Hayden Panettiere’s death at 36 has renewed troubling questions about what happens when children are given access to fame, adult environments, and substances before they are emotionally equipped to handle them. The “Heroes” actress spent nearly her entire life in the entertainment industry, appearing in her first commercial at just 11 months old. In the months before her death, Panettiere revealed that she was introduced to drugs as a teenager by someone working on her team. While authorities have not determined whether drugs or alcohol contributed to her death, addiction experts say former child stars can face a dangerous combination of early access, intense scrutiny and blurred boundaries.

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Panettiere was 16 and preparing for a red carpet event connected to “Heroes” when she said someone on her team handed her a pill to increase her energy. The actress described the experience in her memoir, which was released months before her death. “Within minutes, a wave of energy washed over me, like I’d just woken up from the most refreshing night’s sleep of my life,” Panettiere wrote.

She later described the pill as “the gateway drug that ushered me toward the good of pharmaceuticals and the downfall of addiction”.

The moment reportedly occurred as the success of “Heroes” was transforming Panettiere into one of television’s most recognizable young actresses. Along with that fame came an exhausting schedule and enormous pressure to perform.

Panettiere subsequently struggled with alcohol and substance abuse. She also publicly discussed postpartum depression, the death of her younger brother, Jansen Panettiere, and the emotional consequences of growing up under constant scrutiny.

Experts Say Child Stars Can Face Unique Addiction Risks

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Lucas Trautman, medical director of the Oxford Treatment Center in Mississippi, explained that young performers can be exposed to adult situations without receiving the protection normally offered to children. “But it’s important to remember that they were also exposed during a developmental time to many adult aspects of life that the rest of us weren’t – including traumatic experiences, and so that gives them unique risk factors for addiction,” Trautman told the BBC.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, beginning to use alcohol or other substances at a young age can increase the likelihood of later developing a substance use disorder. The agency also notes that adolescent brains are still developing in areas responsible for judgment, motivation and behavior control. That development can make teenagers more vulnerable to peer pressure and less able to accurately assess the dangers associated with drug experimentation.

Those risks could become more severe when a teenager is surrounded by adults who have access to prescription medications, alcohol or illegal substances. Trautman said young stars can have “adult access” to drugs and alcohol without the safeguards that should accompany it. “We aren’t equipped at a young age to be able to say no to it, to manage it, to correctly stay away from it altogether,” he explained.

Fame Can Make Recovery More Complicated

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William Moyers, vice president of public affairs for Hazelden Betty Ford, praised Panettiere for publicly discussing her addiction. However, he suggested that the scrutiny surrounding her life may have made it difficult to address her struggles privately. “Her entire life from the beginning was centred in the intense public spotlight, and this didn’t give Hayden much in the way of a respite,” Moyers said.

Early fame can also become part of a young performer’s identity. When jobs slow down or public attention shifts elsewhere, former child stars may struggle with the loss of the praise, money and excitement that once defined their lives. “At the same time many of them self medicated… so their brain is still reliant on that, and it’s really really hard to stop using,” Trautman said.

Panettiere is not the only former child star to describe being exposed to substances at a young age. Drew Barrymore has said she entered rehabilitation at 12, while Demi Lovato previously discussed becoming dependent on prescription medication as a teenager.

“I got into a car accident and they prescribed me opiates. My mum didn’t think she would have to lock up the opiates from her 13-year-old daughter, but I was already drinking at that point,” Lovato said during a 2022 appearance on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast.

Hayden Panettiere Discussed Pressure From Her Mother

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Experts say the line between family and business can become dangerously blurred when a parent is also managing or helping direct a child’s career. Panettiere previously discussed the pressure she felt from her mother while pursuing acting opportunities at an early age.

“You always want to think the best of your parents and see them in the brightest light,” she told The New York Times in May. “But there were a lot of things done with an approach that was not about my mental health or what was emotionally or mentally safe for me to do.”

Former Disney star Christy Carlson Romano also reflected on the psychological toll of early fame following Panettiere’s death. “We have almost no language for what happens when stress, scrutiny, rejection, adult pressure, and the collapse of privacy become the architecture of a childhood,” Romano wrote.

‘Quiet On Set’ Exposed The Risks Facing Child Performers

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The concerns surrounding child stars gained renewed attention in 2024 with the release of “Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV.” The Investigation Discovery docuseries examined the alleged toxic culture behind several popular Nickelodeon programs from the 1990s and 2000s. Former actors and employees described an environment in which young performers faced adult pressure, limited protection and troubling behavior from people working around them.

Drake Bell also publicly identified himself as the child actor who was sexually abused by dialogue coach Brian Peck, who was convicted in 2004. Bell has since discussed how the abuse affected his mental health and contributed to years of self-destructive behavior.

Panettiere was not featured in “Quiet on Set,” and her experiences were separate from the allegations involving Nickelodeon. However, the documentary exposed the same broader concern now surrounding her story: Children working in entertainment can be placed in adult environments while depending on parents, managers and studio employees to protect their physical and emotional well-being.

Addiction Is A Treatable Chronic Condition

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Panettiere told PEOPLE in 2024 that addiction was “in the rear-view mirror,” although she revealed in her memoir that a doctor had once warned she would be “dead within five years” if she continued drinking. The National Institute on Drug Abuse describes substance use disorders as chronic but treatable conditions.

Recovery can include periods of abstinence as well as relapses, which do not mean treatment has failed. “Living in recovery means doing the best we can, but doing it imperfectly,” Moyers said.

Anyone seeking help for substance use or mental health concerns can contact the SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP or visit FindTreatment.gov.

Amanda Seyfried is truly just like Us. How do we know? Her unexpected accessory.

Filming a Tiffany & Co commercial in New York City, Seyfried donned chic clothes and high-end accessories, plus a bright blue Owala water bottle. Clearly, this Amazon bestseller is a must-have for her real life.

The Owala FreeSip Water Bottle is the hydration status symbol of the moment, and Seyfried joins a long list of celebrities who keep it on (or in) hand. Honestly, it’s refreshing to see A-listers like Seyfried with a $35 water bottle. It’s a reminder once again that they’re just like Us.

Get the Owala FreeSip Stainless Steel Water Bottle for $35 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate at the date of publication but are subject to change.

The most clever bit is in the name. The FreeSip spout lets you sip upright through the built-in straw, or tilt it back and swig straight from the opening.

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Related: Penelope Cruz Paired This Luxe, Boutiquey Blouse Style With Jeans

We all get stuck in the tee-and-denim trap, but Penélope Cruz found an equally versatile yet much more polished alternative. Her red blouse screams ‘Hamptons boutique,’ and we found the expensive style on sale for $9! Spotted walking along the streets of Beverly Hills, Cruz looked effortlessly chic in a vibrant red blouse, baggy jeans […]

Better yet, it keeps water cold, pops open in a flash and withstands drops like a champ. This 32-ounce stainless-steel bottle has racked up nearly 113,000 five-star ratings on Amazon for a reason, and the reviews read like devoted fan mail.

One happy reviewer shared, “Working 12-hour shifts, I need something reliable, and this bottle keeps my water ice-cold the entire time. The push-button cap makes it incredibly easy to pop open for a quick drink during a busy day. It feels highly durable.”

“I have used so many cups (Stanleys, Yetis, Hydro Jugs, Hydroflasks, etc.) and the Owala is still my favorite,” another shopper wrote, calling out the leakproof design and “the best spout” they have “ever used.”

Pick a shade that flatters your wardrobe, toss it in your tote and consider yourself styled. (We’re eyeing Seyfried’s eclectic blue version.) If it’s good enough for a Tiffany set, it’s good enough for the school pickup line and everything after!

Get the Owala FreeSip Stainless Steel Water Bottle for $35 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate at the date of publication but are subject to change.

Looking for something else? Explore more water bottles, and don’t forget to check out all of Amazon’s Daily Deals for more great finds!

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Ryan Reynolds had a playful response after Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” claimed a major box office record previously held by “Deadpool & Wolverine.” The actor celebrated the film’s success with a cheeky video and an equally humorous message to its cast and crew.

“The Odyssey” has emerged as a theatrical phenomenon, fueled by strong demand for IMAX screenings and a strong audience reception.

Ryan Reynolds is taking the loss in stride after Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” knocked “Deadpool & Wolverine” off its perch as the highest-grossing R-rated movie of all time.

Nolan’s epic has reportedly pulled in about $1.34 billion worldwide, edging past the $1.338 billion earned by Reynolds and Hugh Jackman’s Marvel blockbuster during its theatrical run. “The Odyssey” is also now the biggest box office hit of Nolan’s career, with screenings still underway.

Reynolds marked the milestone with a cheeky social media post that mashed together footage from both films. The clip cuts between Matt Damon’s Odysseus moving quietly through the woods and Deadpool battling Wolverine inside a Honda Odyssey minivan.

At one point, an exhausted Deadpool declares, “The Odyssey f-cks hard.”

Reynolds then offered his congratulations while keeping the joke going. “Congratulations to the entire cast and crew of The Odyssey for becoming the highest-grossing R-rated movie of all time,” he wrote, before adding, “That is one helluva car.”

How ‘The Odyssey’ Has Become A Box Office Juggernaut

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A major part of “The Odyssey” phenomenon appears to be Nolan’s ability to turn the movie itself into a theatrical event. The epic became the first feature released entirely shot with IMAX film cameras, and audiences responded immediately.

Its opening weekend generated $52 million from IMAX alone, accounting for 20% of its worldwide debut. By August 10, that figure had climbed to $289 million, making it the biggest IMAX release ever.

Demand was especially fierce for the coveted 70mm presentation, available at only 41 IMAX locations worldwide. Those screenings produced weeks of sellouts, while nearly $40 million in future IMAX tickets had already been sold by early August.

Universal has also credited Nolan’s reputation for helping drive the turnout. Distribution chief Jim Orr said the filmmaker has built audience trust by repeatedly delivering movies worth seeing in theaters.

Strong reviews, an A CinemaScore, a 97% Rotten Tomatoes audience score, repeat viewings, and a cast packed with major stars have only added to the momentum.

Christopher Nolan’s Box Office Record Speaks For Itself

As impressive as his latest run is, however, this is not Nolan’s first experience in the billion-dollar territory. His “The Dark Knight” became a global phenomenon with just over $1 billion, while 2012’s “The Dark Knight Rises” pushed that figure to roughly $1.085 billion.

Nolan’s biggest successes have not been limited to Batman, either. “Inception” amassed nearly $840 million worldwide, and “Interstellar” brought in more than $642 million. Even the World War II drama “Dunkirk” finished with about $528 million.

Then came “Oppenheimer.” Helped by the “Barbenheimer” craze, the R-rated historical drama collected about $983 million worldwide, an eye-catching result for a three-hour film centered on the physicist behind the atomic bomb. “Tenet,” released amid the pandemic in 2020, managed more than $366 million globally.

Taken together, Nolan’s films have now grossed more than $7 billion worldwide.

Ryan Reynolds’ ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Had Its Own Historic Box Office Run

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Long before giving up its crown, “Deadpool & Wolverine” had rewritten the record books for R-rated movies. The Marvel blockbuster opened to $211 million domestically in July 2024, becoming the first R-rated film ever to crack $200 million in a North American opening weekend. It was also the biggest July debut on record and the sixth-largest domestic opening at the time.

The film was just as formidable overseas. Its global opening eventually reached $445.4 million, setting another record for an R-rated release. Its biggest milestone came weeks later when it overtook 2019’s “Joker,” which had previously held the worldwide record with about $1.036 billion.

By January 2025, Guinness World Records put “Deadpool & Wolverine” at $1,338,071,348 worldwide.

Ryan Reynolds Has Made Friendly Trolling Part Of His Brand

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Reynolds has become known over the years for his ability to inject humor into nearly any situation. The actor once gave Lively a birthday tribute that barely showed her at all. For her 30th in 2017, he posted a photo of the couple with more than half of her face cropped out, pairing it with the message, “Happy Birthday to my amazing wife.”

Hugh Jackman has been another frequent target. Their mock feud has spanned birthdays, holidays, fake insults, and social media stunts for years, long before “Deadpool & Wolverine” finally reunited them on screen.

Reynolds has also kept the bit going with Rob McElhenney. According to Variety, the Wrexham co-owners reportedly trade joke videos throughout the day, and Reynolds once made an entire music video showing people how to pronounce McElhenney’s surname.

This weekend, Insidious: Out of the Further makes its box office debut, hoping to follow in the footsteps of both its franchise predecessors and other horror entries from the past eight months in proving financially fruitful. But even the very best possibility for the sixth entry in the franchise won’t come close to the biggest horror success of the year, which is arguably the most impressive of its kind in the past 26 years.

That title goes to Focus Features’ Obsession, director Curry Barker‘s breakout masterpiece that turned him from popular YouTuber into a respected filmmaker overnight. The film boasts a career-defining performance from breakout star Inde Navarrette, who is earning plenty of awards buzz and has even landed herself a role in the new X-Men reboot as a result. The film smashed all expectations and became the highest-grossing film with a sub-million-dollar budget ever, as well as the top-grossing festival acquisition title of all time, with a total haul of $495 million worldwide.

Due to Obsession‘s undeniable dominance of the horror headlines, other quieter box office successes have gone under the radar. One of which is Ready or Not 2: Here I Come, a sequel to the 2019 slasher favorite directed by Radio Silence duo Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett. Modern-day scream queen Samara Weaving returned to her blood-soaked wedding dress, ready to be chased by a new batch of characters, including performances from The Lord of the Rings icon Elijah Wood, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Shawn Hatosy, Néstor Carbonell, Kevin Durand, and even David Cronenberg. At the box office, the movie turned a budget of just $14 million into a small success, scoring a global haul of $43 million.

‘Ready or Not 2: Here I Come’ Is a Streaming Success

Similar to its box office fate, Ready or Not 2 has gone under the radar in its streaming success. At the time of writing, the movie is one of the most-watched on Hulu in the U.S., fighting competition from the likes of The Avengers, the disaster feature 2012, and another 2026 sequel, The Devil Wears Prada 2. With its quiet success both in theaters and from home, fans hope that Ready or Not might return for a third installment, but nothing has yet been confirmed.

Ready or Not 2: Here I Come is streaming on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ for bundle subscribers in the U.S. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.

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Release Date

March 20, 2026

Runtime

108 Minutes

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Director

Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillett

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Writers

Guy Busick, R. Christopher Murphy

Producers

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James Vanderbilt, William Sherak, Bradley J. Fischer, Tripp Vinson

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It’s been more than two years since Gypsy Rose Blanchard was released from prison after serving about eight years for her role in the 2015 killing of her mother, Dee Dee Blanchard. Gypsy pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in 2016. Then, a judge sentenced her to 10 years in prison. Gypsy left prison on parole in December 2023 after serving the majority of her sentence. Now, old prison calls involving Gypsy have resurfaced online, sparking backlash over her past racist remarks.

 RELATED: Hol’ Up! Gypsy Rose’s TikTok Joke About “Playing Crazy” Has Her Comment Section In Shambles (VIDEO)

Gypsy Rose’s Prison Calls Surface Online

Throughout August, old prison calls involving Gypsy began surfacing across TikTok and YouTube. The calls feature Gypsy discussing her daily life in prison and different topics with family members and people close to her. Some calls include her father, Rod Blanchard, and stepmother, Kristy Blanchard. Other calls reportedly feature her current partner, Ken Urker, and her ex-husband, Ryan Anderson.

Several clips gained attention after Gypsy used the N-word during conversations with Ryan. In one call, Gypsy complained about people being loud in prison before using the N-word. “All these f****ing Black n****rs are so loud,” Gypsy said. While Ryan continued talking, Gypsy asked, “Did you hear me?” before repeating, “I said all these f****ing Black n****rs are so loud.”

Ryan responded with jokes about her remark, telling her, “I swear that hood just came out.” He then asked, “Where you burning the cross at tonight?” The two continued giggling during the exchange before Ryan added, “Oh, baby. My baby is a racist.” Gypsy denied being racist and responded that she was “just saying the obvious.”

In another viral call, Ryan questioned whether Gypsy believed he was racist. “Well, I know I joke about your sister dating a Black guy, but you really think I’m racist?” Ryan asked. Gypsy responded, “That’s so different.”

Ryan acknowledged the difference before continuing to question how Gypsy viewed him. “Well, I know it’s not even in the same ballpark, and I’m not saying it is. I’m saying, do you really think I’m that way?” Ryan said. Gypsy then spoke about her own views, saying, “I’ll be open all day long and say that I am.” Ryan questioned whether she would make those same remarks directly to her sister. “No, to her face, never. No,” Gypsy responded.

Gypsy Rose & Ryan Apologize For Past Racist Conversation

As the clips circulated online, Gypsy Rose took to TikTok on Wednesday with a lengthy statement and caption that read, “I’m sorry.” Gypsy took responsibility for her racist comments and apologized to the Black community. She also addressed her sister, Mia Blanchard, and Mia’s fiancé, Andre and the comments she made on their interracial relationship. 

“I used racist language and made cruel, disrespectful comments, including about people I love, my sister Mia and her fiancé Andre. What I said was wrong. The words were racist, and I take full responsibility for saying them. There is no excuse for that language or the pain it’s caused. To the Black community, I’m sorry for using words that are hateful and demeaning. I understand the anger and disappointment those words carry.”

Gypsy then apologized directly to Mia and Andre for her comments and acknowledged the hurt they caused.

“To Mia and Andre, I’m especially sorry. You didn’t deserve that then, and you don’t deserve the hurt now. Since coming home, being able to have a relationship with you both has meant so much, and it’s heartbreaking that my own words have caused this pain and damaged that trust. I’ve apologized privately, and I understand forgiveness or reconciliation is not something I’m owed. I respect whatever boundaries you need and accept that healing happens on your timeline, not mine.” 

Gypsy also said the words and attitudes heard in the calls do not reflect who she is today.

“Those words and attitudes don’t reflect who I am or what I believe now. I reject them completely. I know saying that isn’t enough, and that my actions over time have to demonstrate change. I can’t go back and undo what I said. What I can do is acknowledge it fully, learn from it, and continue choosing to be better every single day.” 

She added that she does not expect everyone to forgive her immediately and ended her statement with a final apology.

“I’m not asking anyone to forget or to immediately forgive me. Trust is earned through consistent action, and I accept that some people may never see me differently. That is their right.”I wanted to make this statement, not because these calls became public, but because I should never have spoken those words in the first place. To everyone I hurt, especially Mia and Andre, I am truly sorry.”

Additionally, Ryan has spoken out after the prison calls began circulating online. He shared a video apologizing amid backlash over other controversial remarks heard in the calls.

“I make mistakes, because I am human and not perfect. I apologize if I offended you, sincerely. I’m sorry.” Ryan also captioned the video, “I am human, and make mistakes all of the time, but you live and learn from them… #teamryan.”

Social Media Reacts 

Many gathered under The Shade Room’s post to react to Gypsy-Rose’s apology to the Black community. Some expressed disappointment, while others said the resurfaced remarks didn’t surprise them.. Several commenters also called for accountability from both Gypsy and Ryan.

Instagram user @jusdaze wrote, “She ain’t sorry. She’s sorry she got caught.”

Instagram user @jayannaa.x added, “Mind you a large portion off people supporting her release were black (¿ They always apologize after there caught tho”

While Instagram user @top_shelf_khe wrote, “Y’all always inviting people to the cookout but when have you ever been invited to the country club?”

Instagram user @ningsaces wrote, “mind you it’s the hard r being said multiple times in manners that are clearly meant to be derogatory and targeted. then she’s laughing about it and repeating it to make sure it’s being heard”

Instagram user @_cambands added, “she only apologizing cause she got exposed. if she was really that sorry she would’ve came out from years ago and acknowledged it.#justicefordeedeeblanchard”

While Instagram @thee____.daddon wrote, “she copied and pasted from chat gpt😂😂😂”

Instagram user lmrs.lorteq23 wrote, “Her apology is only because it came out and now she is back peddling!! And why isn’t anyone saying anything about @ryan_s_anderson_ he is a teacher and a special needs teacher at that”

Instagram user @itzbeautifulgurl wrote, “ Isn’t Ryan a teacher ? Let me find what school he works at”

While Instagram user @thewrightrealtor_  wrote, “I am soo tired of us being attacked….its always about black people….leave us tf alone!”

RELATED: Oop! Gypsy Rose Jokes About Ken Urker Making Her Mad — TikTok User Tells Her Not To Unalive Him & She Reacts (VIDEO)

After nearly two decades together, Oscar-winning actress Nicole Kidman officially separated from Grammy Award winner Keith Urban, bringing their 19-year marriage to a close.

Following the divorce, the country star, who was initially secretive about his romantic life, has allegedly embraced single life and is said to be having a great time as he becomes more active in the dating scene.

Meanwhile, Nicole Kidman has begun turning the page to the next chapter of her life, as she is reportedly embracing love while rumors of a possible romance swirl.

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Kidman officially filed for divorce from Urban in September 2025, starting the process that ended their almost two-decade-long marriage, allegedly due to marital difficulties.

The divorce would be finalized in January 2026, but not without tension behind the scenes, particularly surrounding their daughters, Sunday Rose and Faith Margaret.

Before the separation, sources reported that the former couple encountered friction in the divorce proceedings.

“Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban’s split wasn’t finalized without tension behind the scenes,” an insider told the Enquirer. “Ahead of reaching a divorce settlement, the longtime couple clashed over custody of their teenage daughters.”

Despite the issues early on in the process, through negotiations both parties eventually landed on the same page and came to an agreement on custody before the split became official.

The Singer Is ‘Having A Blast’ On Tour As He Is Now Back In The Dating Scene

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According to the publication, the country music singer is having “a blast on the road” and has finally become active in the dating scene months after his separation from Kidman.

A source said, “Keith doesn’t have a whole lot of downtime when he’s on tour, but when he does, he definitely has a good time.”

The singer is often amidst his friends and longtime fans, and his “party” doesn’t stop even after he exits the stage.

“He’s got all sorts of friends who come out to the shows, and then afterward, there is usually a party, and there are always plenty of beautiful women invited,” the publication’s insider explained.

Urban is said to be, as a matter of fact, “absolutely dating” and is actively seeking out romantic entanglements as he’s reportedly offered up his personal contact to women while flirting.

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Until the recent insider confirmation, Urban was reported to be going to great lengths to keep his romantic life private.

The “Blue Ain’t Your Color” singer allegedly had “non-negotiable” rules for anyone he was romantically involved with following his split from Kidman.

A source in a report to Globe Magazine described him as being “extra secretive” and said that “any woman who goes out with Keith has to sign a very detailed non-disclosure agreement.”

The country music star would only entertain prospects who were willing to come over as opposed to meeting them in public.

Keith Urban Is Now Ready To ‘Play The Field’

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Urban is said to have taken these steps out of respect for Kidman and his two kids.

He “admits that having these sorts of rules for his love life makes things more complicated, but for now at least, that’s the only way this will work for him. He wants to keep things as amicable as he can for the sake of the girls.”

Recent sources now say that Urban is ready to “play the field” without consideration for Kidman, as the actress has “clearly moved on”.

While he was initially romantically linked to a female country music singer, those rumors were quickly shut down. However, there is a possibility he might soon come out with a new significant other as Kidman publicly moves on with her love.

Nicole Kidman Rumored To Be Starting A New Romance

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While the Grammy winner explores new romantic adventures, Kidman has also reportedly started her own new chapter.

Earlier reports have suggested that the Oscar-winning actress is taking a break from romance following her high-profile divorce from Urban.

Sources noted the actress was not rushing to date anyone. As noted in a publication by Parade, she was “focused on the things that make her happy, like family and work”.

More recent reports indicate that Kidman’s sentiments surrounding romance post-divorce have since changed, as the actress is “embracing love”.

Rumors surrounding a possible romance with private equity investor Michael Reinstein started surfacing after they were photographed “cozying up” together in Italy in July 2026. The actress has not officially confirmed the rumors.

“Dancing With the Stars” pro Gleb Savchenko’s new relationship has become a flashpoint in his increasingly complicated custody battle with ex-wife Elena Samodanova. Samodanova raised concerns after learning that their teenage daughter, Olivia, was reportedly living in a property connected to Savchenko’s girlfriend, Trujillo. The professional dancer insists Olivia is safe and wants the court to consider the teenager’s wishes. Meanwhile, Samodanova is pursuing international proceedings to have her daughter returned to Hong Kong.

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Samodanova claimed Savchenko only disclosed Olivia’s location after being ordered to provide the information. “My greatest concern remains Olivia’s safety and current living environment. Gleb disclosed Olivia’s location only after the Court ordered him to provide her address and contact information,” Samodanova told Us Weekly.

She added, “The address he provided confirmed that our teenage daughter is living in a property owned by his girlfriend, rather than in a permanent home maintained by him.” The outlet reported that it verified the address included in the court documents and found that it matched a residence linked to Trujillo.

Samodanova, who currently resides in Hong Kong, then addressed what she said she had learned about the homeowner’s career. “I subsequently learned that the homeowner works in the adult-entertainment industry. I do not judge her profession. My concern is Gleb’s judgment as a father and whether this is an appropriate and stable environment for our teenage daughter,” she continued.

Savchenko was first romantically linked to Trujillo in January, when they were photographed kissing following his split from Brooks Nader. Samodanova stressed that Olivia’s “safety, stability and future come first,” adding, “I will continue through every legal channel available to bring my daughter safely home.”

Gleb Savchenko Says Olivia Is Safe And Supported

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Savchenko pushed back against his former wife’s concerns and argued that Olivia, who turns 16 in November, should have a say in where she lives. “My daughter’s safety, stability and well-being are my absolute priority. Olivia is safe, supported and surrounded by people who love and care for her. Most importantly, she is nearly 16 years old and has expressed her own wishes regarding where she wants to live,” he told Us Weekly.

The dancer said he intends to handle the dispute through the courts instead of continuing the public back-and-forth. “I respect that there are ongoing legal proceedings, and I intend to address those matters through the appropriate legal channels rather than litigating our family situation publicly,” Savchenko added.

He also expressed disappointment that his girlfriend and her personal life had been pulled into the custody disagreement. “I am disappointed to see unrelated personal matters and third parties brought into a deeply private situation involving our daughter. I will not respond by attacking Olivia’s mother or anyone else publicly,” Savchenko said. “My focus remains on supporting Olivia, protecting her well-being, and ensuring that her own voice and wishes are heard through the appropriate legal process.”

Judge Pauses The Los Angeles Custody Case

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Savchenko secured a temporary procedural win when a judge stayed the Los Angeles custody case and declined to order Olivia’s immediate return to Hong Kong. The decision was not a final custody ruling. Instead, the California proceedings were paused because Samodanova filed an application under the Hague Convention alleging that Olivia was wrongfully retained in the United States.

“This is no longer simply a custody dispute,” Samodanova said following the hearing. “My daughter’s wrongful retention is now the subject of active Hague Convention proceedings, and the Los Angeles custody case has been stayed while that process moves forward.”

According to the Hague Conference on Private International Law, a ruling under the 1980 Child Abduction Convention concerning a child’s return does not determine the merits of the underlying custody dispute. That means the international proceeding will address the return and jurisdiction questions surrounding Olivia. It will not decide which parent should ultimately receive custody.

Both Parents Have Made Competing Allegations

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Savchenko filed an emergency request in Los Angeles in July seeking temporary sole legal and physical custody of Olivia and permission to enroll her in a Los Angeles-area high school, according to Us Weekly. The dancer reportedly claimed the former couple had agreed that Samodanova and their daughters would move to Hong Kong temporarily, then return in 2024. Samodanova disputes his account and maintains that Hong Kong became the children’s established home.

She subsequently requested primary custody and alleged that Savchenko unexpectedly canceled Olivia’s flight back to Hong Kong. Savchenko, however, maintains that Olivia wants to remain in Los Angeles. Samodanova continues to argue that her daughter should return to the life she had been living overseas.

Neither parent’s allegations have resulted in a final custody determination.

Gleb Savchenko And Elena Samodanova Share Two Daughters

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Savchenko and Samodanova share Olivia and their younger daughter, Zlata. The former couple ended their relationship in November 2020 after 14 years of marriage. They finalized their divorce in October 2021. Samodanova later moved to Hong Kong with the children and has since welcomed another child with her partner, Vlad Kvartin.

For now, Olivia will remain in the United States while the Hague Convention proceeding moves forward. The stayed Los Angeles case could resume after the international dispute is addressed, leaving the former couple’s larger custody battle unresolved.

Shaquille O’Neal has made a name for himself as an NBA legend, businessman, and entertainer, but he has his sights set on another challenge: action movies. The former basketball star has repeatedly expressed interest in landing roles in major franchises, including Marvel. Despite his enthusiasm, however, O’Neal says there’s one “big” obstacle standing in between him and his Hollywood ambitions.

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Shaquille O’Neal has proven to be a true multi-hyphenate, building successful careers in sports, music, and business. The former athlete has ventured into acting, appearing in a few roles in the past.

O’Neal wants to add more action roles to his resume, but filmmakers and movie executives have repeatedly rejected him over the years. In an interview with Variety, O’Neal revealed why it has been difficult for him to nab an action role, or any role for that matter.

“I would love to do more action roles, but we were told by top Hollywood executives that I’m too big,” he explained. He stands at just over 7 feet tall, making him an unusual presence on the big screen, where actors of his stature are rarely seen. However, it may not be his height that remains a hindrance.

“What they mean by that is when I pop up on the screen everyone will go, ‘Oh, that’s Shaq!’ So, if I’m trying to play a doctor or anything, my character won’t be believable,” he said.

The Former Basketball Player Faced Rejection From Marvel

O’Neal was eager to appear in the “Avengers” franchise, once jokingly saying that he wanted to “kick Robert Downey Jr.’s a-s.” He decided to shoot his shot at landing a role, but unfortunately, he was rejected.

O’Neal said he talked to someone at Marvel who told him that despite how much they love the sports star and wanted to have him in a movie, they couldn’t do it.

“They were like, ‘Shaq, we f-ckin’ love you, and we’d love to put you in, but if your face pops up on the screen people are going to go, Hey, that’s Shaq!’ He said it truthfully, and I was like, alright… I guess my face is too bigtime,” O’Neal said.

Shaquille O’Neal Portrayed A DC Superhero

Despite being rejected for a role in “Avengers,” O’Neal got the chance to play a DC superhero, taking on the role of Steel in the 1997 film of the same name.

The movie centers on John Henry Irons, a brilliant engineer who creates a high-tech suit of armor and becomes the superhero Steel.

“Steel” bombed at the box office, earning about $1.8 million worldwide on a $16 million budget. Reviewers criticized O’Neal’s acting, while comic book fans slammed the filmmakers for straying from the source material. The film has a 4 percent rating on the Tomatometer and 19 percent on the Popcornmeter.

In 2017, “Steel” writer and director Kenneth Johnson said he was opposed to having O’Neal as the lead from the start, but the studio wanted to proceed. “He was a big persona and great role model for kids and all that, but he’s no movie star,” Johnson told Vice.

The NBA Star Has Several Movies In His Filmography

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Before “Steel,” O’Neal appeared in starring roles in two movies, “Blue Chips” and “Kazaam.” In the years that followed, the NBA legend appeared in several other movies in minor roles or as a cameo.

Some of his other movies include “The Wash,” “Grown Ups 2,” “Blended,” and “Hubie Halloween.” He also appeared as himself in movies such as “Good Burger,” “He Got Game,” “Scary Movie 4,” “The House Bunny,” “What Men Want,” and “Hustle.”

Shaquille O’Neal’s Recent TV Projects

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O’Neal is now setting his sights on appearing on the big screen alongside Dwayne Johnson. “I want to do a movie with The Rock so I can beat him up,” he said.

Meanwhile, he is busy with other projects. He founded a professional dunking league, with the search for the world’s best dunker set to be chronicled in the upcoming series “DUNKMAN,” which premieres August 25. He also executive produced the docuseries “Game Day Murders,” a true crime show that examines crimes in the sports world, which is currently streaming on Max.

Psychological thrillers are a hard deal to pull off for the creators. They have to make complete sense while being eccentric. This is why they’re at times just plain weird to some people. And they’re definitely not for everybody. Usually, psychologically stimulating movies, good or bad, are at their best when the danger starts inside somebody’s interpretation of reality. A locked hospital can become a conspiracy. A missing child can turn desperation into moral collapse. But that’s not all.

The six films on this list reward attention long after the central mystery has been understood. Their strongest ideas live in memory, guilt, desire, obsession, class, identity, and the stories people invent to survive themselves. Some leave the audience disturbed. Others leave you arguing over motives for hours. All six are ridiculously difficult to shake. These are not for the short attention-spanned or weak-hearted. Let’s get started.

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‘Shutter Island’ (2010)

Image via Paramount Pictures

Shutter Island follows U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio) as he travels to Ashecliffe Hospital in 1954 to investigate the disappearance of a patient from an institution for dangerous criminals. The hospital sits on an isolated island, a storm cuts off communication, and nearly everyone Teddy questions seems to know more than they are willing to say. His investigation also carries personal weight through memories of his wife and his fixation on Andrew Laeddis, the man he believes destroyed his life. If I tell the name of the person who played Andrew, I’d spoil it for you so let me withhold that information.

Dennis Lehane’s novel gave the film an ideal foundation for paranoia, while the atmosphere turns every corridor, notebook, cigarette, and guarded answer into possible evidence. Teddy is emotionally raw enough that his certainty never feels comfortable, and the hospital’s elaborate architecture mirrors how desperately he needs one version of reality to remain intact. The pleasure of revisiting Shutter Island comes from noticing how openly the movie was communicating all along. So make sure you watch it once for the mystery. Return later for the tragedy sitting underneath it.

5

‘Prisoners’ (2013)

Image via Warner Bros.

Two young girls disappear during a Thanksgiving gathering in Prisoners, leaving their families with almost nothing beyond an RV that had been parked nearby. Detective Loki (Jake Gyllenhaal) begins following the evidence, while Keller Dover (Hugh Jackman) becomes convinced that the vehicle’s driver knows where the children are. When the police cannot hold their suspect, Keller decides that waiting for lawful proof is an unacceptable risk and begins pursuing answers through increasingly brutal means.

The film keeps the audience painfully close to Keller’s logic without making his choices easy to defend. That tension is the whole nightmare. Hugh Jackman gives Keller the desperation of a parent who has turned certainty into survival, while Jake Gyllenhaal’s Loki keeps pushing through mazes, old crimes, damaged witnesses, and details that refuse to line up neatly. Roger Deakins’ rain-soaked Pennsylvania imagery makes houses, parking lots, and empty roads feel permanently exhausted. Prisoners is heavy, precise, and deeply involving. Set aside the evening, follow every clue, and prepare to question how far sympathy should really stretch. There’s this one particular scene of Jackman where he improvised his intensity while punching the wall and it literally scared his co-stars.

4

‘Burning’ (2018)

Image via CGV Arthouse

Burning begins with Jong-su (Yoo Ah-in), an aimless young man in South Korea who reconnects with childhood acquaintance Hae-mi (Jeon Jong-seo) and agrees to care for her cat while she travels to Africa. She returns with Ben (Steven Yeun), a wealthy, calm, and strangely unreadable man whose lifestyle feels completely removed from Jong-su’s own financial uncertainty. Then Hae-mi disappears, and one unsettling conversation leaves Jong-su convinced that Ben may be hiding something far darker than casual arrogance.

Haruki Murakami’s short story Barn Burning provides the seed, though the film expands it into a study of class resentment, loneliness, masculinity, and the terrifying uncertainty of believing something without being able to prove it. Ben is frightening through composure rather than overt menace, while Yoo Ah-in lets Jong-su’s suspicion grow alongside humiliation and envy. Even Hae-mi remains partly unknowable, which is important in a story filled with men assigning meaning to her absence. Burning moves slowly and uses that patience beautifully. Give it room and the unease keeps accumulating long after individual scenes appear to have ended.

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‘Black Swan’ (2010)

Image via Searchlight Pictures

Black Swan centers on Nina Sayers (Natalie Portman), a technically gifted ballerina chosen to perform both the White Swan and Black Swan in a major production of Swan Lake. The White Swan fits the control and discipline Nina has spent her life perfecting. The Black Swan demands sensuality and freedom that she cannot produce through technique alone. Rehearsals intensify while her mother, artistic director, and fellow dancer Lily (Mila Kunis) each become connected to a different part of the pressure closing around her.

Natalie Portman’s Oscar-winning performance captures how completely Nina has built her identity around perfection. Her body becomes something to discipline, inspect, punish, and eventually distrust. Lily represents an ease Nina cannot manufacture, while the relationship with her mother reveals how little space she has been given to develop outside ballet. It’s honestly a beautiful movie and genuinely nasty in the same breath.

2

‘The Handmaiden’ (2016)

Image via Amazon Studios/ CJ Entertainment

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The Handmaiden introduces Sook-hee (Kim Tae-ri), a young pickpocket recruited to help a con man steal the fortune of wealthy heiress Lady Hideko (Kim Min-hee) and is set in Korea during Japanese colonial rule. Sook-hee enters Hideko’s secluded estate as her new maid, while the plan requires the two women to become close enough for manipulation to look like trust. The household already contains its own forms of control, and every person inside it seems to be performing a role for someone else.

Park Chan-wook adapted Sarah Waters’ Fingersmith by relocating the story from Victorian England, adding colonial identity, language, architecture, and sexual power to an already intricate deception. The film revisits events from different perspectives, allowing gestures that first seemed innocent to acquire completely different meanings once another person’s knowledge becomes visible. Kim Min-hee and Kim Tae-ri give the relationship emotional force that keeps the elaborate plotting from becoming a puzzle for its own sake. The Handmaiden is sensual, funny, cruel, and enormously clever without losing its heart.

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‘Gone Girl’ (2014)

Image via 20th Century Studios

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Gone Girl is a movie made with mystery and psychological thrill on steroids. It begins when Amy Dunne (Rosamund Pike) disappears on the morning of her fifth wedding anniversary and her husband Nick (Ben Affleck) becomes the center of the investigation. Their marriage has already been damaged by unemployment, infidelity, resentment, and the collapse of the glamorous New York life they once shared. Nick’s lies make him look increasingly suspicious, while Amy’s diary appears to tell the story of a woman becoming afraid of the man she married. Soon the case belongs as much to television audiences and public opinion as it does to the police.

Gillian Flynn adapted her own novel for David Fincher, and preserved the vicious argument about marriage that gives the thriller its staying power. Nick and Amy originally fell in love through idealized versions of themselves, then became furious when ordinary life exposed the performance underneath. Rosamund Pike gives Amy intelligence, rage, and control without reducing her to one easy label, while Ben Affleck’s Nick understands too late that public perception can become another form of evidence. Gone Girl is wickedly entertaining, darkly funny, and uncomfortably recognizable whenever love starts sounding like image management. Few modern thrillers invite this much discussion after the credits.

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Gone Girl

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Release Date

October 3, 2014

Runtime

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149 minutes

Writers

Gillian Flynn

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