Phrases like “K-dramas” and “game-changing” somehow always went hand in hand. The K-drama landscape may have dramatically transformed over the past decade, but that didn’t happen by accident—it happened because certain shows dared to break the rules that were established for them early on. Essential 2000s K-dramas reached international viewers and helped numerous actors find their footing as global superstars. Over time, they paved the way for the beautiful and imaginative world of more and more K-dramas to emerge.

Since the 2000s and until today, some K-dramas have, more than others, expanded into what they could be. By doing so, these shows transformed the expectations of audiences worldwide for television, consistently raising the standard with each new series. Here are some game-changing K-dramas that totally rewrote the genre’s rules, fundamentally raising the bar and even expanding the possibilities for everyone who followed.

8

‘Signal’ (2016)

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Before Signal, time-travel stories in Korean dramas were mostly about romantic connections and possibilities. This K-drama showed that series within its genre could handle complex, mind-bending concepts without losing their emotional appeal. Signal drew inspiration from real Korean criminal cases such as the Hwaseong serial murders, grounding its sci-fi plot in reality. It also expertly establishes rules for its time-communication mechanic (the protagonists can only connect at a certain time, randomly, for a few minutes) and sticks to them, avoiding the potential plot holes that often plague similar shows.

Signal follows criminal profiler Park Hae-young (Lee Je-hoon), who discovers a mysterious walkie-talkie that connects him to Detective Lee Jae-han (Cho Jin-woong) from fifteen years ago. Together with cold-case detective Cha Soo-hyun (Kim Hye-soo), they try to solve unsolved crimes by communicating across timelines. However, every change in the past has devastating consequences for the present, leaving the question: should some things be changed, even if they’re great deeds of injustice? Despite initial network reservations, Signal became one of the most successful cable dramas in history, proving that K-drama fans want to embrace sophisticated thrillers.

7

‘Mr. Sunshine’ (2018)

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After the global success of Descendants of the Sun and Goblin, writer Kim Eun-sook could have played it safe. Instead, she ventured into uncharted territory with Mr. Sunshine, a period epic set in the early 20th century Joseon, during the Japanese occupation of Korea. Mr. Sunshine shattered the notion that period dramas couldn’t achieve blockbuster ratings after breaking Goblin’s record for the highest cable viewership debut. More importantly, it proved that K-dramas could achieve cinematic quality on the small screen, because everything from its lush production value and sweeping cinematography to meticulous attention to historical detail set a new benchmark for what television could aspire to.

Mr. Sunshine follows Choi Yoo-jin (Lee Byung-hun), a Korean-born boy who flees to America after his parents’ death; about two decades later, he returns as a U.S. Marine officer, meets, and develops feelings for Go Ae-shin (Kim Tae-ri), an aristocratic woman secretly fighting for Korea’s independence. Their story turns into a fated but tragic romance, and the chemistry between Lee and Kim is quite convincing despite a big age gap. The drama’s critical and commercial success opened the door to more ambitious period productions, and many shows since have tackled the topic of the Japanese occupation and freedom fighting, juxtaposing this difficult period with romantic plots, proving love always wins.

6

‘Stranger’ (2017–2018)

Image via Signal Entertainment Group

Stranger is the prime example that K-dramas can compete with prestige American television. Critics compared it to some of America’s most popular police procedurals and thrillers, praising its cinematic quality, psychological depth, and open criticism of corruption in the official ranks that should have the least of it. Since the protagonist has a catch about him—he’s emotionless due to a botched surgical procedure—Stranger proved that a leading character can lack empathy and still be compelling and triumphant. Its procedural storytelling also doesn’t need a romantic subplot to maintain viewership.

Stranger is a crime thriller that introduced international audiences to a new kind of K-drama protagonist. It follows the prosecutor Hwang Si-mok (Cho Seung-woo), who underwent brain surgery as a child to correct hypersensitivity to sound. However, the procedure left him unable to feel basic empathy, and his social and emotional cues are often maladjusted. When he teams up with police detective Han Yeo-jin (Bae Doona) to investigate a murder, they uncover deep corruption within the prosecutor’s office that threatens both of their livelihoods. The show was so successful that it spawned a second season and a spin-off, proving that Korean crime dramas could sustain franchises.

5

‘D.P.’ (2021–2023)

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D.P. did something unprecedented: it put a spotlight on one of South Korea’s most sacred institutions—its mandatory military service. The show takes place in 2014, a year marked by military tragedies where soldiers suffered abuse. D.P. seemingly resonated deeply with Korean veterans, sparking conversations about reform in military practices and the treatment of soldiers. The show also proves that K-dramas can tackle social issues honestly while still being entertaining and thrilling.

Based on Kim Bo-tong‘s webtoon of the same name (who based the webtoon on his own experiences), D.P. (Deserter Pursuit) follows Private Ahn Jun-ho (Jung Hae-in), a directionless young man assigned to a military unit tasked with tracking down deserters. As he partners with seasoned deserter pursuer Han Ho-yeol (Koo Kyo-hwan), Jun-ho witnesses the brutal realities of South Korea’s conscription system, which is filled with hazing, abuse, and toxic masculinity that drives soldiers to flee or, in some cases, resort to violence. D.P. was released one month before Squid Game, and this may be why this drama isn’t as popular as it should be. Despite the timing, D.P. remains one of the most powerful and necessary K-dramas ever produced.

4

‘My Name’ (2021)

My Name is often considered a landmark in the “female hero narrative” within K-dramas. Created to feel like a revenge action story, My Name gives its female protagonist a motive for retribution while focusing on her development; we often see the traditional “hero’s journey” narrative reserved for male characters, and this show plays on that beautifully, making the female hero imperfect yet ultimately heroic. My Name is one of the first Netflix K-dramas to prove that the eight-episode format removes the typical K-drama fluff and delivers constant tension.

My Name follows Yoon Ji-woo (Han So-hee), a young woman whose father was murdered in front of her when she was very young. Failed by the police, she joins her father’s criminal organization, endures brutal training, and goes undercover as a mole within the police force to hunt down his killer. Han performed her own stunts, bringing an authentic presence to every brutal confrontation and cementing herself as probably the first and biggest Korean female action star of the last five to ten years. My Name is living proof that female-led action could compete within this male-dominated genre, especially in the K-drama landscape.

Image via Netflix 

Extraordinary Attorney Woo is a series that had to have a gentle and careful approach to its subject matter, and it’s the first among K-dramas to have a neurodivergent person as its protagonist. However, the protagonist, Woo Young-woo, represents an “exceptional” case within the autism spectrum, which led the show’s creative team to acknowledge the feedback, remaining hopeful throughout it all. Many viewers felt optimistic after watching the drama, acknowledging the effort even if they didn’t fully support the narrative. Extraordinary Attorney Woo is a gentle and entertaining series that shows that sensitive, thoughtful representation of neurodiversity can achieve massive commercial success.

Extraordinary Attorney Woo is a legal dramedy that follows Woo Young-woo (Park Eun-bin), a brilliant young attorney with autism spectrum disorder and photographic memory. She gets a job at a prestigious law firm in Seoul, tackling complex cases and a world not designed for neurodivergent minds like hers. Young-woo’s inner world is depicted in rich and typical ways for someone like her: she is, in particular, obsessed with whales and knows all the facts about them; she eats only gimbap; and she likes wordplay and palindromes (her name is a palindrome, too). Extraordinary Attorney Woo really changed the K-drama landscape over the last few years.

2

‘Kingdom’ (2019–2020)

Image via Netflix

Kingdom was written by Signal‘s author, Kim Eun-hee, and it represents the fusion of globally recognizable genres and uniquely Korean elements. The zombie genre has a long history on film and TV, but Kingdom shook things up by setting its story in the Joseon Dynasty, thus creating the first-ever historical zombie K-drama. Besides the superfast flesh eaters, the second plight of Kingdom’s protagonist is political intrigue, which is essential to Korean period pieces. The zombies themselves become a form of social commentary, reflecting the hunger of peasants neglected by the ruling class and creating a conflict between the starving poor and the well-fed aristocrats.

Kingdom is set in Korea’s Joseon period and follows Crown Prince Lee Chang (Ju Ji-hoon) as he uncovers a mysterious plague turning people into flesh-eating creatures and battles corrupt court officials who are keeping his sick father “alive” through the help of a mysterious flower as a way of getting to the Prince and the throne. The brilliant cinematography and editing make Kingdom a stellar vision that captures both the eeriness and beauty of Korean landscapes while they’re plagued by a zombie virus. As the first original Netflix K-drama, Kingdom proved that the streamer would invest heavily in Korean content—the rest is history.

1

‘Squid Game’ (2021–2025)

Image via Netflix

Squid Game was in the making for about ten years, and it’s a miracle that it succeeded as much as it did. It became Netflix’s most-watched show ever, still holding that record with over 265 million views for Season 1 and over 600 million views for all three seasons combined. It redefined K-dramas as mainstream blockbusters, pushing Netflix to invest in Korean content more than any other series until then. But its impact goes beyond just viewership levels: like Kingdom, it brings traditional Korean games to the battle royale survival genre while critiquing the extreme competition it creates.

Squid Game is a dystopian thriller following the protagonist Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) and 455 other desperate contestants competing in deadly versions of their favorite childhood games for a massive cash prize. The show’s critical perspective on Korea, from the rat race and economic desperation to social polarization, resonated around the world because these issues seem universal in a capitalist society. Squid Game is the best example of Korean dramas becoming more than just a niche interest; instead, the show turned K-dramas into a dominant force in global entertainment, capable of launching fashion trends (the green tracksuits), inspiring Halloween costumes, and sparking conversations about capitalism and human nature worldwide; it’s the truest modern generator of the Korean Wave.

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Squid Game

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Release Date

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2021 – 2025

Network

Netflix

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Showrunner

Hwang Dong-hyuk

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Directors

Hwang Dong-hyuk

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• 
• 

  Wi Ha-jun

  Detective Hwang Jun-ho

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Rihanna is thankfully safe and sound after a woman opened fire at the front of her home. The suspect, who was promptly arrested and remains in custody, has a collection of videos showing her disturbing and obsessive mindset regarding the superstar, and now, more details have been revealed. According to new reports, Ivanna Ortiz communicated with her estranged husband earlier this year regarding Rihanna with demands.

Rihanna’s Home Shooting Suspect Told Estranged Husband To ‘Renounce’ Singer Earlier This Year

Per TMZ, in new court documents in the Ivanna Ortiz case, her estranged husband, Jed Valdez Sangalang, shared an email he received from Ortiz on January 26, in which she told him to “renounce” the Fenty Beauty founder.

“I need you to renounce Rihanna and confess that I’m better than her,” Ortiz’s email read. “Let it be done. You gotta let me know so that door can be closed.”

Following the news of the shooting and Ortiz’s arrest, Sangalang has now asked the court for full custody of the former couple’s child and also the designated rights for sole decision-making. 

The Suspect Fired Multiple Rounds At Rihanna’s Home While She And Her Children Were Inside

On March 8, Ivanna Ortiz fired 10 rounds at Rihanna’s home with an AR-15-style weapon. According to TMZ, after the shooting, Ortiz was arrested and charged with attempted murder. Her bail was initially set at $10,225,000 upon booking. 

Per the Los Angeles Times, of the multiple shots fired into Rihanna’s Beverly Hills home, one round actually penetrated the wall of the superstar’s lavish mansion. 

Armen Arias, an LAPD spokesperson, confirmed that authorities found bullet holes in a gate at Rihanna’s home and in an RV parked in the driveway.

Rihanna Promptly Left Los Angeles After The Terrifying Attack

A day after the shooting at her home, Rihanna was photographed traveling in a line of black SUVs to the private aviation terminal at Van Nuys Airport on Monday, March 10, one day after the home attack, according to Daily Mail.

Rihanna was then said to board a small twin-engine jet to fly out of Los Angeles.

Ivanna Ortiz Has Documented Online History Of Bizarre Fixation With Rihanna

According to the New York Post, Ortiz’s social media posts targeting Rihanna have been uncovered after she fired multiple shots at the singer’s home, including the most recent post on February 23.

“@badgalriri — Are you there? Cause I was waiting for your AIDS 5-head self to say something to me directly instead of sneaking around like you’re talking to me where I’m not at,” Ortiz wrote on Facebook.

A post on February 17 from Ortiz also mentioned the false claims of Rihanna having AIDS and included Drake in the rant. 

Additionally, on January 5 via her YouTube channel, Ortiz held a Praying Woman’s Journal and used it to rebuke Rihanna’s influence. In the video, Ortiz repeatedly described Rihanna as “corny” and “stupid,” implying that there was spiritual warfare and that people needed to avoid the singer’s negative influence. 

Ortiz also bizarrely accused Rihanna of trying to kill her. 

“Listen, Rihanna, when you die, God is taking me to my future,” she said. “You want to kill me? Shut the f-ck up. Okay, shut the f-ck up. Yeah, she’s a witch. She’s a witch. I’m a watchman. She’s a witch.”

Ortiz Has History Of Mental Illness Resulting In Losing Custody Of Her Child

Hal Roen, the attorney of Ortiz’s estranged husband, shared that she was previously placed on an involuntary psychiatric hold, according to TMZ. Roen also revealed that Ortiz was “Baker Acted” in Florida, meaning she was held against her will under state law.

Roen told the outlet that Ortiz is “articulate” and “very believable” despite her mental health issues. “If you sit down with her, she’s very convincing. But she does bizarre things,” he said.

A Florida judge also cited Ortiz’s mental state in April 2024 during a custody battle with ex Sangalang. The court documents obtained by the outlet stated that the legal umpire awarded Sangalang full physical custody of his child with Ortiz.

Despite her attempts in court to deny the allegations, the judge highlighted the “concerning testimony” about Ortiz’s mental health and stripped her of all contact with her child.

Ortiz was barred from having any in-person, phone, video, text, email, or third-party communication with her child until further order from the court. 

She was also previously arrested for domestic violence, resulting in probation.

Sean “Diddy” Combs is strongly condemning the ruling on his prostitution-related Mann Act convictions.

The disgraced rapper is serving 50 months in federal prison and has now described his sentencing as a “perversion of justice” in an appeal filed by his lawyers.

Diddy was previously found not guilty of sex trafficking and RICO charges, which he had earlier faced. His team has also filed previous appeals to overturn his conviction, including one where they accused the judge of acting as the “thirteenth juror” in the trial.

Diddy’s Attorneys Say The Rapper’s Sentencing Was Too Harsh

Sean “Diddy” Combs has filed another appeal seeking to overturn his prostitution-related Mann Act convictions, this time strongly condemning the sentence handed down in the case, per TMZ.

Diddy’s lawyers, during sentencing, had recommended 14 months, but U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian ultimately slammed the rapper with a 50-month sentence.

Now, in a filing submitted on Friday, Diddy’s attorneys argued that the rapper had been found not guilty of the more serious charges and that the 50-month sentence for the Mann Act conviction effectively punishes him for crimes of which he was acquitted.

The music mogul’s lawyers also noted that the sentence is roughly four times higher than what they believe is typically imposed for similar offenses.

Further emphasizing the harshness of the sentencing, Diddy’s attorneys described it as a “perversion of justice.”

The Music Mogul’s Lawyer Demanded His ‘Immediate Release’

Expanding on their argument, Diddy’s lawyers wrote that the judge relied on “acquitted conduct” sentencing, a practice in which punishment is increased based on allegations a defendant was cleared of.

They claim that such a method has faced widespread criticism across the legal landscape and should not have played a part in determining Diddy’s sentence.

To them, justice would be served if the appeals court either orders Diddy’s “immediate release and grants a judgment of acquittal” or at least “vacates and remands for resentencing.”

Diddy’s Appeal Will Begin In April After Being Fast-Tracked

Oral arguments on Diddy’s appeal are expected to begin on April 9, given that the case was allowed to be fast-tracked.

If the appeal is successful, Diddy could be given a reduced sentence or an immediate release pending resentencing.

Conversely, a rejection of the appeal would see the sentence maintained, although the rapper could further push for a review by the U.S. Supreme Court.

The Prosecution Asked The Court To Maintain Diddy’s 50-Month Sentence

Late last year, Diddy’s lawyers also criticized the judge in the criminal case in a filing that initiated the appeal process.

In the document, they claimed that Judge Arun Subramanian acted as a “13th juror” during the trial and described the sentence as “draconian.”

In February, prosecutors issued a response in which they argued that the judge had acted appropriately in his ruling.

“Combs seeks an unprecedented rule against consideration of any conduct that could have also supported a conviction on an acquitted count,” the prosecutors responded in a brief, per Billboard.

“That rule would eliminate sentencing judges’ long-recognized discretion to engage in fact-finding to aid their sentencing decisions, forcing them to blind their eyes to the actual conduct of each defendant before them,” they added.

Elsewhere in their brief, the prosecutors urged the appeals court to maintain the sentencing and reject the argument being made by Diddy’s lawyers.

When Is Diddy’s Release Date From Fort Dix?

At the time of Diddy’s sentencing, his release date was set for May 8, 2028. It was later moved to June 4, 2028, after the rapper was reportedly punished for allegedly breaking prison rules.

The allegations included claims that he was caught drinking homemade alcohol and initiating a three-way phone call with someone other than his lawyer.

Later, his release date was moved forward to April 25, 2028. The earlier release followed his acceptance into a drug-abuse rehabilitation program at Fort Dix Federal Correctional Institution, the New Jersey facility where he is currently serving out his prostitution-related Mann Act sentence.

“Mr. Combs is an active participant in the Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP) and has taken his rehabilitation process seriously from the start,” a rep for the rapper announced at the time, per reports. “He is fully engaged in his work, focused on growth, and committed to positive change.”

Beyoncé is known for keeping a tight circle, and it appears she plans to keep it that way for the foreseeable future.

According to a new source, the “Cowboy Carter” singer has allegedly been trying to distance herself from the royal Meghan Markle following the Duchess’s alleged attempts to grow closer.

The insider further claimed that Markle’s alleged behavior has come across to Beyoncé and her inner circle as “desperate,” adding that the mother of three has noticed and reportedly pulled back.

Beyoncé Is Reportedly Distancing Herself From Royal Meghan Markle After Her Alleged Attempts To Gain Access To The Carter Empire

While Markle is a celebrity in her own right, the Duchess of Sussex’s last several years in the spotlight have been marked by difficulty and extreme scrutiny.

There were several celebrities, however, who rallied around Markle during her most challenging times, including Oprah, Cameron Diaz, Orlando Bloom, Serena Williams, and even Beyoncé.

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Beyoncé has been spotted interacting with Markle and her husband, Prince Harry, at public events. Beyoncé and Jay-Z even praised Markle while accepting their Brit Award with an entertaining video showing them standing in front of a makeshift Mona Lisa-style painting of Markle.

In the Netflix documentary, “Harry & Meghan,” the Duchess shared even more about her connection with Beyoncé, revealing that the “Crazy In Love” singer had texted her, saying she was “just checking in.”

“I still can’t believe she knows who I am,” Markle said before revealing Beyoncé allegedly said she wants Markle to “feel safe and protected” before paying her respects to the actress-turned-royal.

Are Things Going Downhill For Beyoncé And Markle?

However, a source close to Beyoncé reportedly told OK! that the singer is not in the same place with Markle as she once was.

“Over the last few years there has been a noticeable pattern where Meghan has shown up at events tied to Beyoncé’s world – whether that is functions celebrating Tina Knowles or gatherings where mutual friends are involved. To many observers it has looked like a conscious and a bit of a desperate effort to position herself closer to that circle,” the insider shared.

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They went on to say that Beyoncé’s social circle has noticed Markle’s attempts to get closer to her and that they’ve all “interpreted it as Meghan trying to build a stronger association with the Carter family and the cultural influence that comes with them.”

Beyoncé Could Be Silently Pulling Back From Markle After Reportedly Feeling ‘Pressure’

As mentioned above, Beyoncé usually takes her time developing new relationships. In fact, she and her husband, Jay-Z, rapped and sang about their interpersonal relationships in the 2018 song “FRIENDS.”

“My friends, real friends, better than your friends / No foes, real friends, we ain’t even got to pretend, yeah / Get bands, get bands, spend it all on my friends,” the song goes. “I ain’t makin’ no room, yeah, I ain’t makin’ no new friends / I don’t make no moves, yeah, without tellin’ my crew, yeah.”

Consequently, Markle’s alleged attempts to foster a closer relationship with Beyoncé have left a sour taste in the singer’s mouth, said the insider.

“If she senses that someone is trying too hard to insert themselves into that space or accelerate a friendship before it has developed naturally, her instinct is usually to pull back rather than lean in. Beyoncé values relationships that evolve quietly over time, so any sign of pressure or strategic networking can make her more cautious,” they explained.

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Who Are Queen Bey’s Closest Friends?

So, if it’s not Markle, who does Beyoncé hang out with? Well, of course, her decades-long relationship with fellow Destiny’s Child singer Kelly Rowland remains at the top of the list, but according to E! News, Queen Bey also has a rolodex of high-profile friends.

Beyoncé opened up about her relationship with actress Gwyneth Paltrow in 2013, calling her “incredible” and a “great friend.”

Former President Barack Obama described Beyoncé and Jay-Z as “good friends” of his and his wife, former First Lady Michelle Obama. “They’re good people. Beyoncé could not be sweeter to Michelle and the girls. So they’re good friends. We talk about the same things I talk about with all my friends,” Barack shared.

Michelle also praised Beyoncé as a “special person” during her appearance on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.” She continued, “She’s a sweetheart. She’s smart, she’s creative, she’s a great mother, she loves her family. She’s just a low-key lady—we have a lot in common that way.”

Markle Moving Forward With Lifestyle Brand Without Netflix’s Support

In other Markle news, it was reported in early March 2026 that Netflix had parted ways with the media personality and her lifestyle brand, As Ever, which sold jams, spreads, bookmarks, and wines.

A Netflix spokesperson told PEOPLE that the decision to sever ties was always part of the bigger plan, adding that the company is looking forward “to celebrating how she continues to bring joy to households around the world.”

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Ryan Kiera Armstrong, the lead of the long-awaited Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot, has spoken out after Hulu pulled the plug on the project.

“I’m sure many of you have already heard the news by now,” Armstrong, 16, began in an Instagram Story posted on Saturday, March 14. “I wanted to come on here and say thank you for all of the support that you guys have given me and this show throughout the last couple months. It’s been really special.”

Fighting back tears, Armstrong told her followers that she was “really proud” of the proposed Buffy the Vampire Slayer: New Sunnydale pilot, though she was “sad that [fans] won’t be able to see it.”

“It doesn’t take away from the amazing experience that I had,” she noted.

Armstrong thanked original Buffy star Sarah Michelle Gellar and her creative partners — writers Lilla Zuckerman and Nora Zuckerman and director Chloé Zhao — for developing the now-scrapped project.

“I also want to say thank you to all the fans who believed in this new chapter, and who believed in me, so thank you guys,” she said. “Thank you to the cast I worked with. You guys are awesome.”

The actress went on, “I guess all I want to say is we brought this back for you guys and Buffy is such a big part of all of our lives. It’s not going anywhere! Who knows what the future will hold?”

Earlier in the day, Armstrong shared a Polaroid of herself on the set of Buffy the Vampire Slayer: New Sunnydale and described herself as “your slayer.”

Gellar, 48, broke the news on Saturday that Hulu had passed on moving forward with Buffy the Vampire Slayer: New Sunnydale, after originally ordering a pilot in early 2025.

“So I am really sad to have to share this, but I wanted you all to hear it from me – unfortunately Hulu has decided not to move forward with Buffy: New Sunnydale,” Gellar announced via Instagram. “I want to thank [director] Chloe Zhao because I never thought I would find myself back in Buffy’s stylish yet affordable boots and thanks to Chloe I was reminded how much I love her and how much she means not only to me but to all of you. And this doesn’t change any of that.”

She then teased, “I promise if the apocalypse actually comes you can still beep me.”

Gellar had long resisted returning to the Buffy franchise before she finally signed up to star and produce “the next chapter in the Buffyverse” in 2025. The series would have introduced Armstrong as a young slayer mentored by Buffy.

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Do you know why no one talks about the Buffy the Vampire Slayer movie? It’s because the Buffy the Vampire Slayer TV show far surpassed it. Series creator Joss Whedon had more leeway to make the show darker on TV than he did with the film. Season 2 as a whole was a game-changer for […]

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Last August, Gellar exclusively told Us Weekly that it was “incredibly emotionally overwhelming” to be working on a new Buffy project.

“It’s just a place I didn’t know that I would find myself,” she admitted to Us. “While it was new, it was also incredibly familiar, and I feel very lucky.”

The classic TV series was based on the 1992 film of the same name, starring Kristy Swanson as the slayer. The Buffy TV series aired for five seasons, from 1997 to 2001, on The WB before moving to UPN for its final two seasons. (The WB and UPN later merged to become The CW in 2006.)

A high school baseball player tragically died after suffering a head injury during practice. He was 15.

Bentley Wolfe was hit by a baseball during his team’s first practice of the season on March 2, suffering a severe brain bleed that left the young athlete fighting for his life, per The Prairie Press.

Two days later, on March 6, Wolfe’s mother, Samatha Simpson, revealed that he passed away.

“Never ever did I ever expect to be saying this,” Simpson posted via Facebook. “Bentley Kahne Wolfe has entered heaven where I know so many had open arms waiting on him.”

She continued, “We are in the donor process now hoping he can save others from ever having to experience something so tragic in their life. Never forget my boy he can never be forgotten he was angel on earth and God needed him back💚 thank you for all the love the donations the food our family friends all the multiple community support is keeping us upright at the moment. If everyone loved and seen the world like Bentley it would be such a better place so make that your goal💚 #LLBW. Forever and ever Bentley Wolfe Mama💚💚”

Later on March 6, Wolfe’s school, Chrisman High School, hosted a prayer vigil honoring the sophomore, attended by hundreds of friends and classmates.

“The outpouring of love from literally multiple towns, my friends, my family, people I haven’t talked to in a while, complete strangers, has been overwhelming to say the least,” Simpson said via Facebook. “But knowing my boy is so loved brings so much joy to this broken heart.”

The Peoria County Coroner’s office confirmed Wolfe’s death in a statement, adding that Wolfe was a “very heroic organ donor.”

“Autopsy on Bentley demonstrates that he suffered detrimental head trauma due to blunt force trauma,” said the statement, in part. “Sincere condolences to his family, the students, and staff at Chrisman High School.”

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The statement continued, “Despite aggressive care and treatment, sadly, Bentley was pronounced brain dead on March 6, 2026, at 5:49 p.m.. With much respect and gratitude, Bentley was a very heroic organ donor.”

According to his obituary, Wolfe is survived by his parents and seven siblings, along with grandparents and even great grandparents.

Along with playing baseball, he competed on the basketball team and was active in his school’s Future Farmer’s of America (FFA) program. He enjoyed tractors, trucks and “anything to do with farming.”

“Thank you, everyone, for being there for Bentley,” Simpson said at the vigil. “The love and support are really helping all of us. Please, please, please love like Bentley did. Because if everyone can do that, the world would be such a better place.”

Jack Schlossberg has an interesting yet perplexing place to store his late grandfather John F. Kennedy’s memorabilia.

During a recent interview on CBS Sunday Morning, the 33-year-old politician revealed that he keeps a model of a skeleton in the corner of one room in his house.

“Well, I had a back injury and I had to, kind of, relearn how to walk and stand up straight,” Schlossberg explained. “At the time, I wanted to study and visualize posture and my bones.”

Schlossberg subsequently dressed the skeletal figure in “a hand-me-down” dressing robe and fedora that both once belonged to JFK.

“I realized, ‘Oh, my God, now I can ask him questions and we can talk,” he quipped, acknowledging that the former president seldom wore hats in public. “‘He killed the hat industry,’ so I’m making him wear it now.”

Jack is the son of Caroline Kennedy — JFK and wife Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis’ daughter — and Edwin Schlossberg. Caroline, 68, and Edwin, 80, are also parents of Rose, 37, and Tatiana, the latter who died in December 2025 at 35 after battling cancer. Tatiana is survived by her husband, George Moran, and their two young children.

“I can tell you that [Tatiana is] still rooting for us and the last thing she said to me was, ‘You better win,’” Jack said on CBS Sunday Mornings earlier this month, referring to his candidacy in the Democratic primary for New York’s 12th Congressional District. “No one knew me better and I knew no one better than her.”

Jack further joked that it was “brutal” living in Rose and Tatiana’s shadows growing up.

“They don’t let you get away with anything,” he quipped at the time. “My style was never good enough, I’ve never gotten an answer right in my entire life. But in all honesty, they’ve taught me everything I know about how to be a smart person and it’s also made me more conscientious and aware of my own privilege and position as a man in a world that often rewards certain type of behavior of certain people.”

JFK was assassinated at 46 while riding in a presidential motorcade in Dallas, Texas, in November 1963. He was immediately survived by wife Jackie, who died in 1994 at age 64, and kids Caroline and John F. Kennedy Jr., who was later killed in a 1999 plane crash alongside wife Carolyn Bessette Kennedy.

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Related: Carole Radziwill Defends Jack Schlossberg Over Ryan Murphy Feud

Carole Radziwill defended the late John F. Kennedy Jr.’s nephew Jack Schlossberg over his feud with American Horror Story creator Ryan Murphy. The Real Housewives of New York City alum, 61, weighed in after Schlossberg, 32, raised objections over Murphy’s upcoming series American Love Story, which dramatizes JFK Jr. and his wife Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy’s courtship […]

JFK Jr. and Carolyn’s romance recently inspired Ryan Murphy’s new FX anthology series, Love Story, of which Jack has been critical.

“Well, if you want to know someone who’s never met anyone in my family, knows nothing about us, talk to Ryan Murphy,” Jack said during his CBS sit-down. “I would just want people who do watch the show to watch it with one letter in mind, and that’s a capital F for fiction. [Murphy] knows nothing about what he’s talking about, and he’s making a ton of money on a grotesque display of someone else’s life.”