Sarah Jessica Parker has spent decades perfecting the art of looking polished without looking like she tried. Since her Carrie Bradshaw days, she’s mastered that effortless, slightly undone glow. According to a source shared with Us, her secret for maintaining soft, glossy lips is a budget-friendly balm hiding on Amazon.

According to a source for the brand, Parker reportedly keeps the Finding Ferdinand Black Lip Balm in Berry on hand — a $19 Amazon find that blends hydration with a flattering hint of color. The balm offers a sheer, glossy tint while nourishing lips. It’s exactly the kind of practical-meets-pretty staple that fits her signature aesthetic.

Get the Finding Ferdinand Black Lip Balm for $19 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.

The Finding Ferdinand Black Lip Balm in ‘berry’ fits seamlessly into Parker’s low-maintenance beauty routine. Instead of layering multiple products, this one delivers a sheer, buildable tint that enhances your natural lip color. The vitamin-rich formula is designed to keep lips hydrated for hours, giving you that soft, glossy finish without constant reapplying.

Related: Martha Stewart’s Go-to Concealer ‘Hides Wrinkle Lines’ — Per Users!

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Martha Stewart has spent decades perfecting that polished, camera-ready glow — so when one of her reported beauty staples surfaces, it’s worth paying attention. The lifestyle icon’s complexion always looks smooth, bright and effortlessly refined, which makes her rumored concealer choice especially intriguing. According to a source who told Us, Stewart uses Charlotte Tilbury AIRbrush […]

What sets it apart is the tone. The cool berry shade creates that just-bitten look that flatters a wide range of skin tones. It’s sheer enough to swipe on without a mirror but can be built up for a slightly deeper wash of color, making it an easy day-to-night option.

Shoppers are just as impressed. One reviewer raved about the “creamy” texture, adding they’ve even used it as “blush in a pinch” for a coordinated, fresh-faced look. Another said they were “blown away” by how “very natural looking” the shade is, noting it makes their lips “look youthful and ever-so-slightly shimmery.”

Beyond the flattering berry tint, this balm works overtime to smooth dryness, deliver lightweight hydration and keep lips feeling comfortable all day. The non-sticky formula glides on effortlessly, while the slim tube makes quick touch-ups easy wherever you go.

Sarah Jessica Parker’s pick proves that achieving soft, polished lips doesn’t require a luxury price tag — just one smart, everyday staple.

Get the Finding Ferdinand Black Lip Balm for $19 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.

Looking for something else? Explore more from Finding Ferdinand here and don’t forget to check out all of Amazon’s Daily Deals for more great finds!

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Related: Taylor Swift’s $32 Conditioner Makes Hair ‘Thicker’

Anyone who watched The Eras Tour documentary knows Taylor Swift delivers nonstop outfit changes, choreography and vocals. But fans also spotted a smaller detail backstage: a volumizing conditioner tucked among her essentials. It’s a subtle clue behind her signature bouncy, full-looking hair. While getting ready for back-to-back shows, Swift relied on products that could keep […]

Crime mysteries about missing kids are nothing new. From network procedurals like NBC’s Found to glossy miniseries like Peacock’s All Her Fault, these cases serve as the driving force for many a TV series — and for good reason. The stakes are automatically high when there’s an innocent child in danger. Harlan Coben adaptations have been a staple of streaming for a while as well, from hits like Stay Close, about a journalist, mother, and detective all united by a traumatic event, and The Stranger, starring Richard Armitage and Hannah John-Kamen as a family man and a mysterious woman who knows a plethora of life-changing secrets. No matter what kind of subject matter Coben is tackling, there’s a straightforward but suspenseful style that defines his work, and it’s one that audiences have clearly grown to love. His shows often skyrocket to the top of the Netflix charts and stay there for a good while as people make binge-watching a priority. I Will Find You is bound to be no different.

What Is ‘I Will Find You’ About?

I Will Find You centers on David Burroughs (Sam Worthington), whom we meet in prison. He’s been there for the last five years, after being found guilty of killing his young son Matthew (Ashton Cressman), though he maintains his innocence. Things get more complicated when his sister-in-law, Rachel (Britt Lower), visits him in prison with a recent photograph of a child who looks exactly like Matthew. David’s friends on the inside, a father-son duo named Philip (Peter Outerbridge) and Adam Mackenzie (Jonathan Tucker), agree to help break David out so he can discover the truth, which he attempts to do while evading a nationwide manhunt, originally led by Max Williams (Chi McBride) and Sarah Greer (Logan Browning).

In typical Coben fashion, there’s far more to this story than originally meets the eye. We’re introduced to characters like old-school crime boss Nicky Fisher (Clancy Brown), the ultra-wealthy and commanding Gertrude (Madeleine Stowe), Rachel’s influential on-again-off-again boyfriend Hayden (Milo Ventimiglia), David’s grieving ex-wife and pediatric surgeon Cheryl (Erin Richards), and more, most of whom are keeping a secret or two and could be connected to the mystery in some way.

‘I Will Find You’ Has Some Pacing Issues, but It All Pays Off By the End

Image via Netflix

One of the biggest strengths of I Will Find You is its commitment to shooting on location. From filming the prison (and eventually prison break) sequences in a former penitentiary to going to Times Square, there’s a natural immersiveness you simply can’t get with sound stages and green screens. As a result, it’s grittier and less sleek than similar shows, for better and for worse. While there is some impressive stuntwork, tense moments of suspense, and thrilling action sequences, I Will Find You never develops much of a distinct visual style. More often than not, the direction and cinematography fall flat, with standard camerawork and bland colorization. It feels like a missed opportunity to elevate the aspects that make the show unique.

I Will Find You’s pacing can also land a bit strangely. Despite the car chases and shootouts, the first half drags a bit, with some repetitive beats and information relayed multiple times to various characters. At the same time, a slew of new people are introduced in quick succession without a ton of context, making relationships and alliances difficult to keep track of.

Luckily, by the midway point, it’s easier to follow the tangled web of characters, and the show manages to find its groove. Something admirable about Coben’s work is that, while the twists can veer towards the outlandish and the cliffhangers are undoubtedly shocking, there’s still an authenticity that grounds things in reality. The pieces all fit together without too much force, and there’s a throughline of rationality through all the wild reveals. There’s a refreshing lack of cheap tricks or cheating, with everything coming together in a hard-to-believe but still logical and satisfying way.

‘I Will Find You’ Has a Solid Cast, but the Characters Feel a Bit Generic

Image via Netflix

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Casting directors Lyndsey Baldasare and David Rapaport deserve credit for assembling the actors they do. Not only do the cast members embody their characters well, but they also have solid chemistry with one another. Worthington has followed in the footsteps of actors like Liam Neeson and Alan Ritchson, carving out a niche of rugged action stars who have a paternal warmth simmering under the surface. He does what he does best as David, bringing nice emotional depth to the role. Stowe, too, leans into what people have come to love about her performances, sinking her teeth into the juicy campiness of Gertrude. It’s a delicious treat to watch.

Lower and Ventimiglia’s will-they-won’t-they dynamic is both exciting and electric while also comfortable and lived-in. It’s easy to buy into the fact that Rachel and Hayden have a long, complex history with one another that’s rooted in a deep, lasting love. They are at the center of many of the series’ most impactful and interesting moments. The relationship between Max and Sarah is engaging, too, with some moments of genuine emotional impact, though the show withholds too much information regarding their past in favor of more cliché, by-the-book police work scenes. There’s something fascinating brewing between them, but the show stops shy of thoroughly exploring the complications until it’s too late, which lessens its potential impact.

I Will Find You is grounded in its characters and their arcs, but there is ultimately a genericness that permeates, leaning into tropes and archetypes — the persistent reporter, the shady benefactor, the rogue cop, etc. — instead of creating more well-rounded, fleshed-out individuals. At the end of the day, the show’s focus leans toward crafting a shocking plot rather than delving too deeply into the psyches of its characters. The result is a show that’s not particularly revolutionary but still a solid way to pass the time that will satisfy those who love to binge Coben’s shows the day they premiere.

I Will Find You is now streaming on Netflix.

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Release Date

June 18, 2026

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Network

Netflix

Showrunner

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Robert Hull

Directors

Adam Davidson, Maggie Kiley, Maja Vrvilo, Brad Anderson

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Writers

Robert Hull, Harlan Coben

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Pros & Cons

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• The action is well-done, with impressive stuntwork and on-location filming that gives the show a gritty, authentic feel.
• Lower and Ventimiglia?s chemistry is especially excellent in a cast that?s solid across the board.
• The twists and cliffhangers are executed well, leading to shocking moments that don?t feel cheap.

• The direction and cinematography fall flat, with the show never finding an interesting visual style.
• Repetitive conversations and randomly introduced characters can make the pacing confusing and difficult to follow.
• The characters can fall into generic clichés rather than feeling like surprising, three-dimensional people.

University of Kentucky football player Nic Smith exhibited worrying behavior in the days before his death by suicide at age 20.

A Fayette County Coroner’s Office report exclusively obtained by Us Weekly on Monday, June 15, determined that the defensive lineman from Loganville, Georgia — who redshirted his first season — took his own life on June 8, 2026. Investigators discovered his body in his dorm room at around 10:40 a.m local time.

Law enforcement’s subsequent investigation revealed that Smith had previously spoken to friends about suicide and allegedly crashed his car while driving drunk in the days before his death. According to friends, Smith struggled following the death of his sister, Keitlynn, in April 2026.

“I post this to let those who knew my son and loved him of the passing of our gentle giant,” Smith’s mother, Genedra Rountree, announced via Facebook on June 9, 2026. “I know there are more people that I can call or think who loved and cared about my son and was rooting for him.”

Police reports obtained by Us offered key details into Smith’s state of mind before his death and disclosed new information about the aftermath.

Keep scrolling for more information on the investigation into Smith’s death.

Police Detailed a Distressing Scene at Nic Smith’s Dorm Room

Officers were called to conduct a wellness check when a resident assistant in Smith’s dorm could not make contact with him. Once Smith’s locked bedroom door was opened, he was found unresponsive.

Firefighters on the scene tried to administer life-saving efforts but were not successful.

Police Reports Shed New Light on Nic Smith’s Final Days

A police report filed on June 9, 2026, documented an investigator speaking with someone who recalled a phone conversation with Smith from June 7, 2026. In that conversation, Smith allegedly told the friend that “he was not sure if he could continue.”

This friend initially asked Smith’s roommate to knock on his locked bedroom door on June 8, 2026, but there was no response. The roommate went off to a workout but shared his concerns with others.

Nic Smith Allegedly Crashed His Car While Drunk Days Before His Death

A friend relayed to University of Kentucky police on June 10, 2026, that he’d witnessed some distressing behavior from Smith during the last weekend of his life.

Smith drove the two to a party on June 5, 2026, but the football player “was drunk and accidentally wrecked his vehicle by hitting a curb,” his friend alleged.

“After Nicholas crashed his vehicle, [the friend] told me Nicholas said he wanted to off himself,” the officer wrote. “[The friend] believed Nicholas didn’t mean anything by it and was just drunk and pissed off that he wrecked his vehicle.”

Smith attributed his talk of ending his life from the previous night to frustration over crashing his car.

“[The friend] told Nicholas he should continue for his [late] sister [who died in April] and that Nicholas was crying at this point,” the report read. “[The friend] didn’t tell anyone else about this due to being afraid Nicholas might get in trouble with the coaches and that he didn’t want to look like a snitch.”

Nic Smith Allegedly Sent Alarming Social Media Messages Before His Death

The football star attended the Railbird Festival in Lexington, Kentucky, on June 7. His ticket was paid for by the friend who’d witnessed the drunk driving crash.

“At the concert after 1:00pm he saw Nicholas drink at least a few drinks, possibly Beatbox ones, and that he told Nicholas to not drink due to early morning workouts the next morning,” the friend recalled to police for a June 10, 2026, report.

The friend observed that Smith was “acting normal, happy, acting country and enjoying himself” all day at the festival, except for one moment where the friend group were all talking to girls.

“Nicholas didn’t have [a girl] to talk to and he started walking away, but that [the friend] pulled him back to the group and told him they were there to have a good time and not to worry about it,” police noted.

As the group left the festival, “Nicholas told them he was very thankful to him for taking him to the concert.”

“Nicholas continued to say he appreciated them and was thankful for them being good to him and eventually saying he loved them as well,” the police report specified. “[The friend] told me he asked Nicholas if he was alright, to which he told them he was good. [They] said they went to WG4 [Woodland Glen Four dorm at UKC] together and that was the last time he saw Nicholas Sunday night.”

However, while at the concert, Smith allegedly posted an Instagram Story at around 11:30 p.m. that read, “IDK if i should continue on.”

The friend explained to University of Kentucky police that he’d have reported any unusual behavior, but didn’t notice anything worrying at the festival.

Nic Smith’s Dorm Roommate Shared Key Details About Athlete’s Final Days

Smith’s roommate spoke to investigators on June 10, 2026. During their discussion, the roommate recalled having a brief conversation with Smith in their dorm the night before his death.

“Nicholas had told [the roommate] about wrecking his vehicle over the weekend, but that he didn’t know much information other than that he damaged his vehicle and seemed mad at himself over it,” the report read.

Smith and the roommate agreed to switch morning workout times for June 8, 2026. While heading out for his workout, the roommate received a call telling him Smith had not shown up on time for practice.

The roommate told police that he returned to the dorm to find Smith’s bedroom door was locked, which he described as “unusual.”

“[The roommate] banged on the door very loudly, even worrying about Nicholas getting mad, and even played alarm sounds through a small Bluetooth speaker to try and wake Nicholas up,” police wrote. “Nicholas never answered the door.”

Police Found Goodbye Messages on Nic Smith’s Phone

University of Kentucky police detailed an examination of Smith’s iPhone on June 11, 2026. They found multiple messages from the night of the Railbird concert, where he shared that he was “pissed.”

“And honestly I wanna say f*** everything … I’m tired of ts,” he wrote to a redacted person.

The device confirmed that Smith texted both his mother and father that he loved them on the morning of his death, though those messages were not delivered.

Nic Smith’s Wallet Was Missing at the Time Of His Death

Kentucky police noted on June 10, 2026, that they’d spoken with Smith’s mother and two sisters about his death. One key line of questioning involved Smith’s wallet being missing from his dorm bedroom.

“[His mother] did not know what kind of wallet it was, or exactly what was in it aside from ID cards and bank cards,” the officer noted.

The officer mentioned that Smith’s mother “expressed concerns” about his father and stepmother though the exact reasoning was redacted in the report.

A Friend Offered Insight on Nic Smith’s Family Dynamic

A second friend spoke to police on June 10, 2026, about having phone conversations with the athlete “up to 3 or 4 times a day.”

He described the Smith’s allegedly complicated family dynamic, claiming that “Nicholas’ mother only seemed to call him when she wanted money and always asked for money ‘constantly.’”

“One time recently Nicholas’ mother called Nicholas and told him it was her anniversary and that he should send her money for it, to which [the friend] believes Nicholas sent several thousand dollars,” the friend alleged. “This relationship would stress Nicholas out and put further stress on him regarding money.”

On the flipside, this friend said that “everything seemed fine” between Smith and his father.

This friend admitted “he didn’t understand why Nicholas didn’t call him if he was upset or going through something Sunday night.” Smith allegedly referenced suicide to this friend in the past, even claiming that he’d unsuccessfully tried to end his life once before.

“[That incident] served as a wake up call to Nicholas to never do something like that again, but that he would still call him if he was feeling depressed,” the friend insisted.

However, this same friend acknowledged that Smith had recently told him, “When I go, I want you to take all of my stuff.”

Smith was in contact with this friend after his alleged drunk driving crash on June 5, 2026.

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“Nicholas told him he was drunk driving Friday night or Saturday morning and hit the curb on Sports Center Drive and damaging some of his tires,” police wrote in their report. “[The friend] said Nicholas was pissed at himself for damaging his vehicle. [The friend] told me he was working with Nicholas to get the vehicle towed and fixed and that he reassured him they would figure it out, but that Nicholas was stressed out and upset with himself.”

Nic Smith Was Recorded on UKC’s Security Cameras Before His Death

Security cameras in UKC’s Woodland Glen Four dorm building recorded Smith several times over the final two days of his life, yet police wrote in their June 10, 2026, report that “nothing suspicious or out of the ordinary” was observed.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.

Fans are mourning the loss of Daveigh Chase, the actress best known for voicing Lilo in ‘Lilo & Stitch.’ According to TMZ, Chase was reportedly admitted to a Los Angeles hospital earlier this month after suffering from malnutrition.

RELATED: Prayers Up! ‘Love Island USA’ Executive Producer Passes Away During Season 8 Production In Fiji 

Details On Daveigh Chase’s Passing

Per TMZ, Daveigh Chase’s boyfriend, Roy Hernandez, confirmed that she died on Tuesday, June 16. He shared that meningitis and a blood infection caused septic complications that ultimately led her body to shut down. As of now, no one has shared how long Daveigh experienced symptoms before her passing. Chase was 35 years old. Daveigh’s boyfriend also launched a GoFundMe in her honor. On the fundraiser page, Hernandez shared that her condition had become critical and said that, before her passing, Daveigh simply wanted to feel safe and happy. He added that he wanted to give her that sense of peace during her final days. Hernandez also thanked everyone who offered support and expressed his gratitude in advance for every donation. 

More About Daveigh’s Career

Daveigh started her career as a child actress and broke out when she voiced Lilo in the 2022 film ‘Lilo & Stitch.’ She also voiced Chihiro Ogino in ‘Spirited Away.’ Horror fans probably remember her as Samara Morgan in ‘The Ring,’ a role that earned her an MTV Movie Award for Best Villain. She also landed a recurring role in the HBO series ‘Big Love.’

Fans Mourn The Loss Of Daveigh

After The Shade Room shared the news of Daveigh’s passing, fans flooded the comment section with reactions. Many remembered her roles, while others expressed heartbreak over her passing at such a young age.

Instagram user @_un_known.e wrote, “Being a obsessive person of stitch this hurts 💔💔💔” 

Instagram user @rvdxo_official wrote, “Why are so many entertainers passing away in 2026 and we all act like it’s normal 🤷🏾‍♂️” 

While Instagram user @_suckafreesi wrote, “We’re losing way too many young people to meningitis smh my heart hurts hearing this 💔” 

Then, Instagram user @cashmase wrote, “So many people are leaving this earth at such a young age. It makes you wonder what’s really going on. Condolences to her loved ones. 🙏🏾” 

Another Instagram user @knhiya wrote, “somebody check on stitch please! 😢” 

Instagram user @brittany_latrice wrote, “I will never forget how she got on top of Mertle & whoopeddddd her 😢👏🕊️” 

Then another Instagram user @_.taepapi wrote, ‘Very young.😢 , they taking away all our childhood people!” 

While another Instagram user @iam_superman_1914 wrote, “So sad to hear 🙏🏾” 

Finally, Instagram user @thegr8tkellen wrote, “This is terrible 🥹” 

RELATED: Prayers Up! Viral Video Shows 21-Year-Old Woman In Brazil Being Tossed Off Bridge Before Her Bungee Safety Cord Is Attached 

Fans are still in shock after news broke that Jelly Roll filed for divorce from his wife, Bunnie XO. Even though reports claim the split was a mutual decision, folks online immediately flooded their posts with reactions. Many fans pulled up to Bunnie XO’s latest comment section, leaving hearts and tears as they continue to process the update.

RELATED: Issa New Chapter? Bunnie XO Teases Getting Her “Sparkle Back” After Jelly Roll’s Divorce Filing Surfaces (VIDEO) 

Bunnie XO’s Comments Filled With Reactions Amid Divorce From Jelly Roll

As fans wait to hear from Jelly Roll and Bunnie XO, they are continuing to send comforting messages across social media. On the same day the news of their divorce went public, Bunnie dropped a post of her vibing out to Nickelback’s ‘How You Remind Me.’ She rocked a bralette top and jeans while she lip-synced the lyrics, giving full energy in the clip. In the caption, she didn’t say much — she just called the song a “banger” and added a kiss emoji.

Emotional Reactions Pour In After Jelly Roll’s Divorce Filling

Fans immediately flooded the comment section of Bunnie’s latest post as the news spread. Some dropped uplifting messages and others appeared to pick sides, showing support for Bunnie amid the split. Peep some of the reactions below.

Instagram user @reneegraziano wrote, “Team Bunnie!!! FOREVA.” 

Instagram user @sadiee.skyee wrote, “Sending prayers for you sweetheart ❤️” 

While Instagram user @lovemydoggggg wrote, “You helped him when he was homeless and helped him get custody of his daughter and now that he’s made a name for himself he’s leaving you see this is why I have trust issues.💔” 

Then Instagram user @selfmade_1176 wrote, “bunny, bunny, bunny you will be OK. i can’t believe you stayed as long as you did. never been a jelly roll fan but i’ve always been a fan of you 🫶🏻♥️⭐️✨” 

Another Instagram user @becc.a_love wrote, “😢😢😢 Just heard the news about you and Jelly. I’m saddened. Sending love and peace your way. ❤️❤️❤️” 

Instagram user @la_jefa_princesa wrote, “The vibe of a woman who knows her worth 🙌 his loss . Her gain. ✨🏆 don’t ever let a man keep you down.” 

Finally, Instagram user @murderousjewels wrote, “Just wanted to let you know I think you are an amazing woman. Sending you so much love and light. ❤️❤️❤️❤️” 

More About Jelly Roll & Bunnie’s Split

TMZ first broke the news about Jelly Roll and Bunnie XO’s divorce. The outlet reported that the country singer filed the documents on May 18 in Williamson County, Tennessee. He listed May 9 as their separation date and cited irreconcilable differences as the reason for their split. TMZ sources also claimed that the decision was mutual and related to a private family matter. Jelly Roll and Bunnie XO have been together for 10 years. They first met in 2015 at one of his Las Vegas concerts. A year later, he proposed to her onstage at another Vegas show and that same night they eloped at a courthouse chapel.

RELATED: Jelly Roll’s Daughter Speaks Out As Fans Flood His Comments With STRONG Words Amid Him Filing For Divorce From Bunnie XO 

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 10 seconds ago

This summer, something unthinkable happened. The Mandalorian and Grogu, the first Star Wars movie since 2019, ended up earning less in its opening weekend than Solo, the lowest-performing live-action movie in the franchise. Soon enough, the movie was getting its butt kicked by Obsession and Backrooms, two low-budget horror movies. Once upon a time, Star Wars was the biggest sci-fi franchise in the world. Now, it’s generating less buzz than scary movies by a couple of directors who weren’t even alive when The Phantom Menace came out. For fans of a galaxy far, far away, this leaves one question: where did everything go wrong?

Needless to say, you won’t be hearing too many official statements from Disney or Lucasfilm about when and where their expensive franchise went off the rails. However, in an ironic twist, the most hated Star Wars director may have accidentally revealed the franchise’s biggest problem. While working on The Last Jedi, Luke Skywalker actor Mark Hamill frequently questioned director Rian Johnson’s decisions. At one point, Hamill told Johnson, “We gotta think of what the audience wants.” Whenever he mentioned this, the director uttered the words that arguably doomed the entire franchise: “No, we’ve gotta think of what we want.”

He Had A Bad Feeling About This

Way back in December 2017, Rolling Stone interviewed several of the creators and actors behind the Star Wars Sequel Trilogy. They uncovered plenty of interesting tidbits, including the fact that Rey actor Daisy Ridley cried when she learned that J.J. Abrams wasn’t coming back to direct The Last Jedi. But the outlet also learned more about something that would eventually set the fandom on fire: the creative disputes between Mark Hamill and Last Jedi director Rian Johnson. Over the years, we’d learn about plenty of the actor’s objections, including the fact that he hated Luke giving up on everything and ultimately dying at the end of the film.

The reason the debate between actor and director got so much attention is that Hamill was (as if seeing the future through the Force) trying to warn Johnson about all the things the fandom was going to hate about The Last Jedi. In his interview with Rolling Stone, Hamill revealed an exchange that arguably foreshadowed the failure of the Star Wars franchise. “At times, I’d say to Rian, ‘We gotta think of what the audience wants.” To this, Johnson would always offer the same response: “No, we’ve gotta think of what we want.’ 

Was Rian Johnson Right? From A Certain Point Of View

To hear Mark Hamill tell the story, Rian Johnson was right, and it was simply “a learning process” for the actor to process those words. To hear angry fans, though, the director’s words are a real smoking gun. He’s basically confirming that he cared more about doing what he wanted to do, something that would always take precedence over what the audience wants. So, that makes this a cut-and-dry case, right? Johnson and the rest of Lucasfilm dismissed what fans actually wanted and then did the shocked Pikachu face when fans stopped showing up, right?

Well…yes and no. In hindsight, it’s obvious that The Last Jedi was not what most audiences wanted. Sure, it made over a billion dollars, it annoyed fans enough that, half a year later, Solo: A Star Wars Story became the lowest-earning live-action movie in franchise history, a terrible record that may be beaten by The Mandalorian and Grogu. For that matter, it looks like the latest Star Wars movie is on track to make about 85 percent less than The Force Awakens. It would be easy to say that directors ignoring what the fans want has really killed Star Wars, a franchise whose movies used to regularly earn over a billion dollars at the box office.

Figuring Out What Fans Want

However, it’s not that simple. As a kind of course correction, J.J. Abrams used The Rise of Skywalker to walk back the most controversial elements of The Last Jedi (like Rey being a nobody, like Snoke being the Big Bad, like Rose being a main character, etc.) and pander to our nostalgia with appearances from Emperor Palpatine, Lando Calrissian, and (most inexplicably) Han Solo. Basically, it was the most blatant attempt to give fans exactly what the director thought they wanted. However, the pandering failed, and the movie was considered such a critical and creative failure that Star Wars stayed out of theaters for seven years.

What’s the lesson here? Obviously, just ignoring what fans want to see is a great way to kill your franchise. However, trying to tilt into full-blown fan service is also a great way to turn people off because audiences still enjoy excitement and surprise. To create a successful Star Wars movie or show, you need to have people more like George Lucas: ones who have a passion for the universe, who know how to plan, and who are willing to take creative choices. Once upon a time, it seemed like The Mandalorian creator Jon Favreau was such a person; after all, he distilled the space western into its purest elements, to great audience acclaim. 

Is Star Wars About To Explode?

Additionally, Dave Filoni took the best of what fans actually liked about the prequels to create Clone Wars, arguably the best Star Wars show ever made. Unfortunately, just as Lucas fell off with the prequels, Favreau and Filoni have both stumbled. The third season of Favreau’s The Mandalorian weakened as it tried to embrace the rest of the franchise, and Filoni’s devotion to his own past work has led to one cringe moment (like Cad Bane in The Book of Boba Fett) to another (like giving Sabine a weird Jedi retcon in Ahsoka). Now, The Mandalorian and Grogu (written by Filoni, directed by Favreau) is wheezing its way to the end of a disappointing theatrical run.

There’s some good news here: while they have had some recent creative misfires, both Favreau and Filoni have created really great projects for the franchise. However, Lucasfilm needs to hire some new creators who are basically unicorns. That is, we need somebody who is willing to take risks like Rian Johnson, someone who understands the rule of cool like Favreau, and someone utterly steeped in franchise lore like Filoni. The Last Jedi was risky but uncool; The Mandalorian and Grogu was cool, but not risky. If Lucasfilm can find someone who can bring balance to the franchise by combining all of the above qualities, they might actually save Star Wars. 

Otherwise, Star Wars will die in the most ironic way: by continuing to play it safe by pandering to a fandom that can’t even agree on what they want.

Olivia Wilde is reflecting on one of the most challenging moments in her life.

The sensational actress faced a significant hurdle in 2022, which made her a topic of discussion for months. Although she handled the situation like a professional, the aftermath weighed heavily on her behind closed doors.

The issue stemmed from Olivia Wilde’s ex-fiancé, actor Jason Sudeikis, serving her legal papers while she was on stage. The former couple shares two children, son Otis, and daughter Daisy.

Wilde poured her heart out in a June 17 podcast appearance, sharing more about the most unforgettable moment in her life and career. She was on stage promoting her movie, “Don’t Worry Darling,” at the 2022 CinemaCon when her speech was rudely interrupted by an envelope.

She had been served with legal papers connected to the custody of her two children with Sudeikis at what should have been her big moment as a director. Wilde described the moment as “one of the most f-cked up things” she had ever experienced on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast, adding:

“It was incredibly traumatizing. There’s so many elements to that. But I get through it because, weirdly, as women, we’re taught to muscle through the most insane experiences.”

The Filmmaker Broke Down Despite Handling The Situation On Stage

Wilde confessed that she wasn’t the epitome of calm and composed at that moment, recalling that she pushed herself to complete her speech and exit the stage before breaking down. She recalled dissolving into a puddle backstage and hoping no one saw what happened. 

Despite her wishes, the news broke the next day with a video capturing the moment she was served papers on stage. Then the actress hoped the news wouldn’t spread, but got her hopes crushed two months later by Tom Cruise, who sympathized with her situation.

As for how she handled the aftermath, Wilde explained that she had to remove herself from what she felt was “a tornado.” She stepped back from the spotlight and focused on growing behind the scenes with some professional help. In the entertainer’s words:

“I did a sh-t ton of therapy. I took it as an opportunity to rebuild myself at this point in my life. And I think there is value to that.”

Olivia Wilde Doesn’t Know If Her Ex-Fiancé Planned The Shocking Moment

When asked if she ever got clarity about whether Sudeikis had intentionally planned to serve her legal documents on stage, Wilde said no. She confirmed her ex-fiancé denied staging the humiliating scene and chose to believe him for the sake of their co-parenting relationship.

Wilde added that she knew attorneys were capable of doing “f-cked up” things; however, she knew people were “never their best selves when they’re engaging in that kind of process.” She doubled down on the incident being “f-cked up in so many ways” and believed the outcome similarly hurt Sudeikis.

“I know it really hurt him to see it happening to me. Like, I think it was undeniable that it was, like, a f-cked up thing, and I know he felt very, very bad that it happened to me,” the filmmaker shared. She reiterated that she needed a lot of therapy to move on, noting she still got professional help.

The Independent Spirit Award Honoree Once Described The Moment As ‘Vicious’

The podcast wasn’t the first time Wilde addressed the shocking incident, as she spoke to Variety about what happened in a 2022 interview. At the time, the film director was still seething in anger, hating how the “nastiness” had distracted people from the work presented at CinemaCon.

“To try to sabotage that was really vicious,” she quipped, hinting at the legal confrontation being one of her ex’s schemes. The actress claimed she was not entirely surprised by getting served legal papers on stage, noting, “There’s a reason I left that relationship.”

Besides feeling regretful about how things turned out at CinemaCon, Wilde was also upset by how the incident impacted her kids. She claimed they were hurt by the situation, admitting it was “deeply painful” to watch her children get dragged into the spotlight.

Olivia Wilde And Jason Sudeikis’ Relationship Timeline

Wilde and Sudeikis met for the first time in 2011 at a “Saturday Night Live” finale party. That same year, they sparked dating rumors after they were spotted sitting side-by-side at a baseball game. A year later, the actress confirmed she was living with the comedian.

Their romance quickly heated up with Sudeikis proposing in January 2013, nearly two years after their first meeting. He popped the big question with a 1920s Parisian engagement ring that featured a circle of emeralds around a center diamond, per PEOPLE.

Their son Otis was born in April 2014, and their daughter, Daisy, in October 2016. Four years later, Wilde and Sudeikis ended their engagement in November 2020. After the public legal confrontation, a source claimed the exes were no longer on speaking terms.