A Wisconsin high school teacher arrested on child sexual assault charges is accused of having “multiple victims,” according to law enforcement.

Nadia M. Horn was arrested after Eau Claire Area School District employees told police on Wednesday, March 25, that there was “a potential inappropriate relationship between a staff member and a student,” the Eau Claire Police Department said in a news release issued that same day.

A resource officer at North High School started to investigate and gathered information of alleged criminal activity involving Horn, 22, who teaches at the high school, according to police.

Horn was a part of the school’s special education staff, WQOW reported.

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A recently engaged Wisconsin woman will spend the next six years in prison after allegedly admitting to kissing an 11-year-old boy in her classroom — and later sending him 35,000 explicit text messages. Madison Bergmann, 26, was working as a fifth grade teacher at River Crest Elementary School in Hudson, Wisconsin, until the victim’s father […]

She is now suspected of preying on multiple minors, according to police.

“Through the course of the investigation, multiple victims have been identified,” police said.

It was not immediately clear whether Horn had retained an attorney who could comment on her behalf as of Friday, March 27.

Horn is facing chargings of sexual assault of a child by a school staff person and second-degree sexual assault of a child, according to police.

“The Eau Claire Police Department is committed to ensuring that the victims receive support and services,” police said.

Additional information on the sexual assault allegations were not provided by law enforcement.

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“On Wednesday, March 25, 2026, we learned of alleged inappropriate conduct by a staff member,” Superintendent Mike Johnson said in a statement obtained by WQOW that was sent to families of students attending North High School. “The North High School and District Administration contacted law enforcement immediately upon learning of this allegation. The staff member has been suspended without pay, pending legal resolution.”

“Learning about alleged inappropriate conduct by a staff member is deeply troubling for all of us,” the superintendent also wrote in the statement. “We kindly request that the school community respect the privacy of our students and their families and refrain from spreading rumors or speculation. Our Student Services staff are available to help any child or staff who may be experiencing difficulties with this news.”

Following her arrest, Horn was booked in the Eau Claire County Jail, police said.

The Eau Claire Police Department is asking anyone with information relevant to the ongoing investigation into Horn to call the department’s non-emergency line at (715) 839-4972.

The city of Eau Claire is about a 90-mile drive east from Minneapolis, Minnesota.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

The Drama director Kristoffer Borgli is receiving backlash after an essay he wrote in 2012 justifying his relationship with a teenager has resurfaced on Reddit.

In a piece for Norwegian magazine Dagens Naeringsliv written in 2012, Borgli, 40, described his “exotic summer” dating a 16-year-old girl, which is the age of consent in Norway, when he was 10 years her senior, calling it a “May-December” relationship. (The term “May-December” refers to a romantic age difference that society disapproves of.)

“I met a girl ten years younger than me whom I liked very much — a girl who wasn’t old enough to vote — and I had to find something that could recalibrate my moral compass,” Borgli, who was 27 dated the teen, wrote in the essay, translated to English by The Hollywood Reporter on Thursday, March 26. “The few friends I confided in about my situation responded that it was not ‘within bounds.’ That confirmed that it was precisely a May-December romance.”

The director, whose latest film The Drama is set to hit theaters in April, recalled the evolution of his romance with the teen girl, including their mostly shut-in lifestyle.

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“Beside me lay a blonde girl, a high school student enjoying the sporadic holidays in May,” Borgli remembered of their time in his apartment. “I chose to see her that way, to define her by her age, and I chose never to see her again.”

He confessed, “But you can’t choose what the heart wants.”

Borgli explained that in order to sort out his “emotional dilemma” he turned to Lost in Translation, which depicted a May-December romance with Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson who were 53 and 18, respectively, while filming.

The filmmaker pointed to Woody Allen’s Manhattan as the biggest influence on whether he would continue to see this girl. He noted the 1979 film featured a 42-year-old man dating a 17-year-old girl, presented in a “positive way” that caused “no controversy.”

“Why shouldn’t my relationship — with a considerably smaller age difference — in 2012 be ‘within bounds’?” Borgli mused, revealing, “I chose to listen to Woody over my friends.”

Borgli shared that he was “fascinated” by the girl’s life, calling her “quite equal” to him as she was into piano, went to gallery openings and felt grown up.

“Suddenly we were together all the time — long days in my apartment, eggs and bacon with Woody Allen films for breakfast (she was also a fan), long walks with her parents’ dog, and late midweek evenings at restaurants and bars (where they didn’t check ID),” he confessed.

Borgli added that when the girl’s parents were away they drank their wine and read their books.

“That summer, I didn’t travel — for the first time as long as I can remember — but the time we spent together that summer in her parents’ apartment was nonetheless the best and most exotic summer I’ve ever had,” he wrote, but once her parents came home “unexpectedly early from vacation” and he had to exit the first floor window the romance came to a halt.

Borgli concluded, “The summer ended, and our weeklong weekends became ordinary weekdays. She was May; I was December.”

Us Weekly has reached out to Borgli and A24, the production company behind The Drama, for comment.

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After THR translated the essay, it made its rounds on Reddit — and users were quick to slam the director for his past actions.

“Ooooof that’s disappointing. Had no idea about this,” one fan wrote on the forum.

“What a f***ing creep,” another fan replied. “So, instead of accepting that he’s a creep who should not act on his creepiness, he decided everyone else was wrong and fellow creeps’ 1970s fantasies should guide his life?”

A third user confessed they didn’t want to support Borgli’s new film ahead of its Friday, April 3, release.

“Well … guess I won’t be watching The Drama,” the person wrote on Reddit. “I’m usually pretty good at separating art and artist usually but preying on vastly underage girls is where I draw a line 🙅.”

Andrew Garfield isn’t holding back when it comes to his views on J. K. Rowling, as he draws a firm line between the creator and her work.

Over the years, the bestselling author has been outspoken about her “gender-critical” stance, sparking widespread backlash. In response, some cast members have publicly distanced themselves, while others have shown support.

Now, Garfield is praising the brilliance of “Harry Potter” while withholding recognition from the woman behind it.

Andrew Garfield Praises ‘Harry Potter’ Franchise But Snubs Its Famous Author 

In a recent interview, the “Amazing Spider-Man” alum spoke about his introduction to the wizarding world and gushed about the original cast and the crew members. 

“Daniel is so goddamn good. Honestly, I hadn’t watched the Harry Potter movies until recently,” the actor shared on the March 26 episode of “Hits Radio.” “He’s really good in those movies. Those Harry Potter movies are really good.”

However, Garfield blatantly refused to give credit to the brain behind the books, appearing to allude to her stance on societal issues. 

“I know it’s controversial and we shouldn’t be putting money in the pocket of inhumane legislation right now through she that shall remain nameless,” he explained, adding that he couldn’t help but disassociate the message in the project from the maker. 

He said the film carried themes, creativity, and wonderful actors, which he cannot entirely reject solely because of its creator.

“You can’t throw the baby out with the bathwater,” Garfield shared. “There are so many beautiful artists that worked on those films. I have a newfound appreciation for all of the artists.”

Keira Knightley Unaware Of J.K. Rowling Controversy While Joining Audiobook Cast

While Garfield spotlighted the work of the cast and crew, other actors have responded differently to the debate surrounding Rowling.

The Blast reported that Keira Knightley, who voices Dolores Umbridge in the series audiobooks, revealed she had no idea about the backlash tied to the author.

The actress appeared genuinely surprised when asked about the controversy, admitting she was completely unaware before apologizing for her lack of knowledge. She added that people hold different views and stressed the need for society to coexist respectfully despite disagreements.

Pedro Pascal Slammed The Famed Writer’s Opinion As ‘Loser Behavior’

Pedro Pascal has taken a far more critical stance, calling out Rowling on multiple occasions.

According to The Blast, in April last year, after activist Tariq Ra’ouf urged fans to boycott future projects connected to the franchise, Pascal labeled the author a “heinous loser.”

He doubled down in June, comparing the backlash surrounding Rowling to a child repeatedly sent to the principal’s office for behavioral issues, scared, but wondering what he had done wrong.

The “Game of Thrones” actor admitted he contemplated whether speaking out was truly making a difference, stressing that his concern wasn’t about backlash but about real impact. He emphasized the need for thoughtful, effective action that leads to protection for people.

How ‘Harry Potter Cast Members Remained Divided Over J.K. Rowling’s View

As several reactions continued to pour in, Tom Felton, who played Draco Malfoy, made it known that he won’t throw stones at the woman who helped in shaping his career. 

As The Blast reported, when Felton was asked if Rowling’s views on gender had not affected his relationship with the franchise, he replied, “No, I can’t say it does. I’m not really that attuned.”

Instead, he focused on the impact Rowling made, crediting her for creating something that brought people together and benefited his career.

On the other hand, Daniel Radcliffe, playing the title character, has taken a different stance. In a May 2024 interview, Radcliffe remarked, “Just because she made me a star doesn’t mean I have to agree with her.”

Emma Watson Opened Up About The Strain With Rowling

Emma Watson, known for portraying Hermione, has since shown she supports trans rights, publicly opposing Rowling’s views.

Her stance put her at odds with Rowling and created distance between them since 2020, which has only grown over time. Despite the disagreement, Watson refuses to see her love for Rowling negated by it. 

In a past appearance on Jay Shetty’s podcast, which The Blast reported, Watson acknowledged the positive experiences and personal connection she once had with Rowling. She insisted that her appreciation for those moments remains, even though their values now differ.

By Kevin C. Neece
| Published 1 hour ago

Johnny Depp’s 1997 mafia film Donnie Brasco tells the story of an FBI agent who infiltrates a crime family in the 1970s, and the emotional conflict within which he finds himself.

That conflict is rooted in the heartbreaking difficulty of betrayal the agent experiences after he befriends and wins the trust of a person who will almost certainly end up dead because of the scheme.

In the film, Johnny Depp plays Joe Pistone, a young FBI agent who poses as jewel thief Donnie Brasco in order to infiltrate the Bonanno crime family in New York. The movie is based on the 1988 book Donnie Brasco: My Undercover Life in the Mafia by the real Joseph D. Pistone and Richard Woodley.

Creative Liberties Were Taken

While the book relates Pistone’s accounts of his real-life undercover operation, the film fictionalizes the story quite a bit and ends up loosely based on its source material.

Appearing alongside Johnny Depp is Al Pacino as Lefty Ruggiero, an enforcer for the Bonanno crime family who befriends and vouches for Pistone as Brasco. The story focuses on the relationship between the two men as Pistone becomes increasingly uncomfortable with the looming end result of his goals. The film and its screenplay by Paul Attanasio were widely praised upon its 1997 theatrical release.

Long before he became associated with Captain Jack Sparrow, Johnny Depp was riding his career’s first wave of success, following his roles in Edward Scissorhands (1990), Benny & Joon (1993), and What’s Eating Gilbert Grape? (1993).

Depp had also won a London Film Critics’ Circle Actor of the Year award for his performance in Ed Wood the previous year. Already showing the diversity of his talent, the actor was moving seamlessly between fantasy, comedy, and drama, with his taste for the weird and wacky on full display.

Johnny Depp showed yet another side to himself in Donnie Brasco, compellingly leading a serious crime drama that nonetheless tells a heart-rending human story. His performance in the film was widely praised by critics who noted the believability and grace in his exploration of the role, but this success followed a rather winding production road for the film.

Development And Casting Were Crucial

Long before Johnny Depp or Al Pacino became involved with the project, the film rights were purchased by Louis DiGiaimo, who had known Joseph D. Pistone since their childhood years. DiGiamo was a casting director for Barry Levinson and brought the property to the attention of producers Gail Mutrux and Mark Johnson, and Levinson’s Baltimore Pictures. Paul Attanasio was brought on to write the script with Stephen Frears set to direct.

In 1990, the year of Johnny Depp’s breakout in Edward Scissorhands, Martin Scorsese also released his now-classic mob movie, Goodfellas, causing the film’s production to be pushed back. As the film languished in development for a few years, Frears eventually left the project, with Mike Newell stepping in as director. In 1996, development finally moved forward with Pacino cast as Lefty, a casting for which Frears had long advocated.

Pistone himself was brought on as a character development consultant for the two leads. Rounding out the primary cast were Michael Madsen as Sonny Black, Bruno Kirby as Nicky Santora, James Russo as Paulie, and Anne Heche as Maggie Pistone. The film premiered in the US in February of 1997 with a UK release that May.

Depp’s Range On Full Display

While Johnny Depp is best known for more cartoonish roles like Captain Jack Sparrow, revisiting his grounded turn in Donnie Brasco shows just how nuanced and engaging his performance can be. Even his broad comedic roles are built on the same thoughtful approach he brings to playing Joe Pistone.

Donnie Brasco serves as a great reminder of why Depp became a star in the first place, and it’s currently available to watch on-demand through YouTube, Fandango at Home, and Prime Video.

Denise Richards stepped out looking refreshed and confident at a recent “The Bold and the Beautiful” event, marking her first appearance since revealing she underwent a facelift.

The actress shared that the procedure, done months earlier, was about restoring her look rather than changing it.

While the results have boosted Denise Richards’ confidence, the decision comes amid a challenging period in her personal life, including her ongoing divorce from Aaron Phypers.

Denise Richards Makes First Public Appearance Post-Facelift, Radiates Confidence On Red Carpet

Denise Richards made a striking return to the spotlight, turning heads at a recent “The Bold and the Beautiful” event as she stepped out for the first time since revealing she underwent a full facelift.

The 55-year-old actress looked radiant on the red carpet, wearing a soft pink lace dress paired with glowing makeup and loose blonde waves that highlighted her refreshed appearance.

In a recent Allure interview, Richards shared that she had the procedure about eight months ago, explaining that her intention wasn’t to dramatically change her look but to “put things back up, where they were before.”

She described the decision as nerve-wracking at first, especially given her decades in the public eye. Having been famous since her 20s, she acknowledged that any noticeable change would be impossible to hide.

Still, Richards says the results surprised even her, calling the transformation “night and day,” and even “shocking.” Her surgeon later shared before-and-after images that highlighted the extent of the change.

The Actress’s Facelift Decision Is Tied To Personal Struggles, Insiders Claim

Behind the scenes, however, sources suggest Richards’ decision to go under the knife was influenced by personal challenges.

The “Wild Things” actress is currently navigating a difficult divorce from Aaron Phypers, which has reportedly taken an emotional and financial toll.

According to the Daily Mail, insiders say the procedure gave her a renewed sense of confidence during a tough period.

As one source put it, “[Richards] deserves to have a little joy in her life, and her new face makes her very happy.”

Denise Richards’ Daughters Were Reportedly Against Her Facelift Procedure

While Richards feels good about her decision, not everyone in her inner circle was immediately supportive.

Her daughters, Sami Sheen, 22, and Lola Sheen, 20, were initially against the surgery, believing she was “too young” for such a procedure and didn’t need it.

The “Two and a Half Men” actress has had similar disagreements with her children before. She previously clashed with Sami over her decision to get a nose job, and that earlier tension resurfaced when Richards shared her own plans for surgery.

Reflecting on the situation, Richards recalled how Sami pointed out the irony, reminding her that she had once discouraged her from altering her appearance.

Richards told Allure that, in her view, the situations were different. While she felt a nose job could significantly change someone’s features at a young age, her own procedure was about restoring what she felt had naturally shifted over time, rather than transforming her look entirely.

The Actress Once Swore Off Ever Getting A Facelift

In a post on Instagram Stories after revealing her facelift, Richards got candid about the procedure, branding it a great experience and one of the best decisions she has ever made.

The actress also noted that she had never done anything to her face until this recent facelift.

“I always said I would never get a facelift, because that’s my face. This is how I make my money,” Richards explained. “I’ve been in this business a long time. People know what I look like. I’ve never done anything aesthetically to my face.”

Meanwhile, Richards’ doctor, Ben Talei, has praised her for being open about the process, saying it was “an incredible pleasure and honor  to be trusted with her restoration and, more importantly, the preservation of her character and beauty.”

Talei also praised the actress’s resilience after a challenging year, claiming that her “golden face” is now “hers again.”

Denise Richards Was Recently Ordered To Pay $5K Monthly Support To Her Ex, Aaron Phypers, Amid Their Legal Battle

Meanwhile, Richards’ legal battle with her estranged husband, Phypers, continues to unfold. Following their separation last summer, the court recently ruled that Richards must pay $5,000 per month in temporary spousal support.

As reported by The Blast, she was also ordered to contribute $30,000 toward his legal fees related to the divorce proceedings. The payments have been structured in installments, with the first portion due by the end of March.

The monthly support was also broken down, covering essential living costs including housing, transportation, food, and other general expenses.

Phypers, for his part, is currently facing four felony charges, including allegations related to spousal injury and attempting to influence a witness through force or threats.

He has denied all allegations. He has denied all accusations. During a February court appearance, he claimed to have only $200 to his name, stating that the financial support would help as he takes things “one day at a time.”

The Golden Bachelorette star Joan Vassos is confident Bachelor Nation isn’t done handing out roses.

“Bachelor Nation has done such amazing things,” Joan, 63, exclusively shared with Us Weekly at the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards on Thursday, March 26. “There are so many people who are in this world because of finding love on the show. I am not ready to give that up.”

Although viewers were expecting to watch The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Taylor Frankie Paul search for love on The Bachelorette, ABC decided to pull the season after video footage surfaced from a 2023 arrest.

“I think, you know, maybe we learned a little lesson,” Joan explained to Us from the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. “I think that we love the casting of somebody who’s imperfect, because we all go on that show thinking we have to act our best. I love that she knew that she didn’t have to do that, that she put her past out there.”

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The Bachelor Mansion Takeover star added, “I feel like there is still hope in this Bachelor world that we don’t have to cast somebody perfect.”

Joan first appeared on season 1 of The Golden Bachelor in 2023. After quitting the show in week 3 due to a family emergency, she met Chock Chapple on The Golden Bachelorette and ultimately accepted his proposal in 2024.

In addition to finding a romantic partner, Joan discovered forever friends, like her costar, Kathy Swarts.

“There have been love, families, marriages, children. That show is about finding love, and it will come back bigger and better than ever,” Kathy, 72, proclaimed to Us. “I think [Taylor’s] story was meant to be a redemptive story. It was still about love. It was still about finding love. And the truth is not out yet. We don’t know the truth. We’re watching the headlines just like everyone else. We are praying that it all works out for the best. We’re praying for the kids that the best resolution happens.”

Although ABC has yet to announce any future plans for The Bachelor or The Bachelorette, Kathy joked that she is single and ready to find her man.

As for Joan, she’s heard the online chatter about The Traitors star Maura Higgins possibly stepping into the role.

“I love that I’ve seen the chatter that Maura Higgins is like, kind of, I feel like she’s given some statements that she would do it,” Joan said.  “I think it’s so funny that we’re looking at famous people now. It’s so different from what it’s ever been in the past. But I think we’re kind of embracing that concept. I mean, Taylor started it, but I feel like we’re kind of embracing that concept now.”

Kathy added, “And Robert Irwin for The Bachelor! There’s been a little chatter about that.”

By Robert Scucci
| Published 7 seconds ago

Let’s talk about 1990’s straight-to-VHS crime caper Down the Drain for a minute. The things that happen in this movie are funny. The exchanges between its principal characters are funny. Ken Foree from the original Dawn of the Dead gets in a shootout on a skateboard, but only after getting cavity searched by Andrew Stevens’ Victor Scalla. Teri Copley is a blonde bombshell who knows how to use a gun and seduce her way out of sticky situations. John Matuszak, in his last film appearance before his untimely death, catches bullets with his teeth when people try to shoot him in the face.

Every individual part of this heist movie is hilarious. But for some reason, it never comes together as a fully satisfying movie. It’s one of the most perplexing things I’ve ever witnessed in this genre. I was laughing out loud to myself the entire time I was snapping stills for this article because there are so many great shareable moments. When the thing plays in real time, though, it feels like a straight-to-video movie trying a little too hard to be edgy, because that’s exactly what it is. There are plenty of zingers, and I strongly recommend it to anybody who loves a good old fashioned comedy of errors. The problem is that the jokes miss more than they hit.

Since we’re talking about a numbers game when it comes to jokes per minute, it’s still a valiant effort. This is the perfect movie to throw on and watch passively while working on projects around the house. The plot is nonsensical, but there are individual moments worth seeking out.

The Dumbest Heist Committed To Film

Down the Drain’s heist is so dumb that it just might work. We’re introduced to Victor Scalla (Andrew Stevens), a crooked lawyer with a supposedly genius plan. He recruits his former criminal clients, with the help of his mistress Kathy Miller (Teri Copley), sneaks through the city’s sewer system, and robs the safe deposit boxes at a new bank that’s only been open for a few weeks. Running under the assumption that it’ll be a light haul, the plan is to steal everything and wait for people to report their belongings missing. If anything from those safe deposit boxes is considered irreplaceable, Victor figures people will come looking for it and offer a hefty reward. That’s it. That’s the plan.

Victor cobbles together a ragtag group of criminals like bruiser Jed Stewart (John Matuszak), loose cannon Buckley (Ken Foree), master lock picker Tom Dart (Barry Neikrug), and the flatulent, overweight Jay (Mickey Morton). They break into the vault and take whatever they can get their hands on. Immediately after sizing up the haul, Victor suspects that everybody involved, including Kathy, has skimmed off the top, defeating the entire purpose of the robbery.

The plan hinges on sitting around and waiting until the jewelry and rare coins are reported missing, then selling them back to their original owners at a premium. If anything goes missing from their stash, the whole operation falls apart.

As it so inconveniently turns out, one of the items they stole is a top-secret microchip that kicks off a wild goose chase. Suddenly, an operation built on petty theft turns into a national security issue, as multiple foreign powers come after the chip for their own nefarious purposes.

Plot Notwithstanding, It’s A Very Inconsistent Farse 

I really wanted to like Down the Drain, but the whole thing is all over the place. The gags flirt with Naked Gun or Fatal Instinct territory, but the movie refuses to pick a lane and stay in it. One second there’s highly quotable banter, and the next everyone is playing it completely straight. At one point, Victor hires a Mexican master of disguise named Chico (Sal Lopez), who runs around wearing novelty glasses with a giant nose and fake mustache. Then there’s an extremely confusing car chase where everyone is driving nearly identical red cars, which ends on a low note when we think our hero just got driven off a cliff and killed.

Victor Scalla kills a man with a Rubik’s Cube, has an impenetrable bunker rigged with electricity and knockout gas, but still can’t stop his mistress and accomplice from stealing from him whenever the opportunity presents itself. I see what they’re going for here, but it never quite lands because the movie is so tonally scattered.

If you want to laugh at a bunch of hilarious non sequiturs without getting invested in the plot or its inconsistencies, Down the Drain is perfect background viewing. Throw it on while you’re working around the house and glance up when something ridiculous happens. If you’re planning to give it your full attention, though, it’s a rough watch.

Down the Drain is streaming for free on Tubi, and a lot of your enjoyment will come from the fact that you didn’t have to pay for it.

For the first time in more than 20 years, we have not one, but two The Lord of the Rings movies in development, as Peter Jackson recently announced The Lord of the Rings: Shadows of the Past. This new project is co-written by none other than one of the biggest Lord of the Rings buffs around, Stephen Colbert, and he has already told fans what the story is all about: the very early days of Frodo’s (Elijah Wood) quest carrying the One Ring, told in chapters III to VIII of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. These chapters are not part of Jackson’s film trilogy, so what’s so special about them that prompts a whole new movie?

Chapters III to V of ‘The Fellowship of the Ring’ Cover Frodo’s Departure From the Shire

The chapters mentioned by Colbert are part of Book 1 of The Fellowship of the Ring, including “Three Is Company,” “A Shortcut to Mushrooms,” “A Conspiracy Unmasked,” “The Old Forest,” “In the House of Tom Bombadil,” and “Fog on the Barrow-downs.” Although they were ultimately cut from Jackson’s movie, they set up some important and surprising aspects of Frodo’s story as Ring-bearer, as well as how the whole Shire had a part to play in helping him.

Considering Gandalf (Ian McKellen) told him not to draw attention, Frodo had to come up with a plan to justify his leaving Hobbiton, so he actually sells Bag End to Lobelia Sackville-Baggins and buys a small house in Crickhollow, closer to Buckland, where his mother was from and his cousin, Merry (Dominic Monaghan), lives. He has help from Merry, Pippin (Billy Boyd), Samwise (Sean Astin), and Fatty Bolger, all of whom already know all about the One Ring.

On their way to Crickhollow, Frodo and his party have their first encounter with the Elves and, later, the Nazgûl (which is being featured in the film). They are also welcomed by Farmer Maggott before continuing on their way. When they arrive in Crickhollow, they decide that Fatty should stay behind to give the impression that Frodo is still there. Finally moving on from the Shire, Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin proceed to the Old Forest.

Chapters VI to VIII Cover the Hobbits’ Early Adventures and Introduce a Fan-Favorite Character

The Old Forest shares a distant connection to Fangorn Forest; its trees aren’t Ents, but they are more aware and act slowly out of their own free will. The Hobbits have a hard time passing through it, as the forest doesn’t like strangers, and Merry and Pippin are lulled and almost swallowed by Old Man Willow, an ancient tree. Frodo and Sam are unsuccessful in trying to rescue them, and only when Tom Bombadil arrives, telling it to “eat, dig, drink and sleep,” does the tree comply.

Shadows of the Past also has the chance to finally bring Tom Bombadil to the big screen, as he plays a large role in chapters VI to VIII. He rescues the Hobbits from the Old Forest and welcomes them into his home, where he lives with his wife, Goldberry. Bombadil is one of the most mysterious characters in The Lord of the Rings; the One Ring has no effect on him whatsoever, and he is older than the world itself. When Frodo asks Goldberry who or what exactly Bombadil is, she simply answers: “He is.”

After eating a lot and sharing stories, the Hobbits move on toward Bree. After falling asleep, they wake up in the thick fog of the Barrow-downs, a region east of the Old Forest inhabited by evil spirits known as the Barrow-wights. The party is almost trapped forever there, but are rescued once again by Tom Bombadil, who simply sings a song commanding the Barrow-wights to leave and disperse — and they obey. The Hobbits then collect some ancient Númenórean weapons there and move on to Bree.

Stephen Colbert’s Movie Could Lean More on the Fable Side of ‘The Lord of the Rings’

The whole premise of Shadows of the Past is to tell the story of those six chapters through the eyes of Elanor Gardner, Sam’s daughter, who “has discovered a long-buried secret” about “why the War of the Ring was very nearly lost before it even began.” In those chapters, although the Hobbits knew the importance of the One Ring, their mission was still to simply take it to Bree, where Gandalf said he would meet them and figure out how to take it to Rivendell.

At that point, the whole story still feels more like a fable, filled with magical beings and places instead of the overwhelming evil we usually think about. It’s a much lighter reading, with a more whimsical story, fitting perfectly within the idea of the Hobbits learning the world can be a dangerous place as a prelude to everything they will accomplish later on. Seeing how the movie also suddenly introduces Merry and Pippin, this may feel like a story that Frodo and Sam “hid” from the others so as not to alarm anyone about how much danger the Shire was really in.

As to Elanor, it makes perfect sense that she be the one to find out. When Sam departs into the West, he entrusts her with the Red Book of Westmarch, the book Frodo and Bilbo (Ian Holm) wrote with the stories of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. If Peter Jackson’s trilogies tell these stories, it would make sense that Sam includes these chapters when he has the book, as Frodo and Bilbo clearly left them out. And it also makes sense for someone other than Jackson to tell us this story in our world — someone like Stephen Colbert.

The Lord of the Rings trilogy is available to stream on HBO Max in the U.S.

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Release Date

December 19, 2001

Runtime

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178 Minutes

Writers

Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Peter Jackson, J.R.R. Tolkien

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Producers

Barrie M. Osborne, Bob Weinstein, Harvey Weinstein, Mark Ordesky, Robert Shaye, Tim Sanders

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