By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 1 hour ago

X-Men ‘97 remains the best Marvel show ever made, and Season 2 has managed to maintain the show’s impossibly high standard of quality. There are many ingredients to this cartoon’s success, including jaw-dropping animation and writing that perfectly weaves together over half a century of tangled lore. Bringing everything together is a killer voice cast that brings all of these colorful characters to life. In addition to the regular cast (all of whom are pitch-perfect), the show has also brought in consistently great voice actors. This includes Obsession’s Michael Johnston as the voice of young Apocalypse.

When Apocalypse (then going by En Sabah Nur) was just a boy, he and his people were enslaved by Rama-Tut. The most recent episode ofX-Men ‘97 (“The Rise of Apocalypse, Part II”) was a big one for Rama-Tut, confirming that he is secretly Kang, a time-traveling tyrant who threatens the past, present, and future. The episode also had a scene where this villain had a heart-to-heart with Charles Xavier. It’s a great scene, but what most fans don’t realize is that it was also a secret Star Trek homage. You see, Rama-Tut is voiced by Trek villain John de Lancie, and he verbally spars with a character once played by Patrick Stewart!

Playing A Godlike Cosmic Villain (Again) 

In the fourth episode of X-Men ‘97 Season 2, the team members stuck in the past are playing a dangerous game with the future. At Magneto’s insistence, they are trying to instill Xavier’s values in the young Apocalypse, hoping that he won’t grow up to be such a dangerous tyrant. Unfortunately, they just push the mutant into embracing evil, which is made easier when he discovers Ship, a spaceship of unimaginable power. With it, he attacks Rama-Tut and his people. However, Rama-Tut makes his escape, but not before having a psychic discussion with Xavier about Apocalypse.

During the discussion, Rama-Tut proposes a devil’s bargain, asking for Xavier’s help getting into a Celestial temple so that he can stop Apocalypse. Xavier resists, both because he supports reforming Apocalypse and is rightfully hesitant to give the villain so much raw power. Eventually, the argument is rendered moot: Apocalypse breaks bad and gains access to the temple, which is actually the aforementioned spaceship. Moot or not, though, their conversation is fascinating for fans of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Why is that? Simple: it’s basically a bonus argument between the cosmic villain, Q, and his longtime nemesis, Jean-Luc Picard!

The Trial Never Ended, Jean-Luc

In Star Trek: The Next Generation, John de Lancie voiced Q, a villain with godlike powers who becomes fixated on Patrick Stewart’s Captain Picard. Notably, X-Men ‘97 has de Lancie voicing Rama-Tut, which is already pretty funny: after all, this time-hopping villain is pretty godlike himself, especially to the residents of Ancient Egypt. While he doesn’t voice the mutant leader in the show, Stewart notably plays Charles Xavier in the live-action X-Men films. Because of this, it’s basically impossible to watch Xavier and Rama-Tut bicker in X-Men ‘97 without remembering the many, many spirited fights between Q and Picard.

One reason for this is that, in-between supervillain speechifying, Rama-Tut finds the time to fire off sarcastic, Q-like retorts. When Xavier accuses the villain of wanting the technology of the Celestial temple for himself, Rama-Tut replies, “A+, Charles! I see the mind of the professor lives up to the legend.” In Trek, Q was a lot like this version of Rama-Tut, oscillating between deadly seriousness and hilarious snark. We get another glimpse of the sarcasm when he retreats from this time period, telling his second-in-command that Apocalypse could only be defeated by “something eXternal.” When she asks what he means, he laughs that “only time will tell” as he puffs off to the future.

Rama-Tut doesn’t take up much screen time in X-Men ‘97. In fact, Kang (who reveals himself right before leaving) gets out of this hit series much, much quicker than Jonathan Majors’ Kang left the MCU. Realistically, we likely won’t hear John de Lancie on this show for a long time, if ever. However, fans will always be able to cherish “The Rise of Apocalypse, Part II” for giving us one last spat between Q and Jean-Luc Picard. That makes this the second best X-Men/Star Trek crossover, right behind Planet X. Trust me: when Q asked Worf if he’d eaten any good books lately, the Klingon was never in danger of naming that piece of targ sh*t!  

The 78th Emmy Awards recently announced its list of nominees, sparking the usual discussion about which shows deserved their nominations and which were snubbed. One of the most surprising snubs concerns breakout hit Heated Rivalry, which didn’t place in any category. It’s a genuine surprise, given how Heated Rivalry took the world by storm when it premiered last year. It remains one of HBO Max’s most-watched series, not to mention that it rivals KPop Demon Hunters for 2025’s pop culture breakout hit. So why didn’t it receive any nominations?

The answer is surprisingly simple, and a technical one. Per the Emmys’ rules and procedures, a television series from another country cannot be nominated for awards unless it is financially and creatively coproduced for U.S. television. While Heated Rivalry might have grown in popularity thanks to HBO Max, it was originally created for the Canadian streaming service Crave. It’s a sharp contrast to Netflix’s adaptation of Lord of the Flies, which was produced by a British company that’s owned by Sony Pictures Television. Heated Rivalry‘s production also takes place in Canada, meaning it wasn’t going to be nominated for any Emmys. Fans shouldn’t fret, as Heated Rivalry is up for other awards.

‘Heated Rivalry’ Has Already Won Awards & Could Potentially Win More

Image via Crave

While Heated Rivalry might not be in the running for any Emmy Awards, that doesn’t mean it’s ineligible for other competitions or that it hasn’t won any awards. Earlier this year, the series swept the 2026 Canadian Screen Awards, taking home a whopping 16 awards. It also won an award for Outstanding New TV Series at the 37th Annual GLAAD Media Award; considering that the GLAAD Awards spotlight LGBTQ+ media, it’s a colossal win for Heated Rivalry. It’s pretty clear that the lack of Emmy nominations isn’t an issue for Heated Rivalry, especially since it’s cleaning house in other competitions.

The surge of international awards that Heated Rivalry‘s winning is a reminder that the Emmys aren’t the end-all, be-all for a television show. The Critics’ Choice Television Awards often put the spotlight on TV shows that media critics love, and of course, there’s always the Golden Globes. In addition, Heated Rivalry has a chance to compete in the International Emmys later this year, where it will face off against Hulu’s breakout series Rivals for Best Drama Series. If Heated Rivalry continues to dominate the awards circuit outside the Emmys, it could attract more viewers, which bodes well, as it’s been renewed for a second season.

A ‘Heated Rivalry’ Star Has an Emmy Nomination for a Different Series

In an ironic twist, one of Heated Rivalry‘s stars has actually been nominated for an Emmy, but for an entirely different show. Connor Storrie, who portrays Russian hockey player Ilya Rozanov, received a nomination for Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for his special guest appearance on Saturday Night Live in February. Storrie proved he had incredible comedic chops during the episode, even reuniting with his Heated Rivalry co-star, Hudson Williams, in a hilarious sketch parodying the show. He also discussed his nomination with The Hollywood Reporter and how hosting SNL was a dream come true, given his love for the long-running comedy show.

“SNL was such a ‘pinch me’ moment in my career. It was a formative part of my life growing up, so to be recognized by the Academy for hosting feels incredibly surreal. I’m so grateful to everyone who made that night possible.”

Storrie is up against some stiff competition, as the Guest Actor in a Comedy Series category includes nominations for Michael J. Fox‘s role in Shrinking and the late Rob Reiner in the final season of The Bear. Still, his nomination means Heated Rivalry willhave some representation at the Emmys, even if the show itself isn’t nominated. Much like a match between Ilya and Shane, Heated Rivalryisn’t backing down during awards season.

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Release Date

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November 28, 2025

Network

Crave

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Directors

Jacob Tierney

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Cast

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  Connor Storrie

  Ilya Rozanov

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  Hudson Williams

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  Shane Hollander

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Roomies, when it comes to navigating love in the public eye, some lessons come from experience—and Tristan Thompson is speaking from a place of knowing what it feels like to have personal matters become headline material. The NBA star recently weighed in on the ongoing conversation surrounding Klay Thompson and Megan Thee Stallion’s highly discussed split, offering his thoughts on how he believes athletes should handle relationship drama once it reaches the internet.

RELATED: Oop! Social Media Users Are Mentioning Klay Thompson While Droppin’ Mixed Reactions To Megan Thee Stallion’s Latest Song Snippet (VIDEO)

Tristan Thompson Shares His Two Cents On Klay’s Drama

During his appearance on Club Shay Shay with Shannon Sharpe, Tristan Thompson was asked about Klay’s situation following Megan’s public comments about their breakup. He explained that, in his opinion, responding publicly or trying to defend yourself can sometimes keep the conversation alive longer. Tristan advised that when someone shares their side, the best move may be to stay quiet rather than add more fuel to the situation.

“If you speak up, you give it more legs,” Tristan said during the interview, adding that responding creates another opportunity for the public to continue discussing the situation. He also reflected on his own experiences with public relationship controversies, saying he believes men should avoid going back and forth publicly when personal issues are involved. “You allow them to take another day to talk about it. If she wants to say something, let her do whatever she wants to do. As a man, keep your mouth quiet. Because I’ve never went out there and defended myself because it’s just not what we do,” he shared.

The Timeline Had Mixed Feelings About Tristan

The internet wasted no time heading to Club Shay Shay’s YouTube comment section to sound off on Tristan Thompson’s advice. While some questioned whether Tristan was the right person to hand out relationship tips, others gave him credit for knowing how to handle a media moment. Meanwhile, plenty of commenters said Klay Thompson’ had everybody fooled when it came to him and Meg.

One Youtube user @JoseGuzman-ne3pk said, “Klay is no Russell Wilson 😂”

This Youtube user @michaelj.r.5301 added, “Message to Klay: You had us in the first half.. Ngl“

And, Youtube user @Tobee-t3p wrote, “Hey Tristan good at this 😅”

Meanwhile, Youtube user @rebekahharris8713 commented, “You can tell he has had great media training lol“

While Youtube user @cherryboom724 joked, “Tristan should be the last person to give relationship advice 😂😂”

Lastly, Youtube user @mom4life513 shared, “Don’t give advice bro“

Remember When Meg Shared Her Side Of The Split?

The conversation comes months after Megan Thee Stallion previously spoke out about her split from Klay Thompson, claiming she felt blindsided after their relationship reached a more serious stage. The Houston rapper also alleged that Klay changed his perspective on commitment and cheated. Meanwhile, conversations online continued surrounding the breakup and reports about what may have happened behind the scenes. Klay has largely stayed out of the public back-and-forth surrounding the situation.

RELATED: Over It? Megan Thee Stallion Seemingly Addresses Klay Thompson Split In NEW Song As Fans Decode Lyrics (PHOTO)

With just days to go before its theatrical release, the review embargo for Evil Dead Burn has officially lifted and while not every critic is completely sold, the latest chapter in the legendary horror franchise is already earning praise for delivering exactly what longtime fans have been craving: relentless gore, inventive kills, and an unapologetically brutal return to Deadite terror.

Directed by Sébastien Vaniček, the filmmaker behind the acclaimed horror thriller Infested, Evil Dead Burn follows a grieving widow who seeks comfort with her late husband’s family, only to find herself trapped in a nightmare as demonic forces begin possessing those around her. The film stars Souheila Yacoub, Hunter Doohan, Luciane Buchanan, and Tandi Wright, while franchise creators Sam Raimi and Robert Tapert return as producers.

Many of the first reviews have praised Vaniček’s fresh vision for the franchise, with critics highlighting the film’s intense practical effects, creative set pieces, and emotionally grounded story. Several reviewers have even suggested Evil Dead Burn may be the most violent installment the series has ever produced.

Evil Dead Burn [credit: Warner Bros.]

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Not every review has been glowing, however. While some critics applauded the film’s willingness to push the boundaries of horror, others argued that its relentless brutality occasionally comes at the expense of the dark humor and charm that helped define earlier entries in the franchise.

One of the film’s stars, Hunter Doohan, recently spoke about the demanding production, revealing that some of the movie’s elaborate action and horror sequences required days of filming and extensive rehearsals.

“How the f— are we going to do this?”

Doohan recalled thinking while preparing for one of the film’s most ambitious set pieces.

Doohan also revealed that he watched every previous Evil Dead film before production began to fully immerse himself in the franchise’s mythology, saying the experience turned him into an even bigger fan.

Ahead of production, Vaniček also shared that Bruce Campbell had one major request for the new installment: respect what made Evil Dead special while still bringing something new to the table. According to the director, Campbell encouraged him to stay true to the franchise’s DNA without simply recreating what had come before.

Whether Evil Dead Burn ultimately ranks among the franchise’s very best remains to be seen, but the early consensus suggests horror fans are in for one of the year’s most intense theatrical experiences. With praise for its practical effects, gruesome kills, and uncompromising vision, the latest chapter appears ready to continue the franchise’s reputation as one of horror’s bloodiest and most enduring series when it opens in theaters on July 10.

Rumors surrounding the DC Universe’s next Batman have exploded across social media, with multiple insiders claiming that Tom Brittney has been cast as the Dark Knight for DC Studios’ upcoming The Brave and the Bold.

While nothing has been officially confirmed by James Gunn, the speculation gained momentum after well-known scooper MyTimeToShineHello simply posted, “It’s true, it’s Tom,” leading fans to connect the dots to Brittney. Several entertainment outlets have since echoed the rumor, although none have been able to verify it through DC Studios.

For fans unfamiliar with Brittney, the English actor is best known for his starring role in Grantchester. He was also reportedly one of the finalists to play Superman before David Corenswet ultimately landed the role, making him someone already familiar to DC Studios during the casting process.

Interestingly, James Gunn previously praised Brittney’s acting ability after seeing fan artwork imagining him as Batman, calling him “a great actor.” While that comment fueled fan speculation, Gunn has repeatedly stated that DC Studios will not officially cast Batman until the script for The Brave and the Bold is where they want it to be.

At this point, it’s important to stress that this remains nothing more than a rumor. DC Studios has not announced its Batman, and neither Gunn nor co-head Peter Safran has confirmed Brittney’s involvement in the DCU.

Still, if the reports prove accurate, Brittney would become the first actor to portray the DCU’s version of Bruce Wayne, separate from Robert Pattinson’s Batman, who continues to headline Matt Reeves’ standalone Elseworlds franchise.

Until an official announcement arrives, fans should treat the reports with caution. However, the growing buzz has certainly made Tom Brittney one of the most talked-about names in the race to wear the cape and cowl.

The years-long legal saga between Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively stemming from their 2024 movie, “It Ends With Us,” mostly concluded in early May 2026, with her remaining claims against him being settled. Now, several weeks later, the filmmaker and his wife, Emily Baldoni, have broken their silence, calling the ordeal an injustice.

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The Baldonis took to Instagram on July 8 to post a joint video. The two can be seen sitting outside, seemingly on a porch or patio, as they address the Lively lawsuit, in which he countersued for $400 million before his claims were dismissed in July 2025.

The “It Ends With Us” director began by saying, “So, we have not spoken publicly for the better part of the last two years, and it’s not because we haven’t had anything to say, because lord knows we have.”

He went on to say that he and Emily had attempted to make videos in the past to address the situation, but “it just didn’t feel like the right time.”

She then said, “And this feels like the moment.” From there, Emily stated that they feel “immense gratitude” for “so many things and so many people and so many things that have happened to us.” According to Justin, “Gratitude has saved us.”

The Couple Called The Lawsuit An ‘Injustice’

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Emily continued their shared statement by saying that the gratitude does not “negate the injustice and the pain that we have also felt in the last few years.” She went on to discuss how the lawsuit has impacted their lives, saying they’ve been forced to “wrestle with so many things.”

From there, she shared that they questioned, “How could something like this even happen?” Adding, “Let alone disguised as a fight for women.” After that, Emily stated that she and her family have “a lot of trauma” as a result of the years-long legal fight.

Justin chimed in, saying, “We don’t even know if this is the right thing to say. We just know we need to share something. What I will say is that there have been so many painful things that have been spoken into existence over the last couple of years. That created so much noise, and we didn’t want to add to the noise. So we just wanted to let the justice system run its course.”

Emily went on to note that “the truth and the facts have spoken for themselves,” alluding to the settlement, which his legal team considered a victory. Regarding an update, the couple stated that they are “healing.”

They also shared that they have learned that it’s their family, friends, and faith that matter after questioning “what’s real.” Justin added that they were “more steadfast” in their faith.

The Couple Thanked People Who Stood By Them

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Toward the end of the video, Justin and Emily addressed those from the public who supported them throughout the legal ordeal. According to him, “there were so many of you who, when we didn’t have a voice, were our voice.”

He then said that Emily “had a prayer in the very beginning”: she hoped that “people would have discernment.” Justin continued, “And so many of you had discernment, and you used your intuition, and you trusted that.”

The filmmaker also noted that people had “given their time to fight for us,” saying, “and ‘thank you’ does not feel like enough.”

Closer to the end, Emily remarked, “And there’s so much more to say and that time will come.”

Blake Lively’s Final Claims Were Settled Ahead Of The Planned Trial

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The much-talked-about trial between Baldoni and Lively was set to begin on May 18 in New York after being delayed from March. However, instead of going to court, they reached a settlement earlier in the month.

Notably, the judge in the case had previously dismissed 10 out of 13 of Lively’s civil claims related to the alleged sexual harassment on the set of “It Ends With Us.” Per Variety, only three claims remained: retaliation, aiding and abetting retaliation, and breach of contract.

Blake And Justin Released A Joint Statement

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Following the settlement of the lawsuit, Baldoni and Lively issued a prepared statement. They said, “The end product – the movie ‘It Ends With Us’ – is a source of pride to all of us who worked to bring it to life. Raising awareness, and making a meaningful impact in the lives of domestic violence survivors – and all survivors – is a goal that we stand behind.”

It continued, “We acknowledge the process presented challenges and recognize concerns raised by Ms. Lively deserved to be heard. We remain firmly committed to workplaces free of improprieties and unproductive environments.”

After that, their joint statement called for all involved parties to “move forward constructively and in peace.” However, since then, Lively has requested $8 million from Baldoni for legal fees.