Entertainment
HBO’s Thriller Series That Inspired ‘Lanterns’ Is a 10/10 Crime Masterpiece
Lanterns has been the most exciting superhero television show in quite some time because it doesn’t adhere to genre conventions. Instead of offering just another origin story, Lanterns explores the relationship between two members of the Green Lantern Corps across three timelines that intersect to form a larger mystery. It’s the shake-up that the DCU needed, and it’s no surprise that True Detective has been cited as a primary influence on Lanterns. When True Detective debuted on HBO in 2014, it elevated what “prestige television” could be. Not only was it a weekly show that starred A-list actors, but also a creative, impeccably crafted work of storytelling that featured filmmaking better than the majority of what was released in theaters that year. Although not every subsequent season has been quite as good, Season 1 of True Detective is one of the most accomplished projects that HBO has ever released.
Creator Nic Pizzolatto began developing the story of True Detective as a novel, which makes sense considering the show is filled with dramatic depth and relies on subjective memory as a core tenet of following the mystery. The series explores the dynamic between two very different Louisiana homicide detectives — Rustin “Rust” Cohle (Matthew McConaughey) is a spiritual, nihilistic isolationist, whereas Martin Hart (Woody Harrelson) is a family man who watches his seemingly idealistic life shatter as a result of his indulgences. Although these two men are tied together by a group of killings that they suspect are linked to a serial murderer, True Detective expands into a tapestry of conflicts that show the long-suffering consequences of undelivered justice.
HBO’s ‘True Detective’ Was a Cinematic Television Series
The procedural crime thriller is one of the most classic genres on television, but True Detective didn’t take the traditional route to a mystery because it opens by showing that Rust and Marty were unsuccessful in 1995, and that it has haunted them for 17 years. The mystery that emerges is twofold; there is a question of why these two men haven’t spoken to each other in a decade, despite being former partners, and why the case still haunts them, despite the mention that it was “solved” back in 1995. A typical crime show would show the detectives as being an instrument of justice that serves the greater good, whereas the stakes in True Detective are far more personal. Both Rust and Marty feel that catching this killer has become their destiny, and they have lost so much along the way that they feel obligated to finish what they started. The fact that they would be able to speak to one another again is also a sign of dramatic significance, as it suggests the villain is so malevolent that these two rivals would be willing to set aside their personal animosities.
True Detective doesn’t feel like a television show because it has the scale and ingenuity of a film, and it became one of the first examples of an “auteur series.” Shows typically employ multiple directors because of the demanding shooting schedule, but all of Season 1 was helmed by Cary Joji Fukunaga, resulting in a consistency of tone that made it feel like a complete statement. The episode “Who Goes There?” is perhaps the most iconic installment of the series because of a thrilling raid sequence in which Marty and Rust break into a stash house, which was completed in just one take; it isn’t just a gimmick, but an effective tool to show just how quick-witted and strategic Rust and Marty have to be when they are on the verge of a breakthrough.
‘True Detective’ Has a Perfect First Season
True Detective was one of the rare “watercooler shows” that became a true phenomenon due to the speculation and theories that came with the revelation of new clues. While it’s a satisfying show on a purely plot-based level, Season 1 holds up upon subsequent viewings because of the allusions to the supernatural and the influence of philosophical thinkers. Although television had already had its fair share of anti-heroes by this point in time, True Detective was subversive because it showed how flawed, yet well-intentioned men evolve into more self-destructive characters who begin acting out of spite. McConaughey and Harrelson have both been in many great films, but True Detective represents the greatest acting within either of their respective careers.
True Detective is arguably the most influential show of the 2010s because it created a model of thought-provoking, out-of-the-box storytelling that many wanted to replicate. It was a model that the show itself couldn’t top; Season 2 has some interesting ideas, Season 3 has a terrific lead performance, and Season 4 starts strong, but none of them have had the same cultural footprint as Season 1. That being said, Lanterns feels like the true spiritual successor to True Detective, because it does for superheroes what Pizzolatto did for homicide detectives. It’s not clear when True Detective will return for a fifth season, but Lanterns is a satisfying replacement.
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According to Vanessa Hudgens, “magic is always made with Disney.” But if you ask Us, the body-hugging dress style she wore to the Disney Entertainment Showcase is arguably the most enchanting thing we saw during the event. It’s everything dreams are made of with a gorgeous fall-ready hue, flattering details and elevated embellishments that steal the show — and we found a similar look hiding on Amazon.
The D3 Disney event drew stars from our childhood, including Anne Hathaway, the Jonas Brothers, Kristen Bell and more. And while we’re entranced by the star-studded group, our fashion radar immediately went off when Hudgens graced the stage while wearing a floor-length Bottega Veneta maxi dress outfitted with all the bells and whistles. We tracked down the exact dress, which happens to be $3,900 aka a little out of budget. However, that won’t stop Us from getting the style, not when this $33 option is ready for the taking.
Get the Valiamcep Mock-Neck Midi Dress for $33 (was $37) at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.
The Valiamcep Mock-Neck Midi Dress is one of those pieces you’ll wear every chance you get this fall. Similar to Hudgens’ pick, it has a high neckline, comfortable bodycon fit and gold accents that elevate the dress tenfold. The main attraction is definitely the twisted ruched waist, which gathers the fabric around the smallest area of your body to give you that coveted hourglass appearance. It’s no wonder the dress is flattering on women 35 and over!
Although the dress has a bodycon silhouette, the soft and stretchy material makes it feel so comfortable while you walk, sit or dance the night away. The lightweight fabric gives off an easy-going feel that shoppers appreciate, and delivers an opaque appearance to prevent ‘oopsie’ moments. It’s honestly a gorgeous midi dress option that’s ideal for every upscale event from now through November.
Speaking of events, shoppers say this Amazon find is a great option to wear to weddings, nights out and special occasions. We can’t agree more!
A 61-year-old reviewer who wore it to a wedding said they would actually buy the style again. “I loved the ruching around the middle; for those of you who have the menopause middle . . . it’s great,” they wrote. “[I] had all the young girls complementing me.”
Meanwhile, another shopper said the dress is “so comfy, it feels like a part of your body.” And one last fan simply shared that the midi dress is “worth every penny.”
The ultra-flattering midi dress is available in so many autumnal colors, including chocolate brown, burgundy and black. However, if you want to get close to Hudgens’ look, we recommend going with the army green hue. It’s not the exact color as her designer find, but honestly, no one will be the wiser.
Now’s your chance to get the style fall dreams are made of with this mock-neck midi dress on Amazon. It proves you don’t need a Disney Channel star budget to get the look, just a keen eye and a Prime account. Before you know it, this mythical-looking dress will be at your front door. It’s just like magic!
Get the Valiamcep Mock-Neck Midi Dress for $33 (was $37) at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.
Looking for something else? Explore more fall midi dresses here, and don’t forget to check out all of Amazon’s Daily Deals for more great finds!
UsNow Summer Sale Alert: These Chic Fashion Finds are over 30% off – Plus Free Shipping
Welcome to summer with our biggest sale of the year. This summer’s chicest dresses, tops and swimsuits are all over 30% + free shipping. Inventory is limited so hurry before they’re gone.
Christie Brinkley knows how to show up and show out, and yes, we’re referring to the gorgeous coastal-chic outfit she flaunted for a ‘fit check.’ Her look gives instant Hamptons rich mom style, thanks to a few staple pieces that are flowy, comfortable and downright flattering. We’re obsessing over the entire ensemble, but her striped […]
Lifestyle influencer MacKenzie Smith has announced she is splitting from her pro surfer husband, Jeremy Johnston.
“Jeremy and I have decided to end our marriage,” the Florida-based social media star, 39, shared via Instagram on Tuesday, August 25. “The past six months have been some of the hardest of my life. I’ve been struggling physically, mentally and emotionally while navigating the biggest transition I’ve ever faced.”
The “Grilled Cheese Social” content creator continued, “Keeping something this big to myself has honestly felt really lonely. Some days have felt impossibly heavy. But other days, I can finally see little glimpses of brighter days ahead.”
Smith and Johnston, 40, share two children, daughter Poppy and son Jett.
Influencer Jensen Savannah Nichol and her husband have separated after more than nine years together. “Hey y’all. I know many of you have noticed it’s just been me lately. I’ve received a lot of kind messages and questions which is why I wanted to share this once, clearly,” Nichol wrote via Instagram on Friday, January […]
Smith, who is also a food author and Food Network personality, did not expand as to why she has split from Jeremy, whom she married in a surprise wedding in December 2018, but did address public interest in an explanation. “I’m not going to get into the details of why. Some things are ours to work through privately, especially for our kids,” she wrote in the post. “What I will say is that I truly wish Jeremy nothing but the best. Regardless of what we’ve been through, he is the father of my children, and our kids deserve two parents who are healthy, happy and cheering them (and each other) on.”
The influencer, who boasts more than 800,000 Instagram fans alone, also explained that the split has changed her typically enthusiastic career approach and fan engagement. “A few of you have noticed things feel different and that I’ve been more absent than normal and have since reached out,” she explained. “And I truly appreciate it. I do want to say that I haven’t stayed quiet because I’m trying to pretend everything is perfect. Quite honestly, it’s felt like the exact opposite.”
She concluded of her absence, “I waited because I wanted my kids to know before the entire internet did.”
Influencer Jen Hamilton shared another emotional video after sparking speculation that her marriage to husband Brian is over. “OK, no crying,” she began in a TikTok posted on Monday, June 15, which she captioned, “The ‘statement.’” Hamilton continued in her video: “I’m feeling embarrassed and feeling exposed and feeling sad, feeling every single thing you […]
Fans took to the post’s comments section to share their sympathy for Smith’s personal news. “You have so many people who love you and are cheering you on through all of it. We got you, sweet girl!” wrote one fan. Another follower commented, “So glad you took the time to announce your way. Love you to bits.”
Just hours prior to Smith’s announcement going live, Johnston shared a message about community kindness via his own Instagram. “Just sharing a little kindness on Flagler Ave this morning because that’s what our community is all about!” he captioned a video that showed him donating clothes to locals at New Smyrna Beach.
At the time of publication, the athlete, who rarely shares content stemming from his personal life, had not publicly commented on his split from Smith.
When AMC acquired the rights to Anne Rice‘s two most legendary series, The Vampire Chronicles and Lives of the Mayfair Witches, the company always intended to form the Immortal Universe — a collection of television shows based on Rice’s intertwined book world. The opening step toward achieving that goal, Interview with the Vampire, launched to sweeping acclaim and a recently announced Season 4. Step two, Mayfair Witches, has been less successful in general quality and adaptational terms, but has nevertheless secured an upcoming third season.
Talamasca: The Secret Order, AMC’s third and most recent spin-off, happens to be the only entry in the Immortal Universe that is essentially an original show. Members of the covert titular organization feature heavily in Rice’s supernatural catalog, but she never devoted an entire novel to their secretive inner workings. Unfortunately, Talamasca: The Secret Order is also the first spin-off to receive the cancellation death sentence. Although it contends with normal first-season growing pains, the series’ fate is a shame. Thoroughly entertaining, competently constructed, easily bingeable, and bolstered by a distinct tone and superb cast, Talamasca: The Secret Order dives into the intriguing and unexplored corners of Rice’s massive world with aplomb.
‘Talamasca: The Secret Order’ Assembles a Superb Main Cast
Talamasca: The Secret Order‘s creative team, led by John Lee Hancock, builds a mythos largely authentic to Rice’s sensibilities and sets their characters not within their sister series’ Gothic opulence, but in the high-stakes world of espionage thrillers. Given the clandestine shadow that the Talamasca casts across Interview with the Vampire and Mayfair Witches, Talamasca: The Secret Order‘s experimental tone is an impressively canny idea. Hancock dabbles in suspense tropes and archetypes galore: an amateur with raw talent who’s thrown into the deep end, racing to obtain a top-secret artifact, danger lurking around every corner, infiltrating enemy headquarters, dead drops and redacted files and double agents, and a near-omniscient agency — created to monitor, study, and defend humanity from paranormal entities – that’s questionable at best and conspiratorially corrupt at worst.
From there, Talamasca: The Secret Order is a case of letting marvelous actors reel viewers in like a fish on a line. On the page, protagonist and audience surrogate Guy Anatole (Nicholas Denton), a telepath hunting down the truth about his vanished mother, could be the show’s one-note doom. Instead, Denton ensures Guy’s journey remains eminently watchable. Helen (Elizabeth McGovern), Guy’s Talamasca recruiter and the leader of their New York branch (or Mother House), glides between pragmatic leadership and her soft spot for the young man who’s prodding at her hidden wounds.
If the enticingly enigmatic witch Doris (Celine Buckens) easily shoulders the series’ late-stage emotional heft, then Olive (Maisie Richardson-Sellers), Guy’s handler, maintains the enthralling and chameleon-like energy set by her introductory scene. That said, it’s William Fichtner‘s villainous Jasper, in all his razor-precise and scenery-devouring swagger, who runs away with the entire production. Only Guy seems to keep the manipulative, vendetta-fueled, and overwhelmingly charismatic vampire on his toes. Their cat-and-mouse dynamic draws amused fondness and manipulative vulnerability from Jasper — which is quite an intoxicating combination.
‘Talamasca: The Secret Order’ Carves Out an Intriguing Corner of AMC’s Immortal Universe
Talamasca: The Secret Order might not have taken off with as much ferocity as hoped, but its easily correctable flaws (overly predictable beats, heavy-handed dialogue, logistical leaps, inconsistent pacing) only need a little extra finesse to cross the finish line. Its tantalizing concepts, the ones present within Rice’s creative milieu that Interview and Mayfair are limited to lightly touching upon, merit further development. After all, the late author’s sandbox includes more creatures than vampires and witches — not to mention other realms.
Furthermore, the show itself teases worthwhile material surrounding Guy’s mother, vampire experimentation, and the agency’s inherent flaws (tormenting children, molding their targets into loyal-at-all-costs soldiers, murdering their own to cover their tracks, how and why they intervene on behalf of humanity’s supposed protection). Even when it wobbles into clumsy patches, Talamasca‘s strongest qualities deserved more time to secure the show’s identity and accumulate a bigger audience.
Talamasca: The Secret Order
- Release Date
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2025 – 2026-00-00
- Network
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AMC
- Showrunner
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John Lee Hancock, Mark Lafferty
- Directors
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Eva Sørhaug
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Nicholas Denton
Guy Anatole
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With the NFL season gearing up to kick off in Seattle on September 9, many diehard football fans are salivating at the thought of watching their favorite team suit up every week on the gridiron. Part of the anticipation of the season is the annual NFL Draft in April, where hundreds of the best college football players are picked by NFL teams to make the transition to superstardom.
As such, Hollywood took a peek behind the curtain in 2014’s Draft Day, a film that took a fictionalized version of that year’s NFL Draft and turned it into a riveting drama ripe with split screen phone calls, deep cut sports trivia, and a compelling narrative that put it all on the line. And yet, there was one thing missing from this quintessential football film– An actual game of football.
The clock is always ticking
In Draft Day, which appropriately takes place entirely on the day of the NFL Draft, the Cleveland Browns’ general manager Sonny Weaver Jr. (Kevin Costner) trades for the highly coveted first overall pick, leaving him and his staff mere hours to decide who they will take number one overall. All eyes are on the Heisman winning quarterback Bo Callahan (Josh Pence), who might not have the best character, but Sonny is set on linebacker Vontae Mack (the late Chadwick Boseman), despite numerous staff members not on board with the idea.
While the film on the surface may not seem terribly exciting, being primarily comprised of phone calls and lots of discussion of sports statistics, what makes it interesting is the fast-paced ticking clock narrative. With only hours to make a potentially career-altering decision, Sonny is constantly under pressure, both professional and personal, since his coworker and girlfriend Ali Parker (Jennifer Garner) has just told him that she’s pregnant with his baby.
Behind the scenes of the NFL Draft
The film also shines a light on an often overlooked portion of the game of football- the building of a roster. What few take into account while watching the NFL Draft is how much strategy and foresight is involved with the event. Teams must not only draft for the future and build a team that can help them win, but predict the moves of rival teams and possibly take advantage of their needs. This is proven in the film when Sonny makes the risky move of trading back into the first round directly in front of the Seattle Seahawks in order to get them to trade with the Browns to get their coveted player.
There are also numerous factors that play into why a team chooses a certain player. Sonny and his staff do their due diligence on Callahan by watching his game film- the only time in the film the audience gets to see a football game– calling his coaches, and digging into his past. Not to mention that Sonny is repeatedly contacted by other teams who want a player currently on the Browns’ roster who Sonny isn’t quite ready to part with. The wheeling and dealing is part of the business of football and the film showcases that sometimes, it’s not an easy road to success.
Even though the stakes may not seem high, the film elevates the drama by sprinkling in character moments that are truly unique. Sonny’s mother (Ellen Burstyn) arrives and demands that he help her spread his late father’s ashes on the practice field, but the already stressed out Sonny refuses. What makes this work is that neither Sonny nor his mother are right or wrong and the audience understands both their mindsets, which carries over to all the interpersonal relationships of every character in the film. Nobody has ill intent or is too far in one direction, they’re just doing their jobs.
Despite a lack of action-packed football, Draft Day celebrates the game and even shows it in a new light. Focusing on the people behind the scenes, as well as the fast-paced world of the Draft, the film is a must watch for sports fans and a compelling drama on top of that.
- Release Date
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April 7, 2014
- Runtime
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120minutes
ABC’s music-drama answer to the culture that was set up by Step Up (2007) and its future installments (although they were about romance and dance), concluded in 2018, but it’s still a binge-watch gem thanks to its six seasons and rave reviews. For the past year, the series starring the late Hayden Panettiere has been available to stream on Netflix, but it is set to leave the service in a couple of weeks.
Few network dramas blurred soap opera and the actual machinery of an entertainment industry as effectively as Nashville did. And instead of treating country music as decoration, the series built actual careers around record deals, radio play, songwriting credits, touring, label politics, the Grand Ole Opry, and Nashville institutions such as the Bluebird Cafe. In addition to Panettiere, the show also starred Clare Bowen, Charles Esten, Jonathan Jackson, Maisy Stella, and Eric Close, among others. The show ended up sprouting into broadway as well.
However, here’s the catch. Nashville, while is set to leave Netflix on September 15, the show is actually available to stream for free on Pluto TV. The series circles the life of fictional country music singers and released over 200 original songs commercially through its historic six-season, 124-episode run.
Which Actors on Nashville Sang Their Own Songs?
Franchises like Step Up and Pitch Perfect became fascinating not just because the actors were acting, but also because the same faces were also genuinely singing and dancing. It was the same case with Nashville, except it was a long show, and that puts it on a bigger pedestal. One of Nashville’s smartest tricks was that the music was not dubbed. Connie Britton, Hayden Panettiere, Charles Esten, Clare Bowen, Sam Palladio, Jonathan Jackson, Chris Carmack, Lennon and Maisy Stella, and the other singing cast members performed their own vocals.
The songs, however, often came from genuine Music Row heavyweights. T Bone Burnett served as executive music producer in Nashville Season 1 before Buddy Miller took over. Then the writers included but weren’t limited to Kacey Musgraves, Hillary Lindsey, Shane McAnally, Natalie Hemby, and John Paul White of The Civil Wars. The whole show, therefore, had a heavy machinery backing that whole process.
Nashville is all set to leave Netflix on September 15, so there are only a few weeks left to catch up. But the show is also available to stream for free on ad-supported Pluto TV. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
- Release Date
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2012 – 2018-00-00
- Directors
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Callie Khouri, Stephen Cragg, Michael Lohmann, Allan Arkush, Julie Hébert, Michael Waxman, Paul McCrane, Arlene Sanford, Dan Lerner, Eric Stoltz, Jean de Segonzac, Lily Mariye, Mario Van Peebles, Mike Binder, Timothy Busfield, Bethany Rooney, Dawn Wilkinson, Devon Gummersall, Eric Close, Jan Eliasberg, Ron Underwood, Sanaa Hamri, Patrick R. Norris, Jet Wilkinson
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Hayden Panettiere
Juliette Barnes
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Clare Bowen
Scarlett O’Connor
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Charles Esten
Deacon Claybourne
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Jonathan Jackson
Avery Barkley
Entertainment
Quentin Tarantino’s Vision for James Bond’s Future Is Exactly What the Franchise Needs
One of the big questions on movie fans’ minds this year is who will be stepping into the tuxedo of Bond, James Bond, in the 26th installment of the long-running franchise. As the series turns a page following Daniel Craig’s farewell in 2021’s No Time to Die, everyone has an opinion on what director Denis Villeneuve should do as he reboots the world’s most famous spy story.
In 2023, Quentin Tarantino joined that chorus, while discussing his own history with the character. An ill-fated attempt to make his own Bond movie came and went in the 1990s, but the man behind such classics as Reservoir Dogs and Kill Bill offered his own take on what we should be seeing in future iterations of MI6’s finest.
Quentin Tarantino Flirted with the Bond Franchise in the ‘90s
At the peak of his powers, the director sought to create an outlaw Bond movie, developed without classic Bond producers EON Productions. This seemed possible, due to the fact that the rights to Casino Royale were owned by an entity outside the main franchise (a non-canon movie was made from them in 1967, with David Niven playing an older Bond). Tarantino told Deadline he wanted to make his own, stand-alone Bond movie as his follow-up to Pulp Fiction, set in the ‘60s, with no intention of a sequel.
According to his own recollection, EON Productions secured the rights to Casino Royale in the late ‘90s, and decided he was not the kind of director they wanted on board: “I was always told very flattering versions of like, ‘Look, we love Quentin, but we make a certain kind of movie, and unless we f*** it up, we make a billion dollars every time we make that type of movie, OK? We don’t want him to do it.’”
Casino Royale would eventually be realized as an EON Bond movie in 2006, becoming Daniel Craig’s debut in the role and reigniting the franchise for a new millennium. Despite the rejection, Tarantino was a fan of the Craig era, describing it as a “good run.” But the Oscar winner does have opinions on where the franchise should go following Craig’s departure.
The ‘Pulp Fiction’ Legend Knows What He Wants From a Bond Movie
Many James Bond fans yearn for the franchise to return to its roots, offering the hard-edged espionage tales that were the defining feature of Ian Fleming’s original novels. Tarantino seems to be one of those fans, whether he directs the story or not. When asked where he thought the franchise should go, he told Deadline: “What I think they should do, and I’ve been thinking they should do this for a long time, is so many of the books have these really classic names and really classic adventures. And for the most part, a lot of them, they never did the book. They never did the stories.”
“They took the plot line and maybe the Bond girl or maybe the villain and then just went their own way.” he continued. “I think they should not remake the movies but actually just do the books, but do them the way they were written. And those would all be brand new.” All fourteen books published by Fleming have been adapted into films, with varying degrees of faithfulness to the source material. 2006’s Casino Royale was the last film to be adapted from one of the novels, with original stories being written for most of 007’s adventures from the late ‘80s onwards. With this in mind, a new Bond with an old mindset might freshen up the 64-year-old franchise.
Denis Villeneuve May Be Taking a Similar Inspiration
Two years after Tarantino made the comments, Denis Villeneuve was announced as the director of the forthcoming Bond movie, with a script written by Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight. Tarantino may have been on the wrong side of the French-Canadian filmmaker before, publicly saying he refused to watch his Dune movies as he views them as remakes (Villeneuve’s response clarified that he saw them as separate adaptations rather than remakes of films that had come before).
Nevertheless, they do share one thing in common: a love for Casino Royale. Whereas Tarantino tried to adapt the novel himself, Villeneuve appreciated the 2006 movie as a fan of the franchise, calling it his “favorite” Bond movie and Daniel Craig “the ultimate James Bond.” These remarks were made in a podcast interview prior to his involvement with the forthcoming movie, but they give an idea of what he appreciates in a 007 blockbuster.
While they make very different types of movies, both men share similar values when it comes to directing: an auteur’s vision, a knack for world-building, and character-driven stories that contain a violent edge. As such, there’s every chance Quentin Tarantino will be nodding in approval when he watches the new James Bond makes his entrance, as it will be brought to the screen by someone with similar views as to what makes the character special.
- Release Date
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November 17, 2006
- Runtime
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144 minutes
- Director
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Martin Campbell
- Writers
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Neal Purvis, Paul Haggis, Robert Wade, Ian Fleming
The Blue Bloods cast are booked and busy lining up new projects after the hit CBS series came to a surprising end.
Blue Bloods, which premiered in 2010, followed the lives of the Reagan family, many of whom worked for the NYPD under the leadership of NYC police commissioner Frank Reagan (Tom Selleck). Frank’s father, Henry Reagan (Len Cariou), have been central to the show alongside Frank’s children: daughter Erin Reagan (Bridget Moynahan) and sons Danny (Donnie Wahlberg) and Jamie Reagan (Will Estes).
After news broke about Blue Bloods coming to an end, Selleck explained why he thought the show should have remained on the air.
“I’m kind of frustrated,” he told TV Insider in October 2024. “During those last eight shows, I haven’t wanted to talk about an ending for Blue Bloods but about it still being wildly successful.”
He continued: “I’m not going to turn into a bitter old guy saying, ‘Get off my lawn.’ I don’t believe in holding grudges, but if you were to say to the television network, ‘Here’s a show you can program in the worst time slot you got, and it is going to guarantee you winning Friday night for the next 15 years,’ it would be almost impossible to believe.”
Selleck admitted that his “frustration” came from the show always being “taken for granted because it performed from the get-go.”
“So, how do I feel?” he added. “It’s going to take a long time to sort all of this out. I remember after the weekend [of the final episode’s shoot], I said, ‘I’ve got to get to bed early tonight because I have to do my dialogue for Monday.’ Well, there was no Monday. It’s just going to take a while.”
Two months after Blue Bloods’ series finale in December 2024, CBS announced that the Boston Blue spinoff was ordered straight to series and would expand the police procedural as Donnie Wahlberg‘s character “takes on a position” with the Boston P.D.
The Blue Bloods cast has unanimously shown their support for making appearances as their respective characters but some have already looked into new opportunities as well. Keep scrolling to see what the cast has planned next — and what projects they have been involved in before:
Donnie Wahlberg
In addition to reprising his role as Danny in the Boston Blue spinoff, Wahlberg went from hosting Investigation Discovery’s Very Scary People for six seasons solo to working with wife Jenny McCarthy on Very Scary Lovers.
Before Blue Bloods, Wahlberg’s most memorable roles included Band of Brothers and several Saw movies.
Bridget Moynahan
After wrapping up her run as Erin on Blue Bloods, Moynahan was honored with the JFK National Award and cast on Original Sound. She previously had scene-stealing roles in I, Robot, Coyote Ugly and on Sex and the City. She is reprising her role in Boston Blue — and will direct an episode as well. She also booked a role in Dan Fogelman’s upcoming football drama.
Will Estes
Estes played Jamie on Blue Bloods after rising to stardom with roles in The Dive from Clausen’s Pier, U-571 and American Dreams.
Len Cariou
Before Blue Bloods, Cariou booked roles in Into the Storm, Damages and Brotherhood. He played Henry on CBS’ hit police procedural from 2010 to 2024. He joined the cast of MGM+’s American Classic — replacing the late Harris Yulin — in July 2025.
Tom Selleck
Selleck is currently in development on a new installment of the Jesse Stone movie franchise. Before his time playing Frank, Selleck starred in Magnum, P.I., Three Men and a Baby and his iconic appearance on Friends. He will also have a guest role in an upcoming Apple TV project.
The cast of Blue Bloods doesn’t just play a family on TV, they’ve become a tight-knit group since the show first premiered in 2010. The CBS series follows the lives of the Reagan family helmed by Tom Selleck’s Commissioner Frank Reagan. Frank’s father, Henry Reagan (Len Cariou), sits opposite him at the group’s weekly Sunday […]
Vanessa Ray
Ray had a significant role on Pretty Little Liars before booking Blue Bloods.
Marisa Ramirez
Blue Bloods fans — including Us — are waiting for Ramirez to make an appearance on Boston Blue. She previously appeared on Spartacus: Gods of the Arena and Body of Proof.
Dolly Parton spent decades sharing her life with fans, but one of the most difficult chapters unfolded largely behind closed doors.
In the days before her death at 80, the country music icon acknowledged she was dealing with health issues while continuing to project the optimism and resilience that defined her public image.
Now, new accounts from those close to the singer suggest the reality of her final months was far more serious than many realized, as Parton quietly battled illness while determined to protect the legacy and persona her fans adored.
The final year of Dolly Parton’s life was marked by profound personal heartbreak. After nearly six decades of marriage, she lost her husband, Carl Dean, in March 2025, a devastating blow that those close to her say deeply affected the icon.
The grief only intensified when her older brother, Coy “Denver” Parton, died in July 2026.
Just four days before news of her own death was announced, Parton spoke candidly with PEOPLE magazine about the challenges she had been facing. “I am dealing with some health issues that I just didn’t pay attention to when I was watching over Carl,” she said.
Even while acknowledging her struggles, the Grammy Winner sought to reassure supporters that she was still moving forward. “It’s not like I haven’t been through hard times with my health. I’m still healin, I’m still workin,” she added.
According to insiders, however, the singer had become increasingly private in recent months. While she publicly connected some of her health concerns to the emotional toll of losing Dean, sources claim her condition was far more serious than she was willing to reveal.
Parton Kept The Extent Of Her Illness Within A Small Circle
As concern about her well-being quietly grew behind the scenes, only a select group of family members and close friends reportedly knew how serious Dolly Parton’s condition had become.
“Her health problems were much worse than she was willing to tell fans, obviously, and she was bad off for many months,” one source told the Daily Mail, adding, “She didn’t want the world to know that she was very sick.”
Another insider echoed that sentiment, explaining, “Dolly only confided in a very small, intimate circle what she was going through.”
Parton was admitted to a Nashville hospital on Friday before her team later confirmed she had died following a “brief battle” with cancer. Yet even as her health worsened, those close to her say she remained focused on shielding fans from worry.
“When Dolly told People she was still working and healing, she knew her life was almost over,” one source claimed. “She tried to reassure her legions of fans that she wasn’t critically ill. But she knew her time was almost up. She was being her brave Dolly self, not wanting to let her fans down.”
Dolly Parton Worked Hard To Preserve The Image Fans Loved
One of Parton’s final public appearances came in May when she announced the cancellation of a planned Las Vegas residency.
Appearing on social media with her trademark glamorous look intact, she told fans, “The good news is, I’m responding really well to meds and treatments, and I’m improving every day.”
Sources now say that appearance reflected the star’s determination to maintain the image she had carefully built throughout her career.
“When she made her recent video telling fans she was receiving treatment but trying to reassure them she was OK, she looked just like the usual Dolly everyone loved,” an insider shared, further noting, “And, underneath one of her famous wigs and after hours preparing her in makeup, she did indeed look camera-ready.”
Another source added, “It was tough for Dolly not to play the sick card when she knew she didn’t have long to go. But she was an actress as well as a singer, and she pulled it off incredibly, fooling almost everyone.”
More From The Blast
Parton’s Family Directs Grieving Fans Toward Her Greatest Cause
While those closest to Dolly Parton have continued sharing new details about her final months, her family has also begun focusing attention on the cause that defined much of her life away from the stage.
As The Blast reported, rather than asking supporters to send flowers or memorial gifts, Parton’s loved ones encouraged fans to honor her memory by supporting the Imagination Library, the literacy program she spent decades building into a global force for children.
The request came as millions of fans mourned the singer’s death and looked for ways to celebrate her legacy.
Through the Imagination Library, Parton helped provide free books to children from birth through age five, a mission inspired in part by her father’s struggles with reading.
What started as a local initiative in Tennessee eventually expanded internationally, reaching communities across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Ireland.
By the time of her death, the program had distributed more than 300 million books and was sending over 3 million books each month to children worldwide.
Family members said continuing that work would be the most meaningful tribute to Parton’s life and values.
Dolly Parton’s Broadway Musical Moves Forward After Her Death
One of Parton’s final major creative projects will continue exactly as she intended. The Aussie Theatre confirmed that “Dolly: A True Original Musical,” the autobiographical stage production she spent years developing, will move forward despite her passing, ensuring that her story will soon reach Broadway audiences.
The musical traces Parton’s journey from her childhood in rural Tennessee to her rise as one of the most successful entertainers in history.
The “Jolene” singer was heavily involved in the project, co-writing the book and helping shape how her life story would be told. The production first premiered in Nashville before securing a Broadway transfer, with previews scheduled to begin later this year.
The show features many of her biggest hits, along with new songs she wrote specifically for the production. According to reports, Parton had spent nearly a decade developing the musical and viewed it as one of the most important legacy projects of her career.
The Broadway production is only one part of a larger vision she was still actively building before her death. Plans remain in place for Nashville’s SongTeller Hotel and Dolly’s Life of Many Colors Museum, both designed to celebrate her music, storytelling, and personal history.
Those close to the project say continuing the musical honors Parton’s own belief that “the show must go on.”
The cast of “Heroes” recently came together to honor the memory of Hayden Panetierre, who died at 36. The beloved actress played cheerleader Claire Bennet on the hit NBC series, making her one of the show’s most recognizable stars.
More than 15 years after the show last aired, the “Heroes” cast celebrated Panettiere’s life and shared fond memories of her.
More than a week has passed since Hayden Panettiere’s death, but tributes continue to pour in for the late actress.
On August 25, “Heroes” writer and executive producer Bryan Fuller took to social media and shared a couple of snapshots from a reunion held in Panettiere’s memory. Among those in attendance were Jack Coleman, Adrian Pasdar, Jimmy Jean-Louis, Madeline Zima, and Greg Grunberg. Others attended via video call, including Zachary Quinto and Sendhil Ramamurthy.
The reunion was seemingly organized by Coleman, Panettiere’s on-screen father. “It was a very special evening. Thank you for organizing, Jack,” Fuller wrote in the comments. “So good seeing you all and remembering Hayden,” Ramamurthy said.
Jean-Louis also shared the photos on X, noting that while it was a “deeply emotional” reunion, they also felt love as they exchanged stories about Panettiere.
Fans Note The Absence Of Milo Ventimiglia
“Heroes” fans were delighted to see some of their favorite stars together again, but they also noticed that Milo Ventimiglia, who played a major role on the show, was missing.
“Where is Peter?” one user asked, referring to Ventimiglia’s character Peter Petrelli. “Milo is missing,” another person commented. Yet another wrote, “No Milo?”
Ventimiglia was not the only cast member missing from the photos. Ali Larter, Noah Gray-Cabey, and Leonard Roberts were also absent, though it remains unclear whether they participated in the reunion virtually.
However, fans may have been particularly interested in Ventimiglia’s absence because Panettiere was romantically involved with him in the past and discussed their relationship in her recent memoir.
Hayden Panettiere And Milo Ventimiglia’s Relationship
Hayden Panettiere dated her ‘Heroes’ co-star Milo Ventimiglia in 2007, when she was 18 and he was 30 pic.twitter.com/iUWG8HY8RF
— y2k (@y2kpopart) March 16, 2025
Panettiere and Ventimiglia began dating in 2007, after she had just turned 18, while Ventimiglia was 30.
The actress wrote about their romance in her memoir, admitting that she had developed a crush on the actor soon after they started working together on “Heroes.” While on a press tour in Europe, their friendship developed into romance. “Just like that, we became a thing,” Panettiere wrote.
She noted that the 12-year age difference was scrutinized by the press and the public, which was difficult for them. Less than two years later, they parted ways after Panettiere told him about an NBC executive who kissed her on the lips. Ventimiglia reportedly wanted to talk to the executive about the “inappropriate” behavior, but Panettiere insisted it “was not a big deal.”
They continued working together on “Heroes” after the split and maintained a professional working relationship.
‘Heroes’ Co-Stars Shared Tributes To The Actress
Panettiere’s father in “Heroes,” Jack Coleman, was among the celebrities who fondly remembered Panettiere. As The Blast previously reported, the actor shared that he “loved Hayden since day one of the pilot of Heroes” when the actress first approached him with a hug.
“From that day on, she called me daddio. She was Haydini, because she was a magician,” he wrote. Coleman also shared what an incredible actress she was and how much joy she brought to set.
Sendhil Ramamurthy also penned a touching tribute, sharing how Panettiere helped him overcome his nerves and how she fought for background actors who were “mistreated,” and that she knew every crew member’s name.
Hayden Panettiere’s Rep Blasts Speculations About Her Death
Panettiere’s official cause and manner of death have yet to be determined, pending toxicology results. Meanwhile, her representatives are criticizing those who are spreading rumors and speculations surrounding her death.
As The Blast reported, the statement said that many people “who were not close” to the actress are only fueling gossip, adding that those who really knew the actress are not speaking publicly but are cooperating with the investigation.
The rep said the investigation is active and that they are “hopeful that justice will be served.”
Entertainment
The Chilling Thriller Stephen King Called Better Than Hitchcock Is Streaming on HBO Max
One of the best-regarded thrillers of all time, 1955’s Les Diaboliques is every bit as … well, diabolical today as it was when it was released. In 2017, Stephen King even claimed the devious, jet-black film noir “out-Hitchcocked Hitchcock” — and he had good reason to say so. The film remains a taut and darkly comedic thriller with a twist ending that’s beautifully plotted. Les Diaboliques petrified audiences in France before making its way stateside, and it laid the groundwork for countless erotic thrillers and psychological horror pictures in the 1980s and ’90s.
And the film has even more admirers among horror royalty, including Robert Bloch, author of Psycho, and novelist Ramsey Campbell. The film’s infamous twist ending and screw-tight suspense methods were often imitated by Western filmmakers, including Hitchcock with his cheeky Psycho campaign revolving around its twist.
An ill-advised American remake was even attempted in 1996, but there’s nothing like the real thing — and today, Les Diaboliques is streaming on HBO Max.
What Is ‘Les Diaboliques’ About?
Just outside Paris, a boy’s boarding school is run by Michel and his wife, Christina. While Michel is an obnoxious tyrant, Christina takes comfort (figuratively, though there are undertones of romance) in the arms of teacher Nicole — who is also a bed partner of Michel. The women eventually plot to get rid of Michel, with everything going to plan, aside from Christina’s heart condition, which nearly paralyzes her during the film’s centerpiece murder sequence.
The remainder of the film depicts Christina’s psychological meltdown and the crushing paranoia that follows such a deed. However, there are hints of the supernatural, as Michel’s body vanishes from the school’s swimming pool, where the women planned for it to be discovered; his “ghost” also appears to haunt Christina around the school.
When it arrives, Les Diaboliques’ notorious twist ending changes everything we thought we knew about the characters and their relationships — and it all comes crashing down in one legendary jump scare. With Christina almost completely lost to paranoia and madness, she clambers through her home at night, hearing sounds of Michel, before finding his body returned once again to the bathtub in which she and Nicole drowned him. As Christina looks on in silent horror, Michel’s “corpse” rises from the water, and the woman promptly dies from a heart attack, before the actual plot — between Michel and Nicole — is revealed.
How ‘Les Diaboliques’ ‘Out-Hitchcocks Hitchcock’
Once the inciting murder is committed, Les Diaboliques becomes a relentless tightening of the screws as the women spiral into paranoia, in ways that will remind viewers of Hitchcock and even the Coen Brothers. The film is chock-full of agonizing suspense sequences in which the women are almost discovered, and a strong Hitchcockian element of dark humor persists. From a drunken soldier almost discovering Michel’s corpse to friendly neighbors’ gestures turned sinister by our knowledge of what the women are trying to hide, the film is a delight in the vein of Psycho or Blood Simple.
During the harrowing murder sequence, Clouzot even injects humor by cutting to an older couple upstairs as the husband loudly complains about the sound of Nicole’s tub drowning out the quiz show he’s trying to enjoy; his wife’s patient nod when he brags about getting a question right earns a massive laugh.
It’s little wonder Hitchcock himself tried to get his hands on the rights to the novel, with its watertight plotting and twisted sense of identification with a pair of killers. According to Hollywood lore, Clouzot beat the master of suspense by mere hours in obtaining the rights, though, and thus Les Diaboliques has taken a longer path to the American suspense film canon. Viewers who are fans of the Coen Brothers’ sweaty, blood-soaked comedic thrillers and, of course, Hitchcock’s nastier pictures owe it to themselves to experience the film today on HBO Max or Plex.
- Release Date
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January 29, 1955
- Runtime
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117 Minutes
- Director
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Henri-Georges Clouzot
- Writers
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Henri-Georges Clouzot, Jérôme Géronimi
Cast
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