Entertainment

‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ Showrunner Ira Parker Says George R.R. Martin Has “Only Been a Benefit” While Filming Season 2

Published

5 hours ago

23 February 2026

Peter Claffey as Dunk in armor on a horse as Dexter Sol Ansell as Egg helps in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms

[Editor’s note: The following contains major spoilers for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.]In the season finale of the HBO series A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, set in Westeros a century before the events of Game of Thrones, hedge knight Ser Duncan the Tall (Peter Claffey) was left wondering just what his responsibilities toward his squire Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell) should be. The aftermath of the Trial of Seven and the death of Baelor Targaryen (Bertie Carvel) make Dunk reflect on his own regret and guilt, unsure of what to do and where to go next. When Dunk ultimately decides to take Egg back, it’s on the condition of continuing to travel as a hedge knight and getting as far away from royalty as possible.

While there is a sense of closure to the story being told over the six-episode first season, there’s also a sense of adventure to come. Already deep into production on Season 2, showrunner Ira Parker is continuing to work with the source material, following The Sworn Sword while also getting feedback from George R.R. Martin as he adds his own touches to the adventures of Dunk and Egg.

Collider recently got the opportunity to chat one-on-one with Parker about the events of the finale, poking fun at the need to rename the series A Knight of the Nine Kingdoms now (and no, the title is not actually changing), that reunion between Dunk and Sweetfoot, how that final shot with Ser Arlan riding off as Dunk and Egg go on their way came about, whether Dunk was ever really knighted, the change in dynamic between Dunk and Rafe from what was in the book, the nod to Brienne of Tarth, and the reveal that Egg lied again so that he could rejoin Dunk. Parker also talked about how far into the Season 2 production they are, whether any Season 1 cast members will show up in Dunk and Egg’s world again, the possibility of continuing beyond Season 3, and how they handle any potential changes that might need to be made.

Collider: It’s fun to see a show that feels so different from the other shows in this world, and yet still looks like it fits in this world.

IRA PARKER: I’m glad it still looks like it fits in this world. That was what made us the most nervous. One of our actor’s agents almost didn’t let them be in it because he said, “We don’t know how you’re going to make this look okay for the money that they’re giving you.” They took those words back by the end. I’m glad that this is the result.

No, the Series Will Not Be Renamed ‘A Knight of the Nine Kingdoms’

“We’re just having some fun in Westeros.”

So, do you have to rename the series now to A Knight of the Nine Kingdoms, or were you just having fun with the title card at the end of the finale?

PARKER: I think that’s probably what it was. We try not to take ourselves too seriously. We’re serious when it’s appropriate. We’re just having some fun in Westeros.

It was nice to have that little bit of humor again, after some of the heavier stuff in the last couple episodes.

PARKER: It was important to have that last little conversation between them to cleanse the palate a little bit. So much stuff has come to pass between the two of them in both of their lives, and we just needed to let the audience know, “Don’t worry, going forward, this will still be the Dunk and Egg that we all grew to know and love even before we turned that relationship upside down.

I also have to give you kudos for taking the time to reunite Dunk with Sweetfoot, the horse. Why was it important for you to find the time for that moment when that’s not something that you had to do?

PARKER: We all felt, pretty early on, that a lot of people, including us, were going to care only if Dunk got reunited with that horse. If he wins the tournament, fine. The Trial of Seven, great, we want him to live. But the horse, that was a hard seed to watch. Obviously, Dunk has a great affinity for his animals, so we felt that it was appropriate to at least address that. And he’s going to an apple farm. What could be better? It’s like horsey heaven.

Peter Claffey in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms

‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ Just Achieved Something ‘House of the Dragon’ Never Has

The new ‘Game of Thrones’ spin-off is a win for the franchise.

I thought there was something really beautiful about seeing Ser Arlan on Sweetfoot, heading off in another direction from Dunk and Egg. It’s far away, but I thought I saw Dunk turn and look in his direction. Did that happen? Was that moment more emotional than you expected, because it made me very emotional?

PARKER: I’m glad. That was the very last thing that I wrote for this show. It wasn’t actually in the original script, and when we were cutting all the things together, our ending didn’t feel quite right. I forget exactly when or how that came up. We were very lucky when we went back to do some of the re-shoots. We very quickly went and grabbed that, and I’m really glad that we did. First of all, Dunk is looking. There is just a little bit of something there. It’s perfect because your response is exactly what I wanted. Is he looking? Is he not? Was that on purpose? Was it not? We’re sending Ser Arlan off on his way. Ser Arlan has done his job and remained present with Dunk even after he died, but now Dunk is setting off to become his own mentor.

Well, thank you for confirming and clarifying.

PARKER: You have an eagle eye. I appreciate you picking that out.

I’ve really enjoyed watching Peter Claffey and Dexter Sol Ansell work together this season. They’re so different, but they also work so well together. They’ve been a fun odd couple/buddy comedy duo. What has most surprised you about watching them together? When there’s no way you could have known if they would work until you saw them together, was there a moment that just gave you a sigh of relief?

PARKER: In the audition, they related to each other very well physically. How do you quantify that? There was just a certain natural familiarity that they always had. They both went out of their way to forge a relationship off-screen as well, hoping that would translate to more ease and more chemistry on screen, and it worked. Those guys off-screen are exactly like the pair that they are on-screen. They needle each other, but in a brotherly way. I don’t think the mentorship is bottom up the way it is in the show. It’s more classic in real life. But there’s still a lot of back and forth, which I really appreciate. They’re just two very delightful people. George [R.R. Martin] knows what he’s doing. Those odd couple pairings he creates are like none other. We’re very happy to have Peter and Dex bringing them to life, but a lot of that comes from the source material.

Did Dunk Ever Really Get Knighted by Ser Arlan in ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’?

“The whole journey is going to be about what makes a true knight.”

Peter Claffey as Dunk and Danny Webb as Ser Arlan ride horses together in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms

There’s a moment in the finale flashback when Dunk reveals that he wasn’t knighted by Ser Arlan. Why did you want to make that clear?

PARKER: It’s fascinating to me that that’s what you got out of that scene. At that moment, Dunk had never been knighted by Ser Arlan. He says, “Why did you never knight me?” And then, Ser Arlan dies, and we think it’s over. But then, he’s back and, as far as we know, the continuation of that scene is, “Boy, go get me my sword,” and then he knights him. There is no conformation, one way or the other, coming out of that scene. That’s exactly how Mr. R.R. Martin requested it. It remains [ambiguous] and people can decide for themselves. Look, Danny Webb is a fucking magician. I love him so much. He’s just become Arlan. It could have been no one else in this whole world. He was just pitch perfect, all the way up until his death. This whole journey is going to be about what makes a true knight, whether or not you’re given the title, or if you have to earn the title even after you’re given it. Can you earn it, even if you’ve never been given it?

It feels like, for someone like Dunk, it’s also very much a confidence issue because even if he really has the title, it’s not something he feels that he deserves or is worthy of.

PARKER: Yep. What person doesn’t feel that way, even deep into their careers and even successfully deep into their careers, that they’re not complete frauds and undeserving of any little morsel of praise or success that they receive. Honestly – spoiler alert, except I guess people know from the original series – even when he is more successful in his career than he is now and at quite high levels, as Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, he’s still feeling that way. He’s still feeling insecure because there’s always new levels of a job. No one ever lets you stay at the same place for your whole life. As soon as you do a good job, they want you to do something that’s out of your comfort zone. And so, you can remain anxious and feeling unworthy for your entire career.

Bertie Carvel as Baelor in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms

‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ Bertie Carvel Reveals Why We Never Saw Baelor’s Trial of Seven Fight

The ‘Game of Thrones’ spin-off star goes deep on that surprise twist at the end of the penultimate episode.

Was there ever a version of The Trial of Seven that showed Maekar attacking Baelor? Did you always want that to be something that you held for the end of the episode?

PARKER: We always knew that because of the nature of the novella that is completely told from Dunk’s POV, that our show would follow that quite closely. We’re almost religiously in Dunk’s POV, breaking only a few times for Egg, but no one else. In that Trial of Seven, we wanted to keep it between Dunk and who he was fighting in that moment. That’s not to say we don’t see other little bits of that fight, but we do through Dunk’s perspective and Dunk’s story. When Aerion says on the ground to him very softly, “I yield, it’s over,” Dunk knows it’s over, but people are still fighting. There are still battles to the death going on and Dunk thinks, “I have to get this information out.”

It’s like those war movies when the war is over, but you still feel even more tense now because, what if somebody you love dies after the war is over and they didn’t have to? He sees these brutal fights going on. You see Maekar turning around with his flail and Baelor is still fighting with him. You see the Fossoways going at it, which is one of my favorite ones, and Dunk says, “I need to get this guy to the fucking front and end this thing right now,” and literally drags him there. So, we were always, no matter what, going to show it through Dunk’s POV. That moment at the end had to come through Dunk again. He’s just been given maybe everything he wants. He finally got through it, and maybe now he’s going to be Baelor’s guy. But as George so often does, it was not exactly meant to be that way.

Why did you decide to change Dunk’s childhood friend, Rafe, into a girl and add a bit of romantic interest to it? Did something about that relationship feel important?

PARKER: Is it 100% confirmed that Rafe was a boy?

No, it wasn’t.

PARKER: More than anything else in Dunk’s life, the fact that he was an orphan with no family probably weighs the heaviest and informs most of his decisions. Just that search for family, that search for a mother and somebody to take care of you, which he never had, is very at the core of what it is to be a lonely kid out there, trying to do better. I think Rafe fills that gap in some ways. Not in all ways. Dunk does this thing where he tries to see the very best in everyone because he really wants that family, even when it’s not quite right. I’m still not completely convinced that Rafe isn’t using him a little bit because he’s big and he’s strong, and he doesn’t seem to be that smart, so she can manipulate him. She’s not a bad person. That’s just what she has to do to get by. Dunk is quite earnest. He wears his emotions at the front. It makes you hope for good things.

Rafe is a very interesting relationship in Dunk’s life. At one point, we were going to have all of his little friends. We were going to have Rafe and Ferret and Pudding all in the mix. Of course, our budget necessities brought that all down to what we could accomplish. It originally started off as City of God in Westeros, and then it got paired down a little bit. Rafe, ultimately, was the most important of all those friendships. When a kid that age says, “I love you,” what does it really mean? What is he really saying? I’m not sure it’s romantic love, even though maybe it feels that way because they’re close in age and they only have each other. What is love? Feeling safe and protected and reassured, and somebody you can trust and rely on. Rafe probably qualifies to check off a bunch of those things, and I think a mother probably does the same. I think it was written in the script somewhere that Dunk looks at her like she’s his mother, sister, best friend and wife, all wrapped into one. He’s heaping a lot of things into that moment.

‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ Showrunner Ira Parker Says That Moment Connecting Dunk and Brienne of Tarth Came Up During Reshoots

“It just seemed perfect.”

Gwendoline Christie as Brienne of Tarth looking to the distrance in Game of Thrones

You also have a subtle moment connecting Dunk and Brienne of Tarth, and I love that you not only did that, but also shot at the same location. How did all of that come about? Was that something you had always wanted to include? Did that come up later?

PARKER: That came up later. That actually came up in our reshoots. That was a scene that we had early on, that came out for budget reasons but then went back in due to cutting too deeply. We were looking for the original, original spot where they did the very first of those walks, but those trees had become a bit of a Belfast landmark and had actually been destroyed a little bit, just by all the tourism. And so, even the original series had to go, in Season 3 or 4 for the Brienne and Pod walk, had to go to a different spot that looked a lot like it and use that because they couldn’t use the original. So, we went to that one. It just seemed perfect. I loved it when I found out that we could get there and do that. That’s exactly the vibe that we were going for. I love that image of the trees touching over the street. There’s something that feels very special to me about Dunk and his great, great, great-granddaughter, whoever it is, walking along the same road. I think Season 1 is a lot about what we pass down to the next generation. We have father to son. We have knight to squire. We have master to apprentice. And so, it felt very within our motifs or themes for the season.

Duncan and Egg cheering in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.

‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ Timeline Explained: Where Dunk and Egg Fit in ‘Game of Thrones’ History

The ‘Game of Thrones’ series is not told chronologically.

We learn that Egg seems to be disobeying a bit again by venturing off with Dunk. How will that affect things for Egg and his family moving forward? Is Dunk ever going to get so fed up with this kid lying to him?

PARKER: We’ve tried a bunch of different versions for Season 2, big and small. It’s not actually even determined yet where we’re going to land on that. It will come back up again. It was initially meant as just a bit of a joke, but then people started telling me afterwards that, “No, it’s a huge cliffhanger, man. You have to go and address this.” And I was just like, “Oh, okay. Yeah. I suppose.” I don’t want it to distract from the main story they were telling in Season 2. That is the only goal. We don’t want to create an alternate timeline. In the book, it felt fair game to me because it’s actually never explicitly drawn that Maekar says, “Okay, my son can go squire for you.” They’re talking about it and Dunk makes a good point, but then Maekar just walks off, and a few moments later, Egg shows up. Maybe Egg was just hiding in the bushes. Maybe Egg followed his father there, and his father was going back to the castle to say, “Let’s fucking get out of here.” And then, Egg is like, “Hey, Ser, I’m allowed to come with you.” It created a little gap there. It was ambiguous enough that we didn’t feel like we were contradicting anything that had been written down. The after effects of this could potentially do that, so we were trying to be very careful.

How many of the Targaryens that we saw this season will crossover to the second season? And really, how much of the cast, in general, will we see again?

PARKER: Every book is a brand-new cast of people. George has a plan for later novellas, where certain people would come back in. We’ll see how it goes. It’s going to be, if any, quite light. There might not be any. We’re exploring. If it feels right, if it feels fun, if it adds something to it while not taking away from everything that we’re trying to do with The Sworn Sword, then it could happen.

Production of ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ Season 2 Is Moving Right Along

“We’re doing some really cool stuff.”

Peter Claffey as Dunk sitting while wearing a poncho and looking right in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms

How are things going with Season 2? Where are you at in the process of it all?

PARKER: We are pretty deep into shooting now. We’re seeing some scenes get cut together. I’m still writing a little bit and still tweaking here and there. But everything is going very well. I love our cast this season. I think we’re doing some really cool stuff, and some very different stuff than we did in Season 1. We’ll see. You never know until it’s out there.

You’ve said that Season 2 would also be six episodes. Has it felt challenging to tell the story with just six episodes that are at 40 minutes or less, or has it felt like a good amount because you really can pack the episodes with a lot of story?

PARKER: It is challenging to tell a drama episode in that amount of time, setting up the stakes, telling a full story, and closing it off. However, I will say it’s fortunate for us that, because we are a single POV show, it’s not like we have to manage multiple storylines in every single episode. This feels like the perfect amount for us. It never felt like we were straining or trying to fill time. We were just having fun. Ultimately, at the end of the day, we actually ended up cutting down a lot of stuff because it didn’t work or we didn’t need it or it slowed things down. I’m very grateful that HBO gave us such a wide breadth to deliver an episode in. The truth is, if an episode had come in at one full hour and it was just a banger, then it would have gone out like that. But between 35 and 40 minutes seems to really be our sweet spot.

George R.R. Martin Confirms ‘The Winds of Winter’ Isn’t His Current Priority

The author’s focus isn’t that surprising.

Do you have plans to go beyond three seasons? Have you discussed that with George R.R. Martin at all, with him still writing and things not being done? Are you worried about the Game of Thrones problem of running out of source material? How do you feel about that?

PARKER: Certainly, I’ve talked to George a lot about this, and he’s given me a bunch of paragraphs and synopses of 10 to 12 more of these – I forget and need to count them up again – to take them all the way through their whole lives, which is very exciting. And there’s a lot of really cool stuff in there. Because we actually already know all the moments that happen, because this is in the past from A Song of Ice and Fire, there’s no danger of big events being done uncanononically. Honestly, we know their fates, or George knows their fates, and we know major events that happen within their lives, we know battles that they fought in, and we know people that came in and out of their world, marriages, and deaths, and all these things. So, we actually have a fair bit to work with. We have, essentially, a finished timeline. But we’ll see. We’ll see how this first season wraps up. If people stick with us into the second season, we’ll go from there. It’s a lot of fun to write these characters.

Everything Showrunner Ira Parker Is Doing in ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ Is Guided by the Stories of George R.R. Martin

“We never change the story.”

Are there changes that you’ve already needed to make to material for the second book to do Season 2? Do you make those changes and then go to George R.R. Martin, or do you have to ask him about that stuff before you write it? How does that work?

PARKER: George gets sent every draft of the script, and he’s only been a benefit to the series. That’s all we want, his input. Every now and then, little things have to change, but we never change the story. The beginning is the beginning, the middle is the middle, and the end is the end. We just fill out the world and fill out the characters, and we try to do it in a way that feels seamless and that feels like he would have done it if he had written them as novels instead of novellas. Sometimes we get it wrong, but for the most part, so far, so good. We’ll see where Season 2 comes out. It’s been a joy writing in this world. Just getting to do the fun scenes and having a strong story laid down in front of you that works, what more could you hope for with a big TV series like this? It’s a story that people love. It’s quite a classic tale that can reach a lot of people. We just get to give a different bit of flavor, a little bit of a different tone, and a little bit of a different side of Westeros. We’ll see if people continue to follow us on this journey or not.

Release Date: Advertisement

January 18, 2026
Network: HBO
Showrunner: Ira Parker
Directors: Advertisement

Owen Harris
Writers: George R. R. Martin, Ira Parker
Advertisement

Peter Claffey
Ser Duncan ‘Dunk’ the Tall
Advertisement

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms airs on HBO and is available to stream on HBO Max.

Source link

Entertainment

Jennifer Lopez Honors Twins Max and Emme on Their 18th Birthdays

Published

12 minutes ago

23 February 2026

NewsAdmin

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.”

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!!!”

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.”

Source link

Entertainment

Janet Jackson’s Glow Steals The Show In New All-White Look

Published

27 minutes ago

23 February 2026

NewsAdmin

Shut It Down! Fans Praise Janet Jackson's Timeless Glow In All-White Look (PHOTOS)

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?

Source link

Entertainment

“Sinners” and director Ryan Coogler make BAFTA Awards history

Published

42 minutes ago

23 February 2026

NewsAdmin

“I didn’t expect that,” Coogler admitted after stepping up the podium to accept his award.

Source link

Entertainment

“The Sopranos ”set had a leak, star Steve Schirripa says: 'Somebody was selling information'

Published

56 minutes ago

23 February 2026

NewsAdmin

The infamously secretive set apparently wasn’t closely guarded enough.

Source link

Entertainment

Katherine Heigl Posts Tribute To ‘Grey’s’ Co-Star Eric Dane

Published

1 hour ago

23 February 2026

NewsAdmin

Patrick Dempsey and Eric Dane pose on red carpet

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.

Article continues below advertisement

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.

Article continues below advertisement

“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.

Article continues below advertisement

“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.

Article continues below advertisement

Patrick Dempsey Previously Shared Insight Into Eric Dane’s Final Days

MEGA

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.

Article continues below advertisement

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.

Article continues below advertisement

Johnny Depp Provided Eric Dane With A Place To Stay In Days Leading Up To His Death

MEGA

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

ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA

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.”

Article continues below advertisement

“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.”

Source link

Entertainment

John Wayne and Henry Fonda’s 83% RT World War II Classic Still Can’t Be Topped

Published

1 hour ago

23 February 2026

NewsAdmin

A soldier on the battlefield looking to the distance in The Longest Day

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.

The History of Hollywood — Introducing the First Collider Movie Quiz!

From the Talkies to ‘Twister,’ test your cinema knowledge with some tough questions about these Hollywood firsts!

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: October 4, 1962
Runtime: 178 minutes
Advertisement
Director: Andrew Marton, Bernhard Wicki, Ken Annakin
Writers: Cornelius Ryan, David Pursall, Jack Seddon, James Jones, Romain Gary

Henry Fonda
Brig. Gen. Theodore Roosevelt Jr.
Advertisement
Lt. Col. Benjamin Vandervoort

Source link

Entertainment

Guess Which Iconic Model This Precious Baby Turned Into!

Published

2 hours ago

23 February 2026

NewsAdmin

Guess Who These Cute Kids Turned Into -- Part 7

Guess Which Iconic Model
This Precious Baby
Turned Into!

Published
February 23, 2026
12:01 AM PST

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.

Can you guess who she is?

Source link

Entertainment

Mike ‘The Situation’ Reacts to Costar Snooki’s Cancer Diagnosis

Published

2 hours ago

23 February 2026

NewsAdmin

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.”

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 😭🙏🏽💕.”

Source link

Entertainment

Project Runway’s Tim Gunn Reveals Why He’s Been Celibate for 43 Years

Published

2 hours ago

23 February 2026

NewsAdmin

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.”

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.

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.”

Source link

Entertainment

Patrick Dempsey Makes 1st Public Appearance After Eric Dane’s Death

Published

2 hours ago

23 February 2026

NewsAdmin

Grey’s Anatomy alum Patrick Dempsey made his first public appearance since the death of his former costar Eric Dane.

Joined by wife, Jillian Dempsey, and the pair’s daughter, Talula, Patrick, 60, looked dapper in a black tuxedo while attending the 2026 BAFTA Awards in London, England, on Sunday, February 22. Jillian, 60, accompanied Patrick and Talula, 24, at a pre-BAFTA party at London’s 5 Hertford Street Club before the actor and his daughter posed for photos on their own on Royal Festival Hall’s red carpet.

The trio then attended a BAFTAs afterparty at The Twenty Two club once the ceremony wrapped, where they posed for further photos together. Dempsey served as a presenter during the awards ceremony.

The public outing comes after Us Weekly confirmed the death of Dempsey’s former on-screen rival, Dane, on Thursday, February 19, via a statement shared by Dane’s family. The Euphoria actor died that day at the age of 53 following a battle with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).

During an appearance on The Chris Evans Breakfast Show one day after Dane’s death, Dempsey, who portrayed Dr. Derek “McDreamy” Shepherd opposite Dane’s Dr. Mark “McSteamy” Sloan on the ABC medical drama, detailed his sadness over the news. “I just woke up this morning and it was very sad to read the news. It’s hard to put into words. I feel really so sad for his children,” Dempsey said during the Virgin Radio U.K. interview. “I was corresponding with him, we were texting, so I spoke to him about a week ago, and some friends of ours went in to see him and he was really starting to lose his ability to speak. He was bedridden and it was very hard for him to swallow, so the quality of his life was deteriorating so rapidly.”

Dempsey went on to reflect fondly on his friend and former colleague. “He was the funniest man — he was such a joy to work with, and I want to just remember him in that spirit, because any time he was on set, he brought so much fun to it,” he detailed. “He had a great sense of humor. He was easy to work with. We got along instantly. First scene was him, you know, in all his glory, coming out of the bathroom with the towel on, looking amazing, making you feel completely out of shape and insignificant.”

Dempsey continued, touching on the characters’ fictional rivalry, “We hit it off because it was never really any competition,” he explained during the appearance. “There was just 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, and the real loss is for us who don’t have them anymore.”

In announcing Dane’s death, his family shared details into his final moments before reflecting on their own memories. “With heavy hearts, we share that Eric Dane passed on Thursday afternoon following a courageous battle with ALS,” the statement to Us read. “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. 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. 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.”

ALS is an incurable disease of the nervous system that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord and gets worse over time. According to Mayo Clinic, “The exact cause of the disease is still not known.”

Source link