Zendaya’s carefully curated “The Odyssey” wardrobe has sparked a much larger debate about who should be allowed to wear (and own) ancient cultural artifacts.

The actress wore earrings made from roughly 3,000-year-old Iranian gold medallions during a London photocall for Christopher Nolan’s upcoming epic. While the jeweler insists the artifacts were mounted without being altered or damaged, critics argue the pieces should be preserved in a museum or returned to Iran rather than worn as celebrity accessories.

Questions surrounding the earrings are further complicated by the Ziwiye hoard itself, a disputed collection whose objects entered the antiquities market without being recovered through a documented archaeological excavation.

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Zendaya, who plays the goddess Athena in Nolan’s adaptation of Homer’s “The Odyssey,” paired the ancient earrings with a flowing white Jacquemus dress selected by her longtime stylist, Law Roach.

According to CNN, the earrings contain gold medallion discs attributed to the first millennium B.C., making them approximately 2,000 to 3,000 years old. The pieces originated in ancient Iran and have been linked to the Ziwiye hoard, a collection of gold, silver, and ivory objects reportedly discovered in the country’s northwestern Kurdistan province during the late 1940s.

London jeweler Glenn Spiro later placed the discs inside an 18-karat yellow gold setting bordered by diamonds. Fine jewelry company Barron London acquired the earrings in 2020 and says they are held in its private collection, not offered for sale.

Barron London Defends The Earrings’ Setting

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Barron London stressed that the original medallions were not pierced, reshaped, or permanently altered when they were converted into earrings. The “ancient gold discs are held within a simple, noninvasive claw setting that does not alter or damage the original objects in any way,” the company told CNN.

The jeweler also welcomed conversations about preservation and the earrings’ history. “Cultural heritage rightly inspires important conversations, and we welcome informed dialogue about provenance, preservation and the appreciation of exceptional craftsmanship,” its statement read.

Barron London suggested that displaying the earrings could draw attention to Iran’s artistic history at a time when the country is frequently discussed through the lens of war and political conflict. “We hope these earrings can serve as a reminder of the country’s enduring artistic, cultural and historical legacy,” the jeweler added.

Critics Say The Artifacts Belong In A Museum

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The company’s explanation did little to satisfy critics who believe artifacts of that age and cultural significance should not be treated as fashion accessories. “This is unethical,” one user declared, as someone else called the move “disgusting.” “As an archaeology student, I hate this,” another social media user wrote. “They should be in a museum.”

Meanwhile, some Iranian critics argued the underlying issue was not whether Zendaya and Roach handled the earrings carefully, but how the artifacts left Iran and entered a private collection in the first place. “This piece is a part of Iran’s history and cultural heritage, and it should not be in the hands of anyone other than Iran and its people,” one commenter wrote.

Zendaya has not publicly responded to the criticism.

The Ziwiye Hoard Has A Complicated History

Although the medallions are attributed to the Ziwiye hoard, that label does not provide a fully documented ownership history.

The collection was reportedly discovered near Ziwiye in 1947, but the objects were not recovered through a controlled archaeological excavation. According to the Penn Museum, pieces quickly entered the antiquities market after the find and were divided, damaged, or melted down.

As reported by Pakistani Art, archaeologist Oscar White Muscarella later challenged whether every item marketed as part of the Ziwiye hoard actually came from the same location. He noted that the pieces passed through dealers rather than being formally documented at the site. That uncertain history is significant because “attributed to Ziwiye” does not necessarily establish when an individual object left Iran, who initially sold it, or whether its removal complied with the laws in effect at the time.

Objects associated with the treasure are now scattered across private holdings and museum collections, including institutions in New York, London, Paris, and Tehran.

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The Timing Intensifies The Backlash

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The controversy has also been heightened by the renewed war involving the United States and Iran. More than 3,000 people were reported killed in Iran during the earlier phase of the conflict, according to figures cited by Reuters. Fighting has since resumed, making the appearance of ancient Iranian artifacts on a Hollywood press tour feel especially insensitive to some observers.

“While they’re bombing Iran, mind you,” one TikTok user wrote. Still, there is no indication that Zendaya selected the earrings to make a statement about Iran or knew the full debate surrounding the Ziwiye hoard’s provenance.

By now, you’ve probably seen Anya Taylor-Joy in the trailer for Lucky, a new crime thriller miniseries that premiered on Apple TV this week. She plays the titular hero Lucky Armstrong in the story of a heist gone wrong, and the manhunt that follows. The show is based on a novel by Marissa Stapley, but beyond that, it is rooted in a dark real-life story that is close to Stapley’s heart. In an interview with PEOPLE ahead of the premiere, Stapley revealed that her own family suffered a major financial scam when she was a child, and it shapes her worldview to this day. That was a major inspiration for Stapley to write her book, and it comes through in the TV adaptation as well.

Stapley’s novel Lucky was published in 2021, telling the story of a young con artist pursued by both the FBI and organized crime bosses after a botched scam. Her book was a hit, thanks in part to Reese Witherspoon‘s book club, which also led to the screen adaptation. Witherspoon is one of the producers of the series, though Jonathan Tropper and Cassie Pappas are the showrunners. For all of these creators, the guiding star is Stapley’s real-life experience from childhood.

Stapley Lived The ‘Lucky’ Story

Image via Apple TV

The Stapley family’s experience of financial scamming is different from Stapley’s book, not least of all because they lived it from the victim’s side. According to the author, when she was 10 years old her mother was fooled by a couple posing as investors. She ended up trusting them with her entire life’s savings, with no way to seek repayment after they disappeared.

This was a major reason why Stapley became interested in writing a con artist story. She said that she did a lot of research into financial scams, and not just the particular methods — she also researched the psychology of the people who go down this road to make a living. She hoped to better understand the people who took advantage of her mother, and to ultimately reach a place where she could forgive them from a far. She said that her mother was always able to keep the experience in perspective and see the good in the world, in spite of what happened to her.

“I believe most people are redeemable,” Stapley said. “That’s a fact. I think that when you look at someone like Lucky, you realize everybody has a story. And my mom was like that. She was so forgiving.” Stapley’s mother was able to read her book before she passed away from cancer. The author said she is pleased to see the moral complexity of her book translating into this adaptation.

“This show is, in some ways, about what causes people to do the things they do, but also there’s always a way out,” Stapley told PEOPLE. “There’s always a way out, and I think that’s important.” The author later added that she believes Lucky’s biggest obstacle is shame, and she believes that’s true for most people. “I think we should find our better angels and find the best hearts of ourselves,” she said.

‘Lucky’ Will Be On The Run All Summer

Image via Apple TV

Lucky premiered on Wednesday on Apple TV with two episodes. There are five more to go airing every Wednesday through August 19, meaning we’ll be watching Lucky’s progress for the rest of the summer. However, some critics have seen the entire series already, setting the show’s scores early. It has an 81% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with an average score of 6.9 out of 10. Critics generally felt the show was fun and action-packed, but didn’t feel it delivered on all of its promises in the end.

In addition to Taylor-Joy, Lucky stars Annette Bening, Timoth Olyphant, Clifton Collins Jr., and Aujanue Ellis-Taylor. Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine production company worked with Apple Studios, Tropper Ink, LadyKiller, and J.V.T. Films to bring this story to life, with Taylor-Joy and Stapley serving as producers as well. The show was filmed in Las Vegas and Los Angeles last year.

Lucky faces stiff competition this summer, as the TV lineup is stacked. Apple TV just kicked off Silo Season 3, and Sugar still has four more episodes to air as well. There’s also the new miniseries adaptation of Cape Fear, and Season 5 of Trying, both of which are ongoing week-to-week. It’s a great time for new or lapsed viewers to give Apple TV a try, but it’s a lot to keep up with. Meanwhile, other streamers have some big titles airing right now, and more are on the way.

If Lucky can snag some big ratings in a summer like this, it would be a heist for the ages. The series premiere is streaming now, with new episodes airing on Wednesdays on Apple TV. Stapley’s novel is available now in print, digital, and audiobook formats.

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Release Date

July 15, 2026

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Apple TV

Showrunner

Jonathan Tropper, Cassie Pappas, Jonathan van Tulleken

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Directors

Jet Wilkinson, Jonathan van Tulleken

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Writers

Jonathan Tropper, Cassie Pappas, Mark Stasenko, Marissa Stapley

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Some actors can dominate a movie with volume. Viola Davis can do it with a stare that looks like it has already survived the whole argument. She’s a class act. She has the kind of presence that towers above most other actors, even the really good ones. Her best films hit differently.

She never feels like she is chasing the big acting moment. The emotion usually arrives from pressure that has been sitting in the body too long. These five movies show the full force of that. Let’s get into it.

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‘Prisoners’ (2013)

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

Prisoners is already a brutal movie before Nancy Birch (Viola Davis) fully understands what has happened. Two little girls vanish on Thanksgiving, and Denis Villeneuve turns the search into a nightmare about grief, faith, rage, and how fast ordinary parents can become strangers to themselves. Keller Dover (Hugh Jackman) takes the loudest path into violence, while Franklin Birch (Terrence Howard) is crushed by the moral horror of what Keller starts doing. Davis sits in the most painful middle as Nancy, a mother who wants her daughter back and knows the cost of letting desperation decide everything.

The scene where Nancy realizes Alex Jones (Paul Dano) is being held and tortured is sickening. She is horrified, but she also cannot fully reject the tiny chance that this cruelty might lead to Joy Birch (Kyla-Drew). That is the awful truth Prisoners keeps digging into. Love can become monstrous when fear has no exit. Davis has limited screen time compared to the leads, yet Nancy’s face stays with you because she shows the part of grief that cannot scream anymore. It just sits there, bargaining with God and shame.

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‘Widows’ (2018)

Image via 20th Century Studios

Widows opens with Veronica Rawlings (Viola Davis) losing her husband Harry Rawlings (Liam Neeson) and discovering that his criminal life has left her with a debt dangerous men expect her to pay. The movie takes a heist setup and fills it with politics, race, marriage, money, police violence, grief, and the ugly math of survival. Veronica’s life has been built partly on comfort, partly on denial, and suddenly every lie around her starts charging interest.

She mourns Harry, hates him, misses him, and slowly accepts that his death has left her no clean version of the truth. The heist crew forms because these women have been boxed in by men who either used them, ignored them, or underestimated them. Veronica’s power comes from how practical she becomes after the shock. No glamour, no cute empowerment speech, no easy healing. Just a woman standing in the wreckage and deciding she will not be buried inside it.

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‘The Woman King’ (2022)

Image via Sony Pictures Releasing

The Woman King gives Davis the kind of role Hollywood spent decades pretending women like her could not headline. General Nanisca (Viola Davis) leads the Agojie, the all-female warrior unit of Dahomey, and the film builds its action around discipline, sisterhood, trauma, politics, and the fight against enemies outside and inside the kingdom’s future. This could have been hollow warrior-pageant material. It has too much pain in its bones for that.

Nanisca is fierce but that fierceness doesn’t have one mood. Davis shows command in Nanisca, guilt, tenderness, fury, and the exhaustion of someone who has had to become almost untouchable to survive. Her bond with Nawi (Thuso Mbedu) brings the story its deepest wound, especially as Nanisca’s past starts crashing into the woman she has trained herself to be. The action lands because the bodies matter. The rituals matter. The scars matter. Davis makes Nanisca feel like history, myth, and personal trauma all fighting inside one person. When she stands before her warriors, the movie understands exactly what kind of star it has.

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‘Doubt’ (2008)

Image via Miramax

This film centers on a Catholic school in 1960s New York, where Sister Aloysius Beauvier (Meryl Streep) suspects Father Flynn (Philip Seymour Hoffman) of abusing Donald Miller (Joseph Foster), the school’s first Black student. Then Mrs. Miller (Viola Davis) arrives, and the whole moral shape of the movie gets harder. She is Donald’s mother, and she has been forced to think about survival in a way Sister Aloysius has not. Doubt gives Davis only one major scene, and it is still one of the clearest proofs of her greatness.

Davis turns that conversation into a full life. Mrs. Miller knows her son is vulnerable. She knows the school may be his best chance. She knows her husband is violent toward him. She also understands that the world is already cruel to a Black boy who may be different. Her choices sound unbearable because they are made inside an unbearable reality. The tears come, but the thinking never stops. That is what destroys you. Mrs. Miller is not confused. She is trapped, and Davis lets every sentence carry the weight of a mother choosing the least damaging path she can see.

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‘Fences’ (2016)

Image via Paramount Pictures

Fences belongs to August Wilson’s language, to the rhythm of a backyard in 1950s Pittsburgh, and to the long shadow Troy Maxson (Denzel Washington) casts over everyone near him. Troy talks, jokes, rages, seduces, lies, and fills space like a man determined to be the center of every room. Rose Maxson (Viola Davis) has spent years loving him, feeding the family, raising Cory Maxson (Jovan Adepo), caring for the home, and making peace with pieces of herself she had to put aside.

Then Troy tells her about Alberta, the affair, and the baby. Davis tears through that moment with the force of someone finally naming what the marriage has cost her. Her “I been standing with you” hits hard because Rose is finally refusing to swallow her pain politely. The performance has love in it, real love, which makes the betrayal worse. Rose’s later decision to raise Raynell Maxson (Saniyya Sidney) is not a weakness. It is her own moral line, separate from Troy’s damage. Davis turns Fences into a record of what women give, what men take for granted, and what dignity looks like after the shouting stops.

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Fences

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Release Date

December 25, 2016

Runtime

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139 Minutes

Writers

August Wilson

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Bunnie Xo is getting settled into her lavish new pad on the heels of her divorce from country singer Jelly Roll.

“Matt seeing the new house for the first time,” Bunnie, 46, wrote via Instagram on Friday, July 17, sharing footage of her pal checking out her new digs.

As Bunnie walked Matt through each room, he was admittedly shell-shocked by the sheer size of everything.

“What is this?” he gushed, entering Bunnie’s new closet and “makeup room,” which featured wall-to-wall gray shelving units.

Related: Jelly Roll and Bunnie Xo Finalize Divorce 1 Month After Confirming Split

Jelly Roll and Bunnie Xo have legally ended their marriage. According to court docs obtained by TMZ on Friday, July 17, the exes privately finalized their divorce earlier this month. The exact details are confidential, but the outlet claims the pair are splitting several items, including an aircraft, cars, homes and their intellectual properties. The […]

Walking down another hallway, Matt joked the space was “f***ing spooky” yet seemed incredibly “nice.” He further marveled at an outdoor shower, a shoe closet, a “wellness center” that can accommodate 15 guests and a backyard pool.

“This is the craziest s***t I’ve seen in my life,” he quipped to Bunnie. “I feel poor. I am broke. I want a new house.”

Several hours prior, news broke that Bunnie and Jelly Roll, 41, privately settled their divorce earlier this month. The now-exes reportedly agreed to split several luxury items, including an aircraft, cars, homes and intellectual properties. Jelly Roll also allegedly is set to pay Bunnie an undisclosed one-time lump sum payment.

The Grammy winner and Bunnie announced in June that they separated after a decade of marriage — one month after Jelly Roll filed for divorce. Despite the breakup, Jelly Roll and Bunnie continually asserted that they plan to remain cordial.

“Me and my wife are best friends. We will always be best friends. We just got off the phone earlier today,” Jelly Roll said during a concert last month. “Nobody cheated on nobody. She just did a whole podcast about it. You can go watch it. Every word of it is the truth. That will be my best friend forever. This is the only time I will ever speak about it.”

That same day, Bunnie released a bombshell episode of her “Dumb Blonde” podcast to tell her side of the breakup. She repeated Jelly Roll’s statement about their amicable dynamics and revealed they still plan to go through IVF to have a baby together. (Jelly Roll is already a father of two from previous relationships.)

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Related: Bunnie Xo Breaks Silence on Jelly Roll Divorce, Reveals Reason for Split

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Bunnie Xo has broken her silence after her estranged husband, Jelly Roll, filed for divorce after nearly 10 years of marriage. Opening up on the Thursday, June 18, episode of her “Dumb Blonde” podcast, Bunnie, 46, detailed the argument that led to her and Jelly Roll, 41, calling it quits. “J and I have never […]

Bunnie eventually pulled her podcast episode from streaming platforms the next week.

“I took it down because I realized I just don’t want one of the hardest moments of my life to become a permanent headline,” she said on the July 10 episode of her podcast. “ don’t want to live in that but I also believe that people deserve the space to heal, to evolve and to move forward. But also, if I’m being real, I don’t want the divorce to become my entire personality. I don’t want to be the poster child for divorce.”

She continued, “That episode served a purpose for me at that time, and it was real, it was honest, and it came from exactly where I was emotionally in that moment. But I’m not in that same place anymore.”

The first time you watch The Black Phone, you feel like it’s a self-contained universe set in a quiet Denver neighborhood in 1978. It features a masked kidnapper and a scared boy locked in a basement with a phone that shouldn’t work but somehow does. The movie keeps its focus narrow: Finney (Mason Thomas) is trapped while his psychic sister, Gwen (Madeleine McGraw), searches desperately for him. The ghosts of other victims speak impossibly through the phone’s receiver, each one offering a small piece of advice that might help the next kid survive.

The film concludes with that story feeling complete—the Grabber(Ethan Hawke) is gone, Finney walks back into the daylight, and Gwen’s strange dreams finally make sense. But a few years later, director Scott Derrickson subtly expanded that world. Not through a sequel or a post-credit tease. Instead, the connection shows up in a segment of the horror anthology V/H/S/85. Once you notice it, the universe around The Black Phone suddenly extends far beyond that one basement.

Gwen’s Dreams Always Felt Like Something Larger

Image via Blumhouse

Part of what makes The Black Phone live rent-free in the back of your mind is how Gwen’s visions behave. She dreams of things she shouldn’t know: houses she’s never seen, balloons drifting through empty streets, and even a patch of dirt that feels wrong the moment she looks at it.

But those dreams help guide the police to the graves of The Grabber’s victims. They also bring Gwen closer to the truth about where her brother is being held, providing vital clues needed in the mystery. The film allows her abilities to unfold in the background without turning into a lecture on psychic powers or falling into sci-fi action territory. Her father, Terence’s (Jeremy Davies), reaction adds an emotional layer to the story.

He remembers what happened to his wife. She had the same visions, and eventually they overwhelmed her life. This turned him into a grieving, alcoholic, and physically abusive father, suffering from PTSD after witnessing the trauma of his late wife. Every time Gwen talks about another dream, Dad senses the same danger creeping back into the family, and it just feels completely unsettling.

“Dreamkill” Brings the Same Power Back Years Later

Image via Universal Pictures

In the anthology V/H/S/85, Derrickson’s segment “Dreamkill” follows Detective Wayne Johnson (Freddy Rodríguez). He’s investigating a series of brutal murders that seem strangely familiar because he has already seen them happen on mysterious videotapes sent to him in advance. And the tapes keep getting delivered to him.

The footage is taken from a killer’s point of view and gets traced back to Goth teenage Gunther (Dashiell Derrickson), who dreams of the murders, and they somehow end up on a VHS tape. His father, Bobby (James Ransone), explains that psychic powers run in the family, including a cousin who had once dreamed about her kidnapped brother.

Detective Wayne spends most of the story chasing down whoever keeps mailing him the tapes. That trail eventually leads him to Gunther, who swears he has nothing to do with the killings, only dreaming about them. He can’t even explain how the scenes end up on the VHS tapes. As Wayne gets closer to the truth, things quickly spiral out of control as the source of the dreams is revealed, ending in tragedy.

A Family Connection Hiding in Plain Sight

Image via Shudder

Gunther’s father describes a pattern of psychic visions that extends through several relatives. Some family members have learned to live with their dreams, while others struggle under their weight. One woman in the family eventually lost her life after being overwhelmed by the visions. Then he casually mentions the two relatives who once had to use dreams to rescue one of them, a kidnapping victim.

The details pass quickly, but the meaning remains clear to anyone who remembers The Black Phone. The niece and nephew Bobby mentions are Gwen and Finney, and Gunther is their cousin. The strange dreams that led Gwen toward her brother come from the same bloodline.

Suddenly, the story in Denver looks substantially different and is taking up a broader scope. Gwen’s ability was never a random gift that appeared when the plot needed help. It belongs to a family that has been dealing with the same visions for years, making the world feel so much bigger.

The V/H/S World Makes the Crossover Feel Natural

The V/H/S franchise already thrives on chaotic supernatural storytelling. Each film collects strange recordings and presents them in an anthology format. Each tape reveals a different nightmare lurking somewhere in the world. Some stories involve cults and demons, while others explore aliens, monsters, or strange experiments.

Fans often describe the franchise as a vast horror sandbox where almost every nightmare you can imagine appears in one of those tapes. The format allows filmmakers to explore any corner of the genre they want without worrying too much about connecting everything cohesively. Try to think of the Amicus anthologies from the 1970s, but hopped up on acid. That loose framework provides Derrickson with an ideal setting to develop the mythology of The Black Phone.

The psychic dreams that once guided Gwen now exist in a world already filled with supernatural chaos. It subtly alters the story’s importance. Finney’s escape still matters, and The Grabber remains a terrifying figure in that neighborhood. However, the strange ability that helped save him now connects to a much broader and darker family history. Somewhere out there, another kid is already dreaming up the next nightmare before it even occurs.

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Release Date

June 16, 2022

Runtime

103 minutes

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Director

Scott Derrickson

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Writers

Scott Derrickson, C. Robert Cargill

Producers

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Jason Blum, C. Robert Cargill, Scott Derrickson

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The Ultimatum is centered around established couples fighting for their relationships — but is everyone still together or have some broken up?

Netflix’s hit series follows real-life couples who enter “trial” marriages with a new partner before deciding whether they’re ready to get engaged to their original connection. After finding success, The Ultimatum returned for season 4 in July 2026 with plenty of drama, surprise exits and potential splits.

Hosts Nick and Vanessa Lachey previously teased how The Ultimatum compares to other reality success stories including Love Is Blind.

“It’s gonna sound weird,” Nick told USA Today in 2022. “But the stakes almost feel a little higher in Ultimatum because these are people who have been together for a period of time.”

Related: ‘The Ultimatum’ Season 1 Cast: Where Are They Now?

The first season of The Ultimatum made waves when it premiered, but did the bold premise work for any of the couples? The Netflix show followed eight duos on the brink of an engagement. After an Ultimatum is issued by one person in the relationship, they began a trial marriage with one of their costars, […]

He continued: “The emotional anxiety in the room was palpable, like you could feel it, it was an emotional roller coaster. And we were on it.”

Vanessa, meanwhile, recalled how she and Nick were a lot “more vulnerable” with this cast.

“We were more open with them,” she said. “There were multiple dinners where we sat down and had a glass of wine with them and were just talking about the process and what we’ve experienced in our lives.”

Scroll down to find out whether your favorite The Ultimatum couple is still together:

Edris Khalieque and Jessica Grace Booker

The couple got engaged early on in the experiment after Edris got jealous of Jessica Grace exploring new connections.

Killian Grondin and Ashley Wilson

Despite getting into multiple heated fights on the show, Killian and Ashley are currently still together on the show.

Luke Wesselhoff and Monica Payne

The pair were involved in trial marriages — but still found their way back to each other.

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Related: ‘The Ultimatum’ Season 2 Cast: Where Are They Now?

Season 2 of The Ultimatum: Marry or Move On had its fair share of drama — until the end. Thank You! You have successfully subscribed. Subscribe to newsletters Enter your email Please enter a valid email. Subscribe By signing up, I agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy and to receive emails from Us Weekly […]

David Atkinson and Casey Douglass

After being paired off with other people, David and Casey appeared to remain together on screen.

Blake Robertson and Hayley Hendrich

While the duo are often at odds, they have remained by each other’s side so far.

Alex Johnsen and Jebin John

The pair became the first in franchise history to be kicked off the show after Jebin passed a secret letter, which broke rules against off camera communication.

The last few years have been rather hit or miss for Jason Statham, who has headlined a couple of solid hits, but has also starred in high-profile misfires. His latest movie, Shelter, underperformed at the box office earlier this year, but appears to have redeemed itself on the PVOD market. Statham’s previous two movies — The Beekeeper and A Working Man, both directed by David Ayer — were hits, grossing $160 million and nearly $100 million worldwide, respectively. Before that, he starred in the sci-fi action sequel Meg 2: The Trench, which grossed almost $400 million worldwide. But Statham’s other franchise offering tanked miserably; what made its underperformance even more disappointing for the action star was that the movie was constructed around his character.

It was released theatrically in 2024, the fourth installment of a long-running action franchise that began in 2010 with Sylvester Stallone at its center. Stallone and Statham both returned for two subsequent sequels, but with Stallone reaching an age where intense action was becoming difficult for him to perform, it was decided that the franchise should be handed over to Statham. The experiment didn’t pay off, with the movie in question grossing only $51 million worldwide against a reported budget of $100 million. The action sequel is currently streaming on Paramount+ in the United States, but it’ll be removed from the platform soon.

Here’s How Long You Have Left to Watch Jason Statham’s Soft Reboot

We’re talking, of course, about Expen4bles. The movie was released nearly a decade after the third film, which was infamously leaked online ahead of its release. Despite that, however, The Expendables 3 grossed more than $200 million worldwide. Expend4bles was directed by Scott Waugh, and it features an ensemble cast that includes Megan Fox, Tony Jaa, Iko Uwais, 50 Cent, and others. The movie received poor reviews, and now holds a 14% score on the aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes. The site’s consensus reads, “Solid work from Jason Statham and some halfway decent set pieces aren’t enough to make up for Expend4bles‘ lackluster action and cheap-looking effects.” You can watch the movie on Paramount+ until August 1. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.

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Release Date

September 15, 2023

Runtime

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103 minutes

Writers

Max Adams, Kurt Wimmer, Spenser Cohen, Tad Daggerhart

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Producers

Jason Statham, Jeffrey Greenstein, Jonathan Yunger, Kevin King Templeton, Les Weldon, Yariv Lerner

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Whew, Roomies! Things are getting messy on and off the campus at Streamer University. Queen Naija’s ex, Chris Sails, entered the chat as folks continued talking about Clarence’s visit to DreamDoll’s dorm during the streaming event. Now, Chris is sliding in with a message for Dream, weighing in on all of the college chaos.

RELATED: Whew! Queen Naija Reacts After Fans Peep Clarence In DreamDoll’s Dorm At Streamer University (VIDEOS)

Chris Sails Enters The Chat With A Message For DreamDoll

Okay, so BOOM! Chris Sails recently hopped on social media with a message for DreamDoll before weighing in on Clarence pulling up to her dorm while attending Streamer University with Queen Naija. Chris told Dream it was cool if Clarence couldn’t be in her room, but joked that he could come through since he’s single. From there, he kept shooting his shot at Dream, telling her he’s been following her on social media for a minute and hopes she sees his message.

“But back to you, DreamDoll, like what’s up like. You know I couldn’t make it, so twin had to take my spot. You ain’t even follow me back, I know you gonna see this,” he continued. “You know what’s up, I’m single, you know what I’m saying, baby.”

After that, Chris cracked jokes about Clarence, saying he looked way too comfortable kicking it in Dream’s dorm. “Aye, nah. Bro was in there mad comfortable. Twin was in there mad comfortable […] pulled his seat up.” Chris added, “Bro, chill. But chat leave my n***a alone.” He also admitted he wished Kai Cenat had invited him to Streamer University and claimed he would’ve taken over the whole campus if he got accepted. “I would’ve took over. I would’ve been the main character on my granny.” 

Now, Why Is Everyone Talking About Clarence Being In DreamDoll’s Dorm?

If you’ve been out of the loop, Roomies, let us put you on game. The internet started popping OFF after fans peeped Clarence kicking it in DreamDoll’s dorm during Streamer University. Folks wasted no time running back to Queen Naija with the tea, and she ended up confronting Clarence about what went down. Clarence assured her that nothing serious had happened in Dream and Jordyn Lucas’ dorm and explained that he had only stopped by to grab a drink.

Queen later admitted that the situation got under her skin because folks in her livestream chat kept blowing her up about Clarence’s whereabouts. At first, she thought people were making it up just to stir the pot. More videos later surfaced showing Queen and Clarence talking things through. Clarence argued that he feels like people are holding him to a different standard, saying Queen could make connections at Streamer University, but everyone had a problem when he did the same.

Queen Chops It Up With Dream After Clarence’s Viral Visit

After speaking with Clarence, Queen cleared the air with DreamDoll during Bible Study. Queen made it clear that she had no beef with Dream and explained that the comments in her livestream chat fueled her reaction. Dream admitted she initially felt like Queen was “clip farming,” but Queen doubled down and said she never had any bad intentions — she really reacted because of the things people kept telling her.

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Editor’s note: The below contains spoilers for Netflix’s Little House on the Prairie.

Despite all the comments made about “reimagining” the material, Netflix’s Little House on the Prairie has been surprisingly good. While there are some things that die-hard fans of the original series (and lovers of Laura Ingalls Wilder‘s novels) may not adore about the new reboot, there’s one element that we simply cannot get enough of. Mr. Edwards has always played a big part in the Ingalls’ journey out west, and the new streaming reboot honors that role by elevating the character, played in this iteration by Warren Christie, to new heights.

Netflix’s ‘Little House’ Offers a Different Perspective on Mr. Edwards

In the original Little House books, Mr. Edwards was always described as a stalwart friend to the Ingalls and a genuine blessing. However, on television, he has generally been portrayed as a man with demons. The books don’t get much into it, but both series adaptations depict him as a lonely widower grieving the loss of his family, which is why he lives alone in the Midwestern hills. In the original series, this comes in the form of Victor French‘s Isaiah Edwards, who reveals that his wife and daughter died of smallpox before the events of the series, turning him into a recluse. The Netflix reboot takes the whole thing a step further by connecting the loss of Edwards’ family to his service in the American Civil War, as they died from cholera while he was away. It’s with this tragic revelation that Christie can elevate the character (named John Edwards here), using his tragic past as a historical anchor that reminds the viewer of what many lost in the War Between the States.

Edwards’ tortured exterior and haunting past stick with him even as he finds joy, fulfillment, and friendship with the Ingalls. His history on the battlefield reveals that he’s not a man to be trifled with, nor is he willing to back down from a fight he knows he can win. However, unlike French’s take, Christie’s Edwards cannot function without taking regular sips of whiskey from a flask. He doesn’t drink simply due to grief (as was the case at times with Isaiah Edwards), but as a coping mechanism to deal with the physical symptoms generated from his personal tragedy. In short, he uses drinking as a mask for his undiagnosed PTSD rather than as an antidote for sorrow. This puts him at stark odds with Caroline (Crosby Fitzgerald), not because of basic religious virtue or appearances, but because of the risk he may inadvertently pose to Charles (Luke Bracey) and her daughters. Even more tragic is that the new Little House on the Prairie reveals that John Edwards didn’t just have a wife and child, but two daughters, with one named Laura. Naturally, this contributes to his deep kinship with young Laura Ingalls (Alice Halsey), even as it complicates his struggle to protect her.

In many respects, Christie’s Edwards is quite different from what we recall from French’s portrayal, though perhaps it’s more in step with Wilder’s initial description in the novel. In Little House on the Prairie, Wilder describes Edwards — who may have been a composite character based on the historical Edmund Mason and a Mr. Brown, who each lived in Independence around the same time — as “lean and tall and brown.” That certainly better describes Warren Christie than Victor French. But it’s not just the cosmetic differences that matter here. Unlike French’s Edwards, Christie’s interpretation is of a younger man who has allowed himself to be hardened by life, actively willing to alienate those around him. It’s only by allowing himself the grace of familial ties in the form of Charles and his daughters that Edwards finds life worth living again.

Mr. Edwards Is Vital to Both Versions of ‘Little House on the Prairie’

In the original Little House, Isaiah Edwards was known for his cheerful disposition and willingness to put his own sadness aside for the benefit of others. Sure, he dealt with more personal tragedy than most, but he always stuck by Charles (Michael Landon) and Laura (Melissa Gilbert) no matter what. Yes, sometimes Charles had to beat some sense into him, but whenever he got over his own fears and failures, he was right back beside the Ingalls where he belonged. But that’s where Netflix’s reimagining makes Edwards a bit more interesting. Christie’s John Edwards wrestles with similar notions, but more often believes it’s easier to abandon the Ingalls and watch from afar rather than fight to remain in their lives. It’s a chilling addition to his character that makes Edwards not only a more tragic figure, but perhaps more heroic as well when he finally steps up and returns to save Mary (Skywalker Hughes) and Laura from a few vagabonds in the second episode.

No doubt, Victor French is probably the first person to come to mind when you imagine “Mr. Edwards,” but Warren Christie’s performance has proven itself quite worthy of the association. As Edwards continues to find his place with the Ingalls family, recovering from his trauma from the war and grief over the loss of his family, the “wildcat from Tennessee” has firmly wormed his way into our hearts. However Little House on the Prairie continues into its highly-anticipated second season, we know that Mr. Edwards won’t be far behind the Ingalls on their next journey.

Jania Meshell has shown off her growing baby bump just days after announcing that she’s expecting her third child.

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Jania Meshell Shows Off Her Growing Baby Bump

During the early hours of Saturday, July 18, Jania Meshell took to her Instagram Story to share a photo of herself with her more than 3.3 million followers. Furthermore, the initial photo showed her standing in front of a bathroom mirror as she posed, showing off her full body, wearing a pink bra and shorts set. Furthermore, in a follow-up post, Meshell showed off her side profile as she rubbed her baby bump.

Social Media Reacts

Social media users reacted to the footage of Jania Meshell’s baby bump in TSR Teens’ comment section.

More On Jania Meshell’s Recent Baby Announcement

As The Shade Room previously reported, in April, Jania Meshell took to the internet to respond to a user who speculated that she was pregnant. At the time, a photo of her had surfaced, reportedly from a family funeral.

Then, earlier this week, Meshell seemingly let the cat out of the bag — not only revealing that she and Dejounte Murray are expecting their second child together. (She shares her eldest child with NBA YoungBoy.) But also revealing that they’re expecting a baby boy.

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