Star Wars fans have been treated to two new projects so far in 2026, one on Disney Plus and one on the big screen. The first Star Wars project to emerge from hyperspace was Maul — Shadow Lord, the critically acclaimed Disney Plus series starring Sam Witwer as the famous Dark Side Force user. Maul — Shadow Lord was renewed for Season 2, and Witwer has since confirmed that fans won’t have to wait too long before a new batch of episodes is streaming on Disney Plus. Star Wars fans have also been returning to the theater for the first time since 2019 thanks to the release of The Mandalorian and Grogu, which is well on its way to becoming the lowest-grossing Star Wars movie ever. It was thought that Ahsoka would premiere before the end of 2026, but it has since been confirmed that the show will return in early 2027.

In addition to Rosario Dawson in the lead role of Ahsoka Tano, the first season of the hit Disney Plus show also starred the late Ray Stevenson as Baylan Skoll and Ivanna Sakhno as Shin Hati. Sakhno is expected back in Season 2, but Stevenson has been recast with long-time Game of Thrones star Rory McCann, famed for his role as The Hound. However, one Ahsoka Season 1 star who has officially confirmed she will not be back in Season 2 is Claudia Black, who portrayed Mother Klothow. During an interview last year with Bleeding Cool, Black explained her departure from the show, saying that Disney refused to pay her a fair salary as a single mother:

“I’m going to be transparent. They picked up Season 2, they picked me up with it, and then Disney, which is structuring things differently these days, could not pay me what I needed to be paid as a single mother to keep all my responsibilities going at home in Los Angeles, because they were filming in London. It was not something that I could make happen, and therefore, I had to bow out for Season 2. It was very sad for me.”

What Else Do We Know About ‘Ahsoka’ Season 2?

Practically nothing is known about the plot of Ahsoka Season 2 at this time. Hayden Christensen is confirmed to reprise his role as Anakin Skywalker in the series, as well as other members of the Rebels gang, including Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Hera Syndulla and Natasha Liu Bordizzo as Sabine Wren. The show was written and created for TV by Dave Filoni, who has now assumed the role of President at Lucasfilm.

Check out the first season of Ahsoka on Disney Plus and stay tuned to Collider for more updates and coverage of Season 2.

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Release Date

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August 22, 2023

Network

Disney+

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Directors

Steph Green, Jennifer Getzinger, Peter Ramsey, Rick Famuyiwa

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Summer is officially glow season, but some of your favorite warm-weather habits could actually be sabotaging your skin.

To find out what not to do this summer, ET caught up with celebrity plastic surgeon Dr. John Layke, who shared the biggest skincare mistakes he sees during the hottest months of the year and how to avoid them.

First up: Overdoing it with heavy active ingredients.

“During the peak summer months, skin is more sensitive to the sun when using retinol, so decrease the frequency of usage to 3 days per week and ensure multiple reapplications of sunscreen,” Layke says.

But that doesn’t mean you should break up with retinol altogether just because the sun is out. Layke recommends reaching for the ProRetinol Age Rewind from his Beverly Hills MD line with Dr. Payman Danielpour to help maintain a smooth complexion.

“It helps increase cellular turnover, leading to fresher, healthier skin,” the Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery Group doctor explains.

And while everyone loves a good serum, sunscreen like his brand’s Sheer Radiance SPF Drops remains the foundation of any summertime skincare routine.

“Appropriate sunscreens, which contain protective actives like zinc oxide can mechanically protect the skin from overexposure of UV rays, especially when using a retinol. … Some of the biggest mistakes I see is the lack of reapplication when being in the sun, especially during peak hours of 10am and 2pm, when UV rays are strongest,” he explains.

And if you’ve been putting off a laser treatment until fall, you may not have to.

“As long as people are aware that protecting the skin is paramount, microneedling or laser resurfacing can be done at any time of the year. This means no direct exposure for 6 weeks following the treatment to avoid any untoward hyperpigmentation that may occur in the healing skin,” he notes.

For those seeking an instant refresh, Layke points to HydraFacials as a seasonal favorite.

“It will improve the texture of the skin temporarily and leave a noticeable glow.”

If you’re seeking something beyond a quick glow-up, Botox remains a popular option year-round, though summer plans may impact the longevity of your results.

“This is related to the increase in outdoor physical activity, which has been shown to decrease the longevity of neurotoxins due to an increase in the metabolism of this purified protein.”

But before you head inside after a day at the beach or pool, don’t forget one simple step: rinse off.

“Excess chlorine exposure in a pool, or salt exposure to the skin can cause irritation and dryness. Make sure to rinse soon after swimming to avoid.”

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Veteran ABC 7 anchor Bill Ritter is opening up about the frightening first symptoms that led to his early-stage Alzheimer’s diagnosis, and the emotional reality of stepping away from the anchor desk after more than two decades. Just days after announcing his retirement from WABC-TV, Bill Ritter revealed he initially dismissed troubling memory changes before ultimately realizing something more serious was going on.

Appearing on “Good Morning America” on Monday, Ritter shared that he first noticed symptoms nearly two years ago. “I realize I was forgetting people’s names and places,” Ritter recalled. “Didn’t know why this was happening.”

The longtime journalist said his wife, Kathleen, noticed changes as well, though he initially believed his demanding work schedule was likely to blame. In an effort to reduce stress and improve his sleep, Ritter began scaling back his responsibilities at ABC 7, first stepping away from the station’s 11 p.m. broadcast and later exiting the 5 p.m. newscast so he could focus solely on anchoring the 6 p.m. show.

“I was sleeping for the first time at night; for the first time in 25 years,” Ritter explained. “Finally getting a decent night sleep and it wasn’t getting better.”

That’s when Ritter decided it was time to seek answers. “We said, ‘I gotta get tested,’ ” he recalled. “And that really was an important thing. A lot of people say, ‘I’m fine, don’t worry about it, I’m going to be fine.’ No. You gotta go do this.”

Ritter Says He Was ‘Scared’ After Diagnosis

Ritter admitted his diagnosis immediately brought thoughts of his father, who died with Alzheimer’s disease in 1998. “My first reaction was, I thought about my dad,” Ritter said. “That was immediate. He just popped into my head.”

“And then a couple of seconds later, I was scared,” he continued. “I don’t mind saying that. It was scary. Because it was like, ‘Wait a minute, I’m supposed to be doing this. What’s going on here?’ ”

The Emmy-winning broadcaster said his focus quickly shifted to his family and how the disease would affect them moving forward. “I quickly moved into husband/dad place,” Ritter said. “Because Alzheimer’s really affects the family most. As a dad and a husband, I said, ‘I gotta deal with this. This is my family. And that’s what I’m really worried about.’ ”

“They’re the real tough ones in this,” he added. “My kids say, ‘Dad, you’re so brave in all this.’ And I’m not the one who is brave. It’s my kids and my wife who are the brave ones. That’s really the real case here.”

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Bill Ritter Says Honesty Led To His Retirement Announcement

Ritter first revealed his diagnosis during Friday’s Eyewitness News at 6, announcing it would be his final night anchoring the program. “After a series of tests, my doctors have told me I have Alzheimer’s,” Ritter told viewers. “It’s ‘early stage’ Alzheimer’s, and they say the treatments I’m getting are keeping it at bay. For now. But there is no guarantee, because there’s no cure yet for Alzheimer’s. So, unless someone finds an amazing cure, and soon, tonight will be the last newscast I anchor.”

The longtime ABC 7 personality became emotional while explaining why he chose to be transparent with viewers. “My job as a journalist is to speak honestly to the public,” Ritter said. “Truth and facts is what we deal with. I figured I owed it to the viewers to be honest about this.”

Ritter Isn’t Leaving Journalism Behind

Although Ritter is stepping away from the anchor desk, he made clear he has no plans to retire completely. Instead, the veteran broadcaster will remain with ABC 7 in a new role focused on covering Alzheimer’s disease and other related illnesses, including the financial and emotional toll they take on families.

“I think we have an opportunity,” Ritter said while reflecting on the overwhelming response he received after sharing his diagnosis publicly. “There was such an outpouring this weekend of love and support. This disease, obviously, doesn’t care what your politics are because we’re all in this together.”

Bill Ritter Plans To Raise Alzheimer’s Awareness In New Role

Looking ahead, Ritter said he hopes to continue using journalism to bring awareness to the disease while helping others feel less alone.

“After this interview, I’m going to go to our Monday morning meeting at 9 a.m. … and then I’m going to go to my desk and have day one of the new job,” Ritter said. “And that will be to bring people into the tent, because I think that’s what we want.”

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Actor Oscar Isaac has had a role in just about every franchise. From Star Wars to Marvel, it seems like he has just about done it all. However, he faced a few new challenges while filming season 2 of the hit Netflix series, “Beef,” which could potentially earn him an Emmy, considering the success of the show’s first run. Ahead, learn what Isaac found “humiliating” about playing the volatile character.

Season 2 of “Beef” opens with a brand new set of characters. Isaac plays Josh, the struggling general manager of an exclusive country club. He stars opposite Carey Mulligan, who plays Lindsey, an interior designer from a privileged background who is also experiencing a midlife crisis. Things take a turn for the worse when two younger employees, Ashley and Austin, witness a violent argument between the couple.

Fortunately, this isn’t the first time that Isaac and Mulligan have worked together. They collaborated together on Nicolas Winding Refn’s “Drive” and the Coen Brothers’ “Inside Llewyn Davis,” but this is the first time that they’re playing a couple trapped inside a failing marriage.

Oscar Isaac Admits It’s ‘A Humiliating Thing To Do This Stuff’

Their long history of collaborations helped foster a safe environment for some of the show’s most volatile scenes. For example, there was one scene where Josh threw his wine glass during an argument. However, Mulligan said that it didn’t feel right because “statistically, a woman will just shut it all down and back off” if a man displays physical violence. “It felt like it had to be Lindsay who throws the wine glass first,” she added. 

Isaac noted that it’s “a humiliating thing to do this stuff” during the scene and compared it to a “live wire act.” He went on to say, “To have someone you can trust so completely and there’s no judgement… it’s incredibly valuable and it’s freeing and it allows for a lot of fun.” 

Mulligan Agrees That The Scene Was ‘Uniquely Humiliating’

Mulligan agreed with Isaac’s assessment and called parts of the scene “uniquely humiliating.”

“There were so many elements to this that were risky and more embarrassing, and I did feel like we were taking swings here and there, and this is hard to do with someone you don’t completely trust,” she said.

However, because of the trust they placed in each other as actors, they were able to give the scene their all.

“We felt this onus on us to get that bit right,” Mulligan said. “And it was a tricky thing because you are meant to meet them at that point where it could be like a fork in the road. It could have been the end.” 

Why Oscar Isaac Joined Season 2 Of ‘Beef’

This isn’t the first time that Isaac has opened up about his role on the Emmy-winning series. He previously told Entertainment Weekly that he was a big fan of season 1 of “Beef.” There was a key moment in the show’s first season featuring Steven Yeun’s character, Danny, that convinced him to join the show.

“It was the first season. I remember I was really intrigued by the first couple of episodes. But it was episode 3, when [Steven Yeun’s] character goes to the church, and the singing starts happening, and he starts sobbing,” he explained, adding, “It was both so moving and so hilarious at the same time.”

He went on to praise “Beef” creator Lee Sung Jin and his ability to create a “razor-thin tone that I thought was really fascinating — between embracing the cringe of the moment, but also the compassion for that character and the situation. That was it.”

Lee Sung Jin Worked With Isaac To Craft The Character

Isaac went on to reveal that he had “these very long sessions” with the “Beef” creator in order to develop the character. “Sunny and I, it felt like a men’s group of two, like a therapy session. We would talk about all sorts of subjects that kind of related, even sometimes very loosely, to the script,” he explained.

“That felt like, ‘Oh, this is a real investigation of something,” he continued. “This is not just showing up to deliver some idea.’ That became really exciting.”

Season 2 of “Beef” is available to stream on Netflix.

This article covers a developing story. Continue to check back with us as we will be adding more information as it becomes available.

The newest Green Lantern has arrived! After previously confirming in April that Season 3 of the DC animated hit My Adventures With Superman would introduce Jessica Cruz, the latest member of the Green Lantern Corps, before sending her off on her own spin-off adventure, Entertainment Weekly has now confirmed who will be playing her. Auli’i Cravalho, best known as the voice behind Disney’s Moana, will don the ring in Episode 2 of the Clark Kent-centric show and lead the forthcoming My Adventures With Green Lantern whenever it premieres. Additionally, EW shared the first look at the young recipient and some new details about what her series will entail.

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Release Date

July 7, 2023

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Network

Adult Swim

Showrunner

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Jake Wyatt

Directors

Diana Huh, Jen Bennett, Kiki Manrique

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Writers

M. Willis, Angela Entzminger, Aman Adumer, Brendan Clogher, Cynthia Furey, Jake Wyatt, Josie Campbell

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• 

  Clark Kent / Superman (voice)

• 

  Alice Lee

  Lois Lane (voice)

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This article covers a developing story. Continue to check back with us as we will be adding more information as it becomes available.

By Jennifer Asencio
| Published 17 seconds ago

The Pendragon Cycle: Rise of the Merlin is a tour de force that was created by Jeremy Boreing and Daily Wire Plus based on the books by Stephen Lawhead. It ran across some controversy when no critics would give it an honest viewing, resulting in no Rotten Tomatoes critics’ score, but viewers awarded it an 88% on the site. Oscar-winning screenwriter Roger Avary praised the show on The Joe Rogan Experience as being much better than competition like Rings of Power or the Game of Thrones spin-offs.

Now, it seems that praise has been validated. Actor Colin Cunningham, who played King Vortigern in episode 3, “A Fatherless Child,” has been nominated for a British Columbian Leo Award for Best Lead Performance in a Dramatic Series. The Leo Awards are like a British Columbian version of the Golden Globes, honoring both movies and television for excellence in Canadian broadcasting arts. Cunningham was born in Los Angeles but has been a staple of many Canadian-made television shows, which made him eligible for this honor in ways the rest of the cast was not.

Colin Cunningham’s Award-Nominated Performance

Cunningham’s resume includes turns on Stargate SG-1, DaVinci’s Inquest, and Falling Skies, all of which have Canadian roots. He also had a major role in the short-lived comic book adaptation Preacher. He only appeared in one episode of The Pendragon Cycle, but it was one of the most significant episodes of the show, and King Vortigern was at the center of it.

In the episode, Saxon invaders are overtaking Briton, and various tribal kings are drawing lines that favor either Briton or allying with the invaders. Vortigern has appointed himself High King of Briton and is fortifying himself against the invaders, but his advisors are giving him bad counsel, and he himself is a tyrant. After executing one of his advisors, he demands Merlin’s wisdom, but the young wizard refuses to serve a despot, allying instead with the Pendragon brothers, Aurellius and Uther.

There is a lot of dramatic tension in the Vortigern character as he struggles with his errors and sees his entire world fall in shambles around him. Episode 3 is also the beginning of Merlin’s tale, carrying with it a lot of mystery and magic as the future advisor of Arthur copes with his own trauma and returns to the world of Men from a self-imposed exile.

The clash between these two repentant personalities ends both tragically and with a spark of new hope as Merlin bridges the gap between the Briton of before and the future Briton under the Pendragon family; Vortigern is the king of all that is old and traditional, and Colin Cunningham carries his weighty crown with a regal determination to do what is right at all costs and regardless of consequences.

The Pendragon Cycle: Rise of the Merlin is an excellent show that is still awaiting its due credit, but the nomination of Colin Cunningham for a Leo Award has finally broken another, more sinister cycle by acknowledging that the show exists and has merit. Good luck to King Vortigern on his nomination, and may he have better luck being crowned Best Lead Actor than he did High King of Briton!

WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF LAIKA

In the realm of animation, a world of wonder unfolds, where imagination knows no bounds and storytelling emerges with meticulous precision. From a young age, Laika and the whimsical domains of stop motion have captivated audiences, as armatured animated characters spring to life through a choreography of diligent movement and emotion, igniting a passion that still endures.

Founded in 2005 in Portland Oregon, LAIKA Studios for the past 15 years has delighted audiences on a global scale with its masterful stop-motion animated features as the five films under their belt all represent the highest levels of quality, earning a reputation for blending innovative narratives with intricate craftsmanship and technology.

This celebration of artistry is at the forefront of the British Film Institute’s latest exhibition, LAIKA: Frame x Frame. which opened its doors on August 12th and running until October 1st at BFI Southbank, this exhibition is part of the broader Stop Motion: Celebrating Handmade Animation on the Big Screen season. LAIKA invites audiences to explore the heart and soul of their creations through Frame x Frame. This free exhibition offers a unique opportunity to delve into the artistic precision and innovative techniques that bring these beloved films to life through an unparalleled level of detail in the physical puppets, intricately crafted sets, costumes and awe-inspiring props. With over 700 artefacts on display, this narrative-enriched immersive experience evokes the very best of this medium and allows the viewer to explore the sophisticated artistry behind one of the most celebrated and dedicated studios in stop-motion animation.

CRAFTING A DREAM

As Director Henry Selick aptly articulated, “What stop motion does best is present real objects magically brought to life in a very imperfect situation; the hand of the artist is there, the electricity of someone touching, massaging and torturing themselves to get life out of an inanimate object.” This sentiment perfectly encapsulates the essence of the LAIKA: FRAME x FRAME exhibition, an intimate exploration of the artistry and dedication that defines LAIKA and its beloved films.

Dan Pascall, LAIKA’s Senior Manager of Event and Production Marketing, shared insights during his opening speech into the exhibition’s inception: “When we first started to develop this exhibition, knowing that we were going to be partnering with the BFI, it was clear that we needed to delve deeply into our artistic processes. Our goal was not only to showcase hero puppets and key sets but also to highlight the design and development phases behind each project. This was an opportunity to reveal aspects that previous exhibitions often overlook, offering a rare glimpse behind the camera into the many different departments that collaborate to bring our stories to life.” The title Frame x Frame emerged from this vision, serving as a guiding theme for the exhibition.

Each film receives dedicated attention as visitors traverse distinct titled areas focusing on different aspects of the animation process each diving into the unique tapestry of artistry and collaboration necessary to create the studio’s celebrated films. In the section dedicated to Coraline: It Takes a Village, attendees can witness the collaborative spirit that unites different departments, underscoring the community effort required to bring a Laika feature to life. Transitioning to ParaNorman: Bringing to Life, highlighting the complexity of puppet construction, elaborating on the specialized roles within the puppet department, such as hair detailing, costume design, silicone casting, and sculpting, each integral to creating characters that resonate with audiences. Moving on to The Boxtrolls: Engineering Magic, visitors will be enchanted by the originality embedded in prop development, with each handmade item reflecting the meticulous design and replication processes uniquely employed by Laika, where no off-the-shelf solutions suffice. The exhibit then leads to Kubo and the Two Strings: Expanding Worlds, which showcases how visual effects seamlessly enhance the stop-motion technique, revealing the tools and techniques that the VFX and camera departments employ to amplify the film’s whimsical wonder. Finally, Missing Link: Setting the Stage investigates animation as performance, emphasizing the importance of ergonomic rigging designs that facilitate animators’ movements, allowing them to navigate the intricacies of their crafted sets comfortably. Each segment of the exhibition not only reveals the technological and artistic innovations behind Laika’s films but also tells a unified story of passion, collaboration, and the relentless pursuit of excellence that defines this renowned animation studio.

MADE BY HUMAN HANDS

As visitors explore the exhibition, they will encounter a single frame dedicated to each film within each of the five sections, amplified by a constellation of supporting artefacts. The layout enhances the understanding of what it takes to breathe life into a single shot which is just one 24th of a second, with displays featuring illustrated concept art, character designs, storyboards, costumes, puppets, props, sets, and innovative digital content. This collection not only highlights the extraordinary attention to detail that LAIKA is known for but also captures the boundless creativity of the studio. The wonder of this medium lies in the beauty of such tiny details, the delicate features and small elements meticulously designed in miniature, are waiting to be discovered, these intricacies breathe life into the enchanting worlds we see on screen, from lights that are hand-wired to turn on, banners that sway in the breeze, hands and other appendages, to the 881 individual 3D-printed parts that made-up the Moon Beast,  the devil is truly in the details. This innovative approach has allowed LAIKA to unearth previously unseen materials from their extensive archives, enriching the experience. Pascall further elaborated on the logistical challenges of transforming their expansive Portland studio—spanning 300,000 square feet—into a compact yet immersive 3,500-square-foot space in London, emphasizing the meticulous planning behind the exhibit.

BUILDING A VISUAL IDENTITY

The exhibition is exquisitely well-lit and laid out, the design fosters a sense of enchantment, with curious cabinets and drawers filled with wonders of 2D and 3D elements such as textiles and 59 unique pieces that make up one character’s face as it takes over 150,000 frames to make each film, along with interactive screens that showcase some behind-the-scenes material to elevate the experience. The sheer volume of display items astounds, serving as a testament to the labour and love woven into every frame. After all, it takes a community of creators to make magic.

For Laika, All Roads started with Coraline, it’s their cornerstone movie after all, celebrating 15 years with a 3D remaster which just had its premiere at the BFI Southbank so that is exactly why we start this experience with a stunning recreation of Coraline’s Other Garden. As you step into this life-sized replica alive with a kaleidoscope of wondrous flora and fauna, you feel an immediate connection to the film’s protagonist, enveloped by her whimsical fantastical world. It is a captivating introduction that invites visitors to engage with the exhibit intimately, capturing personal moments against the vibrant backdrop of Coraline’s story. This immersive setting sets the tone for the exhibition, highlighting Laika’s dedication to creating relatable and fantastical realms. The exhibition concludes with a sneak peek into their 6th upcoming featured, Wildwood. Here, visitors are treated to a custom animated introduction and behind-the-scenes content, offering a tantalizing glimpse of what Laika has in store for the future.

The exhibition serves as a testament to the labour-intensive nature of this art form and highlights the profound level of patience, vision, and sheer artistry involved in crafting compelling stop-motion narratives. As visitors weave through the meticulously curated displays, they are invited to witness firsthand the transformative journey of Laika’s beloved characters, each brought to life through a careful orchestration of artistry and technology.  Laika Frame x Frame is not merely an exploration of animation; it is an odyssey into the heart of storytelling itself, celebrating the harmonious interplay between imagination and craftsmanship that continues to inspire generations.

CELEBRATING STOP-MOTION’S LEGACY AND RELEVANCE

The Laika: Frame x Frame exhibition is not merely a retrospective; it is a celebration of the craft that has forged Laika’s identity and a nod to the significant role that stop motion plays in the broader cinematic landscape. In an era when animation continues to evolve, Laika’s meticulous, frame-by-frame storytelling operates as a reminder of the patience, vision, and artistry entailed in creating these masterpieces. As we appreciate these films, we also recognize their ability to resonate with audiences of all ages—reminding us that animation is not just for children but an art form capable of probing profound themes and emotions. With the BFI’s commitment to showcasing animation as an essential part of cinematic discourse, this exhibition serves as a vital cultural opportunity, inviting both seasoned fans and newcomers to embrace the magic of stop-motion enriching our understanding of the artistry and dedication behind these beloved films as every frame tells a story waiting to be discovered. 

If you must blink, do it now…

You need to book your free tickets in advance – from here.

Scooter Braun declared his love for girlfriend Sydney Sweeney with a public toast.

In an Instagram video shared by music industry entrepreneur Steve Rifkind on Sunday, June 14, Braun, 44, gushed over his girlfriend aboard a private jet from Texas after watching the New York Knicks’ NBA championship victory on Saturday, June 13. (The Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs 94-90 in the 2026 NBA Finals.)

“Syd, I love you and your family so much,” Braun can be heard saying as he raised a toast to Sweeney, 28, and his other guests on the flight.

He continued, “You are the greatest good luck charm for a New York Knicks and Jets fan in history.”

Related: Inside Sydney Sweeney and Scooter Braun’s ‘Very Serious’ Romance

Sydney Sweeney and Scooter Braun are slowly “blending their lives” as they become more committed, a source exclusively tells Us Weekly. “They are the real deal, and their relationship has become very serious,” the insider shares, noting that “people around them thought that this would be just a fling, but they are committed.” Sweeney, 28, […]

“The Jets could win the Super Bowl … I don’t know,” Braun went on to predict.

The music manager and the Euphoria actress were first linked in June 2025 when they spent time together in Italy ahead of Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez’s wedding.

In May, Sweeney made their romance Instagram official, sharing images and videos of them together at the Stagecoach music festival. Two weeks later, she shared a sweet montage of video clips of her and Braun on various dates.

“They are the real deal, and their relationship has become very serious,” a source exclusively told Us Weekly in April, adding that “people around them thought that this would be just a fling, but they are committed.”

The Housemaid actress “really appreciates Scooter’s support with all her projects,” the source said. “[She] loves hearing his feedback.” Braun is “emotionally invested in her career and wants the best for her,” added the insider, noting that Sweeney finds his interest in her career “very endearing and feels loved and appreciated by him.”

“They are slowly integrating their families and blending their lives, making the relationship more serious,” the insider told Us. “Sydney is a hopeless romantic at heart and likes being in a committed relationship.”

During a May podcast interview, Braun was effusive about finding love with Sweeney.

“I’ve met an extraordinary woman, kind and generous and smart, and real and down-to-earth,” Braun said on the “Second Thought With Suzy Weiss” podcast.

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The music manager didn’t mention Sweeney by name but said that his new relationship has been “one of the biggest surprises ever.”

Asked whether he had watched the third and final season of HBO’s Euphoria, which gave Sweeney her break in Hollywood in 2019, Braun praised Sweeney’s acting talents.

“I am catching it. I’m biased … I like it. I think there’s been an incredible performance by a certain actress,” he said.

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 31 seconds ago

These days, Toy Story is a cultural institution, one that goes back to 1995. That was when the first film premiered and ended up changing the world of animation forever. Pixar’s 3D animation blew the minds of everyone who had grown up watching Disney’s classic, 2D cartoon classics like Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, and The Lion King. Eventually, Disney read the writing on the wall and bought Pixar, making three-dimensional, CG-animated cartoons the norm. We’ve gotten some real bangers since then (like Frozen), but it came at a cost: the 2D animation style we all grew up with officially became a thing of the past.

When the first Toy Story came out, I was still in middle school, and this movie absolutely blew me away. As an adult, though, it feels bittersweet knowing that this excellent movie more or less killed the kind of animation that defined my entire childhood. That hasn’t kept me from enjoying the film, however, and the wacky misadventures of Woody and Buzz Lightyear always put a grin on my face. Looking to take out a few of your favorite figures and dive into an entire toy box of nostalgia? You don’t have to travel to infinity and beyond. All you have to do is stream Toy Story on Hulu!

He Wants To Be A Cowboy, Baby

The premise of Toy Story is that all toys are alive and secretly pretend to be inanimate objects when humans are around. Young Andy has a collection of awesome toys, including his favorite: Woody, an old-timey sheriff. For his sixth birthday, he gets a cool new sci-fi toy named Buzz Lightyear. However, Buzz doesn’t realize he is a toy and believes his back-of-the-box origin story that he is a Space Ranger on a cosmic mission. Woody and Buzz fight over who and what they are, eventually getting left behind at a gas station. There, these foes must become friends and work together to get back home.

The premise of Toy Story is elegantly simple and creates an instant, cross-generational appeal. Obviously, younger audiences really loved the premise because they loved to imagine that their own toys came to life at night and got up to their own bizarre misadventures. Meanwhile, older audiences loved the sheer nostalgia of the premise, remembering the days when they entertained themselves through the power of pure imagination. Amusingly enough, this movie was basically Disney’s way of snatching this narrative conceit from the horror genre. These toys don’t want to kill you, like Chucky; they just want you to have fun while, behind closed doors, they bicker and cajole like the world’s weirdest found family.

Feeling A Little Buzzed

The simplicity of the premise also leaves room for plenty of world-building. Woody and the rest of his buddies show us how the toys have developed their own kind of secret society, one that flourishes while the humans aren’t watching. We even see how that society is broken up into different cultures, like the goofy aliens at Pizza Planet revering the claw within the claw machine as a kind of godlike being. The character of Buzz Lightyear, meanwhile, answers the natural question of whether all the toys know they are toys or not. Really, every scene advances our understanding of this world without slowing down the story for an awkward lore dump. 

Part of why Toy Story feels so breezy is the natural chemistry between some surprisingly great voice actors. The cast choices sometimes include some fun meta jokes, like having Full Metal Jacket’s R. Lee Ermey voice a Sergeant leading some little green army men. Meanwhile, the famously irascible Don Rickles plays Mr. Potato Head, the sarcastic cynic in a group of goofball optimists. Wallace Shawn, meanwhile, uses his trademark weird voice to turn what could have been a terrifying Tyrannosaurus Rex into a comic fraidy cat. Throw in Annie Potts voicing a hilariously seductive Bo Peep, and you have a perfectly eclectic supporting cast for the toys.

Learning To Kiss And Make Up

The real powerhouse performers are our two leads, Tom Hanks and Tim Allen. On paper, these seemed like weird casting choices: neither had much animation experience, and neither had ever worked together before. Nonetheless, each is perfect. Hanks plays Woody as a natural leader whose minor insecurities keep leading to major comic foibles. Meanwhile, Allen plays Buzz as someone confident to a fault, destined to butt heads with Woody. Fortunately, Hanks and Allen have a natural, easygoing chemistry, and their onscreen quarrels feel more like spats between longtime friends than knock-down, drag-out fights between newfound enemies.

Compared to later sequels like Toy Story 3 (which Quentin Tarantino, of all people, dubbed one of the best films of the century), the animation in the first Toy Story is a little stiffer. However, in rewatching the movie, I was taken aback by how well it holds up. It’s still a jaw-dropping film, and the gorgeous animation is (mostly) as impressive now as it was over 30 years ago. I’m still sad that this movie served as the death knell for 2D animation, but seeing how good it looks, I can’t blame audiences and animators alike for seeing this 3D animation as the wave of the future.

There’s not much more to say, really: Toy Story was our first real introduction to Pixar, and it’s just as beautifully brilliant and hilariously weird as you remember. The voice cast does an amazing job bringing colorful characters to life, and the movie does more worldbuilding in its short runtime than Game of Thrones did in an entire season. As an added bonus, this is the rare nostalgic treat that is perfect to share with your own children, and you can now stream it on Hulu. Unless your kid prefers just zoning out on his iPad; in that case, maybe you guys should skip straight to Toy Story 5!  

It’s been at least an hour since a streaming service made a major change, so Prime Video were clearly feeling left out. While Disney is busy folding Hulu into Disney+ and nearly every major platform continues tweaking prices, blocking account sharing, restricting their originals to the north west part of Greenland for 3 hours on a Sunday and introducing 19 ad tiers, Amazon’s streamer is taking a slightly different route. It is not merging with another service, at least not right now. No, there’s another tier.

Prime Video has officially begun notifying subscribers that Prime Video Ad Free will become Prime Video Ultra. The current Ad Free plan was replaced on April 10, with the new Ultra tier priced at $4.99 per month. An annual version will also be available for $45.99, which Amazon says represents a 23% yearly saving. Well, we do enjoy savings.

The good news for subscribers who mainly paid to avoid interruptions is that the new tier will still remove ads, and the bigger change is that Prime Video Ultra adds several upgraded viewing features, including 4K UHD video and Dolby Atmos audio, so that’s a lot more favorable for those who want the very best with their streaming.

It will also include a big boost for those people who like to download shows and movies while travelling. The base level Ad Free version only allowed 25 titles for offline viewing, while Ultra will raise that limit to 100, while it will also increase concurrent streams from three devices to five, which makes the plan more useful for larger households. Amazon is not launching a major password-sharing crackdown here, at least for now, and the five-stream limit gives Ultra a more flexible edge.

What Streams on Prime Video?

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Prime Video’s library has exploded in recent years with a great combination of prestige series, big budget IPs and of course, plenty of Dad TV. Original series have included Fallout, Reacher, The Boys, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, and The Summer I Turned Pretty, alongside original movies such as Heads of State, Red One, Road House, and The Accountant 2. The platform also carries live sports from the NFL, NBA, WNBA, NASCAR, NWSL, and The Masters.

Recent and upcoming Prime Video titles include Alan Ritchson (Reacher) as Jack Reacher in Reacher, Hero Fiennes Tiffin (After) as Sherlock Holmes in Young Sherlock, John Krasinski as Jack Ryan in Jack Ryan, and Nicole Kidman (Big Little Lies) in Scarpetta.

Prime Video Ultra is currently available for U.S. subscribers only.

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Release Date

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February 3, 2022

Network

Prime Video

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Showrunner

Nick Santora

Directors

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Omar Madha, Carol Banker, Julian Holmes, Lin Oeding, M.J. Bassett, Norberto Barba, Stephen Surjik, Thomas Vincent

Writers

Cait Duffy

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