Entertainment
‘HALF’ Stars Ranjith Sajeev and Aiswarya Raj on Reimagining the Indian Western at TIFF : Coastal House Media
When the classic “curry western” mutates with the feral gore of vampire lore, the result is HALF, director Samjad’s electrifying neo-Western that marks a ferocious new chapter for Malayalam cinema. Blending Sergio Leone’s lawless frontier aesthetics with the visceral martial choreography of Very Tri Yulisman (The Raid 2), the film plunges audiences into the brutal Pai Nagar desert. Here, half-vampire twins Ethan and Ivy are left for dead by a ruthless band of marauders, triggering an unyielding, blood-drenched quest for vengeance. Making history as the first Malayalam film to premiere at Toronto International Film Festival’s prestigious Midnight Madness, HALF isn’t merely an action spectacle; it’s a genre-defying cultural statement that grounds supernatural abilities in raw human emotion, sibling bonds, and an eclectic, scene-stealing soundtrack.
In this exclusive interview with Coastal House Media journalist Aayush Sharma, lead actors Ranjith Sajeev (Ethan) and Aiswarya Raj (Ivy) break down how they approached their roles as grounded human beings first and supernatural creatures second. From building an unspoken sibling dynamic to executing unpolished, primal fight choreography and navigating non-verbal performance, Sajeev and Raj offer a deep dive into the making of this groundbreaking film, and why Malayalam genre cinema is poised to captivate global audiences strictly on its own terms.
Ethan is technically a vampire, but HALF places him inside the tradition of the Indian Western hero: a solitary figure moving through a lawless landscape and eventually dispensing his own form of justice. How did you construct Ethan physically and psychologically so he felt like a character from an Indian Western first and a supernatural creature second?
Ranjith Sajeev: As you said, the genre of this film blends a lot of different genres, and that’s exactly what Samjad had in mind as well. That’s how we conceived the overall aesthetic of the characters and the film. It’s a neo-Western film featuring vampires, and I feel like that’s where the newness of the genre comes in as well. Talking about Ethan specifically, even though he’s a Daywalker, which is a half-human, half-vampire hybrid, to him, he’s just a regular guy. He has a sister he bickers and fights with; he does everyday things, and he experiences very human emotions. So, we wanted to approach these characters with a strong sense of humanity as well.
Usually, when you see vampires, they have a much larger-than-life presence in how they’re presented. I think that’s something we’ve seen throughout the years. But with Ethan and Ivy, we wanted to ground them as characters first and foremost. The fact that they’re supernatural creatures is secondary; it’s simply a part of their abilities. The bigger question for us was: how do you make them feel really relatable and grounded as siblings? How do you make their sibling camaraderie work and make the audience connect with them as characters? I feel like that’s the way we approached the film. There’s a very realistic and grounded treatment of the way we approached these characters, and that’s exactly what Samjad had in mind when he first presented the film to me.
Official Poster of ‘HALF’ (Credit: Fragrant Nature Film Creations)
Aiswarya, your character Ivy might be the most technically fascinating character in the film because she is non-verbal, yet she is also a supernatural being capable of extraordinary violence. How did you build an internal emotional vocabulary for her? Did you consciously create different physical registers for affection, fear, anger, and bloodlust, knowing that dialogue could not communicate those transitions?
Aiswarya Raj: Yes, actually, before the film, I had some sign language practice and preparation. While preparing for the film, I wanted Ivy to be like any normal person, and I didn’t want the fact that she couldn’t speak to define her in any way. She has that aspect of her life, but it’s just a part of who she is. It doesn’t necessarily explain what she does or who she is as a person.I wanted her to be a regular person who is out there doing all the things she wants to do in life, and nothing should come in the way of that. I didn’t want her to think, “Oh, I have this, so I’m vulnerable or helpless.” Nothing like that. She’s really bold and confident; she knows what she wants, and she knows how to build something for herself.
She never really thought of herself as a vampire. She knew that she and her brother had this supernatural ability within them, but that didn’t define them. They had never actually experienced an incident where they had to use those powers. They knew they had heightened sensitivity, healing abilities, and that they were more powerful than regular people, but that was it. To them, those were just traits they had, and even those abilities came with their own weaknesses. For example, not being able to see in extreme light is a weakness, right? I wanted Ivy to see herself in that way. She doesn’t consider herself extraordinary, but she knows herself very well. She’s a go-getter, and creating that character wasn’t particularly difficult for me because certain parts of her felt relatable to me. In some ways, she was also a version of myself that I would aspire to be. I really like certain aspects of her personality.
At the same time, I would say she’s a little arrogant, and I had that in mind as well. I never wanted her to be this perfect human being. She could be a little flawed, a little difficult, and a little more normal in that sense. She’s not conventional. I didn’t want her to be the conventional heroine who is helpless and needs someone else to help her. I didn’t want to put her in a box. I wanted the audience to have their own interpretation of her. I wanted them to look at her and think, “Okay, let me figure this character out myself.” In a way, I wanted to give the audience a challenge: read the character for yourself and tell me who she is. That’s something I really wanted from Ivy.
The film gives Ethan supernatural abilities, but that can actually create an acting challenge because conventional action stakes are different when your character is significantly harder to kill. Did you approach Ethan’s invulnerability as a source of confidence, or did you deliberately build some vulnerability underneath it so the audience still feels something when he is attacked?
Ranjith: I think that vulnerability isn’t just something that came from me. I think everyone involved, including Samjad and the choreographer, really understood that we had to bring that vulnerability into the characters. Because at the end of the day, you want to see a protagonist go through challenges. When they face hardships and eventually succeed, that’s when it feels earned, right? Even with the fight choreography, it’s really raw and unpolished. If you look at the choreographer’s previous work, like the Rage series, they’re amazing action films, but the characters in those films are expert martial artists. They’re technically trained and know exactly what they’re doing.
These characters, however, the vampires or Daywalkers, are just normal beings. To them, they’re normal people who happen to have vampiric abilities. They completely depend on those abilities when it comes to combat. If they didn’t have those abilities, they probably would have been dead within the first 10 minutes. I feel like those abilities add a completely different dimension to the combat because the fighting is primarily animalistic. They’re vampires, they’re creatures, and when they awaken that part of themselves, it becomes very primal and feral. They just go all in, guns blazing, because they know they’re going to heal and that their abilities will protect them. So the fighting becomes really scrappy instead of technical.
I feel like that scrappy nature of the choreography is our flavor in this film, and we’ve carried it throughout all the action sequences. Even though these characters have supernatural abilities, they still have to adapt to every situation and every fight. If you look at all the fight sequences, every single one has its own originality. The bar fight isn’t like the house fight, and the house fight isn’t like the climax fight. The circumstances are different each time, so the characters have to adapt accordingly. That adaptability plays a huge role in the choreography. That also means the audience gets a new experience with every fight scene. It doesn’t become monotonous or feel like they’re watching the same kind of action repeatedly. I feel like that vulnerability and the scrappy, raw nature of the fighting are really the flavor of the film, and ultimately, they’re the identity of the fight choreography as well. So yes, bringing that vulnerability into these characters, even within the fight sequences, was something we did very deliberately.
Ivy’s cellphone playlist becomes part of the film’s sonic identity. That creates an unusual contrast: we see an extremely violent character moving through brutal action while music associated with her personal taste plays alongside it. Did you think of the playlist almost as Ivy’s dialogue? In other words, were you using the songs to reveal aspects of her personality that she could not express verbally?
Aiswarya: Verbally, yeah, that would have been a great take, but when I was going through it, I felt like it would take away from her personality. She’s a really cool person. She’s very nonchalant, and her attitude is almost like, “I’ll just make this disappear.” If there’s an obstacle in my way, I’ll just make it disappear. That was the kind of thought process behind her. As for the playlist, I haven’t heard it yet, so I have no idea what it sounds like. They told me it’s great, though, so I’m really looking forward to hearing it. I think the playlist also adds to her personality. Almost like you said, the dialogue tells you, “This is how I am.” But like I said earlier, I wanted her to remain mysterious. I wanted people to feel like, “Let me read her. Let me get into her head and figure out what she’s thinking.” I think the playlist adds to that mystery while also bringing out her coolness.
I think that was a brilliant move by the writers because, without the playlist, she might have felt a little more distant from the rest of the movie. Drenjith has his own way of communicating, and he has more freedom when it comes to expressing himself verbally, whereas Ivy doesn’t have that same freedom. So, the playlist really speaks for her. It becomes another way for her to communicate and gives the audience a glimpse into her personality without having to explain everything through dialogue.
Ranjith: Like Baby Driver, I think music plays a really, really important role in a film. It can elevate so many scenes and sequences, and that’s exactly what we wanted to achieve here. From the get-go, this was supposed to be a high-octane action-adventure film, and to translate that experience and feeling in the right way, music plays a huge part. That’s especially thanks to Mithun Mukundan, who’s the music composer of the film. There are some really cool tracks in this movie, and I don’t want to spoil too much because I want to leave that experience for the audience. But definitely, it’s an amalgamation of everything: the music, the fight choreography, the sound design, and the character work. All of these elements come together to make this a true theatrical experience.
HALF stars Ranjith Sajeev and Aiswarya Raj (Credit: Fragrant Nature Film Creations)
Ethan and Ivy are twins, but Ivy is non-verbal while Ethan becomes the more expressive half of their relationship. How did you and Aiswarya establish their communication without relying too heavily on dialogue? Were there particular physical gestures, eye movements, rhythms, or recurring behaviours that became part of Ethan and Ivy’s private language?
Ranjith: I think we just had a very natural chemistry, honestly. We pretty much just winged it. We spent around 150 days on location shooting the film, so we talked a lot and spent a lot of time together. It got to the point where we subconsciously knew how to balance each other out in scenes. The funny thing is that the intro scene of the film, where you see the siblings bickering, was actually the last scene we shot. By then, our chemistry had already meshed really well, and I feel like that was a very deliberate plan from Samjad as well. After everything else had been shot, he saved the introduction of these characters for last so that our chemistry would be at its peak. I feel like that’s how we achieved that dynamic.
There’s also a scene midway through the film that I don’t want to spoil, but it’s an intimate moment between the siblings that becomes the driving force behind what they do for the rest of the film. It’s a one-take scene, and we actually had a light issue while shooting it. We had been shooting at that location for around four days, and this was our last day there. Samjad wanted to shoot the scene in this very specific, almost dawn-like light. It couldn’t be too bright, but it also couldn’t be too dark, so we had a very small window to get the shot. While the camera was being set up, Samjad basically told us what we needed to do and then left us to our own devices. We were like, “Okay.” But by that point, we knew each other so well that even without a detailed plan, we trusted that we would be able to balance our chemistry in the best way possible.
We did the scene, and that was it. It was one take. We didn’t do another take after that. So, what I’m trying to say is that the chemistry between us was pretty much unspoken and unsaid. We didn’t have to do a lot of pre-planning before every scene, like, “Okay, you say this and I’ll react like this.” It just happened naturally. And I feel like that adds a lot to these characters and the emotions in the film because the chemistry came from a really natural space for both of us.
Aiswarya: Yeah, and as he said, we’re really not that expressive as siblings. Right from the introduction, you see them bickering, and I think it’s a very realistic portrayal of what it’s like to have a brother or sister. When you’re sitting at home, you don’t necessarily talk to each other all the time. You just coexist. They’ve been living together for around 25 years, so at that point, you know each other so well. You can just look at each other and communicate so many things without actually saying anything. A lot of it is unspoken, and I think that’s what happened with us as well. Maybe it’s because of the amount of time we spent together, but we developed this very natural sibling vibe. By the end, I would almost say we looked like twins!
I actually still remember the first time we met. We accidentally wore the same thing. We were both wearing a black shirt and jeans. I remember thinking, “Yeah, this is exactly what you guys look like: fraternal twins!” And I think that was a great sign for the casting.
There is an interesting contradiction in Ivy: she is physically terrifying but potentially emotionally more mysterious because the audience cannot simply listen to her explain herself. How much did you deliberately withhold from the performance? Did you ever have to resist the temptation to “show” the audience exactly what Ivy was feeling?
Aiswarya: Ivy was feeling… No, actually, whatever she did, I would say that it was always truthful to her character. I never felt like, “Oh, I have to show this emotion here because this is where the character is supposed to feel it.” Ivy always had this curtain in front of her, almost like a mask. She doesn’t feel the need to show her emotions all the time. I think the only time she really lets something out is the moment he mentioned earlier, that intimate moment between the siblings. All the frustration she’s been carrying is suddenly there, and she needs to take it out on somebody. But she’s not angry at her brother. She’s angry that something like this happened and that he had to go through it. Honestly, she would have preferred to keep all of that inside her own head, but it came out. It just burst out in that moment, and she never intended for it to happen that way.
For most of the film, her face is really plain, and I wanted to keep it that way. Initially, I thought very consciously about maintaining that throughout the film. But after a point, I stopped thinking about it. I never thought, “Okay, I need to do something with my face here,” or, “I need to use this particular body language in this scene.” There was nothing like that. After a while, I just lost myself in the character, and it was all Ivy. I think I was like that on set as well. I’m not even sure, honestly, but at some point, I wasn’t consciously thinking about how I was playing Ivy anymore. I was just being her.
Malayalam cinema has increasingly demonstrated that a film can be deeply rooted in its own cultural language while still travelling internationally without being “translated” into a generic global cinema. HALF takes that even further by using a very local Indian genre history as the foundation for a vampire action film with an international action team. Do you see the future of Malayalam genre cinema as becoming less about trying to make films that look “global” and more about making films so culturally specific that the world becomes curious about them?
Ranjith: I think the thing is, if you’re setting out to make a film with the mentality that, “Okay, we need to take this global,” that’s not necessarily going to work. I feel like you should just make the story you want to tell as honestly and truthfully as possible. If the audience connects with that content, they will make it global. That’s their job, not ours. I would say that Malayalam films, specifically, have always been really far ahead when it comes to content. Our budgets are relatively small compared to other industries, but in terms of storytelling, we’ve always tried to push into new territories. Half is no different. From the very beginning, it was never about saying, “Oh, let’s make an international film.” We were simply thinking, “Let’s make a really, really cool film that we would want to watch in a theatre.” I feel like that ideology is what ultimately pushes cinema and films to a global scale. When you make something that’s relatable to an audience, and they can genuinely resonate with it, that’s when you can take a film beyond its original boundaries and connect with audiences globally. I feel like that mentality is what’s really important. I’m just hoping this can be the beginning of Malayalam cinema going global in the most organic way possible. Half is the first Malayalam film to premiere at Midnight Madness and the third Indian film to do so, and that itself is a huge honour for all of us as a team. From here on, we’re just hoping it continues to go upwards. That’s what we’re all hoping for.
Aiswarya: I’d say this is probably one of the best examples of cultural exchange. We took a very Western element, something with that classic Dracula and European vampire influence, and blended it with an Indian way of filmmaking and storytelling. Even the characters on the other side, the negative characters in our film, are very Indian. Their body language, their personalities, and the way they behave are deeply rooted in Indian culture. So, to blend those characters and that cultural identity with a story that has these Western supernatural elements is, I think, a really interesting form of cultural exchange. We’ve been taking influences from international cinema for a long time, and Malayalam cinema, in particular, has always been ahead of its time in that regard. Our stories have traditionally been very character-driven. The premise is important, of course, but the characters have always been at the heart of the story. When you watch a Lalettan or a Mammootty film, you’re not necessarily watching a person simply playing a character. You feel like you’re seeing yourself. You think, “Oh, I know this person. I’ve seen this happen in my own life.” Malayalam cinema has always had that quality. I would say Half is a newer version of that tradition. We’ve taken these influences and approached them in a very grounded and realistic way. As he said, the idea felt very new to us, and I think that’s what makes the film interesting.
Ranjith: I think it was post-COVID that we, as an Indian audience, really started embracing more naturalism in films as well. I’ve said this before, but Indian audiences don’t just watch Indian films. We watch Korean films, Spanish films, and films from all over the world. We want good films, regardless of where they come from. And I think that’s something that challenges us as actors and filmmakers to push ourselves and provide a new experience for the audience. How can we deliver something they haven’t seen before? How can we surprise them in new ways? Content plays a huge, huge part in that. As I said, it’s about organically trying to tell the story you want to tell without being afraid of whether it will let the audience down or whether it will be perceived as something that can travel internationally. If you tell the story in the truest and most honest way possible, I believe that global reach will happen organically.
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Maureen Kelly of tarte Shares Her Slumber Party Essentials and the Morning-After Espresso Shot for Sleepy Eyes
Sleep tight! tarte founder and CEO Maureen Kelly is here to help you get a good night’s sleep or at least look like you did.
Kelly, who created a beauty line loved by Shay Mitchell, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kourtney Kardashian, teamed up with lifestyle brand Roller Rabbit, whose designs have been worn by Angelina Jolie, Bella Hadid, and Reese Witherspoon, for the ultimate slumber party collaboration, complete with makeup and matching pajamas.
“The best girls’ nights are all about the little rituals you never really grow out of, doing your makeup together, ordering your favorite food, putting on a movie, and staying up way too late talking. … That’s the spirit behind tarte x Roller Rabbit, celebrating those girls’ nights, and the joy of girlhood together,” she tells ET.
While cozy is the dress code, there’s no reason to skip the glam.
“Wear the shimmer and glossy lip for a girls’ night on the couch. Getting ready can be the event. You never age out of playing with makeup, and you never outgrow a great sleepover,” she shares.
As for what’s in Kelly’s overnight bag? The entrepreneur has a few tried-and-true favorites.
“My biggest tip is not to overcomplicate it. Start with good skin prep, then focus on a few products that make you feel your best. For me, that’s a little shape tape, some blush on the cheeks to bring my face to life, mascara, and a good lip. … Don’t worry about making it perfect. Some of the best looks happen when you’re just getting ready with your girlfriends and trying out each other’s products and routines as you go.”
Swapping beauty secrets is part of the fun, but some products call for a more personal touch.
“We have four shape tape options because you can get the shade right and still need a different formula. The OG is for oily or combination skin and gives you full coverage with a matte finish. The creamy has a built-in eye cream, so you get that coverage with extra hydration. The stick is your swipe-and-go option for blurring and spot coverage, and radiant gives you medium coverage with more glow, so your skin still shines through.”
And once the night winds down, there’s one step she’ll never skip.
“Take your makeup off! I love that our tubing mascara comes off with just warm water because at the end of a long day, nobody wants another project. Then moisturize, put your phone down, and give yourself permission to be done for the night. I need that reminder too,” she spills.
Even if you stay up past your bedtime, there’s still a way to look bright-eyed the next morning.
“More tired doesn’t have to mean more makeup. A little product makes a big difference. I swear by the dot-and-dash method with shape tape for an instant eye lift. Place a dot at the inner corner to brighten and a little dash at the outer corner and blend upward for a lifted look. You don’t need that big triangle of concealer under your eyes. … Just one swipe makes you look like you had 8 hours of sleep. I always say it’s like an espresso shot for your under-eyes.”
Concealer might act like caffeine for dark circles, but an actual pick-me-up calls for something else.
“FINSUUL is energy, focus and hydration in one stick, because my morning routine needs to multitask as much as I do and coffee can’t keep up.”
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RJ Mitte spent years fighting for the chance to prove that his cerebral palsy did not define the roles he could play.
Behind the success of “Breaking Bad,” the actor privately questioned Hollywood’s reluctance to give disabled performers meaningful opportunities, even as he kept auditioning and developing his own projects.
Messages that now reveal his frustrations offer a painful look at a career shaped by persistence, disappointment, and a determination to change an industry he believed overlooked his talent.
RJ Mitte Challenged Hollywood’s Casting Practices
RJ Mitte’s frustration with Hollywood was rooted in a recurring problem: casting professionals often treated disability as a reason to exclude him from roles that had not been written specifically for disabled characters.
In an April 2017 private message to a longtime friend obtained by the Daily Mail, he described the uncomfortable reactions he encountered when he questioned that approach.
“When I go for a part, they sometimes tell me that it’s not a character with a disability, and I’m like why can’t the character be disabled?” he wrote.
Mitte believed a character could have cerebral palsy without the entire storyline revolving around the condition.
His role as Walter White Jr., the son of Bryan Cranston’s chemistry teacher turned drug manufacturer on AMC’s “Breaking Bad,” had demonstrated his ability to play a character whose life extended beyond his disability.
Yet the show’s success did not bring the steady stream of opportunities he had hoped for. “I can do any role, but some of [the casting agents and directors] are a**h****s who won’t even look at me,” he wrote in another 2017 message.
He kept auditioning, but a television pilot he worked on didn’t move forward. “Worked on a pilot that didn’t go, a few months ago. Brutal biz,” he wrote that December.
Mitte Struggled To Find Consistent Work
The difficulty securing roles also affected RJ Mitte’s ability to plan for his future. After completing an independent film project in Sydney, Australia, he explained in February 2019 that he hoped to find more work in the United States.
The overseas project had been enjoyable, but it did not guarantee another opportunity at home. “I did a job in Sydney, and it was fun,” the 34-year-old wrote.
He added, “But it’s a film not going to be here, it’s Australian, I hope I can find stuff here. I would like to work enough to keep my [health] insurance. Pain in the ass lol.”
When the coronavirus pandemic disrupted the entertainment industry in 2020, Mitte continued pursuing projects, including work in Canada and voice acting. He also recognized that completing projects was not enough if casting professionals forgot he was available.
“I’ve got to figure out more work,” he wrote in June 2020, adding, “I need to keep myself relevant lol.” He later offered to do video interviews and other promotional opportunities, explaining, “I just need to remind people to book me.”
By March 2021, Mitte believed disabled actors were facing additional barriers because of assumptions about their health and insurability during the pandemic.
“Gotta convince people that I’m not going to die of Covid. There’s a backlash about people with disabilities, they think that we can’t be insured or that we are going to die in the middle of a scene, its bullshit,” he wrote.
RJ Mitte Pursued Greater Representation And New Projects
Mitte’s concerns extended beyond finding work for himself. Diagnosed with cerebral palsy at three, he became an advocate for disabled performers, serving as an ambassador for United Cerebral Palsy and Shriners Children’s.
In 2016, he publicly called for television to portray disabled people in ordinary, varied roles rather than limiting them to stories about their conditions.
“I would love to switch on my TV and see a disabled person talking about something they are genuinely interested in or acting out a part that doesn’t just focus on their impairment,” the star said.
His private messages showed that he remained dissatisfied with the scripts he received. In April 2022, he told his friend that some offered little more than a token appearance.
“Looking for interesting stuff to do, getting a lot of scripts where I would be a prop and they don’t want to give any depth, 3 lines if that,” he wrote. “I’m writing my own s**t now.”
Four months later, he complained that they were mainly offering him animation work. By July 2025, however, he was considering “Dancing with the Stars” as a possible platform to challenge assumptions about cerebral palsy, provided the experience preserved his dignity.
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Details Of Mitte’s Tragic Demise Revealed
According to a report from The Blast, RJ Mitte died by suicide on Monday, October 12, at age 34 in Brownsville, Texas.
His representatives confirmed his death, with a statement that read, “It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of beloved actor, philanthropist, and passionate disability rights advocate RJ Mitte.”
The statement also said Mitte drew on his experience living with cerebral palsy to bring authenticity to his role as Walter White Jr. on Breaking Bad and to promote disability awareness and inclusion.
It added that he served as an ambassador for United Cerebral Palsy and Shriners Children’s, and led The Mitte Foundation, which supported philanthropic efforts and community initiatives.
RJ Mitte’s Upcoming Movie Put On Hold After Death
Mitte’s death also disrupted production of “Forgotten Outlaw,” a Western in which he was cast as the lead.
TMZ reported that the film had been placed on hold, with director Nik Tizekker planning to continue the project in the late actor’s honor.
Tizekker told the outlet that the film was in pre-production and that Mitte had been helping the team secure additional financing before his death. The director considered the Hollywood star a strong fit for the central role because of his mindset and physical resemblance to the person he was set to portray.
Although the production would need to find another leading actor, Tizekker said he intended to move forward with the movie rather than abandon it.
Mitte had also been collaborating with Tizekker on “Like It Was Yesterday,” a limited series exploring near-death experiences. The actor had filmed scenes with Catherine Carlen, who played his mother in the project.
The series was about half complete before Mitte’s death. Tizekker hoped to finish and release it if the necessary funding could be secured.
Since Taylor Sheridan‘s hit neo-Western Yellowstone premiered in 2018, many attempts to create a story of that magnitude have been made, but none has matched its success. Almost every streaming service has tried to make a Yellowstone version, from sweeping romances in Ransom Canyon to family feuds with sci-fi twists in Outer Range. Only recently has a TV show captured the Yellowstone spirit, and it has become a streaming favorite.
At 90% on Rotten Tomatoes, the drama is a certified hit in its own right. Viewers also rated it favorably, giving it an 85% score. Part of that success is that Dutton Ranch is set in the Yellowstone universe and directly continues the story. Critics agreed that “Dutton Ranch takes what its predecessor perfected and carries the mantle well in a new town with the same well-worn trappings, perfectly dusted and ripe for entertaining.”
But the Kelly Reilly and Cole Hauser-led series isn’t the first direct sequel to Yellowstone, with Marshals preceding it a few months earlier. However, critics and viewers seemed to agree that Marshals didn’t feel like a perfect continuation of Yellowstone, since it lacked the grit and expansive storytelling that were Yellowstone‘s hallmarks. Dutton Ranch, by contrast, features ranching, family feuds, and violence. However, both shows stream on the same platform, and with Marshals‘ return for a new season, Dutton Ranch has also seen renewed interest and has been among the most-watched shows on Paramount+ over the last week, peaking at number 7 according to FlixPatrol’s rankings. It’s a decent performance for a show that’s not airing new episodes, but once the new season comes out, Dutton Ranch will reclaim its glory from earlier this year.
Will ‘Dutton Ranch’ Return for Season 2?
Dutton Ranch is officially returning for a second season on Paramount+ following a record-breaking debut. Filming for Season 2 is scheduled to begin in early 2027, with the writers’ room actively developing scripts throughout the remainder of 2026. While a definitive premiere date hasn’t been announced, a late 2027 premiere date is more likely. Behind the scenes, the series is undergoing a major creative shift. Benjamin Cavell, the creator of SEAL Team, takes over as showrunner from Chad Feehan, who exited the series due to creative differences. Plot details remain tightly under wraps, but the season is expected to immediately address the finale’s dramatic cliffhangers, focusing on tense cartel conflicts and the mission to rescue Carter (Finn Little) from his kidnappers. Meanwhile, Ed Harris will also have a larger role after calling out the show for him being underutilized in Season 1.
Stream Dutton Ranch and Marshals on Paramount+ in the U.S. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
- Release Date
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May 15, 2026
- Network
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Paramount Network, Paramount+
- Showrunner
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Chad Feehan
- Directors
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Christina Alexandra Voros
- Writers
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Jacob Forman, Hilary Bettis, Chad Feehan, Hayley Tibbenham, J. Todd Scott, K.C. Scott
Below Deck Med‘s Gael Cameron made a rare comment about the complicated period in her life before Nathan Gallagher‘s arrest.
“And there goes the close of another season of Med… and another chapter of life 🤍,” Gael wrote via Instagram on Thursday, October 8.
Gael noted that most of her experience wasn’t shown on camera.
“You didn’t get to see much of my time in Croatia. It wasn’t the easiest chapter of my life, and there’s still so much left to be said about that time,” she wrote. “But I’d love to share a bit of the good you guys didn’t get to see.”
Below Deck couples haven’t had long lasting success — and Mediterranean‘s Gael Cameron and Nathan Gallagher aren’t the exception. The couple, who met on season 9, got off to a rocky start as Gael navigated a breakup from an offscreen boyfriend. Nathan, meanwhile, was clear about his immediate attraction to Gael, which blossomed as they […]
The reality star recalled the difficult time in her life, writing, “I moved away with a new baby and [was] still living in survival mode. But honestly? I think I did okay. I got to explore one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been while figuring out my new life as a mother, and I got to share my love for the unfamiliar with my new little best friend.”
Gael was grateful to have support from her loved ones. “For almost three of the six weeks we were there, my best friend flew over to be with us,” she continued. “With an extra set of hands and a bit of care I stopped just surviving and moments there I got to feel like myself again.”
She continued: “I just wish I had more photos with this incredible cast. And huge props to everyone, cast and crew, in front of the camera and behind it. I get to see how hard you all work and how much heart and soul goes into what you do.”
Despite the challenges, Gael was determined to take away something from her time in Croatia.
“Leaving my support system at home wasn’t the plan, but I’m so grateful for the experience,” she concluded. “Croatia showed me the strength I have as a mother and as a woman: no matter how challenging the circumstances, I will survive. And not only that, I’ll always find the pockets of joy, cause life is a beautiful thing and there is always light as long as you keep looking for it xx.”
As viewers know, Gael spent most of her time in season 11 on land with her and Nathan’s infant son, Kayden. Nathan, for his part, would visit the pair at their home when there wasn’t a charter on board.
News broke in August, however, that Nathan was arrested on domestic violence charges in Australia in December 2025. Nathan was charged with “assault occasioning actual bodily harm, intentionally chok[ing] a person without consent and common assault” following an alleged incident with an unnamed victim.
A police memo revealed that Nathan was eventually granted conditional bail. He was later convicted on three counts of domestic violence after failing to appear in court. Us also confirmed that Nathan is the subject of an Apprehended Violence Application that was filed on behalf of Gael in New South Wales.
Below Deck Mediterranean‘s Gael Cameron admitted she’s faced struggles following ex Nathan Gallagher‘s arrest for domestic violence. “You handled it so well. No, I didn’t,” she wrote via Instagram on Saturday, September 12. “I lost myself, I lost my spark. I didn’t handle it.” Gael continued: “My best friend did. She sat with me, let […]
“I’m not claiming I was perfect. I wasn’t. I made mistakes, and I will take responsibility for my own actions,” Nathan told Rolling Stone in a statement in August. “I will not accept being portrayed solely through one account of a relationship when there is another side and evidence relating to it. I have contemporaneous video footage from the night in question, as well as messages and other records, which I believe provide important context.”
In his statement, Nathan revealed he and Gael had split.
“There are also other matters surrounding the relationship that I have never discussed publicly,” he claimed. “My priority is being recognized as his father, establishing a relationship with him and ultimately finding a way for both of us to move forward and coparent peacefully.”
Us has since confirmed that Bravo fired Nathan in light of his domestic violence arrest.
“Bravo does not plan on working with Nathan in the future,” a rep for the network noted in a statement.
Below Deck airs on Bravo Mondays at 8 p.m. ET. New episodes stream the next day on Peacock.
Roomies, Lil Wayne and Madison Cannon have folks keeping an eye on the little details, and her latest social media moment has a certain accessory catching attention!
RELATED: Lil Wayne Talks Wedding Plans With Fiancée Madison Cannon As Fans Bring Up Reginae Carter (PHOTO + VIDEO)
Lil Wayne’s Fiancée Madison Cannon Seemingly Shows Off THAT Ring
This weekend, Lil Wayne’s fiancée, Madison Cannon, seemingly gave fans a closer look at her engagement ring while showing off her fresh nail set. In a photo shared to what appears to be Madi’s Instagram Story, she shows off her hand as she seemingly lounges poolside, surrounded by beige tile. Her nails feature a soft blush-pink polish, while a noticeable yellow-toned ring sits on THAT finger, appearing to be her engagement ring. Madi kept the caption simple, adding, “pink mani kinda day” over the photo.
The Comments Are All Over The Place
Chile, TSR’s Instagram comment section was jumping as folks shared mixed reactions to Lil Wayne and Madi’s relationship, with some pointing out that she’s reportedly younger than his daughter Reginae Carter. Meanwhile, others put the chatter aside to send the couple congratulations and wish them well as they seemingly prepare to tie the knot.
One Instagram user @noaveragetxla said, “He always engaged …. Hope this one the last”
This Instagram user @lieclothingcompany added, “BRO GOT HIM A BADDIE DON’T FUMBLE HER FAM!!🔥🔥🔥”
And, Instagram user @spinninboutkai wrote, “I’m surprised it’s not a Ring Pop 🍭💍🤣”
Meanwhile, Instagram user @starflow commented, “Congrats Wayne 🔥🔥”
While Instagram user @therealsofinee added, “This dead wrong 😂😂😂 I can be her older sister lmfaooooo F**K wrong with these 🥷”
Then Instagram user @lexxyy.xo_ said, “How does Reginae feel about this ? Y’all know she don’t play about her daddy lol”
Lastly, Instagram user @crazy_sexybunny_keyz shard, “🔥🔥🔥🔥 haters will hate I love it for them”
Lil Wayne Talks Wedding Plans And Calls Madison His Fiancée
As for what we know about the couple, Lil Wayne recently gave fans a little insight into his wedding plans. On the October 7, episode of ‘The Joint Venture Show,’ host Craig Carton asked the rapper who he would want to perform at his wedding, and Wayne named R&B legend Anita Baker as his first choice. He also mentioned Keith Sweat and Babyface as possible alternatives, while leaving the final song selection up to his bride-to-be.
Wayne has also been getting excited about wedding festivities after congratulating rapper B.G. on his engagement to Brooke Jones in a video message, joking that he would be the best man and needed to know what color suit to wear. During the clip, Wayne panned the camera to Madi and proudly told viewers, “This is my fiancée,” before asking the couple to let him know what color they would be wearing.
RELATED: Hol’ Up! Lil Wayne Introduces Madi K. As His Fiancée Months After Saying He Wasn’t Engaged To Her (VIDEO)
What Do You Think Roomies?
Cindy Crawford and her husband, Rande Gerber, are finding solace in one another in the wake of their son Presley Gerber’s unexpected death at 27.
Crawford, 60, and Rande, 67, were spotted holding hands while walking along Zuma Beach in Malibu, California, on Saturday, October 10, in photos obtained by People. The couple went incognito, each wearing baseball caps and sunglasses for the outing.
Us confirmed nearly three weeks earlier that the supermodel and the businessman’s son had died on September 20.
“The family is asking for privacy during this very difficult and painful time,” a rep for Crawford and Rande, who also share daughter Kaia, told Us in a statement.
Cindy Crawford expressed her love for son Presley Gerber in a sweet birthday tribute shared just two months before his death. “Happy birthday @presleygerber 🎂 I’m so proud of the man you’ve become, but I’ll always see you as my little boy! Love you ❤️,” Crawford, 60, wrote via Instagram on July 2. Alongside her […]
A cause of death has yet to be revealed at the time of publication, pending an ongoing investigation amid authorities’ suspicions of an alleged overdose. Presley and his family had been candid about the model’s substance abuse struggles prior to his death.
“When something like that happens in a family, it kind of levels everyone,” Kaia, 25, told Vogue in August of her brother’s addiction battle. “I think that’s also why I started to self-identify as the easy one and never wanted to ask for help. Because it felt like too much to have two children who were needing.”
Presley’s family, who reportedly had his remains cremated, have since received support from their famous friends.
“I don’t think we’re even in the position of even being able to talk about it,” George Clooney, Rande’s close friend and Casamigos business partner, told Entertainment Tonight on Friday, October 9. “Quite honestly, it’s one of the most devastating things that’s happened to our family, and their family.”
Just days after Presley Gerber’s shocking death, his family is moving forward with burial plans. Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber’s son was cremated at the Rose Family Funeral Home, TMZ reported on Friday, September 25, following his death on Sunday, September 20. He was 27. Presley’s ashes will be kept at his parents’ home in […]
He continued, “As you can imagine, it’s the worst thing that could happen to the family.”
While neither Crawford, Rande nor Kaia have further addressed Presley’s untimely death, several of his former girlfriends have offered their public condolences.
“My sweet Presley, I will miss you for the rest of my life,” model Isabella Jones, who dated the late content creator in 2024, wrote via instagram on Friday.
Summer House alum Lexi Wood separately paid tribute to Presley, who she briefly dated in 2022.
“It’s hard to put into words what it means to lose someone who was such a meaningful part of my life for so many years,” Wood, 28, wrote via Instagram late last month. “Through every chapter and every version of our relationship, friendship was always at the core of it. Everyone who loved Presley and was loved by him knows he was one of the kindest, most open, loving and courageous people. He loved so deeply, so purely, was incredibly romantic and thoughtful.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
Entertainment
CHAM Founder Christy Cham Shares How ’90s Supermodels Inspired Her Better-Than-Basics Line
Not so basic! CHAM founder Christy Cham is giving everyday staples a serious upgrade with her better-than-basics line of long sleeves, tees, dresses, skirts, pants, cardigans, and more, already worn by Ariana Grande and Khloé Kardashian.
Before launching in 2023, Cham worked as a costume designer on film sets with directors including Martin Scorsese, giving her a behind-the-scenes look at the power of a good outfit.
“There was a gap in the market for high end basics and something that was giving you more than just a t-shirt, but not a blouse,” she tells ET.
When dreaming up the pieces she wanted in her own closet, Cham turned to Cindy Crawford, Kate Moss, Claudia Schiffer, and other style muses, even naming designs after them.
“Those ’90s icons are the people who inspired me most when I first started CHAM. The simplicity of the ’90s where the most important thing was fit and fabric is what I’ve always loved,” she explains.
Naturally, those elements became the foundation of the brand, starting with its proprietary fabric made to feel like a second skin.
“Working in costume design taught me that the ultimate goal is to make someone feel confident in what they’re wearing. … I also learned that everything is amplified on camera. A fabric can read differently, colors can appear brighter, and even a small fit issue can suddenly look messy on screen,” she notes.
“I wanted something sheer, but not too sheer; stretchy, but that would still hold you in, and something that looked high-end and not just like workout material.”
The silhouettes have a few tricks up their sleeves too, with keyhole necklines, slits, off-the-shoulder styles, cutouts, mini lengths, and more, adding a little something extra to everyday staples.
“When fitting actors, everything had to be incredibly precise. We learned all these little strategies with proportion and fit to create the illusion of a longer torso, slimmer arms, or a more flattering shape. It made me a perfectionist about fit, proportion, and fabric, and really taught me how much the right clothing can transform the way someone looks, and more importantly, how they feel.”
That attention to detail also carries over to the color palette, with shades of red, brown, black, cream, navy, orange, and green, all chosen to make getting dressed that much easier.
“I choose colors that work well together so they can be easily mixed and matched. I keep the tones softer and focus on flattering undertones, while offering enough variety that everyone can find a color they naturally feel good in,” she says.
And because what’s underneath counts too, the fashion expert took the label one layer deeper by launching undergarments, which she celebrated at Body Shop in West Hollywood, California, on Oct. 3.
“I wanted to create something that was simple, but still sexy that makes a woman feel her best without showing under tight or sheer clothing.”
For anyone looking to make their basics a little less basic, CHAM also offers a wide variety of charms for a playful, personal touch.
“I’ve always gravitated toward cute accessories that make an outfit feel a little less serious and more fun. It feels very in line with fashion right now and the whole whimsymaxxing idea. I’m constantly clipping charms onto skirts, tops, or bags.”
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John Cena may not be putting on the Peacemaker helmet again anytime soon, but the actor appears perfectly comfortable waiting for James Gunn to call his number.
During a recent appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast with Josh Horowitz, Cena opened up about his future as Christopher Smith following the second season of Peacemaker and where the character currently fits within Gunn and Peter Safran’s expanding DC Universe.
When asked whether he had worn the Peacemaker helmet since finishing the second season, Cena gave a straightforward answer: “No.”
That doesn’t mean Cena is walking away from the character. The actor made it clear that he remains committed to Gunn and is willing to return whenever the DC Studios co-CEO needs him.
Cena explained that he has already had an opportunity to play a character who was relatively unknown to mainstream audiences and believes it is now important for Gunn to devote his attention to some of DC’s biggest characters.
“I got to step back.”
Cena pointed to characters such as Superman as examples of the massive pieces Gunn is currently responsible for establishing within the new DCU.
Peacemaker [dc studios]
The comments come as Gunn continues building an interconnected universe across film and television. David Corenswet’s Superman has become one of the central figures of the franchise, while projects involving Batman, Wonder Woman and several other major DC characters remain in various stages of development.
Cena’s comments shouldn’t necessarily be interpreted as the end of Peacemaker.
The second season left Christopher Smith’s story open for continuation, and Gunn has previously avoided giving fans a definitive answer about exactly when Peacemaker or the other members of the 11th Street Kids will return.
For now, Cena appears content to wait.
After helping turn one of DC’s more obscure characters into a major live-action fan favorite, Peacemaker may simply be taking a temporary backseat while Gunn continues putting the larger pieces of the DCU into place.
Former Girls Next Door star Holly Madison has entered the chat as Jessica Biel’s upcoming Playmates film continues to raise eyebrows.
“I can’t wait to see it,” Madison, 46, told TMZ on Saturday, October 10, sharing her support for Biel’s costar Lily-Rose Depp and the director and screenwriter, Lorraine Nicholson, amid the ongoing controversy surrounding the film and its subject matter.
In the upcoming coming-of-age movie, Elle (Indiana Elle) befriends Anna (Depp) as the duo vy to become the next Playmate of the Month for Playboy magazine. Lewis Pullman is set to star as the late magazine founder, Hugh Hefner, who died in 2017. Biel, 44, landed the role as a fictionalized version of Hefner’s wife. (Hefner was married to Mildred Williams from 1949 to 1959, to Kimberley Conrad from 1989 to 2010 and to Crystal Hefner from 2012 until his death.)
While Biel has not publicly addressed her involvement, her role has already drawn backlash from critics who argue the movie downplays some of the more serious allegations made against Hefner.
“Please reconsider playing Hugh Hefner’s ‘wife’ if this film intends to romanticize him or the Playboy world,” Crystal, 40, told Biel in a Thursday, October 8, social media post. “I was actually his wife, and I experienced sexual, emotional, financial and physical abuse in this relationship.”
Acknowledging other abuse allegations against Hugh, Crystal hoped the filmmakers made certain changes to the production.
“I hope everyone involved in this film takes the time to listen to the women who lived it before helping Hollywood turn it back into nostalgia,” she said.
Crystal has previously been outspoken about her time in the Playboy Mansion, which she alleged was “traumatizing” in her 2024 memoir, Only Say Good Things: Surviving Playboy and Finding Myself.
“Life in the mansion wasn’t the fairy tale I had once hoped it would be,” she wrote in one passage. “From the outside, sure, it had all the trappings of a fairy tale. But it wasn’t, and everyone who lived there knew it.”
The truth behind the fantasy. The Playboy Mansion is the stuff of pop culture legend, but former Playmates have been brutally honest about what life was really like there — and how the late Hugh Hefner treated them. Holly Madison was never technically a Playmate, but she did live with Hefner, who died in September […]
Crystal later filed a complaint against the Hugh M. Hefner Foundation in February, expressing concern if Hugh’s explicit scrapbooks were to be made public.
“My focus is on how Hugh Hefner’s personal scrapbooks chronicle private moments that took place behind closed doors,” she said during a press conference at the time. “There are serious and unresolved concerns about the scope of what these books contain. The materials span decades, beginning in the 1960s, and may include images of girls who were underage at the time and could not consent to how their images would be retained or controlled.”
Madison, who famously dated Hugh during her tenure as a Playboy Bunny from 2001 to 2008, stressed to TMZ that she’s keeping an open mind about the project.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential support.
It was a major week for Stephen King‘s fans, who got to watch not one but two new shows targeted directly at them. Only one of these new titles, however, is actually based on a King story. The other, Netflix’s Below, simply borrows some of the iconic writer’s narrative techniques. Starring Josh Hartnett and Mackenzie Davis, Below emerged as an instant hit on Netflix after its October 8 release. According to FlixPatrol, it’s currently the streamer’s number-one show worldwide. Below was released only a day after the real King adaptation, the third based on his very first novel. The seven-part limited series has announced itself as a massive hit on Prime Video, successfully taking the top spot.
According to FlixPatrol, the new show pulled off the incredible feat of defeating not only Reacher, but the Reacher spin-off Neagley. Both shows have delivered incredible results for Prime Video this year, with the fourth season of Reacher breaking viewership records for the title and Neagley having amassed more than 3 billion minutes watched in two weeks, according to the latest Nielsen report. Reacher typically retains a top-10 spot on the global Prime Video leaderboard throughout the year, and Neagley is still relatively new. For the King adaptation to unseat both action shows is quite a remarkable feat.
Mike Flanagan Has an Incredible Track Record
We’re talking, of course, about Carrie. Spearheaded by frequent King collaborator Mike Flanagan — the director previously adapted Gerald’s Game, Doctor Sleep, and The Life of Chuck — Carrie follows in the footsteps of Brian De Palma‘s 1976 original and Kimberly Peirce‘s 2013 remake. The new show received positive reviews, and is currently sitting at a “Certified Fresh” 85% score on the aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes. The site’s consensus reads, “Mike Flanagan aptly expands this teen mythos with added compassion and ingenuity, bringing a modern touch to a timeless work and giving all performers involved the opportunity to shine while witnessing the ascension of a fascinatingly new Carrie.” Flanagan is also working on a long-awaited adaptation of King’s magnum opus, The Dark Tower, but first, he’s set to release a hotly anticipated reboot of The Exorcist franchise, titled The Exorcist: Martyrs. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
- Release Date
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2026 – 2026-00-00
- Network
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Prime Video
- Writers
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Mike Flanagan, Alexandra Magistro, Justina Ireland, Jamie Flanagan, Elan Gale, Rebecca Klingel, Elizabeth Padden, Dani Parker
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Summer H. Howell
Carrie White
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Samantha Sloyan
Margaret White
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