It’s a new dawn for X-Men. 63 years into the franchise, spanning everything from its first comic book to the latest X-Men ’97, the series is entering a new generation with its upcoming 2028 X-Men film. It will be the first major X-Men movie since the third installment of the original 20th Century Fox series, 2006’s X-Men: The Last Stand. Since then, multiple X-Men-adjacent movies have been released, with some, like X-Men: Apocalypse, receiving a lukewarm reception, while others, such as Logan, were widely celebrated.

This time around, the franchise is going back to square one with a fresh cast of actors taking on some of the most iconic X-Men characters, alongside a surprising villain. From an actor best known for a popular Netflix romance series to a Broadway actress making her film debut, here is every X-Men actor announced at D23 2026.

Kit Connor as Scott Summers/Cyclops

Image via Netflix

Scott Summers/Cyclops (Kit Connor) is the no-nonsense leader of the X-Men. Best known for his optic blasts, he’s instantly recognizable by his trademark ruby-quartz glasses. He neither has the strongest physique nor the most powerful abilities on the team, but he’s the go-to guy for strategy. However, his constant need to make plans and ensure that both their missions and the school run smoothly stems from a traumatic past that left him needing a certain degree of control over his life.

Connor got his start in television as a child actor and even had the opportunity to play a teenage Elton John in Rocketman. However, the actor truly had his breakthrough as the level-headed and equally reliable pillar of support for Charlie Spring (Joe Locke) in Heartstopper. On the action front, he’s also dabbled in an ensemble team setting with his fellow comrades in Warfare, giving him an all-around edge that mirrors Summers.

Sadie Sink as Jean Grey/Phoenix

Jean Grey/Phoenix (Sadie Sink) is the more emotional counterpart to the stiff Summers, with her feelings deeply intertwined with her telepathic and telekinetic abilities. In X-Men lore, her powers are often a source of conflict because they’re connected to the cosmic, godlike Phoenix Force, which can emerge when Grey loses control and unleashes enough power to potentially destroy the universe. Yet, despite her tremendous abilities, Grey is the first to ground the team when necessary—always willing to listen, understand, and calm others down.

Sink is no stranger to playing empathetic characters, with her most famous role being Max Mayfield in Stranger Things. Like Max, Grey tends to keep her emotions bottled up, but under pressure, she breaks down those walls to protect her friends. Sink has also delivered intense performances as Ellie in The Whale, portraying her complicated feelings toward her estranged father, and in Taylor Swift‘s “All Too Well: The Short Film,” further showcasing her versatility.

Samara Weaving as Emma Frost/White Queen

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Emma Frost/White Queen (Samara Weaving) is the team’s resident baddie, keeping the X-Men in check with her sharp tongue and even sharper attitude. Historically, Frost wasn’t originally part of the team. Born into a wealthy but abusive family, she left home after discovering her telepathic abilities and later joined the Hellfire Club, where she also developed her signature diamond form. Initially an antagonist, Frost ultimately joined the X-Men and became the team’s brutally honest anti-heroine.

Weaving has appeared in plenty of projects, gaining traction with her sweet-but-deadly role as a murderous nanny in The Babysitter. However, she truly made Grace Le Domas her own in Ready or Not, battling her murderous in-laws through a series of intense action sequences and stunts. Although her appearance as Constance Moore in Babylon is brief, Weaving shows off her ability to deliver a blunt, snappy attitude, which bodes well for her portrayal of Frost’s icy personality.

Inde Navarrette as Anne Marie/Rogue

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Anne Marie/Rogue (Inde Navarrette) has powers that rival Grey’s in intensity. Through skin-to-skin contact, she can absorb memories, personality traits, and physical abilities, making her powers dangerous not only to others but also to herself. Without proper training, everything she absorbs can become overwhelming, which makes intimacy difficult for her. She’s afraid that the closer someone gets, the more likely she is to hurt them, whether she means to or not.

Navarrette made her television debut in 2020 with Season 4 of 13 Reasons Why before landing a starring role as Sarah Cortez in Superman & Lois. Her most recent breakthrough came with the horror film Obsession, where she played Nikki Freeman, a physically and emotionally demanding role that required her to portray both intense violence and the trauma of being possessed against her will. That experience could translate well to Rogue, whose powers often leave her feeling similarly powerless over herself.

Maya Boyd as Ororo Munroe/Storm

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Ororo Munroe/Storm (Maya Boyd) is the authoritative voice of the X-Men. While Summers still struggles with self-doubt as a leader, Storm commands respect naturally, balancing confidence with enough compassion to listen to her team’s concerns. But cross her, and she’ll make her temper known. Much like her weather manipulation, her leadership requires precision and control; she knows when to assert herself and when to let others speak.

Unlike the rest of the announced cast, X-Men will mark Boyd’s transition from Broadway to the screen. It’s a significant challenge, especially with only three theatrical credits, including & Juliet. However, Storm’s commanding voice has long been one of her defining traits, popularized by Alison Sealy-Smith in the original animated series. Coincidentally, Sealy-Smith also has a Shakespearean theater background, making Boyd’s musical theater training and Broadway experience a promising fit for the role.

Christopher Abbott as Charles Xavier/Professor X

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Charles Xavier/Professor X (Christopher Abbott) is the all-wise, calm leader of the Xavier Institute, which has long housed and trained mutants to reach their potential while teaching them to use their abilities ethically. As the founder of the X-Men, Charles has always advocated for peace. Despite governments and rebellious mutants constantly clashing over who should dominate the world, Charles believes in human-mutant coexistence, where both sides can understand and benefit from one another.

Abbott might be best known for his role in the coming-of-age Girls, where he played the gentle and earnest Charlie Dattolo. However, he also explored complex emotions in James White, where his character struggles with bottled-up feelings in private, much like Charles. As a leader, Charles carries enormous responsibility, and Abbott’s role as John Yossarian in Catch-22 offers another fitting reference point, portraying an unconventional hero who doesn’t budge his moral compass and refuses to blindly accept authority.

Adam Driver as Nathaniel Milbury/Mister Sinister

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Nathaniel Milbury/Mister Sinister (Adam Driver) is obsessed with creating the “perfect” mutant. Originally a 19th-century British scientist, Milbury’s research combines evolution with eugenics, leading him down an increasingly disturbing path. He develops a particular interest in the Summers and Grey bloodlines, explaining his fixation on these two mutants. In between being an intelligent and ruthless scientist, Milbury has also genetically modified himself, allowing him to manipulate his own DNA and alter his abilities as he sees fit.

Driver’s casting announcement was easily one of the biggest surprises at D23, but his cold and calculating demeanor makes him a surprisingly fitting choice. After all, Driver is no stranger to playing intimidating characters, having portrayed Kylo Ren in Star Wars, whose mere presence can make audiences uneasy. For Milbury’s intellectual arrogance, however, Marriage Story offers another strong reference point, with Driver’s character often convinced that his perspective is fundamentally correct.

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X-Men

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Release Date

May 5, 2028

Director

Jake Schreier

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Writers

Joanna Calo, Lee Sung Jin, Michael Lesslie

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  Inde Navarrette

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  Rogue / Anna Marie

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  Kit Connor

  Scott Summers / Cyclops

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  Samara Weaving

  Emma Frost

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Hayden Panettiere reportedly struggled to revive her television career after “Nashville,” despite being eager to land another major series. An unnamed industry insider claimed the actress’ mental health and addiction struggles affected her professional reputation, making it harder for her to secure substantial roles once the musical drama ended.

The source alleged that Panettiere experienced problems with executives and co-stars while filming “Nashville,” sometimes arrived late, and occasionally required additional time in makeup. Those claims come alongside Panettiere’s own deeply personal account of postpartum depression, alcohol use, and the painful separation from her daughter, Kaya.

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Panettiere starred as country singer Juliette Barnes throughout the six-season run of “Nashville.” The acclaimed role established her as a major television star, but an industry source claimed her career lost momentum after the series ended. “Hayden had mental health struggles and addiction issues going on, and they played a part in why her career didn’t take off again after ‘Nashville,’” one industry insider told the Daily Mail.

According to the source, Panettiere’s alleged difficulties were already affecting her work during the show. “When she was filming the show, she had problems on the set, with execs and with her co-stars,” they claimed. “She sometimes came to work looking like she’d been out partying. She’d often have to spend extra time in make-up to get her looking camera-ready. She’d also sometimes be late for her call time.”

The source’s account is an allegation from an unnamed insider. No executives or co-stars were quoted corroborating the claims in the information provided.

Word Reportedly Spread Through Hollywood

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Despite those alleged setbacks, Panettiere reportedly remained determined to land another prominent television role. The insider claimed that her established status did not allow her to bypass the traditional audition process. Instead, she continued competing for major projects while facing concerns about her professional reputation.

“She was desperate to land another series after ‘Nashville’ ended, but the word had got out in Hollywood that she was a bit of a problem,” the source alleged. “Although she was considered a TV star, she still had to audition for big TV projects. She often struggled to get past the audition stage.”

The source did not identify the projects for which Panettiere reportedly auditioned or the casting professionals who allegedly passed on her. However, the insider claimed that the continued absence of substantial roles had affected the actress. “Hayden was on a downward swing recently due to lack of decent roles,” they added.

‘Sleepwalker’ Became Her Final Screen Appearance

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Panettiere’s final acting appearance was in “Sleepwalker,” a psychological thriller released in January. The film was critically panned and featured Panettiere as a mother tormented by the loss of her daughter. That storyline carried a painful parallel to the actress’ personal life. Although Panettiere had not lost Kaya through death, she had experienced the heartbreak of living separately from her child.

In 2018, Kaya went to live with Panettiere’s former fiancé and her father, former heavyweight boxer Wladimir Klitschko. Kaya is now 11. Panettiere later discussed the circumstances surrounding that decision in her memoir, revealing that her difficulties with motherhood began with a frightening birth experience.

Kaya’s Birth Became A Medical Emergency

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Panettiere recalled that doctors declared a “code crimson” emergency during Kaya’s birth in 2014. Following a C-section, the actress’ blood reportedly would not clot, forcing her to undergo a three-hour operation. She later learned that her uterus had become infected.

After enduring the medical emergency, Panettiere struggled to bond with her newborn daughter. She described the process as an “insurmountable task” and admitted that she initially “felt nothing” toward Kaya, characterizing the experience as “a total blackout of emotion.”

Hayden Panettiere Turned To Alcohol After Giving Birth

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Panettiere said she began using alcohol to cope with what she was experiencing. Her drinking reportedly became so severe that she sometimes started consuming alcohol as early as 6 a.m. When Kaya was four months old, Panettiere entered treatment and was diagnosed with postpartum depression.

Medication initially helped but reportedly made the actress sleepy. She eventually returned to alcohol, beginning another difficult period in her personal and professional life.

As her struggles intensified, Panettiere lost a lucrative contract with skincare brand Neutrogena. Her relationship with Klitschko also deteriorated, eventually leading to Kaya living primarily with him.

Netflix is perhaps the king of original action movies for streaming. It has such a vast catalog of varied and eclectic movies that involve face smashing, bone crushing and leg breaking — and we love it for that. But few have been quite as vicious as this one, which introduced us to a world of highly trained assassins that inevitably drew comparisons to John Wick. The movie subsequently racked up millions of hours watched and earned outstanding reviews from critics. Two years on from that, we’re about to get more of it.

In 2024, Indonesian filmmaker Timo Tjahjanto unleashed more than two hours of extraordinarily bloody martial arts carnage in The Shadow Strays, and he’s just confirmed he’s not done with Codename 13 yet. Tjahjanto has confirmed that he is currently writing a sequel to The Shadow Strays, revealing that he still has deeply personal stories he wants to explore through the franchise.

Netflix has not formally greenlit The Shadow Strays 2 yet, but the filmmaker is actively developing the screenplay, as he revealed via social media. He also addressed one of the fundamental questions surrounding the first movie: why its young assassin risks everything to save a boy she barely knows.

“Yes I am slowly writing on the sequel. The Shadow Strays is possibly my most personal movie yet. I still have personal stories to tell in the sequel. People asked why she fought tooth and nail to save a boy she barely know, I asked them back: ‘If you tap into your humanity & see the strength within yourself, wouldn’t you try to do the same? Kindred bond knows no logic, it just is.”

Who Stars in ‘The Shadow Strays’?

The Shadow Strays follows Codename 13, an teenage assassin who works for an organization known as the Shadows. After nearly botching an assignment, 13 is suspended and encounters Monji, a young boy whose mother was killed by a crime syndicate. The Shadow Strays stars Aurora Ribero (Like & Share) as Codename 13/Nomi, Hana Malasan (Ben & Jody) as Umbra, Taskya Namya (Waktu Maghrib) as Soriah, Agra Piliang (Serigala Terakhir) as Haga, Andri Mashadi (KKN di Desa Penari) as Ariel, Kristo Immanuel (The Big 4) as Jeki, Adipati Dolken (Posesif) as Prasetyo, Ali Fikry (Nussa) as Monji, Chew Kin Wah (Check the Store Next Door) as the Handler, and Yayan Ruhian (The Raid: Redemption) as Master Burai

The Shadow Strays is streaming now on Netflix.

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Release Date

October 17, 2024

Runtime

144 Minutes

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Director

Timo Tjahjanto

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Timo Tjahjanto

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Edwin McCain and Stephen Kramer Glickman are putting an unexpected spin on one of Olivia Rodrigo’s biggest heartbreak anthems. The double-platinum “I’ll Be” singer joined the “Big Time Rush” actor and musician in Los Angeles to record a duet of Rodrigo’s “Drivers License” for Glickman’s forthcoming album.

The pair, along with drummer Buddy Gibbons and guitarist Soren Crisell, also turned the collaboration into a very public spectacle, filming portions of its music video on rooftops around the city, including a performance above Universal Liquor on Cahuenga Boulevard. McCain exclusively told The Blast that their collaboration grew from a friendship they formed online during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Although McCain and Glickman come from different corners of the entertainment industry, the two discovered they had several things in common after connecting on TikTok. Their online friendship was strengthened by a shared connection to “Shrek the Musical,” but McCain said it was Glickman’s character, not only his creative work, that made him eager to collaborate.

“I love all the friendships I’ve made on TikTok. Stephen and I met there during COVID when we realized our connection to ‘Shrek the Musical.’ I’m a fan of his work, but more importantly I’m a fan of the good human he is. I wouldn’t have thought to do a cover of Olivia Rodrigo, but Stephen knows great songs, and I love the way it turned out!” McCain exclusively told The Blast.

The duet will be released through Red Slushy Records as part of Glickman’s new album, which is scheduled to arrive in fall 2026.

The Singers Took ‘Drivers License’ To An L.A. Rooftop

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McCain traveled to Los Angeles to film the “Drivers License” music video with Glickman over the weekend. Rather than keep the production hidden in a studio, the performers took their duet onto rooftops around the city to film the music video, directed by Sean Barrett (Steel Panther, Chief Keef, and ‘Epic Rap Battles’).

One of the most visible scenes was filmed atop Universal Liquor in Studio City, where passersby had an opportunity to witness the unusual pairing performing Rodrigo’s emotional breakup song. The setting gave the music video a distinctly Los Angeles backdrop while allowing the artists to create a public moment around the forthcoming release.

Rodrigo originally released “Drivers License” in January 2021. Glickman and McCain’s version will reinterpret the song by pairing their voices and musical styles. For McCain, covering Rodrigo was not an obvious choice. However, the singer credited Glickman with recognizing that the younger pop star’s hit could work for them.

Matt Bennett Reflects On Working With Stephen Kramer Glickman

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Matt Bennett, best known for Nickelodeon’s ‘Victorious,’ stars alongside Karalynn Dutton in the music video. When speaking to The Blast, he expressed, “I’m consistently impressed by Stephen’s talent and drive. It’s been a big inspiration getting closer to him over the last few years and seeing how he’s chosen to reinvent himself and explore aspects of his talent outside of comedy and acting.”

Bennett added, “When Stephen asked if I’d be in his video and assured me I’d be in and out in three hours, I knew it was not going to be three hours and would realistically take all day lol. But after years of living and working in Los Angeles, you learn to say ‘yes’ to many requests, especially when it’s from a friend trying to realize an artistic vision. So the shoot took six hours, but they flew by. We ended with a drone shot over Universal Liquor, and I got to climb up to the roof. I’ve been at that intersection more times than I can count; it’s very special to get to see Los Angeles that high up from a perspective you haven’t seen before.”

Producer Jason LaRocca Calls The Duet An Album Highlight

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Glickman worked on the project with twice Grammy-nominated producer Jason LaRocca, who was immediately impressed after hearing the recordings the singer brought into the process. LaRocca exclusively told The Blast that Glickman’s performance and delivery stood out before the album’s songs had even been fully mixed.

“Working on this record with Stephen was incredible. He showed me his raw recordings before we started mixing the songs, and I was blown away by his sound and delivery. The vibe on this record is a ton of fun, and his work with Edwin McCain on Drivers License is a highlight moment on the album for me,” LaRocca said.

Stephen Kramer Glickman Found New Success Through ‘Crazy’

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Glickman is best known for playing volatile music producer Gustavo Rocque on Nickelodeon’s “Big Time Rush,” but his own recording career has grown considerably through social media. His dramatic cover of Gnarls Barkley’s “Crazy” went viral on TikTok and introduced his singing voice to an enormous new audience.

A listing for Glickman’s 2026 West Hollywood performance credits his covers with collectively generating more than 8 billion plays and says “Crazy” reached No. 6 on a Billboard chart for five weeks. The viral cover also caught the attention of CeeLo Green, who invited Glickman to perform as an opening act after hearing his interpretation of the Gnarls Barkley hit. His forthcoming album continues that interest in dramatically reimagining recognizable songs.

Glickman Recently Reunited With The ‘Big Time Rush’ Cast On Tour

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The album comes after Glickman completed Big Time Rush’s extensive “In Real Life Worldwide” tour. The 73-show run began in July 2025 and continued into 2026, traveling across multiple continents. Glickman appeared as a supporting act alongside Katelyn Tarver, another familiar face from the Nickelodeon series.

The tour reunited him with Kendall Schmidt, Carlos PenaVega, Logan Henderson, and James Maslow while allowing fans to experience music from the show live. However, Glickman’s connection to Maslow began long before either performer was cast on “Big Time Rush.”

Maslow recently revealed on “The Joe Vulpis Podcast” that their families knew one another years before the Nickelodeon sitcom was developed. “Before the show was even a thought, before it was an idea, Glickie and I were just family friends,” Maslow shared.

The singer clarified that they were not especially close as children, but their parents were friends who occasionally gathered for Shabbat dinners and Jewish holidays. “I mean, we had family friends in San Diego… It was his family and one other family,” Maslow said. “And we would just get together for like the occasional Shabbat dinner and mostly like high holiday dinners, you know, Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashanah and things like that.”

Years later, Glickman was cast as Gustavo shortly before production began, unexpectedly reuniting the two on what became a hit television series. Now, following that full-circle tour with his former co-stars, Glickman is moving into his next musical chapter.

Dancing With the Stars pro Witney Carson is expanding her family with husband Carson McAllister.

Carson, 32, announced the news on Good Morning America on Monday, August 17, while confirming her return for season 35 of DWTS with partner Guillermo Rodriguez.

“I would be lying if I said it wasn’t very daunting. I’ve never been this far along pregnant and competing on Dancing With the Stars, ever,” she said. “I don’t know if it’s ever been done.”

The pro dancer noted that she didn’t want to hide her growing belly in the ballroom. “I’m so proud to be a woman, to be creating life and growing this human, and to be able to do the show and compete … is such a huge blessing,” she gushed.

Related: ‘DWTS’ Pro Witney Carson and Carson McAllister’s Relationship Timeline

Witney Carson married her high school sweetheart, Carson McAllister, and the pair have been making fans swoon ever since. The Dancing With the Stars pro announced in October 2015 that her beau popped the question. “My love of four years @carson.mcallister proposed last night & I feel like the luckiest, happiest woman in the world.💍💕😍❤️,” […]

Carson also celebrated the news in an Instagram post on Monday, writing, “We’ve been keeping a secret… a new addition to the McAllister gang coming soon! We are so grateful and overjoyed to be growing our family 👼.”

A sweet clip showed the couple and their sons posing in a photo booth while holding up sonogram images.

Carson and her husband, former high school sweethearts, tied the knot on New Year’s Day in 2016. Four years after saying “I do,” the couple revealed that they were expecting their first baby. They became parents in 2021 when they welcomed son Leo.

“Named after his Grandpa who sent him down to us,” she captioned an Instagram photo of the little one sleeping at the time. “My little Leo, I love you more than words can express. You are the most precious gift. My life will forever be changed by your sweet spirit. Welcome to the world Leo.”

Carson and McAllister welcomed son Jet to their crew two years later.

“Jet Carson McAllister 🤍 ,” she wrote via Instagram in 2023. “Decided to join us two weeks early on May 13th at 9:21pm, just in time for Mothers Day 🤗🥹 Our hearts have doubled in size for our Jetty boy. He’s the most perfect addition to our family and has already given us so much joy! We love you baby boy.”

Related: Snow Bunnies! Pregnant Witney Carson Hits the Slopes With Husband and Son

Loving life with Leo! Witney Carson gave birth to her baby boy in January 2021 and has been posting pictures of the little one ever since. “After a really hard 24-hour labor and an unexpected C-section, we are all healthy and well,” the Dancing With the Stars pro captioned a black-and-white hospital photo of herself […]

One year after adding to their family, Carson exclusively told Us that she and her husband were relocating from Utah to Florida.

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“I was so scared of this huge change because it’s not just that I didn’t have my family; I was postpartum and just trying to get in the swing of things,” she told Us in 2024. “But I knew it was the right [move] so I pushed through and I’m so grateful that my husband was there with me to help bring it all together.”

While the couple were initially looking for “a vacation home” for their family, they knew this property was meant to be once they laid eyes on it.

“My [father-in-law’s] name was Kevin Leo and ever since he passed away, every symbol of a lion we’d find reminded us of him,” she explained. “The first thing we saw on the doors of the house were two lion heads and then the realtor was like, ‘Yeah the owners love lions’ so you’re going to see a lot of them in here.’ We bought the house that week.”

Disney’s live-action remakes of its animated classics were once sure-fire blockbusters. Movies like Jon Favreau‘s The Lion King, Kenneth Branagh‘s Cinderella, and Bill Condon‘s Beauty and the Beast made a fortune at the box office, and it soon seemed as if the company would translate every last animated feature in the Disney vaults into another live-action chart topper. However, the trend has become decidedly hit-and-miss in recent years. Sure bets like Snow White and Moana have disappointed, but last year’s Lilo & Stitch proved there was still some life in the genre. Now, Disney is preparing to unfurl another remake of one of their modern classics.

Tangled, a re-imagining of the classic German fairy tale, was released in 2010 to great acclaim and an almost $600 million USD take at the box office. It starred Mandy Moore as the eponymous long-tressed lass, who has been imprisoned in a tower by Mother Gothel (Donna Murphy), allegedly for her own protection. An encounter with the roguish Flynn (Zachary Levi) sends her on an adventure outside the tower walls. Now, director Michael Gracey (The Greatest Showman) is bringing it to live action, with Teagan Croft as Rapunzel, Milo Manheim as Flynn, Kathyryn Hahn as Mother Gothel, Caitríona Balfe and Eliot Cowan as the king and queen, and Diego Luna in a role that’s new to the film.

Tangled will venture into the still-barren release landscape of 2028, hitting theaters on March 31. It’s shaping up to be a family-friendly month, so far. Three weeks earlier, on March 10, Pixar’s new film, Ghost Market, will be released; one week later, the animated Dr. Seuss adaptation Oh, The Places You’ll Go is slated to make its theatrical debut. The much-delayed Fast and Furious franchise capper, Fast Forever, is set for release on March 17; while it isn’t exactly aimed at families, it is, of course, all about family. Meanwhile, one week after Tangled makes its bow, Beatlemania hits the screen as The Beatles – A Four-Film Cinematic Event makes its debut on March 7.

What Other Live-Action Disney Remakes Are in the Works?

Only one other Disney live-action remake has been confirmed to actually be in production: unsurprisingly, it’s a sequel to last year’s Lilo and Stitch, which pulled in over $1 billion last summer. Meanwhile, a number of announced live-action remakes have been put on the back burner or scrapped entirely, including Bambi, The Sword in the Stone, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Robin Hood, Hercules, and The Aristocats.

Tangled will be released on March 31, 2028. Stay tuned to Collider for future updates.

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Release Date

March 31, 2028

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Michael Gracey

Writers

Jennifer Kaytin Robinson

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Fans have high expectations for Prime Video’s most anticipated fantasy video game adaptation, yet it continues to draw criticism. As you may recall, Amazon officially announced God of War on December 14, 2022, after initial reports of negotiations emerged in early March. The adaptation will center on two Norse mythology-based games: 2018’s God of War and its 2022 sequel, God of War Ragnarök, bringing the compelling, character-driven franchise to small screens for the first time.

Four years later, when the casting decisions were announced, longtime fans immediately expressed disapproval, despite some initial support for Ryan Hurst as Kratos. Then the first-look images arrived, bringing even more criticism and gradually diminishing fans’ hope for Prime Video’s vision. Hurst has since left the project after an on-set injury in late June, prompting production to pause untilKratos can be recast. In the meantime, Dave Bautista is being considered for the role, and it has so far been met with some approval.

Still, the fantasy adaptation faces new criticism, this time from Christopher Judge, who voices Kratos in the games. Judge expressed concerns about studios developing video game adaptations without involving original video game team members. He mentioned this at FanExpo, specifically calling out Amazon and God of War. Now taking to X (formerly Twitter), the actor further explained his stance after a user commented on his age and suitability to play Kratos.

“I do know. As my kids tell me, I’m old as balls. I truly hope they find someone as great as Ryan. I was talking more about our writers and devs. I really want them to get the love and respect they deserve. I hope that for all writers and developers of the games that we love. No disrespect to TV and film writers. I had some of the best on Stargate.”

‘God of War’ Icon Has a Problem With Prime Video’s Adaptation

Speaking about his statement at FanExpo, Judge noted that although God of War veteran Cory Barlog is an executive producer on Prime Video’s series, none of the game’s writers helped develop the script. “When Amazon was finally approved and announced, and they didn’t hire any of the God of War writers… what are you thinking?” he said. “These guys have been immersed in this world for 20 years. But someone’s going to know better?”

Additionally, during a panel at Fan Expo Boston moderated by Collider’s Steve Weintraub, he applauded Sony’s Santa Monica for truly respecting franchise fans. Santa Monica, renowned for creating the God of War series, is considered by Judge to be one of the few studios particularly open to player feedback. “They actually respect the fans,” he stated. “Like, it’s not that hard of a thing to do. You ask people to pay for your product, or people invite you into their homes. The least you can do is respect what they have to say.”

Stay tuned to Collider for future updates about Prime Video’s God of War.

Hayden Panettiere opened up about her struggles with postpartum depression years before her sudden death at age 36.

Panettiere sought treatment for her postpartum depression in October 2015, nearly one year after giving birth to her and then-fiancé Wladimir Klitschko‘s daughter, Kaya. The actress revealed in a 2016 social media statement that she took time off work to “reflect holistically” amid her ongoing challenges.

At the time, Panettiere was playing Juliette Barnes on the hit series Nashville. She later reflected on how the show’s writers used her own mental health battle as inspiration for the fictional character she played.

Panettiere and Klitschko ultimately split in 2018, and she later relinquished full custody of their daughter while struggling with postpartum depression and addiction to alcohol and opioids. As a result, Kaya relocated to Ukraine to live with Klitschko.

Related: Hayden Panettiere’s Ups and Downs Over the Years

Hayden Panettiere faced professional and personal challenges before her death. The  actress started modeling at 5 months old and appeared in her first commercial when she was 11 months old. Her big break came in 1994 when she began playing Sarah Roberts on One Life to Live at age 5. She continued to impress onscreen with roles […]

Shortly before her death, Panettiere exclusively told Us she had an “incredible” relationship with both Klitschko and Kaya.

“I can’t even put into words. She’s just an incredible gift,” Panettiere gushed of her daughter in her May 2026 cover story. “She is just such an incredible human being. She’s otherworldly and so sweet and so kind and so fierce and such a lover and surrounded by good people and good friends, and it’s incredible for me to be able to watch her thrive in areas that I struggled with growing up.”

Three months later, news broke of Panettiere’s sudden death.

“It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden. She was an incredible light and a force of nature who brought immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her — and to the millions who watched her onscreen,” read a statement from her father, Skip Panettiere in August 2026. “We ask for privacy as our family takes time to process this unimaginable loss.”

Keep scrolling to see what Panettiere shared about navigating postpartum depression before her death:

Call or text the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline at 833-852-6262 for free, confidential support, available 24/7 in the U.S.

Opening Up About the Challenges

During a 2015 TV appearance, Panettiere addressed her postpartum depression diagnosis.

“I can very much relate. It’s something a lot of women experience. When [you’re told] about postpartum depression, you think it’s ‘I feel negative feelings toward my child, I want to injure or hurt my child.’ I’ve never, ever had those feelings,” Panettiere shared at the time. “Some women do. But you don’t realize how broad of a spectrum you can really experience that on. It’s something that needs to be talked about. Women need to know that they’re not alone, and that it does heal.”

Panettiere clarified the “misunderstanding” surrounding the mood disorder, adding, “There’s a lot of people out there that think that it’s not real, that it’s not true. That it’s something that’s made up in their minds, that, ‘Oh, it’s hormones.’ They brush it off. It’s something that’s completely uncontrollable. It’s really painful and it’s really scary and women need a lot of support.”

Seeking Help

Months after seeking help in October 2015, Panettiere took to social media with another update, writing via Twitter, “The postpartum depression I have been experiencing has impacted every aspect of my life. Rather than stay stuck due to unhealthy coping mechanisms I have chosen to take time to reflect holistically on my health and life. Wish me luck!”

Remaining Committed to Her Mental Health

Panettiere expressed her excitement about returning to work on Nashville after she checked into a treatment center.

“I was always so terrified that people weren’t going to accept me,” she told Yahoo! Style in May 2016. “I finally just went, I’m tired of living afraid. I’m tired of living in fear of what people are going to think, so, you know, I’m just going to put it all out there on the table and I’m not going to worry about the judgment.”

Discussing Her Struggles

Panettiere opened up about her battle with postpartum depression during a 2017 appearance on Good Morning America.

“It takes you a while. You feel off. You don’t feel like yourself,” she said about how her struggles made her a “better” mom. “But, you know, women are so resilient, and that’s the incredible thing about them. I think I’m all the stronger for it. I think I’m a better mom because of it. Because you never take that connection for granted.”

Being Written Off ‘Nashville’ Amid Her Struggles

In her 2026 memoir, This Is Me: A Reckoning, Panettiere recalled being temporarily written off of Nashville‘s fourth season to facilitate her going to rehab.

“The producers had no choice but to write me out of the script temporarily — something that killed me because I’d always prided myself on my professionalism — and I issued a statement about where I was going and why,” she wrote. “My fans and the press were hugely sympathetic — and I’ll always be grateful for that — but a part of my career I’d come to depend on suffered. Neutrogena canceled my long-standing contract, and it was yet another blow in a year that had given almost nothing else.”

Panettiere, who appeared in various advertising campaigns for Neutrogena, previously alluded to her partnership with the brand ending.

“I talk about traumatic moments and things that people don’t even know about,” she exclusively told Us in May 2026. “The abuse I went through at the hands of people that were supposed to be there to protect me. Admitting to all of the things that I did. I knew if I was going to do this, I wanted to be brutally, painfully honest. When I was honest about postpartum depression on Live With Kelly and Michael [in 2015], the repercussions were shocking. After that interview, I had no idea when I walked off that stage that I was going to get the call saying, ‘Neutrogena wants to fire you. They’re not OK with this.’ And you’re going, ‘Wait a second, of all the things, how can they judge me about something that is so human and so real?’”

Us reached out to Neutrogena’s parent company, Kenvue, for comment at the time.

Navigating Postpartum Depression in the Public Eye

“I had it, like, all planned out in my head, and as the plans just collapsed, the postpartum came, and I was completely out of control, and suddenly I was this … I was nowhere near the mom that I had sworn to myself that one day I was going to be and that was devastating,” Panettiere told Us in her May 2026 cover story.

She continued: “That was devastating. [It] was heartbreaking. I’m such a perfectionist in so many ways that being at least a good mother was just so, so important to me. And such a crushing blow when I was incapable of being, an even semi-decent mom, in my mind.”

At the time, Panettiere recalled the day Klitschko gave her the documents to sign over full custody of their daughter amid her personal struggles.

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“It was a nightmare,” she told Us. “It was a living nightmare, and I felt so out of control. There’s nothing that I could do about it.”

Looking back, Panettiere admitted she wasn’t sure she fully processed the situation.

“I feel like I would be lying if I said that I have, even to this day, been able to fully process them, those emotions in a healthy way,” she said. “I had to figure out, there was no other option to me, but to figure out how to stand back.”

Pokémon has a long-running history of producing new video games every few years, and in the past, The Pokémon Company has always found ways to bring your old Pokémon from previous generations to current consoles. Unfortunately, a service The Pokémon Company launched to help transfer Pokémon is now set to shut down in just a few months. Over the course of the last 30 years, over 1000 Pokémon have been designed and featured in the games, and for a while, The Pokémon Company has made it easy to transfer them to different consoles. But that will all change in 2027.

Pokémon began as a franchise in 1996 with the release of Pokémon Red and Green in Japan for the Game Boy, which later came out in the West as Pokémon Red and Blue. Since then, the company has released nine mainline Pokémon games, with the most recent being Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, and announced its 10th generation through the release of Pokémon Winds and Waves in 2027. ​​​​​​With the new release, fans may officially have to let go of some of their oldest pokémon.

The Pokémon Company has announced it will be shutting down its Pokémon Bank service in 2027. Introduced in 2013, this subscription cloud service platform allowed players to transfer their Pokémon from the 3DS games to online storage, which let them send them to the current system. According to the Japanese Pokémon website, Pokémon Bank will end its services on Friday, February 26, 2027, along with the function to transfer from Pokémon Bank to Pokémon HOME. Pokémon Bank’s end-of-service date was already expected by Pokémon fans when Nintendo closed the Nintendo eShop for the Nintendo 3DS back in 2023, which prevented new users from downloading Pokémon Bank after the shop’s closure date and gave existing users free access to use the service.

Pokémon HOME Is Now the Only Service Left To Transfer Pokémon Across Generations

With Generation 10 set to come out next year, the only way for players to bring their old Pokémon to newer generations post 2027 will be through Pokémon HOME. Pokémon HOME is a cloud service for iOS, Android, and Nintendo Switch, released in 2020, that lets players transfer Pokémon not just from Pokémon Bank, but also from other games like Pokémon GO. Like Pokémon Bank, Pokémon HOME offers a subscription option for players who want to store more Pokémon, and like the older service, certain Pokémon cannot be transferred to cloud storage. Because of the “Dexit controversy” (the incident when The Pokémon Company revealed that some pre-existing Pokémon would not be transferable to Pokémon Sword and Shield), some Pokémon also cannot be transferred out of HOME or sent to certain games.

Before these cloud storage services, Pokémon were transferable through features like the Nintendo DS’s free Pal Park, which used the Nintendo DS’s Game Boy Advance slot, the Game Boy’s Link Cable, which allowed trading between Generations I and II, or later through the Virtual Console on the Nintendo 3DS.

Pokémon Winds and Waves is scheduled to come out in 2027. Follow Collider for more updates.

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Release Date

1997 – 2023-00-00

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Network

TV Tokyo, TV Osaka, TV Aichi, TVh, TVQ, TSC

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Directors

Shigeru Omachi, Koji Ogawa, Fumihiro Ueno, Hideki Hiroshima, Maki Kodaira, Makoto Ooga, Ayumi Moriyama, Keitaro Motonaga, Shigeru Ueda, Fumihiro Yoshimura, Minoru Ohara, Yoshitaka Makino, Kiyoshi Egami, Makoto Sokuza, Bjarne Heuser, Naoki Murata, Kenichi Nishida, Tomoe Makino, Masahiko Watanabe, Hiroaki Takagi, Tazumi Mukaiyama, Ryohei Horiuchi, Yoshihiro Oda, Hiromichi Matano

Writers

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Junki Takegami, Atsuhiro Tomioka, Hideki Sonoda, Yukiyoshi Ôhashi, Yuka Miyata, Takeshi Shudo, Shouji Yonemura, Shinzo Fujita, Michihiro Tsuchiya, Deko Akao, Reiko Yoshida, Aya Matsui, Junichi Fujisaku

Franchise(s)

Pokemon

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• 

  Rica Matsumoto

  Satoshi (voice)

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  Ikue Otani

  Pikachu (voice)

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