Craig Melvin missed out on the Monday, July 20, broadcast of the Today show following a frightening incident with an intruder on set.

Savannah Guthrie kicked off the show on Monday with Sheinelle Jones by her side, noting that Melvin, 47, had “a little family vacation.” The women recapped the exciting 2026 FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina before diving into the top news stories of the day.

Melvin’s absence comes less than one week after a man breached security at the Today show’s New York City studio on Thursday, July 16. The intruder — later identified as Andrew Truelove — was reportedly looking for Al Roker at first before finding Melvin, lunging toward him and shouting a racial slur.

Advertisement

Related: ‘Today’ Show Security Guard Fired After Craig Melvin Incident: Report

NBC reportedly fired a security guard after an intruder breached the Today show set and confronted cohost Craig Melvin on Thursday, July 16. Page Six and TMZ reported that the employee was terminated on Thursday after a man was able to slip past security at the show’s New York City headquarters. The man was allegedly […]

“There was a security incident this morning at the TODAY show studio. An individual entered an unauthorized area in a vestibule near Studio 1A,” read a statement from NBC on Thursday. “The person approached anchor Craig Melvin, who alerted security. The individual was detained and taken into custody by law enforcement without further incident. There was no altercation, and no one was injured.”

The statement continued, “TODAY is cooperating fully with law enforcement as they investigate the matter. NBC and TODAY take the safety and security of our employees, talent, staff and guests extremely seriously. We are reviewing the incident and our security protocols and remain committed to providing a safe and secure environment for everyone who works at and visits our studios.”

Us confirmed that Melvin and Roker, 71, were granted a restraining order against Truelove, 41, who is facing multiple charges. Several outlets further reported that a security guard was fired in the wake of the incident.

Melvin broke his silence on the situation in a brief message shared via social media on Thursday, writing, “Hey everyone. I’ve heard from so many of you over the last few hours. I’m doing just fine. Thanks for reaching out. I’m looking forward to seeing you tomorrow morning on @todayshow.”

During the Friday, July 17, broadcast, he shared an additional update and assured viewers that he was “safe and sound.”

“You may have heard that unfortunately an intruder made his way into an unauthorized area here at Studio 1A,” Melvin said. “Thankfully he was apprehended quickly [and] he was placed under arrest.”

Thank You!

You have successfully subscribed.

Advertisement

He added, “We are cooperating fully with the NYPD as they investigate the matter and we are just very happy that everyone is safe.”

Roker, for his part, issued his own social media statement shortly before Friday’s episode.

“A really heartfelt thank you to all who reached out over the last 24 hours to check in on my brother, @craigmelvinnbc … It’s moments like these that serve to pull us together,” he wrote. “You all, like Craig, said ‘You come after one of us, you come after all of us.’ We’ll talk about it this morning on @todayshow.”

Jennifer Lopez has once again proven that beauty is ageless as she posed, leaving little to the imagination in a bathtub photo.

The singer shared the sizzling shot in a carousel featuring other stunning images of her and her sister ahead of her 57th birthday.

Jennifer Lopez also recently celebrated her children graduating from high school and passing their entry exams into college with a photo dump from their graduation event.

Lopez is living her best life and maintaining beauty even as she approaches her 57th birthday. Over the weekend, the “This Is Me…Now” singer took to Instagram to share moments from a recent trip with her sister, Lynda Lopez, in commemoration of both their birthdays.

The pair are only two years apart, as Lynda turned 55 on June 14, while Lopez celebrates her 57th birthday on Friday, July 24. In the post, the sisters were photographed attending Wimbledon in London, as well as a D&G fashion show in Italy earlier this month.

Advertisement

The carousel also included more personal photos of the multi-hyphenate superstar and her sister helping themselves to a dessert in a hotel bathroom, with Lopez taking a dip in the tub.

“A double birthday sister trip is always a good idea!! I love you, Lynnie!! Happy birthday!!” she captioned the post.

Fans Gush Over The Actress’s Snaps With Her Sister

4

Fans were left stunned by the singer’s photos, with many praising her for her ageless beauty while also leaving kind words for her sister, Lynda.

A person wrote, “Damn, that first pic is everything. Glad you had the best time here in Europe, love having you here.”

“Damn, you so fine, mummy. You look 20 years old,” another fan commented, while a third noted, “Happy birthday beautiful!! You deserve all the happiness in the world.”

Advertisement

One more person stated, “Happy birthday to both of you!!!! I hope you are very happy today as you celebrate on your birthday and always!!!”

Jennifer Lopez Says Hollywood Had To ‘Realize’ That Women ‘Get Sexier’ With Age

4

Lopez has always been aware that age has nothing to do with a woman’s beauty, and in fact, brings it to full bloom.

In a 2023 chat with Elle Magazine, she spoke about how Hollywood has grown to appreciate actresses of all ages after only realizing women “get sexier” with the passing of time.

“It has changed a lot, and I think it’s appropriate,” she said. “As you get older and you have more experience, you become a richer human being, and you have more to offer. The idea of, ‘There’s nothing really valuable about watching a woman over 30’ is so ridiculous; it’s the opposite of right. It just makes me laugh.”

Lopez continued, “People have realized that women just get sexier as they get older. They get more learned and more rich with character. All of that is very beautiful and attractive, and not just physically, but on the inside, the beauty that you gain as you get older, the wisdom you gain.”

Advertisement

At the time, Lopez expressed that she plans to stay active in Hollywood for “as long as” she wants to and will still be beautiful at that.

“I don’t know what that age is,” she said. “It might be 70, it might be 80, it might be 90, I don’t know. But I know that it’s there for me if I want it, and I want to create it.”

Inside The Singer’s Relationship With Her Sister Over The Years

4

Meanwhile, Lopez has always been open about her close relationship with Lynda, and the pivotal role her family, including mom Guadalupe, her dad David, and elder sister Leslie, played to help her rise to the top in her pop career.

The “Hustlers” actress particularly shares a close relationship with Lynda, who’s an Emmy Award-winning radio and TV journalist in her own right.

In a 2013 chat with Cosmopolitan, Lopez sang her praises, especially on how she raised her child, Lucie, at the time.

Advertisement

“I just love and respect her so much. She’s a single mom, but not like I’m a single mom,” she told the news outlet, per Hello! Magazine, adding, “I have a lot of help; she doesn’t.”

“I always ask, ‘Do you need anything?’” she continued. “And she’s like, ‘I’m good.’ But I know she’s exhausted.”

Jennifer Lopez Called Lynda Her ‘Ride Or Die’

4

As is quite typical among siblings growing up, Lynda shared that Lopez and Leslie would often gang up against her and give her the whooping of her life.

“When we were kids, the two of them would beat up on me ’cause I’m the youngest,” the journalist said, as per People.

However, Lopez clarified, “We were all very close in age. She’s a year and a half younger than me, okay?”

Advertisement

Both sisters have since grown closer, with the “Office Romance” star calling the journalist her “ride or die” in a touching Instagram tribute to Lynda in 2021.

“You light the world and show me what’s possible, and are my inspiration always. Sometimes I can’t believe I was so lucky that God put the beautiful soul that is you into my life,” she captioned the post.

By TeeJay Small
| Updated 1 second ago

Since The Simpsons first kicked off back in 1989, couch gags have been an iconic episode-opening staple. Over the years, the team behind the show has collaborated with numerous writers, animators, and artists, creating surprising crossovers with other popular works. While every couch gag holds a special place in my heart, I’d argue that the most memorable iteration came from 2010’s “MoneyBart,” as part of a collaboration with the cryptic political artist Banksy.

Even if you’re not familiar with Banksy by name, you’ve surely crossed paths with his work. The anonymous British artist has delivered numerous thought-provoking pieces, often providing some cutting social commentary or political undertone. He’s about as anti-establishment as an artist can be, so you can understand why it came as a shock when he agreed to collaborate with one of the most well-known cartoons in the history of the world. After all, tagging your name on a Fox branded series doesn’t exactly scream “down with capitalism.”

A brief glance at the intro sequence, which has been making the rounds on social media lately, will quickly clear up any questions you might have about Banksy’s agenda. Rather than using the platform to deliver a fun, simple gag about the yellow family kicking their feet up in front of the TV, Banksy offered an extremely dark critique of the animation industry, the network, and the nature of mass-produced art on the whole. The full gag is nearly two minutes in length, but it feels like a lifetime as you watch in twisted horror at the scathing repudiation of mainstream television.

Not Your Average Couch Gag

The couch gag opens on the usual cloud-first drop into Springfield, but quickly goes off the rails. As soon as the Simpson family takes to the couch, we zoom out to see individual cartoon frames being animated in an Asian sweatshop. Miserable workers toil in squalid conditions, as children paste the film together using vats of toxic waste. Beneath the sweatshop, we see that Simpsons merchandise is made under similar soul-crushing conditions, with adorable kittens being woodchippered to stuff mass-produced Bart plushies.

Other instances of animal abuse are rampant in the supply chain, with panda bears being whipped, decapitated dolphins applying packing tape, and a shackled, sickly unicorn used as a crude method of cutting DVDs to size. The whole thing is deeply disturbing, uncomfortably funny, and uniquely self-reflective, even by Simpsons standards. It all wraps up with a 20th Century Fox logo surrounded by barbed wire fences and dystopian watchtowers, à la George Orwell‘s 1984.

Series executive producer and longtime showrunner Al Jean described the process of linking up with Banksy during a 2010 interview with The New York Times, and revealed the ways in which Fox was apprehensive about airing the segment. Despite arguing that “Fox has been very gracious about us biting the hand that feeds us,” Jean explained that the network demanded several changes “for taste.” When asked what specifically was cut before the segment made it to air, the Harvard alumnus said, “It was even a little sadder. But I would have to say almost all of it stayed in. We were thrilled. It was funny, I watched Mad Men last night, and I wondered if this was my Don Draper letter to The New York Times. I knew just how he felt.”

The original storyboards for the couch gag are available to view on Banksy.blog, so you can see for yourself exactly what was changed before animation. The most notable change is the absence of the propaganda poster depicting Fox founder Rupert Murdoch. Al Jean claims that axing the jab toward Murdoch was the only non-negotiable point for the network, while he himself objected to the unicorn dying on camera.

Luckily, the episode eventually made it to air without any serious threats of cancellation, and Al Jean still works as a writer and producer on The Simpsons to this day. Still, it seems unlikely that Disney will allow any returning Banksy collabs of this sort in the near future.

By Nina Phillips
| Published 58 seconds ago

Psychological horrors are all well and good, but sometimes you need something that disturbs you immediately, and leaves you feeling disquieted long after the film is over. If that’s what you’re looking for, the Korean “zombie” movie, 2016’s The Wailing, is just the film. It keeps you guessing every step of the way with its complicated storyline.

Heats Up Quickly And Never Lets Up

The Wailing focuses on a policeman, Officer Jong-goo (Kwak Do-won), in a remote village in Korea. Shortly after a mysterious Japanese man enters the village, some strange infection breaks out in the area, leaving villagers who contract it deranged and murderous. Many end up killing their families in a fit of rage. Jong-goo’s daughter, Hyo-jin (Kim Hwan-hee) ends up becoming one of the infected. Growing desperate, Jong-goo starts to target the Japanese man (Jun Kunimura) after a local hunter and the mysterious Moo-myeong (Chun Woo-hee) tell him about some of the man’s strange behaviors.

Working with a deacon, Yang I-sam (Kim Do-yoon), and a shaman, Il-gwang (Hwang Jung-min), Jong-goo works hard to save his daughter and stop evil from taking over his village, if only he could find out how.

Na Hong-jin’s Past And Future Work

The original name of The Wailing is Gokseong in Korean. Those who watched the film might have noticed that this is the name of the village. However, in Korean, the word also means “wail.” Both commercially and critically, The Wailing was considered a success. On Rotten Tomatoes, critics gave the movie an impressive average score of 99 percent. Audience members enjoyed the movie as well, giving it an 81 percent.

Na Hong-jin was both the writer and director for The Wailing, which was his third feature film. He has done a few other impressive movies as well, including The Chaser, The Medium, and The Yellow Sea.

Na Hong-jin is also the writer for another film, Hope, whihc saw its Cannes release on May 17, 2026, followed by its South Korean debut on July 15. It has a similar premise to The Wailing: “A mysterious discovery is made on the outskirts of the remote harbor town. The residents find themselves in a desperate fight for survival against something they have never encountered before.”

With the plot sounding so similar, it will be interesting to see how the director spins his new film to make it different from The Wailing. With no official stateside release date yet, though, fans of this director will have to wait a little longer to access the film through streaming or on-demand viewing.

A Cut Above Your Average Zombie Movie

The Wailing is full of twists and turns as you go along with Jong-goo to learn who the real villain is. The twists sometimes make for a confusing story that not all audience members will be able to follow along with. Still, those who managed to follow along, or understood all of the twists later, found the story interesting and detailed, with some parts left open so viewers could decide for themselves what happened.

Most interestingly, The Wailing appears to be a zombie movie right off the bat, setting it up for undead creatures. However, as viewers continue watching, they realize that isn’t quite right, and that there’s much more going on under the surface. It covers several different genres of stories but focuses heavily on Christian themes, such as demons and angels.

If you want to watch this disturbing movie for yourself, The Wailing is currently streaming for free though Xumo Play, Sling TV, and Philo. For those always on the hunt for new horror movies, this movie did so well that it was included in Letterboxd’s top 250 horror films.

Netflix has a bit of a mixed track record with sitcoms, but the streamer has a fair few comedic hits under its belt, from the more traditional shows like The Upshaws and Big Mouth to the more tragi-comic like BoJack Horseman, which plays with the format. They’ve also tried their hand at revisiting a fair few classics over the years. The reboot of Arrested Development in 2013 represented one of the platform’s first big splashes, paving the way for other attempts at recapturing the magic of beloved series with Fuller House, One Day at a Time, and the short-lived but well-received That ’90s Show, among others. Now, the streaming giant is about to return to the grounds of Hillman College for the first time in over 30 years.

September 24 will mark the return of A Different World with a new generation of students stepping onto the campus of the historically Black college where Whitley (Jasmine Guy) and Dwayne Wayne (Kareem Hardison) once roamed. The series will now focus on the couple’s daughter, Deborah Wayne (Maleah Joi Moon), a big-hearted free spirit looking to figure out her path out of her lovingly sheltered life with her parents. Hillman represents the perfect chance for her to grab the spotlight among a diverse class including criminal justice majors, athletes, psych students, and others shaping their own values away from home. Of course, her family is still around to support her too, with both Guy and Hardison returning alongside Cree Summer as Freddie Brooks, and Darryl M. Bell as Ron Johnson.

Ahead of the premiere, Netflix today unveiled a proper first look at the series, primarily showcasing all the new students at Hillman for the fresh semester. Among them is what looks to be a new central couple, as Deborah cozies up with five-star athlete Shaquille Johnson (Cornell Young IV), who is leaning on legacy at the college. The two make for a sweet pair, but they’re also joined by plenty of new friends, from first-gen student Rashida Duvall (Alijah Kai) to Amir Rodale (Jordan Aaron Hall), who is much more suited to solving others’ problems than addressing his own, the church-raised Hazel Henry (Kennedi Reece), and last but not least, Ghanaian‑Nigerian fashion entrepreneur Kojo Achebe (Chibuikem Uche), who is building up the courage to chase his dreams. As the images show, this is a group that will be followed through highs, lows, a lot of laughs, and all the rituals of college in a light-hearted, layered showcase of Black experience. However, a few shots also spotlight Whitley, Dwayne, and their friends as they find new ways to enjoy life beyond Hillman.

Who Is Behind the ‘A Different World’ Reboot?

Felicia Pride will get her chance to shine as a creator and showrunner for the first time with the A Different World sequel. She’s built up a strong resume as a writer on television, penning episodes of Grey’s Anatomy, Bel-Air, and Queen Sugar. In addition to her duties bringing the next chapter of Hillman College to life, she’s also an executive producer, joining returning director and six-time Emmy winner Debbie Allen and her fellow A Different World veterans Tom Werner, Reggie Rock Bythewood, and Gina Prince-Bythewood. Rounding out the team is Mandy Summers.

A Different World premieres on Netflix on September 24. Check out the first images in the gallery above.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Release Date

1987 – 1993-00-00

Directors

Advertisement

Henry Chan, Glynn Turman, Kadeem Hardison, David Blackwell, Kim Friedman, Michael Peters, Peter Werner, Christopher Hibler, Jasmine Guy, Jay Sandrich, John Whitesell, Matthew Diamond

Writers

Yvette Lee Bowser, Thad Mumford, Reggie Rock Bythewood, Gina Prince-Bythewood, Judi Ann Mason, Adriana Trigiani, Scott S. Gorden, Jeffrey Duteil, Orlando Jones, Bill Cosby, Matt Williams, Steven Peterman, Karen Kennedy, Joe Gannon, Gary Dontzig, Carmen Finestra, Susan Fales-Hill

Advertisement

Advertisement

• 
• 

  Jasmine Guy

  Whitley Gilbert

Advertisement

Advertisement

By TeeJay Small
| Published 6 seconds ago

When Jordan Peele first hung up his hat as a comedy sketch performer, I mourned like I was losing a personal friend. I couldn’t believe that one half of the comedic duo behind Key & Peele would make a career pivot that would deprive the world of such abject hilarity. Then, when Peele began churning out horror films such as Get Out and Us, I was forced to humbly accept that the filmmaker had grown into a career that eclipsed sketch comedy entirely. To paraphrase a line from It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia, Jordan Peele is no longer going for laughs… he’s going for gasps.

One of Peele’s latest and greatest efforts, Nope, is currently streaming on Netflix. The film blends science fiction, western noir, horror, and a few moments of dark comedy into a near-perfect concoction of distilled creativity unlike anything I’ve ever seen. His own list of influences that inspired this movie includes heavy hitters like The Wizard of Oz, Jaws, Jurassic Park, and M. Night Shyamalan’s Signs.

Horses, Clouds, And A Failing Business

In case you haven’t seen it yet, Nope follows a pair of siblings named OJ (Daniel Kaluuya) and Emerald (Keke Palmer) as they take on the family ranching business. Their family has been training and loaning horses for film productions since the earliest days of moving pictures, though the rise of CGI is causing business to slow significantly. To make matters worse, their father, played by a criminally underrated Keith David, drops dead after a mysterious freak accident causes metallic objects to fall from the sky.

Just across the ridge, a former child star named Ricky “Jupe” Park (Steven Yeun) is opening up an old West-themed amusement park, where he plans to put up rides, games, and put on nightly shows for visiting families. Park insists on buying off OJ and Emerald’s horses, though the siblings refuse to shut down their family business. As the neighbors go back and forth, they come to realize something strange is haunting their rural area, leading them on a wild goose chase against a mysterious cloud.

A Bona Fide Modern Sci-Fi Horror Classic

Nope is the kind of movie that works best when you go in completely blind, so I’m going to try to keep everything else as vague as possible. Suffice it to say, the movie monster that arrives in the latter half of the film is so creatively dreamed up, it can’t be compared to anything I’ve ever seen committed to the big screen. This movie has Keke Palmer exuding pure, unadulterated charisma; it has horseback combat against an otherworldly beast, it has a killer ape on a rampage, it has a live-action Akira motorcycle slide done to absolute perfection. Are you not entertained?

For my money, Nope might be among the best movies on the entire Netflix platform. It currently touts an 83 percent critic score on Rotten Tomatoes, and numerous accolades as one of the best horror films of the 21st century. Pound for pound, I’d still put Get Out just a little higher on my list of Jordan Peele flicks, but, perhaps quixotically, I actually like Daniel Kaluuya’s performance in Nope better. This one is a must-watch, especially if you never had the chance to see it in theaters.

It’s a new era for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and certainly a new era for Tom Holland‘s Spider-Man. After “Peter Parker” has been erased from the minds of those in the MCU, Spider-Man: Brand New Day is about to introduce audiences to a new take on the web-slinger as he navigates life in New York City apart from his entire support system. With trailers that echo many of the most iconic Spider-Man comic book covers and a title that does the same, we’ve put together a list of Spidey comics that you ought to give a shot.

Before Brand New Day swings into theaters, brush up on your Marvel knowledge with these popular Spider-Man stories that will have you in the mood to read more. From single issues of The Amazing Spider-Man to multi-issue arcs that changed the character’s status quo, we’ve got a little bit of everything for die-hard wall-crawler enthusiasts. So get those web-shooters ready, because here comes your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man!

Spider-Man: Coming Home (2001)

Image via Marvel Comics

Not to be confused with the first Tom Holland movie, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Coming Home was an arc penned by J. Michael Straczynski (the guy who made Babylon 5, a sci-fi classic that has aged like fine wine) during his highly-popular run with the character. With this six-part return to form, Straczynski re-examined Spidey’s origins and begins moving Peter in a bold (and profound) creative direction. It’s the type of Spidey story perfect for newcomers who are already familiar with the basics.

Coming Home (also called “The Spider Totem” by many) is a strong beginning chapter to Stracynski’s multi-year run on Amazing Spider-Man. Peter’s discovery that his powers may not have been an accident, but destiny is a stunning revelation that sets the stage for the next arc on this list. Oh, and did we mention that this is a period of separation for Peter and MJ? Yet another reason to give it a read ahead of Brand New Day.

Spider-Man: The Other (2005)

Image via Marvel Comics

Long before the MCU, Marvel Comics was already taking cues from the brand’s most successful live-action outings. In the case of Stracynski’s “The Other,” Spider-Man undergoes a transformation that gives him organic webs, increases his strength, and offers him an array of unusual spider abilities he didn’t have before (including stingers!). Considering this is one comic that could offer insight into Peter’s transformation in Brand New Day, fans shouldn’t leave it off the list.

The Other was a 12-part, four-act crossover that took place across several books: The Amazing Spider-Man #525–528, Marvel Knights Spider-Man #19–22, and Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #1–4. Collected editions make this an easier read, but for those hoping to track down those individual issues, be sure to consult some online resources to discover the official reading order. While some of the changes made to Peter’s power set were reversed following the next arc on this list, The Other is a wild ride that makes for a fun swing.

Spider-Man: One More Day (2007)

Image via Marvel Comics

Spider-Man: One More Day is the most hated Spider-Man story ever written, and for good reason. It’s an abomination that reset Spidey to his “default” setting and stripped the character of all the major growth and change he endured during Straczynski’s larger Amazing Spider-Man run — it even undoes one of the most perfect Spidey comics out there. It’s a real tragedy that has yet to be undone by Marvel, and it continues to be despised by fans everywhere. That said, it’s pretty relevant to the latest MCU picture.

At the end of Spider-Man: No Way Home, Peter is forced to give up his happy life with MJ (Zendaya), much like Peter and Mary Jane are forced to give up their marriage to save Aunt May in this story here. It sets the stage for the “Brand New Day” arc that would follow, as well as Spider-Man’s new place within the Marvel Universe. While Straczynski famously didn’t agree with the final direction of One More Day (that was Joe Quesada‘s doing), it has had major ramifications in Spider-Man comics for the past 20 years.

“Denial” From Peter Parker: Spider-Man #14 (1999)

Image via Marvel Comics

With Mark Ruffalo‘s Bruce Banner/Hulk returning for Brand New Day, we thought it would be fun to revisit one of Spidey’s most memorable tussles with the Green Goliath in Marvel Comics. For that, we turned to “Denial,” a story from the pages of Peter Parker: Spider-Man #14, in which a grief-stricken Spidey — who believes Mary Jane has been killed — takes out all his rage, anger, and pain on the Hulk. Written by Howard Mackie with art by the magnificent John Romita Jr., “Denial” is an excellent one-and-done tale that will have you weeping with the wall-crawler.

While Spidey and the Hulk have battled one another before — and certainly have fought at each other’s sides as well — this issue of Peter Parker: Spider-Man takes the cake for their on-page squabbles. For one thing, it’s perhaps the most emotionally-driven Spider-Man vs. Hulk (whose solo outing is a Marvel movie better than its given credit for) battle on the list, but secondly, it’s a story about grief and understanding that feels quite relevant to the plot of Brand New Day. Don’t miss out on this one before these two Marvel icons are united on the big screen.

“The Punisher Strikes Twice!” From The Amazing Spider-Man #129 (1973)

Image via Marvel Comics

In addition to the Hulk’s return in Brand New Day, Spider-Man will also be joined by Jon Bernthal‘s Frank Castle, aka The Punisher. Hot off The Punisher: One Last Kill, Frank is back in action for Spidey’s latest big-screen outing. With that being the case, there’s no reason not to go back and revisit their first comic book appearance together (and Punisher’s first period) in “The Punisher Strikes Twice!” Penned by Gerry Conway​​​​​​​ with art by Ross Andru for The Amazing Spider-Man #129, this 19-page tale introduced Punisher as an antagonistic force who eventually discovers that Spidey isn’t really his enemy (go figure).

“The Punisher Strikes Twice!” is an important story not just because it was the first appearance of the Punisher, but because it had ripple effects on Spider-Man comics still seen today. It was also the introduction of the Jackal, a long-time, intelligent enemy of the web-slinger who had been active in comics for some time as Professor Miles Warren before revealing his green-costumed appearance here. Still, the main feature here is The Punisher, who is as bold-headed, violent, and persistent as ever.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2008)

Image via Marvel Comics

The comic book story arc that the new MCU film takes its name from, Brand New Day is probably the most direct source of inspiration for this new solo Spidey outing. Marvel’s post-“One More Day” initiative for Spidey and his supporting cast, the title, “Brand New Day,” was printed on the cover of every issue of The Amazing Spider-Man from #546 to #564, though many consider the arc to last through #647. With a rotating roster of writers and artists, Marvel revamped Spider-Man comics while taking Peter back to his more traditional status quo.

Even if you hated One More Day (and still do, like this author), Brand New Day is a fun Peter-centric Spidey arc that allows the character to exist as many of us know him well into his adulthood. Back to being a bachelor, he struggles with finances, wrestles with his superheroics, and has returned to mechanical web-shooters. Nobody remembers Peter’s secret identity after Civil War either (still considered one of the greatest Marvel stories of all time), which is probably the biggest crossover between comics and the screen.

Amazing Fantasy #15 (1962)

Image via Marvel Comics

For those who haven’t already tracked it down, Amazing Fantasy #15 is the very first appearance of Spider-Man. Penned by Stan Lee with art by Steve Ditko, the final issue of Amazing Fantasy sparked the wildfire that was Marvel’s signature superhero. While the character would quickly graduate to his own book with The Amazing Spider-Man #1, it was this first tale (simply titled “Spider-Man!”) that is at the very foundation of the Peter Parker character.

While it’s unlikely that Amazing Fantasy #15 will heavily factor into Brand New Day, this short 11-page adventure deserves the spotlight. Lee and Ditko likely had no idea what they had done by bringing the web-slinger to life, nor how it would change their lives and careers forever. With an iconic cover drawn by Jack Kirby himself, Amazing Fantasy #15 is the comic we have to thank for all the Spider-Man movies we’ve been blessed with since.

Advertisement

Spider-Man: Brand New Day

Advertisement

Release Date

July 31, 2026

Advertisement

Runtime

150 Minutes

Director

Advertisement

Destin Daniel Cretton

Writers

Chris McKenna, Erik Sommers, Steve Ditko, Stan Lee

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

By TeeJay Small
| Published 11 seconds ago

Since The Sopranos concluded back in 2007, series creator David Chase has remained mostly quiet. Sure, he’s stepped outside for anniversary events, wrote the Sopranos sequel film The Many Saints Of Newark, and even directed a very underwhelming family drama titled Not Fade Away in 2012. Mostly, though, he’s remained as cryptic and shadowed as possible, coasting on the success of TV’s greatest show. Things seem to be changing, however, now that Chase is promoting his new miniseries Project: MKUltra.

Per Variety, David Chase began openly toying with some new project ideas during a recent appearance at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival in the Czech Republic. While addressing the crowd, the seven-time Emmy winner explained “I’d like to do a story … about four people, Italian Americans, going back to the old country, and what surprises they have in store for them.” This idea was apparently inspired by Lorraine Bracco, who portrayed Dr. Melfi in The Sopranos, after she purchased some extremely cheap property in Italy.

A Fish Out Of Water Scenario

Chase says he’s interested in exploring this idea, where a group of Sopranos-style guidos move overseas to capitalize on cheap Italian real estate, only to learn that they’re not as authentically Italian as they thought. “This happens a lot lately,” Chase said to the crowd, “Italian Americans who buy property in Italy … all kinds of Americans are buying these houses and moving there because things in our country are questionable.” He even stated that he’s interested in joining forces with some of his previous collaborators, including John Magaro, Jack Huston, Will Brill and Bella Heathcote.

If you’re a Sopranos super-fan, this premise should sound all too familiar. Chase previously explored themes of clashing Italian-American identity in the Sopranos season 2 episode “Commendatori.” During that episode, Tony Soprano, Paulie Gualtieri, and Chris Moltisanti pack their bags and head to the boot for the very first time, hoping to close a few new deals with their connected friends from overseas. In doing so, they experience some serious culture shock, trip over their Americanized Italian accents, and meet Furio, who later joins the North Jersey crew.

Ironically, David Chase himself has a cameo in the “Commendatori” episode. He plays a snooty Italian who sticks his nose up at Paulie outside of an espresso shop. This interaction, and several others like it, make Paulie feel like a complete fish out of water, even though he’s identified as an Italian all his life. By the time the mobsters return home, they’re shocked to learn that they find more comfort in the presence of McDonald’s Golden Arches and Exxon Mobile gas stations than they do in front of Mount Vesuvius and the Trevi Fountain.

Personally, I’d really like to see David Chase follow through on this idea. I have my doubts about it turning out as groundbreaking as The Sopranos, but I’m certain there are millions of fans across the world that would love to get Chase’s comedic take on the state of modern politics, and the cultural divide between ‘real’ Italians and the gang you’d find pumping their fists on the Jersey shore boardwalk.

Tia Mowry and Cory Hardrict have reportedly agreed to a written plan for co-parenting their two kids. According to a TMZ report, the new agreement cites terms involving custody exchange and how they approach each other’s private space. Neither of them has commented publicly on the updated deal.

RELATED: My Man, My Man, My Man! Tia Mowry Goes IN About Her Relationship Details And Spills Tea On New Boo (VIDEO)

New Agreement Reportedly Talks Of Custody & Visitation

TMZ cited court documents in their report about Tia Mowry and Cory Hardrict. The ex-couple reportedly agreed that neither of them will visit each other’s home unless the other parent extends an invite or for an agreed-upon exchange of the kids. They share two children: a 15-year-old son, Cree, and an 8-year-old daughter, Cairo.

Additionally, it appears Tia Mowry has no issue with Cory being with their kids during her custodial time. However, he will have to reportedly spend that time “with both minor children,” per TMZ. There’s apparently an exception if the circumstances call for it. Moreover, the agreement gives Cory Hardrict a hard cutoff time of 9 p.m. to return their kids to her.

Recap Of Tia Mowry & Cory Hardrict’s Divorce 

It’s unclear what situation, if any, sparked the new agreement between the co-parents. PEOPLE reports that reps for Tia Mowry and Cory Hardrict have not responded to a request for comment.

However, they’re a few years removed from their divorce. Tia announced in October 2022 that she and Cory were splitting up after 14 years of marriage. She didn’t explain the reason, but her public statement acknowledged that it wasn’t an easy decision.

“These decisions are never easy, and not without sadness. We will maintain a friendship as we co-parent our beautiful children,” Mowry’s statement said.

Hardrict later denied that cheating was the reason for the breakup. They finalized their divorce the following year in April 2023, amid what would’ve been their 15th anniversary. At the time, they agreed on joint physical and legal custody of their Cairo and Cree and that neither parent would introduce a new partner to their kids before the six-month dating mark.

Tia Is Boo’ed Up & No Longer Hiding It! 

Speaking of dating. In April, Tia Mowry turned heads after photos surfaced of her holding hands and kissing a mystery man. By then, she had already spoken about manifesting her new romance, being in love and even seemingly soft-launched him in some vacation photos.

However, after the viral photos in April, the new boo didn’t stay a mystery long. Within days, her new bae had been identified as Javoné Williams, an educator and publicly recognized artist. Since then, Tia Mowry has been less reserved with sharing her relationship. In May, she dropped a baecation dump showing her man’s entire face. Then last month, during a radio interview, she bragged about the quality of man Javoné is. Mowry praised his emotional intelligence and his intentionality, calling him a “wonderful human being.” She also revealed that he has kids in the same age range as hers. However, she didn’t say whether they’ve met each other’s children yet.

RELATED: Fans Are Wondering If Jhené Aiko & Larry June Are Dating After New Instagram Clues (PHOTOS)