When you watch a movie, the most important part about it is believing the actors. You could have a brilliant script and stunning cinematography, but if you don’t believe the people on screen, chances are something’s off. Now, when two characters are meant to be two characters in love, it is a must that the actors have chemistry. Nothing can kill a film, especially those in the romance genre, like actors with zero chemistry. While there could be 100 people in a room, and if 99 of them don’t believe in the characters, that one person likely has no taste or wasn’t paying attention.

The ten on-screen couples are prime examples of bad chemistry. Focusing on films where the two characters engage in a romantic entanglement, these examples nearly killed the film for good. Some just couldn’t tackle the material, others couldn’t put aside their ego to give their scene partner space, and then there are those whose off-screen woes made it to the big screen. Some of these actors could be on here multiple times; we’re keeping it to one entry per actor. We love love, but not when it turns out like these pairs.

10

Jennifer Lopez and Ralph Fiennes

‘Maid in Manhattan’ (2002)

Image via Columbia Pictures

Because of the one-film rule made for this list, we couldn’t put two Jennifer Lopez projects here. Sorry, Brett Goldstein. Rather, you’re welcome? While Netflix’s latest romcom, Office Romance, nearly stole this spot, there is no J.Lo romcom in which she had worse on-screen chemistry than in Maid in Manhattan. Lopez and Ralph Fiennes are great at what they do, respectively— Lopez in music and Fiennes in dramas— but as a romantic pair? Not so much. Based on a story by John Hughes under the pseudonym Edmond Dantés, the Wayne Wang-directed film follows Marisa Ventura (Lopez), a hardworking single mother and hotel maid in New York City. Her life changes when a handsome senatorial candidate, Christopher Marshall (Fiennes), mistakes her for a wealthy socialite after she is caught trying on a guest’s designer coat. A charade in class, Maid in Manhattan is a story about two people who are meant to form a genuine relationship, but everything on screen was all a facade.

There must be something about British men that Lopez has difficulty acting across from. The premise of the film stems from two individuals coming together from two different worlds. And Maid in Manhattan went full throttle on the premise. It was a mismatch of acting styles. Lopez was intended to play a woman of a considerably lower social class, yet the superstar pop star still shone through. As Marisa, she’s meant to present a pristine polish, but it was still J.Lo. Then, Fiennes, who is classically trained, brought that aura to the screen. While he’s notorious for playing romantic leads, such as in The English Patient, romcoms are a different beast. Another major hiccup in the filming was the off-camera drama. At the time of filming, Lopez was in the process of divorcing her former dancer, Cris Judd, while also having a secret romance with Ben Affleck. Acting is all about playing a part, but from those two to opposite Fiennes? It was never going to work. That said, Maid in Manhattan is a delightful guilty pleasure movie.

9

William Baldwin and Sharon Stone

‘Silver’ (1993)

Image via Paramount Pictures

The 1993 film Silver might be notorious for everything but the film itself. Based on Ira Levin‘s novel of the same name, Silver is an erotic thriller about a book editor, Carly Norris (Sharon Stone), who moves into a high-tech Manhattan apartment building only to discover it has a dark history of suspicious tenant deaths. She soon becomes entangled in a dangerous web of voyeurism and romance involving her mysterious neighbors: Zeke Hawkins (William Baldwin), a shy, handsome video game designer who is secretly the building’s owner and a hidden voyeur; and Jack Landsford (Tom Berenger), a burned-out, cynical crime novelist. Meant to be Stone’s highly anticipated follow-up to Basic Instinct, the film, amid significant rewrites, battled with the ratings board and a toxic off-screen dynamic, suffered greatly in its on-screen chemistry.

Erotic thrillers were truly all the rage in the ’90s. Once Basic Instinct flourished, every studio wanted the next best thing. Levin’s source material was there for it to happen, but the production of Silver was anything but clean. The MPAA originally gave the film an NC-17 rating, which forced the filmmakers to make extensive reshoots. The original killer was changed from Zeke to Jack because, if Zeke were the killer, it would have led to an immoral revelation from Carly, which did not screen well. But the most egregious part of production was the allegations that producer Robert Evans pressured Stone into having sex with Baldwin, arguing it would improve his acting and “save the movie.” Baldwin has refuted this, claiming Stone came on to him and he rejected her advances. Nevertheless, the two actors quickly developed mutual animosity, which affected their performance. The result was a painfully uncomfortable result that lacked any sexual intrigue. The tension was forced by two underdeveloped characters trying to find any semblance of connection. If there is anything going for the film, it lost every category it was nominated in at the Razzies. Something had to be worse: Indecent Proposal, another erotic drama.

8

Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey

‘How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days’ (2003)

Image via Paramount Pictures

What’s funny is that nearly twenty years later, Matthew McConaughey recalled “easy chemistry” with Kate Hudson, having bonded on the set of How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. Unfortunately, what he may have perceived as chemistry was far from what he saw on screen. Seen as one of the go-to romantic leads of the early aughts, McConaughey shared the screen with everyone, including Jennifer Lopez and Sarah Jessica Parker, but his least convincing scene partner was the daughter of Goldie Hawn. The guilty pleasure chick flick based o Michele Alexander and Jeannie Long’s picture book, advice columnist Andie Anderson (Hudson) is tasked with writing a first-hand article about the classic mistakes women make that drive men away. In order to enact the experiment, she needs to find a guy, date him, and get him to dump her in exactly 10 days. Meanwhile, her target, Benjamin Barry, is an ambitious advertising executive who bets his boss, Phillip Warren (Robert Klein), that he can make any woman fall in love with him within 10 days to win a highly coveted diamond account. Chaos ensues through two opposing objectives, only for the pair to realize they had feelings for one another all along. The epitome of a classic romcom, Hudson did extraordinarily well in driving McConaughey away, so that when the contrived conclusion arrived, it became laughable.

Don’t get me wrong, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days is a delight. It’s a comfort watch when you need something mindless and nostalgic. With so much of their chemistry built on push-and-pull secret agendas and comical friction, the immediate, seamless romance was forced. They may have had an on-screen spark because of their natural charisma, but it didn’t mean it translated into the romance department. Both actors leaned into extremes for their characters to be triumphant. In the real world, chaotic and exaggerated behaviors would be massive red flags that would raise major concern. In a way, their easy, breezy demeanor to their agendas played out more as competitive siblings than swooning young lovers. How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days triumphs as a comedy, but falters as a genuine romance. Hudson and McConaughey forgot to make us believe in Andie and Ben.

7

Jimmy Fallon and Drew Barrymore

‘Fever Pitch’ (2005)

Image via 20th Century Fox

The pipeline from Saturday Night Live fan-favorite to Hollywood star is every cast member’s dream. There are some individuals who make that transition seamless— Mike Myers, Adam Sandler, Will Ferrell. Then there are those like Jimmy Fallon, who was never going to make it as an actor, proving through Weekend Update that he was always better suited for hosting. So, in regard to 2005’s Fever Pitch, the blame is not going to be on Drew Barrymore, who we know is a wonderful romantic lead. This one all falls on the shoulders of the future Tonight Show host. Now, to preface, I’m not knocking on Fever Pitch as a New York Yankees fan— Fallon’s love for the Boston Red Sox was greater than that of Barrymore’s character. Directed by Peter and Bobby Farrelly, Fever Pitch follows Ben Wrightman (Fallon), an obsessive Red Sox fan, whose life revolves around baseball. In the winter, he is the perfect, attentive boyfriend, but once spring training arrives, he’s all consumed by the Red Sox. Lindsey Meeks (Barrymore), a dedicated executive, is up for a career promotion and tries to understand Ben’s sports rituals. He refuses to miss a game to accommodate her professional and personal schedule. Friction and fracture emerge, but they eventually learn what it means to be “present” and how a die-hard superfan can make mutual sacrifices for their other love.

Originally based on the Nick Hornby book, which swapped out baseball for soccer, the love letter to sports. The film is best remembered for being filmed at Fenway Park in 2004, when the team broke their 86-year World Series drought. But as far as the product itself, Fallon really forgot he had a human scene partner. Perhaps taking too much inspiration from his Boston-loving SNL character, Fallon’s big-screen transition was weak. Especially compared to the famous child star who had made a name for herself in the romance genre. Fallon played affably well, but his goofy demeanor didn’t match what Barrymore was providing. The Farrelly Brothers had a history of dumb comedies, but this was a far stretch from Dumb and Dumber, There’s Something About Mary, and Shallow Hal. Fever Pitch was not a film for a silly guy to play opposite a steadfast romantic lead. Fever Pitch was mismanaged from all directions.

6

Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart (and Taylor Lautner)

The ‘Twilight’ Saga (2008-2012)

Image via Summit Entertainment

This one is going to be divisive. If you’re on a team that debates a team, you most certainly will take offense to this entry. For those who were not completely taken by the book-to-film adaptations, you likely could see through the poor performances. The chemistry in The Twilight Saga may be weak, but the box office numbers greatly disagree. Based on Stephanie Meyer‘s beloved novels, the film series chronicles teenager Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart), who moves to Forks, Washington, and falls in love with Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson), a 108-year-old vampire. Their forbidden romance draws Bella into a supernatural world of vampires and werewolves, one of whom she finds comfort in, Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner). The frenzy of Team Edward vs. Team Jacob got pop culture flustered because the vampire and werewolf were deemed peak fantasy boyfriend material. But the material the actors were forced to perform proved that clunky dialogue and dry execution from its leads is simply awkward.

The Twilight Saga was built upon the moody tone. It was an emo’s guide to love and loss. But for an on-screen performance, it was completely restrictive. There was an intentional awkwardness in Stewart’s performance meant to reflect teenage emotions, but when it’s paired with the stoic nature of Pattinson’s Edward, they both come across as stiff and emotionless. How are we supposed to champion these two as a couple without a genuine semblance of human passion? OK, yes, one as technically a vampire, but even so. There is a fire coming out of Lautner as the werewolf, but when he’s up against Stewart, it’s as if he hits a brick wall, cowering like a puppy in order to reach her level. Unfortunately, this was all by design. They played what was on the page. Edward was a sullen, tragic individual. Bella was detached and guarded. Lautner was the best of the three, but he was meant to be the third wheel. Remember when Pattinson and Stewart were romantically linked? At least they found the chemistry we all continue to look for.

5

Katie Holmes and Christian Bale

‘Batman Begins’ (2005)

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

The resurgence of Batman through the vision of Christopher Nolan was not necessarily known for its romance. In fact, if there was one fatal flaw from the trilogy, it’s what audiences saw in Batman Begins between Christian Bale‘s Bruce Wayne and Katie Holmes‘ Rachel Dawes. In the trilogy’s first film, Bruce Wayne begins his transition into the notorious masked vigilante as he overcomes the trauma of his parents’ murder. Training in martial arts with the League of Shadows, Wayne returns as Batman to save a corrupt Gotham City from destruction. While the bad guys try to thwart his plans, his childhood friend and love interest stalls all character development. So much so that when she was recast for The Dark Knight, audiences noticed a genuine acting upgrade in Maggie Gyllenhaal. Now, to note, Holmes was not replaced because of her performance. It was strictly business on her end. But with another actress spending any time in the part, it was evident that something was amiss between her and Bale.

The script tried to prioritize a more platonic dynamic between Wayne and the assistant district attorney, but it caused a rigid character dynamic that felt forced. Rachel was meant to anchor Wayne’s moral compass, so as much as anyone tried to push for something romantic, it read as professional and friendly. What also didn’t help was Nolan’s narrative priorities, which were not romance. Viewing them more as a structural necessity, Dawes was original to the story, but given Batman’s history of romantic interests, fans were waiting for the shoe to drop. Oh, and we cannot forgive Bale as he wasn’t innocent either. He brought such an intense performance, it was a far cry from Holme’s more reserved and grounded acting choices. Bale’s brooding ultimately became the winning formula by the end of the trilogy; it was not entirely understood in Batman Begins.

4

Jason Momoa and Amber Heard

‘Aquaman’ (2018)

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

Casting Jason Momoa as Arthur Curry, aka Aquaman, was certainly a choice. No longer did the DCEU want a blonde-haired, blue-eyed all-American boy like the ones previously portrayed by Justin Hartley and Alan Ritchson. Instead, they opted for a darker, brooding iteration for Zack Snyder‘s Justice League. By the time the solo film arrived, the cinematic universe had made its choice, and Momoa was their guy. Now, the story needed to revolve around him, which meant the ensemble had to work for Momoa more than the character. And yet, Amber Heard as Mera just simply could not connect. Perhaps the fantasy element as a fantasy warrior was too hard to play. Aquaman follows the half-human, half-Atlantean who must journey to the underwater kingdom of Atlantis to stop his power-hungry half-brother, King Orm (Patrick Wilson), from uniting the seven oceanic kingdoms to wage war on the surface world. Perhaps Arthur was already too ingratiated with the people, but beneath the surface, Heard and Momoa were in two different films.

There was always going to be a tonal difference between Momoa’s Aquaman and every other character under the sea. There was a brightness to the Atlanteans that Momoa completely lacked. And yet, rather than making Mera a weak princess, Heard brought a more stoic, regal warrior to match the boisterous, rough-around-the-edges Momoa. Still, their styles contrasted far too much, making their romance forced. There was immense drama surrounding Heard and her involvement in the sequel, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. Many of her scenes were cut, with some believing it was due to the negative press surrounding the defamation trial controversy she had with Johnny Depp. But the studio stood strong on the allegations of a lack of chemistry. It was said that there was a lot of behind-the-scenes work in order to manufacture their romantic connection. Even still, it wasn’t right. It was an easy excuse to blame Heard rather than the actor in the titular role. But that’s where the blame may actually have fallen.

3

Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson

‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ (2015)

Image via Universal Pictures

There have been countless books that fans have anxiously awaited the film adaptation. The hype surrounding the erotic romantic drama Fifty Shades of Grey was astronomical, but for a story that required perfect chemistry, it was anything but. Based on E.L. James‘ novel, the Sam Taylor-Johnson-directed film follows Anastasia Steele (Dakota Johnson), an inexperienced college student, whose life changes drastically after she interviews enigmatic billionaire Christian Grey (Jamie Dornan). What begins as a simple journalistic meeting quickly devolves into a passionate but unconventional romance as Ana discovers Christian’s secret BDSM lifestyle. The favorite book of housewives who pretended they never read it, the film had everything going for it, except a lead who couldn’t act her way out of a paper bag.

The thing with book adaptations is you can easily interpret a character, so tasking an actor to lift a character from the page to screen will likely be different than how you envisioned it. Dornan took an intentionally cold approach to portray Christian. Though some felt it was too empty, veering into the creepy, it was a logical direction he could go. Then there was Johnson. Anastasia Steele is meant to be naive, but Johnson took that to mean unresponsive. In turn, you had two walls of drying paint attempting to find a sexual dynamic that would get the audience feeling naughty about watching. There was no passion. It was not anywhere near close to how James envisioned her work.

Though both actors had their naysayers, it was Johnson who received the brunt of the pushback. Some tried to give credence to her work, blaming the script’s specificity, but if you saw Madame Web, that theory was out the window. Dornan and Johnson returned for both sequels, Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed, because, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. And by that, the audience was making it worthwhile at the box office. And by filming back-to-back, there was no off-ramp to reverse course. Fifty Shades of Grey was an important film for pop culture because we all needed the parodies to laugh at to make ourselves better for even watching it in the first place.

2

Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie

‘The Tourist’ (2010)

Image via Sony Pictures Releasing

In the early aughts, there were no two bigger stars in Hollywood than Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie. Combining the two powerhouses should have resulted in a cinematic masterpiece. Instead, they delivered The Tourist. The romantic thriller co-written and directed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, a remake of the 2005 French film Anthony Zimmer, tells the story of Elise (Jolie), the girlfriend of an elusive international fugitive, who uses an unassuming American math teacher, Frank Tupelo (Depp), as a decoy on a train to Venice. This accidental romance soon entangles them with both the police and a ruthless mobster, who mistakenly believe Frank is Alexander Pearce, the fugitive in question. The Tourist watches a vacation turn into a life-or-death chase as the pair evade authorities and criminals across the canals of Venice. What should have worked, based on star power, became a flop because the duo simply could not get on the same page, both as characters and as actors.

The premise of The Tourist was already a difficult one for any actor to play. Because Elise used Frank as a decoy to evade the predators, Jolie deliberately kept Elise secret, leaving both Frank and the audience at arm’s length. Add in the script’s lack of emotional depth, as the director preferred the stunning Venice backdrop over an actual romantic connection. Then, with Jolie playing up the ultra-glamorous femme fatale against the clueless and coy character Depp brought, there was no way for them to be at the same level. There was an innate disconnect. Of course, for a story about deceit and a twist that was even more deceptive, it just came off as unbelievable given the lead-up. As good as they were before The Tourist, there was no hope for them to bring any chemistry to the screen. But to make matters worse, the duo reportedly showed some behind-the-scenes indifference. Some sources claimed that Jolie had difficulty working with her co-star. With so much going against them, the crime caper became a sad example that not every great movie star can act well with one another.

1

Natalie Portman and Hayden Christensen

‘Star Wars: Episode II— Attack of the Clones’ (2002)

Image via Lucasfilm

Nearly two decades after the original Star Wars was released, George Lucas returned to the well and gave fans what they always wished for: a prequel trilogy. Taking the established narrative of the Skywalker Saga and providing new light into how we got to Star Wars: Episode IV— A New Hope was every fan’s dream. Finally, the origin story of Darth Vader! The first film introduced Anakin Skywalker as an adorable, hopeful kid through Jake Lloyd’s strong performance. But when Anakin needed to grow up for Star Wars: Episode II—Attack of the Clones, his replacement, Hayden Christensen, made us instantly hate the character nearly as much as we despised Jar Jar Binks. Why did we loathe Christensen’s take on the great villain? He could not compare to the divine Natalie Portman.

The second part of the space opera follows Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) and Padawan Anakin Skywalker (Christensen) as they protect Senator Padmé Amidala (Portman) from assassination. While investigating the threat, Obi-Wan discovers a clone army, as Anakin falls in love with Padmé, ultimately triggering the devastating Clone Wars. Perhaps the most important love story in Star Wars history, it was one of the most mismatched actor pairings, making some of us wish she could have found someone better. A major reason why fans turned on Christensen’s performance is that he was the new kid in town. We already had a film to get to know and love Portman. Christensen had great difficulty navigating the highly stylized script, unnatural dialogue, and the experimental directorial approach that isolated the pair. Yes, they filmed some of their crucial romantic scenes against green screens.

In retrospect, having the events of Star Wars: Episode III—Revenge of the Sith to enlighten where the character was heading may give him some freedom for his initial choices. But even emo Anni was painful to get through. Prior to the second film, the only love story in the galaxy we watched was the ultimately forbidden burgeoning romance between Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) and Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher)—who we learned were siblings. Anakin and Padmé’s to be specific. We needed this to be our redemption. Christensen portrayed Anakin as far too socially isolated and deeply repressed. Padmé, though reserved, had some warmth inside, but against her scene partner, you had to wonder what she even saw in him. Star Wars‘ first six films were never known as emotionally rich. Perhaps if there was some nuance to play, we wouldn’t have knocked the chemistry-less duo.

For decades, Batman: Knightfall has stood as one of the most influential storylines in the Dark Knight’s history. Now, DC and Warner Bros. Animation are finally bringing the legendary comic arc to life with a multi-part animated film series, and longtime fans have every reason to be excited.

Originally published between 1993 and 1994, Batman: Knightfall redefined Batman by pushing Bruce Wayne to his absolute limits. Rather than relying on brute strength alone, Bane orchestrates a calculated campaign to wear Batman down, releasing the inmates of Arkham Asylum and forcing the Caped Crusader into an endless battle before delivering one of the most iconic moments in comic book history—breaking Batman’s back.

While that shocking image has been referenced in films, television, and games over the years, the complete Knightfallsaga has never received a faithful screen adaptation. That is finally changing.

According to Collider, the upcoming animated project has the opportunity to become the definitive adaptation of one of DC’s greatest comic stories. The publication praised Warner Bros. Animation’s recent success with comic-faithful adaptations and suggested that the multi-part format is exactly what Knightfall needs to properly tell its sprawling story.

Batman Nightfall [credit: Warner Bros. Animation]

Unlike a single feature film, the multi-part approach allows the adaptation to cover the full scope of the original event. Beyond Bane’s victory over Batman, the story follows Jean-Paul Valley (Azrael) as Gotham’s new Batman, whose increasingly violent methods tarnish the symbol Bruce Wayne spent years building. Eventually, Bruce returns to reclaim the mantle, leading to one of the most compelling redemption arcs in Batman history.

The animated adaptation is being directed by Jeff Wamester from a screenplay by Jeremy Adams. Warner Bros. has confirmed that the project is envisioned as a multi-part animated event rather than a standalone movie, giving the creative team room to faithfully adapt the massive comic storyline.

The first trailer, released this week, showcases the brutal confrontation between Batman and Bane while teasing the emotional journey ahead. Fans also received a first look at several iconic moments pulled directly from the comics, suggesting the filmmakers are embracing the source material rather than reinventing it.

Warner Bros. Animation has earned praise over the years for adaptations such as Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, and many fans hope Knightfall will join that list as another faithful translation of a beloved comic classic. Given the scale of the original story and the creative team’s commitment to preserving its biggest moments, this could become one of DC’s most ambitious animated projects to date.

If the finished film delivers on what fans have seen so far, Batman: Knightfall may not simply adapt one of Batman’s greatest stories—it could become the definitive animated Batman epic for a new generation.

By Chris Snellgrove
| Updated 23 seconds ago

At the Annecy Animation Film Festival, one thing has become abundantly clear: this is the year of the bat. We already knew Warner Bros. was going to show footage of Batman: Knightfall, their multi-part, R-rated adaptation of Batman’s most famous ‘90s comic story. The studio then announced Dynamic Duo, a theatrical film focused on two of Batman’s sidekicks and animated like Into the Spider-Verse. What else could a fan of the Caped Crusader want? More TV series, of course!

Recently, WB announced that we would be getting not one but two new cartoons set in the world of the Dark Knight. The first is Absolute Batman, which adapts the best-selling comic from rockstar comics writer Scott Snyder. The buzzworthy comic is a complete Batman reboot, and its cartoon announcement drew huge cheers at the film festival. Arguably, though, it was WB’s other big announcement that sent fans into a frenzy. The studio confirmed we will be getting Joker: Laugh Riot, an anime where the Joker becomes obsessed with finding the villain who killed Batman.

The Joke’s On Us

Joker: Laugh Riot is already set to make history as DC’s first anime project. Why the heck are we getting a supervillain anime? This is likely due to the influence of Jason DeMarco: the Toonami guru is senior VP of action and anime development at Warner Bros. Animation, who produced the surprisingly fun anime film The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim. That movie was animated by Yasuhiro Aoki, who will be the showrunner for Joker: Laugh Riot. Based on the show’s description, it sounds like we’ll be exploring a side of the Clown Prince of Crime rarely seen in comics, shows, or film.

The official logline for Joker: Laugh Riot reads as follows: “When Batman is murdered, the Joker launches a ruthless crusade through Gotham’s underworld to find the killer who took away his greatest adversary. But as his violent quest for answers pushes him closer towards vigilante than villain, Joker is forced to confront the truth that without Batman, he doesn’t know who he is.” Reading between the lines, it seems like Joker will actually become a Batman-style vigilante in his relentless quest to find the man who killed his oldest enemy.

Not Exactly A Kid’s Show

While the premise of Joker: Laugh Riot is relatively unique, it has been explored before by other writers. One of the most notable examples is the Batman: The Animated Series episode “The Man Who Killed Batman,” where Batman is seemingly killed by a small-time gangster. Upon hearing the news, Joker laments that “crime has no punchline” anymore and even holds a funeral for the Caped Crusader where he tries to murder Batman’s killer. Of course, it’s later revealed that Batman faked his own death, but this episode is a powerful example of how Joker’s life would lose most of its meaning if Batman were to die.

Additionally, a four-issue storyline in Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight featured Joker seemingly killing Batman. When this happened, he actually went sane, got a job, and even fell in love as he became a relatively normal guy. As soon as he realized Batman was still alive, though, he became his old self. Of course, both this storyline and the aforementioned cartoon were relatively short tales. It sounds like Joker: Laugh Riot will offer a more prolonged look at the titular clown’s codependent relationship with Batman. Plus, it’s a given that Joker will have some fun battles with familiar foes like Penguin, Two-Face, and maybe even Harley Quinn in his quest to find Batman’s killer.

Other than the announcement about its plot and that it’s in production, there are no other details about Joker: Laugh Riot. No release date has been set, and we don’t yet know if it will stream exclusively on HBO Max or if it will be released on Toonami. Whenever and wherever it releases, though, this anime is sure to be a hit with Batman fans who are looking for something new. Plus, it might just tide over fans of the Clown Prince of Crime before he makes his inevitable debut in the DCU in a movie we can only hope is better than Supergirl.

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 19 seconds ago

One of the reasons that it’s hard to make a modern superhero film is that you have to please two very different audiences. The first is made up of hardcore comics fans who will be scrutinizing the movie to see how well the writer and director knew their comic book lore. The second audience is made up of general moviegoers who have never so much as cracked an issue and just want to be entertained for a couple of hours. Recently, Supergirl tried its hand at pleasing both groups at once.

The results were somewhat mixed. Judging by its relatively modest opening weekend and equally modest Rotten Tomatoes score, Supergirl didn’t really have mass appeal with general audiences. However, it really resonated with comics fans who are impressed at just how many references and homages are stuffed into this short film. Fortunately, you don’t need laser eyes to uncover them; just keep reading to discover the coolest and downright weirdest Easter eggs you missed in Supergirl!

Everyone Thinks Jor-El Is A Weirdo

One of the major canon changes in last year’s Superman was the revelation that Superman’s parents sent him to Earth to be a conqueror. When this news breaks out, it instantly tanks the Man of Steel’s reputation. Considering that the message from his parents was translated by Lex Luthor, many fans believed that it was a lie and that Superman’s parents were essentially good people. This was despite everyone from Mr. Terrific to James Gunn confirming that the message was authentic.

In a flashback, however, Supergirl revealed that Jor-El really did want his son to go conquer the Earth. Interestingly, though, the movie also emphasizes how Jor-El is seen as a bit of a weirdo by those who know his plan. Specifically, we see Supergirl’s mother disdainfully refer to Jor-El’s plan to turn his “sweet little boy” into a “conqueror of worlds.” It’s a brief moment, but one that verifies Jor-El’s sinister nature while clarifying that not all Kryptonians share his barbaric mentality.

Supergirl, The Pop Culture Fiend

In Supergirl, the title character is celebrating her 23rd birthday. We learn that she spends a lot of her time partying off-planet, and it’s not made explicitly clear how much time she’s actually spent on Earth. However, based on her dialogue and clothing, we have one answer: she’s been on the planet long enough to absorb the pop culture! One example of this is when she orders a band to keep playing during a barfight because “it’s like the Titanic.” This means she’s familiar with Earth’s most famously doomed ship, most likely from watching James Cameron’s Titanic.

Additionally, she calls one of the many ugly aliens in the film “Squidward,” confirming that she’s a fan of (or at least, aware of) SpongeBob SquarePants. Speaking of fandoms, Supergirl spends most of the movie wearing a Blondie shirt, signifying her love of the musician. She’s probably also a fan of Jimmy Eat World, as a slowed-down version of their iconic song “In the Middle” plays during the climactic final fight scene. If Supergirl does like that band, it’s probably her cousin’s influence; previously, James Gunn added the song to Clark Kent’s official playlist on Spotify.

Homages To Star-Lord

While James Gunn directed last year’s Superman, Supergirl was helmed by Craig Gillespie. Watching the film, though, it’s clear that Gillespie cribbed more than a bit from Gunn’s previous work on Guardians of the Galaxy. You can see that in many surface-level aspects, including the snarky characters, exotic aliens, and colorful worlds on display. Beyond that, though, there are some more specific homages. For example, Supergirl spends much of the movie listening to music on her orange headphones. This is very similar to Star-Lord, who uses orange headphones to listen to his beloved cassette music from Earth.

Additionally, Supergirl tries to reassure her kid sidekick at one point by saying, “I have a plan…kind of.” This may be a stretch, but it’s hard to hear this and not think about Star-Lord in the first Guardians of the Galaxy movie. When Rocket questions whether Star-Lord actually has a plan, the Earthman responds, “I have part of a plan.” When pressed to answer what percentage of a plan he has, Star-Lord responds, “12 percent.” Fortunately, Supergirl has something else in common with this Marvel hero: even when her plans are half-baked, they usually work. 

Secretly Introducing A Notorious Villain

My favorite Supergirl Easter egg occurred near the end of the film, when our titular hero is talking to Superman. He doesn’t yet know the specifics of her most recent adventure, but he knows that it started out as a birthday celebration that went sideways. In an attempt to commiserate with her, Superman tells his cousin how his own birthdays have been tricky, but doesn’t really go into any details.

Now, this could mean all sorts of things. As a longtime comic nerd, though, I believe it’s a reference to Mongul, a powerful alien villain that Superman has tangled with before. In the iconic comic story “For the Man Who Has Everything” (written by Watchmen creator Alan Moore), the villain breaks into the Fortress of Solitude and attacks Superman with a plant called “The Black Mercy,” which puts him into a coma of pleasant dreams. Fortunately, he is ultimately freed by Batman, Robin, and Wonder Woman, all of whom came by to wish him a happy birthday. If this Supergirl quote was referencing Mongul, here’s hoping we see him and Superman throw down in a future movie!

For many fans, starring in one of Nickelodeon‘s biggest shows would seem like a guaranteed path to lifelong financial security. But according to Josh Peck, the reality was far different. The former child star recently opened up about his earnings from “Drake & Josh,” revealing that despite starring in the hit sitcom for four seasons, he walked away with far less money than many people assume.

During an appearance on the June 25 episode of the “Financial Tea with Mrs. Dow Jones” podcast, Peck reflected on his early days at Nickelodeon and how his salary evolved throughout his television career. “We started out making $3,000 an episode on ‘The Amanda Show,’” Peck explained. By the time “Drake & Josh” concluded in 2007, he said his average salary had increased to roughly $15,000 per episode.

According to Peck, the series produced around 60 episodes in total, resulting in approximately $900,000 in earnings over four years. While that number may sound impressive on paper, the actor said the amount he actually took home was significantly lower.

Peck explained that after accounting for taxes, agents, and managers, his earnings were drastically reduced. “We probably, between agent, manager and taxes, we cleared half of that,” he said. The actor estimated that he effectively earned about $125,000 annually during the show’s run.

Peck acknowledged that many people would still consider that a substantial income, but he said fans often assume child stars earn enough money to never work again. “The only reason I say it is because people always assume that it’s so much more and why would you ever have to work again?” he explained.

Peck compared the income to that of many successful professionals, noting that while it was a good living, it wasn’t the kind of money that could sustain someone indefinitely.

Fame Left Josh Peck With Financial Anxiety

Beyond the paycheck itself, Peck revealed that growing up with financial uncertainty had a lasting impact on him. “If you have it ingrained in you that you never want to be broke again, you will run like your pants are on fire for as long as you can,” he said.

The actor admitted that a deep fear of financial instability fueled many of his career decisions long after “Drake & Josh” ended. “And I saw that in myself forever, just a deep financial insecurity that drove everything I did.”

Following his Nickelodeon years, Peck continued building a successful career through acting, hosting, podcasting, social media, and film projects.

‘Drake & Josh’ Became One Of Nickelodeon’s Biggest Hits

Created by Dan Schneider, “Drake & Josh” premiered in 2004 as a spin-off of “The Amanda Show.” The sitcom followed unlikely stepbrothers Drake Parker, played by Drake Bell, and Josh Nichols, played by Peck, as they navigated life under one roof.

The cast also featured Miranda Cosgrove, Nancy Sullivan, and Jonathan Goldstein, while recurring appearances from fan-favorite characters helped turn the show into a staple of 2000s children’s television.

The series quickly became one of Nickelodeon’s most successful programs, attracting millions of viewers and helping launch the careers of several young stars.

The Nickelodeon Series Has Faced Renewed Scrutiny In Recent Years

Peck’s comments arrive as interest in Nickelodeon’s early-2000s programming remains high following the release of the 2024 documentary series “Quiet On Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV.” The series featured emotional revelations from Peck’s former co-star Bell, who publicly identified himself as the unnamed minor victim in the criminal case involving former Nickelodeon dialogue coach Brian Peck.

Bell detailed the abuse he suffered as a teenager and later spoke about the overwhelming support he received after sharing his story. “I was sleeping on the couch where I would usually sleep. I woke up to him, I opened my eyes, I woke up and he was sexually assaulting me. I froze and was in complete shock and had no idea what to do or how to react, and I have no idea how to get out of this situation,” Bell said.

Bell was 15 at the time and said he felt trapped by the situation. He explained that the abuse became a secret because he feared people would start asking questions if he suddenly stopped visiting Brian.

Brian was arrested in 2003 and later pleaded no contest to charges related to the sexual abuse of a child. He was sentenced to 16 months in prison and required to register as a sex offender.

Josh Peck Publicly Supported Drake Bell After ‘Quiet On Set’

In the wake of the series, Peck addressed criticism that he had not immediately spoken out publicly, revealing that he had privately reached out to his former co-star while also expressing support for other survivors who shared their stories.

“I finished the ‘Quiet on Set’ documentary and took a few days to process it,” Peck wrote in a statement shared on Instagram at the time. “I reached out to Drake privately, but want to give my support for the survivors who were brave enough to share their stories of emotional and physical abuse on Nickelodeon sets with the world.”

Peck, who is not related to Brian Peck, went on to call for greater protections for child actors working in the entertainment industry. “Children should be protected,” he continued. “Reliving this publicly is incredibly difficult, but I hope it can bring healing for the victims and their families as well as necessary change to our industry.”

Now, Peck’s candid comments about money offer another glimpse into the realities behind one of Nickelodeon’s most successful shows.

“The Real Housewives of Rhode Island” star Kelsey Swanson is clapping back at a fan who claimed she used to sell her body for money. In a sneak peek clip of Part 2 of the “RHORI” reunion, Swanson, 31, tells host Andy Cohen that the claims are flat-out false. Elsewhere in the special clip, Swanson speaks a bit more about her past relationship with one of Rhode Island’s wealthiest residents, stating that she didn’t believe he was the one spreading the lies.

“I’ve never sold any of my holes for money,” Swanson told Cohen in a special clip of the upcoming reunion, shared by Us Weekly. “Let’s just get that straight.”

Swanson’s statement was in response to a fan who said the reality star used to “charge $29,000 for dinner and dessert” dates.

Swanson told Cohen and her co-stars that she was being harassed by someone who edited photos to make it appear as though she was an escort.

She went on to say that the unnamed person was stealing her photos and creating fake pages in her name, adding that she had “no idea” who it was.

“All of a sudden it stopped,” she said. “I know it was some, I think, actual escort in Boston, who was hanging around the same crew of people that I was hanging out with.”

Swanson Opens Up About Her Previous Relationship With One Of Rhode Island’s Wealthiest Residents

Cohen asked Swanson whether she believed her ex-boyfriend (who wasn’t shown in the series but was mentioned) could be behind the rumors, to which she replied, “I don’t think so.”

Regardless, Swanson said she didn’t care who was behind it because the rumors were false. “I’ve never been an escort and I would never be an escort,” she said.

In a previous interview with Us Weekly, Swanson got candid about her relationship with her ex-boyfriend, who, during the time of filming season 1, was in Florida with his other girlfriend.

“My relationship is very unorthodox. This man dates multiple people,” she said in April 2026. “For the first half of the year, my boyfriend is in Miami. When he’s in Miami, he’s with somebody else.”

Swanson Has Moved On From Her Ex And Is Now In A Relationship With New Partner, Bill L’Europa

Part of Swanson’s season 1 storyline was about her navigating life without her ex-boyfriend’s resources. And while they’re no longer together, she made it clear that even when they were, she never identified as a “sugar baby.”

“Nothing close to it,” she said. “The only man I ever dated with money [is] my boyfriend.”

Season 1 also showed Swanson moving on with her new boyfriend, Bill L’Europa. “I’m only in one relationship now,” Swanson said. “You’ll see as the season progresses where that goes, but I am in a relationship. [I have a] boyfriend, I will label it that, but not married, and no kids.”

Swanson Got Into It With Her ‘RHORI’ Co-Star, Rosie DiMare

In Part 1 of the “RHORI” reunion, Swanson bumped heads with her nemesis, Rosie DiMare. Earlier in the season, the pair feuded over relationship rumors and alleged lies about money.

According to a previous report from The Blast, the pair’s beef reached the point of no return when Swanson appeared at DiMare’s home with a bullhorn and poked fun at her new renovations.

I couldn’t even wrap my head around this was happening,” DiMare said about the incident. “And she’s like, ‘What? It was funny.’”

For those who missed the episode, DiMare physically pushed Swanson out of her home after her comments, creating an even bigger divide amongst the group.

Swanson shared her thoughts on the matter, too, saying she was only joking with DiMare about her home renovations.

“Take a joke,” she said. “It’s not that serious.”

Swanson went on to say that she only joked about her co-star’s home because she thought they were in a much “better place” than before.

She said, “I’m gonna bust her balls a little and make light of the situation.”

DiMare wasn’t on the same page as Swanson, though, stating, “You just wanna make fun of me, and now you’re coming to my house, and you’re gonna do it again? Seriously, it’s f-cked up.”

Part 2 of “The Real Housewives of Rhode Island” airs on Bravo on Sunday at 9 PM ET.

Taylor Swift has a dream of having kids where “the whole block [is] lookin’ like” future husband Travis Kelce — and he’s seemingly on the same page.

“Do I sense a Kelce family reunion in the works? We really don’t have a big family,” Travis’ older brother, Jason Kelce, said on a recent episode of the siblings’ “New Heights” podcast, during an ad break for WhatsApp. “It might be nice to meet some of the Kelce relatives that we don’t know.”

Travis, 36, replied by noting that he “sees it in our future.”

“For sure,” he continued. “It’s time for WhatsApp. Download WhatsApp now.”

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Jason, 38, further revealed that future family reunions will be perfect “once we get some kids that all look the same on the block,” quoting Swift’s song “Wish List.” (Jason already shares four daughters with his wife, Kylie Kelce.)

“There you go,” Travis quipped, laughing off Jason’s Easter egg. “I’ll add it to my wish list.”

“Wish List,” stylized with dollar signs in place of the letter “s,” is one of the songs written about Travis on Swift’s 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl.

“I just want you, huh / Have a couple kids, got the whole block lookin’ like you / We tell the world to leave us the f*** alone, and they do,” Swift sings in the chorus. “Got me dreamin’ ’bout a driveway with a basketball hoop / Boss up, settle down, got a wish.”

According to the pop star, the song is her favorite track from the record.

“It was the song where after we finished it, I was like, ‘Oh, we’re done. Like, we’re good. We’re done with this. This is the final piece,’” Swift said on the U.K.’s Heart Radio in October 2025. “It’s a really dreamy song. It’s a really romantic song.”

She continued, “It details all these different things that people aspire to have in their lives and all the wishes that people are making all over the world.”

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After listing a variety of wishes, Swift shares her dreams for her life with Travis.

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While the Kelce family has largely declined to share specific details about Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift‘s wedding, a few family members have shared some insight into the famous couple’s upcoming nuptials. From Jason and Kylie Kelce to mother Donna Kelce, every member of the tight-knit family has been peppered with questions about the couple’s […]

“It is one of my favorite songs on the album, by far. It’s so romantic,” Swift said in an Apple Music description of the song. “It’s got such great imagery in the verses about what kinds of lives people want and just, kind of, living in this state of acceptance of whatever way anybody wants to live in the world as long as you get to live the way you want to live. It was just a blast, as a lyricist, to come up with the pictures of different lives people want. Different goals, different wishes.”

Swift and Travis have been together since 2023, and they are reportedly set to tie the knot later this summer.

By Jennifer Asencio
| Updated 34 seconds ago

Supergirl is coming out in theaters on June 26, 2026, and audiences are underwhelmed. However, according to star Milly Alcock and a lot of slop eaters looking forward to the movie, if it flops at the box office, it is definitely not because the plot bears a striking semblance to Guardians of the Galaxy (as I called it when the first trailer came out) and not because of lackluster acting or oversaturated special effects. If Supergirl doesn’t perform at the box office, it is clearly because audiences are not ready for a female-led action film, much less a superhero movie. At least, according to its star.

This comment bears a striking resemblance to one made by actress Jennifer Lawrence after starring in The Hunger Games, in which she insisted that she was the first female action hero. Both Lawrence and Alcock were rightfully called out for such ridiculous statements, because not only did female heroes and superheroes exist well before either The Hunger Games or Supergirl, but many of them are iconic.

Did all the Supergirl shills that are backing Alcock’s assertion forget about Princess Leia, the original American action hero? Did they forget about Ellen Ripley or Sarah Connor, two badass science fiction heroines who faced overwhelming odds to fight relentless villains who wouldn’t stop until they had killed the two women? Did they forget about video game superstar Lara Croft, intelligent and elegant as she parkours through ancient archaeological sites? Did they forget that Samus of Metroid WAS A GIRL, as the game incredulously exclaims after the big reveal?

There are also more recent examples of female-led success in action and superhero movies. Wonder Woman performed well in theaters, although its sequel wasn’t as good. In the same manner, Fury Road also took home box office bank, but the prequel Furiosa also didn’t land as well with audiences. However, the first movies in these sequences did extremely well and relied specifically on Gal Gadot and Charlize Theron rather than their male co-stars to both propel the plot and serve as the main characters. Theron repeated her Fury Road success with Netflix’s The Old Guard, which was extremely popular upon its release, while its sequel flopped compared to the original.

Another element to the debate raised by comments about misogyny over Supergirl is what would become of heroines like Ellen Ripley or Sarah Connor if their films had been made today instead of the 1970s and 80s. Ripley and Connor are not unbelievably overpowering: Ripley needs her dock training to use heavy equipment to defeat the Xenomorph, while Sarah Connor goes from damsel in distress to rebel badass after 14 years of jaded training that loses her the most important thing in her life. Even Ripley’s Marine colleague in Aliens, Vasquez, wasn’t an unrealistic female character, despite being so masculine in appearance and demeanor that another Marine calls her out as a man.

These days, these women would have no vulnerabilities, no PTSD from past experiences, and no mistakes to ever learn from. All the men around them would be either incompetent buffoons or evil supervillains. Female characters today are often very powerful or strong, able to perform all the same feats as the men around them. In essence, they are simply male characters in female bodies. And sure, Supergirl is supposed to be phenomenally strong, but Milly Alcock not only asserted that Supergirl is stronger than her male cousin, but that he’d let her win because she’s a girl.

Wonder Woman was likewise super-strong in her movie, with a prancing optimism that ill-prepared her for failure and loss. Audiences weren’t bothered that Wonder Woman was far stronger than Steve Trevor (Chris Pine), because she was not a “Mary Sue,” that is, a charmed and perfect person for whom there is no conflict and everything goes right. Characters like that are flat, boring, and rightly called out when they appear in fanfiction and fiction. Many female characters today would be considered Mary Sues, except that these characters have become the norm, and their lack of any real flaws is overlooked by producers and slop-eating audiences.

The reaction to Supergirl is evidence that audiences are getting tired of Mary Sue characters, and this iteration of Kara Zor-El seems to be exactly that. The fact that Milly Alcock is preemptively deflecting this criticism by accusing the movie’s critics of misogyny follows the pattern of other fandoms that have blamed the fans for the failure of a property. We saw it with The Acolyte, we saw it with Doctor Who, and most recently, we saw it with Starfleet Academy. Even last year’s Superman release wasn’t exempt from people who disliked the movie being called bigots by the people who did.

And just like with the other fandoms, the accusations of misogyny against female-led action and superhero films are not only baseless but have a lot of history rebutting them. It is yet another example of filmmakers trying to escape accountability for making a bad film by blaming fans for “toxic” behavior when they won’t accept subpar storytelling in lieu of a product that does justice to their fandom. The fact that Supergirl hadn’t even been released yet before the blame game began doesn’t bode well for this movie being any good, and this time, even its promoters know it.

Supergirl is in theaters as of June 26, 2026. Is she really the Woman of Tomorrow, or just “whatever”?

Days of Our Lives prediction edition that covers July Sweeps, which runs from June 25th to July 20th, including Cat Greene (AnnaLynne McCord) making a shocking confession about her side job. And we may see Lexie Carver (Renée Jones) succumb to her symptoms and dying again.

We have got predictions for EJ DiMera (Dan Feuerriegel), Sarah Horton (Linsey Godfrey), Lexie, Sydney DiMera (Olivia Rose Keegan),Cat, Chad DiMera (Connor Floyd), Roman Brady (Josh Taylor), Marlena Evans (Deidre Hall), Joy Wesley (AlexAnn Hopkins), Alex Kiriakis (Robert Scott Wilson), for Chanel Dupree (Raven Bowens) and Johnny DiMera (Carson Boatman). We’re going to talk about what we could see during the four weeks of sweeps in Salem.

Days of Our Lives: EJ Fires Sarah Over DiMera Enterprises Pharmaceuticals Investigation

Our very first prediction, EJ fires Sarah for investigating DiMera Enterprises Pharmaceuticals. Summer spoilers confirm that EJ fires Sarah with the explanation that he doesn’t need her help. Not a lot of context except that Holly Jonas (Ashley Puzemis) and she does have some pill drama already starting.

So, I suspect EJ is using that as some sort of cover because Sarah has both Brady Black (Eric Martsolf) and Xander Cook Kiriakis (Paul Telfer) poking into DiMera Enterprises Pharmaceuticals. And we know EJ doesn’t like people meddling in his business, especially his dirty dealings.

The suspicious deaths of Clea and Destiny Rowland (Sarah Bartholomew) have Sarah and Brady investigating DiMera Enterprises Pharmaceuticals. And although Brady doesn’t like it, Xander is also helping. And this week, Rita gives EJ a heads up that there may be trouble. And it looks like there was a bad batch of pills that had arsenic in them and they wound up buried out near the Horton cabin because it’s very hard to get rid of arsenic because it’s really hard to destroy.

There’s only certain ways to do it and all those ways are registered. So, even worse, EJ’s son, Johnny, co-CEO of DiMera Enterprises, has also joined in the deep dive into the tainted pill mystery, and firing Sarah isn’t going to stop the investigation, and it might actually make it worse.

Lexie’s Final Chapter on DOOL

Our second prediction, Lexie dies again. The big summer promo has Lexie in the hospital with Abe Carver (James Reynolds) and Theo Carver (Tyler Joseph Andrews) at her side, and Abe is raging at EJ to get out. That’s when he comes to see his beloved sister. So, I suspect during July sweeps, we see Lexie’s health taking a serious downturn. She might even die during sweeps. Dr. Wilhelm Rolf (Richard Wharton) ran some tests. He gave Lexie another dose of the miracle serum.

But it may not be enough of a miracle. Actress Nikki Crawford’s run on Days may be coming to an end. Theo, Abe, and Lexie will all be devastated that her new lease on life gets cancelled. And EJ’s distraught, too. I’m guessing Dr. Rolf will want to freeze her again in a cryogenic pod to try another time to bring her back, but I bet Lexie is going to say no to that.

Days of Our Lives: Sydney’s Return and Danger

Our third prediction, Sydney returns to Salem and her life is at risk. We’ve heard EJ saying that Sydney is coming to see him once school is out in Italy. So that means any day now we could have EJ and Sami Brady’s (Alison Sweeney) daughter Sydney arriving in Salem to shake things up for the teen and college-age scene.

Her brother Johnny will be thrilled to see her and so will the other DiMeras. Plus, Sydney’s sneaky aunt Kristen DiMera (Stacy Haiduk) recently called her out of the blue. And she may have been asking Sydney to spy on her dad for her. Or Kristen might try and kill her like she did with Johnny. Or Kristen might kidnap her to hold her as leverage against EJ.

Days of Our Lives: Cat’s Shocking Confession to Chad

Our fourth prediction. Cat tells Chad she’s a spy this summer. In the promo, Cat faces an enraged Chad who’s furious she held back on him, but it seems to be about her role as EJ’s assistant and maybe access to info on his brother’s sins. We know Cat’s been spying on EJ for the ISA for a while, and Andrew Donovan (Colton Little) just told her not to honeypot EJ, but Cat hasn’t listened. And Andrew flat out said, “Cat better not sleep with EJ.” And we know that Cat’s putting her life in danger playing with EJ like this. We know that the DiMera that Cat really wants is Chad.

And when he confronts Cat in Horton Square this summer, ranting about covering up and hiding things, I suspect she might confide in Chad that she’s an ISA agent, but swears him to secrecy. I actually think he would keep Cat’s promise and Chad might be okay with Cat investigating EJ once she tells Chad some of the heinous things that EJ’s been up to, especially if people are dying and he is covering it up.

Roman’s Heart Returns to Marlena on DOOL

Our fifth prediction, Roman splits with Kate Roberts (Lauren Koslow) and pursues Marlena. We saw Roman Brady livid and raging that Kate lied to him and was setting up his grandson Johnny with the plagiarized book lawsuit. And right now, Roman is actually so mad that he and Kate are sleeping in separate beds. And she’s angry that Roman’s leaning on his ex-wife, Marlena.

You know, when John Black (Drake Hogestyn) was alive, Kate wasn’t threatened by Roman and Marlena’s ongoing friendship. But with John gone a year now, Kate has to realize there’s a legit threat there. Roman and Marlena have a past. They have twins together. And Roman’s angry at Kate for betraying his family. So, Kate’s feeling vulnerable right now and she could do something else stupid that pushes Roman towards Marlena. The other day when Julie Williams (Susan Seaforth Hayes) and Marlena were talking, she encouraged Julie to open her heart and said Doug Williams (Bill Hayes) would want Julie to be happy. And the same could be said about John where Marlena is concerned.

Days of Our Lives: Kelsey’s Medical Crisis Brings Joy and Alex Closer

Our sixth prediction, Kelsey’s medical emergency brings Joy and Alex closer. The summer promo has Alex and Joy in the hospital and he’s worried and Alex asks Joy, “Where’s Kelsey?” And then Joy falls into Alex’s arms for comfort. So, there’s already tension in his marriage because Stephanie Johnson (Abigail Klein) took a pot shot at Joy. Luckily, she missed and now Joy won’t let Stephanie around Kelsey, which means Alex will be spending time with Joy alone so that he can see Kelsey.

So, it looks like Alex’s daughter is going to have some kind of health scare, and that crisis could pull Joy and Alex closer together. Close enough maybe to drive Stephanie away. You remember how exes Sarah and Xander were bonding when their daughter had pneumonia? It could be something like that. We know Joy came to Salem hoping to steal Alex from Stephanie and planning to use the baby to make it happen. However, if Kelsey is sick, I don’t think Joy’s agenda will be foremost on her mind. But it could work out that way anyway on Days of our Lives.

Chanel’s High-Risk Pregnancy Takes a Turn on Days

Our seventh and final prediction. Chanel and Johnny’s baby comes premature, and Chanel and the baby may both be at risk. The summer promo shows her in a hospital bed, and Kayla Johnson (Mary Beth Evans) is checking her out. Chanel’s bleeding and terrified as Kayla rushes everybody else out of the room.

Chanel just got her port installed to start her chemo while pregnant. And both early labor and hemorrhages are known complications of chemotherapy during pregnancy. So we know for sure that Chanel’s going to be bleeding and she may go into early labor as well. Johnny and Chanel knew from the start that this was going to be a high-risk pregnancy.

But her breast cancer diagnosis and treatment is going to amp up the risk. Thankfully, Chanel and Johnny have a lot of support and they have little Tate Black (Leo Howard) to keep their mind off the unknown. But given the glimpse from the promo, their new little one could be born premature, which brings complications. And the hemorrhage, the chemo, the cancer, and the pre-term labor could all put Chanel at risk for complications, too.

Real Housewives of Rhode Island star Kelsey Swanson is setting the record straight on rumors that she was an escort.

“I’ve never sold any of my holes for money,” Kelsey, 31, told Andy Cohen in Us Weekly’s exclusive clip from the second part of the RHORI reunion, set to air on Sunday, June 28. “Let’s just get that straight.”

Her “interesting” choice — as pointed out by costar Rosie DiMare — was in response to a rumor written in by a viewer, claiming that Kelsey would “charge $29K for dinner and dessert.”

Kelsey claimed she has “proof” that she was “harassed by somebody” who made it look like she was an escort. (Kelsey previously denied these rumors in an April Instagram comment.)

“Stealing my photos, making fake pages of me,” Kelsey explained, noting that she has “no idea” who was doing this to her.

“All of a sudden it stopped,” she clarified. “I know it was some, I think, actual escort in Boston, who was hanging around the same crew of people that I was hanging out with.”

Andy, 58, didn’t want to “float conspiracy theories” but he couldn’t help wondering if it was someone connected to Kelsey’s ex-boyfriend who wanted to “mess” with her.

“I don’t think so,” she responded. “But I’ve never been an escort and I would never be an escort.”

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Kelsey’s relationship with her ex-boyfriend was a story line on the show during the early episodes of RHORI. While he didn’t appear on the Bravo series, their 10-year relationship was discussed at length when it was revealed that five months out of the year he lived with another woman in Florida.

“My relationship is very unorthodox. This man dates multiple people,” Kelsey told Us exclusively in April. “For the first half of the year, my boyfriend is in Miami. When he’s in Miami, he’s with somebody else.”

She made it clear to Us that she’s not a “sugar baby,” despite rumors saying otherwise.

“I am not a sugar baby. Nothing close to it,” she said. “The only man I ever dated with money [is] my boyfriend.”

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Kelsey and the unnamed man have since split and Kelsey is in a relationship with William “Bill” L’Europa, who appeared on the show.

“I’m only in one relationship now,” she told Us. “You’ll see as the season progresses where that goes, but I am in a relationship. [I have a] boyfriend, I will label it that, but not married, and no kids.”

Part 2 of The Real Housewives of Rhode Island reunion premiere via Bravo on Sunday, June 28, at 9 p.m. ET and will stream via Peacock the next day.