General Hospital has got a sizzling new leak for you from our usual and very reliable source that explains Jason Morgan‘s (Steve Burton) upcoming absence, how he leaves, when he leaves, and why he bails on Britt Westbourne (Kelly Thiebaud). We’re going to dig into the events leading up to Steve Burton’s onscreen exit as Jason and where that’s going to leave Britt.

And be sure to stick around to the very end to hear another juicy leak that’s not about Jason. It’s some scoop on Carly Corinthos Spencer (Laura Wright) and Valentin Cassadine (James Patrick Stuart). It’s a smaller leak though, so I threw it in at the end. And as always, I want to be real clear. This is a leak, not an official spoiler, but the source is very reliable and they have an impressive track record. That’s why I love to share these.

General Hospital: Jason Plans to Eliminate Cullum on His Way Out of Town

So, this week, Jason told Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) that Britt has hit her breaking point and they need to leave town ASAP. They’re relying on Marco Rios (Adrian Anchondo) to get a sample of Britt’s medication, but it looks like Cullum catches him at it. We saw that in the new promo for the week. So, when Marco opens the safe at Wyndemere, looks like Cullum has already snatched the vials of Britt’s meds out of the safe and he confronts Marco and Cullum demands to know if he’s looking for Britt’s meds. But it seems like Marco may still find a way to get a dose of the medication.

Also this week, Jason told Sonny that he’s going to eliminate Cullum on his way out of town with Britt. As long as Jason can kill him without Jenz Sidwell (Carlo Rota) knowing that Jason did it, they’re confident it’ll go well. And they think with Cullum out of the picture, things will be harder on Sidwell, which is better for them. And with Cullum out of the way, it’ll be easier for Sonny and Jason to turn around and get rid of Sidwell after that. Jason has a solid plan to pin Cullum’s murder on Jack Brennan (Chris McKenna). Sounds great. Could be a three birds with one bullet solution.

So, in the most recent promo, if you’ve seen it, there’s Jason on a rooftop taking aim at Cullum ready to take him out. And we leaked a little about this before, including some drama with Danny Morgan (Asher Antonyzyn) at school and about him being on the roof. It just didn’t make sense at the time, but now we’ve got more info.

Jason Goes Back for Danny on GH

So, also more scoop on Jason’s exit. So, the leaker says that Jason and Britt are heading out of town to do what they planned, go up to Canada, but then Jason finds out Danny needs him and he makes the right choice. Yay. To prioritize his son. Official GH spoilers for this week say that Jason has a tough conversation. I already suspected that it was him explaining to Danny that he needs to leave town. And our leaker says that there’s a very difficult and emotional conversation with his son that is weighing on Jason as he gets ready to leave.

So, he decides he needs to stay in Port Charles for Danny. And the leak says that Jason tells Britt he’s got to go back for his son to do this thing. The rumor also says that Britt and Jason swap I love you and then Britt gives Jason her blessing to go back to Port Charles. The leak says that Britt is planning to proceed on to Canada by herself with the plan to hand over her Huntington’s medication to Brick (Stephen A. Smith). And from there, she’s supposed to lie low. I don’t think that’s going to work out that way for Britt.

So, in the end, Jason ditches Britt, but not in a cruel way, not like a breakup. And it sounds like Jason has every intention of returning to Canada after he takes care of things with Danny. And the leak goes on to say that Jason then gets a call that his son Danny is in trouble and it’s something to do with him at school. Right.

General Hospital Shocker: Jason Gets Kidnapped by Cullum

And this ties into a General Hospital leak we previously reported a little while back that was a little confusing, but now with more info and more episodes, it makes total sense. The leak was about Jason being on a roof and Danny having an issue at school, some kind of trouble. And now we know for sure that yes, Jason will be on a rooftop taking aim at Cullum with a sniper rifle because he is determined to end his reign of terror and punish him for blowing up Sonny’s penthouse and nearly killing Michael Corinthos (Rory Gibson).

Now, the order of events, as indicated, is this. Our source says that Jason makes it to Danny at school and sorts out whatever trouble his teenage son is having. I mean, Danny’s not a bad kid. He’s a typical teenager. And then Jason heads up to the roof in his sniper position to try and kill Cullum. And it looks like Jason’s taking aim at Cullum while he is at the Port Charles local WSB office meeting with Jack Brennan. So Cullum’s there right beside Jack. So, I suspect Jason may be so focused on taking the shot that a henchman of Cullum’s is able to sneak up on Jason.

The source says that when he’s alone, that’s when he gets kidnapped. And the leaker said a while back that he was going to be kidnapped. That was a leak we shared weeks and weeks ago, but not by Sidwell. So, if the leak is accurate, Cullum really is the only other person on screen right now that would kidnap Jason.

Jason Returns to General Hospital with PTSD Story

In addition to the details on his kidnapping, the source shared some info on what’s next for Jason after he’s rescued. So, Steve Burton is supposed to be back filming by June, which should put him back on screen as Jason in time for July Sweeps. The source said when he’s back, it is going to be a PTSD story. The leak mentions that Jason’s kidnappers do unspeakable things to him with both emotional and physical torture. They’ve got some plan, some goal.

And the leak says when Jason’s back, he doesn’t tell anybody what happened to him. Not Sonny, not Carly, not Britt. And I mean, I have to say that sounds like a very Jason thing to do to keep his pain internalized. The source says all the trauma that was done to him, presumably by Cullum’s people, leaves Jason with really bad PTSD and he is back and he is focused on revenge.

As for the future of Britt and Jason, we’ve got two conflicting leaks, one from a less reliable source. One says Britt finds out she is pregnant. That is from the less reliable source. That seems dodgy to me. And frankly, Port Charles doesn’t need a baby boom. We’ve already got Curtis Ashford (Donnell Turner) with one, maybe two babies. The other leak says Jason and Britt will not be together as a couple when he’s back. That it’ll be more friend-zone kind of stuff.

Valentin and Carly Still Together Through April on GH

So, here’s the other leak I was saving till the end that I mentioned is not Jason exit related. Our source says that Valentin and Carly are still together and sharing scenes through the end of April or even early May and maybe even longer, but they could confirm that it’s going to carry on at least that far.

For me, I am hoping that James Patrick Stuart sticks around for quite a while as Valentin. I’m frankly loving him and Carly. I totally ship it. They are one of my favorite pairs right now. And Valentin with Carly is one of my favorite pairings of all time for her. At least for me. So, we’ll see how it all plays out. But one thing is for certain, get ready to say goodbye to Jason for a few months.

Social media users are continuing to speculate whether Bhad Bhabie underwent surgery amid her apparent weight gain.

RELATED: Prayers Up! Bhad Bhabie Shares Heartfelt Cancer Update As The TL Gets Emotional

More On Bhad Bhabie’s Apparent Weight Gain

On Tuesday, March 17, Bhad Bhabie took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to share a selfie and a full-body photo of her in the mirror.

GM , say it back 🫶🏼 pic.twitter.com/pcA8eVToP4

— Bhad Bhabie (@BhadBhabie) March 17, 2026

Additionally, Bhabie took to Instagram to share a carousel of photos — most showing off her apparent weight gain.

Check out the photos below.

Social Media Users Continue To Speculate Whether She Underwent Surgery

Social media users immediately entered Bhad Bhabie’s comment section, continuing to speculate about her apparent weight gain and whether she underwent surgery.

More On Bhad Bhabie Initially Showing Off Her Apparent Weight Gain

As The Shade Room previously reported, Bhad Bhabie initially sparked surgery speculation earlier this month. At the time, Bhad Bhabie had taken to Instagram to share a photo of herself at the gas station. Immediately, social media users flooded her comment section, comparing her apparent weight gain to the photos of her from 2025.

The world of Family Guy is set to expand next year with Stewie, a spinoff from Fox and Hulu that centers on the titular tyrannical toddler. Per the logline, the series will take Stewie out of his regular pre-school and see him attending a new school that’s far from the pinnacle of education; to remedy the situation, he takes his collection of cutting-edge inventions and decides to inject some adventure into his classmates’ lives. Stewie also boasts some top-tier Family Guy talent: Seth MacFarlane is set to produce the series and lend his voice to Stewie, and longtime writer Kirker Butler serves as showrunner. Yet fan reaction ranges from confusion to outright derision.

Some fans are wondering why MacFarlane can’t put out another season of Ted, despite the explanation that it takes a movie-level budget to bring the foul-mouthed teddy bear to life. Others have joked that Stewie is about 20 years too late and should have premiered when Family Guy was in its heyday. The two biggest and most legitimate points are that Stewie is integral to the dynamic of Family Guy and that a previous spinoff failed to take off with the fanbase.

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Wanna ring in St. Patrick’s Day with some pub trivia? Then pull up a bar stool and reminisce on 17+ seasons of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

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Stewie Is an Integral Part of ‘Family Guy’ — Making a Spinoff Superfluous

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From the very beginning of Family Guy, Stewie Griffin was an integral part of the series. His plans for world domination, alongside his quest to kill his mother Lois (Alex Borstein), made him one of the most entertaining parts of the show. Later seasons would tone down Stewie’s matricidal tendencies, but he never lost his cutting wit or his talent for invention. While Seth MacFarlane and Kirker Butler have said that Stewie won’t affect the events of Family Guy, it’s hard to imagine Stewie having as much of a dynamic with other toddlers than he does with the rest of the Griffins.

The idea of Stewie also using hi-tech weaponry and vehicles has been covered extensively on Family Guy. Whether it’s using his time machine to get into certain escapades, or the iconic “Road to the Multiverse” episode, which catapulted Stewie and his dog Brian through different dimensions, there have been plenty of sci-fi adventures on the parent show. Stewie feels like it’s treading well-worn ground at this point, or worse, serving as little more than a Rick & Morty ripoff. If it wants to stand out, it’ll have to find an aspect of Stewie that the parent series hasn’t explored.

Related

The 30 Best Stewie Episodes in ‘Family Guy,’ Ranked

Baby not on board!

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A Previous ‘Family Guy’ Spinoff Failed To Take Off With the Fanbase

Once Stewie was announced, fans were quick to point out that it wasn’t the first time a Family Guy character had gotten their own spinoff. The Cleveland Show featured Cleveland Brown (Mike Henry) moving back to his hometown of Stoolbend, Georgia, where he attempted to start a new life with his son, Cleveland Jr. (Kevin Michael Richardson), and even married his old high school sweetheart, Donna Tubbs (Sanaa Lathan). The Cleveland Show was met with mixed reception and was eventually canceled after four seasons. Shortly after, Cleveland returned to Family Guy, leading to plenty of ribbing from the other characters.

The fate of The Cleveland Show doesn’t bode well for Stewie, but there’s also the fact that the upcoming spinoff might be overshadowed by the return of another long-cancelled Fox spinoff. Nathan Fillion recently announced that he was bringing back the cast of Firefly for an animated revival series, in close collaboration with 20th Television. While the Firefly revival has yet to find a home, it wouldn’t be a stretch to imagine Hulu picking it up. Given how Firefly fans have clamored for a revival for years, this could mean that Stewie is left in the dust; there are also animated series like American Dad! and Bob’s Burgers that feel more appealing to audiences.

Stewie is facing an uphill battle, as Family Guy‘s history and the very nature of Stewie Griffin might hamper the project before it gets off the ground. Stewie would often exclaim “Victory is mine!” when one of his schemes succeeded, but this spinoff feels less like a victory and more like an omen.

Stewie is set to premiere on Fox and Hulu in 2027, while Family Guy is available to stream on Disney+ and Hulu.

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Release Date

January 31, 1999

Network

FOX

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Directors

Peter Shin, Pete Michels, John Holmquist, Greg Colton, Brian Iles, Julius Wu, Joseph Lee, Joe Vaux, Mike Kim, Steve Robertson, Dan Povenmire, James Purdum, Dominic Bianchi, Dominic Polcino, Bob Bowen, Monte Young, Zac Moncrief, Michael Dante DiMartino, Bert Ring, Seth Kearsley, Scott Wood, Chuck Klein, Brian Hogan, Gavin Dell

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Writers

Steve Callaghan, Patrick Meighan, Mark Hentemann, Cherry Chevapravatdumrong, Tom Devanney, Alex Carter, Alec Sulkin, Wellesley Wild, Gary Janetti, Andrew Goldberg, Mike Desilets, Anthony Blasucci, Matt Weitzman, Kirker Butler, Damien Fahey, John Viener, Brian Scully, Ted Jessup, Chris Regan, Matt Pabian, Garrett Donovan, Ricky Blitt, Aaron Lee, Julius Sharpe

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• 

  Seth MacFarlane

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  Peter Griffin / Brian Griffin / Stewie Griffin / Glenn Quagmire / Tom Tucker (voice)

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  Alex Borstein

  Lois Griffin / Tricia Takanawa / Loretta Brown / Barbara Pewterschmidt (voice)

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Jerry O’Connell is getting candid about his marriage to Rebecca Romijn, blending humor with honesty.

During a March 16 appearance on Bill Maher‘s podcast, he joked about their dynamic, including her vaping habits and their playful intimacy.

Jerry O’Connell also recently revealed that Rebecca Romijn played a key role in helping him quit smoking after decades of struggling with nicotine.

Jerry O’Connell Reveals His Wife Only Shows Affection After Vaping

O’Connell made an unexpected request during his recent appearance on Maher’s podcast, asking the comedian to get “higher than you’ve ever been on any episode” and blow smoke in his face.

Maher agreed, saying he’d be “happy” to, before the conversation shifted to O’Connell’s personal habits.

“I don’t smoke myself, but I live with someone who does — vapes, actually,” O’Connell stated, referring to his wife, Rebecca Romijn, 53, per Us Weekly.

He then quipped: “The only time my wife finds me appealing is intimate with me … the only time my wife — what’s the word? — touches me is if my wife takes a hit off that pen.”

Later in the episode, Maher questioned whether O’Connell was a “health nut,” prompting the actor to admit he regularly eats processed food and orders takeout.

Maher teased him, joking he sounded like someone who “doesn’t get laid unless his wife is high,” and spends his time on “Instagram, eating sh-tty food.”

The “TomCats” actor laughed it off, replying, “My wife gets high every day, so don’t worry about me!”

The Actor Previously Said Rebecca Romijn Gave Him A Sex Ultimatum That Pushed Him To Quit Smoking

O’Connell previously shared another personal story during the February 13 episode of the “Work In Progress” podcast with Sophia Bush, opening up about how he quit smoking after struggling with nicotine for decades.

“I struggled with nicotine for decades… had to get hypnotized,” he said, per The Blast, adding that he hasn’t had a cigarette in about 14 years.

According to the “Big Bang Theory” actor, the turning point came when his wife gave him an ultimatum.

He recalled that Romijn told him she wouldn’t touch him if he continued smoking, and she stuck to it. What he initially thought was a joke quickly became serious, as weeks went by with no physical contact.

“After about three and a half weeks, I was like, I gotta do something,” he recalled.

Jerry O’Connell On How Hypnosis Helped Him Quit Smoking After Years Of Struggle

Though he tried to quit on his own, O’Connell admitted he couldn’t until he turned to hypnosis after getting a recommendation from a friend.

The actor recalled: “I knew a girl who had quit smoking, and I called her up, and I said, ‘How did you do it?’ And she said, ‘I’m gonna give you the number of this lady [a hypnotist].’ And I went to see her, and I had to bring a photo of my children and my wife.”

During the session, he recalled listening to calming music through headphones and eventually fell asleep.

“I woke up, and I was like, that was baloney. What a joke. I can’t believe I just gave some old lady $800. What a waste of money,” he said.

But moments later, when he tried to light a cigarette, something unexpected happened; he couldn’t do it.

“I had a pack [cigarettes], put the ciggy in my mouth, brought the lighter up… I couldn’t light it… I swear to you. I swear to you,” he said, adding that he hasn’t been hypnotized for anything else since.

How The Couple Balances Their Finances, Careers, And Parenting

The couple has been married since July 2007, following Romijn’s divorce from John Stamos, and share 17-year-old twin daughters, Dolly and Charlie.

They previously revealed that they keep their finances “completely separate,” contributing instead to a shared “community pot” for household expenses, which they fund quarterly while handling personal costs individually.

Romijn explained that their contributions vary depending on who is working more at the time, with the higher earner putting in more. “The one who’s not working gets a little bit of a break,” she said, adding that they “tag-team” their work schedules.

The actress also shared that when their daughters were born, they made a joint decision that one parent would always stay home, ensuring “no one else was ever going to raise them besides the parents.”

Jerry O’Connell And Rebecca Romijn Share The Secret To Their Long-Lasting Marriage

During a chat with the Daily Mail in 2023, Romjin and O’Connell got candid about the key to their successful marriage, with the actress stating that she and her husband have learned to find humor in everything they do.

Romjin shared, “I guess we just keep on laughing. Keep it light. You have to lighten up about everything. You have to be able to move on quickly.”

O’Connell also noted that he tries to avoid conflict with his wife. “If there’s an argument brewing, I try not to engage,” the actor said, adding, “I try to distance myself.”

However, Romjin seemed to disagree with his claim, stating that he’s “not very good at that,” prompting O’Connell to respond, “I’m very good at that! I disengage!”

The former co-host of “The Talk” went on to explain that he leaves the house whenever tensions rise: “I ran out! If I think a fight is happening, I run! My wife is also a Scorpio. It’s a different situation.”

Baywatch’s Alexandra Paul has been arrested on charges connected to freeing animals during animal rights protests.

Paul, 62, was arrested on Sunday, March 15, in Wisconsin after a group of protesters allegedly trespassed the Ridglan Farms property. The Dane County Sheriff’s Office confirmed to People on Monday, March 16, that Paul was one of approximately 20 people who were arrested. The outlet noted that Paul was still in police custody at the time.

“Some activists broke into the facility and began removing numerous dogs,” authorities said in a statement, noting that some beagles taken were recovered and returned to Ridglan Farms after the incident.

Several more dogs, however, are still unaccounted for. Authorities are still investigating the situation and seized two vehicles, burglary tools and other evidence.

Ridglan Farms is one of two large dog breeding facilities in the U.S. that offer animals for scientific research. As of October 2025, Ridglan Farms agreed with the La Crosse County District Attorney that it would no longer operate under its Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection (DATCP) license and would not sell dogs purposefully bred for biomedical research. WKOW 27 reported that the agreement would go into effect beginning no later than July 1, 2026.

DCSO Sheriff Kalvin Barrett stated that the agency “understands how deeply people feel for the beagles at Ridglan Farms, and we respect their right to express that passion through peaceful protests.”

He continued: “Our role is to keep everyone safe and to respond when unlawful activity takes place. We encourage anyone with concerns about animal welfare or research practices to engage through lawful and constructive avenues.”

Paul, who played Stephanie Holden on Baywatch from 1992 to 1997, was previously charged with misdemeanor theft for allegedly taking two chickens from a Foster Farms truck in September 2021. The Fresno Bee reported that she testified in Merced County in March 2023 and was found not guilty.

Before making headlines for legal woes, Paul spoke with People in 2011 about her animal activism with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).

She explained how her activism began when she became a vegetarian at 14 and then a vegan at 47. Paul stopped wearing leather, wool, silk and fur at 26 years old and wrote in her acting contracts that she would not wear “any makeup tested on animals.”

Joe Kent, the director of the National Counterterrorism Center, resigned on Tuesday (March 17). In his now-viral statement, Kent urged President Donald Trump to reverse course on the war in Iran. He shared his concerns about the justification for military strikes and refused to back the Trump administration’s war. Additionally, Kent said he will not support sending “the next generation off to fight and die in a war” that has no benefits for Americans.

RELATED: Trump Raises Eyebrows With “I Guess” Response To Whether Americans Should Worry About Iran Retaliation (VIDEO)

Joe Kent Claims Iran “Posed No Imminent Threat” 

Following the resignation news, social media exploded with reactions. Kent’s tweet was viewed over 40.8 million times in the first 4 hours. The former director blamed pressure on Iran for the United States’ actions against Iran.

“I cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran. Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation, and it is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby,” Joe Kent said.

Kent said he supports the values and foreign policies Trump campaigned on in 2016, 2020 and 2024. Until June 2025, the former director says Trump understood that wars in the Middle East “were a trap” for Americans, our prosperity and wealth. Then, came a “misinformation campaign” led by “high-ranking Israeli officials and influential members of the American media.” That campaign, Kent said, “sowed pro-war sentiments to encourage a war with Iran.” And President Trump fell for “the lie” of striking now to claim “victory,” the former official said. Adding, “We cannot make this mistake again.” 

Former Director Urges Trump To Halt The Iran War

Also, Joe Kent referenced his 11-time combat deployment and his late wife Shannon, who died “in a war manufactured by Israel.”

“…I cannot support sending the next generation to fight and die in a war that serves no benefit to the American people nor justifies the cost of American lives. I pray that you will reflect upon what we are doing in Iran and who we are doing it for. The time for bold action is now. You can reverse course and chart a new path for our nation, or you can allow us to slip further toward decline and chaos. You hold the cards. It was an honor to serve in your administration and to serve our great nation.”

After much reflection, I have decided to resign from my position as Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, effective today.

I cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran. Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation, and it is clear that we started this… pic.twitter.com/prtu86DpEr

— Joe Kent (@joekent16jan19) March 17, 2026

A spokesperson for the Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, did not immediately respond to questions about Kent’s resignation. The White House also had no immediate comment on Kent’s resignation.

Trump Nominated Joe Kent To Lead The National Counterterrorism Center  

The change in personnel at one of the nation’s top counterterrorism offices comes amid increasing concerns about terrorism in the homeland. Within the past week, there have been attacks at a Michigan synagogue and a Virginia university.

For context, Joe Kent was a former political candidate with connections to right-wing extremists. He was confirmed to his post last July on a 52-44 vote. As head of the National Counterterrorism Center, he oversaw an agency tasked with analyzing and detecting terrorist threats.

His resignation reflects unease within President Donald Trump’s base about the war. It shows that even the right-wing Trump supporters, including senior members of his administration, have questions about the justification for the use of force in Iran.

What Has President Trump Said About The War In Iran?

President Trump has offered shifting reasons for the strikes in Iran. Additionally, he has pushed back on claims that Israel forced the U.S. to act. Earlier this month, House Speaker Mike Johnson suggested that the White House believed Israel was determined to act on its own, leaving the Republican president with a “very difficult decision.”

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and FBI Director Kash Patel are scheduled to testify before lawmakers later this week about threats facing the U.S. It is an annual hearing, but this year it will likely focus on Donald Trump’s war in Iran. Another revelation that could come up is the U.S. relying on outdated intelligence likely led to the U.S. firing a missile in Iran. That missile hit an elementary school in the country, killing more than 165 people.

Democratic Leader Supports Joe Kent’s Stance Amid Resignation

Democrats strongly opposed Joe Kent’s confirmation. They pointed to his past ties to far-right figures and conspiracy theories. But following Kent’s resignation, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, spoke out. Warner said Kent’s concerns about the war in Iran were justified.

“I strongly disagree with many of the positions [Joe Kent] has espoused over the years, particularly those that risk politicizing our intelligence community,” Warner said. “But on this point, he is right: There was no credible evidence of an imminent threat from Iran that would justify rushing the United States into another war of choice in the Middle East.”

RELATED: Boosie Claps Back After Critics Call Him Out For Requesting Presidential Pardon From Donald Trump (PHOTOS)

Associated Press writers Seung Min Kim and David Klepper contributed to this report via AP Newsroom. 

By Robert Scucci
| Published 10 seconds ago

David Fincher, like Quentin Tarantino, is one of those directors whose films I like to slowly savor over time because putting out high-quality films like Zodiac and Gone Girl, and series like Mindhunter, means there’s an obvious emphasis on quality over quantity. The downside of this approach means that I still haven’t seen Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood, and I only just watched 2023’s The Killer this past weekend. I’m so glad that I finally pulled the trigger on this one when I saw it on Netflix, but I’m also incredibly bummed that I missed out on what may very well be my favorite Fincher flick of all time.

What’s there not to like about The Killer? Michael Fassbender operates as a nameless assassin with a strict code of ethics. Hard-boiled narration dominates the dialogue. And, most importantly, nearly every scene features a song by The Smiths, and for some reason Morrissey’s signature blend of melodramatic crooning makes the whole thing a top-tier experience from front to back.

While I haven’t yet checked out the Alexis Nolent comic series of the same name that inspired The Killer, I’ve already started looking for a new thing to obsess over. Given how much fun I had watching the movie, I think I know what my next deep dive is going to be.

A Killing Machine’s Perfect Routine

The Killer wastes no time showing you just how calculating its titular character (Michael Fassbender) is when he’s on a job. He knows how to bide his time, where to grab an unassuming bite to eat, how to hide in plain sight, and even how to squeeze in some yoga while waiting for his target to check in at the hotel across the street. Empathy is his enemy because he’s simply showing up to do a job. Nothing more, nothing less.

When The Killer botches a job, inadvertently shooting a dominatrix instead of his intended target, he quickly disappears and heads home to regroup before traveling back to his hideout in the Dominican Republic. Once there, he learns that his girlfriend Magdala (Sophie Charlotte) had been accosted by two assassins known as The Brute (Sala Baker) and The Expert (Tilda Swinton), leaving her in critical condition.

Looking for answers and revenge, The Killer sets out to do what he does best: kill people with ruthless efficiency. The rest of the film moves from point A to point B to point C, which sounds boring but is anything but. Watching Fassbender stop by one of his many strategically located storage units to swap out license plates, credentials, and weapons as if it’s just another day at the office is what really sells this movie. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: movies like The Killer simply don’t work if the muscle memory seems phoned in.

On his quest to track down and eliminate The Expert, he has run-ins with his handler, known as The Lawyer (Charles Parnell), his office administrator Dolores (Kerry O’Malley), and turns The Brute’s house into crime scene, all to the tune of “This Charming Man,” proving that he’s a man with exceptional taste. The Killer can effortlessly access any building and disappear without a trace, using a new name and ID to help him move along. It’s almost poetic how seamlessly he handles these heightened situations that would make any lesser man crumble under the pressure.

Fincher’s Grit Always Lands

Like most David Fincher films, The Killer has a gritty aesthetic that borders on grimy. Everything has a muted green hue to it, making it feel like it occupies the same realm as Fight Club or Seven. Like The Killer’s every move, everything is intentional, making every frame drip with purpose, as if you’re meant to experience the late-night fluorescently lit storefronts and corner offices firsthand.

Though it never goes full-on over-the-top like most action flicks, The Killer earns its keep as a slow-burn thriller with a smoldering wick that steadily burns until it’s finally time to pop off and level the entire room. It requires the same kind of patience a person needs while waiting for their target to finally walk through the crosshairs so they can finally pull the trigger and bolt. Fassbender does such a great job sizing up his surroundings, though, that you’ll never once feel bored.

The Killer can be streamed on Netflix.

By Jennifer Asencio
| Published 26 seconds ago

Every year, the whole world becomes Irish for a day. We wear green, drink green beverages, and get our brogue on for the day. We celebrate traditional Irish things like corned beef and cabbage, banshees, and leprechauns. Disney has all of that in one classic movie: Darby O’Gill and the Little People.

The story is based on Irish tales of the trickster Darby and his battle of wits with King Brian of the Leprechauns. In the movie, Darby (Albert Sharpe) is about to retire from his career as groundskeeper of the local manor, a fact he can’t reveal to his daughter, Katie (Janet Munro), because he has to figure out where they’re going to live once Darby’s replacement moves into the groundskeeper’s cottage. Meanwhile, he entertains his neighbors at the pub with tales of his adventures against King Brian and does good deeds for the town, such as carrying a church bell for the payment of its sound being forever dedicated to him.

King Brian (Jimmy O’Dea) is real, but only Darby has seen him so far, and his encounters with the leprechaun swaps the upper hand between them as they trick each other with riddles, treasures, and other mind games. As the rivalry between them blossoms into a friendship, events in the town are coming to a boil as local thug Pony Sugrue plots to steal Darby’s job and Katie’s heart. And when Michael McBride comes to town, everything they all knew will change as quickly as a leprechaun’s wish.

Michael McBride is played by the legendary Sean Connery in an early role that predates his first stint as James Bond (1962’s Dr. No). The 1958 movie is a musical, like much Disney fare of the era, and yes, Sean Connery sings. Fortunately, it’s brief. Otherwise, he manages to contain his wide aura as the new groundskeeper so that he doesn’t steal the show from its stars, Darby and Brian. His Scottish brogue also fits in well with the Irish setting.

Darby’s little town is full of characters: the swaggering bully Pony and his scheming mother, the town priest, the pub’s proprietor and his wife, and a cast of rural townsfolk from old Ireland. It paints a shiny picture of what was actually a desperate time for the Irish but also reflects the importance of Irish storytelling as a cornerstone of the culture that braced the people through its hardest periods. Scholars of Irish culture emphasize how important the fireside céilí, or nightly tale-spinning and singing party, was to the Emerald Isle from its early days. The seanchaíthe, or storytellers, are still revered in Ireland to this day as they continue the tradition of passing down stories orally and through song.

More than once, Darby encounters the most famous of Irish supernatural creatures, some of them charming and others terrifying. It’s easy to forget that it’s a Disney movie when things get tense, because the movie can get pretty scary and touch upon themes that one wouldn’t expect from an offering from the Magic Kingdom. It’s not a kids’ movie, but it is a family movie, with enough for everyone to enjoy and a few fun songs I swear my family didn’t sing at one another when I was a kid myself.

It also holds up surprisingly well for a movie that is almost 70 years old. The fight choreography and special effects are products of their time, but still pretty good considering they are entirely practical. Sean Connery and Keiron Moore, as Pony, both show their moves a few times with physical prowess and clear skill. It all looks very good for its time and fits in with the movie’s world of live-action magic, so its age never diminishes from its enjoyment.

To get your healthy dose of St. Patrick’s Day Irish, check out Darby O’Gill and the Little People on Disney+. But be careful what you wish for: King Brian can be tricky!