By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 11 seconds ago

Star Wars has been trying to frantically pull itself out of a tailspin for many years now. When did this franchise first start facing major problems, though? Arguably, the beginning of the end was Solo: A Star Wars Story. That movie’s budget had already ballooned once Lucasfilm switched directors, and many fans were already annoyed by The Last Jedi. They ended up voting with their dollars, and Solo ended up becoming the lowest-earning live-action Star Wars movie ever made. That’s a pretty grim achievement, one which was recently surpassed by an even lower-earning franchise film: The Mandalorian and Grogu.

While the Star Wars films continue to flounder, the franchise has found a bit more success on the small screen. Fans have generally loved shows like Andor, Ahsoka, and The Mandalorian (at least, the first two seasons), and that goes double for animated fare like Maul–Shadow Lord and the final season of The Clone Wars. What has made these shows so successful, though? Believe it or not, it all comes from embracing Star Wars’ biggest failure. That is, Lucasfilm finally learned to lean into the best parts of Solo, which audiences are now responding to like they never have before.

See You Later, Space Cowboy

I’ve always had complicated feelings about Solo: A Star Wars Story. On the one hand, I think Lucasfilm made a huge mistake by firing Phil Lord and Christopher Miller as directors. These two went on to create the Spider-Verse movies, and I can’t help but think their more comedic take on a galaxy far, far away would have been awesome enough to change the fate of the franchise for the better. The final cut was directed by Ron Howard, who tried to create a more traditional sci-fi adventure. While I think Lord and Miller’s cut would have been better, Solo is still a great film: it has plenty of action, romance, and characterization, featuring actors who have surprisingly great chemistry.

It might have taken nearly a decade, but both Lucasfilm and the Star Wars fandom have begun belatedly acknowledging how great Solo is. How can you tell? Simple: some of the best TV shows in the franchise have taken their creative cues from that movie. The most obvious example is the recent animated series Maul–Shadow Lord. Part of what has made the show so successful is that audiences love its exploration of the seedier side of Star Wars, including vicious crime syndicates and bloodthirsty characters who would fit right in at the Mos Eisley cantina back in A New Hope.

The Best Shows Came From The Worst Movie

This was, of course, the driving narrative force of Solo: A Star Wars Story, which tracked Han Solo’s increasing involvement with assorted criminals and the vicious Crimson Dawn Syndicate. Back in 2018, fans thought it was weird for this movie to focus on characters who are (at best) morally grey instead of upstanding, morally upright heroes. Now, though, the most beloved Star Wars shows focus on these kinds of characters, and audiences just can’t get enough of them. This includes Andor, which showed how the Rebellion could never have thrived without characters who are willing to make hard decisions and even harder compromises in the name of the greater good. 

Of course, part of what makes Cassian Andor a compelling protagonist is that, while he’s rough around the edges, he is determined to do the right thing. Arguably, this is another major inspiration from Solo: A Star Wars Story. In that film, Han Solo is the archetypal outlaw with a heart of gold. Aside from Andor, other popular characters were made in that mold, including Din Djarin from The Mandalorian, Boba Fett from The Book of Boba Fett, and Jod Na Nawood in Skeleton Crew.

Found Families And Dark Mentors

How else did Star Wars TV take its cues from Solo? Like that movie, there are multiple shows that emphasize the importance of found family. The core of The Mandalorian is the relationship between the titular character and the little baby Jedi that he adopts. Ahsoka, like Rebels before it, emphasizes how Ezra and Sabine are like siblings to each other. Incidentally, Ahsoka also borrows Solo’s use of a dark mentor character to demonstrate the relationship between Baylan Skoll and Shin Hati. For all its faults, The Acolyte also followed this trope when Osha rejected the Jedi and decided to train under Dark Side user Qmir.

The similarities go on, really. The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, and Andor all focused more on the ordinary people of the galaxy, something that arguably started with Solo. Additionally, Andor, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and The Book of Boba Fett expanded our knowledge of a familiar character, just like Solo did. Long story short? Solo wasn’t a perfect movie, but it’s far better than its reputation. If you need any proof, just look at the most ambitious TV shows in which Lucasfilm has spent nearly a decade creating new things from the creative building blocks of a box office disaster.

Killer TV shows growing from the corpse of the franchise’s first box office failure? Like Star Wars’ best character might put it, never tell me the odds!

Oh, oh, oh–James Maslow, known from his time as James Diamond in the Nickelodeon hit “Big Time Rush,” said there’s one song from the popular boy band that he and his group members have never really enjoyed singing. During his appearance on the “Joe Vulpis Podcast,” the actor and “Big Brother” alum opened up about the show, which ran from 2009 to 2013, and spilled the tea on things some of the program’s biggest fans may not have known.

While Big Time Rush was created as a fictional boy band for the TV series of the same name, the group actually released popular songs and albums, three of which reached the top 20 on the Billboard 200.

And while the music resonated with some of the show’s fans, Maslow said the “Big Time Rush” theme song is the one he and his co-stars have the most trouble performing.

“It was written as a theme song, in my defense, which means it wasn’t written to be sung… to be performed live like regular music,” he said.

Maslow Said It’s Always A ‘Struggle’ To Sing The Show’s ‘Cheesy’ Theme Song

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Maslow, 35, was first cast in the Nickelodeon series at 19. On the podcast, the actor said he didn’t enjoy singing the “BTR” theme song live back then, but now, he’s learned to appreciate it a bit more.

Even then, it’s not a track that he and his bandmates, including Kendall Schmidt, Carlos PenaVega, and Logan Henderson, are champing at the bit to sing live.

“It’s always been a struggle, and we’ve always found a way to like put it in a mashup or sing half of it and like move on, and we still do to some degree because, again, it’s a theme song and it’s cheesy by nature,” he said.

Fans Probably Didn’t Know This Fact About ‘Big Time Rush’

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Elsewhere in the podcast, Maslow told the podcast host that he wasn’t sure “Big Time Rush” would even make it to air, given that they shot a million-dollar pilot without Schmidt, the show’s leading man.

According to Maslow, they filmed the pilot with a different actor, but after wrapping, the network shelved the program to do another nationwide search. Despite the back-and-forth, Maslow expressed gratitude that everything worked out as it did.

“The reality is, and I remind myself of this all the time, [we] could have gone through those two years, those four screen tests, the million-dollar pilot, and then back to nothing, and then got it picked up, and then it still could have not worked,” Maslow said. “So, I’m just grateful that so many people fell in love with the show and the band.”

Maslow And His Bandmates Had To Fight For Creative Control Over Their Music

After Nickelodeon rounded out the cast with the right actors, Maslow said he and his co-stars then had to fight for a bit of creative control, noting that the people involved in creating the show didn’t realize they had cast men who wanted to be involved in the music-making process.

“So it became art imitating life in many, many ways where they set out going, ‘Hey, we’re going to hire actors to make a show, and maybe they can play music or something outside of this,’ but we proved to be like, no, we’re actually going to be a band,” Maslow explained.

Speaking Of Fictional Bands … This Group Is Returning To The Small Screen Nearly 20 Years Later

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And speaking of fictional bands, another group is returning to the small screen almost 20 years later.

According to a previous report from The Blast, Raven-Symoné and Adrienne Bailon are returning to Disney to reprise their roles as Galleria and Chanel in the new “Cheetah Girls” movie titled “Next Gen.”

The made-for-TV film, executive-produced by the “That’s So Raven” alum and Debra Martin Chase, will feature her and Bailon’s characters traveling to Africa with a group of younger singers to help save a wildlife sanctuary.

Sabrina Bryan, who played Dorinda in the franchise’s first three films, will reprise her role, along with Lynn Whitfield and Lori Alter. Kiely Williams, however, is not attached to the project at this time.

“The Cheetah Girls has always been about friendship, music, and empowering young people to use their voice,” said Ayo Davis, president of Disney Kids & Family. “That spirit connected deeply with a generation of fans, and it still resonates today. Bringing this dynamic new group of young stars to the franchise allows us to continue that legacy for a new era of kids and families.”

Senator Mitch McConnell‘s mounting health concerns have thrust the 84-year-old Kentucky Republican back into the political and cultural spotlight, spurring a series of conspiracy theories and demand for transparency from his office.

McConnell was reportedly found unconscious at his Washington, D.C., home on June 14, 2026, according to multiple outlets who reported on the incident weeks later. He had not cast a Senate vote since June 11, 2026, per Senate records, and his prolonged absence has since fueled speculation about his condition.

Scroll below for a history of McConnell’s recent health scares:

Mitch McConnell’s February 2026 Hospitalization

Less than four months before the June incident, McConnell was hospitalized after experiencing flu-like symptoms.

“In an abundance of caution, after experiencing flu-like symptoms over the weekend, Senator McConnell checked himself into a local hospital for evaluation [on February 2],” a spokesperson told Us Weekly at the time. “His prognosis is positive and he is grateful for the excellent care he is receiving.”

Mitch McConnell’s June 2026 Reported Cardiac Emergency

Emergency services dispatch audio referenced “CPR in progress” for a “cardiac arrest” at McConnell’s D.C. home before 9 a.m. on June 14, per The New York Post. McConnell’s office has not publicly confirmed the specifics.

Spokesperson Stephanie Penn told People via email on July 1, “Senator McConnell is still working closely with staff on Senate business and Kentucky matters as he continues his recovery. However, he will not be voting this week.”

‘Brain Dead’ Rumors Circulate

Right-wing activist Laura Loomer alleged on X on July 7, 2026 that McConnell was “brain dead and hooked up to machines,” citing a “high-level source close to the White House.”

McConnell’s office responded the same day in a statement to Us Weekly: “Senator McConnell appreciates the outpouring of support he’s receiving while he continues his recovery in the hospital. The Senator continues to improve, and is working closely with his staff on Kentucky and Senate matters while the Senate is out of session.”

GOP Senate leaders John Thune and John Barrasso subsequently claimed they had each recently spoken with McConnell.

Meghan McCain, Scott Jennings and Lisa Rinna Weigh In

McConnell’s mysterious health scar prompted a flurry of celebrity reactions.

Meghan McCain, for her part, publicly demanded more information.

“Senator McConnell’s staff owes it to the American public to give a real update on his health or show us some kind of proof of life,” she tweeted on July 7, 2026. “All of this is unseemly, macabre, bad for democracy and quite frankly embarrassing for the country.”

CNN political commentator Scott Jennings, meanwhile, alleged he spoke with the senator for nearly 20 minutes.

“He’s still recovering in the hospital. We talked for just shy of 20 minutes … about IRAN, UKRAINE, the unfolding situation in MAINE, my visit to the TR Presidential Library and even a little bit of Senate history. I told him we want to see him back at work as soon as possible,” Jennings wrote on X that same day.

Jennings repeated his same claims on CNN that day before the network distanced itself from the commentator. 

“As a CNN Political Commentator, Scott Jennings is not a full-time employee or journalist for the network,” a statement shared with the The Daily Beast on July 10, 2026, read. “His account of a personal conversation with Senator McConnell reflects his experience and is not CNN reporting.”

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Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum Lisa Rinna offered a darker take, comparing McConnell’s situation to the 1989 film Weekend at Bernie’s in a TikTok video.

 “I mean, come on, Mitch McConnell’s dead. He’s dead,” she joked. “They’re keeping him alive like Weekend at Bernie’s.”

This story was compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. 

Some of the internet’s biggest faces expanded their families this year.

2026 began with influencers Haley and MonDarius Black welcoming their first baby together, daughter Leilani Noel Black, after previously suffering a pregnancy loss.

The next month, influencer Dani Austin and husband Jordan Ramirez added their fourth child, while Emily Stomauk and Michael Justin later shared they welcomed their first baby. In April, Allison Kuch and NFL’s Isaac Rochell welcomed their second baby and Alex and Harrison Fugman added their son to their family.

In April, TikTok stars Camilla and Julie Lorentzen took fans inside the delivery room as they welcomed their third child. One month later, hairstylist Siiri Parks shared that she and partner Jorden had welcomed their first baby with the help of IVF.

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In late May, influencer couple Keeundra Hatley Smith and Nicholas Smith welcomed their seventh baby.

In June, Sue Rose and husband Josh Vida welcomed their fifth child together, a baby girl. Meanwhile, YouTuber Cody Ko and wife Kelsey Kreppel announced the arrival of baby No. 2. The next month, Campbell “Pookie” Puckett and Jett Puckett shared that they welcomed their second child. Influencer Natalie Zacek and husband Josh Downey also welcomed their first baby and Catherine Paiz and husband Igor Ten welcomed their first baby together, her fourth, on July 8.

Scroll down to see more influencers who welcomed babies this year:

Conor McGregor was a no-show at the Marquee Nightclub at The Cosmopolitan’s UFC afterparty after his shocking fight loss, a source exclusively tells Us Weekly. 

McGregor, 37, was scheduled to emcee the Las Vegas bash hours after his Saturday, July 11, fight against rival Max Holloway during UFC 329. McGregor ultimately lost the match just 69 seconds into the bout.

“After the disappointing loss, he bailed,” a source close to the situation exclusively tells Us Weekly, noting iconic UFC announcer Bruce Buffer “came in to save the day” when he stepped in last-minute to serve as the evening’s host.

The insider adds, “Marquee was packed and Bruce did a UFC style intro for rapper Fabulous.”

McGregor has not addressed his decision to skip what the source tells Us was an epic party. Us has reached out to a rep for the pro fighter for comment.

Hours after his surprising loss, McGregor addressed the stinging defeat in a series of social media uploads.

“I was so sharp and so ready for this fight I cannot believe what has happened,” he tweeted on Sunday, July 12. “The talk of me being off while walking into the fight is nonsense. I was calm, ready, and confident. I am in shock [at] what has taken place. The devil is literally staring at me right in front of my face here. I am not engaging. I will be at church tomorrow.”

McGregor continued, “I will overcome this. I will not be deterred. I will return.”

The MMA star had last stepped into the ring in 2021, making Saturday’s highly-anticipated matchup his supposed comeback. After the fight was called in just one one minute, UFC commentators speculated that McGregor’s opening roundhouse kick caused an injury.

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“My head gasket is gone. Destroyed. I had no injury / injuries going into the fight,” he tweeted the next day, denying the speculation. “I was throwing kicks, planted and jumping, all throughout camp as well as backstage before the fight. This came out of nowhere. I am beyond dark here. I can only describe it as hell.”

Putting the loss behind him, McGregor has turned to his faith for solace.

“I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible,” McGregor wrote via X on Sunday. “I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through Him all things were made. … “I believe in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.”

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 12 seconds ago

While the franchise lingered on in the form of shows like Andor and The Mandalorian (and, unfortunately, The Acolyte), the Star Wars we know and love effectively ended with The Rise of Skywalker. After the critical and commercial failure of that film, the franchise seemed dead. That left just one question: what killed it? Certainly, all of the sequels were filled with some big missteps, but the final nail in the coffin was ROTS revealing Rey was secretly Palpatine’s granddaughter. It was weird enough that the Emperor came back with no real explanation as to how he even survived; now we had to deal with the newest Jedi being Space Hitler’s granddaughter.

Since The Rise of Skywalker came out, however, fans have proposed a singular theory about what would have saved that final sequel film and, by extension, saved Star Wars. If Rey simply had to be related to a famous character from the Original Trilogy, she should have been Obi-Wan Kenobi’s granddaughter. This would explain Obi-Wan’s voice in The Force Awakens, deepen connections to The Clone Wars, and even gently retcon the worst narrative mistake of the prequels. Just how would this narrative change do all that? Pour yourself a tall glass of blue milk, kid, because this is gonna be one heck of a tale!

Search Your Feelings, You Know It To Be True

The first reason Rey should have been the granddaughter of Obi-Wan Kenobi in The Rise of Skywalker is that it would have explained one of the biggest mysteries of The Force Awakens. In that first sequel, when Rey touches Luke Skywalker’s lightsaber, she receives a weird Force vision filled with sights and sounds from every era of Star Wars. In this vision, we hear the original voice of Obi-Wan (Sir Alec Guinness) distinctly say the name “Rey.” When TFA first came out, fans wondered how the Jedi Master would know the name of this new hero and if they might be connected by blood.

If The Rise of Skywalker had revealed Rey to be Obi-Wan’s granddaughter, it would explain why he was calling her name and perhaps watching her via the Force. It would also explain some of the confusion about who Rey’s parents are. Because of how the Jedi were hunted, it would make sense for Rey’s parents to keep their distance, lest their own connection to Obi-Wan get this young girl killed. Also, Obi-Wan’s child was presumably Force-sensitive; they might have used the Force to make it harder to detect the truth about her, explaining why Kylo Ren thought she was a nobody.

Jedi Hero, Secret Daddy

Additionally, Obi-Wan Kenobi hooking up with Satine (something hinted at in The Clone Wars) and having a kid would explain why he was so willing to look the other way about the secret marriage between Anakin Skywalker and Padme Amidala. Given what a stickler for the rules Obi-Wan is, it never made sense that he was cool with his former apprentice leading a secret double life. But if Obi-Wan secretly had a lovechild of his own, it would make sense that he wouldn’t admonish Anakin. For one thing, he’d feel shame; for another, Anakin might very well sense that shame via the Force if they had an open discussion about his relationship with Anakin, which would put Kenobi’s future granddaughter in danger.

Arguably, Rey being Obi-Wan Kenobi’s granddaughter could have given more meaning to her final fight with Emperor Palpatine. That fight always seemed a little hollow because there were no emotional stakes; it was a fight between someone we barely knew and someone we thought long dead. But if Rey carried Obi-Wan Kenobi’s bloodline, though, it would be like a very belated victory for the Jedi Master. Once, Palpatine killed all of his friends and forced him on the run; now, Obi-Wan’s granddaughter would make sure that the man behind Order 66 would never hurt anyone, ever again.

This isn’t a perfect solution to the failures of the Sequel Trilogy, of course. But giving Rey such a powerful connection to a beloved Star Wars character would fix some of the sequels’ narrative mistakes while deepening their connection to the prequels and adding some emotional heft to the big climax of The Rise of Skywalker. It would even give the Obi-Wan Kenobi show something else to explore in future seasons. Unfortunately, Lucasfilm making the character a secret Palpatine rendered Rey a much more confusing character, which may ultimately hurt the franchise once she becomes the anchor character for the next era of Star Wars films.

Like Us, Kate Middleton leans on mega flattering dress styles. During a summer outing, Middleton opted for a dress that covered her upper arms and cinched her waist at the same time, no squeezing involved. We found the look on sale for only $50!

While visiting a children’s hospital, Middleton wore a crisp white dress, adorned with front buttons, elbow-length puff sleeves and a belt that cinched her waist to perfection. The dress style was ladylike and breezy, and we’re copying the look all summer long. Seriously, it’s never been so easy to dress like a royal!

Get the Prettygarden Belted Maxi Dress for $50 (was $56) at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate at the date of publication but are subject to change.

This Prettygarden Belted Maxi Dress appears incredibly similar, with the same white color, flowy skirt and puff sleeves that conveniently cover batwings. To top it off, it features an adjustable tie belt that shapes without squeezing.

Related: 17 Boutique-Style White Dresses That Make the Easiest Summer Uniform

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And don’t worry, the fabric doesn’t stick. The cotton-blend fabric hangs loosely from your waist down, gently skimming past your tummy and adding movement when you walk.

One five-star reviewer wrote, “I absolutely love how flattering this summer dress is. The sleeves go down to my elbow, so it covers my thick arms . . . The skirt skims over my hips and my tummy area, so it’s very comfortable and looks nice without it looking so baggy and shapeless.”

Another happy fan wrote, “So cute. Fit perfectly on my short frame. The fit was great over my hips and thighs. (I’m a curvy shape.) Actually surprised me that I received so many compliments.”

Middleton reaches for tailored silhouettes with a romantic twist, and this maxi dress totally nails it. It’s the outfit you’ll choose for baby showers, vacations and brunches alike. We’re wearing it weekly through Labor Day . . . then snagging another color for fall.

Get the Prettygarden Belted Maxi Dress for $50 (was $56) at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate at the date of publication but are subject to change.

Looking for something else? Explore more summer dresses and don’t forget to check out all of Amazon’s Daily Deals for more great finds!

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Fire Country alum Leven Rambin is revealing the unexpected complication that she says she sustained during a recent surgery to treat her endometriosis.

“I went in for a routine endo laparoscopy,” Rambin, 36, wrote via TikTok on Friday, July 10, detailing her procedure. “I had a Netflix job I needed to be at in two weeks and my doc said I would be fine. I woke up after surgery to many doctors and surgeons telling me they ‘saved my life’ after the [doctor] accidentally KNICKED [sic] my aorta.”

Rambin explained that other physicians “immediately performed repair surgery” on the vital artery, giving the actress a blood transfusion during the procedure.

“I’m on every med under the sun, my mom flew in,” she explained of her recovery. “I did get diagnosed with stage 1 endo and polyps.”

Endometriosis is a chronic and painful conduction in which tissue similar to what lines the uterine wall grows outside the uterus, according to the Mayo Clinic. The condition can impact the ovaries, fallopian tubes and tissue lining the pelvis, causing extreme pain, fatigue, nausea, vomiting and difficulties conceiving without medical intervention.

In Rambin’s case, a surgical specialist had punctured her aorta during the laparoscopy, a technique used by physicians to access the pelvis via small incisions.

“The first thing I said was, ‘Is this your fault?’” the Hunger Games actress recalled in a follow-up TikTok video. “She said, ‘Yes, it’s my fault.’ I said, ‘Aren’t you a specialist?’ She said, ‘I’m human.’ … I’m pissed, obviously. I understand it was a ‘risk’ like anything. It was a one in a million ‘freak accident’ that I’m still processing.”

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Olivia Culpo, Julianne Hough and more stars have become fierce advocates for women’s health — especially when it comes to endometriosis. Endometriosis causes abnormal tissue growth in and around the uterus, and is one of the leading causes of infertility in women. The condition occurs in as many as 1 in 10 women, according to […]

Rambin has since been recovering in a hospital’s intensive care unit (ICU) for almost a week in after the surgerical complication.

“Why yes, I am up and walking after this crazy traumatic surgery,” she said in a TikTok video shared Sunday, July 4, giving an update on her fourth day in the hospital. “They told me that’s the best thing for healing, and I’m a f***ing bad bitch. I’m not gonna sit there and cry, although I have been crying. I think the reality is starting to hit me of what happened.”

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Rambin continued, “I was clearly in shock and medicated when I was making all those funny videos [about the incident]. It’s now starting to land. Don’t you worry, the gravity is starting to hit. Trying to avoid the mental rabbit hole if I can, but I’m only human.”

On her Instagram Stories later on Sunday, Rambin revealed that she had been discharged from the ICU wing.

“Out of the ICU and recovering like a rockstar,” she gushed via her Stories. “[I am] hoping to leave the hospital today.”

Christopher Nolan was full of praise for Samantha Morton’s performance in the upcoming epic “The Odyssey,” comparing her impact to that of Heath Ledger in “The Dark Knight.”

Morton was at a loss for words upon receiving such high praise, saying she felt “so honored and privileged” to have worked with Nolan.

The director, who has come under fire from several quarters over his casting choices, said the negative comments were “irrelevant” and that he had learned not to worry about them.

Christopher Nolan revealed that Samantha Morton, who plays the enchantress-goddess Circe in “The Odyssey,” delivered such an electric performance that it prompted a round of applause from the crew on set.

In a recent interview with the Los Angeles Times, the award-winning filmmaker compared the actress’s impact on the film to that of Heath Ledger’s performance as the Joker in the 2008 movie “The Dark Knight.”

“This was a massive film, and she is someone who comes in and changes the dynamic. In some weird way, the film lived or died over that character. She was the fulcrum,” Nolan told the news outlet.

He further revealed that he structured his filming schedule around Morton’s availability to ensure she could appear in the film.

“I’ve always admired Samantha’s work; she brings so much depth of thinking to her role. There are no limitations on her performance,” he continued.

“After one of her takes, the crew gave her a great round of applause,” Nolan added. “I was talking with Emma [Thomas] afterward, and she remembered that the last time that had happened was with Heath Ledger on The Dark Knight.”

Nolan’s Praise Leaves Morton Overwhelmed

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In Homer’s classical Greek poem, on which the film is based, Circe is the formidable sorceress who transforms Odysseus’s crew into swine before ultimately guiding him on his journey home.

In a conversation with PEOPLE about the role, Morton praised Nolan as a “master” and said it was an honor to appear in the film.

“Christopher Nolan is obviously a master of what he does, and for me, it’s utterly life-changing to get the moment to progress my craft because I’m always learning,” she told the news outlet at the movie’s London premiere on Monday, July 6.

“I’m 49 years old, I’m always learning, I’m always getting better. And I felt so honored and privileged to be in a situation where I could do that with a master.”

During an appearance on the British news show “This Morning” alongside Himesh Patel, the two-time Academy Award nominee said the crew’s reaction moved her to tears.

“It was incredible, and for Christopher to give me that opportunity — I’m 49, and you don’t know that those roles are ever going to come your way again,” she said. “It was like, ‘Thank you for giving me this.’”

Samantha Morton Says ‘The Odyssey’ Changed Her

Nolan’s “The Odyssey” is shaping up to be one of the biggest films of the summer and is scheduled to hit theaters and IMAX screens worldwide on July 17.

The film boasts a star-studded ensemble cast that includes Matt Damon, Tom Holland, and Zendaya, among others.

The story follows Odysseus (played by Damon) on a grueling decade-long journey home to Ithaca following the Trojan War. Along the way, he encounters mystical beings and powerful gods who seek to prevent his return.

Asked what a normal day on set looked like with a renowned filmmaker like Nolan and the film’s star-studded cast, Morton told PEOPLE that “there are no off days.”

“You are on for the rest of your life, in a good way. It’s life-changing from the minute I got the call to meet Christopher Nolan to getting the role of Circe, to filming it, to going home when I first saw it for this special night tonight,” she explained.

Christopher Nolan Dismisses ‘The Odyssey’ Backlash As ‘Irrelevant’

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Before the movie premiered in London earlier this week, Nolan faced heavy criticism from several quarters over his casting and creative choices.

Elon Musk was among those who slammed the filmmaker, accusing him of chasing awards by casting Nyong’o as Helen of Troy, a decision that divided social media users.

The film’s use of American accents and modern English dialogue also irked some critics, as did the armor design.

However, Nolan downplayed the pre-release backlash in a recent interview with The Telegraph, calling the criticism “irrelevant.”

“Comes with the territory,” he noted. “But look, these conversations that happen before people see the film — they’re always irrelevant, because no one having them knows what the film actually is yet.”

Christopher Nolan Reveals The Lesson He Learned From Batman

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Elsewhere in the interview, Nolan opened up about how he had always known that bringing such an epic story to life would provoke strong reactions, but said he had learned not to be bothered by them.

“Remember, I spent ten years of my life dealing with Batman. When I came on ‘Begins,’ writers and artists had been working on this beloved character for almost 65 years, and a lot of freighted thoughts were out there about what he represents,” he explained.

“And what I learned over my time on that trilogy is you can’t worry about any of that at all. What you have to do is honor the original text by interpreting it in the strongest way you personally can,” Nolan said.

He added that the outcome ultimately depended on how much fans of the original work enjoyed the movie, while stressing that the responsibility was on him to put “as good a version of it on screen” as possible.

“All I can do is make the best film I possibly can in the most sincere way. It’s very different from how anyone else would do it, but that’s what adaptation is,” he added.

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 15 seconds ago

For the better part of a century, there has been a creative war between two powerhouse publishers: Marvel and DC. While there are plenty of others making comic books, these are the biggest names in the game, each amassing millions of fans. Eventually, the war leapt from the page to the silver screen, with each side releasing its own bevy of superhero films. For a long time, Marvel has been dominant: not only is the MCU the most popular cinematic universe ever created, but it outlasted the DCEU, which crashed and burned in its attempt to be the grim and gritty alternative to Marvel.

Last year, however, James Gunn launched the DCU with Superman, his film about the most famous superhero of them all. The movie was a hit, one that earned more than both of the MCU’s rival summer films (The Thunderbolts and The Fantastic Four: First Steps). It looked like Marvel might finally have a worthy rival, but now, it looks like the fight is already over. Gunn’s new cinematic universe was already in trouble when Supergirl became a critical and commercial bomb. Now, Gunn himself has confirmed that the DCU won’t show off anything at San Diego Comic Con’s famous Hall H, where Marvel is planning on making several major announcements.

Why Hall H Is So Important

So, what’s significant about Hall H? Basically, this is the home of the biggest presentations at San Diego Comic Con. Fans often line up a day in advance to get inside this 6,500-seat room; there, they are treated to a bevy of exclusive panels, trailers, and other previews courtesy of major Hollywood studios. Historically, Marvel has made major announcements in Hall H, and this year is no exception. Fans attending SDCC can expect major announcements about Avengers: Doomsday, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, X-Men ‘97, and more. Because of this, DCU fans were hoping James Gunn would bring some major announcements of his own.

Unfortunately, that’s not gonna happen. While there will be some other DC offerings elsewhere at SDCC (including an immersive Lanterns experience and a DC booth with a Superman Experience), there will be no DCU panels, updates, or anything else at Hall H. James Gunn himself confirmed this while also explaining his reasoning: namely, that he can generate hype for upcoming films for free via social media, but making a big splash at San Diego Comic Con would cost several million dollars. For the DC Studios co-CEO, the juice just ain’t worth the squeeze.

It’s All About The Money

He’s not wrong, of course: it’s always been hard to track how effective marketing movies to SDCC attendees is, especially because almost every “exclusive” thing they are shown ultimately ends up (officially or unofficially) on the internet. Plus, this is the fourth year Warner Bros. is skipping the Hall H hoopla, so Gunn’s announcement may not seem that shocking. Still, DCU fans are a bit surprised because there are major projects coming up, including Clayface and The Man of Tomorrow. Following Supergirl’s failure, this would be the perfect time to hype up the DCU, but Gunn is content to play cautious and coy.

From the outside looking in, this certainly feels like conceding defeat to Marvel. Instead of building hype and creating its own counternarrative, the DCU is just letting Marvel have all the glory at the biggest nerd convention in the world. Maybe this is practical: highly-anticipated films like Spider-Man: Brand New Day and Avengers: Doomsday were always destined to earn more than Supergirl, even if it hadn’t underperformed. Still, though, if Gunn isn’t willing to make the effort to market his cinematic universe, why should fans make the effort to check out future movies and shows?

When it comes to the ongoing battle between Marvel and DC, it seems clear that the house Stan Lee built has already won 2026. But will it ultimately win the war? Maybe, maybe not. Kevin Feige is gambling everything on Doomsday, and if that movie flops, it could be the beginning of the end for the MCU. That could make 2027 the perfect year for Gunn to strike back with some killer content of its own. If this year has taught us anything about saving the DCU, though, it’s that this is not a job for Supergirl!