Entertainment
Michael Keaton’s R-Rated 90s Thriller Is A Landlord’s Worst Nightmare
By Robert Scucci
| Published
While I have no qualms about railing on my landlord for taking over 18 months to replace the window in my master bedroom, I still try to keep some perspective despite the still-unfilled maintenance request. I rent from a large property management group that’s at the mercy of its various contractors, at least that’s the excuse, even though they’ll fire off a nasty email if I even think about sending the rent check an hour late. In 1990’s Pacific Heights, on the other hand, the dynamic is a little different and a lot more terrifying.
Here, a young couple purchases a house and does everything they can to make sure their new tenants feel right at home. That is, until their worst nightmare shows up looking for a rental unit and completely destroys their lives in the process. With their hands tied by the legal system, and with no clear or easy way to evict him, they’re stuck in a rental agreement they never wanted in the first place.
Batman’s New Secret Lair
The setup for Pacific Heights is simple and escalates to the point of no return in no time. When we’re first introduced to Drake Goodman (Matthew Modine) and his pregnant fiancée Patty Palmer (Melanie Griffith), they’re wide-eyed, bushy-tailed, and maybe just a little too green to take on a project like the one they’ve sunk their entire savings into. They’ve purchased a beautiful Victorian house in Pacific Heights with plans to renovate into a rental property.
They rent the first unit to the Watanabe family (portrayed by Mako and Nobu McCarthy) without issue, and it’s the perfect setup. They get passive income from low-maintenance tenants and can continue renovations on the rest of the house unbothered. Their house-flipping dream quickly becomes a disaster when Carter Hayes (Michael Keaton) shows up to rent the other available unit, immediately raising more red flags than they can count.
Carter refuses a credit check but offers to pay the first six months’ rent via wire transfer. While Drake and Patty are still weighing the arrangement, Carter locks himself inside the apartment, changes the locks, and starts using power tools throughout the night, scaring off the Watanabes. Oh yeah, and he never pays them like he promised, so he’s living rent free.
Realizing they need legal action, they hire lawyer Stephanie MacDonald (Laurie Metcalf) to start the eviction process, which proves more complicated than they ever imagined. Drake’s attempts to force Carter out, like cutting the power and heat, only result in the police siding with Carter, who appears to be the innocent tenant with the tyrannical landlords. Further antagonized, Drake eventually comes to blows with the squatter, exactly what Carter planned all along.
Now slapped with a restraining order that legally prevents him from entering his own home, Drake has to find somewhere else to stay, further straining his relationship with Patty. They’re already drowning in legal fees on top of their original investment, and without Drake in the picture, Carter can finally zero in on Patty.
Keaton At His Most Menacing
What really sells Pacific Heights is just how calculating Carter Hayes truly is, thanks to Michael Keaton. It’s clear from the beginning that he’s a con artist, but no one can quite pin down his endgame. He spends much of the film coming and going, locking himself in the apartment, infesting the house with roaches, and staring down Patty whenever she thinks she’s alone. Drake, rightfully losing his grip, wants to protect what’s his, but Carter has already anticipated his every move. Each attempt to remove him only makes his presence, both seen and unseen, more aggressive and menacing.
The suspense in Pacific Heights comes from knowing Drake and Patty are being systematically dismantled with almost no way to protect themselves from the squatter living inside their nest egg. As Carter’s motives slowly come into focus, we learn what he’s truly after, but by then it’s far too late for a clean resolution.
As of this writing, Pacific Heights is streaming for free on Tubi.
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Entertainment
2025’s Most Breathtaking Sci-Fi Is an Instant Cult Classic That’s Finally Available to Stream
2025 was a big year for animated movies, with Disney’s Zootopia 2 breaking box office records, Pixar’s Elio winning audiences’ hearts, and Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters becoming a worldwide phenomenon. Amid this high-profile competition, however, stood an independently made French film that managed to top them all in terms of cinematic brilliance.Filled with memorable characters, fantastic animation, and a story that brings many elements together effortlessly, Arco is a rare discovery in the animation genre, offering something genuinely new for audiences to enjoy.
This French Oscar Hopeful Takes Us to Another World
Produced by Oscar-winner Natalie Portman, the title refers to ten-year-old Arco, a boy living in 2932, where humanity has learned to time-travel. Prohibited from traveling himself before he is twelve, he steals his sister’s time-traveling cape and magic gemstone to travel back to the time of the dinosaurs, but instead crashes into the year 2075, where he befriends a young girl named Iris. Determined to get Arco home, the pair (along with Iris’ robot nanny, Mikki) learn that they may be the only ones who can save the Earth from peril.
The 20 Best Animated Movies of the 2020s So Far, Ranked
2020 has already had some amazing animated movies.
Movies about the future often speak to the anxieties of the present, but the language of Arco is one of hope. Our hero’s idyllic timeline and his insistence that Iris’ future isn’t written yet, deliver a message that our fate is in our hands, that is written by the choices we make in the present. It’s a story that views the world with the wonder of a child, never losing sight of the beauty of friendship and discovery.
Animation That’s Both Spectacular and Moving
The film has been compared to the work of Hayao Miyazaki, not only due to its wonder-filled, colorful aesthetic, but also its ability to weave whimsy with reality. Many animated films aim for either visual ambition or intimate, character-based storytelling, but it’s a rare film that combines them both.
Both Arco and Iris live in extraordinary times – the former in a brightly colored, aspirational timeline filled with adventure and otherworldly architecture; the latter in a world not dissimilar to our own, but with fantastical elements such as robot nannies and holograms. The hand-drawn animation balances past and present, feeling nostalgic in a genre where computers dominate, but also offering design that looks cutting-edge.
These flourishes are not just for show, however, as the beauty of the visuals serves to highlight the journey of the characters, and vice versa. Arco crash-lands, leaving a trail that resembles a rainbow, which Iris follows to find her new friend. This colorful introduction outlines the story’s intentions, offering hope and adventure as we come along for the ride.
‘Arco’ Truly is a Family Movie for Everyone
In previous generations, a family movie would often aim squarely for younger viewers, but Arco is a prime example of how the medium has moved on. From the early 2000s, studios such as Pixar, Dreamworks, and Studio Ghibli all began making movies that entertained the kids, but had something for the accompanying adults. Arco represents the next step in that evolution, where films can meet people of all ages on an emotional level.
The story speaks to a deeper message about the environment, family, and responsibility, something that will be clear to children without losing their attention, as well as grasping adults who can read into the greater subtext. Better still, it can tap into that sense of fascination that children have, and adults remember, allowing everyone to gasp at what is unfolding.
What ultimately comes across to all generations is how sincere the film feels at its core. Long after the plot resolves, the film’s spirit continues to resonate, offering a rare blend of optimism and artistry that feels both refreshing and necessary. It can spark conversations between younger and older viewers that wouldn’t happen in a less thoughtful movie.
Arco is a testament to what can happen when creativity is allowed to flourish without compromise. Rather than leaning on nostalgia or formula, Ugo Bienvenu’s film charts its own path, inviting viewers to embrace curiosity and courage in equal measure. In a year filled with impressive releases, Arco earns its place by reminding us why animated storytelling remains one of cinema’s most powerful forms, regardless of budget.Arco is available to rent or buy on VOD services.
- Release Date
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October 22, 2025
- Runtime
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88 minutes
- Director
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Ugo Bienvenu
- Writers
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Félix de Givry
- Producers
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Natalie Portman, Sophie Mas, Elliott Whitton, Bill Way, Douglas Choi
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Alma Jodorowsky
Jeanne / Mikki (voice)
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Swann Arlaud
Tom / Mikki (voice)
Khloé Kardashian is still on the fence about having more kids, but she is swaying towards welcoming children before marriage.
“The Kardashians” star previously stated that she would like to tie the knot before having any more children. However, a recent episode of her podcast saw her contemplating skipping this step for a solo surrogacy journey.
Khloé Kardashian is currently the proud mother of two children, daughter True and son Tatum, whom she welcomed during her relationship with Tristan Thompson. The exes’ romance ended on a sour note due to infidelity scandals.
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Khloé Kardashian Wants To Have Another Child For Her Daughter
During this week’s episode of “Khloé in Wonder Land,” the podcast host held a Q&A with fans and was asked whether she would consider having another child if Mr. Right appeared. Khloé revealed that the question was something she had considered without a partner in mind.
According to Khloé, she had a few more frozen embryos, presumably from her baby-making days with Thompson, and considered having another child for her daughter. “A girl needs her sister, and I think maybe because that was my experience,” she said, referencing the Kardashian-Jenner clan.
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“I have been contemplating, like, do I just do this? Do it on my own, do this? But I don’t know if emotionally I could handle this,” Khloé continued. She doubled down on True being the primary factor for another child, saying, “That’s the only thing. That’s why I want to do it. And True knows she has a sister in the freezer.”
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The Reality TV Star Wants To Overcome The ‘Trauma’ Of Her Past Surrogacy Journey
Besides wanting True to have a sister, just as she grew up with multiple sisters, Khloé confessed that her past also made her more interested in having another baby. She did not mention her ex, Thompson, by name but referenced the infidelity scandal that occurred during their son’s surrogacy.
Khloé explained that she was thinking about putting one of her frozen embryos in a surrogate and having a solo experience without a romantic partner.
“I think I would have a very different experience because I would be along for that surrogate journey, as opposed to all the trauma that surrounded Tatum’s surrogate experience,” she shared.
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The podcaster added that she was leaning towards putting the embryo in a surrogate and leaving it up to fate because there wasn’t a guarantee it would work. On that note, Khloé said that if the embryo didn’t stay in the surrogate, she would see it as God’s sign not to have another baby.
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The Entertainer Previously Cited Marriage Before Kids
Khloé’s recent comments come weeks after The Blast covered her thoughts on marriage and children. She explained on a February episode of her podcast that she wasn’t sure if she was ready for another child. Nonetheless, she would like to be married before having more kids.
Khloé added that she felt her family of three was already big enough, thanks to the Kardashian-Jenner clan, raving about her children’s close relationship with their cousins. She claimed True was so close to her female cousins that they were practically sisters.
Khloé’s no marriage-no kids rule followed her sarmassophobia revelation. She dropped the bombshell claim in a conversation with her older sister, Kim Kardashian, saying she feared dating after the scandalous end of her relationship with Thompson.
More About The Good American Co-Founder’s Two Children
Khloé became a mother for the first time on April 12, 2018, with the birth of her daughter True. She broke the news on Instagram four days after her daughter’s arrival, raving about how she and Thompson were excited to welcome a child together.
Khloé has never shied away from publicly sharing her love for True, drafting a heartfelt tribute for the girl on her 6th birthday. TODAY reported that she shared a picture of True in an all-pink ensemble alongside the words, “You changed my life forever, and I love every part of who you are.”
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Khloé and Thompson welcomed their second child, a son named Tatum, via surrogate on July 28, 2022. The journey wasn’t an easy one for the TV personality after Thompson fathered a child with another woman. He issued a public apology after a paternity test confirmed he was the father of the said child.
Khloé Kardashian And Tristan Thompson’s Relationship Timeline
Khloé and Thompson began making waves as a couple in September 2016 while the basketball player was expecting his first child with Jordan Craig. Their relationship quickly heated up by January 2017, with Khloé declaring she was in love with Thompson.
In April 2017, Khloé noted that she was ready to tie the knot with Thompson and have kids, with news of them expecting their first child breaking in December. The cracks in their relationship began to appear in April 2018, when Thompson was rumored to be cheating on Khloé.
A fresh wave of cheating allegations hit them in February 2019, with Thompson accused of having inappropriate relations with Kylie Jenner’s pal Jordyn Woods. The scandal blew up with Woods catching heat for ruining Khloé’s relationship, per PEOPLE.
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Lee Isaac Chung has departed the project over “creative differences,” after Jay Roach, Warner Bros.’ original pick, made the decision to split.
Sterling K. Brown had a surprisingly NSFW reaction to his wife, Ryan Michelle Bathé, finally meeting Heated Rivalry‘s Connor Storrie.
“This happened and I just want everyone to know that I didn’t fall. I didn’t collapse. I gushed,” Bathé, 49, said in an Instagram video posted on Wednesday, March 4. “I gushed all over him.”
She continued: “Look at him! Isn’t he the best? He was so cool.”
Brown, 49, took to the comments section with a colorful response, writing, “You ‘gushed … all over him?’”
This is their love story! Sterling K. Brown has been married to Ryan Michelle Bathé since 2006 and he continues to prioritize his other half on a daily basis. “His love language is time spent,” Bathé exclusively told Us Weekly of her husband in March 2020. “So, he’s always calling me throughout the day [and] […]
Bathé is one of many celebrity fans of HBO’s overnight hit. Based on Rachel Reid‘s Game Changers book series, Heated Rivalry follows rival professional hockey players Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Storrie), whose animosity on the ice is just a front for a secret — and very passionate — romance.
While fans wait for another season of Heated Rivalry, Bathé and Brown are both currently starring on Hulu’s hit series Paradise. Brown teamed up with creator Dan Fogelman on the science fiction series, which marks their first collaboration since This Is Us.
Paradise, which premiered in January 2025, initially appeared to be set in a serene and wealthy community forced to face the realities of a shocking murder. In typical Fogelman fashion, the political thriller introduced a twist when Paradise was revealed to be an underground bunker housing the world’s most prominent individuals after an apocalyptic event destroyed the rest of humanity.
Brown stars as Xavier while Bathé is set to appear later in the second season — and is hosting the show’s companion podcast.
“Initially, I was a little bit lukewarm about doing the podcast because I was like, ‘There’s no way [they can top season 1],’” Bathé exclusively told Us Weekly last month. “Dan is a genius. He’s got great writers but I thought that it’s not going to be as good as season 1.”
Bathé was happy to be proven wrong. “How do you top perfection? You can’t match perfection. So I was going to try it but I was [preparing] for a sophomore slump. I was wrong. Not only was I wrong — but I was so very wrong.”
She continued: “It’s incredible. I don’t know how they create a perfect season of television in season one and then take it apart and take the pieces and put them back together in an even more — or just as interesting — way. I kept asking that question and they’re all so humble.”
Bathé’s love for the show allowed her to get all our burning questions answered, saying, “I truly love the show and I hope that the way I like to watch the show and the questions that I ask match up with the rest of the fandom. I’m a true fan — but I just hope that I make the fandom proud.”
Paradise premieres February 23 on Hulu with new episodes of the show — and the companion podcast — airing every Monday.
Marlon Wayans is hoping to ruffle as many feathers as possible with the highly-anticipated release of “Scary Movie 6,” which sees the Wayans brothers back in control of the franchise for the first time in decades.
The world has definitely changed since the last Wayans brothers-helmed horror movie spoof, but that is exactly why the actor-comedian says that film is needed now more than ever.
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Marlon Wayans Will ‘Make Fun Of Everybody’ In ‘Scary Movie 6’
As the beloved horror movie franchise “Scream” recently returned to theaters with its seventh installment, fans were treated to the first look at “Scary Movie 6,” which is set to hit theaters this summer.
In the first trailer, it’s clear that no one is safe from being the butt of the joke, and that’s exactly the way that Wayans (and his brothers) intended.
Speaking exclusively with Entertainment Weekly, Wayans shared his intention behind the film and what he hopes to achieve as fans watch the new installment.
“What we’re trying to do is bring back laughter,” he told the outlet. “This is about bringing back comedy the way it used to be. And I think the only way to do it, is you have to cancel the cancel culture.”
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“We’re gonna do what we always do. We’re gonna make fun of everybody because we’re equal opportunity offenders,” the “Him” star said.
He also added that having the Wayans family back in control of the franchise means that their inherited brand of comedy will be right back front and center.
“We have a recipe, we have a formula that you can’t mimic or copy. You could try, but it’s very specific. It’s how we grew up, and it’s how we see the world. It’s the household we were raised in with the sense of humor that we all were governed with, that we inherited from our mother,” Wayans said.
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‘Scary Movie 6’ Will Spoof Some Of The Biggest Horror Films Of The Past Decade
Some of the most talked-about films in the horror genre will be spoofed in “Scary Movie 6,” which will be the first time the Wayans brothers have returned since 2001’s “Scary Movie 2.”
“Sinners,” “Weapons,” “M3GAN,” “Heart Eyes,” “Terrifier,” “Get Out,” “Ma,” “The Substance,” “Longlegs,” “Smile,” and 2018’s “Halloween” are just some of the films that audiences will immediately recognize as the source of spoofing.
“We laughed all the way through,” Wayans told Entertainment Weekly of the fun behind-the-scenes. “We let everyone have fun, we let them improvise, and you’re gonna see it all over this movie. All of these references.”
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Wayans also noted that laughter is more important than ever right now, given the heaviness in the world, and he and his family hope the film can provide a welcome escape.
“I got me and my brothers together to come back to a franchise that we were removed from,” he said. “I think the assignment is to bring back the cast, bring back me and my brothers working together, and to bring back big-a— laughs. The world needs a big-a— laugh.”
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Marlon Wayans Has Big Plans For Some Of His Past Films If ‘Scary Movie 6’ Is A Hit
The Wayans brothers have been spoofing films since the mid-90s, and if “Scary Movie 6” is a box-office success, fans can expect those films to be revisited via sequels.
According to Deadline, while appearing on the “Rap Attack” podcast, Wayans said that sequels to 1995’s “Don’t Be A Menace To South Central While Drinking Your Juice In The Hood” and 2004’s fan favorite “White Chicks” are up next if the fans show up for “Scary Movie 6.”
“When y’all see this movie, you’ll be like, ‘That’s it. That’s the one. That’s what we needed,’” he said. “Y’all belly will be full, and you’ll be wanting more.”
“And so, if ‘Scary Movie’ does well like we hope it does, then we’ll be back real hard, next ‘White Chicks 2’ and ‘Don’t Be a Menace 2.’ We’re going to dig in the crates and bring back some hits. We know how,” Wayans added.
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The Wayans Brothers’ Return To The ‘Scary Movie’ Franchise Was Initially Announced In 2024
In October 2024, the head of Miramax, Jonathan Glickman, expressed his excitement at the famed family being back in control of the franchise that made the studio millions.
“We are thrilled to reunite Scary Movie with the Wayans brothers, the brilliant creators behind the beloved franchise,” Glickman said, per Deadline. “The timing is perfect to bring back the series to the big screen, and we’re lucky to have Keenen, Marlon, and Shawn’s unique comedic vision bringing it to audiences around the world,” he added.
The brothers also released a statement at the time announcing their official return.
“We couldn’t be more excited to be a part of the new ‘Scary Movie’ and work with each other again,” Keenan, Marlon, and Shawn said. “This is a franchise we created more than 20 years ago. We remember people laughing in the aisles and hope to see that happen again.”
“We look forward to working with Jonathan Glickman and his team at the new Miramax to bring these laughs to theaters, where they belong. It’s a double reunion,” the Wayans brothers continued.
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‘Scary Movie 6’ Will Have A Prime Summer Release Date
Paramount and Miramax, the studios producing the film, clearly have high hopes for its success, as “Scary Movie 6” has been given a prime slot for the summer blockbuster movie season.
The film is set to hit theaters on June 12. In addition to Marlon and Shawn starring, “Scary Movie 6” will also see the return of franchise favorites Regina Hall, Anna Faris, Dave Sheridan, Lochlyn Monroe, and Chris Elliott.
Kylie Jenner’s Sprinter Brand
Sprinting in Healthy New Direction???
Published
Kylie Jenner might be staging an intervention for her brand Sprinter … because it seems she’s trading vodka seltzers for nutritional shakes in the company’s portfolio.
Here’s the deal … after fans began to speculate Jenner was breaking up with the brand — which launched almost exactly 2 years ago — the mogul came out and posted the brand’s logo onto her Instagram story, writing, “We’ve been working honey.” The company then scrubbed their social media.
Kylie doubled down on the mystery by dropping a video of her hand pouring a powdered substance into a water bottle and tagging Sprinter’s account.
While Kylie hasn’t officially said what she’s doing with the brand … we did some snooping and found the company has filed for a ton of trademarks in the last few weeks.
These trademarks cover numerous products including dietary and nutritional supplements, supplement shakes, supplement energy bars, vitamins … and several different kinds of powders for making energy drinks, sports beverages, non-alcoholic cocktail mixes.
Kylie’s obviously super health-conscious … so, it’s not surprising to see her take Sprinter away from the oversaturated market of vodka seltzers.
No word yet on when she might share the full details of her plan with the rest of the world … but, we know the news will surely get hearts racing faster than a 100-meter dash!
‘Below Deck’ Alum Emile Kotze
Sues NBCUniversal for $850 Million …
Network Denies Sexual Harassment Allegation
Published
“Below Deck” alum Emile Kotze claims producers portrayed him as “immature” and “sexually aggressive,” and now he’s taking them to court over it — but the producers say his suit should be tossed out because they’re protected under the First Amendment … TMZ has learned.
Emile filed a federal lawsuit in New York demanding $850 million in damages from NBCUniversal and the reality show producers.
Emile says he’s a South African citizen and professional yacht deckhand who was hired to be a star of the show in 2015 for Season 3, at the age of 23.
Emile claims he was told the show was like a documentary … only to find out it was a salacious reality TV drama. He claims he was essentially manipulated into embarrassing scenarios.
He claims producers pressured him into a fake romantic storyline with his castmate Raquel “Rocky” Dakota, encouraged heavy drinking, and orchestrated sexually charged encounters and humiliating pranks.
In addition, Emile claims the producers edited the footage in a “highly misleading manner to craft a false, defamatory portrayal” of him to make him “immature, incompetent, and sexually aggressive.”
Emile says he was blacklisted from the yachting industry after the show aired. He said the show caused him to suffer severe psychological trauma from the betrayal and public humiliation, claiming he was diagnosed with “PTSD, anxiety, and depression directly linked to the show experience.”
The producers scoff at the lawsuit … they say most of the claims were brought past the statute of limitations, and are “unsupported by any plausible factual allegations.” They also argue they have a First Amendment right to “shape and convey their creative works” through casting and editing, and they can’t use the courts to restrict their ability to do so.
Summary
- Collider’s Steve Weintraub talks with Kurt Russell and Wyatt Russell for Apple TV’s Monarch: Legacy of Monsters Season 2.
- The duo discuss how Season 2 compares to what fans have seen and what to expect going forward.
- They also address Kurt Russell’s Super Bowl team-up with Wyatt Russell’s Marvel co-star, Lewis Pullman.
Apple TV’s monumental sci-fi series Monarch: Legacy of Monsters returned to the streamer for Season 2, and to find out what fans are in store for this time around, Collider’s Steve Weintraub sat down with stars Kurt Russell and Wyatt Russell, who both portray Army officer Lee Shaw. In this spoiler-free half of their conversation, the father and son duo discuss how Season 2 compares to Season 1, teasing what fans can expect this year.
After the revelations of Monarch Season 1, Legacy of Monsters Season 2 picks up with the fate of this organization, and the world as we know it, hanging in the balance. Our heroes, and their foes, reunite on Kong’s Skull Island, where long-buried secrets come to light, as well as a mysterious new village, and yet another mythical Titan surfaces from the sea. Here, the past and present collide, confusing the lines between friends, family, and enemies, as humans face off against a new threat.
Check out the full conversation in the video above, or the transcript below, where Kurt and Wyatt Russell discuss this “moving train,” and what we can expect from Wyatt’s spin-off series, producer Tory Tunnell describes as “punk rock.” The pair also jokes about Kurt Russell’s Super Bowl team-up with Wyatt’s Thunderbolts*‘s co-star Lewis Pullman, and brainstorm an all-star response to that collaboration.
‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters’ Season 2 Is a “Moving Train”
And this ride’s just getting started.
COLLIDER: Gentlemen, I really want to start with thank you both for your work. I have really loved your work my entire life. And I’m really loving your work. I just want to say thanks.
KURT RUSSELL: Thank you. Steve.
WYATT RUSSELL: I love your work.
KURT RUSSELL: Go ahead and tear it apart now.
[Laughs] Season 2 is fantastic. It is just like an adrenaline shot. It’s nonstop. I hate doing the generic thing, but how would you compare Season 2 to Season 1?
WYATT RUSSELL: It’s a great question. Season 2 is more like a moving train. You’re on it, and you’re going, and it’s more linear in certain ways. Season 1 was like you’re finding your footing, you’re learning who these characters are, and that always presents an element of newness that just takes a minute to get going. Then, for me, in Season 2, you know these people, you know what their personalities are like, you know their dynamics, and you see it blossom. I enjoyed that about it. It felt easier for me.
KURT RUSSELL: A lot of things that presented questions in [Season] 1 would begin to be answered in [Season] 2. The first year was Alice goes down the rabbit hole, and we deal with it, and you meet this guy who’s part of it somehow. Season 2 is really, Grandma comes out, and what she found down the rabbit hole comes out. Now they’re dealing with something that also came out with Grandma.
Wyatt Russell’s ‘Monarch’ Spinoff Makes the MonsterVerse Human
“You’ve got absolutely no fucking clue what to expect.”
I know that you are filming a spinoff series of Monarch this year. What can you tease people about it?
WYATT RUSSELL: I can tease that it’s going to be something that you’ve got absolutely no fucking clue what to expect. I think people are going to expect one thing and be like, “Holy shit, this is not what I expected.” It’ll go deeper into Lee’s experience after he came up, and being sort of put on ice, in 1982, and then what happens after that, and why he’s needed and the mission he goes on. I’m so excited about it. More excited about that than I’ve been excited about something in a very long time.
I’ve gotten the first episode, and it’s so well written. Joby Harold’s writing it, showrunning it. Having it come together the way it’s come together, I’m very excited and excited about exploring more of what this character becomes as you’ve seen him, an older version, that you see these experiences that he’s had that inform much more of what you’re going to continually be seeing in Monarch.
KURT RUSSELL: Which, in the first two seasons, we dropped a few things that inform that in a certain way.
I don’t want to drill down too much, because I know you can’t say too much, but have they told you, is it more like a Titan thing, or is it more like Cold War kind of stuff?
WYATT RUSSELL: It’s both, but in a way that… I don’t even know what I can talk about, so you guys figure that out later.
KURT RUSSELL: Watch Collider! [Laughs]
WYATT RUSSELL: But it’s so well integrated into both of those things, the way that they’ve dealt with and are dealing with their hand on how they infused monsters and infused the world of the MonsterVerse into a very, very, very human story, a la Monarch. It’s a little bit simpler because it’s less people. It’s less focused on a past and more focused on a present experience, mission, goal. But Joby has fused these elements so, so, so well, and I’m just excited.
I will not pressure you anymore.
WYATT RUSSELL: I know. Sorry, I’m trying to give you a good answer.
No, I appreciate that.
KURT RUSSELL: It’s great. I’m with you. I think this is going to be really interesting.
This is how I know the show is doing very well, because if they’re willing to do a spinoff.
KURT RUSSELL: And there’s someplace to go.
I’m all in.
‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters’ Spin-Off Series Is a Punk Rock Cold War Spy Thriller [Exclusive]
Kurt and Wyatt Russell weigh in on Lee Shaw’s next chapter.
Wyatt Russell on His ‘Thunderbolts*’ Castmate Sharing Scenes With His Dad
“What the f*ck?”
I definitely have to ask the most important question, which is, you did a Super Bowl commercial, and you had Lewis Pullman as the person you’re training. Were you a little upset that it was Lewis being trained and not you?
WYATT RUSSELL: I called Lewis, and I was like, “What the fuck?” Nah, I’m kidding. I was so excited. I was like, “You’re doing Super Bowl commercial with my dad! You’re gonna have so much fun!”
KURT RUSSELL: He did. He asked me. He said, “What’s the story?” And I gave him a little thing. He said, “So who’s the guy?” I said, “Lewis Pullman.” He said, “Lewis Pullman? That’s great!”
WYATT RUSSELL: I was like, “Oh, my god, you’re gonna have so much fun.” Then I was like, “Well, now I’m going to have to do a commercial with Bill about, like, sleeping pills.” [Laughs] Something where it’s like you’re not getting enough sleep, and it’s me and Bill Pullman hocking sleeping pills.
It would actually be great if it were you and Bill, and Lewis and Kurt opposite you guys.
KURT RUSSELL: Anheuser-Busch, are you listening?
[Laughs] Just an idea.
WYATT RUSSELL: I love it.
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters is available to stream on Apple TV+. Keep an eye out for the spoiler half of this conversation later this season.
- Release Date
-
November 16, 2023
- Network
-
Apple TV
- Showrunner
-
Chris Black, Matt Fraction
- Directors
-
Julian Holmes, Matt Shakman, Mairzee Almas, Andy Goddard, Hiromi Kamata
- Writers
-
Al Letson, Karl Taro Greenfeld, Chris Black, Mariko Tamaki, Amanda Overton, Andrew Colville, Matt Fraction, Milla Bell-Hart
The first official trailer for Lanterns is quite the surprise, as it trades the cosmic scope of the Green Lantern comics for a more gritty, down-to-earth series. Instead of battling alien criminals, Green Lanterns Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler) and John Stewart (Aaron Pierre) are investigating a murder mystery. If it weren’t for Jordan brandishing his ring and using it to fly, alongside a shot of a Green Lantern costume, you could mistake this series for a new season of True Detective rather than a comic book adaptation. However, the end of the trailer features a nod to one of the most outlandish Green Lanterns from the comics.
While Stewart and Jordan are riding in a car, Stewart asks the older Lantern if he’s met any of the other members of the Green Lantern Corps. “I’m the only human there,” Jordan scoffs. “One of them’s a f***ing squirrel.” Comic fans will immediately clock this as a reference to Ch’p, a Green Lantern who’s actually a squirrel! Or rather, he’s an alien that looks like a squirrel. First appearing in Green Lantern #148 by Paul Kupperberg and Don Newton, Ch’p was recruited into the Green Lantern Corps to defend his homeworld of H’lven from invasion. He quickly became a fan favorite, and Lanterns hinting at his presence suggest the series could explore more of the cosmic elements of the Green Lantern mythos.
Ch’p Has Appeared in Other DC Movies & TV Shows
Lanterns won’t be the first time that Ch’p has been referenced in a DC project, or even shown up in one. He’s appeared in other Green Lantern movies, particularly Green Lantern: The Animated Series and Batman: The Brave and the Bold. The heroic squirrel’s biggest appearance to date is in DC League of Super-Pets, where he was voiced by none other than Andor‘s Diego Luna. This version of Ch’p was radically different: instead of wearing a Green Lantern ring, he gained the power of electricity due to a freak accident involving Krypto the Superdog (Dwayne Johnson).
Ch’p hasn’t been so lucky in the comics. During the Green Lantern: Mosaic miniseries, he was hit and killed by a truck (said truck was painted yellow, which was one of the few weaknesses of a Green Lantern ring at the time). While Ch’p would survive the cataclysmic events of Crisis on Infinite Earths, he’d later learn that his wife M’nn’e thought he was dead and ended up getting remarried to his best friend, D’ll. Perhaps his most gruesome death came in Injustice: Gods Among Us, which details a world where Superman slowly slips into tyranny. Ch’p is briefly able to hold off the Man of Steel until he gets a nail through the skull, courtesy of the Sinestro Corps. Here’s to hoping Lanterns keeps the furry little guy alive.
No evil shall escape their sight.
By Referencing Ch’p, ‘Lanterns’ Might Be Preparing To Go Galactic
The Ch’p reference in Lanterns hints that the series could eventually veer into cosmic territory despite its grounded tone. Hal Jordan’s former partner turned arch nemesis Sinestro is set to appear in the series, played by Ulrich Thomsen. Given that Sinestro’s an alien with an enlarged head and pink skin, it’ll be hard to ground that in reality. Ch’p also isn’t the strangest being to wield a Green Lantern ring, as one Lantern, Mogo, is an entire planet. There’s also the matter of Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion), who’s also set to appear in Lanterns. How will Gardner’s infuriatingly cocky attitude rub off on Jordan and Stewart?
Having a balance of cosmic and crime elements means that Lanterns is staying to the spirit of the Green Lantern comics, while also showcasing the unique approach that James Gunn and Peter Safran are taking with DC Studios. No character is too outlandish or off-limits, especially if it’s a talking squirrel with a ring that can create anything. If Lanterns is a success, there’s even the possibility that Ch’p could show up in a future season, and that would be TV worth watching.
Lanterns premieres on HBO Max in August.
Famous Small Screen Adaptations — The Collider TV Quiz!
These films went from 16:9 all the way down to 4:3 (proverbially). How many of these movie-to-TV titles do you know?
- Network
-
HBO
- Showrunner
-
Chris Mundy
- Directors
-
James Hawes
Chicago P.D.’s Jay Halstead and Hailey Upton returned to the Windy City during the high-stakes One Chicago crossover — but did they leave a couple?
Jesse Lee Soffer, who plays Halstead, and Tracy Spiridakos, who portrays Upton, exclusively told Us Weekly all about their “unfinished business” and the TV reunion that will definitely leave fans talking.
Warning: Spoilers below from season 13, episode 13 of Chicago P.D. and the One Chicago crossover.
Soffer, 41, explained to Us that during the Wednesday, March 4, crossover event, Halstead finds himself back in Chicago after traveling to Bolivia to work drug interdiction and chase cartel members.
When a case that Upton is working on, now as an FBI agent, “intersects” with Halstead’s work, it’s a “really big deal” for Halstead, who is “happy to see her and work side by side with her for a minute.”
Soffer told Us that before Halstead left during season 10 in 2022 of Chicago P.D. amid his marriage to Upton, he told her, “I’m coming back. I got to go do this. I gotta go, like, find myself, but I love you, and I’m coming back.”
However, he left “so abruptly that there was all this unfinished business” and it left a “void” in both of their lives.
“There’s a lot of like story to be mined from that,” the actor said, noting that the crossover gave Halstead an opportunity to see Upton face-to-face for the first time in years. (Spiridakos’ Upton left Chicago P.D. after season 11 in 2024 as a divorced woman.)
Taylor Kinney as Kelly Severide, Tracy Spiridakos as Hailey Upton, Dermot Mulroney as Chief Dom Pascal. Peter Gordon/NBC
During the three-hour crossover episode, Upton crossed paths with Chicago Med, Chicago Fire and Chicago P.D. members as they all work to figure out what caused passengers of a plane headed for Chicago to die mysteriously.
Upton revealed to her former boss Hank Voight (Jason Beghe) that a drug trafficking case she was working on was tied to Halstead, which is why she decided to come to Chicago and not blow his cover in case he’d been compromised.
Halstead, meanwhile, showed up to help the team just in time to save Upton’s life from one of the assailants, who purchased drugs to make a toxin that would infect first responders he held responsible for the death of his family in a fire 25 years prior.
Maarten de Boer/NBCUniversal Tracy Spiridakos addressed her Chicago P.D. exit for the first time ahead of her farewell episode and the season 11 finale. “I decided at the end of my sixth season (a.k.a. season 10 of the series),” Spiridakos, 36, told Variety on Tuesday, May 21, of her departure timeline. “Which is when I […]
“There were so many times I wanted to reach out,” Halstead told Upton after they were out of harm’s way, but he just brushed him off.
At the end of the episode, Halstead and Upton — along with their former Intelligence Unit squad — eliminate the bad guy and save the city from an attack that would have killed even more people. They also manage to get an antidote to save the firefighters and paramedics who were exposed during the investigation.
Before Upton leaves the squad room, Halstead tries one more time to apologize for leaving her and seemingly giving up on them.
“I stayed to work this case because you were here,” he told her. Upton confessed, “I came here because you were here.”
Jesse Lee Soffer as Jay Halstead. George Burns Jr/NBC
Halstead then apologized for “all of it,” saying he was “sorry” he couldn’t find his way back to Chicago. “I’m sorry that I lost you.”
Upton replied, “I’m sorry too,” before inviting him out for a drink ahead of their respective departing flights. They exchanged a cheeky glance before leaving the office together.
“I think the bond that they had was a really, really strong one to begin with,” Spiridakos, 38, told Us of the TV duo. “They were partners for so long [and] had been through so much. The romantic part of their relationship came so much later.”
She noted that Upton was “hurt by how things ended between them” and that pain would not be “easily forgotten.”
After bringing Upstead’s romance to life on Chicago P.D., Tracy Spiridakos and Jesse Lee Soffer formed a connection off screen. Soffer was previously linked to Sophia Bush and Torrey DeVitto before sparking romance rumors with Spiridakos. Soffer and Spiridakos met on the set of the Dick Wolf police drama while playing Hailey Upton and Jay […]
Upton gave Halstead an olive branch with the drinks offer, with Spiridakos teasing that could eventually lead to more between them.
“I don’t know if it’s a new beginning, but I think it’s opened the door to have further conversations,” Spiridakos told Us. “That the end moment between them is like, ‘OK, I will accept a conversation.’ And that’s about as far as she can go.”
Spiridakos and Soffer both agreed that it’s not the end of Upton and Halstead’s story, assuming the One Chicago writers agree.
“I know we both would love to come back and play some more. If there’s more story to be had, we are here for it,” Spiridakos confirmed, with Soffer adding that he’s more than open to the possibility of more episodes for the former TV couple.
“Hell yeah,” Soffer said.
Only time will tell if fans will see the pair back together.
Chicago P.D. airs on NBC Wednesdays at 10 p.m. ET.
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