
Similar to Brinkley’s choice, this Amazon find has a white base with blue Breton stripes, long sleeves and a high neckline. We also really like the elongating boatneck style, which is super trendy at the moment. Brinkley didn’t tuck her top in, but the loose fit allows you to do so with jeans, trousers and skirts.
Made from a cotton-blend fabric, the shirt is ideal for both summer and fall events. It’s breathable and light enough for warm temperatures and layering-friendly days. Shoppers confirm that the body-fitting shirt is soft, provides a decent amount of stretch and feels structured, so you can wear it over and over without showing ‘wear.’
Brinkley isn’t the only one fawning over the Breton shirt style. Over 800 shoppers gave the piece a perfect five-star rating, including one person ready to buy it in other colors.
“The fit was perfect, and the fabric looked much more expensive,” they wrote. “I have worn it with jeans and under a sweater to dress it up. The cut is very flattering and versatile to wear at several different places. I received several compliments.”
Another person who claims to be a “clothing snob” wrote, “I feel the quality of this tee is as nice as the Boden tops, and I do own a few of them. I will definitely be ordering more of these in more colors!”
You may not have a benefit event to attend, but that shouldn’t stop you from scoring this chic striped tee to channel Brinkley’s look. And because the top transitions well from season to season, you’ll get so much use out of it! Grab the on-sale shirt now while it’s only $10.
Get the LilyCoco Striped Long-Sleeve Shirt for $10 (was $29) at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.
Looking for something else? Explore more East Coast-inspired clothes here, and don’t forget to check out all of Amazon’s Daily Deals for more great finds!
Jennifer Lopez doesn’t shy away from making a statement, especially when she’s out and about in Europe. The “Save Me Tonight” singer was spotted walking around Paris wearing an effortlessly chic all-white outfit that simply stunned. However, we couldn’t help but look down at her brown mule pumps style that contrasted beautifully with her neutral […]
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Hayden Panettiere’s Nashville costar Jonathan Jackson opened up about his “shock and grief” over her death at age 36.
“I have no words to express the loss of our beloved Hayden,” Jackson, 44, wrote via Instagram on Wednesday, August 19. “She had such a bright light within her. She was a sensitive soul. Incredibly funny and witty. Amazingly gifted, with a great sense of empathy and compassion. We both grew up in the industry, although she started even younger than me, but we shared that. A silent knowing of how intense the struggles can be.”
The two worked closely on the music-themed drama series, which ran from 2012 to 2016 on ABC and later from 2016 to 2018 on CMT. Panettiere played rising country music star Juliette Barnes while Jackson portrayed Juliette’s husband, bad boy Avery Barkley.
“She was an absolute joy to work with. Focused, spontaneous and brilliant,” Jackson remembered. “The most important thing between friends and coworkers is trust, and we had this. Lisa [Vultaggio, his wife] and I both love and cherish her deeply, like our own sister. She holds that place in our hearts. My prayer for her every day we worked together was that she would know how loved she is, and that she would find the peace that she was looking for.”
Blake Lively encouraged people to “be kind” following the deaths of her late Gossip Girl costar Michelle Trachtenberg and Hayden Panettiere. Lively, 38, shared a clip of Trachtenberg and Panettiere in their 2005 comedy Ice Princess via her Instagram Story on Monday, August 17, along with a reminder that everyone has private struggles. “You never […]
The Greenville Police Department announced on Sunday, August 16, that Panettiere was found “unresponsive” at a residence in Greenville, South Carolina. She was later pronounced dead from a suspected overdose.
An autopsy completed on Monday, August 17 determined that “no signs of trauma were discovered that would have contributed” to Panettiere’s death. The Greenville County Coroner’s Office clarified that an official cause of death will be announced “pending further investigation and the completion of additional studies.”
“It’s not possible to express the shock and grief that so many of us feel right now,” Jackson wrote in reference to Panettiere’s death. “Our humble prayers are with her family. May God’s angels carry you to your place of rest and true peace. We love you Hayden. You will always be in our hearts. Always.”
Several Nashville cast members have publicly paid tribute to Panettiere in the days since her death was announced. Connie Britton — who played Juliette Barnes’ rival Rayna Jaymes on Nashville — described her late costar as “bursting with brilliance [and] shining so bright.”
Hayden Panettiere and Jonathan Jackson on “Nashville.” Mark Levine / ABC / Courtesy Everett Collection
“I have no words for this sad song. Just heartbreak. I love you girl. Sleep easy now,” Britton, 59, wrote via Instagram on Monday.
Charles Esten shared the charming story of how he met Panettiere during the show’s audition process. (He appeared as songwriter Deacon Claybourne on Nashville.)
“I will never forget the first time I met her,” Esten recalled via Instagram on Monday. “In a sound stage office in Hollywood, I was finishing up my very first Nashville audition. I had read two Deacon scenes before pulling out my guitar and singing two songs. I said my goodbyes and, hoping I’d done well, went to open the door to leave. Instead of swinging all the way out, the door bumped into somebody. Kinda hard.”
The actor continued, “To my complete surprise, It was Hayden Panettiere, who — in full Juliette Barnes mode — had been listening with her ear to the door. Instead of looking even a little bit caught, her face instantly bloomed into the most beautiful smile. Eyes twinkling, she clapped her hands and said, ‘That was so good!!’”
Ice Princess fans are mourning the unfathomable death of Hayden Panettiere less than two years after the loss of Michelle Trachtenberg. Emotional tributes for the former costars have filled social media after news broke that Panettiere died at age 36 on Sunday, August 16, following an apparent overdose. “Our ice princesses are together again ❤️,” […]
Esten remembered developing an instant rapport with his future costar in that moment.
“I told her that, along with my Heroes-watching family, I was already a big fan of hers, and that I was grateful for the very kind words. It was her turn to go in, so as I went to leave, I said a jokingly cocky, ‘See you on the set,’” he wrote. “I was, of course, many auditions away from landing that incredible role. But when I finally did, and showed up in Nashville to start work, she walked right up to me, pointed in my face, and with that magical grin said, ‘See you on the set!’”
On Wednesday, PETA revealed that Panettiere shot a new animal rights campaign for them weeks before her death. The campaign features the late star posing in a bathtub in protest of the plight of marine animals living in extreme captivity in theme parks across the world.
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
Meghan McCain made it clear she will not miss Prince Harry and Meghan Markle when they relocate from California to the U.K.
“One thing about Americans is we can see through bulls*** and we don’t like entitled grifters,” McCain, 41, tweeted on Wednesday, August 19. “They could never hack it here and truly no one gives a s*** about d list royals.”
On Wednesday, People reported that Harry and Meghan are planning to move back to the U.S. six years after stepping down as working royals. The royal couple have reportedly already made plans for their son Prince Archie, 7, and daughter, Princess Lilibet, 5, to attend school there in September. (Harry and Meghan are expected to keep their U.S. home in Montecito, California, as well as other international properties.)
Offering the Duke and Duchess of Sussex a less-than-friendly goodbye, McCain tweeted, “Good luck to our friends in the UK, they’re your problem now.”
McCain has been a consistent critic of Harry and Meghan as they branched out into a production deal with Netflix and launched the Duchess’ As Ever lifestyle brand.
The former View panelist dismissed Meghan’s Netflix lifestyle show, With Love, Meghan, as “highly curated, produced and out of touch” when a trailer debuted in January 2025.
“I would have told her to do a show helping bring fresh food [and] desserts in low income neighborhoods. Do something to help people instead of your ego,” McCain tweeted at the time.
The conservative pundit later railed against Meghan during a February 2025 episode of her Meghan McCain’s Happy Hour digital series.
“I cannot stand her,” McCain declared. “I love people that I can relate to, like every other 40-year-old mom. I don’t want to eat her jam. I love Princess Kate [Middleton].”
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. Mathis Wienand/Getty Images
McCain is not the only one questioning the Sussexes’ move back to the U.K. Royal author Christopher Andersen exclusively told Us on Wednesday that Harry and Meghan’s U.K. return is likely to cause chaos within the royal family.
“All I can think of is: here we go again,” Brothers and Wives writer Andersen told Us. “For starters, I can only imagine that William and Kate are tearing their hair out. They have so much on their plate as it is trying to shore up the monarchy and propel it into the future; they don’t really need to cope with having Harry and Megan on their proverbial doorstep.”
Anderson, 77, continued, “By returning to the U.K., the Sussexes will inevitably suck up all the oxygen in the room. They will generate countless tabloid stories and take the focus away from other members of the Royal family, which is a major no-no. King Charles and Queen Camilla, in particular, don’t like to be upstaged, and the same goes for William.”
The royal expert speculated that the couple’s decision to move back to the U.K. could also raise “obvious privacy” and “security concerns.”
Meghan McCain is shutting down trolls who called her “old and ugly,” revealing she is aging just like everyone else. “I am normally an Armadillo-skinned person, and there’s been a lot of commentary about how ‘old and ugly’ I am now,” McCain, 41, said during the Wednesday, July 22, of her and Miranda Wilkins’ “Citizen […]
“The King and Prince William were apparently gobsmacked by the announcement. Oh well, here comes the drama,” Andersen teased. “The Palace is scrambling to make sense of this. After all, it was not that long ago that Meghan and the children cut short their stay in the U.K. after a meeting with the King and Queen that was described as perfunctory.”
Harry and Meghan announced in January 2020 that they were stepping down from their duties as active royals. They initially moved to Vancouver Island, British Columbia, for an extended stay that same month, before relocating to Montecito in July 2020.
Us has reached out to Harry and Meghan’s spokesperson for a comment on McCain’s tweet.
Thanks to a developer portfolio, a cancelled Star Wars RPG gameplay video has officially resurfaced on the internet, and it looks like Apex Legends meets the 2010-2015 era vibe of perhaps Splinter Cell — as evident by the gameplay and character selection models that seem half-cooked; the game had playable Jedi and Mandalorian classes. Per GameRant, the game was reportedly cancelled in June 2025 when Zynga shut down Echtra Games. Its early gameplay and concept footage have surfaced publicly just now in August 2026.
Although gameplay mechanics weren’t really unveiled in detail, some of the known features included an NPC bond system to unlock deeper companion interactions alongside mission objectives involving base infiltration and communication network sabotage. In the surfaced video, the player can be seen using a Jedi character to slash enemies and a Mandalorian shooting things and other player classes around. The video also has hints of shoot-and-loot (just like a traditional PUBG loot), overall mission objectives in the sidebars, and crosshair-target distance in meters, among other mechanics. The in-development gameplay footage comes from the cancelled Star Wars: Magellan. It was an RPG that was largely planned to focus on multiplayer gameplay and had an NPC bond system similar to that of Persona’s Social Link System.
Why Was ‘Star Wars: Magellan’ Canceled?
Echtra Games was owned by Zynga, and the parent company ended up shutting the developer down in June 2025. Although the exact reason for its cancellation is not revealed, it is largely believed that, tragically, Magellan was caught in that particular crossfire. The question that arises here is why it wasn’t continued, and that’s probably because, after the strategic realignment within Zynga and Take-Two, the franchise continued to push out more games, including but not limited to the Star Wars Jedi, not to mention the continued traction of Star Wars: Outlaws. Star Wars: Starfighter is also currently in production.
Star Wars: Magellan is cancelled now, and its recent gameplay video comes from a developer portfolio. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
- Release Date
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May 28, 2027
- Writers
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Jonathan Tropper
Sam Asghari and Britney Spears may have gone their separate ways, but the model and actor still has plenty of admiration for his former wife. In a recent interview, Asghari discussed the legendary pop star’s music career, praising her talent and the lasting impact she has had on pop culture. His comments offer a glimpse into how he views her years after they ended their relationship.
Britney Spears and Sam Asghari‘s relationship ended in 2023, but the actor appears to harbor no ill feelings toward his ex-wife. In fact, he has nothing but praise for the singer, speaking highly of her talent.
In a recent episode of “Page Six Radio,” Asghari said he didn’t really listen to Spears’ music before they began their relationship. He leaned toward other music genres back then, citing Eminem, 50 Cent, and Tupac as some of the artists he listened to the most.
“I didn’t know much of it, and I didn’t know about pop culture, what it meant to the world,” he said. He only understood the magnitude of Spears’ influence after getting to know her and listening to her music.
“The second I realized that these songs actually meant and why people resonated with it and why they were icons like Michael Jackson, Madonna, and her, you know, King of Pop, Queen of Pop, and Princess of Pop. Then I understood, and it made me appreciate the music even more,” Asghari explained.
The Actor Talks About Britney Spears’ One-Of-A-Kind Artistry
Asghari gushed over Spears’ career evolution, highlighting her beginnings as an “innocent girl” with her debut album, “…Baby One More Time,” and her transformation into a bolder, more daring pop star in later records.
“It sort of created a blueprint that nobody after that has ever really accomplished. And I mean, we see some artists now that are trying to do it, but it’s just not ever going to happen,” Asghari said, adding that many singers today were inspired by Spears, whether they admit it or not.
The actor shared that he always championed Spears in whatever she wanted to pursue, as he wanted her to express herself. “I think once you’re those people that you’re entitled to be the Princess of Pop, you can say something, and it’s going to become iconic,” he said.
Inside Sam Asghari And Britney Spears’ Relationship
Asghari and Spears first met in 2016 when the model was cast as the singer’s love interest in the music video for her song “Slumber Party.” Dating rumors began after the two were spotted hanging out, and they made their relationship Instagram-official later that same year.
The couple shared snapshots of their time together, from celebrating special occasions to going on vacations and attending public events. Asghari and Spears got engaged in 2021 and announced they were expecting a baby in April 2022. Just a month later, however, the singer revealed that she had suffered a miscarriage. The couple went on to marry in June of that year.
Britney Spears Called Marriage To Sam Asghari A ‘Fake Distraction’
In 2023, Asghari filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences. At that time, sources noted the couple had explosive arguments and reached a breaking point that led them to go their separate ways.
Later, Spears posted an Instagram photo, which has since been deleted, writing in the caption that her marriage to Asghari “felt like a fake distraction” as a way to cope with the pressures she was facing.
In response, Asghari said the marriage felt “very real” to him, adding that he was in love with the singer and “will always have love for her,” as The Blast previously reported.
Sam Asghari Continues To Speak Highly Of His Ex-Wife
Asghari has moved on from Spears and is in a relationship with real estate agent Brooke Irvine, but he has remained complimentary of Spears whenever she comes up in interviews.
When Spears was arrested for a DUI in March, Asghari responded with compassion, saying that everyone makes mistakes and asking people to respect the pop star’s privacy, per The Blast.
The model has repeatedly said that, while breakups are difficult, he remains grateful for the time he spent with the singer and wishes her only well.
2026 has already been a strong year for HBO. The return of hit medical drama The Pitt starring Noah Wyle and an impressive debut season for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms were just two of the big success stories, with the recent third season of House of the Dragon making up for a divisive second installment. But perhaps one of the most underrated shows to air this year so far has been the fourth season of Industry, which scored impressive reviews during its early-2026 run.
The acclaimed drama, created by former investment bankers Mickey Down and Konrad Kay, has only increased in popularity since its first installment, with the recent Season 4 premiere earning over 800,000 cross-platform viewers in its first three days across HBO and HBO Max, the show’s highest premiere to date. This then grew to 1.1 million viewers for Season 4, Episode 6, “Dear Henry,” with the success encouraging HBO to renew the series for a fifth and final season.
“In terms of ‘why now?’, I mean, it’s been five seasons… I think five seasons is a really good run,” HBO boss Casey Bloys said when asked about the fifth season being the last, with thoughts quickly turning to how Down and Kay can bring their thrilling gem to an epic conclusion. Well, adding several exciting names to the cast is a great start, with it now confirmed that a selection of talented faces will be joining Season 5. This includes Cary Elwes as investor Padgett Stillman, Glee‘s Dianna Agron as Skip Binksy, the CFO of a wellness tech company, Sam Riley as elusive British businessman Solomon Kerr, Silo‘s Jessica Brown Findlay as Marina, a family friend of Sir Henry Muck, and Luke Manley (Marty Supreme), Baby Gill (Slow Horses), and Eduard Poliakov (On Drive).
What’s the Most Anticipated HBO Max Release Still to Come?
This Christmas, Dominic McLaughlin‘s titular Boy Who Lived, Arabella Stanton‘s Hermione Granger, and Alastair Stout’s Ron Weasley will finally make their debuts in the first season of HBO’s Harry Potter adaptation. The rest of the cast includes Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall, Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid, and many more famous faces. The series is shrouded in controversy due to the outspoken comments from the magical franchise’s creator, J.K. Rowling.
For more updates on Industry and other HBO shows, make sure to stay tuned to Collider.
- Release Date
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2020 – 2027-00-00
- Network
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HBO
- Directors
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Isabella Eklöf, Tinge Krishnan, Ed Lilly, Birgitte Stærmose, Zoé Wittock, Caleb Femi, Mary Nighy, Konrad Kay, Lena Dunham, Mickey Down
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Marisa Abela
Yasmin Kara-Hanani
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Harry Lawtey
Robert Spearing
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One thing that sets James Cameron apart from other filmmakers is his quality-over-quantity approach — Cameron has only directed three movies in the last 16 years, but each earned over $1 billion and is one of the highest-grossing movies of all time. Cameron has focused primarily on developing the Avatar franchise in the last 20 years, but now that the future of the series has been called into question, he could be ready to dive into other projects after spending so much time on Pandora. However, while many modern audiences have connected to Cameron through his work on the hit sci-fi franchise, he’s been directing acclaimed hits for 40 years now. Avatar: The Way of Water may have grossed over $2 billion at the box office, but Cameron has another sci-fi sequel that’s even more iconic than his long-awaited return to Pandora.
All the way back in 1986, James Cameron took the directorial reins from Ridley Scott for Aliens, the sequel to the influential 1979 sci-fi masterpiece, Alien. It was always going to be difficult for any sequel to live up to a movie as good as Alien, but Cameron delivered a sci-fi thriller just as good, and some would even argue better, than the original. Now 40 years removed from Aliens grossing over $131 million at the box office against a modest $18 million budget, the film is officially making a comeback with a new Prime 1 Studio statue of the Queen Alien from the film. Standing at nearly 30 inches tall, the figure is now available for pre-order for a whopping $8,699, and it’s expected to ship out to customers starting November 2027.
Is ‘Aliens’ on Streaming?
Aliens is not available to watch on any of the big streaming services in America at the time of writing, but the film is available to rent or purchase on VOD platforms like Prime Video and Apple TV for only a few dollars. Even the original Alien is absent from streaming right now, as is the controversial 1992 threequel, Alien 3, which was directed by David Fincher. More recent additions to the franchise like the TV series Alien: Earth and the blockbuster Alien: Romulus are streaming on Hulu for all subscribers.
Check out the new Queen Alien Prime 1 Studio figure from Aliens and stay tuned to Collider for more updates and coverage of James Cameron’s future projects.
- Release Date
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July 18, 1986
- Runtime
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137 minutes
- Director
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James Cameron
- Writers
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James Cameron
- Producers
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Gale Anne Hurd
Sandra Bullock is opening up about the private grief that began long before she said goodbye to Bryan Randall.
The actress recently revisited the three-year ALS battle her longtime partner endured, revealing how keeping his diagnosis private left her carrying an enormous emotional burden largely alone.
As Bullock reflected on Randall’s final years, she also described the complicated reality of caring for someone she loved while helping their children navigate an illness that changed their family long before his death in August 2023.
For Sandra Bullock, her husband’s illness was not something she could openly discuss, even as its impact reshaped their lives.
Appearing on Jason Bateman, Will Arnett and Sean Hayes’ “SmartLess” podcast, the “Bird Box” actress explained that Randall had specifically asked her not to reveal his ALS diagnosis.
“I wasn’t allowed to speak about it. That was the request and I tried — I honored it,” Bullock explained.
The 62-year-old understood why Randall wanted privacy, yet keeping the diagnosis to herself during an already difficult period became isolating.
“It isolated me in the process,” she shared. The COVID-19 pandemic intensified that experience, leaving Bullock to carry what she described as the “huge weight” of the diagnosis without being able to publicly acknowledge what her family was facing.
Bullock also revealed that her grieving process began much earlier than people might have realized.
“I started grieving Bryan four years before he passed,” she said, explaining that he “was ill for half of our relationship.”
Randall ultimately died at 57 in August 2023 following his private three-year battle with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.
Bullock Was Already Grieving Before Randall Died
Sandra Bullock described the emotional experience as unfolding gradually rather than beginning with Bryan Randall’s death.
As his illness progressed, the “Lost City” star was forced to confront the reality of losing the person she considered her partner while he was still physically present.
“My person left a lot earlier than the body left,” Bullock revealed. She admitted that she did not fully process that reality until after Randall died because she remained focused on getting through each day.
ALS itself added another layer of uncertainty. The Hollywood star described the diagnosis as “the process of elimination over the course of a year,” involving repeated medical evaluations and physical assessments.
She recalled doctors giving Randall different milestones and tests, including grips and breathing tests, as they worked through the progression of the disease.
For Bullock, that uncertainty meant planning quietly while continuing to care for her family.
“You have to quietly plan. And I’m a very good planner with illness,” she explained. Her experience with illness in her own family had already shaped that instinct, as her father had experienced “accidents” and her mother had cancer.
Sandra Bullock Focused On Her Children Through The Darkest Period
Bryan Randall’s illness was particularly difficult because Bullock was not navigating it alone. The couple co-parented the actress’s son, Louis, and daughter, Laila, while Randall was also the father of his daughter, Skylar. Bullock said the children’s needs remained central as she dealt with the worsening condition.
“It doesn’t scare me — not the illness itself, it doesn’t scare me. I can see and be around just about anything,” she noted.
However, the presence of young children made the experience considerably more complicated. Bullock was especially concerned about how Laila would process Randall’s decline because she viewed him as a father figure.
“I had two young kids that were navigating it, especially a little girl who saw [Randall] as a father figure,” Bullock said.
The family’s circumstances meant she had to balance caregiving, planning and parenting while maintaining the privacy Randall had requested.
Bullock’s sister, Gesine, was the only person who knew about Randall’s diagnosis for a period of time. Eventually, Bullock confided in friends, including Jennifer Aniston and Amanda Anka, Bateman’s wife.
“When the physical illness was then coupled with the mental health aspect of things — and it’s something that people don’t talk about… it was a trifecta that was pretty dark,” Bullock said, revealing just how layered the experience had become.
Sandra Bullock Focused On Healing Before Returning To Hollywood
Bullock’s careful focus on her children also shaped the way she approached life after Bryan Randall’s death.
Rather than immediately returning to Hollywood’s demands, she stepped away from the spotlight and focused on healing and spending time with Louis and Laila.
A source told PEOPLE in April that the doting mom wanted to make sure she and her children were in “the best possible place” before resuming her career.
That period eventually led to her highly anticipated return with “Practical Magic 2,” marking her first movie since 2022.
Bullock appeared alongside Nicole Kidman at CinemaCon that month to promote the sequel, signaling that she was ready to begin another chapter professionally.
Her return was not presented as a rush back to work, however. Instead, it followed years in which family and personal recovery took precedence.
Bullock Gives Rare Glimpse Into Life With Her Children
After years of keeping her family life largely out of the public eye, Sandra Bullock has offered another rare glimpse into the world she has built around her children.
On August 18, the actress shared a rare Instagram carousel offering an unusually personal look at her recent life, captioning the post, “Friends, family, fun, fishies, furries, aaaand work.”
The collection included Bullock enjoying the outdoors, fishing and rafting, spending time with friends, including Jason Bateman and Amanda Anka, and visiting her parents’ graves with her sister, Gesine Bullock-Prado.
Most notably, the carousel included a rare image of her children, Louis and Laila, walking with their mother through the countryside.
The three were photographed from behind, allowing Bullock to share the family moment while continuing to protect her children’s privacy. The post also included glimpses of Bullock’s dog and other personal moments.
Jason Kelce has taken an unconventional approach to address the enormous amount of water consumed by AI data centers.
The retired Philadelphia Eagles legend stars in an ad campaign urging citizens to donate their pee to cool data centers.
Jason does take part in advocacy from time to time and recently put his beer-drinking skills to work to raise money for the Eagles Autism Foundation at his annual bash.
Jason Kelce thinks there’s a better way to handle the issue of AI data centers consuming huge amounts of water.
In a bizarre new advertising campaign, the former football star joined forces with canned water giant Liquid Death and light beer brand Garage Beer, which he co-owns with his brother Travis, to take a stand against the enormous environmental impact of AI infrastructure.
The campaign starts with a shot of Jason filling up a glass jar with urine while speaking to viewers.
“AI data centers waste millions of gallons of water. That’s why Liquid Death and Garage Beer have decided to team up. We want your pee … to cool these data centers,” he says.
Kelce’s Pee Pitch Highlights A Real AI Problem
The video then cuts to a scene in which he performs a song asking for “endless gallons of pee” and encouraging viewers to send it to data centers.
In another scene, a crowd of people can be seen taking jars of urine to the post office, with a disclaimer saying, “The suits want us to tell you to please don’t actually send your pee.”
The move was a promotional effort for Liquid Death’s sparkling energy drinks and Garage Beer, which Jason co-owns with his brother, Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce.
While the campaign is satirical, it draws attention to a very real ecological concern that has sparked tense debate online.
A study funded by the Department of Energy found that data centers across the United States consumed 66 billion liters of water, while another study found that local community water systems could require $10 billion to $58 billion in new infrastructure by 2030.
Jason Kelce Has Used His Platform To Support Good Causes
Jason is no stranger to speaking up on societal issues and championing causes close to his heart.
Back in June, the New Heights podcast cohost put his drinking skills to good use during the annual Eagles Autism Foundation fundraiser in New Jersey.
The event saw him compete against a patron in the Beer Bowl, where they drank to become the champion and win a $50,000 prize. Jason won the drinking competition and reportedly donated $50,000 of his own money to the fundraiser, per the New York Post.
Sam Altman Calls AI Water Consumption Claims ‘Fake’
Meanwhile, OpenAI boss Sam Altman dismissed concerns about data centers consuming large amounts of water as “fake,” arguing that humans also consume energy.
He made the assertion while weighing in on some of the common criticisms the new technology continues to garner during the India AI Impact Summit.
Altman noted at the time that rumors suggesting ChatGPT uses gallons of water per query were “completely untrue, totally insane” and have “no connection to reality,” per CNBC.
Sam Altman Says AI’s Energy Demands Matter More Than Water
While data centers traditionally rely on large amounts of water to cool operating systems and prevent overheating, some evolved models don’t require it at all.
In his address, Altman implied that energy availability was a far more critical concern to the advancement of AI than water.
“Not per query, but in total – because the world is using so much AI … and we need to move towards nuclear or wind and solar very quickly,” he said.
He then pushed back against a previous comment by Bill Gates that the efficiency of the human brain suggests AI will become progressively more energy-efficient.
“One of the things that is always unfair in this comparison is people talk about how much energy it takes to train an AI model … But it also takes a lot of energy to train a human,” he said. “It takes like 20 years of life, and all the food you eat before that time, before you get smart.”
“The fair comparison is if you ask ChatGPT a question, how much energy does it take once a model is trained to answer that question, versus a human, and probably AI has already caught up on an energy efficiency basis, measured that way,” he added.
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