Fans are revisiting a surprising chapter in pop culture history after reports resurfaced claiming Michael Jackson once wanted to buy Marvel Studios, all so he could step into the role of Spider-Man himself.

A clip of the claim has recently resurfaced online featuring the late, acclaimed Stan Lee, who co-created the iconic Spider-Man character. However, Michael’s reported attempt to purchase the studio never came to fruition, as his offer was ultimately rejected.

Years after the King of Pop’s death, his nephew confirmed the claims were true and also revealed that Michael had been a major Marvel fan.

Fans are divided after resurfaced claims revealed that Michael once attempted to buy Marvel Studios so he could play Spider-Man.

The claim first emerged years ago from Lee, but is now being revisited by fans imagining what the franchise might have looked like if the singer had achieved his goal.

On X, one fan believed it would have worked perfectly, writing, “Thriller-era Michael would have made a great Peter Parker.”

Another echoed the sentiment, saying, “He definitely had the Spider-Man build, I’ll give him that.”

However, others pushed back against the idea, with one person arguing that Michael “wouldn’t have been a good fit for Spider-Man, though.”

Stan Lee Recounted Spider-Man Conversation With Michael

Lee first made the claim about Michael back in 2009 while attending the annual San Diego Comic-Con.

“He wanted to do Spider-Man,” Lee revealed, per The Telegraph. “I’m not sure whether he just wanted to produce it or wanted to play the role. Our conversation never got that far along.”

According to Lee, Michael approached him with the proposal because he believed the comic legend could make it happen. However, the comic book creator recalled telling the singer that he didn’t have the authority to make such a deal happen himself.

“He would have to go to the Marvel company,” Lee remembered telling Jackson at the time. “But we did become friendly, and he was a great guy.”

Lee Claimed Marvel Would Be Less Successful If Michael Jackson Bought It

Lee doubled down on the claims three years after first making the remarks. At the time, the comic creator said Michael wanted to purchase the then-struggling movie studio because he believed it was the only way he could ultimately play Spider-Man.

However, unlike some fans celebrating the idea online, Lee suggested Marvel’s future may not have turned out as successfully if the “Thriller” star had taken over the company, particularly given the singer’s history with business ventures.

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“I can’t imagine it would have been totally different, of course, but maybe not as successful,” Lee said. “Michael was not a great businessman.”

Michael’s Nephew Confirmed The Marvel Rumors

“He wanted to [buy Marvel] with Stan Lee, and they had been talking and discussing that. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen. They were shut down from doing that,” Taj said during a sit-down with “Popcorned Planet.”

Sharing more details about Michael’s plans, Taj admitted he never learned exactly why the singer failed to secure the deal, but recalled that board members were firmly against making it happen.

Taj Says Michael Jackson Was Obsessed With Marvel

By any measure, wanting to buy Marvel Studios just to play a character is an unconventional move, and only someone with Michael’s level of wealth could realistically consider it. However, his nephew explained that the motivation was not purely financial, but also rooted in the singer’s genuine love for Marvel stories and characters.

“Besides Spider-Man, he was a huge Marvel fan. He knew all the characters. So it was not only Spider-Man [he wanted to buy]. But yeah, he probably wanted to be Spider-Man,” Taj added.

He also shared that he believes the late performer “would love” the way Marvel has since evolved its characters into a massive cinematic universe where different superheroes can appear together in the same film.

“He would be so excited about it,” Taj said. “He was such a movie buff in that way that I think he would have thought this is the greatest thing since sliced bread, all these characters coming together.”

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Bold and the Beautiful puts Hope Logan (Annika Noelle) with one foot out the door at Forrester Creations, and it seems like her move over to Logan is going to be locked down very soon.

Just based on what we’re seeing on episodes these days. And Brooke Logan (Katherine Kelly Lang) kind of got a hint of what’s coming for her from her son-in-law Liam Spencer (Scott Clifton).

We’ll talk about all that. We’re going to discuss Brooke’s explosive reaction when and if she finds out Hope is going over to work with Katie Logan (Heather Tom), Liam, and Bill Spencer (Don Diamont).

Hope Pushing Back On Steffy on Bold and the Beautiful

All right. So, this week we saw Hope pushing Steffy Forrester (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood) and Ridge Forrester (Thorsten Kaye) asking if Hope for the Future was going to be shelved indefinitely. You know, I think that is a fair question. You know, is it on hold or is it just dead? Steffy told Hope she was in no position to make demands, but she clapped back on Steffy saying that without Hope for the Future, there’s no point in her being at Forrester Creations.

Steffy said, “Couture takes priority.” And then Hope said she felt unwanted. Ridge was trying to assure Hope that that’s the furthest thing from the truth. She didn’t believe it. And I see why she didn’t because Steffy was getting increasingly aggressive.

Steffy Goes Too Far on B&B

She actually laughed at Hope kind of right in her face at the idea that she might be able to leave and find work elsewhere. And when she asked Steffy about other lines being in production like jewelry and fragrance, you know, they pushed back and explained why those were an exception and Hope for the Future is not.

But one thing they’ve not mentioned is the fact they’re letting RJ Forrester (Brayan Nicoletti) start up a brand new men’s line out of nowhere, while Zende Forrester (Delon de Metz) and Thomas Forrester (Matthew Atkinson) have completed the designs for Hope for the Future’s next collection, and they’re ready to be put right into production.

So, why is RJ’s brand new men’s line okay to pursue, but Hope for the Future is not? That’s a valid question, and I haven’t seen Hope asking it. Ridge promised that they do want Hope there, but I think we all know Steffy would love to see her gone. And Hope said, “If they don’t want her, somebody else will.” And she stormed out. So, Ridge told Steffy, “Please stop causing problems with Hope.” But Steffy said, “Eh, Hope’s not going anywhere.” I think Steffy might have a rude awakening along with Brooke.

Hope Complains To Brooke About Steffy on Bold

So, that’s the point when Hope went over to Brooke’s to complain about Steffy and she tells Brooke that she thinks she ought to be running Forrester Creations with Ridge and Hope said the only thing Steffy’s created is a toxic work environment. Hope is wondering if she can really leave the company, of course, knowing it’ll upset Brooke.

That’s what she’s talking to Liam about and Katie Logan (Heather Tom) about and her own internal dialogue. But I don’t think Steffy’s going to let up until she pushes Hope right out the door. I think Steffy expects that Hope is probably going to stay around and put up with it, you know, but I don’t think she will. And so she’s going to push, push, push, and she’s going to go.

Bold and the Beautiful: Brooke Offers an Olive Branch

So this week, Brooke went over and sort of tried to make peace with Katie, but really just kind of snarked about Logan being lost without Eric Forrester (John McCook). So Brooke still feeling smug and like Katie’s going to fail. But I do expect she has a blind side coming.

I do think Hope’s going to go to Logan because she’s so salty about Steffy. And assuming Hope officially joins Logan, I think Brooke will lose her whole mind. Her reaction to Hope defecting to the enemy will be explosive if it goes that way. And I think several people will be in Brooke’s line of fire if Liam convinces Hope to join team Spencer.

Brooke Will Explode at Katie on B&B

First of all, I expect Brooke to explode at Katie. We’ve seen Brooke rage at Katie over the family name and over Eric. So, if Hope joins Logan, I think Brooke will react in an even bigger way. I would expect her to accuse Katie of stealing Hope like she stole the Logan trademark and Eric’s designs. And you know, Brooke, Ridge, Steffy, and RJ have all been calling Katie a thief. Brooke accused Katie of manipulating and using Eric even though he’s the one that came to Katie demanding to be her designer. And if Hope goes to Logan, that’s not on Katie either because it’s Liam pushing for it. But, you know, Brooke will still blame Katie on Bold and the Beautiful.

And this week, Donna Logan (Jennifer Gareis) is freaking when Katie mentions Logan needs a fashion icon like Hope. And Donna is warning Katie that Brooke would lose it. Even so, I don’t think Katie would let her fear of Brooke’s reaction stop her from bringing Hope on board, because it would be good for Logan.

And Katie understands feeling unappreciated at Forrester. I also think Brooke will blow up at Steffy and accuse her of intentionally driving Hope away. You know, Brooke taking Steffy to task would, I think, be more accurate than attacking Katie for Hope leaving Forrester because Steffy, it feels like she is trying to punish Hope. I think she’s punishing her because she can’t do anything to Katie or Brooke.

Brooke May Demand Ridge Reinstate Hope For The Future on Bold and the Beautiful

So, Brooke knows that Hope for the Future has a collection ready to put into production. And the thing is, styles change. You can’t just sit on a fashion collection. If Steffy shelves Hope’s collection for too long, they’ll have to scrap all the design work that Zende and Thomas did that the company has already paid for. Another thing is Brooke may demand that Ridge reinstate Hope for the Future and bring her daughter Hope back to Forrester Creations.

You know, Brooke may play the wifey card and nag Ridge to get Steffy in check and stop attacking Hope on a personal level. And of course, Steffy claims it’s just business. But like I said, if Couture is the focus, why greenlight RJ starting a whole new line from scratch instead of carrying on with an existing line? Now, Hope for the Future had a little slump, but they seem to be doing better.

Bold and the Beautiful: Brooke Hounds Ridge?

So, Brooke may hound Ridge to undo what Steffy did. Another thing Brooke may do is demand that Eric and Ridge appoint her as co-CEO because between the two of them, they do have enough voting power to do it. Brooke may want to push Steffy aside because she feels like she’s driven Hope away. And this week, Brooke agrees when Hope tells her that, you know, Brooke should be co-CEO with Ridge rather than Steffy.

So, I think Brooke’s next step may be to bring it up to Ridge that Steffy’s abusing her power. You know, I’m not saying she is. I’m saying this is how Brooke would approach him and that Steffy’s using Forrester to settle personal scores and doesn’t have Forrester’s best interest in mind. And of course, we know if Brooke got more power, she would use it to reinstate Hope for the Future and try to bring her daughter back.

Brooke May Try to Convince Bill Not to Hire Hope

Now, one last thing I could see Brooke going to Bill Spencer (Don Diamont) and trying to convince him to not let Hope be part of Logan. You know, Brooke may think she can still work some of that mojo magic on Bill like she always has and get him to do what she wants. If Brooke did that, if she approached Bill, given her sketchy history of cheating with Katie’s husband, I think that would be so disrespectful. But Brooke may think Katie hiring Hope is equally as disrespectful. However, I think Bill is finally over Brooke. I don’t think she has any hold over him anymore. I think he’s totally devoted to Katie finally.

So, if Brooke tried to manipulate Bill into doing what she wants, I don’t think Brooke would get very far with it. And I do think he would probably tell Katie what Brooke tried to pull. So, we’ll see how it goes. But it sure looks like Hope is going to feel like she has no option but to walk out of Forrester and go over to Logan, at least if she wants to keep pursuing fashion as her career. And I don’t think Brooke’s going to handle this very well at all.

The saga between General Hospital alum Steve Burton and ex-wife Sheree Gustin continues.

While it appeared that the contentious dispute between the two exes came to an end when their divorce was finalized in 2023, Burton and Gustin continue to make headlines. Their custody battle over youngest daughter Brooklyn reignited in May 2026, when Burton alleged Gustin was manipulating him over custody.

Burton and Gustin announced in 2022 that they had split after 28 years of marriage. Along with Brooklyn, they are also parents to two adult children, Makena and Jack. Keep scrolling for a breakdown of their ongoing drama:

Steve Burton and Sheree Gustin’s Shocking Split

In May 2022, Burton shocked fans with an Instagram Story statement offering an update on his personal life.

“I wanted to clear something up. Sheree and I are separated. She recently announced that she’s expecting her 4th child. The child is not mine,” he wrote at the time.

Burton filed for divorce that July in Orange County, California, citing “irreconcilable differences” and listing March 1, 2022, as their separation date.

Steve Burton and Sheree Gustin’s Divorce Settlement

Burton and Gustin finalized their divorce in December 2023, agreeing to share joint legal and physical custody of their minor children. Per settlement details, Burton agreed to pay Gustin $12,500 per month in child support through April 2024, after which payments dropped to $10,000 monthly.

Both parties waived spousal support, though Steve was ordered to pay Sheree a one-time $50,000 sum at $2,500 per month. He also retained three investment properties in Tennessee.

Their New Relationships

Gustin welcomed daughter Izabella with new partner Jason Amador in February 2023, followed by another daughter, Addy. Sheree and Amador tied the knot in February 2025.

Burton, meanwhile, married Michelle Lundstrom in May 2025.

Inside the Custody Battle

According to Burton’s filings, Gustin convinced him to move to Tennessee post-divorce, then relocated back to California herself. He followed to be near Brooklyn and claimed Gustin refused to coordinate a coparenting schedule.

In a May 2025 filing, Burton alleged Gustin was “gatekeeping” Brooklyn because of his relationship with Lundstrom. “

Early on in my relationship with Michelle, Sheree began to refuse to call Michelle by her name and instead referred to her as ‘the girl’ in an effort to downplay her role in my life,” he wrote. “Sheree has seemingly forgotten how our family ended up in this situation. It was Sheree who had an extramarital affair, became pregnant with another man’s child and immediately moved him into her home after our separation, without informing me she would be doing so.”

Related: Breaking Down Steve Burton and Ex-Wife Sheree Burton’s Custody Battle

Steve Burton and ex-wife Sheree Burton have been raising eyebrows since their 2022 split — and now they’re facing off in another messy legal battle. The General Hospital star filed for divorce in July 2022 after news broke that Sheree was pregnant with another man’s baby. While the scandal spread like wildfire, Steve and Sheree […]

Gustin alleged that Burton had been “harassing” her in a separate filing.

“Steve maintains that Sheree’s allegations are categorically false,” his attorney said in a statement at the time. “He has, and will continue to, act in the best interests of the parties’ daughter, Brooklyn, which includes ensuring there is frequent and continuing contact with both parents.”

The Custody Battle Continues After a Resolution

In August 2025, an Orange County judge resolved the dispute, according to court documents obtained by Us Weekly. Steve scored custody of Brooklyn on alternating weekends and one weekday, with Sheree keeping custody otherwise.

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However, court documents obtained by Us in May 2026 reveal that they amended the agreement that January. Burton claimed that Gustin is not following the new arrangement. He further alleged Gustin of manipulation in a series of texts discussing the situation.

“You signed an order two months ago and now you’re going against it. and then you try to put it on me and Brooklyn,” the texts read, in part. “We will not be in California. And please stop telling Brooklyn her life is here. It’s gonna be in both places .. and you can choose to be supportive for Brooklyn.”

This story was compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists.

By Robert Scucci
| Published 4 seconds ago

If you had the smarts to design the most sophisticated AI possible at this point in our technological timeline, what would you use it for? Personally, I’d make a 3D-printed pizza that tasted just as good as the real thing but didn’t give me heartburn. I know it’s because of the tomatoes, but that’s a non-negotiable ingredient, and I’m a pretty low-maintenance person when it comes to the finer things in life. Give me a pizza printer, and you’ll never hear from me again. Taylor (Lilly Bell), our protagonist in 2025’s Prompt, has something wilder in mind.

Prompt is basically smut masquerading as a philosophical conundrum. What is the conundrum, you ask? Something along the lines of, “How many times could I boink myself into submission while some weird guy living in my computer screen ogles me?” That’s the whole movie, but let’s get into why this is such a fascinating piece of work.

Crushing At Work, Smashing At Home

As the movie’s title suggests, Prompt is about a woman named Taylor, the sole proprietor of a successful marketing startup. She uses an AI chatbot of her own creation to belt out campaign videos for her high-paying clients and lives quite comfortably doing so. The operation is simple: write a prompt, generate slop, pass it off to the client, ???, profit.

But Taylor has a problem. She loves making her own AI spicy content and then going to town until her hands go numb and she needs to bust out the heavy-duty artillery.

After her bajillionth solo trip to the pleasure dome, Taylor notices that an unidentified man (Jax Cody) of unknown origin shows up in every single one of her videos, watching her and urging her to continue.

Caught in some sort of unbreakable cycle with no escape, Taylor can’t help herself. She starts flaking out at work. She hooks up with her on-again, off-again boyfriend after ghosting him for months, and she can only get intimate with him in her office, in front of her many glowing monitors.

She wants to do the dirty deed while watching her homemade videos, hoping the mystery man will continue to show up and continue driving her libido to previously uncharted territory. The power this AI-generated man wields over her is what takes her real-life exploits to the next level, and she can’t get enough of him.

So much so that she invites her oldest, dearest friend Sara (Elliot Woods) over for advice about what to do, but really she just wants to smash with her own kind, and by golly she does. It’s all framed like one of those adult parodies you’d see on a sketch comedy show.

Think along the lines of, “I’m half naked and stuck in the dryer, if only somebody else who was also scantily clad could help get me out of it, wink wink.” That’s the level of production we’re talking about here.

I don’t think anybody’s going to watch this movie, so here’s the spoiler: Taylor is actually an AI creation living in the mystery man’s computer. She’s the mystery man’s ultimate AI fantasy. Let that settle in for a second while I tee up the next subheader.

A Steamy, Slop-Driven Fantasy 

That’s right, the protagonist in Prompt is just that: a prompt. It’s a whole Deus ex machina kind of deal. Here’s why this is incredibly stupid and gratuitous, both real and AI-generated, notwithstanding.

Just follow me here for a second. Taylor, who owns a successful marketing startup, creates fantasy movies with her own custom-made AI chatbot. The mystery man pushes her to drop trou and pounce on her ex-boyfriend and oldest friend, despite the fact that she’s living in LA and could literally hook up with anybody she wants without ruining her only somewhat meaningful long-term relationships. The mystery man is actually the architect behind this entire thing, and he states that he’s living out his ultimate fantasy.

So, to be clear, Prompt is telling the story of a man who likely works for a marketing startup and has his own custom-built generative AI system. His deepest, darkest fantasy is to watch a female version of himself hop on Zoom calls, talk about growth metrics, conversion rates, and KPIs, then go wild on herself while he watches, only before she brings other “humans” in to watch AI-generated content while he watches them watch him watch them.

The dude could potentially create an infinite number of hypothetical scenarios with his creation. He could cure world hunger. Instead, he just wants to be a chick, go to work, and smash. Even worse? Not a single 3D-printed slice of pizza in sight. Disgusting.

That said, Prompt gets pretty steamy, but its plot is so profoundly stupid that it might as well be radio. If I had to venture a guess, this whole thing was director Charles Band’s way of sneaking a softcore onto Tubi, where it’s currently streaming for free, so people like me could see its alluring thumbnail, click on it, expecting something resembling a modern Twilight Zone episode about AI. Instead, we get this. You can stream it, or whatever, just make sure the wife and kids are asleep, or you’ll most certainly get a talking to. 

Following his scene-stealing role in Gladiator II and the Spike Lee joint Highest 2 Lowest, two-time Academy Award winner Denzel Washington will next star opposite the likes of Twilight‘s Robert Pattinson and Normal People star Daisy Edgar-Jones, in the upcoming Netflix project, Here Comes the Flood. A heist thriller described as “unconventional”, following “a bank guard, a teller, and a master thief in a deadly game of cons and double crosses,” Here Comes the Flood is sure to be a major hit for Netflix when it finally debuts sometime this year.

Ahead of Washington’s next movie, one of his most iconic action roles has found its way back to the streaming charts. First released in 2014, and based on the 1980s TV series of the same name, The Equalizer shot onto global screens and immediately became a favorite action flick of many. Likened to the likes of John Wick and Reacher, this ass-kicking masterclass from a veteran like Washington remains one of his best roles of the past 20 years, and was followed by two sequels released in 2018 and 2023, respectively.

At the time of writing, The Equalizer is one of the ten most-streamed movies on Prime Video in the U.S., a list currently topped by the Mark Wahlberg and Paul Walter Hauser-led soccer comedy Balls Up. You shouldn’t miss out on this first outing for Washington as retired black-ups commander Robert McCall, who is joined in the movie by a captivating Chloë Grace Moretz, under the veteran directorial eye of Antoine Fuqua.

One of Denzel Washington’s Best Movies Is Back as a Hit Netflix Series

As Washington’s 2014 effort takes over Prime Video, one of his best-ever movies has been reimagined as a hit Netflix series. Based on the same novel that inspired a 2004 smash starring Washington and a young Dakota Fanning, Man on Fire has returned as a seven-episode series starring Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, which is proving an instant hit with Netflix subscribers. Following a quick journey to the upper echelons of the streaming charts, it has now been revealed that Man on Fire has earned an impressive 11 million views in just four days since its premiere.

Denzel Washington’s The Equalizer is currently among the 10 most-streamed movies on Prime Video. Make sure to stay tuned to Collider for all the latest streaming stories.

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Release Date

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September 24, 2014

Runtime

132 Minutes

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Writers

Richard Wenk, Richard Lindheim, Michael Sloan

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Olivia Wilde’s Met Gala beauty look featured glowing skin and especially smooth, bright undereyes that held up flawlessly under cameras all night long. To prep the delicate area before makeup, her glam routine included Rodan + Fields Redefine Eye Cream, a rich treatment designed to hydrate, visibly firm and reduce the appearance of puffiness and fine lines. The formula has become popular for helping tired-looking eyes appear smoother and more refreshed — especially before full glam.

Celebrity makeup artist Melanie Inglessis said great makeup starts with proper skin prep, so she used dabbing, circular motions to hydrate, brighten and smooth the undereye area before concealer, adding that the Redefine Eye Cream “smooths tired eyes, softens fine lines and is the perfect base for concealer.”

Get the Rodan + Fields Redefine Eye Cream for $76 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.

The skin around the eyes is thinner and more delicate than the rest of the face, which is why dryness, puffiness and fine lines tend to show up there first. This formula was created specifically to target those concerns while helping the eye area look firmer, brighter and more hydrated over time. It focuses on both immediate smoothing benefits and longer-term skin support, making it especially useful before makeup application.

Related: Emily Blunt’s Flawless Undereye Is Thanks to a $36 Concealer

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When Emily Blunt stepped onto the NYC premiere carpet for The Devil Wears Prada 2, her undereye looked impossibly smooth, bright and wide-awake — and there’s a reason for it. Celebrity makeup artist Jenn Streicher prepped the look using the Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Blur Concealer, a complexion staple designed to perfect without looking heavy. […]

One of the standout features of the cream is its blend of peptides and conditioning ingredients designed to help improve the appearance of elasticity and firmness. The formula also contains hydrating ingredients that help plump the look of fine lines caused by dryness, which can make concealer settle unevenly or appear creased throughout the day. The result is an eye area that looks softer, smoother and more awake even before makeup is applied.

Texture-wise, it feels rich and nourishing without becoming greasy or heavy under concealer. Many heavier eye creams can cause makeup to slide, but this formula absorbs nicely while still delivering enough hydration to help makeup apply more evenly. It creates a smoother canvas overall, which is especially important for long events, photography or full-coverage glam looks.

One Amazon reviewer called it the “best eye cream [they’ve] ever used,” while another described it as feeling “light and silky.”

Another shopper raved, “This is by far the best eye cream you can buy . . . I’m 68 years young and I don’t have a lot of wrinkles around my eyes. I recommend it!’ No Botox yet.”

If your concealer tends to crease or your undereyes often look dry or tired by midday, a hydrating treatment like this can make a noticeable difference.

Get the Rodan + Fields Redefine Eye Cream for $76 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.

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

Related: Fine Lines? This Plumping Eye Cream Delivers a Filler-Like Effect

You might notice fine lines settling in when your concealer just isn’t sitting the same . . . a little more creasing, a little less brightness and suddenly your under-eyes look more tired than you feel. That’s where The Rich Eye Cream comes in. Powered by Augustinus Bader’s TFC8 technology — a blend of vitamins, […]

Mr. Fantasy is this year’s breakout star but why are some fans convinced that the artist is actually actor KJ Apa in disguise?

For many of Us, Mr. Fantasy appeared seemingly out of nowhere. His first TikTok video was posted in August 2025, and three months later he was at nearly 1 million followers on the social media platform. His first single, “Mr. Fantasy,” quickly became a viral sensation, which paved the way for follow-up track “Wayuwanna” and a multitude of opportunities, including a fun cameo on Dancing With the Stars.

But while Mr. Fantasy was enjoying his overnight success, his fans were questioning if he was the modern-day Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus by offering Apa an alter ego to channel his musical talents into.

Apa, for his part, has largely stuck to acting since his role as Archie on Riverdale, which ran from 2017 to 2023. The actor branched out into film with The Hate U Give and I Still Believe. He even ventured into music with his 2021 debut solo album, Clocks.

Related: Nemesis’ Y’lan Noel Is Us’ Guy We Googled Shirtless This Week

We’re all familiar with the internet boyfriends — you have your Glen Powells, Jacob Elordis, Timothée Chalamets and beyond — but Us Weekly has our eyes on a more underground group of swoon-worthy rising stars. They may not always have the lead role, be the team captains or have millions of Instagram followers, but something […]

Despite the comparisons — and conspiracy theories — Mr. Fantasy maintained that he isn’t familiar with Apa.

“I mean, I think I am a good actor. If I was given the right opportunity, I would be quite good. I think I’m honest enough to be an actor,” he told The Hollywood Reporter in September 2025. “Often the best performers, like James Franco, they seem to have honesty. It exudes off of the screen, and so yeah, of course I’d be very interested, you know. I’d love to work with James Franco, if I haven’t already mentioned that. If I was to do it, I don’t think I’d do it without him.”

Mr. Fantasy noted that he wasn’t trying to box himself in when it came to potential projects.

“I’m not trying to define myself, do you know what I mean? I sort of just am me. That’s how I’m trying to inspire people, by just being who they are, because that’s the biggest gift that we have,” he added. “I’m sorry to say it, but we were born all very different, and I think it’s very important to inhabit this thing that you are, instead of trying to be someone else. It’s very difficult now. We’re in a time where we all want to be like the big star, Austin Butler, or these other amazing people like James Franco. I’m guilty of it, aren’t I? Shoot me.”

He continued: “But I’m not trying to actually define who I am to people, do you know what I mean? What you see is what you get. Me sitting right here with you drinking this Guinness, Carly, is in fact who I am. And it doesn’t change when I go to sleep at night. I’m just me. And I love being me. The best part of my life is that I get to walk outside and I get to scream, “I am Mr. Fantasy!”

While Mr. Fantasy won’t play into the possible connection to Apa, his listeners have done deep dives to prove their theory. Keep scrolling for an explanation on Mr. Fantasy’s rise to fame — including his continued association with Apa:

Who Is Mr. Fantasy?

The TikTok singer blew up in August 2025 when he released his debut single titled “Mr. Fantasy,” which reached over 5 million streams (and counting) on Spotify. Not much is known about Mr. Fantasy except that he has a British accent, an abundance of love for actor James Franco and an eclectic style that has transformed over into his music.

What Signs Point to KJ Apa and Mr. Fantasy Being the Same Person?

Besides the quirky personality that might feel familiar to Riverdale fans who watched years of interviews with Apa, Mr. Fantasy’s appearance has made some wonder whether he is wearing a wig and fake teeth. Other eagle-eyed fans noticed that Apa and Mr. Fantasy have the exact same tattoos. There is also the fact the no one has yet to see Apa and Mr. Fantasy together in the same room.

Related: Singer Noah Kahan Totally Manifested His ‘SNL’ Musical Guest Debut

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Although several stars have vocalized their preferences for certain roles, there are a lucky few who have managed to make those dreams a reality. Simu Liu made headlines in 2019 when he was cast as Shang-Chi in Marvel’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. At the time, the actor recalled a past tweet […]

Has Mr. Fantasy Addressed the Theories?

The Hollywood Reporter, which did a profile on Mr. Fantasy in September 2025, noted that they asked his manager, John, if they could ask about Apa. In response, John asked over email that the “silly actor boy TJ Apple” not be brought up during THR‘s interview with Mr. Fantasy.

“[I’m] not bothered by it, not bothered by it. Things bother me sometimes, but I keep my eyes upward, and I keep trudging the happy road of happy destiny,” Mr. Fantasy told the outlet of the comments about Apa. “You know, things can be hurtful, sure, but I focus on the positive. I focus on the people whom I love and who love me and that have a positive influence on my life, like James Franco.”

What Has KJ Apa Shared About the Speculation?

Apa’s former Riverdale costars have shown their support for Mr. Fantasy. Camila Mendes shared a TikTok in September 2025 of her working out to the musician’s hit song, writing, “We need more @iamtherealmrfantasy.”

Lili Reinhart, meanwhile, told Entertainment Tonight one month later that she is “a big fan” of Mr. Fantasy — even if he claimed not to know her.

“He doesn’t know who I am,” she noted. “I was like, ‘I am not relevant enough, I guess.’ Maybe one day he will know who I am.”

In May 2026, Mendes, Reinhart and Madelaine Petsch starred in Mr. Fantasy’s music video for “Do Me Right” — and Apa wasn’t happy.

“There has been something going on for a long time that I haven’t addressed because I didn’t think it was even worth addressing, but now because of how it’s impacted my life personally, I feel like I have to talk about it,” he said in an Instagram video days later. “I have to do it now because it’s hurting me and my career.”

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Apa continued, “There was recently a music video that was released that included a bunch of people who are really close to me by a guy who’s completely and utterly stolen my image and misappropriated my image and my likeness. And I think we all know who we’re talking about. It’s f***ed up. It’s f***ed up because I just lost out on a huge job and can no longer go in for serious work because people think that I’m a joke because of this guy.”

The Riverdale alum then told viewers, “If anyone out there thinks that it’s OK to take someone’s image, literal tattoos, and use it for their own success, [you are] completely wrong. I can’t just sit back and watch it happen and see my life, literally everything that I’ve worked hard for, now come to a halt because of this f***ing idiot.”

Apa concluded by calling Mr. Fantasy a “liar and a thief.”

Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner’s son Jake Reiner returned to his “The Inline” podcast nearly six months after his parents’ tragic deaths.

“I want to thank everyone that I’ve heard from, near and far, since everything’s happened,” Jake, 34, began the Wednesday, May 6, episode of his Dodgers fan podcast. “I’ve tried to get back to every one of you, and I will continue to try to respond to people, but just know I’ve seen all the love, all the support out there.”

He continued, “It has been so nice to see how wonderful, not only my friends and family, but the Dodgers Twitter community or X community. I really feel the love. I couldn’t appreciate that more. I felt it was time to come back to the podcast. I was thinking about it for a really long time, been talking to Kevin [Klein, my cohost] about it for a while. I told him I wanted to write this essay or op-ed piece first.”

Jake published a Substack essay last month, detailing his grief after Rob and Michele were found dead inside their home in December 2025. They were 78 and 70, respectively. (Rob and Michele are also survived by daughter Romy and son Nick, the latter who was arrested in connection to their murders. Nick pleaded not guilty to two counts of first-degree murder with a special circumstance of multiple murders and is awaiting trial.)

Related: What Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner’s Kids Said About Their Murders

Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner were found dead in their Brentwood, Los Angeles, home on December 14, 2025, after being stabbed to death. Their son Nick Reiner was subsequently arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder. He pleaded not guilty and is currently awaiting trial. A spokesperson for the family released a […]

“I just felt with everything going on … I wanted to put my words out there and let people in as to the kind of people they were at home for those who really knew and loved them,” Jake said on Wednesday, noting that his podcast return was partially inspired by Rob. “When it comes to the Dodgers, my first love, it’s something I’ve always connected with my dad first and foremost.”

He added, “It’s something I will continue to connect with him for the rest of my life. I felt it was time to come back to the podcast. It’s a good time to talk Dodgers baseball. I didn’t want to jump on the podcast and start talking about the Dodgers’ offensive woes or bullpen woes without addressing some things first.”

Jake further pointed to his Instagram page and his Substack essay for fans who wanted to hear more of his thoughts about Rob and Michele’s deaths.

Related: Jake and Romy Reiner Break Silence After Parents’ Deaths, Brother’s Arrest

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Rob Reiner and his wife Michele Singer Reiner’s kids — son Jake and daughter Romy — broke their silence on the couple’s tragic deaths and brother Nick Reiner’s arrest in connection with their murder. “Words cannot even begin to describe the unimaginable pain we are experiencing every moment of the day. The horrific and devastating […]

“Nothing can prepare you for what it feels like to lose both parents instantly at the same time. It’s too devastating to comprehend,” Jake wrote in his April essay, detailing the moments he learned about his mom and dad’s deaths. “I still wake up every morning having to convince myself that, ‘No, it’s not a dream. This truly is my living nightmare.’”

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The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner revealed late last year that Rob and Michele died from multiple sharp force injuries.

Jake further noted in his essay, “I can’t even begin to put myself in my parents’ shoes, but one thing I keep coming back to is how frightened they must have been. They were the last people in the world to deserve what happened to them. They deserved to be loved, they deserved to be respected, and above all they deserved to be appreciated for how much they gave to all three of us and to the world.”

According to Jake, he took to Substack to share his “story” and noted that Romy would “tell hers in her own way and in her time.”

By TeeJay Small
| Updated 1 minute ago

The cast and crew behind It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia just finished filming their 18th season last week, and though we don’t have a release date yet, rumors are circulating that this will be the final season of the show. After more than 20 years of record-shattering programing, it’s crazy to look back on the legacy of Always Sunny and recall how the series began.

In fact, super-fans will note that the series narrowly avoided being cancelled after its very first season, all the way back in 2006. According to stories from the cast and creators, the sole reason that Always Sunny managed to continue past the first season was the inclusion of Danny DeVito.

DeVito Saved The Series From Certain Doom

As the story goes, co-creators Rob McElhenney, Glenn Howerton, and Charlie Day lucked into getting the first season of Always Sunny greenlit after submitting a ramshackle pilot on a DVD. Since the series cost very little to produce, FX took a risk on the budding actors, and let them run wild with their trademark blend of bizarre, off-the-wall humor. Though the first season of Always Sunny offers a lot of laughs, the show didn’t pull in major ratings upon release, leaving hopes for a second season in limbo. Basically, the studio execs gave McElhenney and crew an ultimatum: bring in a ringer with some star power, or pack up the bar and turn down the lights.

During a 2013 profile in The Hollywood Reporter, Rob McElhenney described the process of bringing Danny DeVito on board during the second season. He stated “We knew that no one was watching the show, and the network said that we needed to bring in someone with cachet to draw attention. They didn’t really have the marketing budget at the time to blanket the airwaves … We bounced a few names around, but Danny just made a lot of sense. When I went to his house to talk about it, his kids ended up being huge fans of the show and he was good friends with [Chairman of FX Networks] John Landgraf.”

DeVito Knew The Assignment

In case you’re too young to have a full scope on DeVito’s resume, the veteran actor was already a huge name in television and film when It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia premiered. DeVito previously took home an Academy Award for his work on the hit TV series Taxi, and earned an Oscar nod for his appearance in 2001’s Erin Brockovich. He also had a filmography spanning over 100 credits as an actor, with a number of directorial efforts under his belt as well. While Danny DeVito might be a no-brainer for the oddball comedy in hindsight, his joining the cast was supremely unexpected at the time.

Luckily, Danny DeVito wasn’t keen on big-timing his costars with the air of Hollywood superiority you might expect from a big-name actor. Instead, he leaned heavily on Rob, Glenn, and Charlie to give him material that would resonate with a younger audience. When asked about his favorite aspect of filming the show, DeVito routinely references the most absurd scenes the writers can put him in. His favorite moments include being painted black to blend in with a shadowy wall, falling out a window into a dumpster, and climbing out of a leather couch butt-naked and drenched in sweat. Suffice is to say, DeVito and the rest of the Always Sunny gang turned out to be a match made in heaven.

A Show-Saving Addition

Adding the character of Frank Reynolds wasn’t just good for the production, either. It also added a brand new element to the actual narrative that felt natural and cohesive to the already existing stories. Frank never feels like a guest star or a distraction from the action. Instead, he’s so natural alongside the rest of the cast that the first season feels absent without him. In the decades since Frank shacked up with the crew, he’s become an integral part of what makes Paddy’s Pub function. Plus, his on-screen chemistry with Charlie Day has blossomed into one of the most hilarious and dysfunctional bromances in television history.

Whether Always Sunny closes down for good with season 18, or they continue for another 20 years, it’s worth examining how their humble origins helped to craft the show that we know and love today. In many ways, the series may not have existed past Season 1 without the assistance and open-mindedness of Danny DeVito.