General Hospital fans, we have got some absolutely shocking casting news for you about Maxie Jones (Kirsten Storms) and Serena Baldwin and two more exits, plus some other ins and outs.

General Hospital: Serena Baldwin Recast – Kelly Krueger Steps In

So, we’ll get to the big Kirsten Storms stuff in just a moment. But first, let’s talk recast. There is a new Serena Baldwin coming to the ABC soap opera. If you’ve forgotten, she was last played by Carly Schroeder, who was in the role from 1997 through 2003, but she will not be back as Serena. The reason’s pretty interesting. Back in 2019, Carly Schrader joined the Army, and she’s pretty badass. She’s an officer and five years ago she also got her airborne wings.

That’s paratrooper training by the way and post videos of her out there shooting machine guns and all that army stuff. So with Carly serving her country, they needed a new Serena and they signed up another gorgeous soap vet to play her. General Hospital cast soap veteran Kelly Krueger for the role. She was on Young and the Restless from 2002 to 2019, off and on as McKenzie Browning.

She’s also done Christmas movies like so many soap stars do. Kelly also did a dozen episodes on Bold and the Beautiful as a character named Eva. That role was fun for Kelly because she got to work with her now ex-husband, then husband, soap actor Darren Brooks, who just returned to Bold and the Beautiful as Wyatt Spencer (Darin Brooks).

General Hospital: Serena Baldwin’s Connections

So, if you don’t remember Serena Baldwin, let’s talk about her because she’s got on-screen ties that are interesting. Lucy Coe (Lynn Herring) was her surrogate mom and Scott Baldwin (Kin Shriner) is her biological father. Dominique Stanton was Serena’s biological mom and Dominique was dying back in the day, and she wanted to leave her husband Scotty a child.

So, Lucy served as her surrogate and after Dominique died, we’ve seen Lucy playing a maternal role in Serena’s life ever since. And of course, Lucy was also on again, off again with Scotty. And with Serena coming back, it would be great if Scotty also returned. I love me some Kin Shriner. But in the meantime, her pseudo mom, Lucy, is still very active in Port Charles. And more importantly, there is a half-brother that Serena does not know and has not met, Cody Bell (Josh Kelly). They share the same mom, Dominique, but his biological father is, of course, Mac Scorpio (John J York).

We know that Cody is older than Serena by a few years, and their mom gave Cody up for adoption to protect him. And it was only a couple of years ago that he came to town and found out Mac was his dad, and they’ve been forming a relationship. So, it’d be pretty interesting to see Serena getting to know Cody. So, Kelly Krueger began taping scenes as Serena on Monday, June 8th. She’s going to make her onscreen debut during July sweeps. Actress Kelly Krueger said she is honored and excited to play the part of Serena.

General Hospital: Kirsten Storms Steps Back from Maxie Jones Role

All right, now let’s talk about Kirsten Storms. She has only had 10 episodes as Maxie Jones this year and we’re getting close to halfway through the year. We last saw Kirsten Storms on March 13th. Maxie’s absence has been glaring, especially with Nathan West’s (Ryan Paevey) evil twin back. And we leaked here before it was confirmed that Kirsten was going to be taking a break as Maxie.

That was because of a brain aneurysm and her moving cross country to Nashville because her ex-husband Brandon Barash, who also used to be on General Hospital as Johnny DiMera, was relocating there with their daughter Harper. And that also put Kirsten closer to her best friend Emmy Ryland who lives in St. Louis.

General Hospital: Kirsten’s Real Life Challenges

Now, fortunately, Kirsten’s doctor decided to hold off. He said they could take a wait and see approach to her brain aneurysm, but she has still had soap opera level drama in her real life while taking a break from playing Maxie. We know that Kirsten reported that her apartment had been broken into and as a result, her phone was hacked. She showed some security footage of somebody at her door in the wee hours of the morning being weird.

And then of course came the blindside news that Brandon Barash took out a restraining order to limit her access to their daughter. Kirsten has been open in the past about her mental health journey talking to Maurice Benard on his state of mind podcast about her struggles with bipolar one and now she’s clarifying her status as Maxie Jones on General Hospital.

Kirsten Storms said, “As for what is in my future where General Hospital is concerned,” she said, “given what’s been going on, I can’t say I will feel comfortable heading back to Los Angeles and returning to work. This has been an eye-opening experience about the downside of my profession. My daughter is my entire life. She is and always will be my first priority.”

So, there you have it. Seems pretty clear that she is walking away from playing Maxie. So, we may end up getting a recast at some point if Kirsten Storms doesn’t change her mind about staying away from LA. And of course, storyline demands Maxie’s return. So, they’ve had an actress fill in for her before. Maybe they’ll do that for now. It’s a shame. She’s a great actress. She was also great over on Days of Our Lives as Belle Black. And I loved Kirsten on Dirty Soap back in the day. However, prioritizing your own health and your child, those seem like good choices that she’s making for herself right now. So, let’s hope everything goes well for her.

General Hospital: Other Exits and Casting Updates

Now, let’s talk about other exits in this General Hospital ins and outs update. First, in case you missed it, Marc Forget has exited as Pascal Leveque. And it looks like Kristina Corinthos-Davis (Kate Mansi) may have her last air date this Friday, June 12th. Actress Kate Mansi said to be sure to watch that day to learn about Kristina’s future. And then on the most recent GH episode, she told Lucas Jones (Van Hansis) that she was leaving Port Charles in a few days. But Kristina still has to tell her parents, Alexis Davis (Nancy Lee Grahn) and Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard). But Kristina has both of those conversations this week. We know that from General Hospital spoilers. So, I think that Friday might be her last day. It’s not absolutely confirmed yet, though.

We’ve also got Anna Devane (Finola Hughes) back taping, and she should be on screen very soon because she’s been back for a few weeks. And Jason Morgan (Steve Burton) came back on Monday, June 1st to filming. So his first air date should also hit during July sweeps. However, our leaker said we may not see Jason in Port Charles for a while, even though he’ll be back to General Hospital. There is chatter that Burton’s initial few weeks may just be Jason in Indonesia where the WSB sent him.

Kind of like when we got Drew Cain Quartermaine (Cameron Mathison) when he was recast. If you remember when he debuted, he was being held and tortured by Victor Cassadine (Charles Shaughnessy) and Peter August (Wes Ramsey). I think they were on a ship and then maybe later in a camp, but I know they were on a ship. Anyway, we’ve also got a new hunk coming to the Port Charles scene. Aussie actor Dean Geyer makes his debut in July as Tristan Roberts, a character named in honor of Robert Scorpio actor Tristan Rogers. The latest chatter I’ve heard is that he may be playing a doctor.

We’ve also got a new Scout Cain coming. They’re doing a recast and they’re aging up Drew’s daughter, making her a teenager. Kayden Tokarski takes over from Cosette Abinante. Scout was born to Sam McCall (Kelly Monaco) and Drew in 2017, so she should be nine. The last actress was 12, so they kind of aged her up a little. And now they are rapid aging her by an additional seven years. She will be 16 years old when the new actress steps into the role.

Diamond Brown‘s recent social media message has internet users strongly divided.

RELATED: Whew! Diamond Brown Reportedly Files Paternity Suit Seeking Custody & Legal Fees Against Chris Brown

More On Diamond Brown’s Recent Social Media Message

On Monday, June 8, Diamond Brown took to Instagram Story to share a lengthy text post. At this time, it remains unclear whether the text was her own words or a reposted social media graphic. Nonetheless, the text read, “I STAY IN MY LANE. Let’s be clear. I don’t bother people, I don’t compete with people, or move off jealousy, bitterness, or weird energy. I stay in my lane, focus on myself, and genuinely be minding my business. But one thing people need to stop doing is throwing rocks then hiding their hands when somebody finally reacts…”

See the full message below.

Internet Users Are Strongly Divided in Reaction To Diamond Brown’s Recent Social Media Message

Internet users slid in TSR’s comment section, strongly divided in reactions to Diamond Brown’s social media message.

More On Recent Events With The Mom & Chris Brown

Diamond Brown’s social media message arrives amid her ongoing paternity and custody suit with Chris Brown. As The Shade Room previously reported, in April, Diamond filed a suit noting Chris’ paternity of their daughter, Lovely. Additionally, Diamond requested that she be granted legal and physical custody of the child. Furthermore, Diamond asked that Chris only be granted visitation.

In response, Chris reportedly requested joint custody, per The Shade Room.

Last week, Diamond Brown appeared to respond to Chris’s reported response to her suit by throwing some apparent shade online.

RELATED: Oop! Diamond Brown Seemingly Throws Shade At Chris Brown Amid Him Reportedly Responding To Her Paternity & Custody Suit

By Jonathan Klotz
| Published 5 seconds ago

Evil twin storylines have been around forever. Soap Operas use them at least once a year, and sometimes, the evil twin becomes more popular than the good twin. Star Trek: The Original Series introduced the Mirror Universe, where evil Spock had a goatee, creating a simple visual language for when someone is evil. Star Trek isn’t where you can find the best evil twin storyline though, that would be the 1982 hit series, Knight Rider, starring David Hasselhoff. It’s the best because not only does Michael Knight have an evil twin, Garthe, they even made an evil counterpart for K.I.T.T.: K.A.R.R., complete with an evil goatee. 

Knight Rider Has The Best Evil Twins

Both K.I.T.T. and K.A.R.R are modified Pontiac Firebird Transams loaded with all sorts of weapons and gadgets, except one AI is designed to save people, and the other was damaged and corrupted to only pursue self-preservation. K.A.R.R. was the original prototype that resurfaces in the Season 1 episode, “Trust Doesn’t Rust,” after some thieves recover it from deep storage. Michael Knight (David Hasselhoff) and K.I.T.T. stop his rampage by taking advantage of the self-preservation instinct with a game of chicken. It’s an 80s action series, and it’s incredible.

In that first appearance, K.A.R.R. resembles K.I.T.T., except he’s voiced by Optimus Prime (Peter Cullen, who returned in the 2008 series), instead of Mr. Feeny (William Daniels). When K.A.R.R. resurfaced in Season 3, he was modified to include a two-tone paint job: black on top, and silver on the bottom. The result? K.A.R.R. has the evil goatee. 

K.A.R.R. should have been in more than the two episodes. The concept of an evil car is incredible and could have been milked for at least one episode a season. Knight Rider video games have done the evil car justice, and in every iteration of the show, K.A.R.R. eventually shows up at least once. K.I.T.T. wasn’t the only one on the show to have an evil twin, which annoyed David Hasselhoff. 

David Hasselhoff Put On The Evil Facial Hair

Hasselhoff’s Michael Knight isn’t actually Michael Knight: he’s Michael Long with a surgically constructed face that we learn was modeled after Garthe Knight, the son of Knight Industries founder Wilton Knight. You know he’s evil because he’s played by David Hasselhoff with a thin mustache and a soul patch. Well, that, and he straight-up murders a man who was going to squeal about his plan to use his modified big rig, Goliath, to steal missiles from the U.S. government. 

Garthe appears in Season 2, first in “Goliath” and again in the aptly named “Goliath Returns,” and he likely could have appeared more times except Hasselhoff has been vocal over his dislike of playing Garthe Knight. In a moment of delightful honesty, he’s explained in interviews that playing both roles meant he was always on set for those episodes and couldn’t take breaks in his trailer during production. That’s the best reason yet to drop a character from a show. 

Knight Rider isn’t a particularly deep series, but it doesn’t have to be. It’s from a time before the concept of a mythology arc was needed in every show. Weekly adventures were good enough for audiences of the 80s to make it one of the most popular shows, and there’s always a chance that it could come back. Knight Rider (2008) may have crashed and burned, but the concept of someone trying to do good and battle crime with a superintelligent car is never going to be out of style. Unlike Garthe Knight’s soul patch. 

Machine Gun Kelly didn’t have the smoothest blackout tattoo process.

MGK, 36 — whose real name is Colson Baker — opened up about getting sick from his ink while chatting with Billboard Canada in a new interview published on Monday, June 8. To achieve his look, MGK worked with celebrity tattoo artist ROXX, who created his “dark mode” tattoo and recommended he take two years to get his desired results.

“She warned me that it was going to be near impossible, even from a pain tolerance standpoint,” he told the publication. “I said, ‘Yeah, we got two months.’”

He continued, “After the first week, we hit my lymph nodes around my armpits and shoulders, and I got really sick. My skin was turning yellow. I wasn’t able to sleep. I stopped being able to move certain parts of my upper body.”

Despite the symptoms he endured, the process was still worth it to MGK. “I came out the other side extremely inspired,” he explained. “Not just because of what I had done, but because of what I had to overcome.”

The rapper shared that he decided to get the tattoo because he was “looking for a change that wasn’t just a sound wave.”

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“It had to be something physical,” he said, noting that his precious tattoos reminded him of phases in his life that he didn’t want to remember.

Related: MGK Uses Oxygen Chamber to Recover From ‘Painful’ Blackout Tattoo

That’s one way to use a hyperbolic chamber, Machine Gun Kelly. In a video shared via Instagram on Monday, April 1, the “Don’t Let me Go” rapper, 33, took fans along as he received a massive upper body tattoo across multiple sessions, including clips of his scarring, bleeding and swelling from the time-consuming tattoo. The […]

“Who the f*** am I?” MGK said, revealing there were days he didn’t recognize himself. “I saw death and drugs in all these patterns that I was literally writing on my body. There were happy tattoos, sad tattoos, holy tattoos, hellish tattoos. It was like my bipolarity was screaming off my skin.”

His final look was complete with a full blackout chest with cutouts over his arms and abs, revealing parts of his old tattoos. He first debuted his massive tattoo in February 2024 via Instagram.

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 1 hour ago

Over on Red Letter Media, Mike Stoklassa once expressed an interesting theory: that Star Trek: The Original Series was more of a horror show than anything else. After all, exploring those strange new worlds often came at a price, with Red Shirts getting killed left and right by some of the scariest monsters in the entire galaxy. Later iterations of the franchise leaned into the idea of Trek as horror, including turning an entire movie, First Contact, into an Aliens homage. Now, even though no new Trek series is currently in production, the franchise is about to embrace horror like never before.

This week, Bloober Team and the Paramount Games Division announced an exciting new video game called Star Trek: Shadow Frontier. It’s a survival horror game where you take control of a Starfleet officer who crashes onto an alien planet and must safely navigate its frightening and often lethal environment. That officer is Ro Laren, the rebellious Bajoran officer from The Next Generation. Ro actor Michelle Forbes once turned down the chance to star in Deep Space Nine and only returned decades later for a brief appearance in Picard. But now, after more than 30 years since she left TNG, she’s ready to take her rightful place as Star Trek’s latest leading lady.

Ro, Ro, Ro, Your Boat

What do we know about Star Trek: Shadow Frontier? In an interview with IGN, Bloober Team’s Michał Gembicki said that Ro Laren crashes on a planet that serves as “a graveyard for ships,” and she must “figure out what happened there and why is there so much wreckage.” The game is designed as a psychological thriller, and a big part of that has to do with this planet’s biggest secret: namely, there is some kind of entity that has taken control of it! 

According to Bloober and Paramount, this is a “distant planet overtaken by a strange consciousness,” and “the more [Ro Laren] uncovers, the deeper she is pulled into a corrupted labyrinth where her memories twist, and the planet threatens to sever her connection to reality.” Figuring out this planet’s deal becomes more personal to her over the course of the game. “Only by solving the mysteries of this strange world can Ro hope to make peace with the demons of her past, boldly going into the heart of darkness like never before.” It’s unknown when this game takes place, but the presence of a TNG-era communicator indicates it may take place before Star Trek: Generations.

Star Trek Meets Resident Evil

Right now, Star Trek is getting a steady influx of new video games, including the recent Star Trek: Voyager–Across the Unknown. While we have no way of knowing if Star Trek: Shadow Frontier will be any good (it doesn’t come out until 2027), fans are already hyped because Michelle Forbes will be reprising her role as Ro Laren, the main character. Ensign Ro was introduced into The Next Generation in Season 5 as an ensign with a rough past and a chip on her shoulder; she left in Season 7 after joining the Maquis, a group she was sent to infiltrate. She popped back up in Picard, where it was revealed she had rejoined Starfleet.

One reason older fans like myself are hyped to see Michelle Forbes return is that she was originally meant to have a much larger role in the franchise. She helped to popularize the Bajorans on The Next Generation, and Star Trek’s producers wanted to bring Ro Laren to Deep Space Nine as a main character. However, Forbes didn’t want to commit over half a decade to one job (and the rest of her life to fan conventions), so she declined the offer. This led to Nana Visitor getting cast as a different Bajoran with a sketchy past and a chip on her shoulder: Major Kira.

Somehow, Ro Returned

For decades, most assumed we’d never see Forbes in Star Trek again. To everyone’s shock, she popped up in Picard as a Starfleet Intelligence officer, one who tried to warn Picard about Changeling infiltration of Starfleet before she was killed by the very shapeshifters she had been investigating. We don’t get much information about how she was rehabilitated and ultimately brought back into Starfleet, but that Picard episode (“Impostor”) establishes that she always felt guilt for leaving Picard and the Enterprise crew. It’s very likely that Star Trek: Shadow Frontier will explore that guilt and possibly contextualize how and why Ro ultimately left the Maquis and returned to the Starfleet fold.

Star Trek: Shadow Frontier is coming out sometime in 2027 and will be released on Windows PC and all major consoles. We’re likely to get more information on this game in the coming months, but it’s already made a splash: the trailer is moody and atmospheric, and many fans are excited to see this sci-fi franchise’s take on survival horror. Mostly, though, we’re hyped to see the return of Michelle Forbes, one of the greatest actors in the franchise. Just what happened to Ro Laren between Next Generation and Picard? There’s only one way to find out, so be sure to set your controllers on stun when this game releases next year!

Justin Moore announced he will be taking a break from touring to prioritize his well-being.

“I’ve made the decision to take some time to focus on my health,” the country singer, 42, wrote via Instagram on Monday, June 8. “As a result, I’ll be stepping away from touring for a short period and will be unable to perform some upcoming shows.”

Moore added that the decision was made with his family in mind. Justin is married to wife Kate Moore and the couple share four children: daughters Ella, 16, Kennedy, 15, Rebecca, 12, and son Thomas, 9.

“This is the right decision for me and my family, and I appreciate everyone’s understanding and support,” he continued. “I look forward to getting back out there later this summer and doing what I love most.”

Related: TikToker Tayler Holder Cancels Tour Over ‘Constant’ Mental Health Struggles

TikTok star turned country music singer Tayler Holder canceled his nine-date When No One’s Around Tour to prioritize his mental health. “This is one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make, but I need to cancel my upcoming shows,” Holder, 28, wrote via Instagram on Monday, May 11. “Over the past several months, […]

Several fans took to the comments section to send their well wishes the “You Look Like I Need a Drink” singer’s way.

“Without your health, you have nothing. Take care of yourself first❤️,” one wrote while another replied, “Please take care of yourself and that beautiful family you have built. Your fans will be right here. ❤️.”

Fellow country artist Jake Owen also sent his support to Justin.

“Take care of YOU brother and those kiddos and mama,” the “Barefoot Blue Jean Night” musician wrote.

Last year, Justin was announced as one of the opening acts for Riley Green’s Cowboy As It Gets Tour, which kicked off back in April. The “Lettin’ the Night Roll” performer was expected to take the stage during the upcoming shows in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Salt Lake City, Hartford, Connecticut, Sioux, South Dakota and more. Justin also had a series of his own concerts scheduled as well. He was initially set to tour from July to November.

Justin started his country music career in 2009 when he dropped his self-titled debut album, which included his first hit song “Small Town USA.” Two years later, Justin won two Inspirational Country Music Awards for his cover of Rhett Akins’ song “If Heaven (Wasn’t So Far Away.)”

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Back on the horse. Morgan Wallen apologized to fans who were impacted by his last-minute concert cancellation as he prepared to return to tour. “What’s up, everybody? I just wanted to let you know I am in Jacksonville, [Florida],” the 29-year-old country singer said in a video shared via his Instagram Story on Thursday, May […]

The singer continued to rise in the country scene as he scored a nomination for Artist of the Year: Breakthrough Artist at the 2012 American Country Awards. He ultimately lost to Owen, now 44, during the star-studded ceremony. Two years later, Justin took home the award for New Artist of the Year at the Academy of Country Music Awards.

Justin released his latest album This Is My Dirt in October 2024. The record included collaborations with Blake Shelton, Dierks Bentley and Randy Houser.

“My new album is officially out now! Blake, Dierks, Randy— thank you boys for jumping on here with me, y’all crushed it,” Justin wrote via Instagram at the time. “To the fans, I can’t thank you enough. You’re the reason we’ve been fortunate enough to make it to an 8th album. Hope y’all enjoy this one as much as I do, go check it out and let me know what you think.”

Nick Cannon is finally setting the record straight about the dynamics between the mothers of his 12 children. 

The television mogul addressed widespread theories that a specific reality television star is his absolute favorite partner out of his large family circle. 

However, while he opened up about the deep emotional connections he shares with his co-parents, he firmly dismissed the concept of having a single true love.

Cannon is clearing up persistent rumors that he has a favorite baby mama out of the six mothers of his 12 children.

The 45-year-old television producer recently addressed these fan theories on “The Breakfast Club” radio show, specifically responding to claims that Bre Tiesi holds that top spot. 

Cannon acknowledged that while he is frequently seen out in public and across social platforms with the 35-year-old, the main reason for her high visibility is simply that she is already a famous public figure.

Given that social media serves as a major part of her everyday business as a model, actress, and luxury real estate agent, she constantly shares updates online.

Cannon emphasized his goal to love everyone as equally as possible, noting that while he feels a soul connection with all the mothers, his lack of a “one and only” proves he does not have a traditional soulmate.

“My goal is to love everyone as equally as possible,” he said, per Us Weekly.

He added, “I do feel like I have a soul connection with all the mothers of my children… but the idea of what a soulmate is, is like, ‘You’re my one and only.’ Yeah, clearly I don’t have a one and only.” 

Nick Cannon Is Gearing Up To Give The World A Look Into His Family Dynamics

Cannon’s candid confession comes almost a month after The Blast reported that the entertainer is preparing to grant an unprecedented look into his parenting universe through a brand-new, untitled Netflix reality docuseries. 

Scheduled to officially broadcast in winter 2026, the upcoming television project will fully chronicle his everyday journey as a dedicated father navigating life with a dozen young children.

The highly anticipated television venture will pull back the curtain on the sheer chaos and drama that naturally emerges from managing a uniquely blended family with six separate women. 

According to an official promotional synopsis, viewers will meet an entirely different side of the global entertainer that highlights his heartfelt, complicated, and genuine commitment to showing up for his loved ones.

How Nick Cannon Spent Mother’s Day This Year

While viewers await a raw look into his chaotic household routine, the media mogul continues to navigate his unique family schedule by setting firm personal boundaries during major holidays. 

Ahead of Mother’s Day a few weeks ago, Cannon revealed his plans to spend the holiday traditionally with his own mom, Beth Gardner, instead of visiting any of his six co-parents, per The Blast. 

Even though the celebrity dad deliberately chose not to share his holiday time with the mothers of his twelve children, he insisted that he still went out of his way to make sure every single one of them felt thoroughly appreciated during the special weekend event. 

The Actor Candidly Reflected On The Reason For His Massive Family Tree

Even though Cannon prioritizes family bonds, he has also spent time reflecting on the initial mindset that led to his massive family tree.

The Blast previously reported that the global entertainer spoke with host Charlamagne Tha God about how he ended up welcoming twelve different children. 

He explained that because he possessed substantial wealth and enjoyed unlimited access to move however and with whoever he wanted, he chose to simply live life and have fun without thinking about the future. 

Cannon further revealed that he can now sit back and recognize that if he had taken the necessary time to think his process through more deeply and commit to his own inner emotional healing work, things might have played out differently in certain scenarios.

While his candid remarks about his family process highlighted a period of deep self-reflection, Cannon also recently ignited a firestorm for his outspoken views outside the home. 

The multitalented creator sat down with model Amber Rose to openly debate national politics, party loyalty, and the current social state of the United States.

The conversation took an incredibly sharp turn when Rose boldly claimed that Democrats do not care about Black individuals or people of color, per The Blast. 

Cannon quickly and fully backed her controversial viewpoint, stating that he agreed with her stance 100 percent. The television personality further stoked online outrage by asserting that everyday citizens are completely unaware that the Democratic Party was historically the party of the Ku Klux Klan. 

These viral remarks heavily divided viewers, with critics slamming the historical comparisons as highly oversimplified and misleading, while others passionately defended his transparency.

Emilia Clarke is down bad with Broadway nostalgia!

The actress has revealed her innermost desire to absolutely appear in a musical on Broadway, where she would get to show off her sonorous vocals over a decade after she debuted.

Emilia Clarke, who gathered a cult following during her appearance as Daenerys Targaryen on the hit HBO series “Game of Thrones,” also opened up about her health struggles off-screen while killing her role on-screen.

The actress, during the premiere of the jazz-inspired film “Next Life” at Tribeca Film Festival on June 5, revealed that she would never pass up the opportunity to fulfill her ultimate musical dream on Broadway.

On what project sits atop her dream list, Clarke identified “Sweet Charity” as a top pick, and it would be more special if she got to star in any production inspired by legendary choreographer Bob Fosse. 

Clarke’s enthusiasm for returning to Broadway comes decades after she walked interviewers through her state of mind the first time she appeared on a Broadway stage. According to the HBO star, she was very much aware that her 2013 Broadway debut was not what she had hoped for. In her words:

“It was a catastrophic failure. It was just not ready. Was I ready? No, I was definitely not ready.” 

She continued that appearing in “Breakfast at Tiffany” had strong undertones of unpreparedness, largely due to her age and limited experience at the time. However, PEOPLE noted that she made a triumphant return to the theatre seven years later in London’s West End in a 2020 production of “The Seagull.”

More Details About The ‘Me Before You’ Star’s Latest Artistic Venture

As her voyage into the musical world continues with “Next Life,” she described the filming experience as an unexpectedly memorable one.

The sci-fi romance movie captured the life of Ivy, a woman caught between two parallel realities and different romantic paths, with Édgar Ramírez and Jack Farthing starring alongside her.

Further reflecting on the project, and some pleasant shocks she experienced on set, Clarke revealed that the production came together in some form of iconic unity, which wrapped their story up excellently.

The actress also heaped tons of praise on Ramírez and Farthing, applauding them for always keeping the set atmosphere as warm and enjoyable as possible. 

“Everyone just got on so well, and it was such a short amount of time that we were filming — it was kind of like being at sleepaway camp,” she added. Clarke also has other projects on the lineup, including the horror flick “When Darkness Loves Us” and the crime drama series “Criminal.”

Emilia Clarke Expressed Concern About The Aftermath Of ‘Game Of Thrones’ On Her Career 

In 2022, the actress got candid with the BBC about the pressure of carrying around the burden of fulfilling the nearly impossible expectations of fans who knew her from “Game of Thrones.”

Clarke added that some viewers may carry preconceived notions and questions as to whether her talent can survive on stage compared to the safety of television.

Despite the underwhelming outing she had on Broadway in 2013, the actress affirmed that the stage still feels like home to her and performing live gives her a sense of comfort and belonging unlike any form of acting.

Clarke described theatre as the highest form of artistic expression for her, which provides an environment where she feels the most fulfillment. 

The actress’s debut, “Sweet Charity,” was created by Cy Coleman, Dorothy Fields, and Neil Simon, and it debuted on Broadway in 1966 with Fosse’s direction and choreography.

The story attracted a bigger audience when it was adapted into a film in 1969, starringShirley MacLaine, and then went through another Broadway revival in 2005 with Christina Applegate clinching the lead role. 

The 39-Year-Old Shared Some Fun Facts About Her Broadway Debut

Women’s Wear Daily shared in 2013 that Clarke shared her beauty routine for “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” with attendees at a Target event. The process behind creating the look for the character of Holly Golightly involved lots of DIY makeup routines. 

Clarke revealed that she also performed in a wig, a deep brunette styled one, unlike the platinum hair she was famous for as Khaleesi on the HBO series.

She credited her makeup and skincare knowledge to her mother, who taught her at such a young age, and she still carried some of that advice with her, like letting her brows breathe and being consistent.

Behind the stage, Clarke revealed that production often involved about 25 costume changes in a fast-paced and very chaotic manner.

She recalled a mishap behind the scenes where she snagged her robe on a bad stool during the usual rush hour to change, and this led to a part of the set falling apart.

Emilia Clarke Reflected On The Health Battle That Coincided With Her Broadway Phase

The Blast noted in May that the media personality admitted that her move back to Broadway happened during one of her life’s toughest times.

Clarke’s career took off from the success of “Game of Thrones” after her breakout role, but she went through a life-threatening brain hemorrhage shortly after its first season. 

She suffered from a second aneurysm while living in New York and performing in her first Broadway show, several years later, which she now admits affected her emotionally.

Speaking on the “How To Fail with Elizabeth Day” podcast, Clarke recalled that doctors had been monitoring the condition following her first hemorrhage; however, a procedure intended to fix it did not go as planned. 

Her family had to deal with many updates from doctors that her condition had reached critical levels, she said. Although she recovered physically, Clarke admitted the second medical emergency left lasting emotional effects. 

She spoke of choosing isolation, keeping her issues to herself, and always having to have her health problems on the back of her mind while living and working in the public eye.

Will Emilia Clarke’s Broadway dream see the daylight soon enough?

Throughout the history of classic cinema, some of the most influential directors began their careers as screenwriters, mastering the art of storytelling before establishing themselves as a captivating force behind the camera. Their deep understanding of narrative structure, character development, and dialogue allowed them to effortlessly bring a story from the page to life on the silver screen, giving them a unique advantage that ultimately set them apart from other filmmakers at the time.

By combining literary skill with cinematic vision, they demonstrated that exceptional storytelling could transcend the boundaries between writing and directing, leaving a lasting impact on the art and craft of filmmaking. From the sharp wit of Billy Wilder to the visionary creativity of Preston Sturges and the sophisticated storytelling of Joseph L. Mankiewicz, these are seven screenwriter-turned-legendary directors who shaped Hollywood’s classic era with some of the greatest movies ever made, making them cinematic icons in their own right.

6

Federico Fellini

Image via Wikimedia Commons

Federico Fellini is recognized as one of the most influential filmmakers of all time, known for his distinct blend of fantasy and Western-style imagery with practical realism. Born in Rimini, Italy, Fellini published his first article in 1939 for an Italian satirical magazine, Marc’Aurelio, and shortly after, he joined the outlet’s editorial board before writing sketches and gags for radio programs. After the liberation of Italy in 1944, Fellini became involved in the Italian Neorealism movement when he met Roberto Rossellini, who asked him to contribute to the script for his upcoming war drama, Rome, Open City, which earned Fellini his first Oscar nomination.

Fellini made his solo directorial debut in 1952 with the romantic comedy, The White Sheik, which earned poor reviews, but two years later, he earned his first major break after the release of La Strada, elevating his career as an up-and-coming filmmaker and screenwriter to new heights. The Italian filmmaker went on to deliver a string of notable films, including La Dolce Vita, Nights of Cabiria, and 8½, which was listed by Sight and Sound magazine as the tenth-greatest movie of all time. Throughout his career, Fellini earned seventeen Academy Award nominations and still holds the record for the most Oscar wins in the Best International Feature Film category, winning four. In 1993, Fellini received an honorary award for Lifetime Achievement at the 65th Academy Awards, solidifying him as one of the world’s greatest filmmakers.

5

Akira Kurosawa

Image via Kurosawa Production Co.

Akira Kurosawa is a Japanese filmmaker who became known for his bold and dynamic style of cinema that, despite being heavily influenced by Western cinema, still managed to forge his own vision on the big screen. Kurosawa was born in Tokyo, Japan, and initially wanted to be an artist, but when his work failed to financially support him, he joined the Japanese film industry in 1936. After working as an assistant director, Kurosawa’s mentor and director, Kajirō Yamamoto, advised him that the key to being a great director is to master the script, leading Kurosawa to not only co-write all of his future scripts but also pen screenplays for other directors.

Kurosawa made his directorial debut in 1943 with the action film, Sanshiro Sugata, and in 1948, he established himself as one of the most important young filmmakers in Japan with Drunken Angel. In 1951, Kurosawa’s Rashomon won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival, and the film’s overwhelming critical and commercial success opened Western film markets to Japanese films for the first time. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Kurosawa made at least one film per year, many of which are among his finest films, including the inspiration for George Lucas‘ Star Wars, The Hidden Fortress, Yojimbo, and Seven Samurai, which served as the blueprint for the classic 1960 Western, The Magnificent Seven, starring Yul Brynner, Steve McQueen, and Eli Wallach.

4

Preston Sturges

Image via PBS

Preston Sturges is recognized as the first screenwriter to successfully transition to the director’s chair and was also the first to be credited on screen as both writer and director in a talking picture. Born in Chicago, Illinois, Sturges worked on the Broadway circuit and occasionally performed on stage in bit parts. He made his playwriting debut in 1929 with the comedy, The Guinea Pig, which marked a crucial turning point, leading him to become a promising writer on the rise. By the 1930s, Sturges was mainly working short contracts as a writer-for-hire in Hollywood, but in 1939, he took a major risk by being the first to offer to sell his original story, The Great McGinty, to Paramount Pictures in exchange for a chance to direct.

The Great McGinty was a massive success and earned Sturges the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, making him the first recipient of the award. After proving his worth as an effective writer and director, Sturges continued to thrive throughout the 1940s with classic comedies such as The Lady Eve, starring Barbara Stanwyck and Henry Fonda, Hail the Conquering Hero, which earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay, and perhaps his most famous film, Sullivan’s Travels, starring Joel McCrea and Veronica Lake.

3

Joseph L. Mankiewicz

Image via Wikimedia Commons

Joseph L. Mankiewicz is a four-time Oscar-winning filmmaker who was known to be an actor’s director, working with a string of notable stars, including Bette Davis, Gene Tierney, Humphrey Bogart, and Elizabeth Taylor, on some of their most defining performances. Born in Pennsylvania, Mankiewicz attended Columbia University and, after graduating in 1928, he moved to Europe, where he worked as a foreign correspondent for the Chicago Tribune. After some convincing by his older brother, Herman J. Mankiewicz, Mankiewicz moved back to the States and was hired by Paramount Pictures as a dialogue writer before eventually moving into screenwriting and producing.

By the mid-1940s, Mankiewicz had started working for Twentieth Century Fox and made his directorial debut in 1946 with the period drama Dragonwyck, which led to him directing a wide range of different films for the studio. Mankiewicz went on to make Oscar history after consecutively winning in 1950 and 1951 for both Best Director and Best Original Screenplay for A Letter to Three Wives and All About Eve. In 1963, Mankiewicz wrote and directed the epic historical drama, Cleopatra, which, despite its mixed reviews and failure to turn a profit, went on to win several Academy Awards, including Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, and Best Art Direction.

2

John Huston

Legendary actor, writer, and director John Huston ranks as one of the most prolific filmmakers of Hollywood’s Golden Age, earning fourteen Oscar nominations throughout his extensive career of almost five decades. He was known for his uncanny attention to detail, innovative filming techniques, and sketching scenes beforehand, and then carefully framing his characters during filming. Born in Missouri, Huston was fascinated by movies and initially wanted to follow in the footsteps of his father, Walter Huston, and pursue a career in acting. After a brief stint performing on stage, he traveled to Mexico in 1929, where he began writing short stories and plays.

By 1937, Huston had moved back to Los Angeles and had landed a job as a screenwriter for Warner Bros. Studios and co-wrote a string of notable films, including Jezebel, Dr. Ehrlich’s Magic Bullet, and Sergeant York. Huston made his directorial debut in 1941 with the greatest detective noir of all time, The Maltese Falcon, which was both a major commercial and critical success. Today, the film is widely recognized as one of the most influential and defining contributions to the classic film noir genre. Huston went on to flourish as an imaginative filmmaker for Warner Bros., writing and directing an abundance of iconic classics such as The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, which earned Huston his first and only Oscar wins for Best Screenplay and Best Director, The Asphalt Jungle, Key Largo, and The African Queen.

1

Billy Wilder

Billy Wilder was a genre-hopping filmmaker and six-time Oscar winner known for boldly tackling controversial issues, challenging societal norms, and pushing the boundaries of cinema to new territory. Wilder was born in Austria—Hungary and initially worked as a journalist in Vienna before moving to Berlin, where he worked as a screenwriter and co-directed his first film, Bad Seed. In 1934, Wilder moved to the United States and earned his first major break by co-writing the classic comedy, Ninotchka, starring Greta Garbo and Melvyn Douglas, which earned him his first Oscar nomination.

Wilder made his American directorial debut in 1942 with The Major and the Minor, and three years later, he won his first Academy Award for both Best Director and Best Original Screenplay for The Lost Weekend, starring Ray Milland. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Wilder delivered countless comedies, such as The Seven Year Itch, Some Like It Hot, and The Apartment, which won three Oscars, notably earning Wilder his first and only win for Best Picture. While he was the undisputed master of comedy, Wilder still maintained his reputation as one of Hollywood’s most versatile filmmakers with other noteworthy films, including Ace in the Hole, Witness for the Prosecution, and Sunset Boulevard, which won Wilder his second Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.

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Sunset Boulevard

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Release Date

August 10, 1950

Runtime

110 Minutes

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Director

Billy Wilder

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Writers

Charles Brackett, Billy Wilder, D.M. Marshman Jr.

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As the U.S. Men’s National Team prepares to take the world stage, soccer legend Landon Donovan is keeping expectations grounded while still believing Team USA is capable of making serious noise. The former U.S. soccer star and current broadcaster opened up about the team’s World Cup potential while speaking to reporters, including The Blast, during a celebrity shift at Raising Cane’s new Inglewood Flagship Restaurant on Tuesday, June 9.

When asked what fans should realistically expect from the U.S. this summer, Donovan admitted there is plenty of potential, but cautioned that making a deep run in the tournament is no easy feat. “They are capable of beating any team,” Donovan said. “That is happening. Soccer’s a unique sport, and one goal can be the difference between how things go.”

However, Donovan stopped short of predicting a Cinderella story for the Americans. “What’s realistic is probably winning one or two knockout [games],” he explained. “The challenge is, can you do it twice in a row, three times in a row, four times in a row, five times in a row against world-class teams? That’s the part that’s hard.”

The soccer icon pointed out just how difficult sustained success on the international stage truly is, noting that only a select few nations have ever managed to win the tournament. Still, Donovan believes this version of the U.S. squad has the ability to surprise people.

Donovan Says Christian Pulisic Has Opportunity To Make History

Donovan also weighed in on the growing conversation surrounding U.S. soccer star Christian Pulisic and whether he could someday surpass him as the greatest American player of all time.

When asked about recent comments from soccer analyst Alexi Lalas, who suggested Pulisic could eventually claim that title, Donovan acknowledged the possibility, especially if the team delivers a memorable run. “He absolutely has that opportunity and he’s capable,” Donovan said.

According to Donovan, a standout tournament on home soil could elevate Pulisic’s legacy to another level. “If this team gets to quarterfinals or semifinals, has this miraculous run, and he scores four goals or five goals or six goals and becomes one of the stars in the tournament, that is miles better than anything any of us [did],” Donovan said.

Landon Donovan Says This World Cup Feels Bigger Than Ever

For Donovan, this year’s tournament carries a deeper significance, especially with matches taking place in the United States. Reflecting on his own first World Cup experience in 1994, Donovan recalled attending a match as a kid and realizing the sport was much bigger than he ever imagined. “In ’94, I went to my first World Cup game,” he said. “The first time in my life, my eyes were opened to this bigger world that I didn’t know existed.”

Now, Donovan believes millions of young fans could experience that same spark. “There will be millions of girls and boys who watch this summer and go, ‘Oh my God, I want to be like them,’” he said.

While Donovan admitted he’s feeling nervous ahead of the tournament, he said excitement outweighs everything else. “I am nervous,” he admitted. “I’m also really optimistic and excited.”

Donovan Says World Cup Finally Feels Real

Although Donovan has experienced the pressure of the World Cup as a player, he admitted this year’s tournament feels different now that he’s preparing to cover the action from the broadcast booth.

The former soccer star, who is set to head to Mexico City to call the opening match, said the magnitude of the moment only recently began to sink in. “Honestly, this week did,” Donovan said when asked when the tournament finally started to feel real. “Probably yesterday … we were doing my podcast and we’re like, ‘Oh my God, it’s three days.’”

Landon Donovan Admits He Still Feels Deeply Connected To Team USA

Donovan said seeing Los Angeles transformed by World Cup energy also made the moment hit harder. “Driving up here and seeing Hollywood Park and SoFi … when I flew over, I was like, ‘Oh my God, it’s here,’” he said. “I’m seeing World Cup stuff everywhere.”

Despite no longer being on the pitch, Donovan admitted he still feels deeply connected to Team USA and remains emotionally invested in the sport’s continued growth. “I care deeply, deeply, deeply about this,” Donovan said. “This opportunity is bigger than anything that’s ever been presented to us.”