Entertainment
‘Masters of the Universe’ Is Officially Doing What Modern Fantasy Movies Forgot How To Do
On May 21, 2025, at around 11 AM BST, I discovered that it actually is possible to make a movie that is full of color. In fact, it is quite easy to take the vibrant source material of a cartoon like He-Man and translate that not only into live-action, but onto the silver screen where movies are now far more likely to vacillate between poorly-lit shades of grey and beige. Couple this with the realization that Travis Knight’s Masters of the Universe was using practical sets, awe-inspiring creature work and prosthetics, and highly-detailed costumes, and it became apparent that Amazon MGM Studios and Mattel had chosen the right creative team to steward this project to fruition.
If you have read any of my reviews published throughout the last 5 years on Collider, you will recognize this oft-mentioned and incredibly un-fun factoid: the world as we know it is rapidly losing color. Not only have we been in a downward spiral since the ‘80s, but no one seems to care about bringing back what we have lost. For over a decade, audiences and critics have made their feelings about poorly-lit movies and series well-known. And yet, filmmakers continue to make it impossible to see and truly enjoy their hard-earned work. One pervasive theory is that the dimmer lighting allows filmmakers to better conceal the seams in the final product — particularly in cases where overworked, underpaid visual effects teams are being tasked with creating entire set pieces, costumes, and worlds within the confines of entirely green-screened sets.
I was relieved to learn that this wasn’t the case for Masters of the Universe. That’s not to diminish the film’s stunning visual effects, crafted by the talented teams at companies like Industrial Light & Magic, Rodeo FX, and DNEG under the guidance of visual effects supervisors Tim Burke and David Vickery. But those effects are built upon highly detailed practical sets, designed by the film’s two-time Academy Award-nominated production designer, Guy Hendrix Dyas. Together, the production design and visual effects teams worked in tandem to create a world that feels fully realized — and the results speak for themselves.
How ‘Masters of the Universe’ Remained Faithful to the Animated Series’ Color Scheme
Last spring, Dyas joined the bevy of journalists on the set of Masters of the Universe to discuss how they brought Eternia to life for the film. Before we even set foot on the actual sets, the sketches on the walls around us showcased a colorful, immersive world that was reminiscent of the animated series that many of the film’s creatives grew up with. Dyas readily admitted that he “fanatically” watched He-Man as a child growing up in Devon, England, and that childhood obsession had a clear throughline into the level of detail in each of his designs.
“What I’ve tried to do in every case is make sure that all the vehicles adhere to the original color schemes of the toys in the animation. Which has been really, honestly quite amazing for me as a designer who normally would always do spaceships in the classic sort of steel or gray.” Dyas explained while showing us his red-accented concept art for the Rotons — the intimidating saw-like vehicles used by Skeletor’s lackeys. “We all know spaceships are always gray, right? Not in this world.”
Among the sketches on the walls were the highly-detailed designs Dyas drafted for Eternia’s capital city, Eternos, which revealed a city that looked almost real. The designs factored in day-to-day life, with functional egress and ingress, and a clear understanding of how a civilization develops and evolves throughout its rise and eventual fall.
Dyas credited some of the city’s inspiration to famed concept artist Ralph McQuarrie, who provided uncredited concept art for Gary Goddard’s 1987 live-action adaptation. “I kept in mind [his] gestures of the domes, but I changed them into glass. I felt that if they were stone, it would start to look too much like a Star Wars world.” While McQuarrie’s designs were inspirational, they also lacked something that is integral to the ethos of He-Man. “I obviously ramped up the color because colors are a very, very big deal for Masters of the Universe. It’s not a world that shies away from vivid color, and that’s a very healthy thing.”
McQuarrie is, of course, best-known for his Star Wars concept art, but the connection between He-Man and Star Wars goes deeper than that. In 1976, Mattel passed on George Lucas‘ offer to produce a toy line for his emerging franchise, which led to Kenner’s iconic action figures — and also the inception of He-Man. Mattel’s lead designer, Roger Sweet, created the character as a sort of Conan the Barbarian meets Star Wars, and the end result was a character that remains undeniably recognizable forty years later. What set He-Man apart from the rest of its peers was the franchise’s bright color scheme, as Dyas said:
“When you look at most science fiction films, they do tend to lean into a singular palette. If you go and see Patrice [Vermette]’s work in Dune, it’s beautiful, but it’s all going to be kind of yellow and brown. If you go and look at Star Wars, it’s going to go more into the gray palette, that whole sort of Doug Chiang thing. So, what is the palette for this world? Well, one thing’s for sure, it’s not short on color. Our forests are absolutely vivid and beautiful.”
Later we went to see part of the forest that Dyas and his team were building, where the only color restriction was “no green.” A choice that may seem surprising for a forest, but once you see the film you will understand why the restriction was put into place. “I removed the color green because it just does something very weird to your brain. You’re looking at it, and you’re going, ‘I believe everything here, and yet there’s something amiss.’”
How ‘Masters of the Universe’ Takes Its Costumes and Props to the Next Level
“I’ve never done a job that is so intertwined with prosthetics before,” Masters of the Universe’s costume designer Richard Sale admitted. Sale has an expansive career designing costumes for Marvel and DC films, including Guardians of the Galaxy, Wonder Woman: 1984, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, but none of those movies have utilized prosthetics quite like this one. “One of the really cool things about this job has been the hopefully seamless work with Barrie [Gower]. It’s a joy to emphasize each other’s work.”
We were shown models and finalized prosthetics for characters like Goat Man, Spikor, and Pig-Head that featured a level of detail and care that made them look more like war trophies than examples of made-for-screen prosthetics. Of course, the most impressive example of the seamless partnership between costumes and prosthetics is Masters of the Universe’s iconic villain Skeletor (Jared Leto).
As Sale told us, “because he’s predominantly a prosthetic, our work couldn’t start until we had a signed-off prosthetic, and we didn’t have that until two weeks before filming. They needed a long time to make the suit to Jared’s size. So at that point, we did all the artwork with all of the detail, and we did the belt design and all the [smaller] bits. All of that can go along, but it’s not until you finally get him in the room, in [the prosthetics], that we can really start work on it.”
He explained how they went through several months of testing different cloaks and shades of purple, before they settled on the final version that looked best in-camera. Skeletor is a make-or-break character for a film like Masters of the Universe, and the end result is perhaps the film’s most impressive feat. The secret, Sale revealed, was not to one-to-one replicate the costumes from the animated series and toy line, but rather build onto the concepts they established.
“One of the choices I made early on when we designed Skeletor was to not have the cross strap, which is from the costume with the bones, because it became too similar in a way that just became a negative of each other. Again, we were trying to move away slightly from the bone idea — just for Skeletor. He lives in Snake Mountain, so he should be more snake-like. But then we used a lot of snake skeletons in the design, so we kept the bone thing alive, but just having it a little bit more referential to his detail.”
The film’s prop master, Steven Morris, made a point to highlight how much time it takes to craft props for a film as large-scale as Masters of the Universe, particularly when the scenes are filled with background performers that all need to be armed with weaponry with the same level of detail as the main cast’s weapons. “I’ve never been involved in a project of this size and scope, and the sheer volume of what has to be built from scratch, which is pretty much everything. You can touch all these things. You’ll see certain things have different weights. That’s purposely for the actors and for what we need out of the scene.” And these prop pieces weren’t outsourced — Masters of the Universe kept everything in-house, and that only strengthened the synergy between departments.
“Keep in mind, our movie takes place 20% on Earth, 80% on Eternia. You cannot walk into a Target or a Best Buy or any store and say, ‘Hey, can you show me the Eternian section? We’ve got to buy a bunch of shit for our movie.’ Every single solitary prop, costume, belt buckle, and gun is bespoke to this movie. Everything. We were not able to and would not take it from somewhere else. We built it from scratch. We have a 40,000 square foot factory across the street that is literally manufacturing these things in-house, so we can design something on set and basically have it by the end of the day in some sort of form, all under one roof.”
In a production filled with He-Man fans, it wasn’t surprising to learn that departments like Morris’ were focused on fan expectations. “We always knew that this is a movie that’s going to get judged — even though it’s huge — by the very [small] details that make up the film. So, we’ve been concerned about details from day one. Our art department has created a language, an Eternia language with a grid, with letters, and we have plastered throughout the sets and on Teela’s ship, different phrases that, if you take the time, and you want to nerd out, and you want to follow the grid [you can].”
Morris continued, “The super nerds out there — who are looking for everything that we’re doing online — all of that stuff, it’s important to them. The first comments we started getting back [when the first look was released] were about this: the patina, the weathering. Because it feels like it’s being used. It doesn’t feel like Star Wars, where everything was so clean and didn’t have that tactile response. They’re zeroing in on the details.”
No one sets out to make a bad film, but if you spend enough time on sets, you can often sense that people know that what they’re making isn’t going to be great. But on Masters of the Universe it was the complete opposite. Everyone knew what they were making was going to be a visual treat for He-Man fans — and even newcomers to the franchise. From department heads to the background performers on their smoke breaks between takes, there was a palpable belief that Masters of the Universe was going to defy the odds of most big-budget fantasy movies. And Morris credited that hopeful attitude to one person on set.
“From the tip of the spear down, I’ll tell you the reason this movie’s going to work, and I believe it, is because Travis [Knight], our director, not only wanted to make this movie, he needed to make this movie. These were more than toys; they were characters that became his friends. He literally came up in this universe, never knowing that now he was in charge of it and in control of it. And thank God he is, because there is not a better steward to be running that brand and all of these things.”
Travis Knight’s Stop-Motion Background Is ‘Masters of the Universe’s Secret to Success
Nearly a year to the date of the set visit, I find myself sitting across from Travis Knight at the junket for Masters of the Universe, a day after the world premiere in LA. After seeing the film fully embrace the vibrant colors we witnessed on set, I ask how he managed to achieve something many of his peers seem to struggle with: creating a film that is not only richly colorful, but also impeccably lit. His answer is far from surprising.
Travis Knight isn’t just a He-Man super-fan, he is the CEO of LAIKA — the world-famous stop-motion animation studio behind Coraline, ParaNorman, Kubo and the Two Strings, and the upcoming Wildwood, two of which Knight also directed. Stop-motion animation, like any form of animation, is incredibly intentional about even the most minute detail, especially where color and lighting is concerned.
“It starts when you have source material like the Filmation cartoon, which was this riot of color,” he explains. “It was polychromatic splendor. It was insane, their use of color in that cartoon. That was essentially my North Star. I kept going back to the art department, and naturally, you go in that direction, and people think, ‘No, this is crazy. This looks insane. We’ve got to throttle back from that.’ And look, you do have to make things look believable, but it is an alien planet, and I wanted it to be a really rich, vibrant experience. So, as you work on a process, things tend towards gray, and you’ve got to always push it back. I’m really, really pleased with where we arrived because the movie is kind of a rich, colorful, kaleidoscopic riot, and it’s just so much fun.” He explained:
“It helps that I come from a background in animation, which is an accommodation of practical stuff and digital stuff, and so it’s the blend of those things. It’s a little bit different in live action, but it’s fundamentally the same thing.”
Knight echoed the same sentiments we heard Dyas and Sale make a year prior. Every department worked together to create cohesive designs that worked in concert with each other. “The thing that I hadn’t really done to this extent was work in prosthetics, and I didn’t have appreciation for how time-consuming and how difficult it was,” Knight explained. “But I lucked out. My prosthetics lead is a guy named Barrie Gower, who is absolutely extraordinary, and he’s a huge He-Man fan, which helped too.”
Knight went on to praise Gower and his team for the passion they brought to the production and the ways they found creative solutions to expand the world of the film. “He and his team, they put so much of themselves into this movie. They went above and beyond. They created things that are like, ‘Well, we can’t afford to put Merman in the movie,’ so they created a little Merman mask and put a guy in the background, so we got Merman in the back somewhere. I mean, they put so much of themselves into the movie.”
He also highlighted how that meeting of minds led to a film that feels set apart from the last decade of sci-fi and fantasy projects. “I think that the physical, the practical stuff, the special effects, the combination of visual effects, when those things blend together in a harmonious way, and it doesn’t happen easily, it creates a magical spell. I’m delighted with the work that went into the movie.”
What became clear over the course of both the set visit and my conversation with Knight nearly a year later is that Masters of the Universe was never approached as just another toy adaptation or effects-heavy franchise film. It was built by artists and craftspeople who understood exactly why this world resonated with audiences in the first place — not just because of He-Man or Skeletor.
In an era where so many blockbusters feel visually interchangeable, Masters of the Universe dares to look distinct. It embraces color, texture, practical artistry, and sincerity without apology. Whether the film ultimately succeeds with audiences remains to be seen, but one thing is undeniable: every frame reflects a creative team that genuinely believed in what they were making, and that passion is impossible to fake.
Masters of the Universe is in theaters on June 5, 2026.
Masters of the Universe
- Release Date
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June 5, 2026
- Director
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Travis Knight
- Writers
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Chris Butler
- Producers
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Jason Blumenthal, Robbie Brenner, Steve Tisch, Todd Black
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Entertainment
John Cena and Eric André Bring Netflix’s Next Chaotic Romp to Life in Bonkers New Look
John Cena has become one of the most reliable comedy actors working today. A huge part of that success comes from how committed he stays to every situation his characters find themselves in, regardless of how absurd things become. Some of Cena’s funniest performances work because he approaches escalating chaos with complete sincerity, usually while looking increasingly disgruntled — or horrified — that everything around him is falling apart. Eric André, meanwhile, has built an entire career around creating exactly that kind of chaos.
That combination sits at the center of Netflix’s upcoming comedy Little Brother, which pairs Cena and André together in what already looks like one of the streamer’s strongest comedic pairings of the summer. Combining André’s unpredictable, confrontational energy with Cena’s increasingly refined straight-man comedy style makes Little Brother feel especially well-suited to both actors’ strengths. If you find yourself unable to wait for more from the upcoming movie after the official trailer debuted last week, Collider is thrilled to reveal an exclusive image of the starring duo in the movie ahead of its release next month as part of our Exclusive Summer Preview series.
Who Else Is in ‘Little Brother’?
Netflix’s upcoming comedy Little Brother stars Cena as a successful real estate agent whose carefully curated life begins unraveling after the sudden return of his eccentric former “little brother,” played by André. Directed by Ingrid Goes West filmmaker Matt Spicer, the movie also stars Michelle Monaghan, Christopher Meloni, Sherry Cola, Ego Nwodim, Caleb Hearon, Ben Ahlers, Bryce Gheisar, and Pilot Bunch. Little Brother was written by Jarrad Paul and Andrew Mogel, and is produced by David Bernad for Middle Child Pictures and Ruben Fleischer.
The movie marks the first major collaboration between Cena and André since Cena’s memorable appearance on The Eric Andre Show in 2020, where the actor brought the WWE skills he was still using pre-retirement to crash through the set. Little Brother appears ready to channel some of that same chaotic energy into a full-length feature, with André playing a character who rapidly dismantles the carefully controlled life Cena’s character has built for himself. Early details about the movie suggest a comedy driven heavily by escalating discomfort, awkward family dynamics, and the increasingly fragile patience of a man watching his perfectly organized world collapse.
Little Brother premieres on Netflix on June 26. Stay tuned with Collider for the next few days as we reveal exclusives from the biggest movies of the upcoming season.
- Release Date
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June 26, 2026
- Director
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Matt Spicer
- Writers
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Jarrad Paul, Andrew Mogel
Yellowstone‘s Marshals is returning for season 2 — but is everyone from the cast coming back?
The Paramount Network show, which premiered in 2018, introduced viewers to the fictional Dutton family. Yellowstone came to an end in 2024, expanding its universe with Luke Grimes‘ CBS show Marshals and Dutton Ranch, which premiered in May.
According to the official synopsis, Marshals follows Kayce as he leaves “ranching life behind to join an elite unit” of the U.S. Marshals while “combining his skills as a cowboy and Navy SEAL to bring range justice to Montana, where he and his teammates must balance family, duty and the high psychological cost that comes with serving as the last line of defense in the region’s war on violence.”
In addition to Grimes, the show stars Arielle Kebbel, Ash Santos, Tatanka Means, Brett Cullen and Logan Marshall Green. The season 1 finale hinted at several character deaths — and a possible cast exit.
Keep scrolling to see who is — and isn’t — returning in season 2:
Luke Grimes
There would be no Marshals without Grimes so Kayce is coming back.
Logan Marshall-Green
Cal’s life was left up in the air in the season 1 finale following a raid.
Arielle Kebbel
Kebbel’s Belle was also part of the raid that teased a shooting.
Ash Santos
As of the season 1 finale, Santos’ character Andrea was considering a move out of Montana.
Tatanka Means
Miles will be back when the show returns for a sophomore season on CBS.
CBS is expanding the Yellowstone universe with a spinoff centered around Kayce Dutton — but which alums are reprising their roles on the new show? Yellowstone, which premiered in 2018, introduced viewers to the fictional Dutton family, who own the largest ranch in Montana. After finding success on Paramount, creator Taylor Sheridan grew the Yellowstone […]
Brecken Merrill
Tate a.k.a Kayce’s son is expected to return after the season 1 finale put his life in danger.
Mo Brings Plenty
Mo will be back in season 2 of the Yellowstone spinoff.
Gil Birmingham
The same goes for Thomas Rainwater, who played a large role in season 1.
By Chris Snellgrove
| Published
If you’re ever really hungry for new Star Wars content, you don’t need to rely on Disney+. Instead, all you have to do is bust out your old Blu-rays and check out the special features. There, you will find deleted scenes that may completely change how you see the movie. For example, 2005’s Revenge of the Sith may be a goofy movie, but it has deleted scenes featuring Genevieve O’Reilly killing it as Mon Mothma nearly two decades before she played the character in Andor. Of course, the movie also has a deleted scene that will remind you of just how batsh*t insane George Lucas really is.
This deleted scene has been making the rounds on social media lately, and most who watch it have the same question: “is this AI?” The answer is no, this scene is very real, but it does involve the most famous artificial intelligence in a galaxy far, far away: droids. In this scene, we see Anakin and Obi-Wan discussing droid language, and then Anakin repeatedly speaks the droid language, complete with beeps and boops. It is (and I don’t say this lightly) one of the stupidest things in Star Wars history. However, in a bizarre twist, this scene plays a major part in some largely forgotten franchise lore.
The Dumbest Star Wars Deleted Scene
The deleted Revenge of the Sith scene takes place early in the movie, when Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker have boarded General Grievous’ ship to rescue Chancellor Palpatine. They have been in communication with R2-D2, but Anakin’s translator breaks. He asks his mentor if he can understand what the astromech is saying, and Obi-Wan responds by reminding his former padawan, “I’m not a protocol droid.” Anakin then tries to translate part of what R2 said, complete with droid noises. He does so again when Obi-Wan corrects him about the interpretation (namely, that the droid wants them to go up, not down).
The scene is wonderfully absurd. It wouldn’t be so crazy for Anakin Skywalker to simply know what R2-D2 is saying. At different points in the franchise, we have seen characters like Luke Skywalker, Poe Dameron, and Rey understand droids’ binary language without the use of a translator or a protocol droid. But actually having Anakin speak that language out loud, with perfect robotic inflection, is insane. Could anybody do this (kind of like how Han Solo learned to speak Wookie), or is this a Jedi thing? If nothing else, the scene is hilarious because it sounds like Anakin is cursing, and his vulgar language has been bleeped (or should we say beeped?) out.
Did Obi-Wan Use DuoLingo?
As stupid as this Revenge of the Sith deleted scene is, though, it arguably plays an important part in the lore. For example, many fans think that Obi-Wan Kenobi can understand what R2-D2 is saying in A New Hope because he speaks to the droid conversationally and finds Princess Leia’s hidden message so easily, possibly because R2 had told him what to do. If that’s true, then it’s evidence of weird character development. Obi-Wan couldn’t speak Binary (the droid language) in Revenge of the Sith, but he may have found the time to do so while watching over young Luke Skywalker (after all, there’s not much to do on Tatooine).
Additionally, the Anakin in this deleted scene is a bit more like his later portrayal in the Clone Wars cartoon. Over the years, some fans have felt like there were basically two different Anakins: the brooding, future Vader of the prequels and the quirky, slightly wacky Jedi warrior of the cartoon. Here, we see that these two Anakins are one and the same, and the same guy who would be slaughtering children by the end of the film is doing robot impressions at the beginning.
This isn’t the most important deleted scene in Star Wars history, but it might just be the weirdest. It shows us a different side of Anakin Skywalker while also injecting a bit of sideways humor into an otherwise very serious film. In its own way, this scene also hints at Anakin’s future transformation into Darth Vader because (based on his goofy beeps and boops) he was clearly “more machine than man” long before his duel with Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Jayda Cheaves sparked major reactions online after popping up on TikTok with a new hairstyle, with some calling her a trendsetter once again while others debated the viral look.
Related: Girl, BYE! Jayda Cheaves Sets The Record Straight After TikTok User Criticizes Her Appearance (VIDEOS)
Jayda Cheaves Shares TikTok Showing Off Her New Hairstyle
Over the weekend, Jayda Cheaves took to TikTok to share a new video with her more than 4.6 million followers. In the clip, the influencer danced to Drake’s new track, ‘Shabang,’ but many social media users quickly shifted their attention to her hairstyle instead. Jayda rocked four braids in the front of her hair, with long, sleek bundles flowing down her back. The hairstyle immediately sparked conversation online, with some calling her a trendsetter once again while others debated whether the look was really new. See below:
Social Media Reacts
Social media users quickly flooded The Shade Room Teens’ comment section with reactions to Jayda’s latest look.
Instagram user @yakthedoll wrote, “Her hair looks nice 😍”
Another Instagram user @nonchalanttt.t wrote, “Yeah this style been round lol”
While Instagram user @living_with_beauty wrote, “Why we ain’t never saw y’all with it? Since it’s been out?”
Instagram user @daonlyprincess_ wrote, “We been getting braids in the front… nothing to see here 🤣🤣🤣🤣”
Another Instagram user @dahbrat.ty wrote, “Y’all hate on Jayda so bad 😭😭 she ain’t say it they did tf yall be mad cause she cute af living life 😂”
While Instagram user @__jaiii__ wrote, “We know she didn’t create the style SHE’S A TRENDSETTER meaning she made it popular again 😌”
Instagram user @prettynai_ wrote, “I hate the internet so bad 😂😂”
Another Instagram user @backwoodbarbe wrote, “The stylist blocked me because I said it gives unfinished wig install 😂😂 & it does tf. MY OPINION BTW..”
While Instagram user @ayoo.t2 wrote, “How are yall mad? Everything she does the girls literally copy… it’s not her fault 😂😂😂”
Jayda Cheaves Responds To Reactions About Her Hairstyle
As the debate continued online, Jayda also jumped into the comments.
After one user questioned, “Am I the only one who doesn’t like the style?” Jayda replied, “L comment tho tbh.” Jayda also responded to a TikTok user who claimed she got the same hairstyle the day before Jayda posted her viral video. In response, Jayda wrote, “lettuce seeeeee🥰”
Elsewhere in the comments, the influencer showed love to supporters inspired by the hairstyle. After one commenter wrote, “Oh thanks for my new hair inspo because my leave out giving fried anyways 😂,” Jayda replied, “this one for us 😂😂😂”
Related: Open Book? Jayda Cheaves Claps Back At Trolls After Emotional Video Goes Viral And Folks Have Mixed Reactions (VIDEO)
What Do You Think Roomies?
Entertainment
“Heated Rivalry” musical parody recreates Shane and Ilya's 'Boy Aquarium' in first production photos (exclusive)
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See Jimin Moon’s Shane and Jay Armstrong Johnson’s Ilya at the cottage.
The Lord of the Rings fans are in for a big year in 2026 with the return of the Prime Video original series, The Rings of Power. Prime Video confirmed last year that production on the third season had wrapped filming, and the studio doubled down on the show by announcing a November 11 premiere date for Season 3. The Lord of the Rings fans are also gearing up for a return to theaters next year with The Hunt for Gollum, which is coming to the big screen on December 18, 2027, the same day as Avengers: Secret Wars. Lord of the Rings fans were dealt a blow not long ago when it was confirmed that Viggo Mortensen would not reprise his role as Aragorn in the film — Jamie Dornan will play the character instead.
One part of The Lord of the Rings franchise that has helped it become the biggest fantasy franchise in the world — it’s not particularly close — are the various creatures that occupy the movies and TV shows. Whether it’s watching Aragorn run down a pack of Orcs, or seeing Gandalf fly into battle on a Giant Eagle, there are aspects of large-scale Lord of the Rings battles that you can’t get from any other franchise. One of the more harrowing creatures in The Lord of the Rings are the Nazgul, or the Ringwraiths, who are in constant pursuit of the Fellowship throughout the original trilogy. Sideshow Collectibles has announced a new Nazgul art print known as The Black Rider, is set to officially launch this summer at a currently unspecified date. The print comes in various sizes that retail from $85 to $365.
Who Else Stars in ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum’?
In addition to Jamie Dornan as Aragorn, the rest of the ensemble cast for The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum includes Lee Pace as Thranduil, Leo Woodall as Halvard, Andy Serkis as Gollum, Kate Winslet as Marigol, Elijah Wood as Frodo Baggins, and Ian McKellen as Gandalf. The film will be set between the events of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit movies, and it will follow Aragorn as a young ranger while he searches for Gollum to keep the ring out of Sauron’s hand. Andy Serkis is also directing The Hunt for Gollum with a script from Philippa Boyens, Phoebe Gittins, Arty Papageorgiou, and Peter Jackson, who also produces.
Stay tuned to Collider for more updates and coverage of The Lord of the Rings franchise.
- Release Date
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December 17, 2027
- Writers
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Arty Papageorgiou, Phoebe Gittins, Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, J.R.R. Tolkien
- Franchise(s)
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The Lord of the Rings
Bam Margera would not be gracing the “Jackass” carpets.
The stuntman would be unavoidably absent at the big event when the movie drops next month. Even though he returned to the franchise after his major fallout and legal ordeals with the director, Jeff Tremaine, and his fellow actor, Johnny Knoxville, it seems that old wounds are yet to be completely healed.
Bam Margera’s being a no-show at the movie premiere does not indicate his support for the franchise. He previously agreed to have footage of some of his exclusive stunts featured in the upcoming movie.
Surprisingly, the stuntman received an invitation to the Hollywood premiere of “Jackass: Best and Last” but has reportedly RSVP’d that he will not attend.
Margera got the ticket to the big event for the final “Jackass” movie, which would hit the theatres next month. Although others are counting down the days until the star-studded event, the actor will not be present due to a prior engagement.
Sources tell TMZ that, in addition to his other plans, he is not quite ready for a heavily publicized reunion after a bitter fallout with the cast, specifically Knoxville and Tremaine. Notwithstanding, Margera is rooting for the film to be a huge success like the others have been.
Margera was fired from the last film for allegedly breaking his contract with the franchise. He reportedly did not stick to the terms that stipulated he had to remain sober following his struggles with substance abuse and addiction.
This firing was the tip of the iceberg for a bitter fallout, public callouts, and legal scruffles with the “Jackass” crew and Paramount.
The Actor Still Supports The Franchise Despite Messy Fallout
The stuntman sued Paramount, Knoxville, and Tremaine over wrongful termination in 2022. This became heated online, as Margera called out his fellow actor on social media and even challenged him to a bare-knuckle fight in 2024.
The legal war apparently became water under the bridge after they settled the case and he returned to be part of “Best and Last.”
The professional skateboarder also made a deal earlier this year that allowed producers to use previously unseen footage of him in the upcoming movie, along with some newly shot stunts.
Margera might not be present at the premiere, but he would have some sort of representatives, according to insiders.
His parents, April and Phil, who are huge fans of the franchise, would be at the Hollywood premiere of the final film next month, even though their son would not be there.
Recovery Was Top Of The List For The Stuntman
Margera’s struggles with substance abuse and addiction are no secret, as he has faced multiple arrests for public intoxication and physical altercation.
He was jailed in Pennsylvania in September 2024 for violating his probation following a September 16 arrest for suspicion of DUI.
The actor was released on September 25, 2024, after agreeing to enter a treatment facility. The Blast reported that he agreed to undergo a short-term program at the Recovery Centers of America for Inpatient Treatment.
According to his attorney, Margera had stayed on the right track for over a year and passed all his drug screenings at the time. Because he went directly from jail to the recovery center, it helped expedite the closure of his probation case.
Before the pro-skateboarder decided to turn his life around, he almost lost the use of his legs due to drug abuse, which would have been fatal considering his career.
The ‘Jackass’ Star Opened Up About His Struggles
As reported by The Blast, Margera recalled a dark period in his life when he almost lost the most valuable part of his body because of his bad habits.
He shared his story at an event for the “Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4” video game, revealing that he had also lost passion for the physical activity he had previously loved most.
The actor shared that, at that time, he felt so lost and out of touch with skating for about a decade, until he took time to reflect on his major sources of happiness.
After deep thought, Margera realized that skateboarding was at the top of the list and ultimately decided to pick himself back up.
“You know, in 2013, the doctor said they were dry-rotted rubber bands from alcohol abuse, so I kind of lost hope. But now they are back to 100percent. I’m skating again,” the stuntman previously said of his legs.
With the help of his wire, Dannii Marie, he was able to regain his physical health, work on his sobriety, and return to the skating rink.
Bam Margera Had Years Long Legal Battle With Ex-Wife
The stunt expert was involved in a legal feud with his ex-wife, Nikki Boyd, over child support fees for their son, Phoenix.
Boyd had primary custody of Phoenix since the couple split and requested that the court order her ex to pay $15,000 in child support monthly.
She claimed that her request stemmed from her financial struggles in addition to alleging that Margera did not cover their son’s health insurance, housing, child care, or education.
Boyd also claimed that her ex-husband, as a prominent media figure, could afford to shoulder the financial burden of Phoenix’s needs.
After dueling for years in court, the former lovers reached an agreement for the former MTV star to pay $2,500 per month in child support fees.
The Blast reported that Boyd, however, remained the provider for Phoenix’s health insurance coverage. Margera and Boyd were married for almost ten years, and she filed for full custody of their son after they pulled the plug on their union in 2021.
Pretty Woman is easily one of the most popular romantic comedies of all time. The rags-to-riches tale of a sex worker who falls in love with a wealthy businessman has charmed audiences the world over and made Julia Roberts into a movie star overnight.
But is it the best?
While Pretty Woman continues to endure as a high point of the rom-com genre, we feel that there are just three other romantic comedy movies that manage to surpass it.
Watch With Us has pooled together a list of rom-coms that we believe are the only ones that outshine Pretty Woman.
When we say “1990s,” what movie genre pops into your head? It was probably romantic comedy — because these delightful little films that combined humor and heart dominated the box office at the end of the 20th century. Stars like Julia Roberts, Richard Gere, Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks stole scene after scene as the […]
‘The Princess Bride’ (1987)
While in bed recovering from illness, a young boy (Fred Savage) receives a visit from his grandfather (Peter Falk), who brings the fantasy romance story of Princess Buttercup (Robin Wright) and the swashbuckling farmhand, Westley (Cary Elwes). Reluctant to be read a “love story,” the boy can’t help but be pulled into the riveting tale of pirates, giants, duels to the death and, ultimately, true love. After Buttercup falls in love with Westley while he works for her, he leaves to seek a fortune for them. In his absence, Buttercup is forcibly betrothed to the nefarious Prince Humperdink (Chris Sarandon), and Westley must return to fight for his soulmate.
Infused with charm, tenderness and laugh-out-loud humor through direction by Rob Reiner and a screenplay by William Goldman, The Princess Bride is a timeless fantasy-adventure rom-com classic that will tug at your heartstrings just as intensely as it leaves you in stitches. The post-modern fairytale is a deft blend of romance, action and comedy that takes familiar tropes of damsels in distress and turns them into something fresh and exciting. Almost 40 years later, The Princess Bride still feels just as fresh.
‘Bridget Jones’s Diary’ (2001)
32-year-old publicity assistant Bridget Jones (Renée Zellweger) decides her life needs an overhaul, and at the start of the new year, she dedicates herself to keeping a diary to help make herself accountable for quitting smoking, drinking less and losing weight. Having mostly relegated her fantasies about her attractive but womanizing boss, Daniel Cleaver (Hugh Grant), to only her diary musings, the two begin flirting at the office. But no sooner does Bridget begin manifesting the life she wants to have than she suddenly finds herself the object of affection between two handsome men: Daniel and his ex-friend, Mark (Colin Firth).
Part of the reason Bridget Jones’s Diary has endured is its relatable and unapologetically authentic portrayal of womanhood through the character of Bridget, a flawed woman struggling to navigate a hellish modern dating landscape. Bridget’s humorous inner monologues are both insightful and hilarious, allowing her to be an endearing and memorable character. Ultimately, the movie is an honest look at the desire for love, connection and self-acceptance.
‘Forgetting Sarah Marshall’ (2008)
Composer Peter Bretter (Jason Segel) was formerly known as the boyfriend of TV star Sarah Marshall (Kristen Bell), but after she unceremoniously dumps him for British rockstar Aldous Snow (Russell Brand), Peter would rather just not exist. Struggling with the breakup, Peter decides to help himself get over Sarah by booking a trip to Oahu, Hawaii — but when he gets there, he finds his ex already staying there with her new boyfriend. Nevertheless, Peter tries to make the most of his less-than-ideal vacation, where he befriends the pretty hotel receptionist (Mila Kunis) and a doofy surfing instructor (Paul Rudd).
Only a select few actresses are synonymous with the romantic comedy movie genre —and Julia Roberts is certainly one of them. From her 1988 foray into the genre in the beloved film Mystic Pizza, in which a young Roberts plays a teenage pizza waitress desperate to find her way after graduating high school, to her […]
Forgetting Sarah Marshall is a rom-com that is equal parts funny and tender; a warm-hearted look at forgiveness, moving past heartbreak and finding new love that is unique in that it is essentially a romantic comedy geared towards men. Segel is outstanding in his role as the desperate and painfully humiliated Peter, and the film surpasses any notions of just being a superficial bro comedy in its nuanced screenplay and well-developed characters. Plus, the in-universe Dracula puppet musical is a genuine work of art.
Brynn Whitfield joined Bravo’s “The Real Housewives of New York City” for its 14th season, which served as a full reboot for the series. However, in June 2025, she announced her departure after appearing in two seasons. Now, the “RHONY” alum is opening up about her decision to leave and reflecting on why she fell out of love with being a housewife.
Whitfield appeared on “Casual Chos with Gia Giudice” in May 2026. During the episode, Giudice mentioned that many “RHONY” fans are unhappy that Whitfield will not be a part of the upcoming 16th season. She then asked the Bravo alum if she regrets her decision to leave.
She responded, “Walking away from it, I did it definitely with a heavy heart.” Whitfield then stated that she enjoyed several aspects of being on “RHONY,” including working with Bravo and NBCUniversal, as well as some of her costars. However, the 39-year-old went on to say, “When something’s no longer fun, I’m out immediately.”
From there, the “Housewives” alum claimed “it felt icky during filming,” then recalled removing her microphone pack and fleeing to London, only to receive a phone call demanding she return to film the season.
According to her, “I was kicking and screaming the whole season.”
Brynn Went Into Detail About Season 15
Whitfield continued discussing season 15 of “The Real Housewives of New York City,” which was filmed in early to mid 2024. After stating that she enjoyed her first outing on the show, she said, “The entire time filming that season 15, it was miserable. It was just pulling teeth, and I felt, I was just like, ‘this is gonna bomb.’”
From there, she recalled conversations with her costars in which she told them, “You gotta bring it,” while they felt the season was going well and would be well received by “RHONY” fans. Still, Whitfield says she has no regrets, though there are certain things she perhaps wouldn’t share on camera if she could have the experience again.
Fans Are Weighing In
Bravo’s reboot of “The Real Housewives of New York City” never won over most fans. Still, people are weighing in on Whitfield’s reasoning for leaving the show and her thoughts on season 15. Overall, many think she’s rewriting history.
One person said on X, “She’s the one who made it icky by trying to engineer fake fights and then lying to Ubah.” Someone else wrote, “Didn’t she start some BS & was caught in a lie? I can’t remember exactly what happened bc this new cast wasn’t as good as the Original – except for Jenna Lyons; I dig her & her style.”
A different person stated, “So basically she was just as bored as we were and fabricated some sh-t to attempt to make the season bearable.”
Lastly, another fan doubted everything Whitfield said. According to them, “I’m sorry, but I cannot believe one word she says. I don’t believe she was asked back, and at the very least, it would have been a mutual agreement. She skirts over the last season, like she didn’t accuse a cast member of something horrific.”
Brynn Announced Her Exit In June 2025
Season 15 of “The Real Housewives of New York City” finished airing in February 2025. After that, it was unclear when the show would return and which ladies would resume their stints as cast members. Then, in June 2025, Whitfield took to Instagram Stories to share that she would not be returning.
Per PEOPLE, she said, “After a lot of thought, I’ve made the decision to walk away from reality TV. For now. ‘The Real Housewives of New York City’ will always be one of the most fun, chaotic, and magical chapters of my life. It was the honor of a lifetime to help reboot such an iconic franchise.”
She continued, “From day one, I’ve believed ‘RHONY’ is a fan’s show — we’re just temporary custodians of something that truly belongs to the viewers.” Whitfield also used her exit statement to discuss her dating app, Hoppy.
‘RHONY’ Season 16 Is Now In Production
Several months after Whitfield announced her exit, Bravo revealed the returning cast members for “RHONY” season 16, a soft reboot. They are Sai De Silva, Jessel Taank, and Erin Lichy. It was also announced that “Housewives” legend Carole Radziwill would be a friend of the show.
The new cast members are Hailey Glassman, Erika Hammond, and Daisy Toye. Production is currently underway.
Stephen Colbert is not done with TV, at least not yet!
Just a day after hosting the grand finale of his CBS late-night show, the comedian made a surprise return to the airwaves on a program he previously appeared on back in 2015.
Meanwhile, Colbert’s CBS farewell has sparked reactions from Donald Trump, who celebrated the news and hoped the same fate would hit other late-night hosts.
When Colbert gave his final run, he quipped that show business is probably where his fans would see him “next.” Staying true to his words, Colbert guest-hosted the May 22 episode of “Only in Monroe”.
He was joined by music director Jack White and guest Jeff Daniels, with cameo appearances by Eminem and Steve Buscemi. The 62-year-old TV personality kicked off his appearance on the Michigan public access show with a jab at the close of his 11-year run with his former employers.
“It’s been an excruciating 23 hours without being on TV,” Colbert said. “So I am grateful to be able to be here on Monroe Community Media before they also get acquired by Paramount.”
Colbert continued the night with more jabs at his previous role, even FaceTiming his successor, Byron Allen, and joking that the small-town show was now competing with Allen’s “Comics Unleashed.”
“So we’re opposite you right now,” Colbert said on the call, per Variety. “I hate to do that, but I’m coming for you, brother. I can’t give up. I’m coming for you.”
Stephen Colbert Wanted More Time On The Late Night Show
As Colbert moves on from his past role, he has reflected on his exit, admitting it was not how he imagined. Per The Blast, the writer said he would have preferred to leave “a little older” and on his own terms.
Colbert then compared the close of the late show with the ending of “The Colbert Report,” explaining that back then, he chose the final day himself and had known about it two years in advance. This time, however, the decision wasn’t his, and it took months before he even knew when the last episode would happen.
Still, he joked that maybe it was a hidden gift, because since the choice wasn’t his, he could make fun of the situation without being seen as the “bad guy.”
Colbert certainly leaned into the humor, reportedly throwing a themed party with the dress code “fired and festive” to mark the occasion.
How Donald Trump Celebrated Stephen Colbert’s Departure
Following Colbert’s last episode, Trump did not hide his excitement. The president took to his Truth Social platform, mocking the political commentator as talentless and comparing him to a “dead person,” according to The Blast.
Later that morning, Trump doubled down, calling Colbert’s exit the “Beginning of the End” for late-night hosts he considers overpaid and unfunny.
He wrapped up his comments with a sharp jab, saying others “of even less talent” would follow before adding, “Rest in Peace.”
Trump took his celebration a step further by posting an AI-generated video that showed him sneaking up behind Colbert during what looked like the start of a monologue. In the clip, Trump grabbed Colbert by the suit and tossed him into a green dumpster.
Robert De Niro Slammed Donald Trump On Colbert’s Program
While Trump now makes merry about Colbert’s farewell, the final stretch of the show still included several jabs aimed at him. In the days leading up to the finale, Robert De Niro appeared and used the moment to criticize the US leader.
The Blast reported that during a segment in which guests asked Colbert questions, he revealed that his secret number was three.
De Niro quickly joked that he thought the number should have been “two and a half million,” a pointed reference to the Epstein files he claimed Trump had not released.
Colbert Said He Would Continue Speaking Out About the Country
Even as Colbert’s show continued taking shots at Trump in its last days, the host made it clear that stepping away from the CBS desk would not change his commitment to the country. “I’ll never stop caring about my country,” Colbert declared, per The Blast.
He added that while he’s fine being a fan of himself, he doesn’t believe his absence from the national conversation will harm the republic.
The producer also reflected on his career path, describing the journey as a “happy accident” that turned out beautifully.
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