Bridgerton remains Netflix‘s most popular romance series since its premiere in 2020. The Shondaland drama was an immediate smash hit, with the first season breaking into the streamer’s elite list with over 110 million views. Subsequent seasons were also quite successful, with Season 3 also breaking into the top ten most-watched seasons of a Netflix series ever. The show recently aired its fourth season, with two more already having been ordered. And while Bridgerton is not showing any signs of slowing down, Netflix is always on the lookout for the next big story.

The streamer might have found the perfect companion, if not a replacement, for the hit series in a similar show. Both of them are centered on women as they explore the choices some had to make during historical eras. This story takes place close to a century after the events of Bridgerton and moves to another location. It’s 1900 in Australia, and the path for most women is prescribed before they were born. But not for Syballa Melvyn (Philippa Northeast), the main character in the series titled My Brilliant Career.

Like Eloise (Claudia Jesse) from Bridgerton, the young woman at the center of this story also loves writing and wants to make a career out of it, but her family thinks she’d be better off married. Syballa breaks all social conventions to pursue her dream and embarks on a quest to find a story worth telling — and gain her independence. Choosing between marriage and a career is a no-brainer for Syballa, but life has other plans. She falls in love, and suddenly the choices don’t seem as simple anymore. What is she to do? Viewers can find out when My Brilliant Career premieres on Netflix on Thursday, August 13.

Who Is Behind ‘My Brilliant Career?’

My Brilliant Career was first adapted in 1979 as a feature film from Australian writer Miles Franklin‘s book of the same name that she wrote when she was a teenager and published in 1901. Judy Davis played Syballa while the late Sam Neill played the male lead, Harry. 125 years since the novel was published, Netflix’s adaptation, developed by Liz Nolan, is a bit more diverse, with The Newsreader star Phillipa Northeast playing Syballa while Slow Horses‘ Christopher Chung gets ripped to play Harry. Other cast members include Anna Chancellor (Mrs. Bossier), Genevieve O’Reilly (Helen), Kate Mulvany (Augusta), Jake Dunn (Frank), Alexander England (Julius), Sherry-Lee Watson (Nell), and Miah Madden (Betty).

The six-episode first season of My Brilliant Career hits Netflix on August 13. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Release Date

2020 – 2026-00-00

Network

Advertisement

Netflix

Directors

Tom Verica, Tricia Brock, Alex Pillai, Alrick Riley, Bille Woodruff, Cheryl Dunye, Sheree Folkson, Julie Anne Robinson

Advertisement

Writers

Abby McDonald, Sarah L. Thompson, Daniel Robinson, Oliver Goldstick, Leila Cohan-Miccio, Azia Squire, Sarah Dollard, Eli Wilson Pelton, Janet Lin

Advertisement

Advertisement

• 

  Luke Thompson

  Lady Violet Bridgerton

• 

  Ruth Gemmell

  Advertisement

  Benedict Bridgerton

Advertisement

Advertisement

Alex Gibney’s long-gestating documentary about tech mogul Elon Musk is finally heading to the Venice International Film Festival for its world premiere. The documentary, titled simply “Musk,” arrives with a massive, nearly four-hour runtime.

Musk, who has been outspoken in his criticism of films like Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey,” previously dismissed the documentary as a “hit piece.”

3

Alex Gibney’s documentary on Elon Musk will premiere at the Venice Film Festival in September. The 232-minute feature was unveiled as part of the festival’s official lineup by artistic director Alberto Barbera in Rome on Thursday.

During the announcement, Barbera paused to emphasize the film’s extraordinary runtime, reflecting just how much of the controversial tech billionaire’s story is packed into the documentary.

“I invite you to look at the duration of the movie — four hours,” Barbera said, per The Hollywood Reporter.

“[Gibney] traces the whole career — the contradictions, and the conditioning power that is centralized in the hands of a single man,” he added. “Consider a genius of capitalist entrepreneurship, but also a dangerous technocrat, with no moral scruples.”

Why The ‘Musk’ Documentary Took So Long To Finish

First announced in March 2023 as a “definitive and unvarnished examination” of the billionaire entrepreneur, the film endured an extended production timeline as Musk’s influence and public profile continued to grow.

Gibney reportedly completed an initial cut in early 2025 but later returned to the editing room to incorporate major developments, including Musk’s political alignment with Donald Trump and his role co-leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

As the Tesla chief executive continued generating headline-grabbing controversies, many wondered whether Gibney’s project would ever truly be finished.

Backers HBO Documentary Films and Bleecker Street acknowledged that challenge in a joint statement, noting that “the film continues to grow in scope as the story evolves.”

Elon Musk Branded The Film A ‘Hit Piece’

3

Musk has publicly expressed skepticism about the project since it was first announced. After news of the documentary broke in 2023, he posted on X that the film was a “hit piece,” prompting a brief exchange with Gibney, who replied: “How would you know?”

The SpaceX founder also once tweeted, “Gibney is a douche,” to which the filmmaker later joked that he responded, “douché.”

Gibney is no stranger to investigative documentaries centered on powerful figures and major corporations. His previous credits include “Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room,” the Scientology exposé “Going Clear,” and “Steve Jobs: The Man in the Machine.” He also won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 2008 for “Taxi to the Dark Side.”

“Musk” opens in U.S. theaters on October 16, while HBO Documentary Films holds the North American television and streaming rights.

Elon Musk Has Frequently Targeted Hollywood Films

Musk has made a habit of publicly criticizing Hollywood projects he doesn’t support. In the months leading up to the release of Christopher Nolan’s epic “The Odyssey,” he repeatedly mocked the film, claiming the director was more focused on awards than historical accuracy because of his casting choices.

He also criticized Nolan’s decision to cast Lupita Nyong’o as Helen of Troy, accusing the filmmaker of “pissing on Homer’s grave” in reference to the legendary author of the epic poem.

In response, Musk announced that his AI platform, Grok Imagine, would create what he described as a “historically accurate” full-length adaptation of the story.

However, Nolan ultimately had the last laugh after “The Odyssey” debuted to more than $264 million worldwide, giving the Oscar-winning director the biggest global opening weekend of his career.

Director Called Musk’s Views On Cinema ‘Worthless’

3

Musk’s repeated criticism of “The Odyssey” also drew backlash from filmmaker Scott Derrickson, who dismissed the billionaire’s opinions on cinema.

“Clearly @elonmusk doesn’t know sh-t about cinema & he stopped reading in his 20s,” the “Doctor Strange” director wrote in a since-deleted X post. “His opinions on art are worthless.”

Nolan also appeared to brush off the criticism during an interview with The Telegraph, arguing that conversations surrounding the film before its release carried little weight.

“But look, these conversations that happen before people see the film—they’re always irrelevant, because no one having them knows what the film actually is yet,” the acclaimed director said.

Heather Rae El Moussa‘s return to “Selling Sunset” is not all rosy, and she is letting her fans know why!

The reality star dropped some inside info about her decision to return to the real estate show years after she bowed out of the successful series with a bittersweet statement.

Heather Rae El Moussa has opened up about her exit over the years, consistently maintaining that the drama from the new characters on the show got too toxic for her to handle.

3

The media personality caught up with the news at the Karma Automotive exclusive evening to discuss what it took for her to make a 180 about her 2023 decision to find her way back to the Netflix series.

“You know, when they asked me to come back, it definitely was a big decision. I’m really big with peace in my life and trying to have as much peace as possible,” the star noted. 

The television personality then spilled that while she was away, she got busy with other work commitments and is already filming another show. She continued that juggling two shows with three kids, including a toddler, is a lot to balance, and she sometimes questions her ability to pull things off.

As reported by US Weekly, Heather’s return also came with some exits from casts like Chrishell Stause, Nicole Young and Chelsea Lazkani. Christine Quinn, who exited the show in 2022, will also make a grand entry for the show’s 10th season. 

Heather remains fully aware of the task ahead, which requires her to juggle two shows. Although the decision to return was not so easy, she also knows that most opportunities do not stick around forever. 

The Netflix Star Enjoys Being On Television, Even With The Drama

Speaking on the timing of her return to the show, Heather admits that it is not her first rodeo with some drama on the show, and she knows the commitment she has gotten into. 

She affirmed that the drama has not gone anywhere, although she initially felt the dust had settled when she returned, but she quickly got reminded. Heather is, however, glad to be right in the eye of the hurricane and enjoying it because of the opportunities exposure like that will bring for her beauty brand.

Heather joined “Selling Sunset” as a main cast member when it premiered in 2019 for six seasons until she left via maternity leave to take care of her son, later revealing that she was not asked to appear for subsequent seasons.

Heather Rae El Moussa Previously Spoke About The Gradual Decline Of Peace On ‘Selling Sunset’

The reality star, in 2024, shared during an interview with Lauryn Bosstick and Michael Bosstick on The Skinny Confidential Him & Her podcast about appearing on the show for six seasons and the moment things changed. According to her, she began the show being friends and cordial with everyone, with little appetite for drama, until the cast began growing larger.

She acknowledged that with the growth came an increase in toxicity, forcing her to exist around women who were solely focused on wanting to be stars, and displaying the right amount of desperation while at it. In her words:

“It just got worse and worse. They started adding more girls; it just became out of control. There’d be days I came home crying from the stress of filming.”

The filming schedule took over Heather’s life, and it became nearly impossible for her to focus on parenting and supporting her husband. She described stepping away from the show as a blessing in disguise because it has afforded her the chance to film with her partner and enjoy more family time.

Advertisement

The Actress’ Pal Bre Tiesi Was Devastated About Her Season 7 Exclusion

3

Heather and Bre were inseparable on and off the show, with fans testifying to their bond. The latter lived up to the hype when she fiercely spoke against the report that Heather would not be returning for the seventh season, which commenced filming shortly before she took her maternity leave.

As shared by The Blast, Bre expressed her deep adoration for Heather, sharing that she was devastated to hear about the report. As for Heather at the time, she felt frustrated at the silence from the producers, especially after she had completed her maternity leave. 

Interestingly, some fans described her absence as a sign that she was set to appear on another popular reality show from the stables of Bravo. As for another sect, Heather’s presence on the show was tagged irrelevant, which made her absence even less significant in the grand scheme of things.

Heather Rae El Moussa’s Social Life Took A Major Turn Since Becoming A Parent

3

One thing the reality star did not compromise on was the quality of her parenting once she welcomed her first child with Tarek El Moussa in 2023, two years after tying the knot. The reality star revealed she had to reduce her exposure to social media to get herself in the right headspace to bond with her child.

She seemingly shared posts about finding a balance between motherhood and maintaining her reputation as a famous figure. In all, her family and parenting took precedence, and everything else became secondary, prompting her to create a favorable schedule to make things happen.

Heather detailed that as her child grew into a toddler, she found herself stealing time to focus on getting good sleep, reading her mail, doing some professional tasks, keeping fit, and catching up on her real estate projects.

Advertisement

Heather Rae El Moussa will certainly be a delightful watch on “Selling Sunset” this season!

Prince Harry adorably stole the show during Meghan Markle’s special guest judge appearance on MasterChef Australia.

While doling out criticism to one of the contestants on the Sunday, July 26, episode, Meghan, 44, was unexpectedly handed a smartphone and told she had a call on the line.

“Hi, my love,” Meghan answered after seeing Harry, 41, pop up onscreen, subsequently telling the cast, “My husband’s here.”

After greeting the crew, Harry asked his wife if he missed any important events during the taping.

Related: We’ve Already Watched Meghan Markle’s Netflix Show: Everything We Learned

The time has come to journey to Montecito. After much anticipation, speculation and fleeting sneak peeks, Meghan Markle‘s With Love, Meghan, drops on Netflix on Tuesday, March 4, at 3 a.m. ET — but before that, Us Weekly nabbed and watched advance screeners of all eight episodes. Here’s everything we learned from binging the Duchess […]

“What’s going on?” the Duke of Sussex quipped. “Have I interrupted something important?”

Meghan quickly gave Harry the low-down on the episode.

“Well, we are actually in the middle of tasting all the dishes. We have four incredible cooks here. It’s amazing, they’re so talented. We wish you were here,” Meghan gushed, adding to the judges, “He’s in Canberra [in Australia] right now with the veterans.”

She continued to Harry, “I wish you could try this. These dishes are fantastic. It’s really delicious, and there’s a hot sauce that, well, you know me … it is so good. I think it might be too much for you though.”

After laughing off Meghan’s joke about the prince’s spice tolerance — or apparent lack thereof — Harry offered his better half a sweet message.

Related: Meghan Markle Sweetly Nods to Prince Harry in Reflective Instagram Video

Meghan Markle referenced her husband, Prince Harry, in a sweet Instagram video. Meghan, 43, took to her Instagram Stories on Sunday, March 23, to share a video of a large group of birds flying together, also known as a murmuration. Posting text atop the footage and beneath it, Meghan wrote, “Flying into the week with my […]

“Well, go and enjoy it. I’m very sorry to disturb you,” he added. “All is well here. I’ll see you later.”

Harry and Meghan traveled to Australia in April, during which they undertook a handful of public engagements. One of Meghan’s outings was a visit to the MasterChef set to film a then-upcoming episode.

“I was keen to hear the goss. She was so great!” an anonymous show producer sent former colleague Alexandria Funnell in a text message shared with Marie Claire. “She was so nice to all the crew, had a good sense of humor, and was just a normal human. Her entourage was only 2 people and they were so great, too.”

Thank You!

You have successfully subscribed.

Advertisement

The producer further told Funnell that Meghan was also “really good at judging” compared to other guests who can tend to speak for an extended period.

“That’s the thing about the judges, as a post-producer, you have to cut them down a lot,” Funnell told the outlet. “The waffle is waffling, they waffle like you would not believe. Apparently she was awesome. … Haters gonna hate!”

Meghan and Harry stepped down from their duties as senior working royals in 2020, subsequently settling across the pond in the United States with their two children: Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5. In that time, Meghan launched her own lifestyle brand, As Ever, and detailed her DIY and cooking passions on Netflix’s two-season series With Love, Meghan.

Roomies, what started a started temporary foster placement at a South Carolina county council chairman’s home ended in tragedy. Investigators say 17-year-old Landen Austin Moore now faces a murder charge after allegedly drowning 13-year-old Daryl Martinez Lowry. Authorities alleged Moore and another unidentified teen held Lowry underwater until he died.

RELATED: Ben Crump Says Nolan Wells Was A Strong Swimmer While Noting Texts Appear To Have Been Deleted From His Phone (VIDEO) 

Investigators Detail The Alleged Drowning Of 13-Year-Old

Fox News reports that Daryl Martinez Lowry recently moved into McCormick County Council Chairman Bernie Hamby’s home while he waited for another foster placement. Landen Austin Moore and another teen already lived at the home at the time. Authorities say Moore and the unidentified teen got into a physical altercation with Lowry at a boat dock in Modoc, South Carolina during the early morning hours of July 20. Investigators allege the teens attacked Lowry with a knife and reportedly held his head underwater until he died. The South Caroline Law Enforcement Division said officers found Daryl’s body at Clark Hill Lake on July 20. Investigators later arrested Moore and the unidentified teen in connection with Lowry’s death.

What’s Next For Landen Austin Moore?

Authorities charged Landen Austin Moore with murder and booked him into the McCormick County Sheriff’s Office. Officials transferred the other teen involved to the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice, though authorities have not confirmed any charges against him. At this time it remains unclear whether Landen entered a plea or retained an attorney.

Daryl Martinez Lowry’s Death Sparks A Wave Of Emotions Online

Once The Shade Room shared the details surrounding Daryl Martinez Lowry’s tragic death, Roommates flooded the comment section with reactions. Many people said they felt heartbroken to hear another story like this, especially so soon after Nolan Xavier Wells’ tragic passing.

Instagram user @moreniita___ wrote, “35 years please & thank you.” 

Instagram user @therealprincesstiuana wrote, “Y’all don’t see what’s going on?” 

While Instagram user @flvckor_ wrote, “What bout Nolan? We need justice.” 

Then Instagram user @shantaai_ wrote, “Chile here we go again.” 

Instagram user @ _heydez_ wrote, “This is why we scream FreeKarmelo!! Smh.” 

Another Instagram user @seventhcoach wrote, “Notice how we got the pics of this IMMEDIATELY. Wake up.” 

Then another Instagram user @mrxclusive205 wrote, “But can’t do nothing about Nolan case 🤦🏾‍♂️” 

Finally, Instagram user @ashleyello wrote, “This won’t distract us from Nolan. Smh RIP young man.” 

RELATED: Ben Crump Shares Preliminary Findings Of Indep. Autopsy As Teen Who Traveled To Horn Island With Nolan Wells Breaks Silence

“The Entire History of You” is often cited as amongst the greatest episodes of Black Mirror, and for good reason. It’s a somber depiction of a near-future world where memories are no longer a finite concept thanks to an implant that records everything its user sees and hears — thereby allowing them to relive any event from their life, for good or for ill. It was a milestone for the series, and it didn’t take long for it to leave an indelible impact on popular culture.

While previous episodes of Black Mirror’s debut season had taken a sledgehammer approach to their social commentary, “The Entire History of You” opted for a gentler touch — easing up on the overtly satirical elements and instead filtering its thesis through a small group of relatable characters, ensuring that the focus was always kept on how humans use and misuse such technology rather than the technology itself. It’s a template many future episodes would replicate, guaranteeing “The Entire History of You” a permanent place in all discussions about Black Mirror’s finest moments.

Robert Downey Jr. Once Planned a Movie Adaptation of “The Entire History of You”

Curiously, “The Entire History of You” also holds the distinction as the only episode not written by Charlie Brooker, with that honor instead going to future Succession creator Jesse Armstrong. At the time, Armstrong was mostly known for his work on British comedy shows like Peep Show and The Thick of It, making his transition to dystopian sci-fi rather unexpected. However, it was a risk that paid off — not just because of the episode’s glowing reception, but also because it allowed Armstrong to retain the rights for a potential big-screen adaptation.

Armstrong wasted no time exercising this privilege, and in 2013, it was confirmed that “The Entire History of You” would be migrating to Hollywood, with none other than Robert Downey Jr. serving as its producer. Sadly, nothing has ever come of this announcement, leaving it as a curious piece of Black Mirror history.

What Is “The Entire History of You” About?

Image via Netflix

Advertisement

“The Entire History of You” — the closing episode of the show’s excellent first season — centers on the (supposedly) happy couple Liam (Toby Kebbell) and Ffion Foxwell (Jodie Whittaker), who have recently welcomed a baby daughter, Jody. So far so normal, but Armstrong wastes little time introducing the twist for this latest adventure into speculative fiction. The world of “The Entire History of You” is one where a miraculous piece of technology known as a “grain” thrives, and its ability to record memories has made it as essential to daily life as phones and computers.

It’s a tool that, in many ways, poses many benefits to humanity, and Armstrong does highlight some of these uses (such as Liam replaying a performance review to bolster his skills at work). But this is still an episode of Black Mirror, and it doesn’t take an expert to predict that things won’t stay pleasant forever. To paraphrase The Doctor (appropriate given one of the episode’s main actors), the combination of amazing technology plus human stupidity is truly unbeatable, and soon the threads in this macabre tale start unraveling.

A dinner party with Ffion’s friends quickly threatens their marriage when Liam becomes suspicious of her behavior around the charming Jonas (Tom Cullen), resulting in an Inception-style descent through a mosaic of fractured memories as he seeks to uncover the truth about their relationship. This understandable desire eventually turns obsessive, revealing a darker side to Liam’s character that disrupts the established black-and-white narrative.

By the time the episode reaches its conclusion (a contender for the saddest in the entire show), this supposedly wondrous implant has cost him everything — his wife, his child, his morality… all because of his own misguided actions. It’s a terrific piece of sci-fi storytelling, and the way it takes an often-explored theme (in this case, the fear of infidelity) and reconfigures it for the digital revolution — allowing for a fresh take on an age-old story that will provide some much-needed warnings to its target audience — ensures it as the benchmark for future Black Mirror episodes.

Downey Jr. Beat George Clooney for the Film Rights

It was no secret that Armstrong had ambitions for “The Entire History of You” beyond its television roots. In an interview a year after its broadcast, he revealed that “I always thought this idea could be a film,” with Brooker also describing his initial pitch as more akin to a conspiracy thriller movie. When Armstrong began shipping a feature-film adaptation around is unclear, but the information we have available hints that it occurred sometime during 2012, indicating that he wanted to seal a deal before memories of the recently aired episode started to fade (ironic given its plot). Rather than developing the project in his native UK, Armstrong crossed the pond to America instead, hoping that such a move would allow it to escape the budgetary restrictions that Black Mirror’s house style had imposed upon it. This doesn’t mean that he disliked his work on Black Mirror — often the best creativity comes from the toughest restrictions — but it’s clear that he had ideas for “The Entire History of You” that its original home on Channel 4 would have lacked the capability to realize.

Upon his arrival in Hollywood, Armstrong’s script caught the attention of two high-profile individuals — Robert Downey Jr. and George Clooney. Both are among the most recognizable actors of their generation, and both have also demonstrated an interest in working behind the camera as well as in front of it (to varying degrees of success). A bidding war soon followed, and in February 2013, the Hollywood Reporter announced Downey as the victor, with the film rights to “The Entire History of You” being acquired by his production company, Team Downey. Warner Bros. — the studio that Team Downey was currently partnered with — was also confirmed to be handling distribution, while Armstrong would once again be handling scriptwriting duties. Interestingly, despite having spent the previous decade reasserting himself as one of Hollywood’s most bankable stars, Downey was not scheduled to appear in the film (although it’s likely that Warner Bros. would have sought to change that).

Perhaps the project’s most intriguing aspect was its plot. Instead of retelling “The Entire History of You” with a bigger budget and then calling it a day, Armstrong intended to use the narrative foundation of a broken marriage in a near future setting as a jumping-off point to explore new ideas and themes. This time around, the plot would focus on a grieving husband who uses the grain technology to relive his time with his deceased wife, in the process uncovering a dark secret that ruptures his idyllic memories of her. It was a welcome announcement that Armstrong would be taking full advantage of his influx of creative freedom to tell a story that wasn’t shackled by what had come before and that he refused to take the safer (and blander) alternative speaks to his passion for this concept. The pieces were in place for something special, and Black Mirror fans everywhere waited with baited breaths for its next move.

When Will We See Downey Jr.’s “Entire History of You”?

Jennifer Bloc/Future Image/Cover Images

And then, nothing. Years passed with nary a word, and when Armstrong did comment on it in 2018, he did so while turning said interview into one giant advertisement proclaiming that, yes, he did still want to make the film and anyone else who did should really get in touch with him about it. Seemingly, Team Downey’s option had lapsed, leaving the film under the dreaded blanket term of “development hell.” Such an outcome is not uncommon for options, or even for Team Downey — arguably the company’s most anticipated release, Sherlock Holmes 3, has also spent most of its existence in limbo — but it did result in the film languishing in the background while it was at its most identifiable, potentially hampering future attempts. There have been no announcements one way or the other since 2018, making it unknown if the project is still moving forward (something Charlie Brooker has also commented on, although it’s worth noting that there’s no indication he was ever involved with the film).

It’s been over a decade since the announcement that “The Entire History of You” would be transitioning from television to cinema, and in that time, Black Mirror has undergone a hefty realignment. The show’s move to Netflix in 2016 eradicated many of the restrictions that it had previously faced, allowing for episodes of increased scope and ambition. Some episodes — like “Beyond the Sea” and “Hated in the Nation” — have boasted runtimes longer than some feature films, while the 2018 interactive special Bandersnatch saw Brooker making the leap across mediums himself (in a typically unconventional way). Combined with the show’s exploration of data privacy and the importance of memory in other episodes like “Playtest” and “Crocodile” — all of which were released after Black Mirror had transitioned from a niche television program to a major cultural phenomenon — it’s possible that a feature-length version of “The Entire History of You” no longer has the appeal it once did.

Of course, this is just speculation, and Downey’s attachment to the most successful franchise of the 2010s will have stalled anything he had in the pipeline. Similarly, it’s unclear if Armstrong would have been able to commit past a certain point due to his showrunning obligations to Succession (which premiered the same year he confirmed that the film was trapped in development hell), leaving the film without its key figures. With Succession having recently come to a conclusion in one of the most masterful finales of all time, maybe Armstrong can now find the time to resurrect this often speculated-upon project. You might be tempted to dismiss it as a pointless remake given how excellent the original episode already is, but it’s hard to deny that Armstrong’s stellar track record wouldn’t pique the interest of even the most ardent of detractors.

Black Mirror is available to stream on Netflix in the U.S.

The nightmare is officially returning.

Earlier this month, Paramount Pictures announced that a brand new A Nightmare on Elm Street film is in development through its new horror label, Paramount Primal. The project is being produced in partnership with the Wes Craven estate and will be based on Craven’s original 1984 screenplay, marking the franchise’s first new theatrical chapter in more than 15 years.

With no director or cast announced, fans have already begun asking the biggest question of all:

Who should become the next Freddy Krueger?

No one will ever replace Robert Englund, whose performance helped make Freddy one of the most recognizable horror icons of all time. Instead, Paramount has an opportunity to introduce a fresh interpretation of the dream demon while honoring the legacy that made the character legendary.

Here are five actors we’d love to see take on the role.

1. Bill Skarsgård

If there’s one actor who has already proven he can reinvent an iconic horror villain, it’s Bill Skarsgård.

His unforgettable performance as Pennywise in IT showcased his ability to transform through subtle facial expressions, unsettling body language, and an eerie sense of unpredictability. Rather than trying to imitate Robert Englund, Skarsgård could create a completely new version of Freddy that feels terrifying for an entirely new generation.

Bill Skarsgård

2. Jack O’Connell

Jack O’Connell may not be the first name fans think of, but that’s exactly why he’d be such an interesting choice.

Whether playing violent criminals or emotionally damaged antiheroes, O’Connell brings an intensity that feels authentic. He could portray Freddy as less of a wisecracking slasher and more of a psychologically disturbing nightmare that haunts victims long before the killing begins.

Jack O’Connell

Advertisement

3. David Dastmalchian

Few actors have become as respected within the horror community as David Dastmalchian.

His performances in films like Late Night with the Devil have shown that he can balance charm, vulnerability, and unsettling menace all at once. Dastmalchian’s unique voice and naturally eerie screen presence could make for one of the most unsettling interpretations of Freddy Krueger yet.

David Dastmalchian

4. Walton Goggins

Walton Goggins might be the wildcard on this list, but he possesses one quality that’s essential to Freddy Krueger: charisma.

Freddy doesn’t simply kill his victims he enjoys tormenting them. Goggins has repeatedly demonstrated an ability to mix dark humor, intimidation, and unpredictability into every performance. That combination could make for a Freddy who is equal parts entertaining and terrifying.

Walton Goggins

5. Andy Serkis (Motion Capture)

Andy Serkis has built an incredible career bringing unforgettable characters to life through motion capture. From Gollumin The Lord of the Rings to Caesar in the Planet of the Apes trilogy and Supreme Leader Snoke in the Star Wars sequel trilogy, Serkis has repeatedly shown that digital performances can be just as emotionally powerful as traditional acting.

Rather than relying solely on practical makeup, Paramount could use motion-capture technology to create a Freddy Krueger whose movements feel unnaturally fluid, distorted, and dreamlike. Serkis’ mastery of performance capture could allow Freddy to move in impossible ways that perfectly fit the surreal nature of nightmares, creating one of the most visually unique versions of the character ever seen on screen.

Andy Serkis

Final Thoughts

Paramount’s newly announced A Nightmare on Elm Street film is still in the early stages of development, meaning fans may be waiting a while before an actor is officially cast as Freddy Krueger.

Whoever lands the role will have enormous shoes or rather, a burned fedora and bladed glove to fill. Robert Englund’s portrayal defined the character for decades, but every horror icon eventually finds a new generation.

Whether it’s Bill Skarsgård’s haunting presence, Jack O’Connell’s intensity, David Dastmalchian’s psychological edge, Walton Goggins’ sinister charisma, or Andy Serkis’ groundbreaking motion capture performance, each actor brings something unique that could help Freddy Krueger haunt audiences once again.

Nearly four years after Sumner Stroh became embroiled in Adam Levine’s sexting scandal, the model-turned-singer is confronting the damage caused by the controversy while attempting to reclaim her identity. Stroh now acknowledges that her actions hurt multiple people, including Levine’s wife, Behati Prinsloo, and their family. However, she also believes that her worst mistake should not determine the direction of her entire life.

As she launches a new chapter in music, Stroh is opening up about the intense public scrutiny she endured, the effect it had on her loved ones, and why she is no longer allowing fear of criticism to keep her from pursuing her ambitions.

In 2022, Stroh publicly alleged that she and Levine had engaged in a year-long affair involving intimate messages while Prinsloo was pregnant with the couple’s third child. Levine denied having an affair but acknowledged that he had “crossed a line.” Stroh subsequently claimed that she felt “manipulated” by the Maroon 5 frontman.

Looking back on the controversy, Stroh admitted it was an incredibly turbulent chapter of her life. “It was an absolute sh-tstorm, that period of my life,” she told the Daily Mail. However, the 26-year-old stressed that she does not want to portray herself as the victim of a scandal that affected several other people.

Advertisement

“I don’t want to sound like a victim,” Stroh said. “I hurt a lot of people, so I don’t want to by any means say like, ‘Oh, woe is me.’ I know it’s a conversation that is stuck with me and I have to live with that, but I believe that people are more than their mistakes and more than their past.”

Stroh also publicly apologized to Prinsloo and the couple’s children in a 2022 TikTok video. “I’m not the one getting hurt in this,” she said at the time. “It’s Behati and her children. And for that, I’m so, so sorry.”

The Public Scrutiny Sent Her To A ‘Dark Place’

Stroh said the scandal erupted while she was already dealing with other problems in her personal life, leaving her in an emotionally difficult place. “It was traumatic, just the level of public scrutiny,” she recalled. “The bandwagon effect and the whole cancellation of it all, it really gave me time to look inward and process that shame, process that guilt, process even childhood traumas.”

The fallout allegedly extended beyond online criticism and began affecting her family’s sense of security. “The drones flying over my family’s house … that affected my entire family,” she told the outlet. “So that physical safety aspect, for not myself, but for my family was something that was really hard, not for just me, but also my family.”

Stroh grew up in a traditional Texas household and said her family encouraged her to pursue a law degree rather than relocate to Los Angeles. She moved to the West Coast anyway while hoping to join a girl group, but those ambitions were soon eclipsed by the Levine scandal.

Advertisement

Sumner Stroh Is Turning Her Pain Into Music

Stroh is now pursuing the musical career she originally envisioned, even though she knows some critics may accuse her of attempting to capitalize on the controversy. “I’ve already heard all of that,” she said.

The former model explained that she has had to stop trying to control how others perceive her. “I think that I’ve had to relinquish control of what other people think and what they’re going to say,” Stroh shared. “Because at the end of the day, I can’t control that. All I can control is showing up authentically as myself.”

“I just realized I’m either going to do what I love and people are going to say what they’ve always said about women for hundreds and hundreds of years or I can live forever in fear and never have pursued what I love, and I think that is a much more miserable existence for me,” she added.

Her new single, “Miss America,” reflects her determination to continue despite the setbacks. On the song, Stroh sings, “I don’t even need to wear a crown / Can’t wear me out.”

“‘You can’t wear me out’ as I’m actively getting worn the f-ck down and facing setback after setback,” Stroh said of the lyrics.

Advertisement

She then admitted that hearing her own music can still trigger a deeply emotional response. “It makes me cry when I listen to my own music, which is ridiculous,” she confessed.

The Singer Refuses To Deny What Happened

Although Stroh wants to separate her future from the scandal, she does not intend to erase or minimize her involvement. “I have f-cking put blood, sweat, and tears into choosing myself and that’s okay because we’re all inherently flawed,” she said.

“I’ve been working my a-s off to separate myself from that and grow and learn,” Stroh continued. “But also, I’m not going to sit here and say that nothing ever happened and that’s just part of my story and that’s something I have to live with.”

She now considers the painful period pivotal to the artist she has become and no longer measures success according to public approval. “My definition of success is what I’m doing every day and that’s creating,” Stroh explained. The experience also taught her a blunt lesson: “Don’t kiss and tell.”

Although Stroh acknowledged that she still dates people in entertainment, she has changed how much she shares publicly. “I continue to date people in my industry and in Los Angeles,” she admitted, “but I like to keep that private.”

Advertisement

Adam Levine And Behati Prinsloo Remain Together

Levine and Prinsloo have remained married since the scandal. The couple was recently photographed enjoying time aboard a yacht in St. Tropez shortly before their 12th wedding anniversary. Prinsloo has never publicly discussed Stroh’s allegations or explained why she decided to stay with Levine.

An insider recently claimed, however, that the couple’s marriage is now in a better position than it was immediately following the controversy. “Their relationship is in a much healthier place than it was in the immediate aftermath of the scandal,” the source told the Daily Mail.

“That doesn’t mean everything is perfect… but Adam has made enough changes to keep the marriage intact and avoid repeating the mistakes that nearly cost him everything,” the insider added.

Styling shorts can feel surprisingly tricky. It’s easy to default to a basic tee or tank, but sometimes the finished look ends up feeling a little too casual for brunch plans, date nights or even the office. As a shopping editor, my solution is a blouse that strikes the perfect balance between relaxed and tailored, adding instant polish without making your outfit feel overdressed.

As someone who’s covered fashion and shopping for years, I’ve learned that the right top can completely transform a pair of shorts. Amazon has become one of my favorite places to find breezy blouses with thoughtful details like peplum hems, puff sleeves, smocking and crisp cotton-inspired fabrics that elevate denim, linen and tailored shorts alike. Below are the styles I’d reach for whenever I want my summer outfits to look a little more refined with very little effort.

9 Flattering Loose Blouses That Instantly Elevate Shorts

1. Our Favorite: Structured necklines and voluminous sleeves continue to dominate celebrity street style for good reason. This blouse delivers that elevated look while balancing the relaxed feel of your favorite summer shorts.

2. Runner-up: Elegant puff sleeves and a sculptural peplum hem give this top an expensive-looking finish. It’s the kind of blouse that makes simple white or black shorts feel worthy of dinner reservations.

3. Editor-Approved: A softly structured peplum silhouette instantly makes even cutoff denim shorts feel more intentional. The lightweight fabric and flattering shape create definition without clinging, making it an easy piece to dress up or down.

4. Designer-Looking: Between the smocked bodice and flowy peplum hem, this blouse creates a polished silhouette while staying comfortable in the heat. Pair it with tailored shorts and simple sandals for an outfit that looks effortlessly put together.

5. Everyday Essential: The relaxed fit of this floral V-neck top keeps things comfortable while subtle texture adds visual interest without overwhelming your outfit. It works just as well with denim shorts as it does tucked into tailored pairs.

Related: Over 2,500 Shoppers Love This $9 Top That Makes Tummies ‘Disappear‘

Finding a top that’s comfortable, flattering and easy to wear can feel surprisingly difficult, especially when you want a little extra coverage through the midsection. Luckily, this budget-friendly blouse has earned a loyal following for exactly that reason, with shoppers saying it offers a relaxed fit that skims the body without looking boxy. The bestselling […]

Advertisement

6. Vacation MVP: Airy fabric and delicate Swiss dot detailing make this blouse ideal for warm-weather getaways. It instantly softens linen shorts while keeping the overall outfit feeling light and breezy.

7. Office-to-Weekend Pick: Clean pleats and a structured drape help this blouse transition seamlessly from work meetings to weekend lunches. Add polished shorts and loafers for an outfit that’s equal parts professional and relaxed.

8. Closet Staple: Soft ruffle sleeves add just enough femininity without overpowering the rest of your outfit. It’s an easy way to elevate classic denim shorts for everything from errands to outdoor dinners.

9. Most Versatile: An oversized button-down is one of the hardest-working pieces in any summer wardrobe. Wear it tucked, tied at the waist or open over a tank with shorts for multiple polished looks using one versatile staple.

UsNow Summer Sale Alert: These Chic Fashion Finds are over 30% off – Plus Free Shipping

Welcome to summer with our biggest sale of the year. This summer’s chicest dresses, tops and swimsuits are all over 30% + free shipping. Inventory is limited so hurry before they’re gone.

Shop the UsNow Summer Sale –>