Tom Hanks created an unexpected viral moment during the ceremonial opening of the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago when a brief exchange with a television reporter quickly turned into one of the event’s most talked-about moments.

The Oscar-winning actor’s playful but pointed remark sparked laughter, criticism, and a flood of online reactions, putting the spotlight on a media network’s struggles and Hanks’ trademark wit.

The unexpected exchange unfolded shortly after Tom Hanks arrived at the opening ceremony on Thursday.

MS NOW Senior National and Political Correspondent Jacob Soboroff was livestreaming from the event when he approached the actor in hopes of securing a quick interview.

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“Great to see you,” Soboroff said while trying to get Hanks’ attention.

Initially occupied, Hanks eventually turned toward the reporter after some persistence. Rather than answering questions immediately, he opened with a remark that caught everyone off guard.

“What can I do for the 800 people watching MS NOW?” Hanks joked.

The comment appeared to reference the network’s declining television audience and immediately changed the tone of the interaction.

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Soboroff responded with a smile and reminded the actor, “Oh, come on. We’re live on MS NOW.”

Tom Hanks And The Reporter Trade Playful Barbs

The exchange didn’t end there. After Soboroff pushed back, Hanks fired off another quip.

“All right – add a zero to it,” he replied in a deadpan manner.

The reporter quickly countered by saying, “I would say millions now that you’re on our air.”

At that point, Hanks appeared ready to move on from the joke.

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“All right. All right,” he said before answering questions about the event itself.

The moment lasted only seconds, but it was enough to capture the internet’s attention. Clips of the interaction quickly spread across social media platform X, generating hundreds of thousands of views within hours.

For many viewers, the brief exchange became more memorable than the event where it occurred.

Online Reactions Split Over The Viral Moment

As the clip circulated online, reactions came from every direction.

Some viewers found the actor’s comments hilarious and praised his sense of humor. Others felt the joke crossed a line and criticized the actor for taking a swipe at the network during a live broadcast.

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One social media user wrote, “Asking Tom Hanks for a comment these days is like a box of chocolates….you never know what you’re gonna get.”

Not everyone was amused. “Pretty arrogant, Tom. Not a great look,” another commenter posted.

A third critic added, “Hanks was always a whiny, immature and twisted liberal.”

Supporters were equally vocal. “Tom immediately with a banger,” one fan wrote.

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Another user commented, “He goofy with those jokes,” while someone else praised the interaction altogether, saying, “The entire interview was awesome.”

The Network Behind The Joke

The joke landed against the backdrop of real challenges facing traditional cable television.

Like many linear television networks, MS NOW has experienced audience declines over the years despite recent efforts to strengthen its position.

According to the Daily Mail, the network currently averages roughly 900,000 viewers, down from averages that exceeded 1.1 million viewers in 2016.

As changing viewing habits and cord-cutting continue reshaping the industry, the network has undergone major changes. It was renamed from MSNBC in November as part of a broader corporate restructuring effort following its separation from Comcast.

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Today, the channel operates under Versant, a media company focused primarily on domestic cable properties. Other networks under its portfolio include CNBC, Golf Channel, E!, Syfy, and Oxygen.

Against that backdrop, Hanks’ quip resonated with many viewers already familiar with the changing television landscape.

Tom Hanks Focuses On ‘Toy Story 5’

Away from the viral controversy, Hanks is preparing for another major career milestone.

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The actor will return as Woody in “Toy Story 5,” which arrives in theaters on June 19.

Speaking with PEOPLE in New York last month, Hanks expressed enthusiasm about returning to one of Pixar’s most beloved franchises.

“Oh my Lord, all I can say is the saga continues,” he said.

The original “Toy Story” debuted in 1995 and became a global phenomenon, launching one of animation’s most successful franchises. More than three decades later, Hanks remains amazed that the journey is continuing.

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“I have seen it. I don’t know how they do it, but it is a vibrant and proper chapter in the Toy Story canon,” he said. “None of us can believe that we’re still a part of it.”

The new film will see Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Jessie, and the rest of the gang facing a modern challenge as technology competes for children’s attention.

Director Andrew Stanton previously explained the central conflict by saying, “In Toy Story 5 the toys’ jobs get exponentially harder when our toy crew goes head to head with what kids are obsessed with today: electronics.”

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The New York Knicks will reportedly become the first NBA champions to visit the White House under Donald Trump‘s presidency.

RELATED: Bing Bong! New York Goes WILD After Knicks’ Historic NBA Finals Win & Even Jordyn Woods’ Purse Is In The Mix (WATCH)

New York Knicks Will Reportedly Become First NBA Champions To Visit White House Under Donald Trump’s Presidency

According to USA Today, James Dolan, the owner of the New York Knicks, accepted an invitation from the president for the team to visit the White House. Per the outlet, Dolan shared his acceptance on Wednesday, June 17, while appearing on WFAN New York.

“… We just did receive an invitation from the White House, which we accepted. We still have to figure out the details, et cetera, but yes, of course. Look, I invited the president to come down for the game. He is a friend. I’ve known him for 30 years, and I’m very proud to bring the team to the White House,” Dolan explained.

James Dolan confirms the Knicks have been invited to the White House and have accepted:@craigcartonlive @CMacWFAN pic.twitter.com/kemKQZJhf9

— WFAN Sports Radio (@WFAN660) June 17, 2026

Per the outlet, the previous five teams that have won NBA championships during Trump’s presidency have declined invitations to the White House. Fox News adds that the date of the Knicks’ trips remains to be finalized, along with how many players will attend.

Social Media Reacts To The Team Being The First NBA Champions To Reportedly Visit White House During Donald Trump’s Presidency

Social media users reacted to the New York Knicks’ upcoming trip to the White House in TSR’s comment section.

The New York Knicks’ Parade & French Montana Gives Back

According to abc7NY, the Knicks’ celebration parade commenced in New York City on Thursday, June 18.  At this time, it’s estimated that more than 1 million people attended, and things concluded with a “Key to the City” ceremony on City Hall Plaza.

In addition to the Knicks having a grand celebration, a taxi cab owner may also be celebrating. According to CBS News, French Montana exclusively shared that he presented Noureddine Bitat with a $75,000 check after New Yorkers swarmed his taxi and smashed his windshield following the Knicks’ championship win.

“I just saw a man trying to feed his family,” French, who reportedly raised the money with YouTuber Zachery Dereniowski and the New York Taxi Workers Alliance, told the outlet.

Per French, Bitat reportedly told him that he no longer wants to drive a taxi. Therefore, the money will go towards assisting him with his living expenses “until he figures out what he wants to do.”

“I asked him, ‘Does he even watch the Knicks?’ He said, ‘I don’t even know what the Knicks is.’ He just happened to be working around the place, and you know, things unfortunately happened to him. He doesn’t deserve it. So we all came together to help,” French stated.

RELATED: Empire State Of Ballin’! Celebrity Reactions Take Over Timelines Following The Knicks’ Championship Win (VIDEOS)

Stars are slaying monochromatic outfits and serving Us with their most matchy-matchy looks.

From Princess Kate always looking chic in a single-color pantsuit to Rihanna pairing a mint green dress with a coordinating shawl in 2019, celebrities have gotten creative with the fabulous fad.

As fashionistas know, monochrome dressing consists of wearing the same shade from head to toe.

Kendall Jenner revived the trend in February 2023 when she was spotted out and about in Los Angeles. The supermodel paired a suede maroon mini dress with opaque matching tights. The elegant frock featured a cowl neckline with a nude lining, gold metal straps and a bodycon fit. To dress up the look even more, the Kardashians star wore a pointed toe pair of heels.

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In September 2024, Ashley Park proved that highlighter yellow is in by wearing a satin blazer and flared pants with a matching top and heels while out and about in New York City.

One of the most timeless single-shade styles was Sofia Richie‘s trendy brown outfit, which she wore while showing off her growing baby bump in December 2025.

We’re taking a look back at the best monochromatic looks of all time.

This interview contains spoilers for I Will Find You.

Sam Worthington has made a name for himself by starring in some of the biggest action films of all time. From playing the lead in the record-breaking Avatar series to appearing in fantasy films like Clash of the Titans and Oscar-winning war epic Hacksaw Ridge, he’s no stranger to intense, thrilling projects. The same can be said for Britt Lower, albeit in a slightly different way, as she’s best known for her Emmy-winning performance in Apple TV’s brilliant and often shocking sci-fi series Severance, though her resume also includes quirky comedies like Man Seeking Woman, Casual, and High Maintenance.

Worthington and Lower’s previous roles have prepared them well for I Will Find You, the newest Harlan Coben mystery to be adapted into a TV series. The show centers around a man named David (Worthington), who has been incarcerated for murdering his young son, Matthew (Ashton Cressman), despite maintaining his innocence. Things get more complicated when his sister-in-law, Rachel (Lower), visits him in prison and shows him a recent photograph of a boy who looks exactly like Matthew. The quest for the truth leads to a prison break, a nationwide manhunt, and several dangerous conspiracies. Who can you trust when it seems like everyone is keeping secrets?

Collider got the opportunity to speak to Worthington and Lower about the project. During the conversation, the duo broke down some of the show’s most complex scenes and relationships, as well as their first encounters with Coben’s work. Lower also discussed the biggest similarities and differences between Rachel and Helly and what drew her to the project.

Sam Worthington and Britt Lower Break Down ‘I Will Find You’s Most Complex Moments and Relationships

“We meet them at this inflection point in this family’s life, and it all starts to get murky in hindsight.”

Image via Netflix

COLLIDER: This whole show is very intense, but one moment that really sticks out to me is the Sophie’s Choice situation that David finds himself in in Episode 6, where Nicky asks him to choose between his father and his son’s life. Sam, how did you prepare for that particular moment?

SAM WORTHINGTON: Yeah, I like that moment. I thought we could push it even more, to be honest with you. I think we did some takes where we pushed it emotionally more, because you’re exactly right, it is a Sophie’s Choice moment. And he actually makes a very crazy choice, to be honest, considering he doesn’t know what’s around the corner. But I thought we could have emotionally pushed it even further. How do you prepare? I don’t know. I play off other actors. If I’m surrounded by great actors, then that’s gonna help me get better. I’m only as good as the person I’m opposite.

Speaking of that, this whole cast is incredible, and there’s this dynamic between Rachel and Hayden that is so interesting and complex. I’m curious for you, Britt, how did you and Milo build this chemistry together, knowing that it was going to take this very dark and twisted turn? Because you really have the audience root for them, but then you also maybe kind of want to foreshadow a little bit of what’s to come. How did you find the balance with him to make that relationship work?

BRITT LOWER: Well, Britt and Milo had a totally instant friendship, because we both have Airstreams, and we immediately bonded over talking about winterizing our trailers. I think our friendship was forged immediately there. The relationship with Hayden and Rachel is one of those unique ones where they’ve remained friends after they’ve broken up, which is a very particular kind of dynamic. I think Rachel, to a certain extent, is unaware how she might have been the one who got away for Hayden. I think playing with how much she was aware or not of that was interesting to me. And then we meet them at this inflection point in this family’s life, and it all starts to get murky in hindsight.

Sam Worthington Loves Playing Action Heroes With Gooey Centers

“It’s all about hard muscle and soft muscle and what that means.”

Image via Netflix

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Sam, you have this amazing range with your acting, but I do feel like you’ve been carving out this niche of action hero guys who have this warm, parental core. I’m curious what you enjoy about roles with that combination. And what did this series allow you to do that you feel like you haven’t really gotten to yet in your career?

WORTHINGTON: I like exploring that hard muscle, soft muscle. I think that’s something that I kind of enjoy. I’ve explored it for a long time now. The people who have this armor, and what they do to hide their true selves and hide their vulnerabilities, in genres like this, you can explore it more with that kind of character. The next chapter of my life, I’ve gotta go and explore something else that’s deep and dark and inside me that I need to kind of get out and figure out, because I think I’m running out. I’m hitting the max.

It’s funny, when you’re in your 20s, you’re cast as the hero. When you’re in your 30s, you’re cast as something else. You’re 40, you have kids, and you’re cast as the fathers, the parental, and the protectors. I’m about to hit that fifth chapter, so who knows where that’s gonna take me?

I mean, you’re so great at it, so I would love for you to keep playing that role as long as possible!

WORTHINGTON: As I said, it’s all about hard muscle and soft muscle and what that means. It’s an exploration of masculinity that maybe I didn’t see in characters in movies when I was growing up. Sometimes, they were very one-dimensional, and I’ve even played characters that are very one-dimensionally heroic. That doesn’t interest me. What interests me is, what are they hiding? What are they protecting? What’s on the outside, and how’s that impacting what’s inside? You’ve always, then, got a conflict going on, regardless of what the outer conflict is.

Britt Lower Talks About the Similarities and Differences Between ‘I Will Find You’ and ‘Severance’

“They have the shared DNA of being dogged on a mission.”

Image: Courtesy of Netflix

Speaking of similarities between characters, Britt, I feel like there’s a scrappiness in this quest for the truth that both Rachel and Helly have. As a Severance fan, I’m so curious, what do you think a conversation between the two of them would look like?

LOWER: Oh, wow. You’re right — they have the shared DNA of being dogged on a mission. I think the thing I was drawn to about Rachel that is different from Helly and the Severance world is that Rachel’s outside. She’s on a very clear, active mission in the real world — on the road — and it’s really rooted in this family system. Obviously, Helly’s family is a whole different kind of surreal scramble, but maybe they talk about their families.

Oh, I like that. I want to see that now.

LOWER: And then they’d go to therapy together.

That would probably be good for both of them, yeah. I’m sure you can’t tell me much about Season 3 of Severance, but I’m curious if you took anything away from filming I Will Find You that you feel like really helped you step back into that world.

LOWER: Hm, I’m not sure. It’s such a fascinating question. I’m very excited to go back and film Season 3 — it’s just such a love of mine. And it was great to do this project that is really different. It’s this propulsive crime drama that keeps you on the edge of your seat and makes you want to click on the next episode, and we worked really hard to make sure it was rooted in the emotionality of these characters, their dynamics together, and the authenticity of two people who have lost everything and are coming to this inflection point in their lives and going on a mission to save Matthew.

Sam Worthington and Britt Lower Reveal How They Discovered Harlan Coben’s Work

“She was the one who said, ‘You gotta talk to the guy.’”

Image: Amanda Matlovich/Netflix

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Harlan Coben is obviously such a major talent in this mystery and thriller genre. I’m curious if you guys remember your first ever exposure to his work.

WORTHINGTON: Mine was Tell No One. I’m friends with [director] Guillaume Canet, so I remember seeing that years ago, not actually understanding that it was Harlan’s work, to be honest. It was only when Harlan brought it back up. And then my wife binges all of them. She was the one who said, “You gotta talk to the guy,” because she loves all the twists and turns, the red herrings, the cliffhangers. She loves all of that.

LOWER: I was certainly aware of Harlan Coben, but I really didn’t get a deep dive until I read the book, and then got to read the pilot and the subsequent episodes next to it. There’s lots for folks who read the novel and watch the series — there’s some subtle differences that were really intentional that I think will be fun for people to discover. Harlan was talking about this earlier. You have to craft different twists and turns for a novel than you do for a series, because it’s a visual medium. I think it’s gonna be really fun for people to watch.

WORTHINGTON: The books are the books. You don’t just recreate the book — the book is a bouncing-off point to recreate the Harlan Coben series. That’s how he looks at it.

I was really struck by the ending to the show, because it feels very satisfying and hopeful, but also grounded in the truth that things are not going to be perfect. There’s going to be some difficult roads ahead for all of them. I’m curious what you think is next for your characters after the final scenes that we see.

LOWER: They’re all gonna go to therapy again. Like I said, everybody needs therapy. [Laughs] But they’re together. I think it’s a really earned quiet moment for the whole family. Matthew’s holding his little sister, and [to Sam] you guys have that beautiful scene on the porch, father and son, where they’re present with each other. And that’s what family is. You move through the hardest of times, and then you put one foot in front of the other, and you have each other’s backs.

I Will Find You is now streaming on Netflix.

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Release Date

June 18, 2026

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Netflix

Showrunner

Robert Hull

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Directors

Adam Davidson, Maggie Kiley, Maja Vrvilo, Brad Anderson

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Writers

Robert Hull, Harlan Coben

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Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce‘s wedding plans remain a favorite topic of discussion, with wedding experts sharing their thoughts.

The famous duo is reportedly set to say their vows on July 3, with Madison Square Garden being the most speculated spot for the ceremony. Now, insiders are shedding more light on their alleged plans.

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce announced their engagement in August 2025 after two years of dating.

According to new reports, insiders claim Swift and Kelce have enlisted a Los Angeles-based celebrity wedding planner for their big day. Mark Seed, who helped actress Jennifer Lawrence plan her 2019 wedding to Cooke Maroney, has reportedly been working on the couple’s ceremony for months.

One source hailed Seed’s skills, declaring he could “build something spectacular out of nothing.” As Madison Square Garden remains the most promising spot for the lovebirds’ wedding, insiders noted it would likely take days for Seed to build a venue for the ceremony, given the size of the location.

Page Six added that MSG has no events on its calendar from June 29 through July 6, giving Seed plenty of time to work his magic. If Swift and Kelce do decide to remodel the venue for their ceremony, wedding experts have shared their thoughts on what the event would look like.

The Singer’s Wedding May Be On The Same Scale As Her Unforgettable Eras Tour

Darren Olarsch, founder of On The Move Entertainment, a production company based in NoMad, weighed in on transforming MSG into the perfect wedding venue. Olarsch explained that the process would cost a pretty penny and likely be on the same scale as Swift’s historic global concert tour, saying:

“It would be an Eras-tour level production… It’s doable, but it is like planning a concert. What might be a $300,000 wedding somewhere else, inside the Garden would be $3 million.”

Olarsch explained that to make MSG feel more “romantic, close and intimate,” Swift and Kelce would need to build overhead structures with drape-style decorations. They would also need to build a wedding venue on the floor, create a mini stage, a dance floor, basically turning the setting into “a venue within a venue.”

The Grammy Winner’s Signature Style May Influence Her Wedding Decorations

New York-based celebrity wedding planner Lauren Zizza believed Swift’s trademark style would play a key role in the decorations, referencing her love for floral arrangements. Zizza cited the singer’s “romantic, storybook aesthetic,” which has been the foundation of her music.

“Some design elements would likely include an enchanted garden, soft candlelight, draped ceilings, and fabric with vintage touches,” Zizza speculated. Another wedding planner agreed with Olarsch’s “venue within a venue” narrative, noting multiple spaces may be created to host different parts of the ceremony.

The source believed the couple needed four distinct spaces for the wedding ceremony, a cocktail hour, a dinner dance, and an afterparty. The source added that the massive structure of Madison Square Garden allows Swift and Kelce to hold a more intimate ceremony before a larger-scale celebration.

New York City Mayor Confirms The Couple’s Wedding Location

One of the reasons why Madison Square Garden is widely believed to be the venue for Swift and Kelce’s wedding stems from New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. The Blast reported that he confirmed the news days earlier while addressing the city’s packed calendar.

“We know it coincides with the Knicks’ finals run. We know it coincides with July 4, America 250, Taylor Swift’s wedding, all happening at the same time, and we are so excited to welcome the world here,” Mamdani said. His words naturally caused a stir amongst fans because the lovebirds were yet to announce their wedding venue.

When asked if he scored an invite to the ceremony, Mamdani said no, joking that he would probably spend the big day listening to the singer’s “Only the Young” song. He also hoped the duo would have a “lovely wedding” in his city.

Taylor Swift And Travis Kelce Were Seen Enjoyed Pre-Wedding Festivities

Days earlier, The Blast reported claims of Swift feeling burdened by her wedding preparations. A source alleged that she was under so much pressure, trying to make things perfect while enduring the global media attention on her union with Kelce.

These alleged worries seemingly disappeared on Wednesday, June 17, when Swift and Kelce spent quality time with their friends. A group of women, including the singer’s best friend, Abigail Anderson Berard, was captured on video at her Rhode Island home.

A blonde, slender figure, presumably Swift, was seen on a balcony wearing a white dress while enjoying what appeared to be pre-wedding festivities with her girls. On the other hand, The Blast shared that Kelce was seen hanging out at the exclusive Bird Streets Club in Los Angeles with his male friends.

Will Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce say their vows in Madison Square Garden?

By Robert Scucci
| Updated 35 seconds ago

Have you ever watched something so downright dumbfounding that you didn’t know how to put it into words? 2012’s Hyperfutura falls squarely into that wheelhouse, and I still haven’t decided whether it’s lightning in a bottle or a flash in the pan. It’s a psychedelic journey centering on an unemployed man named Adam (Eric Kopatz), who signs up for a paid three-day medical experiment, and then everything goes off the deep end. The best way to describe what happens in this film is to compare it to that scene in A Clockwork Orange, when Alex has his eyes taped open while watching a wall of televisions, forced to witness and absorb all the horrors of the world as intensely as humanly possible.

The problem here is that there’s no real agenda or objective. Every film site says that Adam becomes a prototype for the first half-man, half-machine, but writer-director James O’Brien shock-cuts his way through the entire thing with such reckless abandon that I’d argue there’s hardly even a plot here. While I admit some of the footage is kind of cool to look at, it’s pretty much just a doomscroll of a movie that repeatedly visits upsetting moments in history while our protagonist is needlessly tortured throughout the film’s entire runtime.

Fortunately, this independent effort is only an hour long, so at the very least you can go into this one knowing that any suffering you’ll experience will be temporary.

Genius Or Pretentious? I Honestly Can’t Tell

Here’s the entire plot to Hyperfutura: Adam gets fired from his machinist job at a factory. He sees a suspicious flyer hanging on a telephone pole stating that if he signs up for a three-day medical experiment, he’ll be compensated. He shows up, is given a pill by a clearly evil doctor (Gregory Kiem), and is then monitored from a surveillance room by a guy known only as the Specialist (Brando McClure), who’s so evil that he even has a twirly mustache to drive the point home.

Adam meets a woman named Simone (Karen Corona), who’s undergoing the same treatment, which, to the best of my knowledge, involves getting tapped with plastic tools while being electrocuted, some drug-addled sensory deprivation, and also overstimulation, depending on how far along they are in the process. I think there’s a romantic bond here, but I can’t tell you for certain. I’m not lying when I say that this movie is basically an hour of stock footage with inverted effects while a bunch of jumbled, disastrous world events are tossed into the editing software as haphazardly as possible.

Cool To Look At, For A Minute

I wanted to check out Hyperfutura because I love vibe pieces that operate in a fugue state. In my mind, I was expecting another film in the same vein as Beyond the Black Rainbow, which also has a barebones plot but vibes so hard that it’ll put you in a straight-up trance. This plays out more like a film student who just got a new computer, complete with free editing software, and decided to cram in as much footage as the free trial would allow. For this joke to work, the free trial lets you render a final product that’s exactly as long as this movie, but not a minute longer.

Hyperfutura’s Wikipedia page cites influences like Ed Wood, The Church of the SubGenius, and even references to James Orin Incandenza, the fictional experimental filmmaker who lives in the pages of David Foster Wallace‘s Infinite Jest. I’ve spent the last two weeks revisiting the audiobook after first reading the novel in college, and I’m failing to see any connection here beyond the possibility that whoever curated the information for that rundown thought name-dropping in this fashion would give the film some clout.

Hyperfutura is cool to look at for about a minute. If you can make it through the full hour, you’ll probably wish you’d grabbed a few screenshots to make a cool desktop wallpaper, but outside of that, I’d hardly call it a movie. And if you’re going for that weird “experimental, drug-induced, soul-wrecking odyssey that’s drenched in neon and high-contrast filters” kind of vibe, there’s plenty of brainrot on Instagram that does it better and only takes 30 seconds out of your day. Personally, I’d recommend Nutter Butter’s social media pages because they effortlessly pull off what James O’Brien is trying so hard to do here.

As of this writing, you can stream Hyperfutura for free on Tubi. Seriously, don’t pay for it.

Days of Our Lives shocks with a pawn missing from Stefano DiMera’s (Joseph Mascolo) chess set that he bequeathed to Marlena Evans (Deidre Hall) and John Black (Drake Hogestyn) in his will. And now Brady Black (Eric Martsolf) and Chad DiMera (Connor Floyd) and Belle Black (Martha Madison) are all really interested in the chess set and exactly what was meant by this gift.

We’re going to talk about the missing pawn in Chad and Belle’s theory about another pawn and whether it might be Brady Black or somebody else equally interesting who’s supposed to take his dad’s place.

Days of Our Lives: The Missing Pawn Mystery

So, initially the assumption was that the missing pawn in the chess set referred to John Black, the original pawn himself. But then Chad pointed out this week that the chessboard and pieces were an inheritance meant for both Marlena and John.

And Chad pointed out that Stefano, his dad, would have no idea that John wouldn’t be alive to receive the bequest personally. So, then Chad and Belle were discussing whether it might have been a mystery meant for John rather than being about John.

And that leads us to the question of is there another pawn right now versus another pawn in the past? Marlena recently gave her daughter Belle permission for her and Chad to investigate the mysterious chessboard that Stefano gifted his queen of the night and his original pawn John.

However, Marlena was clear she didn’t want to know what Belle and Chad discover. So once they started thinking it through, Chad and Belle decided the missing game piece isn’t just symbolic of John Black’s past as Stefano’s brainwashed mercenary.

Chad and Belle are thinking that the pawn could reference a whole other person altogether. Maybe a new person. After all, there’s 16 pawns on the board. Eight on each side, eight in each color, not just a single pawn.

DOOL: Stefano’s Operatives and the Key Discovery

This suggests that Stefano had in the past or still has right now another operative or operatives or possibly a victim that he’s using as a pawn in this sick twisted game he’s playing from beyond the crypt. We’ve also gotten other hints recently with EJ DiMera (Dan Feuerriegel) and Theo Carver (Tyler Joseph Andrews) playing a frustrating game of chess this week in the living room under Stefano’s portrait while talking about his will and inheritances.

This week, Theo and Chad are looking over the chess set together at Brady Pub. And a key falls out into Theo’s hand. And that key could be the first step into figuring out who this pawn is.

We’re wondering if there’s a chance that it’s Belle’s brother, John’s son, Brady Black, who may be some sort of unwitting pawn in Stefano’s twisted final game. He’s playing with the family of Marlena and John Black.

Days of Our Lives: The Phoenix and His Chess Obsession

We all know The Phoenix loved chess and he loved manipulation and the deliberately missing pawn is no accident. It’s a puzzle or some sort of secret message that was meant to be solved. If you recall when Marlena first refused the bequest, the pawn and the queen were there and they were standing out from the rest of the set. So, I’m thinking this missing pawn signals that an undiscovered player may have already been on the board and John and Marlena just never knew it or a new pawn is soon going to emerge.

But Stefano had no way to know John would suffer the untimely and tragic death that he did. So, there is a chance absolutely that there is another pawn out there. Maybe somebody that Dr. Wilhelm Rolf (Richard Wharton) may have brainwashed for Stefano, much like was done to John Black back in the day. And this mysterious pawn could be lurking around any corner in Salem. And they may not even know that they’re the pawn. They may be basically a sleeper cell that hasn’t been activated.

Days of Our Lives: Brady Black as the New Pawn

And this may all link back to the coin that was left at John’s grave site that Marlena found. If you remember. And the next clue, of course, is the key that Chad and Theo discover while playing around with the chess set this week. So, Brady Black, as John and Isabella Kiriakis Black’s son, has deep family ties to Stefano’s rival and enemy.

So, Brady seems a fairly likely candidate as the new pawn. Plus, his closeness to Marlena, his bonus mom, I think, would also appeal to the late Phoenix. And it’s something that Stefano knew about. So Brady could be positioned to become the new pawn.

He also has a connection to Stefano through Kristen DiMera (Stacy Haiduk) and their daughter Rachel Black (Lorelei Olivia Mote). However, if Days of Our Lives really wanted to twist things up, skipping a generation and Rachel being the pawn would be really wild. But assuming it’s an adult, Brady could very well be the next generation pawn if you think about it.

John was Stefano’s pawn. But he also did dirty work for Victor Kiriakis (John Aniston), who eventually became John Black’s father-in-law when he married Isabella. And of course, Stefano and Victor were sworn enemies. And they were pretty much cut from the same type of villainous cloth as we’ve seen.

Stephanie Targets Brady on Days?

Plus, Brady ran his dad’s company, Basic Black, before he teamed up with Steve Johnson (Stephen Nichols) at Black Patch. So, already Brady is following in his dad John’s footsteps. Plus Brady and Sarah Horton (Linsey Godfrey) are soon investigating DiMera Enterprises Pharmaceuticals’ roles in the deaths of Destiny and her sister Clea. So this puts Brady at odds with Stefano’s heir wicked son EJ. But I don’t think Stefano’s heir apparent really knows anything about this new pawn game.

Days of Our Lives: Other Possible Pawns and Theories

However, Dr. Rolf probably is neck deep in with Stefano’s new pawn. And if it isn’t Brady, maybe it’s wicked little Rachel since she seemed so enamored of the Arabian Nights book. That’s of course one of Stefano’s tools when he played mind games with Marlena.

And of course there’s Tate Black (Leo Howard). He could always be an unsuspecting sleeper agent, especially with him getting all these hand-to-hand combat skills. Brady’s son with Theresa Donovan (Emily O’Brien). If you remember, was manipulated in the womb by Kristen and Dr. Rolf. If you recall, Tate was ripped out of Theresa’s womb and implanted in Kristen’s, who raised Tate as an infant.

Kristen even named Tate after herself, calling him Christopher with a K like Kristen. So, Tate could very very well be used as the new pawn in this story arc. But I feel like he’s a longer shot. Because the actors were fired and are leaving and they’re neck deep in another story line right now. However, it is supposed to be DiMera adjacent. So we’ll see.

Days of Our Lives: Stefano Had No Limits

And I will say Stefano wasn’t opposed to messing with his own family. So that leaves other options open. Including EJ, Tony DiMera (Thaao Penghlis), not so dead Peter Blake (Dan Gauthier), not so dead Stefan DiMera (Brandon Barash). Heck, even Theo could be the next pawn in whatever endgame Stefano is playing from the afterlife. But I tend to think that Stefano wouldn’t have done that to Theo.

Now, we know from the big summer promo that somebody is sitting behind a computer watching them play this game. They are manipulating them, dropping hints, dropping little keys and clues. So, I think it could be pretty cool if that was Brady Black and he didn’t even know he was doing it. But since Rolf snuck in and gave Peter that shot to kill him, Stefano’s adopted son might have been kept in a person pod awaiting a role to play in this new game. So, we’ll just have to wait and see.