As House of the Dragon Season 3 gears up towards its finale, fans will no doubt be looking for a new show to fill the void the fantasy series leaves behind. While Game of Thrones could quench some of that thirst, finding something new to binge instead might be the best option. Thanks to its huge impact on the zeitgeist, there are now many fantasy and medieval-inspired shows around, but few are as good and underrated asThe Last Kingdom. With five near-perfect seasons and one movie, this hidden Netflix gem adapts one of the most celebrated historical fiction book series, following protagonist Uhtred of Bebbanburg (Alexander Dreymon) as he takes part in some of the defining moments of English medieval history.
‘The Last Kingdom’ Adapts Bernard Cornwell’s Classic ‘Saxon Stories’ Book Series
As beloved as it is, the chief criticism of Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon is how much it veers off from George R.R. Martin‘s source material. This was never too much of a problem for The Last Kingdom, which adapts Bernard Cornwell‘s classic book series, The Saxon Stories, a story that is guided by historical events. Each season adapts two books of the 13-entry saga; there are plenty of changes from the original story towards the end, but it’s ultimately for the best.
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Collider Exclusive · Game of Thrones Personality Quiz Which Game of Thrones House Do You Belong To? Stark · Lannister · Targaryen · Baratheon · Tyrell
Five great houses. Five completely different answers to the same question: how do you hold power in a world that will take it from you the moment you stop paying attention? Eight questions will determine where your loyalties — and your nature — truly lie.
🐺Stark
🦁Lannister
🐉Targaryen
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🦌Baratheon
🌹Tyrell
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01
Someone powerful is acting dishonourably and everyone knows it. What do you do? In Westeros, the answer to this question has ended more than one great house.
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02
What is the source of your power? Every house endures because of something. What is it for yours?
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03
Who do you truly fight for? Strip away the banners and the words. The honest answer tells you everything.
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04
How do you deal with your enemies? A house’s method reveals its character as clearly as its words ever could.
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05
What kind of ruler do you believe in? Westeros is full of answers to this question. Most of them end badly.
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06
You suffer a devastating loss. How does your house respond? How a house handles defeat tells you more about it than how it handles victory.
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07
Which of these truths about Westeros do you most believe? Every house has a philosophy. This is yours.
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08
The Iron Throne is within reach. What do you do? The answer reveals not just your ambition — but your character.
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The Maester Has Spoken Your House Is…
Your answers point to the great house whose words, values, and way of surviving in Westeros match your own. Bend the knee — or don’t. That’s very much up to you.
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Winterfell · The North
🐺 House Stark
Winter is Coming — and you have always known it. You prepare not out of fear but out of duty, because the people who depend on you deserve someone who takes the long view.
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You lead with honour even when it costs you, because you understand that a reputation built on integrity is the only one worth having.
Your loyalty to family and people runs deep — not as sentiment but as a code that doesn’t bend when things get difficult.
The North endures because Starks endure — not by being the cleverest players in the game, but by being the kind of people others are willing to follow into the cold.
You are that kind of person. The pack survives. The lone wolf dies. You already know which one you are.
Casterly Rock · The Westerlands
🦁 House Lannister
You understand the game — its rules, its exceptions, and exactly when the rules become the exception. You play it without illusions and without apology.
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You are sharper than most people realise, and you have learned to use that gap to your advantage.
A Lannister always pays their debts — and you always keep your word, because your word is an instrument of power, and instruments must be kept in working order.
You love your family with a ferocity that sometimes blinds you, and you know it, and you do it anyway.
The lion doesn’t concern itself with the opinion of sheep. Neither, in the end, do you.
Dragonstone · The Iron Throne
🐉 House Targaryen
You carry a sense of destiny that is difficult to explain and impossible to ignore — the feeling that you are not simply participating in the world but meant to reshape it.
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You are capable of extraordinary things, and you know it, and that knowledge is both your greatest strength and your most dangerous quality.
Fire and blood are not just words to you — they are a philosophy about what change requires and what it costs.
The Targaryens at their best were transformative rulers who broke chains and defied the limits of what anyone thought possible.
At your best, so are you. The dragon has three heads. You are one of them.
Storm’s End · The Stormlands
🦌 House Baratheon
You are a force — direct, powerful, and difficult to ignore when you enter a room or a conflict. You do not negotiate with challenges. You meet them.
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Ours is the fury — and yours is a kind of intensity that commands attention, respect, and occasionally fear from those who underestimate what’s behind it.
You value strength and straight dealing. You’d rather know where you stand in a fight than navigate a web of courtly whispers.
The Baratheons built their house on the back of one of the greatest military victories in Westerosi history — and then struggled with what came after.
The lesson of your house is that winning is not the end of the story. Governing is. You are learning that too.
Highgarden · The Reach
🌹 House Tyrell
You understand that power does not always announce itself — that sometimes it arrives with flowers, good wine, and a smile that doesn’t quite reach the eyes.
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Growing strong is your house’s motto, and you live it: patiently, strategically, always investing in the relationships and resources that will matter most when it counts.
You are charming by choice and calculating by nature — a combination that makes you one of the most effective players in any room you enter.
The Tyrells fed King’s Landing and shaped its politics without ever sitting on the Iron Throne — and they were arguably more powerful for it.
You know that the person who controls the food controls the kingdom. And you always know where the food is.
The story follows Uhtred, the son of a Saxon nobleman who is captured and raised by Danes during the Viking invasions. Aware of his birthright as heir to Bebbanburg in Northumbria, but also of his own affection and respect for the people who became his family, he is caught in the middle of the conflict between these two cultures and peoples — Saxon kingdoms fighting for survival and Viking armies seeking to expand. Uhtred’s internal dilemma is the plot’s emotional anchor, as he struggles to figure out his place in such turbulent and violent times.
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The Last Kingdom wraps up in Season 5, but Uhtred’s story comes to an end in The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die, a movie released by Netflix in 2023 to wrap up the adaptations of Cornwell’s books. Given the timing of each release, the series was never ahead of the books in terms of story, so even with a few deviations from the book, everything was ultimately tied up neatly. Right now, The Last Kingdom holds 95% audience approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, a testament to how well developed it was.
‘The Last Kingdom’ Shares Many Similarities With ‘Game of Thrones’
Alexander Dreymon in a fur capelet looking intently off-camera in The Last Kingdom.Image via Netflix
While there obviously is no magic in The Last Kingdom, it’s easy to see why it really is the perfect Game of Thrones replacement. Instead of fantasy, it excels in portraying the fractured and fragile state of what is currently known as England in the Middle Ages. Simply put, it has lots of backstabbing and great battles, things that everyone loves from Westeros. The Last Kingdom‘s portrayal of Medieval England isn’t that different, as it was a time when many kings and lords often plotted against each other and sought to come out on top. Game of Thrones itself was highly inspired by the War of the Roses, so delving into medieval history might not be as outlandish as it seems.
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With all of that plotting and scheming, the whole country is also under threat from the Vikings. This adds another layer of complexity to the story, as the invaders serve as a unifying factor for the multiple English kingdoms. Numerous as they may be, they still have a lot in common, including culture and religion, while the Vikings essentially mean the end of this way of life should they win. With the Vikings serving as a unifying force for the kingdoms, it is easy to draw a parallel between the Danes and the White Walker threat from Game of Thrones. But while Game of Thrones turns the White Walkers into straightforward villains, The Last Kingdom gives the Danes more depth and complexity.
Obviously, The Last Kingdom is not a one-to-one replacement for Game of Thrones. As Bernard Cornwell once pointed out, his work “is rooted in reality,” and sees similarities to Game of Thrones going only as far as both having “brutal men in chain mail and leather beating the sh*t out of each other.” George R.R. Martin, on the other hand, has been a huge fan of The Last Kingdomfor a while, despite its “notable lack of dragons and magic.”
There Has Never Been a Better Time To Binge ‘The Last Kingdom’
Game of Thrones isn’t the only show in recent memory that features a frustrating ending, nor the only adaptation of a great literary series that has to deal with the uncertainty of running out of source material. In this sense, The Last Kingdom is the diametrical opposite to the HBO fantasy series. The Last Kingdom is a rare case of a series with a beginning, middle, and ending, as well as compelling characters and stories that aren’t dropped or forgotten as the story progresses season after season.
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With House of the Dragon about to wrap up Season 3, it might be a while before Westeros is back on TV; Season 4 is still far away, and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is just about to wrap up filming for Season 2. The Last Kingdom, however, is available via Netflix at least until the end of the year. Its similarly structured seasons and thematic parallels make for a seamless transition, and, as a whole, the series ultimately proves that history can be every bit as gripping as fantasy.
The Last Kingdom is available to watch on Netflix.
Anya Taylor-Joy is quietly having one of the biggest years of her career, and things aren’t going to slow down as 2026 goes along. Taylor-Joy can be seen starring opposite Timothy Olyphant in the new Apple TV crime thriller series, Lucky, which has aired its first few episodes. ATJ previously starred in one of Apple TV’s biggest ever sci-fi movies, The Gorge, which is still in the top 10 more than a year removed from its global premiere. After reprising her role as Princess Peach in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, which was the first film of 2026 to reach $1 billion at the global box office, she’ll star in another sci-fi blockbuster later this year, Dune: Part Three. The massive time jump between Dune: Part Two and Part Three allows her to step into a much larger role as Alia Atreides.
Anya Taylor-Joy has starred in plenty of important sci-fi projects in her young but impressive career, but arguably the best of all came back in 2024 when she teamed up with Chris Hemsworth for Furiosa. The Mad Max: Fury Road prequel film saw ATJ step into the role of Furiosa, who was previously played by Charlize Theron in the 2015 sci-fi film. Furiosa earned immaculate scores of 90% from critics and 88% from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes, but the film struggled at the box office under the weight of its $168 million budget, only just managing to earn it back and gross $174 million globally. Furiosa has found a home streaming on HBO Max since the end of its theatrical run, and the film is still charting in the top 10 in more than 10 countries, and it’s also found success on VOD.
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Collider Exclusive · Sci-Fi Survival Quiz Which Sci-Fi World Would You Survive? The Matrix · Mad Max · Blade Runner · Dune · Star Wars
Five universes. Five completely different ways the future went wrong — or sideways, or up in flames. Only one of them is the world your instincts were built for. Eight questions will figure out which dystopia, galaxy, or desert wasteland you’d actually make it out of alive.
💊The Matrix
🔥Mad Max
🌧️Blade Runner
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🏜️Dune
🚀Star Wars
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01
You sense something is deeply wrong with the world around you. What do you do? The first instinct is often the truest one.
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02
In a world of scarcity, what resource do you guard most fiercely? What we protect reveals what we believe survival actually requires.
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03
What kind of threat keeps you up at night? Fear is useful data — if you’re honest about what you’re actually afraid of.
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04
How do you deal with authority you don’t trust? Every dystopia has a power structure. Your approach to it determines everything.
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05
Which environment could you actually endure long-term? Survival isn’t just tactical — it’s physical, psychological, and very much about where you are.
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06
Who do you want in your corner when things fall apart? The company you keep is the clearest signal of who you actually are.
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07
Where do you draw the line — if you draw one at all? Every survivor eventually faces a moment that tests what they’re actually made of.
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08
What would actually make survival worth it? Staying alive is one thing. Having a reason to is another.
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Your Fate Has Been Calculated You’d Survive In…
Your answers point to the world your instincts were built for. This is the universe your temperament, your survival instincts, and your particular brand of stubbornness were made for.
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The Resistance, Zion
The Matrix
You took the red pill a long time ago — probably before anyone offered it to you. You’re a systems thinker who can’t help but notice the seams in things.
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You’re drawn to understanding how the system works before figuring out how to break it.
You’d find the Resistance, or it would find you — your instinct for spotting constructed realities is the machines’ worst nightmare.
You function best when you have access to information and the freedom to act on it.
The Matrix built an airtight prison. You’d be the one probing the walls for the door.
The Wasteland
Mad Max
The wasteland doesn’t reward the clever or the well-connected — it rewards those who are hard to kill and harder to break. That’s you.
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You don’t need comfort, community, or a cause larger than the next horizon.
You need a vehicle, a clear threat, and enough fuel to outrun it — and you’re good at all three.
You are unsentimental enough to survive that world, and decent enough — just barely — to be something more than another raider.
In the wasteland, that distinction is everything.
Los Angeles, 2049
Blade Runner
You’d survive here because you know how to exist in moral grey areas without losing yourself completely.
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You read people accurately, keep your circle small, and ask the questions others prefer not to answer.
In a city where humanity is a legal designation rather than a feeling, you hold onto something that keeps you functional.
You’re not a hero. But you’re not lost, either.
In Blade Runner’s world, that distinction is everything.
Arrakis
Dune
Arrakis is the most hostile environment in the known universe — and you are precisely the kind of person it rewards.
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Patience, discipline, and political awareness are your core strengths — and on Arrakis, they’re survival tools.
You understand that the long game matters more than any single victory.
Others come to Dune and are consumed by it. You’d learn its logic and earn its respect.
In time, you wouldn’t just survive Arrakis — you’d begin to reshape it.
A Galaxy Far, Far Away
Star Wars
The galaxy far, far away is vast, loud, and in a constant state of violent political upheaval — and you wouldn’t have it any other way.
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You find meaning in being part of something larger than yourself — a cause, a crew, a rebellion.
You’d gravitate toward the Rebellion, or the fringes, or whatever pocket of the galaxy still believes the Empire’s grip can be broken.
You fight — not because you have to, but because standing aside isn’t something you’re capable of.
In Star Wars, that willingness is what makes all the difference.
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Is George Miller Making Another ‘Mad Max’ Movie?
George Miller has confirmed that he has another idea for a new Mad Max movie, but it’s unclear at this time if the film will ever get made. After losing a fortune footing the bill for Furiosa, Warner Bros. reportedly passed on Miller’s next Mad Max movie, which he plans to make before selling the franchise outright to a big studio. If Miller can convince a studio to provide funding for his final Mad Max movie, fans could see another chapter of the Wasteland in the next few years.
Check out Furiosa on HBO Max and stay tuned to Collider for more updates and coverage of Anya Taylor-Joy’s future projects.
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Jennifer Aniston has a knack for making the simplest vacation outfits feel incredibly chic. During a recent getaway, the actress reminded us that you don’t need designer accessories or over-the-top trends to look polished — sometimes all it takes is a simple pair of black flip-flops. Even better, recreating the look costs just $15.
The Friends alum was recently spotted vacationing in Mallorca, Spain, pairing classic black flip-flops with light-wash loose jeans, a crisp white tank, a black beach hat and a roomy brown tote. The relaxed outfit perfectly reflected her signature laid-back aesthetic, and while we don’t know the exact sandals she packed, recreating the look is surprisingly affordable.
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Get the Kidmi Memory Foam Thong Flip Flops for $15 (Was $27) at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.
The Kidmi Memory Foam Thong Flip Flops deliver the same versatile look as Aniston’s vacation footwear — no celeb budget needed! Available in her exact black shade, along with cream, brown and several other neutral colors, the sandals come in sizes 6 through 11.5. They’re also a customer favorite, with more than 1,000 pairs purchased in the past month alone.
If anyone can convince Us to embrace the French girl style, it’s Gigi Hadid. The supermodel stepped out in an effortlessly chic outfit that makes you want to book a flight to Paris, and it was complete with one timeless shoe trend stylish French women never seem to retire. Even better? You can steal the […]
Looks aside, these flip-flops are designed for days when you’re constantly on the move. The cushioned memory foam footbed wrapped in vegan leather helps soften every step, while the non-slip rubber outsole provides extra grip whether you’re strolling a seaside boardwalk, exploring a new city or heading to the neighborhood pool.
The comfort has shoppers raving. One reviewer who packed them for a vacation to Mexico said they walked “around 5,000+ steps a day” with “no worry or blisters.” Another buyer described the memory foam footbed as “cushioned and supportive,” adding it felt like “walking on little clouds.”
If there’s one lesson to take from Aniston’s vacation wardrobe, it’s that the classics rarely disappoint. A comfy pair of black flip-flops goes with practically everything you’ll pack, making these $15 sandals an easy addition to your summer lineup.
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Get the Kidmi Memory Foam Thong Flip Flops for $15 (Was $27) at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.
Looking for something else? Explore more from Kidmi here and don’t forget to check out all of Amazon’s Daily Deals for more great finds!
Welcome to summer with our biggest sale of the year. This summer’s chicest dresses, tops and swimsuits are all over 30% + free shipping. Inventory is limited so hurry before they’re gone.
Bethenny Frankel just served up a poolside look that had Us rethinking everything we thought we knew about bold swimsuits. The former Real Housewives of New York star reached for a vibrant red one-piece that felt equal parts timeless, flattering and confidence-boosting, proving women over 50 don’t have to play it safe at the beach. […]
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Packing for a Greek vacation is one thing. Finding a dress that can handle sightseeing, long dinners by the water and every photo in between is another. Luckily, Sofia Vergara may have just found the ultimate suitcase staple — and you can steal the look for just $20.
Vergara was recently spotted soaking up the sun in Greece wearing a black spaghetti strap bodycon maxi dress styled with slip-on raffia sandals, a matching raffia shoulder bag and white cat-eye sunglasses. The effortlessly chic look proved you don’t need a complicated outfit to make a statement on vacation. Better yet, we found a nearly identical version that captures the same easygoing elegance for just $20 on Amazon.
The Lillusory Bodycon Spaghetti Strap Maxi Dress delivers the same sleek, minimalist vibe as Vergara’s vacation-ready look. Available in classic black along with brown, pink, white and several other colors, it’s the kind of versatile staple you can wear on repeat all season long. It also comes in sizes XS through XL, making it easy to find your perfect fit.
Bethenny Frankel just served up a poolside look that had Us rethinking everything we thought we knew about bold swimsuits. The former Real Housewives of New York star reached for a vibrant red one-piece that felt equal parts timeless, flattering and confidence-boosting, proving women over 50 don’t have to play it safe at the beach. […]
What makes this dress especially worth packing is its versatility. Pair it with raffia sandals and a woven tote for beachside lunches, then swap in a denim jacket and ankle boots once temperatures cool. As one shopper put it, it’s a “versatile” dress with “hundreds of ways to style this,” making it a piece you’ll keep reaching for long after vacation ends.
The soft, stretchy fabric hugs in all the right places without feeling restrictive, while the delicate spaghetti straps and double-lined construction help create a smooth, flattering fit. It’s also earned more than 1,800 five-star ratings from Amazon shoppers. One reviewer called it “buttery soft and comfortable” and “super easy to walk in and wear for hours,” exactly what you want when you’re exploring charming streets or lingering over dinner with an ocean view.
Whether you’re planning a Mediterranean getaway or simply want to bring a little vacation energy to your everyday wardrobe, this easy maxi dress is the kind of timeless piece you’ll wear again and again. At just $20, it’s an effortless way to channel Vergara’s polished vacation style without splurging.
Welcome to summer with our biggest sale of the year. This summer’s chicest dresses, tops and swimsuits are all over 30% + free shipping. Inventory is limited so hurry before they’re gone.
If anyone can convince Us to embrace the French girl style, it’s Gigi Hadid. The supermodel stepped out in an effortlessly chic outfit that makes you want to book a flight to Paris, and it was complete with one timeless shoe trend stylish French women never seem to retire. Even better? You can steal the […]
Mike “The Miz” Mizanin has faced John Cena in the main event of WrestleMania, starred in movies, and spent years performing under the bright lights of WWE. However, his next challenge comes with a different kind of pressure and a staggering number of hot dogs. On Saturday, August 1, the Ohio native will team up with Smirnoff Ice in Put-in-Bay to attempt two Guinness World Records: the Largest Display of Hot Dogs and the Largest Hot Dog Party.
Although the concept may sound like a lighthearted way to celebrate summer, The Miz revealed in an exclusive interview with The Blast that there are strict rules behind the attempt. If even one participant fails to follow the instructions, it could jeopardize the entire record-breaking event.
5RB/Bauergriffin.com / MEGA
When asked how he was handling the pressure of attempting two records in a single day, The Miz pointed to his lengthy WWE résumé as proof that he knows how to perform when the stakes are high.
“Well, I’m a pressure player. That’s what I like. I thrive on pressure,” he told The Blast. “I beat John Cena in the main event of WrestleMania 27 and retained the WWE Championship. So in the lights of the brightest, that’s when I step up to the plate.”
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The WWE Superstar will serve as the host of the event, but his responsibilities will go beyond keeping hundreds of attendees entertained. He will also have to make sure everyone understands and follows the requirements necessary for Guinness World Records to recognize both attempts.
“It’s basically me being the host that I can be, Smirnoff Ice being the product that it is, and basically putting on a party of a lifetime, but not only that, everyone needs to follow directions,” The Miz explained. “So I’m gonna make sure that everyone is following the directions, so we can break two records.”
He added very confidently, “If everyone doesn’t come together as a cohesive team, this will not happen, but we’re not talking about that because this is gonna happen.”
The first goal is to create the World’s Largest Display of Hot Dogs, which The Miz was told will be larger than an NFL logo. However, simply arranging a massive number of hot dogs will not be enough to secure the title. According to The Miz, every hot dog must have a condiment, and separate participants will be responsible for adding those toppings.
“Now, it’s weird, because you have to have a condiment on there, and each hot dog will have a different condiment, and a different person has to put that on there,” he shared. “So there’s going to be a lot of direction, a lot of people.”
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Once the display is completed and officially recognized, the event will immediately transition into the attempt to hold the world’s Largest Hot Dog Party. “And then right after we break the record for World’s Largest Hot Dog Display, we’re going right into the World’s Largest Hot Dog Party, and it is going to be big,” The Miz declared. “It’s gonna be gigantic.”
One Participant Could Jeopardize The Entire Attempt
The Miz emphasized that Guinness World Records does not simply hand out titles to anyone who gathers enough people and supplies. The organizers held an hour-long meeting ahead of the event to review the requirements and make sure every detail was accounted for.
While The Miz did not want to introduce any negativity, he acknowledged that one person failing to complete their assigned role correctly could affect everyone involved. “There’s a lot of rules in the Guinness Book of World Records. They don’t just give it to everybody,” he told The Blast. “You don’t just throw something together, and it happens.”
“I’m not going to put negativity out there, but if someone doesn’t do what they need to do, they can ruin it for the entire city,” he continued. “And for the entire state of Ohio. And I’m not going to let that happen as host.”
The Miz admitted that the amount of planning behind the event may surprise those who initially viewed it as nothing more than a giant hot dog party. “It sounds like a joke. It sounds funny, but it’s a lot of work. It’s for real,” he said. “We’re gonna break two records, and it’s gonna be the best time ever.”
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Returning To Ohio Makes The Event Personal For The Miz
Beyond the possibility of adding two Guinness World Records to his list of achievements, the event holds personal significance for The Miz because it brings him back to his home state. He grew up visiting the Put-in-Bay and Sandusky areas with his family, making his return especially nostalgic.
“As soon as they said Cleveland, Put-in-Bay, I instantly remembered memories, my family and I, being at the beach, you know, going in that area of Sandusky where you’d go to Cedar Point,” he shared. “It just brought back such fond memories.”
For The Miz, returning to a place tied to his childhood while attempting something unprecedented makes the occasion different from many of the other partnerships he has taken on throughout his career. “When you can go home, to the Cleveland area and go to Put-in-Bay, where I used to go as a kid with my family and break a couple world records. It feels warm in my heart,” he said. “Like I’m giddy about it. I’m excited about it, and I can’t wait to do it.”
His friends have already been reaching out about participating. “My friends are already texting me, going, ‘Hey, we’re doing this. It’s happening,’” The Miz revealed. “And I go, guys, I know. Not every day you get to break two world records in one day.”
The Miz may be willing to oversee hundreds of uniquely topped hot dogs, but his personal order is far less complicated. He named ketchup and mustard as his go-to combination, with relish or cheese occasionally making the cut.
Chili, however, is not welcome anywhere near his hot dog. “Some people like chili. I’m not that guy,” he admitted. “I’m not a chili on my hot dog type of person. It gets too sloppy. Too messy. Not for me.” He is not particularly interested in onions, either, joking that he does not want the bad breath following him around for the rest of the day.
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Whether every topping involved in the display meets The Miz’s personal approval will not matter nearly as much as every participant following the official directions. With the supplies secured, hundreds of people registering, and extensive preparations underway, the WWE Superstar is confident Ohio will end the day with two new records.
“With Smirnoff Ice’s help, my help, my friends from Cleveland’s help, and everybody that’s gonna be a part of this event at Put-in-Bay,” he said, “Oh, man, it’s gonna be something special. It’s gonna be something to watch.”
2026 has been one of the biggest years of Matt Damon’s career — possibly the biggest, which says a lot when you’ve had the career that he has. Damon opened 2026 by reuniting with his long-time friend and collaborator Ben Affleck for The Rip, the Netflix original crime thriller that dropped back in January. The film picked up over 100 million views before it finally lost steam in March. Damon followed his work in The Rip with the most ambitious project of his entire career, The Odyssey, the new historical epic from director Christopher Nolan. The film is already shattering records at the box office on its way to becoming one of the highest-rated movies of all time. Damon may be one of the best actors of all time, but not all of his projects are certified hits.
Back in 2021, when the movie industry and the world as a whole was still reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic, Damon starred in a largely forgotten drama that’s making a comeback on streaming. Damon features alongside Camille Cottin and Abigail Breslin in Stillwater, which earned less than $20 million at the box office due to the social distancing restrictions and theater closings happening at the time. With The Odyssey now out in theaters, fans are naturally curious to check out some of Damon’s recent work, and although Stillwater is not currently on streaming in America, the film is picking up steam on VOD in a handful of countries around the world. It’s quietly becoming one of the biggest VOD hits of the summer.
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Collider Exclusive · Taylor Sheridan Universe Quiz Which Taylor Sheridan Show Do You Belong In? Yellowstone · Landman · Tulsa King · Mayor of Kingstown
Four worlds. All of them brutal, complicated, and built on power, loyalty, and the price of survival. Taylor Sheridan doesn’t write heroes — he writes people who do what they have to do and live with the cost. Ten questions will reveal which one of his worlds you were made for.
🤠Yellowstone
🛢️Landman
👑Tulsa King
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⚖️Mayor of Kingstown
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01
Where does your power come from? In Sheridan’s world, everyone has leverage. The question is what kind.
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02
Who do you put first, no matter what? Loyalty in Sheridan’s universe is always absolute — and always costly.
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03
Someone crosses a line. How do you respond? Every Sheridan protagonist has a line. What matters is what happens after it’s crossed.
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04
Where do you feel most in your element? Sheridan’s worlds are as much about place as they are about people.
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05
How do you feel about operating in the grey? Nobody in a Sheridan show has clean hands. The question is how they carry the dirt.
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06
What are you actually fighting to hold onto? Every Sheridan character is fighting a war. The real question is what they’re defending.
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07
How do you lead? Authority in Sheridan’s world is never given — it’s established, maintained, and constantly tested.
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08
Someone new arrives and tries to change how things work. Your reaction? Every Sheridan show has an outsider disrupting an established order. Sometimes that outsider is you.
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What has your position cost you? Nobody gets to where these characters are without paying for it. The bill is always personal.
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When it’s over, what do you want people to say? Sheridan’s characters all know the ending is coming. The question is what they leave behind.
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Sheridan Has Spoken You Belong In…
The show that claimed the most of your answers is the world you were built for. If two tied, both are shown — you’re complicated enough to straddle two Sheridan universes.
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🤠 Yellowstone
🛢️ Landman
👑 Tulsa King
⚖️ Mayor of Kingstown
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You are a Dutton — or you might as well be. You understand that some things are worth protecting at any cost, and that the modern world’s indifference to history, to land, to legacy, is not something you’re willing to accept quietly. You lead from the front, you carry your family’s weight without complaint, and when someone threatens what’s yours, you don’t escalate — you finish it. You’re not cruel. But you are absolute. In Yellowstone’s world, that combination of ferocity and loyalty doesn’t make you a villain. It makes you the only thing standing between everything that matters and everyone who wants to take it.
You thrive in the chaos of high-stakes negotiation, where the money is enormous, the margins are thin, and the wrong word in the wrong room can cost everyone everything. You’re a fixer — the person called when a situation is already on fire and needs someone with the nerve to walk into it. West Texas oil country rewards exactly what you are: sharp, adaptable, unsentimental, and absolutely clear-eyed about what people want and what they’ll do to get it. You’re not naive enough to think this world is fair. You’re smart enough to be the one deciding who it’s fair to.
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You are a Dwight Manfredi — someone who has served their time, paid their dues, and arrived somewhere unexpected with nothing but their reputation and their wits. You adapt without losing yourself. You build loyalty through respect rather than fear, though you’re not above reminding people that the two aren’t mutually exclusive. Tulsa King is for people who are still standing when everyone assumed they’d be finished — who find, in an unfamiliar place, that they’re more capable than the world gave them credit for. You don’t need a throne. You build one, wherever you happen to land.
You carry the weight of a system that is broken by design, and you do it anyway — because someone has to, and because you’re the only one positioned to do it without the whole thing collapsing. Mike McLusky’s world is for people who are comfortable operating where there are no good options, only less catastrophic ones. You speak every language: law enforcement, criminal, political, human. That fluency makes you invaluable and it makes you a target. You’ve made your peace with both. Mayor of Kingstown belongs to people who understand that keeping the peace is not the same as being at peace — and who do the job regardless.
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What Is ‘Stillwater’ About?
Stillwater follows a rugged man named Bill, who travels from Oklahoma to France to help his daughter, who is in prison being framed for murder. Bill is the definition of a fish out of water, and he couldn’t be further from the comforts of home in this story, but it forces him to confront how far he’s willing to go to protect those he loves. The film is reminiscent of what fans have seen writer Taylor Sheridan pull off in recent years with his movies and shows, especially with its focus on a grizzled blue-collar worker from Oklahoma. Stillwater earned solid scores of 75% from critics and 71% from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes.
Check out Stillwater on VOD platforms like Prime Video and stay tuned to Collider for more updates and coverage of Matt Damon’s future projects.
Chicago Fireis going through some cast changes — which means not everyone is returning for season 15.
The One Chicago franchise has been known for making headlines over the years as cast members often come and go across all three shows: Chicago Fire, Chicago Med and Chicago P.D. Before Chicago Fire returned for season 15, multiple outlets confirmed that Joe Miñoso was leaving the hit NBC series.
Off screen, showrunner Andrea Newmanexited the show after more than a decade.
Newman, who worked on Chicago Fire for its entire 14-season run, confirmed her departure in April, with coexecutive producer Victor Teran taking over the role. Newman joined Chicago Fire after the pilot as coexecutive producer before being promoted to executive producer. She was then named coshowrunner before becoming the sole showrunner in 2023.
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“Working at Chicago Fire, with the absolute best cast and crew in the business, has been the highlight of my career,” Newman said in a statement. “Like so many others, I was inspired to get into TV writing because of Dick [Wolf], so what a thrill it’s been to work with him and the amazing Wolf team of Peter Jankowski, Rebecca McGill and Anastasia Puglisi. I’m so grateful to them, Derek Haas and the NBC and Universal execs who have been so supportive of the show all along the way. After 14 years, you really do become a family and working with this group will always feel like home.”
Jankowski, meanwhile, released a separate statement, which read, “We’re sad to say goodbye to Andrea. She’s been at the center of the heart and soul of Chicago Fire since the beginning, and the show thrived under her watch. We’re grateful for her commitment to the development of the next generation and know the show will be in great hands with Victor taking the reins.”
While not everyone will remain on Chicago Fire, there is no show without Kinney’s character, Kelly Severide.
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David Eigenberg
Eigenberg is expected to return as Herrmann in season 15.
Christian Stolte
The expectation for now is that Stolte returns as Mouch.
Joe Miñoso
Miñoso played firefighter Joe Cruz since Chicago Fire premiered in 2012. According to reports, the actor is expected to appear in several episodes during season 15 before his exit.
Miranda Rae Mayo
Since Mayo has played Stella on Chicago Fire since 2016, the expectation is that she sticks around despite the possible shakeups behind the scenes.
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Hanako Greensmith
Greensmith is expected to remain on the show as Violet.
It is never easy to unexpectedly say goodbye to your favorite characters — and 2026 has featured an influx of shocking departures on our TV screens from Grey’s Anatomy to Virgin River. Virgin River fans were surprised when showrunner Patrick Sean Smith confirmed multiple characters were written off the show after season 7. Marco Grazzini addressed […]
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Jocelyn Hudon
The assumption is that Hudon will be back as Lizzie again.
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Da’Vinchi
Da’Vinchi joined the next season as Marcus Burke, according to Deadline. Da’Vinchi will portray a new firefighter candidate who is described as “roguish and funny with a wry sense of humor, and also a little defiant.”
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Dermot Mulroney
Mulroney was missing for several episodes in season 14 when he was written off the show with a story line that required him to be off screen. Mulroney appeared on Chicago Fire as Dom Pascal until Rob Morgan took over his position at Firehouse 51. Mulroney returned in the May 2026 finale after his future in the franchise seemed unclear.
He is expected to return in season 15 to wrap up his story line.
Ariana Grande has got fans debating the inspiration behind her latest song!
The sensational singer/actress sent fans into a frenzy after releasing “Bad Thing (Bunny Hop)” on Friday, July 31, as part of her new album, “Petal.”
The steamy lyrics had many believing Ariana Grande wrote the song for Ricky Alvarez, her ex-turned-current boyfriend. The former couple reunited following the end of the entertainer’s romance with Ethan Slater.
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The song in question made waves after its Friday release, with the official visualizer and lyrics dropping on YouTube. The track featured what appeared to be Grande’s confessions about a lover she’s head over heels for, with some of the words hinting at Alvarez.
The song’s second verse read: “You know you make a real good boyfriend. In my dreams, and in real life. Meet you by the staircase where we fell in love, let’s do it twice.” There were also lyrics about Grande wasting time with other men while her lover was “a good boy through all of this noise.”
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The catchy chorus saw Grande asking if the man has “been this fine the whole damn time,” with another verse noting their chemistry “never used to be like this.” The love confession sent fans spiraling on X, with many theorizing she wrote the song for Alvarez, as it seemingly depicted their situation.
Fans Speculate The Inspiration Behind The Singer’s ‘Bunny Hop’ Title
Although Grande’s new song is titled “Bad Thing (Bunny Hop),” the words bunny hop did not appear in the lyrics. Some fans speculated the track’s title was a hard launch of the singer’s rekindled romance with Alvarez, with one X user writing:
“Guys, she was dating Ricky during the time she was cosplaying as a f-cking playboy bunny, like come on.”
The fan’s comment referenced Grande’s 2016 “Dangerous Woman” album cover art, where she posed in a black latex rabbit mask. Another X user agreed with the theory, claiming the singer added “Bunny Hop” to the song’s title to reference her relationship with Alvarez during her “Dangerous Woman” era.
The Song’s Lyrics Have Fans Screaming Ricky Alvarez
The theories continued, with more fans arguing that the song’s lyrics pointed to Alvarez. An X user pointed out that Grande mentioned the word “twice” and “a staircase” where they fell in love. “It takes me back to the honeymoon tour when he was always there for her by the stage staircase,” they wrote.
A fellow supporter noted the song was about Alvarez and his intimate relationship with the “Sam & Cat” alum. Someone else claimed the lyrics showcased Grande’s regret of not choosing the dancer sooner. When an X user argued the song wasn’t about Alvarez, a fan disagreed, stating:
“In the lyrics she talks about ‘trying a second time.’ And bunny hop is that expression for someone who jumps from one relationship to another. So it makes sense that it’s for Ricky.”
The Entertainer’s Ex Was Blindsided By Her New Relationship
Days before Grande dropped her new song, The Blast reported that her rekindled romance with Alvarez was not something her ex expected. The duo’s relationship began trending months after her separation from her “Wicked” co-star, Ethan Slater, was announced.
An insider claimed Slater learned of their rekindled relationship through mutual friends, while another source noted the couple’s romance was not a rebound. They alleged that Grande and Alvarez had connected during her relationship with Slater, but they never crossed the line.
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The source explained that the singer began connecting more with Alvarez as her romance with Slater ended, rekindling their friendship before it became something intimate. Another source claimed the dancer was grateful for a second chance and was “very happy being back in her life.
Ariana Grande and Ricky Alvarez’s Relationship Timeline
Grande and Alvarez reportedly first crossed paths in 2014 when the latter joined the entertainer’s backup dancers. They went from performing together at the Radio Disney Music Awards to hitting the road for Grande’s 2015 Honeymoon Tour.
Cosmopolitan reported that they first sparked dating rumors in June 2015 when they shared a kiss onstage during a performance at New York City Pride. The following month, she and Alvarez sparked controversy for the doughnut-licking incident.
In 2016, they attended The Creators Party, presented by Spotify, as a couple, with Grande opening up about their romance in an interview months later. However, their relationship did not survive the rest of the year as they broke up in July.
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Did Ariana Grande write “Bad Thing (Bunny Hop)” for Ricky Alvarez?
John Cusack became a bona fide movie star as a teen, but over the years he has opted to live a quieter life.
Cusack made his film debut in 1983’s Class. One year later, he appeared in Sixteen Candles alongside Molly Ringwald, Michael Schoeffling and Anthony Michael Hall. His performance led to him starring in Better Off Dead, The Sure Thing and Say Anything.
While Cusack cemented himself as a teen idol in the ‘80s, the actor started to expand his horizons. He pursued roles in various genres including the crime thriller Grifters, black comedy Grosse Pointe Blank, romantic comedy Serendipity and more.
Cusack has appeared in fewer projects in recent years. His last film credit is for the film Fog of War, which was released in 2025. The following year, Cusack explained why he stepped away from acting during a rare appearance at San Diego Comic-Con in July 2026.
While some of today’s biggest A-listers got their start in the ’80s, many of their famous contemporaries in the “Me” decade live quieter, more low-profile lives today. From Tom Cruise, who bravely donned those tighty whities in Risky Business, to the boys and girls of the Brat Pack, click through to see which stars got their big breaks in the 1980s — and see where they ended up!
“I wanted to tell a story, but I didn’t want to negotiate telling a story,” he said while explaining his graphic novel Momo. “When you ask somebody to put $20 or $30 million into a bank account [to finance a film], they want to have an opinion and they’re afraid and all that stuff.”
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Keep scrolling to see what Cusack has been up to since stepping out of the spotlight:
John Cusack Makes Rare Appearances at Screenings of His Past Films
Every once in a blue moon, Cusack will make an appearance at a screening for one of his previous movies and do a Q&A for fans. In January 2026, the actor showed up for a showing of Serendipity at the Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall in Munhall, Pennsylvania, as well as a screening for Say Anything in El Cajon, California. More recently, he attended a screening for Grosse Pointe Blank in Chicago back in June 2026.
John Cusack Wrote a Graphic Novel
During Comic Con 2026, Cusack proudly shared that he wrote a graphic novel titled Momo.
“I got this beautiful, wonderful artist, Ignacio [Noé], to do the illustrations,” he said at the time, per Variety. “Nobody edited anything I wrote or what he drew, and so, it’s really a piece of work done by two people. … It was just me and Ignacio’s story, and that doesn’t happen today. It’s an anti-algorithm thing, like, there’s no committee and there’s no computer up in Seattle that’s poll-testing it.”
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John Cusack Is a Political Activist
Cusack identifies as a Democratic Socialist. He has been candid about being anti-war and speaking out against President Donald Trump. On his Instagram page, Cusack frequently collaborates with the Freedom of the Press Foundation to advocate for spreading the truth.
John Cusack Is Selective About His Projects
The actor candidly shared at a 2025 screening for Say Anything that he doesn’t enjoy how the movie industry has prioritized making sequels or reboots.
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“I was lucky that I never had the desire, or no one asked me to do any sequels. There’s one that I think would be interesting to do, which would be 1408,” Cusack quipped, per People. “Just because … I think today, you know, most movies suck. There’s still the horror psychological, you know, that Rod Serling kinda stuff. That’s still pretty pure. If you can pull off something like that, it’s fun.”
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