With the upcoming release of Avengers: Doomsday, featuring many characters returning from Fox’s X-Men universe, fans are turning to the past to prepare for the highly anticipated superhero blockbuster. X-Men marathons are surging up the Disney+ charts in preparation, but one such film featuring the merry mutants didn’t have the success of the films preceeding it.

2020’s The New Mutants, based on Chris Claremont and Bill Sienkiewicz’s iconic comic book run, despite massive fan hype during its whopping four delays over two years, didn’t quite land with many moviegoers and comic book fans. While the casting was fantastic, as is the norm for Fox’s X-Films, the film’s horror elements took over far too much of the narrative and the short running time meant that new viewers couldn’t connect with the characters as much as they’d like to. Even so, the New Mutants deserve a second chance on the big screen, especially with multiple mutants coming out of the woodwork to join the MCU.

The New Mutants Comics Are Iconic

Image via 20th Century Studios

Claremont and Sienkiewicz’s New Mutants comics are a favorite among die-hard X-Men comic fans, most notably the “Demon Bear” storyline, which the film adapted. At the time of the comics’ publishing in the early 80s, the X-Men had been running the same mutant members for several years and the franchise was in need of fresh blood. Claremont introduced a young cast of, well, new mutants, who were designed to eventually take up the mantle of the mainline X-Men.

With all the legions of mutants from the X-Men universe, it’s hard for certain characters to become fan favorites in the ocean of countless characters to choose from. Which is why Claremont’s characters standing the test of time is an impressive stat. The cast of the comics were not only new in terms of their powers and skill sets, but in terms of their personalities as well. Illyana Rasputin AKA Magik, for example, was delightfully unhinged and off kilter, which carried over to Anya Taylor-Joy’s performance in the film.

The Movie Got a Few Things Right

Image via 20th Century Studios

When it comes to casting comic book characters, very rarely does Marvel miss. Even before the rise of the MCU, Marvel films always nailed casting great actors in the roles of famous superheroes. And that started with Hugh Jackman as Wolverine in 2000’s X-Men, which millions to this day hail as a perfectly cast character. The New Mutants continued that tradition with a promising young cast, some of whom are now superstars.

One thing fans will agree on when it comes to the movie is the pitch perfect casting of Taylor-Joy as Magik. She’s never given a bad performance and doesn’t start here, perfectly embodying Illyana’s loose screws while still making her likable and entertaining. But even beyond Magik, other characters in the film shine, namely Blu Hunt as Dani Moonstar, who Hunt makes sympathetic and compelling to watch, especially with her groundbreaking same-sex relationship with Rahne Sinclair (Maisie Williams), which amplified the characters’ bond from the comics in a smart way.

While The New Mutants may have been a disappointment to many, the potential the film had still rings true six years later. The cast of hallmark characters clearly gave it their all and should not be blamed for the film’s misfire. With Marvel resurrecting numerous mutants in the MCU, many believe that these mutants deserve another shot. After all, if Chris Evans can return as Johnny Storm in Deadpool & Wolverine, anything is possible.

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The New Mutants

Release Date

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August 28, 2020

Runtime

99 minutes

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Writers

Josh Boone, Chris Claremont, Dave Cockrum, Knate Gwaltney, Scott Lobdell, Bob McLeod

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With the upcoming release of Avengers: Doomsday, featuring many characters returning from Fox’s X-Men universe, fans are turning to the past to prepare for the highly anticipated superhero blockbuster. X-Men marathons are surging up the Disney+ charts in preparation, but one such film featuring the merry mutants didn’t have the success of the films preceeding it.

2020’s The New Mutants, based on Chris Claremont and Bill Sienkiewicz’s iconic comic book run, despite massive fan hype during its whopping four delays over two years, didn’t quite land with many moviegoers and comic book fans. While the casting was fantastic, as is the norm for Fox’s X-Films, the film’s horror elements took over far too much of the narrative and the short running time meant that new viewers couldn’t connect with the characters as much as they’d like to. Even so, the New Mutants deserve a second chance on the big screen, especially with multiple mutants coming out of the woodwork to join the MCU.

The New Mutants Comics Are Iconic

Image via 20th Century Studios

Claremont and Sienkiewicz’s New Mutants comics are a favorite among die-hard X-Men comic fans, most notably the “Demon Bear” storyline, which the film adapted. At the time of the comics’ publishing in the early 80s, the X-Men had been running the same mutant members for several years and the franchise was in need of fresh blood. Claremont introduced a young cast of, well, new mutants, who were designed to eventually take up the mantle of the mainline X-Men.

With all the legions of mutants from the X-Men universe, it’s hard for certain characters to become fan favorites in the ocean of countless characters to choose from. Which is why Claremont’s characters standing the test of time is an impressive stat. The cast of the comics were not only new in terms of their powers and skill sets, but in terms of their personalities as well. Illyana Rasputin AKA Magik, for example, was delightfully unhinged and off kilter, which carried over to Anya Taylor-Joy’s performance in the film.

The Movie Got a Few Things Right

Image via 20th Century Studios

When it comes to casting comic book characters, very rarely does Marvel miss. Even before the rise of the MCU, Marvel films always nailed casting great actors in the roles of famous superheroes. And that started with Hugh Jackman as Wolverine in 2000’s X-Men, which millions to this day hail as a perfectly cast character. The New Mutants continued that tradition with a promising young cast, some of whom are now superstars.

One thing fans will agree on when it comes to the movie is the pitch perfect casting of Taylor-Joy as Magik. She’s never given a bad performance and doesn’t start here, perfectly embodying Illyana’s loose screws while still making her likable and entertaining. But even beyond Magik, other characters in the film shine, namely Blu Hunt as Dani Moonstar, who Hunt makes sympathetic and compelling to watch, especially with her groundbreaking same-sex relationship with Rahne Sinclair (Maisie Williams), which amplified the characters’ bond from the comics in a smart way.

While The New Mutants may have been a disappointment to many, the potential the film had still rings true six years later. The cast of hallmark characters clearly gave it their all and should not be blamed for the film’s misfire. With Marvel resurrecting numerous mutants in the MCU, many believe that these mutants deserve another shot. After all, if Chris Evans can return as Johnny Storm in Deadpool & Wolverine, anything is possible.

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The New Mutants

Release Date

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August 28, 2020

Runtime

99 minutes

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Writers

Josh Boone, Chris Claremont, Dave Cockrum, Knate Gwaltney, Scott Lobdell, Bob McLeod

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A woman repeatedly asked to call her dad after she killed a bride while driving under the influence in May 2023, according to bodycam footage that captured the aftermath of the tragedy.

On the night of April 28, 2023, bride Samantha Miller, her groom Aric Hutchinson and two others were in a golf cart on the way to their wedding reception in Folly Beach, South Carolina, when Jamie Lee Komoroski crashed into them. Miller, 34, died in the crash.

Komoroski, 27, pleaded guilty to DUI causing death, two felony charges for a DUI causing great bodily injury and another charge for reckless homicide in December 2024.

More than three years after the crash, recently released bodycam footage revealed the immediate aftermath of the crash and Komoroski’s arrest.

Related: When Did Mackenzie Shirilla Crash Her Car? Timeline of Crime and Trial

Mackenzie Shirilla became the subject of national attention after a fatal July 2022 car crash in Ohio left her boyfriend and a close friend dead, and ultimately landed her behind bars on murder charges. Now 21, Shirilla is serving two concurrent life sentences, and renewed interest in her case following Netflix’s documentary The Crash has […]

In one part of the footage obtained by Live 5 News, Komoroski was heard screaming “is she OK?” She also told the officers that she had only had one drink and a beer in the hour leading up to the crash.

However, police ultimately determined that Komoroski’s blood-alcohol level was three times the legal limit in South Carolina, according to WCSC.

Another video showed Komoroski sitting inside a car with her feet outside as she asked an officer if she could call her father. After the officer said she couldn’t, she asked why she couldn’t speak to her father and the officer said it was because she was under arrest.

“For what?” Komoroski asked. The officer then said she had been arrested for a DUI, and she responded by asking, “How do you know?”

The bodycam footage continued to document her in the police station. Komoroski refused to sit upon her arrival and she started crying once she finally sat down. “I just want to go home,” she said.

Komoroski once again demanded to call her dad, though the officer said that was “not gonna happen right now.”

She did not take the answer well and continued to demand that she had “the right to call my father.” The officer once again said no, and she asked “why not.”

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Related: When Was Mackenzie Shirilla Arrested? Details on Fatal Car Crash She Caused

Mackenzie Shirilla’s name has returned to the national spotlight following the release of Netflix’s documentary The Crash, which revisits the deadly July 2022 collision that killed her boyfriend, Dominic Russo, and her friend Davion Flanagan. Now 21 and serving two concurrent sentences of 15 years to life at the Ohio Reformatory for Women in Marysville, […]

Following the tragedy, Hutchinson filed a wrongful death suit against Komoroski and a handful of South Carolina bars after Komoroski was reportedly “bar hopping” before she got behind the wheel.

A settlement was reached in December 2025, and Komoroski’s vehicle insurer was ordered to pay $160,000 to Hutchinson. Hutchinson was set to receive $104,586.67 of the $160,000, while the remaining funds would be used to cover attorney fees and other costs.

The December 2025 settlement came after a judge approved settlements from the bars The Drop-In, the Crab Shack and Snapper Jacks. Additional settlements had been approved with Progressive Auto Insurance and Enterprise Rent-A-Car during a motion hearing that was held in 2024.

Some of the most inventive television shows ever have combined genres to create something truly unique. Twin Peaks was a brilliant mash-up of crime drama and supernatural horror. Pushing Daisies brought us a murder mystery every week, mixed with a magical realism fantasy. In the comedy category, there was Barry, which offered plenty of laughs among the dark assassin plot points. But there’s one show out right now that is truly setting the bar for coming up with a completely new genre, and this noir western is a definite must-watch.

What Is ‘Dark Winds’ About?

If you’ve ever wondered what it would look like if Yellowstone and True Detective teamed up, AMC’s Dark Winds is your answer. The four-season series is based on a series of novels by Tony Hillerman called Leaphorn & Chee, which date all the way back to 1970. With executive producers like George R.R. Martin and the late Robert Redford, the Western first premiered in 2022. The story follows Joe Leaphorn (Zahn McClarnon), a somber Navajo Tribal Police officer who lives and works on a reservation in the Southwestern US in the 1970s. Joe has a reason for being so stoic; his teenage son died in an accident, and he’s still grieving this massive loss.

Despite his inner pain, Joe is dedicated to keeping the people of the reservation safe. He acts as a mentor to two young police officers, Jim Chee (Kiowa Gordon) and Bernadette Manuelito (Jessica Matten), and tries to advise them on how to serve as law enforcement while still respecting and honoring the Native American traditions. Each season offers Joe and his team a new case to solve, and things often get complicated when mystical forces intervene.

‘Dark Winds’ Combines Western Themes With a Supernatural Twist

Dark Winds wrapped up its fourth season in April, and has already been renewed for a fifth one. That means you have 28 episodes to binge to get caught up with this genius show. The series utilizes some of the same elements of a Western like Yellowstone, yet ends up feeling a million times more authentic. The setting, far away from a big city, is quiet, but has no less insidious danger than a more well-populated area. Joe and Bernadette use their Navajo heritage to help them investigate, incorporating the clues the land gives them to track their perps. But Dark Winds sidesteps being a traditional Western when it comes to its supernatural themes. Just like True Detective, the spiritual world crosses over at times, and it can be difficult for the viewer to figure out what is real and what isn’t. With a terrifying monster haunting Joe in Season 3 and a bloody, hallucinative curse attached to Jim in Season 4, there’s no shortage of creepy moments that make the series all the more riveting.

There has been some criticism about Yellowstone’s acting being a little over-the-top, and this is definitely where Dark Winds sets itself apart from other modern Westerns. Each actor in Dark Winds wholly embodies their characters in a way that ensures the drama feels authentic, much like the all-star cast of True Detective. McClarnon has basically had a campaign started to get him his first Emmy nomination for this role, and Gordon and Matten are steady forces that help to support his star-making turn. Deanna Allison is exceptional as Joe’s loyal, yet heartbroken wife, Emma. Dark Winds has also featured some truly fantastic guest stars so far, including Noah Emmerich, Jenna Elfman, and Jeri Ryan. Titus Welliver offers a sinister edge to Season 4, and Franka Potente successfully portrays one of the scariest villains of all time alongside him. All of the actors work together to create a top-notch cast that brings a necessary realism that is absent from Yellowstone.

Season 5 of Dark Winds likely won’t premiere until 2027, which means you have plenty of time to binge-watch the first four seasons before it arrives. With an impressive 100% Rotten Tomatoes score, there are zero filler episodes to make you lose interest. If you’re missing the mythology and mysteries behind True Detective and the fast-paced action of Yellowstone, Dark Winds can help you fill that void with its fascinating storylines and impeccable cast.

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Dark Winds

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Release Date

June 12, 2022

Network

AMC

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Directors

Michael Nankin

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Porsha Williams recently scored a BIG LICK in her divorce settlement with Simon Guobadia. But chile, Simon was quick to rain on her parade. He swopped right in with a clap back letting everybody know that HE’S the one really out here flexing.

RELATED: Falynn Pina Blasts Porsha Williams & Simon Guobadia For Allegedly Having An Inappropriate Relationship While They Were Still Married (VIDEOS) 

Porsha Williams Walked Away With MORE Than Closure After Divorce From Simon Guobadia

Okay, so BOOM! According to TMZ, Porsha Williams waked away from her divorce with a seven-figure settlement, Simon Guobadia’s Atlanta mansion, AND a 2021 Rolls-Royce Ghost. Chile, it’s safe to say she secured the bag! But Roomies, there’s more! Porsha reportedly told the court that Simon also agreed to reimburse her $1,568,181.63 form his share of the mansion’s equity and hand over the title to the Rolls-Royce Ghost. Court docs obtained by TMZ show that Simon transferred his interest in the Atlanta mansion they once shared to Porsha through a quitclaim deed. Under their agreement, Porsha says she can now refinance the property or sell it in a commercially reasonable manner without Simon or an arbitrator stepping in.

Simon Saw The Headlines & Said “Aht! Aht!”

Before Porsha Williams could fully celebrate her come-up, Simon slid right into the chat and let folks know he’s the one that got the last laugh. Simon took to his Instagram Stories and told his followers that Porsha’s big win actually came with some debt attached. “They forgot to mention they also inherited $8,000,000 in debt & still got to pay me.” He also claimed that she allegedly has to hand over some cash to him, and chile, Simon wasn’t done there! He added some extra palm trees to his shade noting that he has the ultimate flex because he’s supposedly walking away “debt-free.” 

Porsha & Simon’s Divorce Drama Has Played Out All Over The Timeline

Porsha Williams Simon Guobadia have been going back and forth ever since she filed for divorce in February 2024. The former couple spent a little over a year together after tying the knot in November 2022. Then, in September 2025, the ‘RHOA’ star dropped a major update on Instagram that had fans wondering if she and Simon had officially finalized their divorce. Porsha wrote, “IT’S OVER!!!! Thank goodness [heart emoji] [prayer hands emoji] Grateful.”

But chile, Simon didn’t let her have her moment! He quickly hopped on his IG Story with a message of his own, writing, “Here we go again with Ms 265. Still has learned absolutely nothing #itsovermya**,” alongside a laughing emoji, sparking yet another round of back-and-forth between the former couple online. Porsha didn’t let Simon’s response stop her from getting in a last word though. She later shared a video of herself making her way to a private jet, pairing the post with the caption, “Free” alongside a kissing-face and peace-sign emoji.

RELATED: That’s How You Coming? Social Media Thinks Porsha Williams Is Thirst TRAPPIN’ With Risqué Pics Following Recent Divorce 

Taylor Frankie Paul is no longer on probation following her 2023 arrest plea after an alleged altercation with now-ex Dakota Mortensen.

During a Friday, August 7, court hearing, a judge ruled that the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star, 32, had successfully completed her three-year probation sentence, according to court documents obtained by Us. The judge also amended Paul’s aggravated assault felony charge to a Class A misdemeanor.

“This is a positive development and step in the right direction on Taylor’s healing journey,” a source close to Paul tells Us.

Us has reached out to Paul’s rep for comment.

Paul was arrested in 2023 following an alleged fight with Mortensen, 33. She pleaded guilty as part of a plea deal to dismiss other charges pertaining to child abuse. Footage from the incident was leaked in March, in which Paul was seen throwing chairs at Mortensen in front of her daughter, Indy. (Taylor shares Indy, 8, and son Ocean, 6, with ex-husband Tate Paul, as well as son Ever, 2, with Mortensen.)

Related: Judge Rules on Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortensen Protective Orders

A judge has issued a big ruling regarding Taylor Frankie Paul and ex Dakota Mortensen’s ongoing legal battle. “This has been a very toxic relationship. It’s beyond the pale in a lot of ways, the toxicity,” a judge said during a protective order hearing on Thursday, April 30, regarding the pair’s custody arrangement. “What I’ve seen […]

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In light of the video’s release, Taylor temporarily lost custody of Ever. Taylor and Mortensen previously attended an April 30 court hearing in Utah, initially intended to establish a custody arrangement for Ever. Instead, a judge declined to rule on custody at the time amid the domestic violence allegations from and aimed at both parties. In lieu of an official ruling, the judge issued mutual protective orders, requiring the exes to stay 100 feet away from each other at all times.

“This has been a very toxic relationship. It’s beyond the pale in a lot of ways, the toxicity,” the judge said during the hearing. “What I’ve seen from the evidence even post [the] last hearing, there seems to be a continuing attraction that they have for each other. … You guys have to figure out a lot here. You have to figure out how to function as coparents.”

The judge then explained his hesitancy to definitively rule on custody of Ever at the time.

“I’m hoping that you’re not people who just thrive on the drama and the conflict. You’ve got to put your child first and shield the child from this conflict,” the judge continued. “I’m going to leave the current order in place. I need to think a little bit more about this lifting of supervision. I have mixed feelings about it.”

Related: What to Know About Taylor Frankie Paul and Ex Dakota‘s Custody Battle

The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives stars Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortensen have tried to coparent son Ever since their fall 2024 split. Paul and Mortensen welcomed their first baby together, the MomTok content creator’s third, in March 2024, months before they called it quits. As Paul and Mortensen navigated jointly raising their son, […]

The judge reminded Taylor and Dakota that they are “linked together for the remainder of [their] lives” because they share a child.

As for Taylor’s supervised visitation with Ever — put in place after she temporarily lost custody due to new domestic violence allegations made by Dakota — the judge added, “If I’m continuing to supervise Taylor’s parent time, I’m wary that Dakota may actually try to use that as a way to manipulate and control her.”

After the hearing, Taylor’s attorney, Eric M. Swinyard, addressed the judge’s ruling.

“Today’s hearing was a significant step forward as the court entered protective orders requiring that Taylor’s ex-partner stays far away from her,” Swinyard said in a statement to Us. “Taylor was incredibly candid with the court that she is not perfect and owned her faults, which is in direct contrast to how the other party presented their argument, despite evidence and input from law enforcement that showed otherwise.”

Swinyard continued, “Taylor feels solidarity with the many survivors who have endured similar hardships behind closed doors and shared only part of their stories, and she remains grateful for the outpouring of support she continues to receive. She looks forward to continuing to cooperate with the court to make progress in the custody case.”

Amid the ongoing custody battle, Salt Lake City prosecutors investigated and ultimately declined to file charges against Taylor for an alleged February domestic dispute with Dakota. After the news broke in April, Taylor wrote via her Instagram Story, “Cried when I got the call 🙏 THANK YOU to those that have stood with me.”

Days later, Dakota reacted to the development in his own Instagram post.

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“Over the past several weeks, I’ve taken a step back and had time away from the chaos. That space has been a breath of fresh air and has given me clarity,” he wrote in April. “My focus now is where it should have been all along — on my son and creating a stable, healthy environment for him moving forward.”

He added, “I regret not stepping away from the difficult cycle sooner. I’m not perfect, and I take accountability for my part. I’m sincerely sorry to those I’ve hurt. At the same time, I don’t agree with how this situation has been portrayed publicly. It does not reflect the full context of what occurred or the impact it has had on me and my son.”

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential support.

When it comes to the Duggars, the more members, the merrier — which is why some fans have a hard time keeping track of the famous family.

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After tying the knot in July 1984, Jim Bob Duggar and Michelle Duggar (née Ruark) welcomed a total of 19 children, including two sets of twins, and the couple bestowed all of their little ones with J-monikers. Jim Bob and Michelle are now grandparents to more than 35 kids.

“I really know that our relationship with God and our close walk with Christ is what holds our marriage together,” Michelle exclusively told Us Weekly in August 2020 of her relationship with Jim Bob. “That’s the glue that started our relationship years ago. And I know because of our faith, that is the solid foundation that we have.”

Keep scrolling for a comprehensive guide to Michelle and Jim Bob’s brood:

The Duggar family has been captivating viewers with their unique courtship process since 2008 — and have kept the tradition going strong ever since.

Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar share 19 children: sons Joshua, John-David, Joseph, Josiah, Jedidiah, Jeremiah, Jason, Justin and Jackson, and daughters Jana, Jill, Jessa, Jinger, Joy-Anna, Johannah, Jennifer, Jordyn-Grace and Josie.

The family’s first reality series, 19 Kids and Counting, quickly became one of the most popular shows on TLC from 2008 to 2015. They later returned for a spinoff, Counting On, which ran for 11 seasons before the network canceled it in June 2021.

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Due to their conservative Christian background, the family enforces a number of strict rules when it comes to courting. Kissing, hand-holding and other physical markers of affection aren’t allowed until a couple’s wedding day. Early in the courtship process, partners must have a chaperone present on their dates. For many of the Duggar daughters, their brothers have been by their sides when getting to know their suitors.

“Having that accountability really keeps things from going in the wrong direction,” Jim Bob told Today in 2014.

Scroll down to learn more about the Duggar family’s courtship beginnings:

Dinosaurs and cowboys are two things we grow up wishing we could experience today. They unlock our imagination and that’s why films with either of them tend to do very well across all age groups, but it’s fair to say they’ve not often shared the screen at the same time, right? Well, that’s about to change with one of the most unusual genre mashups currently in development.

Fresh off the release of Primitive War, filmmaker Luke Sparke is heading back to prehistoric territory with a brand-new streaming series that imagines an alternate American frontier where dinosaurs never went extinct. Dinosaurs of the Wild West has officially launched its Kickstarter campaign, with funding set to help bring the ambitious sci-fi Western series to life.

Rather than transporting dinosaurs into another period of history, as Primitive War did with the Vietnam War, Dinosaurs of the Wild West imagines an entirely different timeline where humans and dinosaurs have coexisted for centuries. A prototype trailer was released, too, showing sauropods hauling cargo across the desert, armored stegosaurs and ceratopsians serving as pack animals, riders soaring through the skies atop feathered pterosaurs, and even cowboys riding into battle on the backs of fearsome Tyrannosaurs. Cool. But it also suggested that another threat is on the way that could make them all extinct.

The series is directed by Luke Sparke (Primitive War), who also serves as a producer alongside Carmel Imrie and Carly Sparke. Executive producers include Geoff Imrie, Eric Weick, Colin Hurdle, Kelly Clifford, and Sparke himself. The world and concept originate from artist Shaun Keenan, while the footage was narrated by Jesse Kove (Cobra Kai). The Kickstarter campaign is currently seeking funding for the series’ first two episodes, with additional stretch goals planned to finance the remainder of the season.

When Will ‘Dinosaurs of the Wild West’ Release?

An official release date has not yet been announced, with production dependent on the success of the current crowdfunding campaign, but supporters of the project get more than just early access, they can even get associate producer credits, visit the set during production, or even help design one of the dinosaurs featured in the series. Other rewards include exclusive trading cards, collectible statues, behind-the-scenes access, and limited-edition merchandise, including an exclusive raptor-and-rider action figure.

If fully funded, Dinosaurs of the Wild West is expected to debut as a streaming series following completion of its initial episodes.

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Release Date

August 21, 2025

Runtime

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133 minutes

Director

Luke Sparke

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Writers

Luke Sparke, Ethan Pettus

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Producers

Carmel Imrie, Carly Sparke, Luke Sparke

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The SYFY network has produced many classic science fiction shows, but few with as much heart and humor as Resident Alien. While it began life as an offbeat Dark Horse comic series by Peter Hogan and Steve Parkhouse, the television adaptation captured the darkly comedic sensibility of its source material while building a new universe around its titular alien, played by Alan Tudyk. It’s one of the best sci-fi shows of Tudyk’s prolific career too (even compared to Firefly), in part by doing triple duty as a fish-out-of-water comedy, a small-town drama, and a murder mystery to begin with. Even as the alien invasion lore and serialization really get going in the show’s later seasons, it never forgets its original comedic, quirky instinct.

Even though he’s landed on Earth as a prospective destroyer of worlds, “Harry Vanderspeigle” (an identity stolen from the doctor he killed on arriving, in a scene straight out of an ‘80s horror movie) is ultimately good-natured and ready to warm up to the people of the small mountain town of Patience, Colorado. But he does have a humanity-destroying weapon somewhere out there, and his identity isn’t quite as secretive as he hopes, as various characters he encounters become aware of the truth. One of the best things about Resident Alien is its blend of serious sci-fi drama and more comical elements like a restaurant octopus, voiced by Nathan Fillion, that can communicate telepathically with Harry.

‘Resident Alien’ Is Alan Tudyk’s Best Work

A show like Resident Alien demands a fearless lead, and it also results in one of Tudyk’s best roles. Playing Harry gave the actor plentiful opportunities for physical comedy, similar to Jeff Bridges in Starman, in which the alien has to learn to adapt to humanity’s ways. Chances are there’s no other alien story that would include a sequence of its lead character attempting to drink cow’s milk in the most literal way possible. Between Tudyk’s general likability and the show’s more lighthearted tone, the alien threat dims, especially as Harry becomes more human himself. Luckily, the town of Patience can accommodate the odd doctor they’ve taken in, even if some characters are capable of seeing right through his facade.

Young Max (Judah Prenn) can see his true form, the archetypal “green guy with the big eyes,” and his insult-trading relationship with Harry is a series highlight. Meanwhile, alien hunting podcast host Peter Bach (Terry O’Quinn) shares Max’s ability while having a somewhat antagonistic dynamic with Harry, as his son Robert (played as an adult by Paul Piaskowski) was abducted years prior. But the most important human in Harry’s life is ultimately Asta (Sara Tomko), the assistant at Patience’s medical facility who feels like an outsider herself. She becomes key to Harry finding his own humanity while she grows herself, resulting in one of Resident Alien‘s best storylines.

‘Resident Alien’s Ensemble Is a Big Reason Why the Show Works

As Resident Alien progresses, more extraterrestrial characters are introduced. The villainous Grey aliens become folded more and more into the plot, with their schemes for humanity including infiltration and eventually extinction. Rather than a War of the Worlds-esque goal of mass destruction, their plan is more sophisticated and long-term. Yet the show’s ability to juggle the tone of a serious alien invasion with small-town drama is what makes it genuinely endearing. By the end of the series, Patience feels like a real place, like Stars Hollow in Gilmore Girls or Parks and Rec’s Pawnee, thanks to the show’s richly developed characters and their growth over the years — some of them inspired by Harry, some not.

Sadly, Resident Alien wrapped up with its fourth season, which aired last year. By embracing the question of identity and what it means to be human, it delivered one of the most rewarding series finales of recent sci-fi memory. Series creator Chris Sheridan had a feeling the fourth season would be the show’s last and used that to its advantage, telling TV Insider that he found the finale to be his “favorite episode of the series.” There’s definitely a case to be made for a revival, however, and the slightly open ending of the series finale (as well as Resident Alien‘s continuing presence on Netflix’s streaming charts) makes it easy to hope for a little more.