Netflix’s biggest franchise seemingly ended with a controversial series finale just a few months ago. Despite viewers’ general dissatisfaction with the conclusion, and even as the future of the franchise remained in question, the streamer found a way to revive Stranger Things. The animated spin-offStranger Things: Tales From ’85brings back the beloved story in a new way, exploring the gaps between the original series’ five seasons.
After only 10 episodes, Stranger Things: Tales From ’85has already delivered a lot of exciting moments, and it’s not over yet.Netflix has already renewed the spin-off for a second season, hinting at a whole new adventure for Mike (Luca Diaz), Eleven (Brooklyn Davey Norstedt), Dustin (Braxton Quinney), Will (Benjamin Plessala), Lucas (Elisha Williams), and Max (Jolie Hoang-Rappaport) — and fans won’t even have to wait that long. Unlike the increasingly lengthy wait between seasons of Stranger Things, its spin-off is confirmed to return before the end of the year, keeping the franchise alive even after the original show’s end.
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‘Stranger Things: Tales From ’85’ Has Everything Fans Could Ask For
Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 follows the beloved core group on a new adventure, with monsters from the Upside Down continuing to terrorize Hawkins even after the gate has supposedly been closed. Not only does the animated continuation take place in a familiar setting, but the spin-off also fits between Seasons 2 and 3 of Stranger Things, connecting to the original series’ storyline without changing it. The stakes aren’t as high, as the central monster is no Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower), but it provides a new mystery for the kids to solve, which is what the series is really all about.
By offering a scaled-back story, Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 successfullyreturns to the franchise’s roots. Filling in the gaps allows the series to explore the character growth within the beloved group that didn’t always take place on-screen before, asWill learns to accept himself and Dustin struggles with the possibility of no longer going on adventures. Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 also provides insight into the early days of Mike and El as well as Max and Lucas‘ romances, which the original series skipped over, giving fans more time with the characters they love without dragging out the plot.
‘Stranger Things: Tales from ’85’ Is Separate from the Original Series, and That’s OK
Despite using the same characters and timeline, Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 is distinct from the original show. Not only is it a different format, but it also avoids issues that plagued Stranger Things throughout its original run; chief among them is the original series’ rapidly aging cast due to the long breaks between seasons, which became distracting for viewers. Here, the animation can either reflect the characters’ aging as the timeline approaches Season 3 or maintain a more consistent look, avoiding continuity problems. In a similar vein, Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 sidesteps its predecessor’s overwhelming number of cast members by focusing only on the kids. Others, like Hopper (Brett Gipson), Nancy (Alessandra Antonelli), and Steve (Jeremy Jordan), appear in the spin-off but not in major roles. This approach allows the main cast to get the attention they deserve, which is a refreshing change.
That said, Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 has one glaring issue because it doesn’t fully fit within the existing canon. The new series introduces Nikki (Odessa A’zion), who joins the group after moving to Hawkins, but never appears or is even referenced in the original show. Showrunner Eric Robles previously explained that Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 “respects” the canon while telling its own story, which is the clearest answer fans are likely to find on the subject. Even with lingering questions about continuity, this is also the best way to continue Stranger Things beyond the final season. Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 may not provide the answers to the original series finale that fans were hoping for, but it allows the story to grow nonetheless. Fortunately, with Season 2 already on the way, this is only the beginning of Stranger Things‘ new era.
Taylor Swift is set to take her love for New York to another level with her anticipated wedding in the center of it!
The Pop star will reportedly be making her mark at Madison Square Garden to catch a glimpse of Game 4 for the 2026 NBA finals, a few weeks after she attended a basketball game with Travis Kelce.
While Taylor Swift’s attendance at the NBA finals at MSG is exciting news, it is significant because the arena has been rumored to be the venue for her fairytale wedding to Super Bowl winner Travis Kelce.
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The pop superstar will reportedly be spotted courtside among the crowd cheering a team to victory for Game 4 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden. The game will feature the New York Knicks battling it out with the San Antonio Spurs, sealing Swift in the winning spot with fans who were skeptical about her recent Cavaliers appearance.
Swift will reportedly be attending the game with some of her best pals, a less intense move away from her PDA filled appearance alongside Kelce last month at the Knicks-Cavaliers. The tight end and singer both rooted for the Cavaliers during that game.
However, Kelce later cleared the air on his “New Heights” podcast that he was not trying to win Swift over to the Cavs. He added that the outing was a way to share that part of his world with her and to get her to share the sports culture he grew up with in Ohio.
As shared by Page Six, while it was difficult dealing with the Knicks crushing Cleveland’s team, Kelce noted that his allegiance has now shifted, and he will be cheering the Knicks on from here.
The Last Time The ‘Love Story’ Singer was At A Basketball Game
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While his team lost out at the games, Kelce left a notable impression on the minds of fans who watched him chug a whole beer to the admiration of Swift. The Blast noted that the NFL star took advantage of the moment Swift’s “Ready For It” blasted through the speakers and gulped his drink.
Kelce’s stunt was an instant opinion magnet as fans trooped to the internet to dissect all the intricacies involved in the video, drawing judgments questioning Kelce’s maturity.
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Some comments declared that Kelce’s actions were beyond embarrassing and reflected poorly on Swift’s status as a worldwide pop star. At the same time, other fans expressed worry about the future of their relationship.
Some fans, however, countered the critics, reassuring everyone that Kelce’s antics are a sign that Swift finally has someone she can have all the fun with. They complemented his larger-than-life personality, which is reportedly perfectly fine with Swift.
Taylor Swift And Travis Kelce Could Turn Their Big Day Into A Stadium Affair
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It was reported that the couple could be considering an unconventional wedding setting to exchange their vows. According to an insider, Swift and Kelce may tie the knot at Madison Square Garden on July 3, taking the vibe away from concerts and sporting events to hosting one of the biggest weddings on the continent.
The venue could typically house over 20,000 attendees, thus giving them a great scale of visibility, and this may provide an opportunity for the fans to be a part of their big day. The iconic Manhattan arena is not exactly a strange feature in Swift’s story and career, especially early in her touring days.
Her relationship with the venue began in 2009 when she headlined a sold-out crowd, and then in 2011, she hosted two consecutive sold-out shows on November 21 and 22, respectively. In all, the country singer has performed eight times at Madison Square Garden.
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The Power Couple Reworked Wedding Plans After Major Info Leaks
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Weeks prior to the rumors of a new wedding venue for Swift and Kelce, reports indicated that the pair were already under serious pressure to salvage what was left of sensitive information on their big day.
At the time, insiders claimed that Swift became more wary about who she shared details with after private info about the wedding started to circulate in public discussion.
The Blast noted that the leaks caused unexpected disruptions and changes to plans, such as shifts in timing and locations. It was a frustrating and depressing experience, as far as sources were concerned, because it jeopardized the couple’s trust in their circle.
Swift was also reported to be more guarded than usual, with the couple choosing to keep their celebration low-key and focus on close family friends and family.
Even more drastic was the fact that the country singer allegedly did not leave a room for any plus-one in their wedding invitation. In the insider’s words:
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“She doesn’t want to see random faces in the crowd when she’s having her most intimate moment with her husband, committing themselves to each other for life.”
Taylor Swift And Travis Kelce’s Wedding List May Be Missing Some Famous Names
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Another interesting area of speculation surrounding the wedding is that some celebrities did not get an invitation to the ceremony, and they are people formerly in her close circle, such as Blake Lively, Miles Teller, and Karlie Kloss.
Lively and Swift reportedly fell out over her involvement in the former’s messy lawsuit with Justin Baldoni over their hit movie “It Ends With Us.” As for Teller and his wife, Keleigh Sperry, they were last spotted with Swift in 2024, but now, their names have reportedly been excluded from the guest list.
Model Kloss and the “Bad Blood” singer were known for their friendship in Hollywood, but that relationship quietly faded, putting her among those who would not witness the couple exchange their vows next month.
Ultimately, Swift reportedly curated that guest list with longevity in mind as she focused on only friendships that would follow her into the future.
There haven’t been many television finales as disastrous as that of Game of Thrones, as “The Iron Throne” was such a disappointment that it seemingly invalidated all the investment that viewers had staked in the George R.R. Martinadaptation over the course of eight seasons. Although House of the Dragonwas a more well-planned adaptation of another Martin series that benefited from having an ending set in advance, it was far from perfect. It was hard to follow House of the Dragonfor those who didn’t already have a foundational knowledge of the history, mythology, and topography of Westeros, and the series earned a new layer of controversy when Martin himself spoke out against its inaccuracies. It may have seemed like the world of Westeros would be reserved for only a niche group of fans going forward, but A Knight of the Seven Kingdomswas an old-fashioned adventure story that explored a side of the universe that wasn’t dominated by magic, bloodlines, and prophecies.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms may share a title with the best episode of Game of Thrones’ final season, but it is set around 90 years before the beginning of the original show, and is set far away from King’s Landing. The series tells the story of Ser Duncan the Tall (Peter Claffey), a lowborn hedge knight who had previously squired for Ser Arlan of Pennytree (Danny Webb). Duncan, or “Dunk” as he is affectionately known as, has the ambition of competing in a tournament in Ashford, where he finds an unexpected squire of his own in the young boy Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell). The tournament itself is a center point in which various powerful families, cunning knights, and ruthless charlatans vie for victory in inhumane ways, but Dunk’s goal is to win by honorable means. Although the notion of an old-fashioned hero determined to do good in the world might feel like a generic premise, it feels like a breath of fresh air when compared to the cynicism of Game of Thronesand House of the Dragon.
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‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ Is a More Grounded Take on Westeros
Both Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon are quite epic in scope, which makes sense because they are set over several years of time and involve a massive ensemble of characters. However, that style is a byproduct of the specific stories being told, and not an aesthetic that all franchise shows should ascribe to. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is a more grounded series that does not feature any magic or allusions to the broader political strife, as it takes place on the edge of history, where commonfolk are forced to defend themselves. It’s a reminder that Martin’s worldbuilding wasn’t just brilliant because of the destinies and prophecies that he foretold, but because he created unique pockets of society that took an interesting new spin on the concept of medieval times. Although there are a fair number of Easter Eggs that allude to events in the wider franchise, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is a great option for those burnt out by Game of Thrones, and those who’ve never entered Westeros before.
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Collider Exclusive · Middle-earth Quiz Which Lord of the Rings Character Are You? One Quiz · Ten Questions · Your Fate Revealed
The road goes ever on. From the green hills of the Shire to the fires of Mount Doom, every soul in Middle-earth carries a destiny. Ten questions stand between you and the truth of who you are. Answer honestly — the One Ring has a way of revealing what we most want to hide.
💍Frodo
🌿Samwise
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👑Aragorn
🔥Gandalf
🏹Legolas
⚒️Gimli
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👁️Sauron
🪨Gollum
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01
You are handed a responsibility that could destroy you. What do you do? The weight of the world falls on unlikely shoulders.
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02
Your closest companion is heading into terrible danger. You: True loyalty is revealed not in comfort, but in crisis.
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03
Enormous power is within your reach. Your instinct is: Power corrupts — but only those who reach for it.
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04
What does “home” mean to you? Where we long to return reveals who we truly are.
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05
When a battle is upon you, your approach is: War reveals what we are made of — whether we like it or not.
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06
Someone comes to you for advice in their darkest hour. You: Wisdom is not knowing all the answers — it’s knowing which questions to ask.
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07
How do you see yourself, honestly? Self-knowledge is the most dangerous kind.
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08
Which of these best describes your relationship with the natural world? Middle-earth speaks to those who know how to listen.
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09
You encounter a wretched, pitiable creature who has done terrible things. You: How we treat the fallen reveals the height of our character.
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10
When the quest is over and the songs are sung, what do you hope they say about you? In the end, we are all just stories.
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The Fellowship Has Spoken Your Place in Middle-earth
The scores below reveal your true character. Your highest number is your match. Even a tie tells a story — the Fellowship was never made of simple people.
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💍 Frodo
🌿 Samwise
👑 Aragorn
🔥 Gandalf
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🏹 Legolas
⚒️ Gimli
👁️ Sauron
🪨 Gollum
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You carry something heavy — and you carry it alone, even when you don’t have to. You were not born for greatness, and that is precisely why greatness chose you. Your courage is not the roaring, sword-swinging kind; it is quiet, stubborn, and terrifying in its refusal to quit. The Ring weighs on you more than anyone can see, and still you walk toward the fire. That is not weakness. That is the rarest kind of strength there is.
You are, without question, the best of them. Not the most powerful, not the most celebrated — but the most essential. Your loyalty is not a trait; it is a force of nature. You would carry the person you love up the slopes of Mount Doom if it came to that, and we both know you’d do it without being asked. The world needs more people like you, and the world is lucky it has even one.
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You were born to lead, and you have spent years running from it. The crown is yours by right, but you know better than anyone that right means nothing without the will and the worthiness to back it up. You are tempered by loss, shaped by long roads, and defined by a code of honour you hold to even when no one is watching. When you finally step forward, the world shifts. Because it was always waiting for you.
You have seen more than you let on, and you say less than you know — which is exactly as it should be. You are a catalyst: you do not fight the battles yourself, you ignite the people who can. Your wisdom comes not from books but from an age of watching what happens when it is ignored. You arrive precisely when you mean to, and your presence alone changes what is possible. A wizard is never late.
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Graceful, perceptive, and almost preternaturally calm under pressure — you see things others miss and act before others react. You do not need to make a scene to be remarkable; your presence speaks for itself. You are loyal to those you choose to stand beside, and that choice is not made lightly. You have lived long enough to know that the most beautiful things in this world are also the most fragile, and that is why you fight to protect them.
You are loud, proud, and absolutely formidable — and beneath all of that is one of the most fiercely loyal hearts in Middle-earth. You don’t do anything by half measures. Your friendships are forged like iron, your grudges run as deep as mines, and your courage in battle is the kind that makes legends. You came into this fellowship suspicious of everyone and ended it willing to die for an elf. That is not a small thing. That is everything.
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You think in centuries and act in absolutes. Order, dominion, control — not because you are cruel by nature, but because you have decided that the world left to itself always falls apart, and you are the only one with the vision and the will to hold it together. You were not always this. Something was lost, or taken, or betrayed, and the version of you that stands now is the answer to that wound. The tragedy is that you’re not entirely wrong — just entirely too far gone to course-correct.
You are a study in contradiction — pitiable and dangerous, cunning and broken, capable of both cruelty and something that once resembled love. You are defined by loss: of innocence, of self, of the one thing that gave your existence meaning. Two voices war inside you constantly, and the tragedy is that the better one sometimes wins, just not often enough, and never at the right moment. You are a warning, yes — but also a mirror. We are all a little Gollum, given the right ring and enough time.
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The universe of Westeros is so vast that A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms makes a smart choice in limiting its story to a select location in which the tournament is held. It makes for a clever piece of commentary because it shows how contested a seemingly ”honorable” competition is. Even if it is framed as being an equalizing opportunity that anyone can participate in, the most powerful families have a sway over circumstances that help to tilt the event in their favor. It’s a great way for Dunk to be an underdog, as he has to be a hero who fights against systematic oppression and understands knighthood better than those who were born into it.
‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ Has a Compelling Hero’s Journey
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms benefits from being a classic two-hander about characters who seek not to be defined by their class. Dunk has to prove that chivalry is not reserved for those who came from nobility, and some clever twists reveal that Egg is also trying to ensure that he does not go down the same dark path as his family. The chemistry between the two is so charming and surprisingly funny that A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is able to bide its time without feeling like it lacks inertia. There’s so much development done in the first three episodes that the fourth episode, “Seven,” offers an all-time great battle scene. It’s followed up by the heartbreaking flashback episode “In the Name of the Mother,” which makes Dunk’s transition to knighthood even more admirable when considering the tragic nature of his origin.
It’s the lowest score for a Game of Thrones series since the flagship show’s disastrous final season.
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A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is proof of how great shows can be economical; with six half-hour episodes, the first season of the show is able to tell a complete story filled with surprises and revelations, and resolves itself in a way where a Season 2 is more than warranted. What’s lost in the cultural evaluation of Game of Thrones is that it was the characters that audiences fell in love with more than anything else, and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is a reminder of how that is still the case.
It made over $700 million in theaters and proved that audiences will come out for hard science fiction. It reminded the world that Ryan Gosling can carry a film. It’s coming to MGM+. That’s right, Project Hail Mary, 2026’s biggest sci-fi hit to date this year is coming to the channel people only subscribe to for From, on June 16. This flies in the face of pundit expectations that surely, a hit this big would be on Amazon Prime Video, which it has to be noted, shares the same parent company as MGM+.
The Complicated Relationship Between MGM And Amazon
No matter the streaming platform, Project Hail Mary is going to be a smash hit once it’s available. Based on the Andy Weir novel of the same name, everyone’s been waiting for this film since The Martian, also based on a novel by Weir, turned into a blockbuster. The question wasn’t “will this make money” it was “how much?”
Money is the reason why Project Hail Mary is heading to MGM. The studio wasn’t acquired by Amazon until 2022, two years after MGM had paid $3 million for the rights to Project Hail Mary and started pre-production work on the film. Both services are technically part of Amazon, but as the Christopher Miller and Phil Lord directed film predates the merger, it has to stay with MGM. There’s tax implications, monopoly concerns, what it comes down to is having to keep MGM projects away from Amazon, for now.
Ryan Gosling’s One-Way Trip
Project Hail Mary is worth the time to stream, and at $9.99 per month, it’s cheaper to stream through MGM+ than it is to pay for a digital rental through Prime Video. Ryan Gosling plays Ryland Grace, a teacher and molecular biologist on a suicide mission to a distant star in order to help save humanity from the astrophage, a bizarre, unicelled organism slowly killing the Sun. Along the way, he docks with an alien ship, and the surviving crewmember resembles a sentient pile of rocks, so Grace dubs him “Rocky,” learns to communicate, and together, they set about saving their home planets.
That’s all you should know about Project Hail Mary when going in, because like The Martian, it’s not as simple as it should be to complete the mission. The two films have a lot in common, namely the use of hard science to drive the plot, characters more interested in using their brains to solve a problem instead of any type of external conflict, and they are gorgeous. With a 94 percent fresh critic rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 95 percent audience rating, it’s the rare film that everyone fell in love with at first sight.
Project Hail Mary is the type of science fiction we need more of from Hollywood. It’s smart, thought-provoking, and dares to be different by breaking the blockbuster mold. That’s why the streaming platform doesn’t matter as much as it would with any other movie. MGM+ or Amazon Prime Video, makes no difference, the audience will find it wherever it is and make it another streaming success.
Get a rundown of Us Weekly‘s top stories making headlines in celebrity news, sports and entertainment on June 10, 2026. Here are key takeaways:
• The cast of Boy Meets Worldopened up about their estrangement from series lead Ben Savage at the Tribeca Film Festival premiere of their new documentary, Doc Meets World. Will Friedle, Danielle Fishel and Rider Strong said Savage unfollowed them on Instagram and blocked their phone numbers, and they hope to address the rift with him face-to-face, the cast told Us at the Sunday, June 7, premiere.
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• Kaley Cuoco announced she and fiancé Tom Pelphrey are expecting their second child, a daughter, sharing a gender reveal moment on Instagram. The couple already shares daughter Matilda and got engaged in August 2024, Cuoco revealed in her pregnancy announcement.
• Heather and Tarek El Moussa said they “feel violated” after their $5 million Newport Beach mansion was burglarized while they vacationed in Los Cabos, Mexico. Suspects shattered a rear sliding glass door and made off with high-value jewelry, the couple shared in a statement on Instagram.
Edited by Samantha Benitz. Story produced with AI assistance
In Hollywood, making money is often more important than all else. That’s why cinemas are filled with so many sequels and comic book movies. An already established IP is easier to sell than something audiences have never heard of before. It’s the same reason why there are so many reboots and remakes. There was a wave of them in horror throughout the 2000s, and there continues to be across all genres with mixed results. For every success, such as Dune, there’s an unnecessary Disney live-action reboot, or a disastrous reimagining, like The Crow. Bill Skarsgård‘s turn as Eric Draven wasn’t exactly awful, but no one wanted to see a reboot of what Brandon Lee created. Some movies mean so much to audiences that they want them left alone forever. These eight classics fall into that category.
‘The Princess Bride’ (1987)
Westley with a wounded shoulder stands on guard with his sword while Buttercup stands behind him in The Princess BrideImage via 20th Century Studios
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The late Rob Reiner went through a streak of directing perfection throughout the 80s and 90s with instant classics like Stand by Me, Misery, and A Few Good Men, but for those who grew up with it, there’s a special place in the hearts of fans for The Princess Bride. Written by the legendary William Goldman, the fantasy film deftly blends adventure, comedy, and romance in the story of Westley’s (Cary Elwes) rescue of Princess Buttercup (Robin Wright).
There were rumors of a reboot of The Princess Bride years ago, which thankfully never came to be. How do you recapture the 80s magic? It’s a moment in time movie that can’t be redone with different actors to the same effect. There’s no one who can do what Mandy Patinkin and Wallace Shawn pulled off. Now, with Reiner sadly no longer with us, any idea of a remake should be put to rest forever. To make one now would be disrespectful to his legacy.
‘The Goonies’ (1985)
The young cast members point and look ahead while holding a treasure map in The GooniesImage via Warner Bros.
There is absolutely no need for a remake of The Goonies. To do so would be to ignore what made the original so compelling. It’s not as easy as retelling the story. It’s the actors who make the journey so memorable. How could anyone else do what Jeff Cohen did as Chunk, or capture the energy of Ke Huy Quan’s Data? Any attempt would be cheap parody. Like Rob Reiner, Richard Donner is no longer around. Leaving one of his greatest movies alone is the best way to honor him.
‘The Wizard of Oz’ (1939)
Judy Garland Wears the Ruby Red Slippers next to the Tin Man and Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz.Image via Warner Bros.
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For many, the first movie they ever saw or which made an impact on their lives was The Wizard of Oz. If you’re of a certain age, it’s what you watched every Thanksgiving on network TV. The Wizard of Oz was a larger-than-life spectacle, and it still is. The magic transcends across generations. Based on L. Frank Baum‘s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Victor Fleming somehow made this film and Gone With the Wind in the same year. As big as the latter is, even it can’t touch the fantastical journey Dorothy (Judy Garland) goes on.
There have been reimagining of sorts of The Wizard of Oz with Return to Oz and The Wiz, but an exact reboot of the movie that started it all wouldn’t work. It would be like reshaping an important part of your life with the flat gloss of modern Hollywood. The shock of seeing black and white turn into color would no longer hit. Seeing someone else sing the same songs Garland did only mimics the beauty of her performance. Continue to tell other stories in the world, like Wicked successfully did, but leave one of the most important movies ever made alone.
‘The Sound of Music’ (1965)
Maria (Julie Andrews) holding Gretl (Kym Karath) as they hide in ‘The Sound of Music’
Image via Twentieth Century Fox
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Another movie which has been passed down by families for decades is The Sound of Music. Robert Wise‘s musical, written by Ernest Lehman, delivered a top-tier performance from Julie Andrews as Maria, the nun who takes care of the seven von Trapp kids while falling in love with their widowed father, Georg (Christopher Plummer). Set in Austria during the rise of Nazism, the movie combines the seriousness of war with the joy of falling in love, all told with beautiful songs.
The Sound of Music is steeped in nostalgia. To even attempt to reboot it would be ludicrous. There is no way to improve on what Julie Andrews pulled off. Any poor actress who took that risk would be set up for immediate failure and ridicule. If you want to see The Sound of Music, go check out showings of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein’s musical and be swept away in a live performance of the story. As for the movie, perfection shouldn’t be touched.
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‘The Godfather’ (1972)
Marlon Brando as Vito Corleone in The Godfather (1972)Image via Paramount Pictures
The Godfatheris not a movie any kid should ever watch, but what it means to cinema history is just as important. Based on Mario Puzo‘s novel of the same name, Francis Ford Coppola‘s film ruled the 70s and is still regarded as a perfect masterpiece. The drama of the changing Corleone family delivered Marlon Brando‘s most famous role and turned Al Pacino into a mega star. How does any director or actor approach that?
The Godfather is untouchable. That era of early 70s filmmaking had a sense of grit which can’t be so easily replicated. What Coppola did was masterful. The performances can’t be duplicated either. Pacino and James Caan were so great that they launched decades-long careers at the top. As for Brando, how he approached Vito Corleone’s speech patterns became one of the most imitated in history. For any actor to try to play Vito would be seen only as a bad parody of Brando. Refuse any offer for this reboot.
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‘Forrest Gump’ (1994)
Image via Paramount Pictures
Tom Hanks was on quite the run in the early to mid 90s. After winning a Best Actor Oscar for Philadelphia in 1993, he followed it up with an even more challenging film. Forrest Gump, an adaptation of Winston Groom‘s novel, is an enthralling lifelong journey about a mentally disabled man who doesn’t let his perceived shortcomings slow him down. It was one of the biggest, most quoted movies of 1994 and resulted in another Oscar for Hanks.
A Forrest Gump remake wouldn’t work today for a few different reasons. There is, of course, no way to improve on what Hanks and director Robert Zemeckis accomplished. Their movie works because it feels so fresh. Nothing quite like this, with its wide scope and unique character, had been done before. Remake it and the magic is lost. At the same time, it’s a movie which couldn’t be made today because a Hollywood actor playing someone who is mentally disabled is now seen as offensive. Any attempt would be immediately rejected.
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‘Jaws’ (1975)
Roy Scheider and Robert Shaw in ‘Jaws’ as the shark launches out of the waterImage via Universal Pictures
Steven Spielberg‘s Jaws invented the summer blockbuster. The director was still in his 20s when he crafted the classic horror action movie about a coastal town held hostage by the attacks of a killer great white shark. Spielberg used John Williams‘ phenomenal score to make up for the lack of seeing the monster for so long. At its heart, Jaws is a character-driven film more than a killer shark horror flick thanks to the performances of Roy Scheider, Richard Dreyfuss, and Robert Shaw.
Jaws launched a franchise, with each sequel worse than the one before it until the studio finally gave up. This didn’t mean that the appetite for shark movies went away, though. There have been countless ones made over the decades. That’s exactly why there doesn’t need to be another Jaws. The genre is being done elsewhere already. Jaws is about the score, characters, and setting. To remake it means showing the shark as soon as possible, completely changing the tone and what Spielberg was going for.
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‘Back to the Future’ (1985)
Marty and Doc test out the Doctor’s remote-controlled time machine/car hybrid in Back to the Future.Image via Universal Pictures
No movie quite defines “movie magic” like Back to the Future. Robert Zemeckis’ film, which he co-wrote with Bob Gale, could have been a disaster with Eric Roberts in the lead role of Marty McFly. It changed when Michael J. Fox came on board. Suddenly, Back to the Future was light and cool, with a badass DeLorean time-travel machine, and a fun partnership with the quirky Dr. Emmett Brown (Christopher Lloyd). Everything came together beautifully to create perfection.
Back to the Future became a thrilling trilogy, but after three movies, everyone wisely decided to stop while they were ahead. It’s a world that has never been returned to in a feature film. It should stay that way forever. Like Jaws isn’t all about a shark, Back to the Future isn’t about time travel. It’s the high-energy story and the well-written characters we keep coming back for in rewatches. No one can copy what Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd did. From the supporting cast, to the impeccable writing, and the heartwarming score from Alan Silvestri, there will never be a way to outdo the past.
George Clooney has cast his lot with a particular actor for the highly coveted role of James Bond.
The Hollywood veteran, known for his acting and directorial achievements, recently weighed in on the next agent 007. The “Fantastic Mr. Fox” star had high praise for a man he once worked with.
The next James Bond actor has remained an open topic for years since the former star, Daniel Craig, stepped down from the role after the 2021 installment “No Time to Die.”
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Clooney made his allegiance known in a new interview, revealing that he is rooting for Dua Lipa’s husband, Callum Turner, to be the next Bond. The rising actor won Clooney’s heart when he starred in the 2023 movie, “The Boys in the Boat,” which the Hollywood veteran produced and directed.
Given their history, Clooney argued that Turner would make the perfect candidate for the Bond franchise. “I hope Callum ends up being the next Bond. I think he would be a great Bond,” he told Hollywood Reporter, adding:
“He’s tall and handsome and charming and British, so he’s the perfect guy to do it.”
Callum Turner Has All The Qualities The Oscar Winner Likes
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Clooney’s praises continued, with the director hailing Turner for choosing quality over “easy paychecks” when it came to his roles. He noted Turner had “done really interesting work” and managed to showcase his prowess as an actor while avoiding Hollywood drama.
“Somehow Callum has weaved his way through all of the noise and found a place where people look at him and go, ‘There’s something with this young man,’” Clooney said. He stated that it was “exciting” watching people pay closer attention to Turner.
Clooney reiterated that Turner had what it took to be a leading man. Filmmaker Will Gluck echoed similar sentiments about Turner’s qualities as a lead actor. “If you’re a guy like Callum who is really funny while also physical, and can be an action-movie hero — those are the ingredients that we used to have in movie stars,” Gluck declared.
Idris Elba Isn’t Rooting For A ‘Woke’ Bond Franchise
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While Clooney is rooting for Turner to be the next Bond, fans have placed bets against him, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Harris Dickinson, and Jacob Elordi. Before these rising stars in the industry became fan favorites for the next agent 007, many had been calling for Idris Elba.
The Hollywood heartthrob’s name made waves for some time as the perfect candidate to take over Craig’s legacy, but Elba did not share the same sentiments. In an interview with GQ published on June 8, Elba stressed that he was not on board with changing the character’s race, saying:
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“Bond is so unrealistic, so a hint of reality is good, but let’s not try and make it woke. I think you’ve got to be pure to what it is: escapism. Don’t try and answer the world’s taste. Just be Bond.”
The ‘Hobbs & Shaw’ Star Doesn’t Want A Black Person For The Role
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Elba confessed that he was flattered that many had considered him a good Bond candidate, but he did not believe a Black person should continue the franchise. He argued that Bond “was written how he was written for a reason” and realistically, some markets prefer it that way.
“Bond is big all over the world. And [audiences] won’t [all] go for a black male, an African male, playing Bond. That’s not what they like in their culture. Period,” Elba explained. Despite arguing that a black person shouldn’t play the predominantly white character, Elba changed his tune for another movie.
The veteran actor landed the part of Man-at-Arms in 2026’s “Masters of the Universe,” a cartoon character known for its ginger mustache. Elba joked that the character looked nothing like him, but he did not mind taking the role because “Man-At-Arms could be any color! He’s got green legs, for God’s sake!”
Daniel Craig Doesn’t Care Who Picks Up The Mantle Of James Bond
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While Elba believes a Black man shouldn’t be the next Bond, Craig, on the other hand, isn’t bothered. In a 2024 interview with Variety, the actor was asked whom he would like to portray Agent 007, but he bluntly replied, “I don’t care.”
Craig never expected to play Bond as long as he did, previously confessing in a 2022 interview that he thought it would be one movie. When he found out there were five installments to complete, Craig dropped a shocking request.
According to the “Spectre” star, he, the franchise’s producer Barbara Broccoli, said that he wanted to kill off his character by the end of the fifth movie, and she agreed. Craig’s wish came true in 2021 when his on-screen persona died a heroic death, per the U.K.’s The Times.
Whew, Roommates! Social media users can’t stop talking about a now-viral clip that shows Summer Walker strolling to a Chicago store in an interesting outfit choice. As the video continues to spread online, Summer has entered the chat to address the footage.
The singer’s tour might be taking over social media, but a new clip showing her strolling through Chicago in a robe has raised eyebrows. In the video LiveBitez shared, someone records Summer as she casually walks down the street toward what appears to be a corner store. As the video continues, Summer holds onto a green robe while wearing a pink bonnet that covers her hair, along with furry slippers. A man walks in front of her as she makes eye contact with the person recording while heading into the store. After the video surfaced online, social media users quickly questioned why she chose to wear a robe while walking around the city. Others asked why she didn’t send an assistant to pick up her late-night items instead.
Summer Sets The Record Straight About Viral Clip
Once the clip of Summer began circulating on social media, she appeared to address it after an Instagram user sent her a direct message asking why she chose to walk around Chicago dressed like that. She told the Instagram user that she was minding her business and went to pick up some cigarettes. To which the person responded, “fasho minding yo business stop playing not no cigs.”
Summer also captioned the video mentioning that she didn’t know the man walking in front of her, but he did pay for her items. “I literally ain’t even know that man walking next to me he just decided to pay for my stuff & I walked back to my Telly alone n went to bed.” She added. “This celebrity s**t too weird. You can’t even walk to the corner store without going viral.”
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The Internet Weighs In On Summer’s Chicago Outing
After Summer’s response surfaced, social media users flooded LiveBitez’s comment section. Plenty of folks online agreed that she looked out of place wearing a small robe, while others said she could have picked a different outfit. Peep some of the reactions below.
Instagram user @shaluvinmirah wrote, “Naw babes you’re weird for walking to the store like that 😩”
Instagram user @ thatchick_shi wrote, “First, it was the bonnet.Now we are wearing our bathrobes outside 🥴🥴🥴🤦🏾♀️”
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While Instagram user @iammissjazz wrote, “Security couldn’t go get her stuff?”
Then Instagram user @ahseenamai wrote, “Celeb or not, it’s weird that you went outside in a tiny robe and slippers made solely for inside.”
Another Instagram user @only1zahh_ wrote, “It literally takes 2 seconds to put on tights and a tee shirt.”
Instagram user @randomishvibes2 wrote, “Walking around like that in Chicago is crazy work lol.. when literally anything can happen in seconds. Idc if she was downtown, it’s not safe down there either.”
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Then another Instagram user @oree_montana wrote, “Girrrl you knew exactly what you was doing 🤣”
While another Instagram user @prettiestbxtchh_ wrote, “I thought she had ‘social anxiety’ 😂”
Finally, Instagram user @donotmentionme_ wrote, “For a shy introvert she sure do be seeking attention very much so !!!”
Actor Adam Driver may have gotten his start on the HBO comedy “Girls,” but it’s really his work on “Star Wars” that made him a household name. The actor first appeared as Kylo Ren/Ben Solo in 2015’s “The Force Awakens,” 2017’s “The Last Jedi,” and 2019’s “The Rise of Skywalker.” Although he pitched another film to Disney, top execs shut the project down, as they apparently didn’t see how Ben Solo could still be alive. Throughout his career, the U.S. Marine Corps veteran has earned three Emmy nominations, two Academy Award nominations, and even a Tony nomination. Earlier this year, he appeared in James Gray’s critically acclaimed “Paper Tiger,” which may earn him yet another Oscar nom.
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According to Celebrity Net Worth, the “Megalopolis” actor is worth $23 million, which puts him ahead of his “Star Wars” costars. According to the website, Oscar Isaac is worth $12 million, Daisy Ridley is worth $9 million, and John Boyega is worth $8 million. Shockingly, Anthony Daniels, who has appeared in every “Star Wars” movie to date – mostly as C-3PO, is also only worth $8 million.
Of course, his net worth is nothing compared to his on-screen father, Harrison Ford, who has an impressive net worth of $350 million thanks to his long career and his work in the “Indiana Jones” franchise. Mark Hamill, who famously portrayed Luke Skywalker, is actually worth less than Adam Driver – his net worth comes in at only $20 million.
How Adam Driver Got His Start
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The actor was born in San Diego, California, in November 1983, but later relocated to Mishawaka, Indiana. He graduated from high school in 2001 and worked as a door-to-door salesman selling vacuum cleaners until 9/11, which prompted him to enlist in the United States Marine Corps. After serving for three years, his unit was deployed to Iraq.
Unfortunately, he broke his sternum while mountain biking and was medically discharged before he left the country. He then studied at the University of Indianapolis for a year before transferring to Juilliard, where he studied drama. He graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2009.
Driver Got His Start On The HBO Comedy Girls
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While studying at Juilliard, he met his now-wife, Joanne Tucker, who is also an actress. Upon graduating, the couple decided to stay in New York City. He appeared in several Broadway and Off-Broadway productions and worked as a waiter to pay the bills. He made his first feature film appearance in Clint Eastwood’s “J. Edgar” and his first TV appearance in an episode of “The Unusuals,” before he was cast on Lena Dunham’s HBO comedy “Girls.”
Driver played the role from 2012 to 2017 and was nominated for three Emmys for Outstanding Supporting Actor for his work. He worked with major A-listers, like Daniel Day-Lewis and Tommy Lee Jones, in the 2012 film “Lincoln” before appearing in other movies like “Hungry Hearts” and “Inside Llewyn Davis,” which starred his future “Star Wars” co-star, Oscar Isaac.
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‘Star Wars’ The Actor’s Big Break
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In 2015, Driver became a household name for portraying the main villain in the “Star Wars” sequel trilogy. He played the role of Ben Solo, the son of Princess Leia Organa and Han Solo, who fell to the dark side. After reprising the role in 2017’s “The Last Jedi,” his character was redeemed – and ultimately died – in 2019’s “The Rise of Skywalker,” seemingly putting an end to the Skywalker bloodline.
Although the film was met with controversy, many praised Driver’s acting. After appearing in Martin Scorsese’s “Silence” and Jim Jarmusch’s “Paterson,” he began to face more recognition for his roles. He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 2018’s “BlacKkKlansman” and a nomination for an Oscar for Best Actor for his role in 2019’s “Marriage Story” opposite Scarlett Johansson.
Driver Has 7 Projects Currently In Development
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Earlier this year, Driver’s acting was praised in James Gray’s “Paper Tiger” when it made its debut at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival. He is rumored to be starring in the sequel to “Heat,” and will also be reuniting with Kenneth Longergan on “Tomorrow Is A Drag.” Lonergan previously worked with Driver on the off-Broadway play “Hold On to Me Darling.”
As The Blast previously reported, he has also been tapped to star in a new Netflix series called “Rabbit, Rabbit.” Driver will also be an executive producer on the series, which will be directed by Emmy winner Philip Barantini of “Adolescence” fame.
He has also been tapped to star in the art-world drama “The Dealer” at Apple TV, opposite “Scenes From A Marriage” actress Jessica Chastain. Among his many projects, Driver will also appear in “Alone at Dawn,” opposite Anne Hathaway.
The film, directed by Ron Howard, is based on the book of the same name by Dan Schilling and Lori Chapman Longfritz and is inspired by a true story. The novel tells the story of Air Force Combat Controller John Chapman’s fight to the death to save his fellow soldiers, and the subsequent investigation that ultimately earned him a Medal of Honor.
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Will Adam Driver Ever Return To ‘Star Wars’?
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Many fans are also hoping that he will return as Ben Solo in some way, potentially as a Force Ghost, in a future “Star Wars” project.
The next Lucasfilm film to revisit the timeline after the events of “The Rise of Skywalker” is “Star Wars: Starfighter,” which will hit theaters on May 28, 2027. Although it is a standalone film, fans are still crossing their fingers!
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