After months of speculation and Marvel secrecy, Sadie Sink can finally openly discuss becoming Jean Grey in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The Stranger Things star made her debut as the iconic mutant in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, giving audiences their first look at a new Jean Grey who could eventually become one of the central characters in Marvel Studios’ upcoming X-Menreboot.

In a new interview with Variety, Sink discussed taking on a character who has been an important part of Marvel Comics for decades.

“She’s such an iconic figure in X-Men and in comics, and I’m very excited to bring my iteration of her to life.”

However, Brand New Day introduces Jean in a very different place than longtime X-Men fans might expect.

Rather than already being a member of the X-Men, Jean is presented as a young mutant struggling with her abilities and the circumstances surrounding her. Although she serves as an antagonist during portions of the movie, Sink says she never approached Jean as an actual villain.

“In this film, they told me that I was the villain, but that you’re not actually the villain, which is how I played her.”

Sink added that she didn’t want to give Jean a traditional villainous personality because Jean herself believes her actions are justified.

That distinction appears to be an important part of Marvel’s approach to the character. Instead of introducing Jean as the established superhero audiences previously saw portrayed by Famke Janssen and Sophie Turner, Marvel has an opportunity to show how she eventually becomes that hero.

Famke Janssen, Sadie Sink, Sophie Turner

Sink explained that she viewed Jean primarily as a teenager dealing with pain and anger rather than someone who was inherently evil.

“She’s a young girl in pain.”

According to Sink, the plan was to avoid focusing on the “evil bits” and instead concentrate on Jean as an angry and hurt teenager.

That idea also connects directly to what Sink believes makes the X-Men different from many other superheroes.

“What makes the X-Men special is they are all incredibly flawed.”

Sink explained that mutants have to discover their own relationship with powers they never asked to have. Those abilities don’t necessarily make their lives easier and can instead make them considerably more difficult.

It’s an approach that could tell us quite a bit about the direction Marvel Studios intends to take with its new X-Men.

The mutants have traditionally worked best when their powers aren’t simply treated as abilities that allow them to become superheroes. Being a mutant is part of who these characters are, and learning to live with that identity has always been central to the franchise.

Jean Grey is particularly suited for that kind of story.

As one of Marvel’s most powerful telepaths and telekinetics, Jean has frequently struggled with abilities that can become overwhelming and, eventually, potentially catastrophic. Her comic book history with the Phoenix Force has made her one of the most powerful characters in the Marvel Universe.

But Marvel doesn’t appear to be rushing toward that version of Jean.

Instead, Brand New Day gives Sink the opportunity to start much earlier in Jean’s life and potentially develop the character across several movies before exploring some of her biggest comic book storylines.

Sink also revealed that some of the first people she told about landing the role were Matt and Ross Duffer, the creators of Stranger Things.

“The Duffers were some of the first few people I told.”

Sink said she wanted them to know what she would be doing after Stranger Things, and the brothers were excited about the opportunity. Their reaction carried additional weight for Sink because of their love for comics.

It’s easy to understand the excitement.

After spending years playing Max Mayfield in one of Netflix’s biggest franchises, Sink is moving directly into what could become another defining role, and potentially one that lasts for much of the next decade.

Marvel Studios is currently preparing its new X-Men movie with Thunderbolts director Jake Schreier set to helm the project. Sink’s introduction in Brand New Day now gives the MCU at least one major piece of that team before the movie arrives.

Jean Grey’s future could also introduce another important relationship.

Kit Connor has recently been reported as Marvel’s choice to play Scott Summers, better known as Cyclops. Jean and Scott have one of the most famous and complicated relationships in X-Men history, making the two characters natural candidates to become central figures in Marvel’s new mutant era.

For Sink, though, Jean’s imperfections may ultimately be what makes the character worth exploring.

Marvel has already had two cinematic versions of Jean Grey and has twice attempted to adapt the Dark Phoenix storyline. Simply repeating that journey would offer audiences little they haven’t already seen.

Starting with a younger, angry and emotionally overwhelmed Jean gives Marvel Studios something different: time.

Time to show Jean learning about her powers. Time to show her finding others like herself. Time to establish her relationship with the X-Men. And eventually, time to show how one of Marvel’s most powerful mutants becomes Jean Grey.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day may have introduced her as an antagonist, but if Marvel’s plans come together, Sadie Sink’s Jean Grey is only getting started.

The Rookie is getting plenty of attention ahead of its return next year, and for good reason. After securing an early Season 9 renewal in April, the ABC procedural ended its eighth season the following month with one of network TV’s biggest finales. Despite the renewal, the creative team was reportedly prepared for the possibility of cancellation, as recently revealed by Eric Winter, who plays Tim Bradford. According to Bradford, the cast filmed an alternate version of the Season 8 finale that could have served as a definitive ending for the series.

As production on Season 9 gets underway, the crime drama has also scored a major streaming win. According to Nielsen’s streaming data for January through June 2026, The Rookie finished 12th overall, outperforming some of TV’s longest-running procedural franchises. While the show narrowly missed the Top 10, its performance is particularly impressive given its much smaller episode library compared to its competitors.

With just 144 episodes available on Hulu, The Rookie has amassed 12.817 billion minutes viewed during the six months. By comparison, Law & Order: SVU generated 11.952 billion minutes across 596 episodes on Hulu and Peacock, while 11.870 billion minutes of 508 episodes of NCIS were watched on Hulu, Netflix, Paramount+, and Pluto TV. The original Law & Order followed with 11.387 billion minutes on Hulu and Peacock. All three franchises also benefited from having current broadcast seasons in those six months. Meanwhile, at the top of Nielsen’s rankings is Stranger Things with 23.261 billion minutes viewed and Bluey, which previously finished as the most-streamed TV series of 2025, with 22.809 billion minutes.

‘The Rookie’ Creator Teases Potential ‘The Rookie: North’ Crossover

Season 8 of the hit action series concluded with the explosive finale, “The Bandit,” which saw Tim Bradford (Eric Winter) finally propose to Lucy Chen (Melissa O’Neil) on the beach, with Lucy happily accepting. However, in the same scene, the newly engaged couple are kidnapped by two strangers working for crime boss Heath Everett (Jeffrey Vincent Parise), despite Everett already being back in police custody. With such a shocking cliffhanger, fans are of course desperate to see how the story continues in The Rookie Season 9.

The excitement doesn’t end there. Speaking with Collider’s Steven Weintraub at San Diego Comic-Con, series creator Alexi Hawley teased that a crossover with the upcoming spin-off, The Rookie: North, is already being discussed, which would mark the franchise’s first crossover since The Rookie: Feds.

“There might be one in the works, for sure. We started shooting Season 9 on Tuesday, this last week. We start shooting North in a few weeks, early August, so we’re already into scripts on everything, obviously. There are some thoughts being put to who might go north or come south or both.”

The Rookie streams on Hulu. Stay tuned to Collider for future reports.

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Release Date

October 16, 2018

Showrunner

Alexi Hawley

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Directors

Tori Garrett, Chi-Yoon Chung, Michael Goi, Sylvain White, Lisa Demaine, Lanre Olabisi, Bill Johnson, David McWhirter, Liz Friedlander, Daniel Willis, Toa Fraser, Anne Renton, Jon Huertas, Cherie Nowlan, TK Shom, Rob Seidenglanz, Valerie Weiss, Barbara Brown, Charissa Sanjarernsuithikul, SJ Main Muñoz, Nelson McCormick, Marcus Stokes, Adam Davidson, Anna Mastro

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Writers

Corey Miller, Bill Rinier, Zoe Cheng, Mary Trahan, Ally Seibert, Liz Alper, Nick Hurwitz, Racheal Seymour, Madeleine Coghlan, David Radcliff

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Sauron is such a dense character from J.R.R. Tolkien’s legendarium and that’s exactly why it isn’t possible to cover his whole arc in a wider series at once. For instance, Peter Jackson’s films reduced him to an armored prologue figure and the Eye above Barad-dûr. The Rings of Power concentrated on his Annatar-era manipulation. And Shadow of Mordor built its version of Mordor around Uruk politics and the Nemesis System. While that’s not necessarily bad, it means that there’s still a lot of gap in the more dense lore. The good news is that one of the games is about to tap into Sauron’s time as Lord of the Werewolves, albeit briefly.

Sauron was a powerful Maia who served as the chief lieutenant of the first Dark Lord, Morgoth, during the First Age, and that whole area has received far less screen or game attention. The whole context is — before forging the One Ring, Sauron captured the Elven stronghold of Tol Sirion, renamed it Tol-in-Gaurhoth, the Isle of Werewolves, and filled it with wolves inhabited by evil spirits. Draugluin became the sire of his werewolf host, Finrod died protecting Beren from one of the beasts, and Sauron himself assumed a colossal wolf form before Huan defeated him.

As per GameRant, that new story is the foundation of The Lord of the Rings Online: The Wolves of Mordor. It uses that neglected history to make pos-twar Mordor more than Gorgoroth, Mount Doom, and abandoned Orc fortresses. The expansion is scheduled for fall 2026, although Standing Stone has not unveiled an exact release date yet. Gameplay-wise, players will enter Heledhris, Parth Rhavas, and Nan Ogol, three northeastern regions scarred by Sauron in very different ways.

‘The Lord of the Rings Online’ Is Nearly Two Decades Old

For a game that’s about to become two decades old in April 2027, the upcoming updates are substantial. While the expansion’s story asks what became of the werewolves Sauron intended to unleash after conquering Middle-earth, only for the Ring’s destruction to leave them without their master or purpose, in three intelligent factions, the expansion also adds one three-player instance, two six-player instances, and a raid planned before year’s end. And it’s not just that.

There’s the account-wide Survival Instinct system that will provide region-specific skills, Enhancements Tactics, and Lessons learned from local factions. Not to mention the Neighbor system that will zero-in on gifting, NPC relationships, journals, home visits, and more. All this and the story briefly touching on Sauron’s brief time as Lord of the Werewolves is a nice escalation for MMO’s next era ahead of its two-decade anniversary.

The Lord of the Rings Online: The Wolves of Mordor does not have an exact release date yet. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.

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Release Date

September 1, 2022

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Amazon Prime Video

Showrunner

John D. Payne, Patrick McKay, Louise Hooper, Charlotte Brändström, Wayne Yip

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Writers

Patrick McKay, John D. Payne, J.R.R. Tolkien, Justin Doble, Jason Cahill, Gennifer Hutchison, Stephany Folsom, Nicholas Adams

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Claressa Shields appears to be on a roll this week, clocking the girls! Most recently, she kept it 100% when former Crime Mob rapper Princess reached out. After Princess shared evidence of their interactions, social media users began cuttin’ up with reactions to the exchange between the ladies.

RELATED: Claressa Shields Tweets About A “Clout Chaser” & Feeling “Unfazed” Amid Online Mentions Of Remy Ma & Papoose

Rapper Princess Shares Why Claressa Shields Blocked Her

It’s unclear what prompted Princess to post a screenshot of her DMs with Claressa Shields. However, the photo shows Princess initiating the conversation last August. In that first message, Princess wrote, “Hey!!! Hope all is well!!! I would love to walk you out for a fight to my song ‘Knuck If You Buck’ one day!!!” From the looks of it, Shields never responded to the request. Then, roughly 11 months later, Princess reached out again. This time, she mentioned circling back to the request. According to the screenshot, Claressa finally responded to the double DM “yesterday.” She kept her response brief, writing “No.” A second screenshot backed up Princess’ claims of being blocked, as it shows a “user not found” message. When the block happened remains unclear. Meanwhile, her caption reads:

“Damn [Claressa Shields], I just asked to do my verse on ‘Kunck’ for your walk out at a fight…You didn’t have to block me. @mzshyneka It’s all your fault. #girlpower” 

Social Media Divided After Princess Shares DM Rejection

In The Shade Room’s comment section, nearly 5,000 reactions poured in. Some questioned whether the block was going too far, while others found Claressa’s energy to be a kiii. Also, a few others called out Shields’ tone and the bab

@ryanenotryan_ commented, “She has every right to say no but blocking the lady makes it seem like it’s more to the story.”

@bigmamaslime wrote, “Now Claressa….. why you think the people don’t like you now? This is a prime example of why.”

“Then she acts like she doesn’t understand why people don’t like her. 😂,” @hibaileebyee added.

“Mean girl energy because she can fight, said it before and I’ll say it again,” @niishvv_ commented.

@ta.bii.tha said, “I feel like she don’t know the song because ain’t no way.” 

@mimi_mundey  wrote, “Y’all remember she was in Remy inbox begging for girlie advice 😂”

Claressa Shields Teases New Project Featuring Papoose

On Thursday (August 6), Claressa appeared to tease new music with a short 11-second clip across her social media. The video features the champ boxer spittin’ over a rap beat while she enjoys a bubble bath with her rollers in her hair and Papoose feeding her grapes. Another scene in the clip shows the couple sitting in a living room area. The final moments in her teaser show her freshly pressed, ginger hair flowing over her shoulders. She captioned the post, “I don’t chase the GOOD LIFE…I live it,” adding a clinking glass emoticon. Also, she added the release date August 14, just one day before her second match against Kaye Scott.

I don’t chase the GOOD LIFE… I live it. 🥂

8.14 🎬#claressashields #goodlife #814 pic.twitter.com/i2hk8QV5l7

— Claressa Gwoat Shields (@Claressashields) August 6, 2026

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RELATED: Claressa Shields Dismisses Eva Marcille & Claps Back After Mz. Shyneka Clarifies Her Intention Behind Papoose Question (VIDEOS)

Warren Hudson‘s dad, Ben Hudson, has released audio of apparent threats received by him and his family as the fundraiser for their legal defense amid the Nolan Wells investigation reaches over $160,000.

RELATED: Illinois Man Third Arrested For Alleged Threats As Mississippi Official Says Circulating Nolan Wells Toxicology Report Is “Fraudulent”

Warren Hudson’s Dad Releases Audio Of Apparent Threats Received By His Family Amid Nolan Wells Investigation

According to the Sun Herald, Ben Hudson shared audio of “threats made to his family, including his wife, Chancery Judge Ashlee Cole,” exclusively with the outlet. In a report published on Thursday, August 6, audio that runs for over two minutes and thirty seconds shows multiple apparent calls received by the Hudson family. In one, the caller repeatedly chants, “Justice for Nolan Wells. Son for a son.”

In another, a caller calls Ben the “father of a murderer.” Furthermore, in another, a caller appears to say that Warren Hudson is going to get “all the way f*****d up.”

RELATED: United Cajun Navy Releases Report With Apparent Photos Of Horn Island On July 4, As Nolan Wells’ Mom Clears The Air On Employment Status

“…I know you killed that little kid, man. You guys ain’t s**t. Your wife ain’t s**t. You’re racist [expletive],” the caller goes on to say.

Another caller chastised Ben for raising money for the legal defense of his son and other teens who traveled to Horn Island with Nolan Wells on July 4.

“You know what you’ve done… I can’t believe I live in a world with people like you… evil, racist, white people,” the caller continued to say in part. “… And God, I hope that you burn in hell…”

Click here to listen to the full audio.

Fundraiser For Legal Defense Reaches Over $160K

Ben Hudson has made headlines for offering a $50,000 reward for anyone who has information leading to the arrest or conviction of the person responsible for Nolan Wells’ death, per The Shade Room. However, he and his family have also made headlines for launching a legal defense fundraiser.

Furthermore, the campaign was launched via GiveSendGo. To date, it has raised over $162,000.

“On Independence Day Weekend of 2026, lives were changed forever when a group of friends lost their best friend, Nolan Wells… But instead of being allowed to mourn, what followed was an unprecedented online campaign of accusations, harassment, threats, and defamation.  Since Nolan’s death, Warren Hudson, Jax Pitalo, Morgan Seymour, and many others have been inundated with death threats, threats of violence, and defamation. They have been falsely and wrongly blamed by individuals online and in the media of either directly or indirectly having a hand in Nolan’s death,” the campaign notes. “Our first goal is to raise money to defend these friends against incoming wrongful death actions filed by Attorney Ben Crump and his team. Our second goal is to fund a robust legal team to sue for the litany of slander and libel being spread by not only Crump, but also many social media influencers, news outlets, and local provocateurs who know better.”

The campaign boasts a $200,000 goal. This, Mississippi attorney Tyler Cox, and high-profile attorney Edward Andrew Paltzik reportedly join forces for the teens’ legal defense.

“We don’t know what happened. We have been completely transparent from the beginning because we want to know what happened, too,” Ben previously told the media, per the Sun Herald.

To note, a GoFundMe campaign for the Wells family can be found here. To date, it has raised over $830,000 of its $850,000 goal.

Illinois Man Who Allegedly Made Threats Amid Nolan Wells Investigation Reportedly Has Bond Blocked

Meanwhile, the Sun Herald has also shared an update on Edward James Porter. As The Shade Room previously reported, Porter, an Illinois man, was recently arrested and charged. This, for allegedly threatening to physically harm Bard Edmiston and one of his family members, two witnesses related to the Nolan Wells case.

Per the outlet, a federal judge granted the man bond. However, U.S. District Judge Louis Guirola Jr., in the Southern District of Mississippi, ordered Porter to remain in jail. This, reportedly pending a detention hearing.

RELATED: Nolan Wells’ Mom Shares Update After Anonymous Complaint Prompted Miss. Board Of Nursing To Open Misconduct Investigation Against Her

A Chicago funeral home is being investigated after 57 decomposing bodies were allegedly found inside. The bodies were reportedly discovered inside the South Chicago Chapel funeral home on Thursday, August 6.

RELATED: Oh Wow! Chicago Man Charged With Murdering Two Teen Girlfriends Approximately One Year Apart

More Than 50 Decomposing Bodies Allegedly Found In South Chicago Chapel Funeral Home

The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office was alerted that bodies were being stored improperly at the South Chicago Chapel funeral home at 2939 E. 95th Street, per NBC5 Chicago.

According to the Chicago Sun Times, investigators responded after learning that the bodies weren’t being stored as required by state regulation at 40 degrees or below. Investigators later found 57 decomposing bodies “in various states of decomposition,” inside. Not only that, some of the bodies weren’t refrigerated at all.

Funeral director Clark Morgan escorted the police during their initial visit, but he allegedly padlocked the facility after they left and tried to return later. The Chicago Fire Department reportedly helped investigators re-enter the building.

The business’s license was revoked on Wednesday, according to the police report.

“The MEO will work with authorities to identify these decedents as quickly as possible and notify their families,” a spokesperson for the Medical Examiner’s Office noted.

Additionally, residents described a “rotten sewer” smell that was “unbearable.”

“I was wondering what that smell was,” one man stated, per NBC5 Chicago. “I would smell like rotten sewer, and just a foul smell. It’s unbearable.”

One woman said her mother’s funeral was on July 18, and the home allegedly ignored her calls about her cremated remains.

“I just hope she’s not in there, but something is telling me she is,” the woman allegedly told the Chicago Sun Times.

Funeral Director Was Previously Shut Down

Morgan is reportedly the same person who ran a crematory that was shut down after 100 bodies were found last year, according to ABC7 Chicago.

He allegedly ran the Chicago Heights crematory, where the bodies were discovered in trailers during an investigation. The decomposing bodies were reportedly found inside sheets and bags in trailers on the property. An investigation began after the Illinois Funeral Directors Association received a tip.

18 Decomposing Bodies Found Inside Georgia Funeral Home

Another funeral home was investigated in Douglas, Georgia, after decomposing bodies were discovered inside in 2024. Chris Johnson, the owner of Johnson’s Funeral Home & Cremation Services, was arrested after 18 decomposing bodies were reportedly found by the authorities.

Furthermore, the bodies of two pets were also found decomposing. Johnson was charged with 17 counts of “abuse of a dead body.”

RELATED: Excuse Me?! Oregon Mother Reportedly Forced To Dig Up Late Son’s Remains After Funeral Home Double-Booked Grave

Ariana Grande is sharing her gratitude as she marks the end of the North American leg of her Eternal Sunshine Tour.

The “Petal” singer, 33, performed her final U.S. tour date at the United Center in Chicago on Thursday, August 6, and reflected on her time on the road in a heartfelt Instagram post.

“I love you … i cannot believe that this concludes the north american leg of the eternal sunshine tour,” Grande wrote alongside a carousel of photos and videos from the tour. “I am overwhelmed with love and the deepest gratitude. thank you endlessly for the most special, beautiful, joyful and deeply fulfilling few months … i will cherish every moment of this time with you all & these memories forever. thank you, Chicago.”

She added, “London, i cannot wait to see you soon. i love you all more than ever.”

Grande will conclude her Eternal Sunshine Tour on September 1 after 10 nights at the O2 arena in London. Her first show there takes place on August 15.

The Wicked star’s rep announced on Sunday, August 2, that she will take a break from the spotlight after the conclusion of the tour.

“She looks forward to finishing the tour and ending it on a high note, both healthily and happily, and then taking a much-deserved break from public-facing work and appearances, which has led to endless, ongoing public scrutiny,” her spokesperson told People.

Grande herself addressed the news during her Monday, August 3, show in Chicago.

Related: Ariana Grande Gushes About ‘Petal’ Music Video After Announcing Break

Ariana Grande gushed about her “Petal” music video days after her team announced that she will take a “step back” from the public eye amid intense “scrutiny” of her appearance. “Blooming and firmly planted . . ꕤ,” the pop star, 33, wrote via Instagram on Wednesday, August 5, alongside several behind-the-scenes photos from the music […]

“Sometimes when a story comes out that’s not directly from me, things can get a little blown out of proportion, so I just wanted to speak to my fans directly tonight, because I love you so much,” she said.

“The announcement that was made yesterday was not a reactive or impulsive thing,” the Grammy winner explained. “It is something that I had decided, a plan I had quietly made a long time ago, and it’s a decision that was made from a thoughtful and empowered place.”

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Grande dispelled fans’ concerns that “‘negativity’ was ruining things for me,” saying, “I want you to know that many things can be true at the same time. Boundaries can need to be set, human beings can need a break sometimes, and also, this can be and will continue to be the greatest experience of my professional career.”

She continued, “No matter what noises exist out there, nothing will be able to distort my reality or be more real to me or not as real to me than this love that we share and how it feels to make art with people that I love and respect. Absolutely nothing will change that.”

Grande said that her latest tour has been “the most healing, beautiful, corrective, magnificent, special experience of my life.”