University of Missouri football star Ahmad Hardy is in stable condition after being shot at a concert in Mississippi on Sunday, May 10, the school has confirmed.

“Ahmad is deeply loved by his teammates, coaches, friends, family and fans,” the Tigers’ athletic department wrote in a statement shared via social media on Monday, May 11. “We will continue to stand beside him and his family through this difficult time, offering our love, prayers, strength and support.”

The statement continued, “A timeline for his return to football activities is unknown at this time. Mizzou Athletics will provide more information on his status when it becomes available.”

Hardy, 20, is “alert” and “moving around,” as of Monday morning, a source told ESPN’s Pete Thamel, adding there is “optimism that he will play football again.”

Related: Ole Miss Football Player Corey Adams Dead at 18 After Fatal Shooting

Collegiate football star Corey Adams has died. He was 18. “We are devastated to learn that Corey Adams, a freshman on the team, passed away last night in Cordova, Tennessee,” a Sunday, July 20, statement from the University of Mississippi’s football team read. “While our program is trying to cope with this tragic loss, our […]

Hardy is a running back for the Tigers and in 2025, his first season with the program, led the team in rushing yards, carries and touchdowns. He topped 100 yards in each of his first five games with Missouri last season, earning the Doak Walker Award for the National Player of the Week in Week 3 after rushing for three touchdowns against the University of Louisiana.

Before transferring to Missouri, Hardy spent his freshman season at the University of Louisiana Monroe, where he was named the Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year and earned a spot on the all-conference first team.

The shooting comes less than two months after he welcomed his first child, son Ahmad Hardy Jr. He shared a photo of himself holding the newborn via X on March 2, writing, “Welcome : Ahmad hardy jr 💙🫶🏾,” alongside the pic.

“No feeling like it,” he told 247Sports in March. “I love my son. I can’t wait to see him today.”

The school has not said what concert Hardy was attending, but the rising junior is an Ona, Mississippi native. His Mississippi roots gave Missouri’s game against Mississippi State University last season extra meaning, as he rushed for a career-high 300 yards and three touchdowns.

Related: LSU Football Alum Devonta Lee Dead at 26, Mother Reveals Tragic Detail

Former Louisiana State University football player Devonta Lee has died after a years-long battle with cancer, his mother, Lacresia Brown, confirmed to local Arkansas TV station KTVE on Thursday, February 26. He was 26. Lee played three seasons at LSU from 2019 to 2021, winning a national championship with the Tigers as a true freshman. […]

“I’m from Mississippi,” Hardy told reporters at the time. “A lot of teams didn’t recruit me coming out of high school, so it was kind of personal. But then, again, like I told the guys, the seniors, I was doing it for them.”

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In addition to being a standout football player, Hardy is also an accomplished horse trainer. He owns four of them and told 247 that when his playing days are over, he hopes to become a vet.

“Whenever I get done playing, I’ll probably train horses for the rest of my life,” he added.

The Tigers will open the 2026 season on September 3, at home against the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

James Cameron is not only one of the most successful filmmakers of all-time, but also a major Hollywood innovator who revolutionized visual effects and created the template for what is considered to be a modern blockbuster. Even though Cameron pushed the boundaries of what was possible with the science fiction genre, True Lies was a spy film that predated the ’90s resurgence of the genre when James Bond returned in Goldeneye a year later, and Tom Cruise starred in Mission: Impossible a year after that. Even though Cameron had already forged a relationship with Arnold Schwarzenegger through their work on The Terminator and its sequel, True Lies asked the Austrian action star to step outside of his comfort zone and play a flawed family man. The result was a film that offered all the action and spectacle that a summer blockbuster necessitated, but also included a surplus of heart.

Schwarzenegger’s plays Harry Tasker in True Lies, an international secret agent who has to mask his identity by pretending to be a lowly computer hardware salesman to everyone, even his wife Helen (Jamie Lee Curtis) and their daughter Dana (Eliza Dushku). It’s amidst his pursuit of an international terrorist organization that True Lies merges its espionage storyline with the family comedy, as Harry’s attempts to rekindle his marriage go disastrously awry. True Lies is a rarity because it is genuinely suspenseful, even if much of the humor feels fairly tongue-in-cheek. It’s also a feat of technical wizardry that has aged well because how it utilizes filmmaking components that aren’t entirely reliant on visual effects.

‘True Lies’ Was a Self-Aware Espionage Thriller

Cameron is often not given nearly enough credit for his skills as a writer, as True Lies is very clever in how it creates tension between Harry and Helen. Harry has to make his life seem as boring and uneventful as possible in order to avoid attracting suspicion, which only makes Helen believe that he isn’t being emotionally engaged with her; it wouldn’t make sense for someone in a fairly mundane line of work to be involved in so many international trips, especially when he doesn’t really explain to her what his work entails. Helen understands that Harry has been withholding, which she perceives as disinterest. Although the ‘90s were an era in which cheating was stigmatized in films, Helen’s willingness to have an affair with the shady car salesman Simon (Bill Paxton) is a genuinely heartbreaking moment for Harry when he realizes that he hasn’t been there for his family.

Even though Cameron had given Schwarzenegger his most famous role with the T-1000 in The Terminator, True Lies featured a more challenging performance because he had to show vulnerability. Few movie stars in the history of Hollywood have had as much charisma as Schwarzenegger, but Harry is a character who is flawed as both a husband and a spy, as he often assumes that he has to bottle his emotions and prevent others from helping him. The beauty of the film is that Harry unlocks his potential to be a better hero by working alongside Helen, and that they become closer as a couple as a result of saving the world together. Cameron has frequently put empowered female characters at the center of his films, and True Lies was one of his many blockbusters that prominently included themes of maternity. Helen isn’t weakened in any way by the fact that she is a mother, as it’s her love for their daughter Dana that gives her even more strength and courage to do the right thing.

‘True Lies’ Is Pure ‘90s Escapism

The chemistry between Schwarzenegger and Curtis is remarkable, but True Lies has a stacked cast filled with great actors, ensuring that each of the most minor characters has something memorable to do. Paxton is genuinely hilarious as a complete scumbag, showing once again why he was such a great collaborator with Cameron. Tom Arnold also provides a lot of humor to the film with his role as Harry’s partner, but he has a critical role in the story itself, and is not solely utilized for comic relief. Art Malik, who had previously played the main villain in the Bond film The Living Daylights, is also perfect as the antagonist Salim Abu Aziz — there’s often a tendency to give bad guys some sort of tragic backstory, but True Lies simply presents a villain who is evil for the sake of it.

Even though Cameron has not ended his reign as the “King of Blockbusters,” as the recent success of Avatar: Fire and Ash indicates, True Lies feels like a film that couldn’t be made today. It was based on an obscure French comedy, but was presented to audiences as an original story that wasn’t part of an established franchise. The movie was carried by the weight of its leads in Curtis and Schwarzenegger, and few could sell a film of this size purely on their involvement. There’s also the fact that True Lies felt a bit more innocent in its depiction of terrorism and urban devastation, and has been colored in a completely different context in the aftermath of 9/11. Although there has been no shortage of fans that have begged Cameron to consider making a sequel, True Lies may be a product of the ‘90s that will never be replicated.

Bold and the Beautiful 2-Week Spoilers for May 11-22 2026 see Hope Logan (Annika Noelle) scrambling with a dirty new plan to screw over Steffy Forrester (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood), but her stepsister hits back hard.

Bold and the Beautiful Spoilers for Monday, May 11th: Liam Afraid Hope Will Back Down

Monday, May 11th, we’ve got Liam Spencer (Scott Clifton) worried that Hope is having doubts and second-guessing herself and her future. He doesn’t think she’s appreciated at Forrester Creations, and he really wants her out from under Steffy’s thumb. But if you think about it, Hope has literally never worked anywhere else. Not that I can remember. So, I’m sure there’s some trepidation about going into the unknown.

Plus, this week she tells Liam that she is very proud of Hope for the Future and says that she’s going to fight for it. So, basically, Hope wants everything to go her way and, you know, once again, she’s willing to shake up the power structure at Forrester Creations to get what she wants, which is Hope for the Future back online. And, you know, Steffy’s right. She’s not a team player. But also, Hope is right to some extent because I think Steffy is enjoying taking a personal slap at Hope.

Bold and the Beautiful: Ridge Gets an Offer

Ridge Forrester (Thorsten Kaye) gets an offer he can’t refuse from Brooke Logan (Katherine Kelly Lang). She’s trying to seduce Ridge into giving her Steffy’s job. Now, Brooke knows Ridge doesn’t have the Forrester shares to force this change. And Brooke told Hope she doesn’t want to mess up Ridge and Steffy’s relationship. Yet, that’s exactly what Brooke is doing. And she won’t stop pushing until Ridge agrees to try. So Brooke is pressing Ridge to give Steffy a new title and then put Brooke in her place. But co-CEO is where the decisions are made. So where exactly is she suggesting they put Steffy? In marketing, finance, something like that. If Brooke gets her way, Steffy could end up ranking lower than COO Carter Walton (Lawrence Saint-Victor). And you know, Hope would love that.

Donna Logan (Jennifer Gareis) tries to get Katie Logan (Heather Tom) to put the Logan family above business. Donna really doesn’t want Katie to hire Hope because she knows Brooke will lose it. Little do they know, Hope’s trying to start a Forrester civil war on top of the Logan civil war that is already raging.

Tuesday, May 12th on B&B: Brooke Seduces Ridge & Steffy is Blindsided

Tuesday, May 12th, Brooke shows Hope a different side of herself. Maybe a more ruthless side, fighting for her, you know, what she wants selfishly. I wonder if Brooke’s going to try and play the destiny card and tell Ridge that it’s their fate to run Forrester Creations together like his parents did. Basically, Brooke’s using every manipulative tool in her tool belt, which is under her lingerie. You know, she is trying so hard to bend Ridge to her will. And I’m very bothered that she’s using her sexuality to do it. However, that’s in line with her character. So yeah, not surprised.

Steffy’s caught off guard when Ridge approaches her with this Brooke nonsense. Steffy tells Ridge that Brooke has earned her spot at Forrester in terms of being in management, but Steffy makes it very clear that Brooke will not get her job, and Steffy demands that Ridge tell her he understands that Brooke can’t just make this power grab. This week, after the tense Steffy chat, Ridge reports back to Brooke at the Logan Mansion, and she looks none too pleased at Ridge’s lack of progress with forcing Steffy out so she can take her job on Bold and the Beautiful.

Bold and the Beautiful Spoilers Wednesday, May 13th: Brooke & Hope Move Forward

Wednesday, May 13th, Hope and Brooke make a new path forward. If she tells Hope that Ridge talked to Steffy, who pushed back hard, I could see Hope telling Brooke they need to push forward, find another way, and that means going to Eric Forrester (John McCook) to convince him to use his shares to side with Ridge so that they can knock Steffy aside. With Eric, they could make it happen. Brooke may even ask Donna to help her sway Eric, although I don’t know if Donna’s going to be on board with that.

After Steffy’s understandable negative reaction to being asked to just hand her job to Brooke, we are going to have Ridge facing some doubts. Steffy might make Ridge doubt Brooke since what she demanded that he do by pushing Steffy out in favor of Brooke is pretty unreasonable. And I’m guessing Steffy knows the root of this problem is Hope and her line. So, Ridge may tell Steffy if she hadn’t laughed in Hope’s face, things might not have gone this far.

Thursday, May 14th on Bold and the Beautiful: Bill & Katie Worry

Thursday, May 14th, we’ve got Katie and Bill Spencer (Don Diamont) actually concerned about Brooke’s power grab. So, I wonder if they worry that she will convince Ridge to set Steffy aside, which means that Hope might stay at Forrester Creations when they want her to join them at Logan. Plus, Miss Dylan (Sydney Bullock) gets a formal new job offer at Forrester Creations. If she accepts, she’ll be working with Daphne Rose (Murielle Hilaire) on the fragrance line as her assistant. And obviously, she’s going to say yes.

This week, Remy Pryce (Christian Weissmann) is back up to Forrester, peeking through an office door, looking stunned as Dylan and Electra Forrester (Laneya Grace) are chatting and happily hugging like best friends again. I expect more threats from Remy after he sees this because it’s something he can use to leverage and basically tell Dylan, “Go do this Deke Sharpe (Harrison Cone) thing or else I’m going to ruin what you have rebuilt with Electra.”

Bold Spoilers for Friday, May 15th: Hope’s Using Brooke

Then on Friday, May 15th, Brooke hopes that Ridge will make the right choice. Brooke has decided she is the right choice and that Steffy is the wrong choice. But to be honest, Brooke pulling this because Hope got her worked up is not only beyond the pale, although I can see how Steffy’s owed a bit of heat for targeting Hope personally. But to me, this is looking like a total redo of the coup plot, but with a twist. It’s Brooke being used by Hope this time instead of her using Carter. And I wonder if Steffy is gonna fire Hope because she realizes she is behind this, which would only amp Brooke up more.

Zende Forrester‘s (Delon de Metz) frustrated with his job at Forrester Creations. Steffy said that Zende is a team player for understanding the focus on Eric’s new couture line, but it seems like Zende was bottling things up because he snaps and furiously tells Carter that he designed an entire collection that’s never going to see the light of day. So, I wonder if the COO reassures Zende and agrees that yes, it’s an issue or he may just throw Steffy under the bus and say it shouldn’t have gone like this.

Week of May 18th-22nd on B&B

All right, the week of May 18th through the 22nd, the very last day of May sweeps, by the way, is Wednesday, May 20th. Zende is close to a breaking point this week. And I wonder if Hope will enlist him and ask Zende to tell Ridge that Brooke should replace Steffy. You know, Hope may be doing some campaigning behind Steffy’s back to try and encourage Ridge to appoint Brooke co-CEO. Dylan is excited about her new job with Daphne on the fragrance line, but Remy could ruin everything, and Dylan may soon have to go reluctantly talk to Deke on Remy’s behalf. But of course, Dylan needs to hide that she’s his cousin, or it’ll all seem very suspect.

Bill and Katie may try to sweeten the deal for Hope to lure her over to Logan. I wonder if Katie will support Brooke or talk smack about her trying to grab Steffy’s job since Brooke has been so mean to Katie lately. Eric may find himself in a very tough position stuck between Brooke and Steffy.

I’m not sure that Ridge would ask his dad to take sides, but I’m betting Brooke and also Hope would ask him to take sides. Look for an update on Daphne and Carter’s baby making plans. Hopefully, we’ll get an update on Taylor Hayes (Rebecca Budig) and Deacon Sharpe (Sean Kanan) soon. Donna is nerve-wracked about what lies ahead and Steffy and Hope’s feud is back and worse than ever.

By TeeJay Small
| Published 20 seconds ago

FX’s The Bear is one of the most frustrating shows on TV right now. After delivering two seasons of top-tier television, the show seemingly went too mainstream, causing a series of behind-the-scenes issues which effectively ruined both season three and four, in my opinion. Thanks to studio interference and writer turnover, the narrative of The Bear has completely stagnated over the past few years, resulting in long, drawn-out montage sequences, season-long arcs that go nowhere, and a show that focuses more on “vibes” than strong characters and interesting material.

On occasion, The Bear will do a standalone episode that isolates these issues and gets us back on track. Season three’s flashback episode “Napkins,” which focuses entirely on Tina, is a great example of this. Likewise, the brand new spin-off episode “Gary,” which has been released on Hulu as a standalone project, manages to cut out all of the most annoying parts of The Bear, including the presence of its protagonist, Carmy (Jeremy Allen White), and give us something we can actually enjoy watching.

No Carmy? No Problem!

At its core, The Bear is a show about a struggling restaurant run by a whiny little emotionally stunted crybaby named Carmy. Despite being an exceptionally talented chef, Carmy is tormented by his trauma, which includes his mother’s bipolar disorder, emotional abuse from his former boss, and the loss of his brother, Mikey, who took his own life before the narrative kicked off. I’m not trying to minimize any of these things, because that’s obviously a lot for a person to take on. Still, I just don’t buy Carmy’s emotional process, which offers a lot of cinematic style over substance.

In the first season, Carmy frequently clashes with fan-favorite character Richie, portrayed by Fantastic Four‘s Ebon Moss-Bachrach. Richie was Mikey’s best friend before he died, and he carries a massive chip on his shoulder. In “Gary,” we get to see a bit more of that relationship during the good old days, before everything fell apart. We’ve caught glimpses of this before via brief flashbacks, but we’ve never had this much time to sit with the lifelong friends and watch them develop their bond, which is central to The Bear’s tone.

A True Bromance Breakdown

“Gary” specifically follows Richie and Mikey (Jon Bernthal) as they embark upon a road trip from Chicago to Gary, Indiana. On the way, they jam out to some tunes, share a few laughs, and even find themselves in an emotional tug-of-war that recontextualizes some of Richie’s edgiest moments from the first season of The Bear. By the end of the hour-long special, we see just how codependent their relationship had become, and how their relationship was challenged by Mikey’s worsening drug addiction. For my money, it’s the best thing to come out of the show since season two’s “Fishes.”

One of the reasons that “Gary” works so well is that the special eliminates Carmy as a character. Fans of The Bear have complained for years that Carmy is the least interesting element of the show, especially since his entire arc now revolves around this idiotic idea that no man has the ability to manage a job and a girlfriend at the same time. Truly revolutionary stuff. Instead of focusing on a guy that really just needs to go to therapy, “Gary” highlights a pair of relatable men who are stunted by their own bromance with each other, and unable to let it go due to their own self mythologizing nostalgia.

A Creative Partnership That Makes Sense

Another reason that “Gary” feels like such a breath of fresh air is that the special was actually written by Ebon Moss-Bachrach and Jon Bernthal themselves. The pair of actors have incredible chemistry together both as performers and creative minds, which can likely be attributed to their many shared projects.

Before they were best buds on The Bear, Moss-Bachrach and Bernthal played another dynamic duo in Netflix’s The Punisher series. Since then, they have maintained a real-life friendship and performed on stage together multiple times. They’re currently slated to lead a Broadway rendition of Dog Day Afternoon together in June.

“Gary” feels like the first step in getting The Bear back on track. The special has tons of heart, some amazing feel-good moments, and a fair share of gut-punches that perfectly deliver on what made the first two seasons of the series work. Now that we know season five will be the show’s last, we can only hope that Christopher Storer and crew conclude things gracefully, with enough love and care for the characters to reach “Gary’s” high-water mark. “Gary” is streaming on Hulu now.

General Hospital two week spoilers for May 11th through the 22nd are going to see Dante Falconeri (Dominic Zamprogna) enraged at several people that he loves. Plus, Valentin Cassadine (James Patrick Stuart) is simply astonished at an unexpected twist.

General Hospital Spoilers Monday, May 11th: Valentin Utterly Astonished

On Monday, May 11th, we’ve got Valentin just stunned by what has happened and he demands to know from Nina Reeves (Cynthia Watros) what the heck was in that syringe. I do wonder if Valentin realizes that Nina meant to stab him because she certainly did.

So, we’ll see how JackBrennan (Chris McKenna) reacts to the drug. This is that special drug that Willow Tait Cain (Katelyn MacMullen) gets from Jenz Sidwell (Carlo Rota) to keep Drew Cain (Cameron Mathison) locked in. I don’t think it’s the same drug that Willow initially used to cause his stroke, but either way, it’s bad news.

Elizabeth Webber (Rebecca Herbst) starts to put two and two together and may realize Willow is drugging Drew. This could happen if Brennan winds up brought into General Hospital‘s emergency room with similar symptoms that Drew had. Plus, Nina warns Willow. I’m sure it’s about Brennan getting dosed and she may tell her about the living room brawl between Valentin and Brennan.

Also, we’ll see if Nina remembers that Drew missed that injection or if Nina is so freaked out over what happened to Brennan, she just kind of flips out and, you know, it fogs over in her brain. At Carly Spencer‘s (Laura Wright) house, she is warning Charlotte Cassadine (Bluesy Burke) she can’t do that no matter what happens. So, it’s something to do with Valentin.

GH Spoilers: Chase Gets Too Chummy with Willow

And Harrison Chase (Josh Swickard) bumps into Willow, saying that he’s glad she’s there. He was hoping she would be. They seem to be in swimsuits, maybe at the Quartermaine property. Drew is starting to move his fingers now that he missed a dose. So, this is a huge break for him.

Dante shows up at Lulu Spencer‘s (Alexa Havins Bruening) on Monday right after she’s reeling from her confrontation with not Nathan. And she can tell that Dante’s looking to bicker, but Lulu says she’s not in a good place to have it out with him. And Dante says he does not care and he vents over finding out Jason Morgan (Steve Burton) didn’t shoot Ross Cullum (Andrew Hawkes), Rocco Falconeri (Finn Carr) did and that she’s known all along.

Lulu definitely has some explaining to do to Dante and Lulu wants to know if Dante has evidence that Rocco shot Cullum and he doesn’t really have hard evidence. Ethan Lovett (Nathan Dean) and Ava Jerome (Maura West) are clashing. Ethan hauled Ava out of the gallery and is holding her in a car while Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) and Ric Lansing (Rick Hearst) have their discussion. And Ava wants to know what Ethan is going to do with her. Ric is pleading his case. So, at Ava’s gallery, Sonny is holding a gun on Ric and yelling, “He better explain,” and he better do it fast.

Tuesday, May 12th on General Hospital: Curtis on a Mission

On Tuesday, May 12th, Curtis Ashford (Donnell Turner) is a man on a mission. It’s probably about his suspicions that Isaiah Gannon (Sawandi Wilson) was driving the other car. This plot is garbage. Moving on. Lulu heads to see Britt Westbourne (Kelly Thiebaud) and Lulu may vent to Britt about Nathan trying to send her and the kids away.

It could be to ask if Britt told Dante or to warn Britt that Dante knows Rocco did it. This could be a bonding moment or a confrontation. Dante confronts not Nathan. Of course, Dante’s big mad that Lulu and Cassius Faison (Ryan Paevey) are keeping the Rocco secret. And Dante wouldn’t think that his former best friend would do this. Yeah, he wouldn’t. And that’s not him, right?

Danny Morgan (Asher Antonzyn) and Charlotte have a chat with Rocco and things get heated. And this may be about Jason or they may bring up Britt and upset him. Isaiah is in the hot seat. He may be interrogated about Jordan’s crash. Justine Turner (Nazneen Contractor) is still hoping to get a warrant. Laura doesn’t like it and wants to shut it down because bottom line, Jordan is 100% at fault. She caused her own wreck.

GH Spoilers for Wednesday, May 13th: Krissy Gets an Invite

On Wednesday, May 13th, Ethan offers Kristina Corinthos Davis (Kate Mansi) an invitation. Maybe it’s out to dinner or drinks. She told Ethan she’s been dating women lately, but Kristina has dated men in the past. And Kristina had a big crush on Ethan years ago. Or it could just be a friendly thing. Michael Corinthos (Rory Gibson) brings Jacinda Bracken (Paige Herschell) in on his plan. This is to take Willow down by getting her and Chase to cheat. I think Jacinda might be down to help Michael push Willow and Chase together.

Curtis is concerned about Jordan Ashford (Tanisha Harper). She’s distraught, which still doesn’t justify her and Curtis’s witch hunt when they’re to blame. Willow has a meeting with Sidwell and I wonder if she’s going to tell him Nina accidentally injected Brennan. And of course, Sidwell intends to kill Drew, but Willow doesn’t know it yet. So, this may be when Sidwell tells Willow they’re just going to go ahead and kill her hubby.

Thursday, May 14th on General Hospital: Carly Hounds Nina

Thursday, May 14th, Nina is grilled by Carly and it may be about what went down at the house between Brennan and Valentin. Laura Spencer Collins (Genie Francis) explains some action she took. She’s having to defend it. Could be to Sidwell. Could be to Curtis for trying to end this thing with Isaiah.

This week, Britt and Lucas Jones (Van Hansis) are at her place over Bobbie’s Diner, toasting with shots. I don’t know if they’re getting drunk to celebrate or commiserate because Britt is also pondering her options. And it may be about all of it. The totality – Cullum, her meds, Cesar Faison’s (Anders Hove,) final project, trying to protect Rocco, which of course Lucas doesn’t know about yet.

Tracy Quartermaine (Jane Elliot) is on the war path. Could be about Brook Lynn  Quartermaine (Amanda Setton) and the crash or about Chase getting too chatty with Willow while in a bathing suit. Dante has a hard talk with somebody. I’m betting it’s with his son Rocco about shooting Cullum and he may be upset that Rocco didn’t come to him. But of course, Jason and Cassius just kind of took over.

General Hospital Spoilers Friday, May 15th: Cullum Stonewalled

Friday, May 15th, we’ve got Carly stonewalling Cullum. And I wonder if he’s grilling her about Jack. This week, Jordan gets a visit from Molly Lansing-Davis (Kristin Vaganos). Remember, she and Jordan were really close when Molly was in that domestic partnership with TJ.

Valentin does some strategizing on Friday, and it may be about how to handle the Brennan situation or how to locate Josslyn Jacks (Eden McCoy). Cassius confides in somebody surprising. I wonder if it’s Joss because she’s his captive and has no choice but to listen.

Elizabeth tells Dante something important and this may be about what she figured out earlier in the week. And Ric and Alexis Davis (Nancy Lee Grahn) are a united front where Molly is concerned.

General Hospital Spoilers for the Week of May 18th-22nd: The Search for Joss Heats Up

The week of May 18th through the 22nd is big because sweeps ends on Wednesday, May 20th. So expect big action at least early in the week. The search for Josslyn intensifies. Carly’s determined to find her daughter. Valentin is determined. We’ll see if Brennan’s up to doing anything. He would be determined if he was awake. So, how long till Cullum finds out Cash has snatched Josslyn up? And I also bet Cullum’s going to be annoyed that Joss got one over on him.

Dante may take action after talking to Elizabeth. Plus, this whole thing puts Dante in a tough spot. He can kill the PCPD investigation into Colum’s shooting because the WSB already took it over, but Dante may stick with it because he wants to protect Rocco from the WSB, so he may keep pushing things in another direction. Cassius tries to make amends with Lulu. It’s not going to be easy.

Plus, now he has to babysit Josslyn. Jordan continues to struggle with her injuries and looking to blame somebody else. Nina tries to do damage control. That Brennan and Valentin thing spiraled out of control so fast.

And Willow fears the worst. Her plans are all falling apart and Drew’s twitching his hand and could tell someone soon what she did. Michael’s devious plan for Willow and Chase is underway. And we could see Brook Lynn do the right thing if she finds out Isaiah has been grilled by the PCPD.

Bhad Bhabie popped out on Mother’s Day with a whole new look and fans are STILL chattin’ about her transformation! While it seems she drew inspiration from Britney Spears, others are seeing Amber Rose and name-dropping her in the comment section. Bhabie’s new hair comes shortly after addressing allegations that she’s morphing into a wannabe Black woman.

RELATED: Clapback Season! Bhad Bhabie Responds After Trolls Accuse Her Of Changing Her Appearance To Look Black 

Bhad Bhabie Shows Off Blonde Buzz Cut 

After posting about her mother, Barbara, on Instagram, Bhad Bhabie gave fans a lil’ Mother’s Day surprise. She circled back with two posts showing off her fresh blonde, buzz cut. In the first post, she included four photos—two selfies of her hair transformation, her daughter Kali Love and a photo of Britney Spears. She captioned the post, “MOM.” The new cut really highlights her multiple neck and chest tattoos in red and black ink. Despite going bleach blonde, the 23-year-old kept brunette eyebrows.

Her second post included two other selfies. It appears the photos were all taken on the same day, given that she’s wearing the same outfit in all her new cut  photos.

Fans & Amber Rose React To Bhabie’s New Look

Colletively, Bhad Bhabie’s new hair posts collected over 5,000 comments and more than 300,000 likes on Instagram.

Under the first post, @julia__julia__julia wrote, “Omg i thought it was amber rose.. but ya’ll both pretty.” 

@oriannabliss commented, “I actually love this sm on her.” 

“Kinda makes sense, she basically is this generation’s Amber Rose, literally followed every step she did,” @youainthardfoo__ added.

“Morphed into amber rose 😂,” @juiceunlocked commented.

“Amber Rose lil sister white chocolate,” @lilsportyd added.

@official_woodboye commented, “Why I thought this was Amber Rose.” 

And while fans were name-dropping Amber Rose, she ultimately slid in the comment section, dropping several heart-eyed emojis.

RELATED: Stay Mad! Sexyy Red Claps Back At Trolls As Fans Rush To Defend Her New Hairstyle (VIDEO)

Swapped is the newest animated Netflix film, courtesy of Skydance Animation. It is the first Skydance film not to have a human protagonist, instead following Ollie (Michael B. Jordan), a furry mammalian creature called pookoo, who, in his attempt to save his family from starvation, touches a magic pod that turns him into a bird-like Javan. He reluctantly teams up with another Javan named Ivy (Juno Temple) to find another pod, which leads both of them on a journey of different perspectives that can, hopefully, improve trust and communication between the creatures of their valley.

The film’s biggest strengths come from its creative worldbuilding and fantastic animation. Both can be seen in the numerous creatures of the valley, all of whom boast unique designs that give them a distinct personality and identity that feels both natural and alien. Of course, some of Swapped‘s creatures are naturally more creative than others, be it in design or how they are used in the narrative.

10

Root Snakes

Image via Netflix

With the exception of a dung beetle couple, the species most like its real-world counterpart would be the root snakes. These ambush predators live in sizable colonies and make their dens in hollow spaces near tree roots. There, they blend in with the roots and wait for their prey by detecting nearby vibrations to make up for their poor hearing.

Though ostensibly just a snake, there are a few fun things about the root snake’s design. As the name implies, their scales are not perfectly smooth like you’d expect a serpent’s to be, instead having an asymmetrical tree-like texture that helps them blend in better with their lair. Their green eyes are also very striking, and help add to the intimidation factor once they zero in on their chosen prey.

9

Pinecone Hedgehogs

Image via Netflix

One of the smallest mammalian creatures in the valley is the pinecone hedgehog. They trade a coat of quills for woody scales, which offers them good camouflage in the forest flood. This curious form of adaptation is good because their small size places them pretty low on the food chain.

The pinecone hedgehogs sadly don’t have a large role in the story, usually only appearing as background creatures. However, their creative design helps them stand out whenever they do show up, and helps make them one of Swapped‘s cutest creatures. Not every creature is going to get fleshed out, but the inclusion of these little guys helps to make the world feel more alive.

8

Boogle Fish

Image via Netflix

Early in the film, when Ollie is exploring the underwater world, he encounters a large fish with glittering scales and flowing fins that resemble aquatic plants. The fish’s name is Boogle (Tracy Morgan), and he becomes a helpful guide, pointing Ollie and Ivy towards more magic pods. Though he claims to be the only member of his kind in the valley, Ollie and Ivy do transform into Boogle fish as well with one pod, so there are likely others.

Boogle most closely resembles a grouper, known for its large mouth and ambush tactics. The colorful bodies of the fish play into it, as when Ollie first met Boogle as a child, he nearly became the fish’s lunch when he was mesmerized by his scales. This bit also foreshadows hidden details about Boogle revealed later in the movie.

7

Rock Bears

Image via Netflix

Bears are cool animals, with a long history in art and mythology as creatures of strength and the natural world. Thus, it was no surprise that bears would appear in some fashion in Swapped. Rather than make them part plant like most of the other creatures, the designers instead gave them stony bodies with a moss covering for fur.

Rock bears are utilized in one of the most visually interesting action sequences in Swapped, as our protagonists try to swim around them, while the camera gives us an underwater perspective of bears hunting. Their stony bodies also make them masters of blending into the environment, since they are indistinguishable from regular rocks when at rest. Personality-wise, the rock bears initially seem curious, and can be friendly, but once on the hunt, they become single-minded vessels of fang and claw.

6

Javans

Image via Netflix

The primary avian species of the valley, javans, are medium-sized birds that most closely resemble parrots like the New Zealand kākāpō. They come in a variety of colors like green, yellow, orange, and red, and have leaves growing out of their hair. They are also one of the most social species in the film, all nesting on a rocky spire called Javan Rock, and caring for one another with a strong sense of community.

The plant hair goes a long way in making the javan stand out compared to standard birds, while also playing into how many species of birds have exotic plumage. Within the story, the javan are the species that best represent the delicate balance of the ecosystem, as they require a lot of food throughout the day. When their primary food source vanishes, they end up coming into conflict with others in their search for food, which often leads to disastrous ecological collapses.

5

Pookoos

Image via Netflix

Like the pinecone hedgehogs, pookoos are small, furry creatures who survive by hiding from predators and living in large communities. They are highly intelligent creatures, demonstrating advanced tool use compared to other species, which allowed Ollie to come up with several inventions and even use fire. Their greatest ability is their sense of smell, which is so advanced that they can “see” with only their noses.

The design of the pookoos breaks away from the other creatures, showing no plant influence and instead combining numerous small mammals, such as otters, squirrels, and groundhogs. This departure helps the pookoo feel even more isolated from the rest of the creatures of the valley, which fits their secretive nature. It might seem more boring and plain compared to the other creatures, but the pookoo’s intelligence makes up for it.

4

Tree Deer

Image via Netflix

Is there a forest animal more iconic than the deer? Found in nearly every ecosystem across most continents, deer are symbols of natural beauty and grace, and are keystone species whose over- or under-abundance could ruin the delicate balance of nature. They’re also rather shy creatures, and would probably love to have the same camouflage potential as the tree deer from Swapped.

The tree deer look beautiful, blending the long legs and slender bodies of deer with the unique bark texture of birch trees. Their antlers and tails also grow leaves, making them look even more like the embodiment of the forest. Sadly, no tree deer speak throughout the narrative, so we don’t get any insight into their personalities and culture, if any. However, their mere presence contributes to Swapped‘s overall success.

3

Treewolves

Image via Netflix

Wolves have long been one of the most iconic animals in human history, usually as villains, such as the iconic Big Bad Wolf of fairy tales. Indeed, many stories about wolves use them as a metaphor for the wild, predatory side of nature, but they are also creatures of great loyalty and wisdom. Both sides are represented in Swapped by a tree wolf pack that follows after Ollie and Ivy.

As the name implies, treewolves have bark-like skin and a crown of leaves on their heads, which gives them a regal appearance that fits with their status as apex predators of the woods. There are also some elements from foxes thrown in, such as the longer muzzles and the choice of red and yellow colors for their leaves. Finally, the treewolves might offer an example of gender dysmorphism, as the confirmed male wolves, the leader (David Lodge) and his son (Zemo Tatasciore), have red leaves, so the yellow and orange ones may be female, though it’s just speculation.

2

The Firewolf

Image via Netflix

The present state of the valley is due to one particular treewolf who, enraged at being abandoned to die by his pack, attacked the creatures of the valley indiscriminately to sow fear and mistrust. He was stopped for a time by the magical Dzo, but the treewolf was eventually able to steal some of their magic for himself and transform into the one and only Firewolf. With his new powers, the Firewolf killed four Dzo, drove off the others, and dammed the river, cutting the valley off from the rest of the world.

The Firewolf is destruction and malice made flesh, and his design beautifully captures this message. The beautiful plumage of the treewolves has been replaced with a crown of demonic branch-like horns, his bark-skin is black and charred, and he can ignite himself at will to cover his head and back in roaring flames. All these striking elements give the Firewolf a menacing hellhound design with elements of Doberman as well, further emphasizing how the Firewolf is anathema to the harmony represented in the other designs.

1

Dzo

Image via Netflix

The only species not native to the valley, Dzo used to migrate through the valley in large numbers, bringing with them ample food from the trees that grew on their backs. They are more plant-like than animal, resembling walking orchards with tree trunks for legs and the ability to extend their roots as needed. They also possess incredible magic that manifests through seed pods that, when touched, transform creatures into other species and grant them the ability to understand one another.

The Dzo draws inspiration from all sorts of mythological sources, from the Garden of Eden to the World Turtle/Elephants that carry all existence on their backs. Having their trunks grow from the side of their faces is also an ingenious design, as it looks like drooping mustaches that give the Dzo a wise, sage-like quality, thus reflecting their mystical nature. The climax also reveals that the Dzo can communicate with one another over large distances using root-networks, showcasing how, more than any other creature, they are the true harmony between animal and plant, and their arrival and departure symbolizes if the world is in balance or not.

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Swapped

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Release Date

May 1, 2026

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Runtime

102 minutes

Director

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Nathan Greno

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By Joshua Tyler
| Published 44 seconds ago

The trouble with traveling to other planets has always been the vast distances involved and the limitations of lightspeed travel. As far as we know, nothing in the universe can move faster than the speed of light.

This fundamental fact means that even if you go as fast as the laws of physics will allow, it would still take decades to reach the nearest inhabited planet. Science Fiction has long theorized that the solution to this problem might be warp drive.

The idea behind a warp drive, popularized by Star Trek but rooted in real theoretical physics, is that instead of moving a ship faster than light through space, you move space itself. A ship inside a “warp bubble” would stay relatively still while spacetime in front of it compresses and spacetime behind it expands, effectively carrying the vessel across enormous distances faster than light could normally travel.

Physicists have done real work to explore this possibility, but research from the University of Sydney suggests one huge obstacle: Space isn’t empty.

That big, black void between planets is actually full of radiation and tiny particles, which their research suggests would be “swept up” into the warp bubble and then focused into areas in front of and behind the ship. This wouldn’t actually be a danger for anyone inside the warp bubble, but for anyone hanging out at the ship’s destination, it would spell certain doom. They explain, “Any people at the destination would be gamma rays and high-energy particles blasted into oblivion due to the extreme blueshifts for [forward] region particles.”

This problem might be solved by aiming your craft just a little off to the side of your destination, allowing the release of all that energy into some unpopulated part of space, but even that may not do it. It could be that the particles will blast away from the craft in all directions.

It’s hard to seek out new life and new civilizations if you wipe them all out the moment you arrive. When we finally get Starfleet up and running, we’ll probably need a better alternative to the warp drive.

Quite often, fantasy films are—at least to some degree—family-friendly. It’s not the most common thing in the world for a fantasy film to be rated R by the MPAA, and when they are, these movies don’t always pan out quite like fans of the genre would expect. On a few noteworthy occasions, however, cinema has treated us to some truly exceptional R-rated fantasy films. And on even more precious occasions, these movies go on to have a tremendous impact and influence on the genre as a whole.

Their being rated R often means that these masterpieces of the genre can approach their fantastical elements with more maturity, a darker tone, and less concern for commercial whims. That’s probably why they’ve proven to be so immensely impactful over the course of the history of fantasy cinema. From adaptations of Arthurian legend to fully-original cult classics, these gems are easily among the greatest fantasy films of all time.

7

‘The Fall’ (2006)

Image via Roadside Attractions

Based on the 1981 Bulgarian film Yo Ho Ho, Tarsem Singh‘s The Fall is one of those forgotten fantasy movies that are still perfect today. Due to its incredibly complicated release process, allegedly partly due to Harvey Weinstein having disliked the movie and deciding to sabotage it as a result, the film has never been able to meet the kind of praise that it so definitely deserves. Though it’s definitely a movie that favors style over substance, that’s only a nitpick when the style is this delectably perfect.

Shot over four years across 24 countries with no CGI, The Fall proved that visual ambition in the 21st century still existed in the same kind of old-school fashion that defined ’80s fantasy. It’s too singular and niche of a movie to say that it’s had a widespread impact across the entire fantasy genre, but there’s no denying the inspiration that it has shown in the fields of indie and arthouse fantasy. It’s a cult classic unlike any other that deserves more respect.

6

‘The Green Mile’ (1999)

Stephen King is, of course, a legendary writer best-known for his work in horror, but fantasy is another genre at which he has constantly excelled. That leaves us with Frank Darabont‘s adaptation of King’s novel The Green Mile, the director’s follow-up to The Shawshank Redemption (also based on a King story). It’s one of the heaviest fantasy movies ever made, but it’s also far and away one of the most acclaimed and widely beloved.

Led by Tom Hanks and Michael Clarke Duncan at their most emotionally stirring, this tear-jerker is a genre-blending example of low fantasy that mixes its magic with elements from a prison drama. The resulting concoction is one of Hollywood’s greatest ’90s classics. There’s a case to be made that it more stronly changed the way prison dramas were made, rather than fantasy films; but the impact that it’s had on low fantasy is undeniable, and as such, that’s enough to call it one of the most influential outings the genre had at any point during the ’90s.

5

‘Fanny and Alexander’ (1982)

Image via Sandrew Film & Teater

When it comes to hyper-influential fantasy movies, it’s not all Hollywood blockbusters. Case in point: Fanny and Alexander, a coming-of-age epic that legendary Swedish auteur Ingmar Bergman (one of the greatest filmmakers in history) intended as his final movie. That didn’t end up being the case, but that doesn’t detract from the utter brilliance of this classic. Over three hours long in its theatrical cut and over five hours long in its television cut, this is an equally flawless masterpiece in both of its versions.

Fanny and Alexander is one of the best international coming-of-age movies in history, and like the rest of Bergman’s most notorious movies, it’s had a tremendous influence on many movie directors since. The film set a new gold standard for how magic realism could be applied in movies; and though its fantastical elements are definitely subtle, they’re brilliantly used nonetheless. There are many great fantasy movies which show magic through the eyes of a child’s innocence, and a remarkable number of the ones released after 1982 owe at least some of their greatness to Fanny and Alexander.

4

‘Legend’ (1985)

Image via Universal Pictures

Back when it came out right in the middle of the ’80s, Ridley Scott‘s fourth-ever feature film, Legend, was trashed by critics and destroyed at the box office. The fact that the English auteur had followed up Blade Runner, one of the most complex sci-fi films in Hollywood history, with a straightforward fairy tale movie puzzled audiences the world over. In the years since, however, it’s become one of the biggest cult classics of Scott’s whole filmography.

There are plenty of elements that make this one of the most perfect fantasy cult classics, from Tim Curry‘s iconic performance as Darkness to the delectably campy tone that permeates the whole thing. The film definitely favors visual spectacle over narrative depth, and that’s precisely the department where Legend changed the game altogether. Production design, visual effects, and makeup work were already crucial elements of the fantasy genre before 1985, but Legend proved how they could all be art forms unto themselves. Echoed by filmmakers like Guillermo del Toro and Tim Burton, the visuals of Scott’s underrated gem have aged like fine wine.

3

‘Excalibur’ (1981)

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

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Directed by John Boorman, Excalibur is Medieval dark fantasy at its most epic and entertaining. The film actually began development as a Lord of the Rings adaptation that ended up going unproduced, and though you can still see remnants of that vision here, Excalibur is an entirely unique kind of adaptation of Arthurian legend. With its star-studded cast and a delightful visual style, it has joined the ranks of Legend as one of the biggest fantasy cult classics of the 1980s.

It’s one of the best R-rated fantasy masterpieces ever made, an operatic and highly detailed epic whose lush, dreamlike beauty more than makes up for the relative lack of substance of the narrative. Unapologetically dark, sexy, bloody, and fever-dream-ish, Excalibur set a new standard for how ambitious and full of theatrical grandeur adaptations of legendary fantasy source material could be. There has never been another Arthurian movie quite like it.

2

‘Conan the Barbarian’ (1982)

Image via Universal Pictures

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The movie that transformed Arnold Schwarzenegger from a world-renowned bodybuilder into an international movie superstar and box office magnet was Conan the Barbarian, John Milius‘ classic sword-and-sorcery masterpiece. Ideas to make a film about Robert E. Howard‘s iconic character from pulp fiction had been floating around in Hollywood since the 1970s, but the adaptation ended up materializing at exactly the right time, because it’s difficult to envision anyone but Schwarzenegger in the titular role.

It’s not just thanks to its star, though, but also thanks to Milius’ direction and the phenomenal work of the rest of the team that this is one of the best dark fantasy masterpieces of all time. There was a widespread perception before 1982 that the sword-and-sorcery subgenre was camp by nature, but Conan proved that it could be serious, brutal, and properly epic. There was a noteworthy boom in the production of fantasy media in the ’80s—including films, of course—, and many would argue that it was Conan the Barbarian that served as a major catalyst for such a revolution.

1

‘Pan’s Labyrinth’ (2006)

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

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There is probably not a single fantasy filmmaker working today who’s more influential than Guillermo del Toro. The Mexican auteur has had an impact on the genre—dark fantasy in particular—that cannot be overstated, and that has resulted in several of the greatest fantasy films of the ’90s and of the 21st century. The discussion of del Toro’s best films can veer in many different directions, but more often than not, the conversation of what his magnum opus is ends up in a single place: Pan’s Labyrinth.

This Spanish-Mexican co-production is one of the darkest fairy tale movies of all time, and perhaps the most perfect example of what dark fantasy can achieve in the 21st century. Set against the backdrop of the Spanish Civil War and sharply criticizing fascism and authoritarian violence, del Toro’s mastepriece re-defined fantasy as a highly mature vehicle for complex themes and nuanced political commentary. Fantasy hasn’t been the same since 2006.

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 48 seconds ago

When I heard we were getting a reboot of Jumanji, I was absolutely filled with dread. The original film was very special to me: it was a master class in acting from the late, great Robin Williams, and the plot about getting stuck inside a board game both frightened and delighted my adolescent self. I assumed any remake of this iconic film would be an insult to Williams and everyone else from the original Jumanji. Plus, the original sequel, Zathura: A Space Adventure, which was such a minor blip on the pop culture radar that I’d bet my board game collection you already forgot it ever existed.

Accordingly, I walked into my local theater in 2017, assuming that Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle would be complete trash and that I would be hate-watching it from beginning to end. To my immense surprise, however, the movie used the original Jumanji as a springboard to tell an innovative and original story featuring a quirky cast that meshed together shockingly well. The result is a modern adventure comedy that’s as funny as it is family-friendly, and you can now stream it on Netflix.

Like A Rock

In Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, the titular tabletop adventure has been transformed into a ‘90s video game console that is discovered by some hapless high schoolers. They fire up this retro machine and are instantly sucked into the world of the game, which was heavily inspired by everything from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom to the old Pitfall video game. In order to get back to reality, these teens (each stuck inside an adult body) must win the game. That means finding a way to stop its final boss: a mad professor who has taken control of the animals and turned everything in the jungle into a weapon.

The cast of Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle is eclectic, to put it mildly. Dwayne Johnson does his usual action hero thing, but he mercifully leans into his sillier side to embrace the broad comedy of this cinematic caper. The biggest punchlines come courtesy of two other, very different comedians: Kevin Hart, doing his reliably wacky schtick as a pint-sized sidekick, and Jack Black, playing hilariously against type as a teenage girl stuck in a man’s body. Rounding out the cast is Karen Gillan, the former Doctor Who companion who has now fully embraced her Marvel makeover as a modern action star.

If You Die In The Game, You Die In Real Life

The stakes never feel all that high in Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, but that’s actually part of its appeal. This is a perfect movie when you want to grab a beer and just vibe out on the couch to pure, unadulterated fun. It’s great to watch with your friends because you don’t have to take the plot seriously, and everyone you invite over will love at least one member of the quirky cast. As long as your kiddos aren’t too young, this PG-13 movie is fun for the whole family, and if your teens live on Discord, they’ll enjoy the plot about being trapped in a life-or-death video game.

While Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle is not the most original movie, it’s a great example of how a film can be greater than the sum of its parts. It’s based on the original Jumanji, and it brings in some of the “kids trapped in a fantastic world” elements of classics like Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. Its action/adventure elements are basically what you get if you smash the Indiana Jones and Pirates of the Caribbean franchises together. Plus, the movie borrows heavily from the modern Marvel formula, with a brisk pace that always finds time for some surprisingly funny quips and unexpected punchlines.

Clean, Dumb Fun

As you can tell, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle isn’t a great choice for anyone looking for a wholly original film. But if you like the movies referenced above, this action-adventure is basically a buffet of genre goodness. Not a high-class buffet, either, but one of those local places that specialize in greasy carb bombs that slow down your heart in a “hurts so good” kinda way. In the spirit of those buffets, Welcome to the Jungle is not exactly a healthy part of your cinematic diet. But for anyone looking to consume a guilty pleasure of film, however, this Jumanji reboot really hits the spot.

Fittingly enough, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle is true to the origins of the franchise. This isn’t a movie that will change your life, and it was never exactly in danger of taking home an Academy Award. But like all great board games and video games, it delivers the best kind of distractions in the form of a breezy plot, charismatic cast, and infectious humor. Whenever you’re ready for a much-needed break from the trials and tribulations of our hellworld, here’s some good news: you can now stream Jumanji: Welcome To the Jungle on Netflix. 

It should be perfectly safe. After all, there’s no way you could possibly get stuck in this movie for the next two decades, right?