Entertainment
Frankie Muniz crashes “Malcolm in the Middle–”themed NASCAR truck hours after show's revival premieres
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“Hopefully, people are going to watch the ‘Malcolm in the Middle’ reboot right after this race!” the actor-turned-driver said.
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Science fiction remains one of the most dominant genres in television history, whether it’s labyrinthine mysteries like Lost or established franchises like Star Trek. Even recent streaming hits like Star Wars: Maul — Shadow Lord are firmly set in the realm of science fiction, drawing in hardcore fans. One recently canceled sci-fi show, Resident Alien, is proving to be a massive streaming hit in its own right. According to FlixPatrol, Resident Alien pulled in a whopping 208 million hours of view time last year, sitting alongside other sci-fi shows like Halo and La Brea.
Anyone who’s seen Resident Alien can easily tell you that it’s one of the most inventive sci-fi shows of the modern age by its premise alone. Based on the Dark Horse comic book series by Peter Hogan and Steve Parkhouse, it tells the story of an extraterrestrial who travels to Earth to wipe out humanity. In the process, he ends up killing the doctor in a local town, Harry Vanderspeigle (Alan Tudyk), and assumes his identity. Harry’s mission takes a turn when he starts to grow connected to the people who live in his new home, all the while trying to pass himself off as human.
‘Resident Alien’ Thrived Thanks to a Roster of Sci-Fi Guest Stars & Alan Tudyk’s Performance
A large part of what makes Resident Alien work is Alan Tudyk’s brilliant performance. Throughout the series, Tudyk uses a combination of facial expressions and body movements that sell the illusion of an alien in a man’s body, resulting in scenes that are hilarious and often cringe-worthy to watch. A perfect example comes in the Season 4 episode “Mine Town,” where he tries to throw the town’s sheriff, Mike Thompson (Corey Reynolds) off his trail by taking unnecessarily large bites out of a turkey leg. Tudyk also provides the physical movements for Harry’s alien form in Season 2 and throughout, making odd jerky movements that don’t feel earthly in the slightest.
It also didn’t hurt that Tudyk had an impressive roster of guest stars to play off of, with most of them being sci-fi alums in their own right. That includes Linda Hamilton, who plays alien hunter Eleanor McCallister, and Tudyk’s Firefly castmates Nathan Fillion and Jewel Staite, who play an octopus and an FBI agent respectively. Resident Alien‘s main cast is also full of characters who are just as memorable as Harry, including Max Hawthorne (Judah Prehn), the mayor’s son who’s also one of the few people to learn Harry’s really an alien, and Asta Twelvetrees (Sara Tomko) who helps him form a deeper bond to humanity. These character interactions are a large part of what makes Resident Alien stand out in the sci-fi landscape.
Remembering the Icons of Television — Collider TV Quiz
These television artists were posthumously recognized for their work, and the awards they received were testaments to their lasting legacies.
‘Resident Alien’ Ended On a Near-Pefect Note, With Room to Continue
While Resident Alien received plenty of praise during its run, it was canceled after its fourth season. To the show’s credit, it manages to wrap up most of its plot lines in the series finale “The End is Here,” as Harry ends up confronting another member of his race and deciding to return to his home planet. Despite the untimely end, Alan Tudyk floated the chance of a possible continuation during last year’s San Diego Comic-Con.
“It’s a weird goodbye because the show’s very popular. By all metrics from a different time, that would assure another season. It’s just in this climate, the TV world is changing in a big way, and I feel like because we’re canceled now, we will become an existing IP, which then could be revived. So the quickest way to get a next season is to be canceled, oddly.”
Tudyk makes a good point, as the rise of streaming services and shifts in the network television landscape means that some shows could get a new life when you least expect it. Ironically, Firefly is the perfect example as an animated revival is in the works, with Tudyk set to return alongside the rest of the cast. Resident Alien definitely deserves a similar shot, especially since its streaming numbers prove that there’s still an audience willing to tune in for Harry’s extraterrestrial hijinks.
- Release Date
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2021 – 2025-00-00
- Writers
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Nastaran Dibai, Sarah Beckett, Jenna Lamia, Christian Taylor, Emily Eslami, Donald Todd, Cherry Chevapravatdumrong, Njeri Brown, Aaron Wiener, Biniam Bizuneh
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Sara Tomko
Asta Twelvetrees
Netflix has plenty of series that everyone talks about, but one short-lived show from the streamer deserves to be among them. Kaos only received one season, but the dark comedy is a unique series that fans want more of. Although there are only eight episodes, the 2024 series boasts an addictive story with surprising twists and compelling characters, which is part of why the series’ quick cancellation shocked viewers. Yet, even without more to the story, Kaos crafts a tale that will keep viewers pressing play on the next episode.
What Is ‘Kaos’ About?
Part of what makes Kaos great is that there are many moving parts, but none of them would matter without the gods. The series features a deeply insecure Zeus (Jeff Goldblum), who fears that he is losing power, leading to a clash between gods and humans. The god spirals, believing that a new wrinkle on his forehead is the first sign of the prophecy given by the Fates: “A line appears, the order wanes, the family falls, and Kaos reigns.” Zeus declares a state of emergency and summons Prometheus (Stephen Dillane) for guidance, who receives a brief respite from the horrific punishment Zeus had given him. Serving as the series’ narrator, Prometheus is rare among immortals because he isn’t so self-centered that he fails to notice what is going on in the rest of the story.
Much of the show’s narrative takes place elsewhere, both in the mortal world and the Underworld, as three mortals receive the same prediction that has Zeus worried. Riddy (Aurora Perrineau), Caeneus (Misia Butler), and Ari (Leila Farzad) all have stories that unexpectedly come together throughout the series. However, each faces a personal crisis, as Ari uncovers a dark family secret, Riddy’s failing marriage ends when she is sent to the Underworld, and Caeneus confronts his past in the afterlife. With these characters, Kaos explores the legends of the minotaur, Orpheus (Killian Scott), and Caeneus, but in each case, the series adds its own twist.
‘Kaos’ Takes a Creative Approach to Greek Mythology
With a wide variety of legends to choose from, Greek mythology retellings are popular. However, Kaos sets itself apart in one creative way, placing the gods in the modern world with all the technology that entails. The gods are still worshiped, and though it’s played for laughs as the all-powerful Zeus walks around in a tracksuit, the change ultimately makes the story more grounded. Kaos uses the addition of modern elements to its full advantage, reworking the gods themselves into new and deeply flawed contemporary interpretations. Zeus is an egomaniac in a midlife crisis, and the visual cues indicate this instantly in a way that would not be possible if his appearance were more traditional. Meanwhile, the way Kaos portrays the other gods adds to the show’s humor, with Poseidon (Cliff Curtis) living a laid-back life on his yacht, Hades (David Thewlis) as a stressed-out manager for the expanding Underworld, and Dionysus (Nabhaan Rizwan) a bored partier hoping to earn his family’s respect.
Yet, the gods are not the only ones who are changed in Kaos. The modernization of the myths creates opportunities for the human characters, like the exploration of Caeneus’ identity as a trans man and the focus on Riddy’s failing marriage to Orpheus. These modernized storylines highlight the dysfunction of various relationships, making them easily identifiable by the audience. Ultimately, there is no fantasy show like Kaos, and with so many surprises, it’s impossible for viewers to look away until the entire story unfolds.
- Release Date
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2024 – 2024-00-00
- Directors
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Georgi Banks-Davies, Runyararo Mapfumo
- Writers
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Charlie Covell, Georgia Christou
Addison Rae had a fiery message for her “haters” as she made her stage debut at the 2026 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.
“To my fans who have supported me from Day 1, I love you, thank you,” Rae, 25, quipped in the middle of her Saturday, April 11, performance, per social media footage. “And to my haters? Suck my d***.”
Rae dazzled the crowd with several of her biggest hits on Saturday, also enlisting Dance Moms alum-turned-actress Maddie Ziegler to dance to “Aquamarine.” The set kicked off Rae’s “The Fame and Glory Show” tour.
Rae, who rose to fame as a TikTok influencer before taking over the pop charts and earning her first Grammy nomination, has clear goals for her music career.
Stars didn’t hold back with their creative outfits at the 2026 Coachella Music & Arts Festival. Bachelor Nation’s Kit Keenan, for example, hand-made her sparkling ensemble with help from her designer mom, Cynthia Rowley. She documented the design process via TikTok earlier this month, sharing behind-the-scenes clips of her mom busy at work sewing pieces […]
“I walked in with a binder, and I made a slideshow,” Rae told Rolling Stone in a January 2025 profile. “I just mood-boarded my vibes. I literally had no music to play [Columbia Records CEO Ron Perry] at that point, so it was about trust. Like, ‘Yes, I’m in the clouds, and I enjoy being there. But I’m also serious.’”
Rae further stressed that she always tries to be unapologetically herself when she hits the stage.
“People have decided who I am,” she told the outlet. “I’ll be your girl next door, but maybe there’s a wild side to the girl next door.”
Rae continued, “TikTok definitely gave me a lot of things, so it would be really sad to [see it] go, but hopefully the things that I create and put out surpass that platform … but I won’t beg for it. I’ll work for it.”
As Rae’s career has only exploded, she’s taking each moment as it comes.
Coachella 2026 tickets sold out within roughly a week. Both weekends — General Admission and VIP — are gone, and the official waitlist is closed. For a festival that draws visitors from over 60 countries and expects 125,000 fans each weekend, that kind of demand signals something worth understanding, whether you’re hunting for resale passes […]
“I enjoy fame. I think fame is very exposing and raw, and it puts you in a position that not everyone gets to experience,” the “Diet Pepsi” singer told The Guardian in December 2025. “I enjoy the luxury of it all, though of course there is a price you pay.”
She concluded, “I trust that the people who indulge in my artistry treat it with kindness and acceptance and love and understanding, in a way that maybe I didn’t before, and that’s honestly the dream, that I’m never fully understood. If that ever were to change, I think it would be quite boring actually.”
Rae will return to Coachella during its second weekend on April 18.
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What’s going on with Smalls, Benny, Ham, and Squints? Let’s check in with the child stars behind the ’90s classic.
Back in 2023, John Cena fans were eagerly awaiting the summer arrival of his latest animated effort, Coyote vs. Acme, a hybrid feature with live-action featuring Cena as Buddy Crane. However, the baffling decision was then made to remove the film entirely from the release schedule, with its July release date replaced by Barbie. Finally, after being acquired by Ketchup Entertainment in 2025, the film was rescheduled for release in 2026, over three years after it was supposed to debut. Barring any glaring issues, Coyote vs. Acme will come to a theater near you on August 28, 2026.
Exciting as this Cena role is, it is far from his first work in the animation realm, the most underrated of which has just quietly returned to the streaming charts. Ferdinand, a 2017 animated movie from 20th Century Fox Animation, Blue Sky Studios, and Davis Entertainment, saw Cena star alongside the likes of Kate McKinnon, Bobby Cannavale, Peyton Manning, Doctor Who favorite David Tennant, and more. Loosely based on the 1936 children’s book The Story of Ferdinand, the film follows a young bull who escapes a Spanish training camp and finds refuge on a farm, only for his solace to be broken when he is returned to his former captors. To escape, the bull joins forces with an unlikely team of other animals.
One of Cena’s more impressive voice performances, having been criticized for playing heightened versions of himself in other projects, Ferdinand rightfully earned praise from critics when it debuted nine years ago. On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film boasts a positive 70% score, with the consensus on the site reading, “Ferdinand‘s colorful update on a classic tale doesn’t go anywhere unexpected, but its timeless themes — and John Cena’s engaging voice work in the title role — make for family-friendly fun.” Almost a decade on, Ferdinand is a streaming hit again, landing a place in the top ten most-watched movies on HBO Max in the U.S., at the time of writing.
‘Ferdinand’ Was a Box Office Hit
Although the film has fallen into obscurity since, there was once a time when Ferdinand was a popular mainstream option for families in theaters. Against a production budget of $111 million, the film returned an impressive global haul of $307 million. Split between $84 million in domestic revenue and a further $223 million from overseas markets, this December 2017 release was the early Christmas present millions enjoyed, and many are now rediscovering.
Ferdinand is streaming on HBO Max. Make sure to stay tuned to Collider for more streaming stories.
- Release Date
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December 9, 2017
- Runtime
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108 minutes
- Director
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Carlos Saldanha
John Wick may have introduced one of the world’s most iconic assassins, but there is plenty of action beyond his universe. In 2014, Keanu Reeves took on the role of the titular hitman, who goes on a rampage after gangsters break into his home and kill his beloved puppy. Fueled by grief and vengeance, Wick hunts down those responsible, only to uncover a larger, more sinister scheme. At this point, retirement proves anything but peaceful.
However, while Wick stands as Hollywood’s quintessential assassin, there is still a wide range of action films worth exploring. He may be known for his signature “gun-fu” style, but some audiences crave more variety beyond relentless carnage and repeated techniques. Without further ado, here are the movies with even better action than John Wick.
‘Kill Bill: Vol. 1’ (2003)
As the Bride (Uma Thurman) would learn in Kill Bill Vol. 1, never leave your former lover hanging — especially when he’s the ringleader of the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad. The Quentin Tarantino classic is a pastiche of many elements: spaghetti western, martial arts, and samurai cinema. All of this is then greatly tied to the Bride’s quest to find the man who not only left her dead at her own wedding rehearsal, but also lost the child she was bearing.
Female rage is emotional, but being torn apart from her child becomes the perfect backstory for the Bride’s vengeance. She travels across the world to find the Deadly Vipers, battling each one with specificity. One standout is the scalp-cutting battle with O-Ren Ishii (Lucy Liu) and the Crazy 88. In this sequence, she single-handedly kills dozens of armed enemies. Another is the suburban showdown with Vernita Green (Vivica A. Fox), where they try to stay as discreet as possible, given their neighborhood surroundings. Each encounter with a Deadly Viper highlights the Bride’s fighting versatility and makes every fight feel freshly exciting.
‘Police Story’ (1985)
Police Story not only popularized Hong Kong cop movies, but it also revolutionized the art of stunts in action cinema. Action scenes are often known for their brutality, but Jackie Chan, who plays Chan Ka-Kui, shows that there are layers to crafting a great sequence. Action scenes should have style, and that comes from choreography. With Chan’s background in Peking Opera training, his approach leans heavily into acrobatics. This influence explains the constant tumbling and aerial momentum, even during hand-to-hand combat.
Another defining feature of Police Story is how environmental the action scenes are. Forget fighting rings or evil lairs — most of these fights take place in public spaces, leveraging whatever is in Ka-Kui’s surroundings. Instead of chasing a double-decker bus with a car, he clings to it using nothing but an umbrella. He swings himself upward while villains try to kick him off. In the film’s peak ending, an extended shopping mall fight, Ka-Kui throws a henchman into a moving escalator, revs up a display motorcycle and crashes it into glass fixtures, and even slides down a pole from the upper floor to the ground floor, wrapped in light bulbs.
‘The Raid: Redemption’ (2011)
The premise of The Raid: Redemption is remarkably simple yet clever: a 20-man squad of MBC (Mobile Brigade Corps) infiltrates a rundown apartment. The objective is to arrest crime lord Tama Riyadi (Ray Sahetapy), who sits calmly on the top floor. Taking over a building should be straightforward, especially when you’re a government-backed police force. But before they can even lay a finger on him, the MBC has to push through 30 stories of criminals, ranging from your everyday thugs to deadly assassins.
The Raid: Redemption takes claustrophobia to new, deadly heights. The moment the MBC officers enter through the front door on the ground floor, there is no escape. At every turn — every corridor and every door opened — a bloodthirsty killer is waiting to murder them by whatever means necessary, especially since they have been promised free residence by Tama. Being in a small, cramped space with threats coming from all directions creates constant urgency. There is no time for showmanship, and by the time the MBC officers have exhausted all their resources, they can only rely on their fists to fight their way through each floor.
‘Kung Fu Hustle’ (2004)
Beating the living lights out of gangsters doesn’t always have to be vicious. In Kung Fu Hustle, it can be whimsical and graceful. Inspired by the art of wuxia — the classic genre depicting martial artists in ancient China — much of the film’s fantasy draws on real spiritual elements. These elements form the basis of qi (life force), the energy that powers many of the action sequences in Stephen Chow‘s film.
Kung Fu Hustle emphasizes that fighting isn’t always about being on the offensive. To overcome injustice, one must first find inner peace to harness one’s qi. Only then can they unlock true power, and in the film’s case, even supernatural abilities like the Buddha’s Palm strike. Qi also serves as the foundation for many of the kung fu styles shown in the movie. These range from the rapid, grounded Hung Gar style to the low, coiled, yet explosive Hama Gong technique.
‘Hardcore Henry’ (2015)
In typical fashion, viewers watch movies from a third-person perspective. But if anyone has ever wondered what it’s like to literally be the one doing the action, Hardcore Henry is the go-to movie. Told from a first-person perspective, the film unfolds through the eyes of Henry, an amnesia-stricken man brought back from the dead by his wife (Haley Bennett). Moments later, she is kidnapped, and Henry — or rather, you — is thrust into the action, immediately under fire.
Hardcore Henry feeds your action-filled curiosities. One moment, you find yourself sliding down a crowded escalator and accidentally crashing into someone. Next, you’re peering through a sniper scope, picking off enemies from the top of a building. For adrenaline junkies, the film goes even further. You’ll be riding a high-speed motorcycle and ramming it into a van ahead of you. It’s a no-brainer action, but it pulls you in completely, letting you experience every moment viscerally.
‘Gladiator’ (2000)
For a movie filled with bloodshed, Gladiator still finds moments of humanity between its sword fights. Creative liberties aside — real gladiator battles did not typically end in death, and trained fighters were expected to survive multiple bouts — the film questions the universally troubling idea that people find violence entertaining. At the same time, it is this very violence that Maximus (Russell Crowe) is forced to endure. Each fight becomes part of his strategy to survive and move closer to Commodus.
The basis of Gladiator‘s action is embodied in the famous line Crowe improvised: “Are you not entertained?” The battles are designed to satisfy the masses watching them, and as a result, they go to extreme lengths. From decapitating an opponent to being trapped in a claustrophobic fight against heavily armored gladiators, to facing a former champion while real tigers circle the arena, each sequence is crafted to thrill. These battles are meant not only to entertain the crowds within the film but also the audience watching it.
‘RRR’ (2022)
Some think it’s kooky, while others call it camp. Either way, that doesn’t take away from the fact that RRR is packed with action from start to finish. The over theatrical nature of its stunts — reminiscent of the aesthetic in Baz Luhrmann‘s Romeo + Juliet — amplifies the film’s already fierce spectacle. Yet, beneath all the stylization, the story is rooted in history. RRR reimagines the resistance against British colonial rule through two real-life Indian revolutionaries of the 1920s: Alluri Sitarama Raju (Ram Charan) and Komaram Bheem (N. T. Rama Rao Jr.).
When we talk about heroes, there is a tendency to present them as larger-than-life figures. RRR fully embraces this idea through its over-the-top spectacle. The film holds nothing back in portraying its national heroes — the men who fought for the liberation of their people. From Bheem unleashing a collection of wild animals on British soldiers, to Raju fighting atop Bheem’s shoulders, each sequence escalates the action. It’s one explosion after another.
RRR
- Release Date
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March 24, 2022
- Runtime
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185 Minutes
- Director
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S.S. Rajamouli
- Writers
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S.S. Rajamouli, Vijayendra Prasad
Steve Howey is leaving High Potential but did his character, Captain Wagner, die before season 3?
During the season 2 finale, Wagner (Howey) was shot and left bleeding out as first responders were called to help. It wasn’t clear whether he survived before news broke that Howey, 48, was exiting the hit ABC series. (Howey was previously cast in upcoming seasons of Off Campus and Ransom Canyon, so he could potentially be written off the show.)
Deadline later confirmed that the season 2 finale marked the last episode as a series regular for Howey. The actor initially wasn’t expected to return due to him signing a one-year deal.
Wagner’s story has not been fully determined yet though and there is a chance Howey could come back as a guest star at the beginning of season 3 to wrap up his arc.
High Potential is returning for a third season — but not everyone is coming back after that surprise cast exit. The hit ABC series, which premiered in September 2024, follows Morgan (Kaitlin Olson), a high-potential intellectual who teams up with the LAPD to assist the department in solving murders. Morgan gets paired up with Karadec […]
Howey previously teased his arc on the show while speaking exclusively to Us Weekly in September 2025, saying, “Nick comes in and does ruffle some feathers. But his motives and his intentions are not to do that. He wants to help and we start seeing that in different episodes.”
He continued: “That was my fear and my concern. When you have such a lightning in the bottle strong dynamic of these characters, throwing in another character can potentially thrown that off. I’m still working on not doing that. This is going to evolve into something really cool. We don’t know about the chemistry with Nick and Morgan. Obviously there is [something]. But as he’s incrementally gaining more trust with the department, hopefully it gets better and better.”
Howey, for his part, was thrilled at the chance to join one of his favorite shows.
All good things must come to an end, even when it comes to TV. Over the years, many television stars have suddenly left their roles — while others have been cut from a series without much notice. Anna Faris announced in September 2020 that she was leaving CBS’ Mom after starring as the lead character […]
“The first season was amazing. It is not your usual procedure. I love the insert shots and I love their style. But I have friends in real life that are police officers and are part of the sheriff’s department. So I talked to them and they definitely made fun of me because that’s what they do,” he told Us. “I’m taking my own leeway a little bit about who this guy is and that comes from the writers about who his family is and how they were in law enforcement and now in politics. So he has something to prove to the department and to himself. So it’s fun to work on it and see what comes out of it.”
The decision about Wagner’s future on the show will be made after a new showrunner is found. News broke in March that showrunner Todd Harthan exited the show to focus on the upcoming live-action adaptation of Christopher Paolini’s young adult [YA] book series The Inheritance Cycle. The adaptation — titled Eragon — is cocreated with Paolini and Harthan will serve as coshowrunner alongside Todd Helbing.
High Potential, meanwhile, has been renewed for a third season. All episodes are currently streaming on Hulu.
The crime thriller genre is one of the busiest on streaming, with some of the most popular shows today featuring grizzled problem-solvers facing personal demons on the hunt for justice. However, few of these are better than Ben Watkins‘ Cross, which premiered its second season with three episodes back on February 11. Since its Season 2 debut, this adaptation of James Patterson‘s long-running novel series dropped another five acclaimed episodes, all culminating on March 18 with the finale, “Quemar,” directed by Edward Ornelas.
Led by Aldis Hodge‘s quick-witted, suave detective, Cross Season 2 somehow raised the bar from a stellar first outing, no doubt helped by the eye-catching addition of Scream and Five Nights at Freddy’s favorite Matthew Lillard to the cast. The second season ensemble also included Isaiah Mustafa, Alona Tal, Samantha Walkes, Juanita Jennings, and Caleb Elijah, with the likes of Tiffany K. Guillen, R. T. Thorne, Stacey Muhammad, and Craig Siebels joining Ornelas in directing duties. A synopsis for the second season reads, “Cross is in pursuit of a ruthless vigilante who is hunting down corrupt billionaire magnates.”
Excitingly, and perhaps unsurprisingly, it was announced that Cross had been renewed for Season 3 on the day of the second season finale, with the pursuit of America’s most dangerous killers far from over. Peter Friedlander, Head of Global Television at Amazon MGM Studios, said in a statement about the renewal, “From the beginning, Cross has captivated audiences with its layered characters, pulse-pounding suspense, and emotionally grounded storytelling. Aldis Hodge has delivered a definitive portrayal of Alex Cross, anchoring the series with depth, intelligence, and heart.”
‘Cross’ Has Hit a New Streaming Milestone
Despite it now being almost a month since the second season ended, Cross is continuing to prove popular and hold onto its place in the American streaming charts. At the time of writing, the series has officially surpassed the 50-day mark on the Prime Video top ten. Sadly, in the global top ten, Cross has been overtaken by the likes of the acclaimed fourth season of Invincible, which tops the charts both globally and in the U.S. Other popular shows on Prime Video include the video game adaptation Fallout, the up-and-coming Hero Fiennes Tiffin team-up with directing veteran Guy Ritchie on Young Sherlock, Scarpetta starring Nicole Kidman, and others.
Cross is available to stream on Prime Video. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
- Release Date
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November 14, 2024
- Network
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Prime Video
- Directors
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Craig Siebels, Nzingha Stewart
- Writers
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Ben Watkins
- Franchise(s)
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Alex Cross
The third season of “Euphoria” is finally set to debut on HBO, but the prolonged delay leading up to its release reportedly became a growing frustration for its lead, Zendaya. Insiders claim much of that tension was directed at creator Sam Levinson, who was said to be at the center of the holdups.
While production setbacks have been publicly linked to the 2023 actors’ strike and the tragic passing of Angus Cloud, sources claim there’s more brewing beneath the surface. Reports suggest tensions within the cast, including rumored disagreements between the “Dune” actress and Sydney Sweeney.
Zendaya Frustrated With Sam Levinson Over ‘Euphoria’ Delay
Zendaya is said to have reached a breaking point with Levinson over the long-delayed third season of “Euphoria.”
With the installment finally set to premiere on HBO, fans were quick to notice that the “Spider-Man” star was no longer credited as an executive producer, a role she held in the first two seasons. The change reportedly stemmed from the actress’s reduced involvement in the script development process, though she still played a key role in approving the overall storyline.
According to a source who spoke to Vanity Fair, her packed 2025 schedule made it difficult for her to commit behind the scenes fully.
Still, reports suggest the Emmy winner grew increasingly frustrated with Levinson as delays dragged on, especially after she intentionally kept space in her calendar for “Euphoria,” only for production setbacks to derail those plans.
Zendaya Is Not The Only Dissatisfied ‘Euphoria’ Star
The frustration surrounding delays on Season 3 of “Euphoria” doesn’t appear to be limited to Zendaya.
At the show’s recent premiere at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, several cast members raised eyebrows when they noticeably did not join Levinson on stage, an unusual move for a major series launch.
While the stars were present and seated for the screening, many reportedly skipped red carpet interviews, avoided group photos, and kept interactions to a minimum.
Meanwhile, longtime collaborator Labrinth appeared to fan the flames with a cryptic Instagram post suggesting he was breaking the collaboration.
“Double f—k ‘Euphoria.’ I’m out. Thank you and good night,” he wrote.
How Levinson ‘Responded To Zendaya’
Amid all the chatter, Levinson addressed the delays that plagued Season 3 of “Euphoria” during the show’s premiere.
According to Levinson, a mix of industry-wide disruptions and personal losses played a major role in slowing down production.
“The fact that we’re actually here and we’re able to pull this season off, that’s nothing short of a miracle,” he said, per Vanity Fair.
He went on to explain that while the 2023 actors’ strike and the challenge of coordinating a high-demand cast contributed to the gap between seasons, the deeper delay stemmed from the emotional weight of losing members of the “Euphoria” family.
The Death Of Angus Cloud Affected The Script
The long gap between seasons of “Euphoria” was further complicated by heartbreaking losses within the cast, most notably the death of Cloud.
The actor, who played fan-favorite drug dealer Fezco, died from an accidental overdose in July 2023 at just 25 years old. His passing had a profound impact on Levinson, who admitted that the loss reshaped the show’s direction.
“When Angus died, it was tough. I loved him deeply, and I fought hard to keep him clean,” the filmmaker said.
A Fourth Season Is Highly Unlikely
After the breakout success of “Euphoria,” many of its cast members quickly became some of Hollywood’s most in-demand names. This, unironically, made a potential fourth season increasingly difficult to pull off.
Behind the scenes, Levinson also faced his own time constraints. The creator became heavily involved in “The Idol,” a project starring The Weeknd and Lily-Rose Depp, despite initially not being expected to take on such a hands-on role.
Zendaya has in the past hinted that she kept her schedule flexible in hopes of returning to “Euphoria.”
“I will say, I have been off for a couple of years… I’ve been open, just waiting,” Zendaya told Vanity Fair in December 2024.
Sweeney echoed similar frustrations at the time, revealing she had to pass on major opportunities to remain available for the series.
Entertainment
Brandon Lee’s Other R-Rated Masterpiece Just As Memorable As The Crow, But It’s Been Buried
By Robert Scucci
| Published
Confession time. I only just now gave Showdown in Little Tokyo a proper watch because I’m lazy, and it’s not streaming on any of the platforms I subscribe to. I host a bad movie podcast with one of my best friends from middle school, and we spend our time railing on bad movies. My co-host absolutely despises The Crow, while I’ve written about the 1994 masterpiece on this site multiple times because it’s the best revenge movie ever made. In an effort to antagonize me, he suggested we review 1991’s Showdown in Little Tokyo, which, despite its 33 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes’ Tomatometer, is just another Brandon Lee masterpiece that I now need to make sure everybody watches because it’s just that awesome.
Until this past weekend, The Crow was my only Brandon Lee reference point, and now I’m bummed out because had he lived through The Crow’s production, he would have been one hell of an action star who would have smoked the competition. This movie has everything you’d ever want to see in a buddy cop comedy, and it’s all thanks to Brandon Lee’s charisma, along with his chemistry with Dolph Lundgren.
Buddy Cops Gonna Buddy Cop
Showdown in Little Tokyo is the ultimate odd-couple comedy once you’re introduced to its protagonists. First, we have Chris Kenner (Dolph Lundgren), an American who was raised in Japan and hates American culture. His new partner, Johnny Murata (Brandon Lee), is an American of Japanese descent who doesn’t care much for tradition. They’re both martial arts experts, and they’re both tasked with taking down members of the Iron Claw yakuza clan operating out of Los Angeles.
Here’s where it gets personal. Chris recognizes the leader of this very clan, Yoshida (Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa), as the man who killed his parents when he was a child. To complicate matters, Yoshida is a ruthless crime lord who plans to distribute methamphetamines through a brewery he’s using as a front. Ready to kick ass and take names, Chris and Johnny throw hands, empty magazines, and fight their way through Yoshida’s henchmen.
Along the way, Chris falls for a lounge singer named Minako (Tia Carrere), who’s caught between her career and the criminal world surrounding it, and of course this adds another layer of complications to the premise. Not only do we have a revenge arc, we’ve got a damsel in distress who’s instructed to “shoot anything she sees moving” seconds after being taught how to hold a shotgun.
A Boilerplate Plot Elevated By Its Charismatic Leads
If you’re a fan of the Lethal Weapon, Bad Boys, and Rush Hour franchises, you’ll find that Showdown in Little Tokyo follows all of the same beats, and its storyline is pretty standard. Two guys who shouldn’t stand each other are forced to work together to take down the same bad guy. Nothing new to see here. But within this framework, you get some of the most effortless chemistry you’ll ever see between two leads in this genre. Dolph Lundgren had already established himself as an action star, but this was Brandon Lee’s first major American film role in the United States. He’s so confident from the moment you’re introduced to him that you’d think he had been operating at this level for years.
The one-liners between Lundgren and Lee are corny by design, and you can tell they both understand it’s on them to carry the show. I’m not trying to throw shade at writers Stephen Glantz and Caliope Brattlestreet, or director Mark L. Lester, but the actual story in Showdown in Little Tokyo is about as unremarkable as it gets. It works because you can feel its leads winking at the audience, even if they’re not literally doing it. There are plenty of jokes about how well-endowed they are below the belt, and every exchange lands with a smirk.
When lines like “You have the right to be dead,” and “There are more bad guys than we’ve got bullets” get thrown around by Brandon Lee, right before Dolph Lundgren arms himself to the teeth with swords and daggers, it’s obvious you’re not supposed to take movies like this too seriously. You’re supposed to sit back, let the stars chew the scenery, and watch them start blasting.
Showdown in Little Tokyo delivers this in spades, and it’s a shame that it’s currently hidden behind a paywall. Having thrown down four dollars for this one for research purposes, I don’t regret the rental. If you’re a fan of Brandon Lee, Dolph Lundgren, or buddy cop comedies in general, just know that this one has earned its keep as a cult classic and is worth the purchase. And then you can weep over the fact that we could have had so many more Brandon Lee action movies if his other masterpiece didn’t claim his life.
Showdown in Little Tokyo SCORE
As of this writing, Showdown in Little Tokyo is available on-demand through YouTube, Apple TV+, Amazon Prime Video, and Fandango at Home.
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