Entertainment
‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ Daniel Ings on What George R.R. Martin Teased About Lyonel Baratheon’s Future
After six weeks at the tourney at Ashford Meadow, it’s finally time for Dunk (Peter Claffey) and Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell) to move on. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms wrapped up its first season tonight with a funeral and the beginning of a new chapter for our heroes. Coming in after the violent Trial of Seven, which ultimately saw Aerion Targaryen (Finn Bennett) losing to Dunk, the finale focuses primarily on the aftermath and what happens now that Baelor Targaryen (Bertie Carvel), the crowned prince, is dead. With the tourney winding down, Dunk is offered an opportunity by Lyonel Baratheon (Daniel Ings) to return with him to Storm’s End. The scene not only reveals Dunk’s immense guilt for what happened to Baelor but also Lyonel’s deep disdain for the Targaryens, reminding us of the intrinsic rivalry between the two houses.
We spoke with Daniel Ings about his role in the newest Game of Thrones spin-off. Ings discussed how he harnessed Lyonel’s braggadocious attitude and what it took for him to portray a monumental character like Lyonel Baratheon. He discusses the Trial of Seven and where he thinks Lyonel gets his deep hate for the Targaryens from in the finale. He reveals conversations he had with showrunner Ira Parker about the character, as well as author George R.R. Martin, who teased Lyonel’s potential return in the future. For those who know the story, it’s a hopeful indication that we might see Ings again, though likely in the distant future should the series continue past three seasons.
Daniel Ings on How He Harnessed Lyonel Baratheon’s Attitude
“Yeah, I feel like there’s definitely a side to me that can be bombastic and in your face.”
COLLIDER: Your character, Lyonel Baratheon, is many things. He’s a singer, he’s a dancer, he’s a fighter, he’s got it all. He’s such a bombastic and bold character. Was that a role that came naturally to you, or was that something that you had to work on? Because his personality is very much in your face when you first meet him.
DANIEL INGS: I guess it did kind of come naturally. Yeah, I feel like there’s definitely a side to me that can be bombastic and in your face. It’s definitely something that I’m comfortable tapping into, and I enjoy that, particularly with dancing. Dancing was something that I used to be very self conscious about. And then when I was younger, that was a sort of choice, like a switch that I made to just choose not to be anymore. And me and my buddies used to do ironic dancing, that was my way in. We’d call it “ironic dancing,” particularly after Zoolander came out; we did dance-offs in the middle of some dance floor somewhere. At a certain point, I was like, actually, maybe I don’t need to do this ironically anymore, maybe I just enjoy this.
‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ Stars React to Dunk’s “Cinematic” Trial of 7 and Egg’s Guilt
The season finale for the six-episode series set in Westeros airs on HBO on Sunday, February 22nd.
I love that.
INGS: Yeah, fine. Fuck it, you know? I feel like I enjoy dance. I can’t sing, unfortunately. I’m a horrible singer. But again, I increasingly don’t really care that I’m not very good at it. You know what I mean?
To be fair, in the scene where you sing in the show, your character is drunk, so he doesn’t really need to be a great singer in that moment.
INGS: Exactly, I think, to that end, with all of those elements, this is a guy who, in a way, he doesn’t need to be able to do those things. He just needs to not care what anybody thinks, that’s the crucial thing. And that’s kind of liberating, if you can just let it go and to get to play someone who doesn’t really give a shit what people think, it means your focus doesn’t have to be on, technically, whether it’s good, it just has to be fun.
I think that came off perfectly. He definitely has, a sort of “I don’t give a fuck” energy, which I think everybody appreciates.
INGS: [laughs]
Daniel Ings Reveals a Behind-the-Scenes Moment With Peter Claffey and Dexter Sol Ansell
“Everyone was aware to protect this little dude because he is physically little, if more grown up than the rest of us.”
When you’re getting into the realm of Game of Thrones, you’re already toeing the line with what is appropriate for a kid to be exposed to. What was it like filming with Dexter [Sol Ansell] and seeing him work as a young actor?
INGS: He’s an incredibly clever and switched-on young guy. It’s really super easy to forget how young he is. He’s much smarter than me and has an incredible work ethic. He would quite happily be like, “Oh, your cup’s in the wrong hand there. You had it in the other hand. You switch it on this line.” It’s so easy to forget how young he is. He’s a really sort of fun and confident young man, incredibly impressive and much smarter than the rest of us, much like his character. So in a way, it was super easy. And also, he’s incredibly experienced, like — I think he’s 11 now — he was nine when we shot it. He’s done more stuff than any of the rest of us put together.
You’re conscious of it, although a lot of the stuff that I got to do with Dexter was pretty fun, like we were out there doing the tug of war. He did bang his head at one point because we were all doing celebrations, and Peter’s throwing him up in the air. And I remember, there was one day he hurt himself quite badly, I think he banged his head on Peter’s shoulder. And I had no idea that this had happened, and I come running in, ready to, like, jump on the two of them. And Peter, bless him, was like, “No! No! No! No!” So, everyone was aware to protect this little dude because he is physically little, if more grown up than the rest of us.
Daniel Ings Gets Into What It Was Like Filming Those Action Scenes in Armor
“…that sort of energy that you see in the Baratheon tent is replicated out on the field.”
There’s a lot of physicality that comes into playing this character, I can only imagine what it’s like having to wear the armor and that giant crown. What was it like preparing for those action scenes?
INGS: The action stuff, I have to give credit to the stunt guys, because they did so much of it. Once you see that big jousting sequence and the Trial of Seven, it’s so physically demanding, what’s expected of these characters, and the way that they shoot it. It would have been shit if I tried to do a load of that stuff. I did a fair bit of riding in it, and I’d done some riding before, so it was a little bit of training for that. We did some fight training, which, again, I’ve done a bit of before, but it’s always fun to brush up on that. The thing that I wanted to focus on with all of that was the fluidity of it, because this guy is an amazing warrior, but he’s also someone who takes great pleasure in the performance of being in that arena. Do you know what I mean? In the sport of it. He’s obsessed with the sport of it, and so, much like with the dancing, most of the preparation was around trying to make sure that, even with the stunt team, there was a kind of fluid and florid movement style with this character, that sort of energy that you see in the Baratheon tent is replicated out on the field.
To be honest, it was pretty tough. The helmet, which I wear at the end, which is incredible, and I fucking loved it, but it’s so hard. There was so many sequences where I wanted to show that he is this guy who is so excited and just delighted to be there, where everyone else is shitting themselves. He’s just like, “This is amazing!” This is his 50-year storm, and then to see the switch into mad dog as he pulls the helmet on. We did so many takes of it, because that thing… I’d put it on, and then we’d finish the take with, like, seven of us in a line, and it’s just flopping over to one side.
HBO Just Found Its Tyrion Replacement With This ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ Character
This character is poised to become a fan-favorite of the new ‘Game of Thrones’ spin-off.
They should have kept that in. I feel like that would be kind of funny.
INGS: Yeah, he’s the Laughing Storm, like he doesn’t give a shit! So that was a lot of the preparation, and I mean, you can’t really tell, but I tried to kind of hit the weights beforehand, because I knew that this was going to be a physical job…
You were shirtless in one of those scenes. So maybe that helped the confidence levels there if it was intimidating?
INGS: [Laughs] Fuck it, yeah. Exactly. I mean, I’m not massively a gym guy, but, again, the thing about the Laughing Storm is, in the books there’s a big focus on his physicality. He’s a giant, and he’s physically imposing. But I think for for me, and for Ira [Parker], our showrunner, like, I think he would have loved it. He did say to me, at one point, he was like, “Can you just start eating bagels? I just wanted you to get like fat, like big.” But I just lost a ton of weight a year or two before. I was like, that’s not gonna happen.
But for me — and I think Ira kind of came on board with it — the thing that was more interesting was, there’s not much we can do to alter my height. I’m like 6′, 6’1″. We’re never going to get me up to 6’6″ without some giant platform shoes. But actually, the thing that’s more important is, to your point earlier, the sense of bigness in every other respect. You know what I mean? The voice and the unpredictability and the chaos and energy that he brings; that was more important than getting super jacked.
I can only imagine how turning your head must have been like with that helm on. You’d have to have a radius around you where people can’t stand near, lest you knock them out with the antlers.
INGS: Yeah, and then, plus, once you add in the shield, and then your lance in there. I mean, it’s a big radius.
Daniel Ings Reveals Where Lyonel Baratheon’s Anti-Targaryen Sentiment Comes From
“He is this party guy, but he does see everything.”
Talking about the Trial of Seven, at one point when Dunk goes to Lyonel to ask him to join him, Lyonel is like, “Oh yeah, this is a once in a lifetime situation. Obviously I’m going to take part in it.” And that’s the impression that we get, that he’s there for the glory of it. But I’m wondering if there’s something else in it, because obviously he and Dunk have formed a friendship that’s so unlikely. Is there a bit of that loyalty, of like, “Yeah, I’m gonna stand by you,” or is it more like, “Well, who would say no to this?”
INGS: I mean, I think it’s definitely both, but I think it would take a lot longer for him to let someone into that second part, right? Like he, for sure, is inspired by this young hedge knight, and inspired by his bravery and honor and his naivety, you know? So I think, ultimately, put it this way, I don’t think he could pick to fight on the other side, like for Lyonel Baratheon. And meeting this guy, Dunk, has just opened up the tourney for him. He does this shit all the time, and it’s fun, it’s like Glastonbury for him.
But then he meets this guy who reminds him that it’s about something bigger. I think it kind of kills two birds with one stone. So I think it’s true when he says, like, “There hasn’t been a Trial of Seven for 100 years. I’m not going to miss out. This is fucking awesome,” that I think is true, but it is also a convenient way to mask the inner context of what he’s saying, which is also like, “You’re awesome. You are the greatest thing that’s happened to this tourney. And, for sure, I’ll stand by your side.” When he says, “I knew you’d be trouble,” what he’s really saying is, “I knew you’d be fun.”
In the finale, we get a little bit deeper into Lyonel’s character, where he really shows a deep disdain for the Targaryens. I’m wondering if you talked with Ira about that? Or if it was in the script about where that dislike, and even hatred comes from?
INGS: Well, I think it’s a good point. We didn’t talk about it too much. I can’t remember if the line is still in it, but at one point, he sort of says, “The only good dragon is a dead dragon.” And, you know, there’s a complicated history between Lyonel’s heritage and the Targaryens, but I suppose it’s a general sort of anti-establishment feeling of animosity towards them, because they’re people in power, but their grip on power is slipping.
Lyonel says, at one point, war is coming, and it’s a little minute before it comes, but I think he can sense that this is a dynasty on the wane, and that tends to create violence and chaos. It’s like a dying dinosaur, the last gasp of a dying dinosaur. So, we actually didn’t talk too much about it, and, as you point out, it exposes a slightly deeper understanding with Lyonel. He is this party guy, but he does see everything. He’s an observer. He sees what these people are about, and the lack of honor in the Targaryens and the distinct sense of honor in Dunk.
Daniel Ings Reflects on George R.R. Martin’s Tease for Lyonel’s Future
“Us Baratheons, we’re rebellious folk, you know?”
I know that Season 2 is filming. Are you part of it, or has your chapter with the story ended for now?
INGS: I mean, I couldn’t possibly comment on Series 2, but I would love for audiences to get to see Lyonel Baratheon again. I’d love to play this guy again. He’s not in the second book or the third book.
That’s why I was curious.
INGS: As with the first, these series will be very faithful to George [R.R. Martin]’s writing. Actually I spoke to George one day on set. He came down and was like, [George R.R. Martin voice] “You know, your character comes back later on down the line.” And I’d done a little deep dive into the Westeros lore online, and you can find so much of the history that’s written even if these books haven’t necessarily been written yet, but, yeah, there’s some interesting story to tell further down the line with Lyonel and Dunk and Egg. But, you know, I have to wait and see if the story catches up to it, and if that story ever gets told, I’d be pumped.
I would love to see you back again, and I know the story he’s talking about.
INGS: Oh, cool! It’s fun, right?
Yeah, definitely. I love George’s world, and I’m always happy to see a version of it on screen.
INGS: Totally, me too. And us Baratheons, we’re rebellious folk, you know?
All episodes of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Season 1 are now available to stream on HBO.
- Release Date
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January 18, 2026
- Network
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HBO
- Showrunner
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Ira Parker
- Directors
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Owen Harris
- Writers
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George R. R. Martin, Ira Parker
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Peter Claffey
Ser Duncan ‘Dunk’ the Tall
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Jennifer Lopez shared a touching tribute to her two children, twins Emme and Max Muniz, on their 18th birthdays.
Lopez, 56, who shares Emme and Max with ex-husband Marc Anthony, took to Instagram on Sunday, February 22, to celebrate the milestone through words and a video filled with photos and footage. “You were born in the middle of the night, in the midst of the biggest, most beautiful snowstorm NY had seen in years!!” Lopez began. “I remember riding in the car and looking out the window, where everything was twinkling and covered in white that night, as I held you both in my belly for the last few moments before I gave birth to you.”
The “Waiting For Tonight” singer continued, “It was as if God was making sure you would enter a world full of pure magic!! In my heart, I knew that’s how your life would always be!!”
Lopez then reflected on how her world was forever altered when Emme and Max arrived. “When I would hold you as infants, I honestly felt as if I were holding two angels sent straight from heaven above,” she wrote. “My life was changed forever. I cannot believe you are now adults … 18 years old! You are both so kind-hearted, generous, and loving.”
Twin time! Jennifer Lopez has shared plenty of sweet moments with her kids, Emme and Maximilian “Max” Muñiz, over the years. The Grammy winner gave birth to her and Marc Anthony’s twins in 2008, four years after marrying the “I Need to Know” singer. (Lopez and Anthony subsequently split in 2011.) The Atlas star exclusively […]
The musician’s tribute video included photos from a professional shoot taken when the children were newborn babies, plus snaps from later photo shoots where she appeared in full glam. At-home clips included in the edit also showed her children laughing and playing with mom, cuddling up to mom and accompanying her both backstage and on-stage during performances across the globe.
“How lucky the world was on this day 18 years ago when God decided to send you here with all of your talents and spirit and heart to make this world a better place, because that is what you do for me and anyone who is lucky enough to know you both every day,” Lopez continued. “‘I love you’ could never encapsulate the depth of feeling, affection, and care that I have for you, my coconuts. It has always been the three of us!”
The tribute concluded, “We have been on this journey together. We have always had each other to hold on to and be that steady presence in the middle of any snowstorm. And I promise you, my beautiful coconuts, no matter how big you get, that’s how it will always be. Always remember, Lulu, you are my sunshine … and Max, you’re amazing just the way you are!! I love you, I love you. Happy 18th Birthday, my wonder twins!!!”
Proud mama! Jennifer Lopez is a triple threat performer but being a mother is her favorite role to date. “Happy birthday to my beautiful, brilliant coconuts 🥥🥥,” the Marry Me actress gushed via Instagram in February 2023, celebrating kids Max and Emme’s 15th trip around the sun. “You bring so much joy and happiness to my heart and soul. […]
Ahead of Max and Emme attending college in 2026, Lopez told Entertainment Tonight in January that she felt “really good” about watching her children embark on new chapters. “I’m like, [I] can’t believe we’ve gotten here, you know, just the three of us. It’s been a journey for all three of us through this life [because] I was a single mom since they were 3 years old,” she told the outlet at the time. (Lopez and Anthony, 57, announced their split in July 2011 and the twins were born in 2008.)
Lopez added, “People have come in and out of my life, but it really has just been the three of us. To see how they’re kind of, like, thriving right now and the adults, like, young adults that they’re growing into … they’re so ready for their life. They’re so ready to get out there and I remember what that felt like [at] 18.”
Whew! Janet Jackson just reminded the world why she’s a legend. Recently, the queen hit Instagram serving full star power, effortless style, and unmatched confidence. And, her look had fans stopping mid-scroll and showering her with praise.
RELATED: There She Is! Social Media Is Goin’ OFF With Questions While Trying To Identify Man Spotted With Janet Jackson At NFL Game (PICS)
Janet Jackson Slays In Off-White Pearl Perfection
In a series of photos, Janet stunned in an off-white, pearl-colored ensemble that could either be a chic pantsuit or a flowing dress—opinions are still split. She paired the outfit with matching heels, dangling earrings, stacked rings, a bracelet, and a flawless face beat. And, her signature reddish hair was pulled back into a braided bun, completing a look that radiated elegance, confidence, and pure star power.
Fans Losing It Over Janet’s Timeless Glow
Fans wasted no time flooding TSR’s Instagram comment section after Janet’s post dropped. Some called her the ultimate blueprint, proving how a true icon carries herself through every decade. Others shook their heads at her exes for fumbling her in the past. Meanwhile, a loyal few were straight-up gushing about wanting to age like Janet—smooth, classy, and like a fine wine.
One Instagram user @theofficialrazorchic said, “Yassssssssss miss Jackson❤️🔥”
This Instagram user @waxingqueenadventures added, “The way I just gagged! She looks sooooo good 😍🔥”
And, Instagram user @ishymael1997 wrote, “Mind you she’s almost 60 too😍 age like fine wine“
Then Instagram user @cosmic_journey shared, “😍 Still can’t believe J. D fumbled her“
Meanwhile, Instagram user @armenterellis added, “God please let me age beautifully like her😍😍😍😍😍”
Lastly, Instagram user @bentjoyeth said, “Janet is who she thinks she is 🔥🔥🔥❤️”
Could The Legend Be Going On A Secret Date?
Is Miss Jackson trying to look cute for somebody special? A few months ago, Janet Jackson was caught seated in the stands at a football game, rocking sunglasses alongside an unidentified man, sparking curiosity about who might have caught her eye.
As previously reported, the photo was taken at the Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Jets matchup at MetLife Stadium on October 5, 2025. While the mystery man’s identity remains under wraps, fans were buzzing, speculating whether Janet is enjoying some low-key quality time or just flexing her iconic style in the stands. Either way, her effortless cool and iconic energy have everyone talking.
RELATED: Oop! D.L. Hughley Reacts To Janet Jackson’s Comments About Vice President Kamala Harris
What Do You Think Roomies?
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“I didn’t expect that,” Coogler admitted after stepping up the podium to accept his award.
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“The Sopranos ”set had a leak, star Steve Schirripa says: 'Somebody was selling information'
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The infamously secretive set apparently wasn’t closely guarded enough.
Katherine Heigl has joined other “Grey’s Anatomy” stars in paying tribute to Eric Dane following his untimely death from ALS at the age of 53, less than a year after he was diagnosed.
As the news of his death circulated, many of Dane’s former co-stars have shared memories, condolences, and well wishes for his family.
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Katherine Heigl Posts An Emotional Tribute To Former ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Co-Star Eric Dane
Taking to Instagram, Katherine Heigl posted a heartfelt tribute to her former co-star, joining the likes of Patrick Dempsey and Shonda Rhimes.
“I debated this post for days,” Heigl’s post began. “I have never been comfortable grieving publicly. I share my tears, my stories and my memories with those I’m closest to and more times than not I share them only with the heavens alone. But that silence can often look like a lack of care which I could not abide here.”
The actress went on to mention Dane’s widow, Rebecca Gayheart, and their two daughters, Billie and Georgia.
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“Rebecca, Billie, Georgia… There is so little, if in fact anything, one can say about a tragic loss like yours,” her caption read. “All the “I’m sorries” and “my prayers are with you” ring a bit hollow in the midst of so much pain and grief.”
“So I will say the only thing that has ever brought me peace when I’ve lost someone I love,” Heigl continued. “It is Robert Frost’s poem ‘Nothing Gold Can Stay’ of which I have tattooed on my body in my parent’s handwriting so I will never forget that the moment of gold was worth it.”
Heigl included the poem in her caption, before adding a final message about her former co-star.
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“I will never forget Eric’s gold and I will forever be grateful I got to bask in it for even a brief moment in time. Thank you for sharing him with us. God Speed my old friend…here’s to your next great adventure,” she wrote.
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Patrick Dempsey Previously Shared Insight Into Eric Dane’s Final Days
The day after Dane’s February 19 death, Patrick Dempsey appeared as a guest on “The Chris Evans Breakfast Show,” on February 20. He shared that he woke up to the news that his friend and former co-star had sadly passed away, noting that it was difficult to put into words what he was feeling.
According to the actor, he was texting with Dane the week prior to his death, and some of their mutual friends visited him. During his final days, Dempsey described the difficulties Dane was having.
“He was bedridden and it was very hard for him to swallow, so the quality of his life was deteriorating so rapidly,” Dempsey shared.
The “Grey’s Anatomy” star also shared happy memories of the late actor, including their working relationship on set.
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Sharing that Dane was “such a joy to work with,” Dempsey also said that Dane brought so much joy to the set of the long-running ABC medical drama.
“There was this wonderful mutual respect. He’s wickedly intelligent, and I’m always going to remember those moments of fun that we had together and celebrate the joy that he did bring to people’s lives,” Dempsey added.
‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Creator Shonda Rhimes Also Paid Tribute To Dane
In an Instagram post, Shonda Rhimes remembered Dane fondly throughout his tenure on the Emmy-winning series.
“Eric Dane was a beloved member of the Shondaland and ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ families,” Rhimes’ message began. “He was truly a gifted actor whose portrayal of Dr. Mark Sloan left an indelible mark on the series and on audiences around the world.”
“We are grateful for the artistry, spirit, friendship and humanity he shared with us for so many years. Our hearts are with his family, loved ones, and all who were touched by his work,” she added.
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Johnny Depp Provided Eric Dane With A Place To Stay In Days Leading Up To His Death
According to Page Six, Johnny Depp quietly offered one of his Los Angeles homes to close friend Dane prior to his death.
“Eric [had] one less thing to worry about,” an inside source told the outlet, explaining that Dane was essentially living rent-free in Depp’s Sunset Strip property, and was told to “pay whatever he could or — couldn’t for rent.”
The two actors, who connected through mutual friends years ago, remained close as Dane battled the progressive disease.
Eric Dane Died Less Than A Year After Sharing His ALS Diagnosis
On Thursday, February 19, 2026, the actor’s family confirmed to PEOPLE magazine that the actor had passed away after announcing his ALS diagnosis in 2025.
“With heavy hearts, we share that Eric Dane passed on Thursday afternoon following a courageous battle with ALS,” his family said in a statement. “He spent his final days surrounded by dear friends, his devoted wife, and his two beautiful daughters, Billie and Georgia, who were the center of his world.”
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“Throughout his journey with ALS, Eric became a passionate advocate for awareness and research, determined to make a difference for others facing the same fight. He will be deeply missed, and lovingly remembered always,” they continued. “Eric adored his fans and is forever grateful for the outpouring of love and support he’s received. The family has asked for privacy as they navigate this impossible time.”
Over six decades later, The Longest Day still stands out as one of the most well-made World War II movies ever put on screen. It aimed big — telling the D-Day story from not just one side but through the eyes of American, British, French, and German soldiers. To pull that off, producer Darryl F. Zanuck, renowned for his sprawling movies, including the troubled U.S.-Japan co-production Tora! Tora! Tora!, which involved Akira Kurosawa, brought in three directors. Ken Annakin, Andrew Marton, and Bernhard Wicki each helmed a different front of the war. John Wayne and Henry Fonda joined an expansive, star-studded ensemble cast, including Sean Connery, Robert Mitchum, and Richard Burton, to deliver a stunning recreation of the landings in Normandy with spectacle and authenticity.
Featuring real paratroopers, actual battle locations, and veterans guiding the production, the film doesn’t hold back in showing the full reality of war, be it the chaos, the solidarity, the fear, and everything in between. Just like A Bridge Too Far details Operation Market Garden with precision, The Longest Day‘s black-and-white dramatization of D-Day offers the most compelling portrayal of one of World War II’s most pivotal events.
Three Directors and a Cast of Thousands Built One of the Best War Movies Ever Made
More than just a movie, The Longest Day is a full-scale reenactment of D-Day. The story draws from firsthand accounts by veterans who experienced the operation. With a cast of 42 A-list stars and thousands of extras, including real paratroopers leaping from planes over Normandy, the film relies on its sheer cinematic muscle. Adopting an ambitious storytelling approach, with no CGI and no shaky-cam close-ups, the film is one of the most thoughtful and balanced portrayals of the D-Day invasion, presenting the viewpoints of major parties involved. The Longest Day doesn’t try to pull you into the action; it’s just a wide-angle view of the day as it happened, leaving judgment to the viewer.
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The three directors assigned to the project concentrated on the nitty-gritty details of accounts within their jurisdiction: Annakin handled the British and French scenes, Marton directed the American sequences, and Wicki oversaw the German segments. The first hour of the film’s near-three-hour runtime builds tension by following the Allied powers as they strategize and the Axis powers as they wait in anticipation. There’s the Allies’ debate over the timing of the attack in bad weather, French villagers smuggling intel, and German commanders bickering over Hitler’s absence. This sequential, documentary-like approach to the film’s storytelling forms the foundation of its epic action. When the landings do take place, it’s two hours of relentless bursts of gunfire and explosives across multiple fronts, revealing not just the war’s carnage but its chaos as well. From the air to the sea, The Longest Day captures the invasion of Normandy in painstaking detail.
John Wayne and Henry Fonda Contribute to Performances That Define a Genre and Technical Mastery
In a film where most actors have limited screen time, John Wayne and Henry Fonda are among the few given more prominent roles. John Wayne plays Lt. Col. Benjamin Vandervoort, the real-life figure who broke his ankle during the landing and ended up becoming a war hero for how he and his unit defended the town of Sainte-Mère-Église. For the few minutes he is on-screen, Wayne plays Vandervoort with his typical larger-than-life screen presence. He urges his troops to march on, motivating them with his speeches and lived experience (although Vandervoort was almost twice as young as Wayne’s 55 years during the war). Henry Fonda, on the other hand, portrays Brig. Gen. Theodore Roosevelt Jr., the president’s son who refuses to sit out of front-row action and history just because of his name. However, the film doesn’t treat them — or anyone else — as typical heroes you’d often find in a character-driven drama. Its focus is on showing the events as they really happened.
With an 84% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, The Longest Day continues to earn respect for its lasting power. Whether you’re coming back to it out of nostalgia or watching it for the very first time, its scale and ambition still command awe. In its three hours, the film proves why it’s a monument to historical cinema.
The Longest Day
- Release Date
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October 4, 1962
- Runtime
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178 minutes
- Director
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Andrew Marton, Bernhard Wicki, Ken Annakin
- Writers
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Cornelius Ryan, David Pursall, Jack Seddon, James Jones, Romain Gary
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Henry Fonda
Brig. Gen. Theodore Roosevelt Jr.
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Lt. Col. Benjamin Vandervoort
Guess Which Iconic Model
This Precious Baby
Turned Into!
Published
Before this sweet baby — bundled up after bath time — was on the cover of every magazine under the sun, she was just growing up with her sisters in Calabasas, California …
Today, she’s one of the highest-paid models in the world! If she ain’t on the catwalk, you can catch her and her famous fam crackin’ jokes on HULU.
Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino has a message for his Jersey Shore costar Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi amid her recent cancer diagnosis.
“Sending prayers full of love, promotion and healing to our girl @snooki,” Sorrentino, 43, wrote via X on Sunday, February 22, alongside a bandaged heart emoji and a throwback photo featuring Snooki, 38.
Snooki announced on Friday, February 20, via TikTok that she received a stage I cervical cancer diagnosis.
“Obviously not the news that I was hoping for,” Snooki said after sharing that she recently had a biopsy. “But also not the worst news, just because they caught it so early.”
Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino and Ronnie Ortiz-Magro can’t believe how far the Jersey Shore family has come. “It’s definitely hard to wrap your head around 15 years. But I think short and sweet, we’ve turned 15 minutes of fame into 15 years, and the story continues,” Mike, 43, exclusively shared with Us Weekly before the […]
Snooki encouraged her followers to get an annual Pap smear, which is how the reality TV star learned she has cancerous cells on her cervix.
“That’s why I’m literally telling you guys to get your Pap smears done. I’m 38 years old. I’ve been struggling with abnormal Pap smears for like, three, four years now,” she said. “And now look at me, and instead of just, like, putting it off because I didn’t want to go, and it hurt and I was scared, no, I just went and did it, [and] cancer’s in there, and it’s only stage I and it’s curable.”
Snooki explained that she had a colposcopy — a test for “abnormal tissue,” according to Mayo Clinic — which “took a chunk out of [her] cervix.” She then underwent a cone biopsy, which Mayo Clinic defined as a procedure in which “surgeons remove a cone-shaped wedge of abnormal tissue from your cervix.”
The biopsy uncovered that the margins around the tumor were clear and hadn’t spread beyond the cervix, but Snooki noted that there’s a chance the cancer could spread throughout her body since this type is generally “more aggressive.” Snooki shared she has a PET scan scheduled to figure out whether there is cancer elsewhere in her body.
“And then after that, I’m going to probably get the hysterectomy, because the oncologist said you can either do chemo, radiation or the hysterectomy,” she continued. “Obviously, I think the smart choice here is the hysterectomy. I’ll still keep my ovaries, which is a good sign, but the hysterectomy, got to get the cervix in, the uterus out and then possibly lymph nodes, because it can [spread there]. So I guess it all depends on the PET scan.”
Despite the year “not turning out” the way she hoped, Snooki shared her positive outlook.
“Could be very much worse,” she said, while asking followers to comment on the video if they’re going through something similar.
Snooki — who shares kids Lorenzo, 13, Giovanna, 11, and Angelo, 6, with husband Jionni LaValle — also promised to be “vulnerable” on her social media while sharing updates on her health journey.
On Sunday, Snooki shared a separate TikTok video weighing in on the support she has received by making a heart with her hands as she mouthed “I love you.”
“Seeing all the love you guys have shown me means THE WORLD to me,” she captioned the post, “thanks for being my besties 4ever 😭🙏🏽💕.”
Former Project Runway mentor Tim Gunn has detailed why he hasn’t had sex for more than four decades.
During the Thursday, February 19, episode of Chelsea Handler’s “Dear Chelsea” podcast, Gunn, 72, explained that he’s been celibate for 43 years following a devastating breakup.
“I had a very serious nine-year relationship in Washington, D.C., and I loved this person deeply and would have done anything for him. And I still remember the night that it all ended,” Gunn told Handler, 50. “We were in bed watching M*A*S*H … he said to me, ‘I have no patience for you any longer. I want you to leave.’ I had my own apartment, but I had been living with him for years, and I left. I drove to my apartment on Rock Creek Parkway, and I had to pull off because I was hyperventilating. I was beside myself with self flagellation and self pity, and it was awful.”
Gunn, who also executive produced the Bravo reality fashion series from its 2004 debut through to 2017, added that his former partner was somebody he had worked with. “So it wasn’t as though I just would never see him again,” he said. “One of the things that he told me that night was that he’d been sleeping with just about everything that walked by, and I had been loyal and faithful to him. He was the only person I’d ever been with.”
Barbara Nitke / ©Lifetime / courtesy Everett Collection Tim Gunn has revealed the true story behind his unforgettable Project Runway catchphrase “make it work.” “I’ll tell you the catalyst for [‘make it work’],” Gunn, 71, told People in an interview published on February 20. “I was teaching a two-semester-long class – 30 weeks – with […]
He continued, “The self pity then turned to completely unbridled anger because I thought he may have given me a death sentence. Of course, and I was tested every six months for ten years for HIV and thankfully I had a clean slate. But whenever I was even tempted to engage in something that could become serious with someone, all this would come back like Niagara Falls, and it would just take the desire away.”
Gunn, who currently produces and stars alongside former Project Runway host Heidi Klum in the reality fashion series Making the Cut, added that remaining celebate wasn’t easy.
“I have to say, being celibate and being someone who lives alone was a bit of an adjustment, but now I wouldn’t have it any other way,” he said. Gunn is currently single and typically keeps details regarding his private life close to his chest.
Over the years, many celebrities have opened up about their personal choice to abstain from sex, whether it’s for a few months or until marriage. In October 2021, Nick Cannon made headlines when he announced his decision to stay celibate after welcoming his seventh child earlier that year. “I’m going to see if I could […]
After Handler expressed sympathy over Gunn’s former relationship breakdown, he offered further perspective into his mindset around celibacy. “Things happen for a reason, and sometimes the reason isn’t revealed at the moment,” he began. “It may not be revealed for days, weeks, or months, or sometimes even years. But had this relationship not fallen apart, I would never have moved to New York. It would never have happened.”
Gunn was not part of July 2025’s Project Runway reboot, telling People five months prior to the show’s premiere that he was not asked back. “Heidi [Klum] and I were texting and texting, and several months later, she sent me a text asking, ‘Are you happy with your contract?’ I’m a truth-teller. I don’t even mince words,” Gunn told the outlet at the time. “I said, ‘Well, I haven’t seen a contract.’ And she said, ‘You haven’t?’ No.”
Klum, 52, told Us Weekly at the time that fans weren’t happy with Gunn’s omission from the new-look show. “Our fans are upset, you know, because we have a great audience,” the host said last year. “People loved us for 16 years. I guess they were maybe upset that they’ll never see us again, but Tim and I are sticking together.”
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