Whew, roommates! After years of back-and-forth accusations, emotional interviews, courtroom battles, and plenty of headlines, it looks like a major chapter has officially come to a close for Drew Sidora and Ralph Pittman. The former couple’s split has played out both on-screen and in the public eye, with fans closely following every twist and turn since their marriage unraveled. New legal documents reveal that a judge has reportedly issued a final decision that could put an end to one of the most talked-about divorces in recent ‘Real Housewives of Atlanta’ history.

RELATED: Drew Sidora Reveals The Ex-Boyfriend She’d Pick Up The Phone For & Michael B. Jordan’s Name Is In The Mix (VIDEO) 

Chile, The Judge Finally Made It Official

According to court documents obtained by TMZ, Drew Sidora and Ralph Pittman’s divorce was officially finalized on June 8 after more than three years of legal proceedings. As part of the final judgment, Drew was ordered to pay Ralph $2,218 per month in child support for their two children after the court determined that her monthly income exceeded his. The ruling also addressed the division of the couple’s assets, including their Atlanta home, which was awarded to Ralph. However, he must pay Drew approximately $145,000 for her share of the property’s equity. The judgment further outlines how the former couple’s vehicles and personal property will be divided, confirms that neither party will receive spousal support, and restores Drew’s legal last name to Jordan.

Roomies Debate Who Really Came Out Ahead

Meanwhile, roommates wasted no time flooding The Shade Room’s comment section with reactions to the ruling. Some men celebrated the outcome, claiming the decision proved that city boys are up. However, others questioned how Ralph could be considered ahead when, as they put it, he’s still “living in the basement.” A few commenters, however, argued that Drew may have come out on top in the long run.

One Instagram user @lilduval claimed, “City boys we up baby!“

This Instagram user @themormonwivesreport shared, “Idk but to me Drew kind of won…!“

And, Instagram user @pinky_the_ceo added, “2k is nothing 🤣 you’re now single but he’s now a single father 😂”

Meanwhile, Instagram user @shannyn.kregg shared, “I want to know the truth on why he has full custody.“

While Instagram user @_dannibaby_ said, “He’s has primary custody that’s why. But it’s crazy cause he makes more 🤦🏽‍♀️.”

Then, Instagram user @prettyk1206 commented, “I would do prison before I pay a 🥷 a dime. Lock me tf up! 😒”

And, Instagram user @onemilindasmith wrote, “Ralph is 🗣️such a BUM! — a gaslighting BUM!!“

Lastly, Instagram user @d.braids_studio said, “wtf and he still in the basement smh“

Drew Sidora Moves Forward, But Is Michael B. Jordan In The Picture?

The divorce ruling comes as Drew appears focused on turning the page and embracing a new chapter. Earlier this year, after reports surfaced that she had been ordered to vacate the Georgia home she once shared with Ralph, the ‘RHOA’ star addressed the situation by emphasizing her commitment to co-parenting and doing what’s best for their children. She also made it clear that her focus remains on moving forward with grace and showing up as the best mother possible.

As previously reported, Drew has sparked conversation about her romantic future. Furthermore, Drew recently revealed on the ‘Reality Nightcap’ podcast that there is one ex she wouldn’t mind hearing from again. While she stopped short of naming names, she hinted that fans could connect the dots by revisiting an old photo from the NAACP Awards and joked, “Do some Googling.” Many listeners quickly speculated she was referring to actor Michael B. Jordan.

RELATED: Drew Sidora Speaks Out Amid Reports Of Being Ordered To Vacate Shared Home With Ralph Pittman (UPDATE)

After her dramatic 2026 U.S. Women’s Open victory on Sunday, June 7, Nelly Korda received the kind of support that dreams are made of. 

Hilary Duff commented on Korda’s Instagram post celebrating the golfer’s win with three champagne bottle emojis. 

“Growing up, I adored her,” Korda, 27 exclusively told Us Weekly on Tuesday, June 9, of her reaction to learning Duff, 38, is a fan. “I still adore her. But growing up, obviously we had no social media, no computers, my mom would bring home those teen magazines. I would cut out her photos and have a scrapbook. Sounds really creepy, but I love her. I had a scrapbook full of Hilary Duff.”

Not only that, Korda said, “She followed me, too.”

Korda clinched the 2026 U.S. Women’s Open with a putt on the 18th green at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, California, her first U.S. Women’s Open and second-consecutive major overall after winning the Chevron Championship in April. 

The Bradenton, Florida native has become the face of the LPGA Tour, meaning Duff isn’t the only celebrity to take notice of her dominance. 

LeBron James, an avid golfer himself, commented on Korda’s championship post, “Congrats!!!! 🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾.”

“It’s quite amazing to see how much he is not just supporting me, but all of the LPGA,” Korda said of James, 41. “He’s broadcasting a bunch of it on his own channels and that makes a really big difference. When athletes like him come together and support other athletes, it really does raise the bar and it brings in new fans. It’s extremely cool to see what a nut he is now about the game of golf.”

She added, “LeBron actually posting about us and really engaging with the Tour has brought in much more interest. It’s a great talking point.”

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As for her own celebration after the big Sunday win, Korda admitted she was “actually in bed by 10 p.m.”

“My friends would actually be super disappointed in me,” she said with a laugh. “They were really excited to see that I chugged out of a champagne bottle because I actually don’t drink at all. I did media for like two hours after. By the last interview, I couldn’t even put sentences together. I was so tired.”

Korda added, “After I was done, my whole family and friends were waiting for me and the staff at Riviera brought out some sushi for us. So that was a great way to celebrate with them.”

After the recent mixed reception to The Mandalorian and Grogu, it’s clear that Star Wars isn’t the undisputed hit franchise it used to be. While Star Wars continues to thrive in the area of made-for-streaming animation, live-action endeavors have been largely hit or miss, with even the best outings failing to live up to their own hype. However, apart from Rogue One and its television prequel Andor, arguably the most rewatchable Star Wars project of the Disney era is the highly underrated Solo: A Star Wars Story.

‘Solo’ Recaptured the Fun of an Old Fashioned Space Western

From the very beginning, it seemed that Solo had a rough go of it. Between all the behind-the-scenes drama and the controversy surrounding Alden Ehrenreich‘s replacement of Harrison Ford, many were determined to write off this prequel before it ever had the chance to “punch it” to hyperspace. But despite all of these challenges, Solo — which was ultimately completed by Ron Howard from a screenplay by veteran franchise scribe Lawrence Kasdan and his son Jonathan Kasdan — offered an action-packed glimpse into the life of Han Solo long before we met him on Tatooine. Of course, what Solo does best (and what convinced this author to see it three times in theaters) is to recapture the excitement of a traditional space Western, echoing the genre that helped inspire George Lucas‘ original vision for the Star Wars franchise.

To say that Solo is anything less than a Western would be a blatant misreading of the film. This is a movie that follows a plucky on-the-run outlaw who gambles for his next ride, battles a small posse of warriors (who he later becomes sympathetic for), and opposes the encroaching armed forces in the midst of their campaign of “galactic westward expansion.” These genre elements don’t just undergird the entire picture, but they keep the whole plot moving as Han does all he can to earn enough to fly off with Qi’ra (Emilia Clarke) into the sunset. It’s from this vantage point that Solo is most enjoyed. Not as just another Star Wars prequel or a simple sci-fi adventure, but as a pulp Western set among the stars that aims high despite its occasional flounders.

Of course, where the “space Western” branding becomes especially clear is in sequences such as its pulse-pounding train heist. At the end of the first act, Han and Chewbacca (Joonas Suotamo) join Tobias Beckett (Woody Harrelson) and his crew to steal the shipment of coaxium right out from under the Empire’s nose. What should be a simple job becomes increasingly complicated when Enfys Nest (Erin Kellyman) arrives in search of the same cargo. The whole thing is explosive and anxiety-inducing and appropriately sets the stage for the rest of the picture — perhaps not unlike the series of train robberies at the beginning of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. More than anything, it comes across as being so downright space-and-horse operatic that we’re on the edge of our seat for whatever comes next.

‘Solo’ Deserves More Credit for Recapturing That Star Wars Magic

For as much as Solo works as a space Western, it is also unequivocally a heist movie — one that deserves a second look almost a decade later. Yet, it’s Ehrenreich’s performance as a young Solo that ties it all together. No doubt, Ehrenreich echoes the previous efforts of Ford, but he does so while offering his own unique spin better suited to a younger version of the character. It’s almost a shame we never got a sequel, because his casting alone solidifies the notion that recasting is always better than uneven CGI facial reconfigurations. His version of Han is a bit less cynical than in the years before A New Hope, but we can see how this latest job has jaded him when it comes to trusting others (well, except maybe Chewie).

Admittedly, Solo struggles at times with its eye-rolling droid subplot, an overreliance on fan-service, and some half-baked franchise cameos. There’s no doubt about it. However, the film’s positively nostalgic tone and careful attention to character mix well with the Kasdans’ clear goal of unpacking what makes Han Solo tick. In short, unlike many of the Disney efforts that have since graced the big or small screens, Solo feels like Star Wars — even without the Jedi.

Sydney Sweeney finally points out the culprit behind her highly speculated dynamic with Zendaya.

The “Euphoria” star has clarified on what truly transpired between her and Zendaya on the set of their HBO series and how it has played out in real life, truly amplified by fans.

Sydney Sweeney and her co-star were introduced to the world on the HBO hit series, written by Sam Levinson. The series first premiered in 2019 and launched Sweeney’s career as one of the most sought-after stars in Hollywood.

The release of the third season of “Euphoria” came with several speculations about an ongoing feud between Sweeney and Zendaya. According to theories, the stars were not getting along due to Sweeney’s alleged political leanings and an alleged secret affection for Zendaya’s fiancé, Tom Holland.

Viewers had noticed that Sweeney and Zendaya shared little to no screen time from pictures and clips behind the scenes on set. However, Sweeney has pushed back on that narrative, suggesting that social media and all its users have a way of exaggerating normal production interaction into realities.

Sweeney noted that the cast of “Euphoria” practically grew up together on stage, and it has been an out-of-body experience to see several untrue theories being propagated about their relationship.

“It’s honestly crazy to watch how much social media and the press spin things,” she said. “I was in first position to HBO. So the moment they say, ‘Hey, this is the first day of filming,’ I’m legally not allowed to do anything else. So my schedule doesn’t affect the show. And so that was funny to watch everybody spin narratives on it. All of us were in first position, so it wasn’t like any of our schedules were holding it up.”

She made the comment in a recent interview with Vanity Fair, but fans noticed that Sweeney did not directly address rumors about Zendaya specifically. That being said, fans have seen her post behind-the-scenes photos of the series, in which the actress was missing. Instead, cast members such as Jacob Elordi, Alexa Demie, and the late Eric Dane graced the gallery.

Rumors have also been around the block for years, with unverified reports claiming that Sweeney had previously expressed interest in Holland after rummaging through his internet posts.

The Marvel Star’s Absence From ‘Euphoria’ Photoshoot Gets A New Explanation 

Other reports noted that Zendaya did not participate with Sweeney in promotional photoshoots that were connected to Season 3, and the two actresses seemed to stay apart in public photoshoots.

The speculation continued to ramp up in March when Sweeney was conspicuously missing from a Euphoria photoshoot of the cast. 

As shared by The Blast, later reports clarified that Sweeney’s absence was due to filming, not personal conflict. Once again, questions arose after the Season 3 premiere when viewers shared videos online and thought the actresses looked distant from each other.

However, not all people involved in the HBO series endorse the story. Rumors of behind-the-scenes tension were brushed aside by cast member Jessica Blair Herman, who said the atmosphere was very different.

During her television appearance, Herman explained that it was an ideal match for the actresses because they had established a professional relationship with each other. 

When asked about the lack of behind-the-scenes footage of the two together, Herman explained that their characters rarely shared scenes. She added that filming was frequently on different schedules, which meant there were fewer opportunities for interaction than fan expectations may have.

Sydney Sweeney Defended Her Character’s Choices, Insists Her Person Is A Separate Entity

The Blast stated that the media personality drew a clear line between herself and her “Euphoria” viral character, Cassie Howard.

After witnessing serious backlash over Cassie’s storyline on the show’s third season, especially about the OnlyFans gig, Sweeney insisted that portraying a character does not mean endorsing every decision they make.

The actress continued that the show’s creator, Levinson, walked her through Cassie’s arc before filming and made space for conversations about the direction of the storyline.

Sweeney explained that while she may not personally relate to Cassie’s choices or make the same decisions in real life, her responsibility as an actor is to commit to the character’s journey fully.

For her, the goal was not to judge Cassie but to portray her honestly, and this also means completely embracing the character’s emotional extremes and vulnerability while bringing Levinson’s creative vision to screen.

The Actress Was Reportedly Very Interested In Completely Embodying Cassie Howard

In the spirit of true professionalism, Sweeney gave further insights into the journey and story of Cassie, establishing that she never saw her choices as random.

The actress noted that Cassie’s actions, however perceived, were rooted in patterns which were fueled by emotional inadequacies and a constant search for validation.

She added that Cassie only felt seen and worthy when people loved her, and her decision to go into the adult industry was an extension of that mindset.

For Sweeney, it was not just about paying attention to Cassie but being seen as important, understood, and a piece of a larger puzzle than her day-to-day life.

Meanwhile, Levinson revealed his initial thoughts to make the storyline more ambiguous, and he looked at decreasing the nudity on Cassie’s arc. However, Sweeney rejected the notion as it would be cheating on the world of the character to avoid engaging it.

Levinson stated the discussion influenced his method of shooting and the value of remaining honest with the character’s journey. He went on to commend her dedication on set, saying she was bold in her choices and always ready to be in the part.

Sydney Sweeney Cements Her Hollywood Takeover With New Production Company

The actress added another feather to her cap and dipped her feet into the challenging waters of production with the launch of her production company, Honey Trap.

As noted by The Blast, Sweeney stated that the company’s creative vision is the ability to tell bold, emotionally charged stories in film and television, using contrasts and complexity. 

She co-founded it with her longtime collaborator Kaylee McGregor, and the company has begun moving forward with some projects, including an upcoming “Barbella” remake in conjunction with Sony.

Honey Trap also landed its first major feature project with an adaptation of filmmaker and author Lindsey Anderson Beer’s debut novel, “Hollow.” 

Sweeney will reportedly star in and produce the movie, while Beer will direct and adapt the script. Backed by LuckyChap Entertainment and Beer’s Lab Brew, the project marks a major step for Honey Trap, along with its first-look partnership with Sony Pictures.

Ari Fletcher was once known for dragging trolls for filth on social media. We’re talking Rihanna on Twitter back in the day type of drag! While it appears she’s held back that energy in recent years, she isn’t above clocking any piss the internet confuses for tea! She did so recently regarding assumptions about her relationship with Moneybagg Yo. And on Tuesday (June 9), she again slammed another social media user. This time, though, Ari went IN after an X user claimed Jayda Cheaves previously proved Fletcher is a wimp.

RELATED: Ari Fletcher Checks Troll For Bringing Up Her Marriage Plans With Moneybagg Yo After Flexing Her Ring Collection

Ari Fletcher Pops OFF Over Jayda Cheaves Mention

On June 9, Ari Fletcher hopped on X to warn a mystery person who has allegedly been sending subliminal shade her way. She wrote, “Keep subbing me and I’m gone embarrass yo a*s all over this internet.” In less than 24 hours, the tweet collected over one million views, more than 8,400 likes and over 200 replies. Again, it’s unclear who Ari was directing the tweet at.

Keep subbing me and I’m gone embarrass yo ass all over this internet

— KYLESISTER (@AriTheDon) June 10, 2026

One reply in particular seemed to catch Ari’s attention, at least enough to warrant a spicy response. X user @thesebitcesmad replied, “Girl literally nobody is worried about you lmaoo Jayda been showed us your P*SSYYYY.” The reply, which came one minute after Ari posted the tweet, included a GIF on Jayda Cheaves flexing her inches.

Another minute after the shady response from @thesebitcesmad and Fletcher was on their head! She quoted the post, replying, “Jayda ain’t never showed me sh*t b*tch.” At the time this article was written, that was Ari’s most recent post on X. Additionally, it doesn’t appear that Jayda has responded to the name-drop.

What’s The Beef Between Ari & Jayda?

As previously reported, the internet learned of tension between Ari Fletcher and Jayda Cheaves earlier this year in January. At the time, TikTok was feeding on rumors of Lil Baby and Ari having a past sexual relationship. Neither of them addressed it, but Jayda Wayda appeared to. In a livestream, she said, “Them rumors are true. No shade! That’s been going on, that been a thing.” Her comment followed a viewer asking, “The TikTok rumors about Ari and Baby??” Wayda later appeared to double down in the comment section of another post, writing, “BEEEEEEENNNN.”

While Ari Fletcher never directly addressed the shade, she previously revealed that her and Jayda were no longer friends. She spilled her own tea about the friendship break while appearing on ‘Caresha Please’ in 2023 and clarified that she had “No desire to be cool.”

@bigjennyfromtheblock

#arifletcher clarifies relationship with jaydacheavesand more . . . . . . . . . . #careshaplease#arifletcher#jayda#fyp#beef#revolttv#deleon#friends#hair#makeup#bet

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RELATED: Jayda Cheaves Has Social Media Users Mentioning Lil Baby After She Opened Up About Regrets & Forcing Things

All good things must come to an end, and Stranger Things is no exception. Netflix’s hit science fiction series aired its super-sized finale at the beginning of 2026, and in the process brought an end to one of its biggest hits…or so fans thought. Netflix has been eager to continue expanding the Stranger Things franchise in different forms with Stranger Things: Tales From ’85, an animated series that takes place between Seasons 2 and 3, and Stranger Things: The First Shadow, a stage play that expands upon the origins of the villainous Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower). Creators Ross & Matt Duffer even managed to recapture some of Stranger Things‘ magic by producing Netflix’s latest sci-fi hit, The Boroughs.

Despite this slew of successful spin-offs, Netflix has already hit a snag when it comes to Stranger Things. That snag comes with the fact that Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 has been renewed for a second season. While this sounds like a good thing, especially since Netflix tends to be pretty cavalier about axing shows before they get a proper run, a single question remains: how much more story does this franchise have left to tell? More importantly, how far can Netflix go before it runs the risk of running Stranger Things into the ground?

‘Stranger Things’ Has More or Less Told A Complete Story

For whatever criticisms fans could lay at Stranger Things‘ feet, they can’t deny that the series told a complete story over five seasons. Adding more spinoffs threatens to ruin that delicate balance, especially where Tales from ’85 is concerned. No matter how long the series lasts, it’ll have to end things in a way that doesn’t contradict Stranger Things Season 3. There’s also the fact that Tales from ’85 has introduced a new character in the form of Nikki Baxter (Odessa A’zion). Given that Nikki isn’t mentioned throughout Stranger Things, Tales from ’85will have to address her absence in a way that aligns with the rest of the show.

Netflix is about to lose the creative minds behind Stranger Things, as Ross & Matt Duffer are set to leave the streamer for a more lucrative deal at Paramount. The timing couldn’t be worse, as the Duffer Brothers have not only produced one hit with The Boroughs but two thanks to the smash success of the horror series Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen. Netflix would be hard-pressed to find creative minds on the Duffers’ level, which means that the streamer should remember that Stranger Things became a hit thanks to word of mouth. If Netflix wants another hit series in that vein, it should step back and let incoming creators fulfill their vision.

There’s One Way ‘Stranger Things’ Could Continue

Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 and Stranger Things: The First Shadow both share the distinction of taking place within the Stranger Things timeline, meaning that they’re bound by events that have already happened in the narrative. There’s an easy workaround if Netflix wants to continue the franchise, and it lies with Holly Wheeler (Nell Fisher). Holly becomes an integral part of Stranger Things‘ final season, as she’s among a group of children who are imprisoned by Vecna, yet she manages to escape with the help of Max Mayfield (Sadie Sink). The Stranger Things series finale, “The Rightside Up,” more or less passes the torch to Holly and her friends, as they start their own game of Dungeons & Dragons. Ross Duffer noted in an interview with Netflix’s official site, Tudum, that this was meant to bring the series full circle.

“This is about this group of characters saying goodbye to their childhood. That basement, specifically the Dungeons & Dragons game, represents their childhoods [and it’s] how we first met them as an audience. To say goodbye to it, you have to play one last time.”

Though the adventures of Will (Noah Schnapp) and his friends have come to an end, Holly and her friends could potentially still go on their own adventures, especially if Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 leaves some plot threads dangling. Simply put, if Netflix wants to continue building on Stranger Things, it needs to look forward rather than backwards.

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Release Date

2016 – 2025-00-00

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Network

Netflix

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Directors

Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer, Andrew Stanton, Frank Darabont, Nimród Antal, Uta Briesewitz

Writers

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Kate Trefry, Jessie Nickson-Lopez, Jessica Mecklenburg, Alison Tatlock

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Before Total Recall, Predator, and even The Terminator, Arnold Schwarzenegger broke out on the big screen as a leading man in 1982 with a movie that was destined to become a cult classic. Now, over 40 years later, he’s returning to that role in a film that’s been in limbo for decades. He’s making it with the help of Mission: Impossible impresario Christopher McQuarrie, who’s set to write and direct.

According to reports, after decades of Development Hell, Schwarzenegger is set to return as Conan the Barbarian in King Conan, a film about the last days of the legendary warrior. He likens the film to Unforgiven, the elegiac movie that served as Clint Eastwood‘s farewell to the Western genre. Schwarzenegger seems to have found the right creative partner for the film; he praised McQuarrie’s understanding of both Robert E. Howard, the troubled Texan writer who created Conan and his world before his tragic death, and Frank Frazetta, the legendary fantasy artist whose evocative paintings helped shape Conan in the popular consciousness. Schwarzenegger also mooted bringing on John Milius, who co-wrote and directed the original Conan film, as a producer on the film, which is slated to begin production next year.

What Is ‘Conan the Barbarian’ About?

Conan the Barbarian is set in the Hyborian Age, an ancient (and fictional) time period before “the oceans drank Atlantis.” Schwarzenegger stars as Conan, a native of the land of Cimmeria; his tribe was massacred when he was a boy, and he became a slave, then a gladiator, then a warrior, eventually winning his freedom. Befriending the archer Subotai (Gerry Lopez) and the warrior Valeria (Sandahl Bergman), he and his allies are hired by King Osric (Max von Sydow) to rescue his daughter from the deadly serpent cult of Thulsa Doom (James Earl Jones). Learning that Doom was the leader of the raiders who killed his family, Conan eagerly accepts…but will pay a terrible price for his vengeance. The film was a massive success, and led to a 1984 sequel, Conan the Destroyer, which greatly toned down the original movie’s sex and violence. There have been numerous subsequent attempts to make a third Conan film; one script was repurposed as the Kevin Sorbo vehicle Kull the Conqueror.

Schwarzenegger and McQuarrie’s paths have briefly crossed before. Back when McQuarrie was an unknown and uncredited script doctor, he made revisions to Akiva Goldsman‘s script for 1997’s Batman and Robin, in which Schwarzenegger played the villainous Mr. Freeze.

King Conan is slated to begin production in 2027. Stay tuned to Collider for future updates.

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Release Date

May 14, 1982

Runtime

129 minutes

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Director

John Milius

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Writers

Oliver Stone, John Milius, Robert E. Howard, Edward Summer

Producers

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Buzz Feitshans, Raffaella De Laurentiis, Dino De Laurentiis

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By Sckylar Gibby-Brown
| Updated 1 hour ago

Morgan Freeman has appeared in just about every kind of movie imaginable throughout his legendary career, from acclaimed dramas to blockbuster action films. One of his lesser-known projects is 2023’s The Ritual Killer, a crime thriller that pairs the Academy Award winner with Yellowstone star Cole Hauser for a dark story involving ritualistic murders, an aging detective, and a killer who leaves a trail of bodies across Mississippi.

Directed by George Gallo, The Ritual Killer stars Morgan Freeman as Dr. Mackles, an anthropologist who teaches at a local college. Hauser co-stars as a detective on the brink of retirement who is struggling to cope with the death of his daughter. Working together, the pair set out to track down a vicious killer on a murder spree throughout Carlton, Mississippi.

An Independent Effort With Casting Clout

The Ritual Killer first went into production in 2021 and it was announced that Gallo would direct a film called Muti, named after the dark magic that the serial killer practices in the film. Later, the film was renamed The Ritual Killer to draw emphasis on the terrible rituals that the killer performs before taking his victims’ lives. Soon after Gallo was signed on to the project, Morgan Freeman, Cole Hauser, Peter Stormare, and Vernon Davis joined the cast.

It took a collective of imaginations to draw together the script for The Ritual Killer, with Robert T. Bowersox, Jennifer Lemmon, Francesco Cinquemani, Giorgia Iannone, Luca Giliberto, and Ferdinando Dell’Omo all coming together to write the script, with story help from Joe Lemmon. Morgan Freeman and the rest of the cast filmed in late summer 2021 in Jackson, Mississippi, with additional footage captured in Rome, Italy.

While The Ritual Killer managed to snag some major Hollywood clout by hiring blockbuster names like Morgan Freeman, the film remained a low-budget independent feature produced by Iervolino & Lady Bacardi Entertainment.

The film was made with an estimated budget of somewhere between $7 and $17 million and was given a limited release in theaters. While the film was also released on demand, the main mode of distribution for this action-thriller was through Redbox locations on DVD and Blu-Ray.

Unfortunately, despite Morgan Freeman and Cole Hauser being attached to the project, the film was barely marketed and it ended up scoring only $281,150 after release, with the majority of the audience coming from Russia.

However, while this resulted in a major loss for the studios in charge of The Ritual Killer, its streaming comeback on Hulu might be able to repair some of the financial damage, though turning a profit for the film seems unlikely.

Morgan Freeman at 89

Despite being 89 years old, Morgan Freeman is not looking to retire any time soon. The Ritual Killer was one of five projects the actor had released in 2023 alone. He also starred next to Florence Pugh in A Good Person, a drama by Zach Braff that was released in March 2023 about a woman whose life falls apart after being involved in a lethal accident.

Even in his late 80s, Morgan Freeman continues to work, and The Ritual Killer was never going to be among his final projects, adding to a filmography that already stretches well past the 100-credit mark. More than 60 years into his career, Freeman remains one of Hollywood’s most prolific performers, and there is little reason to think he’ll be stepping away anytime soon.

While Freeman has been in some incredible movies that are now deemed classics (looking at you, Shawshank Redemption), he’s also been in quite a few duds. In fact, The Ritual Killer is considered by critics to be one of these duds, with Rotten Tomatoes giving the movie only an 11 percent approval rating. 

Still, people on Hulu (and in Russia) seem to like it. So, if you’re down to watch something new and are a fan of Morgan Freeman’s acting prowess, consider adding The Ritual Killer to your movie list.