Influencer Estee Williams is paying tribute to her 8-month-old daughter, Estelle, after her death.

“Until we meet again, my sweet Estelle,” Williams wrote via her Instagram Story on Saturday, May 30, alongside a photo of her holding her daughter. She added an angel wings emoji to the image.

Williams confirmed to People on Sunday, May 31, that Estelle died from multiple organ failure and had spent several months hooked up to various hospital machines.

Williams gave birth to Estelle in 2025. The baby was born with the congenital heart defect known as ventricular septal defect.

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Influencer Esther Thomas has died after undergoing surgery. “Greetings … We the family of Esther Thomas [A.K.A Sunshine] with pain in our heart we regret to announce the sudden demise of our beloved sister and daughter Esther Thomas who suddenly passed away on the 9th of January 2026 after an unsuccessful surgery,” a statement shared […]

“After a two-day long labor and complete exhaustion, my midwife and I agreed that transferring to the hospital was the best decision. Estelle was born another 24 hours later — healthy and absolutely beautiful. It wasn’t until a day and a half later that she failed two oxygen saturation screenings and a heart murmur was detected, at which point she was admitted to the NICU for further evaluation,” Williams wrote via Instagram in 2025.

She continued, “The cardiologist performed an echocardiogram, and that’s when we learned she had two VSDs — one large and one moderate. We were told the larger hole measured 11 mm and that, sometime during her infancy, she would likely begin to show symptoms and need open-heart surgery to repair the VSDs with patches. Four days later, we were able to go home and begin our baby girl’s heart journey.”

Williams shared that Estelle’s surgery was scheduled in November 2025, which was expected to be a “relatively short hospital stay” meaning about three to six days after surgery.

“Our baby girl’s surgery was a success! The surgeon shared that hers was the largest VSD he had ever seen or repaired — measuring 30 mm and requiring a 3cm patch. A Healthy baby’s heart her age/weight would typically be about the size of a walnut, but because of the immense work her heart was doing to keep her alive, hers had grown to the size of an orange. It truly felt miraculous that we were able to bring our baby home from the NICU and that she was able to grow, even if only a little, before her surgery,” Williams wrote at the time.

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Williams explained that because the “patch was so extensive and unable to contract like a normal septum,” Estelle’s “postoperative court became entirely unanticipated and was marked by significant complications.” Within two weeks, Estelle had “undergone her second heart surgery due to her complete heart block.”

After Estelle went into cardiac arrest in December 2025, she was placed on life support. Williams was told that her daughter could not leave the hospital until she had a heart transplant.

In April, Williams shared that Estelle was considered ineligible because of various health complications, including sepsis and issues with blood clotting. After the situation improved, Williams shared that Estelle was granted eligibility again. Earlier this month, Williams explained that Estelle had been removed from the transplant list for a second time.

Thrillers from the ‘90s just hit differently. For some reason, films from that era had a way of crawling under the audience’s skin without needing to rely on hollow twists every 10 minutes or turning everything into franchise bait. They felt darker, stranger, and far more willing to leave the audience with a sense of discomfort.

That’s because these stories never followed a set formula. The best ’90s thrillers cared less about nonstop spectacle and more about atmosphere, character psychology, and trusting the audience to make peace with ambiguity. Here is a list of six such ‘90s thrillers that still hold up better than today’s movies because they were actually willing to take risks.

1

‘Seven’ (1995)

Image via New Line Cinema

To this day, Seven remains one of the most disturbing thrillers ever made because it understands that real horror comes from psychology, not just spectacle. David Fincher’s masterpiece follows exhausted detective William Somerset (Morgan Freeman) and impulsive younger cop David Mills (Brad Pitt) as they investigate a series of gruesome murders inspired by the seven deadly sins. The killer, John Doe (Kevin Spacey), seems to be carrying out some twisted form of moral punishment, which makes Seven so much more unsettling than a standard serial-killer thriller. Fincher strays away from excessive exposition and overcomplicated action sequences to keep the audience invested.

The dreary atmosphere of the unnamed city in which the story takes place practically embodies Somerset and Mills’s exhaustion. Seven doesn’t rush to catch the murderer because it understands that the ending only works if the audience has been slowly consumed by the same sense of fear as the characters. The film’s unforgettable climax still hits like a sucker punch while also feeling completely inevitable at the same time. Many thrillers have tried copying Seven over the years, but have failed to understand that the film’s stylistic choices alone aren’t what made it work. Seven still holds up today because it’s intelligent in how it treats its violence with a larger purpose. That unique angle is something many modern thrillers just can’t seem to recreate.

2

‘The Silence of the Lambs’ (1991)

Image via Orion Pictures

The Silence of the Lambs is another genre-defining thriller that understands the art of blending style with substance. The film follows FBI trainee Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster), who is assigned to interview imprisoned cannibalistic psychiatrist Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins) in the hope that he can help authorities catch another serial killer known as Buffalo Bill. The investigation gradually evolves into something much more intense as every conversation between the two feels psychologically intense and manipulative. The story is constantly focused on her perspective, especially her experience navigating male-dominated institutions where she is routinely underestimated.

That detail becomes important in her scenes with Lecter because, despite how terrifying he is, he also becomes one of the few characters who fully recognize her intelligence. Hopkins’s performance as the notorious serial killer is controlled, yet suffocating because the audience knows that he is always ahead of the curve. The Silence of the Lambs is a masterclass in character building and demands the audience’s full attention. Many modern thrillers still borrow elements from the film, especially the archetypes of the brilliant serial killer and morally complex investigator. However, very few manage to replicate the film’s emotional depth.

3

‘A Few Good Men’ (1992)

Image via Columbia Pictures

A Few Good Men proves that dialogue can be just as intense as action. Rob Reiner’s courtroom drama follows Navy lawyer Daniel Kaffee (Tom Cruise), who is assigned to defend two Marines accused of murdering a fellow soldier at Guantanamo Bay. At first, the case appears fairly straightforward, but things become far more complicated once Kaffee and fellow lawyer Joanne Galloway (Demi Moore) begin suspecting that the accused Marines were acting under orders as part of an illegal disciplinary hazing known as a code red. The investigation slowly leads them toward the intimidating Colonel Nathan Jessep (Jack Nicholson), whose rigid worldview and obsession with military order fuel the central conflict of the story.

A Few Good Men features Cruise in one of the strongest performances of his career as he perfectly portrays Kaffee’s transformation from a smug lawyer who avoids difficult trials into someone genuinely willing to risk his career to uncover the truth. The final courtroom confrontation remains one of the most iconic climaxes in thriller history thanks to the psychological battle leading up to it. A Few Good Men never overcomplicates its story with unnecessary twists or shock factors. Instead, it trusts its characters, performances, and writing to carry the suspense, which is exactly why the film still feels so gripping more than 30 years later.

4

‘Heat’ (1995)

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

Heat is the rare crime thriller that feels massive in scale yet intimate at the same time. The gripping story follows expert thief Neil McCauley (Robert De Niro) and obsessive LAPD detective Vincent Hanna (Al Pacino), two men who are standing on opposite sides of the law but are more similar than they might think. Both characters are brilliant at their jobs and terrible at maintaining pretty much anything outside of them. This dynamic is what hooks the audience as the story slowly brings these two men closer together. However, Heat never feels like a standard cop-versus-criminal showdown, but rather more like something inevitable because of its refusal to portray these characters as simply good or bad.

In fact, it constantly blurs the line between hunter and hunted until Hanna and Neil begin to feel almost interchangeable. The storytelling is patient and focuses just as much time on McCauley and Hanna’s personal lives as it does on the robberies themselves. Speaking of which, Neil’s final heist culminates in one of the most iconic shootouts ever put on screen. Aside from the thrill of it all, the sequence feels extremely realistic since it’s shot with brutal precision rather than flashy editing or exaggerated action. By the end, Heat goes behind the excitement of the heists and becomes a surprisingly sad story about two men who sacrificed everything for lives they know they can never escape.

5

‘12 Monkeys’ (1995)

Image via Universal Pictures

Terry Gilliam’s sci-fi thriller, 12 Monkeys, has only gotten more unsettling with time. The story takes place in a future where a deadly virus has wiped out most of humanity and follows prisoner James Cole (Bruce Willis), who is sent back in time to gather information about the outbreak before it happens. However, things quickly spiral once Cole is mistakenly sent to 1990 instead of 1996 and ends up trapped inside a psychiatric hospital. There, he meets psychiatrist Dr. Kathryn Railly (Madeleine Stowe) and unpredictable mental patient Jeffrey Goines (Brad Pitt), whose connection to the mysterious Army of the Twelve Monkeys slowly drives the film deeper into paranoia and uncertainty.

The plot constantly shifts between reality, memory, dreams, and possible delusion, which gives the movie its unique, disorienting atmosphere. 12 Monkeys never treats time travel like a pure gimmick and actually focuses on its psychological consequences. The protagonist is trapped in this almost nightmarish world where both he and the audience are forced to question everything. By the end, 12 Monkeys turns into something far more tragic than a standard sci-fi thriller with a haunting conclusion that feels impossible to escape.

6

‘Jacob’s Ladder’ (1990)

Image via Tri-Star Pictures

Jacob’s Ladder is easily one of the most disturbing psychological horror films ever made. The story follows Vietnam veteran Jacob Singer (Tim Robbins), whose life slowly begins falling apart after returning home from the war. He starts experiencing terrifying hallucinations, violent flashes of imagery, and moments where reality feels unstable. As these visions become more intense, Jacob starts believing that something happened to his platoon in Vietnam, possibly involving a secret military experiment, and his desperate search for answers slowly turns into something much darker.

The film traps the audience inside Jacob’s perspective and blurs the line between nightmare, memory, and reality until the viewers become just as disoriented as Jacob. This sense of uncertainty makes the horror scenes genuinely terrifying instead of being driven by shock value. Robbins gives one of the best performances of his career thanks to the vulnerability and exhaustion he brings to Jacob’s character. The movie’s spiritual themes also give it far more depth than most horror films from that era. Beneath the paranoia and surreal imagery, Jacob’s Ladder is really about accepting death, letting go of suffering, and finding peace in the middle of chaos.

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Jacob’s Ladder

Release Date

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November 2, 1990

Runtime

113 minutes

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Writers

Bruce Joel Rubin

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Westerns don’t need to be complicated to become iconic, and in fact, that might be what makes a Western a true Western. That’s especially true of this latest movie, 73 years later, as it hits streaming and prepares to wow audiences for the latest time, the first time, or perhaps even the last time. Even if you’ve never seen it, you’ve almost definitely seen movies influenced by it. Now, one of the most important Westerns ever made is back.

Shane arrives on Paramount+ June 1, and the film remains one of the genre’s most adored entries, currently holding a 94% score on Rotten Tomatoes. More than seven decades after its release, its influence is still everywhere. The film follows Shane, a mysterious drifter and gunfighter who rides into a Wyoming valley and becomes involved with a family of homesteaders being threatened by a ruthless cattle baron. As tensions build between settlers and ranchers, Shane tries desperately to avoid using violence, but the world around him keeps pulling him back toward the gun.

The cast includes Alan Ladd (This Gun for Hire) as Shane, Jean Arthur (Mr. Smith Goes to Washington) as Marian Starrett, Van Heflin (3:10 to Yuma) as Joe Starrett, Brandon De Wilde (Hud) as Joey Starrett, Jack Palance (City Slickers) as Jack Wilson, and Emile Meyer (Paths of Glory) as Rufus Ryker.

Was ‘Shane’ Successful?

Where to begin? Shane was very successful, both commercially, critically and perhaps more importantly, culturally. The film cost around $1.5 million to produce, earning $9 million in domestic theatrical rentals, so it was a huge commercial hit for Paramount. Some box office trackers list its domestic gross as around $20 million, but either way, the result was strong for the era. In today’s money, those theatrical rentals would be worth $108.4 million (based on the $9 million figure), but as much as $240.8 million going off the $20 million figure.

Critically, it was also a major success. Shane earned six Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, and two Supporting Actor nominations for Brandon De Wilde and Jack Palance. It won Best Cinematography, Color. But the enduring power of the movie is perhaps even more important than how it did theatrically, because the film was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry in 1993 for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant,” and the AFI later ranked it among the greatest American films and one of the greatest Westerns ever made.

Shane streams on Paramount+ in June.

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Release Date

August 14, 1953

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Runtime

118 Minutes

Director

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George Stevens

Writers

A.B. Guthrie Jr., Jack Sher, Jack Schaefer

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There’s a reason a long white dress never goes out of style: it’s crisp, sophisticated and somehow manages to make every occasion feel a little more elevated. Eva Longoria recently reminded Us why the wardrobe staple deserves a spot in every closet, stepping out in a curve-hugging white option that was both glamorous and effortless. Naturally, we couldn’t resist searching for a more affordable version, and the $29 Amazon lookalike we found delivers the same sleek, timeless vibe.

While attending Cannes Film Festival, Longoria was spotted wearing a stunning white body-skimming dress that underscored her signature polished, Old Hollywood style. The actress let the piece steal the spotlight, pairing it with minimal accessories and adding metallic heels. Fortunately, the copycat Amazon version is just as figure-flattering and eye-catching, but saves you from blowing your whole budget on a single item.

Get the Nsbonu Ruched Maxi Dress for $29 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.

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The Nsbonu Ruched Maxi Dress is all about creating an effortlessly sculpted silhouette. With strategic ruching, a draped cowl neckline and a slim fit, it hugs curves in all the right places while still feeling comfortable enough to wear for hours. It’s equal parts elegant and feminine, and comfortable enough that you won’t be adjusting all night.

Styling the dress is easy because it already makes such a statement. Follow Longoria’s lead and pair it with strappy heels and simple jewelry, then add a clutch or a delicate shoulder bag to finish the look. The timeless white hue only adds to its luxe-looking appeal, though the same style is also available in baby blue, red and black.

“The design is what really makes this dress special,” wrote one thoughtful five-star reviewer. “The draped cowl neck is elegant and flattering, and the backless twist design gives it a classy, modern look without being too revealing. The ruching and slim fit create a beautiful silhouette, and the back leg slit adds a touch of sophistication while still being easy to walk in. It looks like a high‑end formal dress but at a much more affordable price.”

Don’t let the affordable price fool you — this dress looks ultra-luxe IRL. “This dress is perfect for a wedding, homecoming, or holiday party,” another Amazon reviewer said. “You honestly can’t go wrong for the price — I was genuinely surprised at how affordable it was for how good it looks and feels. It looks much more expensive than it is.”

If you’ve been searching for a dress that’s polished, flattering and looks way more expensive than its price tag would suggest, this $29 Amazon find deserves a spot in your cart. It delivers the same sophisticated, curve-enhancing energy that made Longoria’s look so memorable.

Get the Nsbonu Ruched Maxi Dress for $29 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.

Looking for something else? Explore more maxi dresses here and don’t forget to check out all of Amazon’s Daily Deals for more great finds!

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Meghan Markle is said to have issued a brief but pointed warning to Prince Harry as speculation continues to swirl around the couple’s financial situation.

The couple has been living in California, USA, since stepping down from their senior royal roles in 2020 and has been spending millions annually to maintain their lifestyle.

Meghan Markle reportedly covers most of these bills, while Prince Harry is said to be focused on his philanthropic work and has refused to tap into his inheritance to help out.

Recently, reports have emerged claiming that Prince Harry has left Meghan Markle to be the breadwinner of the family, while he fully channels his energy towards his philanthropic work.

But amid their rising cost of living in the US, Meghan is now said to have issued a warning to Prince Harry, saying: “I can’t do it all.”

According to a source who spoke with Closer Online, it is an “enormous task” for Meghan to keep shouldering all of their bills, and she is currently feeling “immense pressure.”

On the outside, she is putting on a brave face, but is slowly becoming frustrated that Harry does not appear to want to help out.

“She’s putting a brave face on this, but everyone is saying that it’s chipping away at their foundation, just having these very different views on money,” added the insider. “The general feeling among her friends is that Harry needs to do something drastic, and fast.”

The Sussexes Have ‘Massive Outgoings’ Each Month That Must Be Maintained

In California, Meghan and Harry live in a mansion in Montecito, which reportedly costs the couple over $14 million.

Maintaining the house, staff salaries, and other expenses have led to “massive outgoings every month,” and failure to cover them means the couple’s “lives will fall apart,” the source claimed.

Facing this enormous responsibility has reportedly led to more than “a few sleepless nights” for Meghan, who is also dealing with the demands of running multiple businesses.

The duchess is also tasked with being a mother to their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, while she runs her ever-expanding lifestyle brand.

Prince Harry And Meghan Need A Multi-Million Dollar Annual Income To Keep Up With Their Lavish Lifestyle

Although Meghan and Harry have steered clear of discussing their financial situation with the media, insiders have hinted at strain due to reduced cash sources.

Renowned author Tom Bower claimed that the couple would need an income of at least $3 million annually to keep going.

Other sources have stated that the couple would need twice that amount or close to that amount, especially amid ongoing inflation.

Meghan Markle Reportedly Expects Prince Harry To Dip Into His Inheritance

To help support their family, Meghan is reportedly expecting Prince Harry to dip into his substantial inheritance.

The prince is said to have received significant sums from his late mother, Princess Diana, and his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II.

“Harry inherited something like $20 million between his mother and grandmother, so it’s not as though he doesn’t have money, but it’s all heavily invested,” a source shared.

“He refuses to dip into it and says it’s for their eventual old age and to help their kids get a start in life with a good education and all of that. He will draw on the interest, which is considerable as far as a monthly income goes, but it’s no match for their massive outgoings; they still need a whole lot more each month to stay out of the red,” the insider added.

The As Ever Founder Also Wants Her Husband To Consider Other Ventures

Alternatively, Meghan reportedly expects Harry to consider taking on other ventures he has previously turned down, especially as some of their past deals have since fallen through.

The couple was unable to renew their deal with Spotify, and Meghan’s “With Love, Meghan” Netflix series was not greenlit for a third season.

Also, new deals have not been coming in as they used to, amid reports that their popularity may have been declining in recent months.

“If Harry wasn’t so precious about things, he could bring in plenty of money in brand deals and other commercial partnerships; there are plenty of Hollywood agents who would sign him,” the insider said.

Despite this desire, Meghan is said to know that Harry won’t agree to it, leaving the burden on her to monetize their “status in whatever way she can.”

A newly leaked toy description for Spider-Man: Brand New Day may have revealed one of the film’s biggest story details, and it could spell trouble for both Peter Parker and Bruce Banner.

While Marvel and Sony have already confirmed that Mark Ruffalo will return as Bruce Banner in the upcoming Spider-Man sequel, new merchandise details suggest Hulk’s role may be far more significant than fans originally expected.

According to information tied to a leaked toy line, Banner is reportedly using a device designed to suppress his Hulk transformations. However, when the technology fails, the Savage Hulk emerges, forcing Spider-Man into a dangerous situation that could become one of the movie’s central conflicts.

Spoiler Warning:

The following details are based on leaked merchandise information and have not been officially confirmed by Marvel Studios.

According to the toy description, Bruce Banner’s attempt to control the Hulk goes horribly wrong when the device preventing his transformation fails. The leak suggests that Peter Parker finds himself dealing with the aftermath as the Savage Hulk returns.

If accurate, the storyline would mark the first major appearance of the classic Savage Hulk persona in years. Since Avengers: Endgame, audiences have primarily seen Smart Hulk, the version of Banner who successfully merged his intelligence with Hulk’s immense strength.

*Spider-Man: Brand New Day’s Hulk figurine. Image credit: Bandai/Marvel.*

The leak could also explain why Hulk appears to have such a prominent presence in early marketing and reports surrounding the film despite Brand New Day being described as a more grounded Spider-Man story.

For Marvel fans, the possibility of Spider-Man facing Savage Hulk is an exciting prospect. While the two heroes have crossed paths in comics, the MCU has never fully explored a conflict between Peter Parker and an uncontrolled Hulk. Such a matchup would instantly become one of the biggest action sequences in any Spider-Man film.

Of course, fans should take the leak with a grain of salt. Toy descriptions are often based on early story drafts, simplified plot summaries, or marketing material that doesn’t always reflect the final movie.

Still, merchandise leaks have a long history of revealing legitimate details about major superhero films, making this one difficult to ignore.

Whether the leak proves entirely accurate or not, one thing appears certain: Hulk’s role in Spider-Man: Brand New Daymay be much larger than anyone expected.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day is scheduled to swing into theaters on July 31, 2026.

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 15 seconds ago

Marcia Lucas, former wife of George Lucas, just died at the age of 80. The two have been divorced since 1983, the same year that Return of the Jedi was released. Because this happened a long time ago (in an era far, far away) many younger fans of the franchise have no idea who Marcia is or why she is so important to Star Wars. She and George had a relationship that was just as much creative as it was romantic, and she helped him edit the films of the Original Trilogy. But she had the most influence on A New Hope, the very first film in this blockbuster sci-fi series.

As you might imagine, nobody had quite as much sway with a young George Lucas as his wife. Luke Skywalker actor Mark Hamill once said as much, claiming, “if she wanted to keep it, it was in. Fortunately for all of us, she had some very good ideas, including everything from little character moments (Leia kissing Luke for luck in the Death Star) to major story beats (like the death of Obi-Wan Kenobi). For these reasons and more, she earned the title “the secret weapon” of this franchise. That means that fans owe a life debt of gratitude to this woman, unbeknownst to almost everyone, secretly saved Star Wars.

Marcia, Marcia, Marcia!

To understand why Marcia Lucas was so important to the franchise, you need to first understand what a nightmare the production of the first Star Wars movie was. Remember, George Lucas was juggling ideas for decades worth of films, and he made the bold (and slightly crazy) decision to make A New Hope the fourth installment of an ongoing story. That meant this first film needed to introduce a galaxy far, far away, give us tons of background info, develop a bunch of younger characters, and make us care about the past of the older characters. Along the way, it needed to balance world-building with humor and plenty of action.

After everything was shot, George had tons of footage, but the whole thing looked like a hot mess. Star Wars was saved in the edit by a series of editors. One of them was Marcia Lucas, who was the real deal when it came to bringing films to life. She wasn’t some nepo hire of her husband’s; in fact, she was so good at her job that she (along with fellow editors Paul Hirsch and Richard Chew) won the Academy Award for Best Film Editing to honor their work on the first Star Wars movie. Thanks to her keen eye, George Lucas’ creation became the biggest sci-fi franchise in the world.

In The Editing Trenches

What changes did Marcia make in editing? For one thing, she re-ordered many of the earliest scenes of A New Hope so that the audience would feel excited and immersed; originally, that first hour was largely composed of boring exposition. She also edited Obi-Wan and Luke’s conversation so that they watch Leia’s “you’re my only hope” message in the middle of talking about Luke’s father. This adds urgency to the narrative, whereas the original cut made it seem like the two were indifferent about rescuing her. Additionally, she spent eight weeks editing the Battle of Yavin so that the film had a thrilling climax that still hit all the right emotional beats.

In an interview with Rolling Stone, George Lucas revealed that Marcia had to edit “40,000 feet of dialogue footage of pilots saying this and that” into a cohesive fight scene. But she never thought that this spectacle should come at the expense of emotionally satisfying character beats. As recorded by The Secret History of Star Wars website, she once told George a blunt truth about the famous trench run sequence: “If the audience doesn’t cheer when Han Solo comes in at the last second in the Millennium Falcon to help Luke when he’s being chased by Darth Vader, the picture doesn’t work.” Incidentally, Luke originally did two trench runs, and she cut it down to just the final one.

Killing Off The Most Famous Actor’s Character

Nobody can deny that George Lucas is a creative genius, and nobody else in Hollywood could have developed something quite as crazy cool as Star Wars. But he’s never been the strongest writer in the world, as evidenced by the cringe-inducing dialogue and bizarre plot beats of the prequels. It was the same from the beginning, and Lucas’ original script for A New Hope was bad. Numerous people dunked on it, including George’s buddy, Steven Spielberg. Fortunately, Marcia was a double threat and was a solid writer on top of being an excellent editor, and she provided some ideas that really saved that first Star Wars film.

Marcia Lucas’ most famous storytelling contribution to A New Hope was convincing George Lucas to kill off Obi-Wan Kenobi, who was originally scripted to survive. It was also her idea to have the Death Star threaten the Rebel base on Yavin IV, creating a sense of urgency for the film’s climax. Additionally, she convinced her husband to keep in many of the quiet character moments of the movie, including Leia kissing Luke and telling him it was “for luck.” Heck, Marcia even convinced him to keep in the part where the mouse droid comes up and gets scared away by Chewbacca’s roar!

Becoming One With The Force

Unfortunately, Marcia Lucas’ importance to the development of Star Wars has been downplayed ever since she divorced from George Lucas in 1983. It was an insanely bitter divorce, one that left George convinced he’d never marry again (though he changed his mind almost exactly 30 years later). Speaking of bitter, Marcia opened up about the divorce in the book Easy Riders, Raging Bulls, angrily noting that “George would never acknowledge that to me. I think he resented my criticisms, felt that all I ever did was put him down.” Continuing, she said, “In his mind, I always stayed the stupid Valley girl…he never felt I was very smart and he never gave me much credit.”

Fortunately, a growing number of fans have acknowledged her contributions to this amazing franchise in recent years. Now, with her death, more people than ever before are learning about the awesome achievements that earned her a highly coveted Academy Award for Film Editing. With any luck, the fandom will do a better job of honoring her creative legacy than her husband ever did, and we can remember her for who she truly was: the woman who secretly saved Star Wars from its own creator. 

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 1 minute ago

Star Trek has a handful of beloved actors who regularly play multiple characters. The gold standard is Jeffrey Combs: while most famous for playing Weyoun on Deep Space Nine, Combs also played the Ferengi Brunt (sometimes in the same episode) and several other roles (including fan-favorite Enterprise character Shran) in the franchise. Majel Barrett also played Number One, Nurse Chapel, and Lwaxana Troi, all while voicing the Enterprise computer. Suzie Plakston played Worf’s fierce, Klingon baby mama, a logic-loving Vulcan, and an immortal Q. Brent Spiner played the android Data, but he also played his own evil brother, his own human father, and a growing assortment of characters in that positronic papa’s bloodline.

By contrast, when Trek brings in a big-name actor, it’s usually for a one-off cameo. Such actors include Kelsey Grammer, Vanessa Williams, and even Dwayne Johnson (no, really!). When Babe star James Cromwell was cast to play Zefram Cochrane, the creator of warp drive, in Star Trek: First Contact, many assumed that he was just another one-off bit of stunt casting. However, that assumption is dead wrong: not only did Cromwell play three different Trek roles before landing First Contact, but he returned to the Cochrane character for two different TV shows before ending his Trek through the stars.

James Cromwell As You’ve Never Seen Him

James Cromwell made his franchise debut in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode “The Hunted.” There, he played a corrupt planetary leader, Nayrok,  who tried to exile soldiers after a major war ended; it turned out that his government had turned these guys into super-soldiers, but he was now worried that their wartime experiences and psychological conditioning would keep them from reintegrating into polite society. Cromwell does an excellent job of turning this minor character into a villain you love to hate, which makes it that much more satisfying when Picard beams away, leaving the man’s fate in the hands of the very soldiers he had screwed over.

In Cromwell’s next Star Trek: The Next Generation appearance, he was completely unrecognizable. In the two-part episode “Birthright,” he played a Yridian named Jaglom Shrek. This freaky-looking alien tempted Worf by telling him something unbelievable: namely, that the Klingon security chief’s father was actually alive. After some not-so-gentle persuasion, Shrek takes Worf to a secret Romulan prison camp; there is no sign of Worf’s father, but the Enterprise officer is taken prisoner. Interestingly, while Shrek is very chatty in “Birthright, Part I,” he says nothing in the follow-up installment. While lines were scripted for Cromwell, he broke his leg between episodes, which resulted in all of his dialogue being cut. 

Cromwell’s Only DS9 Appearance

James Cromwell never appeared in The Next Generation again, but he did pop up in a single episode of Deep Space Nine: “Starship Down.” There, he played an alien trade minister named Hanok who had been swindled by Quark. However, the two are forced to put aside their differences when a Jem’hadar torpedo lodges itself in the Defiant mess hall, with them stuck inside the room. After Quark successfully defuses the torpedo, he convinces Hanok to resume trade negotiations with the Federation. Overall, Cromwell really enjoyed his one episode of DS9, and Quark actor Armin Shimerman enjoyed acting alongside someone he had befriended when they did Shakespearean theatre together.

Cromwell’s next appearance in the franchise practically needs no introduction. In the film Star Trek: First Contact, he played Zefram Cochrane, the human who invented faster-than-light travel. While the time-traveling Enterprise crew thinks of Cochrane as a noble and heroic legend, they are shocked to discover that he just wants to make money and party with beautiful women. However, these visitors from the future convince him that his invention will change all of mankind. As for Cromwell, he needed no convincing to reprise this role for the first episode of Enterprise, and he also played his Mirror Universe counterpart via archival footage. Later, he played a holographic Cochrane in the hilarious Lower Decks episode, “Grounded.”

While he hasn’t been as prolific in the franchise as Jeffrey Combs (hell, few people are!), James Cromwell has played way more Star Trek roles than most fans realize. He played three different aliens before playing Zefram Cochrane on three (or four, if we count that archival footage) separate occasions. Given the number of times he reprised the role, it’s a fair guess that this was Cromwell’s favorite. Incidentally, he became an unintentional Trek icon by following a variation of Cochrane’s famous advice: don’t try to be a great character, just be a character, and let fans make their own judgements.