Akbar V had the timeline in a frenzy last week after shaking up the female rap game. Not only did she declare herself the “Princess of Rap,” but she also threw shots at Latto and Megan Thee Stallion. She even put her own spin on Trim’s viral ‘Coconut Water’ song, where she appeared to diss Trim amid their latest back-and-forth.

Akbar continued to go at Latto as she discussed their alleged issues. From claiming Latto stole her “big mama” name to drama involving a mutual friend, the rapper had a lot to get off her chest. Following all the tweets, though, Akbar is now ready to set the record straight and clear the air for 21 Savage.

RELATED: Wayment! Akbar V Alleges Latto Has Smoke With Her Because She “Loved” 21 Savage First (VIDEO)

Akbar V Shades Latto Following Her Post With 21 Savage And Keyanna Joseph

Last Monday, Latto took to the internet to share behind-the-scenes footage from her pregnancy journey and upcoming music project. In the video, the rapper showed herself revealing her pregnancy to her sister, Brooklyn, and even moments from her baby shower.

The baby shower clip also featured 21 Savage, which quickly sparked reactions and conversation across social media platforms. Following the video, Akbar V took to X and wrote, “They applauding side b****es and b****es having babies with married men what is this world coming too pray for the daughters.”

She later followed up with another tweet, writing, “Trying so hard to prove you not a side b**** babe 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 we get it.”

Despite the online shade, Akbar later showed love to 21 Savage after his recent photo dump featured a baby picture. The rapper tweeted, “Congratulations to @21savage ❤️ on your bundle of joy.”

As the conversation continued online, Latto later shared family photos alongside Keyanna Joseph, the mother of 21 Savage’s children. After the pictures hit the internet, Akbar V appeared to react once again while posting another message over on X. She tweeted, “🤣🤣🤣🤣not post a thousand family pictures … them pictures would’ve never hit the internet if i didn’t post that freestyle remember that🤣🤣🤣🤣 but ion have no influence they responding with pictures instead of Barz?🤣🤣🤣🥰”

Akbar V Takes To X With A Tweet For 21 Savage 

Despite taking shots at Latto, Akbar V wants 21 Savage to know none of it had anything to do with the love and respect she has for him. Previously, Akbar mentioned that she has a lot of love for 21 Savage because he was one of the first rappers to ever give her a feature.

On Tuesday, the rapper took to X and tagged 21, writing, “Let’s make this clear my diss don’t have nothing to do with @21savage i love my bro he a real 🥷🏼 and a gangster and yall know ion play bout ATL but baby girl know what she did this ain’t nun but rap nothing more 😏🤷🏽‍♀️🥷🏼”

Social Media Reacts 

Folks gathered under The Shade Room Teens as they reacted to Akbar V’s message to 21 Savage. While some people understood her message, others questioned why she was involving herself in the situation at all. A few users also accused Akbar of beefing for clout and told the rapper to log out. 

Instagram user @daonlyprincess_wrote, “Girl you not tired of talking to yourself …”

Instagram user @snowsimonnie added, “Akbar baby just logout for a week”

While Instagram user wrote @bawthatspatt wrote, “first trim now latto?? what’s tea akbar???”

Instagram user @skinnymini_renee wrote, “Mind you Latto still haven’t said nun 😑 want her attention so bad 😭😭”

Instagram user @ryann_ added, “She literally just had a baby leave her alone frl”

While Instagram user w@ambitious_never_thirsty wroe, “How that’s BRO and you disrespected hisGIRL/CHILD-MOTHER. You can’t have no type of love or respect for HIM for disrespecting/ coming at HIS. Yall don’t know the meaning of love or loyalty.”

REALTED: Akbar V Claims The “Princess Of Rap” Title While Seemingly Throwing Shade At Meg Thee Stallion, Latto & More (VIDEOS)

Mackenzie Shirilla’s boyfriend Dominic Russo allegedly addressed his mortality four weeks prior to her 2022 car crash that killed him.

According to a Tuesday, May 26, report by TMZ, Russo, who died at the age of 20 in a high-speed crash caused by Shirilla, 21, sent the convicted killer a text that read, “Kenzie you know I love you but I don’t think we should be together at this point, there isn’t very much time on earth,” before his death.

Shirilla, who is the subject of Netflix’s The Crash documentary and currently serving two concurrent life sentences behind bars as a result of the incident, has maintained that the July 2022 crash was the result of blacking out behind the wheel due to postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). Her friend Davion Flanagan also died as a result of the incident. (POTS is described by the Cleveland Clinic as a condition that affects transitioning from “lying down to standing up, such as a fast heart rate, dizziness and fatigue.”)

The outlet’s screenshot of Russo’s alleged text went on to detail the nature of their volatile romance. “I’d like to think we could stop fighting but it’s a breakup fight every week neither of us deserve,” the screenshot read. “I don’t wanna fight all the time [and I know] you don’t either. Anyone who’s around anyone every day of the week is bound to fight. If we can’t separate for a little then we are only going to fight more.”

Related: Mackenzie Shirilla Is a Prison ‘Mean Girl’ and Often Has Hickeys, Says Inmate

Following the release of Netflix’s The Crash, a former inmate claimed that Mackenzie Shirilla is nothing like the remorseful prisoner she’s depicted as in the true crime documentary. “When she walked out in the documentary, my jaw literally dropped, because her demeanor and the way that she looked was nothing like the person I was […]

The alleged text concluded, “I don’t want you to think I’m abandoning you, I wish it could work, but I don’t think it’s going to at this point especially with the threats. We should just break up so we can both find happiness somewhere else.”

The outlet stated that the text was sent on July 2, 2022. The car crash occurred in the early morning of July 31, 2022.

Shirilla went to trial in 2023 and was convicted of 12 felony charges including four counts of murder, four counts of felonious assault, two counts of aggravated vehicular homicide and one count each of drug possession and possessing criminal tools. Prosecutors argued that the incident was a botched murder-suicide attempt, pointing to the vehicle’s speed of 100 mph and the absence of braking before the vehicle slammed into a brick wall.

Related: Mackenzie Shirilla’s Former Inmate Claims She Had No ‘Remorse’ for Crime

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A former inmate who served time with Mackenzie Shirilla at the Ohio Reformatory for Women claimed that she didn’t show “remorse” behind bars and wanted to “be like” the Mean Girls character Regina George. Mary Katherine “Kat” Crowder shared claims about what Shirilla, 21, was really like in prison following the release of Netflix’s The […]

In the Netflix documentary, which was released on May 15, Shirilla was filmed from behind bars. She expressed remorse for the deaths of Russo and Flanagan while stating that her POTS diagnosis caused the crash.

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People reported on Tuesday that Shirilla texted Russo’s brother in the wake of his death to ask that the family place photos of the former couple within his grave “so he can be with me forever.”

The outlet also reported on Tuesday that Shirilla reached out to Russo’s mother to tell her she was considering hypnosis in an attempt to recover memories from the incident.

Shirilla is eligible for parole in 2037.

Paige DeSorbo has become one of Bravo’s biggest breakout stars, but according to former “Summer House” cast member Stephen McGee, her reality TV journey almost never happened. 

During a recent appearance at the show’s reunion watch party, McGee claimed he unknowingly changed the casting process behind Season 3 after exposing two women who were originally expected to join the series. 

His revelation comes months after DeSorbo officially exited the hit Bravo show following years as one of its most recognizable faces.

Stephen McGee is taking credit for helping bring Paige DeSorbo into the Bravo universe. The former “Summer House” star made the surprising claim while speaking to Page Six’s “Virtual Reali-tea” during Tuesday’s reunion watch party.

“I love Paige DeSorbo,” McGee said before revealing he first met her years ago while dining in Capri, Italy. 

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“Actually, the very first time I ever met Paige, we were in Capri, Italy, and we were sat next to each other at a restaurant randomly,” he shared.

However, McGee insisted their chance meeting was not the only connection between them. According to the reality star, events he set in motion ultimately opened the door for DeSorbo to land her role on the Bravo series.

“But, she does not — I don’t think — really even know this: I’m the reason that the world has a Paige DeSorbo,” he claimed.

McGee appeared on “Summer House” during its first two seasons before leaving the show ahead of Season 3.

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DeSorbo Joined ‘Summer House’ After Casting Shakeup

Stephen McGee went on to explain that Bravo originally planned to cast two completely different women for Season 3 before their involvement suddenly fell apart.

According to him, another reality television personality tipped him off about the incoming cast additions. 

“Another Bravo star that works in real estate, who was on ‘Million Dollar Listing,’ told me that these girls were coming in for Season 3 from their office,” the 36-year-old explained.

After hearing about the rumored casting, McGee said he began looking into their backgrounds himself. 

“So, I had done a little background digging, and found that they had done some pro-Donald Trump stuff and I leaked that to Girl With No Job, on her Facebook group,” he alleged.

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The fallout allegedly led to major behind-the-scenes changes before cameras even started rolling. “They dropped out before filming started,” McGee added. “Then, they added in Paige DeSorbo.”

Paige DeSorbo officially joined “Summer House” during Season 3 alongside Hannah Berner, who later became her co-host on the wildly successful “Giggly Squad” podcast.

Paige DeSorbo Quickly Became One Of Bravo’s Biggest Stars

While Berner exited “Summer House” after two seasons following multiple conflicts with cast members, DeSorbo’s popularity only continued to grow.

The fashion influencer quickly became one of the show’s most talked-about personalities and remained a central figure for years.

In June 2025, however, DeSorbo shocked fans when she announced she was leaving the series. 

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“Being part of this show has been one of the most rewarding chapters of my life – the friendships, the drama, the giggles. all unforgettable,” she wrote in an emotional Instagram Story statement per Page Six.

“I never could’ve imagined what this journey would turn into — and how many of you would be along for the ride.” 

The 33-year-old also assured followers that her departure would not mean a complete disappearance from public life.

“And you haven’t seen the last of me, I promise. So much more to do together, but for now you know you can always find me and Daphne in my bed,” she continued. The reality star’s reference to her beloved cat quickly became a fan-favorite detail online.

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DeSorbo Later Opened Up About Leaving Reality TV Behind

Months after leaving “Summer House,” Paige DeSorbo spoke more candidly about why she felt it was finally time to move on from the Bravo franchise.

During a September 2025 interview with Byrdie, alongside Berner, the podcast host admitted she no longer felt capable of fully participating in the series as producers expected.

“I know I would’ve been doing a disservice to [the show],” DeSorbo explained, adding, “They expect a certain level of showing up, and I couldn’t give them that.”

She also reflected on the emotional impact that reality television can have over time, admitting the experience can blur the line between entertainment and real life.

“Being on reality TV, there’s a level — this is a harsh word — of, like, brainwashing,” she confessed. “That’s not real life.”

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DeSorbo then joked about how reality TV can make ordinary thoughts seem dramatically amplified. “You’re not stopping people on the street and being like, ‘I just had a thought that I hate my boyfriend,’” she added.

Paige DeSorbo Says Chronic Health Issue Has Affected Her Dating Life

Away from her reality TV career, DeSorbo has been fighting a recurring health battle. As The Blast reported in February, the TV personality revealed that she suffers from chronic urinary tract infections that have repeatedly disrupted her life. 

During an appearance on the “Broad Ideas” podcast, DeSorbo described the issue as “debilitating” and admitted the infections became so frequent that they even affected her dating life. 

DeSorbo explained that if she ever slept with someone and developed a UTI afterward, she would immediately decide “we’re not compatible.” 

She revealed that she typically experienced a painful flare-up “every four months” and had spent years trying different remedies to reduce the problem.  

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At the time of the interview, DeSorbo said she had started a new regimen involving cranberry supplements and oregano supplements twice daily and noted that, for the first time in a while, she had gone longer than expected without getting another infection. 

She also joked that she did not want to “jinx it” by speaking publicly about the improvement. The Bravo personality added that chronic UTIs were exhausting and insisted “UTIs need a cure,” while podcast cohost Olivia Allen sympathized by sharing her own similar experiences.

Two of Matthew Perry‘s sisters, Caitlin and Madeline Morrison, have claimed the late actor’s assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, left him “in a hot tub to die.”

According to a Tuesday, May 26, report by People, who obtained victim impact statements filed on Wednesday, May 20, that relate to Perry’s October 2023 death, the sisters placed significant blame on Iwamasa, 60, who served as the actor’s live-in personal assistant. (Iwamasa is one of five people who have pleaded guilty for various charges relating to supplying the Friends star with ketamine, the drug that killed him at age 54.)

After the Department of Justice determined that Iwamasa had injected Perry repeatedly with ketamine, despite him being “without medical training,” Madeline, 37, wrote in her statement that Iwamasa “had injected my brother with a lethal dose of ketamine and left him in a hot tub to die.”

Her statement continued, “It is difficult to put into words the sense of betrayal I felt when I found out what Kenny had done. In many ways, it felt like my brother died all over again. Everything I believed about the day he died—everything Kenny told us—was a lie. The idea that someone my brother considered family could betray him in such an unimaginable way is something I never could have conceived.”

Related: Matthew Perry’s Sad Final Words Before Death Are Revealed

(Photo by Getty) Matthew Perry’s final words before he died from “the acute effects of ketamine” and was found in his hot tub have been made public. Newly released court documents obtained by NBC News and published on Friday August 16, detail that Perry reportedly asked his assistant Kenneth Iwamasa for help administering the drug three times. […]

Caitlin, 43, echoed the sentiment in her own statement. “I cannot read Kenny’s thoughts. I will never know if the lethal dose of ketamine was only lethal by accident. But I know that when Kenny left the house, he was doing one of two things. He was either escaping from something he knew he had done or he was willfully abandoning a vulnerable person in a dangerous situation,” she wrote.

Iwamasa was one of five people who were indicted on federal charges after Perry died as a result of the “acute effects of ketamine” on October 28, 2023. Iwamasa pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine causing death, while Jasveen Sangka, also known as “The Ketamine Queen,” pleaded guilty to three counts of distribution of ketamine, one count of distribution of ketamine resulting in death or serious bodily injury, and one count of using her home for drug distribution.

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Related: Matthew Perry’s Friends and Family ‘Blindsided’ by Assistant’s Arrest

Matthew Perry’s friends and family were “blindsided” and “saddened” by the arrest of his personal assistant Kenneth Iwamasa amid a drug investigation surrounding the actor’s death. “Matthew kept secrets,” a source close to Matthew exclusively tells Us Weekly. “I wouldn’t be shocked if Kenny was the only one who knew how bad it really was.” According to the insider, Iwamasa started working for […]

Erik Fleming also pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of ketamine resulting in death, Dr. Salvador Plasencia pleaded guilty to four counts of distribution of ketamine and Dr. Mark Chavez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine.

While four of the five have been sentenced to a mix of prison time and home confinement, Iwamasa is scheduled to be sentenced later today.

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

Several Marshals stars are breaking their silence after sparking speculation that they could be leaving the Yellowstone spinoff.

During the Sunday, May 24, episode of the hit CBS series, Andrea (Ash Santos) was offered a job that would take her from Montana to Washington D.C. Meanwhile, Belle (Arielle Kebbel) and Cal (Logan Marshall-Green) were on a mission when they got ambushed — with Tom Weaver (Chris Mulkey) involved in the potentially deadly situation.

It wasn’t clear whether Belle and Cal were killed off-screen despite the show being renewed for season 2. Marshall-Green, 49, and Kebbel, however, confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter that they have begun filming season 2 — and they will be sticking around.

“I can confirm [Cal] is alive, but not necessarily unscathed,” Marshall-Green told the outlet in an article published after Sunday’s episode. “I think I can confirm that for everybody in the damn show, because everybody’s going through it by the end of this thing. I’m hours away of shooting [season 2, episode 1]. I can tell you that we’re all going through things — without giving anything away.”

Related: Which ‘Marshals’ Stars Are — And Aren’t — Returning After Deaths, Cast Exit?

Yellowstone‘s Marshals is returning for season 2 — but is everyone from the cast coming back? The Paramount Network show, which premiered in 2018, introduced viewers to the fictional Dutton family. Yellowstone came to an end in 2024, expanding its universe with Luke Grimes‘ CBS show Marshals and Dutton Ranch, which premiered in May. According […]

Kebbel also weighed in, saying, “I am a part of season 2, yes. We start filming [season 2] with a pick up of that [finale] moment. My head is so deep into season 2 already.”

The actress recalled her initial reaction to the finale script.

“After reading that big cliffhanger, I should have asked myself if Belle survives! But the truth is that I’m so used to Belle being in precarious situations almost every episode,” she noted. “And even though both Belle and Cal are there, it felt in that moment that, because Cal is in front, he’s the one in more in danger. I’m behind him, based on where we ended the episode. So when I read it, my head went to, ‘What’s going to happen to Cal?’”

Looking ahead, Marshall-Green made it clear he has no plans to leave the show, adding, “I love employment! I love steady income, and I love more than anything this crew and this cast. I could easily see myself making this show for many years.”

He continued: “Now — where is the story juiciest, now that we’re dealing with a subject matter like cancer? I don’t wanna sugarcoat it. I don’t want kid gloves on. I don’t want a safe approach. I want Cal to go through it, because I think that is the duty to these men and women who come back from uniform.”

Marshall-Green had hope in the show’s creative team.

“And maybe there’s a way, with the advancement of treatments, to have both worlds. But really, in the end, it’s about what stories are left to tell,” he continued. “That’s up to Yana Grebenyuk Spencer [Hudnut] and the writers, and also Luke [Grimes]. Luke’s been playing this role for a long time. But I think I can speak for everybody when I say that we love coming to work, and, boy, do we come to work. The first season was a grueling shoot.”

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Kebbel went on to express gratitude for the success so far.

“When people are watching a show like Marshals, I’m not sure they’re thinking about the art and sacrifice of it, but there is a lot of sacrifice that goes into it,” she shared. “So I’m really grateful that we’re building momentum and have an audience, and I’m really grateful that we have so many crew coming back from season 1 to season 2 so we all get to go, ‘We’re in this together.’”

Marshals is streaming on Paramount+ now.

Not every superhero story puts a hero in colorful tights or attaches a cape to your favorite adventurer. In fact, there are plenty of great superhero movies out there that don’t follow the usual genre conventions at all. Be they direct comic book adaptations or original creations inspired by the typical Hollywood blockbusters that hit the screens, there’s something about the unconventional superhero movie that just hits right.

This isn’t, of course, to say that just because something doesn’t follow the same formula or thinks a little outside the typical superhero box that it’s automatically a classic — far from it. There are certainly some duds worth marking and avoiding. But if you’re looking for something that still scratches that comic book itch while offering something different, unique, or just plain entertaining, then we’ve got a collection of movies for you. You won’t find Batman, Superman, or Spider-Man here, but you may find something you enjoy just a little bit more.

7

‘Blade’ (1998)

Image via New Line Cinema

For something a bit more tinged with horror, Blade is an action-packed vampire movie where the title protagonist (played by Wesley Snipes) plows his way through hordes of the undead. Before Spider-Man, before X-Men, Marvel first gained notoriety on the big screen with Blade. It changed the way that superhero movies were made, and pushed a lesser-known Marvel hero firmly into the spotlight, eventually spawning a trilogy and a short-lived television series.

Snipes’ Blade is everything you could hope for in a vampire hunter, and though one might argue that his war against the vampires doesn’t make him a superhero, almost everyone who’s seen the picture will beg to differ. With a solid cast, a clever plot, and seriously exciting action sequences, it’s easy to get past some of the dated CGI when enjoying this superhero horror flick. And if you like it, don’t sleep on the next two either.

6

‘Defendor’ (2009)

Image via Alliance Films

A year before James Gunn tried his own hand at superhero satire, director Peter Stebbings teamed up with Woody Harrelson for Defendor. When a mentally underdeveloped (and uber-violent) vigilante begins prowling the streets looking for a villain he calls “Captain Industry,” he finds himself on the trail of an actual criminal conspiracy as his actions are put under the microscope. This one is even better than Gunn’s Super.

Defendor is a complicated take on the superhero genre, but it’s Harrelson’s performance that really seals the deal. His part as Arthur Poppington is exquisite, blending off-beat humor with violent crime-fighting so seamlessly you don’t know whether to laugh or be worried. It’s intense, heartfelt, and certainly more complex than your standard cape-and-cowl material.

5

‘Megamind’ (2010)

Image via DreamWorks Animation

Another comedic take on the genre, Megamind is one for the kids. Centering on the title supervillain (Will Ferrell) after he defeats his longtime nemesis, the bad guy soon becomes the hero when it’s clear that his latest creation is far more evil than he ever could be. In some ways, he’s a Brainiac/Lex Luthor hybrid that has more heart and soul, and it’s due to this goodness within him that he turns to heroism. Essentially a deconstruction of the superhero film, it ends up sticking true to the genre by the end.

Megamind is a classic, and anyone who grew up in the early 2000s likely has fond memories of this DreamWorks animated production. In recent years, it’s spawned a sequel and a television series on Peacock, but the original is still the best of the batch. Ferrell is fabulous as Megamind, but his performance is best emphasized by the comedic talents of co-stars Tina Fey, Brad Pitt, and Jonah Hill.

4

‘The Rocketeer’ (1991)

Image via Buena Vista Pictures Distribution

Before buying Marvel, it was rare for Disney to venture into the superhero genre. But when future Captain America: The First Avenger director Joe Johnson decided to tackle a classic ’80s comic character that evoked the 1930s spirit of adventure and heroism, The Rocketeer was born. When pilot Cliff Secord (Billy Campbell) discovers a jetpack made by Howard Hughes (Terry O’Quinn), he takes to the skies to use the new technology to save lives, only to stumble upon a Nazi plot at the heart of Los Angeles.

The Rocketeer is very much in the same spirit of pulpy comic book adaptations like Tim Burton‘s Batman, Dick Tracy, and The Phantom, but while it’s quite traditional in its emphasis on ’30s comic book nostalgia, it doesn’t fit many of the dark and gritty tropes that would come to define the superhero genre in the coming years. In many ways, it’s more of a noir-style romance adventure than it is a typical superhero movie, and maybe that’s why it turned out so darn good — it’s almost too bad it never got a sequel.

3

‘Darkman’ (1990)

Image via Universal Pictures

Speaking of unconventional heroes, what happens when a horror director decides to create his own superhero based on the Universal Classic Monsters of the 1930s? You get Sam Raimi‘s Darkman, that’s what. A decade before he would tackle Spider-Man, Raimi turned Liam Neeson into the tortured title hero who seeks vengeance on the man who disfigured him and left him for dead.

Like The Rocketeer, Darkman feels very much like an homage to the ’30s comic books full of pulpy, noir crime drama, but still contains horror elements. Rather than focusing his new abilities (due to an experimental treatment) on saving lives like The Rocketeer, Darkman uses them for personal gain to take down the villains responsible for his plight, killing them if need be. He was an antihero long before it was cool on the big screen.

2

‘Unbreakable’ (2000)

If anyone could take the superhero origin story and turn it completely on its head, it would be M. Night Shyamalan. Following The Sixth Sense, Shyamalan reunited with Bruce Willis for an intimate character drama focused on the sole survivor of a massive train accident who discovers that he has superhuman strength. With the help of a wealthy comic book collector (Samuel L. Jackson), he learns to hone his senses and use them for the good of others, leading to some pretty drastic revelations.

Unbreakable is a phenomenal film. While it’s certainly an origin story, it’s about as unconventional as they come, and told in a way where the audience isn’t even expecting a twist at the end. Willis’ David Dunn is one of the best superheroes of the 21st century, and even though Shyamlan’s sequel, Glass, failed to stick the landing in many respects, it doesn’t taint the genius on display here.

1

‘The Iron Giant’ (1999)

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

Inspired by the science fiction pictures of the 1950s, director Brad Bird offered us a glimpse into his psyche with a brilliant animated feature that cut to the heart. The Iron Giant may not be your traditional superhero movie, but it certainly qualifies. When young Hogarth Hughes (Eli Marienthal) finds a giant robot (Vin Diesel) in the woods behind his home, he teaches the alien machine how to be the type of hero worthy of the Man of Steel himself. If you don’t cry watching this modern classic, then there’s likely something wrong with you.

The Iron Giant uses Silver Age Superman comic books as a springboard for a larger conversation of heroism that culminates in a final act that no doubt inspired The Dark Knight Rises‘ ending. It’s a beautiful picture of sacrifice and what it means to give one’s life for others, that to call the Giant anything but a superhero would be a failure to recognize his life, challenges, and choice to be like, well, Superman.

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 19 seconds ago

Previously, we hadn’t had a new Star Wars movie in theaters since 2019, when The Rise of Skywalker redefined just how stupid a galaxy far, far away could really be. Disney wanted The Mandalorian and Grogu to be the big comeback film for the franchise, but that didn’t work. Not only did it earn less money than any live-action Star Wars movie before it, but it has been hailed by some critics as a new low for the Disney era. For both the haters and the fanboys, this leaves one very provocative question: can anything actually save Star Wars?

Amazingly, the answer to that question may involve one of the franchise’s most controversial characters. Rey was the popular protagonist of the Sequel Trilogy, but some fans really hated her because of how she was written (she was basically a Mary Sue from the beginning) and her creepy connection to Emperor Palpatine (who did the monster mash with her grandmother). However, Emmy-winning writer Damon Lindelof was hired to write a new Rey movie that would use the character to do the impossible: bring the fractured fandom back together again. Unfortunately, Disney killed this film, and in doing so, they may have doomed Star Wars altogether.

A Rey Of Hope

Over half a decade ago, Damon Lindelof began working on a solo Rey movie for Disney. This was exciting because Lindelof was famously the co-creator and showrunner of Lost, one of the most engrossing shows from the Golden Age of Television. Later, he became co-creator and showrunner of Watchmen, one of the best superhero shows ever made. After two years of writing for a galaxy far, far away, however, he was fired, and his movie joined the growing pile of canceled Star Wars films. Until recently, fans could only speculate on the deeper details of what his Rey/New Jedi Order movie would have been about. But in a recent interview with the House of R podcast, he spoke candidly about the movie’s plot.

During the interview, Lindelof described the Rey movie in the most fascinating way. “What we were attempting to do was to have this conversation in the movie,” he said, “Which is to say there is a force of nostalgia and there is a force of revision and they are at odds with one another. And let’s do the Protestant Reformation inside ‘Star Wars.’” These statements are both cryptic and compelling, as befits the creator of Lost. But like a bunch of fans seeing the Smoke Monster for the first time, we have to figure out what the heck Damon Lindelof is saying with this mystery box mambo jumbo.

Our Only Hope?

The first part seems clear enough. He wants to take the metatextual discourse over franchise direction and somehow make it textual. What would that look like? We know that Rey was going to rebuild a new Jedi Order. If so, she might be torn between following the traditions of the Prequel Trilogy Jedi Masters and kickstarting her own, brand-new traditions. What’s up with the Protestant Reformation bit? This is likely an indicator that Rey would forge a new path for the Jedi, effectively splintering this ancient religion between the old guard and the new guard. This would presumably sway the fandom to support Rey doing what Star Wars heroes always do: rebel.                            

Why did the project die? After first noting simply that “it didn’t work,” Damon Lindelof later admitted that Disney may have fired him because “the writing was really hard. It was slow. Like the tone, getting it right, where it was inside of the canon, what its relationship was with to episode nine,” he said. “Is it starting a new trilogy? Is it like all of those things? They’re so massive. They’re so big.” He regrets getting fired because “the conversation that the fandom is having without winking and looking at the audience … that didn’t necessarily feel that risky.” 

There Is Another (Skywalker)

In other words, it wouldn’t hurt for Disney to acknowledge (to borrow Lindelof’s adorable phrasing) “the bantha in the room.” The Star Wars fandom is divided, and the franchise is delivering diminishing returns. Lindelof wanted his movie to fix the fan schism, effectively winning over fans who were driven away by The Rise of Skywalker. To counter that film’s simplicity, Lindelof wanted a smart, metatextual film that pushed the boundaries of the franchise, but Disney wanted to play it safe. That’s why The Mandalorian and Grogu (our first Star Wars film since TROS) is just a collection of fight scenes and explosions, with nothing (including character development or coherent plotting) that might offend the audience.

However, it seems that Disney backed the wrong horse. The Mandalorian and Grogu had the weakest opening weekend of any live-action Star Wars film. Furthermore, its middling quality disappointed critics and large swathes of the fandom. Given this film’s failure, it won’t be surprising if the studio later cribs from Damon Lindelof and makes a film intended to unify the fandom. However, that effort may be too little, too late because the last two Star Wars movies have been messy commercial and critical disappointments. When the smoke clears on this latest theatrical disaster, Disney may discover a bitter truth: there’s no fandom left to unify.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner put family first this week after their daughter Violet appeared to suffer a health issue that required urgent medical attention. 

The former Hollywood power couple reunited Tuesday to help their eldest child into an urgent care clinic in Los Angeles, with both parents staying close as Violet later emerged on crutches. 

The emotional outing once again showed the exes’ famously united co-parenting dynamic years after their split, while also shedding light on the challenges they have both openly discussed since ending their marriage.

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner were seen rushing daughter Violet to an urgent care clinic in Los Angeles on Tuesday after the Yale student appeared to be struggling physically. 

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Photos obtained by the Daily Mail showed Violet hobbling into the medical center while relying heavily on both of her parents for support.

Affleck kept one arm wrapped protectively around the 20-year-old as she leaned against him on the way inside, while Garner hurried beside them to help steady Violet. 

Later, Violet was seen leaving the clinic on crutches, with both parents remaining closely by her side throughout the careful walk out of the building.

Affleck And Garner Remain United As Co-Parents

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner officially split in 2018, but they have continued to maintain one of Hollywood’s most talked-about co-parenting relationships while raising their three kids, Violet, Fin, and Samuel. 

Just weeks before the urgent care visit, Violet made a rare public appearance without her face mask while spending time with Garner and Samuel during a relaxed family outing.

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The trio stopped for ice cream at Sweet Rose Creamery inside the Brentwood Country Mart near the family’s Los Angeles home while Violet was home from Yale.

Violet has previously spoken about dealing with a post-viral condition in 2019 and still wears face masks as a precaution, making the outing especially surprising to some observers.

As The Blast reported, the outing without face mask sparked a lot of backlash from fans, due to Violet’s stance against the calls to ban masks. One fan even revealed that Violet appearing without a face mask was hypocritical.

Ben Affleck And Jennifer Garner Built A Family Before Their Split

Affleck and Garner first met in 2004 while promoting “Pearl Harbor,” though their relationship deepened later while working together on “Daredevil.” 

Their chemistry quickly became a major talking point, and the pair married in 2005 during a private Caribbean ceremony.

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Over the years, they became one of Hollywood’s most photographed couples, regularly appearing together at sporting events, school runs, and red-carpet functions with their children. 

Even after announcing their separation in 2015 and finalizing their divorce in 2018, they continued to prioritize family life together.

Garner recently reflected on what it has been like raising children across two households during an appearance on Bustle’s “One Nightstand” YouTube series. 

Speaking about balancing parenting responsibilities, she explained, “And I think my kids’ dad does too. Especially when your kids grow up in two separate households, I become mom and dad and he becomes dad and mom.”

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She added, “You kind of can’t help it, right? Because you don’t have the benefit of both sides of the yin and yang being in the same house.”

Affleck And Garner Reflect On Divorce And Family Changes

Jennifer Garner has also spoken candidly about the emotional toll of the end of her marriage to Ben Affleck. 

In a January 2026 interview with Marie Claire UK, the actress admitted the breakup was deeply painful and difficult to process publicly. 

“You have to be smart about what you can and can’t handle, and I could not handle what was out there,” she said.

Garner explained that the hardest part was not simply ending the relationship itself, but the impact on their family structure. 

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“The fact of it is what was hard. The actual breaking up of a family was what was hard. Losing a true partnership and friendship was what was hard,” the 54-year-old revealed. 

Despite the challenges, she insisted prioritizing her children never felt like a sacrifice and acknowledged that motherhood strongly influenced the jobs she accepted throughout her career.

Ben Affleck Opens Up About Divorce And Lasting Respect For Jennifer Garner

Affleck has also publicly reflected on the pain surrounding their divorce and the reality of co-parenting after separation. 

During a 2020 appearance on “Good Morning America,” the actor admitted he struggled emotionally with the breakdown of his marriage.

“I didn’t want to get divorced, I didn’t want to be a divorced person, I really didn’t want to be a split family with my children,” Affleck said at the time. 

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He explained that the experience forced him to confront difficult feelings about himself and his identity as a husband and father. “It upset me because it meant I wasn’t who I thought I was and that was so painful and so disappointing. In myself,” he continued.

Affleck also emphasized the importance of mutual respect between parents after divorce, saying, “When you have children with somebody, you’re connected to them forever. And I’m very lucky she [Garner] is the mother of my children.”

He added, “I’m very grateful and respectful of her. Our marriage didn’t work, and that’s difficult. Both of us really believe that it’s important for kids to see their parents respect one another and get along, whether they’re together or not.”

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